Untitled Flashcards Set

Iconoclast

A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs, institutions, or traditions.

Homily

A sermon or moral lecture, often tedious or long-winded.

Impunity

Exemption from punishment or harm.

Menagerie

A collection of wild animals kept in captivity for exhibition; a diverse or varied group.

Wanderlust

A strong desire or impulse to travel and explore the world.

Acrimony

Bitterness or harshness in speech, behavior, or disposition.

Malefactor

A person who commits a crime or does evil.

Microcosm

A small system or community that reflects a larger whole.

Magisterial

Authoritative, commanding, or dignified.

Meretricious

Attracting attention in a vulgar or deceitful way; superficially appealing but lacking real value.

Droll

Amusing in an odd or whimsical way.

Ebullient

Overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement.

Insidious

Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects; treacherous.

Modish

Fashionable or stylish, especially in a superficial or faddish way.

Punctilious

Extremely attentive to detail or correct behavior.

Effete

Overrefined, exhausted, or lacking in vitality, often due to self-indulgence.

Altruistic

Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others.

Palpable

So intense or evident that it can almost be touched or felt; obvious.

Canon (n.)

A traditional collection of writings considered authentic and authoritative.

Epistolary (adj./n.)

A literary genre that uses letters, diaries, journals, or other personal documents to tell a story or communicate a narrative.

Epiphany (n.)

A moment of sudden realization or insight experienced by a character.

Foil (n.)

A character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular traits.

Denouement (n.)

The resolution or conclusion of the conflict in a story, occurring after the climax.