AP Lang Vocab List #9-14

Analogous

comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared

Brigand

a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains

Emissary

a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative

Felicity

intense happiness

Incendiary

(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires; tending to stir up conflict; very exciting

Magnanimous

very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself

Plight

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

Repartee

conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies

Ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere

Venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character

Countenance

a persons face or facial expression; support

Deposition

the action of depositing something

Discursive

digressing from subject to subject

Disdain

extreme contempt or disgust for something or somebody

Epigram

a concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark or saying

Feign

to give a false appearance of, to represent falsely; pretend to

Laconic

using few words; expressing much in a few words; concise

Mien

air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling

Veracity

habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness

Wry

dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony; misdirected; abnormally twisted or bent to one side; crooked

Confound

to perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse; to contradict or refute

Curate

(noun) a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar; (verb) to act as curator of; organize and oversee

Ethereal

light, airy, or tenuous; of or pertaining to the upper regions of space

Gambol

to leap about playfully; frolic

Mutability

liable or subject to change or alteration, fickle, constantly changing

Nascent

beginning to exist or develop

Nonplused

(verb) to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely; (noun) a state of utter perplexity

Pedantic

overly concerned with minute details or formalism especially in teaching

Quali

(verb) to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear

Rhetorical

used for, belonging to, or concerned with mere style of effect

Fatuous

foolish or insane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; unreal; illusory

Febrile

pertaining to or marked by fever; feverish

Furtive

taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret

Incredulous

not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical

Interminable

incapable of being terminated; unending; monotonously or annoyingly protracted or continued; unceasing; incessant; having no limits

Obliquely

having a slanting of sloping direction, course, or position; inclined; devious, misleading, dishonest

Pernicious

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful; deadly; fatal

Sardonic

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering

Ultimatum

a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to severance of relations or the use of force

Writhe

to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc.; to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort

Astute

of keen penetration or discernment; sagacious; clever; cunning; ingenious; shrewd

Beseech

to implore urgently; to beg eagerly for; solicit

Capitulate

to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms

Deprecating

to express earnest disapproval of; to urgent reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.); to depreciate, belittle

Glean

to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit; to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly

Obfuscate

to make something obscure or unclear, especially by making it unnecessarily complicated; to make something dark or hard to see

Pathos

the quality in something that makes people feel pit or sadness; feeling of pity, especially when they are expressed in some way

Primeval

at of from ancient, original stages in the development of something; primitive, or arising from instinct rather than thought

Salubrious

beneficial to or promoting health or well-being

Solicitous

expressing an attitude or concern and consideration; full or eagerness and anticipation to do something; paying very close attention to details

Albeit

used to add information that is different to what you have already said

Bereft

deprived of somebody or something loved or valued; lacking in something desirable or necessary; filled with a sense of loss

Gratis

received or given without cost or payment

Intercession

the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf; the action of attempting to settle a dispute; prayer to God, a god, or saint on behalf of somebody or something

Lineaments

a feature of contour of the face; a characteristic feature, especially of something immaterial

Presage

a sigh or warning of a future event; a feeling that a particular thing, often something unpleasant, is about to happen; significance with regard to future events

Prodigal

spendthrift or extravagant to a degree bordering on recklessness; giving or producing something in large amounts

Prolixity

tiresome wordiness

Sinecure

a job or position that provides a regular income but requires little or no work; a church office whose holder is paid but is not required to do pastoral work

Visage

somebody’s face or facial expression; the appearance or look of something

Accordant

being in agreement or harmony; consonant

Accouterments

an accessory item of equipment or dress. often used in the plural

Deportment

a manner or personal conduct; behavior

Exposition

a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic

Impugn

to challenge as false (another’s statements, motives, etc); cast doubt upon

Impute

to relate to a particular cause or source; attribute the fault responsibility to

Parapet

a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony

Pertinacity

persistent determinaion

Temperance

moderation of self-restrain in action, statement, etc.'; self-control

Viands

articles of dishes or food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind

Brevity

shortness of time or duration; briefness

Copious

large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful

Gout

a painful inflammation of the big toe on the foot

Habiliments

the special dress or garb associated with an occasion or offices. often used in the plural

Irksome

annoying; irritating; exasperating; tiresome

Ponderous

lacking grace or fluency; labored and dull

Scrupulous

having scruples; having or showing a distinct regard for what one considers right; principled

Sundry

various; miscelaneous

Timorous

full of fear; fearful

Transcendent

going beyond ordinary limits; surpassing; exceeding

Amorous

strongly attracted or disposed to love, especially sexual love

Benign

having a kindly disposition; gracious

Dissolute

lacking moral restraint; indulging in sexual pleasures or vices

Ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

Entourage

a group of attendants of associates, as of a person of rank of importance

Extol

to praise highly; laud; eulogize

Languid

lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow

Meet

fitting; proper

Resolute

firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion

Turgid

inflated, overblown, or pompous; bombastic