AP Vocab 2

abet

to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

aver

to affirm, declare confidently

blatant

noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense

broach

to bring up or begin to talk about; to announce, introduce

buttress

to support, prop up, strengthen

carousel

noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with suggestion of heavy drinking)

collage

to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc. to arrange in order for some specific purpose

connoisseur

an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgements, especially in one of the fine arts

disconsolate

deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation

encumber

to weigh down or burden ( with difficulties, cares, debt, etc); to fill up, block up, hinder

foment

to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm

grisly

frightful, horrible, ghastly

herculean

(capital H) relating to Hercules

(lowercase H) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusual strength

impassive

showing no feeling or emotion

inauspicious

unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

incontrovertible

unquestionable, beyond dispute

nonplussed

puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss

opportune

suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time

prolific

abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

rejoinder

a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit

amenable

willing to follow advice or authority, tractable, submissive; responsive; liable to be held responsible

berate

to scold sharply

carnage

large-scale slaughter or loss of life

credulous

too ready to believe, easily deceived

criterion

a rule, test; a standard for judgment or evaluation

deplete

to use up as a result of spending or consumption; to diminish greatly

expatiate

to explains on, write or talk at length or in detail; to move about freely

extraneous

coming from the outside, foreign; present but not essential, irrelevant

inception

the beginning, start, earliest stage if some process, institution, etc

infirmity

a weakness or ailment (physical, mental, moral, etc)

jejune

lacking in nutritive value; lacking in interest or substance; immature, juvenile

obdurate

stubborn, unyielding

potpourri

a collection of diverse or miscellaneous items; a general mixture; petals mixed with spices for scent

precocious

showing unusually early development (especially in talents and mental capacity)

sadistic

delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel

sententious

self- righteous, characterized by moralizing; given to use of maxims or adages; saying much in a few words; pithy

duplicate

to beg earnestly and humbly

surfeit

an excess or overindulgence, as in eating or drinking causing disgust

tortuous

winding, twisted, crooked; highly involved, complex; devious

turgid

swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive language

adamant

firm in purpose or opinions, unyielding, obdurate, implacable, inflexible

brouhaha

a confused hodgepodge of sounds, hubbub; an uproar of commotion that goes far beyond what is justified

bulwark

a strong defense of protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense

choleric

easily made angry, bad-tempered

cloy

to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence, especially in sweet or rich things; to glut; satiate, surfeit

curtail

to cut short, bring to a halt, or end sooner than expected; to reduce

deference

courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission as to a superior

definitive

conclusive, final, the limit of what can be done

demeanor

the way a person behaves, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc; facial appearance, mien

enigmatic

puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, not easily understood

impromptu

without perpetration, offhand, suddenly or hastily done

mawkish

excessively and objectionably sentimental; having a mildly sickening flavor

mollify

to soften; to calm, allay (as an emotion); reduce in intensity

onus

something that is heavy or burdensome (especially an unwelcome responsibility); a stigma; blame

presentiment

a vague sense of approaching misfortune

remit

to send or hang in (as money); to cancel (as a penalty or punishment), forgive; to lessen, diminish; postpone, defer

profligate

given order to dissipation of self-indulgence, immoral; recklessly extravagant

requisite

needed, necessary, regarded as essential or indispensable

sartorial

of or pertaining to a tailor or his work; having to do with clothes or dress (especially men’s”

thwart

to oppose successfully: to prevent, frustrate