vocab 2 review

Colloquialism

A word or phrase used in everyday language and conversation but may be inappropriate for formal situations (ex: “pretty much,” “cool,” “guys and girls”).

Euphemism

A word or phrase used to substitute for a more direct but harsh one (ex: “Alternative facts,” “powder my nose”).

Abstract

Existing in thought or as an idea but not having physical or concrete existence.

Concrete

Existing in material or physical form (not abstract).

Didactic

Intended to teach or instruct.

Allusion

An indirect or passing reference to people, places, or events in history, religion, mythology, literature, art, etc. (Ex: “When she first got to college, Kelly felt like she had fallen through the looking glass.”).

Irony

The contrast between what is said and what is meant; the difference between what’s expected and what’s true.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense, but holds some degree of truth (ex: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”).

Simile

A figurative comparison of two dissimilar things using comparative words (ex: “She was like a hurricane destroying everything in her path.”).

Metaphor

A figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something else, in order to suggest a comparison between the two (ex: “Juliet is the sun”).

Understatement

Ironic minimalizing of fact presenting something as less than it is (ex: “‘Tis but a scratch” – Mercutio when receiving a fatal wound).

Hyperbole

Exaggeration not meant to be taken literally (ex: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”).

Satire

A literary genre that attempts to expose humanity’s vice and folly through criticism and ridicule, with hopes for reform (ex: The Onion, Saturday Night Live, “A Modest Proposal”).

Amplify

To make something stronger or louder; in writing, to embellish a statement in order to draw more attention to it, usually by means of figurative language.

Pun

The usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound (ex: “If you look for me tomorrow you will find me a grave man” – Mercutio).

Statistic

Facts expressed in numbers that are obtained from analyzing information (ex: 1 in 3 students, 75 percent of Americans).

Antithesis

The rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (ex: “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”).

Phrase

In grammar, two or more words acting as a single unit (types include prepositional, noun, verb, adverbial, appositive, etc.).

Clause

A grammatical unit that has both a subject and a verb (2 types: independent and dependent/subordinate).

Antecedent

In grammar, the word or group of words a pronoun replaces or refers to (ex: The antecedent of “it” is “truth” in “The truth has many filters…” ).

Independent clause

A part of a sentence that can form a complete sentence standing alone (ex: Ann received detention because she was late.).

Subordinate clause

A clause that forms part of and is dependent on a main clause (ex: Ann received detention because she was late.).

Declarative sentence

A sentence that makes a statement and ends with a period (ex: Ann received detention because she was late.).

Imperative sentence

A sentence in the form of a command (ex: Please sit down.).

Interrogative sentence

A sentence that asks a question and ends with a question mark (ex: Why was Ann late?).