AP Lang. Vocab | Unit 3

QUIZ DATE: Nov. 29th

atrophy

to cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken

bastion

a person, or thing, who strongly defends some principle

concord

a state of agreement; harmony; union

consummate

a high degree of skill and flair

disarray

to throw into disorder

exigency

an urgent situation that requires extreme effort

flotsam

debris floating in a river or sea, in particular fragments from a shipwreck

frenetic

having extreme enthusiasm or energy; insane

glean

to harvest; to gather information in small amounts, with implied difficulty bit by bit

grouse

a cause for complaint or grumble

incarcerate

to confine; to shut up or enclose; to imprison especially for breaking the law

incumbent

imposed on someone as an obligation, especially due to one’s office

jocular

humorous, amusing, or joking

ludicrous

amusing by being plainly absurd and idiotic

mordant

having or showing a sharp or critical quality

nettle

any plant whose foliage has spines or mildly poisonous hairs

pecuniary

of, or relating to, money, monetary, financial

pusillanimous

showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity

recumbent

inactive; idle

stratagem

a tactic or artifice designed to gain the upperhand and can use deception