AP Lit Unit 13 Vocab

accolade (n)

Praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting

s: kudos, acclaim, cheers, plaudits

a: boos, disapprovals, censure

acerbity (n)

Sourness or bitterness of tase; harshness or severity of manner or expression

s: Acidity, astringency, mordancy, asperity

a: Blandness, mellowness, mildness

attrition (n)

The process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment

s: Abrasion, erosion, reduction

a: Augmentation, proliferation, enlargement

bromide (n)

A trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative

s: platitude

chauvinist (adj, n)

extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; such a person

s: superpatriot, flag-waver, jingoist

chronic (adj)

Continuing over a long period of time or recurring often

s: Recurrent, persistent, inveterate, habitual

a: Transitory, transient, sporadic

expound (v)

to explain in detail

s: Elucidate, delineate

factionalism (n)

Party strife and intrigue

s: Infighting

a: Unanimity, harmony, agreement, consensus

immaculate (adj)

Spotless; without blemish or fault

s: unsoiled

a: Blemished, tarnished, stained, sullied

imprecation (n)

A curse; the act of cursing

s: Execration

a: benediction

ineluctable (adj)

Not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome

s: Unavoidable, inevitable

a: Avoidable, escapable, reversible, revocable

mercurial (adj)

Characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant

s: Erratic, capricious, volatile

a: Phlegmatic, sluggish, constant, steady

palliate (v)

To make less serious or sever by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate

s: Alleviate, extenuate

a: Intensify, magnify, aggravate

protocol (n)

Customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette, as in a court or among diplomats; a type of international agreement; a memorandum, official account, or record

s: code of conduct, minutes

resplendent (adj)

Shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent

s: Radiant, dazzling, glorious

a: dull, lusterless

stigmatize (v)

To brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious

s: sully, taint

a: Whitewash, laud, extol

sub rosa (adv, adj)

in secret; confidentially; privately; secretive

s: secretly, covertly, stealthily, furtively

a: openly, overtly

vainglory (n)

Excessive pride in and boastfulness about one’s own accomplishments or qualities; a vain shoe or display

s: Vanity, conceit, swagger, pretentiousness

a: Humility, modesty, diffidence

vestige (n)

A trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but now is lost or vanished

s: artifact, remains

volition (n)

The power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding

s: free will, choice

a: coercion, compulsion, duress