AP Lang Vocab Midterm 10-12 Definitions

idolatry

n. excessive or blind adoration; worship of an object

adulterate

v. to make impure; to contaminate

syn: taint; corrupt

ant: refine; refined

emanate

v. to come forth; to send forth

syn: emerge; rise

garish

adj. tastelessly gaudy

syn: showy; glaring; flashy

ant: sedate; conservative

immutable

adj. unchangeable; fixed

syn: enduring

ant: flexible; changeable

diadem

n. a crown

bucolic

adj. pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

syn: pastoral

ant: urban

redolent

adj. having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative

syn: aromatic

ant: acrid

impecunious

adj. without money; penniless

syn: destitute; indigent

ant: affluent; prosperous

sedition

n. rebellion or resistance against the government

syn: treachery; disloyalty

defile

v. to pollute; to corrupt

gratuitous

adj. unnecessary or uncalled for

onus

n. a burden; a responsibility

syn: obligation

impious

adj. disrespectful toward God

caveat

n. a warning

syn: admonition; caution

halcyon

adj. calm; pleasant

syn: tranquil; unruffled

ant: troubled; tumultuous

fastidious

adj. hard to please; fussy

syn: meticulous; exacting

ant: casual; lax

badinage

n. playful, teasing talk

syn: chaff; joshing

malapropism

n. a word humorously misused

garner

v. to gather; to acquire

syn: harvest

kismet

n. destiny; fate; fortune (one's lot in life)

hegira

n. flight; escape

paradigm

n. a model; an example

debauchery

n. corruption; self-indulgence

syn: excess; dissipation

milieu

n. environment; setting

regress

v. to move backward

bilious

adj. bad tempered; cross

syn: grouchy; cantankerous

ant: pleasant

necromancy

n. magic, especially that practiced by a witch

syn: black magic; conjuring

gumption

n. courage and initiative; common sense

syn: enterprise; aggressiveness; drive

blandishment

n. flattery

syn: overpraise; bootlicking

elixir

n. A supposed remedy for all ailments.

syn: medicine; panacea

desiccated

adj. Dried up.

cessation

n. A stopping; a discontinuance.

syn: ceasing; end

ant: beginning; commencement

juxtapose

v. To place side-by-side for comparison.

syn: measure; examine

kinetic

adj. Pertaining to motion.

garrulous

adj. Talkative.

syn: loquacious; verbose

ant: taciturn

fetish

n. An object that receives respect or devotion.

syn: charm; verbose

scintillate

v. To sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually.

lachrymose

adj. Tearful, weepy.

fissure

n. An opening; a groove; a split.

epitome

n. A typical example.

syn: embodiment; archetype

languid

adj. Sluggish; drooping from weakness.

syn: listless; feeble; drooping

ant: robust; vigorous

delineate

v. To describe, to depict.

legerdemain

n. Sleight of hand; deception.

libertine

n. One who leads an immoral life.

syn: hedonist; glutton; epicurean