AP Lang/Comp: Quarter 2 Vocabulary

Acculturation

assimilation to a different culture, typically the dominant one

The adoption of cultural traits, such as language, by one group under the influence of another.
-noun

Aggrandize

increase the power, status, or wealth of

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
-adj

Ambivalent

having mixed feeling or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Having mixed feelings
-adj

Bellicose

demonstarting aggression and willingness to fight

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight
-adj

Benefactor

a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause

A good person who offers help or donates money
-noun

Brazen

(verb) endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparently confidence and lack of shame. (Adjective) bold and without shame

bold and without shame
-adj

Careen

move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction

To lean sideways; to lurch from side to side while in motion
-verb

Cerebral

of the brain of the intellect

Pertaining to the brain
-adj

Contrive

create or bring about by deliberate use of skill and artifice

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

Digress

leave the main subject temporarily in speech and writing

leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing
-verb

Dismal

depressing; dreary

Causing great sadness or pessimism
-adj

Duplicitous

decitful (law) containing more than one allegation

deceitful; two-faced
-adj

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

lasting a very short time
-adj

Equitable

fair and impartial (law) valid in equity as distinct from law

fair and impartial
-adj

Fallacious

based on a mistaken belief

false; misleading
-adj

Frivolous

not having any serious purpose or value

(adj.) of little importance, not worthy of serious attention; not meant seriously

Gaudy

extravagantly bright or show, typically so as to be tasteless

(adj.) flashy, showy; not in good taste

Incendiary

designed to cause fires

(adj.) deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; (n.) one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

Inordinate

unusually or disproportionately large; excessive

(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

Mar

impair the appearance of; disfigure

(v.) to spoil, damage, injure
syn: scar, disfigure
ant: beautify, embellish, repair

Nebulous

unclear vague or ill-define; in the form of a cloud or haze

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

Nefarious

wicked or criminal

(adj.) wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards

Paramount

more important than anything else; supreme

most important
-adj

Pensive

engaged in, involving or reflecting deep or serious thought

engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought
-adj

Pragmatic

dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather then theoretical considerations

(adj.) thoughtful; melancholy

Procure

obtain, especially with care or effort (law) persuade or cause (someone) to do something

obtain (something), especially with care or effort.
-verb

Proponent

a person who advocated a theory, proposal or project

(n.) one who puts forward a proposal; one who supports a cause or belief

Quell

subdue or silence someone, suppress a feeling

to put an end to
-verb

Remiss

lacking care or attention to duty; negligent

neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless
-adj

Tantamount

equivalent I seriousness to; virtually the same as

(adj.) equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect