AP Lang & Comp: Vocabulary List 7

austere

austere

(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor

beneficent

(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good

cadaverous

(adj.) of or like a corpse; pale, gaunt, thin

concoct

(v.) to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish); to devise, invent, fabricate

crass

(adj.) lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence

debase

(v.) to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, adulterate; to cause to deteriorate

desecrate

(v.) to violate the sacredness of a thing or place

disconcert

(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of

grandiose

(adj.) grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated

inconsequential

(adj.) trifling, unimportant

infraction

(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation

mitigate

(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity

pillage

(v.) to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder; (n.) the act of looting; booty

prate

(v.) to talk pointlessly and at length

punctilious

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety

redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe

reprove

(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke

restitution

(n.) making good on a loss or damage

stalwart

(adj.) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute; (n.) a brave, strong person; a strong supporter; one who takes an uncompromising position

vulnerable

(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected