Unit 5 Vocabulary (AP Lang)

amnesty

a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

autonomy

self-government, political control

axiomatic

self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule

blazon

to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely

caveat

a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

equitable

fair, just, embodying principles of justice

extricate

to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

filch

to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

flout

to mock, treat with contempt

fractious

tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

precept

a rule of conduct or action

salutary

beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

scathing

bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

scourge

(v.) to whip, punish severely

(n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism

sepulchral

funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

soporific

(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy

(n.) something that induces sleep

straitlaced

extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical

transient

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting

(n.) one who stays only a short time

unwieldly

not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

vapid

dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force