AP Lang Vocab Unit 7, 8, & 9 (Semester 1)

allay

(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve

bestial

(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

convivial

(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial

coterie

(n.) a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest

counterpart

(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement

demur

(v.) to object or take exception to
(n.) an objection

effrontery

(n.) shameless boldness, impudence

embellish

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

ephemeral

(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived

felicitous

(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

furtive

(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen

garish

(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or over-decorated in a vulgar or offensive way

illusory

(adj.) misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

indigent

(adj.) needy, impoverished

inordinate

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

jettison

(v.) to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome

misanthrope

(n.) a person who hates or despises people

pertinacious

(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied

picayune

(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

raiment

(n.) clothing, garments

acclamation

(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral

calumniate

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

chary

(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident

collusion

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation

dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way
(adj.) superficial

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization
(v.) to issue such an order

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura

refulgent

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

allege

(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation

arrant

(adj.) thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

badinage

(n.) light and playful conversation

conciliate

(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent

countermand

(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

echelon

(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

exacerbate

(v.) to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful

fatuous

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way

irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond argument

juggernaut

(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

litany

(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list

macabre

(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

paucity

(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth

portend

(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

raze

(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out

recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

saturate

(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully

saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

slough

(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud
(n.) a mire; a state of depression