AP Lit - Vocab 4

importune

• harass someone, persistently for or to do something

• approach someone to request or offer sexual services

extol

• praise enthusiastically

enigma

• a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

provincial

• of a concerning a province of a country or empire

• inhabitant of a province of a country or empire

repudiate

• refuse to accept or be associated with

• deny the truth or validity of

shibboleth

• a distinguishing factor that sets away the group from the rest

relegate

• consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position

dogmatic

• inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

adamant

• refusing to be persuaded or to change one’s mind

indolent

• wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy

nihilism

• the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless

ascetic

• a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstains from worldly pleasures and comforts

elucidate

• make something clear; explain

complacent

• showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievement

nefarious

• (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal

germane

• relevant to a subject under consideration

reprehensible

• deserving censure or condemnation

mitigate

• make less severe, serious, or painful

immutable

• unchanging over time or unable to be changed

hedonist

• a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker