AP Lit American Year Vocab

Odious

Meriting strong dislike or displeasure

Sciamachy

an act or instance of fighting a shadow or imaginary enemy

Irascible

easily provoked to anger

Jingoism

extreme nationalism; chauvinistic patriotism

Ennui

listlessness; boredom

Solipsistic

characterized by the belief and theory that only self exists, or can be proved to exist

Rote

a process of memorization using routine or repetition, often without full understanding

Balkanize

to divide (a region or territory) into small, often hostile, units

Ineffable

defying expression or description; too sacred to be uttered

Parvenu

a person who has suddenly risen in social or economic class but has not yet gained acceptance in the upper class

Syllogism

deductive reasoning; a sophisticated, subtle, or deceptive argument

Exegesis

critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text

Sapient

having great wisdom or discernment

Aberration

deviation from what is expected, normal, or usual

surreptitious

done by stealth; secret or unauthorized

Pillory

to expose to ridicule or abuse

Capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

Panacea

a cure-all

Cloy

to cause disgust by providing too much of something originally pleasant

Fiat

an arbitrary order or decree

Yeoman

a diligent and dependable worker

Parochial

narrowly restricted in scope or outlook

Compunction

anxiety or deep unease proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain

Redoubtable

inspiring fear or awe

Candor

honesty; frankness

Blithe

carefree and lighthearted

Scintilla

a small amount; a spark

Ethos

the fundamental spirit or character of a community or culture

Pander

to cater to base tastes or expectations

Inure

to make accustomed too

Abulia

the loss or impariment of the ability to make decisions

Cavil

to raise trivial objections

Antediluvian

extremely old or antiquated

Animus

a feeling of animosity or ill will

Mettle

courage and fortitude

Foist

to pass off as genuine; to impose something unwanted on someone

Wunderkind

a child prodigy

Sobriquet

a nickname

Vestige

a trace or sign of something that no longer exists

Ostensible

represented or appearing on the surface

Comprise

to consist of; to include, contain

Unctuous

slippery or oily; insincere

Logorrhea

excessive use of words

Inchoate

just begun; imperfectly formed.

Fealty

faithfulness; allegiance

Riposte

a retaliatory retort

Iteration

a different form or version of something

Truculent

disposed to fight; pugnacious; violent

Extol

to praise highly

Pabulum

insipid intellectual nourishment

Garrulous

tiresomely talkative

Acquiesce

to consent or comply passively, without protest

Proselytize

to attempt to convert to another's faith

Bloviate

to discourse at great length in a pompous manner

Amalgam

a combination of diverse elements; a mixture

Verbatim

using exactly the same words

Alacrity

cheerful willingness or eagerness

Mitigate

to lessen in severity; to appease or moderate.

Circumlocution

evasion in speech or writing

Sylvan

related to or characteristic of woods or forest regions

Milieu

an environment or setting

Expatiate

to write or speak at length; to wander freely

Hale

free from infirmity or illness; sound

Vim

ebullient vitality or energy

Meretricious

attracting attention in a vulgar manner

Kibosh

a checking or restraining element

Reprobate

a morally inprincipled person

Cadre

small unit serving as the nucleus of a larger group

Imbroglio

a confused heap; a tangle

Salient

remarkable; relevant

Incipient

beginning to exist or appear

Panache

dash; verve; flair

Quotidian

everyday; commonplace; occuring daily

Diametrical

exactly opposite; contrary

Iniquity

gross immorality or injustice; wickedness

Phalanx

a group of purposeful people, often with the effect of swarming or overwhelming

Inveterate

firmly and long established

Quandary

a state of uncertainty

Saccharine

excessively sentimental

Zenith

a highest point or state; culmination

Scion

descendent or heir

Quidnunc

a busybody

Itinerant

travelling from place to place, often to perform a job or duty

Misogyny

hatred of women

Prosaic

matter-of-fact; straightforward; lacking originality

Badinage

light, playful banter

Spurious

lacking authenticity; false

Sardonic

scronfully or cynically mocking

Disingenuous

insincere or calculating; pretending to be unaware

Moxie

aggressive energy; initiative; the ability to face difficulty with courage

Inherent

existing as an essential component or characteristic

Gestalt

a configuration so unified it cannot be defined as the sum of its parts

Astringent

stern or severe; caustic

Profligate

recklessly wasteful or extravagant

Cursory

performed with haste and scant attention to detail

Confabulation

casual talk; a plausible but imagined memory

Propinquity

closeness or proximity

Ideologue

an advocate of a particular ideology

Rectitude

rightness in principle or conduct; moral virtue

Blandishment

an effort to coax by flattery