AP Lit Vocab Quiz

condescension

1. patronizing attitude or behavior

2. voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in relations with an inferior

contempt

1a. feeling of intense dislike for smth regarded as unworthy of respect : disdain

1b. unusual lack of fear or reverence for something

2. the state of being despised : disgrace

3. willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body (the offense of contempt)

content

1. something contained —usually used in plural (ex: contents of a jar)

2. substance, gist, meaning, significance

3. the amount of specified material contained : proportion

4. pleased & satisfied w/ what one has

coquettish

having the air of a coquette (woman who endeavors w/out sincerity to gain attention of men)

countenance

deference

respect and esteem to a superior or an elder (“the deference due to age”)

“in deference to” - out of respect for

demure

reserved, modest in manner or style/dress. coy

dote

1. be extremely and uncritically fond of (“to dote on”)

2. have impaired intellectual functioning, especially in old age (“he’s dotes”)

effigy

1. an image or representation especially of a person

2. roughly made model of a person, made to be destroyed as a protest / expression of anger

elegy

1. poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead

2. Greek & Roman poetry, written in elegiac couplets

enjambment

continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza

erroneous

wrong

ethereal

1. extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world

2. lacking material substance

3. having diethyl ether as a solvent

ignorant

lacking knowledge or awareness in general

discourteous, rude

innocuous

not harmful or offensive

insatiable

impossible to satisfy

insinuate

1. suggest or hint (something bad usually) in an unpleasant way : imply

2. slide slowly/smoothly into a position, ingratiate oneself : creep

irreverent

lacking respect/seriousness : satiric

macabre

disturbing bc it has death as a subject, gruesome, produces horror

nostalgic

1. longing for / thinking fondly of a past time

2. a nostalgic person

nuance

1. a subtle distinction or variation

2. VERB: to give nuances to

obsequious

palimpsest

pasture

pew

pious

plaintively

prodigal

pulpit

recrimination

reproving

sacchrine

sanctity

secular

solace

taciturn

valise

vanity

whimsical

witty