AP English Lit Unit 4 Vocab

Affinity

(n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship connection

syn: inclination, penchant

Ant: distaste, aversion

Bilious

(adj.) peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant

Syn: choleric, irascible, peevish, splenetic

Ant: sweet-tempered, genial, pleasant, delightful

Cognate

(Adj.) closely related in origin, essential nature or function

(n.) Such a person or thing

Syn: allied, affiliated, relative

Ant: dissimilar, unrelated

Corollary

(n.) a proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence or result (adj.) resultant or consequent

Syn: deduction, conclusion

Ant: axiom, postulate, premise

Cul-de-sac

(n.) a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse

Derring- do

(n.) valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)

Syn: audacity, bravado, pyrotechnics

Ant: cowardice, timidity, poltrooney

Elixir

(n.) a potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely, a panacea, a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines

Syn: cure-all, nostrum, tonic

Folderol

(n.) foolish talk, ideas, pr procedures; nonsense; a trifle

Syn: hoopla, gibberish

Ant: sense, significance

Gamut

(n.) an entire range or series

Syn: scope, compass, sweep

Hoi Polloi

(n.) the common people; the masses

Syn: rank and file

Ant: aristocracy, elite, upper class

Ineffable

(adj.) not expressible in words, too great or too sacred to be uttered

Syn: inexpressible, indescribable

Lucubration

(n.) laborious study or thought, especially at night, the result of such work

Syn: burning the midnight oil, deep thought

Mnemonic

(adj.) relating to or designed to assist the memory (n.) a device to aid the memory

Syn: reminder ,cue

Obloquy

(n.) public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment

Syn: discredit, opprobrium, ignominy, dishonor

Ant: praise, acclaim, approbation

Parameter

(n.) a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome,; a limit boundary

Pundit

(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions

Syn: expert, authority, savant

Any: layman, amateur, dilettante

Risible

(adj.) pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable

Syn:droll, ludicrous

Ant: depressing, poignant, heartrending

Symptomatic

(adj.) typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease

Syn: indicative

Volte-Face

(n.) an about-face; a complete reversal

Syn: turnabout