Vocab Unit 1 Ap/DC Lang and Comp

Accentuate

make more noticeable or prominent

comprehensive

thorough

intricacy

condition or state of being complex, involved, or detailed; elaborateness

provacative

tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desir or appetite; irritating, annoying

usurp

to seize and hold a position by force or without right

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

felicitous

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

introspective

contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings

rhetorical

relating to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect; insincere in expression

vernacular

Everyday language of ordinary people

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

despicable

(adj.) worthy of scorn, contemptible

ferocity

The quality or state of being fierce, savage, or relentless

misanthrope

(n.) a person who hates or despises people

protagonist

Main character in a story

conjecture

A guess, often one based on inadequate or faulty evidence

dissolute

devoted to sensual pleasure; lacking moral restraint

incongruous

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

prologue

introductory remarks in a speech, play or literary work, introductory action

terse

concise; to the point

Epithet

A descriptive name or phrase used to characterize someone or something

evasive

avoiding by cleverness; not straightforward; misleading

evoke

bring or recall to the conscious mind

perpetuate

to cause to continue

foreshadow

be a warning or indication of (a future event).

infer

to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

laudable

worthy of praise

lucid

easy to understand, clear; rational, sane

scrutinize

to observe carefully

symposium

a meeting for discussing a particular subject; a collection of writings on a subject

Affluent

rich, wealthy

banter

(v.) to exchange playful remarks, tease; (n.) talk that is playful and teasing

novice

a beginner; one who is inexperienced

brevity

briefness; short duration

connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

embellish

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

imbibe

(v.) to drink; to take in, absorb

nostalgic

having a longing for things past

stipend

fixed pay for services; salary; regular allowance awarded a scholarship winner

reiterate

to say again, repeat

Anagram

a word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase

assertion

a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief

coherent

logical and consistent

fulminate

to attack loudly; denounce

goad

to drive or urge on

inexplicable

hard to explain or impossible to understand

noncommittal

not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

proboscis

the long snout of an animal; a nose, especially a prominent one; a tubular organ

quixotic

exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Anecdote

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

extemporaneous

improvised; done without preparation

fidelity

faithfulness; loyalty

climactic

of the highest point; of the most intense part of a story or event

epilogue

short concluding section in a literary work

prodigy

(n.) something wonderful or marvelous; something monstrous or abnormal; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent

forte

a person's strong point; what a person does best

hypochondriac

one who is morbidly anxious about personal health, or suffering from imagined illness

staunch

loyal and committed in attitude

stigma

a mark of shame or discredit

Bumptious

conceited and arrogant; crudely and unpleasantly forward

cite

(v.) to quote; to mention; to summon to appear in court; to commend, recommend

consonant

harmony

gibe

to utter taunting words; an expression of scorn

repartee

Quick, witty conversation

rudiment

a basic idea or principle

sanction

permission; support

satite

to satisfy

subservient

(adj.) subordinate in capacity or role; submissively obedient; serving to promote some end

vivacious

lively, sprightly, full of energy

Comely

having a pleasing appearance

decadence

(n.) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence

erroneous

(adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes

flaunt

(v.) to wave or flutter showily; to display in a conceited, offensive way

hypercritical

overcritical; too severe in judgement

irascible

easily angered, irritable

miscreant

a vicious person

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

pretentious

pompous, self-important

stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people

Abridge

to shorten or condense

emendation

a correction; a change in a written text

finality

the quality or condition of being complete or settled; conclusiveness

garrulous

given to much talking, tediously chatty

impromptu

(adj., adv.) without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done; (n.) an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation

invoke

to call on for support

syn: appeal to

shrew

a mouselike animal that eats insects; a bad-tempered, nagging woman

supercilious

proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority

verbose

wordy, very talkative

lucrative

bringing in money; profitable

Affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

bolster

(v.) to support, give a boost to; (n.) a long pillow or cushion; a supporting post

expletive

Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive.

idiomatic

using, containing, or denoting expressions that are natural to a native speaker

intangible

unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence

reciprocate

to mutually take or give; to respond in kind

subterfuge

an excuse or trick for escaping or hiding something

tawdry

(adj.) showy and flashy but lacking in good taste

wistful

having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing