AP Lang Vocab (Unit 1) (copy)

approbation (n.)

approbation (n.)

the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

assuage (v.)

to make an unpleasant feeling less intense: to relieve; to quiet, calm.

coalition (n.)

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose; an alliance for combined action.

elicit (v.)

to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)

expostulate (v.)

to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning; to express strong disapproval or disagreement.

hackneyed (adj.)

overused and unoriginal; clichéd.

hiatus (n.)

a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)

innuendo (n.)

a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

intercede (v.)

to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

jaded (adj.)

tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.

meritorious (adj.)

worthy, deserving recognition and praise

petulant (adj.)

easily irritated and upset; Childishly sulky or bad-tempered

prerogative (n.)

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class

provincial (adj.)

pertaining to an outlying area; narrow-minded or limited in perspective.  

simulate (v.)

to imitate the appearance or character of something.

transcend (v.)

to rise above or beyond, exceed

umbrage (n.)

offense, resentment, or annoyance.

abhor (v.)

to hate; to regard with disgust and hatred. Ex: She ______violence in any form.

antipathy (n.)

intense dislike. Ex: There was a strong _______ between the two rivals.

active voice

A sentence structure where the subject performs the action expressed by the verb.

___________ usually preferred in writing because it expresses more energy and command of the ess

sentence "The cat chased the mouse," the __________ is used because the subject (the cat) is performing the action (chased).

ad hominem

A type of argument that attacks the person rather than the argument itself. It is a common fallacy, especially during an election year.

For example: His ________ attack on his opponent's character did not address the real issues of the debate.

allegory

A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities.

allusion

An indirect reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth. _______ are always important and begin a literary ripple effect.

For example: Her comment about receiving a golden ticket was an _______ to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

anadiplosis

A rhetorical device in which the last word or phrase of one clause, sentence, or line is repeated at the beginning of the next, creating a connection of ideas important to the author’s purpose.

analogy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

For example: Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer—this ______ highlights the power of writing.

anaphora

A rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis

anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause, referred to by a pronoun. The AP Language exam occasionally asks for the _______ of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences.

In the sentence “The dog chased its tail,” “dog” is the _______ of the pronoun “its.”

antistrophe

A rhetorical device that involves the repetition of the same words at the end of consecutive phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs.

antithesis

A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.