AP Vocab 26

Vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes, focusing on key terms and their definitions.

august

Majestic, inspiring admiration and respect; dignified.

baulked

Was unwilling to do something or to allow something to happen.

cardinal

Chief, most important.

constituent

An essential part (e.g., the most important constituent of her perfume is something called ambergris).

contextualize

Place in context, such as by giving the background or circumstances.

enigmatic

Puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, not easily understood.

equanimity

Calmness, composure, refusal to panic.

happenstance

An unexpected random event.

heuristics

Sets of strategies, rather than strict rules, that act as guidelines for discovery-oriented problem solving; mental shortcuts.

inarticulate

Incomprehensible; unable to speak with clarity.

ineptitude

Lack of ability; incompetence.

inscrutability

Quality of being difficult to comprehend; hard or impossible to read.

invariably

Without exception; always.

lassitude

Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy.

maxim

A concise statement, often offering advice; an adage.

phlegmatic

Calm and unemotional in temperament.

preemptive

Done before someone else can do it.

propensity

A natural inclination or predilection toward.

raillery

Good-humored ridicule or teasing.

ramifications

Unexpected results or consequences of an action.

recombinant

Produced by combining from different sources (as in DNA).

repugnance

Intense disgust or dislike.

ribald

Humorous in a vulgar way.

supersede

To replace.

transgression

Act of trespassing or violating a law, rule, or duty.