American Literature Vocab

camaraderie

rapport or goodwill

frangible

fragile

litany

any long, repetitive, or dull recital

moratorium

a suspension of activity; an authorized delay

zealous

fervent

desiccate

to dry out

wrenching

causing mental or physical pain

replete

full

interminable

endless, tiresomely long

arable

suitable for growing crops

lugubrious

mournful; gloomy

truncate

to shorten

ubiquitous

seemingly found everywhere

Vernacular

everyday language

equanimity

calmness

metaphorphosis

a transformation or dramatic change

donnybrook

a fight; an uproar

nonchalant

unconcerned; indifferent

vestige

a trace or evidence of something that once existed

interlocutor

someone who participates in a conversation

procrustean

strictly disregarding individual differences or circumstances

stygian

dark and forbidding

sophistry

a deliberately deceptive or misleading argument

carte blanche

boundless authority; unlimited power

incantation

a chant; a recited magical spell

cosmopolitan

familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures

rife

abundant

nomenclature

technical names or naming system in an art or science

brigand

robbers

contemptuous

scornful

scapegoat

one who bears the blame for others

peremptory

not allowing refusal or delay; imperative

atelier

an artist's or a designer's workshop

axiom

a universal truth; an established rule

dulcet

melodious; pleasing to the ear

usurp

to take over; to seize power

patronizing

treating with condescension; acting superior

iniquity

an evil or wicked act

archaic

no longer current or acceptable; antiquated

vacillate

to waver; to sway indecisively

perspicacious

keen; mentally sharp

abstemious

using or consuming sparingly

talisman

a magic charm or superstitious object for protection or luck

expurgate

to remove vulgar or objectionable material

pellucid

transparent; clear

effacious

effective; producing the desired outcome

catharsis

a release of emotional tension

inundate

to overwhelm; to fill beyond capacity

revere

to honor, to regard with respect

internecine

mutually destructive

risible

relating to laughter; laughable

sybaritic

marked by luxury or pleasure

crepuscular

active at dawn and dusk

kudos

acclaim or praise

estrange

to alienate, to separate

intrinsic

of or relating to a thing's basic nature; inherent

maxim

an established principle; a truth or rule of conduct

putrid

rotten and foul smelling

servile

submissive; slavish

apocryphal

of questionable authenticity, but widely believed

consternation

dismay, confusion

anomaly

a deviation from the norm; an odd or peculiar occurrence

vitriolic

bitter, sarcastic

preamble

a preliminary statement; an introduction

coterie

a small group of people who share interests and meet frequently

expiate

to make amends for

compendium

a list or collection of items

comprise

to include or contain

eidetic

pertaining to extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall

innocuous

harmless

foist

to pass off as genuine or valuable

plethora

excess; overabundance

flippancy

disrespect

incongruous

incompatible; unsuitable for the situation

disconcert

to frustrate; confuse

sectarian

narrowly confined to a particular group

peregrination

travel by walking

accouterments

personal clothing, accessories, or equipment

contrive

to plan cleverly; to devise

hubris

overbearing pride; arrogance

platitude

obvious remark

venerate

to honor, to revere

scullion

a servant for menial tasks

quotidian

everyday; commonplace

prognosticate

to predict

antediluvian

extremely old; antiquated

stringent

strict

haughty

arrogant, condescending

sanctimonious

showing false piety or righteousness

imbroglio

a difficult and embarrassing situation

gibberish

nonsense; unintelligible speech

inimical

unfriendly, hostile

nexus

a link, tie, or bond

coeval

of the same time period

dilatory

tending to delay or procrastinate

convoluted

complicated; intricate

entreat

To ask earnestly; to beg

ancedote

a short account of an incident

incumbent

obligatory; necessary

churlish

boorish or vulgar