AP Lang Unit 3 Vocab

atrophy

atrophy

(n) decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue, progressive decline

(v) to waste away (as from disease or disuse)

bastion

(n) a projecting part of a fortification, a fortified area or position, a stronghold

concord

(n) 1. a state of agreement ; harmony (musically too) 2. agreement by stipulation, compact, or covenant 3. grammatical agreement

consummate

(adj) extremely skilled and accomplished, of the highest degree, complete in every detail

disarray

(n) 1. a lack of order or sequence 2. disorderly dress

(v) 1. to throw into disorder 2. undress

exigency

(n) 1. that which is required in a particular situation - usually used in plural 2. the quality or state of being exigent, a state of affairs that makes urgent demands

flotsam

(n) 1. floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo; floating debris 2. miscellaneous or unimportant material, debris

frenetic

(adj) marked by fast and energetic, disordered or anxiety driven activity

glean

(v) 1. to gather grain or other produce left by reapers 2. to gather information or material bit by bit

grouse

(v) complain, grumble

(n) 1. game bird 2. complaint

incarcerate

(v) to put in prison, subject to confinement

incumbent

(n) 1. the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice 2. one that occupies a particular position or place

(adj) 1. imposed as a duty; obligatory 2. having the status of an incumbent 3. lying or resting on something else 4. bent over so as to rest on or touch an underlying surface

jocular

(adj) 1. said or done as a joke ; characterized by jesting 2. given to jesting ; habitually jolly or jocund

ludicrous

(adj) 1. amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity 2. meriting derisive laughter or scorn as absurdly inept, fake, or foolish

mordant

(adj) 1. biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style 2. burning, pungent, 3. acting as a mordant (as in dyeing)

(n) 1. a chemical that fixes a dye 2. a corroding substance used in etching

nettle

(v) 1. to strike or sting with or as with nettles 2. to arose sharp but transitory annoyance or anger

(n) a stinging plant

pecuniary

(adj) consisting or or measured in money, of or relating to money

pusillanimous

(adj) lacking courage and resolution ; marked by contemptible timidity

recumbent

(adj) suggestive of repose, lying down

stratagem

(n) 1. an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy 2. skill in ruses or trickery