Honors American Literature Spring 2026 Final Exam Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards from the Honors American Literature Spring 2026 Final Exam Study Guide, including terms, parts of speech, and definitions.

altruistic

Unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

assent

To express agreement (v); agreement (n)

benefactor

One who does good to others

chivalrous

Marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

clemency

Mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

dearth

A lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

diffident

Shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

discrepancy

A difference; a lack of agreement

embark

To go abroad; to make a start; to invest

facile

Easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent, easily shown but not sincerely felt

indomitable

Unconquerable, refusing to yield

infallible

Free from error; absolutely dependable

plod

To walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

pungent

Causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

remiss

Neglectful in performance of one’s duty; careless

repose

To rest; lie; place (v); relaxation, peace of mind, calmness (n)

temerity

Rashness, boldness

truculent

Fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

unfeigned

Sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

Extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

accede

To yield to; to assume an office or dignity

brandish

To wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

comprise

To include or contain; to be made up of

deft

Skillful, nimble

destitute

Deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in;

explicit

Definite, clearly stated

extirpate

To tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune

Coming at a bad time; not appropriate

ironic

Suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic

musty

Stale, moldy; out-of-date

officious

Meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

ominous

Unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

pinnacle

A high peak or point

premeditated

Considered beforehand, deliberately planned

rampant

Growing without check, running wild

solace

Comfort, relief (n); to comfort, console (v)

stately

Dignified, majestic

supple

Bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

suppress

To stop by force, put down

venal

Open or marked by bribery or corruption

abhor

To regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

amend

To change in a formal way; to change for the better

buffet

To slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one’s way with difficulty (v); a slap, blow (n)

chaos

Great confusion, disorder

commodious

Roomy, spacious

corrosive

Eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

discern

To see clearly, recognize

extant

Still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

implicate

To involve in; to connect with or be related to

martinet

A strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

obviate

To anticipate and prevent; to remove or dispose of

renegade

(n) One who leaves a group; a deserter or outlaw; (adj) traitorous; unconventional, unorthodox

reprehensible

Deserving blame or punishment

somber

Dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

squalid

Filthy, wretched, debased

turbulent

Disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

vociferous

Loud and noisy; compelling attention

voluminous

Of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

waive

To do without; give up voluntarily; to put off temporarily; defer