AP Lit Vocab Unit 2

aegis

(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship

SYNONYM: auspices

apprise

(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

bibulous

(adjective)

fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

syn: inebrious

ant: abstemious, temperate

claque

(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

deracinate

(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

syn: extirpate, eradicate, expunge

ant: implant, nurture, foster, instill

exegesis

(n.) an explanation of a text; a critical interpretation

indigenous

originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

lachrymose

(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

lexicon

(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

melee

(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

microcosm

a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

miniscule

(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter

obfuscate

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

paternalism

(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

polarize

(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

sanguine

(adj.) Having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

solecism

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

vassal

(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; (adj.) subservient

verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable