ap lit flashcards

ODIOUS

(a) meriting strong dislike or displeasure.

SCIAMACHY

(n) an act or instance of fighting a shadow or an imaginary enemy.

IRASCIBLE

(a) easily provoked to anger.

JINGOISM

(n) extreme nationalism; chauvinistic patriotism.

ENNUI

(n) listlessness; boredom.

SOLIPSISTIC

(a) characterized by the belief and theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist.

ROTE

(n) a process of memorizing using routine or repetition, often without full understanding.

BALKANIZE

(v) to divide (a region or territory) into small, often hostile, units.

INEFFABLE

(a) defying expression or description; too sacred to be uttered.

PARVENU

(n) a person who has suddenly risen in social or economic class but has not yet gained acceptance in the upper class.

EXEGESIS

(n) critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text.

SAPIENT

(a) having great wisdom or discernment.

ABERRATION

n) deviation from what is expected, normal, or usual.

SURREPTITIOUS

(a) done by stealth; secret or unauthorized.

PILLORY

(v) to expose to ridicule and abuse.

CAPRICIOUS

(a) impulsive and unpredictable.

PANACEA

(n) a cure-all.

CLOY

(v) to cause disgust by providing too much of something originally pleasant.

FIAT

(n) an arbitrary order or decree.

YEOMAN

(n) a diligent and dependable worker.

COMPUNCTION

(n) anxiety or deep unease proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain.

REDOUBTABLE

(a) inspiring fear or awe.

CANDOR

(n) honesty; frankness.

BLITHE

(a) carefree and lighthearted.

SCINTILLA

(n) a small amount; a spark.

ETHOS

(n) the fundamental spirit or character of a community or culture.

PANDER

(v) to cater to base tastes or expectations.

INURE

(v) to make accustomed to.

ABULIA

(n) the loss or impairment of the ability to make decisions.

CAVIL

(v) to raise trivial objections.

SYLLOGISM

(n) deductive reasoning; a sophisticated, subtle, or deceptive argument.

PAROCHIAL

(a) narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial.

ANTEDILUVIAN

(a) extremely old or antiquated.

ANIMUS

(n) a feeling of animosity or ill will.

METTLE

(n) courage and fortitude.

FOIST

(v) to pass off as genuine; to impose something unwanted on someone.

SOBRIQUET

(n) a nickname.

WUNDERKIND

(n) a child prodigy.

VESTIGE

(n) a trace or sign of something that no longer exists.

OSTENSIBLE

(a) represented or appearing as such; pretended; on the surface.

UNCTUOUS

(a) slippery or oily; insincere.

COMPRISE

(v) to consist of; to include, contain.

LOGORRHEA

(n) excessive use of words.

INCHOATE

(a) just begun; imperfectly formed.

FEALTY

(n) faithfulness; allegiance.

RIPOSTE

(n) a retaliatory retort.

ITERATION

(n) a different form or version of something.

TRUCULENT

(a) disposed to fight; pugnacious; violent.

EXTOL

(v) to praise highly.

PABULUM

(n) insipid intellectual nourishment.

GARRULOUS

(a) tiresomely talkative.

ACQUIESCE

(v) to consent or comply passively, without protest.

PROSELYTIZE

(v) to attempt to convert to another's faith.

BLOVIATE

(v) to discourse at great length in a pompous manner.

AMALGAM

(n) a combination of diverse elements; a mixture.

VERBATIM

(a) using exactly the same words.

ALACRITY

(n) cheerful willingness or eagerness.

MITIGATE

(v) to lessen in severity; to appease or moderate.

CIRCUMLOCUTION

(n) evasion in speech or writing.

SYLVAN

(a) related to or characteristic of woods or forest regions.

MILIEU

(n) an environment or setting.

EXPATIATE

(v) to write or speak at length; to wander freely.

HALE

(a) free from infirmity or illness; sound.

VIM

(n) ebullient vitality and energy.

MERETRICIOUS

(a) attracting attention in a vulgar manner.

KIBOSH

(n) a checking or restraining element.

REPROBATE

(n) a morally unprincipled person.

CADRE

(n) a small unit serving as the nucleus of a larger group.

IMBROGLIO

(n) a confused heap; a tangle.

SALIENT

(a) remarkable; relevant.

INCIPIENT

(a) beginning to exist or appear.

PANACHE

(n) dash; verve; flair.

QUOTIDIAN

(a) everyday; commonplace; occurring daily.

DIAMETRICAL

(a) exactly opposite; contrary.

INIQUITY

(n) gross immorality or injustice; wickedness.

PHALANX

(n) a group of purposeful people, often with the effect of swarming or overwhelming.

INVETERATE

(a) firmly and long established.

QUANDARY

(n) a state of uncertainty.

SACCHARINE

(a) excessively sentimental.

ZENITH

(n) a highest point or state; culmination.

SCION

(n) a descendent or heir.

QUIDNUNC

(n) a busybody.

ITINERANT

(a) traveling from place to place, often to perform a job or duty.

MISOGYNY

(n) hatred of women.

PROSAIC

(a) matter-of-fact; straightforward; lacking originality.

BADINAGE

(n) light, playful banter.

SPURIOUS

(a) lacking authenticity; false.

SARDONIC

(a) scornfully or cynically mocking.

DISINGENUOUS

(a) insincere or calculating; pretending to be unaware.

MOXIE

(n) aggressive energy; initiative; the ability to face difficulty with courage.

INHERENT

(a) existing as an essential component or characteristic.

GESTALT

(n) a configuration so unified it cannot be defined as the sum of its parts.

ASTRINGENT

(a) stern or severe; caustic.

PROFLIGATE

(a) recklessly wasteful or extravagant.

CURSORY

(a) performed with haste and scant attention to detail.

CONFABULATION

(n) casual talk; a plausible but imagined memory.

PROPINQUITY

(n) closeness or proximity.

IDEOLOGUE

(n) an advocate of a particular ideology.

RECTITUDE

(n) rightness in principle or conduct; moral virtue.

BLANDISHMENT

(n) an effort to coax by flattery.