Ap Lang 5th 6 Weeks

alacrity (n.)

brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness

amiability (n.)

a friendly and pleasant manner

arbitrary (adj.)

based on random choice or personal whim

convolute (v.)

make an argument or story complex and difficult to follow

demure (adj.)

reserved, modest, and shy

diffident (adj.)

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.

effusive (adj.)

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

elated (adj.)

thrilled; delighted

idiomatic (adj.)

using, containing, or denoting expressions that are natural to a native speaker

inculcated (v.)

to instill by persistent instruction

incredulous (adj.)

unwilling or unable to believe something

improvident (adj.)

not having or showing foresight; wasteful; extravagant

maudlin (adj.)

self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental; overemotional

metonymy (n.)

the substitution of the name for that of the thing meant (ex. The White House will be announcing the decision today.)

objective (adj.)

not influenced by personal feelings or opinions

ominous (adj.)

threatening; foreboding; sinister

orthodox (adj.)

conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved; conservative; traditional

precipitous (adj.)

dangerously high or steep

subjective (adj.)

based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions

antithesis (n.)

a figure of speech in which an opposition of ideas is expressed by words that are contrasting (ex. speech is silver, but silence is gold)