AP Lit Handmaids Tale Vocab

Pedantic (adj) - one who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter.

Fraternize (v) - to associate or form a friendship with someone, especially when one is not supposed to.

Covet (v) - to want to have something very much, especially something that belongs to someone else

Anachronism (n) - something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time

Quagmire (n) - a situation from which it is hard to escap

Nondescript (adj.) - undistinguished or uninteresting; dull

Demure (adj.) - characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.

Effigy (n.) - a crude representation of someone disliked, used for purposes of ridicule.

Profusion (n.) - abundant

Approbation (n.) - approval

Ingratiate (v) - to establish (oneself or someone else) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed by with)

Plaintively (adv) - expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful:

Peccadillo (n) - a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.

Quailing (adj) - to shrink with fear

Prodigal (adj) - spending money or resources freely and recklessly; a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return.

Uncouth (adj.) - lacking good manners, refinement, or grace

Filch (v.) - to steal

Amalgamate (v.) - to combine, unite, blend

Abject (adj.) - (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity

Penultimate (adj.) - next to last

Insatiable (adj.) - (of an appetite or desire) impossible to satisfy.

Flippant (adj) - frivolously disrespectful, shallow, characterized by levity

Voracious (adj) - craving or consuming large quantities of food

Semaphore (n) - a system of sending messages by holding the arms or two flags or poles in certain positions

Precocious (adj) - showing the qualities or abilities of an adult at an unusually early age

Lassitude (n)  - a state of weariness accompanied by lack of energy

Peremptory (adj) – authoritative and expecting obedience

Adroit (adj) – skillful, practiced

Sordid (adj) – the worst, most immoral sides of human nature; disgusting

Infinitesimal (adj) – minute and unimportant