AP lang

AP Lang Quarter 1 Vocabulary—Words from Readings 

 

1. feeble (adjective) — weak in strength, force, or effectiveness.  

Example: The feeble bridge could not support the weight of the truck. 

 

2. scorn (noun) — a feeling or expression of strong disrespect or contempt.  

Example: She looked at the dishonest offer with open scorn. 

 

3. realm (noun) — a kingdom, domain, or field of activity or interest.  

Example: Science fiction often explores realms beyond Earth. 

 

4. valor (noun) — courage or bravery, especially in the face of danger.  

Example: The soldier was praised for his valor during the rescue. 

 

5. concord (noun) — harmony or agreement between people or groups.  

Example: The treaty helped restore concord between the two nations. 

 

6. treachery (noun) — betrayal of trust; deceptive or disloyal behavior.  

Example: The spy’s treachery shocked everyone in the court. 

 

7. essence (noun) — the core nature or most important quality of something.  

Example: Honesty is the essence of good leadership. 

 

8. compassion (noun) — sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.  

Example: The nurse treated her patients with compassion and care. 

 

9. irreplaceable (adjective) — impossible to replace or substitute.  

Example: Family photographs are irreplaceable treasures. 

 

10. vulnerability (noun) — the state of being exposed to harm or emotional injury.  

Example: He showed vulnerability by admitting his mistakes. 

 

11. anguish (noun) — severe physical or emotional pain or distress.  

Example: She cried out in anguish after hearing the bad news. 

 

12. ghastly (adjective) — horrifying, shocking, or very unpleasant.  

Example: The abandoned house looked ghastly at night. 

 

13. canonize (verb) — to officially recognize someone as a saint or to highly honor.  

Example: The church decided to canonize the historical figure. 

 

14. immersed (adjective) — deeply involved or absorbed in something.  

Example: He was so immersed in his book that he missed dinner. 

 

15. emancipation (noun) — the act of freeing someone from oppression or control.  

Example: The emancipation of enslaved people was a turning point in history. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. competent (adjective) — having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill.  

Example: She is a competent manager who handles problems well. 

 

17. vigor (noun) — physical strength, energy, or enthusiasm.  

Example: The athlete trained with great vigor every morning. 

 

18. sublime (adjective) — extremely impressive, beautiful, or uplifting.  

Example: The view from the mountain peak was sublime. 

 

19. innocuous (adjective) — harmless and not likely to cause damage.  

Example: What seemed like an innocuous comment upset several people. 

 

20. brethren (noun) — siblings or members of the same group or community.  

Example: The leader addressed the crowd as his brethren. 

 

21. derelict (adjective) — abandoned and in poor condition.  

Example: A derelict ship was spotted near the shore. 

 

22. endeavor (noun) — a serious or determined effort to achieve a goal.  

Example: Starting a business is a challenging endeavor. 

 

23. zeal (noun) — great enthusiasm or passion for a cause.  

Example: She approached her studies with impressive zeal. 

 

24. proscribed (adjective) — officially forbidden or banned.  

Example: The proscribed book was removed from the library. 

 

25. emolument (noun) — payment or profit received for work or services.  

Example: The job offered a generous emolument and benefits package. 

 

26. toleration (noun) — acceptance of views or practices different from one’s own.  

Example: Toleration is essential in a diverse society. 

 

27. grievances (noun) — complaints or injustices that cause resentment.  

Example: The workers listed their grievances during the meeting. 

 

28. injuries (noun) — physical harm or damage done to a person or thing.  

Example: Several players were sidelined due to injuries. 

 

29. auspicious (adjective) — favorable or indicating good chances of success.  

Example: Winning the first match was an auspicious start to the season. 

 

30. sullied (adjective) — tarnished, damaged, or morally polluted.  

Example: His reputation was sullied by the false rumors. The Great Gatsby Vocabulary for AP English 11

1. Supercilious (Adjective): Behaving as though one is superior to others; arrogant. Example: Tom Buchanan often appears supercilious when speaking to people he considers beneath him.

2. Contiguous (Adjective): Touching or sharing a boundary. Example: The Eggs are contiguous communities that symbolize different kinds of wealth.

3. Peremptory (Adjective): Demanding immediate attention or obedience. Example: Tom gave a peremptory command that revealed his controlling nature.

4. Fractious (Adjective): Irritable and difficult to manage. Example: The conversation became fractious as tensions rose among the guests.

5. Levity (Noun): Lack of seriousness; lightheartedness. Example: Moments of levity at Gatsby's parties contrast with deeper sadness.

6. Privy (Adjective): Sharing knowledge of a secret. Example: Nick becomes privy to Gatsby's mysterious past.

7. Gratify (Verb): To please or satisfy. Example: Gatsby hopes his wealth will gratify Daisy's expectations.

8. Vehement (Adjective): Showing strong feeling; forceful. Example: Tom makes a vehement argument during the confrontation in New York.

9. Corpulent (Adjective): Large or overweight. Example: The novel occasionally describes corpulent partygoers.

10. Hauteur (Noun): Arrogant pride. Example: Daisy's social circle often displays an air of hauteur.

11. Elusive (Adjective): Difficult to find or achieve. Example: Gatsby's dream remains elusive despite his success.

12. Reverie (Noun): A daydream or deep thought. Example: Nick falls into a reverie while reflecting on the past.

13. Wan (Adjective): Pale or weak-looking. Example: After stressful events, a character may appear wan and tired.

14. Incessant (Adjective): Continuing without interruption. Example: The incessant music filled Gatsby's mansion each weekend.

15. Complacent (Adjective): Self-satisfied and unconcerned. Example: The wealthy characters seem complacent about the consequences of their actions.

16. Impetuous (Adjective): Acting without careful thought. Example: An impetuous decision contributes to the novel's conflicts.

17. Prodigality (Noun): Wasteful extravagance. Example: Gatsby's lavish parties are examples of prodigality.

18. Surmise (Verb/Noun): To infer without complete evidence. Example: Nick can only surmise the truth behind Gatsby's rumors.

19. Cynical (Adjective): Distrustful of human motives. Example: Nick sometimes adopts a cynical view of society.

20. Garrulous (Adjective): Excessively talkative. Example: A garrulous guest eagerly shares gossip about Gatsby.

21. Jaunty (Adjective): Cheerful and confident. Example: The guests arrived with a jaunty attitude ready to celebrate.

22. Tumultuous (Adjective): Noisy and disorderly. Example: The party created a tumultuous atmosphere.

23. Ethereal (Adjective): Delicate and heavenly. Example: Gatsby describes Daisy's voice in almost ethereal terms.

24. Pervade (Verb): To spread throughout. Example: A sense of longing pervades the entire novel.

25. Sporadic (Adjective): Occurring irregularly. Example: Nick's encounters with Gatsby are sporadic at first.

26. Ominous (Adjective): Suggesting something bad will happen. Example: The valley of ashes creates an ominous mood.

27. Somber (Adjective): Dark or serious in mood. Example: The ending of the novel is somber and reflective.

28. Dogmatic (Adjective): Expressing opinions as unquestionably true. Example: Tom often sounds dogmatic when discussing his beliefs.

29. Ineffable (Adjective): Too great to be expressed in words. Example: Gatsby pursues an ineffable ideal of happiness.

30. Commensurate (Adjective): Equal in measure, extent, or proportion. Example: Gatsby believed his rewards should be commensurate with his efforts and ambition.