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AP American Literature Vocabulary: Week 7

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126267918paroxysm(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion
126267919pedantry(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details
126267920peregrination(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country
126267921redolent(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
126267922refulgent(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent
126267923shibboleth(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism
126267924tyro(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill
126267925unremitting(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless
126267926vacillate(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will
126267927vituperative(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding
126267928askance(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
126267929attenuate(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
126267930benign(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
126267931cavil(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp
126267932cavil(n.) a trivial objection or criticism
126267933charlatan(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
126267934decimate(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
126267935foible(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
126267936forgo(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
126267937fraught(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
126267938inure(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
126267939luminous(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
126267940obsequious(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons
126267941obtuse(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression
126267942oscillate(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
126267943penitent(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes
126267944penitent(n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
126267945peremptory(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial determined, resolute
126267946rebuff(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away
126267947rebuff(n.) a curt rejection, a check
126267948reconnoiter(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
126267949shambles(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
126267950sporadic(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order

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