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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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8497432423AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
8497432424AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
8497432425AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
8497432426AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
8497432427Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
8497432428Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
8497432429ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
8497432430Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
8497432431HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
8497432432InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
8497432433Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
8497432434AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
8497432435PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
8497432436Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
8497432437SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
8497432438SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
8497432439SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
8497432440SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
8497432441ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
8497432442EpigramA brief witty statement.19
8497432443DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
8497432444EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
8497432445Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
8497432446AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
8497432447DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
8497432448FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
8497432449HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
8497432450AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
8497432451LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
8497432452ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
8497432453Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
8497432454AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
8497432455JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
8497432456TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
8497432457DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
8497432458PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
8497432459BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
8497432460VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
8497432461ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
8497432462TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
8497432463InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
8497432464LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
8497432465ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
8497432466ChiasmusA type of parallelism in which elements are reversed. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."43
8497432467Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
8497432468PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
8497432469Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
8497432470ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
8497432471CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
8497432472SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
8497432473Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
8497432474Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
8497432475AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
8497432476SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
8497432477ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
8497432478Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
8497432479Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
8497432480Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
8497432481Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
8497432482En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
8497432483ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
8497432484ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
8497432485ImminentAbout to happen.62
8497432486EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
8497432487EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
8497432488SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
8497432489IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
8497432490HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
8497432491OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
8497432492AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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