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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9080187733AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9080187734AlliterationThe Repetition of sounds1
9080187735AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9080187736AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9080187737Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9080187738Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9080187739ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9080187740Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9080187741HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9080187742InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9080187743Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9080187744AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9080187745PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9080187746Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9080187747SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9080187748SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9080187749SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9080187750SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9080187751ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9080187752EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9080187753DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9080187754EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9080187755Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9080187756AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9080187757DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9080187758FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9080187759HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9080187760AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9080187761LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9080187762ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9080187763Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9080187764AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9080187765JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9080187766TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9080187767DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9080187768PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9080187769BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9080187770VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9080187771ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9080187772TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9080187773InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9080187774LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9080187775ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9080187776ChiasmusA 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
9080187777Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9080187778PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9080187779Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9080187780ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9080187781CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9080187782SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9080187783Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9080187784Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9080187785AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9080187786SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9080187787ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9080187788Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9080187789Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9080187790Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9080187791Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9080187792En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9080187793ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9080187794ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9080187795ImminentAbout to happen.62
9080187796EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9080187797EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9080187798SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9080187799IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9080187800HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9080187801OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9080187802AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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