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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9854950106AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9854950107AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9854950108AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9854950109AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9854950110Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9854950111Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9854950112ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9854950113Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9854950114HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9854950115InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9854950116Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9854950117AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9854950118PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9854950119Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9854950120SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9854950121SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9854950122SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9854950123SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9854950124ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9854950125EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9854950126DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9854950127EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9854950128Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9854950129AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9854950130DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9854950131FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9854950132HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9854950133AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9854950134LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9854950135ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9854950136Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9854950137AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9854950138JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9854950139TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9854950140DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9854950141PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9854950142BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9854950143VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9854950144ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9854950145TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9854950146InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9854950147LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9854950148ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9854950149ChiasmusA 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
9854950150Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9854950151PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9854950152Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9854950153ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9854950154CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9854950155SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9854950156Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9854950157Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9854950158AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9854950159SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9854950160ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9854950161Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9854950162Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9854950163Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9854950164Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9854950165En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9854950166ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9854950167ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9854950168ImminentAbout to happen.62
9854950169EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9854950170EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9854950171SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9854950172IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9854950173HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9854950174OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9854950175AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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