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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9969032692AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9969032693AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9969032694AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9969032695AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9969032696Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9969032697Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9969032698ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9969032699Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9969032700HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9969032701InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9969032702Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9969032703AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9969032704PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9969032705Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9969032706SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9969032707SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9969032708SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9969032709SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9969032710ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9969032711EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9969032712DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9969032713EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9969032714Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9969032715AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9969032716DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9969032717FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9969032718HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9969032719AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9969032720LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9969032721ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9969032722Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9969032723AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9969032724JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9969032725TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9969032726DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9969032727PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9969032728BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9969032729VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9969032730ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9969032731TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9969032732InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9969032733LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9969032734ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9969032735ChiasmusA 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
9969032736Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9969032737PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9969032738Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9969032739ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9969032740CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9969032741SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9969032742Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9969032743Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9969032744AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9969032745SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9969032746ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9969032747Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9969032748Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9969032749Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9969032750Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9969032751En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9969032752ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9969032753ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9969032754ImminentAbout to happen.62
9969032755EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9969032756EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9969032757SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9969032758IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9969032759HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9969032760OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9969032761AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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