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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9895441721AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9895441722AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9895441723AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9895441724AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9895441725Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9895441726Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9895441727ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9895441728Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9895441729HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9895441730InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9895441731Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9895441732AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9895441733PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9895441734Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9895441735SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9895441736SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9895441737SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9895441738SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9895441739ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9895441740EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9895441741DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9895441742EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9895441743Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9895441744AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9895441745DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9895441746FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9895441747HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9895441748AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9895441749LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9895441750ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9895441751Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9895441752AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9895441753JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9895441754TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9895441755DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9895441756PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9895441757BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9895441758VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9895441759ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9895441760TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9895441761InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9895441762LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9895441763ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9895441764ChiasmusA 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
9895441765Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9895441766PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9895441767Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9895441768ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9895441769CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9895441770SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9895441771Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9895441772Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9895441773AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9895441774SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9895441775ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9895441776Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9895441777Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9895441778Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9895441779Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9895441780En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9895441781ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9895441782ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9895441783ImminentAbout to happen.62
9895441784EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9895441785EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9895441786SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9895441787IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9895441788HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9895441789OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9895441790AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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