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AP English Literature Flashcards

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5295981490abjureGive up, renounce; repudiate, recant, or shun (especially formally or under oath)0
5295982489abrogate(v.) to repeal, cancel, declare null and void1
5295983615abstemious(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline2
5295986187acumenSharpness of insight Mental keenness Mental sharpness ability to discern or discriminate; shrewdness Quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight3
5295986210auspiciousFavorable Favorable, fortunate Signaling favorable or promising results4
5295990395belieContradict; give a false impression5
5295992226bellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.6
5295993240churlishRude boorish; rude; N. churl: boor; yahoo (adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude7
5295999222deleteriousHarmful (adj.) harmful, injurious8
5296000320diffidentLacking self-confidence Shy (adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved9
5296015182enervateTo weaken to reduce in strength (v) weaken, tire To weaken10
5296024906enfranchisegive voting rights (v.) to grant the vote to (The Nineteenth Amendment enfranchised women.) admit to the rights of citizenship (especially the right to vote); CF. franchise11
5296026413epiphanyA moment of sudden revelation or insight Revelation A sudden realization12
5296027551evanescent(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy (adj.) fleeting, momentary (My joy at getting promoted was evanescent because I discovered that I would have to work much longer hours in a less friendly office.) tending to disappear like vapor; vanishing13
5296030898expurgateto censor (v.) to remove objectionable passages or words from a written text; to cleanse, purify Censor; remove objectionable or offensive parts (v.) to remove offensive or incorrect parts, usually of a book (The history editors expurgated from the text all disparaging and inflammatory comments about the Republican Party.)14
5296034236facetious(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously Joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things (adj) joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things15
5296041026fatuousstupid; foolishly self-satisfied Foolish adj. smugly foolish; complacently stupid16
5296043836feckless(adj.) lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak; irresponsible, unreliable17
5296044555filibusterA procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue. A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.18
5296045962gauche(adj.) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy clumsy (in social behavior); coarse and uncouth19
5296048183hegemonythe domination of one state or group over its allies Domination, authority; influence by one country over others socially, culturally, economically, etc. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.20
5296049682incognitoDisguised in disguise disguised; pretending not to be oneself (adj., adv.) in a disguised state, under an assumed name or identity; (n.) the state of being disguised; a person in disguise with one's identity concealed21
5296052151incontrovertible(adj.) unquestionable, beyond dispute Indisputable22
5296059838inculcate(v.) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly to teach or impress by frequent repetition; to instill23
5296062121interpolateto insert; change by adding new words or material (v.) to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction24
5296064788jejune(adj.) lacking in nutritive value; lacking in interest or substance; immature, juvenile adjective: dull; lacking flavor25
5296087658kowtowa former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission verb: to bow or act in a subservient manne a Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission26
5296089568loquaciousTalkative Very talkative Extremely talkative (adj.) talkative, wordy; fond of talking talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous; wordy.27
5296094428lugubriousexaggeratedly mournful sorrowful; mournful; dismal sad; gloomy28
5296096364obsequiousOverly submissive and eager to please (adj) servile, very compliant, fawning (adj.) Marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons29
5468737368Paradigm... (n) model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.30
5468737369Precipitous... dangerously high or steep31
5468737370Recapitulate... (v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up (v.) - to repeat, reiterate32
5468737371Subjugate... (v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control33
5468737372Tempestuous... stormy, raging, furious34
5468737373Unctuous... (adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable35
5468737374Vehement... (adj.) intense, forceful, powerful36
5468737375Winnow... (v.) to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to remove the chaff from the wheat by blowing air on it; to blow on, fan37
5468737376Towdry...showy but cheap and of poor quality.38
5468737377Stymie... to block; to thwart39
5815122718circumspectcautious; aware of potential consequences40
5815123770efface(v.) to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed41
5815124284proliferateTo grow or reproduce rapidly42
5815125262sullyto tarnish; taint (v.) to soil, stain, tarnish, defile, besmirch43
5815127219abscondto leave secretly (v.) to run off and hide44
5815128544intrepidFearless fearless; resolutely courageous45
5815129283paramountchief in importance, above all others (adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character (It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse.)46
5815129945dolefulSad; dreary Mournful or full of sorrow; causing grief47
5815131486superfluousExceeding what is sufficient or required, excess Additional to what is necessary; extra48
5815135372exhorbitantunreasonably high; excessive Excessive49
5815135883tantalize(v.) to tease, torment by teasing to torment or tease by showing something desirable while keeping it out of reach50

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