AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Lang Semester 1 Vocab

Terms : Hide Images
281348201palaver (n.)idle talk or chatter; (v.) to talk idly or chat.
281348202slough (v.)to treat as trivial ("to slough over"); periodically to shed the outer layer of skin ("to slough off").
281348203victuals (n.)food supplies, provisions.
281348204stanchion (n.)an upright bar, beam, or support.
281348205skiff (n.)any boat small enough for rowing or sailing by one person.
281348206prevarication (n)lie, falsehood.
281348207fantods (n.)state of nervous irritability; a fit.
281348208scow (n)flat-bottomed boat with a rectangular hull and sloping ends; an old clumsy; barge.
281348209caper (n.)a frivolous, carefree activity; (v.) to prance, gambol, leap, or skip about.
281348210languish (v.)to be or to become weak, to lose vigor, to pine with desire and longing.
281348211ponderous (adj.)heavy, massive, unwieldy, awkward.
281348212rapscallion (n)rascal, rogue, scamp.
281348213contumely (n.)contemptuous, humiliating treatment; a humiliating insult.
281348214soliloquy (n.)the act of talking while or as if alone.
281348215obsequies (n.—usually plural)funeral rite or ceremony.
281348216histrionic (adj.)overly dramatic, affected.
281348217towhead (n.)a sandbar in a river, often with a stand of cottonwood trees; also a light-blond-haired person (only the first definition applies in Huck Finn).
281348218acquiescence (n)the act or condition of acquiescing or giving tacit assent; agreement or consent by silence or without objection; compliance (usually fol. by to or in): acquiescence to his boss's demands. Syn: acceptance, accession, approval, assent, compliance.
281348219platitude (n)a flat, dull, or trite remark, esp. one uttered as if it were fresh or profound; the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: the platitude of most political oratory. Syn: cliché, truism.
28134822020 drudgery (n)menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work.
281348221napalm (n)a highly incendiary jellylike substance used in fire bombs, flamethrowers, etc.; (v): to drop bombs containing napalm on (troops, a city, or the like).
281348222bedlam (n)a scene of wild uproar and confusion; disorder, tumult, chaos, clamor, turmoil, commotion, pandemonium.
281348223catharsis (n)the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music. A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear, described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience.
281348224condolence (n)Sympathy with a person who has experienced pain, grief, or misfortune: paid a visit of condolence to the grieving family. Expression of sympathy with a person who is suffering sorrow, misfortune, or grief; commiseration.
281348225rapport (n)Relationship, especially one of mutual trust or emotional affinity. Syn: fellowship, camaraderie, compatibility.
281348226rectitude (n)rightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue: the rectitude of her motive; Correctness: rectitude of judgment. Syn: integrity, probity.
281348227impecunious (adj.)having little or no money; penniless, destitute, poor, poverty-stricken.
281348228emolument (n)compensation as fees or tips; wages.
281348229ascetic (adj)austere; rigorously abstinent; monk-like.
281348230contumaciously (adv)rebelliously to the extreme; disobediently.
281348231efficacy (n)effectiveness
281348232prurient (adj.)having lustful desires; causing lasciviousness or lust.
281348233similitude (n)resemblance; affinity.
281348234palliate (v)alleviate, mitigate.
281348235abeyance (n)temporary inactivity, cessation or suspension.
281348236somniferous (adj)sleep-inducing, soporific.
281348237presentiments (n)foreboding; feeling that something is about to happen, especially something evil.
281348238abstruse (adj.)hard to understand; recondite, esoteric.
281348239scurrilous (adj.)grossly or obscenely abusive.
281348240auspicious (adj.)promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable.
281348241abase (v)humiliate; degrade.
281348242propinquity (n)proximity; kinship; nearness of time or place or relation.
281348243sedulous (adj.)diligent in character or application; persevering
281348244deleterious (adj.)harmful, injurious.
281348245asperity (n)severity; acrimony; harshness of tone; hardship; difficulty; rigor.
281348246scintillating (adj.)emitting sparks; animated or witty; sparkling, as in stars.
281348247malevolent (adj.)malicious, injurious.
281348248effete (adj.)lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent; worn out; unable to reproduce, sterile.
281348249misanthropy (n)hatred, dislike, or distrust of humankind.
281348250expiate (v)atone; make amends.
281348251effluence (n)emanation; something that flows out.
281348252inured (adj:)accustomed, habituated.
281348253mollify (v)pacify, appease.
281348254phlegmatic (adj)not easily excited to action or display of emotion; having calm or apathetic temper.
281348255vicissitude (n)variation; mutation.
281348256importunately (adv.)overly urgently; annoyingly.
281348257contiguous (adj.)touching, near, adjacent in time.
281348258comport (v):trans.--to bear or conduct oneself, behave; intrans.-- to be in agreement or harmony (usually followed by "with").
281348259obeisance (n)a movement of the body expressing deep regret or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture; deference or homage.
281348260effervescence (n)vivaciousness, liveliness.
281348261dell (n)vale; wooded valley.
281348262audacity (n)insolence; shameless boldness.
281348263apotheosis (n)the elevation of a person to the rank of god; the ideal example--epitome, quintessence.
281348264mien (n)bearing, demeanor.
281348265necromancer (n)invoker of the dead; one who engages in witchcraft and the black arts.
281348266nugatory (adj.)trifling, worthless, futile.
281348267dearth (n)scarcity
281348268mountebank (n)charleton, quack; a phony, pretender, or fraud.
281348269filch (v)steal, pilfer.
281348270iniquity (n)a gross injustice; wicked act or sin.
281348271ignominy (n)shameful disgrace, dishonor, or humiliation.
281348272amenable (adj.)agreeable, tractable.
281348273sallow (adj.)of a sickly yellowish color; (v): to make sallow.
281348274anomalous (adj.)irregular, abnormal; unusual, inconsistent.
281348275lateral (adj.)of or pertaining to the side; situated at, proceeding from, or directed to a side ("a lateral view"); pertaining to or entailing a position, office, etc., that is different but equivalent or roughly equivalent in status, as distinguished from a promotion or demotion("a lateral move").
281348276succulent (adj.)juicy; rich in desirable qualities.
281348277deprecate (v.)to express earnest disapproval of or protest against; to belittle.
281348278defile (v)to make foul or dirty; to sully or desecrate.
281348279font (n.)receptacle for water (holy water); assortment of type; a productive source ("a font of wisdom").
281348280edified (v)to instruct or benefit, especially morally; to enlighten.
281348281neophyte (n)novice, beginner.
281348282concubine (n)a secondary wife; a woman who co-habits with a man to whom she is not legally married.
281348283dint (n.)force, power ("by dint of her imagination"); to make a dent, to impress or drive with force.
281348284scapegrace (n)a persistent rascal
281348285sententiously (adv.)self-righteously; excessively moralizing.
281348286antediluvian (adj.)"before the flood"—literally; very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated.
281348287avant garde (n)the advance group in a field, especially in the arts, whose works are unorthodox or experimental; (adj.): unorthodox, daring, radical.
281348288verdant (adj.)green with vegetation; of the color green; inexperienced or unsophisticated.
281348289girth (n/v)circumference, size, bulk; band or girdle; to encircle.
281348290mettle (n)courage, fortitude; disposition, temperament.
281348291supplicate (v)to entreat; to petition humbly.
281348292feint (n/v)a movement made to deceive an adversary; an assumed or feigned appearance; to simulate.
281348293hapless (adj.)unlucky, luckless, unfortunate.
281348294fetid (adj.)noisome, malodorous, rank, fetid; injurious to health, noxious.
281348295rank (adj.—only need to know the adjective forms for our purposes)(1) growing with luxuriousness; (2) having an offensive odor.
281348296solicitude (n)attitude of deep concern, solicitousness.
281348297florid (adj.)reddish, ruddy, rosy; flowery, ornate.
281348298dolorous (adj.)full of or causing pain; grievous or mournful.
281348299incontinent (adj.)uncontrolled, lacking in moderation, unceasing or unrestrained; unable to control bodily functions.
281348300concupiscence (n)lust, sexual desire.
281348301indigenous (adj.)native; innate, inherent.
281348302profligate (adj.)utterly immoral; recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
281348303prodigal (adj.)wastefully extravagant; profligate.
281348304apex (n)highest point; vertex, summit.
281348305nadir (n.)lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.
281348306exhort (v)to urge, advise or caution earnestly; to give urgent advice to.
281348307schismatic (adj)of or pertaining to disunion; one who advocates schism or disunion.
281348308chasm (n)a gorge, a gap, or a wide divergence of opinion.
281348309unalloyed (adj.)unadulterated, pure.
281348310boon (n/adj)blessing, benefit; a favor sought; jolly, jovial—" a boon companion."
281348311salutary (adj.)wholesome, healthful.
281348312pulverize (v)to reduce to dust or powder; to demolish.
281348313turbid (adj.)clouded, opaque, obscured; confused, muddled.
281348314premonition (n)presentiment.
281348315admonition (n)counsel, advice, or caution.
281348316fecund (adj.)prolific, fruitful; very productive or creative intellectually.
281348317opprobrium (n)reproach, scorn, disgrace incurred by shameful conduct.
281348318copious (adj.)plentiful, abundant.
281348319propensity (n)natural inclination; proclivity.
281348320predilection (n)preference, liking, partiality.
281348321penchant (n)strong inclination, predilection, or propensity.
281348322anathema (n)a curse; a person or thing who is loathed or damned.
281348323insipid (adj.)without stimulating qualities; vapid; without flavor; bland.
281348324vapid (adj.)lacking spirit or interest; dull; lacking sharpness or flavor, flavorless.
281348325vacuous (adj.)empty; lacking intelligence; purposeless, idle.
281348326adjunct (n)something added to another but not essential to it; assistant.
281348327rancor (n)bitter resentment, ill-will, malice.
281348328recondite (adj.)esoteric, arcane, obscure, abstruse; understood by few.
281348329fatuous (adj.)foolish, inane, silly.
281348330esoteric (adj.)abstruse, recondite.
281348331vituperation (n)verbal abuse or castigation; violent condemnation.
281348332pulchritude (n)physical beauty.
281348333pachyderm (n)any large, thick-skinned, hoofed mammal, like an elephant, hippo, or rhino.
281348334compunction (n)contrition, remorse; qualm, uneasiness about an action.
281348335chagrin (n)feeling of vexation marked by disappointment or humiliation; (v): to upset or humiliate.
281348336diffidence (n)timidity, lack of confidence.
281348337discern (v)to recognize or apprehend; to distinguish or discriminate.
281348338demur (v/n):to object, take exception; an objection raised.
281348339pastoral (adj.)rural, rustic; of or pertaining to shepherds or herding; pertaining to a pastor.
281348340upbraid (v)to find fault with or reproach severely; to censure.
281348341perusal (n)reading with thoroughness or care, detail, or in a random way.
281348342ungainly (adj.)awkward, clumsy.
281348343fastidious (adj.)excessively critical or demanding; requiring or taking great care or delicacy.
281348344ceasefire (n)truce
281348345ostensible (adj.)outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended.
281348346composite (adj./n/v)made up of disparate or separate parts or elements ("a composite drawing"); (n): a compound; a picture, photo, or the like that combines several pictures; (v): to make a composite of.
281348347biennial (adj.)happening every two years; lasting two years.
281348348oxymoron (n)figure of speech that uses seeming contradictions.
281348349wanderlust (n)desire for travel.
281348350ingenuous (adj.)candid, sincere, naïve.

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!