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AP Language Concepts Vocabulary Flashcards

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2812640968connotationthe suggesting of additional meanings by a word or expression, apart from its literal meaning0
2812640969denotationthe explicit or literal meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it1
2812640970dictionstyle of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words: good _____.; words used2
2812640971syntaxthe way words are formed together in a sentence; object+verb+noun ect.3
2812640972tonea particular style or manner, as of writing or speech; the macabre _____ of Poe's stories style or manner of expression in speaking or writing 4
2812640973explicitfully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal: _____instructions; an ____ act of violence; ____ language.5
2812640974implicitimplied, rather than expressly stated: _____ agreement6
2812640975inferto derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence: They _____ed his displeasure from his cool tone of voice.7
2812640976parallelismParallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. "Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into our hearts."8
2812640977periodic sentencea sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense. As in A sentence not complete grammatically or semantically before the final clause or phrase.9
2812640978cumulative sentencesentence in which main independent clause is elaborated by successive addition or modifying clause or phrases "He dipped his hands in the bichloride solution and shook them--a quick shake, fingers down, like the fingers of a pianist above the keys."10
2812640979balanced sentenceIn a balanced sentence, phrases or clauses parallel each other by virtue of their likeness of structure, meaning, or length She doesn't like washing clothes or doing housework.11
2812640980interrupted sentencewhen a modifier is placed between the subject and the verb, or between the verb and the direct object, interrupting the idea of the main independent clause. "Nehi was the pop of small towns--I don't know why--and it had the intensest flavor and most vivid colors of any products yet cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption."12
2812640981antithesisthe juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, phrases, or words so as to produce an effect of balance, such as my words fly up, my thoughts remain below13
2812640982inversionRhetoric: reversal of the usual or natural order of words; the soldier strong14
2812640983analogyA simile or metaphor that reveals something deeper; I feel like a fish out of water. This implies that you are not comfortable in your surroundings.15
2812640984metaphorThe comparison of one thing to another without the use of like or as; a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance.16
2812640985similea figure of speech that expresses the resemblance of one thing to another of a different category, usually introduced by as or like; two unlike things are explictily compared.17
2812640986logical fallacyDoes not make sense logically; fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim.18
2812640987apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love; a digression from a discourse, esp an address to an imaginary or absent person or a personification19
2812640988allusionfigurative reference to a previous work or historical event as a comparison. Its purpose is to provide a figurative image that links the literary work to that previous work or historical event to increase the range of meaning through the context of the referenced work. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's "The City in the Sea," he uses the phrase "up Babylon-like walls" to illustrate the doomed city of death.20
2812640989hyperboleexaggeration; an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as "to wait an eternity."21
2812640990understatementthe ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. The opposite of hyperbole. Example: Jonathan Swift's A Tale of a Tub: "Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse."22
2812640991qualificationsomething that adds quality to a word; bad- catastrophic23
2812640992paradoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory; bittersweet; similar in literature24
2812640993epitheta characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as "man's best friend" for "dog."25
2812640994euphemismA more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. May be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example.26
2812640995conceitA conceit in literature is essentially a form of metaphor. We can think of it as an extended metaphor because it evolves beyond the initial comparison and allows the writer to flesh out multiple points of con "two lovers with the two legs of a draftsman's compass."27
2812640996synecdochea figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or, occasionally, the whole is used to represent a part. Examples: To refer to a boat as a "sail"; to refer to a car as "wheels"; to refer to the violins, violas, etc. in an orchestra as "the strings."28
2812640997metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy. The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.29
2812640998alliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.30
2812640999onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. If you note examples of onomatopoeia in an essay passage, note the effect.31
2812641000subjectiveExisting in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought; Relating to or of the nature of an object as it is known in the mind as distinct from a thing in itself.32
2812641001objectivenot influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased: an ____ opinion33
2812641002clichéa trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.34
2812641003satireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, satire is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the satirist: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effects of satire are varied, depending on the writer's goal, but good satire, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition.35
2812641004parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author's expression (propensity to use too many parentheses, certain favorite words, etc.) Well-written parody offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation.36
2812641005ironyThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. Irony is often used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language: (1) verbal irony - when the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) meaning (2) situational irony - when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen (3) dramatic irony - when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.37
2812641006archetypeA constantly recurring motif in literature, painting, etc.38
2812641007antistropherhetoric: repeating the last word in successive phrases.39
2812641008polysyndetonRhetoric: the use of several conjunctions in close succession, esp where some might be omitted, as in "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy."40
2812641009asyndetonRhetoric: the omission of conjunctions, as in "He has provided the poor with jobs, with opportunity, with self-respect."41
2812641010deductiona process of reasoning in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the premises presented, so that the conclusion cannot be false if the premises are true.42
2812641011inductionInduction is known as a conclusion reached through reasoning. An inductive statement is derived using facts and instances which lead to the formation of a general opinion. "I counted five or six people with green eyes; therefore all the people have green eyes."43
2812641012anaphoraRhetoric: repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences. "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?"44
2812641013aphorismAphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and literary principles. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."45
2812641014epigramany witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.46
2812641015analysisdetailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation.47
2812641016argumentationthe process of developing or presenting an argument; reasoning; discussion; the setting forth of reasons together with the conclusion drawn from them.48
2812641017syllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is a mortal.49
2812641018enthymemeAn argumentative statement in which the writer or the speaker omits one of the major or minor premises, does not clearly pronounce it, or keeps this premise implied is called enthymeme. However, the omitted premise in enthymeme remains understandable even if is not clearly expressed. "Where there is smoke, there is fire." (The hidden premise: The smoke causes fire.)50
2812641019chiasmusa reversal in the order of words or an inverted parallelism, as in "He went to the country, to the town went she."51
2812641020ellipsisThe omission from a sentence or other construction of one or more words that would complete or clarify the construction, as the omission of who are, while I am, or while we are from "I like to interview people sitting down.52
2812641021anadiplosisrepetition in the first part of a clause or sentence of a prominent word from the latter part of the preceding clause or sentence, usually with a change or extension of meaning. "You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love"53
2812641022epanalepisA repetition of a word or a phrase with intervening words setting off the repetition, sometimes occurring with a phrase used both at the beginning and end of a sentence, as in Only the poor really know what it is to suffer; only the poor.54
2812641023antimetaboleRepetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. (syn: chiasmus). ex: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. —John F. Kennedy55
2812641024allegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. Unlike allegory, symbolism does not tell a story. "All animals are equal but a few are more equal than others." (animals- ww2)56
2812641025simple sentenceindependent clause; contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought I ate lunch today.57
2812641026compound sentencetwo independent clauses always joined by a coordinator (fanboys), which are always preceded by a comma except in very short sentences. I ate lunch today, but Matt ate yesterday.58
2812641027complex sentencean independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses. Always has subordinator or a relative pronoun (because, since, after, although, or when; that, who, or which). Because my coffee was too cold, I heated it in the microwave.59
2812641028complex-compound sentenceTwo independent clauses joined by one or more dependent clauses. The store carries lots of grocery types of items and it has other services because it is the only store in the small town.60
2812641029declarativeSentences used to convey information or make statements61
2812641030exclamatorySentences that express strong emotion; always end in an exclamation mark.62
2812641031interrogativeSentences used in asking questions.63
2812641032imperativeSentences used in issuing orders or directives.64
2812641033antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun65
2812641034nostalgiaA wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time: a _____ for his college days.66
2812641035dichotomydivision into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.67
2812641036paradigm shiftA radical change in underlying beliefs or theory68
2812641037enumerateto mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in a list: "Let me _____ the many flaws in your hypothesis."69

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