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AP Literature & Composition Vocab Flashcards

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6077505993polytheismthe belief in many gods0
6077505994circumlocutionthe use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea; an indirect way of expressing something1
6077505995misogynya hatred of women2
6077505996aberrationthe fact or an instance of deviating, especially from a moral standard or normal state3
6077505997cajoleryto persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance4
6077505998commensurateequal in measure, size, degree or extent5
6077505999heterodoxcontrary to or different from an acknowledged standard, a traditional form, or an established religion; holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines6
6077506000ephemerallasting a very short time; anything short-lived7
6077506001impeccablefree from fault or blame; not capable of sinning or liable to sin8
6077506002lasciviousdriven by lust; preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires9
6077506003facetious1. cleverly amusing in tone 2. joking or jesting often inappropriately10
6077506004ignominious1. deserving or bringing disgrace or shame11
6077506005lexicography1. the act of writing dictionaries12
6077506006obloquy1. strong public criticism or verbal abuse 2. condition of one that is discredited ("bad rep")13
6077506007phosphorescence1. a fluorescence that persists after radiation has ceased14
6077506008poignant1. sharp in taste or smell 2. evoking a keen sense of regret or sadness 3. pleasurably stimulating15
6077506009quixotic1. not sensible about practical matters, especially in pursuit of ideas16
6077506010spurious1. plausible but false 2. of illegitimate birth17
6077506011disintegrate1. break into parts or components or lose cohesion or unity18
6077506012egregious1. outrageously bad or reprehensible 2. standing out in some bad way19
6077506013adamantrefusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind20
6077506014cacophonya harsh mixture of sounds, specifically harshness in the sounds of words or phrases21
6077506015circumspectcareful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences; wary and unwilling to take risks22
6077506016cognateof the same nature, connected; related by blood or by descent from the same language23
6077506017conversea situation, object, or statement that is the reverse of another; to engage in conversation24
6077506018fabricateto make up for the purpose of deception; to invent or concoct25
6077506019inadvertentnot resulting from a deliberate plan, unintentional; not focusing the mind on a matter26
6077506020misogamyhatred of marriage27
6077506021nostalgiaa sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically times or places with happy associations; the state of being homesick28
6077506022recalcitrantstubbornly defiant of authority or restraint; a person with an uncooperative attitude29
6077506023labyrinth-complex system of paths in which it is easy to get lost30
6077506024desiccate-preserve by removing all water and liquids from -lacking interest, passion, or energy31
6077506025impious-lacking piety or reverence for a god -wicked32
6077506026atrophy-a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse33
6077506027coalescence-the union of diverse things into one body or form or group -to grow together; unite34
6077506028hypochondria-abnormal anxiety about imaginary symptoms and ailments -extreme depression of mind or spirits35
6077506029nemesis-something causing misery or death -formidable rival or opponent36
6077506030quintessence-the most typical example or representative of a type -the pure and concentrated essence of a substance37
6077506031ulterior-lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed -coming at a subsequent time or stage; future; further38
6077506032vis-a-vis-a person or thing having the same characteristics as another -face to face39
6077538162fortuitoushappening by accident or chance rather than design; happening by a lucky chance, fortunate40
6077538163apogeethe highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination; the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth41
6077542033berserkout of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied; ancient Norse warrior legendary for frenzy before a battle42
6077544734rejuvenateto make someone or something look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively43
6077547676compendiuma publication containing a variety of works; a collection of things, especially one systematically gathered44
6077547677diaphanouslight, delicate, and translucent45
6077549863heterogeneousdiverse in character or content; of or denoting a process involving substances in different phases46
6077549864emaciategrow weak and thin or waste away physically47
6077552156postulatesuggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief; to maintain or assert; a thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief48
6077568528salutaryproducing good effects, beneficial49
6127339157concentric-having a common center, as circles or spheres50
6127350952necromancy-summoning of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events51
6127351085transcendent-exceeding or surpassing usual limits -being beyond comprehension -universally applicable or significant52
6127355070homogeneous-of the same or a similar kind or nature -of uniform structure or composition throughout53
6127355071agrarian-of, relating to, or characteristic of farmers or rural life54
6127358312retrospect-a review or contemplation of past events55
6127358313litigation-a legal proceeding in a court56
6127361305maelstrom-a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius57
6127361306salacious-arousing or appealing to sexual desire or imagination -suggestive of or tending to moral looseness58
6127366081ubiquitous-existing or being everywhere at once -constantly encountered, widespread59
6167963282deleteriousharmful to living things60
6167963283exculpateto show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing61
6167964631generalitythe quality of being widespread or being general; the majority62
6167964632lackadaisicallacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy63
6167965870ostensiblestated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so64
6167965871rescindto revoke, cancel, or repeal65
6167965872tantamountbeing essentially equal to something; equivalent in seriousness to66
6167966989sagacioushaving or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; acutely insightful and wise67
6167966990agnostica person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God; denoting or relating to hardware or software that is compatible with many types of platforms or operating systems68
6167967058obduratestubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing69
6223104328obstreperous-noisy and difficult to control70
6223106062contemporaneous-occurring in the same period of time71
6223106063demeanor-the way a person behaves toward other people72
6223107147nepotism-the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs73
6223107148opaque-not able to be seen through; not transparent74
6223109366rhetorician-a person who delivers a speech or oration75
6223109367theocracy-a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god76
6223110659abrogate-to revoke formally -to repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement) -to evade (a responsibility or duty)77
6223111265voluptuous-relating to or characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure -(of a woman) curvaceous and sexually attractive78
6223110660hyperbole-extravagant exaggeration79
6285188726sacrosancttoo important or valued to be interfered with; to be kept sacred80
6285188727titillateto stimulate or excite someone, especially in a sexual way81
6285190318auspiciousshowing or suggesting that future success is likely, favorable82
6285190319interpolateto insert something of a different nature into something else; insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby83
6285191802blandishmenta flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something84
6285191803captioustending to find fault or raise petty objections85
6285193734fecunditythe state of being fertile or capable of producing offspring86
6285193735insatiableimpossible to satisfy87
6285195121obsessionan unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something88
6285196574pragmaticdealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations; concerned with practical matters89
6356888212somnambulist-someone who walks about in their sleep90
6356899347histrionic-overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style -exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention91
6356914777ostentatious-intended to attract notice and impress others -characterized by vulgar or pretentious display92
6356925955commiseration-sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others; compassion93
6356935216equestrian-of or relating to horseback riding94
6356941102impropriety-a failure to observe standards or show due honesty or modesty -improper language, behavior, or character95
6356953348kaleidoscope-an optical toy in a tube96
6356962846neurotic-affected by worry due to a mental disturbance97
6356970859panacea-a solution or remedy for all dificulties or diseases98
6356978601spasmodic-occurring in spells and often abruptly; occurring or done in brief, irregular bursts -caused by, subject to, or in the nature of a spasm or spasms99
6395210578etherealextremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world100
6395210579abscondleave hurriedly and secretly, typically taking something or someone along or attempting to avoid an arrest101
6395211798calumnya false accusation of an offense in order to damage someone's reputation; slander102
6395211799appellationa name or title; the act of giving a name to a person or a thing103
6395213226effronteryshameless boldness; audacious behavior that you have no right to104
6395213227licentiouslacking moral discipline; promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters105
6395214078mundanelacking interest or excitement; dull, found in the ordinary course of events106
6395214079primordialhaving existed from the beginning; basic and fundamental107
6395215745opprobriousoutrageously disgraceful or shameful; expressing scorn or criticism108
6395220131vicissitudesa change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant; alternation between opposite or contrasting things109
6542852323parochial-relating to a church parish -having a limited or narrow outlook or scope110
6542852324anathema-something or someone that one vehemently dislikes -a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine111
6542853159nocturnal-done, occurring, or active at night112
6542853160nuance-a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound113
6542855066mesmerize-hold the attention of (someone) to the exclusion of all else or so as to transfix them114
6542855067apropos-with reference to; concerning -very appropriate, relevant, and opportune to a particular situation115
6542858180reconnoiter-to make a military observation of (a region)116
6542858181subsidiary-less important than but related or supplementary to -furnishing aid or support -a company controlled by a holding company117
6542859696gargoyle-a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building -a person with an ugly face118
6542864980innocuous-not harmful or offensive119
6590084687altruismthe quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others120
6590084688gutturalrelating to or articulated in the throat; produced in the throat; harsh-sounding121
6590086705clairvoyanceapparent power to perceive things not present to the senses122
6590086706gargantuanof great mass; huge and bulky and enormous123
6590088374mnemonicof or relating to the practice of aiding the memory; a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something.124
6590088375immutablenot subject or susceptible to change or variation125
6590088376arbitrarybased on or subject to individual discretion or preference; based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system126
6590091172orthodoxadhering to what is commonly accepted; of the ordinary or usual type; normal127
6590091173protagonistthe principal character in a work of fiction; the leader in a movement128
6590094480aestheticcharacterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality129
6621377017agenda-a list of matters to be taken up130
6621377018omnipresent-existing everywhere at once131
6621379453equivocal-open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous -uncertain or questionable in nature132
6621381334abstemious-not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking133
6621381335collaborate-work together on a common enterprise or project134
6621384653proletariat-a social class comprising those who do manual labor135
6621387065impalpable-unable to be felt by touch -not easily comprehended136
6621387066coup-a sudden and decisive change of government by force -a notable or successful stroke or move -a contusion caused by contact of the brain with the skull at the point of trauma137
6621389224obsequious-attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery -obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree138
6621391019ebullience-eager enjoyment or approval -the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance139
6684021172flaccidsoft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant; drooping or inelastic through lack of water; lacking force or effectiveness140
6684024161hegemonyleadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others141
6684030549insuperableimpossible to overcome142
6684051843juvenescentbecoming or being young or youthful143
6684051844nebulousin the form of a cloud or haze, hazy; unclear, vague, or ill-defined144
6684054459cadaverousresembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony145
6684054520nom de plumepen name146
6684058003unprecedentednever done or known before147
6684061237olfactoryrelating to the sense of smell148
6684066416parabolicof or like a parabola or part of one; of or expressed in parables149

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