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

AP Literature Vocab Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
4760923575ZenithHighest point in the sky/ greatest accomplishment0
4760923576NadirLowest point1
4760925269TawdryTasteless/ showy/ cheap/ gaudy/ inferior2
4774130308UrbaneSophisticated/ smooth/ refined3
4774130309DiatribeAngry, violent, of bitter attack of words4
4824379070HarbingerPerson or thing that signals what will follow5
4824379071BanalOrdinary/ uninteresting/ pointless6
4824379072StymieTo block, hinder, or frustrate/ to confuse or baffle7
4824379073BacchanalA wild drunken party8
4824379074ProsaicCommon, dull, mundane9
4861701186EsotericSomething known or understood only by a select few10
4861701187ExotericSomething known or understood by many/ something very popular11
4861701188ProcrusteanSomeone or something that forces rigid conformity/ unyielding12
4861701189ShibbolethPassword/ slogan/ characteristic of a certain group/ cliche/ Ear of corn13
4861701190MartinetStrict disciplinarian14
4861701191Wrought(Verb) an older way or saying work/ (adj) brought about15
5149771789MeretriciousTasteless, cheap, inferior, flashy, deceptively attractive16
5149771790LampoonA ridiculous or humorous attack on an institution or person17
5149771791CajoleTo persuade by flattening or making promises/ pleasant or misleading words18
5149771792NarcissimExtreme self love/ big ego/ thinking very highly of yourself19
5149771793ChagrinHumiliation, disappointment, irritation20
5149771794EphemeralSomething lasting a very short or brief time/ short lived/ temporary21
5149771795BedlamNoisy confusion, uproar, disorder22
5149771796IndolentLazy, inactive, lethargic23
5149771797MeanderFollow a winding course/ wander aimlessly24
5149771798AgnosticOne who believes it is impossible to know whether or not a God exists25
5149771799PrecociousAdvanced beyond your age/ child prodigy26
5149771800NepotismShowing favoritism to relatives through jobs, offices, or favors27
5149771801EnigmaticMysterious, puzzling, curious28
5149771802NebulousUnclear, hazy, indistinct29
5149771803DenigrateTo speak ill/ attack someone's reputation/ belittle30
5149771804DocileSomething easily managed or controlled/ gentle or submissive31
5161553533AlchemyA chemical philosophy/ turning metals to gold/ finding a medicine to cure all illnesses/ magic power that changes or transforms things/ gives everlasting life32
5332876652AnachronismRepresentation of someone as existing or something happening out of it's proper, historical, or chronological order.33
5332876653BeleagueredLots of troubles or problems34
5332876654DesultoryNot having a plan/ something random or disconnected35
5332876655EchelonA level responsibility or authority in a hierarchy/ rank/ formation of groups, units, or individuals/ formation of military troops/ flight formation36
5332876656EpicurePerson with refined taste/ person devoted to luxurious things37
5332876657MalapropismMisusing a word/ confusing a word with one that sounds similar38
5342564910MagnanimousUnselfish or generous39
5342564911ObstreperousNoisy/ unruly/ defiant40
5332876658MilieuAn environment or setting, usually the social place where something happens or develops41
5497162761RepugnantSomething repulsive/ something you turn your nose up at42
5497162762SerendipityMaking fortunate discoveries or have accidental luck43
5497162763VisceralImmediate and emotional/ something not thought out44
5497162764ScatheTo harm or injure45
5497162765LacerateRipping or tearing something, literally or figuratively46
5808007812FlayTo strip away skin, usually used figuratively47
5808007813TruculentPerson that exudes meanness or hostility/ often describes behavior48
5808007814EnnulFrench for boredom49
5808007815PhlegmaticA person who is slow to act or get mad50
5808007816DoldrumsPurposeless, without energy, a dull feeling51
5808007817TepidLukewarm/ usually describes a drunk that isn't hot or cold/ can also describe an attitude52
5808007818RisibleRelating to laughter/ person who likes to laugh/ situation that provokes laughter53
5808007819PanacheAn added touch of style/ a word used to describe an old plume54
5808007820IncubusA demon that sexually attacks women/ something that torments you, especially during the night55
5808007821LeonineLion-like56
5808007822VulpineFox-like57
5808007823UrsineBear-like58
5808007824AvianBird-like59
5808007825SimianSomeone who resembles an ape or a monkey60
5820334907PorcineResembling a swine or a pig61
5853808209ExacerbateTo aggravate something/ make something more sever or harsh62
5853808210PlacateTo lessen someone's anger or hard feelings63
5965105046PerambulateFancy way to say walk or stroll/ walk around looking for something64
5965105047VacillateTo swing indecisively between two or more ideas65
5965105048MessianicZealous (passionate) or overzealous about a cause or leader66
5965105049PiqueTo peak or provoke (usually involving interest)67
5965105050Corpulent/ corpulenceHaving a lot of body/ excessively fat68
5965105051ClandestineWhen something is done in secret to hide a plan or something that's not pleasant69
5965105052FastidiousMeticulous/ pay close attention to detail (so extreme it's almost negative)70
6238049476ChimeraPart lion, part goat, and part dragon/ often used to describe fictional things or ideas71
6238049477DearthNot enough of something or nothing at all72
6238049478Sepulcher/sepulchralA grave or tomb/ a burial place/ excessively gloomy73
6238049479ArcaneSomething known or understood by only a select group of people. (Synonym: Esoteric)74
6238049480VitriolicSomething that is bitterly cruel/ acidic75
6238049481TorpidNot inclined to do anything/ a hibernating animal/ a lazy person (synonym: phlegmatic)76
6238049482AmalgamateTo mix or combine into a unified whole77
6238049483GeromeRelevant or appropriate78
6238049484CarapaceHard covering of some sort/ any protective covering79
6238049485RedressFigurative reclothing/ a remedy80
6238049486AmeliorateFancy word for improving/ Latin for "better"81
6238049487AmnestyGeneral pardon give to those guilty of crimes82
6238049488AncillaryUsed to be a maid/ now is something of secondary importance83
6238049489HedonistSomeone devoted to pleasure and having a good time84
6238049490RevelryA loud or good time85
6238049491AvuncularDescribes a relationship with uncle/ someone kind and fun to be around86
6274031321JocularTending to make jokes87
6274031322EuphoricIntense excitement or happiness/ wow feeling so extremes it is unlike other happiness88
6274031323FetidSomething that smells very bad/ usually something rotting or dirty89
6274031324SordidSomething that is morally or ethically fowl90
6316414035RancidUsually something rotting or disgusting (synonymous with repugnant)91
6316414036PerniciousDeadly or dangerous/ extremely deleterious92
6330669172PosterityRefers to generations to come93
6430197170HereticStrays from religious beliefs/ someone who disagrees with society94
6430197171GarishSomething loud and in your face, usually in color or design95
6482369536FeralAn animal in the wild/ a human who acts like an animal96
6482369537PortentousSomeone carrying a sign that something bad will happening the future/ something very pretentious, pompous, or arrogant97
6482369538AestheticThe perception or the appreciation of beauty98
6482369539IncarnationA fleshly version of the divine/ something abstract that you give a bodily form99
6746360148EcclesiasticalSomething relating to church100
6746360149PrehensileSomething that can grasp something else/ the ability to hold something101
6746360150VeracityHonesty102
6746360151MendacityDishonesty103
6746360152Double EntendreDouble meaning, usually one of them in sexual104
6746360153ParsumonySomeone who is excessively cheap105
6746360154PecuniarySomething to do with monsy106

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!