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AP Literature Vocabulary Flashcards

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5151501990diametricalexactly the opposite; contrary0
5151501991Phariseea member of an ancient Jewish sect, strict observance of the traditional law, sanctimonious; self- righteous, a hypocrite1
5151501992disseverdivide or separate2
5151501993carrionthe decaying flesh of a dead animal3
5151501994lambent(of light or fire) glowing, gleaming or flickering with a soft radiance, flickering, fluttering4
5151501995decrypublicly denounce, condemn, censure, vilify, lambaste5
5151501996repugnanceintense disgust, revulsion, abhorrence, loathing, aversion6
5151501997antipodethe direct opposite of something7
5151501998fidelityfaithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support8
5151501999meritocracygovernment by people selected based on ability9
5151502000retaliatoryto match evil with evil, to get revenge, to strike back10
5151502001incarnationa person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit or abstract quality11
5151502002cholerone of the 4 bodily humors (in medieval medicine), identified with bile; anger or irascibility12
5151502003vehemencethe display of strong feeling; passion, force, fervor, urgency, zeal13
5151502004inimicaltending to obstruct or harm, destructive, pernicious ruinous, unfriendly, hostile14
5151502005sequesterisolate or to hide away (someone or something)15
5151502006penultimatethe second to last16
5151502007sanctitythe state or quality of being holy, sacred or saintly17
5151502008besettrouble or threaten persistently beleaguer, torment, rack OR to be covered or studded with18
5151502009ambivalencehaving mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone19
5151502010paradigma typical example or pattern of something; a model20
5151502011intemperatehaving or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate, excessive unrestrained21
5151502012pivotalof crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else22
5151502013lamentabledeplorably bad or unsatisfactory; full of or expressing sorrow or23
5151502014subversiveseeking or intended to overthrow an established system or institution disruptive, inflammatory24
5151502015staturesomeone's height or the importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement25
5151502016derivativeimitative of the (usually art) work of another and usually disapproved of for that reason unoriginal26
5151502017incipientin an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop; a person developing into a specific type or role27
5151502018decorumbehavior in keeping with good taste and propriety28
5151502019reclusiveavoiding the company of other people; solitary, hermitic, eremitical, cloistered29
5151502020cloisterkeeping away from the outside world; sheltered like a courtyard, a cloister is also a monastery30
5151502021ignobledishonorable, unworthy, dastardly, degenerate, sordid31
5151502022ignominiousdeserving or causing public disgrace or shame; humiliating, embarrassing, mortifying32
5151502023ferventhaving or displaying a passionate intensity; vehement, fervid, ardent33
5151502024impecunioushaving little or no money; penniless, indigent, insolvent, destitute34
5151502025evangelicalevangelical the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion; biblical, scriptural; fundamentalist35
5151502026consumption (tuberculosis)bacterial infectious disease, especially impacting the lungs36
5151502027precocious(a child) having developed abilities or proclivities earlier than most; gifted, quick37
5151502028proclivitya tendency to choose or do something regularly; inclination, propensity, bent, penchant, predisposition38
5151502029sagaa long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative of old Norse or Old Icelandic39
5151502030juveniliaworks produced by an author or artist while still young40
5151502031Byronica hero in works of Lord Byron, like himself melancholy, rebellious, distressed by a terrible wrong he committed in the past.41
5151502032Gothicelaborate architecture; fiction using horror, death and at times romance, dark and picturesque scenery, genteel, or gentrified42
5151502033gentrypeople of a good social position just below nobility43
5151502034gentrifiedmake someone or his life more refined or dignified44
5151502035genteelgenteel polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected way, decorous, courteous, seemly45
5151502036assiduityconstant or close attention to what one is doing46
5151502037insipidlacking flavor, or vigor or interest47
5151502038mirea stretch of swampy or boggy ground/ a situation of difficulty, distress or embarrassment48
5151502039torpidsluggish in functioning or act49
5151502040biliousill-tempered, spiteful50
5151502041antipathya deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion51
5151502042imprudencenot showing care for the consequences of an action; rash52
5151502043pungentsomething that has a sharply strong taste or smell, stinky53
5151502044trifleSomething of little value, substance, or importance54
5151502045consecrationto make or declare sacred55
5151502046opprobriumharsh criticism or censure56
5151502047revileabusive, angry, insulting criticism57
5151502048consternationa sudden, alarming amazement, leading to utter confusion; dismay58
5151502049tumultconfusion or disorder59
5151502050noxiousharmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant60
5151502051sanguineoptimistic or positive, especially in a bad situation61
5151502052artificeclever, cunning ways, especially as used to trick or deceive62
5151502053parleyto conference with the opposing side to discuss terms63
5151502054cadencea modulation or inflection of the voice; intonation64
5151502055insuperablea difficulty or obstacle, impossible to overcome65
5151502056aversiona strong dislike or disinclination66
5151502057audaciouswillingness to take surprisingly bold risks, presumptuous, cheeky, irreverent67
5151502058capriciouswhimsical, impulsive68
5151502059usuriouscharging illegal or exorbitant rates of interest for the use of money69
5151502060preternaturalbeyond what is normal or natural70
5151502061refectorya room used for communal meals, especially in an educational or religious institution71
5151502062truculenteager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant72
5151502063amelioratemake better or more tolerable73
5151502064lassitudea tired feeling or laziness, usually caused by depression or being overworked74
5151502065stagnantnot moving75
5151502066occludeto obstruct, close off or block76
5151502067whimsyplayfully quaint or fanciful behavior, odd77
5151502068curatea member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest78
5151502069parsonagethe residence of a member of the clergy, provided by the parish or church79
5151502070bildungsromana novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education80
5151502071trajectorythe path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces, path81
5151502072motifa distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition; theme82
5151502073leitmotif (LIGHT mo teef)a recurrent theme in music or literary piece, focused on a person, idea or situation83
5151502074meritocracya government, or ruling or influential class selected on the basis of their education or ability84
5151502075regentsomeone appointed to administer a country because the monarch is a minor or is absent or incapacitated85
5151502076sycophantone who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain an advantage, yes-man, bootlicker, toady86
5151502077obsequiousexcessively obedient or attentive87
5151502078caviller (cavalier)showing a lack of proper concern; offhand88
5151502079vignettea brief evocative description, account, or episode89
5151502080eventideevening90
5151502081torpidmentally or physically inactive; lethargic91
5151502082diffidencemodesty, shyness from a lack of self-confidence, modesty, meekness, insecurity92
5151502083intimateimply or hint93
5151502084antipathya deep-seated dislike or aversion94
5151502085pungentsharply strong taste or smell95
5151502086subjoinedadd at the end of a speech or text96
5151502087incredulousunwilling or unable to believe something97
5151502088quailedto feel or show fear or apprehension, cower, cringe, flinch, recoil98
5151502089turbidcloudy liquid or confused meaning of effect99
5151502090aperturean opening, hole or gap100
5151502091diversolder spelling diverse, meaning of varying types; several101
5151502092effluviaa slight or invisible exhalation or vapor, especially one that is disagreeable or noxious.102

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