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AP Literature Vocabulary Flashcards

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7212873024propheta person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom a divinity expresses his will; a predictor or soothsayer0
7212875303oraclea place where prophecies are made, the prophet of this place, or the prophecy itself; any person or agency considered to be source of wise counsel1
7212879259raptdeeply absorbed; engrossed2
7212879875importunatestubbornly or unreasonably persistent in request or demand3
7212880865reposethe act of resting; a rest; calmness; tranquility4
7212881541follyfoolishness5
7212882212prateto talk idly and at great length; chatter6
7212882915rebuketo criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand7
7212883880perniciousdeadly8
7212884352reconcileto settle any sort of disagreement9
7212884992thineyours, or (when after a vowel) your10
7212885400laudablepraiseworthy; commendable11
7212885991corporalof the body; bodily12
7212886428avariciousgreedy13
7212886873deferencecourteous yielding to the opinion or wishes of another14
7212887462harangueto make a long, pompous speech15
7212887841atrophyto waste away (usually concerning human bodies); to whither16
7212891088coypretending shyness or modesty17
7212891785implyto express indirectly18
7212891795inferto make an educated guess as to someone's meaning19
7212893307incessantunceasing; unending20
7212894239vertigoa sensation of dizziness21
7212894736antitheticalopposite; directly contrasting22
7212895472anticlimaxa disappointing or commonplace conclusion, after a big "build-up"23
7212896763revelationsomething revealed; an act of revealing24
7212897424transposeto reverse the order of; to interchange25
7212898058spoonerismthe transposing of sounds in language or writing26
7212898490aestheticof or pertaining to the sensing of beauty27
7271007038persevereto keep on trying, even in the face of obstacles28
7271008569stealthysecret, clandestine, covert (ST)29
7271009972surreptitioussecret, clandestine, covert (SU)30
7271009973furtivesecret, clandestine, covert (F)31
7271011461plethorasuperabundance32
7271013469ascetica person who (usually for religious reasons) gives up all but the most basic survival needs33
7271016751fetidfoul-smelling; stinking34
7271017902connotationa meaning that is beyond and deeper than the literal meaning35
7271019958tyrannya government in which a single ruler has absolute (unlimited) power (T)36
7271023869despotisma government in which a single ruler has absolute (unlimited) power (D)37
7271026132redolentpleasantly odorous38
7271027289sentienthaving sense perception; conscious39
7271029128enigmaticpuzzling40
7271030880predilectiona preference41
7271035635evoketo produce or inspire emotions, memories, or reactions42
7271037399denotationthe literal meaning of words, as opposed to their figurative meaning43
7271040221epiphanyan event, often spiritual, involving a sudden flash of perception44
7271042831denouementthe unknotting of the problems in a play, novel, or short story45
7271045635genrea category of art or literature distinguished by a definite style, form, or content46
7271048687tendrila long, slender, coiling extension, as of a stem, serving as an organ of attachment for certain climbing plants47
7271052543pastoralof or pertaining to the country or country life; rural48
7271055246chideto scold; rebuke; reprimand49
7271057465cogentforcibly convincing50
7271058854wreakto inflict something (usually vengeance or punishment) upon a person51
7271062321victualsfood fit for human consumption52
7271063443wontaccustomed or used to (as an adjective) or usage or custom (as a noun)53
7271067364wheedleto persuade or attempt to persuade by deceitful flattery or guile; cajole54
7271073726hastento move something swiftly; to hurry55
7365694492altercationa quarrel or angry dispute56
7365697339omnipresentpresent in all places at the same time57
7365702152baffleto hinder or impede by puzzling58
7365705958syntheticnot genuine; artificial; ersatz59
7365708616phlegmaticsluggish or apathetic; hard to rouse to action60
7365711790verbatimusing exactly the same words; word for word; or (as an adverb) in exactly the same words61
7365716635vindictiverevengeful in spirit62
7365719314alliterationthe occurrence (in a phrase or line of speech or writing) of two or more words having the same initial sound63
7365727852inevitablecertain to happen64
7365731978capriciouscharacterized by or subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable65
7365736606vacillateto sway to and fro in body or in mind; to waver66
7365740122eradicateto get rid of; wipe out; annihilate; destroy67
7365742961optimismbeing hopeful and looking on the bright side68
7365745766pessimismdoubting that it wall all be better later; looking on the dark side69
7365759350enmitya deep-seated hatred; antagonism; animosity70
7365765045exhumeto remove from a grave; to bring to light; uncover71
7365774885visagethe face or facial features; physiognomy (V)72
7365777080countenancethe face or facial features; physiognomy (C)73
7365780059angsta feeling of anxiety74
7365782159aversionintense dislike75
7365784051tabooa ban against something because of social custom or emotional aversion76
7365791224clemencyleniency; mercy77
7365796998dissolutelacking in moral restraint78
7365800808libertinea person lacking in moral restraint79
7365802993pragmaticpractical80
7365802994wooto court someone's favor, especially for purposes of marriage81
7365807110smiteto inflict a heavy blow82
7365808639zanyludicrously comical; buffoonish83
7586509767abjectof the most contemptible kind; wretched84
7586512815brandishto wave or display menacingly or ostentatiously85
7586517592disarraya state of disorder; disarrangement; confusion86
7586521914razeto tear down or demolish; level to the ground87
7586525290inceptionthe beginning of something88
7586527675ephemeralshort-lived; fleeting89
7586531610perplexitythe state or condition of being puzzled90
7586535346penuryextreme want or poverty; destitution91
7586549019extraneousnot essential; superfluous92
7586551720undermineto weaken by wearing away a base or foundation93
7586559702entreatto ask someone for something earnestly94
7586563837squanderto spend wastefully or extravagantly95
7586574996ravageto destroy or despoil; devastate96
7586577615robustvigorous; strong97
7586580989outsetbeginning; start; commencement98
7586584573unkemptdisheveled; messy; uncombed99
7586587867ornateexcessively or elaborately decorated; rococo100
7586591997luxuriantgrowing abundantly, vigorously, or lushly101
7586599045abateto reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; to lessen102
7586602376mercenarymotivated by a desire for monetary or material gain103
7586605735fallowplowed but not sowed; uncultivated104
7586609324tantamountequivalent in effect or value (used with "to")105
7586612987paramountof chief concern or importance; primary; foremost106
7586617486vestigea visible trace or evidence of something that has once existed but exists or appears no more107
7586623114vanguardthe foremost position in a movement, trend, army, or fleet108
7586627838flagrantextremely or deliberately conspicuous; notorious; shocking109
7586635682jeerto speak or shout derisively; to mock; to abuse openly; to taunt110
7586639988thwartto prevent from taking place111
7690538419affluentrich112
7690540798eschewto take care to avoid; to shun113
7690543576rusean action or devise meant to confuse, mislead, or trick114
7690550116irrevocablenot able to be reversed115
7690553828euphoriaa feeling of great happiness116
7690559493giddyhaving a lightheaded sensation117
7690567523narcissismexcessive admiration of oneself; love of self118
7690592487chastitythe state or quality of being morally pure or celibate119
7690597622pestilenceany usually fatal epidemic disease120
7690600589peripherythe outermost part or region within a given area121
7690607085coalitiona temporary merging of smaller political parties in order to gain a majority of the available power122
7690616533heresyan opinion that is at odds with religious beliefs; "religious treason"123
7690621263contemporarybelonging to the same period of time; current or modern124
7690625943empathizeto feel for something (by attempting to put yourself in one's place)125
7690635183conjectureto guess (as a verb); a guess (as a noun)126
7690639720halitosisstale or foul-smelling breath127
7690642987perfidydeliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery128
7690650262tepidmoderately warm; lukewarm129
7690654020doursilently ill-humored; gloomy130
7690657261odioushateful; offensive; repugnant131
7690661441intrinsicpertaining to the essential nature of a thing132
7690665656capitulateto give up all resistance; to surrender; to acquiesce133
7690671134polygraphan instrument that simultaneously records changes in such physiological processes as heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration, and is sometimes used in lie detection134
7690682693vacuousdevoid of substance or meaning, inane135
7690685699impetusa driving force136
7690688998procreateto beget offspring; to reproduce137
7690691680curatorthe administration director of a museum, or other similar institution138
7690697138vernacularthe native language of a country or region; more often, the nonstandard everyday speech of a country or region139
7851733099persnicketyvery concerned with detail140
7851735450punctiliousprecise; scrupulous; exact141
7851737673illicitillegal; unlawful142
7851739523masticateto chew143
7851741482accoladepraise; approval144
7851742991peruseto read or examine with great care; scrutinize145
7851745768stoicindifferent to or unaffected by both pleasure and pain146
7851749034acrimonybitterness or ill-natured animosity, especially in speech147
7851752700cajoleto persuade (or attempt to persuade) by pleading or flattery; coax148
7851758349cacophonyjarring, discordant sound; dissonance149
7851760766prosaiclacking imagination and spirit; not poetic150
7851762430penultimatenext to last151
7851764147consternationsudden confusion, amazement, or frustration152
7851766796myriadamounting to a very large, though indefinite, number (often used with "of")153
7851773667nebulouslacking a definite form or limit; vague; hazy154
7851776746pugnaciousquarrelsome; eager to fight; belligerent; truculent155
7851780457fastidiouscareful in all details; meticulous156
7851788768paleontologythe study of fossils and ancient life forms157
7851790733dexterousskillful with hands, body, or mind; clever (dex)158
7851793700deftskillful with hands, body, or mind; clever (def)159
7851796447adroitskillful with hands, body, or mind; clever (a)160
7851802448ambidextrousable to use both hands equally well161
7851804084hypocrisythe act of pretending to believe in ideas that one does not actually hold162
7851807888analogyan example used in argument because of its similarity to the point in question163
7851810884penitentfeeling truly sorry about one's misdeeds or sins164
7851824157synopsisa brief statement or outline of a subject; an abstract165
7851911613quid pro quoan equal exchange or trade; from the Latin, "something for something"166
7851916464egregiousoutstandingly bad167
8148415354omnivorea creature that eats both meat and vegetable168
8148417063herbivorea creature who eats plants and plant by-products169
8148424308vicissitudeany change or variation on something170
8148426388virilehaving strong, masculine characteristics171
8148428317pizzicatothe plucking rather than bowing of stringed instruments172
8148431786prehensileadapted for seizing or holding173
8148433389platitudea trite, unoriginal comment174
8148434626dulcetpleasing to the ear, gently melodious175
8148436288recountto narrate the facts or particulars176
8148438206mendicanta beggar177
8148441906rectitudeintellectual or moral correctness178
8148443546recrudesceto break out anew after a dormant or inactive period179
8148449324reflectto think or consider seriously; ponder180
8148452735diffidentlacking self-confidence; timid181
8148454557grandiosecharacterized by greatness of scope or scale; full of pompous grandeur182
8148458031mirthenjoyment, rejoicing, or gladness, especially when expressed by laughter or merrymaking183
8148460954dearthscarcity; lack; paucity184
8148468671lestso as to prevent the possibility that; for fear that185
8148470169preento meticulously clean and primp186
8148471355satirethe use of irony, scoffing, or wit of any kind to attack folly or wickedness187
8148474647torridscorching (from the sun)188
8148478124vilifyto defame, denigrate, or "put down" someone189
8148486833wistfulfull of sad yearning; wishful longing190
8148488797volublecharacterized by a ready and easy flow of words in speaking191
8148492224enervateto take away the strength or vitality192
8148493895effigyan object made as a likeness of a person193
8148496839connubialof marriage or the marriage state; conjugal194
8148499751xenophobiafear of strangers or foreigners195
8734683373gaita way of moving on foot; a particular way of walking196
8734763411reproveto rebuke for a fault or misdeed; scold197
8734771171bodeto be an omen of198
8734773133philanderto engage in love affairs frivolously; flirt199
8734776214deterto prevent or discourage someone from doing something200
8734783275inscrutablenot able to be fathomed or understood201
8734786130multilateralinvolving more than two nations or sides202
8734791517supplemoving and bending with agility; pliant; limber203
8734794781broachto begin to talk about204
8735077998hencefor this reason; as a result; therefore205
8735082157gauntthin and bony; angular206
8735088166ungainlywithout grace or ease of movement; clumsy207
8735091039unwieldydifficult to carry or manage because of bulk or shape; clumsy208
8735098086rileto vex; anger; irritate209
8735100000ingenuouswithout sophistication or worldliness; innocently straightforward; artless210
8735107702transgressionthe violation of a law, rule, command or duty211
8735112145caterwaulto cry or screech like a cat in heat; to make any discordant sound or shriek212
8735116801discreethaving or showing a careful reserve in one's speech or behavior213
8735130525gapeto stare wonderingly, especially with the mouth open214
8735133484gawkto gape stupidly215
8735135422petulantunreasonably irritable or ill-tempered216
8735139084catharsisa figurative cleaning of the emotions217
8735142741circumspectheedful of circumstances or consequences218
8735145213bovineof, pertaining to, or resembling an ox, cow, or other animal of the genus Bos; sluggish219
8735155752salientprojecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding up or out; conspicuous220
8735166891puissantpowerful; mighty; potent221
8735169618retinuethe official followers of a person of rank (r)222
8735172269entouragethe official followers of a person of rank (e)223
8987495781expediteto speed the process of; to help along; to facilitate224
8987495782irreverencedisrespect225
8987495783assimilateto absorb and make similar226
8987495784immaculatefree from stain or blemish; spotless; pure; unsullied227
8987495785corpulencefatness; obesity228
8987495786atoneto make amends, as for a sin or fault; to expiate229
8987495787pompouscharacterized by an exaggerated show of self-importance; pretentious230
8987495788presentimenta sense of something about to occur; premonition231
8987495789admonishto scold mildly; to caution; to warn232
8987495790apprehensiveanxious or fearful about the future233
8987495791devoutdeeply religious; pious234
8987495792ergoconsequently; therefore235
8987495793status quothe existing condition or state of affairs; "the way it is" or (literally from Latin) the "state in which"236
8987495794visceralintensely emotional; pertaining to or affecting the internal organs of the body237
8987495795metaphysicsthe branch of philosophy that investigates ultimate realities238
8987495796proselytizeto convert from one belief or faith to another239
8987495797proselytea new convert to a religion or doctrine240
8987495798acronyma word formed by combining the initial letters of a group of words, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps241
8987495799censureto criticize severely; castigate; chastise242
8987495800nadirthe lowest point or moment in a situation243
8987495801litigationlegal action; the judicial process; court proceeding244
8987495802flibbertigibbeta scatterbrained person245
8987495803proclivitya natural tendency, especially a negative inclination246
8987495804propensitya natural tendency, especially an innate inclination247
8987495805kismetfate248
8987495806karmathe sum and the consequences of a person's actions during a lifetime, regarding as determining destiny; fate249
8987495807yokela country bumpkin; a naïve or gullible rustic250
8987495808yahooa crude or brutish person251

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