Shared Flashcard Set

Details

AP Lit Vocabulary: Week 21
Test 4-29-11
20
English
12th Grade
04/27/2011

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Acerbity
Definition

(n) harshness of temper; sharpness, bitterness; astringency of taste

 

"The professor's _______ic comments inhibited the freshmen from asking questions."

Term
Aggrandize
Definition

(v) to make greater, more powerful; richer, larger

 

"He sought publicity in order to __________ his reputation."

Term
Aphorism
Definition

(n) a short, pithy statement of a principle; maxim

 

"Remember Franklin's _________ 'The empty drum makes the most noise.'"

Term
Austere
Definition

(adj) having a severe look, manner; forbidding

 

"His _________ expressiondiscouraged our attempts at conversation."

Term
Broach
Definition

(v) to start a discussion of; introduce, suggest

 

"Merely to __________ the subject of money sent him into a lecture on budgeting."

Term
Circumvent
Definition

(v) to go around; elude

 

"Though many try, it is impossible to ___________ the red tape at registration."

Term
Complacent
Definition

(adj) satisfied, often self-satisfied or smug

 

"After three A's, she became __________, and her grade dropped to a B."

Term
Contumacious
Definition

(adj) stubbornly perverse or rebellious; disobedient

 

"___________ teenagers sometimes can be encouraged to channel their aggressions into positive activities."

Term
Covenant
Definition

(n) an agreement between two or more individuals, often religious; compact, as between nations

 

"Marriage is a solemn __________ between a man and a woman."

Term
Dolorous
Definition

(adj) very sorrowful or sad; mournful

 

"The __________ tolling of the bell announced another victim of the plague."

Term
Duress
Definition

(n) use of force or threats; compulsion

 

"I agree to your terms, but only under _______."

Term
Extraneous
Definition

(adj) not pertinent; irrelevant, not belonging

 

"Don't confuse the issue by bringing in __________ arguments."

Term
Extricate
Definition

(v) to set free; release or disentangle

 

"I could think of no way to __________ myself gracefully from the difficulty."

Term
Finical
Definition

(adj) too particular or exacting; fastidious, fussy

 

"My mother is so ________ that the potatoes must be sliced exactly one-quarter inch thick."

Term
Foment
Definition

(v) to stir up trouble; instigate (see also ferment)

 

"Though he seemed loyal in public, behind the scenes he was _______ing revolution."

Term
Fortuitous
Definition

(adj) happening by chance; accidental but fortunate occurence, unplanned

 

"The arrival of the mailman just as I was leaving was __________: he was bringing my paycheck."

Term
Fulmination
Definition

(n) explosive shouts; denunciations

 

"The violent __________ against his former friend shocked the audience deeply."

Term
Hiatus
Definition

(n) gap in sequence; opening; lacuna

 

"There was a long, embarrassing _________ after th speaker concluded and the master of ceremonies asked for questions."

Term
Immutable
Definition

(adj) never changing or varying; unalterable

 

"The planets move in _________ orbits."

Term
Impugn
Definition

(v) to assail by argument or criticism; challenge as false

 

"If you ________ my honesty, we cannot be friends."

Supporting users have an ad free experience!