Vocabulary List

suspense n. a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.
cite: v. to quote as evidence for an argument or statement
idiom n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own ex. a penny for your thoughts, barking up the wrong tree
context n. the parts of something written or spoken that come before and after
plot n. a series of related events
conflict n. problem or struggle between opposing forces
climax n. the turning point or highest point in the action of a story
resolution n. part of the story where the problem is solved
theme n. central idea, message or purpose of a literary work
setting n. time and place of the action
genre n. a category of literature ex. suspense, historical
inference n. a logical conclusion based on textual evidence
foreshadow v. using clues that hint at what will happen later
allusion n. a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work
symbol n. an object, a person, or a place that stands for more than just itself
insensible adj. incapable of feeling
debunking v. to expose as being false
plausible adj. having the appearance of truth or reason
proffered v. to put before a person for acceptance, to offer
resignation n. an accepting, unresisting attitude
querulous adj. complaining in an annoying way
neurotic adj. worrying in a way that is not healthy or reasonable
peripheral adj. relating to the edge of something
imperious adj. assuming power without justification; arrogant
desensitization n. the act of reacting less or to be less affected by something over time
correlation n. the relationship between things that happen or change together
dictate v. to say something with authority or power
detached adj. not emotional or connected
first person point of view n. the story is narrated by a character, use of “I”, “me”, “we”
third person point of view n. the story is told by someone not involved in the action
omniscient adj. knowing everything
dramatic irony n. where something is known to the audience but unknown to the characters
situational irony n. when something is strange or funny because it is the opposite of what was expected
verbal irony n. when what is meant is the opposite of what is said
stanza n. group of lines in a poem
rhythm n. a repeated pattern of sounds
figurative language n. words or expressions with meaning different from the literal ex. metaphor, simile personification
onomatopoeia n. words that are sounds ex. go, mow or light, fire
dialogue n. conversation between two or more
alliteration n. the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close together
assonance n. repetition of vowel sounds
personification n. giving something that is not human, human qualities
analyze v. to examine in detail
archetype n. a reoccurring symbol or theme in literature
connotative adj. the meaning that a word suggests or implies
denotative adj. the literal meaning of a word
myriads n. countless
ominous adj. suggesting that something bad is going to happen
stewards n. an official appointed to supervise arrangements or keep order
rheumy adj. watery
languidly adv. slowly, lacking spirit
caricature n. a character with exaggerated characteristics
revulsion n. a sense of disgust or hatred
pallidly adv. lacking color or life
furtive adj. done in a secret way to avoid notice
suffusion n. the act of spreading all over
mortification n. a sense of humiliation or shame
incredulous adj. not able or willing to believe
matron n. an older, married woman, usually of high social position
impudent adj. very rude
dissimulation n. the act of hiding under a false appearance
vexed adj. difficult or frustrating to deal with
sagacity n. the ability to understand difficult ideas
dissemble v. to hide true feelings or opinions
coveted v. to desire wrongfully
sepulcher n. a small room or monument in which a person is buried
dissever v. to divide
molten adj. glowing from intense heat
ditty n. a short, simple song
euphony n. pleasing to the ear
voluminously adv. with great size or extent
ethos n. an appeal to ethics to convince someone of the character of the persuader
pathos n. an appeal to emotions as a way of convincing an audience of an argument
logos n. an appeal to logic as a way of persuading an audience
simile n. a figure of speech where two unlike things are compared using like, as resembles
imagery n. language that causes people to imagine pictures
dialect n. the way people from a particular region speak
utopia n. an imagined ideal or perfect society
dystopia n. an imagined society where everything is unpleasant.
toil v. work extremely hard
conceived v. to create in the mind
adjournment n. the act of suspending or postponing
provision n. something provided or supplied
buoyancy n. the power to float or rise or cheerfulness
juncture n. a point in time or the act of joining
lamentable adj. regrettable, unfortunate
rigor n. strictness, severity, harshness
sweltering adj. uncomfortably hot
agitated adj. excited; disturbed
preoccupied adj. completely engrossed in thought, absorbed
anxiety n. distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear
discriminated v. to unfairly treat a person group differently from another
reflection n. a fixing on the thoughts on something; careful consideration
cultured adj. showing good education, tastes, and manners
threadbare adj. shabby or poor
emigrated v. to leave one country and settle in another
capitulation n. the act of surrendering
silhouette n. a dark shape and outline of something against a lighter background
monologue n. a long speech
anatomy n. a study of the structure or internal workings of something
rooting v. to exterminate; remove completely
sage n. a profoundly wise person
welling v. a spring or natural source of water
antagonist n. a person who opposes another; villain
fable n. a story that conveys a moral, typically with animals
counterpoint n. an argument or idea used to contrast a main idea
conundrum n. a confusing or difficult problem
anachronistic adj. something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time
reputable adj. honorable; respectable
bibliography n. a list of source materials used in a work
relevant adj. connected with the matter at hand
perspective n. a point of view
alienated v. to cause to be withdrawn or isolated
buckled v. to bend, warp, or give way
standardized adj. changed to be similar and consistent
implemented v. to fulfill; perform; carry out
intimidate v. to fill with fear
reigned v. to possess power or authority
riveted v. to hold (the eye, attention, etc.) firmly
optimistic adj. hopeful and confident about the future
torrid adj. very hot and dry; full of difficulty
barracks n. a building(s) used to house large numbers of people
overwhelming adj. overpowering
mitigated v. to lessent in force or intensity
contrasting v. to compare to show differences
humility n. a modest or low view of one’s importance
multitudes n. great numbers
deportation n. the act of expelling from the country; banish
naive adj. lacking experience, judgement, or information; unsophisticated
violated v. to break through by force or without right
components n. parts; elements
exterminated v. to kill off or destroy completely
genocide n. the deliberate extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group
atrocities n. extremely wicked or cruel acts
reconciliation n. the restoration of friendly relations
tone n. the attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience
transitions n. words and phrases that provide a connection between ideas and sentences
claim n. an opinion, idea, or assertion (thesis in writing)
primary source n. an original document or object that was created at the time under study ex. photograph, letter, recordings
secondary source n. a source that interprets and analyzes a primary source ex. articles, textbooks
ode n. a poem which expresses respect or love for something or someone
allusion n. a reference to a person, thing or idea of historical, cultural, or literary significance
satire n. the use of irony, sarcasm, and ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices
hyperbole n. obvious and intentional exaggeration
derision n. ridicule; mockery
analogy n. the act if comparing two things that are alike in some way
elegy n. a poem of reflection, typically for the dead
allegory n. a story where characters and events are symbols of ideas about human life or politics
diction n. the way in which words are used in speech or writing
euphemism n. a mild expression substituted for one that is considered too harsh ex. “to pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”
obligation n. the condition of being morally or legally bound to do something
senile adj. showing deterioration of physical or mental strength
scruple n. a moral or ethical standard that retrains actions
inured v. to cause to be less affected by something unpleasant
discursive adj. passing aimlessly from one subject to another; rambling
plucky adj. brave; courageous
inanimate adj. not alive
authentic adj. of undisputed origin; genuine
hearth n. the floor of a fireplace
abashed adj. ashamed or embarrassed
stately adj. impressive in appearance, manner or size
starboard n. the right-hand side of a vessel or aircraft
alacrity n. cheerful readiness; promptness or willingness
dilapidated adj. reduced to partial ruin or decay from age, wear, or neglect
wended v. to move from one place to another
genuflected v. to kneel on one knee; to be obedient
jabbering v. to talk in a fast, unclear, or foolish way
conventional adj. used an accepted by most people
deceptive adj. tending to mislead by false appearance or statement
scorn n. open dislike and disrespect
dale n. valley
wrath n. extreme anger
mandatory adj. required by law or rule
propensity n. a strong natural tendency to do something
grudgingly adv. done in unwilling or doubtful way
allocate v. to divide and give out for a reason
augmented v. to make greater by adding to it
advocates n. a person who publicly supports a particular cause
prudence n. careful good judgment that allows someone to avoid danger or risk
orator n. one who is skilled and powerful as a public speaker
unabated adj. being at full strength or force
denunciation n. a public statement strongly criticizing someone or something as bad or wrong
vindication n. defense; excuse; justification
tremulous adj. shaking or quivering
moorings n. the anchors, ropes and cables that hold a boat in place
impetuous adj. done quickly and without thought
spectral adj. relating to or suggesting a ghost
somber adj. sad and serious
resonate v. to have particular meaning or importance for someone
spurned v. to reject with scorn; dispose
besought v. to beg urgently
impelled v. to drive or urge forward
misgivings n. feelings of doubt or distrust
omnipotence n. the state of having great or unlimited power
wafted v. to carry lightly or smoothly through air or over water
reproach n. blame conveyed in disapproval
pestilence n. a deadly epidemic disease
stifling adj. suffocating
lurid adj. gruesome; horrible
ardor n. great warmth of feeling; passion
impregnable adj. strong enough to resist attach; unconquerable
proposition n. the act of offering something to be considered or accepted
consecrate v. to make or declare sacred
hallow v. to make sacred holy; consider sacred
tyrant n. a ruler who uses power oppressively or unjustly
proprietors n. the owner of a business
explicitly adv. fully or clearly expressed;leaving nothing implied
exulting v. to show or feel lively or triumphant joy
trills v. to sing or play with a vibratory effect
mournful adj. feeling or expression sorrow or grief