Advanced Placement Vocabulary
Terms
undefined, object
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- trenchant
- adj. 1.incisive or penetrating, as perception or wit. 2. vigorous and effective, as an argument or policy. 3. well-defined; clear-cut.
- didactic
- adj. 1. intended to educate or instruct, esp. in moral values. 2. showing or having a tendency to teach, preach, or moralize.
- machinations
- n. 1.scheming or plotting, esp. for a devious purpose. 2. (usu. pl.) elaborate or devious schemes.
- acerbity
- n. 1.sharpness or severity of temper or manner. 2. bitterness of taste; astringency.
- obfuscate
- v. 1.to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. 2. to baffle or confuse (a person).
- cogent
- adj. 1.convincing, or compelling by virtue of a strong argument or clear presentation.
- concomitant
- adj. 1.existing or happening at the same time as something else, esp. as the less important thing or event; accompanying; attendant.
- capricious
- adj. 1.tending to act on impulse; subject to whim or caprice; erratic and unpredictable.
- omniscient
- adj. 1. infinite in knowledge; all-knowing. 2. possessing great knowledge; seeming to know everything.
- alacrity
- n. 1.willing promptness. 2. speed or liveliness.
- ingratiate
- v. 1.to seek or secure another's favor or approval for (oneself) (usu. fol. by with).
- raucous
- adj. 1.loud, sharp, and rasping, as a voice or laugh. 2. loud and disorderly.
- wreak
- v. 1.to inflict or carry out (punishment, revenge, destruction, or the like). 2. to make someone the victim or object of (one's anger, resentment, or the like).
- foible
- n. 1.a minor flaw or weakness in personality, character, or behavior. 2. a sword blade's weaker part, from the middle to the point.
- taciturn
- adj. 1.habitually silent and uncommunicative.
- desiccate
- v. 1.to eliminate the moisture in; dry up. 2. to remove the moisture in (food) so as to preserve it.
- enervate
- v. 1.to take away the strength or vitality of; weaken.
- propitiate
- v. 1.To conciliate (an offended power); appease
- undulate
- v. 1. to cause a wavelike motion in or of. 2. to give a wavelike form or appearance to; ripple.
- magnanimous
- adj. 1.having or showing a generous, forgiving, or noble nature.
- cajole
- v. 1. to coax or persuade insistently, as by flattery or false promises.
- truculent
- adj. 1. extremely hostile or belligerent; inclined to fight. 2. savagely and fiercely cruel or harsh; brutal.
- sinecure
- n. 1.a paid position or office that requires little or no work.
- panache
- n. 1. a stylish, dashing manner; flamboyance. 2. a feathery plume, as on a hat.
- ineffable
- adj. 1.beyond description; inexpressible.
- inveigh
- v. 1.to utter angry or bitter complaints or criticism; protest vigorously (usu. fol. by against.)
- vitiate
- v. 1.to make (a legal document or the like) ineffective or invalid. 2. to harm the quality of; mar; spoil.
- ignominy
- n. 1.the condition of being in disgrace or dishonor; humiliation. 2. behavior or a quality that merits disgrace or dishonor.
- maudlin
- adj. 1.foolishly sentimental or tearful, as from drunkenness.
- paucity
- n. 1. smallness of number or amount; scarcity.
- scintilla
- n. 1.a tiny amount; trace.
- satiate
- v. 1.to satisfy completely, as a hunger or desire. 2. to glut or fill to excess; oversupply; surfeit.
- remonstrate
- v. 1.to say in opposition, protest, or objection.
- obdurate
- adj. 1.stubbornly holding to a position or course of action; unyielding; unpersuadable. 2. hardhearted or without remorse.
- pefidy
- perspicacious
- adj. 1.keenly perceptive or understanding; discerning.
- harbinger
- n. 1.someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner.
- abysmal
- adj. 1.of great extent; unmeasurable; extreme. 2. (informal) very bad.
- dichotomy
- n. 1.division or separation into two usu. opposed parts, positions, or opinions. 2. in botany, the characteristic of branching or dividing into two equal-sized limbs, veins, or the like.
- invective
- n. 1.strongly abusive or denunciatory speech or language. 2. an instance of such speech.
- gratitous
- adj. 1.given or received without charge or cost. 2. given or done without sufficient reason or justification; unwarranted.
- disparage
- v. 1. to depreciate or belittle, esp. in speech. 2. to lower in esteem or rank; degrade.
- rejuvenescence
- n. 1.A renewal of youthful appearance or character.
- jocund
- adj. 1.merry or cheerful in manner or appearance; jovial.
- pedantic
- n. 1.one who makes an excessive or offensive display of learnedness. 2. one who insists on an overly formal or detailed approach to scholarship.
- androgynous
- adj. 1. possessing both male and female characteristics or traits; hermaphroditic. 2. in botany, possessing both staminate and pistillate flowers.
- erudite
- adj. 1.having or showing a high level of scholarly knowledge; learned.
- fortuitous
- adj. 1.happening or appearing by chance, as a coincidence. 2. occurring or appearing by lucky chance.
- quaff
- v. 1.to take a drink, esp. a large one, with obvious enjoyment.
- exonerate
- v. 1.to free from blame; absolve; exculpate. 2. to release from a task or obligation.