AP Flashcards
Diction
Word choice
syntax
ordering of words in a sentence and how it achieves tone, meaning, and point of view
style
describes how author uses language to get his point across
tone
attitude and mood created by style
point of view
stance/opinion revealed by style and tone
imagery
language used for sensual perception
hyperbole
exaggeration
understatement
presenting facts in a way that makes them seem less significant than they are
simile
comparing two objects using “like” or “as.”
metaphor
comparing objects not using “like” or “as”
symbol
a word that represents something other than itself
denotation
a word’s primary meaning (definition)
connotation
the vast range of other meanings a word suggests
oxymoron
an apparent contradiction of terms
paradox
an apparent contradiction of ideas or statements
personification
giving human qualities to an inanimate objects
rhetorical question
a question with an obvious answer
bombast
pompous language
metonymy
one term substituted for another term which is closely associated
synecdoche
metonymy restricted to a part signifying the whole
theme
general ideas
euphemism
words used to avoid employing an unpleasant or offensive term
verbal irony
stating something but meaning the opposite (sarcasm)
situational irony
a situation runs contrary to what is expected
satire
something portrayed in a way that is deliberately distorted to achieve comic effect.
Logos
appealing to reason and logic with hard facts, evidence, statistics, etc.
ethos
appeal to speaker’s credibility (expert or authority)
pathos
appealing to emotions, values, or desires of the audience.
didactic
intended to instruct
arbiter
judge who decides disputed issue
incontrovertible
unable to be denied or disputed
vinidicated
freed from blame
indolent
lazy
torpor
laziness; inactivity; dullness
disparity
inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference
sanction
economic or military measure put in place to punish another country
opulent
exhibiting a display of great wealth
poignant
profoundly moving; touching
effusive
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
egregious
conspicuously bad or offensive
gratuitous
given freely; unearned unwarranted
benevolent
well-meaning; generous
mollify
to calm or soothe
dubious
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
astute
shrewd; clever
clandestine
secretive
stratagem
clever trick to deceive or outwit
wily
cunning
apathetic
feeling or showing little emotion
capricious
impulsive and unpredictable
whimsical
subject to erratic behaviour; unpredictable
intrepid
courageous; fearless
proliferate
to grow or increase rapidly
consensus
general agreement
incumbent
imposed as a duty; obligatory
enlightening
informative; contributing to one’s awareness
profound
having great depth or seriousness
innate
possessed from birth; inborn
transient
passing away with time
affable
easy-going; friendly
facetious
playfully humorous
dilettante
one with amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledge
decorous
proper; marked by good taste
staid
unemotional; serious
pejorative
describing words or phrases that belittle or speak negatively of someone
brusque
rudely abrupt
fractious
quarrelsome; unruly
ingrate
an ungrateful person
insolent
insulting in manner or speech
deleterious
having a harmful effect; injurious
heinous
hatefully evil; abominable
rancorous
hateful; marked by deep-seated ill-will
austere
without decoration; strict
ponderous
extremely dull
apprehension
anxiety or fear about the future
trepidation
uncertainty, apprehension
nascent
coming into existence; emerging
novel
strikingly new or unusual
conflagration
a widespread fire
comprehensive
large in scope or content
prodigious
enormous
laudatory
giving praise
fastidious
possessing careful attention to detail; difficult to please
pragmatic
practical
anachronism
something out of place in time or sequence
apology
defense of an idea
chiasmus
an inversion in the second of two parallel phrases
lexicon
word book describing language with definitions; a dictionary
paradigm
an example or model
period
long, complex, grammatically correct sentence
propitious
presenting favorable circumstances