AP Lang Exam Terms Flashcards
To practice and memorize the definitions of important rhetorical, figurative, and analytical terms for the AP Lang Exam.
What is an assertion?
a declaration or statement
Define clarity in the context of communication.
clearness in thought or expression
What does cogent mean?
convincing; reasonable
What is meant by coherent?
logically connected
Define cohesive.
condition of sticking together
What does didactic refer to?
intended to instruct
What is discourse?
verbal expression or exchange; conversation
Define eloquence.
the ability to speak vividly or persuasively
What does it mean to emphasize something?
to give special attention to something, to stress
What is fluidity in communication?
easily flowing
Define implication.
the act of suggesting or hinting
What does lucid mean?
easily understood; clear
What is rhetoric?
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
What is the role of an arbiter?
a judge who decides a disputed issue
True or False: A biased opinion is impartial.
False
What does exculpate mean?
to free from guilt or blame
Define impartial.
not in favor of one side or the other; unbiased
What does incontrovertible mean?
not able to be denied or disputed
Define integrity.
trustworthiness; completeness
What is objectivity?
treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices
What does it mean to be penitent?
expressing remorse for one’s misdeeds
Define plausible.
seemingly valid or acceptable; credible
What does substantiated mean?
supported with proof or evidence; verified
What does vindicated mean?
freed from blame
Define condescending.
treating people as weak or inferior
What does contemptuous mean?
feeling hatred; scornful
Define despotic.
exercising absolute power; tyrannical
What is meant by dictatorial?
domineering; oppressively overbearing
What does disdain mean?
contempt, scorn
Fill in the blank: A _______ character is one whose traits contrast with another character.
foil
What does alienated mean?
removed or disassociated from (friends, family, or homeland)
Define alliance.
a union of two or more groups
What is disparity?
inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference
What does servile mean?
submissive; like a servant
What does suppressed mean?
subdued; kept from being circulated
What does embellish mean?
to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate
Define florid.
describing flowery or elaborate speech
What is opulent?
exhibiting a display of great wealth
What does ostentatious mean?
describing a showy or pretentious display
What does poignant refer to?
profoundly moving; touching
Define ebullience.
intense enthusiasm
What does effusive mean?
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
What does egregious mean?
conspicuously bad or offensive
Define flagrant.
extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable
What does gratuitous mean?
given freely; unearned; unwarranted
Fill in the blank: Something that is _______ is extra; unnecessary.
superfluous
What does alleviate mean?
to ease a pain or burden
What is an asylum?
a place of retreat or security
Define auspicious.
favorable; promising
What does benevolent mean?
well-meaning; generous
What does benign refer to?
kind and gentle
What does mollify mean?
to calm or soothe
Define reclamation.
the act of making something useful again
What does sanction mean in a legal context?
to give official authorization or approval
What does dubious mean?
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
What does fabricated mean?
made; concocted to deceive
Define hypocrisy.
the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity
What is slander?
false charges and malicious oral statements about someone
Define spurious.
not genuine
What does astute mean?
shrewd; clever
What does clandestine mean?
secretive
What is a coup?
a brilliantly executed plan
Define disingenuous.
not straightforward; crafty
What is a ruse?
a crafty trick
What does stratagem mean?
a clever trick used to deceive or outwit
Fill in the blank: Actions done _______ are secretive.
surreptitiously
What does wary mean?
on guard
Define wily.
cunning
What does listless mean?
lacking energy
What does ambiguous mean?
open to more than one interpretation
Define ambivalent.
simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain
What does apathetic mean?
feeling or showing little emotion
What does arbitrary mean?
determined by impulse rather than reason
Define capricious.
impulsive and unpredictable
What does equivocate mean?
to avoid making a definite statement
What does indifferent mean?
not caring one way or the other
What does spontaneous mean?
unplanned; naturally occurring
Define whimsical.
subject to erratic behavior; unpredictable
What does inconsequential mean?
unimportant
What does superficial mean?
concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow
What does tenuous mean?
having little substance or strength; shaky; unsure, weak
What does trivial mean?
of little importance or significance
Define assiduous.
hard-working
What does compelling mean?
forceful; urgently demanding attention
What does diligent mean?
marked by painstaking effort; hard-working
What does dogged mean?
stubbornly persevering
What does endure mean?
to put up with; to survive a hardship
Define intrepid.
courageous; fearless
What is a maverick?
one who is independent and resists adherence to a group
What does obdurate mean?
stubborn; inflexible
Define obstinate.
stubbornly adhering to an opinion or a course of action
What does proliferate mean?
to grow or increase rapidly
What is tenacity?
persistence
What does vitality mean?
energy; power to survive
Define assimilation.
to absorb; to make similar
What is consensus?
general agreement
Define context.
circumstances of a situation; environment
What does derived mean?
copied or adapted from a source
What does incumbent mean?
imposed as a duty; obligatory
What does inevitable mean?
certain to happen, unavoidable
Define malleable.
easily shaped or formed; easily influenced
What does subdue mean?
to restrain; to hold back
What does acquired mean?
developed or learned; not naturally occurring
What is conception?
the ability to form or understand an idea
Define conviction.
a fixed or strong belief
What does dogmatic mean?
stubbornly adhering to unproven beliefs
What does enlightening mean?
informative; contributing to one’s awareness
What is an impression?
a feeling or understanding resulting from an experience
Define intuition.
the power of knowing things without thinking; sharp insight
What does perspective mean?
point of view
What does propriety refer to?
appropriateness of behavior
What is a premonition?
a feeling about the future
Define profound.
having great depth or seriousness
What does inherent mean?
inborn; built-in
What does innate mean?
possessed from birth; inborn
What does inveterate mean?
long established; deep-rooted; habitual
What does omnipotent mean?
all-powerful
What is proximity?
closeness
Define elusive.
difficult to capture, as in something actually fleeting
What does emigrate mean?
to leave one country or region and settle in another
What is transient?
passing away with time; passing from one place to another
Define transitory.
short-lived or temporary
What does affable mean?
easy-going; friendly
What does amenable mean?
responsive; agreeable
Define camaraderie.
good will between friends
What does cordial mean?
friendly; sincere
What does facetious mean?
playfully humorous
What does impinge mean?
hinder; interfere with
What does lament mean?
express grief for; mourn
Define melancholy.
sadness; depression
What does sanction mean in the context of punishment?
an economic or military measure put in place to punish another country
What does truncated mean?
shortened; cut off
What does aesthetic refer to?
having to do with the appreciation of beauty
Define anthology.
a collection of literary pieces
What does contemporary mean?
current, modern; from the same time
What is a dilettante?
one with an amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledge
Define eclectic.
made up of a variety of sources or styles
What is an excerpt?
a selected part of a passage or scene
What does genre refer to?
describing a category or artistic endeavor
Define medley.
an assortment or a mixture, especially of musical pieces
What is a mural?
a large painting applied directly to a wall or ceiling surface
What does narrative mean?
characterized by the telling of a story
What is a parody?
an artistic work that imitates the style of another work for comic effect
Define realism.
artistic representation that aims for visual accuracy
What is a virtuoso?
a tremendously skilled artist
What does decorous mean?
proper; marked by good taste
Define equanimity.
the quality of being calm and even-tempered; composure
What does modest mean?
quiet or humble in manner or appearance
What is a misconception?
an incorrect understanding or interpretation
Define prudent.
exercising good judgment or common sense
What does serene mean?
calm
What does staid mean?
unemotional; serious
What does stoic mean?
indifferent to pleasure or pain; impassive
What does it mean to condemn?
to express strong disapproval of; denounce
What does discredit mean?
to cause to be doubted
Define disparage.
to speak of in a slighting way or negatively; to belittle
What does pejorative mean?
describing words or phrases that belittle or speak negatively of someone
What is plagiarism?
the act of passing off the ideas or writing of another as one’s own
What does vilify mean?
to make vicious statements about
Define brusque.
rudely abrupt, terse
What does caustic mean?
bitingly sarcastic or witty
What does fractious mean?
quarrelsome; unruly
What does incorrigible mean?
unable to be reformed
What is an ingrate?
an ungrateful person
Define insolent.
insulting in manner or speech
What does notorious mean?
known widely and usually unfavorably; infamous
What does pugnacious mean?
combative; belligerent
What does reprehensible mean?
worthy of blame
What does brittle mean?
easily broken when subjected to pressure
What does deleterious mean?
having a harmful effect; injurious
What is enmity?
mutual hatred or ill-will
Define heinous.
hatefully evil; abominable
What does malfeasance mean?
wrongdoing, misconduct
What is malice?
extreme ill-will or spite
What does putrid mean?
rotten
What does rancorous mean?
hateful; marked by deep-seated ill-will
Define toxic.
poisonous
What does archaic mean?
characteristic of an earlier period; old-fashioned
What does hackneyed mean?
worn out through overuse; trite
What does medieval refer to?
referring to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned
What does obsolete mean?
no longer in use; old-fashioned
Define austere.
without decoration; strict
What is mediocrity?
the state or quality of being average; of moderate to low quality
What does mundane mean?
commonplace; ordinary
What does ponderous mean?
extremely dull
Define prosaic.
unimaginative; dull
What does sedentary mean?
not migratory; settled
What is apprehension?
anxiety or fear about the future
Define harbinger.
something that indicates what is to come; a forerunner
What does ominous mean?
menacing; threatening
What does timorous mean?
timid; fearful about the future
Define trepidation.
uncertainty; apprehension
What does innovative mean?
introducing something new
What does naive mean?
lacking sophistication
What does nascent mean?
coming into existence; emerging
What does novel mean?
strikingly new or unusual
What is a novice?
a beginner
Define candor.
sincerity; openness
What does frank mean?
open and sincere in expression; straightforward
What does arid mean?
describing a dry, rainless climate
What is a conflagration?
a widespread fire
What does nocturnal mean?
of or occurring in the night
What does sonorous mean?
producing a deep or full sound
What does ample mean?
describing a large amount of something
What does comprehensive mean?
large in scope or content
What does copious mean?
plentiful; having a large quantity
What does permeated mean?
spread or flowing throughout
What does pervasive mean?
dispersed throughout
Define prodigious.
enormous
What does replete mean?
abundantly supplied; filled to capacity
What does exemplary mean?
commendable; worthy of imitation
What does idealize mean?
to consider perfect
What does laudatory mean?
giving praise
What does paramount mean?
of chief concern or importance
What does venerated mean?
highly respected
What does catalog mean?
to make an itemized list of
What does facile mean?
done or achieved with little effort; easy
What does fastidious mean?
possessing careful attention to detail; difficult to please
What is a hierarchy?
a group organized by rank
Define meticulous.
extremely careful and precise
What does pragmatic mean?
practical
What does solvent mean?
able to pay one’s debts
What does abstract mean?
not applied to actual objects
What is an anachronism?
something out of place in time or sequence
Define anthropomorphism.
the attribution of humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or forces of nature
What is an apology in the context of writing?
defense of an idea
Define apparatus.
equipment; a group of machines
What is apposition?
a grammar construction in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation
What is an archetype?
a perfect example; an original pattern or model
What does chiasmus mean?
an inversion in the second of two parallel phrases
What does gesticulating refer to?
making gestures while speaking
What does hypothetical mean?
existing only as an assumption or speculation
What is a lexicon?
a word book describing language with definitions; a dictionary
Define metonymy.
a type of figurative language in which one term is substituted for another term with which it is closely associated
What is an oxymoron?
an apparent contradiction
What does panegyric mean?
statement of high praise
What is a paradigm?
an example or model
Define parallelism.
a grammar construction in which two identical syntactic constructions are used
What is a period in grammar?
long, complex, grammatically correct sentence
What does pernicious mean?
causing great harm
What is a phenomenon?
an unusual, observable event
What does propitious mean?
presenting favorable circumstances; auspicious
What does rational mean?
logical; motivated by reason rather than feeling
What does sardonic mean?
disdainfully or ironically humorous; harsh, bitter, or caustic
What is a syllogism?
a form of deductive reasoning; a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
What does synecdoche mean?
a form of metonymy that’s restricted to cases where a part is used to signify the whole
What does theoretical mean?
lacking application or practical application
What is active voice?
the opposite of passive voice; essentially any sentence with an active verb
What does ad hominem mean?
an attack on the person rather than the issues at hand (a common fallacy)
What is alliteration?
the repetition of a phonetic sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence
What does allusion mean?
a reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth
What is anadiplosis?
a wonderful technique of repetition in which the last word of the clause begins the next clause, creating a connection of ideas
What is voice in writing?
The opposite of passive voice; essentially any sentence with an active verb
Define ad hominem.
An attack on the person rather than the issues at hand (a common fallacy)
What is alliteration?
The repetition of a phonetic sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence
Define allusion.
A reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth
What is anadiplosis?
A technique of repetition in which the last word of the clause begins the next clause
What does analogy signify?
A relational comparison of or similarity between two objects or ideas
Define anaphora.
The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive lines or sentences
What is anastrophe?
The reversal of the natural order of words in a sentence or line of poetry
Define antithesis.
An observation or claim that is in opposition to your claim or an author’s claim
What is an aphorism?
A brief statement of an opinion or elemental truth
What does apostrophe refer to in writing?
A direct address to someone who is not present, to a deity or muse, or to some other power
Define appositive.
A noun phrase that modifies the noun next to it
What is an argument from ignorance?
An argument stating that something is true because it has never been proven false
Define asyndeton.
The deliberate omission of conjunctions from a series of related independent clauses
What is a bandwagon argument?
An argument that suggests something is true because ‘everyone’s doing it’
Define begging the question.
An argument that includes a word or phrase that needs to be defined before the argument can proceed
What is cause and effect in logical reasoning?
Also known as post hoc ergo propter hoc; it asserts that one event is the result of another
Define chiasmus.
An ABBA syntactical structure rather than the more common parallel ABAB structure
What is a complex sentence?
A sentence structure that combines a dependent clause and an independent clause
Define compound sentence.
A sentence structure made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
What is a compound-complex sentence?
A combination of a compound and a complex sentence
Define connotation.
The associations or moods that accompany a word
What is a declarative sentence?
A basic statement or an assertion; the most common type of sentence
Define deductive reasoning.
A form of argumentation that uses claims where the author assumes the claims are true
What is denotation?
The literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition
Define dependent clause.
A clause that contains a noun and a verb but is incomplete due to a subordinate conjunction
What is dialect?
A regional speech pattern; the way people talk in different parts of the world
Define diction.
The particular words an author uses in an essay
What is a distractor in a multiple-choice question?
A possible answer that seems correct but is either wrong or not as good as other answers
What does ellipsis indicate?
Three dots that indicate words have been left out of a quotation or create suspense
Define epanalepsis.
A figure that repeats the opening word or phrase at the end of the sentence to emphasize a statement
What is epistrophe?
The ending of a series of lines or clauses with the same word or words
Define ethos.
An appeal to credibility; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
What is etymology?
The study of the origin of words and their historical uses
Define euphemism.
To use a safer or nicer word for something others find inappropriate or unappealing
What is an exclamatory sentence?
A sentence that conveys excitement or force
Define fallacy.
A failure of logical reasoning
What is a false analogy?
An argument using an inappropriate metaphor
Define false dilemma.
An either/or fallacy suggesting there are only two solutions to a problem
What is a gerund?
A verb ending in ‘ing’ that serves as a noun
Define hyperbole.
An exaggeration used to bolster an argument
What is imagery in writing?
The evocation of any of the five senses by what you have read
What is an imperative sentence?
A command
Define independent clause.
A clause that can stand alone as a sentence; it must have a noun and a verb
What is inductive reasoning?
A form of argumentation that requires the use of examples
Define infinitive.
The word ‘to’ plus a verb, usually functioning as a noun
What is an interrogative sentence?
A question
Define irony.
The use of words to express something other than the literal meaning
What is jargon?
A pattern of speech and vocabulary associated with a particular group of people
Define juxtaposition.
Making one idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite
What is logos?
An appeal to reason; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
Define loose sentence.
An independent clause followed by dependent clauses
What is malapropism?
A form of word play in which one word is mistakenly substituted for another
What is a metaphor?
A figure of speech comparing what is unknown to something known to gauge its importance
Define metonymy.
A figure of speech where the name of one thing is substituted for another closely associated
What does non sequitur mean?
An argument by misdirection that is logically irrelevant
Define object in grammar.
A noun toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed
What is onomatopoeia?
A figure of speech in which a sound imitates the thing or action associated with it
Define oxymoron.
Two words that together create a sense of opposition
What is a paradox?
A figure of speech that creates a mental discontinuity, prompting the reader to seek clarity
Define parallel syntax (or parallelism).
A pattern of speech that creates a rhythm of repetition
What are parentheticals?
Phrases, sentences, and words inside parentheses
Define participle.
A verbal used as an adjective, often ending in -ing or -ed
What is passive voice?
The opposite of active voice; in this voice, something happens to someone
Define pathos.
An appeal to emotion; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
What is a periodic sentence?
A sentence with several dependent clauses preceding the independent clause
Define personification.
Giving human attributes to non-human things
What is a phrase in grammar?
A grouping of words that does not contain a verb
Define point of view.
The perspective from which the writer presents the story or essay
What does poisoning the well mean?
Introducing a person or character with language suggesting unreliability
Define polysyndeton.
The use of consecutive coordinating conjunctions even when not needed
What is a predicate?
The formal term for the verb that conveys the meaning of the sentence
Define predicate adjective.
An adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject
What is a predicate nominative?
A noun or pronoun that uses a linking verb to unite or describe the subject
Define premise.
A statement of truth, at least to the person making the argument
What is a prompt in essay questions?
The paragraph or language that defines the essay task
Define pun.
A play on words that usually calls humorous attention to a point
What is a red herring?
An argument that distracts the reader by raising irrelevant issues
Define repetition.
A form of rhetorical stress that emphasizes a particular word, phrase, or image
What is a rhetorical question?
A question whose answer is assumed, designed to force a predetermined response
Define rhetorical shift.
When the author significantly alters diction, syntax, or both
What is a simile?
A figure of speech comparing two unlike objects using ‘like’ or ‘as’
Define simple sentence.
An independent clause; has a subject and a verb
What is a slippery slope fallacy?
An argument asserting that one thing inevitably leads to another
Define stem in multiple-choice questions.
The question you are asked to complete with given possible answers
What is a straw man argument?
When a person defines an opponent’s position in a manner that is easy to attack
What is a subject in grammar?
The noun that is the basic focus of the sentence
Define subordinate conjunction.
A conjunction that makes an independent clause into a dependent clause
What is a syllogism?
A three-part argument construction where two premises lead to a truth
Define synecdoche.
A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole
What is syntax?
The study of the rules of grammar that define sentence formation
Define synthesis.
To unite or synthesize a variety of sources to achieve a common end
What is a theme in literature?
The basic message or meaning conveyed through elements of character and conflict
Define thesis.
The writer’s statement of purpose; the focal intent of the essay
What is a tricolon?
A sentence with three equally distinct and equally long parts
Define understatement.
Creates exaggeration by showing restraint; the opposite of hyperbole
What is zeugma?
A device in which two elements in a sentence are tied together by the same verb or noun
Define rhetoric.
The study of the effective use of language; the art of using language effectively and persuasively
What is a rhetorical triangle?
Author, audience, purpose
Define tone in writing.
The manner in which a writer expresses attitude toward the subject and audience
What is figurative language?
Imaginative language that compares one thing to another in striking ways
Define ambiguity.
The presence of two or more possible meanings in any passage; not clear
What is satire?
The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, and humor to expose or denounce vice or folly
What is emotional words in writing?
Also known as loaded words; they demonstrate a writer’s intense feelings
Define humor in writing.
A tone or attitude a writer may use to be comedic or amusing
