AP Language Terms & Vocab Flashcards
adage
a wise saying
allegory
a literary work with characters, objects, or actions that represent a broader image
altercation
a nasty dispute
anaphora
the repetition of words/phrases at the beginning of lines
anecdote
a brief narrative that focuses on a particular event
antithesis
a statement that is balanced with two opposing ideas
aphorism
a concise statement that expresses a general truth, often using rhyme/balance
apostrophe
a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent/imaginary person or some abstraction
archetype
a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and appeals in a universal way to evoke a response
asyndeton
a constitution in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions
balanced statement
a sentence with words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast
bathos
insincere or overly sentimental quality of speech/willing to evoke pity
benevolent
kindly, charitable
chiasmus
a parallel in which the second part is structurally reversed
cliche
in expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has warn off
colloquialism
informal words or expression not usually acceptable in formal writing
complex sentence
a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause
compound sentence
a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses often joined by one ore more conjunctions
conceit
a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
condescending
patronizing
cryptic
secret, mysterious
cumulative sentence
a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
declarative sentence
a sentence that makes a statement a declaration
deductive reasoning
reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific clause
demagogue
a leader who promises things to people to gain power
denotation
the literal meaning of the word
dialect
a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region
didactic
having the primary purpose of teaching or instruction
dissonance
harsh, inharmonious or discordant sounds
emulate
to try to equal by imitating
epigram
a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying
epigraph
a saying or statement on the title of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of work
epitaph
an inscription on a tombstone or burial place
epithet
a term to point out a characteristic of a person
euphemism
an indirect, less offensive way of sharing something that is considered unpleasant
exclamatory
a sentence expressing strong feeling usually ends with a !
fiasco
a failure
florid
flushed, ornate
hedonist
a pleasure seeker
inevitable
unavoidable
infer
to conclude, to deduce
intrepid
fearless, bold
nocturnal
pertaining to the night, active at night
opulent
demonstrating great wealth; extravagant
precarious
brilliant of expert at an early age
rancor
hatred
spurious
fake, false, counterfeit
superfluous
beyond what is necessary; excessive
venerable
respectable because of age
whet
to sharpen, to stimulate
