midterm vocabulary Flashcards
redundant
(adj) unnecessary because it is excessive; superfluous
eptiome
(n) the typical/highest example of something; embodiment
Mundane
(adj) very ordinary therefore not interesting; boring
(Describes things, events, or situations rather than emotion)
Adept
(adj) having a natural ability to do something; skillful
Sullen
(adj) bad tempered and sulky; gloomy
Cordial
(adj) friendly, but formal and polite
Apathetic
(adj) showing no interest or emotion; bored
(describes a person’s emotional state/attitude)
Fluctuate
(v) rise and fall irregularly
Emaciated
(adj) dangerously thin and weak, due to illness or extreme hunger (more severe than gaunt)
Meticulous
(adj) very careful and with great attention to detail
Reluctant
(adj) unwilling and hesitant
Robust
(adj) strong and healthy; vigorous
Hiatus
(noun) a pause or gap in a sequence
Livid
(adj) furiously angry
Affinity
(n) a natural liking to someone or something
Egregious
(adj) outstandingly bad; shocking
Vicariously
(adv) experiencing something through someone else
Digress
(v) leaving the main subject
Ameliorate
(v) making something bad better
Gloat
(v) to express great pleasure or satisfaction because of your own success or someone else’s failure
Incredulously
(adv) in a manner indicating disbelief
Autonomous
(adj) independent and having the power to make your own decisions
Epidemic
(n) the appearance of a disease within a community
Antipathy
(noun) a heavy feeling of dislike; aversion
Solace
(n) a source of comfort and help
Negligible
(adj) too slight or small in amount to be of importance
Uncanny
(adj) strange or mysterious, often in a way that is slightly frightening
Reverence
(n) a feeling of respect or admiration for someone or something
Malevolent
(adj) causing or wanting to cause harm or evil
Atrocity
(n) an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act
Jagged
(adj) rough and with sharp points
Accumulate
(v) to gradually increase in number or amount
Haphazardly
(adv) in a manner that lacks organization
Pungent
(adj) smelling or tasting very strong and sharp
Monotonous
(adj) lacking in variety and interest, making it dull and tedious.
Omniscient
(adj) having or seeming to have unlimited knowledge
Vile
(adj) extremely unpleasant
Aloof
(adj) not friendly; cool and emotionally distant
Gaunt
(adj) very thin, especially because of sickness or hunger
Cower
(v) crouch down in fear
Barren
(adj) unable to produce or create something
Indefinitely
(adv) for an unspecified amount of time
Trepidation
(n) fear or worry about what is going to happen
Listless
(adj) lacking energy or enthusiasm
Hoarse
(adj) [of a person’s voice] sounding rough and harsh
Inept
(adj) having or showing no skill
Somber
(adj) dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy
Feeble
(adj) lacking physical strength
Intermittently
(adv) at irregular intervals; not continuously
Engulf
(v) surround or cover something completely
situational irony
when the outcome of a situation contradicts what you expect
verbal irony
when a character says one thing but means the opposite (sarcasm)
dramatic irony
when the audience knows something the character doesn’t
oxymoron
a phrase that combines two opposite or contradictory words to create a unique meaning
[example: living dead, friendly fire, jumbo shrimp, bittersweet, civil war]
allegory
a story, poem, or artwork where characters, events, and details symbolize deeper meanings, often about moral, political, or spiritual ideas.
[example: I Am Legend, Animal Farm]
personification
giving an object human qualities or characteristics
anthropomorphism
giving an animal human qualities or characteristics
juxtaposition
placing two things side by side for contrasting effect
prose
a regular written work that doesn’t have a specific structure like poetry. It follows normal sentences and paragraphs.
