Vocab List 5 Flashcards
auteur
a filmmaker whose influence and artistic approach over the movie are so great that the filmmaker is seen as the author
Wes Anderson is an auteur because his style is very well known and distinct, and it heavily influences the movies he directs.
leitmotif
a recurrent theme throughout a musical or book associated with a particular person, idea, or situation
Harry Potter’s lightning scar is a leitmotif.
deus ex machina
an unexpected power or event that saves a hopeless situation
After the character fell off of the cliff, in a deus ex machina he suddenly discovered he could fly
pathos
a quality that evokes pity or sadness
The actor used a great amount of pathos to make the audience connect with his performance.
rapport
a close, harmonious relationship in which the people/group understand each others feelings or ideas and communicate well
It is beneficial to have a good rapport with those you work with.
double entendre
a word or phrase with two meanings, one of which is risque
One should avoid making a double entendre in public
segue
move without interruption from one musical piece to another
The ending allowed the song to segue into the next
plebeian
a commoner
The plebeians were protesting the price of grain
terra incognita
unknown or unexplored territory
The Americas were considered terra incognita pre-Columbus.
tabula rasa
a clean slate
I approached the situation with a tabula rasa
savoir faire
the ability to speak or act appropriately in social situations
He lacked savoir faire and was unpopular at the party
sine qua non
something that is absolutely necessary
Reading is sine qua non to writing
Roman a clef
a novel in which real people or events appear with invented names
The Great Gatsby is sometimes considered a roman a clef
sonata
a composition for a soloist with a piano accompaniment
She performed a sonata in Carnegie Hall
protege
a person guided or supported by an older more experienced person
Luke Skywalker was the protege of Obi Wan Kenobi
raison d’etre
the most important reason for something or someone’s existence
The companies raison d’etre was health services
modus vivendi
mode of living, way of life
The homework goes against my modus vivendi
carpe diem
seize the day
The teacher’s final advice was “carpe diem”
vulpine
relating to foxes
The cartoon had vulpine features and mannerisms
tempus fugit
time flies
I lost track of time while with a friend, but tempus fugit
jejune
naive, simplistic, and superficial
He has predictable and jejune opinions, which I cannot stand
proselytize
to attempt to convert from one religion to another
Christianity, a universalizing religion, actively proselytizes.
acolyte
an assistant or follower
She was followed by a posse of acolytes
ingenue
an innocent or unsophisticated young woman
Anne Hathaway’s character is an ingenue in the beginning of The Devil Wears Prada
