Vocabulary List Flashcards
Allegory
A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor
Ambiguity
Multiple meanings of a word
Apostrophe
A sudden turn from the General audience to address a specific group
Archaism
Use of obsolete language
Archtypes
A perfect example
Colloquial
Slang or informal language
Connotation
Implied meaning
Dennotation
Dictionary definition
Diction
Writer’s word choice
Euphemism
substitution of an offensive expression for one whose meaning might be unpleasant
Hyperbole
Exaggeration for emphasis or rhetorical effect
Irony
expression of something, contrary to its intended meanin
Litotes
understatement, for intensification, by denying the contrary of the thing being affirmed
Metaphor
implied comparison achieved through a figurative use of words
Metonymy
substitution of one word for another that it suggests
Oxymoron
apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another
Paradox
an assertion seemingly opposed to common sense but that may have some truth in it
Personification
attribution of personality to an impersonal thing
Pun
play on words
Rhetorical Question
asking a question for the purpose of asserting or denying something indirectly
Satire
a work that targets human vices or social institutions for insult or reform
Simile
an explicit comparison between two things using “like” or “as”
Synecdoche
understanding one thing for another
Syntax
the way the author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences
Anaphora
parallel structure
Antimetabole
repetition in reverse grammatical order
Antithesis
opposition or contrast of ideas in a parallel construction
Asyndeton
lack of conjunctions between words
Chiasmus
two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels but in inverted order
Climax
arrangement of words in an order of ascending power
Parallelism
anaphora
Polysyndeton
the repetition of conjunctions in a series of words
Alliteration
the repetition of the same sound throughout words
Assonance
repetition of the same vowel sounds throughout words
Cacophony
joining of harsh sounding words
Onomatopoeia
words whose sounds imitate the natural sound
Assertion
a declaration
Clarity
clearness in thought
Cogent
convincing
Coherent
logically connected
Cohesive
condition of sticking together
Didactic
intended to instruct
Discourse
conversation
Eloquence
The ability to speak persuasively
Emphasize
to stress
Fluid
easily flowing
Implication
the act of hinting
Lucid
easily understood
Rhetoric
The art of using language effectively and persuasively
Arbiter
a judge who decides a disputed issue
Biased
prejudiced
exculpate
to free from guilt or blame
impartial
unbiased
incontrovertible
not able to be denied or disputed
integrity
trustworthiness, completeness
objectivity
treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices
penitent
expressing remorse for one’s misdeeds
plausible
seemingly valid or acceptable; credible
substantiated
supported with proof or evidence; verified
vindicated
freed from blame
condescending
treating people as weak or inferior
contemptuous
feeling hatred; scornful
despotic
exercising absolute power; tyrannical
dictatorial
domineering; oppressively overbearing
disdain
(n. ) contempt, scorn
(v. ) to regard or treat with contempt; to look down on
haughty
arrogant; vainly proud
imperious
arrogantly domineering or overbearing
patronizing
treating in a condescending manner
convoluted
intricate; complex
cryptic
difficult to comprehend
futile
having no useful purpose; pointless
impede
to slow the progress of
obscure
(adj. ) relatively unknown
(v. ) to conceal or make indistinct
quandary
a state of uncertainty or perplexity
indolent
lazy
insipid
uninteresting; unchallenging
listless
lacking energy
torpor
laziness; inactivity; dullness
alienated
removed or disassociated from friends, family or homeland
alliance
a union of two or more groups
disparity
inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference
servile
submissive; like a servant
suppressed
subdued; kept from being circulated
embellish
to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate
florid
describing flowery or elaborate speech
opulent
exhibiting a display of great wealth
ornate
elaborately decorated
ostentatious
describing a showy or pretentious display
poignant
profoundly moving; touching
ebullience
intense enthusiasm
effusive
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
egregious
conspicuously bad or offensive
flagrant
extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable
frenetic
wildly excited or active
gratuitous
given freely; unearned; unwarranted
superfluous
extra; unnecessary
alleviate
to ease a pain or burden
asylum
a place of retreat or security
auspicious
favorable; promising
benevolent
well-meaning; generous
benign
kind and gentle
mollify
to calm or soothe
reclamation
the act of making something useful gain
sanction
to give official authorization or approval
dubious
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
fabricated
made;concocted to deceive
hypocrisy
the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity
slander
false charges and malicious oral statements about someone
spurious
not genuine
astute
shrewd; clever
clandestine
secretive
coup
a brilliantly executed plan
disingenuous
not straightforward; crafty
ruse
a crafty tick
stratagem
a clever trick used to deceive or outwit
surreptitiously
done by secretive means
wary
on guard
wily
cunning
ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
ambivalent
simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain
apathetic
feeling or showing little emotion
arbitrary
determined by impulse rather than reason
capricious
impulsive and unpredictable
equivocate
to avoid making a definite statement
indifferent
not caring one way or another
spontaneous
unplanned; naturally occurring
