Words to Know Flashcards
the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music
catharsis
expressing sorrow or lamentation
elegiac
the formation of a word by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent
onomatopoeia
a lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy; formal or elaborate praise
panegyric
the science or study of poetic meters and versification
prosody
of or relating to or suggesting an idyllic rural life
bucolic
something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc
cynosure
intended for instruction
didactic
devotion to pleasure as a way of life
hedonism
leadership, predominance
hegemony
of or relating to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens
peripatetic
a person who argues in opposition to another; a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc
polemic
harmful, injurious
deleterious
a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism
diatribe
derived from or guided by experience or experiment
empirical
understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest
esoteric
light, airy, or tenuous
ethereal
anything that relieves stress or pain
anodyne
any sudden, violent outburst
paroxysm
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering
sardonic
a self-seeking, servile flatterer, a fawning parasite
sycophant
anticlimax, sentimentality
bathos
a formal expression of high praise; eulogy
encomium
a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
enigma
the many
hoi polloi
noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere
miasma
a remedy for all disease or ills
panacea
overabundance, excess
plethora
elegiac
expressing sorrow or lamentation
