Ap Vocab

Front 1

motif

Back 1

1: a usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts) ; especially : a dominant idea or central theme
2: a single or repeated design or color

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specious

Back 2

1obsolete : showy
2: having deceptive attraction or allure

Front 3

intimidate

Back 3

: to make timid or fearful : frighten ; especially : to compel or deter by or as if by threats

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pliant

Back 4

1 : pliable 1a
2 : easily influenced : yielding

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intricacy

Back 5

1 : the quality or state of being intricate
2 : something intricate

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irrelevant

Back 6

: not relevant : inapplicable <that statement is irrelevant to your argument>

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strident

Back 7

: characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound <a strident voice> ; also : commanding attention by a loud or obtrusive quality <strident slogans>

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officious

Back 8

1archaic a: kind , obliging b: dutiful
2: volunteering one's services where they are neither asked nor needed : meddlesome

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festoon

Back 9

1 : a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points
2 : a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a decorative chain

Front 10

evacuation

Back 10

1 : the act or process of evacuating
2 : something evacuated or discharged

Front 11

spontaneous

Back 11

1 : proceeding from natural feeling or native tendency without external constraint
2 : arising from a momentary impulse

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ebullience

Back 12

: the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings : exuberance

Front 13

unintelligible

Back 13

1 : apprehensible by the intellect only
2 : capable of being understood or comprehended <jargon intelligible only to the initiated>

Front 14

indignant

Back 14

: filled with or marked by indignation <became indignant at the accusation>

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antagonism

Back 15

1 a: opposition of a conflicting force, tendency, or principle <the antagonism of democracy to dictatorship> b: actively expressed opposition or hostility <antagonism between factions>
2: opposition in physiological action ; especially : interaction of two or more substances such that the action of any one of them on living cells or tissues is lessened

Front 16

belligerence

Back 16

: an aggressive or truculent attitude, atmosphere, or disposition

Front 17

chastisement

Back 17

1: to inflict punishment on (as by whipping)
2: to censure severely : castigate

Front 18

ecstasy

Back 18

1 a: a state of being beyond reason and self-control barchaic : swoon
2: a state of overwhelming emotion ; especially : rapturous delight

Front 19

tacit

Back 19

1 : expressed or carried on without words or speech <the blush was a tacit answer — Bram Stoker>
2 : implied or indicated (as by an act or by silence) but not actually expressed <tacit consent> <tacit admission of guilt>

Front 20

effigy

Back 20

: an image or representation especially of a person ; especially : a crude figure representing a hated person

Front 21

lamentably

Back 21

1 : that is to be regretted or lamented : deplorable
2 : expressing grief : mournful

Front 22

assent

Back 22

: to agree to something especially after thoughtful consideration : concur

Front 23

decorous

Back 23

: marked by propriety and good taste : correct <decorous conduct>

Front 24

diffident

Back 24

1: hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence
2archaic : distrustful

Front 25

incredulous

Back 25

1 : unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : skeptical
2 : incredible 1

Front 26

interminable

Back 26

: having or seeming to have no end ; especially : wearisomely protracted <an interminable sermon>

Front 27

frenzy

Back 27

1 a: a temporary madness b: a violent mental or emotional agitation
2: intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity <a shopping frenzy>

Front 28

vulnerable

Back 28

1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2 : open to attack or damage : assailable <vulnerable to criticism>

Front 29

impervious

Back 29

1 a: not allowing entrance or passage : impenetrable <a coat impervious to rain> b: not capable of being damaged or harmed <a carpet impervious to rough treatment>
2: not capable of being affected or disturbed <impervious to criticism>

Front 30

furtive

Back 30

1 a: done by stealth : surreptitious b: expressive of stealth : sly <had a furtive look about him>
2: obtained underhandedly : stolen

Front 31

fervor

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1 : intensity of feeling or expression <booing and cheering with almost equal fervor — Alan Rich>
2 : intense heat

Front 32

sanctify

Back 32

1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate
2: to free from sin : purify

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covert

Back 33

1 : not openly shown, engaged in, or avowed : veiled <a covert alliance>
2 : covered over : sheltered

Front 34

superficial

Back 34

1 a (1): of, relating to, or located near a surface (2): lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface <superficial wounds> bBritish of a unit of measure : square <superficial foot>
2 a: concerned only with the obvious or apparent : shallow b: seen on the surface : external c: presenting only an appearance without substance or significance

Front 35

derision

Back 35

1 a: the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt b: a state of being derided
2: an object of ridicule or scorn

Front 36

corruption

Back 36

1 a: impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle : depravity b: decay , decomposition c: inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (as bribery) d: a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct
2archaic : an agency or influence that corrupts

Front 37

demented

Back 37

1 : mad , insane
2 : suffering from or exhibiting cognitive dementia

Front 38

gesticulate

Back 38

: to make gestures especially when speaking

Front 39

obscene

Back 39

1: disgusting to the senses : repulsive
2 a: abhorrent to morality or virtue ; specifically : designed to incite to lust or depravity b: containing or being language regarded as taboo in polite usage <obscene lyrics> c: repulsive by reason of crass disregard of moral or ethical principles <an obscene misuse of power> d: so excessive as to be offensive <obscene wealth> <obscene waste>

Front 40

composite

Back 40

1: something composite : compound

Front 41

anonymous

Back 41

1 : not named or identified <an anonymous author> <they wish to remain anonymous>
2 : of unknown authorship or origin <an anonymous tip>

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ludicrous

Back 42

1 : not named or identified <an anonymous author> <they wish to remain anonymous>
2 : of unknown authorship or origin <an anonymous tip>

Front 43

inscrutable

Back 43

: not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood : mysterious <an inscrutable smile> <inscrutable motives>

Front 44

talisman

Back 44

1 : an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
2 : something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

Front 45

effectual

Back 45

: producing or able to produce a desired effect

Front 46

devastated

Back 46

1 : to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action <a country devastated by war>
2 : to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : overwhelm <devastated by grief> <her wisecrack devastated the class>

Front 47

propitiate

Back 47

: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease

Front 48

cordon

Back 48

1 a: an ornamental cord or ribbon b: stringcourse
2 a: a line of troops or of military posts enclosing an area to prevent passage b: a line of persons or objects around a person or place <a cordon of police>

Front 49

obscurity

Back 49

1 : one that is obscure
2 : the quality or state of being obscure

Front 50

inimical

Back 50

1: being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence <forces inimical to democracy>
2 a: having the disposition of an enemy : hostile <inimical factions> b: reflecting or indicating hostility : unfriendly <his father's inimical glare>

Front 51

incantation

Back 51

: a use of spells or verbal charms spoken or sung as a part of a ritual of magic ; also : a written or recited formula of words designed to produce a particular effect