English 9-A Mid Term Exam Vocab

Front 1

tarry

Back 1

1 a: to delay or be tardy in acting or doing b: to linger in expectation : wait
2: to abide or stay in or at a place

Front 2

smite

Back 2

1: to strike sharply or heavily especially with the hand or an implement held in the hand
2 a: to kill or severely injure by smiting b: to attack or afflict suddenly and injuriously <smitten by disease>
3: to cause to strike
4: to affect as if by striking <children smitten with the fear of hell — V. L. Parrington>
5: captivate, take <smitten with her beauty>
intransitive verb
: to deliver or deal a blow with or as if with the hand or something held
— smit·er \ˈsmī-tər\ noun

Front 3

ocular

Back 3

1 a: done or perceived by the eye <ocular inspection> b: based on what has been seen <ocular testimony>
2 a: of or relating to the eye <ocular muscles> b: resembling an eye in form or function

Front 4

covenant

Back 4

1: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : compact
2 a: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action b: the common-law action to recover damages for breach of such a contract

Front 5

scruples

Back 5

1 : an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action
2 : the quality or state of being scrupulous
3 : mental reservation

Front 6

martyr

Back 6

1: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion
2: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle

Front 7

nettled

Back 7

1 : to strike or sting with or as if with nettles
2 : to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger

Front 8

catechism

Back 8

1: oral instruction
2: a manual for catechizing; specifically : a summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers
3 a: a set of formal questions put as a test b: something resembling a catechism especially in being a rote response or formulaic statement

Front 9

cognizance

Back 9

1: a distinguishing mark or emblem (as a heraldic bearing)
2 a: knowledge, awareness <had no cognizance of the situation> b: notice, acknowledgment <take cognizance of their achievement>
3: jurisdiction, responsibility

Front 10

ecclesiastical

Back 10

1 : of or relating to a church especially as an established institution
2 : suitable for use in a church

Front 11

zenith

Back 11

1 : the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer — see azimuth illustration
2 : the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body
3 : culminating point : acme <at the zenith of his powers — John Buchan>

Front 12

brandish

Back 12

1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
2 : to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner

Front 13

blasphemy

Back 13

1 a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b: the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

Front 14

lurid

Back 14

1 a: causing horror or revulsion : gruesome b: melodramatic, sensational; also : shocking <paperbacks in the usual lurid covers — T. R. Fyvel>

Front 15

wretch

Back 15

1 : a miserable person : one who is profoundly unhappy or in great misfortune
2 : a base, despicable, or vile person

Front 16

pulpit

Back 16

1: an elevated platform or high reading desk used in preaching or conducting a worship service
2 a: the preaching profession b: a preaching position

Front 17

chaste

Back 17

1: innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse
2: celibate
3: pure in thought and act : modest
4 a: severely simple in design or execution : austere <chaste classicism> b: clean, spotless

Front 18

visage

Back 18

1 : the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal

Front 19

similitude

Back 19

1 a: counterpart, double b: a visible likeness : image
2: an imaginative comparison : simile
3 a: correspondence in kind or quality b: a point of comparison

Front 20

garb

Back 20

2 a: a style of apparel b: outward form : appearance

Front 21

proselyte

Back 21

: a new convert (as to a faith or cause)

Front 22

venerable

Back 22

1: deserving to be venerated —used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity
2: made sacred especially by religious or historical association
3 a: calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments <a venerable jazz musician>; broadly : conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence <encouraged by the venerable doctor's head-nodding> b: impressive by reason of age <under venerable pines>

Front 23

anathema

Back 23

1 a: one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b: someone or something intensely disliked or loathed —usually used as a predicate nominative <this notion was anathema to most of his countrymen — S. J. Gould>
2 a: a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b: the denunciation of something as accursed c: a vigorous denunciation : curse

Front 24

compelling

Back 24

: that compels: as a: forceful <a compelling personality> b: demanding attention <for compelling reasons> c: convincing <no compelling evidence>

Front 25

supplicate

Back 25

1: to ask humbly and earnestly of
2: to ask for earnestly and humbly

Front 26

hubris

Back 26

exaggerated pride or self-confidence

Front 27

anagnorisis

Back 27

the point in the plot especially of a tragedy at which the protagonist recognizes his or her or some other character's true identity or discovers the true nature of his or her own situation

Front 28

peripeteia

Back 28

a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work

Front 29

catharsis

Back 29

purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art; a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

Front 30

suppliant

Back 30

humbly imploring : entreating <a suppliant sinner seeking forgiveness — O. J. Baab>
2 : expressing supplication <upraised to the heavens…suppliant arms — William Styron>

Front 31

blight

Back 31

1 a: a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers) b: an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight
2: something that frustrates plans or hopes
3: something that impairs or destroys
4: a deteriorated condition <urban blight>

Front 32

pestilence

Back 32

1: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating; especially : bubonic plague
2: something that is destructive or pernicious <I'll pour this pestilence into his ear — Shakespeare>

Front 33

lamentation

Back 33

: an act or instance of lamenting (to mourn aloud; wail,to express sorrow, mourning, or regret -- often demonstratively)

Front 34

reign

Back 34

1 a: to possess or exercise sovereign power : rule b: to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power <in England the sovereign reigns but does not rule>
2: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3: to be predominant or prevalent <chaos reigned in the classroom>

Front 35

sphinx

Back 35

1 acapitalized : a winged female monster in Greek mythology having a woman's head and a lion's body and noted for killing anyone unable to answer its riddle b: an enigmatic or mysterious person <she is a sphinx whose features hold a blank fascination>
2: an ancient Egyptian image in the form of a recumbent lion having a man's head, a ram's head, or a hawk's head

Front 36

unheeded

Back 36

Disregarded; "his cries were unheeded"

Front 37

balk

Back 37

Refuse to comply.

Front 38

calumny

Back 38

1. A malicious attack.

2. The act of defaming.

Front 39

vexation

Back 39

1. Anger produced by some annoying irritation.
2. The psychological state of being irritated or annoyed.
3. Something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness; "New York traffic is a constant concern"; "it's a major worry".
4. The act of troubling or annoying someone.

Front 40

augur

Back 40

Noun
1. (in ancient Rome) a religious official who interpreted omens to guide public policy.
Verb
1. Indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news".
2. Predict from an omen.

Front 41

rogue

Back 41

n. A deceitful and unreliable scoundrel.
v. to defraud

Front 42

malignant

Back 42

1. Showing great malevolence; disposed to do evil.
2. Highly injurious; pernicious.

Front 43

haughtiness

Back 43

Scornfully and condescendingly proud

Front 44

fettered

Back 44

bound by chains fastened around the ankles, restricted

Front 45

protagonist

Back 45

The principal character in a work of fiction.

Front 46

antagonist

Back 46

1. Someone who offers opposition

Front 47

climax

Back 47

2. The decisive moment in a novel or play; "the deathbed scene is the climax of the play".

Front 48

hero

Back 48

2. The principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem.

Front 49

round character

Back 49

a character who undergoes moral or character change during the course of a poem, novel, or play

Front 50

flat character

Back 50

a character who remains the same throughout the course of a poem, novel, or play