AP Lang Exam Terms Flashcards
To practice and memorize the definitions of important rhetorical, figurative, and analytical terms for the AP Lang Exam. (357 cards)
1
Q
What is an assertion?
A
a declaration or statement
2
Q
Define clarity in the context of communication.
A
clearness in thought or expression
3
Q
What does cogent mean?
A
convincing; reasonable
4
Q
What is meant by coherent?
A
logically connected
5
Q
Define cohesive.
A
condition of sticking together
6
Q
What does didactic refer to?
A
intended to instruct
7
Q
What is discourse?
A
verbal expression or exchange; conversation
8
Q
Define eloquence.
A
the ability to speak vividly or persuasively
9
Q
What does it mean to emphasize something?
A
to give special attention to something, to stress
10
Q
What is fluidity in communication?
A
easily flowing
11
Q
Define implication.
A
the act of suggesting or hinting
12
Q
What does lucid mean?
A
easily understood; clear
13
Q
What is rhetoric?
A
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
14
Q
What is the role of an arbiter?
A
a judge who decides a disputed issue
15
Q
True or False: A biased opinion is impartial.
A
False
16
Q
What does exculpate mean?
A
to free from guilt or blame
17
Q
Define impartial.
A
not in favor of one side or the other; unbiased
18
Q
What does incontrovertible mean?
A
not able to be denied or disputed
19
Q
Define integrity.
A
trustworthiness; completeness
20
Q
What is objectivity?
A
treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices
21
Q
What does it mean to be penitent?
A
expressing remorse for one’s misdeeds
22
Q
Define plausible.
A
seemingly valid or acceptable; credible
23
Q
What does substantiated mean?
A
supported with proof or evidence; verified
24
Q
What does vindicated mean?
A
freed from blame
25
Define condescending.
treating people as weak or inferior
26
What does contemptuous mean?
feeling hatred; scornful
27
Define despotic.
exercising absolute power; tyrannical
28
What is meant by dictatorial?
domineering; oppressively overbearing
29
What does disdain mean?
contempt, scorn
30
Fill in the blank: A _______ character is one whose traits contrast with another character.
foil
31
What does alienated mean?
removed or disassociated from (friends, family, or homeland)
32
Define alliance.
a union of two or more groups
33
What is disparity?
inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference
34
What does servile mean?
submissive; like a servant
35
What does suppressed mean?
subdued; kept from being circulated
36
What does embellish mean?
to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate
37
Define florid.
describing flowery or elaborate speech
38
What is opulent?
exhibiting a display of great wealth
39
What does ostentatious mean?
describing a showy or pretentious display
40
What does poignant refer to?
profoundly moving; touching
41
Define ebullience.
intense enthusiasm
42
What does effusive mean?
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
43
What does egregious mean?
conspicuously bad or offensive
44
Define flagrant.
extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable
45
What does gratuitous mean?
given freely; unearned; unwarranted
46
Fill in the blank: Something that is _______ is extra; unnecessary.
superfluous
47
What does alleviate mean?
to ease a pain or burden
48
What is an asylum?
a place of retreat or security
49
Define auspicious.
favorable; promising
50
What does benevolent mean?
well-meaning; generous
51
What does benign refer to?
kind and gentle
52
What does mollify mean?
to calm or soothe
53
Define reclamation.
the act of making something useful again
54
What does sanction mean in a legal context?
to give official authorization or approval
55
What does dubious mean?
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
56
What does fabricated mean?
made; concocted to deceive
57
Define hypocrisy.
the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity
58
What is slander?
false charges and malicious oral statements about someone
59
Define spurious.
not genuine
60
What does astute mean?
shrewd; clever
61
What does clandestine mean?
secretive
62
What is a coup?
a brilliantly executed plan
63
Define disingenuous.
not straightforward; crafty
64
What is a ruse?
a crafty trick
65
What does stratagem mean?
a clever trick used to deceive or outwit
66
Fill in the blank: Actions done _______ are secretive.
surreptitiously
67
What does wary mean?
on guard
68
Define wily.
cunning
69
What does listless mean?
lacking energy
70
What does ambiguous mean?
open to more than one interpretation
71
Define ambivalent.
simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain
72
What does apathetic mean?
feeling or showing little emotion
73
What does arbitrary mean?
determined by impulse rather than reason
74
Define capricious.
impulsive and unpredictable
75
What does equivocate mean?
to avoid making a definite statement
76
What does indifferent mean?
not caring one way or the other
77
What does spontaneous mean?
unplanned; naturally occurring
78
Define whimsical.
subject to erratic behavior; unpredictable
79
What does inconsequential mean?
unimportant
80
What does superficial mean?
concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow
81
What does tenuous mean?
having little substance or strength; shaky; unsure, weak
82
What does trivial mean?
of little importance or significance
83
Define assiduous.
hard-working
84
What does compelling mean?
forceful; urgently demanding attention
85
What does diligent mean?
marked by painstaking effort; hard-working
86
What does dogged mean?
stubbornly persevering
87
What does endure mean?
to put up with; to survive a hardship
88
Define intrepid.
courageous; fearless
89
What is a maverick?
one who is independent and resists adherence to a group
90
What does obdurate mean?
stubborn; inflexible
91
Define obstinate.
stubbornly adhering to an opinion or a course of action
92
What does proliferate mean?
to grow or increase rapidly
93
What is tenacity?
persistence
94
What does vitality mean?
energy; power to survive
95
Define assimilation.
to absorb; to make similar
96
What is consensus?
general agreement
97
Define context.
circumstances of a situation; environment
98
What does derived mean?
copied or adapted from a source
99
What does incumbent mean?
imposed as a duty; obligatory
100
What does inevitable mean?
certain to happen, unavoidable
101
Define malleable.
easily shaped or formed; easily influenced
102
What does subdue mean?
to restrain; to hold back
103
What does acquired mean?
developed or learned; not naturally occurring
104
What is conception?
the ability to form or understand an idea
105
Define conviction.
a fixed or strong belief
106
What does dogmatic mean?
stubbornly adhering to unproven beliefs
107
What does enlightening mean?
informative; contributing to one's awareness
108
What is an impression?
a feeling or understanding resulting from an experience
109
Define intuition.
the power of knowing things without thinking; sharp insight
110
What does perspective mean?
point of view
111
What does propriety refer to?
appropriateness of behavior
112
What is a premonition?
a feeling about the future
113
Define profound.
having great depth or seriousness
114
What does inherent mean?
inborn; built-in
115
What does innate mean?
possessed from birth; inborn
116
What does inveterate mean?
long established; deep-rooted; habitual
117
What does omnipotent mean?
all-powerful
118
What is proximity?
closeness
119
Define elusive.
difficult to capture, as in something actually fleeting
120
What does emigrate mean?
to leave one country or region and settle in another
121
What is transient?
passing away with time; passing from one place to another
122
Define transitory.
short-lived or temporary
123
What does affable mean?
easy-going; friendly
124
What does amenable mean?
responsive; agreeable
125
Define camaraderie.
good will between friends
126
What does cordial mean?
friendly; sincere
127
What does facetious mean?
playfully humorous
128
What does impinge mean?
hinder; interfere with
129
What does lament mean?
express grief for; mourn
130
Define melancholy.
sadness; depression
131
What does sanction mean in the context of punishment?
an economic or military measure put in place to punish another country
132
What does truncated mean?
shortened; cut off
133
What does aesthetic refer to?
having to do with the appreciation of beauty
134
Define anthology.
a collection of literary pieces
135
What does contemporary mean?
current, modern; from the same time
136
What is a dilettante?
one with an amateurish or superficial understanding of a field of knowledge
137
Define eclectic.
made up of a variety of sources or styles
138
What is an excerpt?
a selected part of a passage or scene
139
What does genre refer to?
describing a category or artistic endeavor
140
Define medley.
an assortment or a mixture, especially of musical pieces
141
What is a mural?
a large painting applied directly to a wall or ceiling surface
142
What does narrative mean?
characterized by the telling of a story
143
What is a parody?
an artistic work that imitates the style of another work for comic effect
144
Define realism.
artistic representation that aims for visual accuracy
145
What is a virtuoso?
a tremendously skilled artist
146
What does decorous mean?
proper; marked by good taste
147
Define equanimity.
the quality of being calm and even-tempered; composure
148
What does modest mean?
quiet or humble in manner or appearance
149
What is a misconception?
an incorrect understanding or interpretation
150
Define prudent.
exercising good judgment or common sense
151
What does serene mean?
calm
152
What does staid mean?
unemotional; serious
153
What does stoic mean?
indifferent to pleasure or pain; impassive
154
What does it mean to condemn?
to express strong disapproval of; denounce
155
What does discredit mean?
to cause to be doubted
156
Define disparage.
to speak of in a slighting way or negatively; to belittle
157
What does pejorative mean?
describing words or phrases that belittle or speak negatively of someone
158
What is plagiarism?
the act of passing off the ideas or writing of another as one's own
159
What does vilify mean?
to make vicious statements about
160
Define brusque.
rudely abrupt, terse
161
What does caustic mean?
bitingly sarcastic or witty
162
What does fractious mean?
quarrelsome; unruly
163
What does incorrigible mean?
unable to be reformed
164
What is an ingrate?
an ungrateful person
165
Define insolent.
insulting in manner or speech
166
What does notorious mean?
known widely and usually unfavorably; infamous
167
What does pugnacious mean?
combative; belligerent
168
What does reprehensible mean?
worthy of blame
169
What does brittle mean?
easily broken when subjected to pressure
170
What does deleterious mean?
having a harmful effect; injurious
171
What is enmity?
mutual hatred or ill-will
172
Define heinous.
hatefully evil; abominable
173
What does malfeasance mean?
wrongdoing, misconduct
174
What is malice?
extreme ill-will or spite
175
What does putrid mean?
rotten
176
What does rancorous mean?
hateful; marked by deep-seated ill-will
177
Define toxic.
poisonous
178
What does archaic mean?
characteristic of an earlier period; old-fashioned
179
What does hackneyed mean?
worn out through overuse; trite
180
What does medieval refer to?
referring to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned
181
What does obsolete mean?
no longer in use; old-fashioned
182
Define austere.
without decoration; strict
183
What is mediocrity?
the state or quality of being average; of moderate to low quality
184
What does mundane mean?
commonplace; ordinary
185
What does ponderous mean?
extremely dull
186
Define prosaic.
unimaginative; dull
187
What does sedentary mean?
not migratory; settled
188
What is apprehension?
anxiety or fear about the future
189
Define harbinger.
something that indicates what is to come; a forerunner
190
What does ominous mean?
menacing; threatening
191
What does timorous mean?
timid; fearful about the future
192
Define trepidation.
uncertainty; apprehension
193
What does innovative mean?
introducing something new
194
What does naive mean?
lacking sophistication
195
What does nascent mean?
coming into existence; emerging
196
What does novel mean?
strikingly new or unusual
197
What is a novice?
a beginner
198
Define candor.
sincerity; openness
199
What does frank mean?
open and sincere in expression; straightforward
200
What does arid mean?
describing a dry, rainless climate
201
What is a conflagration?
a widespread fire
202
What does nocturnal mean?
of or occurring in the night
203
What does sonorous mean?
producing a deep or full sound
204
What does ample mean?
describing a large amount of something
205
What does comprehensive mean?
large in scope or content
206
What does copious mean?
plentiful; having a large quantity
207
What does permeated mean?
spread or flowing throughout
208
What does pervasive mean?
dispersed throughout
209
Define prodigious.
enormous
210
What does replete mean?
abundantly supplied; filled to capacity
211
What does exemplary mean?
commendable; worthy of imitation
212
What does idealize mean?
to consider perfect
213
What does laudatory mean?
giving praise
214
What does paramount mean?
of chief concern or importance
215
What does venerated mean?
highly respected
216
What does catalog mean?
to make an itemized list of
217
What does facile mean?
done or achieved with little effort; easy
218
What does fastidious mean?
possessing careful attention to detail; difficult to please
219
What is a hierarchy?
a group organized by rank
220
Define meticulous.
extremely careful and precise
221
What does pragmatic mean?
practical
222
What does solvent mean?
able to pay one's debts
223
What does abstract mean?
not applied to actual objects
224
What is an anachronism?
something out of place in time or sequence
225
Define anthropomorphism.
the attribution of humanlike characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or forces of nature
226
What is an apology in the context of writing?
defense of an idea
227
Define apparatus.
equipment; a group of machines
228
What is apposition?
a grammar construction in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation
229
What is an archetype?
a perfect example; an original pattern or model
230
What does chiasmus mean?
an inversion in the second of two parallel phrases
231
What does gesticulating refer to?
making gestures while speaking
232
What does hypothetical mean?
existing only as an assumption or speculation
233
What is a lexicon?
a word book describing language with definitions; a dictionary
234
Define metonymy.
a type of figurative language in which one term is substituted for another term with which it is closely associated
235
What is an oxymoron?
an apparent contradiction
236
What does panegyric mean?
statement of high praise
237
What is a paradigm?
an example or model
238
Define parallelism.
a grammar construction in which two identical syntactic constructions are used
239
What is a period in grammar?
long, complex, grammatically correct sentence
240
What does pernicious mean?
causing great harm
241
What is a phenomenon?
an unusual, observable event
242
What does propitious mean?
presenting favorable circumstances; auspicious
243
What does rational mean?
logical; motivated by reason rather than feeling
244
What does sardonic mean?
disdainfully or ironically humorous; harsh, bitter, or caustic
245
What is a syllogism?
a form of deductive reasoning; a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
246
What does synecdoche mean?
a form of metonymy that's restricted to cases where a part is used to signify the whole
247
What does theoretical mean?
lacking application or practical application
248
What is active voice?
the opposite of passive voice; essentially any sentence with an active verb
249
What does ad hominem mean?
an attack on the person rather than the issues at hand (a common fallacy)
250
What is alliteration?
the repetition of a phonetic sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence
251
What does allusion mean?
a reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth
252
What is anadiplosis?
a wonderful technique of repetition in which the last word of the clause begins the next clause, creating a connection of ideas
253
What is voice in writing?
The opposite of passive voice; essentially any sentence with an active verb
254
Define ad hominem.
An attack on the person rather than the issues at hand (a common fallacy)
255
What is alliteration?
The repetition of a phonetic sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence
256
Define allusion.
A reference that recalls another work, another time in history, another famous person, and so forth
257
What is anadiplosis?
A technique of repetition in which the last word of the clause begins the next clause
258
What does analogy signify?
A relational comparison of or similarity between two objects or ideas
259
Define anaphora.
The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive lines or sentences
260
What is anastrophe?
The reversal of the natural order of words in a sentence or line of poetry
261
Define antithesis.
An observation or claim that is in opposition to your claim or an author's claim
262
What is an aphorism?
A brief statement of an opinion or elemental truth
263
What does apostrophe refer to in writing?
A direct address to someone who is not present, to a deity or muse, or to some other power
264
Define appositive.
A noun phrase that modifies the noun next to it
265
What is an argument from ignorance?
An argument stating that something is true because it has never been proven false
266
Define asyndeton.
The deliberate omission of conjunctions from a series of related independent clauses
267
What is a bandwagon argument?
An argument that suggests something is true because 'everyone's doing it'
268
Define begging the question.
An argument that includes a word or phrase that needs to be defined before the argument can proceed
269
What is cause and effect in logical reasoning?
Also known as post hoc ergo propter hoc; it asserts that one event is the result of another
270
Define chiasmus.
An ABBA syntactical structure rather than the more common parallel ABAB structure
271
What is a complex sentence?
A sentence structure that combines a dependent clause and an independent clause
272
Define compound sentence.
A sentence structure made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction
273
What is a compound-complex sentence?
A combination of a compound and a complex sentence
274
Define connotation.
The associations or moods that accompany a word
275
What is a declarative sentence?
A basic statement or an assertion; the most common type of sentence
276
Define deductive reasoning.
A form of argumentation that uses claims where the author assumes the claims are true
277
What is denotation?
The literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition
278
Define dependent clause.
A clause that contains a noun and a verb but is incomplete due to a subordinate conjunction
279
What is dialect?
A regional speech pattern; the way people talk in different parts of the world
280
Define diction.
The particular words an author uses in an essay
281
What is a distractor in a multiple-choice question?
A possible answer that seems correct but is either wrong or not as good as other answers
282
What does ellipsis indicate?
Three dots that indicate words have been left out of a quotation or create suspense
283
Define epanalepsis.
A figure that repeats the opening word or phrase at the end of the sentence to emphasize a statement
284
What is epistrophe?
The ending of a series of lines or clauses with the same word or words
285
Define ethos.
An appeal to credibility; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
286
What is etymology?
The study of the origin of words and their historical uses
287
Define euphemism.
To use a safer or nicer word for something others find inappropriate or unappealing
288
What is an exclamatory sentence?
A sentence that conveys excitement or force
289
Define fallacy.
A failure of logical reasoning
290
What is a false analogy?
An argument using an inappropriate metaphor
291
Define false dilemma.
An either/or fallacy suggesting there are only two solutions to a problem
292
What is a gerund?
A verb ending in 'ing' that serves as a noun
293
Define hyperbole.
An exaggeration used to bolster an argument
294
What is imagery in writing?
The evocation of any of the five senses by what you have read
295
What is an imperative sentence?
A command
296
Define independent clause.
A clause that can stand alone as a sentence; it must have a noun and a verb
297
What is inductive reasoning?
A form of argumentation that requires the use of examples
298
Define infinitive.
The word 'to' plus a verb, usually functioning as a noun
299
What is an interrogative sentence?
A question
300
Define irony.
The use of words to express something other than the literal meaning
301
What is jargon?
A pattern of speech and vocabulary associated with a particular group of people
302
Define juxtaposition.
Making one idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite
303
What is logos?
An appeal to reason; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
304
Define loose sentence.
An independent clause followed by dependent clauses
305
What is malapropism?
A form of word play in which one word is mistakenly substituted for another
306
What is a metaphor?
A figure of speech comparing what is unknown to something known to gauge its importance
307
Define metonymy.
A figure of speech where the name of one thing is substituted for another closely associated
308
What does non sequitur mean?
An argument by misdirection that is logically irrelevant
309
Define object in grammar.
A noun toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed
310
What is onomatopoeia?
A figure of speech in which a sound imitates the thing or action associated with it
311
Define oxymoron.
Two words that together create a sense of opposition
312
What is a paradox?
A figure of speech that creates a mental discontinuity, prompting the reader to seek clarity
313
Define parallel syntax (or parallelism).
A pattern of speech that creates a rhythm of repetition
314
What are parentheticals?
Phrases, sentences, and words inside parentheses
315
Define participle.
A verbal used as an adjective, often ending in -ing or -ed
316
What is passive voice?
The opposite of active voice; in this voice, something happens to someone
317
Define pathos.
An appeal to emotion; one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle
318
What is a periodic sentence?
A sentence with several dependent clauses preceding the independent clause
319
Define personification.
Giving human attributes to non-human things
320
What is a phrase in grammar?
A grouping of words that does not contain a verb
321
Define point of view.
The perspective from which the writer presents the story or essay
322
What does poisoning the well mean?
Introducing a person or character with language suggesting unreliability
323
Define polysyndeton.
The use of consecutive coordinating conjunctions even when not needed
324
What is a predicate?
The formal term for the verb that conveys the meaning of the sentence
325
Define predicate adjective.
An adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject
326
What is a predicate nominative?
A noun or pronoun that uses a linking verb to unite or describe the subject
327
Define premise.
A statement of truth, at least to the person making the argument
328
What is a prompt in essay questions?
The paragraph or language that defines the essay task
329
Define pun.
A play on words that usually calls humorous attention to a point
330
What is a red herring?
An argument that distracts the reader by raising irrelevant issues
331
Define repetition.
A form of rhetorical stress that emphasizes a particular word, phrase, or image
332
What is a rhetorical question?
A question whose answer is assumed, designed to force a predetermined response
333
Define rhetorical shift.
When the author significantly alters diction, syntax, or both
334
What is a simile?
A figure of speech comparing two unlike objects using 'like' or 'as'
335
Define simple sentence.
An independent clause; has a subject and a verb
336
What is a slippery slope fallacy?
An argument asserting that one thing inevitably leads to another
337
Define stem in multiple-choice questions.
The question you are asked to complete with given possible answers
338
What is a straw man argument?
When a person defines an opponent's position in a manner that is easy to attack
339
What is a subject in grammar?
The noun that is the basic focus of the sentence
340
Define subordinate conjunction.
A conjunction that makes an independent clause into a dependent clause
341
What is a syllogism?
A three-part argument construction where two premises lead to a truth
342
Define synecdoche.
A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole
343
What is syntax?
The study of the rules of grammar that define sentence formation
344
Define synthesis.
To unite or synthesize a variety of sources to achieve a common end
345
What is a theme in literature?
The basic message or meaning conveyed through elements of character and conflict
346
Define thesis.
The writer's statement of purpose; the focal intent of the essay
347
What is a tricolon?
A sentence with three equally distinct and equally long parts
348
Define understatement.
Creates exaggeration by showing restraint; the opposite of hyperbole
349
What is zeugma?
A device in which two elements in a sentence are tied together by the same verb or noun
350
Define rhetoric.
The study of the effective use of language; the art of using language effectively and persuasively
351
What is a rhetorical triangle?
Author, audience, purpose
352
Define tone in writing.
The manner in which a writer expresses attitude toward the subject and audience
353
What is figurative language?
Imaginative language that compares one thing to another in striking ways
354
Define ambiguity.
The presence of two or more possible meanings in any passage; not clear
355
What is satire?
The use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, and humor to expose or denounce vice or folly
356
What is emotional words in writing?
Also known as loaded words; they demonstrate a writer's intense feelings
357
Define humor in writing.
A tone or attitude a writer may use to be comedic or amusing
