AP Lang Week 11 Flashcards
mephitic adj.
(especially of a gas or vapor) foul-smelling; noxious.
“the cloud of mephitic vapors lingered above our heads
mercenary adj./n.
primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.
“the crime was committed out of mercenary motives”
a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
“he had planned to seize power with the aid of a group of mercenaries”
merger n.
a combination of two things, especially companies, into one.
“a merger between two supermarket chains”
mesmerize v.
hold the attention of (someone) to the exclusion of all else or so as to transfix them.
“she was mesmerized by the blue eyes that stared so intently into her own”
meticulous adj.
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
“he had always been so meticulous about his appearance”
mettle n.
a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way.
“the team showed their true mettle in the second half”
mien n.
a person’s look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood.
“he has a cautious, academic mien”
mirage n.
an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air.
“the surface of the road ahead rippled in the heat mirages”
¨the desert mirage is a result of hot air refracting and distorting images¨
miscreant n. adj.
a villian.
a person who behaves badly or in a way that breaks the law.
“the police are straining every nerve to bring the miscreants to justice”
miser
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.
“a typical miser, he hid his money in the house in various places”
misnomer n.
a wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
“morning sickness is a misnomer for many women, since the nausea can occur any time during the day”
a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term.
“to call this “neighborhood policing” would be a misnomer”
misogyny
dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
“she felt she was struggling against thinly disguised misogyny”
missive n.
a letter, especially a long or official one.
“he hastily banged out electronic missives”
mitigate v.
to soften. lessen severity (said of circumstances or problems)
modicum n.
a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something considered desirable or valuable.
“his statement had more than a modicum of truth”
mollify v.
appease the anger or anxiety of (someone).
“nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationist¨
reduce the severity of (something); soften.
“the women hoped to mollify the harsh wilderness environment”
momentous adj.
(of a decision, event, or change) of great importance or significance, especially in its bearing on the future.
“a period of momentous changes in East-West relations”
monotonous adj.
dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
“the statistics that he quotes with monotonous regularity”
moot adj.
subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty.
“whether they had been successful or not was a moot point”
having little or no practical relevance, typically because the subject is too uncertain to allow a decision.
“the whole matter is becoming increasingly moot”
morbid adj.
characterized by an unusual interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease.
“he had a morbid fascination with the horrors of contemporary warfare”
mordant adj.
(especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.
“a mordant sense of humor”
mores n.
the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community.
“an offense against social mores”
morose
sullen and ill-tempered.
“she was morose and silent when she got home”
motley adj.
incongruously varied in appearance or character; disparate.
“a motley crew of discontents and zealots”
