AP Literature and Competition

1. allocation (n.) the action or process of

allocating or distributing something or the
amount or portion of a resource assigned to a
particular recipient
2. ascetic (adj.) characterized by severe self-
discipline and abstention from all forms of
indulgence, typically for religious reasons
(n) a person who practice such self-
discipline
3. beguile (v.) charm or enchant in a
deceptive way or trick someone into doing
something
4. crass (adj.) lacking sensitivity or due
consideration
5. defray (v.) provide money to pay a cost or
expense

6. dint (n.) an impression or hollow in a
surface or force or effort; power
(v.) mark a surface with impressions or hollow
7. enjoin (v.) instruct or urge someone to do
something or prescribe an action or attitude
to be performed or adopted
8. envoy (n.) a messenger or representative
9. interloper (n.) a person who becomes
involved in a place or situation where they are
not wanted or considered not to belong
10. vicarious (adj.) experienced in the
imagination through the feelings or actions of
another

11. admonish (v.) warn or reprimand someone
firmly or advise or urge someone earnestly
12. akimbo (adv.) with hands on hips and
elbows turned outward
13. lassitude (n.) a state of physical or mental
weariness; lack of energy
14. licentious (adj.) promiscuous and
unprincipled in sexual matters
15. muse (v.) be absorbed in thought
(n.) a source of artistic inspiration
16. pecuniary (adj.) of, relating to, or
consisting of money
17. plight (n.) a dangerous, difficult, or
otherwise unfortunate situation
18. presumptuous (adj.) failing to observe
the limits of what is permitted or appropriate
19. subversive (adj.) seeking or intended to
subvert an established system or institution
(n.) a person with such aims
20. vacuous (adj.) having or showing a lack
of thought or intelligence; mindless; empty

21. avocation (n.) a hobby or minor
occupation
22. capricious (adj.) given to sudden and
unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
23. disparity (n.) a great difference
24. efficacy (n.) the ability to produce a
desired or intended result
25. epistle (n.) a letter or a literary work in
the form of a letter or series of letters
26. hospice (n.) a home providing care for
the sick, especially the terminally ill
27. impetus (n.) the force or energy or
momentum with which a body moves or the
force that makes something happen or
happen more quickly
28. moribund (adj.) at the point of death or
lacking vitality or vigor
29. reticent (adj.) not revealing ones
thoughts or feelings readily
30. vacillate (v.) alternate or waver between
different opinions or actions; be indecisive

31. akin (adj.) of similar character or related
by blood
32. corroborate (v.) confirm or give support
to a statement, theory, or finding
33. inexorable (adj.) impossible to stop or
prevent
34. insipid (adj.) lacking flavor, vigor, or
interest
35. nefarious (adj.) wicked or criminal
36. physiognomy (n.) a persons facial
features or expression
37. retinue (n.) a group of advisers,
assistants, or others accompanying an
important person



39. tedium (n.) the state of being too long,
slow, or dull
40. torrid (adj.) very hot and dry or full of
passionate or highly charged emotions
arising from sexual love

41. affront (n.) an action or remark that
causes outrage or offense
(v.) offend the modesty or values of
42. blas (adj.) uninterested because of
frequent exposure or indulgence;
unconcerned; nonchalant
43. cajole (v.) persuade someone to do
something by sustained coaxing or flattery
44. choleric (adj.) bad-tempered or irritable
45. encumber (v.) restrict or burden in such
a way that free action or movement is
difficult
46. feckless (adj.) lacking in efficiency or
vitality; unthinking or irresponsible

47. impasse (n.) a situation in which no
progress is possible
48. indolent (adj.) wanting to avoid activity
or exertion; lazy
49. lugubrious (adj.) looking or sounding
sad and dismal
50. ribald (adj.) referring to sexual matters
in an amusingly rude or irreverent way


51. adulation (n.) obsequious flattery;
excessive admiration or praise
52. censure (v.) express severe disapproval
of, typically in a formal statement
53. dissemble (v.) conceal ones true
motives, feelings, or beliefs
54. dissimulation (v.) to hide under a false
appearance
55. droll (adj.) curious or unusual in a way
that provokes dry amusement
56. expectorate (v.) cough or spit out
phlegm from the throat or lungs
57. palpate (v.) examine a part of the body
by touch for medical purposes


58. peremptory (adj.) insisting on immediate
attention or obedience or not open to appeal or
challenge; final
59. pusillanimous (adj.) showing a lack of
courage or determination; timid
60. surfeit (n.) an excessive amount of
something
(v.) cause someone to desire no more of
something as a result of having consumed or
done it to excess
61. allay (v.) diminish or put at rest; relieve
or alleviate
62. capacious (adj.) having a lot of space
inside; roomy
63. diurnal (adj.) of or during the day; active
in the daytime
64. extricate (v.) free someone or
something from a constraint or difficulty
65. ignominious (adj.) deserving or causing
public disgrace or shame
66. mitigate (v.) - make less severe or painful;
lessen the gravity of an offense or mistake
67. palpitate (v.) beat rapidly, strongly, or
irregularly; shake or tremble


68. phlegmatic (adj.) having an
unemotional and stolidly calm disposition
69. propitious (adj.) giving or indicating a
good chance of success; favorable
70. prostrate (adj.) lying stretched out on
the ground with ones face downward
(v.) lay oneself flat on the ground face
downward, especially in reverence or
submission
71. acquiesce (v.) accept something
reluctantly but without protest
72. amity (n.) a friendly relationship
73. arduous (adj.) involving or requiring
strenuous effort; difficult and tiring
74. gestalt (n.) an organized whole that is
perceived as more than the sum of its parts
75. inundate (v.) flood or overwhelm
someone with things or people to be dealt
with
76. perjury (n.) the offense of willfully telling
an untruth in a court after having taken an
oath or affirmation
77. perspicuity (n.) the quality of being plain
to the understanding especially because of
clarity and precision of presentation

78. preposterous (adj.) contrary to reason or
common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous
79. trepidation (n.) a feeling of fear or
agitation about something that may happen
80. voluble (adj.) speaking or spoken
incessantly and fluently

81. admonish (v.) warn or reprimand
someone firmly
82. aplomb (n.) self-confidence or
assurance, especially when in a demanding
situation
83. barrage (n.) a concentrated artillery
bombardment over a wide area; a rapid
outpouring or projection of many things at
once
(v.) bombard someone with something
84. cognizant (adj.) having knowledge or
being aware of
85. collusion (n.) secret or illegal
cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order
to cheat or deceive others
86. hegemony (n.) leadership or
dominance, especially by one country or
social group


87. nebulous (adj.) in the form of a cloud or
haze; unclear, vague, or ill-defined
88. paradigm (n.) a typical example or
pattern of something; a model
89. unctuous (adj.) excessively or
ingratiatingly flattering; oily
90. urbane (adj.) suave, courteous, and
refined in manner

91. ambulatory (adj.) relating to or adapted
for walking
(n.) a place for walking, especially an aisle
around a cloister in a church
92. brazen (adj.) bold and without shame
93. din (n.) a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged
noise
94. ennui (n.) listlessness and dissatisfaction
arising from a lack of occupation or
excitement
95. exonerate (v.) absolve someone from
blame for a fault or wrongdoing after due
consideration of the case; release someone
from a duty or obligation
96. inscrutable (adj.) impossible to
understand or interpret; impenetrable;
mysterious


97. prognosticate (v.) foretell or prophesy an
event in the future
98. schism (n.) a split or division between
strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by
differences in opinion or belief
99. sedition (n.) conduct or speech inciting
people to rebel against the authority of a state
or monarchy
100. wizened (adj.) shriveled or wrinkled with
age
101. austere (adj.) severe or strict in
manner, attitude, or appearance or having no
comforts or luxuries
102. corpulent (adj.) excessively fat
103. derisive (adj.) expressing contempt or
ridicule
104. effeminate (adj.) having or showing
characteristics regarded as typically unmanly
105. jocund (adj.) cheerful and lighthearted
106. manifest (adj.) clear or obvious to the
eye or mind
(v.) display or show a quality or feeling by
ones acts or appearance
(n.) a document giving the details of a ship
and its cargo, passengers, and crew for the
use of customs officers

107. ostentatious (adj.) characterized by vulgar
or pretentious display
108. sanguine (adj.) cheerfully optimistic
(n.) a blood-red color
109. strident (adj.) loud and harsh, grating;
presenting a point of view, especially a
controversial one, in an excessively and
unpleasantly forceful way
110. vehement ( adj.) showing strong feeling;
forceful, passionate, or intense
111. elegiac (adj.) having a mournful quality
112. fecund (adj.) producing or capable of
producing an abundance of offspring or new
growth
113. fortuitous (adj.) happening by accident
or chance rather than design
114. infirmity (n.) physical or mental
weakness
115. malady (n.) a disease or ailment
116. nuance (n.) a subtle difference in or
shade of meaning, expression, or sound
117. profligate (adj.) recklessly extravagant
or wasteful in the use of resources
(n.) a licentious, dissolute person



118. remonstrance (n.) a forcefully
reproachful protest
119. scintillate (v.) emit flashes of light;
sparkle
120. vitiate (v.) spoil or impair the quality or
efficiency of or destroy or impair the legal
validity of
121. analogous (adj.) comparable in certain
respects, typically in a way that makes clearer
the nature of the things compared
122. brigand (n.) a member of a gang that
ambushes and robs people in forests and
mountains
123. emissary (n.) a person sent on a special
mission
124. felicity (n.) intense happiness or the
ability to find appropriate expression for
ones thoughts
125. incendiary (adj.) designed to cause fires
126. magnanimous (adj.) very generous or
forgiving, especially toward a rival or
someone less powerful than oneself


127. plight (n.) a dangerous, difficult, or
otherwise unfortunate situation
(v.) pledge or promise solemnly
128. repartee (n.) conversation or speech
characterized by quick, witty comments
129. ubiquitous (adj.) present, appearing, or
found everywhere
130. venerable (adj.) accorded a great deal of
respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or
character
131. countenance (n.) a persons face or facial
expression
132. deposition (n.) a persons inherent
qualities of mind and character or inclination or
tendency
133. discursive (adj.) digressing from subject to
subject; fluent and expansive rather than
formulaic or abbreviated
134. disdain (n.) the feeling that someone or
something is unworthy or ones consideration or
contempt
135. epigram (n.) a pithy saying or remark
expressing an idea in a clever and amusing
way or a short poem, especially a satirical one
having a witty or ingenious ending
136. feign (v.) pretend to be affected by a
feeling, state, or injury
137. laconic (adj.) using very few words


138. mien (n.) a persons look or manner,
indicating their character or mood
139. veracity (n.) conformity to facts;
accuracy; habitual truthfulness
140. wry (adj.) using or expressing dry,
especially mocking, humor
141. confound (v.) cause surprise or
confusion
142. curate (n.) a member of the clergy
engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or
parish priest
(v.) select, organize, and look after the
items in a collection or exhibition
143. ethereal (adj.) extremely delicate and
light in a way that seems too perfect for this
world; heavenly or spiritual
144. gambol (v.) run or jump about playfully
145. mutability (n.) capable of or subject to
change or alteration; prone to frequent
change
146. nascent (adj.) just coming into
existence and beginning to display signs of
future potential; not yet fully developed


147. nonplused (n.) at a loss, filled with
bewilderment
148. pedantic (adj.) characterized by
narrow, often ostentatious concern for book
learning and formal rules
149. quail (v.) feel or show fear or
apprehension
150. rhetorical (adj.) relating to the art of
speaking or writing effectively
151. fatuous (adj.) silly and pointless
152. febrile (adj.) having or showing the
symptoms of a fever or showing a great deal
of nervous excitement or energy
153. furtive (adj.) attempting to avoid notice
or attention, typically because of guilt or a
belief that discovery would lead to trouble;
secretive or suggestive of guilty nervousness
154. incredulous (adj.) unwilling or unable to
believe something
155. interminable (adj.) endless
156. obliquely (adv.) indirect or evasive;
devious, misleading, or dishonest
157. pernicious (adj.) having a harmful
effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way


158. sardonic (adj.) grimly mocking or
cynical
159. ultimatum (n.) a final demand of terms,
the rejection of which will result in retaliation
or breakdown in relations
160. writhe (v.) make a continual twisting,
squirming movements or contortions of the
body
161. astute (adj.) having or showing an
ability to accurately assess situations or
people and turn this to ones advantage
162. beseech (v.) ask someone urgently and
fervently to do something; implore; entreat
163. capitulate (v.) cease to resist an
opponent or an unwelcome demand;
surrender
164. deprecating (adj.) expressing
disapproval of
165. glean (v.) extract information from
various sources
166. obfuscate (v.) render obscure, unclear,
or unintelligible; bewilder someone
167. pathos (n.) a quality that evokes pity or
sadness



168. primeval (adj.) of or resembling the
earliest ages in the history of the world;
based on primitive instinct
169. salubrious (adj.) health-giving;
pleasant
170. solicitous (adj.) characterized by or
showing interest or concern; eager or anxious
to do something
171. albeit (conj.) although
172. bereft (adj.) deprived of or lacking
something; lonely and abandoned, especially
through someones death or departure
173. gratis (adv.) without charge; free
174. intercession (n.) the action of
intervening on behalf of another
175. lineaments (n.) a distinctive feature or
characteristic, especially of the face
176. presage (n.) a sign or warning that
something will happen
177. prodigal (adj.) spending money or
resources freely and recklessly; wastefully
extravagant


178. prolixity (n.) excessive wordiness in
speech or writing; longwindedness
179. sinecure (n.) a position requiring little
or no work but giving the holder status or
financial benefit
180. visage (n.) a persons face, with
reference to the form or proportions of the
features
181. accordant (adj.) agreeing or compatible
182. accouterments (n.) additional items of
dress or equipment, carried or worn by a
person or used for a particular activity
183. deportment (n.) a persons behavior or
manners
184. exposition (n.) a comprehensive
description and explanation of an idea or
theory
185. impugn (v.) dispute the truth, validity,
or honesty of a statement or motive;
challenge; call into question
186. impute (v.) represent something as
being done, caused, or possessed by
someone; attribute
187. parapet (n.) a low, protective wall along
the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony


188. pertinacity (n.) the quality of being
determined to do or achieve something;
firmness of purpose
189. temperance (n.) abstinence from
alcoholic drink; moderation or self-restraint
190. viands (n.) an item of food

191. brevity (n.) concise and exact use of
words in writing or speech; shortness of time
192. copious (adj.) abundant in supply or
quantity
193. gout (n.) a disease in which defective
metabolism of uric acid causes arthritis and
acute pain or a drop or spot of blood, smoke,
or flame
194. habiliments (n.) clothing
195. irksome (adj.) irritating; annoying
196. ponderous (adj.) slow and clumsy
because of great weight; dull, laborious, or
excessively solemn
197. scrupulous (adj.) diligent, thorough,
and extremely attentive to details


198. sundry (adj.) of various kinds; several
(n.) various items not important enough to
be mentioned individually
199. timorous (adj.) showing or suffering
from nervousness, fear, or lack of confidence
200. transcendent (adj.) beyond or above
the range of normal or merely physical
human experience; surpassing the ordinary;
exceptional