AP ENG III Vocabulary

1. AP ENG IIIVocabulary Word of the Day Lesson One-A

2. AP Words of the Day • Beatific • \bee-uh-TIFF-ik\ • DEFINITION adjective 1: of, possessing, or imparting a state of utmost bliss 2: having a blissful appearance • EXAMPLES A beatific smile spread across Grandmother’s face as she reminisced about her wedding day. • embargo • \im-BAHR-goh\ • DEFINITION noun 1: an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports 2: a legal prohibition on commerce 3: stoppage, impediment; especially: prohibition • EXAMPLES Because of the trade embargo against Cuba, certain items, such as Cuban cigars, are illegal in the United States. Synonyms: ban, restriction, interdiction, postscription.

3. AP Vocabulary • gloze • \GLOHZ\ • DEFINITION verb 1: to mask the true nature of : give a deceptively attractive appearance to -- often used with "over" 2: to deal with (a subject or problem) too lightly or not at all -- often used with "over“ • EXAMPLES "His modesty and shyness were at any rate proverbial, and it does seem that he went out of his way to conceal or gloze over certain aspects of his career, his military exploits in particular." (Eleanor Perenyi, Green Thoughts) • SYNONYMS: camouflage, cloak, conceal, condone, cover, diminish, disguise

4. AP Vocabulary • felicitous • \fih-LISS-uh-tus\ • DEFINITION adjective 1: very well suited or expressed : apt 2: pleasant, delightful • EXAMPLES The film’s score, at least, is felicitous, as it lends emotional intensity to the otherwise wooden acting. • SYNONYMS: convincing, fitting, happy, inspired, opportune, pertinent, relevant, timely

5. AP Vocabulary • myrmidon • \MER-muh-dahn\ • DEFINITION noun 1: a loyal follower; especially 2: a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously • EXAMPLES The boss was more likely to offer promotions to her myrmidons than to those workers who occasionally questioned her tactics or proposed alternate solutions. • SYNONYMS: accomplice, adherent, aide, ally

6. AP ENG IIIVocabulary Word of the Day Lesson Two-A John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, a British politician in the eighteenth century, was so fond of gambling that he spent the whole day playing, while devouring slices of bread with a filling between them. Little did he know that his name would become eponymous with that food. From sandwich to boycott, we use numerous eponyms (words named after people) in our daily discourse. In this week's AWAD, we'll look at five not so common eponyms, derived from people real and mythical.

7. AP Vocabulary • simony • PRONUNCIATION: • (SY-muh-nee, SIM-)   • MEANING: • noun: Profiting from holy things, especially buying and selling of holy positions and pardons. ETYMOLOGY: • After Simon Magus, Samaritan sorcerer in the Bible, who wanted to buy spiritual powers -- the ability to transfer the "Holy Spirit" by putting hands on someone -- from Peter. USAGE: • "A related theme -- the preacher or moraliser unmasked -- has been richly illustrated in recent years by examples from real life: a string of corrupt American televangelists, self-appointed 'men of God', who revelled in greed, lust, and simony, the very things they were thought to be railing against."Gilchrist; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 19, 1994.

8. AP Vocabulary • luddite • PRONUNCIATION: • (LUHD-yt)   • MEANING: • noun: One who opposes or avoids the use of new technology. ETYMOLOGY: • After the Luddites, name taken by textile workers in England during 1811-1816 who destroyed machinery that was displacing them. They took the name after one Ned Ludd, whose identity is not clear. Ned Ludd is said to have destroyed, in a fit of insanity, a knitting frame in 1779. In response to the Luddites, the British parliament passed the Frame Breaking Act which made the destroying of knitting frames punishable by death. USAGE: • "But I'm not a luddite. I'll keep my automatic coffee-maker, my computer, and my automatic dishwasher, thank you!"Richard Packham; Elaborate Appliances Don't Justify the Cost or the Space; The News-Review (Roseburg, Oregon); Mar 21, 2010.

9. AP Vocabulary • pharisaical • PRONUNCIATION: • (far-uh-SAY-uh-kuhl)   • MEANING: • adjective: Characterized by hypocritical self-righteousness; putting emphasis on strict observance of rituals unrelated to the spirit or meaning of the ceremony. ETYMOLOGY: • After the Pharisees, a Jewish sect during 1 BCE - 1 CE, whose members were noted for strict observance of rites and rituals, and felt superior because of it. The word is derived via Latin and Greek from Aramaic prishayya, plural of prish (separated). USAGE: • "Then we have the pettiness and hypocrisy in the loud and pharisaical condemnation emanating from the media and the public."Garth George; No Credit to be Found in Card Debacle; The Daily Post (Rotorua, New Zealand); Jun 18, 2010.

10. AP Vocabulary • stentorian • PRONUNCIATION: • (sten-TOR-ee-uhn)   • MEANING: • adjective: Loud and powerful. ETYMOLOGY: • In Greek mythology, Stentor was a herald in the Trojan War and noted for his loud voice. In the Iliad, Homer described his voice to be equal to the voices of fifty men. He was put to death after his defeat by Hermes (1, 2) in a shouting contest. USAGE: • "David Beckham's legendarily stentorian and commanding voice would lend itself perfectly to a career as a rapper."Alexis Petridis; Tara Newley's Gritty New Film; The Guardian (London, UK); Sep 9, 2010.

11. AP Vocabulary • harlequin • PRONUNCIATION: • (HAHR-luh-kwin, -kin)   • MEANING: • adjective: In varied colors.noun: A clown.noun: A stock comic character, masked, and dressed in a diamond-patterned multicolored costume. ETYMOLOGY: • Via French and Italian, after Herla king, a mythical figure sometimes identified as Woden, an Anglo-Saxon god. USAGE: • "Long, multicolored armbands and stringy dresses added flashy flair, and diamond-patterned tights resembled what a harlequin might wear."Jamey Keaten; Galliano Aims For Hippies at Fashion Show; Associated Press (New York); Oct 9, 2004."Another designer had her models parading down the catwalk in 'traditional, flounced peasant blouses and full-tiered skirts in brilliant red-and-white gingham, zigzag knit and harlequin patchwork'."Rona Dougall; Someone Save Us From Frocky Horror Shows; The Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland); Sep 28, 2004. Explore "harlequin" in the Visual Thesaurus. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: • When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. -Abraham Joshua Heschel, theology professor (1907-1972)