AP Lang. & Comp. Vocabulary - List #3

Caustic

Definition: (adj.) capable of dissolving by chemical action; Example: His caustic expression served as a catalyst to her boredom.

Banal

Definition: (adj.) commonplace or trite (n: banality) Example: The couple met at their banal.

Culpable

Definition: (adj.) deserving of blame Example: The terrorist is culpable of many wars.

Corporeal

Definition: (adj.) of or having to do material, as opposed to spiritual; tangible Example: My corporeal needs include food.

Corporal

Definition: (adj.) of the body: "corporal punishment." a non-commissioned officer ranked between a sergeant and a private Example: Shooting someone is sure to cause corporal suffering.

Complaisant

Definition: (adj.) willingly complaint or accepting of the status quo (n: complaisance); not to be confused with complacent, which involves being smug in terms of one's achievements Example: Marshal's complaisant character made her a perfect friend.

Craven

Definition: (adj., n.) cowardly; a coward Example: The craven soldier ran away from the battle.

Conflagration

Definition: (n.) a great fire Example: The conflagration between the teacher and the school board has led to a teacher strike.

Catalyst

Definition: (n.) an agent of change (adj: catalytic; v. Catalyze) Example: Jim stayed up all night playing video games, he should catalyze that habit.

Chicanery

Definition: (n.) deception by trickery Example: Instead of dealing with my lawyer's chicanery, I will hire another.

Caprice

Definition: (n.) impulse (adj: capricious) Example: When driving my Chevy truck; I always feel very caprice to keep on the pedal.

Bombast

Definition: (n.) pompous speech (adj. bombastic) Example: The president gave a bombast speech to the people.

Blandishment

Definition: (n.) speech or action intended to coax someone into doing something Example: Commercials on television always are blandishments so you will by their product.

Breach

Definition: (n.,v) a lapse, gap or break, as in a fortress wall. To break of etiquette; not to be confused with broach, as in to bring up difficult subject in discussion Example: There was a breach in the prison cell so the criminal escaped.

Castigate

Definition: (v.) to chastise or criticize severely Example: The girl castigated the boy for stepping on her foot.

Cadge

Definition: (v.) to get something by taking advantage of someone Example: The nanny lies about being at home so she could cadge someone.

Corroborate

Definition: (v.) to strengthen or support: "The witness corroborted his story." Example: I prayed my friend would corroborate the lie I told my parents.

Burgeon

Definition: (v.,n.) to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth (adj: burgeoning) Example: The flower was burgeoning from the ground.

Buttress

Definition: (v.,n.) to support. a support Example: The beam was a buttress for the house.