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tewwg
lit and vocab terms
62
English
10th Grade
04/02/2007

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Term
alliteration
Definition
the commencement of two or more stressed syllables of a word group either with the same consonant sound or sound group
Term
allusion
Definition
a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication
Term
ambivalent
Definition
divided feelings
"I'm ambivalent about which movie to see."
Term
anecdote
Definition
a short account of a particular incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature, often biographical.
Term
aphorism
Definition
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation
Term
aside
Definition
on or to one side; to or at a short distance apart; away from some position or direction
Term
auxiliary verb
Definition
a word used in construction with and preceding certain forms of other verbs, as infinitives or participles, to express distinctions of tense, aspect, mood, etc.,
Term
chiasmus
Definition
a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases
Term
colloquial
Definition
characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal.
Term
conceit
Definition
an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc.
Term
cursory
Definition
going rapidly over something, without noticing details; hasty; superficial
Term
cynical
Definition
distrusting or disparaging the motives of others.
Term
decorous
Definition
characterized by dignified propriety in conduct, manners, appearance, character, etc.
Term
delusion
Definition
a false belief or opinion
Term
derision
Definition
ridicule; mockery
Term
diction
Definition
style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words
Term
didactic
Definition
intended for instruction; instructive
Term
digression
Definition
a passage or section that deviates from the central theme in speech or writing.
Term
disparagingly
Definition
tending to belittle or bring reproach upon
Term
duplicity
Definition
deceitfulness in speech or conduct; speaking or acting in two different ways concerning the same matter with intent to deceive
Term
epiphany
Definition
an appearance or manifestation, esp. of a deity
Term
euphemism
Definition
the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt
Term
exorbitant
Definition
exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, esp. in amount or extent; highly excessive
Term
foreshadowing
Definition
To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand; presage.
Term
hyperbole
Definition
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
Term
impertinent
Definition
intrusive or presumptuous, as persons or their actions; insolently rude; uncivil
Term
incredulous
Definition
indicating or showing unbelief
Term
indignant
Definition
feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base
Term
irony
Definition
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
Term
jocular
Definition
given to, characterized by, intended for, or suited to joking or jesting; waggish; facetious
Term
judicious
Definition
using or showing judgment as to action or practical expediency; discreet, prudent, or politic
Term
lacerating
Definition
to tear roughly; mangle
Term
litotes
Definition
understatement, esp. that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, as in “not bad at all.”
Term
magnanimous
Definition
generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness
Term
metaphor
Definition
a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”
Term
mien
Definition
air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc.
Term
Nonplussed
Definition
To put at a loss as to what to think, say, or do; bewilder.
Term
Ostentatious
Definition
intended to attract notice and impress others; "an ostentatious sable coat"
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
Term
Parable
Definition
a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
2. a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.
Term
Paradox
Definition
A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.
Term
Parallelism
Definition
The use of identical or equivalent syntactic constructions in corresponding clauses or phrases.
Term
pathetic fallacy
Definition
the endowment of nature, inanimate objects, etc., with human traits and feelings, as in the smiling skies; the angry sea.
Term
patronizing
Definition
to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward: a professor who patronizes his students.
Term
pedestrian
Definition
lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull: a pedestrian commencement speech.
Term
personification
Definition
the attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions, esp. as a rhetorical figure.
Term
platitude
Definition
a flat, dull, or trite remark, esp. one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
Term
polysyndeton
Definition
The repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect, as in the phrase here and there and everywhere.
Term
posturing
Definition
to adopt an attitude or take an official position on (a matter): The company postured that the court's ruling could be interpreted as being in its favor.
Term
pragmatic
Definition
Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical.
Term
proprietary
Definition
an owner or proprietor.
belonging or controlled as property.
Term
Pretentious
Definition
Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified.
Term
rhetorical question
Definition
a question asked solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply, as “What is so rare as a day in June?”
Term
Sardonic
Definition
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin.
Term
Sensory details
Definition
descriptions that use all of the senses to help a reader understand
Term
Simile
Definition
A simile is a comparison of two unlike things, typically marked by use of "like", "as"
or "than". Examples include "the snow was as thick as a blanket",
Term
syllogism
Definition
"conclusion", "inference"
a kind of logical argument in which one proposition is inferred from two others
Term
symbolism
Definition
applied use of any known representations, (symbols), which carry particular conventional meanings.
Term
synedoche
Definition
term denoting a part of something is used to refer to the whole thing
The use of synecdoche is a common way to emphasize an important aspect of a fictional character; for example, a character might be consistently described by a single body part, such as the eyes, which comes to represent the character
Term
understatement
Definition
a form of speech in which a lesser expression is used than what would be expected
Term
Wistful
Definition
Full of wishful yearning.
Pensively sad; melancholy.
Term
Wry
Definition
Dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony.
Temporarily twisted in an expression of distaste or displeasure: made a wry face.
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