AP Lang - Vocab Set 3

v. to force or oblige someone to do something

A sense of responsibility compelled Gracie to wait until the end of practice to see if any of her younger teammates needed a ride home.

v. to accept, support, or approve of something

Even though I understand that writing assignments can overwhelm busy students, I cannot countenance plagiarism.

n. face (especially as an indication of mood, emotion or character)

Her downcast countenance betrayed Lucy’s disappointment at having to stay home with her grandparents rather than going out with her friends.

v. confirm; support

Though Huck was quite willing to corroborate Tom’s story, Aunt Polly knew better than to believe them.

v. to improvise; to compose, perform, or produce something such as a speech or music without preparation

Not having prepared a position on the issue, the candidate extemporized.

adj. sober; sedate

Her conduct during the funeral ceremony was staid and solemn.

adj. irritable, quarrelsome

At the end of the fractious meeting, the group couldn’t even agree to take a vote.

adj. ruddy ; reddish

If you go to Florida and get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid.

v. hint.

She intimated rather than stated her preferences.

adj. haughty, snobbish

I never shop at that store because of the clerks’ supercilious attitude; I’d rather go where I feel comfortable and my business is appreciated.

adj. painstaking; meticulous; strict attention to minute details

Percy is punctilious about observing the rules of etiquette whenever Miss Manners invites him to stay.

adj vague; hazy; cloudy.

After twenty years, she had only a nebulous memory of her grandmother’s face.

adj. without any clear shape, form, or structure

As soon as we have decided on our itinerary, we shall send you a copy; right now, our plans are still amorphous.

v. to establish (oneself) in the favor or good graces of others, esp. by
deliberate effort (usually fol. by with or into)

He tried to ingratiate himself into her parents’ good graces. (ALWAYS USE reflexive (such as himself/herself) and with/into)

adj. tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy

Your dilatory tactics may compel me to cancel the contract.

n. a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of
disrespect; intentional slight; insult

When Mrs. Proudie was not seated beside the Archdeacon at the head table, she took it as a personal affront and refused to speak to her hosts for a week.

adj. boldly rude; disrespectful

How dare you treat me so rudely! The manager will hear about how insolent you were towards me!

adj. confusing; disturbing; causing emotional disturbance

Maybe he did need this massage, especially after the disconcerting talk he had had with Professor Landman over his sociology research paper.

adj. showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning

I think my Grandma is going senile because she keeps forgetting her daughter's name.

adj. warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial

For Moscow society Pierre was the nicest, kindest, most intellectual, merriest, and most magnanimous of cranks, a heedless, genial nobleman of the old Russian type.

adj. pertinent; bearing on the case at hand

The judge refused to allow the testimony to be heard by the jury because it was not germane to the case.