reading new words in context lesson 1

Vernacular

the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)

Rhetorical

adj: effective use of words designed to be impressive, showy, and oratorical

Provocative

tending to produce a strong feeling or response

Accentuate

to emphasize; to heighten the effect of; to pronounce or mark with an accent

intricacy

condition or state of being complex, involved, or detailed

Introspective

examining of one's own thoughts and feelings

felicitous

(of a word or remark) suitably expressed; well chosen

usurping

to take power by force, wrongfully, or without rights

comprehensive

thorough; inclusive

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful ; having more than one meaning

prologue

an introduction to a play

conjecture

a conclusion based on guesswork or insufficient evidence

terse

brief and to the point

allegory

a literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas; a symbolic representation

dissolute

lacking moral restraint; very wicked; immoral; undisciplined

protagonist

the main character in a literary work

despicable

worthy of scorn, contemptible

incongruous

not suitable or appropriate; not consistent; not conforming to a pattern

ferocity

The quality or state of being fierce, savage, or relentless

misanthrope

a person who dislikes others