AP English Vocab: 6

Caricature

A verbal description of someone (usually humorous) exaggerating distinctive physical features

Extended metaphor

A lengthy metaphor occurring frequently throughout writing.

Homily

A sermon or speech typically on spirituality or morality

Invective

A strong, verbal attack on someone or something (sometimes involving profane language)

Pedantic

Adjective used to describe fanciful, scholarly, or erudite language (pretentious word usage)

Synecdoche

Part of something spoken or written to represent the entirety of something. (Ex. "sand"="beach" or "wheels"= "car")

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that addresses an absent or imaginary person in a personified tone (as if the object or idea were a living entity)

Aphorism

A terse statement regarding a general truth or moral

Euphemism

A more "politically correct" label or statement used in lieu of something explicit, vulgar, or inappropriate. (Ex. "passed away" instead of "dead")

Extemporaneous

Without rehearsal or formal preparation

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions for rhetorical effect

Chiasmus

Contrast by reverse parallelism

Countervail

To offset the effect of something by offering a counteracting force

Abscond

To leave secretly, typically to avoid police or authorities

Slake

To satisfy or quench

Spurious

False or fake

Modicum

A meager or small amount

Enervate

To cause someone to be drained of their energy

Repudiate

To reject or refuse someone or something

Rife

Common or widespread, usually in a bad way