Literary Terms List 1
1.) enigma- a riddle or mystery
2.) apathy- a lack of emotion or interest
3.) indifferent- having no preference; not caring either way
4.) revere- to worship or honor; to hold in high opinion
5.) candor- honesty and openness; frankness
6.) reticent- restrained or uncommunicative
7.) aesthetic- dealing with art, beauty or appearance
8.) autonomy- self-rule; independence
9.) disdain- contempt
10.) ascetic- without indulgence or luxuries
Literary Terms List 2
1.) banal- commonplace; dull or ordinary
2.) ambiguous- unclear or undecided
3.) anarchy- lack of government; chaos
4.) ameliorate- to improve or make better
5.) atrophy- to waste away from lack of use
6.) innovate- to make changes; to modernize
7.) servile- overly submissive; cringing
8.) extol- to praise
9.) augment- to add to; to increase
10.) innocuous- harmless; insignificant
Literary Terms List 3
1.) derision- contempt; ridicule
2.) disparity- inequality; a large difference between
3.) flagrant- glaringly wrong; conspicuously evil; obviously wrong
4.) indolence- laziness
5.) acquiesce- to give in; to agree or submit
6.) prodigal- extravagant; wasteful
7.) capricious- whimsical, unpredictable
8.) prosaic- commonplace, uninspired, dull
9.) austere- severe; strict
10.) benevolent- kindly; harmless; intending a positive reaction
Literary Terms List 4
1.) compliance- conforming to a request or demand
2.) dubious- doubtful; questionable
3.) ephemeral; short-lived; fleeting
4.) inevitable- unavoidable; bound to happen
5.) insipid- bland; boring
6.) obscure- unclear; clouded; partially hidden
7.) depravity- corruption; wickedness
8.) discern- to distinguish one thing from another
9.) expedite- to quicken
10.) complacent- smug; self-satisfied
Literary Terms List 5
1.) taciturn- quiet; uncommunicative; silent
2.) apprehensive- fearful; worried
3.) expedient- advantageous; convenient
4.) fastidious- finicky; overly critical
5.) novel- new; interesting
6.) parsimony- stinginess
7.) provincial- narrow-minded; unsophisticated
8.) respite- to break; to rest
9.) anecdote- a brief, humorous story
10.) peripheral- on the edge; unimportant
Literary Terms List 6
1.) desecrate- to show disrespect; to deface something sacred
2.) euphonious- melodious; pleasant sounding
3.) cacophonous- harsh sounding
4.) guile- cunning; deceitfulness
5.) immutable- unchanging; permanent
6.) incessant- never stopping
7.) static- unchanging; not moving or developing
8.) bastion- a stronghold; a fort
9.) benign- kindly; good-natured; harmless
10.) drone- to talk on and on in dull way
Literary Terms List 7
1.) disparage- to speak poorly of
2.) eccentric- odd; out of the ordinary; quirky
3.) philanthropist- someone who benefits mankind
4.) squander- to waste
5.) virulent- harmful
6.) zeal- enthusiasm
7.) acuity- sharpness of perception or mind
8.) affable- friendly; agreeable
9.) assuage- to reduce pain
10.) credulous- gullible; ready to believe without proof
Literary Terms List 8
1.) dissonance- lack of agreement or harmony
2.) listless- without energy or enthusiasm
3.) philistine- one who lacks culture or taste
4.) scrupulous- concerned; conscientious; proper
5.) tentative- not final; uncertain
6.) adulation- adoration
7.) dogmatic- stubbornly opinionated
8.) futile- hopeless; without effect
9.) languid- slow and listless
10.) avarice- greed
Literary Terms List 9
1.) ponderous- weighty; heavy
2.) protracted- drawn out; lengthy
3.) deference- a show of respect
4.) heretic- someone who goes against accepted religious beliefs
5.) paucity- scarcity
6.) profuse- very abundant; flowing
7.) conciliate- to soothe anger
8.) contrite- thoroughly sorry
9.) didactic- intending to teach
10.) pious- religious; devout
Literary Terms List 10
1.) digression- straying from a topic
2.) dissent- disagreement
3.) elucidate- to explain; to make clear
4.) gullible- overly trusting
5.) strut- a self-important walk
6.) denounce- to speak out against publicly
7.) laud- to praise
8.) surreptitious- secret
9.) astute- clever; shrewd; ready-witted
10.) diffident- shy; lacking confidence
Literary Terms List 11
1.) blasphemy- irreverent talk about God
2.) censure- severely criticize; blame
3.) pedestrian- commonplace; ordinary
4.) pedantic- narrow, ostentatious concern for book learning and rules
5.) sinecure- a position that requires little or no work but provides a salary
6.) gentrification- an influx of wealthy people into a lower-income neighborhood, often displacing the original, less-wealthy inhabitants
7.) solicitude- the state of being anxious or concerned, often for another; hovering
8.) expostulate- to reason earnestly with someone in an effort to correct or dissuade
9.) epicurean- devoted to the pursuit of pleasure, especially food and comfort
10.) prostrate- to put or throw flat with the face down; to overcome
Literary Terms List 12
1.) colloquial- informal or conversational
2.) tepid- lukewarm; lacking in emotion
3.) sanctimonious- showing false piety or righteousness; hypocritical devoutness
4.) florid- flushed with rosy color; flowery
5.) corpulent- excessively fat
6.) echolalia- immediate and involuntary repetition of the words of others.
7.) condescension- the act of showing a patronizingly superior attitude
8.) discordant- not being in accord; harsh; disagreement
9.) crescendo- a steady increase; the peak of intensity
10.) bravado- a show of false bravery; defiant