AP Literature
Unit 2 Vocabulary
Words Relating to
bombastic: (bom-BAS-tic) adj. – using language in a pompous, showy way; speaking to impress others
circumlocution: (sir-kum-low-Q-shun) n. – speaking in circles; roundabout speech
colloquial: (kuh-LOW-kwee-ul) adj. – pertaining to common everyday speech; conversational
diffuse: (dih-FEWS) adj. – spread out; not concise; wordy
digress (die-GRES) vb. – to wander off from the subject or topic spoken about
eloquence: (EH-low-kwens) n. – artful ease with speaking; speech that can influence people’s feelings
garrulous: (GAR-u-lus) adj. – talkative; loquacious
grandiloquent: (gran-DIH-luh-kwent) adj. – using big and fancy words when speaking for the purpose of
impressing others
loquacious: (low-KWAY-shus) adj. – very talkative; liking to talk; garrulous
prattle: (PRA-tl) vb. – to speak on and on in a senseless and silly manner; to talk foolishly
ramble: (RAM-bul) vb. – to talk on and on pointlessly, without clear direction
rant: (RANT) vb. – to talk very loudly, even wildly; rave
rhetorical: (re-TOR-uh-kul) adj. – relating to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect; can
be insincere in expression
verbose: (vur-BOSE) adj. – using too many words; wordy; long-winded
voluble: (VOL-you-bul) adj. talking a great deal with ease; glib