AP Vocabulary Word Lists
Directions:
 Review the current week’s list below to see how many words you already know.
 Log any words you don’t know and/or don’t learn quickly upon review or during our in-class vocabulary
activity.
 If you have any blank rows left in your log, gather additional words from your reading, other classes,
conversations, television, movies, music, etc. to complete all 10 rows.
 Only ten words are required, but you may log more. Regardless, you are responsible for knowing and
being able to use all of the words on these lists during pop quizzes.
Week 1 Vocabulary
arrangement – concrete detail – diction – ethos – exigence – invention – intention – logos – pathos –
persona – rhetorical strategy – schema – sentence structure – syntax – tone
Week 2 Vocabulary
archaic – bombastic – colloquial – esoteric – euphemism – grotesque – homespun – idiomatic – insipid –
jargon – literal – obscure – obtuse – pedantic – picturesque – pretentious – provincial – sensuous – trite –
vulgar
Week 3 Vocabulary
simple sentence – compound sentence – complex sentence – compound-complex sentence – loose sentence
– periodic sentence – parallelism – clause – phrase – scheme – trope – antithesis – alliteration – assonance –
anaphora – epistrophe – anadiplosis – climax – balanced sentence – complex parallel
Week 4 Vocabulary
lucid – explicit – involute – obscure – sparse – bombastic – turgid – florid – terse – sententious – prolix –
verbose – felicitous – ponderous – mordant – trenchant – prosaic – bromidic – exemplary – amorphous
Week 5 Vocabulary
complacent – baffled – cynical – spiteful – caustic – bewildered – shrewd – timid – derisive – coy – zealous –
pedantic – malicious – frivolous – surreptitious – impious – satiric – lethargic – sardonic – exuberant –
benevolent – audacious – domineering – sultry – callow – amiable – vexed – petulant – yearning –
inflammatory
Week 6 Vocabulary
anecdote – allusion – analogy – cataloging – hyperbole – juxtaposition – syllogism –exemplification –
deductive reasoning – – appeals – altruism – ad hominem – post hoc reasoning – slippery slope – straw man
– metonymy – apostrophe – rhetorical question – paradox – satire
Week 7 Vocabulary
onomatopoeia – oxymoron – parentheticals – participle – passive voice – personification – polysyndeton –
predicate – predicate adjective – predicate nominative – pun – rhetorical shift – stem – subordinate
conjunction – synecdoche – synthesis – tricolon – understatement – zeugma
Week 8 Vocabulary
adjective – adverb – allegory – ambiguity – pronoun – antecedent – aphorism – appeal to authority – appeal
to ignorance – argument – asyndeton – character – chiasmus – circular argument – claim – comparison –
complement
Week 9 Vocabulary
concession – confirmation – conjunction – connotation – coordination – deduction – denotation – dialect –
didactic – encomium – epiphora – epitaph – eulogy – exposition – extended metaphor – fallacy – false
dilemma
Week 10 Vocabulary
figurative language – figures of speech – flashback – genre – hasty generalization – imagery – induction –
invective – irony – isocolon – litotes –metaphor – mode of discourse – mood – narrative – noun – parody –
point of view – prose – refutation – repetition – rhetoric
Week 11 Vocabulary
running style – sarcasm – simile – style – subject – subordination – symbol – synechdoche – thesis –
transition – verb – voice – band wagon – begging the question – red herring – premise – poisoning the well –
genetic fallacy – begging the claim – ad populum
Week 12 Vocabulary
bias – false authority – association (fallacy) – appeal to common folk – non sequitur – false cause – burden of
proof – false dichotomy – argument from authority –- false causality – sentimental appeal – scare tactics –
dogmatism – equivocation – faulty analogy – qualify (specifically in terms of how the word is used on the AP
Language exam: Do I think about this subject in the same way as the writer/speaker? = Agree; Do I think the
writer/speaker is totally wrong? = Disagree; Do I think some of what is said is correct and some incorrect? =
Qualify)
Week 13-18 Vocabulary – see next page…
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #13
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
ANTE
(before)
ante, antebellum, antecedent, antediluvian, anterior, anticipate, antipasto
Latin
ANTI
(against)
anti aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax, antidote, Antigone, antipathy, antithesis
Greek
BI
(two)
bicentennial, biceps, bicycle, bigamy, bimonthly, binocular, bipartisan
Latin
CIRCUM (around)
circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate, circumscribe, circumspect, circumstance
Latin
COM/CON (together)
combine, commerce , common, compassion, complication, compromise
Latin
reconcile, concert, conclude, condescend, conjunction, contract, contort
SYM/SYN (together)
symbiosis, symbol, symmetry, sympathy, symphony, symptom, synchronize, synonym, syntax
Greek
DE
(down)
debate, deciduous, deduct, deflate, denounce, depose, despicable, detoxify
Latin
DIS
(away)
disaster, discard, discount, discourage, disease, dislocate, dismantle, dismiss
Latin
EQUI
(equal)
equilibrium, equinox, equity, equivalent, equivocation, equanimity, equator
Latin
EXTRA
(beyond)
extramural, extraneous, extraordinary, extravagant, extrovert, extraterrestrial
Latin
INTER
(between)
intercept, interfere, interim, interjection, intermission, Internet, interstate
Latin
INTRA
(within)
intracellular, intracranial, intramural, intranet, intrastate, intravenous
Latin
INTRO
(into)
introduction, introrsely, introspection, introvert
Latin
MAL
(bad)
malevolent, malcontent, malicious, malign, malady, malapropism
Latin
MIS
(bad)
miscarry, mischief, misfit, misfortune, miserable, mishap, mistake
Germanic
POST
(after)
posterior, posterity, postgraduate, posthumous, postpone, postscript
Latin
PRE
(before)
precedent, precursor, predecessor, prefix, pregnant, prejudice, president
Latin
SEMI
(half)
semiannual, semiaquatic, semicircle, semiformal, semitone, semiweekly
Latin
SUB
(under)
subconscious, submarine, subordinate, subpoena, subterranean, subversion
Latin
SUPER (over)
superb, supercilious, superfluous, superior, supernatural, supervise
Latin
TRI
(three)
triad, triage, triangle, triceps, triceratops, tricycle, trident, trivia
Greek
UN
(not)
unconventional, undone, unearned, unequal, unequivocal, unfit, untenable
A
(not)
amoral, amorphous, atheist, apathy, aphasia, apolitical
Greek
NON
(not)
non sequitur, nonchalant, nonconformity, none, nonentity, nonprofit, nonsense
Latin
illegal, illegible, illiberal, illicit, illiterate, illogical, ill-mannered
Latin
IL/IM/IN/IR (not)
immobile, impassable, impecunious, imperfect, impossible, improbable
incorrigible, indefinite, infidel, insane, inscribe, insomnia
irrational, irrefutable, irregular, irrepressible, irresponsible, irrigate
Old English
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #14
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
archy
(government)
anarchy, hierarchy, matriarchal, monarchy, oligarchy, patriarchy
Greek
ard
(always)
coward, braggart, drunkard, dullard, laggard, sluggard
Germanic
cide
(kill)
fratricide, genocide, herbicide, homicide, matricide, regicide, suicide
Latin
ician
(specialist)
beautician, clinician, musician, physician, technician, statistician
Latin
itis
(inflammation)
appendicitis, arthritis, bursitis, colitis, gastroenteritis, tonsillitis
Greek
aqua
(water)
aquaplane, aquarium, aquatic, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer, semiaquatic
Latin
audi
(hear)
audience, audiology, audiometer, audiophile, audit, audition, auditory
Latin
bell
(war)
bellicose, belligerent, bellow, casus belli, rebel
Latin
cap
(take)
capable, capacity, caption, captious, captivate, captive, captor, capture, intercept
Latin
cise
(cut)
circumcise, concise, decision, excise, incision, incisive, incisors, precise
Latin
bio
(life)
biochemistry, biogenesis, biography, biology, bionics, biopsy, biosphere
Greek
auto
(self)
autobiography, autocracy, autograph, automatic, automobile, autopsy
Greek
port
(carry)
deport, import, important, portage, porter, portly, report, transport
Greek
scrib
(write)
ascribe, conscription, describe, inscribe, scribble, scribe, transcribe
Latin
logy
(study of)
anthropology, biology, entomology, geology, mythology, philology
Greek
dict
(say)
addict, contradict, dictation, dictionary, interdict, malediction, predict
Latin
cred
(believe)
credible, credibility, credit, credo, discredited, incredible, incredulous
Latin
cent
(one hundred)
bicentennial, cent, centimeter, centipede, centurion, century
Latin
neo
(new)
neoclassic, Neolithic, neologism, neon, neonatal, neophyte
Greek
ad
(to)
adapt, addict, addition, adherent, adhesive, adieu, ad nauseam, advent, advocate
Latin
cede
(go)
antecedent, concede, intercede, precede, proceed, recede, secede, succeed
Latin
miss
(send)
admission, dismiss, emission, missile, missionary, promise, remiss
Latin
centri
(center)
centrifugal, centripetal, centrist, concentric, decentralize, eccentric
Greek
biblio
(book)
bible, bibliography, bibliolatry, bibliomania, bibliophile
Greek
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #15
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
homo
(same)
homeopathy, homogenize, homophone
Greek
(man)
homage, hombre, homicide, homo sapien, humane, humanism
Latin
spec
(look)
inspection, prospect, respect, specimen, specious, spectacle, spectrum
Latin
duct
(lead)
conduct, deduction, ductile, induct, product, produce, reduce, seduce, subdue
Latin
fer
(carry)
aquifer, conifer, defer, ferry, infer, Lucifer, refer, referee, transfer
Latin
pend
(hang)
appendix, depend, impending, pendant, pending, pendulous, pendulum, suspend
Latin
micro
(small)
microbiology, microcosm, micron, microphone, microscope, microwave
Greek
hydro
(water)
dehydrate, hydra, hydrangea, hydrant, hydrogen, hydroplane, hydroponics
Greek
photo
(light)
photocopy, photogenic, photograph, photon, photosensitive, photosynthesis
Greek
pan
(all)
panacea, pandemic, pandemonium, panorama, pantheism, pantheon, pantomime
Greek
penta
(five)
pentacle, pentagon, pentagram, pentameter, pentathlon, Pentecost
Greek
tele
(far)
telekinesis, teleology, telepathy, telephone, telescope, television, telex
Greek
vid
(look)
clairvoyant, envy, evidence, provide, providence, review, survey, video, visit
Latin
eccentric, effervescence, elucidate, emancipate, evident, exclaim, exit, exorbitant
Latin
exobiology, exodus, exogamy, exogenous, exorcism, exotic, exotoxin
Greek
ex/exo (out)
omni
(all)
omnibus, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnivorous
Latin
poly
(many)
polyester, polygamy, polygon, polygraph, Polynesia, polyp
Greek
re
(again)
regenerate, regurgitate, reiterate, resuscitate, retail, retouch, return, review, revive
Latin
hypo
(under)
hyphen, hypocrite, hypocrisy, hypodermic, hypotenuse, hypothermia, hypothesis
Greek
pseudo (false)
pseudonym, pseudopod, pseudoscience
Greek
neuro
(nerve)
nerve, neuralgia, neurology, neuron, neurosis, neurosurgeon, neurotic
Greek
tomy
(cut)
anatomy, appendectomy, dichotomy, lobotomy, tonsillectomy
Greek
hematic, hematite, hematology, hematoma
Greek
hema/hemo (blood)
hemoglobin, hemolysis, hemophilia, hemorrhage, hemorrhoids, hemostat
proto
(first)
protagonist, protein, protocol, proto-language, proton, protoplasm, prototype
Greek
phon
(sound)
cacophony, euphony, microphone, phonetic, phonograph, symphony, telephone
Greek
mono
(one)
monocle, monogamous, monogram, monolith, monologue, monotonous, monopoly
Greek
viv
(life)
bon vivant, convivial, revive, viva, vivacious, vivid, viviparous, vivisection
Greek
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #16
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
morph
(shape)
amorphous, mesomorph, morphology, polymorphous, protomorphic
Greek
vest
(clothes)
divest, invest, transvestite, travesty, vest, vestibule, vestment, vestry
Latin
bene
(good)
benediction, benefactor, beneficial, benefit, benevolent, benign
Latin
pond
(weight)
compound, imponderable, ponder, ponderous, pound, preponderant
Latin
corp
(body)
corporal, corporation, corps, corpse, corpulent, corpuscle, habeas corpus, incorporate
Latin
dorm
(sleep)
dormancy, dormant, dormer, dormitory, dormouse
Latin
pater
(father)
expatriate, Jupiter, padre, paternity, patriarch, patrician, patriot, patronize
Latin
nov
(new)
innovation, nouveau riche, nova, Nova Scotia, novel, novelty, novice, Novocain, renovate
Latin
punct
(point)
acupuncture, contrapuntal, punctilious, punctual, punctuate, puncture
Latin
ject
(throw)
conjecture, dejected, eject, inject, interject, projection, reject, subject
Latin
tion
(act or state)
complication, creation, devastation, objection, production, transition, verification
Latin
loc
(place)
dislocate, local, localize, location, locomotive, locus, relocate
Latin
dox
(opinion)
doxology, heterodox, indoctrinate, orthodox, paradox
Greek
amphi
(both)
ambidextrous, ambient, ambiguous, ambition, ambivalence, amble
Greek
magn
(great)
Magna Carta, magnanimous, magnate, magnificent, magnum opus
Latin
eu
(good)
eucalyptus, Eucharist, eugenics, eulogy, euphemism, euphony, euphoria, euthanasia
Greek
endo
(within)
endocrine, endogamous, endoplasm, endoskeleton, endothermic
Greek
phobia
(fear)
acrophobia, agoraphobia, claustrophobia, hydrophobia, xenophobia
Greek
ortho
(straight)
orthodontist, orthodox, orthography, orthogonal, orthopedics
Greek
put
(think)
computer, dispute, disreputable, impute, putative, reputation
Latin
ver
(true)
aver, cinema verite, veracity, verdict, verify, verisimilitude, veritable
Latin
matri
(mother)
matriarch, matricide, matrilineal, matrimony, matron, metropolis
Latin
mega
(large)
megahertz, megalith, megalomania, megalopolis, megaphone, megaton
pop
(people)
popular, popularize populate population populist, populous
Latin
sangui
(blood)
consanguinity, sangfroid, sangria, sanguinary, sanguine
Latin
Greek
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #17
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
vita
(life)
devitalize, revitalize, viable, vital, vitality, vitamin
Latin
demo
(people)
demagogue, democracy, democratize, demography, undemocratic
Greek
stereo
(solid)
stereophonic, stereopticon, stereoscope, stereotropism, stereotype
Greek
ism
(doctrine)
capitalism, Cubism, Imagism, Marxism, nihilism, pluralism, tribalism
Greek
cogn
(know)
acquaint, cognizant, cognoscenti, incognito, precognition, recognize, reconnaissance
Latin
sur
(over)
surface, surmount, surname, surpass, surplus, surrealism, surrender, surveillance
Latin
alter
(other)
alter ego, alteration, altercation, alternative, alternator, altruism
Latin
astr
(star)
asterisk, asteroid, astrolabe, astrology, astronomy, astrophysics, disaster
Greek
dyna
(power)
aerodynamics, dinosaur, dynamic, dynamite, dynamo, dynamometer, dynasty
Greek
chron
(time)
anachronism, chronic, chronicle, chronological, chronometer, synchronize
Greek
hyper
(over)
hyperacidity, hyperactive, hyperbole, hypertension, hyperventilate
Greek
luna
(moon)
luna moth, lunar, lunate, lunatic, lunette, lunular
Latin
octo
(eight)
octagon, octahedron, octane, octave, October, octogenarian, octopus
Greek
gyro
(turn)
gyrate, gyration, gyre, gyrfalcon, gyro, gyroscope, spirogyra
Greek
contra (against)
contraband, contradict, contrapuntal, contrary, contrast, contravene
Latin
geo
(earth)
geocentric, geode, geography, geology, geometry, George, geosynchronous
Greek
helio
(sun)
aphelion, heliocentric, heliograph, Helios, heliotrope, helium, perihelion
Greek
thermo (heat)
thermal thermocouple, thermometer, thermonuclear, thermos, thermostat
Greek
tetra
(four)
Teflon, tetrachloride, tetracycline, tetragon, tetrahedron, tetrameter
Greek
meter
(measure)
centimeter, diameter, metric, metronome, odometer, symmetry, thermometer
Greek
scope
(look)
horoscope, kaleidoscope, microscope, periscope, stethoscope, telescope
Greek
son
(sound)
dissonance, resonant, sonar, song, sonnet, sonorous, supersonic, unison
Latin
dec
(ten)
decade, Decalogue, decathlon, December, decibel, decimal, decimation, dime, dozen
Greek
stell
(star)
constellation, interstellar, stellar. Stellate
Latin
amat
(love)
amateur, amatory, amiable, amicable, amigo, amity, amorous, amour
Latin
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION VOCABULARY LESSON #18
Directions: Using the core root definition (in parentheses), try to identify the definition of the words with the root without using a
dictionary. Then, seek out the definition of any word that you do not currently know and list it on your vocabulary log. You will be
tested WEEKLY on your knowledge of the root definitions and on your ability to identify meanings of the words listed below in
context. Use the words you log for your grammar sentences due next Wednesday.
germ
(vital or related) germ, germane, germicide, germinal, germination
Latin
greg
(group)
aggregate, congregate, egregious, gregarious, gregariously, segregate
Latin
mar
(sea)
marina, marinate, marine, mariner, maritime, submarine, ultramarine
Latin
prim
(first)
prim, prima donna, primary, primate, prime, primeval, primo, primogeniture, primrose Latin
pyro
(fire)
pyre, pyrogenic, pyromania, pyrometer, pyrotechnic
Greek
clam
(cry out)
clamant, clamor, clamorous, declaim, exclamation, proclamation
Latin
plu
(more)
plural, pluralism, plurality, pluralize, plus, nonplussed
Latin
tact/tang (touch)
contact, intact, tactful, tactile, attain, contagious, contaminate, tangent, tangible
Latin
string
(bind)
astringent, strain, strait, stress, strict, string, stringent, stringer, stringy
Latin
liber
(free)
deliver, liberal, liberate, libertarian, libertine, liberty
Latin
junct
(join)
adjunct, conjunction, injunction, joint, junction, juncture, subjunctive
Latin
clud
(close)
cloister, conclude, exclude, exclusive, include, preclude, reclusive, seclude, sluice
Latin
se
(apart)
secede, seclude, secret, sedition, seduce, sedulous, segregate, select, separate
Latin
trib
(pay)
attribute, contribution, distribute, retribution, tributary, tribute
Latin
dign
(worthy)
dainty, dignify, dignitary, dignity, indignation, undignified
Latin
rupt
(break)
abrupt, bankrupt, corrupt, disrupt, erupt, incorruptible, interrupt, rupture
Latin
grat
(pleasing)
agree, congratulation, grace, grateful, gratitude, gratuitous, ingrate, ingratiate
Latin
medi
(middle)
immediate, in medias res, intermediate, mediator, mediocre, Mediterranean, medium
Latin
soph
(wisdom)
philosophy, sophist, sophisticated, sophomore, theosophy
Greek
tempor (time)
contemporary, extemporaneous, temporal, temporarily, temporize, tempus fugit
Latin
migr
(wander)
emigrant, immigrant, migrant, migrate, migratory, transmigration
Latin
trans
(across)
transcend, transfer, transfusion, translate, translucent, transmit, transpose
Latin
gamy
(marriage)
bigamy, exogamy, gamete, monogamy, polygamy
Greek