English I Pre-AP
Language—Vocabulary
UNIT 11
1. bourgeois
(boor-zhwah)
2. ephemera
(ih-fem-er-uh)
3. gothic
(goth-ik)
4. grandeur
(gran-jer)
(n.) a member of the middle class, often concerned
with property values or conventional respectability
(adj.) characteristic of the middle, property-owning
class, dominated or characterized by materialistic
pursuits
the growing ___________ fear of being associated
with the lower class
(n. pl.) something short-lived or transitory
Such ________ as sunsets and rainbows should be
enjoyed all the more while they last.
(adj.) characterized by gloom and mystery and the
grotesque; describing literature that contains
elements of both horror and romance
The ________ atmosphere of the club made it feel
like a dungeon.
(n.) the quality of being impressive, magnificent,
splendid; the state of being elevated or exalted in
character, ideals, or conduct
an imaginative mix of old-fashioned ________ and
colorful art
5. macabre
(muh-kah-bruh)
(adj.) shockingly repellent; inspiring horror;
representing death, especially its grimmer and uglier
aspects
__________ tales of war and plague in the Middle
ages
6. nefarious
(ni-fair-ee-uhs)
(adj.) extremely wicked or villainous
a _______ plot of revenge
7. overwrought
(oh-ver-rawt)
(adj.) deeply agitated or excessively excited or
nervous; ornate and excessively worked or
decorated
was ___________ with emotion after hearing the
news
8. pathos
(pey-thohs)
(n.) a quality or style that evokes emotion; feeling of
sympathy or sorrow
The film captured all the ________ of their situation.
9. portent
(pawr-tent)
(n.) a sign or indication of something about to
happen; a threatening or disquieting significance
an occurrence of dire ________
10. proliferation
(n.) a rapid and often excessive spread or increase
(pruh-lif-uh-rey-shuhn)
the __________ of nuclear weapons
11. propulsive
(pruh-puhl-siv)
(adj.) having the power to propel or drive forward
Universities: the seats of _________ thought
12. subjugation
(n.) the act of conquering; forced submission to
(suhb-juh-gey-shuhn)
control
_________ is one of many types of injustice in the
world.
13. sublime
(suh-blahym)
(adj.) awe-inspiringly grand, impressive, or powerful,
often resulting in spiritual wonderment; elevated or
lofty in nature or style; of high moral or intellectual
value
a scene of _________ beauty
14. tyrannical
(ti-ran-i-kuhl)
(adj.) unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe
a _________ ruler
15. vice
(vahys)
(n.) immoral or evil habit or conduct
leading a life of _________
COMPLETING THE SENTENCE
For each of the following sentences, provide the appropriate
vocabulary word.
1. Taken seriously and discussed excitedly for a few weeks, the rumor soon
disappeared along with the other _____________ of the day
2. I don’t drink, smoke, or gamble; rather, my _____________ is chocolate
ice cream.
3. In front of a work of such tender _____________, the viewer is almost
compelled to offer a hand in aid to stop the suffering.
4. He was choked up and tearful on the stand, so _____________ at times
that he could not speak.
5. The government said it wanted to encourage the growth and
_____________ of mutually owned building societies and other financial
businesses.
6. The laborers and property-owners saw the domination of a
_____________ parliament as a great success.
7. The _____________ and genocide of the Native Americans happened all
across our country.
8. As a mother, I cannot help but worry about my child’s _____________
fascination with crime scenes and real-life stories of torture and murder.
9. Blinded by visions of luxury and delusions of _____________ the young
entrepreneur went bankrupt building a mansion he thought he could afford.
10. While slow in the beginning, the _____________ beats drive the song to
an exciting finale.
11. My father shudders whenever he sees a crow, superstitiously believing
they are a _____________ of death.
12. We were rollicking in those _____________ early days of marriage when
life seems about as good as life can get and every moment seems filled with
unmatched beauty.
13. Her talent as a short story author lied in describing _____________
settings that created a mood of mystery and dread for the reader.
14. More _____________ than a senior prank should be, the students broke
into the teachers’ cabinets and stole their money.
15. She saw her stepfather as a _____________ male figure who brought
nothing but fear and harsh rule into their home.
SYNONYMS
Supply the vocabulary word that means the same as the listed words.
1. heavenly, admirable, magnificent
2. ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, alarming
3. compelling, dynamic, energetic
4. majesty, preeminence, opulence, glory
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
5. sin, transgression, wrongdoing
__________________
6. common, average, ordinary; conventionalist __________________
7. oppressive, authoritarian, overbearing
__________________
8. emotional, neurotic, overworked
__________________
9. indication, forewarning, warning
__________________
10. something transient, visitor
__________________
11. medieval, eerie, mysterious, antiqued
__________________
12. development, progress, generation, reproduction_______________
13. poignancy, emotion, sadness
__________________
14. slavery, servitude, disablement
__________________
15. sinful, evil, vicious, corrupt
__________________
ANTONYMS
Supply the vocabulary word that means the opposite of each of the
listed word.
1. diminishment, reduction, underdevelopment
2. good, honorable, virtuous, worthy
3. lowly, poor, earthly, unattractive
4. unimportance, lowliness, insignificance
5. freedom, independence, conquest
6. lively, attractive, pleasant
7. unforceful, weak, wimpy
8. virtue, good point, propriety
9. calm, collected, cool, rested, unruffled
10. cheer, glee, happiness, joy
11. extraordinary, uncommon, noteworthy
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