IB English Vocab

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IB EnglishVocab
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Vocabulary Quizzes

• Study these words and use them within your
  discussions and written compositions. You will be
  quizzed on your understanding of these words
  periodically and within the unit test for each
  novel.

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Language Skills

• Although IB English Literature is not a language
  course, it nevertheless provides an opportunity
  for students to develop and refine their language
  skills. In particular students are expected to
  develop the ability to express their ideas in
  clear, unambiguous language, paying attention to
  appropriate style and register. Furthermore, they
  are expected to structure ideas coherently and
  effectively, and to acquire vocabulary
  appropriate to formal expression and literary
  analysis.

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Dogma (n.) 1. doctrine or code of beliefs
accepted as authoritative as by a church the
dogma of the Assumption 2. prescribed doctrine
proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular
group 3. a settled or established opinion,
belief, or principle the classic dogma of
objectivity in scientific observation.
Pragmatic (adj.) of or pertaining to a
practical point of view or practical
considerations Manifest (v.) to make clear or
evident to the eye or the understanding to show
plainly
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Lucid (adj.) 1. easily understood completely
intelligible or comprehensible a lucid
explanation. 2. characterized by clear perception
or understanding rational or sane a lucid
moment in his madness. Prodigal (adj. or n.)
1.wastefully or recklessly extravagant prodigal
expenditure. 2. giving or yielding profusely
lavish (usually followed by of or with prodigal
with money. 3. lavishly abundant profuse
nature's prodigal resources. Antipathy (n.) a
natural, basic, or habitual repugnance aversion
intense dislike
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Lucid (adj.) 1. easily understood completely
intelligible or comprehensible a lucid
explanation. 2. characterized by clear perception
or understanding rational or sane a lucid
moment in his madness. Prodigal (adj. or n.)
1.wastefully or recklessly extravagant prodigal
expenditure. 2. giving or yielding profusely
lavish (usually followed by of or with prodigal
with money. 3. lavishly abundant profuse
nature's prodigal resources. Antipathy (n.) a
natural, basic, or habitual repugnance aversion
intense dislike
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Surreptitious (adj.) 1. obtained, done, made,
etc., by stealth secret or unauthorized
clandestine a surreptitious glance. 2. acting in
a stealthy way. Sagacity (noun) acuteness of
mental discernment and soundness of judgment.
Perfidious (adj.) deliberately faithless
treacherous deceitful
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abysmal adjective 1. of or like an abyss
immeasurably deep or great. 2. extremely or
hopelessly bad or severe abysmal ignorance
abysmal poverty. Benevolent adjective 1.
characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly
feelings a benevolent attitude her benevolent
smile. 2.desiring to help others charitable
gifts from several benevolent alumni. hedonist no
un 1. a person whose life is devoted to the
pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.
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cajole (v.) 1. to persuade by flattery or
promises 2. to urge, coax candor (n.) 1. the
state or quality of being frank, open, and
sincere in speech or expression candidness The
candor of the speech impressed the
audience. plethora (n.) overabundance excess
a plethora of advice and a paucity of
assistance.
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banal (adj.) 1. boring, ordinary, lacks
originality nebulous (adj.) 1. shapeless,
indistinct, vague convoluted (adj.) 1. too
complicated to understand easily, intricately
involved
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• metamorphosis (noun)
• a transformation, as by magic or sorcery.
• a marked change in appearance, character,
  condition, or function.
• Biology a change in the form and often habits of
  an animal during normal development after the
  embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in
  insects, the transformation of a maggot into an
  adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and,
  in amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a
  frog.
• Pathology a usually degenerative change in the
  structure of a particular body tissue.
• prudent (adj.)
• Wise in handling practical matters exercising
  good judgment or common sense.
• Careful in regard to one's own interests
  provident.
• Careful about one's conduct circumspect.
• lethargic (adj.)
• Lacking energy drowsy, sluggish
• Of or pertaining to, or affected by, lethargy
  leth-er-jee 

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• egregious (adj.)
• extraordinary in some bad way glaring flagrant
  an egregious mistake an egregious liar
• gregarious(adj.)
• fond of the company of others sociable.
  Nonetheless, he is gregarious and well-liked in
  the town.
• living in flocks or herds, as animals.
• Botany growing in open clusters or colonies not
  matted together.
• pertaining to a flock or crowd.
• loquacious (adj.)
• 1. talking or tending to talk much or freely
  talkative chattering babbling garrulous a
  loquacious dinner guest.
• 2. characterized by excessive talk wordy easily
  the most loquacious play of the season.

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• kitschy (noun)
• something of tawdry design, appearance, or
  content created to appeal to popular or
  undiscriminating taste.
• masochist (noun)
• a person who finds pleasure in self-denial,
  submissiveness, physical pain, humiliation, or
  degradation
• obstinacy (noun)
• stubborn persistence

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tenuous (adj) 1. Long and thin
slender tenuous strands.  2. Having little
substance flimsy a tenuous argument. 3. Having
a thin consistency dilute.  Harbinger
hahr-bin-jer (noun) event that foreshadows a
future event omen sign Frost is a harbinger of
winter. dispassionate (adj) Disinterested,
detached, aloof