EARLY AMERICA THE ROMANTICS, TRANSCENDENTALISTS, AND DARK ROMANTICS Vocabulary Unit 2

Week 1 rhetoric (n.) – the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing ethos (n.) – an appeal to the moral character or credibility of the speaker in an argument pathos (n.) – an appeal to the audience’s emotions in an argument logos (n.) – an appeal to reason or logic in an argument sensational (adj.) – causing great public interest and excitement

Week 1 patriot (n.) – a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors self-evident (adj.) – not needing to be demonstrated or explained; obvious inalienable (adj.) – unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor analyze (v.) – to separate into constituent parts or elements typically for purposes of explanation or interpretation synthesize (v.) – to form a coherent whole by combining parts or elements

 argument (n.) – a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an idea is right or wrong.  justify (v.) – to show or prove to be right or reasonable  condemn (v.) – to express complete disapproval of, typically in public  wrath (n.) – strong vengeful anger  despot (n.) – a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way Week 2

 abolish (v.) – to formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution  incensed (adj.) – very angry; enraged  alliteration (n.) – repeated consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed near each other  assonance (n.) – repeated vowel sounds in words placed near each other  consonance (n.) – repeated consonant sounds at the ending of words placed near each other Week 2

  psalm ( n. ) – a sacred song or hymn  muffle ( v. ) – to make a sound quieter  sublime ( adj. ) – of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe  hasten ( v. ) – to be quick to do something  nonconformist ( n. ) – one who does not follow generally accepted beliefs, customs, or practices Week 3

  sacred ( adj. ) – dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration  occult ( adj. ) – secret or hidden from view  apostrophe ( n. ) – speaking directly to a real or imagined listener or inanimate object  euphony ( n. ) – a series of musically pleasant sounds, conveying a sense of harmony  cacophony ( n. ) – a mixture of harsh and inharmonious sounds, conveying disorder Week 3

Week 4 spartan (adj.) – marked by simplicity, frugality, or avoidance of luxury and comfort beguile (v.) – to charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way nepenthe (n.) – something capable of causing oblivion of grief or suffering gaunt (adj.) – lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age tremulous (adj.) – trembling, quivering

Week 4 iniquity (n.) – wickedness moulder (v.) – to slowly decay or disintegrate, especially because of neglect metonymy (n.) – a figure of speech in which a person, place, or thing is referred to by something closely associated with it. euphemism (n.) – a mild or indirect word or phrase substituted for one considered to be too harsh when referring to something unpleasant allegory (n.) – a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or spiritual one