AP Lang Vocabulary Week 2

Bastion Noun Roots: bastille - fortress, tower, fortified Def: A stronghold or fortification

Bastion Variations: bastionary (adj), bastioned (adv) Connotation: Neutral; can be positive or negative

Bastion Castle Rock (Jack) The Mountain (Ralph) The school is known to be a bastion of rigor, integrity, and excellence. Once known for widespread pollution, the city is now heralded as a bastion of green progress. Bastion of literature (Shakespeare’s Works). Male bastion of Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, etc.).

Declivities Noun – plural form of declivity Roots: de (down) cliv (cliff) Def: Downward slopes, as of a hill or mountain

Declivities Variations: declivitous (adj) Connotation: can be negative – associated with danger, heights, falling, etc.

Tacit Adj Roots: tacere (silent) Def: Not spoken; implied by actions or statements

Tacit Variations: taciturn (adj), tacitly (adv), tacitness (noun) Connotation: Neutral – can be positive (twins having a tacit understanding) or negative (tacit agreements can be dangerous)

Festoon Noun and Verb Roots: festa (feast) Def: To hang in a decorative curve between two points

Festoon Variations: festive, festivity Connotation: Positive – associated with parties and celebrations