Veritable
True or Real. Being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary —often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor. <a veritable mountain of references>
"Veritable." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veritable>.
Liturgical
Of or relating to liturgy; a fixed set of ceremonies, words, etc., that are used during public worship in a religion.
"Liturgy." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liturgy>.
Apocryphal
Well-known but probably not true. Of doubtful authenticity.
"Apocryphal." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocryphal>
Dictum
A statement or well-known remark that expresses an important idea or rule. A formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or opinion or an observation intended or regarded as authoritative.
"Dictum." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictum>.
Villanelle
A chiefly French verse form running on two rhymes and consisting typically of five tercets (i.e., a unit or group of 3-line verse) and a quatrain in which the first and third lines of the opening tercet recur alternately at the end of the other tercets and together as the last two lines of the quatrain.
"Villanelle." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/villanelle>.
Allegory
A literary feature that seeks to convey a particular meaning or message. Symbols of ideas of human experience or political/historical situation.
Fecundity
- Fruitful/productive in offspring or vegetation
- Intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree
"Fecund." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fecund>.
Titular
Having an important or impressive title but not having the power or duties that usually go with it. Existing in title only.
"Titular." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/titular>.
Malefactor
Someone who is guilty of a crime or offense : a person whose behavior is wrong or evil.
"Malefactor." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malefactor>
Narrative Misdirection
A situation when the author leads the reader to emotionally identify with a character causing him/her to see things only or largely through that characters' perspective - at times at the risk of ignoring/misunderstanding reality.
Example: strong affinity for the character of Harry in Harry Potter.
Habitué
A person who is often at a specified place.
"Habitué." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habitué>.
Gnomon
An object that by the position or length of its shadow serves as an indicator especially of the hour of the day. Example, a pin of a sundial or column erected perpendicular to horizon.
"Gnomon." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gnomon>.
Verisimilitude
The quality of seeming real.
"Verisimilitude." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verisimilitude>.
Machismo
An attitude, quality, or way of behaving that agrees with traditional ideas about men being very strong and aggressive.
"Machismo." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machismo>
Repartee
a: a quick and witty reply.
b : a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words.
"Repartee." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repartee>.
Irony
In literary contexts: a deflection from expectation.
When the audience understands something that eludes one or more of the characters.
Sordid
Characterized by baseness. Filthy, in the metaphoric or literal sense
Antecedent
In literary context:
a) A preceding event, condition, or cause
b) The significant events, conditions, and traits of one's earlier life
c) The people in a family who lived in past times
"Antecedent." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antecedent>.
Ionian/Aegean
Ionian: a member of any of the Greek peoples who settled on the islands of the Aegean Sea and the western shore of Asia Minor toward the end of the second millennium b.c.
Aegean: of or relating to the arm of the Mediterranean Sea east of Greece. Of or relating to the chiefly Bronze Age civilization of the islands of the Aegean Sea and the countries adjacent to it.
"Ionian." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ionian>
"Aegean." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Aegean>.
Modernism
A style of art, architecture, literature, etc., that uses ideas and methods which are very different from those used in the past. A self-conscious break from the past.
"Modernism." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modernism>.
Postmodernism
Of, relating to, or being any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by ironic self-reference and absurdity (as in literature).
"Postmodern." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 July 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postmodern>.
