Book17 Flashcards

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1
Q

parallelism

A

state of being parallel; similarity; analogy

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2
Q

parallel

A

similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine; CF. unparalleled

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3
Q

parameter

A

limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget

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4
Q

paramount

A

foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal

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5
Q

paramour

A

illicit lover

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6
Q

inamorata

A

woman whom a man loves

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7
Q

paranoia

A

psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid, paranoiac

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8
Q

paraphernalia

A

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman’s property exclusive of her dowry

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9
Q

dowry

A

money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage

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10
Q

paraphrase

A

restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words

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11
Q

parasite

A

animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside

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12
Q

infest

A

inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters

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13
Q

parched

A

extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)

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14
Q

pariah

A

social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah

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15
Q

outcast

A

one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.

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16
Q

parity

A

equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate

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17
Q

parlance

A

language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance

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18
Q

parley

A

conference (between opponents); CF. speak

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19
Q

parochial

A

narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

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20
Q

parish

A

area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church

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21
Q

outlook

A

point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook

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22
Q

parody

A

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.

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23
Q

spoof

A

parody

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24
Q

takeoff

A

burlesque; act of leaving the ground

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25
Q

paroxysm

A

fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

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26
Q

parquet

A

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece

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27
Q

parry

A

ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N.

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28
Q

ward

A

administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert

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29
Q

parsimony

A

stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious

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30
Q

partial

A

incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something

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31
Q

partiality

A

state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference

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32
Q

partisan

A

one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla

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33
Q

parvenu

A

upstart; newly rich person

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34
Q

partition

A

divide into parts

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35
Q

pass'e

A

old-fashioned; past the prime

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36
Q

passive

A

not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

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37
Q

pastiche

A

imitation of another’s style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

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38
Q

pastoral

A

rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

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39
Q

patent

A

obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.

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40
Q

pathetic

A

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

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41
Q

touching

A

causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched

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42
Q

pathological

A

pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease

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43
Q

pathos

A

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel

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44
Q

patina

A

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

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45
Q

varnish

A

paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.

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46
Q

patois

A

local or provincial dialect

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47
Q

patriarch

A

father and ruler of a family or tribe

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48
Q

patrician

A

noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian

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49
Q

patronize

A

support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott

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50
Q

paucity

A

scarcity; dearth

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51
Q

pauper

A

very poor person

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52
Q

peccadillo

A

slight offense or fault; CF. sin

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53
Q

swipe

A

hit with a sweeping motion; N.

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54
Q

pecuniary

A

pertaining to money

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55
Q

pedagogue

A

teacher; CF. child leader

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56
Q

pedagogy

A

teaching; art of education

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57
Q

pedant

A

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

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58
Q

pedantic

A

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry

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59
Q

bookish

A

fond of books and reading

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60
Q

studious

A

given to diligent study

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61
Q

pedestrian

A

ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.

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62
Q

precinct

A

division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college

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63
Q

pedigree

A

ancestry; lineage

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64
Q

pediatrician

A

physician specializing in children’s diseases; N. pediatrics

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65
Q

peerless

A

having no equal; incomparable

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66
Q

peer

A

one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress

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67
Q

pejorative

A

(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife’’ a pejorative expression, because it patronized them.

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68
Q

pell-mell

A

in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell

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69
Q

pellucid

A

transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

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70
Q

penance

A

self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one’s sins; CF. penitent

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71
Q

penchant

A

strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars

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72
Q

pendant(pendent)

A

hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)

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73
Q

pending

A

not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return

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74
Q

pendulous

A

hanging; suspended

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75
Q

suspend

A

cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the team; N. suspension

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76
Q

suspense

A

state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty

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77
Q

penitent

A

repentant; N.

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78
Q

pensive

A

dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over

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79
Q

penumbra

A

partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow

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80
Q

penury

A

extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy

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81
Q

peon

A

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage

82
Q

perceptive

A

insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

83
Q

percussion

A

striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion

84
Q

perdition

A

damnation; complete ruin; hell

85
Q

damn

A

condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation

86
Q

doom

A

condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.

87
Q

peregrination

A

journey; V. peregrinate

88
Q

peremptory

A

demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock

89
Q

perennial

A

something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring

90
Q

perfidious

A

treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery

91
Q

perforate

A

pierce; put a hole through

92
Q

perfunctory

A

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss

93
Q

perigee

A

point of moon’s orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee

94
Q

perimeter

A

outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference

95
Q

bound

A

leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opinion; CF. bounce, rebound

96
Q

peripatetic

A

walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy

97
Q

peripheral

A

of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest

98
Q

periphery

A

outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town

99
Q

perjury

A

false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath

100
Q

permeable

A

that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge

101
Q

pernicious

A

very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia

102
Q

peroration

A

conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length

103
Q

perpetrate

A

commit an offense; do (something wrong)

104
Q

perpetual

A

everlasting

105
Q

perpetuate

A

make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity

106
Q

perquisite(perk)

A

any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car

107
Q

personable

A

attractive (in personality or appearance)

108
Q

perspicacious

A

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

109
Q

perspicuity

A

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

110
Q

perspicuous

A

(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments

111
Q

pert

A

(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat

112
Q

forward

A

presumptuous or bold

113
Q

pertinacious

A

holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

114
Q

pertinent

A

suitable; to the point; relevant

115
Q

perturb

A

disturb greatly

116
Q

peruse

A

read through with care; N. perusal

117
Q

pervasive

A

spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate

118
Q

perverse

A

purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity

119
Q

perversion

A

corruption; turning from right to wrong

120
Q

pervert

A

corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural

121
Q

wrongheaded

A

stubbornly wrong

122
Q

pessimism

A

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic

123
Q

pestilential(pestilent)

A

causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

124
Q

pestle

A

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

125
Q

mortar

A

vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle

126
Q

mash

A

crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl

127
Q

petrify

A

turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze

128
Q

petty

A

trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded

129
Q

petulant

A

touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

130
Q

phalanx

A

formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)

131
Q

pharisaical

A

pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

132
Q

pharisee

A

Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person

133
Q

self-righteous

A

sure of one’s own righteousness; moralistic

134
Q

phenomena

A

observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength

135
Q

philanderer

A

faithless lover; flirt

136
Q

philanthropist

A

lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy

137
Q

philatelist

A

stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting

138
Q

philistine

A

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete

139
Q

philology

A

study of language or words

140
Q

phlegmatic

A

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract

141
Q

phobia

A

morbid fear

142
Q

phoenix

A

symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes

143
Q

phylum

A

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

144
Q

physiognomy

A

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

145
Q

physiological

A

pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology

146
Q

piebald

A

of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald

147
Q

piecemeal

A

one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal

148
Q

pied

A

piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored

149
Q

piety

A

devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious

150
Q

pigment

A

coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)

151
Q

pillage

A

plunder

152
Q

pillory

A

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.

153
Q

pine

A

long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

154
Q

pinion

A

restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird’s wing

155
Q

pinnacle

A

peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame

156
Q

pious

A

devout; religious; N. piety

157
Q

piquant

A

pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help

158
Q

tart

A

sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply

159
Q

sour

A

having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.

160
Q

pique

A

irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity

161
Q

piscatorial

A

pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces

162
Q

pitfall

A

hidden danger; concealed trap

163
Q

beware

A

be cautious (of)

164
Q

pith

A

core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

165
Q

marrow

A

soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells

166
Q

pithy

A

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

167
Q

pittance

A

small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

168
Q

pivotal

A

of a pivot; central; critical; crucial

169
Q

placate

A

pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

170
Q

placebo

A

harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

171
Q

tablet

A

small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall

172
Q

placid

A

peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake

173
Q

plagiarize

A

steal another’s ideas or writings and pass them off as one’s own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap

174
Q

plaintive

A

expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song

175
Q

plait

A

braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail

176
Q

plasticity

A

ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay

177
Q

platitude

A

trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous

178
Q

commonplace

A

ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark

179
Q

commonwealth

A

nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation

180
Q

platonic

A

purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire

181
Q

plaudit

A

praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud

182
Q

plausible

A

conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious

183
Q

plebeian

A

common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician

184
Q

plebiscite

A

direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)

185
Q

referendum

A

direct vote by all the people

186
Q

plenary

A

(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power

187
Q

plenitude

A

abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty

188
Q

plethora

A

excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses

189
Q

pliable

A

flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable

190
Q

pliant

A

flexible; easily influenced

191
Q

plight

A

difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament

192
Q

pluck

A

courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave

193
Q

plumage

A

feathers of a bird;

194
Q

plumb

A

exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of

195
Q

plumber

A

one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)

196
Q

plummet

A

fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.

197
Q

plutocracy

A

society ruled by the wealthy

198
Q

podiatrist

A

doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics

199
Q

podium

A

pedestal; raised platform

200
Q

pedestal

A

support or base as for a pillar or statue