Lesson 42 Flashcards
pledge (3)
誓言；諾言；保證
[ + to infinitive ] All the candidates have given/made pledges not to raise taxes if they are elected.
所有的候選人都保證當選後不增稅。
plethora
過多，過剩
There’s a plethora of books about the royal family.
有關皇室的書非常多。
plummet (2)
暴跌，急遽下降
House prices have plummeted in recent months.
房價近幾個月來暴跌。
plunge
（使）（某人或某物）驟然移動，驟然下降
We ran down to the beach and plunged into the sea.
我們跑向海灘，縱身跳入海中。
plush (2)
奢侈的，豪華的；舒適的
He took me out to a really plush restaurant.
他帶我去了一家豪華飯店。
poignant (3)
令人痛苦的，酸楚的；深深打動人的
The photograph awakens poignant memories of happier days.
照片喚起了對美好時光的深情追憶。
poise (3)
沉著，泰然自若；平衡
He looked embarrassed for a moment, then quickly regained his poise.
他一時間顯得尷尬，但很快又恢復了平靜。
polarity
截然相反，截然對立
The film is based on the polarity of the two main characters.
這部電影以兩個主角在性格上的迥異為基礎。
polarize (2)
使兩極分化，使截然對立
The debate is becoming polarized and there seems to be no middle ground.
辯論變得兩極化了，看起來沒有中間立場。
polemicist
polemicist
參與論戰者
politicize
使政治化，使具有政治性
The whole issue has become increasingly politicized.
整個事件政治色彩越發濃重了。
pollination
pollination
【植】授粉（作用）
pompous (2)
妄自尊大的，自以為是的
He’s a pompous old prig who’s totally incapable of taking a joke.
他是個傲慢自負的老頭，根本開不起玩笑。
ponderous
（因重或大而）行動遲緩的，笨拙的
He had a slow and ponderous manner.
他的舉止緩慢笨拙。
pontificate
自以為是地發表意見；發表武斷的意見
I think it should be illegal for non-parents to pontificate on/about parenting.
我認為沒有做過父母的人是沒有資格自以為是地大談為人父母之道的。
populate
構成…的人口（或動物的總數）
The inner cities are no longer densely populated.
市中心的人口密度已下降。
portal
門，正門；入口[（+of）]
the main portal of the cathedral 大教堂的正門
portend
預示，預兆，預告（壞事）
It was a deeply superstitious country, where earthquakes were commonly believed to portend the end of dynasties.
這是一個很迷信的國家，地震被普遍認為預示著王朝的終結。
portentously
portentously
有預兆地；不祥地；盛氣凌人地，自負地
posit
假想，設想
[ + that ] If we posit that wage rises cause inflation, it follows that we should try to minimize them.
如果我們假設工資上漲會導致通貨膨脹的話，那麼我們應該盡可能地減小工資上漲的幅度。
possession
1.擁有；佔有[U]
The possession of a degree does not guarantee you a job. 擁有一個學位不能保證你找到工作。
2.所有物；財產[P]
Her possessions could fit in one suitcase. 她的全部財物可以裝在一個手提箱內。
3.領地，屬地，殖民地[C][P1]
Some Caribbean islands are still French possessions. 一些加勒比島嶼至今仍是法國的領地。
4.自制，鎮定自若[U]
With his usual possession, he answered all the questions. 他以那慣常的沉著回答了所有的問題。
5.著魔[U]
This charm will protect a man from possession by evil spirits. 這個護身符將保護人不致著魔。
posterity
後裔，子孫，後代
Every attempt is being made to ensure that these works of art are preserved for posterity.
正在採取一切措施以確保這些藝術品能流傳後世。
posthaste
儘快地，急忙地
They travelled posthaste to Rome to collect the award.
他們急急忙忙地趕到羅馬去領獎。
posthumous (2)
死後發生的
a posthumous award
死後榮膺的嘉獎
postulate (2)
假定，假設
[ + that ] It was the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, who postulated that the earth was at the centre of the universe.
就是希臘天文學家托勒密假定地球是宇宙的中心。
potency
力量；影響力；效力
This new drug’s potency is not yet known.
這種新藥的效力目前還不清楚。
potent
強有力的，強大的；有效力的
Surprise remains the terrorists’ most potent weapon.
突襲仍是恐怖分子最強有力的武器。
pottery
1.陶器[U]
2.陶器製造術[U]
My hobbies are pottery and basket-weaving. 我的業餘愛好是製作陶器和編織籃子。
practicality
實用性
I bought these shoes for their practicality, not their appearance.
我買這雙鞋是因其實用而並非其樣式。
practically
幾乎，差不多
She blamed me for practically every mistake in the report.
她幾乎把報告裡所有的錯誤都怪在我頭上。
pragmatist
pragmatist
實用主義者；愛管閒事的人
prairie
大草原；牧場[C][P1]
The vast prairie stretches west to the horizon. 茫茫大草原向西伸展，直至天邊。
praise to the skies
極力稱讚; 把…捧上了天
The teacher was praising her work to the skies. 教師極力稱讚她功課好。
precarious (10)
危險的；不牢靠的，不穩的
The lorry was lodged in a very precarious way, with its front wheels hanging over the cliff.
卡車的位置很危險，前輪懸在峭壁上面。
precedence
（時間、順序、重要程度等的）居前，領先
Precedence must be given to the injured in the evacuation plans.
在疏散計劃中應優先考慮傷者。
precept
（尤指道德方面的）戒律，規矩，準則
This policy goes against common precepts of decency.
這項政策違反了公認的行為準則。
precipice
1.斷崖，絕壁
He nearly fell off the precipice. 他差一點從懸崖上掉下去。
2.危急的處境；災難的邊緣
Britain was speeding towards an economic precipice. 英國正快速走向一場經濟災難。
precipitant
precipitant
突然的；輕率的
precipitate (7)
促成；使突如其來地發生；加速…的發生
An invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis.
入侵肯定會加劇政治危機。
preclude
排除，防止，杜絕；阻礙
His contract precludes him from discussing his work with anyone outside the company.
合約中禁止他與公司外的人談論工作。
precocious (2)
（尤指兒童）智力超常的，早熟的
A precocious child, she went to university at the age of 15.
她智力超乎尋常，15歲就上了大學。
precursor (3)
先驅，先鋒；先兆，前兆
Sulphur dioxide is the main precursor of acid rain.
二氧化硫是形成酸雨最重要的先決條件。
predicament (2)
尷尬的處境，窘境，困境
She is hoping to get a loan from her bank to help her out of her financial predicament.
她希望能從銀行得到一筆貸款以擺脫經濟困境。
predicate
謂語
In the sentence “We went to the airport”, “went to the airport” is the predicate.
在 We went to the airport 這句話中，went to the airport 是謂語。
predilection (2)
偏愛，偏好
Ever since she was a child, she has had a predilection for spicy food.
從孩提時起，她就偏好辛辣食物。
be predisposed to/towards sth
易感染…；更傾向於，更有可能
Researchers have discovered that the children of these patients are genetically predisposed to cancer.
研究者發現這些病人的子女容易透過遺傳罹患癌症。
a predominance of sth
（數量的）優勢，普遍
There is a predominance of people with an arts degree on the board of governors.
理事會中大多數人有文科學位。
predominant (2)
占主導地位的；占絕大多數的；顯著的
Research forms the predominant part of my job.
研究是我工作中的重要部分。
preeminent
preeminent
卓越的；顯著的
preemptive (2)
preemptive
先買的；有先買權的；先發制人的
