NSF nationals vocabulary 21 Flashcards
pander
gratify or indulge
pantomime
a performance using only actions or gestures
paparazzo
a photographer who takes pictures of celebrities
paralegal
a person with training who assists lawyers
parietal
relating to the side or top of the skull
parlay
a bet in which the winnings from one wager are used for a subsequent wager
parlous
dangerous or perilous
parochial
pertaining to a perish
parody
a composition that imitates somebody’s style in a humorous style in a funny way
paroxysm
a sudden uncontrollable attack
parquetry
a work of wood used on floors
pastorate
the position or office of a pastor
paterfamilias
the male head of a family
pathography
a biography that focuses on negative elements of the subject
patronize
be a regular client or customer of
pedigree
an ancestral line or line of descent
pedometer
a instrument that measures the number of steps taken
penchant
a strong liking of something
penumbra
a region of partial shadow around an umbra
percipient
ease in perceiving
perpetrator
someone who commits a wrongdoing
perquisite
a right reserved by a particular person
personage
another word for person
perspicacity
to access situations and draw conclusions
pertinent
relevant or pertaining to
peruse
to read in detail
pestilence
a deadly epidemic disease
philanthropist
a person who increases human well-being
philatelist
a collector of postage stamps
philologist
the study of literary texts and records
piazza
an open square or public place
pigeon
a bird with short legs and a heavy body
pinch-hit
to bat as a substitute
pirouette
a rapid spin of the body
pithiness
terseness in speech or writing
player
a person who participates in a game
pleat
a fold to double cloth
plebiscite
a vote by the electorate to determine a question of national importance
plethora
an extreme excess
