P Flashcards
Paean
song of praise or triumph
Painstaking
characterized by extreme care and great effort
Palate
roof of the mouth; sense of taste
Palatial
magnificent
Palaver
unnecessarily elaborate or complex procedure.
Palliate
or extent of
Palpability (adj. Palpable)
can be felt or touched
Palpitate
tremble, beat rapidly and irregularly
Paltry
contemptibly small in amount; not worth considering
Paragon
a perfect embodiment of a concept
Panacea
a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; cure-all.
Panache
a confidently stylish, dashing, or flamboyant manner.
Panegyric (adj. panegyrical)
formal praise; eulogy
Paradigm
the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time; systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word; a standard or typical example; the class of all items that can be substituted into the same position (or slot) in a grammatical sentence (are in paradigmatic relation with one another)
Paradox
(logic) a statement that contradicts itself
Parasite
an animal or plant that lives in or on a host
Parenthesis
sentence within another one something separated
Pariah
an outcast; a rejected and despised person
Parietal
Of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure.
Parley
negotiation
Parochial
having a narrow outlook or scope; of or relating to a church parish
Parquetry
a patterned wood inlay used to cover a floor
He seemed like a clumsy circus hero as he scraped his feet over the parquetry and attempted to kiss her hand.
Parsimonious
too economical; miserly
Partial
favoring one side in a dispute above the other; biased.
Partiality
unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another; favoritism.
Partisan
devoted to or favoring a particular cause, group, political party, or the like.
Passable
just good enough to be acceptable; satisfactory.
Passivity
the trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative; submission to others or to outside influences
Pastiche
work (usually artistic) which imitates
Pastoral
of or relating to the country or country life; rural.
Patent
easily recognizable; obvious.
Pathology
the branch of medical science that studies diseases
Patron
regular customer person who gives support
Patronizing
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
Paucity
an insufficient quantity or number
Pavonine
of or like a peacock
Pebble
a small smooth rounded rock
Peccadillo
a petty misdeed; small weakness in one’s character
Mr. Hurd’s supposed peccadilloes were a smoke screen for the real reason they got rid of an executive they didn’t trust and employees didn’t like.
Peculiarity
the state or fact of being odd or strange.
Pedant
a person who pays too much attention to formal rules
Pedantry (adj. Pedantic)
an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.
Peer
look searchingly
Pejorative
expressing contempt or disapproval.
Pellucidity (adj. Pellucid)
lucid in style or meaning; easily understood.
Penchant
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
Penetrate
be fully understood or realized by someone.
Penitent
feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
Penurious
poor/stingy
Penury
extreme poverty
Perceptive
having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment; of or relating to perception
Perch
- take up a high position
- an elevated place serving as a seat
Peregrination
traveling about wandering
Peremptory
urgent; imperative; unchallenged; ending debate; putting an end to all debate or action
Perennial
lasting an indefinitely long time
Perfidious (n. Perfidy)
treacherous; faithless
Perfunctory (adv. Perfunctorily)
done quickly and as a matter of routine; performed without care.
Perilous
dangerous
Peripatetic
traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods
Peripheral
of secondary or minor importance; marginal.
Perish
be destroyed decay
Perjury
willful false statement; unlawful act
Permeate
spread into every part of
Pernicious
having a very harmful or fatal effect; injurious, deadly, or destructive.
Perpetrate
carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action)
Perpetuate
cause to continue or prevail
Perplex
be a mystery or bewildering to; make more complicated
Perseverance
persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Persistence
firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Personable
pleasing in appearance; attractive
Personify
to be a perfect or typical example of; embody.
Perspicacity (adj. Perspicacious)
keenness of mental perception or grasp; astuteness.
Persuasive
capable of convincing; tending or intended or having the power to induce action or belief
Pertain
belong as a part; have reference
Pertinent
having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand; being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
Pervade
spread through every part of
Pervasive
spreading or spread throughout
Pessimism
the belief that events will turn out badly; tendency to expect the worst.
Pest
destructive thing or a person who is nuisance
Pestilence
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
Petition
a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
Petrified
- so frightened that one is unable to move; terrified.
- (of organic matter) changed into a stony substance; ossified
Petrify
to make hard, rocklike
Petrous
like a rock; hard, stony
Petulant (n. Petulance)
easily irritated or annoyed (like a child)
Philanthropist
one who loves mankind; someone who makes charitable donations
Philistine
a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
Phlegmatic
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite.
Phony
- fraudulent; having a misleading appearance;
- noun: a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
Physiognomy
A person’s facial features or expression, esp. when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. ; The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics
Physiognomy
A person’s facial features or expression, esp. when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. ; The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics
Picaresque
relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero
Picayune
Petty; worthless.
Picturesque
visually pleasing, enchanting, or unusual; suggestive of a painting.
Pied
of mixed colors
Pileous
Covered with hair
Pilferer
to steal, especially in small quantities
Pillage
plunder (especially in war)
Pinch
- be too tight;
- take between the thumb and finger
Pinchbeck
An alloy of zinc and copper used as imitation gold; A cheap imitation
Pine
suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart
Pious
dutiful to parents; devoted to religion
Piquant
agreeably pungent; stimulating
Pique
- a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one’s pride.
- stimulate (interest or curiosity)
Pitch
- a form of words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something
- the high or low quality of a sound
Pitfall
covered hole as a trap; unsuspected danger
Pith
- spongy white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon, and other citrus fruits.
- the essence of something.
Pithy
exactly and concisely appropriate; effective; forceful.
Pivotal
critically important or crucial; on which something is contingent.
Placate
soothe, pacify, calm
Placid
calm, smooth, or tranquil.
Plaintiff
a person who brings an action in a court of law
Plaintive
mournful; melancholy; sorrowful
Plangent
(of a sound) loud, reverberating, often melancholy
Plaque
- flat metal on a wall as a memorial
- a sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferate.
Plastic
not genuine; artificial or unnatural.
Platitude
a trite or obvious remark
Plausible
apparently reasonable and valid, and truthful; given to or characterized by presenting specious arguments
Plea
request
Plead
- make an emotional appeal
- address a court of law as an advocate
Plethora
glut
Pliant
easily bent
Plod
to move slowly or heavily, as if with weariness or reluctance; trudge.
Pluck
pull the feathers off; pull lightly but sharply
Plumb
- measure (the depth of a body of water)
- exactly vertical
Plummet
fall; plunge steeply
Plunge
move quickly, suddenly and with force
Poignant
deeply moving; keen
Polarize
become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation; cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions; cause to vibrate in a definite pattern
Polemic (adj. Polemical)
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
Polymath
a person of great and varied learning
Often described as a polymath, Sunstein is fluent in political science and churns out books.
Poncho
large piece of cloth
Ponderous
heavy; bulky; dull
Populous
densely populated
Portent (adj. Portentous; v. Portend)
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
Posed
arranged for pictorial purposes
Poseur
a person who attempts to impress by acting unlike himself
Posit
take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom
Posture
the arrangement of the body and its limbs
Posturing
adopting a vain conceited posture
Potent
having a strong physiological or chemical effect; (of a male) capable of copulation; having or wielding force or authority; having great influence
Practitioner
someone who carries out a learned profession
Pragmatism
a practical approach to problems and issues.
Preamble
a preliminary introduction, as to a statute or constitution
Precarious
uncertain; risky, dangerous
Precedence
priority in importance, order, or rank.
Precepts
rules establishing standards of conduct
Precious
of high worth or cost
Precipice (adj. Precipitous)
a very steep cliff
Precipitate
- done with very great haste and without due deliberation;
- noun: a precipitated solid substance in suspension or after settling or filtering;
- verb: separate as a fine suspension of solid particles; hurl or throw violently; bring about abruptly; fall vertically, sharply, or headlong; fall from clouds
Precipitous (n. Precipice)
extremely steep
Preclude
make impossible, especially beforehand; keep from happening or arising; make impossible
Precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected.
Precursor (adj. Precursory)
a person or thing that precedes, as in a process or job.
Predicament
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
Predilection
a predisposition in favor of something; a strong liking
Predisposition
an inclination to interpret statements in a particular way
Predominant
having or exerting control or power.
Predominate
have more power than others
Preeminent
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
Preen
tidy/show self-satisfaction
Prefigure
imagine or consider beforehand; indicate by signs
Premature
doing or happening something before the right time
Premise
a statement that is held to be true
Premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.
Preponderance
greatness in number, strength, weight
Prerogative
a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
Presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one).
Prescience
the fact of knowing something in advance; foreknowledge.
Prescribe
issue commands or orders for
Presentiment
anticipatory fear; premonition
Presumption
- arrogance;
- a premise that is taken for granted
Pressing
requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
Presume
take for granted that something exists or is the case.
Presumptuous
going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
Presuppose
require as a necessary antecedent or precondition; take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand
Pretension
the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
Preternatural
surpassing the ordinary or normal; existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
Preternatural
not normal or usual
Prevalent
widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
Prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive way.
Prim
neat; formal
Primed
(usually followed by to' or for’) on the point of or strongly disposed
Pristine
in its original condition; unspoilt.
Privation
a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Proclamation
a formal public statement
Proclivity
inclination
Procrastination
keeping on putting off
Prodigal (n. Prodigality)
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
Prodigious (n. Prodigy)
enormous; wonderful
Profane
worldly; having contempt for God
Profligate (n. Profligacy)
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
Profound
(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
Profundity
the quality of being physically deep
Profuse
abundant/lavish
Prognosis
a prediction of the course of a disease; a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop
Proliferate
grow, reproduce by rapid multiplication
Prolific
bearing in abundance especially offspring; intellectually productive
Prolix (n. Prolixity)
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
Prolong
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
Prompt
according to schedule or without delay
Promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause).
Prone
prostrate; inclined to (undesirable things)
Propagate
spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely.
Propagation
increasing the number; spreading; extending
Propensity
a natural inclination
Prophetic
accurately predicting what will happen in the future.
Propinquity
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
Propitate
placate; appease
Propitiate (adj. Propitiatory)
win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.
Propitious
auspicious; presenting favorable circumstances
Proportionate
being in due proportion; agreeing in amount, magnitude, or degree; exhibiting equivalence or correspondence among constituents of an entity or between different entities
Proposition
a suggestion offered for acceptance or rejection
Propped
support or keep in position.
Propriety
correct behavior
Prosaic
straightforward.; lacking in imagination and spirit
Proscribe
denounce as dangerous
Protract (adj. Protracted)
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
Provident
making or indicative of timely preparation for the future
Provincial
limited in outlook; narrow-minded.
Provisional
arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later
Provoke (n. Provocation; adj. Provocative)
stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.
Proxy
a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
Prudent (n. Prudence)
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
Prudish
easily shocked; excessively modest
Prune
- dried plum;
- silly person
- cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
Pry
get something; inquire too curiously
Pucker
gather something into small wrinkles or folds
Puerile
childish
Pugilist
boxer (esp a professional one)
Pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
Puissance
strength
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
Pulchritudinous
physically beautiful; comely.
Punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.
Pundit
pedant authority on a subject
Pungent (n. Pungency)
strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
Punitive
punishing
Purvey
provide or supply (food, drink, or other goods) as one’s business
Pusillanimous
lacking in courage, strength, and resolution
Putrefaction
becoming rotten
Putrefy
decay with an offensive smell
Puzzle
cause (someone) to feel confused because they cannot understand something.
Pyre
large pile of wood for burning
