P Flashcards
Patronage
The power to make appointments to government jobs
Patronize
To be a customer or to talk down to
Paucity
Scarcity, lack of
Peccadillo
A minor offense
Pectoral
Pertaining to the chest
Peculate
To steal
Pecuniary
Pertaining to money
Pedagogue
A schoolteacher
Pedantic
To show off ones knowledge
Pedestrian
Ordinary common
Pedigree
A record of ancestors
Peer
An equal or to look at closely
Peerless
Without equal
Peevish
Hard to please
Pejorative
Insulting
Pellucid
Transparent
Pelt
Skin of an animal or to throw
Penal
Pertaining to punishment
Penchant
A strong liking for
Penitent
Expressing sorrow for a wrongdoing
Pensive
Thoughtful
Penury
Extreme poverty
Peon
Common worker
Perceive
To observe or understand
Perceptible
Recognizable
Perceptive
Quick witted, keen
Peridition
Damnation
Peregrinate
To travel, journey
Peremptory
Decisive or final
Perennial
Lasting for a long time, perpetual
Perfidious
Deceitful, unfaithful
Perforce
Of necessity
Perfunctory
Routine
Perigee
Point nearest to the earth
Periphery
Outside boundary, unimportant area of a subject
Permeate
To spread throughout
Pernicious
Destructive
Peroration
The concluding part of a speech
Perpetrate
To be guilty of
Perpetuate
To cause to continue
Perplex
To confuse
Perquisite
Something additional to regular pay
Persevere
To endure
Perspicacity
Sharp insight
Perspicuity
Clearness
Pert
Bold, lively
Pertinent
To the point
Perturb
To disturb
Peruse
To read carefully
Pervade
To spread throughout
Perverse
Contrary, stubborn
Pervert
To corrupt
Pessimist
One who sees the worst
Petrify
To paralyze with fear
Petrology
Study of rocks
Petty
Unimportant
Petulant
Irritable
Phalanx
Compact group of people
Phenomenon
Extraordinary occurrence or fact
Philander
To engage in many love affairs
Philanthropy
Generosity to mankind
Philately
Stamp collecting
Phillipic
A verbal attack
Philistine
Uncultured
Phlegmatic
Unemotional
Phobia
Intense fear
Phoenix
A bird symbolizing immortality
Picaresque
Adventurous scoundrel
Piddling
Petty
Piecemeal
Bit by bit
Pied
Many colored, variegated
Piety
Devotion
Pigment
Die
Pilgrimage
A journey to a holy plave
Pillage
To loot
Pillory
To expose to public ridicule
Pinnacle
Highest point
Pious
Religious, deeply devoted to religion
Piquant
Stimulating to the taste, excitig
Pique
To irritate
Piscine
Like a fish
Pithy
To the point
Pittance
Small amount
Pivotal
Crucial or critical
Placard
Small poster
Placate
To calm
Placebo
Harmless, phony medicine
Placid
Calm
Plague
A disease; to trouble
Plaintive
Sorrowful
Platitude
A dull remark
Platonic
Spiritual; free from sensual desire
Plaudit
Applause
Plausible
Apparently true
Plebeian
Pertaining to lower classes
Plenary
Complete or absolute
Plethora
Abundance
Pliant
Easily bent
Plight
A sad situation
Ploy
A trick
Pluck
To pull at; courage
Plumb
To measure
Plutocracy
Rule by the wealthy class
Poach
To hunt or fish illegally
Podium
A platform
Poignant
Distressing; affecting emotions
Polarize
To separate into opposing groups
Polemic
A controversy
Poltroon
A croward
Polychromatic
Many colored
Polyglot
Speaking or writing several languages
Polymorphic
Having many forms
Polytheism
Belief in many gods
Pomp
To show or display
Ponder
To think deeply
Ponderous
Heavy
Porcine
Like a pig
Portable
Capable or being carried
Portal
Door or entrance
Portentous
Warning
Portly
Large
Posterity
Future generations
Posthumous
After death
Postulate
To assume
Potable
Drinkable
Potent
Powerful
Potentate
Ruler
Potential
Capacity or ability
Potion
A drink
Potpourri
A mixture
Pragmatic
Practical
Prate
To talk long and pointlessly
Precarious
Uncertain or risky
Precedent
An act used as an example
Precept
A rule of conduct
Precipice
Cliff
Precipitate
To bring about an action
Precipitous
Extremely steep
Précis
Brief summary
Preclude
To shut out or prevet
Precocious
Prematurely developed
Precursor
A forerunner
Predecessor
One who comes before another
Predicate
To declare
Predilection
A liking or preference
Predispose
Inclined in advanced
Preeminent
Standing out above all others
Preen
To dress
Prehensile
Adapted for grasping something
Premeditate
To plan beforehand
Premier
First in importance
Premise
Statement made for the basis of an argument
Premonition
Forwarning
Preponderance
Superiority in quality; dominance
Preposterous
Ridiculous
Prerogative
Privilege
Presage
To indicate or warn in advanced
Prescience
Knowledge of things before they happen
Presentiment
Anticipation especially of something evil
Prestige
Importance
Presumptuous
Boldly assuming
Pretentious
Showy; self important
Preternatural
Abnormal
Pretext
A false reason
Prevail
To succeed
Prevaricate
To lie
Prim
Proper or formal
Primeval
Of the earliest times
Primogeniture
State of brewing born first
Primordial
Orginal
Primp
To dress up in a fussy way
Prismatic
Many colored
Pristine
Uncorrupted, in it’s original state
Privation
Loss of something essential
Privy
Having knowledge of something private
Probe
To investigate or examine
Probity
Honesty