P Flashcards
pacific
adj. calm; peaceful
Canada and the United States enjoy pacific relations.
pacifist
n. person opposed to war or violence between nations
Pacifists demonstrated against war.
pacify
v. to restore calm, bring peace
The leader’s promise pacified the angry crowd.
paean
n. a song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
The poem is a paean to the beauty of nature.
pagan
n. someone who has no religion
The missionary was sent to the country to preach to the pagans.
painstaking
adj. being very careful
Painstaking research goes into the preparation of a GRE test.
palatable
adj. pleasant to the taste or mind
The dishes George cooks can most kindly be described as palatable.
palatial
adj. like a palace; magnificent
The actor’s house is palatial.
palaver
n. idle talk
“Let’s stop this palaver and get to work,” the boss said.
paleontology
n. study of past geological eras through fossil remains
Paleontology makes use of the knowledge of a number of other sciences, such as geology.
paleoseismology
n. the study of the timing, location, and size of prehistoric earthquakes
Developments in the science of paleoseismology has improved humanity’s ability to assess the likelihood of an earthquake occurring in a particular area.
palette
n. board for mixing paints; range of colors
We found the colors on the painter’s palette more interesting than the picture that she was painting.
palisade
n. fence made up of stakes
The palisade helps to prevent intruders.
pall (v.)
v. to lose strength or interest
Playing checkers every night began to pall.
pall (n.)
n. covering that darkens or obscures; coffin
After the nuclear explosion, a pall descended on the city.
palliate
v. to make less serious, ease
The doctor prescribed drugs to palliate her patient’s suffering.
palliative
n. something that relieves the symptoms without curing the disease
Aspirin is a commonly used palliative.
pallid
adj. lacking color or liveliness
Becky looked pallid after she saw a ghost.
palpable
adj. obvious; real; tangible
No palpable evidence of alien spacecraft has been found.
palpitation
n. trembling; shaking
The patient has heart palpitations.
paltry
adj. pitifully small or worthless
Mr. Jones can barely survive on his paltry salary.
panacea
n. cure-all
Some people consider aspirin to be a panacea.
panache
n. flamboyance, verve
Dwight does everything with panache.
pandemic
n. disease spread over a whole area
Doctors are working to bring the pandemic under control.
panegyric
n. elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
The poem is a panegyric on the soldier’s bravery.
panoply
n. impressive array
The military force displayed a panoply of weapons.
panorama
n. broad view; comprehensive picture
The book provides a panorama of the middle ages.
pantheist
n. a person who believes that manifestations of the universe are God
Many people believe that the writers Wordsworth, Emerson, and Whitman were pantheists.
pantheon
n. all the gods of a people; a group of highly regarded persons
In the pantheon of English poets, few rank higher than John Milton.
papacy
n. the office of the pope
The papacy will be vacant until a new pope in elected.
parable
n. a short, simple story that teaches a moral lesson
The holy man uses parables to teach his followers.
paradigm
n. model; example; pattern
The famous scientific experiment has served as a paradigm for many other experiments.
paradisiacal
adj. heavenly; wonderful
Hawaii is often portrayed as a paradisiacal land.
paradox
n. contradiction, incongruity; dilemma
The saying “the more things changes, the more they remain the same” is an example of a paradox.
paradoxical
adj. relating to a contradiction, an incongruity, or a dilemma
It is paradoxical that a river always changes yet always remains the same.
paragon
n. model of excellence or perfection
The saint is a paragon of virtue.
paramount
adj. supreme, dominant, primary
The military’s paramount mission is to defend the country.
parenthetical
adj. clarifying or qualifying
The speaker’s parenthetical remarks clarified his point.
pariah
n. outcast
The traitor is a pariah in his country.
parity
n. equality
The arms buildup is designed to achieve military parity with the enemy.
parlance
n. a particular manner of speaking
In newspaper parlance, a story can be “killed.”
parley
n. discussion, usually between enemies
The opposing general agreed to a parley.
parochial
adj. narrow in outlook; provincial
Many of the people in this town are parochial.
parody
n. humorous imitation
The poem is parody of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quarters.
paroxysm
n. fit or attack of pain, laughter, or rage
The joke made Ruth double over in paroxysms of laughter.
parry
v. to ward off or deflect
The boxer parried his opponent’s punches
parsimony
n. stinginess
The cheapskate’s parsimony is legendary.
partisan (adj.)
adj. one-sided; committed to a party, group, or cause; prejudiced
The columnist usually takes a partisan position.
partisan (n.)
n. a fervent supporter or proponent of a party, group, or cause
Partisans of all the candidates were invited to the debate.
parvenu
n. a newly rich person who is regarded as an upstart
The landed aristocracy felt superior to the parvenu.
passé
adj. old-fashioned
New electronic gadgets often quickly become passé.
passive
adj. not active; not acted upon
The activists used passive resistance to protest the policy.
pastiche
n. piece of literature or music imitating other works
The poem is a pastiche of famous twentieth-century poems.
pastoral
adj. rural; charmingly simple and peaceful; portrays country life in an idealized way
The artist painted a pastoral scene.
patent
adj. obvious, unconcealed
Her story was a patent lie.
paternal
adj. fatherly
The veteran pitcher is keeping a paternal eye on the young rookie.
paternalistic
adj. providing for the needs of people without giving them rights and responsibilities
Most people don’t want the government to be too paternalistic.
paternity
n. fatherhood; descent from father’s ancestors
A DNA test established the man’s paternity.
pathogen
n. agent that causes disease
Researchers have identified the pathogen.
pathogenic
adj. capable of causing disease
The bacteria are being tested to see if they are pathogenic.
pathological
adj. departing from normal condition
Lying has become pathological with the boy.
pathology
n. the manifestation of a disease; departure from normal condition
The test determined that pathology was present.
pathos
n. pity, compassion
It was a play of such pathos that everyone in the audience was in tears.
patois
n. a regional dialect; nonstandard speech; the jargon of a group
The people in that area speak a local patois.
patriarchal
adj. relating to a family or community governed by men
Most human societies are patriarchal.
patrician
n. aristocrat
The patrician feels a duty to help the poor.
patricide
n. murder of one’s father
Many scholars believe that Alexander the Great became king through patricide.
patrimony
n. inheritance or heritage derived from one’s father
Doug spent his patrimony on a Ferrari and a yacht.
patronizing
adj. condescending, disparaging; buying from
The class felt that the teacher was patronizing.
patron saint
n. a saint who is regarded as an intercessor in heaven for a person, nation, etc.
Saint Luke is considered the patron saint of doctors.
paucity
n. scarcity
In china there is a paucity of women for men to marry.
pauper
n. very poor person
Ralph lives like a pauper so that he can build up his savings.
peccadillo
n. minor sin or offense
The police officer ignored the peccadillo.
peculation
n. theft of money or goods
The gang planned a lot of peculation in the summer.
pecuniary
adj. relating to money
David spends so much time writing poetry not from a pecuniary motive but rather for the satisfaction of expressing himself.
pedagogue
n. teacher
The curriculum was designed by pedagogues.
pedagogy
n. art or profession of teaching
Gilbert Highet’s The Art of Teaching is a well-known book on pedagogy.
pedant
n. uninspired, boring academic
The pedant never has an original idea; he just repeats the ideas of others.
pedantic
adj. showing off learning
The class resented the teacher’s pedantic insistence on old-fashioned grammar rules.
pedantry
n. pedantic attention to learning or formal rules
The scholar didn’t include footnotes in his new book to avoid the appearance of pedantry.
pedestrian
adj. commonplace
Most of the ideas in the book are pedestrian.
pediatrician
n. doctor specializing in children and their ailments
Mrs. Moore took her child to a pediatrician.
pediment
n. triangular gable on a roof or façade
The building’s pediment is modeled on one found in an ancient Greek temple.
peer
n. contemporary; equal, match
Kim has the respect of her peers.
peerless
adj. unequaled
Shakespeare was a peerless writer.
pejorative
adj. having bad connotations; disparaging
We didn’t like the pejorative comments about us.
pelagic
adj. living in open oceans or seas rather than waters adjacent to land or inland waters
The scientists are studying the migration patterns of pelagic birds.
pellucid
adj. transparent; translucent; easily understood
I saw to the bottom of the pellucid stream.
penance
n. voluntary suffering to repent for a wrong
The sinner performed penance.
penchant
n. inclination
Steve has a penchant for writing.
penitent
adj. expressing sorrow for sins or offenses, repentant
The convicted man was penitent about the wrong he had done.
pensive
adj. thoughtful
Valerie is in a pensive mood.
penultimate
adj. next to last
Our team occupies the penultimate place in the league standing.
penumbra
n. partial shadow
During the eclipse we watched the penumbra move across the moon’s surface.
penurious
adj. poverty-stricken; destitute
The city government has set up shelters for penurious old people.
penury
n. extreme poverty
The lawsuit reduced Mr. Wilson to penury.
perambulation
n. walking about
The part is a good place for perambulation.
perciplent
adj. discerning, able to perceive
A percipient onlooker noted the license number of the car.
perdition
n. complete and utter loss; damnation
The sermon warned of perdition to come.
peregrination
n. a wandering from place to place
Mr. Theroux’s peregrinations took him around the world.
peremptory
adj. imperative; leaving no choice
No one in the company questioned the colonel’s peremptory order.
perennial
adj. present throughout the years; persistent
Pollution is a perennial problem in the city.
perfidious
adj. faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
The boss dismissed the perfidious employee.
perfidy
n. deliberate breach of faith or violation of trust
Our ally’s perfidy came as a shock to everyone.
perfunctory
adj. superficial; not thorough; performed really as a duty
The pilot had time only for a perfunctory check of his aircraft before takeoff.
perigee
n. point in an orbit that is closest to the Earth
The probe will be launched so that upon its arrival Mars will be at perigee.
perihelion
n. point in orbit nearest to the sun
The Earth is approaching perihelion.
peripatetic
adj. moving from place to place
The peripatetic professor has taught at twenty colleges.
peripheral
adj. not central; of minor importance
The issue is only of peripheral importance.
periphery
n. perimeter
The poor often live on the periphery of society.
periphrastic
adj. containing too many words
The critic called the translation of the French poem into English “periphrastic.”
perjure
v. to tell a lie under oath
The judge concluded that the witness had perjured himself.
permafrost
n. permanently frozen subsoil
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s permafrost network in Alaska is part of a global network of permafrost monitoring stations.
permeable
adj. penetrable
The frozen soil is not permeable.
permeate
v. to spread or flow through
The new CEOs personality has begun to permeate through the firm.
pernicious
ad. very harmful
The talk is on the pernicious effects of alcohol abuse.
perpetual
adj. endless, lasting
The inventor claims that he has built a perpetual motion machine.
perpetuate
v. to cause to continue indefinitely
The false idea was perpetuated in several publications.
perpetuity
n. time without end; eternity
The lease was granted in perpetuity.
persona
n. a person’s public image
The politician is trying to improve his persona.
personification
n. ac of attributing human qualities to objects or abstract qualities
Calling the wind “angry” is an example of personification.
perspicacious
adj. shrewd, astute, keen-witted
The perspicacious lawyer won the majority of his cases.
perspicacity
n. acuteness of perception or understanding
Perspicacity helped the lawyer to win the case.
pert
adj. lively and bold
Joan plays the role of the pert young law student.
pertinacious
adj. persistent, stubborn
Richard’s pertinacious character is a major factor in his success.
perturb
v. to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious
Observations showed that the satellite’s orbit had been perturbed.
perturbation
n. disturbance
The perturbation in the star’s orbit is evidence for the existence of a large planet in the vicinity.
perusal
n. close examination
The editor’s perusal of the manuscript revealed several errors.
peruse
v. to examine closely
[Sherlock Holmes perused the newspaper for a clue.
pervade
v. to spread throughout every part
Hydrogen pervades the universe.
pervasive
adj. spread throughout every part
The influence of the West is pervasive.
perverse
adj. stubborn, intractable, contradicting without good reason
The girl seems to have a perverse desire to be expelled from school.
pervert
v. to cause to change in immoral way; misuse
The interpretation perverts the poem’s meaning.
perveted
adj. changed in immoral way; misused
The group follows a perverted version of its founder’s teachings.
pestilence
n. epidemic, plague
The pestilence spread rapidly to neighboring countries.
petty
adj. trivial; very small; unimportant
Let’s forget about this petty matter.
petulantly
adv. in a rude or peevish manner
The child stamped her feet and frowned petulantly.
phalanx
n. massed group of soldiers, people, or things
A phalanx of soldiers prevented the mob from entering.
phallocentric
adj. centered on men or on a male viewpoint
The critic described The Odyssey as phallocentric.
phantasmagoria
n. a fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery
She described her dream as “a phantasmagoria.”
pharmacopoeia
n. a collection of drugs
The pharmacopoeia contains many drugs derived from plants.
phenomena
n. observable occurrences
Scientists try to understand natural phenomena.
philanderer
n. pursuer of casual love affairs
Jerry has a reputation as a philanderer.
philanthropist
n. lover of humanity; humanitarian
The philanthropist who donated the money for the new college library prefers to remain anonymous.
philanthropy
n. love of humanity; generosity to worthy causes
The tax system encourages philanthropy.
philatelist
n. stamp collector
The philatelist has a stamp collection valued at over $30,000.
philistine
n. narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture
The philistines voted against the funds for the arts program.
philology
n., study of words
English philology owes a great deal to the Oxford English Dictionary.
phlegmatic
adj. calm in temperature; sluggish
The phlegmatic librarian merely raised an eyebrow when a fire broke out in the reference section.
phobia
n. irrational fear
The patient was treated by a psychologist for his phobia.
phoenix
n. mythical, immortal bird that lives for 500 years, burns itself to death, and rise from its ashes
Our winless football team will rise like a phoenix next year.
phonetics
n. study of speech sounds
Knowledge of phonetics is helpful to a reading teacher.
phonic
adj. relating to sound
The stories are designed to develop children’s phonic knowledge.
physiognomy
n. facial features
Some people believe that a person’s physiognomy reflects his or her character.
physiology
n. study of living organism; the functions of a living organism
A good understanding of human physiology is important for a medical doctor.
pidgin
n., a simplified form of speech
The people of the country speak French and a pidgin that is based on English.
piety
n. devoutness
We all admire his piety.
pilfer
v. to steal
Someone pilfered my copy of Wordfest!
pillage
v. to loot, especially during a war
The enemy soldiers pillaged the town.
pinnacle
n. peak, highest point of development
The writer is at the pinnacle of her career.
pious
adj. dedicated, devout, extremely religious
The pious worshipper attends church every day.
piquant
adj. appealingly stimulating; pleasantly pungent
The chef’s piquant tomato sauce is popular with diners.
pique (n.)
n. fleeting feeling of hurt pride
She’ll soon get over her pique.
pique (v.)
v. to provoke, arouse
His eighth grade teacher piqued his interest in the English language.
piscivore
n. a fish-eating animal
An example of a piscivorous is the Aquatic Genet.
pithy
adj. forceful and brief
Grandfather usually sits quietly observing, occasionally making a pithy comment.
pittance
n. meager amount or wage
Tom’s allowance is a pittance.
placate
v. to lessen another’s anger; pacify
Nothing would placate their anger.
placebo
n. a substance with no medication given to a patient
One group of people in the experiment was given a placebo
placid
adj. calm
George has a placid disposition.
plagiarism
n. theft of another’s ideas or writing
A few students in the class think that there’s nothing wrong with plagiarism.
plaintiff
n. injured person in a lawsuit
The plaintiff is seeking ten million in damages.
planetesimal
n. any of numerous small celestial bodies that may have existed at an early stage of the development of the solar system
Many astronomers believe that the planets have evolved by aggregation from planetesimals.
plasticity
n. condition of being able to be shaped or formed; pliability
Behaviorist psychologists such as B.F. Skinner tend to stress the plasticity of human beings.
platitude
n. stale, overused expression
“Might makes right” is a platitude.
platonic
adj. spiritual; without physical desire; theoretical
James and Emma used to be lovers, but now their relationship is platonic.
plaudits
n. enthusiastic praise or approval
The actor’s performance won the plaudits of the critics.
plausibility
n. validity, likeliness, or acceptability
The scientist questioned the plausibility of the claim.
plebeian
adj. crude, vulgar, low-class
Ralph’s tastes are plebeian.
plenary
adj. complete in all respects; fully attended by all qualified members
The chief minister called a plenary meeting of the council.
plenitude
n. abundance, plenty
The new immigrants were amazed by Australia’s plenitude.
plethora
n. excess, overabundance
There is a plethora of jobs in the booming economy.
pliant
adj. pliable, yielding
Garth has a pliant nature.
ploy
n. an action to gain the advantage indirectly or deviously
The ploy helped us to gain the advantage
plucky
adj. courageous, spunky
The plucky soldier charged the enemy machine gun position.
plumb
v. to determine the depth; to examine deeply
The poem plumbs the depths of human nature.
plummet
v. to fall, plunge
The dead bird plummeted to Earth.
pluralistic
adj. including a variety of groups
The United States is a pluralistic society.
plurality
n. being plural; a large number
The candidate received a plurality of the votes.
plutocracy
n. society ruled by the wealthy
America is described by some people as having some of the characteristics of a plutocracy.
ply
v. to use diligently; engage; join together
The tailor plies his trade in a nearby town.
pneumatic
adj. relating to air; worked by compressed air
The work men used a pneumatic drill to dig through the surface of the road.
poach
v. to steal game or fish; appropriate something as one’s own; cook in boiling liquid
The track coach accused the football coach of poaching his athletes
podium
v. platform or lectern of orchestra conductors of speakers
The person on the podium looked small from where we were sitting.
pogrom
n. an organized massacre of persecution of a minority group
The pogrom was carried out over one year.
poignant
adj. emotionally moving
The survivors told poignant stories.
polar
adj. relating to a geographic pole; exhibiting contrast
The expedition studied the polar region.
polarize
v. to tend toward opposite extremes
The candidate’s stand on the controversial issue has polarized voters across the state.
polemic
n. controversy, argument; verbal attack
His works are polemics in support of the present policy.
polemical
adj. relating to controversy, argument, or verbal attack
The politician wrote a polemical article on the issue.
politic
adj. discreet, tactful
The politic diplomat was chosen to lead the negotiation.
polity
n. an organized society having a specific form of government
The polity is devoted to freedom of speech and expression.
polyandry
n. the practice of having more than one husband at one time
The form of polyandry in which a woman is married to two or more brothers is known as “fraternal polyandry,” and it is believed by many anthropologists to be the most frequently encountered form.
polygamy
n. having more than one wife or husband at a time
Polygamy is practiced in Australia’s aboriginal culture.
ployglot
n. speaker of many languages
The polyglot speaks French, German, Italian, Spanish, and English
polytheist
n. a person who believes in more than one god
Many people in ancient Rome were polytheists.
pompous
adj. marked by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity
Stan plays the part of the pompous milfoil in the schools’ production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
ponder
v. to weigh carefully in the mind; reflect deeply
Susan is pondering the meaning and purpose of existence.
ponderous
adj. weighty; unwieldy; labored
How long will this boring, ponderous speech last?
pontificate
v. to speak in a pretentious manner
Mr. Sanders likes to pontificate in his history class.
portent
n. omen
Th sailors saw the storm as a bad portent.
portentous
adj. foreboding; exciting wonder and awe
The diary records the portentous events of 1776.
portly
adj. stout, dignified
A portly gentleman entered the room.
poseur
n. a person who tries to impress others by affecting a manner, attitude, etc., other than his or her true one
Sharon’s reputation as a poseur makes it hard to take her seriously.
posit
v. to assume or affirm the existence of; postulate; to propose as an explanation
The science fiction novel posits the existence of an advanced race living on Mars one billion years ago.
positivism
n. a philosophical doctrine that says that sense perceptions are the only valid basis of human knowledge
Positivism holds that science is humanity’s highest intellectual achievement.
posterior
adj. later in time
The evidence shows that the crime occurred posterior to the meeting.
posterity
n. future generations; all of a person’s descendants
How will posterity judge us?
posthumous
adj. occurring or continuing after one’s death; published after a writer’s death
He received a posthumous award for bravery.
Postmodernism
n. theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language; in the arts, any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms
The article discusses the view that Postmodernism is no longer an important theory.
post mortem
n. medical examination of a dead body; autopsy
The post mortem revealed the cause of death.
postulate (n.)
n. a principle provisionally adopted as a basis for argument; a presupposition; basic principle
We accepted the postulate for the sake of discussion.
postulate (v.)
v. to assume as a premise
The science fiction novel postulates that an advanced civilization once lived on the moon.
potable
adj. drinkable
The water is potable.
potent
adj. strong; powerful
The potent drug must be used carefully.
potentate
n. monarch or ruler with great power
The potentate ordered an invasion of the neighboring country.
pragmatic
adj. practical
The English have a reputation as a pragmatic, down-to-earth people.
pragmatism
n. practical way of approaching situations or solving problems
Pragmatism can be described as a fancy word for common sense.
prate
v. to talk idly; chatter
The fool prated on, showing his ignorance of the subject.
prattle
n. meaningless, foolish talk
I’ve had enough of this prattle; let’s get to work.
precarious
adj. uncertain
Our position is precarious.
precedence
n. right of preceding; priority
This latest case must take precedence over the earlier ones.
precedent
n. a model for that which follows
The lawyer found a precedent for the case.
precept
n. principle; law
The class studied the precepts of good writing.
preceptor
n. teacher
The young writer’s preceptor is a famous novelist.
precipice
n. edge, steep overhang
The car went off the precipice.
precipitate (adj.)
adj. rash; hasty; sudden
The man’s friend urged him not to be precipitate in coming to a decision.
precipitate (v.)
v. to cause to happen; throw down from a height
The rumors precipitated a rebellion.
precipitation
n. water droplets or ice particles condensed from atmospheric water vapor that falls to Earth
There has been a lot of precipitation this winter.
precipitous
adj. hasty, quickly, with too little caution
The precipitous decision nearly led to disaster.
précis
n. short summary of facts
The governor asked his aid to prepare a précis of the report.
precocious
adj. unusually advanced at an early age
The precocious child was enrolled in the school’s gifted program.
preconception
n. an idea formed in advance of actual knowledge; a prejudice
Education can encourage us to examine our preconceptions.
precursor
n. forerunner, predecessor
The league of Nations was a precursor to the United Nations.
predator
n. one that preys on others, destroyer, plunderer
The tiger is one of nature’s most deadly predators.
predatory
adj. marked by preying on others
The predatory salesperson watched the shoppers carefully.
predecessor
n. former occupant of post; something that has been succeeded by another
The new governor met with his predecessor.
predicament
n. difficult situation
There is no easy way out of the predicament.
predicate (v.)
v. to found or base on
Our argument is predicated on several assumptions.
predicate (n.)
n. one of the two main constituents of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject
The students learned to identify the subject and predicate in a sentence.
predictive
adj. relating to prediction, indicative of the future
The experiment will test the theory’s predictive power.
predilection
n. preference, liking
I have a predilection for reading books about language.
predisposed
adj. having a tendency
The judge is predisposed to be lenient.
predisposition
n. tendency, inclination
He has a predisposition to be happy.
predominance
n. ascendancy, importance; prevalence
Japan’s predominance in Asia is being challenged by China
preeminence
n. condition of being superior to or notable above all others
Most experts agree on Shakespeare’s preeminence amount English playwrights.
preface
n. introduction to a book; introductory remarks to a speech
In her preface the author explains why she wrote the book.
prehensile
adj. capable of grasping
The animal’s prehensile tail allows it to hang from the branches of trees.
prejudge
v. to judge beforehand or without all the evidence
The jurors were told not to prejudge the case.
prelude
n. an introductory performance, action, or vent preceding preparing for the principal or a more important matter
We enjoyed the prelude to the performance.
premediatate
v. to consider, plan beforehand
The jury found that the accused had premeditated the murder.
premise
n. a proposition upon which an argument is based
The argument is based on a faulty premise.
premonition
n. forewarning; presentiment
The woman had a premonition of disaster.
preordained
adj. decided in advance
The philosopher believes that the events of our lives are preordained.
preponderance
n. majority in number; dominance
There is a preponderance of science majors at the college.
prepossessing
adj. attractive, engaging, appealing
They were a prepossessing group of students.
preposterous
adj. absurd, illogical
What a preposterous plan!
prerequisite
n. something necessary as a prior condition
An advanced math course is a prerequisite for physics.
prerogative
n. a special right or privilege
Formerly, voting was a prerogative of certain groups.
presage
v. to foretell, indicate in advance
The legend presages a golden age.
prescience
n. foresight
Mrs. Tan had the prescience to bring an umbrella to the lacrosse game.
prescribe
v. to order the use of
Make sure you get the list of books prescribed by the examiners for the exam.
presentiment
n. premonition, sense of foreboding
Several people said they felt a presentiment of the tragedy.
prestidigitation
n. sleight of hand
The magician amazed the audience with his feats of prestidigitation.
presume
v. to assume to be true
We presumed that the account was accurate.
presumption
n. belief based on reasonable evidence
My presumption is that you are telling the truth.
presumptuous
adj. rude, improperly bold
The student was presumptuous in criticizing the instructor’s teaching technique.
presuppose
v. to assume or suppose something in advance
The essay makes the mistake of presupposing what it is trying to prove.
presupposition
n. something assumed or supposed in advance
Modern biology accepts evolution as a presupposition.
pretentious
adj. ostentatious; showy
Herb’s big car is pretentious.
preternatural
adj. beyond the normal course of nature; supernatural
There were rumors of preternatural occurrences in the graveyard.
pretext
n. excuse, pretended reason
Hugh used his question as a pretext to meet Erica.
prevalent
adj. widespread
The disease is prevalent in Europe.
prevaricate
v. to quibble, evade the truth
The witness prevaricated under questioning from the detective.
prima facie
adv. at first sight;
adj. true at first sight; evident without proof
In view of the strong prima facie evidence, the detective has decided to proceed with the investigation.
primeval
adj. ancient, primitive
This history of the world starts from primeval time.
primordial
adj. original, existing from the beginning
The astronomer is studying the primordial universe.
pristine
adj. untouched, uncorrupted
The computer is in pristine condition.
privation
n. lack of usual necessities or comforts
The soldier suffered privation during the long winter campaign.
probity
n. honesty, high-mindedness
The official’s probity is beyond question.
proclivity
n. tendency, inclination
Tom’s proclivities are toward the arts.
procrastinator
n. one who continually and unjustifiable postpones
The student is a procrastinator.
procure
v. to obtain
We need to procure a copy of the textbook before classes begin.
prodigal
adj. wasteful, extravagant, lavish
The celebration was criticized as prodigal.
prodigious
adj. vast, enormous, extraordinary
The scientist has made a prodigious effort to prove his theory.
prodigy
n. highly gifted child
The violin prodigy is giving a concert tonight.
profane
v. to treat with irreverence or disrespect; degrade or abuse
The sign instructed tourists to remove their shoes so as not to profane the sanctity of the temple.
profligacy
n. corruption, degeneration; wild extravagance
The government was accused of profligacy in spending ten million dollars on the celebrations.
profound
adj. deep; not superficial
Profound thinking is needed to understand this poem.
profundity
n. the quality of being deep, not superficial
Few would doubt the profundity of Spinoza’s philosophy.
profuse
adj. lavish, extravagant
He was embarrassed by the profuse compliments.
profusion
n. great quantity; abundance
There is a profusion of fresh fruit available this summer.
progenitor
n. originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line
The trive follows the teachings of its progenitors.
progeny
n. offspring, children
Those who come after us are our progeny.
prognosis
n. prediction of disease outcome; any prediction
The doctor’s prognosis is favorable.
prognostication
n. prediction through use of present condition as a guide
His prognostication was that there would be a recession.
progressive
adj. favoring progress or change; moving forward, going step by step
The government has taken a progressive approach to lowering taxes.
prohibition
n. a law or order that forbids something
There is a prohibition on selling alcoholic beverages after 10 P.M..
proletariat
n. the class of industrial wage earners who must sell their labor to survive
The writer’s sympathies are with the proletariat.
proliferate
v. to increase rapidly
Weeds are proliferating on the front lawn.
prolific
adj. abundantly fruitful
The prolific author Isaac Asimov wrote more than 300 books.
prolix
adj. tending to speak or write at excessive length; wordy
The writer’s main fault is that he is prolix.
prologue
n. introductory section of a literary work or play
The novel’s prologue sets the scene.
promontory
n. piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings
For the promontory we could see far across the desert.
promulgate
v. to make known publicly
The new policy was promulgated last month.
propaganda
n. the systematic dissemination of ideas reflecting a particular view or interest
The film has been criticized as being propaganda for the government.
propensity
n. inclination, tendency
The student has a propensity to exaggerate his academic achievements.
prophecy
n. a prediction
The fortune teller’s prophecy turned out to be incorrect.
propinquity
n. nearness
My partner’s propinquity makes working together convenient.
propitiate
v. to win over, appease
The sacrifice propitiated the angry gods.
propitious
adj. favorable, advantageous
The full moon was regarded as propitious.
proponent
n. person who argues for something; advocate
Proponents of the plan argue that it will be cost-effective.
propriety
n. correct conduct; fitness
Propriety demands that we dress correctly.
prosaic
adj. relating to prose; dull, commonplace
The prosaic writer has produced no bestsellers.
proscribe
v. to condemn; forbid, outlaw
The law proscribes gambling.
proscriptive
adj. relating to restriction or restraint
This grammar book takes a proscriptive approach rather than a descriptive one.
prose
n. ordinary language used in everyday speech
The essay is written in clear prose.
proselytize
v. to convert to a particular belief or religion
Students are not allowed to proselytize on campus.
prosification
n. converting (poetry, etc.) into prose
The teacher is working on a personification of Hamlet.
prostrate
adj. lying face downward, lying flat on ground
The wounded soldier was prostrate on that battlefield.
protagonist
n. main character in a play or story; hero
The novel’s protagonist is based on a person the author knew in high school.
protean
adj. readily assuming different forms or characters
The protean actor performed thirty roles in his one-man show.
protégé
n. person receiving protection and support from a patron
The championship tennis player trains her protégé every day.
protestation
n. strong expression of disapproval; formal declaration
Tom made a protestation of his love to Debbie.
protocol
n. ceremony and manners observed by diplomats
Protocol demands that the president be seated at the head of the table.
prototype
n. original work used as a model by others
The prototype of the new aircraft is being built in France.
protract
v. to prolong
The meeting as protracted, ending at 9 P.M.
protrusion
n. something that sticks out
Geologists are investigating the large protrusion on the Earth’s surface.
proverbial
adj. widely referred to
Oscar Wilde’s wit is proverbial.
provident
adj. providing for future needs; frugal
In Singapore employees and employers contribute to the Central Provident Fund to provide economic security for retirees.
provice
n. range; scope
The book ranges over the entire province of human knowledge.
provincial
adj. limited in outlook; unsophisticated
Many people in the town are provincial.
provisional
adj. provided for the time being
The two sides reaches a provisional agreement.
proviso
n. a condition or qualification
john bought the used car with the proviso that it would be repainted.
provocative
adj. arousing anger or interest; annoying
The provocative statements were designed to start a debate on the subject.
prowess
n. bravery, skill
The actor’s prowess was recognized when he won an Academy Award.
proximate
adj. very near
Since your home is proximate to mine, we should get together more often.
proximity
n. nearness
The two areas of the brain are in close proximity.
proxy
n. authorized agent; power to act as a substitute for another
The businessman’s lawyer will act as his proxy at the hearing.
prude
n. one who is excessively proper or modest
The play pokes fun at prudes who never want to have fun.
prudent
adj. cautious; careful
It is prudent to prepare well for the GRE.
prurient
adj. lustful, exhibiting lewd desires
The movie has mainly a prurient appeal.
pseudonym
n. pen name; fictitious or borrowed name
The scholar writes mystery books under a pseudonym.
psyche
n. the mind
The book explores the mysteries of the human psyche.
psychic
adj. perceptive of non-material, spiritual forces; originating in the mind
The scientist is studying psychic phenomena.
psychosis
n. a severe mental disorder characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality
The new drug promises to offer an effective control for several forms of psychosis.
pubescent
adj. reaching puberty
The pubescent boys are becoming interested in girls.
puerile
adj. childish, immature, silly
The seniors are tired of the freshman’s puerile jokes.
pugilism
n. boxing
Pugilism is an Olympic sport.
pugnacious
adj. quarrelsome, eager and ready to fight
The pugnacious boy is always getting into fights.
puissance
n. power
Freedom is an idea of great puissance.
pulchritude
n. beauty
Helen of Troy was famous for her pulchritude.
pulverize
v. to pound, crush, or grind into powder; destroy
The artillery barrage pulverized the town.
pummel
v. to pound, beat
The men seized the thief and pummeled him.
punctilious
adj. careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
The host was punctilious in seating the guests.
pundit
n. critic; learned person
Most pundits agree that the policy was sound.
pungent
adj. strong or sharp in smell or taste
The pungent aroma was coming from the kitchen.
punitive
adj. having to do with punishment
Punitive measures have been taken against the rebellious students.
purgation
n. catharsis, purification
The hero of the play performed acts of purgation.
purge
v. to cleanse or free from impurities
Party leaders want to purge disloyal members.
puritanical
adj. adhering to a rigid moral code
The actor plays the puritanical servant Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
purported
adj. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored
The purported occurrences cannot be verified.
pusillanimous
adj. cowardly
The general warned the president that he must give the enemy no suggestion that he was pusillanimous.
putative
adj. generally regarded as such; supposed
The putative reason he gave for leaving the firm is that he had found a better job.
putsch
n. a sudden attempt by a group to overthrow a government
After the military putsch in 1991, she left the country.
