P-Q Flashcards
: a block of stone or wood that is used as the base for a pillar, statue, etc.
plinth
: existing in every part of something : spreading to all parts of something
pervasive
: the front of a ship
prow
: a strong natural liking for something that is usually bad : a tendency to do something that is usually bad
proclivity
: dealing with the problems that exist in a specific situation in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on ideas and theories
pragmatic
: private, withdrawn
: secret
privy
: great ability or skill
prowess
: the gods of a particular country or group of people
: a group of people who are famous or important
pantheon
: the way you behave, talk, etc., with other people that causes them to see you as a particular kind of person : the image or personality that a person presents to other people
persona
: use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression
periphrasis
: to give or be a sign of (something that will happen or develop in the future)
presage
\: the laboring class; especially : the class of industrial workers who lack their own means of production and hence sell their labor to live \: the lowest social or economic class of a community
proletariat
: a lack or loss of the basic things that people need to live properly
privation
: a shiny or dark surface that forms naturally on something (such as wood or leather) that is used for a long time
: a thin layer
patina
: a model or pattern for something that may be copied
: a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about
paradigm
: very steep
: happening in a very quick and sudden way
: done too quickly and without enough thought or planning
precipitous
: having or showing the attitude of people who become angry and annoyed when they do not get what they want
petulant
: giving a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
: trying to seem important, serious, or impressive
portentous
: having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they should be obeyed without question
peremptory
: not able to be trusted : showing that someone cannot be trusted
perfidious
: adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design
: perversely persistent
: stubbornly tenacious
pertinacious
: to foretell from signs or symptoms : predict
: presage
prognosticate
: to pass slowly through something that has many small holes in it
: to spread slowly
percolate
: to claim to be or do a particular thing when this claim may not be true
purport
: a low wall at the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge
parapet
: to say (something that someone else has said or written) using different words
paraphrase
: to cause (someone) to feel less angry about something
placate
: not easily upset or excited
: not moving much : calm and steady
placid
: luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiations (as light or electrons) and continues for a noticeable time after these radiations have stopped
phosphorescence
: having a pleasant, spicy taste
: interesting and exciting
piquant
: a metal breastplate formerly worn under the hauberk
: a quilted pad worn in fencing to protect the chest, waist, and the side on which the weapon is held
plastron
: having or showing the attitude of people who speak and behave in a very formal and serious way because they believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people
pompous
: a conveyance formerly used especially in eastern Asia usually for one person that consists of an enclosed litter borne on the shoulders of men by means of poles
palanquin
: deeply religious : devoted to a particular religion
: falsely appearing to be good or moral
pious
: the state of being very poor : extreme poverty
penury
: to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly
: to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
precipitate
: an area within which someone or something has authority, influence, or knowledge
purview
: to make (something, such as an idea or belief) known to many people
propagate
: a powerful ruler
potentate
: a feeling or belief that bad things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will not happen
pessimism
: obvious and noticeable
palpable
: causing great harm or damage often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed
pernicious
: the organized killing of many helpless people usually because of their race or religion
pogrom
: a feeling or belief that something is going to happen when there is no definite reason to believe it will
premonition
: very boring or dull
: slow or awkward because of weight and size
ponderous
: a person who is easily shocked or offended by things that do not shock or offend other people
prude
: the smallest number of people who must be present at a meeting in order for decisions to be made
: a select group
quorum
: a situation in which you are confused about what to do
quandary
: to drink a large amount of (something) quickly
quaff
: to feel afraid and often to show your fear in a way that can be clearly seen
quail
: to end or stop (something) usually by using force
: to calm or reduce (something, such as fear or worry)
quell
: a structure built on the land next to a river, lake, or ocean that is used as a place for boats to stop for loading and unloading freight and passengers
quay
: to argue or complain about small, unimportant things
quibble
: to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely
quash
