P's & Q's Flashcards
Paradigm
Model or pattern; worldview, set of shared assumptions, values, etc.
Far from being atypically bawdy, this limerick is a paradigm of the form - nearly all limericks rely on off-color jokes.
Paradox
Contradiction, or seeming contradiction that is actually true.
Kayla was always bothering the youth minister with her paradoxes, such as, “If God is all powerful, can He make a burrito so big He can’t eat it?”
Paragon
Model of excellence, perfect example.
Unlike his sister, he was a paragon of responsibility, taking in her three children when she went to jail, and even switching jobs so he could be there to pick them up from school.
Partial
Biased prejudicial, favoring one over others; having a special liking for something or someone (usually partial to); can also mean “in part”.
Although I grew up in New York, I’ve always been partial to country music.
His lawyer are appealing on the grounds that the judge was partial to the plaintiff, even playing golf with the plaintiff during the trial.
Patent
Obvious, apparent, plain to see (adj); a letter from a government guaranteeing an inventor the rights to his or her invention (noun).
Her resume was full of patent lies: anyone could check to see that she had never been president of UNICEF.
Peddle
Travel around while selling; sell illegally; give out or disseminate.
After an unsuccessful year spent peddling cutlery door to door, he turned to peddling drugs, thus landing himself in jail.
“I don’t want these people peddling lies to our children,” said Mrs. Hoffman, protesting against candy manufacturers lobbying for more lenient advertising rules.
Penumbra
Outer part of a shadow from an eclipse; any surrounding region, fringe, periphery; any area were something only partially exists.
The Constitution doesn’t specifically mention a right to privacy, but some experts consider this to exist in the penumbra of the Constitution, as a guarantee of privacy is needed in order to exercise the rights that are enumerated.
The rent in Chicago was too high, so they moved to a suburb in he penumbra of the city.
Per
The most common use of per is “for each” as in, We will need one sandwich per child. However, per may also mean “by means of” or “according to,” as in I have delivered the package per your instructions.
Periodic
Happening at regular intervals.
Perpetuate
Make perpetual, cause to continue.
Failing public schools in already distressed neighborhoods only perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
Physiological
Relating to the normal functioning of a living thing.
A rapid heart rate is a physiological response to fear.
Piggyback
Depending on something bigger or more important. Piggyback literally refers to one person (often a child) riding on the back of another. This word can be an adverb, adjective, or noun.
The jobs bill arrived piggyback on the urgent disaster relief bill - a pretty dirty trick, if you ask me.
Maybe we can piggyback this smaller design project onto the bigger one and end up saving some money with out web designers.
Pilot program (or project)
Program planned as a test or trial.
Before rolling out the program nationwide, a pilot program was launched in just three cities.
Plutocratic
Related to government by the wealthy.
Polarized
Divided into sharply opposed groups.
The members of the club were polarized; half were adamant that a bake sale would earn the most money and the other half were convinced that a car wash would be better.
Polemic
Controversial argument, esp. one attacking a specific idea.
Laura Kipnis’s 2003 book Against Love: A Polemic has been called “shocking” and “scathing.” Perhaps Kipnis used the word polemic in the title to indicate that she’s making an extreme argument as a means of starting a debate. After all, who’s really against love?
Postulate
Claim, assert; assume the truth or reality of in order to from an argument.
Before proceeding further, let us postulate that men and women have some fundamental differences. If we can accept that, we can talk about what types of policies should exist to ensure workplace equality.
Pragmatic
Practical; dealing with actual facts and reality.
The congresswoman personally believed in animal rights, but she knew she had to be pragmatic - if she proposed animal rights legislation, she probably wouldn’t get reelected.
Predatory
Living by preying on other animals; given to plundering, exploiting, or destroying other for one’s own benefit.
Many “check-cashing” outlets are actually predatory lenders who charge interest rates that would be illegal in many nations.
Predisposed
Having an inclination or tendency beforehand; susceptible. A predisposition is an inclination or tendency.
His defense attorney argued that his abusive childhood predisposed him to a life of crime.
Predominant
Having the greatest importance or influence; most common, main. A design might have a predominant color and a country might have a predominant religion.
Preempt
Prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can.
The speaker attempted to preempt an excessively long Q&A session by handing out a “Frequently Asked Questions” packet at the beginning of the seminar.
Premise
Proposition on which an argument is based. The functional parts of an argument other than the conclusion. Less commonly, premise is a verb, as in The report is premised on (based on) this study. “The premises” can also refer to a building and its surrounding land.
Prey
An animal that is hunted and eaten. Predators are animals that hunt and eat prey.
Priceless
Extremely valuable, so valuable that the worth cannot even be estimated.
Pristine
In an original, pure state; uncorrupted. A pristine forest has not been touched by humans. Sometimes pristine is just used to mean very clean.
Progeny
Offspring, descendants.
The study showed that selective breeding could cause the progeny of wolves to become more like dogs in a small number of generations.
Prominent
Projecting outward, sticking out; very noticeable. A prominent nose might not be a desirable characteristic, according to some people, but a prominent citizen is generally a well-known and important person.
Pronounced
Distinct, strong, clearly indicated.
Aunt Shirley claimed we would never know that her “secret recipe” for brownies involved lots of healthy vegetables, but the brownies had a pronounced asparagus flavor.
Propagated
Breed, cause to multiply.
Some plants can be propagated from cutting; my mother gave me a piece of her houseplant, and it grew roots after just a few days in water.
Prospective
Potential, aspiring. Prospective students have not yet been admitted; prospective entrepreneurs are people considering becoming entrepreneurs. This word is related to prospect, which can be both a noun (a good possibility) or a verb (to look for something good, such as to prospect for gold).
A committee was formed to evaluate the new plan’s prospects. As part of their analysis, members of the committee looked at the past performance of the prospective leader of the new division. One member remarked that the prospect of opening up a completely new division was exciting, but might stretch the company too thin.
Proximity
Closeness, the state of being near.
Psyche
The spirit or soul; the mind (as discussed in psychology). Pronounce this word “SY-key.”
Qualified
Modified, limited, conditional on something else. Unqualified can mean not limited or not restrained. If your boss gives unqualified approval for your plan, you can do whatever you want. Qualified can also mean qualified for the job. Use context to determine which meaning is intended. A qualified person is suitable or well-prepared for the job; a qualified statement or feeling is held back or limited.
The scientist gave her qualified endorsement to the book, pointing out that, while it posed a credible theory, more research was still needed before the theory could be applied.
