P Vocabulary Flashcards
palliate
to reduce the severity of
pallid
lacking color
panacea
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
paragon
model of excellence or perfection
pariah
an outcast
parsimony
frugality, stinginess
pathos
an emotion of sympathy
paucity
small in quantity
pejorative
derogatory, uncomplimentary
pellucid
easily intelligible, clear
penurious
miserly, stingy
perfidious
disloyal, unfaithful
perfunctory
showing little interest or enthusiasm
pernicious
extremely harmful or destructive
perspicacity
shrewdness, perceptiveness
pertinacious
stubbornly persistent
petulance
rudeness, irritability
pithy
concisely meaningful
platitude
an uninspired remark, cliche
plethora
an abundance, excess
polemic
an aggressive argument against a specific opinion
portent
an omen
precocious
advanced, developing ahead of time
prescient
to have foreknowledge of events
primeval
original, ancient
probity
virtue, integrity
proclivity
a strong inclination toward something
promulgate
to proclaim, make known
propensity
an inclination, a preference
propitious
favorable
prosaic
plain, lacking liveliness
proscribe
to condemn, outlaw
protean
able to change shape, displaying great variety
prurient
eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex
puerile
juvenile, immature
pugnacious
quarrelsome, combative
pulchritude
physical beauty
punctilious
eager to follow rules or conventions