Vocab List 3

Question 0

Paradox

Answer 0

n. a self -contradictory statement; something ‘that appears to be absurd and yet may be true
a paradox by Oscar Wilde.

Question 1

Pacifist

Answer 1

n. a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.
“she was a committed pacifist all her life”

Question 2

Parody

Answer 2

n. a humorous imitation of an author’s style and mannerisms
wrote a parody on Kipling’s “Gunga Din”.
The trial was a parody of justice.

Question 3

Partisan

Answer 3

adj. prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.

“newspapers have become increasingly partisan”

Question 4

Peccadillo

Answer 4

n. a petty fault

“I’m sure we can overlook a few peccadilloes”

Question 5

Pecuniary

Answer 5

adj. pertaining to money
involved in pecuniary difficulties.

Question 6

Pensive

Answer 6

adj. sadly thoughtful
softly sang his pensive song.

Question 7

Peremptory

Answer 7

adj. positive in expressing an opinion
gave a peremptory judgment.

Question 8

Pertinacious

Answer 8

adj. clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose
pertinacious in his efforts.

Question 9

Peruse

Answer 9

v. to read carefully
perused the important letter.

Question 10

Perverse

Answer 10

adj. willfully bent on doing the wrong thing
a perverse lad, always disobeying his parents.

Question 11

Placate

Answer 11

vb. make (someone) less angry or hostile.

“they attempted to placate the students with promises”

Question 12

Plagiarism

Answer 12

n. adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of another and passing them off as one’s own
denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

Question 13

Platitude

Answer 13

n. a dull and commonplace remark
bored people by his pompous phrases and platitudes.

Question 14

Plebeian

Answer 14

adj. pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar
plebeian in his tastes and outlook.

Question 15

Poignant

Answer 15

adj. gripping and moving the feelings powerfully; piercing, biting, pointed
a poignant grief.
a poignant cry; poignant wit.

Question 16

Precipitous

Answer 16

adj. very steep; descending rapidly
a precipitous cliff.

Question 17

Predilection

Answer 17

n. partiality or preference for; a favorable opinion arrived at beforehand a predilection for theatricals.

Question 18

Prelude

Answer 18

n. an introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step
a short prelude to the play.

Question 19

Prerogative

Answer 19

n. a privilege or power attaching to a position
It is a woman’s prerogative to refuse to tell her age.

Question 20

Pretentious

Answer 20

adj. attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
“a pretentious literary device”