Word List 27 Flashcards
pedestrian
commonplace, unimaginative
going or performed on foot
of, relating to, or designed for walking
e.g. pedestrian concerns like paying the bills and getting the kids to school on time
a pedestrian mall
peeve
to make peevish or resentful; annoy
also
e.g She is constantly peeved by his habit of humming show tunes while she is trying to focus on her work.
My main peeve with the animal welfare organization is the endless stream of unsolicited trinkets in my mailbox.
peevish
querulous in temperament or mood; fretful
perversely obstinate
marked by ill temper
e.g. I would rather figure things out myself than ask that peevish librarian for help.
pejorative
a word or phrase that has negative connotations or that is intended to disparage or belittle
having negative connotations; especially, tending to disparage or belittle; depreciatory
e.g. The reviewer used the pejorative word “versifier” to refer to the writer, whose poems had struck a responsive chord with the general public.
pelf
money, riches
e.g. a politician who seems more interested in pelf than in policy
pell-mell
in mingled confusion or disorder
in confused state
e.g. papers strewn pell-mell on the desk
ran pell-mell for the door
pellucid
admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
easy to understand
e.g. the pellucid waters that lap upon that island’s beaches
a pellucid simplicity
pen
to shut in or as if in a pen
a small enclosure for animals; the animals in such enclosure
a small place of confinement or storage
a female swan
e.g. a pen of sheep
penance
an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
something (as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)
e.g. He did charitable work as a penance.
penchant
a strong and continued inclination; broadly, liking
e.g. a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space
peninsula
a portion of land nearly surrounded by water and connected with a larger body by an isthmus; also, a piece of land jutting out into the water whether with or without a well-defined isthmus
penitent
feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offense; repentant
e.g. a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness
pennant
any of various nautical flags tapering usually to a point or swallowtail and used for identification or signalling
a flag emblematic of championship (as in a professional baseball league); also, the championship itself
e.g. pennants waving atop the tower
The Red Sox won the American League pennant in 2004.
penultimate
next to last
of or relating to the next to the last syllable of a word
e.g. the penultimate syllable of the word
a penultimate accent
penury
a cramping and oppressive lack of resources; especially, severe poverty
extreme and often niggardly frugality
e.g. lived in a time when single women like herself faced a lifetime of genteel penury
perambulate
to travel over or through especially on foot; traverse
to make an official inspection of (a boundary) on food
stroll
e.g. We decided to lazily perambulate the entire length of the esplanade and enjoy the fresh air.
long summer evenings spent perambulating up and down the tree-lined streets of the quaint village
peregrinate
to travel especially on foot; walk
to walk or travel over; traverse
e.g. a celebrated novel about penniless free spirits peregrinating the United States
a couple of backpacking college students who decided to spend the summer peregrinating around Ireland
peremptory
putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay; admitting of no contradiction
expressive of urgency or command
characterized by often imperious or arrogant self-assurance
e.g. a peremptory mandamus
a peremptory call
peremptory disregard of an objection
The governor’s peremptory personal assistant began telling the crowd of reporters and photographers exactly where they had to stand.
preempt
to acquire by preemption
to seize upon to the exclusion of others; take for oneself
to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority; take precedence over
to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
to prevent from happening; forestall, preclude
e.g. The movement was then preempted by a lunatic fringe.
The program did not appear, having been preempted by a baseball game.
The state law was preempted by a federal law.
perennial
present at all seasons of the year
persistent, enduring
continuing without interruption; constant, perpetual
regularly repeated or renewed; recurrent
e.g. This variety of oregano is perennial.
the perennial quest for certainty
Flooding is a perennial problem for people living by the river.
perfervid
marked by overwrought or exaggerated emotion; excessively fervent
e.g. the perfervid prose of a romance novel
perfidious
not able to be trusted; showing that someone cannot be trusted
e.g. A perfidious campaign worker revealed the senator’s strategy to his leading rival for the nomination.
perfidy
the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal; treachery
an act or an instance of disloyalty
perforate
to make a hole through
to pass through or into by or as if by making a hole
e.g. He perforated the sheet with his pencil and put it in his binder.
perfunctory
characterized by routine or superficiality; mechanical
lacking in interest or enthusiasm
e.g. The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.
peripatetic
pedestrian, itinerant
(pl.) movement or journeys hither and thither
of, relating to, or given to walking
moving or traveling from place to place; itinerant
e.g. She worked as a peripatetic journalist for most of her life.
a peripatetic career
peripheral
auxiliary, supplementary
e.g If we focus too much on peripheral issues, we will lose sight of the goal.
periscope
a tubular optical instrument containing lenses and mirrors by which an observer obtains an otherwise obstructed field of view
perjury
the voluntary violation of an oath or vow either by swearing to what is untrue or by omission to do what has been promised under oath; false swearing
depose
to remove from a throne or other high position
to put down; deposit
to testify to under oath or by affidavit; affirm, assert
to take a deposition of
e.g. A military junta deposed the dictator after he had bankrupted the country.
depose a witness
She was nervous when the time to depose before the jury finally arrived.
perky
briskly self-assured; cocky
jaunty
e.g. He hasn’t been his perky self lately.
She drove around in a perky little.
permissive
granting or tending to grant permission; tolerant
deficient in firmness or control; indulgent, lax
allowing discretion; optional
e.g. Some states have more permissive laws than others.
reduced the permissive retirement age from 65 to 62
pernicious
highly injurious or destructive; deadly
e.g. the pernicious effects of jealousy
perpetual
continuing forever; everlasting
valid for all time
occurring continually; indefinitely long-continued
e.g. The region is in a state of perpetual war.
perpetuate
to make perpetual or cause to last indefinitely
e.g. Fears about an epidemic are being perpetuated by the media.
perquisite
a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages
gratuity, tip
e.g. Use of the company’s jet is a perquisite of the job.
persecute
to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict
to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities); pester
e.g. The country’s leaders relentlessly persecuted those who fought against the regime.
persiflage
frivolous bantering talk; light raillery/ridicule
e.g. Their tongue-in-cheek persiflage is sometimes mistaken for an exchange of insults by people who don’t know them.
personable
pleasant or amiable in person; attractive
e.g. a personable hostess
perspicacious
of acute mental vision or discernment; keen
e.g. No matter how perspicacious one may be, one will never be able to decide on anything to his disadvantage.
perspicuous
plain to understanding especially because of clarity and precision of presentation
e.g. Believing that poetry need not be as perspicuous as prose, he writes poems that are intentionally ambiguous.
perspire
to emit matter through the skin; specifically, to secret and emit perspiration
e.g. I was nervous and could feel myself start to perspire.
pertain
to belong as a part
to be appropriate to something
to have reference
e.g. books pertaining to the country’s history
the destruction pertaining to war
the belief that quality medical care is a right that pertains to everyone
pertinacious
adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design
perversely persistent
stubbornly tenacious
e.g. a pertinacious little boy who was determined to catch and collect reptiles
a pertinacious salesman who would simply not take “no” for an answer
pertinent
having a clear decisive relevance to the matter in hand
e.g. He impressed the jury with his concise, pertinent answers to the attorney’s questions.
immaterial
not consisting of matter; incorporeal
of no substantial consequence; unimportant
e.g. The fact that she is a woman is immaterial and irrelevant.
peruse
to examine or consider with attention and in detail; study
to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
e.g. He perused the newspaper over breakfast.
perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical errors
pervade
to become diffused throughout every part of
e.g. A feeling of great sadness pervades the film.
Art and music pervade every aspect of their lives.
pervious
accessible
permeable
e.g. pervious to reason
The new road has a pervious surface that will cut down on the amount of water that collects on it during heavy rains.
pester
to harass with petty irritations; annoy
e.g. One resident pestered the condo board about every little thing.
pestilent
destructive of life; deadly
injuring or endangering society; pernicious
causing displeasure or annoyance
infectious, contagious
e.g. Proper hand washing will help prevent the spread of most pestilent diseases.
pestilent reporters hounding him night and day
pestle
a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar
petrify
to make rigid or inert like stone
to make lifeless or inactive; deaden
to confound with fear, amazement, or awe
e.g. slogans apt to petrify a man’s thinking
a novel about an airline pilot that will petrify
petrology
a science that deals with the origin, history, occurrence, structure, chemical composition, and classification of rocks
petroglyph
a carving or inscription on a rock
petulant
insolent or rude in speech or behavior
characterized by temporary or capricious ill humor; peevish
e.g. a petulant and fussy man who is always blaming everyone else for his problems
philanthropic
of, relating to, or characterized by philanthropy; humanitarian
dispensing or receiving aid from funds set aside for humanitarian purposes
e.g. a philanthropic society that has been doing good for over a century
philately
the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps; stamp collecting
phlegmatic
having or showing a slow and stolid temperament
e.g. a strangely phlegmatic response response to what should have been happy news
piano
at a soft volume; soft
pictorial
of or relating to a painter, a painting, or the painting or drawing of pictures
illustrated by pictures
suggesting or conveying visual images
e.g. a pictorial record of the trip
pictorial perspective
pictorial poetry
piddling
trivial, paltry
e.g. a piddling amount of money
He raised one final, piddling objection to the plan.
pied
of two or more colors in blotches; also, wearing or having in parti-colored coat
e.g. a pied horse
pilgrim
one who journeys in foreign lands; wayfarer
one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a devotee
e.g. Thousands of Muslim pilgrims traveled to Mecca.
pillar
a firm upright support for a superstructure; post
a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part
a fundamental precept
e.g. The ancient Greek temple boasted graceful marble pillars with richly ornamented tops.
My father has been my pillar throughout this crisis.
the five pillars of Islam
pillory
a device formerly used for publicly punishing offender consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked
a means for exposing one to public scorn
to set in a pillory as a punishment
to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn
e.g. The press pilloried the judge for her decision.
pine
to lose vigor, health, or flesh (as through grief); languish
to yearn intensely and persistently especially for something unattainable
e.g. Steve pines for Bucky and Bucky pines for Steve.
pinnacle
a high mountain top; the tower on the roof or building that comes to a narrow point at the top
the highest point of development
e.g. a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success
pious
marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship
showing loyal reverence for a person or thing; dutiful
piquant
engagingly provocative; also, having a lively arch charm
agreeably stimulating to the palate; especially, spicy
e.g. piquant vegetables seasoned with pepper
a piquant bit of gossip
pique
a transient feeling of wounded vanity; resentment
to arouse anger of resentment in; irritate
to excite or arouse
pride
e.g. He slammed the door in a fit of pique.
Her seat companion piqued her by repeatedly poking her in the ribs.
Brightly colored objects pique a baby’s interest.
He piques himself on his skill as a cook.
pirouette
a rapid whirling about of the body; also, a full turn on the toe or ball of one foot in ballet
also
pitfall
trap, snare; specifically, a pit flimsily covered or camouflaged and used to capture and hold animals or men
a hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty
e.g. He had dug a pitfall for unwary feet, and the great opportunist fell therein.
pith
the soft or spongy tissue in the stems of plants
the essential part; core
substantial quality (as of meaning)
importance
e.g. the pith of the discussion
pithy
consisting of or abounding in pith
having substance and point; tersely cogent
e.g. He captured the whole speech in one pithy sentence.
a pithy little Mother’s Day card
prolix
unduly prolonged or drawn out; too long
marked by or using an excess of words
e.g. a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners
pitiful
deserving or around pity or commiseration
exciting pitying contempt (as by meanness or inadequacy)
e.g. She made a pitiful attempt to complete her work.
pitiful wages
pittance
a small portion, amount, or allowance; also, a meager wage or remuneration
e.g. The internship offers only a pittance for a salary, but it is great opportunity to gain experience.
placate
to soothe or mollify especially by concessions; appease
e.g. The administration placated protesters by agreeing to consider their demands.
placid
serenely free of interruption or disturbance
complacent
e.g. placid skies
a person with a sunny, placid disposition
plage
the beach of a seaside resort
a bright region on the sun cause by the light emitted by clouds of calcium or hydrogen and often associated with a sunspot
plagiotropic
having the longer axis inclined away from the vertical
plague
a disastrous evil or affliction; calamity
an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality; pestilence
a cause of irritation; nuisance
a sudden unwelcome outbreak
also
e.g. The country was hit by a plague of natural disasters that year.
Computer viruses plague internet users.
Crime plagues inner city.
plaintiff
a person who brings a legal action
e.g. The judge ruled that the plaintiff’s lawsuit was groundless and dismissed it.
plaint
lamentation, wail
protest, complaint
e.g. The after the massacre, the plaints of bereaved mothers and wives could be heard throughout the village.
That taxes are too high is perhaps the most perennial of plaints.
plaintive
expressive of suffering a woe; melancholy
e.g. We could hear the plaintive cry of a wounded animal in the woods.
The puppy’s plaintive expression after we put the toy away was rather amusing.
plait
a fold in cloth; pleat
a braid of material (as hair or straw); especially, pigtail
also
e.g. She wore a plait down her back that reached her waist.
how to plait my own hair
plait a basket
plane
to make smooth or oven; level
to remove by or as if by planing (oft. used with away or off)
a tool for smoothing or shaping a wood surface
plangent
having a loud reverberating sound
having an expressive and especially plaintive quality
e.g. a plangent roar
a plangent, haunting song about a long-ago love
plankton
the passively floating or weakly swimming usually minute animal and plant life of a body of water
plaster
a medicated or protective dressing that consists of a film (as of cloth or plastic) spread with a usually medicated substance; broadly, something applied to heal and soothe
a pasty composition that hardens on drying and is used for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions
also
to smooth down with a sticky or shiny substance
to affix to especially conspicuously or in quantity
e.g. Put a plaster on the burn and don’t touch it.
We plastered and sanded the walls before painting them.
They plastered the walls with posters.
plateau
a usually extensive land area having a relatively level surface; tableland
a relatively stable level, period, or condition
e.g. a plateau covering hundreds of miles
The price of gas seems to have reached a plateau.
platitude
the quality or state of being dull and insipid
a banal, trite, or stale remark
e.g. His speech was filled with familiar platitudes about the value of hard work and dedication.
platonic
relating to or based on platonic love; also, experiencing or professing platonic love
of, relating to, or being a relationship marked by the absence of romance or sex
confined to words, theories, or ideals, and not leading to practical action
e.g. They had a platonic friendship, not a romantic one.
He wants his audience to wake up from their sleep, emerge from their platonic cave, and see the world as it truly is.
plaudit
an act or round of applause enthusiastic approval (oft. pl.)
e.g. received many plaudits for her academic achievements
plead
to argue a case or cause in a court of law to make an allegation in an action to make a plea of a specified nature to argue for or against a claim to entreat or appeal earnestly
e.g. He begged and pleaded, but she would not change her mind.
She couldn’t afford a lawyer to plead her case.
pleat
fold; especially, to arrange in pleats
a fold in cloth made by doubling material over on itself; also, something resembling such a fold
e.g. pleat a skirt
Her skirts has pleats at the waist.
pledge
a serious promise or agreement a promise to give money something left with another person as security for the performance of an act to make a pledge of; especially, pawn to drink to the health of to bind by a pledge
e.g. He has promised to fulfill a campaign pledge to cut taxes.
Her family pledged $100000 toward the construction of a new school.
plenitude
the quality or state of being full; completeness
a great sufficiency; abundance
e.g. a plenitude of information on the topic
a plenitude of natural beauty
plenteous
fruitful, productive
constituting or existing in plenty
e.g. a plenteous harvest
The seasons had been plenteous in corn.
a plenteous supply of napkins
pliable
supple enough to bend freely or repeatedly without breaking
yielding readily to others; complaisant
adjustable to varying conditions
e.g. The leather is pliant, so it’s easy to work with.
She sometimes takes advantage of her pliable parents.
pliant
yielding readily to others; pliable, complaisant
easily influenced; yielding
suitable for varied uses
e.g a pliant Congress that will do whatever the President wants
A pliant branch bent low with the weight of ripe fruit.
