Word List 29 Flashcards
privation
an act or instance of depriving; deprivation
the state or being deprived; especially, lack of what is needed for existence
e.g. The country has suffered through long periods of economic privation.
The constant privation of sleep was starting to affect my work.
probity
adherence to the highest principles and ideals; uprightness
e.g. The defense attorney questioned the probity of the witness.
turpitude
inherent baseness; depravity
e.g. Pictorial advertisements for chic clothing and fragrances in which drug addition and other forms of moral turpitude are depicted as alternative fashion statements.
scrupulous
having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
punctiliously exact; painstaking
e.g. Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.
scrupulous attention to detail
proboscis
the trunk of an elephant
the human nose especially when prominent
any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region
e.g. If there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one’s proboscis, hers would be a mile long.
proceeds
the total amount brought in
the net amount received after deduction of any discount of charges
e.g. All proceeds from the special promotion will go to charity.
procession
a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way
succession, sequence
continuous forward movement; progression
emanation
e.g. a procession of children carrying candles
The cars moved in procession to the cemetery.
proctor
supervisor, monitor; especially, one appointed to supervise students (as at an exam)
procure
to get possession of; obtain by particular care and effort
bring about, achieve
e.g. She managed to procure a ticket to the concert.
procured the prisoner’s release
prod
to thrust a pointed instrument into; prick
to incite to action; stir
to poke or stir as if with a prod
e.g. She prodded him in the ribs to get attention.
She was prodded into joining the team.
prodigal
characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; lavish
recklessly spendthrift
yielding abundantly; luxuriant
e.g. a prodigal feast
the prodigal prince
prodigious
exciting amazement or wonder
extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree; enormous
e.g. stage magicians performing prodigious feats for rapt audiences
a prodigious supply of canned food kept in the basement for emergencies
prodigy
a portentous event; omen
something extraordinary or inexplicable
a highly talented child or youth
e.g. a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world
profane
to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt; desecrate to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use
e.g. The once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories.
profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies
proffer
to present for acceptance; tender, offer
e.g. He proffered advice on how best to proceed.
proffered his assistance in helping reach a compromise
proficient
well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
e.g. proficient in computer programming
profiteer
one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency
profligate
wildly extravagant
completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness
e.g. very profligate in spending
profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster
leading a profligate life
profundity
- profound
e.g. Her books are a mixture of playfulness and profundity.
the depth and profundity of her thoughts
profuse
pouring forth liberally; extravagant
exhibiting great abundance; bountiful
e.g. He offered profuse apologies for being late.
profuse in their thanks
a profuse harvest
progeny
descendants, children; offspring
outcome, product
a body of followers, disciples, or successors
e.g. Many Americans are the progeny of immigrants.
Their work is the progeny of many earlier works.
prognosis
the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case
forecast, prognostication
e.g. The president had a hopeful prognosis about the company’s future.
proliferate
to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
to increase in number as if by proliferating; multiply
e.g. Rumors about the incident proliferated on the internet.
prolific
producing young or fruit especially freely; fruitful
marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity
e.g. Tony Stark is a famously prolific engineer.
a prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
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
promenade
to take or go on a promenade
to perform a promenade in a dance
a place for strolling
a leisurely walk or ride especially in a public place for pleasure or display
e.g. They promenaded along the beach.
a beautifully landscaped park with a wide promenade along the riverside
promulgate
to make (as a doctrine) known by open declaration; proclaim to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law) to put (a law) into action or force
e.g. Her ideas have been widely promulgated on the internet.
The law was promulgated in April 1988.
prone
having a tendency or inclination being likely
having the front or ventral surface downward; lying flat or prostrate
e.g. prone to emotional outbursts under stress
quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position
prop
something that props or sustains; support
to support by placing something under or against (oft. used with up)
to sustain, strength (oft. used with up)
e.g. She propped the rake against a tree.
a government propped up by the military
propagate
to cause to continue or increase
to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area; extend
to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (as an idea or belief); publicize
e.g. new ways to propagate plants without seeds
A new poetry flourished to develop and propagate the new ideal.
Sound cannot propagate in vacuum.
propensity
an often intense natural inclination or preference
e.g. a propensity for crime
prophetic
- prophet, prophecy
e. g. In retrospect, those lower-than-expected sales numbers were a prophetic indicator of the financial trouble the company would soon be in.
propitiate
to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of; appease
e.g. an offering to propitiate the angry gods
propitious
favorably disposed; benevolent
being a good omen; auspicious
tending to favor; advantageous
e.g. Now is a propitious time to start a business.
The success of CA:CW in May was a propitious start for the summer season of Marvel blockbusters.
proposition
proposal
the point to be discussed or maintained in argument
e.g. an attractive business proposition
Her theory rejects the basic proposition that humans evolved from monkeys.
proprietary
one that possesses exclusive right to something; specifically, proprietor
of, relating to, or characteristic of an owner of title holder
used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right
privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization
e.g. The investors have a proprietary interest in the land.
The computer comes with the manufacturer’s proprietary software.
“Merriam-Webster” is a proprietary name.
a proprietary clinic
propriety
the quality or state or being proper or suitable; appropriateness
conformity to what is socially acceptable
e.g. They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given.
certain proprieties while attending a wedding
prosaic
characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry; factual
dull, unimaginative
everyday, ordinary
e.g. prosaic advice
heroic characters wasted in prosaic lives
proscribe
to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful; prohibit
e.g. acts proscribed by law
Regulations proscribe the use of electronic devices on board a plane while it is landing.
prosecute
to follow to the end; pursue until finished
to engage in; perform
to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law
to institute legal proceedings with reference to
e.g. She criticized the government for the way it has prosecuted the war.
The store’s owner agreed not to prosecute if the boy returned the stolen goods.
The case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney.
