Word List 36 Flashcards
Platitude (n)
trite remark; commonplace statement
In giving advice to his son, old Polonius expressed himself only in platitudes, every word out of his mouth was a truism
Platonic (adj)
purely spiritual; without sensual desire
Plaudit (n)
enthusiastic approval; round of applause
Plebeian (adj)
common; unrefined; pertaining to the common people
New Yorker articles are entirely too highbrow for my plebeian taste
Plenary (adj)
complete; full
Plenitude (n)
abundance; completeness
Looking in the pantry, we admired the plenitude of fruits and pickles we had preserved during the summer
Plethora (n)
excess; overabundance
Pliable (adj)
flexible; yielding; adaptable
Plumb (v)
examine critically in order to understand; measured in depth
We could never fully plumb the depths of Holme’s thought processes
Plutocracy (n)
society ruled by the wealthy
From the way the government caters to the rich, you might think our society is a plutocracy rather than a democracy
Poignancy (n)
quality of being deeply moving; keenest of emotion
Watching the tearful reunion of long separated mother and child, the social worker was touched by the poignant of the scene
Polemic (n)
written or verbal attack; disputatious
Kunzru maintains that his novel is a better book for not being a polemic against the excesses of the British in India
Pomposity (n)
self-important behaviour; acting like a stuffed shirt
Pontifical (adj)
pertaining to a bishop or a pope; pompous or pretentious
From the very beginning of his ministry it was clear from his pontifical pronouncements that John was destined for a high pontifical office
Portend (v)
foretell; presage
The king did not know what these omens might portend and asked his soothsayers to interpret them
