Words 701 - 725 Flashcards
orthodox
conforming to established doctrine
adjective
The company’s profits dwindled because the management pursued orthodox business policies that were incompatible with new industrial trends.
oscillate
to swing backward and forward
verb
My uncle oscillated between buying a station wagon to transport his family and buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood fantasies.
ostensible
being such in appearance
adjective
Jack’s ostensible reason for driving was that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying.
ostentatious
attracting attention often by gaudiness
adjective
On the palace tour, the guide focused on the ostentatious decorations and spoke little of the royal family’s history.
ostracism
exclusion by general consent from social acceptance
noun
Beth risked ostracism if her roommates discovered her flatulence.
pacific
tending to lessen conflict
adjective
The chemistry professor’s pacific demeanor helped the class remain calm after the experiment exploded.
palatable
agreeable to the taste
adjective
Despite the unpleasant smell, the exotic cheese was quite palatable.
palette
a particular range of color
adjective
The palette of colors utilized in the painting was equaled only by the range of intense emotions the piece evoked.
palliate
to reduce the violence of
verb
The doctor trusted that the new medication would palliate her patient’s discomfort.
pallid
deficient in color
adjective
Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy’s pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood.
panacea
a remedy for all difficulties
noun
Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.
paradigm
an outstandingly clear example
noun
Because the new SUV was so popular, it became the paradigm upon which all others were modeled.
paradox
a statement that is seemingly contradictory to common sense and yet is perhaps true
noun
The diplomat refused to acknowledge the paradox that negotiating a peace treaty would demand more resources than waging war.
paragon
a model of excellence
noun
The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty.
paramount
superior to all others
adjective
It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse.
pariah
something that is rejected
noun
Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles.
parody
a work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect
noun
A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Deborah acting out a parody of his teaching style.
parsimony
the quality of being careful with resources
noun
Many relatives believed that my aunt’s wealth resulted from her parsimony.
partisan
a firm adherent to a cause
noun
The king did not believe that his rival could round up enough partisans to overthrow the monarchy.
patent
readily visible
adjective
The reason for Jim’s abdominal pain was made patent after the doctor performed a sonogram.
pathology
something abnormal
noun
Dr. Hastings had difficulty identifying the precise nature of Brian’s pathology.
pathos
an emotion of sympathetic pity
noun
Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the scrawny, shivering kitten at her door.
paucity
smallness of quantity
adjective
Gilbert lamented the paucity of twentieth century literature courses available at the college.
pejorative
tending to belittle
adjective
The evening’s headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had made in reference to a foreign leader.
pellucid
easy to understand
adjective
Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger.
