Words 751 - 775 Flashcards

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1
Q

plausible

A

appearing worthy of belief

adjective

He studied all the data and then came up with a plausible theory that took all factors into account.

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2
Q

plenitude

A

a great sufficiency

noun

My grandmother was overwhelmed by the plenitude of tomatoes her garden yielded this season.

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3
Q

plethora

A

an ample amount

noun

The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.

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4
Q

pliable

A

supple enough to bend freely without breaking

adjective

Aircraft wings are designed to be somewhat pliable so they do not break in heavy turbulence.

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5
Q

poignant

A

designed to make an impression

adjective

My teacher actually cried after reading to us the poignant final chapter of the novel.

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6
Q

polemic

A

an aggressive refutation of the opinions of another

noun

My brother launched into a polemic against my arguments that capitalism was an unjust economic system.

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7
Q

portent

A

something that foreshadows a coming event

noun

When a black cat crossed my sister’s path while she was walking to school, she took it as a portent that she would do badly on her spelling test.

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8
Q

potable

A

suitable for drinking

adjective

During sea voyages it is essential that ships carry a supply of potable water because salty ocean water makes anyone who drinks it sick.

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9
Q

potentate

A

one who wields great power

noun

All the villagers stood along the town’s main road to observe as the potentate’s procession headed towards the capital.

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10
Q

pragmatic

A

concerned with practical rather than intellectual or artistic matters

adjective

The politician argued that while increased security measures might not fit with the lofty ideals of the nation, they were a pragmatic necessity to ensure everyone’s safety.

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11
Q

precipice

A

a very steep or overhanging place

noun

The mountain climber hung from a precipice before finding a handhold and pulling himself up.

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12
Q

preclude

A

to rule out in advance

verb

My grandfather’s large and vicious guard dog precluded anyone from entering the yard.

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13
Q

precocious

A

exceptionally early in development

adjective

Derek was so academically precocious that by the time he was ten years old, he was already in the ninth grade.

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14
Q

predilection

A

an established preference for something

noun

François has a predilection for eating scrambled eggs with ketchup, though I prefer to eat eggs without any condiments.

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15
Q

preponderance

A

a superiority in importance

adjective

Britain’s preponderance of naval might secured the nation’s role as a military power.

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16
Q

prepossessing

A

tending to create a favorable impression

adjective

His prepossessing appearance made it impossible for me to think of anything else.

17
Q

presage

A

something that foreshadows a future event

noun

When my uncle’s old war injury ached, he interpreted it as a presage of bad weather approaching.

18
Q

prescient

A

having foreknowledge of events

adjective

Questioning the fortune cookie’s prediction, Ray went in search of the old hermit who was rumored to be prescient.

19
Q

prescribe

A

to lay down a rule

verb

The duke prescribed that from this point further all of the peasants living on his lands would have to pay higher taxes.

20
Q

presumptuous

A

overstepping due bounds

adjective

The princess grew angry after the presumptuous noble tried to kiss her, even though he was far below her in social status.

21
Q

pretense

A

professed rather than real intention

noun

Though he actually wanted to use his parents’ car to go on a date, Nick borrowed his parents’ car under the pretense of attending a group study session.

22
Q

primeval

A

relating to the earliest ages

adjective

The first primates to walk on two legs, called Australopithecus, were the primeval descendants of modern man.

23
Q

privation

A

the state of being deprived

noun

After decades of rule by an oppressive government that saw nothing wrong with stealing from its citizens, the recent drought only increased the people’s privation.

24
Q

probity

A

adherence to the highest ideals

noun

Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no one was surprised by Mr. Samson’s immoral behavior.

25
Q

proclivity

A

an inclination toward something

noun

In a sick twist of fate, Harold’s childhood proclivity for torturing small animals grew into a desire to become a surgeon.