Words starting with P Flashcards
palliate
to reduce the severity of something
Pallid
lacking colour
paltry
trivial, worthless
panacea
a cure-all: an answer for all problems
pandemonium
wild disorder; confusion
paradigm
an example that illustrates a perfect pattern or model
paragon
a model of excellence or perfection
pariah
an outcast
parley
discussion, conference
parlous
dangerous
parsimony
frugality, stinginess
partisan
a follower, adherent
pathos
an emotion or sympathy
patrimony
inherited right
paucity
lack, scarcity
pedantic
overly concerned with minor details: over scrupulous
peevish
having or showing an irritable disposition
pejorative
insulting, derogatory, uncomplimentary
Pellucid
transparent, clear
Penchant
A tendency, partiality or preference
penurious
miserly, stingy
perfidious
disloyal, unfaithful
perfunctory
showing little interest or enthusiasm
pernicious
extremely destructive or harmful
perspicacity
shrewdness or perceptiveness
pert
bold, flippant
perusal
careful examination or review
pervasive
having a tendency to spread out
petulance
irritable, rude
phlegmatic
uninterested, unresponsive
Picaresque
Pertaining to an adventurous wanderer
pillage
to sieze or plunder most likely using force
pithy
concisely meaningful
placid
peaceful, calm
platitude
a dull, uninspiring remark or cliche
plethora
an abundance, excess
poignant
deeply affecting or moving
polemic
an aggressive argument against a specific opinion
postulate
to assume true the existence, fact or truth of something
potentate
one who has great power, a ruler
pragmatic
practical
predicate
to decide or assert
predilection
a preference or inclination towards something
preponderance
superiority in something or quantity
prepossessing
occupying the mind to the exclusion of other thoughts or feelings
presage
Sentence: Indians believe that their idols falling are a presage for bad luck and fortune.
omen
prescience
sentence: The magician was said to be prescient, as he claimed to predict the future and then accurately describe it to his audience.
to have foreknowledge of events
primeval
Sentence: Scientists recently confirmed that it is needed the monkeys who are our primeval ancestors.
original, ancient
prevaricate
sentence: Students prevaricate frequently in order to placate their teachers, even though they do not do work.
to speak or act in an evasive way
privation:
The government’s highly corrupt deals just exacerbates the citizens’ privations
lacking basic necessities
probity
Sentence: Teachers found it appalling when they discovered that the student who was thought to have probity prevaricated them into believing that he does his homework
integrity, honesty
prodigal
Spoilt children often do not know the value of money and are prodigal.
wasteful
profligate
The businessman is said to a be profligate, he spends his money on gambling and alcohol
extravagant, dissolute( overindulgence in pleasures)
proliferate
The country proliferated its stockpile of weapons and chemical gas, which led to widespread outrage
to increase rapidly in number
promulgate
The teacher promulgated the fact that there can only be two electrons in the 1st electron shell in an atom.
to proclaim, or make known
propitious
The apparent anger in the crowd did not seem to be propitious for the pert players
favorable
prosaic
The long and prosaic essay did not convince the teacher, and hence he gave the student a rather low mark.
dull, commonplace
protean
The boy’s protean capabilities were far reaching: he was exemplary in everything that he attempted
able to change shape, displaying great variety
prowess
Illayaraja, despite not attending any formal music lessons, was said to be a musical prowess.
extraordinary ability
prudence
caution, or good judgement
puerile
Sentence: the student despite being 17, behaved in a puerile manner amongst his friends. He lacked mental maturity
juvenile, immature
pugnacious
Kim-Jong Un’s pugnacious behaviour leads to global concern about what he intends on doing next.
quarrelsome, combative
pulchritude
The poet wrote a numerous number of poems on the pulchritude of the surrounding landscape and countryside
physical beauty
punctilious
The coward always preferred to be punctilious, rather than defying his parents’ words.
very exact, precise
puritanical
harsh, rigid, strict
putrefy
to rot, decay
panegyric
public speech or published text in praise of something or someone
parable
a simple story used to explain a moral or spiritual lesson.
paraphernalia
miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity
parochial
having a limited or narrow outlook or scope
peculate
embezzle or steal money
peremptory
immediate attention or obedience
perspicuous
clearness of a statement
philistine
indifferent to culture and arts
pithy
concise, meaningful
pittance
a very small amount, especially relating to money
plaintive
sounding sad or mournful
pliant
easily bent, adaptable
preclude
to prevent opposite of include
preen
to make oneself look smart and presentable
privy
to have knowledge of something secret
propriety
the quality or state of being decent, proper
prattle
Taha prattles about significant things: he keeps repeating his life achievements over and over again.
babble
ponderous
His jokes were never light-hearted. They were on the contrary quite ponderous
heaving, weighty
