Day 23

Question 1

probity

Answer 1

Honesty, integrity

the defense attorney questioned the probity of the witness

Question 2

prodigal

Answer 2

Wasteful, extravagant; giving abundantly,
lavish

We sipped our beers and wondered at one another, at what was left of all that and of those prodigal days.

Question 3

prodigious

Answer 3

Extraordinarily large, impressive, etc

The rock was spotted a year and a half ago and its prodigious size is in dispute by even the man who uncovered it.

Question 4

profligate

Answer 4

Completely and shamelessly immoral, or
extremely wasteful

profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster

Question 5

profound

Answer 5

Very insightful, penetrating deeply into a
subject; pervasive, intense, “down to the
very bottom”; at the very bottom

Her books offer profound insights into the true nature of courage.

Question 6

profuse

Answer 6

Abundant, extravagant, giving or given
freely

He offered profuse apologies for being late.

They were profuse in their thanks.

Question 7

proliferate

Answer 7

Increase or spread rapidly or excessively

Question 8

prolix

Answer 8

Excessively long and wordy (of a person,

piece of writing, etc.)

Question 9

prologue

Answer 9

Introductory part to a book, play, etc prelude

Question 10

pronounced

Answer 10

Distinct, strong, clearly indicated

He walked with a pronounced limp.

The symptoms of the disease have become steadily more pronounced.

Question 11

prophetic

Answer 11

Relating to prophesy, predicting, ominous

PREDICTIVE

Hamilton’s warning about those who would seek to discredit the government as prelude to a possible autocracy seems prophetic.

Question 12

propitiate

Answer 12

Attempt to reconcile with, satisfy, or reduce
the animosity of (a person who is angry,
offended, etc.)

the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble

Question 13

propitious

Answer 13

Favorable, giving good signs for the future,
likely to work out; kind or forgiving;BENEVOLENT,
AUSPICIOUS,
ADVANTAGEOUS

Now is a propitious time to start a business.

Businessmen might go to one to select a propitious date to launch a new venture.

Question 14

propriety

Answer 14

Conforming to good manners or
appropriate behavior; justness

They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given.

She conducted herself with propriety.

Question 15

proscribe

Answer 15

Prohibit, outlaw; denounce; exile or banish

regulations proscribe the use of electronic devices on board a plane while it is landing

Question 16

providential

Answer 16

Lucky, fortunate, or relating to divine care
(the idea that a deity has helped or cared for
a person)

We had made a providential escape.

Question 17

proxy

Answer 17

Agent, substitute, person authorized to act
on behalf of another, PROCURATOR

sent a proxy to the meeting to cast his vote for him

Question 18

puerile

Answer 18

Juvenile, immature

On October 9th, Trump sent a remarkably puerile letter to the Turkish leader, warning him not to go too far.

Question 19

pugilism

Answer 19

boxing, fighting with the fists

Being his first foray into professional pugilism, McGregor won rounds against one of the sport’s greatest.

Question 20

pugnacious

Answer 20

Inclined to fight, combative
TRUCULENT

There’s one pugnacious member on the committee who won’t agree to anything.

Question 21

puissance

Answer 21

Power, might

the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort

“nine horses contested last night’s Puissance”

Question 22

pulchritude

Answer 22

Physical beauty

Portraits of two icons of pulchritude hang on the walls—namely, Marilyn Monroe and the very 2019 version of Marilyn: Cardi.

Question 23

pusillanimous

Answer 23

Cowardly, timid
: lacking courage and resolution : marked by contemptible timidity

pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing

Question 24

qualified

Answer 24

Modified, limited, conditional on
something else

The plan was given qualified approval.

able, capable, competent

She is highly qualified for the job.

Question 25

quandary

Answer 25

Uncertainty or confusion about what to do,
dilemma

I’m in a quandary about whether I should try to repair my stereo or buy a new one, even though I don’t have the money to do either.