P Flashcards
(246 cards)
1
Q
Paean
A
song of praise or triumph
2
Q
Painstaking
A
characterized by extreme care and great effort
3
Q
Palate
A
roof of the mouth; sense of taste
4
Q
Palatial
A
magnificent
5
Q
Palaver
A
unnecessarily elaborate or complex procedure.
6
Q
Palliate
A
or extent of
7
Q
Palpability (adj. Palpable)
A
can be felt or touched
8
Q
Palpitate
A
tremble, beat rapidly and irregularly
9
Q
Paltry
A
contemptibly small in amount; not worth considering
10
Q
Paragon
A
a perfect embodiment of a concept
11
Q
Panacea
A
a remedy or solution for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; cure-all.
12
Q
Panache
A
a confidently stylish, dashing, or flamboyant manner.
13
Q
Panegyric (adj. panegyrical)
A
formal praise; eulogy
14
Q
Paradigm
A
the generally accepted perspective of a particular discipline at a given time; systematic arrangement of all the inflected forms of a word; a standard or typical example; the class of all items that can be substituted into the same position (or slot) in a grammatical sentence (are in paradigmatic relation with one another)
15
Q
Paradox
A
(logic) a statement that contradicts itself
16
Q
Parasite
A
an animal or plant that lives in or on a host
17
Q
Parenthesis
A
sentence within another one something separated
18
Q
Pariah
A
an outcast; a rejected and despised person
19
Q
Parietal
A
Of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure.
20
Q
Parley
A
negotiation
21
Q
Parochial
A
having a narrow outlook or scope; of or relating to a church parish
22
Q
Parquetry
A
a patterned wood inlay used to cover a floor
He seemed like a clumsy circus hero as he scraped his feet over the parquetry and attempted to kiss her hand.
23
Q
Parsimonious
A
too economical; miserly
24
Q
Partial
A
favoring one side in a dispute above the other; biased.
25
Partiality
unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another; favoritism.
26
Partisan
devoted to or favoring a particular cause, group, political party, or the like.
27
Passable
just good enough to be acceptable; satisfactory.
28
Passivity
the trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative; submission to others or to outside influences
29
Pastiche
work (usually artistic) which imitates
30
Pastoral
of or relating to the country or country life; rural.
31
Patent
easily recognizable; obvious.
32
Pathology
the branch of medical science that studies diseases
33
Patron
regular customer person who gives support
34
Patronizing
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
35
Paucity
an insufficient quantity or number
36
Pavonine
of or like a peacock
37
Pebble
a small smooth rounded rock
38
Peccadillo
a petty misdeed; small weakness in one's character
*Mr. Hurd’s supposed **peccadilloes** were a smoke screen for the real reason they got rid of an executive they didn’t trust and employees didn’t like.*
39
Peculiarity
the state or fact of being odd or strange.
40
Pedant
a person who pays too much attention to formal rules
41
**Pedantry (*adj*. Pedantic)**
an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
42
Pedestrian
lacking inspiration or excitement; dull.
43
Peer
look searchingly
44
Pejorative
expressing contempt or disapproval.
45
**Pellucidity (*adj*. Pellucid)**
lucid in style or meaning; easily understood.
46
Penchant
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.
47
Penetrate
be fully understood or realized by someone.
48
Penitent
feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant.
49
Penurious
poor/stingy
50
Penury
extreme poverty
51
Perceptive
having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment; of or relating to perception
52
Perch
1. take up a high position
2. an elevated place serving as a seat
53
Peregrination
traveling about wandering
54
Peremptory
urgent; imperative; unchallenged; ending debate; putting an end to all debate or action
55
Perennial
lasting an indefinitely long time
56
**Perfidious (*n*. Perfidy)**
treacherous; faithless
57
**Perfunctory (*adv*. Perfunctorily)**
done quickly and as a matter of routine; performed without care.
58
Perilous
dangerous
59
Peripatetic
traveling from place to place, in particular working or based in various places for relatively short periods
60
Peripheral
of secondary or minor importance; marginal.
61
Perish
be destroyed decay
62
Perjury
willful false statement; unlawful act
63
Permeate
spread into every part of
64
Pernicious
having a very harmful or fatal effect; injurious, deadly, or destructive.
65
Perpetrate
carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action)
66
Perpetuate
cause to continue or prevail
67
Perplex
be a mystery or bewildering to; make more complicated
68
Perseverance
persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
69
Persistence
firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
70
Personable
pleasing in appearance; attractive
71
Personify
to be a perfect or typical example of; embody.
72
**Perspicacity (*adj*. Perspicacious)**
keenness of mental perception or grasp; astuteness.
73
Persuasive
capable of convincing; tending or intended or having the power to induce action or belief
74
Pertain
belong as a part; have reference
75
Pertinent
having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand; being of striking appropriateness and pertinence
76
Pervade
spread through every part of
77
Pervasive
spreading or spread throughout
78
Pessimism
the belief that events will turn out badly; tendency to expect the worst.
79
Pest
destructive thing or a person who is nuisance
80
Pestilence
any epidemic disease with a high death rate
81
Petition
a formal request that something be submitted to an authority
82
Petrified
1. so frightened that one is unable to move; terrified.
2. (of organic matter) changed into a stony substance; ossified
83
Petrify
to make hard, rocklike
84
Petrous
like a rock; hard, stony
85
**Petulant (*n*. Petulance)**
easily irritated or annoyed (like a child)
86
Philanthropist
one who loves mankind; someone who makes charitable donations
87
Philistine
a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
88
Phlegmatic
not given to shows of emotion or interest; slow to excite.
89
Phony
1. fraudulent; having a misleading appearance;
2. noun: a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
90
Physiognomy
A person's facial features or expression, esp. when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. ; The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics
91
Physiognomy
A person's facial features or expression, esp. when regarded as indicative of character or ethnic origin. ; The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics
92
Picaresque
relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero
93
Picayune
Petty; worthless.
94
Picturesque
visually pleasing, enchanting, or unusual; suggestive of a painting.
95
Pied
of mixed colors
96
Pileous
Covered with hair
97
Pilferer
to steal, especially in small quantities
98
Pillage
plunder (especially in war)
99
Pinch
1. be too tight;
2. take between the thumb and finger
100
Pinchbeck
An alloy of zinc and copper used as imitation gold; A cheap imitation
101
Pine
suffer a mental and physical decline, especially because of a broken heart
102
Pious
dutiful to parents; devoted to religion
103
Piquant
agreeably pungent; stimulating
104
Pique
1. a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride.
2. stimulate (interest or curiosity)
105
Pitch
1. a form of words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something
2. the high or low quality of a sound
106
Pitfall
covered hole as a trap; unsuspected danger
107
Pith
1. spongy white tissue lining the rind of an orange, lemon, and other citrus fruits.
2. the essence of something.
108
Pithy
exactly and concisely appropriate; effective; forceful.
109
Pivotal
critically important or crucial; on which something is contingent.
110
Placate
soothe, pacify, calm
111
Placid
calm, smooth, or tranquil.
112
Plaintiff
a person who brings an action in a court of law
113
Plaintive
mournful; melancholy; sorrowful
114
Plangent
(of a sound) loud, reverberating, often melancholy
115
Plaque
1. flat metal on a wall as a memorial
2. a sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferate.
116
Plastic
not genuine; artificial or unnatural.
117
Platitude
a trite or obvious remark
118
Plausible
apparently reasonable and valid, and truthful; given to or characterized by presenting specious arguments
119
Plea
request
120
Plead
1. make an emotional appeal
2. address a court of law as an advocate
121
Plethora
glut
122
Pliant
easily bent
123
Plod
to move slowly or heavily, as if with weariness or reluctance; trudge.
124
Pluck
pull the feathers off; pull lightly but sharply
125
Plumb
1. measure (the depth of a body of water)
2. exactly vertical
126
Plummet
fall; plunge steeply
127
Plunge
move quickly, suddenly and with force
128
Poignant
deeply moving; keen
129
Polarize
become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation; cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions; cause to vibrate in a definite pattern
130
**Polemic (*adj*. Polemical)**
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
131
Polymath
a person of great and varied learning
*Often described as a **polymath**, Sunstein is fluent in political science and churns out books.*
132
Poncho
large piece of cloth
133
Ponderous
heavy; bulky; dull
134
Populous
densely populated
135
**Portent (*adj*. Portentous; v. Portend)**
be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.
136
Posed
arranged for pictorial purposes
137
Poseur
a person who attempts to impress by acting unlike himself
138
Posit
take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom
139
Posture
the arrangement of the body and its limbs
140
Posturing
adopting a vain conceited posture
141
Potent
having a strong physiological or chemical effect; (of a male) capable of copulation; having or wielding force or authority; having great influence
142
Practitioner
someone who carries out a learned profession
143
Pragmatism
a practical approach to problems and issues.
144
Preamble
a preliminary introduction, as to a statute or constitution
145
Precarious
uncertain; risky, dangerous
146
Precedence
priority in importance, order, or rank.
147
Precepts
rules establishing standards of conduct
148
Precious
of high worth or cost
149
**Precipice (*adj*. Precipitous)**
a very steep cliff
150
Precipitate
1. done with very great haste and without due deliberation;
2. noun: a precipitated solid substance in suspension or after settling or filtering;
3. verb: separate as a fine suspension of solid particles; hurl or throw violently; bring about abruptly; fall vertically, sharply, or headlong; fall from clouds
151
**Precipitous (*n*. Precipice)**
extremely steep
152
Preclude
make impossible, especially beforehand; keep from happening or arising; make impossible
153
Precocious
(of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected.
154
**Precursor (*adj*. Precursory)**
a person or thing that precedes, as in a process or job.
155
Predicament
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
156
Predilection
a predisposition in favor of something; a strong liking
157
Predisposition
an inclination to interpret statements in a particular way
158
Predominant
having or exerting control or power.
159
Predominate
have more power than others
160
Preeminent
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
161
Preen
tidy/show self-satisfaction
162
Prefigure
imagine or consider beforehand; indicate by signs
163
Premature
doing or happening something before the right time
164
Premise
a statement that is held to be true
165
Premonition
a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.
166
Preponderance
greatness in number, strength, weight
167
Prerogative
a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
168
Presage
be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one).
169
Prescience
the fact of knowing something in advance; foreknowledge.
170
Prescribe
issue commands or orders for
171
Presentiment
anticipatory fear; premonition
172
Presumption
1. arrogance;
2. a premise that is taken for granted
173
Pressing
requiring quick or immediate action or attention.
174
Presume
take for granted that something exists or is the case.
175
Presumptuous
going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
176
Presuppose
require as a necessary antecedent or precondition; take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand
177
Pretension
the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.
178
Pretentious
attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
179
Preternatural
surpassing the ordinary or normal; existing outside of or not in accordance with nature
180
Preternatural
not normal or usual
181
Prevalent
widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
182
Prevaricate
speak or act in an evasive way.
183
Prim
neat; formal
184
Primed
(usually followed by `to' or `for') on the point of or strongly disposed
185
Pristine
in its original condition; unspoilt.
186
Privation
a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking
187
Probity
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
188
Proclamation
a formal public statement
189
Proclivity
inclination
190
Procrastination
keeping on putting off
191
**Prodigal (*n*. Prodigality)**
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
192
**Prodigious (*n*. Prodigy)**
enormous; wonderful
193
Profane
worldly; having contempt for God
194
**Profligate (*n*. Profligacy)**
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
195
Profound
(of a subject or idea) demanding deep study or thought.
196
Profundity
the quality of being physically deep
197
Profuse
abundant/lavish
198
Prognosis
a prediction of the course of a disease; a prediction about how something (as the weather) will develop
199
Proliferate
grow, reproduce by rapid multiplication
200
Prolific
bearing in abundance especially offspring; intellectually productive
201
**Prolix (*n*. Prolixity)**
(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
202
Prolong
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
203
Prompt
according to schedule or without delay
204
Promulgate
promote or make widely known (an idea or cause).
205
Prone
prostrate; inclined to (undesirable things)
206
Propagate
spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely.
207
Propagation
increasing the number; spreading; extending
208
Propensity
a natural inclination
209
Prophetic
accurately predicting what will happen in the future.
210
Propinquity
the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
211
Propitate
placate; appease
212
**Propitiate (*adj*. Propitiatory)**
win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.
213
Propitious
auspicious; presenting favorable circumstances
214
Proportionate
being in due proportion; agreeing in amount, magnitude, or degree; exhibiting equivalence or correspondence among constituents of an entity or between different entities
215
Proposition
a suggestion offered for acceptance or rejection
216
Propped
support or keep in position.
217
Propriety
correct behavior
218
Prosaic
straightforward.; lacking in imagination and spirit
219
Proscribe
denounce as dangerous
220
*Protract (**adj**. Protracted)*
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
221
Provident
making or indicative of timely preparation for the future
222
Provincial
limited in outlook; narrow-minded.
223
Provisional
arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later
224
**Provoke (*n*. Provocation; *adj*. Provocative)**
stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.
225
Proxy
a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
226
**Prudent (*n*. Prudence)**
acting with or showing care and thought for the future.
227
Prudish
easily shocked; excessively modest
228
Prune
1. dried plum;
2. silly person
3. cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
229
Pry
get something; inquire too curiously
230
Pucker
gather something into small wrinkles or folds
231
Puerile
childish
232
Pugilist
boxer (esp a professional one)
233
Pugnacious
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
234
Puissance
strength
235
Pulchritude
Physical beauty
236
Pulchritudinous
physically beautiful; comely.
237
Punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behaviour.
238
Pundit
pedant authority on a subject
239
**Pungent (*n*. Pungency)**
strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
240
Punitive
punishing
241
Purvey
provide or supply (food, drink, or other goods) as one's business
242
Pusillanimous
lacking in courage, strength, and resolution
243
Putrefaction
becoming rotten
244
Putrefy
decay with an offensive smell
245
Puzzle
cause (someone) to feel confused because they cannot understand something.
246
Pyre
large pile of wood for burning
