P Flashcards
(375 cards)
1
Q
pacific
A
adj. calm; peaceful
Canada and the United States enjoy pacific relations.
2
Q
pacifist
A
n. person opposed to war or violence between nations
Pacifists demonstrated against war.
3
Q
pacify
A
v. to restore calm, bring peace
The leader’s promise pacified the angry crowd.
4
Q
paean
A
n. a song of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy
The poem is a paean to the beauty of nature.
5
Q
pagan
A
n. someone who has no religion
The missionary was sent to the country to preach to the pagans.
6
Q
painstaking
A
adj. being very careful
Painstaking research goes into the preparation of a GRE test.
7
Q
palatable
A
adj. pleasant to the taste or mind
The dishes George cooks can most kindly be described as palatable.
8
Q
palatial
A
adj. like a palace; magnificent
The actor’s house is palatial.
9
Q
palaver
A
n. idle talk
“Let’s stop this palaver and get to work,” the boss said.
10
Q
paleontology
A
n. study of past geological eras through fossil remains
Paleontology makes use of the knowledge of a number of other sciences, such as geology.
11
Q
paleoseismology
A
n. the study of the timing, location, and size of prehistoric earthquakes
Developments in the science of paleoseismology has improved humanity’s ability to assess the likelihood of an earthquake occurring in a particular area.
12
Q
palette
A
n. board for mixing paints; range of colors
We found the colors on the painter’s palette more interesting than the picture that she was painting.
13
Q
palisade
A
n. fence made up of stakes
The palisade helps to prevent intruders.
14
Q
pall (v.)
A
v. to lose strength or interest
Playing checkers every night began to pall.
15
Q
pall (n.)
A
n. covering that darkens or obscures; coffin
After the nuclear explosion, a pall descended on the city.
16
Q
palliate
A
v. to make less serious, ease
The doctor prescribed drugs to palliate her patient’s suffering.
17
Q
palliative
A
n. something that relieves the symptoms without curing the disease
Aspirin is a commonly used palliative.
18
Q
pallid
A
adj. lacking color or liveliness
Becky looked pallid after she saw a ghost.
19
Q
palpable
A
adj. obvious; real; tangible
No palpable evidence of alien spacecraft has been found.
20
Q
palpitation
A
n. trembling; shaking
The patient has heart palpitations.
21
Q
paltry
A
adj. pitifully small or worthless
Mr. Jones can barely survive on his paltry salary.
22
Q
panacea
A
n. cure-all
Some people consider aspirin to be a panacea.
23
Q
panache
A
n. flamboyance, verve
Dwight does everything with panache.
24
Q
pandemic
A
n. disease spread over a whole area
Doctors are working to bring the pandemic under control.
25
panegyric
n. elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise
The poem is a panegyric on the soldier's bravery.
26
panoply
n. impressive array
The military force displayed a panoply of weapons.
27
panorama
n. broad view; comprehensive picture
The book provides a panorama of the middle ages.
28
pantheist
n. a person who believes that manifestations of the universe are God
Many people believe that the writers Wordsworth, Emerson, and Whitman were pantheists.
29
pantheon
n. all the gods of a people; a group of highly regarded persons
In the pantheon of English poets, few rank higher than John Milton.
30
papacy
n. the office of the pope
The papacy will be vacant until a new pope in elected.
31
parable
n. a short, simple story that teaches a moral lesson
The holy man uses parables to teach his followers.
32
paradigm
n. model; example; pattern
The famous scientific experiment has served as a paradigm for many other experiments.
33
paradisiacal
adj. heavenly; wonderful
Hawaii is often portrayed as a paradisiacal land.
34
paradox
n. contradiction, incongruity; dilemma
The saying "the more things changes, the more they remain the same" is an example of a paradox.
35
paradoxical
adj. relating to a contradiction, an incongruity, or a dilemma
It is paradoxical that a river always changes yet always remains the same.
36
paragon
n. model of excellence or perfection
The saint is a paragon of virtue.
37
paramount
adj. supreme, dominant, primary
The military's paramount mission is to defend the country.
38
parenthetical
adj. clarifying or qualifying
The speaker's parenthetical remarks clarified his point.
39
pariah
n. outcast
The traitor is a pariah in his country.
40
parity
n. equality
The arms buildup is designed to achieve military parity with the enemy.
41
parlance
n. a particular manner of speaking
In newspaper parlance, a story can be "killed."
42
parley
n. discussion, usually between enemies
The opposing general agreed to a parley.
43
parochial
adj. narrow in outlook; provincial
Many of the people in this town are parochial.
44
parody
n. humorous imitation
The poem is parody of T.S. Eliot's Four Quarters.
45
paroxysm
n. fit or attack of pain, laughter, or rage
The joke made Ruth double over in paroxysms of laughter.
46
parry
v. to ward off or deflect
The boxer parried his opponent's punches
47
parsimony
n. stinginess
The cheapskate's parsimony is legendary.
48
partisan (adj.)
adj. one-sided; committed to a party, group, or cause; prejudiced
The columnist usually takes a partisan position.
49
partisan (n.)
n. a fervent supporter or proponent of a party, group, or cause
Partisans of all the candidates were invited to the debate.
50
parvenu
n. a newly rich person who is regarded as an upstart
The landed aristocracy felt superior to the parvenu.
51
passé
adj. old-fashioned
New electronic gadgets often quickly become passé.
52
passive
adj. not active; not acted upon
The activists used passive resistance to protest the policy.
53
pastiche
n. piece of literature or music imitating other works
The poem is a pastiche of famous twentieth-century poems.
54
pastoral
adj. rural; charmingly simple and peaceful; portrays country life in an idealized way
The artist painted a pastoral scene.
55
patent
adj. obvious, unconcealed
Her story was a patent lie.
56
paternal
adj. fatherly
The veteran pitcher is keeping a paternal eye on the young rookie.
57
paternalistic
adj. providing for the needs of people without giving them rights and responsibilities
Most people don't want the government to be too paternalistic.
58
paternity
n. fatherhood; descent from father's ancestors
A DNA test established the man's paternity.
59
pathogen
n. agent that causes disease
Researchers have identified the pathogen.
60
pathogenic
adj. capable of causing disease
The bacteria are being tested to see if they are pathogenic.
61
pathological
adj. departing from normal condition
Lying has become pathological with the boy.
62
pathology
n. the manifestation of a disease; departure from normal condition
The test determined that pathology was present.
63
pathos
n. pity, compassion
It was a play of such pathos that everyone in the audience was in tears.
64
patois
n. a regional dialect; nonstandard speech; the jargon of a group
The people in that area speak a local patois.
65
patriarchal
adj. relating to a family or community governed by men
Most human societies are patriarchal.
66
patrician
n. aristocrat
The patrician feels a duty to help the poor.
67
patricide
n. murder of one's father
Many scholars believe that Alexander the Great became king through patricide.
68
patrimony
n. inheritance or heritage derived from one's father
Doug spent his patrimony on a Ferrari and a yacht.
69
patronizing
adj. condescending, disparaging; buying from
The class felt that the teacher was patronizing.
70
patron saint
n. a saint who is regarded as an intercessor in heaven for a person, nation, etc.
Saint Luke is considered the patron saint of doctors.
71
paucity
n. scarcity
In china there is a paucity of women for men to marry.
72
pauper
n. very poor person
Ralph lives like a pauper so that he can build up his savings.
73
peccadillo
n. minor sin or offense
The police officer ignored the peccadillo.
74
peculation
n. theft of money or goods
The gang planned a lot of peculation in the summer.
75
pecuniary
adj. relating to money
David spends so much time writing poetry not from a pecuniary motive but rather for the satisfaction of expressing himself.
76
pedagogue
n. teacher
The curriculum was designed by pedagogues.
77
pedagogy
n. art or profession of teaching
Gilbert Highet's The Art of Teaching is a well-known book on pedagogy.
78
pedant
n. uninspired, boring academic
The pedant never has an original idea; he just repeats the ideas of others.
79
pedantic
adj. showing off learning
The class resented the teacher's pedantic insistence on old-fashioned grammar rules.
80
pedantry
n. pedantic attention to learning or formal rules
The scholar didn't include footnotes in his new book to avoid the appearance of pedantry.
81
pedestrian
adj. commonplace
Most of the ideas in the book are pedestrian.
82
pediatrician
n. doctor specializing in children and their ailments
Mrs. Moore took her child to a pediatrician.
83
pediment
n. triangular gable on a roof or façade
The building's pediment is modeled on one found in an ancient Greek temple.
84
peer
n. contemporary; equal, match
Kim has the respect of her peers.
85
peerless
adj. unequaled
Shakespeare was a peerless writer.
86
pejorative
adj. having bad connotations; disparaging
We didn't like the pejorative comments about us.
87
pelagic
adj. living in open oceans or seas rather than waters adjacent to land or inland waters
The scientists are studying the migration patterns of pelagic birds.
88
pellucid
adj. transparent; translucent; easily understood
I saw to the bottom of the pellucid stream.
89
penance
n. voluntary suffering to repent for a wrong
The sinner performed penance.
90
penchant
n. inclination
Steve has a penchant for writing.
91
penitent
adj. expressing sorrow for sins or offenses, repentant
The convicted man was penitent about the wrong he had done.
92
pensive
adj. thoughtful
Valerie is in a pensive mood.
93
penultimate
adj. next to last
Our team occupies the penultimate place in the league standing.
94
penumbra
n. partial shadow
During the eclipse we watched the penumbra move across the moon's surface.
95
penurious
adj. poverty-stricken; destitute
The city government has set up shelters for penurious old people.
96
penury
n. extreme poverty
The lawsuit reduced Mr. Wilson to penury.
97
perambulation
n. walking about
The part is a good place for perambulation.
98
perciplent
adj. discerning, able to perceive
A percipient onlooker noted the license number of the car.
99
perdition
n. complete and utter loss; damnation
The sermon warned of perdition to come.
100
peregrination
n. a wandering from place to place
Mr. Theroux's peregrinations took him around the world.
101
peremptory
adj. imperative; leaving no choice
No one in the company questioned the colonel's peremptory order.
102
perennial
adj. present throughout the years; persistent
Pollution is a perennial problem in the city.
103
perfidious
adj. faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy
The boss dismissed the perfidious employee.
104
perfidy
n. deliberate breach of faith or violation of trust
Our ally's perfidy came as a shock to everyone.
105
perfunctory
adj. superficial; not thorough; performed really as a duty
The pilot had time only for a perfunctory check of his aircraft before takeoff.
106
perigee
n. point in an orbit that is closest to the Earth
The probe will be launched so that upon its arrival Mars will be at perigee.
107
perihelion
n. point in orbit nearest to the sun
The Earth is approaching perihelion.
108
peripatetic
adj. moving from place to place
The peripatetic professor has taught at twenty colleges.
109
peripheral
adj. not central; of minor importance
The issue is only of peripheral importance.
110
periphery
n. perimeter
The poor often live on the periphery of society.
111
periphrastic
adj. containing too many words
The critic called the translation of the French poem into English "periphrastic."
112
perjure
v. to tell a lie under oath
The judge concluded that the witness had perjured himself.
113
permafrost
n. permanently frozen subsoil
The U.S. Department of the Interior's permafrost network in Alaska is part of a global network of permafrost monitoring stations.
114
permeable
adj. penetrable
The frozen soil is not permeable.
115
permeate
v. to spread or flow through
The new CEOs personality has begun to permeate through the firm.
116
pernicious
ad. very harmful
The talk is on the pernicious effects of alcohol abuse.
117
perpetual
adj. endless, lasting
The inventor claims that he has built a perpetual motion machine.
118
perpetuate
v. to cause to continue indefinitely
The false idea was perpetuated in several publications.
119
perpetuity
n. time without end; eternity
The lease was granted in perpetuity.
120
persona
n. a person's public image
The politician is trying to improve his persona.
121
personification
n. ac of attributing human qualities to objects or abstract qualities
Calling the wind "angry" is an example of personification.
122
perspicacious
adj. shrewd, astute, keen-witted
The perspicacious lawyer won the majority of his cases.
123
perspicacity
n. acuteness of perception or understanding
Perspicacity helped the lawyer to win the case.
124
pert
adj. lively and bold
Joan plays the role of the pert young law student.
125
pertinacious
adj. persistent, stubborn
Richard's pertinacious character is a major factor in his success.
126
perturb
v. to disturb greatly; make uneasy or anxious
Observations showed that the satellite's orbit had been perturbed.
127
perturbation
n. disturbance
The perturbation in the star's orbit is evidence for the existence of a large planet in the vicinity.
128
perusal
n. close examination
The editor's perusal of the manuscript revealed several errors.
129
peruse
v. to examine closely
[Sherlock Holmes perused the newspaper for a clue.
130
pervade
v. to spread throughout every part
Hydrogen pervades the universe.
131
pervasive
adj. spread throughout every part
The influence of the West is pervasive.
132
perverse
adj. stubborn, intractable, contradicting without good reason
The girl seems to have a perverse desire to be expelled from school.
133
pervert
v. to cause to change in immoral way; misuse
The interpretation perverts the poem's meaning.
134
perveted
adj. changed in immoral way; misused
The group follows a perverted version of its founder's teachings.
135
pestilence
n. epidemic, plague
The pestilence spread rapidly to neighboring countries.
136
petty
adj. trivial; very small; unimportant
Let's forget about this petty matter.
137
petulantly
adv. in a rude or peevish manner
The child stamped her feet and frowned petulantly.
138
phalanx
n. massed group of soldiers, people, or things
A phalanx of soldiers prevented the mob from entering.
139
phallocentric
adj. centered on men or on a male viewpoint
The critic described The Odyssey as phallocentric.
140
phantasmagoria
n. a fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery
She described her dream as "a phantasmagoria."
141
pharmacopoeia
n. a collection of drugs
The pharmacopoeia contains many drugs derived from plants.
142
phenomena
n. observable occurrences
Scientists try to understand natural phenomena.
143
philanderer
n. pursuer of casual love affairs
Jerry has a reputation as a philanderer.
144
philanthropist
n. lover of humanity; humanitarian
The philanthropist who donated the money for the new college library prefers to remain anonymous.
145
philanthropy
n. love of humanity; generosity to worthy causes
The tax system encourages philanthropy.
146
philatelist
n. stamp collector
The philatelist has a stamp collection valued at over $30,000.
147
philistine
n. narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture
The philistines voted against the funds for the arts program.
148
philology
n., study of words
English philology owes a great deal to the Oxford English Dictionary.
149
phlegmatic
adj. calm in temperature; sluggish
The phlegmatic librarian merely raised an eyebrow when a fire broke out in the reference section.
150
phobia
n. irrational fear
The patient was treated by a psychologist for his phobia.
151
phoenix
n. mythical, immortal bird that lives for 500 years, burns itself to death, and rise from its ashes
Our winless football team will rise like a phoenix next year.
152
phonetics
n. study of speech sounds
Knowledge of phonetics is helpful to a reading teacher.
153
phonic
adj. relating to sound
The stories are designed to develop children's phonic knowledge.
154
physiognomy
n. facial features
Some people believe that a person's physiognomy reflects his or her character.
155
physiology
n. study of living organism; the functions of a living organism
A good understanding of human physiology is important for a medical doctor.
156
pidgin
n., a simplified form of speech
The people of the country speak French and a pidgin that is based on English.
157
piety
n. devoutness
We all admire his piety.
158
pilfer
v. to steal
Someone pilfered my copy of Wordfest!
159
pillage
v. to loot, especially during a war
The enemy soldiers pillaged the town.
160
pinnacle
n. peak, highest point of development
The writer is at the pinnacle of her career.
161
pious
adj. dedicated, devout, extremely religious
The pious worshipper attends church every day.
162
piquant
adj. appealingly stimulating; pleasantly pungent
The chef's piquant tomato sauce is popular with diners.
163
pique (n.)
n. fleeting feeling of hurt pride
She'll soon get over her pique.
164
pique (v.)
v. to provoke, arouse
His eighth grade teacher piqued his interest in the English language.
165
piscivore
n. a fish-eating animal
An example of a piscivorous is the Aquatic Genet.
166
pithy
adj. forceful and brief
Grandfather usually sits quietly observing, occasionally making a pithy comment.
167
pittance
n. meager amount or wage
Tom's allowance is a pittance.
168
placate
v. to lessen another's anger; pacify
Nothing would placate their anger.
169
placebo
n. a substance with no medication given to a patient
One group of people in the experiment was given a placebo
170
placid
adj. calm
George has a placid disposition.
171
plagiarism
n. theft of another's ideas or writing
A few students in the class think that there's nothing wrong with plagiarism.
172
plaintiff
n. injured person in a lawsuit
The plaintiff is seeking ten million in damages.
173
planetesimal
n. any of numerous small celestial bodies that may have existed at an early stage of the development of the solar system
Many astronomers believe that the planets have evolved by aggregation from planetesimals.
174
plasticity
n. condition of being able to be shaped or formed; pliability
Behaviorist psychologists such as B.F. Skinner tend to stress the plasticity of human beings.
175
platitude
n. stale, overused expression
"Might makes right" is a platitude.
176
platonic
adj. spiritual; without physical desire; theoretical
James and Emma used to be lovers, but now their relationship is platonic.
177
plaudits
n. enthusiastic praise or approval
The actor's performance won the plaudits of the critics.
178
plausibility
n. validity, likeliness, or acceptability
The scientist questioned the plausibility of the claim.
179
plebeian
adj. crude, vulgar, low-class
Ralph's tastes are plebeian.
180
plenary
adj. complete in all respects; fully attended by all qualified members
The chief minister called a plenary meeting of the council.
181
plenitude
n. abundance, plenty
The new immigrants were amazed by Australia's plenitude.
182
plethora
n. excess, overabundance
There is a plethora of jobs in the booming economy.
183
pliant
adj. pliable, yielding
Garth has a pliant nature.
184
ploy
n. an action to gain the advantage indirectly or deviously
The ploy helped us to gain the advantage
185
plucky
adj. courageous, spunky
The plucky soldier charged the enemy machine gun position.
186
plumb
v. to determine the depth; to examine deeply
The poem plumbs the depths of human nature.
187
plummet
v. to fall, plunge
The dead bird plummeted to Earth.
188
pluralistic
adj. including a variety of groups
The United States is a pluralistic society.
189
plurality
n. being plural; a large number
The candidate received a plurality of the votes.
190
plutocracy
n. society ruled by the wealthy
America is described by some people as having some of the characteristics of a plutocracy.
191
ply
v. to use diligently; engage; join together
The tailor plies his trade in a nearby town.
192
pneumatic
adj. relating to air; worked by compressed air
The work men used a pneumatic drill to dig through the surface of the road.
193
poach
v. to steal game or fish; appropriate something as one's own; cook in boiling liquid
The track coach accused the football coach of poaching his athletes
194
podium
v. platform or lectern of orchestra conductors of speakers
The person on the podium looked small from where we were sitting.
195
pogrom
n. an organized massacre of persecution of a minority group
The pogrom was carried out over one year.
196
poignant
adj. emotionally moving
The survivors told poignant stories.
197
polar
adj. relating to a geographic pole; exhibiting contrast
The expedition studied the polar region.
198
polarize
v. to tend toward opposite extremes
The candidate's stand on the controversial issue has polarized voters across the state.
199
polemic
n. controversy, argument; verbal attack
His works are polemics in support of the present policy.
200
polemical
adj. relating to controversy, argument, or verbal attack
The politician wrote a polemical article on the issue.
201
politic
adj. discreet, tactful
The politic diplomat was chosen to lead the negotiation.
202
polity
n. an organized society having a specific form of government
The polity is devoted to freedom of speech and expression.
203
polyandry
n. the practice of having more than one husband at one time
The form of polyandry in which a woman is married to two or more brothers is known as "fraternal polyandry," and it is believed by many anthropologists to be the most frequently encountered form.
204
polygamy
n. having more than one wife or husband at a time
Polygamy is practiced in Australia's aboriginal culture.
205
ployglot
n. speaker of many languages
The polyglot speaks French, German, Italian, Spanish, and English
206
polytheist
n. a person who believes in more than one god
Many people in ancient Rome were polytheists.
207
pompous
adj. marked by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity
Stan plays the part of the pompous milfoil in the schools' production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
208
ponder
v. to weigh carefully in the mind; reflect deeply
Susan is pondering the meaning and purpose of existence.
209
ponderous
adj. weighty; unwieldy; labored
How long will this boring, ponderous speech last?
210
pontificate
v. to speak in a pretentious manner
Mr. Sanders likes to pontificate in his history class.
211
portent
n. omen
Th sailors saw the storm as a bad portent.
212
portentous
adj. foreboding; exciting wonder and awe
The diary records the portentous events of 1776.
213
portly
adj. stout, dignified
A portly gentleman entered the room.
214
poseur
n. a person who tries to impress others by affecting a manner, attitude, etc., other than his or her true one
Sharon's reputation as a poseur makes it hard to take her seriously.
215
posit
v. to assume or affirm the existence of; postulate; to propose as an explanation
The science fiction novel posits the existence of an advanced race living on Mars one billion years ago.
216
positivism
n. a philosophical doctrine that says that sense perceptions are the only valid basis of human knowledge
Positivism holds that science is humanity's highest intellectual achievement.
217
posterior
adj. later in time
The evidence shows that the crime occurred posterior to the meeting.
218
posterity
n. future generations; all of a person's descendants
How will posterity judge us?
219
posthumous
adj. occurring or continuing after one's death; published after a writer's death
He received a posthumous award for bravery.
220
Postmodernism
n. theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language; in the arts, any of various movements in reaction to modernism that are typically characterized by a return to traditional materials and forms
The article discusses the view that Postmodernism is no longer an important theory.
221
post mortem
n. medical examination of a dead body; autopsy
The post mortem revealed the cause of death.
222
postulate (n.)
n. a principle provisionally adopted as a basis for argument; a presupposition; basic principle
We accepted the postulate for the sake of discussion.
223
postulate (v.)
v. to assume as a premise
The science fiction novel postulates that an advanced civilization once lived on the moon.
224
potable
adj. drinkable
The water is potable.
225
potent
adj. strong; powerful
The potent drug must be used carefully.
226
potentate
n. monarch or ruler with great power
The potentate ordered an invasion of the neighboring country.
227
pragmatic
adj. practical
The English have a reputation as a pragmatic, down-to-earth people.
228
pragmatism
n. practical way of approaching situations or solving problems
Pragmatism can be described as a fancy word for common sense.
229
prate
v. to talk idly; chatter
The fool prated on, showing his ignorance of the subject.
230
prattle
n. meaningless, foolish talk
I've had enough of this prattle; let's get to work.
231
precarious
adj. uncertain
Our position is precarious.
232
precedence
n. right of preceding; priority
This latest case must take precedence over the earlier ones.
233
precedent
n. a model for that which follows
The lawyer found a precedent for the case.
234
precept
n. principle; law
The class studied the precepts of good writing.
235
preceptor
n. teacher
The young writer's preceptor is a famous novelist.
236
precipice
n. edge, steep overhang
The car went off the precipice.
237
precipitate (adj.)
adj. rash; hasty; sudden
The man's friend urged him not to be precipitate in coming to a decision.
238
precipitate (v.)
v. to cause to happen; throw down from a height
The rumors precipitated a rebellion.
239
precipitation
n. water droplets or ice particles condensed from atmospheric water vapor that falls to Earth
There has been a lot of precipitation this winter.
240
precipitous
adj. hasty, quickly, with too little caution
The precipitous decision nearly led to disaster.
241
précis
n. short summary of facts
The governor asked his aid to prepare a précis of the report.
242
precocious
adj. unusually advanced at an early age
The precocious child was enrolled in the school's gifted program.
243
preconception
n. an idea formed in advance of actual knowledge; a prejudice
Education can encourage us to examine our preconceptions.
244
precursor
n. forerunner, predecessor
The league of Nations was a precursor to the United Nations.
245
predator
n. one that preys on others, destroyer, plunderer
The tiger is one of nature's most deadly predators.
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predatory
adj. marked by preying on others
The predatory salesperson watched the shoppers carefully.
247
predecessor
n. former occupant of post; something that has been succeeded by another
The new governor met with his predecessor.
248
predicament
n. difficult situation
There is no easy way out of the predicament.
249
predicate (v.)
v. to found or base on
Our argument is predicated on several assumptions.
250
predicate (n.)
n. one of the two main constituents of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject
The students learned to identify the subject and predicate in a sentence.
251
predictive
adj. relating to prediction, indicative of the future
The experiment will test the theory's predictive power.
252
predilection
n. preference, liking
I have a predilection for reading books about language.
253
predisposed
adj. having a tendency
The judge is predisposed to be lenient.
254
predisposition
n. tendency, inclination
He has a predisposition to be happy.
255
predominance
n. ascendancy, importance; prevalence
Japan's predominance in Asia is being challenged by China
256
preeminence
n. condition of being superior to or notable above all others
Most experts agree on Shakespeare's preeminence amount English playwrights.
257
preface
n. introduction to a book; introductory remarks to a speech
In her preface the author explains why she wrote the book.
258
prehensile
adj. capable of grasping
The animal's prehensile tail allows it to hang from the branches of trees.
259
prejudge
v. to judge beforehand or without all the evidence
The jurors were told not to prejudge the case.
260
prelude
n. an introductory performance, action, or vent preceding preparing for the principal or a more important matter
We enjoyed the prelude to the performance.
261
premediatate
v. to consider, plan beforehand
The jury found that the accused had premeditated the murder.
262
premise
n. a proposition upon which an argument is based
The argument is based on a faulty premise.
263
premonition
n. forewarning; presentiment
The woman had a premonition of disaster.
264
preordained
adj. decided in advance
The philosopher believes that the events of our lives are preordained.
265
preponderance
n. majority in number; dominance
There is a preponderance of science majors at the college.
266
prepossessing
adj. attractive, engaging, appealing
They were a prepossessing group of students.
267
preposterous
adj. absurd, illogical
What a preposterous plan!
268
prerequisite
n. something necessary as a prior condition
An advanced math course is a prerequisite for physics.
269
prerogative
n. a special right or privilege
Formerly, voting was a prerogative of certain groups.
270
presage
v. to foretell, indicate in advance
The legend presages a golden age.
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prescience
n. foresight
Mrs. Tan had the prescience to bring an umbrella to the lacrosse game.
272
prescribe
v. to order the use of
Make sure you get the list of books prescribed by the examiners for the exam.
273
presentiment
n. premonition, sense of foreboding
Several people said they felt a presentiment of the tragedy.
274
prestidigitation
n. sleight of hand
The magician amazed the audience with his feats of prestidigitation.
275
presume
v. to assume to be true
We presumed that the account was accurate.
276
presumption
n. belief based on reasonable evidence
My presumption is that you are telling the truth.
277
presumptuous
adj. rude, improperly bold
The student was presumptuous in criticizing the instructor's teaching technique.
278
presuppose
v. to assume or suppose something in advance
The essay makes the mistake of presupposing what it is trying to prove.
279
presupposition
n. something assumed or supposed in advance
Modern biology accepts evolution as a presupposition.
280
pretentious
adj. ostentatious; showy
Herb's big car is pretentious.
281
preternatural
adj. beyond the normal course of nature; supernatural
There were rumors of preternatural occurrences in the graveyard.
282
pretext
n. excuse, pretended reason
Hugh used his question as a pretext to meet Erica.
283
prevalent
adj. widespread
The disease is prevalent in Europe.
284
prevaricate
v. to quibble, evade the truth
The witness prevaricated under questioning from the detective.
285
prima facie
adv. at first sight;
adj. true at first sight; evident without proof
In view of the strong prima facie evidence, the detective has decided to proceed with the investigation.
286
primeval
adj. ancient, primitive
This history of the world starts from primeval time.
287
primordial
adj. original, existing from the beginning
The astronomer is studying the primordial universe.
288
pristine
adj. untouched, uncorrupted
The computer is in pristine condition.
289
privation
n. lack of usual necessities or comforts
The soldier suffered privation during the long winter campaign.
290
probity
n. honesty, high-mindedness
The official's probity is beyond question.
291
proclivity
n. tendency, inclination
Tom's proclivities are toward the arts.
292
procrastinator
n. one who continually and unjustifiable postpones
The student is a procrastinator.
293
procure
v. to obtain
We need to procure a copy of the textbook before classes begin.
294
prodigal
adj. wasteful, extravagant, lavish
The celebration was criticized as prodigal.
295
prodigious
adj. vast, enormous, extraordinary
The scientist has made a prodigious effort to prove his theory.
296
prodigy
n. highly gifted child
The violin prodigy is giving a concert tonight.
297
profane
v. to treat with irreverence or disrespect; degrade or abuse
The sign instructed tourists to remove their shoes so as not to profane the sanctity of the temple.
298
profligacy
n. corruption, degeneration; wild extravagance
The government was accused of profligacy in spending ten million dollars on the celebrations.
299
profound
adj. deep; not superficial
Profound thinking is needed to understand this poem.
300
profundity
n. the quality of being deep, not superficial
Few would doubt the profundity of Spinoza's philosophy.
301
profuse
adj. lavish, extravagant
He was embarrassed by the profuse compliments.
302
profusion
n. great quantity; abundance
There is a profusion of fresh fruit available this summer.
303
progenitor
n. originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line
The trive follows the teachings of its progenitors.
304
progeny
n. offspring, children
Those who come after us are our progeny.
305
prognosis
n. prediction of disease outcome; any prediction
The doctor's prognosis is favorable.
306
prognostication
n. prediction through use of present condition as a guide
His prognostication was that there would be a recession.
307
progressive
adj. favoring progress or change; moving forward, going step by step
The government has taken a progressive approach to lowering taxes.
308
prohibition
n. a law or order that forbids something
There is a prohibition on selling alcoholic beverages after 10 P.M..
309
proletariat
n. the class of industrial wage earners who must sell their labor to survive
The writer's sympathies are with the proletariat.
310
proliferate
v. to increase rapidly
Weeds are proliferating on the front lawn.
311
prolific
adj. abundantly fruitful
The prolific author Isaac Asimov wrote more than 300 books.
312
prolix
adj. tending to speak or write at excessive length; wordy
The writer's main fault is that he is prolix.
313
prologue
n. introductory section of a literary work or play
The novel's prologue sets the scene.
314
promontory
n. piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings
For the promontory we could see far across the desert.
315
promulgate
v. to make known publicly
The new policy was promulgated last month.
316
propaganda
n. the systematic dissemination of ideas reflecting a particular view or interest
The film has been criticized as being propaganda for the government.
317
propensity
n. inclination, tendency
The student has a propensity to exaggerate his academic achievements.
318
prophecy
n. a prediction
The fortune teller's prophecy turned out to be incorrect.
319
propinquity
n. nearness
My partner's propinquity makes working together convenient.
320
propitiate
v. to win over, appease
The sacrifice propitiated the angry gods.
321
propitious
adj. favorable, advantageous
The full moon was regarded as propitious.
322
proponent
n. person who argues for something; advocate
Proponents of the plan argue that it will be cost-effective.
323
propriety
n. correct conduct; fitness
Propriety demands that we dress correctly.
324
prosaic
adj. relating to prose; dull, commonplace
The prosaic writer has produced no bestsellers.
325
proscribe
v. to condemn; forbid, outlaw
The law proscribes gambling.
326
proscriptive
adj. relating to restriction or restraint
This grammar book takes a proscriptive approach rather than a descriptive one.
327
prose
n. ordinary language used in everyday speech
The essay is written in clear prose.
328
proselytize
v. to convert to a particular belief or religion
Students are not allowed to proselytize on campus.
329
prosification
n. converting (poetry, etc.) into prose
The teacher is working on a personification of Hamlet.
330
prostrate
adj. lying face downward, lying flat on ground
The wounded soldier was prostrate on that battlefield.
331
protagonist
n. main character in a play or story; hero
The novel's protagonist is based on a person the author knew in high school.
332
protean
adj. readily assuming different forms or characters
The protean actor performed thirty roles in his one-man show.
333
protégé
n. person receiving protection and support from a patron
The championship tennis player trains her protégé every day.
334
protestation
n. strong expression of disapproval; formal declaration
Tom made a protestation of his love to Debbie.
335
protocol
n. ceremony and manners observed by diplomats
Protocol demands that the president be seated at the head of the table.
336
prototype
n. original work used as a model by others
The prototype of the new aircraft is being built in France.
337
protract
v. to prolong
The meeting as protracted, ending at 9 P.M.
338
protrusion
n. something that sticks out
Geologists are investigating the large protrusion on the Earth's surface.
339
proverbial
adj. widely referred to
Oscar Wilde's wit is proverbial.
340
provident
adj. providing for future needs; frugal
In Singapore employees and employers contribute to the Central Provident Fund to provide economic security for retirees.
341
provice
n. range; scope
The book ranges over the entire province of human knowledge.
342
provincial
adj. limited in outlook; unsophisticated
Many people in the town are provincial.
343
provisional
adj. provided for the time being
The two sides reaches a provisional agreement.
344
proviso
n. a condition or qualification
john bought the used car with the proviso that it would be repainted.
345
provocative
adj. arousing anger or interest; annoying
The provocative statements were designed to start a debate on the subject.
346
prowess
n. bravery, skill
The actor's prowess was recognized when he won an Academy Award.
347
proximate
adj. very near
Since your home is proximate to mine, we should get together more often.
348
proximity
n. nearness
The two areas of the brain are in close proximity.
349
proxy
n. authorized agent; power to act as a substitute for another
The businessman's lawyer will act as his proxy at the hearing.
350
prude
n. one who is excessively proper or modest
The play pokes fun at prudes who never want to have fun.
351
prudent
adj. cautious; careful
It is prudent to prepare well for the GRE.
352
prurient
adj. lustful, exhibiting lewd desires
The movie has mainly a prurient appeal.
353
pseudonym
n. pen name; fictitious or borrowed name
The scholar writes mystery books under a pseudonym.
354
psyche
n. the mind
The book explores the mysteries of the human psyche.
355
psychic
adj. perceptive of non-material, spiritual forces; originating in the mind
The scientist is studying psychic phenomena.
356
psychosis
n. a severe mental disorder characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality
The new drug promises to offer an effective control for several forms of psychosis.
357
pubescent
adj. reaching puberty
The pubescent boys are becoming interested in girls.
358
puerile
adj. childish, immature, silly
The seniors are tired of the freshman's puerile jokes.
359
pugilism
n. boxing
Pugilism is an Olympic sport.
360
pugnacious
adj. quarrelsome, eager and ready to fight
The pugnacious boy is always getting into fights.
361
puissance
n. power
Freedom is an idea of great puissance.
362
pulchritude
n. beauty
Helen of Troy was famous for her pulchritude.
363
pulverize
v. to pound, crush, or grind into powder; destroy
The artillery barrage pulverized the town.
364
pummel
v. to pound, beat
The men seized the thief and pummeled him.
365
punctilious
adj. careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony
The host was punctilious in seating the guests.
366
pundit
n. critic; learned person
Most pundits agree that the policy was sound.
367
pungent
adj. strong or sharp in smell or taste
The pungent aroma was coming from the kitchen.
368
punitive
adj. having to do with punishment
Punitive measures have been taken against the rebellious students.
369
purgation
n. catharsis, purification
The hero of the play performed acts of purgation.
370
purge
v. to cleanse or free from impurities
Party leaders want to purge disloyal members.
371
puritanical
adj. adhering to a rigid moral code
The actor plays the puritanical servant Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
372
purported
adj. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored
The purported occurrences cannot be verified.
373
pusillanimous
adj. cowardly
The general warned the president that he must give the enemy no suggestion that he was pusillanimous.
374
putative
adj. generally regarded as such; supposed
The putative reason he gave for leaving the firm is that he had found a better job.
375
putsch
n. a sudden attempt by a group to overthrow a government
After the military putsch in 1991, she left the country.
