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GRE Vocabulary > "P-" Vocabulary > Flashcards

"P-" Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Paean

A

A song or expression of praise and thanksgiving (n)

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2
Q

Palliate

A

To make something appear less serious, gloss over (v)

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3
Q

Panacea

A

A remedy for all diseases or ills (n)

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4
Q

Panache

A

A grand or flamboyant manner (adj)

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5
Q

Pandemic

A

Widespread; occurring over a large area or affecting an unusually large percentage of the population (adj)

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6
Q

Panegyric

A

Formal expression of praise (n)

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7
Q

Paradigm

A

Something that serves as a model, example or pattern (n)

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8
Q

Paradox

A

Contradiction; a seemingly self-contradictory statement (n)

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9
Q

Paragon

A

Something regarded as a model of excellence or perfection in some way (n)

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10
Q

Pariah

A

An outcast, a rejected and despised person (n)

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11
Q

Parody

A

A humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comic effect, (n)

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12
Q

Parry

A

To block, evade, or ward off (v)

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13
Q

Parsimonious

A

Cheap, miserly (adj)

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14
Q

Partisan

A

One-sided, committed to a party, biased or prejudiced (adj)

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15
Q

Pastoral

A

Having the simplicity, charm, serenity, or other characteristic generally attributed to rural areas (adj)

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16
Q

Paucity

A

Sarcity, a lacking of (adj)

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17
Q

Peccadillo

A

A slight offense; literally, a minor sin (n)

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18
Q

Pedagogy

A

The art or profession of training, teaching or instructing (n)

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19
Q

Pedantic

A

Ostentatious display of learning excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules, unimaginative (adj)

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20
Q

Pedestrian

A

Commonplace, trite, unremarkable (adj)

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21
Q

Pellucid

A

Clear in meaning, expression, or style; translucent (adj)

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22
Q

Penchant

A

Strong inclination, a liking (n)

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23
Q

Pentential

A

Expressive of regret for one’s wrongdoing (adj)

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24
Q

Penurious

A

Penny-pinching, excessively thrifty; ungenerous (adj)

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25
Q

Peremptory

A

Admitting of no contradiction, putting an end to further debate, haugty, imperious (adj)

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26
Q

Perennial

A

Reccurent through the year or many years, happening repeatedly (adj)

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27
Q

Perfidy

A

Intentional breach of faith, treachery (n)

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28
Q

Perfunctory

A

Cursory, done without care of interest (adj)

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29
Q

Peripatetic

A

Itinerant, traveling, nomadic (adj)

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30
Q

Pernicious

A

Extremely harmful, potentially causing death

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31
Q

Personable

A

Pleasing in appearance, attractive (adj)

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32
Q

Perspicacious

A

Acutely perceptive, having keen discernment (adj)

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33
Q

Peruse

A

To examine with great care (v)

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34
Q

Pervade

A

To permeate throughout (v)

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35
Q

Petrous

A

Like a rock; hard, stony (adj)

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36
Q

Petulant

A

Impatient, irritable (adj)

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37
Q

Philanthropic

A

Humanitarian; benevolent (adj)

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38
Q

Philistine

A

A crass indvidual guided by material rather than intellectual or artisitic values (n)

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39
Q

Phlegmatic

A

Calm, sluggish, unemotional (adj)

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40
Q

Picaresque

A

Involving clever rogues or adventurers (adj)

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41
Q

Pied

A

Multicolored, usually in blotches (adj)

42
Q

Pillory

A

To punish, hold up to public scorn (v)

43
Q

Pine

A

To yearn intensely, to lose vigor (v)

44
Q

Pious

A

Extremely reverent or devout (adj)

45
Q

Piquant

A

Agreeably pungent, spicy, stimulating (adj)

46
Q

Pique

A

Resentment, feeling of irritation due to hurt pride (n)

47
Q

Pirate

A

To use o reproduce illegally (v)

48
Q

Pith

A

The essential or central part (n)

49
Q

Placate

A

To appease, to calm by making concessions (v)

50
Q

Plaintive

A

Mournful, melancholy, sorrowful (adj)

51
Q

Plangent

A

Punding, thundering, resounding (adj)

52
Q

Plastic

A

Moldable, pliable, not rigid (adj)

53
Q

Platitude

A

A superficial or trite remark (n)

54
Q

Plethora

A

An overabundance, a surplus (n)

55
Q

Pluck

A

Courage, spunk, fortitude (n)

56
Q

Plumb

A

To measure the depth, to examine critically (v)

57
Q

Plummet

A

To plunge or drop straight down (v)

58
Q

Poignant

A

Distressing, pertinent, touching, stimulating, emotional (adj)

59
Q

Polemical

A

Controversial, argumentative (adj)

60
Q

Portentous

A

Ominously significant or indicative (adj)

61
Q

Pragmatic

A

Practical rather than idealistic (adj)

62
Q

Prate

A

Chatter, babble (v)

63
Q

Prattle

A

To babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner (v)

64
Q

Precarious

A

Uncertain, risky, dangerous (adj)

65
Q

Precept

A

Rule establishing standards of conduct, a doctrine that is taught (n)

66
Q

Precipitate

A

Acting with excessive haste or impulse (adj)

67
Q

Precursor

A

Something that precedes and indicates or announces another (n)

68
Q

Predilection

A

A disposition in favor of something, preference (n)

69
Q

Preeminent

A

Superior to others; surpassing (adj)

70
Q

Preempt

A

To replace, to supersede, to appropriate (v)

71
Q

Preen

A

To dress up, groom oneself with elaborate care (v)

72
Q

Premonitory

A

Serving to warn beforehand (adj)

73
Q

Prescience

A

Knowing of events prior to their occurring (n)

74
Q

Presumptuous

A

Overstepping bounds, as of propriety or courtesy (adj)

75
Q

Prevaricate

A

To deliberately avoid the truth, mislead (v)

76
Q

Pristine

A

Pure, uncorrupted, clean (adj)

77
Q

Prize

A

To pry, press, or force with a lever (v)

78
Q

Probity

A

Adherence to highest principles (adj)

79
Q

Proclivity

A

A natural predisposition or inclination (n)

80
Q

Prodigal

A

Recklessly wasteful, extravagant, lavish (adj)

81
Q

Prodigious

A

Abundant in size, force, or extent (adj)

82
Q

Profligate

A

Excessively wasteful, recklessly extravagant (adj)

83
Q

Prolific

A

Producing large volumes or amounts (adj)

84
Q

Prolix

A

Long-winded, verbose (adj)

85
Q

Promulgate

A

To make known by open declaration, proclaim formally, or put into operation (v)

86
Q

Propensity

A

A natural inclination or tendency, penchant (n)

87
Q

Propinquity

A

Nearness in time or place (adj)

88
Q

Propitiate

A

To appease or pacify (v)

89
Q

Propitious

A

Auspicious, favorable (adj)

90
Q

Propriety

A

Appropriateness, conformity with standards of acceptable behavior (n)

91
Q

Prosiac

A

Dull, unimaginative (adj)

92
Q

Proscribe

A

To outlaw or prohibit (v)

93
Q

Provident

A

Frugal, looking to the future (adj)

94
Q

Puerile

A

Childish, immature (adj)

95
Q

Pugnacious

A

Contentious, quarrelsome, given to fighting, belligerent (adj)

96
Q

Punctilious

A

Precise, paying attention to trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette (adj)

97
Q

Pundit

A

An authority on a subject (n)

98
Q

Pungent

A

Characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste, penetrating (adj)

99
Q

Pusillanimous

A

Cowardly, craven (adj)

100
Q

Putrefy

A

To rot, decay and give off a foul odor (v)

GRE Vocabulary (23 decks)

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