Word List 29

Question 1

privation

Answer 1

an act or instance of depriving; deprivation
the state or being deprived; especially, lack of what is needed for existence

e.g. The country has suffered through long periods of economic privation.
The constant privation of sleep was starting to affect my work.

Question 2

probity

Answer 2

adherence to the highest principles and ideals; uprightness

e.g. The defense attorney questioned the probity of the witness.

Question 3

turpitude

Answer 3

inherent baseness; depravity

e.g. Pictorial advertisements for chic clothing and fragrances in which drug addition and other forms of moral turpitude are depicted as alternative fashion statements.

Question 4

scrupulous

Answer 4

having moral integrity; acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
punctiliously exact; painstaking

e.g. Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.
scrupulous attention to detail

Question 5

proboscis

Answer 5

the trunk of an elephant
the human nose especially when prominent
any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region

e.g. If there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one’s proboscis, hers would be a mile long.

Question 6

proceeds

Answer 6

the total amount brought in
the net amount received after deduction of any discount of charges

e.g. All proceeds from the special promotion will go to charity.

Question 7

procession

Answer 7

a group of individuals moving along in an orderly often ceremonial way
succession, sequence
continuous forward movement; progression
emanation

e.g. a procession of children carrying candles
The cars moved in procession to the cemetery.

Question 8

proctor

Answer 8

supervisor, monitor; especially, one appointed to supervise students (as at an exam)

Question 9

procure

Answer 9

to get possession of; obtain by particular care and effort
bring about, achieve

e.g. She managed to procure a ticket to the concert.
procured the prisoner’s release

Question 10

prod

Answer 10

to thrust a pointed instrument into; prick
to incite to action; stir
to poke or stir as if with a prod

e.g. She prodded him in the ribs to get attention.
She was prodded into joining the team.

Question 11

prodigal

Answer 11

characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure; lavish
recklessly spendthrift
yielding abundantly; luxuriant

e.g. a prodigal feast
the prodigal prince

Question 12

prodigious

Answer 12

exciting amazement or wonder
extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree; enormous

e.g. stage magicians performing prodigious feats for rapt audiences
a prodigious supply of canned food kept in the basement for emergencies

Question 13

prodigy

Answer 13

a portentous event; omen
something extraordinary or inexplicable
a highly talented child or youth

e.g. a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world

Question 14

profane

Answer 14

to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt; desecrate 
to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use

e.g. The once-lovely landscape had been profaned by ugly factories.
profaned his considerable acting talents by appearing in some wretched movies

Question 15

proffer

Answer 15

to present for acceptance; tender, offer

e.g. He proffered advice on how best to proceed.
proffered his assistance in helping reach a compromise

Question 16

proficient

Answer 16

well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge

e.g. proficient in computer programming

Question 17

profiteer

Answer 17

one who makes what is considered an unreasonable profit especially on the sale of essential goods during times of emergency

Question 18

profligate

Answer 18

wildly extravagant
completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness

e.g. very profligate in spending
profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster
leading a profligate life

Question 19

profundity

Answer 19

• profound

e.g. Her books are a mixture of playfulness and profundity.
the depth and profundity of her thoughts

Question 20

profuse

Answer 20

pouring forth liberally; extravagant
exhibiting great abundance; bountiful

e.g. He offered profuse apologies for being late.
profuse in their thanks
a profuse harvest

Question 21

progeny

Answer 21

descendants, children; offspring
outcome, product
a body of followers, disciples, or successors

e.g. Many Americans are the progeny of immigrants.
Their work is the progeny of many earlier works.

Question 22

prognosis

Answer 22

the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case
forecast, prognostication

e.g. The president had a hopeful prognosis about the company’s future.

Question 23

proliferate

Answer 23

to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring
to increase in number as if by proliferating; multiply

e.g. Rumors about the incident proliferated on the internet.

Question 24

prolific

Answer 24

producing young or fruit especially freely; fruitful
marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity

e.g. Tony Stark is a famously prolific engineer.
a prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year

Question 25

prolix

Answer 25

unduly prolonged or drawn out; too long marked by or using an excess of words e.g. a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners

Question 26

promenade

Answer 26

to take or go on a promenade to perform a promenade in a dance a place for strolling a leisurely walk or ride especially in a public place for pleasure or display e.g. They promenaded along the beach. a beautifully landscaped park with a wide promenade along the riverside

Question 27

promulgate

Answer 27

``` to make (as a doctrine) known by open declaration; proclaim to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law) to put (a law) into action or force ``` e.g. Her ideas have been widely promulgated on the internet. The law was promulgated in April 1988.

Question 28

prone

Answer 28

having a tendency or inclination being likely having the front or ventral surface downward; lying flat or prostrate e.g. prone to emotional outbursts under stress quickly subdue the suspect and get him into a prone position

Question 29

prop

Answer 29

something that props or sustains; support to support by placing something under or against (oft. used with up) to sustain, strength (oft. used with up) e.g. She propped the rake against a tree. a government propped up by the military

Question 30

propagate

Answer 30

to cause to continue or increase to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area; extend to foster growing knowledge of, familiarity with, or acceptance of (as an idea or belief); publicize e.g. new ways to propagate plants without seeds A new poetry flourished to develop and propagate the new ideal. Sound cannot propagate in vacuum.

Question 31

propensity

Answer 31

an often intense natural inclination or preference e.g. a propensity for crime

Question 32

prophetic

Answer 32

- prophet, prophecy e. g. In retrospect, those lower-than-expected sales numbers were a prophetic indicator of the financial trouble the company would soon be in.

Question 33

propitiate

Answer 33

to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of; appease e.g. an offering to propitiate the angry gods

Question 34

propitious

Answer 34

favorably disposed; benevolent being a good omen; auspicious tending to favor; advantageous e.g. Now is a propitious time to start a business. The success of CA:CW in May was a propitious start for the summer season of Marvel blockbusters.

Question 35

proposition

Answer 35

proposal the point to be discussed or maintained in argument e.g. an attractive business proposition Her theory rejects the basic proposition that humans evolved from monkeys.

Question 36

proprietary

Answer 36

one that possesses exclusive right to something; specifically, proprietor of, relating to, or characteristic of an owner of title holder used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization e.g. The investors have a proprietary interest in the land. The computer comes with the manufacturer's proprietary software. "Merriam-Webster" is a proprietary name. a proprietary clinic

Question 37

propriety

Answer 37

the quality or state or being proper or suitable; appropriateness conformity to what is socially acceptable e.g. They debated the propriety of the punishment that he was given. certain proprieties while attending a wedding

Question 38

prosaic

Answer 38

characteristic of prose as distinguished from poetry; factual dull, unimaginative everyday, ordinary e.g. prosaic advice heroic characters wasted in prosaic lives

Question 39

proscribe

Answer 39

to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful; prohibit e.g. acts proscribed by law Regulations proscribe the use of electronic devices on board a plane while it is landing.

Question 40

prosecute

Answer 40

to follow to the end; pursue until finished to engage in; perform to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law to institute legal proceedings with reference to e.g. She criticized the government for the way it has prosecuted the war. The store's owner agreed not to prosecute if the boy returned the stolen goods. The case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney.

Question 41

prosecution

Answer 41

- prosecute e.g. There has been an increase in prosecutions for gun-related crimes. The defendant is awaiting prosecution. The prosecution called their first witness.

Question 42

proselytize

Answer 42

to induce someone to convert to one's faith to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause e.g. He uses his position to proselytize for the causes that he supports. The efforts of early missionaries to proselytize the Native Americans of Minnesota were largely unproductive.

Question 43

prospect

Answer 43

an extensive view; a mental consideration; survey the act of looking forward; anticipation a mental picture of something to come; vision to explore an area especially for mineral deposits explore e.g. the frightening prospect of going to war Bankruptcy is an unlikely prospect for the company. Soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold.

Question 44

prostrate

Answer 44

stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission; also, lying flat completely overcome and lacking vitality, will, or power to rise trailing on the ground; procumbent (of a plant or stem) to throw or put into a prostrate position to reduce to submission, helplessness, or exhaustion e.g. The police found the body in a prostrate position. a country left prostrate by natural disasters prostrate shrubs They prostrated before the throne, asking for forgiveness. an athlete prostrated for weeks by a bout of pneumonia

Question 45

protean

Answer 45

having a varied nature or able to assume different forms displaying great diversity or variety; versatile e.g. a protean actor who is equally comfortable with light comedy and serious drama

Question 46

prototype

Answer 46

an original model on which something is patterned; archetype an individual that exhibits the essential features or a later type a standard or typical example e.g. a prototype of the new car the prototype of a conservative businessman

Question 47

protract

Answer 47

to prolong in time or space; continue to extend forward or outward e.g. The highway project was protracted by years of litigation.

Question 48

protuberant

Answer 48

thrusting out from a surrounding or adjacent surface often as a rounded mass; prominent e.g. protuberant eyes

Question 49

provenance

Answer 49

origin, source the history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature e.g. The artifact is of unknown provenance. the provenances of these paintings

Question 50

provender

Answer 50

dry food for domestic animals; feed food, victuals e.g. a chef who prides himself on creating all of his dishes from local provender

Question 51

provident

Answer 51

making provision for the future; prudent frugal, saving e.g. be provident without being miserly Her provident measures kept us safe while we waited out the hurricane.

Question 52

providential

Answer 52

happening at a good time because of luck opportune, fortunate, lucky e.g. He attended financially to all his children and saw to it that they had providential opportunities.

Question 53

provincial

Answer 53

of, relating to, or coming from a province limited in outlook; narrow lacking the polish of urban society; unsophisticated e.g. a provincial accent an artist who has been criticized for being provincial and old-fashioned

Question 54

provision

Answer 54

the ace or process of providing the fact or state of being prepared a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency; preparation e.g. He made provisions to donate part of his fortune to charity after he died. make provision for emergencies

Question 55

provisional

Answer 55

serving for the time being; temporary e.g. The government has given provisional approval for the use of the new drug.

Question 56

provisory

Answer 56

containing or subject to a proviso; conditional provisional e.g. a provisory permit to block off the street while movie scenes were being shot a provisory legal adviser who will be replaced by a court-appointed public defender

Question 57

prowess

Answer 57

distinguished bravery; especially, military valor and skill extraordinary ability e.g. Captain America's military prowess

Question 58

prowl

Answer 58

to move about or wander stealthily in or as if in search prey e.g. a tiger prowling in the jungle The police were prowling the streets in their patrol cars.

Question 59

proximate

Answer 59

immediately preceding or following very near; close soon forthcoming; imminent e.g. the proximate cause of the fire the proximate publication of his novel

Question 60

prudent

Answer 60

marked by wisdom or judiciousness shrewd in the management of practical affairs marked by circumspection; discreet provident, frugal e.g. prudent advice prudent investors

Question 61

prudish

Answer 61

- prude; priggish | e. g. By the prudish standards of 19th century, any depiction of the nude was scandalous.

Question 62

prune

Answer 62

a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation to reduce especially by eliminating superficial matter to remove as superfluous e.g. prune the branches/trees pruned the text/budget prune away all ornamentation

Question 63

pry

Answer 63

to look closely or inquisitively; also, to make a nosy or presumptuous inquiry to raise, move, or pull apart with a lever; prize to extract, detach, or open with difficulty e.g. pried the secret out of my sister

Question 64

psyche

Answer 64

soul, personality mind e.g. disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist

Question 65

pucker

Answer 65

to become wrinkled or constricted a fold or wrinkle in a normally even surface e.g. His skin puckered a little around the scar.

Question 66

puckish

Answer 66

impish, whimsical e.g. a puckish smile on his face He takes a puckish delight in teasing her about her love life, or lack thereof.

Question 67

puerile

Answer 67

juvenile childish, silly e.g. He told the teenagers that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony. allowed the company to be taken over by a bunch of puerile whippersnappers fresh out of business school

Question 68

pugilism

Answer 68

boxing

Question 69

pugilist

Answer 69

fighter; especially, a professional boxer

Question 70

pugnacious

Answer 70

having a quarrelsome or combative nature; truculent e.g. a movie reviewer who is spirited, even pugnacious, when defending her opinions

Question 71

puissance

Answer 71

strength, power e.g. The president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort.

Question 72

puissant

Answer 72

- puissance | e. g. one of the nation's most respected and puissant advocates for the rights of minorities

Question 73

pulchritude

Answer 73

physical comeliness

Question 74

pullet

Answer 74

a young hen

Question 75

pulley

Answer 75

a wheel or set of wheels that is used with a rope, chain, etc., to lift or lower heavy objects

Question 76

pulverize

Answer 76

to reduce to very small particles; atomize annihilate, demolish e.g. The mower pulverizes grass clippings.

Question 77

punctilious

Answer 77

marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions e.g. punctilious about grammar old-money aristocrats with a punctilious sense of propriety

Question 78

pundit

Answer 78

a learned man; teacher a person who gives opinions in an authoritative manner usually through the mass media; critic e.g. The new mini laptop has gotten a thumbs-up from industry pundits.

Question 79

puny

Answer 79

slight or inferior in power, size, or importance; weak e.g. I wouldn't mess with Bucky's boyfriend - he makes many bodybuilders look puny in comparison. their puny attempt to trick us

Question 80

purchase

Answer 80

an advantage (as a firm hold or position) used in applying one's power e.g. clutching the steering wheel for more purchase

Question 81

purgative

Answer 81

purging or tending to purge | a purging medicine; cathartic

Question 82

purgatory

Answer 82

a place or state of temporary suffering or suffering e.g. the purgatory of drug abuse The marathons were jokingly referred to as one-day purgatory.

Question 83

purlieu

Answer 83

(pl.) environs, neighborhood a frequently visited place; haunt (pl.) confines, bounds e.g. The restaurant, the preferred purlieu of the theatergoing crowd, is always packed an hour or two before showtime. We stopped at one of the several pubs in the purlieus of the stadium.

Question 84

purloin

Answer 84

to appropriate wrongfully and often by a breach of trust e.g. The studio stepped up security, fearing that someone might attempt to purloin a copy of the script for the show's season finale.

Question 85

purported

Answer 85

reputed, alleged e.g. the purported value of the estate

Question 86

purvey

Answer 86

``` to supply (as provisions) usually as a matter of business to be busy with trifles; peddle ``` e.g. a shop purveying handmade merchandise

Question 87

pusillanimous

Answer 87

lacking courage and resolution; marked by contemptible timidity e.g. pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing

Question 88

pylon

Answer 88

a massive gateway any of various towerlike structures traffic cone e.g. The bridge is supported by concrete pylons. a row of electricity pylons

Question 89

pyre

Answer 89

a combustible heap for burning a dead body as a funeral rite; broadly, a pile of material to be burned

Question 90

quack

Answer 90

charlatan a pretender to medical skill also e.g. quack cancer cures

Question 91

quaff

Answer 91

to drink deeply e.g. We stopped at a bar and quaffed a few beers.

Question 92

quail

Answer 92

a kind of small wild bird to give way; falter to recoil in dread or terror; cower e.g. His courage never quailed. Even the strongest quail before financial ruin.

Question 93

quaint

Answer 93

marked by skillful design marked by beauty or elegance unusual or different in character or appearance; odd pleasingly or strikingly old-fashioned or unfamiliar e.g. a quaint fishing village quaint customs of the natives

Question 94

qualm

Answer 94

a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear) a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety e.g. He accepted their offer without a qualm. Laura has no qualms about downloading pirated music file from the internet.

Question 95

quandary

Answer 95

a state of perplexity or doubt e.g. The unexpected results of the test have created a quandary for researchers. I'm in a quandary about ....

Question 96

quarry

Answer 96

one that is sought or pursued; prey an open excavation usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone a rich source

Question 97

quash

Answer 97

to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely to nullify especially by judicial action e.g. quash a rebellion quash an indictment

Question 98

quaver

Answer 98

tremble trill to utter sound in tremulous tones also e.g. Her voice quavered during the speech. speak in quavering tones a quaver in his voice

Question 99

quay

Answer 99

a structure build parallel to the bank of a waterway for use as a landing place e.g. docked the ferry at the quay to let the passengers off

Question 100

quell

Answer 100

to thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity quiet, pacify e.g. quell a riot quell the student/fear

Question 101

quench

Answer 101

put out, extinguish to relieve or satisfy e.g. quench the glowing coals with water quenched the warmth he is showing toward you quench the desire to read the book quench a rebellion

Question 102

querulous

Answer 102

habitually complaining fretful, whining e.g. car trips that were frequently spoiled by a couple of querulous passengers in the back