Words 776 - 800

Question 1

procure

Answer 1

to get possession of

verb

The FBI was unable to procure sufficient evidence to charge the gangster with racketeering.

Question 2

profane

Answer 2

serving to defile what is holy

adjective

Jacob’s profane act of dumping frogs in the holy water in the chapel at his boarding school resulted in his dismissal.

Question 3

profligate

Answer 3

wildly extravagant

adjective

The profligate gambler loved to drink, spend money, steal, cheat, and hang out with prostitutes.

Question 4

profuse

Answer 4

pouring forth liberally

adjective

The fans were profuse in their cheers for the star basketball player.

Question 5

promulgate

Answer 5

to make known to many people by open declaration

verb

The film professor promulgated that both in terms of sex appeal and political intrigue, Sean Connery’s James Bond was superior to Roger Moore’s.

Question 6

propagate

Answer 6

to cause to spread out and affect a greater number

verb

Rumors of Paul McCartney’s demise propagated like wildfire throughout the world.

Question 7

propensity

Answer 7

a natural inclination

noun

Dermit has a propensity for dangerous activities such as bungee jumping.

Question 8

propitious

Answer 8

tending to favor

adjective

The dark storm clouds visible on the horizon suggested that the weather would not be propitious for sailing.

Question 9

propriety

Answer 9

the quality of being proper

noun

Erma’s old-fashioned parents believed that her mini-skirt lacked the propriety expected of a “nice” girl.

Question 10

prosaic

Answer 10

everyday, ordinary

adjective

Heather’s prosaic recital of the poem bored the audience.

Question 11

proscribe

Answer 11

to forbid as harmful

verb

The town council voted to proscribe the sale of alcohol on weekends.

Question 12

protean

Answer 12

displaying great diversity

adjective

Among Nigel’s protean talents was his ability to touch the tip of his nose with his tongue.

Question 13

prowess

Answer 13

extraordinary ability

noun

The musician had never taken a guitar lesson in his life, making his prowess with the instrument even more incredible.

Question 14

prudence

Answer 14

caution as to danger or risk

noun

He always exercises prudence with his finances.

Question 15

prurient

Answer 15

marked by an unwholesome interest

noun

David’s mother was shocked by the discovery of prurient reading material hidden beneath her son’s mattress.

Question 16

puerile

Answer 16

childish, silly

adjective

The judge demanded order after the lawyer’s puerile attempt to object by stomping his feet on the courtroom floor.

Question 17

pugnacious

Answer 17

having a quarrelsome nature

adjective

Aaron’s pugnacious nature led him to start several barroom brawls each month.

Question 18

pulchritude

Answer 18

physical comeliness

noun

Several of Shakespeare’s sonnets explore the pulchritude of a lovely young man.

Question 19

punctilious

Answer 19

concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes

adjective

Punctilious Bobby, hall monitor extraordinaire, insisted that his peers follow the rules.

Question 20

pungent

Answer 20

marked by a sharp incisive quality

adjective

The pungent odor in the classroom made Joseph lose his concentration during the test.

Question 21

punitive

Answer 21

involving punishment

adjective

If caught smoking in the boys’ room, the punitive result is immediate expulsion from school.

Question 22

putrid

Answer 22

characteristic of the decomposition of organic matter

adjective

Those rotten eggs smell putrid.

Question 23

quagmire

Answer 23

a difficult position

noun

We’d all like to avoid the kind of military quagmire characterized by the Vietnam War.

Question 24

quaint

Answer 24

pleasingly old-fashioned

adjective

Hilda was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Amish country.

Question 25

quandary

Answer 25

a state of perplexity

noun

Carlos found himself in a quandary: should he choose mint chocolate chip or cookie dough?