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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
philatelist
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stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
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philistine
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narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
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philology
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study of language or words
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phlegmatic
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calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
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phobia
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morbid fear
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phoenix
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symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
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phylum
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major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
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physiognomy
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face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
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physiological
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pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
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piebald
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of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
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piecemeal
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one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
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pied
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piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
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piety
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devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
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pigment
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coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
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pilfer
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steal things of small value; filch; snitch
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pillage
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plunder
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pillory
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punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
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pinch
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squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
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pine
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long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
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pinion
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restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
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pinnace
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small boat
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pinnacle
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peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
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pious
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devout; religious; N. piety
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piquant
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pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
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pique
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irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
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piscatorial
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pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
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pitfall
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hidden danger; concealed trap
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pith
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core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
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pithy
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concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
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pittance
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small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
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pivotal
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of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
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placate
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pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
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placebo
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harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
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placid
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peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
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plagiarize
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steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
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plaintive
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expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
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plait
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braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
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plane
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carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
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plaster
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paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
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plasticity
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ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
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platitude
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trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
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platonic
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purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
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plaudit
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praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
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plausible
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conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
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plebeian
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common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
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plebiscite
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direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
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plenary
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(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
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plenitude
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abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
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plethora
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excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
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pliable
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flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
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pliant
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flexible; easily influenced
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plight
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difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
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ploy
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strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
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pluck
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courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
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plumage
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feathers of a bird;
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plumb
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exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
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plumber
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one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
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plume
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feather, esp. large or showy one; something that rises into the air (like the shape of a feather); Ex. plume of smoke: ?? ??
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plummet
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fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
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plump
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pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
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plutocracy
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society ruled by the wealthy
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podiatrist
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doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
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podium
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pedestal; raised platform
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poignancy
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quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
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poise
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good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
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polar
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of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
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polarity
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state of having two opposite qualities
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polarize
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split into opposite extremes or camps
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polemic
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attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
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polemical(polemic)
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aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
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politic
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prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
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polity
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(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
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polygamist
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one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
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polyglot
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speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
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pomposity
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self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
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ponderous
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having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
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pontifical
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pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
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pore
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study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
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porridge
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soft food made by boiling oatmeal
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portend
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foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
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portly
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stout; corpulent
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pose
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assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
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poseur
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person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
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posterity
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descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
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posthumous
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after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
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postmortem
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autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
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postulate
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self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
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posture
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assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
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potable
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suitable for drinking; drinkable
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potent
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powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
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potentate
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monarch; sovereign
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potential
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expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
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potion
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dose (of liquids); liquid dose
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potpourri
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heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
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poultice
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soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
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pr'ecis
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abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
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practicable
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feasible
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practical
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based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
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pragmatic
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practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
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pragmatist
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practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
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prance
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move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
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prank
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mischievous trick
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prate
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talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
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prattle
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talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
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preamble
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introductory statement
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precarious
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unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
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precedent
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preceding (in time, rank, etc.)
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precedent
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something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
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precept
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practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
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precinct
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division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
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precipice
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cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
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precipitant
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something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ???; OP. solvent
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precipitate
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hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
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precipitous
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steep; overhasty; precipitate
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precise
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exact
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preclude
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make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
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precocious
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advanced in development; N. precocity
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precursor
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forerunner; predecessor
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predator
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predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
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predecessor
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former occupant of a post
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predetermine
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determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
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predicament
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difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
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predilection
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preference; partiality
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predispose
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give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
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preeminent
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outstanding; superior
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preempt
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prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
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preen
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make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
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prefatory
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introductory; of a preface
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prefigure
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be a sign of; foreshadow
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prehensile
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capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
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prelate
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church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
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prelude
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introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
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premeditate
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plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
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premise
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assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
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premonition
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forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
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premonitory
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serving to warn
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preponderance
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superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
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prepossessing
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attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
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preposterous
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absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
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prerogative
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privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
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presage
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foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
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prescience
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ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
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presentiment
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premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
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prestige
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respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
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presume
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take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
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presumptuous
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going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
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pretend
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feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
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pretension
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pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
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pretentious
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ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
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preternatural
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beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
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pretext
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excuse
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prevail
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be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something
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prevalent
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widespread; generally accepted
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prevaricate
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lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
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prey
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target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
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prim
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proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
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primal
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first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence
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primary
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first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
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primate
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group of mammals including humans
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prime
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period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
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primogeniture
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seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
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primordial
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existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
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primp
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groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
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pristine
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unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
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privation
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lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
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privy
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secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
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prize
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pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
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probe
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explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
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probity
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uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
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problematic
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causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
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proclivity
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inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
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procrastinate
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postpone; delay or put off
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procurement
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obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
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prod
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poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
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prodigal
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wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
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prodigious
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enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
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prodigy
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highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
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profane
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violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
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profligate
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wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
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profound
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deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
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profusion
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great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
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progenitor
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ancestor
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progeny
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children; offspring; descendants
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prognosis
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forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
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prognosticate
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predict (according to present indications)
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prohibitive
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so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
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projectile
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missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
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proletarian
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member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
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proliferate
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grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
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prolific
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producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
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prolixity
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tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
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prologue
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introduction (to a poem or play)
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prolong
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lengthen; extend; draw out
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prominent
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protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
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promiscuous
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mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
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promontory
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headland
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promote
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advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product
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prompt
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cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue
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promulgate
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announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
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prone
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inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
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prong
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pointed projecting part
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pronounced
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distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
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prop
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support placed under or against something; V.
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propagate
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increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
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propellant(propellent)
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substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
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propensity
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natural inclination
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prophetic
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of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
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prophylactic
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used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
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propinquity
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nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
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propitiate
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appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
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propitious
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favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
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proponent
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supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
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propound
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put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
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propriety
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fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
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propulsive
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driving forward; N. propulsion
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prosaic
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lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
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proscenium
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part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
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proscribe
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prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
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proselytize
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(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
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prosody
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art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
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prosper
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become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care
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prosperity
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good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
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prosperous
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successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
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prostrate
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stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
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prot'eg'e
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person receiving protection and support from a patron
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protagonist
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leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story
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protean
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able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
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protocol
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diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.
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prototype
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original work used as a model by others
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protract
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prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
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protrude
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stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
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protuberance
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protrusion; swelling; bulge
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provenance
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place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
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provender
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dry food for livestock; fodder
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providence
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quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
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provident
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providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
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provincial
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pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
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provision
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act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
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provisional
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tentative; temporary
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proviso
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stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
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provocative
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arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
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prowess
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extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
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proximity
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nearness; ADJ. proximate
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proxy
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authorized agent; authority to act for another
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prude
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excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
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prudent
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cautious; careful; prudential
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prune
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cut away; trim
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prurient
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having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
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pry
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inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
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pseudonym
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pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous
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