Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
463 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
pachyderm
|
thick-skinned animal
|
|
pacifist
|
one opposed to force; antimilitarist; ADJ. N. pacifism: opposition to war as a means of resolving disputes
|
|
pacify
|
soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
|
|
n paean
|
song of praise or joy; Ex. paeans celebrating the victory
|
|
n painstaking
|
taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through
|
|
n palatable
|
agreeable; pleasing to the taste
|
|
n palate
|
roof of the mouth; sense of the taste
|
|
n palatial
|
of or suitable for a palace; magnificent
|
|
n paleontology
|
study of prehistoric life or fossils; CF. paleo-: ancient or prehistoric; Ex. paleography: study of ancient written documents
|
|
palette
|
board on which painter mixes pigments(coloring matters)
|
|
n palimpsest
|
parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased
|
|
s parchment
|
writing material made from the skin of a sheep or goat
|
|
n pall
|
become boring; grow tiresome
|
|
n pallet
|
small poor bed; Ex. straw pallet
|
|
n palliate
|
ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)
|
|
n pallid
|
pale; wan; Ex. pallid complexion
|
|
palpable
|
tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious; Ex. palpable blunder
|
|
n palpitate
|
throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble; Ex. Her heart began to palpitate.
|
|
s throb
|
(of a heart or machine) beat rapidly or violently; N. Ex. hearthrob: heartbeat; sweetheart
|
|
n paltry
|
insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible; Ex. paltry sum; CF. trash
|
|
n pan
|
criticize harshly
|
|
panacea
|
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
|
|
n panache
|
flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet); Ex. with great panache; CF. ÀÜ ¾Æ•¡•Î õÀ» »©³»´Â ¼Ø¾¾
|
|
pandemic
|
widespread; affecting the majority of people; N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
|
|
pandemonium
|
wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
|
|
n pander
|
cater to (the low desires of others)
|
|
s cater
|
provide food and drink (for); cater to: try to satisfy (desires of a bad kind)
|
|
n panegyric
|
formal praise; encomium; Ex. I don't deserve such panegyrics.
|
|
panoramic
|
denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area
|
|
pantomime
|
acting without dialogue; V.
|
|
papyrus
|
ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant
|
|
n parable
|
short simple story teaching a moral
|
|
paradigm
|
model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word
|
|
paradox
|
something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
|
|
paragon
|
model of perfection; Ex. paragon of virtue
|
|
parallelism
|
state of being parallel; similarity; analogy
|
|
s parallel
|
similar; analogous; corresponding; N: parallel line; person or thing that is parallel (to another); similarity; Ex. know of no parallel to the case; Ex. without parallel; V: be similar to; make parallel; Ex. Your experience parallels mine; CF. unparalleled
|
|
n parameter
|
limit; independent variable; Ex. parameters of the problem; Ex. within the parameters of the budget
|
|
paramount
|
foremost in importance; supreme; CF. para-: beyond; above; Ex. paranormal
|
|
paramour
|
illicit lover
|
|
s inamorata
|
woman whom a man loves
|
|
paranoia
|
psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution; N: ADJ: paranoid
|
|
paraphernalia
|
equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings; Ex. photographic paraphernalia; CF. married woman's property exclusive of her dowry
|
|
s dowry
|
money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
|
|
paraphrase
|
restate a passage in one's own words while retaining thought of author; N: restatement of a text in other words
|
|
parasite
|
animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant; CF. para-: beside
|
|
s infest
|
inhabit in numbers large enough to be harmful; Ex. Mice infested the house; Ex. shark-infested waters
|
|
n parched
|
extremely dry; very thirsty; V. parch: make or become extremely dry (by exposure to heat)
|
|
n pariah
|
social outcast; Ex. Mariah the pariah
|
|
s outcast
|
one that has been excluded from a society; ADJ.
|
|
parity
|
equality; close resemblance; CF. disparate
|
|
n parlance
|
language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
|
|
n parley
|
conference (between opponents); CF. speak
|
|
n parochial
|
narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes
|
|
s parish
|
area in the care of a single priest and served by one main church
|
|
s outlook
|
point of view; view from a particular place; expectation for the future; prospect; Ex. outlook on life; Ex. pleasing outlook; Ex. weather outlook
|
|
parody
|
humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty; V.
|
|
s spoof
|
parody
|
|
s takeoff
|
burlesque; act of leaving the ground
|
|
paroxysm
|
fit or attack of pain
|
|
n parquet
|
floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter; CF. strip: long narrow piece
|
|
parry
|
ward off a blow; deflect; Ex. He parried the unwelcome question very skillfully; N. CF. ¸•´Â´Ù´Â °³³äÀÌ ¾Æ´Ô
|
|
s ward
|
administrative division of a city; division in a hospital or prison; incompetent person placed under the protection of a guardian; V: guard; ward off: avert
|
|
parsimony
|
stinginess; excessive frugality; ADJ. parsimonious
|
|
partial
|
incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something
|
|
partiality
|
state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference
|
|
n partisan
|
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others); N: strong supporter of a party; guerrilla
|
|
s parvenu
|
upstart; newly rich person
|
|
partition
|
divide into parts
|
|
n pass\'e
|
old-fashioned; past the prime
|
|
passive
|
not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance
|
|
n pastiche
|
imitation of another's style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists
|
|
pastoral
|
rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor
|
|
patent
|
obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent; Ex. patent to everyone; N.
|
|
pathetic
|
causing sadness
|
|
s touching
|
causing a feeling of pity or sympathy; pathetic; V. touch: cause to feel pity or sympathy; ADJ. touched
|
|
pathological
|
pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease
|
|
n pathos
|
tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings; Ex. pathos that runs through the novel
|
|
n patina
|
green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting
|
|
s varnish
|
paint used to coat a surface with a glossy film; glossy coating produced by using this substance; Ex. nail varnish; V.
|
|
n patois
|
local or provincial dialect
|
|
patriarch
|
father and ruler of a family or tribe
|
|
n patrician
|
noble; aristocratic; N: person of high rank; aristocrat; CF. member of the governing classes in ancient Rome; CF. plebian
|
|
patronize
|
support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of; N. patron: one that supports; regular customer; N. patronage; CF. boycott
|
|
paucity
|
scarcity; dearth
|
|
pauper
|
very poor person
|
|
n peccadillo
|
slight offense or fault; CF. sin
|
|
s swipe
|
hit with a sweeping motion; N.
|
|
pecuniary
|
pertaining to money
|
|
pedagogue
|
teacher; CF. child leader
|
|
pedagogy
|
teaching; art of education
|
|
n pedant
|
scholar who overemphasizes book learning
|
|
n pedantic
|
bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning; N. pedantry
|
|
s bookish
|
fond of books and reading
|
|
s studious
|
given to diligent study
|
|
n pedestrian
|
ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot; Ex. pedestrian prose; N.
|
|
s precinct
|
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
|
|
s pedigree
|
ancestry; lineage
|
|
pediatrician
|
physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
|
|
peerless
|
having no equal; incomparable
|
|
s peer
|
one who has equal standing with another; nobleman; V: look intently; N. peerage; CF. peeress
|
|
n pejorative
|
(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect; Ex. Many women now considers ``housewife'' a pejorative expression
|
|
n pell-mell
|
in confusion; disorderly; Ex. dash pell-mell
|
|
n pellucid
|
transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand
|
|
n penance
|
self-imposed punishment for sin; Ex. do penance for one's sins; CF. penitent
|
|
n penchant
|
strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
|
|
pendant(pendent)
|
hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
|
|
s pending
|
not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
|
|
n pendulous
|
hanging; suspended
|
|
s suspend
|
cause to stop for a period; interrupt; hold in abeyance; defer; hang from above; exclude for a period from a position; Ex. suspended state; Ex. suspend judgment; Ex. suspended from the team; N. suspension
|
|
s suspense
|
state of being undecided; anxiety or apprehension resulting from uncertainty
|
|
penitent
|
repentant; N.
|
|
n pensive
|
dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
|
|
n penumbra
|
partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
|
|
penury
|
extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
|
|
n peon
|
landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
|
|
perceptive
|
insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
|
|
n percussion
|
striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
|
|
n perdition
|
damnation; complete ruin; hell
|
|
s damn
|
condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
|
|
s doom
|
condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.
|
|
peregrination
|
journey; V. peregrinate
|
|
n peremptory
|
demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
|
|
perennial
|
something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
|
|
perfidious
|
treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
|
|
perforate
|
pierce; put a hole through
|
|
perfunctory
|
done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest
|
|
perigee
|
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
|
|
perimeter
|
outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference
|
|
s bound
|
leap or spring; limit or confine; constitute the limit of; Ex. bounded by Canada; N: leap or jumping; boundary; ADJ: certain; having a duty to do something (legally or morally); confined by bonds; Ex. We are bound to be late; Ex. I am bound to say my opinion; CF. bounce
|
|
n peripatetic
|
walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
|
|
n peripheral
|
of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
|
|
n periphery
|
outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
|
|
perjury
|
false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
|
|
permeable
|
that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
|
|
n pernicious
|
very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
|
|
n peroration
|
conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
|
|
n perpetrate
|
commit an offense; do (something wrong)
|
|
perpetual
|
everlasting
|
|
perpetuate
|
make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
|
|
n perquisite(perk)
|
any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
|
|
n personable
|
attractive (in personality or appearance)
|
|
perspicacious
|
(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
|
|
perspicuity
|
clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
|
|
perspicuous
|
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
|
|
n pert
|
(esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
|
|
s forward
|
presumptuous or bold
|
|
pertinacious
|
holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
|
|
pertinent
|
suitable; to the point; relevant
|
|
perturb
|
disturb greatly
|
|
n peruse
|
read through with care; N. perusal
|
|
pervasive
|
spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells
|
|
n perverse
|
purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
|
|
perversion
|
corruption; turning from right to wrong
|
|
s pervert
|
corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural
|
|
s wrongheaded
|
stubbornly wrong
|
|
pessimism
|
belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
|
|
n pestilential(pestilent)
|
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
|
|
n pestle
|
tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
|
|
s mortar
|
vessel in which substances are crushed with a pestle
|
|
s mash
|
crush into mash; convert into mash; N: mixture of ground grain and nutrients fed to livestock and fowl
|
|
n petrify
|
turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
|
|
petty
|
trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
|
|
n petulant
|
touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
|
|
s phalanx
|
formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
|
|
n pharisaical
|
pertaining to the Pharisees
|
|
s pharisee
|
Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
|
|
s self-righteous
|
sure of one's own righteousness; moralistic
|
|
n phenomena
|
observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person
|
|
philanderer
|
faithless lover; flirt
|
|
philanthropist
|
lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
|
|
n philatelist
|
stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
|
|
n philistine
|
narrow-minded person
|
|
n philology
|
study of language or words
|
|
n phlegmatic
|
calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
|
|
phobia
|
morbid fear
|
|
phoenix
|
symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
|
|
n phylum
|
major classification
|
|
n physiognomy
|
face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
|
|
n physiological
|
pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
|
|
n piebald
|
of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
|
|
n piecemeal
|
one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
|
|
n pied
|
piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
|
|
piety
|
devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
|
|
n pigment
|
coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
|
|
pillage
|
plunder
|
|
pillory
|
punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
|
|
n pine
|
long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
|
|
n pinion
|
restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
|
|
pinnacle
|
peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
|
|
pious
|
devout; religious; N. piety
|
|
n piquant
|
pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
|
|
s tart
|
sharp to the taste; acid-tasting; caustic; sarcastic; Ex. tart apple/reply
|
|
s sour
|
having a sharp or acid taste; acid; tart; bad-tempered; V.
|
|
pique
|
irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
|
|
n piscatorial
|
pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
|
|
pitfall
|
hidden danger; concealed trap
|
|
s beware
|
be cautious (of)
|
|
n pith
|
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
|
|
s marrow
|
soft fatty tissue that fills most bone cavities and is the source of blood cells
|
|
pithy
|
concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
|
|
n pittance
|
small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
|
|
pivotal
|
of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
|
|
placate
|
pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
|
|
n placebo
|
harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
|
|
s tablet
|
small round piece of medicine; flat piece of stone or metal bearing an inscription; Ex. stone tablet on the wall
|
|
placid
|
peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
|
|
n plagiarize
|
steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
|
|
n plaintive
|
expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
|
|
n plait
|
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
|
|
n plasticity
|
ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
|
|
platitude
|
trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
|
|
s commonplace
|
ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark
|
|
s commonwealth
|
nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
|
|
platonic
|
purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
|
|
n plaudit
|
praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
|
|
plausible
|
conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
|
|
n plebeian
|
common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
|
|
s plebiscite
|
direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
|
|
s referendum
|
direct vote by all the people
|
|
n plenary
|
(of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
|
|
n plenitude
|
abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary
|
|
n plethora
|
excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
|
|
pliable
|
flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
|
|
pliant
|
flexible; easily influenced
|
|
plight
|
difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
|
|
n pluck
|
courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
|
|
n plumage
|
feathers of a bird;
|
|
n plumb
|
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
|
|
s plumber
|
one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
|
|
n plummet
|
fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
|
|
plutocracy
|
society ruled by the wealthy
|
|
podiatrist
|
doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
|
|
podium
|
pedestal; raised platform
|
|
s pedestal
|
support or base as for a pillar or statue
|
|
n poignancy
|
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow
|
|
n polarize
|
split into opposite extremes or camps
|
|
s polarity
|
state of having two opposite qualities
|
|
s polar
|
of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
|
|
s camp
|
group sharing a common cause or opinion
|
|
n polemic
|
attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
|
|
n polemical(polemic)
|
aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
|
|
politic
|
prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
|
|
polity
|
(particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
|
|
polygamist
|
one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
|
|
polyglot
|
speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
|
|
pomposity
|
self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
|
|
n ponderous
|
having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
|
|
n pontifical
|
pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
|
|
n pore
|
study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
|
|
porous
|
full of pores; like a sieve
|
|
s interstice
|
narrow space between things
|
|
portend
|
foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
|
|
s soothsayer
|
one who foretells the future
|
|
n portly
|
stout; corpulent
|
|
s stout
|
rather fat; strong in body; sturdy; resolute; determined; strong in determination; Ex. stout stick/supporter
|
|
n poseur
|
person who pretends to be sophisticated
|
|
s pose
|
assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
|
|
n posterity
|
descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior
|
|
n posthumous
|
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
|
|
s postmortem
|
autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
|
|
n postulate
|
self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
|
|
n posture
|
assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
|
|
n potable
|
suitable for drinking; drinkable
|
|
potent
|
powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
|
|
n potentate
|
monarch; sovereign
|
|
potential
|
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
|
|
potion
|
dose (of liquids); liquid dose
|
|
n potpourri
|
heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
|
|
n poultice
|
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
|
|
practicable
|
feasible
|
|
practical
|
based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
|
|
pragmatic
|
practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
|
|
pragmatist
|
practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
|
|
s prance
|
move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
|
|
n prate
|
talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
|
|
n prattle
|
talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
|
|
s idle
|
not working; not employed or busy; lazy; without purpose; useless; lacking substance; baseless; not based on truth; Ex. idle worker; Ex. talk idly; V.
|
|
preamble
|
introductory statement
|
|
n precarious
|
unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
|
|
precedent
|
something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
|
|
precedent
|
preceding (in time
|
|
precept
|
practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
|
|
precipice
|
cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
|
|
s brink
|
edge (at the top of a cliff); Ex. on the brink of the Grand Canyon
|
|
precipitant
|
something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ħÀüÁ¦; OP. solvent
|
|
precipitate
|
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
|
|
precipitous
|
steep; overhasty; precipitate
|
|
n pr\'ecis
|
abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
|
|
precise
|
exact
|
|
preclude
|
make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
|
|
precocious
|
advanced in development; N. precocity
|
|
precursor
|
forerunner; predecessor
|
|
predator
|
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
|
|
predecessor
|
former occupant of a post
|
|
predetermine
|
determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
|
|
predicament
|
difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
|
|
n predilection
|
preference; partiality
|
|
n predispose
|
give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
|
|
preeminent
|
outstanding; superior
|
|
n preempt
|
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
|
|
n preen
|
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
|
|
prefatory
|
introductory; of a preface
|
|
n prehensile
|
capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
|
|
n prelate
|
church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
|
|
prelude
|
introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
|
|
premeditate
|
plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
|
|
premise
|
assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
|
|
premonition
|
forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
|
|
premonitory
|
serving to warn
|
|
preponderance
|
superiority of power
|
|
preposterous
|
absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
|
|
prerogative
|
privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
|
|
presage
|
foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
|
|
n prescience
|
ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
|
|
presentiment
|
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
|
|
prestige
|
respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
|
|
n presumptuous
|
going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
|
|
s presume
|
take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
|
|
n pretentious
|
ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
|
|
s pretend
|
feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
|
|
s pretension
|
pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
|
|
n preternatural
|
beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
|
|
pretext
|
excuse
|
|
n prevail
|
be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something
|
|
prevalent
|
widespread; generally accepted
|
|
n prevaricate
|
lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
|
|
prey
|
target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
|
|
n prim
|
proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
|
|
n primogeniture
|
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)
|
|
primordial
|
existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
|
|
n primp
|
groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
|
|
n pristine
|
unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
|
|
n privation
|
lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
|
|
n privy
|
secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
|
|
probe
|
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
|
|
probity
|
uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
|
|
s defalcate
|
embezzle
|
|
n problematic
|
causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
|
|
proclivity
|
inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
|
|
procrastinate
|
postpone; delay or put off
|
|
procurement
|
obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
|
|
n prod
|
poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
|
|
prodigal
|
wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
|
|
prodigious
|
enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
|
|
prodigy
|
highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
|
|
profane
|
violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
|
|
n profligate
|
wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
|
|
profound
|
deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
|
|
profusion
|
great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
|
|
progenitor
|
ancestor
|
|
n progeny
|
children; offspring; descendants
|
|
prognosis
|
forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
|
|
prognosticate
|
predict (according to present indications)
|
|
prohibitive
|
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
|
|
projectile
|
missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
|
|
proletarian
|
member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
|
|
proliferate
|
grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
|
|
prolific
|
producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
|
|
n prolixity
|
tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
|
|
prologue
|
introduction (to a poem or play)
|
|
s feud
|
bitter prolonged quarrel (usually between two peoples or families); V. CF. Romeo and Juliet; CF. feudal
|
|
prolong
|
lengthen; extend; draw out
|
|
prominent
|
protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
|
|
n promiscuous
|
mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular
|
|
promontory
|
headland
|
|
n promote
|
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
|
|
n prompt
|
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
|
|
s cue
|
word or signal (as in a play to prompt another actor's speech or entrance); reminder or hint; V: give a cue to
|
|
n promulgate
|
announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
|
|
prone
|
inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
|
|
propagate
|
increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
|
|
propellant(propellent)
|
substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
|
|
propensity
|
natural inclination
|
|
prophetic
|
of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
|
|
prophylactic
|
used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
|
|
n propinquity
|
nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
|
|
n propitiate
|
appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
|
|
n propitious
|
favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
|
|
s horoscope
|
diagram of the positions of stars at a given moment (eg. of a person's birth) used by astrologers
|
|
proponent
|
supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
|
|
propound
|
put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
|
|
propriety
|
fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor
|
|
s usage
|
act or manner of using; accepted practice; way in which words are actually used
|
|
propulsive
|
driving forward; N. propulsion
|
|
n prosaic
|
lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts
|
|
n proscenium
|
part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
|
|
proscribe
|
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
|
|
s outlaw
|
fugitive from the law (excluded from legal protection); V: declare (someone) to be an outlaw; deprive of the protection of the law; declare illegal; Ex. Drinking has been outlawed.
|
|
n proselytize
|
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
|
|
n prosody
|
art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
|
|
s metrical
|
metric; written in the form of poetry; Ex. metrical translation of Homer
|
|
s meter
|
arrangement of words in the form of poetry (by accentual rhythm)
|
|
prosperity
|
good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
|
|
s prosper
|
become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care
|
|
s prosperous
|
successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
|
|
prostrate
|
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
|
|
n protean
|
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
|
|
prot\'eg\'e
|
person receiving protection and support from a patron
|
|
n protocol
|
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.
|
|
prototype
|
original work used as a model by others
|
|
protract
|
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
|
|
protrude
|
stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
|
|
n protuberance
|
protrusion; swelling; bulge
|
|
s bulge
|
protruding part; swelling of a surface; Ex. The apple made a bulge in his pocket; V: swell outward; protrude
|
|
n provenance
|
place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
|
|
n provender
|
dry food for livestock; fodder
|
|
provident
|
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
|
|
s providence
|
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
|
|
provincial
|
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
|
|
provisional
|
tentative; temporary
|
|
proviso
|
stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
|
|
s provision
|
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
|
|
provocative
|
arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
|
|
n prowess
|
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
|
|
proximity
|
nearness; ADJ. proximate
|
|
proxy
|
authorized agent; authority to act for another
|
|
n prude
|
excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things
|
|
prudent
|
cautious; careful; prudential
|
|
prune
|
cut away; trim
|
|
n prurient
|
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
|
|
n pry
|
inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
|
|
s prize
|
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
|
|
pseudonym
|
pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous
|
|
psyche
|
soul; mind
|
|
psychiatrist
|
doctor who treats mental diseases
|
|
s psychic
|
of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers
|
|
psychopathic
|
pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an antisocial personality disorder
|
|
psychosis
|
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic
|
|
s psychosomatic
|
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease)
|
|
n pterodactyl
|
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger
|
|
n puerile
|
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy
|
|
pugilist
|
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing
|
|
n pugnacity
|
combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) belligerent; combative in nature
|
|
n puissant
|
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power
|
|
n pulchritude
|
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous
|
|
n pulmonary
|
pertaining to the lungs
|
|
n pulsate
|
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly
|
|
s pulse
|
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity; V: pulsate
|
|
pulverize
|
crush or grind into very small particles
|
|
n pummel
|
pommel; beat or pound with fists
|
|
punctilious
|
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio
|
|
n pundit
|
authority on a subject; expert; learned person
|
|
pungent
|
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; N. pungency
|
|
n punitive
|
punishing; Ex. punitive measures
|
|
n puny
|
tiny; weak; insignificant
|
|
n purchase
|
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing
|
|
purgatory
|
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins
|
|
purge
|
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin
|
|
purport
|
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which purports to be signed by the general
|
|
purported
|
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists
|
|
s rooster
|
cock; adult male chicken
|
|
s rabble
|
mob; noisy crowd
|
|
n purse
|
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet
|
|
s pucker
|
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold
|
|
n purveyor
|
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; CF. provide
|
|
n pusillanimous
|
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted
|
|
n putative
|
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of the child
|
|
n putrid
|
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity
|
|
s putrefy
|
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction
|
|
s putrescent
|
becoming putrid; putrefying
|
|
s gangrene
|
decay of body tissue caused by insufficient blood supply (usually following injury); ADJ. gangrenous
|
|
pyromaniac
|
person with an insane desire to set things on fire
|