Reading...
Play button
Play button
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;
59 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
propitious
|
adj. favorable; fortunate; advantageous
this seems like a propitious day to get married |
|
|
proponent
|
n. supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
|
|
|
propound
|
v. put forth for analysis
In your discussion, you have propounded several quesitons; let us consider each one separately |
|
|
prosaic
|
adj. dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual
this is such a prosaic commercial - it'll never work |
|
|
proscenium
|
n. part of stage in front of curtain
|
|
|
proscribe
|
v. ostracize; banish; outlaw
the King proscribed all who conspired against him |
|
|
proselytize
|
v. induce someone to convert to a religion or belief
|
|
|
prosody
|
n. the art of versification
this book on prosody contains a rhyming dictionary |
|
|
prostrate
|
v. stretch out full on ground
|
|
|
protean
|
adj. versatile; able to take on many forms
he is a remarkably protean actor - he can take on many roles |
|
|
protege
|
n. person receiving protection and support from a patron
Born w/ an independent spirit, he refused to be a protege of Cardinal Richelieu |
|
|
protocol
|
n. diplomatic etiquette
We must run this state dinner according to protocol |
|
|
protract
|
v. prolong
the management team tried to protract the negotiations endlessly |
|
|
protuberance
|
n. protrusion; bulge
|
|
|
provenance
|
n. origin or source of something
I am more interested in its usefulness than in its provenance. |
|
|
provender
|
n. dry food; fodder (coarse food for livestock)
|
|
|
provident
|
adj. displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies
In his usual provident manner, he had insured himself against this type of loss |
|
|
provincial
|
adj. pertainig to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated
Out of touch with London news, the provincial governor became sadly provincial. |
|
|
provisional
|
adj. tentative
your acceptance is provisional |
|
|
proviso
|
n. stipulation (a condition, demand, or promise in an agreement or contract.)
I will accept you proposal with the proviso that you meet your obligations w/n the next 2 weeks |
|
|
provocative
|
adj. arousing anger or interest; annoying
think provoke! |
|
|
prowess
|
n. extraordinary ability; military bravery
she was a prowess on ice |
|
|
proxy
|
n. authorized agent
please act as my proxy and vote |
|
|
prudent
|
adj. cautious; careful
|
|
|
prune
|
v. cut away; trim
she pruned her manuscript |
|
|
prurient
|
adj. having of cuasing lustful thoughts and desires
Aroused by his prurient impulses... |
|
|
pseudonym
|
n. pen name
|
|
|
psychosis
|
n. mental disorder
|
|
|
puerile
|
adj. childish
|
|
|
pugilist
|
n boxer
|
|
|
pugnacity
|
n. combativeness; disposition to fight
|
|
|
puissant
|
adj. powerful; strong; potent
We must keep his frienship for he will make a puissant ally |
|
|
pulchritude
|
n. beauty; comeliness (attractive)
homely = unattractive |
|
|
pulverize
|
v. crush or grind into v. small particles
he pulverized the dried herbs |
|
|
pummel
|
v. beat or pound w/ fists
She pummeled her brother around |
|
|
punctilious
|
adj. stressing niceties of conduct or form; minutely attentive (perhaps too much so_ to fine points
Percy is punctilious about observing the rules of etiquette |
|
|
pundit
|
n. authority on a subject; learned person; expert
Some authors who write about the GRE as if they are pundits actually know little about the test |
|
|
punitive
|
adj. punishing
punitive measures against the offender |
|
|
purchase
|
n. firm grasp or footing
get a propper purchase on the slippery rock |
|
|
purgatory
|
n. place of spiritual expiation(the means by which atonement or reparation is made.)
|
|
|
purge
|
v. remove or get rid of something unwanted; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify
|
|
|
purport
|
n. intention; meaning
the purport of his speech was to... |
|
|
purported
|
adj. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored
the purported Satanists sacrificing live roosters in the park turned out to be a party of Shriners holding a chicken bbq |
|
|
purse
|
v. pucker; contract into wrinkles
purse your lips |
|
|
purveyor
|
n. furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer
purveyor of rare wines - he travelled to France every year to find new products to sell |
|
|
pusillanimous
|
adj. cowardly; fainthearted
pussy! |
|
|
putative
|
adj. supposed; reputed
Although there are some doubts, the putative author of this work is... |
|
|
putrid
|
adj. foul; rotten; decayed
the putrid smell |
|
|
pylon
|
n. marking post to guide aviators; steel tower supporting cables or telephone lines
|
|
|
quack
|
n. charlaton; imposter
Do not be misled by the exorbitant claims of this quack, he cannot cure you exorbitant - exceeding bounds of reason, propriety... high amt |
|
|
quadruped
|
n. four-footed animal
|
|
|
quaff
|
v. drink w/ relish (likeing/enjoyment)
As we quaffed our ale... |
|
|
quagmire
|
n. soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself
she didn't know how she would extricate (release from entanglement)herself from this quagmire |
|
|
quail
|
v. cower; lose heart
he was afraid he would quail in the face of danger |
|
|
quaint
|
adj. odd; old-fashioned; picturesque
quaint clothes |
|
|
qualified
|
adj. limited; restricted
the mayor only gave him a qualified endorsement |
|
|
qualms
|
n. misgivings; uneasy fears, esp about matters of conscience
I have no qualms about giving the assignment to her; i know she will handle it admirably |
|
|
quandary
|
n. dilemma
She was in a quandary as to which school she should attend |
|
|
quarry
|
n. victim; object of a hunt
v. dig into they had to quarry blocks of marble out of the cave entrance to close in on their quarry |
