Barron's Word List 36

Front 1

philanthropist

Back 1

lover of manind, doer of good

Front 2

philatelist

Back 2

stamp-collector

Front 3

philistine

Back 3

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain

Front 4

philology

Back 4

study of language

Front 5

phlegmatic

Back 5

calm, not easily disturbed

Front 6

phoenix

Back 6

symbol of immortality or rebirth

Front 7

phylum

Back 7

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals, division

Front 8

physiognomy

Back 8

face

Front 9

piebald

Back 9

spotted, mottled, of different colors

Front 10

piecemeal

Back 10

one part at a time, gradually

Front 11

pied

Back 11

variegated, multicolored

Front 12

pigment

Back 12

natural coloring matter of animal/plant tissue

Front 13

pillage

Back 13

plunder

Front 14

pillory

Back 14

punish by placing in a wooden frame;

subject to criticism and ridicule

Front 15

pine (v)

Back 15

languish, decline, long for, yearn

Front 16

pinion (v)

Back 16

restrain

Front 17

pinnacle

Back 17

peak

Front 18

pique (v) (2)

Back 18

(1) stimulate (interest, curiosity)
(2) feel irritated or resentful (piqued by his curtness)

Front 19

piscatorial

Back 19

pertaining to fishing

Front 20

pitfall (n)

Back 20

hidden danger, concealed trap

Front 21

pith (n)

Back 21

core or marrow; essence; substance

Front 22

pithy (adj)

Back 22

concise, meaningful, substantial, meaty

Front 23

pittance (n)

Back 23

a small allowance or wage

Front 24

pivotal (adj)

Back 24

central, critical

Front 25

plait (v)

Back 25

braid, intertwine

Front 26

plaudit (n)

Back 26

enthusiastic approval; round of applause

Front 27

plausible (adj)

Back 27

seeming reasonable/possible

Front 28

plebeian (adj)

Back 28

common, pertaining to the common people

Front 29

plenary (adj)

Back 29

complete, full

Front 30

plenitude (n) (2)

Back 30

(1) abundance

"a plenitude of animals"

(2) The condition of being full or complete

"the plenitude of the pope's powers"

Front 31

pliable

Back 31

flexible, yielding, adaptable

Front 32

pliant (2)

Back 32

flexible, easily influenced

Front 33

plight (n)

Back 33

a dangerous/difficult/unfortunate situation

Front 34

pluck (n)

Back 34

courage

Front 35

plumage

Back 35

feathers of a bird

Front 36

plumb (v)

Back 36

examine critically in order to undrstand; measure depth (by sounding)

Front 37

plumb (adj)

Back 37

vertical

Front 38

polarize (v)

Back 38

split into opposite expremes or camps

Front 39

polemic (n)

Back 39

controversy; argument in support of point of view

Front 40

polemical (adj)

Back 40

aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious

Front 41

polity (n)

Back 41

form of gov't of nation or state

Front 42

polyglot (adj)

Back 42

speaking several languages

Front 43

pomposity

Back 43

self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt

Front 44

ponderous

Back 44

weightly, unwieldy

"His humor lacked the light touch; his jokes were always ponderous"

Front 45

pontifical

Back 45

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious

Front 46

pore

Back 46

study industriously, ponder, scrutinize

Front 47

porous

Back 47

full of pores, like a sieve

Front 48

portent (n)

Back 48

sign, omen, forewarning

Front 49

postulate (n)

Back 49

self-evident truth

Front 50

posture (v)

Back 50

assume an affected pose; act artificially

Front 51

potable (adj)

Back 51

suitable for drinking

Front 52

potent

Back 52

powerful, persuasive, greatly influential

Front 53

potentate

Back 53

monarch, sovereign

Front 54

potpourri

Back 54

heterogeneous mixture, medley

Front 55

poultice (n)

Back 55

soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

Front 56

practicable

Back 56

feasible

Front 57

precedent (n)

Back 57

something preceding in time that may be used as an authority or guide for future action; an earlier occurrence

Front 58

precedent (adj)

Back 58

preceding in time, rank, etc.