Gre Vocab Words: P

Front 1

pachyderm

Back 1

thick-skinned animal

Front 2

pacifist

Back 2

one opposed to force; antimilitarist

Front 3

pacify

Back 3

soothe; make calm or quiet; subdue; bring peace to
padre chaplain

Front 4

paean

Back 4

song of praise or joy

Front 5

painstaking

Back 5

taking pains; showing hard work; taking great care; very careful and through

Front 6

palatable

Back 6

agreeable; pleasing to the taste

Front 7

palate

Back 7

roof of the mouth; sense of the taste

Front 8

palatial

Back 8

of or suitable for a palace; magnificent

Front 9

paleontology

Back 9

study of prehistoric life or fossils;

Front 10

palette

Back 10

board on which painter mixes pigments

Front 11

palimpsest

Back 11

parchment or piece of writing material used for second time after original writing has been erased

Front 12

pall

Back 12

become boring; grow tiresome

Front 13

pallet

Back 13

small poor bed

Front 14

palliate

Back 14

ease pain (without curing); make less severe or offensive (a crime or illness)

Front 15

pallid

Back 15

pale; wan

Front 16

pander

Back 16

cater to the low desires of others

Front 17

palpable

Back 17

tangible; (of something bad) easily perceptible; obvious

Front 18

palpitate

Back 18

throb; beat rapidly; flutter; tremble

Front 19

paltry

Back 19

insignificant; petty; trifling; contemptible

Front 20

pan

Back 20

criticize harshly

Front 21

panacea

Back 21

cure-all; remedy for all diseases

Front 22

panache

Back 22

flair; manner of doing things without any difficulty (causing admiration); flamboyance; bunch of feathers (on a helmet)

Front 23

pandemic

Back 23

widespread; affecting the majority of people

Front 24

Pandemonium

Back 24

wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder

Front 25

panegyric

Back 25

formal praise; encomium

Front 26

panoramic

Back 26

denoting an unobstructed and comprehensive view; N. panorama: unbroken view of a wide area

Front 27

pantomime

Back 27

acting without dialogue

Front 28

papyrus

Back 28

ancient paper made from stem of papyrus plant

Front 29

parable

Back 29

short simple story teaching a moral

Front 30

paradigm

Back 30

model; example that serves as a model; pattern; list of all the inflectional forms of a word

Front 31

paradox

Back 31

something apparently contradictory in nature (that may nonetheless be true); statement that looks false but is actually correct
paragon model of perfection

Front 32

paragon

Back 32

model of perfection

Front 33

parallelism

Back 33

state of being parallel; similarity; analogy

Front 34

parameter

Back 34

limit; independent variable

Front 35

paramount

Back 35

foremost in importance; supreme

Front 36

paramour

Back 36

illicit/disapproved lover

Front 37

paranoia

Back 37

psychosis marked by delusions of grandeur or persecution

Front 38

paraphernalia

Back 38

equipment; odds and ends used in a particular activity; personal belongings

Front 39

paraphrase

Back 39

restate a passage in one’s own words while retaining thought of author

Front 40

parasite

Back 40

animal or plant living on another; toady; sycophant

Front 41

parched

Back 41

extremely dry; very thirsty

Front 42

pariah

Back 42

social outcast

Front 43

parlance

Back 43

language; idiom

Front 44

parlance

Back 44

language; manner of speaking; idiom

Front 45

parley

Back 45

conference (between opponents)

Front 46

parochial

Back 46

narrow in scope or outlook; provincial; related to parishes

Front 47

parody

Back 47

humorous imitation; spoof; takeoff; travesty

Front 48

paroxysm

Back 48

fit or attack of pain, laughter, rage; sudden outburst

Front 49

parquet

Back 49

floor made of wood strips inlaid in a mosaic like matter

Front 50

parry

Back 50

ward off a blow; deflect

Front 51

parsimony

Back 51

stinginess; excessive frugality

Front 52

partial

Back 52

incomplete; favoring one side over another; having a liking for something

Front 53

partiality

Back 53

state of being partial; inclination; favorable bias; special fondness; preference

Front 54

partisan

Back 54

one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party (with dislike of any others)

Front 55

partition

Back 55

divide into parts

Front 56

passe'

Back 56

old-fashioned; past the prime

Front 57

passive

Back 57

not active; acted upon; receiving an action without acting in return; accepting without resistance

Front 58

pastiche

Back 58

imitation of another’s style in musical composition or in writing; work of art openly imitating the works of other artists

Front 59

pastoral

Back 59

rural; of rural life; idyllic; of a pastor

Front 60

patent

Back 60

obvious; easily seen; open for the public to read; of or protected by a patent

Front 61

pathetic

Back 61

causing sadness, compassion, pity; touching

Front 62

pathological

Back 62

pertaining to disease; N. pathology: study of disease

Front 63

pathos

Back 63

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings

Front 64

patina

Back 64

green crust on old bronze works or copper; tone slowly taken by varnished painting

Front 65

patois

Back 65

local or provincial dialect

Front 66

patriarch

Back 66

father and ruler of a family or tribe

Front 67

patrician

Back 67

noble; aristocratic

Front 68

patrimony

Back 68

property inherited from a father

Front 69

patronize

Back 69

support; act superior toward; treat in a condescending manner; be a customer of

Front 70

paucity

Back 70

scarcity; dearth

Front 71

pauper

Back 71

very poor person

Front 72

peccadillo

Back 72

slight offense or fault

Front 73

pecuniary

Back 73

pertaining to money

Front 74

pedagogue

Back 74

teacher

Front 75

pedagogy

Back 75

teaching; art of education

Front 76

pedant

Back 76

scholar who overemphasizes book learning, trivial details of learning, or technicalities

Front 77

pedantic

Back 77

bookish; showing off learning; marked by an excessive ostentatious concern for book learning

Front 78

pedestrian

Back 78

ordinary; dull; unimaginative(lacking in imagination); going on foot

Front 79

pediatrician

Back 79

physician specializing in children’s diseases

Front 80

peerless

Back 80

having no equal; incomparable

Front 81

pejorative

Back 81

(of a word or phrase) suggesting that someone is of little value; negative in connotation; having a belittling effect

Front 82

pell-mell

Back 82

in confusion; disorderly

Front 83

pellucid

Back 83

transparent; limpid(crystal clear); clear in meaning; easy to understand

Front 84

penance

Back 84

self-imposed punishment for sin

Front 85

penchant

Back 85

strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people)

Front 86

pendant (2)

Back 86

1) hanging down from something
2) ornament (hanging from a necklace)

Front 87

pendulous

Back 87

hanging; suspended

Front 88

penitent

Back 88

repentant

Front 89

pensive

Back 89

dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative

Front 90

penumbra

Back 90

partial shadow (in an eclipse)

Front 91

penury

Back 91

extreme poverty; stinginess

Front 92

peon

Back 92

landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker

Front 93

perceptive

Back 93

insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception

Front 94

percussion

Back 94

striking one object against another sharply

Front 95

perdition

Back 95

damnation; complete ruin; hell

Front 96

peregrination

Back 96

journey

Front 97

peremptory

Back 97

demanding and leaving no choice; imperative

Front 98

perennial

Back 98

something long-lasting; perennial plant

Front 99

perfidious

Back 99

treacherous; disloyal

Front 100

perforate

Back 100

pierce; put a hole through

Front 101

perfunctory

Back 101

done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm

Front 102

perigee

Back 102

point of moon’s orbit when it is nearest the earth

Front 103

perimeter

Back 103

outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference

Front 104

peripatetic

Back 104

walking about from place to place (to work); moving

Front 105

peripheral

Back 105

of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central

Front 106

periphery

Back 106

outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter

Front 107

perjury

Back 107

false testimony while under oath

Front 108

permeable

Back 108

that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through

Front 109

pernicious

Back 109

very harmful; deadly; very destructive

Front 110

peroration

Back 110

conclusion of an oration; perorating

Front 111

perpetrate

Back 111

commit an offense; do (something wrong)

Front 112

perpetual

Back 112

everlasting

Front 113

perpetuate

Back 113

make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction

Front 114

perquisite

Back 114

(perk) any gain above stipulated salary

Front 115

personable

Back 115

attractive (in personality or appearance)

Front 116

perspicacious

Back 116

(of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute

Front 117

perspicuity

Back 117

clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity

Front 118

perspicuous

Back 118

(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand

Front 119

pert

Back 119

impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty
of a girl or young woman

Front 120

pertinacious

Back 120

holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent

Front 121

pertinent

Back 121

suitable; to the point; relevant

Front 122

perturb

Back 122

disturb greatly

Front 123

peruse

Back 123

read through with care

Front 124

pervasive

Back 124

spread throughout

Front 125

perverse

Back 125

purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable

Front 126

perversion

Back 126

corruption; turning from right to wrong

Front 127

pessimism

Back 127

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation

Front 128

pestilential

Back 128

causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful

Front 129

pestilence

Back 129

fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)

Front 130

pestle

Back 130

tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar

Front 131

petrify

Back 131

turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze

Front 132

petty

Back 132

trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded

Front 133

petulant

Back 133

touchy; peevish; ill-tempered

Front 134

pharisaical

Back 134

pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical

Front 135

phenomena

Back 135

observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation

Front 136

phenomenon

Back 136

observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder

Front 137

philanderer

Back 137

faithless lover; flirt

Front 138

philanthropist

Back 138

lover of mankind; doer of good

Front 139

philatelist

Back 139

stamp-collector

Front 140

Philistine

Back 140

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

Front 141

philology

Back 141

study of language or words

Front 142

phlegmatic

Back 142

calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed

Front 143

phobia

Back 143

morbid fear

Front 144

phoenix

Back 144

symbol of immortality or rebirth

Front 145

phylum

Back 145

major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division

Front 146

physiognomy

Back 146

face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features

Front 147

physiological

Back 147

pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms

Front 148

piecemeal

Back 148

one part at a time; gradually; in stages

Front 149

pied

Back 149

piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored

Front 150

piety

Back 150

devoutness; reverence for God

Front 151

pigment

Back 151

coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)

Front 152

pillage

Back 152

plunder

Front 153

pillory

Back 153

punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule

Front 154

pine

Back 154

long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline

Front 155

pinion

Back 155

restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs

Front 156

pinnacle

Back 156

peak; highest point; acme

Front 157

piquant

Back 157

pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating

Front 158

pique (2)

Back 158

1) irritation; resentment
2) provoke or arouse; annoy

Front 159

piscatorial

Back 159

pertaining to fishing

Front 160

pitfall

Back 160

hidden danger; concealed trap

Front 161

pith

Back 161

core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance

Front 162

pithy

Back 162

concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty

Front 163

pittance

Back 163

small amount (of money); small allowance or wage

Front 164

pivotal

Back 164

of a pivot; central; critical; crucial

Front 165

placate

Back 165

pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease

Front 166

placebo

Back 166

harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill

Front 167

placid

Back 167

peaceful; calm

Front 168

plagiarize

Back 168

steal another’s ideas or writings and pass them off as one’s own

Front 169

plaintive

Back 169

expressing sorrow; mournful

Front 170

plait

Back 170

braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together

Front 171

plasticity

Back 171

ability to be molded

Front 172

platitude

Back 172

trite remark; commonplace statement

Front 173

platonic

Back 173

purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire

Front 174

plaudit

Back 174

praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause

Front 175

plausible

Back 175

conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
plebeian common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people

Front 176

plebeian

Back 176

common; pertaining to the common people

Front 177

plenary

Back 177

complete; full

Front 178

plethora

Back 178

excess; overabundance

Front 179

pliable

Back 179

flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable

Front 180

pliant

Back 180

flexible; easily influenced

Front 181

plight

Back 181

difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament

Front 182

plenitude

Back 182

abundance; completeness

Front 183

pluck

Back 183

courage

Front 184

plumage

Back 184

feathers of a bird

Front 185

plumb (2)

Back 185

1) exactly vertical
2) examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding)

Front 186

plummet

Back 186

fall sharply; fall straight down

Front 187

plutocracy

Back 187

society ruled by the wealthy

Front 188

podiatrist

Back 188

doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist

Front 189

poignancy

Back 189

quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion

Front 190

polarize

Back 190

split into opposite extremes or camps

Front 191

polemic

Back 191

attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view

Front 192

polemical

Back 192

aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)

Front 193

politic

Back 193

prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
polity (particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state

Front 194

pomposity

Back 194

self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt

Front 195

ponderous

Back 195

having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull

Front 196

pontifical

Back 196

pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious

Front 197

pore

Back 197

study industriously; ponder; scrutinize

Front 198

porous

Back 198

full of pores; like a sieve

Front 199

portend

Back 199

foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of

Front 200

portly

Back 200

stout; corpulent

Front 201

poseur

Back 201

person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses

Front 202

posterity

Back 202

descendants; future generations

Front 203

posthumous

Back 203

after death (as of child born after father’s death or book published after author’s death); coming or occurring after one’s death

Front 204

postulate

Back 204

self-evident truth; something assumed without proof

Front 205

posture

Back 205

assume an affected pose; act artificially

Front 206

potable

Back 206

suitable for drinking; drinkable

Front 207

potent

Back 207

powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential

Front 208

potentate

Back 208

monarch; sovereign

Front 209

potential

Back 209

expressing possibility; latent

Front 210

potion

Back 210

dose (of liquids); liquid dose

Front 211

potpourri

Back 211

heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)

Front 212

poultice

Back 212

soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body

Front 213

practicable

Back 213

feasible
able to be done or put into practice successfully

Front 214

practical

Back 214

based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful

Front 215

pragmatic

Back 215

practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something

Front 216

prate

Back 216

talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly

Front 217

prattle

Back 217

talk idly; babble

Front 218

preamble

Back 218

introductory statement

Front 219

precarious

Back 219

unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky

Front 220

precedent

Back 220

preceding (in time, rank, etc.)

Front 221

precept

Back 221

practical rule guiding conduct

Front 222

precipice

Back 222

cliff; dangerous position

Front 223

precipitant

Back 223

something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form

Front 224

precipitate (2)

Back 224

1) rash; premature; hasty; sudden
2) throw headlong; hasten

Front 225

precipitous

Back 225

steep; overhasty; precipitate

Front 226

precise

Back 226

exact

Front 227

preclude

Back 227

make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate

Front 228

precocious

Back 228

advanced in development

Front 229

precursor

Back 229

forerunner; predecessor

Front 230

predator

Back 230

predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others

Front 231

predecessor

Back 231

former occupant of a post

Front 232

predetermine

Back 232

determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly

Front 233

predicament

Back 233

difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma

Front 234

predilection

Back 234

preference; partiality

Front 235

predispose

Back 235

give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to

Front 236

preeminent

Back 236

outstanding; superior

Front 237

preempt

Back 237

prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace;

Front 238

preen

Back 238

make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak

Front 239

prefatory

Back 239

introductory; of a preface

Front 240

prehensile

Back 240

capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around)

Front 241

prelate

Back 241

church dignitary; priest of high position in the church

Front 242

prelude

Back 242

introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
premeditate plan in advance

Front 243

premise

Back 243

assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based

Front 244

premonition

Back 244

forewarning; presentiment; foreboding

Front 245

premonitory

Back 245

serving to warn

Front 246

preponderance

Back 246

superiority of power, quantity

Front 247

preposterous

Back 247

absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous

Front 248

prerogative

Back 248

privilege; unquestionable right

Front 249

presage

Back 249

foretell; be a warning or sign of

Front 250

prescience

Back 250

ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur

Front 251

presentiment

Back 251

premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear

Front 252

prestige

Back 252

respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation

Front 253

presumptuous

Back 253

going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties

Front 254

pretentious

Back 254

ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious

Front 255

preternatural

Back 255

beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces

Front 256

pretext

Back 256

excuse

Front 257

prevail

Back 257

be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce

Front 258

prevalent

Back 258

widespread; generally accepted

Front 259

prevaricate

Back 259

lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)

Front 260

prey

Back 260

target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize

Front 261

prim

Back 261

proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper

Front 262

primogeniture

Back 262

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)

Front 263

primordial

Back 263

existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary

Front 264

primp

Back 264

groom oneself with care; adorn oneself

Front 265

pristine

Back 265

unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive

Front 266

privation

Back 266

lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want

Front 267

privy

Back 267

secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret

Front 268

probe

Back 268

explore with a probe or tools; investigate

Front 269

probity

Back 269

uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility

Front 270

problematic

Back 270

causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable

Front 271

proclivity

Back 271

inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)

Front 272

procrastinate

Back 272

postpone; delay or put off

Front 273

procurement

Back 273

obtaining

Front 274

prod

Back 274

poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action

Front 275

prodigal

Back 275

wasteful; reckless with money; profuse

Front 276

prodigious

Back 276

enormous; marvelous; extraordinary

Front 277

prodigy

Back 277

highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder

Front 278

profane

Back 278

violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for

Front 279

profligate

Back 279

wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute

Front 280

profound

Back 280

deep; not superficial; complete

Front 281

profusion

Back 281

great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure;

Front 282

progenitor

Back 282

ancestor

Front 283

progeny

Back 283

children; offspring; descendants

Front 284

prognosis

Back 284

forecasted course of a disease; prediction

Front 285

prognosticate

Back 285

predict (according to present indications)

Front 286

prohibitive

Back 286

so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid

Front 287

projectile

Back 287

missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)

Front 288

proletarian

Back 288

member of the working class; blue collar guy

Front 289

proliferate

Back 289

grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply

Front 290

prolific

Back 290

producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works

Front 291

prolixity

Back 291

tedious wordiness; verbosity

Front 292

prologue

Back 292

introduction (to a poem or play)

Front 293

prolong

Back 293

lengthen; extend; draw out

Front 294

prominent

Back 294

protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent

Front 295

promiscuous

Back 295

mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually

Front 296

promontory

Back 296

headland

Front 297

promote

Back 297

advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize

Front 298

prompt

Back 298

cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor)

Front 299

promulgate

Back 299

announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication

Front 300

prone

Back 300

inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward

Front 301

propagate

Back 301

increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread

Front 302

propellant

Back 302

substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)

Front 303

propensity

Back 303

natural inclination

Front 304

prophetic

Back 304

a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future

Front 305

prophylactic

Back 305

used to prevent disease

Front 306

propinquity

Back 306

nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship

Front 307

propitiate

Back 307

appease; conciliate; make peaceful

Front 308

propitious

Back 308

favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate

Front 309

proponent

Back 309

supporter; backer; opposite of opponent

Front 310

propound

Back 310

put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth

Front 311

propriety

Back 311

fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages

Front 312

propulsive

Back 312

driving forward

Front 313

prosaic

Back 313

lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual

Front 314

proscenium

Back 314

part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage

Front 315

proscribe

Back 315

prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw

Front 316

proselytize

Back 316

(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief

Front 317

prosody

Back 317

art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse

Front 318

prosperity

Back 318

good fortune and financial success; physical well-being

Front 319

prostrate

Back 319

stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate

Front 320

protean

Back 320

able to take on many forms; versatile

Front 321

protocol

Back 321

diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification

Front 322

prototype

Back 322

original work used as a model by others

Front 323

protract

Back 323

prolong; lengthen in time; draw out

Front 324

protrude

Back 324

stick out; jut; project

Front 325

protuberance

Back 325

protrusion; swelling; bulge

Front 326

provenance

Back 326

place of origin; origin or source of something

Front 327

provender

Back 327

dry food for livestock; fodder

Front 328

provident

Back 328

providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies

Front 329

provincial

Back 329

pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated

Front 330

provisional

Back 330

tentative; temporary

Front 331

proviso

Back 331

stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision

Front 332

provocative

Back 332

rousing anger or sexual interest; annoying

Front 333

prowess

Back 333

extraordinary ability; military bravery

Front 334

proximity

Back 334

nearness

Front 335

proxy

Back 335

authorized agent; authority to act for another

Front 336

prude

Back 336

excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature);

Front 337

prudent

Back 337

cautious; careful; prudential

Front 338

prune

Back 338

cut away; trim

Front 339

prurient

Back 339

having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire

Front 340

pry

Back 340

inquire impertinently (someone else’s private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize

Front 341

pseudonym

Back 341

pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author

Front 342

psyche

Back 342

soul; mind

Front 343

psychiatrist

Back 343

doctor who treats mental diseases

Front 344

psychopathic

Back 344

pertaining to mental dearrangement

Front 345

psychosis

Back 345

mental disorder

Front 346

pterodactyl

Back 346

extinct flying reptile

Front 347

puerile

Back 347

childish; immature

Front 348

pugilist

Back 348

boxer

Front 349

pugnacity

Back 349

combativeness; disposition to fight

Front 350

puissant

Back 350

powerful; strong; potent

Front 351

pulchritude

Back 351

beauty; comeliness

Front 352

pulmonary

Back 352

pertaining to the lungs

Front 353

pulsate

Back 353

throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly

Front 354

pulverize

Back 354

crush or grind into very small particles

Front 355

pummel

Back 355

pommel; beat or pound with fists

Front 356

punctilious

Back 356

minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing niceties of conduct or form

Front 357

pundit

Back 357

authority on a subject; expert; learned person

Front 358

pungent

Back 358

stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell

Front 359

punitive

Back 359

punishing

Front 360

puny

Back 360

tiny; weak; insignificant

Front 361

purchase

Back 361

secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing

Front 362

purgatory

Back 362

place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the souls must expiate their sins

Front 363

purge

Back 363

remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify

Front 364

purported

Back 364

alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored

Front 365

purveyor

Back 365

furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer

Front 366

pusillanimous

Back 366

cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted

Front 367

putative

Back 367

supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such

Front 368

putrid

Back 368

decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed

Front 369

pyromaniac

Back 369

person with an insane desire to set things on fire