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295 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
pabulum
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bland or insipid intellectual fare, entertainment, etc.; pap.
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pace
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w/ due respect to (someone or an opinion), used to express polite disagreement or contradiction: "history, pace some theorists, is not dead"
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pacific
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peaceful in character or intent
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padrone
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a patron or master, in particular: a Mafia boss, an employer (esp one who exploits immigrant workers), or (in Italy) the proprietor of a hotel.
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paean
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a song of praise or triumph; a thing that expresses enthusiastic praise
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palate
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roof of mouth
person's taste or liking taste or flavor of wine or beer |
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palaver
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prolonged and idle discussion
a parley or improvised conference between two sides. (v)-talk unnecessarily at length |
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palimpsest
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a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing.
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palindrome
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a word, phrase ,or sequence that reads the same backward as forward: "nurses run"
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palingenesis
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(biology) the exact reproduction of ancestral characteristics during the developmental stages of a particular organism
rebirth of regeneration |
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palliate
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make a disease or its symptoms less severe or unpleasant w/o removing the cause
allay or moderate fears / suspicions disguise the seriousness or gravity of an offense |
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palpate
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examine a part of the body by touch, esp for medical purposes
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palpitate
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(of the heart) beat rapidly, strongly , or irregularly
shake; tremble |
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palsy
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paralysis, esp. that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors
condition of helplessness |
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palter
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equivocate or prevaricate in action or speech
trifle w/ |
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paludal
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(of a plant, animal, or soil) living or occurring in a marshy habitat
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panacea
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a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases
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panache
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flamboyant confidence
tuft or plume of feathers, espas a headdress or on a helmet |
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pandect
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a complete body of the laws of a country
the Pandects: a compendium in 50 books of the Roman civil law made by order of Justinian in the 6th C. CE |
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pandemic
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(of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world
an outbreak of such a disease |
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pander
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(n) a person who assists the baser urges or evil designs of others
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panegyric
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a public speech or published text in praise of someone or something
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panoply
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a complete or impressive collection of things
splendid display a complete set of arms or suit of armor |
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pantheism
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a doctrine that identifies God w/ the universe, or regards the universe as a manifestation of God
worship that admits or tolerates all gods |
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papist
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derogatory term for a Roman Catholic
another term for papalist, a supporter of the papcy, esp an advocate of papl supremacy |
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parable
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a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, such as those told by Jesus in the Gospels
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parachronism
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an error in chronology, esp by assigning too late a date
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paragon
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a perfect diamond of 100 carats or more
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parallax
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the effect whereby the position or direction of an object appears to differ when viewed from different positions, e.g. through the viewfinder and the lens of a camera
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paralogism
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a piece of illogical or fallacious reasoning, esp. one that appears superficially logical or that the reasoner believes to be logical
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paramour
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a lover, esp. the illicit partner of a married person
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parapet
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a low, protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
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paraphilia
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(psychiatry) condition characterized by abnormal sexual desires, typically involving extreme or dangerous activities.
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parataxis
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the placing of clauses or phrases one after another, w/o words to indicate coordination or subordination, as in "Tell me, how are you?" (as opposed to Hypotaxis, the subordination of one clause to another.).
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parens patiae
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the gov't, or any other authority, regarded as the legal protector of citizens unable to protet themselves.
the principle that political authority carries w/ it the responsibility for such protection. |
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parietal
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of, relating to, attached to, or denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure
(think: parietal lobe) relating to residence in a college or university dorm and esp. to visits from members of the opposite sex: "parietal rules" denoting prehistoric art found on rock walls |
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parimutuel
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(often as adj.) a form of betting in which those backing the first three places (called win, place, and show) divide the losers' stakes (less the operator's commission)
a booth for placing bets under such a system |
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parlance
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a particular way of speaking or using words, esp a way common to those with a particular job or interest
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parlay
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turn an initial stake or winnings from a previous bet into (a greater amount) by gambling
transform into something more valuable |
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parious
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full of danger or uncertainty; precarious
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Parnassian
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relating to poetry; poetic
of or relating to a group of French poets of the late 19th C who emphasized strictness of farm, named from the anthology Le Parnasse contemporain (1866) |
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parochial
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of or relating to a church parish
school operated by a church having a limited or narrow outlook or scope |
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paronomasia
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a play on words; a pun
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paronym
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a word that is a derivative of another and has a related meaning: "wisdom" is a paronym of "wise"
a word formed by adaptation of a foreign word: "preface" is a paronym of Latin "prefatio" |
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parquet
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flooring composed of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern
the ground floor of a theater or auditorium |
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parricide
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killing of ap arent or other near relative
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parse
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analyze (a sentence) into its component parts and describe their syntactic roles. (V)
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parsimonious
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unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy or frugal.
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participle
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a word formed from a verb (e.g. going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective (e.g. working woman, burned toast) or a noun (e.g. good breeding). In English, participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g. is going, has been)
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parturient
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of woman or female mammal: about to give birth; in labor
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parvenu
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a person of obscure origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity.
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paschal
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of or relating to Easter/Passover.
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pas de deux
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(plural is the same) a dance for two people, typically a man and a woman
a relation between two ppl that requires finesse or close coperation. |
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pasquinade
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a satire or lampoon, originally one displayed or delivered publicly in a public place.
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passe
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no longer fashionable
(esp. of a woman) past one's prime |
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passerine
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adj.: of, relating to, or denoting birds of a large order distinguished by feet that are adapted for perching, incl. all songbirds.
perching bird |
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passim
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(of allusions or references in a published work) to be found at various places throughout the text.
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pastiche
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an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources. |
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pastorale
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a slow instrumental composition, usually with drone notes in the bass
a simple musical play w/ a rural subject |
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pathogen
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a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease
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pathological
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involving, caused by, or of the nature of a physical or mental disease
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pathology
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science of the causes and effects of diseases, esp. the branch of medicine that deals w/ the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes.
mental, social, or linguisstic abnormality or malfunction |
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pathos
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a quality that evokes pity or sadness
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patina
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a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period
gloss or sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing an impression or appearance of something, esp. one deemed to be misleading |
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patisserie
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a shopw where pastires and cakes are sold
cakes and pastries collectively "French patisserie" |
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patois
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(p. same) the dialect of the common ppl of a region, differing in various respects from the standard language of the rest of the country.
jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group |
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patriate
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transfer control over (a constitution) from a mother country to its former dependency
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patrician
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an aristocrat or nobleman
member of a noble family or class in ancient Rome |
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patrimony
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property inherited from one's father or male ancestor
heritage |
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patronymic
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a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, typically by the addition of a prefix or suffix: e.g. "Johnson, O'Brien, Ivanovich"
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patroon
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a person given land and granted certain manorial privileges under the fromer Dutch gov'ts of New York and New Jersey.
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patulous
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(esp. of the branches of a tree) spreading
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paucity
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scarcity
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pave
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"pava" a setting of precious stones placed so closely together that no metal shows
a paved street, road, or path. |
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payola
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the practice of bribing someone to use his or her influence or position to promote a particular product or interest
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peccadillo
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a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.
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peccant
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having committed a fault or sin; offending
diseased or causing disease |
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peckish
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hungry
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peculate
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embezzle or steal (money, esp public funds)
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pedant
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a person who is excessively concerned w/ minor details and rules or w/ displaying academic learning.
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pedicular
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of, relating to, or infested w/ lice
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pedology
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soil science
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peignoir
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a woman's light dressing gown or negligee
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pejorative
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expressing contempt or disapproval
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pelagian
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inhabiting the open sea; an inhabitant of the open sea.
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pelf
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money, esp when gained in a dishonest or dishonorable way
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pellucid
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translucent, clear
very lucid in style or meaning; easily understood. (of music or other sound) clear and pure in tone |
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pendant
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an artistic, literary, or musical composition intended to match or complement another
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pendent
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hanging down or overhanging
undecided esp of a sentence: incomplete; not having a finitive verb |
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peneplain
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a more or less lvl land surface produced by erosion over a long period, undisturbed by crustal movement
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penetralia
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the innermost parts of a building, a secret or hidden place
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penology
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the study of the punishment of crime and of prison mgmnt.
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pensee
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"pensay" a thought or reflection put into literary form; an aphorism
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pensile
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hanging down; pendulous
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pentacle
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a talisman or magical object, typically disk-shaped and inscribed w/ a pentagram or other figure, and used as a symbol of the element of earth.
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penultimate
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second to last in a series of things.
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penumbra
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the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object
any area of partial shade |
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penury
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extreme poverty; destitution
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peon
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a Latin-American day laborer or unskilled farm worker
a person who does menial work; a drudge |
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peptic
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relating to digestion, esp in the stomach.
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peradventure
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perhaps
uncertainty or doubt as to whether something is the case |
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perambulate
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walk or travel through or around (a place or area) esp for pleasure and leisure.
walk about. |
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percept
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an object of perception; something that is perceived
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percipient
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adj. having a good understanding; perceptive
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percolate
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filter gradually through a porous surface or substance
(of info) spread gradually thru an area or group of ppl be or become full of lively activity or excitement |
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perdition
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in Christian theology, a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.
utter ruin or destruction. |
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perdurable
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enduring continuously; imperishable
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perdure
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remain in existence throughout a substantial period of time; endure
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pere
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N used after a surname to distinguish a father from a son of the same name. "Alexandre Dumas pere"
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peregrinate
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travel or wander around from place to place
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peremptory
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insisting on immediate attention or obedience, esp. in a brusquely imperious way.
not open to legal appeal or challenge; final. |
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perfervid
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intense and impassioned
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perfidious
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deceitful and untrustworthy; capable of treachery
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perforce
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used to express necessity or inevitability: "amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less"
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perfuse
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permeate or suffuse (something) w/ a liquid, color, quality, etc.
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perigee
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the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth.
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peripatetic
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traveling from place to place, esp. working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
Peripatetic: of or belonging to the philosophical school of Aristotle. |
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periphrasis
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the use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing.
an indirect and circumlocutory phrase. the use of separate words to express a grammatical relationship that is otherwise expressed by inflection, e.g., "did go" as opposed to "went" and "more intelligent" as opposed to "smarter". |
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peristyle
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a row of columns surrounding a space w/in a building such as a courtyard or internal garden or edging a veranda or porch.
an architectural space such as a courtyard or porh that is surrounded or edged by such columns. |
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perlocution
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an act of speaking or writing that has an action as its aim but that in itself does not effect or constitute the action, for example persuading or convincing.
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pernicious
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having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual or subtle way.
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perorate
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speak at length
sum up and conclude a speech. |
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peroration
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the concluding part of a speech, typically intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience.
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perquisite
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perks
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perseverate
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repeat or prolong an action, thought, or utterance after the stimulus that prompted it has ceased.
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persiflage
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light mockery or banter
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persnickety
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placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
requiring a particularly precise or careful approach. |
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persona non grata
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an unacceptable or unwelcome person.
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perspicuous
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(of an acc't or representation) clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
(of a person) able to give an acc't or express an idea clearly. |
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pertinacious
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holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action.
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peruse
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READ CAREFULLY AND AT LENGTH. (NOT skim)
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pervious
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allowing water to pass through; permeable
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petard
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a small bomb made of a metal or wooden box filled w/ powder, used to blast down a door or to make a hole in a wall.
a kind of firework that explodes w/ a sharp report. |
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petroglyph
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a rock carving or drawing, esp. a prehistoric one.
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pettifog
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quibble about petty points
practice legal deception or trickery |
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petulant
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(of a person or personal manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
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phalanx
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group of ppl or things of a similar type forming a compact body or brought together for a common purpose.
(ancient Greece) a body of Macedonian infantry drawn up in close order w/ shields touching and long spears overlapping. |
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phantasmagoria
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a sequence of real or imaginary images like that seen in a dream.
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Pharisee
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member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observanceof the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity.
a self-righteous person; a hypocrite. |
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pharmacopeia
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a book, esp. an official publication, containing a list of medicinal drugs w/ their effects and directions for their use
a stock of medicinal drugs. |
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Pharos
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a lighthouse, often considered one of the 7 Wonders of the World, erected by Ptolemy II (308 BC-246 BC), off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt.
pharos: a lighthouse or a beacon to guide sailors. |
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philander
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(V) (of a man) readily or frequently enter into casual sexual relationships w/ women.
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philately
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the collection and study of postage stamps
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philippic
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a bitter attack or denunciation, esp. a verbal one
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philistine
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a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them.
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philology
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branch of knowledge that deals w the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages.
literary or classical scholarship. |
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philter
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a drink supposed to excite sexual love in the drinker.
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phlegm
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(in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated w/ a calm, stolid, or apathetic temperament
calmness of temperament |
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plegmatic
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having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
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phoneme
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any of the perceptually distinct units of sound in a specified language that distinguish one word from another, for example: P, B, D, and T in the English words Pad, Pat, Bad, and Bat.
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phonics
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a method of teaching ppl to read by correlating sounds w/ letters or groups of letters in an alphabetic writing system.
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phonology
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the branch of linquistics that deals w/ systems of sounds, esp. in a particular language.
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phrenology
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the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities, popular in the 19th but largely discredited by the early 20th cent.
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phylactery
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a small leather box containing Hebrew texts, worn by Jewish men at morning prayer as a reminder to keep that law.
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phylogeny
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the branch of biology that deals w/ phylogenesis (evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms, or of a particular feature of an organism)
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phylum
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(in linguistics) a group of languages related to each other less closely than those forming a family, esp. one in which the relationships are disputed or unclear.
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pianoforte
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piano
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piazza
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a public square or marketplace, esp. in an Italian town
the veranda of a house |
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picaresque
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of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing w/ the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero.
this style of fiction. |
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picayune
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petty; worthless;
(N) a small coin of little value, esp. a 5-cent piece. an insignificant person or thing. |
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piebald
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(of a horse) having irregular patches of 2 colors, typically black and white.
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pied
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having 2 or more diff't colors: "pied dogs from the Pyrenees"
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piedmont
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a gentle slope leading from th base of mountains to a region of flat land.
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pieta
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a picture or sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ on her lap or in her arms.
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pilaster
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a rectangular column, esp. one projecting from a wall.
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pilous
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covered w/ long soft hairs
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pinion
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the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers
a bird's wing as used in flight tie or hold the arms or legs of (someone) |
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pinnate
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(esp. of an invertebrate animal) having branches, tentacles, etc., on each side of an axis.
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piquant
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having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor
pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind |
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pique
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a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, esp. to one's pride.
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piscatorial
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of or concerning fishermen or fishing. "piska-torial"
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pisciculture
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the controlled breeding and rearing of fish. "pisi-culture"
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piscine
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of or concerning fish
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pistil
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the female organs of a flower, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary.
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pithy
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(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive.
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pixilated
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crazy, confused, whimsical
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plaintive
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sad-sounding
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plangent
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(of a sound) loud, reverberating, and often melancholy
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plantar
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of or relating to the sole of the foot
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plantigrade
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(of a mammal) walking on the soles of the feet, like a human or a bear
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plat
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a plot of land
a map or plan of an area of land showing actual or proposed features |
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platitude
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a remark or statement, esp. one w/ a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
the quality of being dull, ordinary, or trite. |
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platonic
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confined to words, theories, or ideals, and not leading to practical action.
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plaudits
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plural N. : praise; applause from audience.
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plebiscite
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the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question suchas a change in the constitution.
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plectrum
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guitar pick
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pleiad
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an outstanding group of seven ppl or things.
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plenary
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not deficient in any respect; full; unqualified; absolute
(of a meeting) to be attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups. |
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plenipotentiary
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a person, esp. a diplomat, invested w/ the full power of independent action on behalf of his or her gov't, typically in a foreign country.
(of power) absolute |
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plenum
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an assembly of all the members of a group or committee
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pleonasm
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the use of more words than are necessary to convey meaning (e.g. see with one's eyes), either as a fault of style or for emphasis.
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plexus
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an intricate network or weblike formation
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plight
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pledge or promise solemnly;
"to be plighted to"--be engaged to be married to. |
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plinth
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heavy base supporting a statue or vase.
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plosive
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denoting a consonant that is produced by stopping the airflow using the lips, teeth, or palate, followed by a sudden release of air.
(in English: T, K, and P, as well as D, G, and B) |
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pluperfect
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more than perfect
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plutocracy
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gov't by the wealthy
an elite or ruling class of ppl whose power derives from their wealth. |
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pluvial
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relating to or characterized by rainfall.
a period marked by increased rainfall. |
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pneumatic
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containing or operated by air or gas under pressure
(of a woman) large-breasted of or relating to the spirit |
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poesy
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the art of composition of poetry
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poetaster
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a person who writes inferior poetry
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poignant
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evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
keenly felt sharp or pungent in taste or smell |
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polecat
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skunk
detested or immoral person |
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polemic
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a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
art or practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute |
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politesse
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formal politeness or etiquette
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politick
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(of a person) prudent and sagacious
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polonaise
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a slow dance of Polish origin in triple tim, consisting chiefly of an intricate march or procesion
a piece of music for this dance or its rhythm |
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poltergeist
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a ghost or other supernatural being supposedly responsible for physical disturbances such as loud noises and objects flying.
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poltroon
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utter coward
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polygraph
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lie detector
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polymath
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a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning
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polynomial
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consisting of several terms
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polysynthetic
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denoting or relating to a language characterized by complex words consisting of several morphemes, in which a single word may function as a whole sentence. Many American Indian languages are polysynthetic.
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polyvalent
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having many diff't functions, forms, or facets: "as emotion, love is polyvalent"
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pontificate
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express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic
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popinjay
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a vain or conceited person, esp. one who dresses or behaves extravagantly
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porcine
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of, affecting, or resembling a pig or pigs
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portentous
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of or like a portent
done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress |
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portmanteau
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a lg trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into 2 equal parts
(as adj.) consisting of or combining two or more separable aspects or qualities. |
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portmanteau word
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a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of 2 others, for example "motel" (from 'motor' and 'hotel') or "brunch".
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positivism
|
a philosophical system that holds that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof, and that therefore rejects metaphysics and theism.
the theory that laws are to be understood as social rules, valid because they are enacted by authority or derive logically from existing decisions, and that ideal or moral considerations (i.e. that a rule is unjust) should not limit the scope or operation of the law. the state or quality of being positive |
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postern
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a back or side entrance
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posthaste
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w/ great speed or immediacy
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post hoc
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occurring or done after the event
referring to the logical fallacy "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" = "after this, therefore because of this". |
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postmodernism
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general distrust of grand theories and ideologies as well as aproblematical relationship w/ any notion of "Art".
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postmortem
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an analysis or discussion of an event held soon after it has occurred, esp. in order to determine why it was a failure.
happening after death |
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postpositive
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(of a word) placed after or as a suffix on the word that it relates to.
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postprandial
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during or relating to the period after dinner or lunch.
(in medicine) occurring after a meal. |
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postulant
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a candidate, esp. one seeking admission into a religious order.
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potable
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safe to drink
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potage
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thick soup
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potation
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a drink
2) the action of drinking something 3) a drinking bout |
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potentate
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a monarch or ruler, esp. an autocratic one.
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potentiate
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increase the power, effect, or likelihoood of something (esp. a drug or physciological reaction)
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practicum
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a practical section of a course of study
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prandial
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during or relating to dinner or lunch.
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prate
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talk foolishly or at tedious length about something.
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pratfall
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a fall on one's buttocks
2) a stupid and humiliating action |
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praxis
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practice, as distinguished from theory
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precatory
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of, relating to, or expressing a wish or request.
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preceptor
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a teacher or instructor
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precipitate
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(of an event or situation) occurring suddenly or abruptly
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precipitous
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sudden and dramatic
2) (of an action) done suddenly and w/o careful consideration |
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precis
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(plural same) a summary or abstract of a text or speech. "pra'sei"
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predacious
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(of animals) predatory
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predicate
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the part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and statin something about the subject (e.g. 'went home' in John went home)
2) (in logic) something that is affirmed or denied concerning an argument of a proposition. 3) affirm (something) about the subject of a sentence or an argument of proposition |
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prefect
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1) chief officer, magistrate, or regional governor in certain countries
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prehensile
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capable of grasping
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prelate
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a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary
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premier
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of earliest creation: "the premier issue of the quarterly."
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premierE
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first performance of a musical/theatrical work or first showing of a movie.
*note spelling: has E on end. |
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preposition
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a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in "the man ON the platform," "she arrived AFTER dinner," "what did you do it FOR?"
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prepossessing
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(often w/ negative con.) attractive or appealing in appearance
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prepuce
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1) technical term for the male foreskin
2) the fold of the skin surrounding the clitoris |
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Pre-Raphaelite
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a member of a group of English 19th century artists, who consciously sought to emulate the simplicty and sincerity of the work of Italian artists from before the time of Raphael (1483-1520) (esp. w/ the women they frequently used as models, w/ long, thick, wavy auburn hair, pale skin, and a fey demeanor)
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presage
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(of an event) be a sign or warning that something (bad) will happen
2) a feeling of presentiment or foreboding: "he had a strong presage that he had only a very short time to live" |
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prescind
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leave out of consideration
2) cut off or separate from something "his is an idea completely prescinded from all of the others." |
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presidium
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a standing executive committee in a communist country
2) Presidium - the committee of this type in the former USSR, which functioned as the legislative authority when the Supreme Soviet was not sitting |
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prestidigitation
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magic tricks performed as entertainment
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preternatural
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beyond what is normal or natural
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prevaricate
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speak or act in an evasive way
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priapic
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of, relating to, or resembling a phallus;
2) of or relating to male sexuality and sexual activity 3) having a persistently erect penis. |
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prig
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a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if superior to others
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prima donna
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the cheif female singer in an opera or opera company;
2) a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent or importance |
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prima facie
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(in law) based on the first impression; accepted as correct utnil proved otherwise
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primeval
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of the earliest ages in the history of the world
2) of feelings or actions- based on primitve instinct, raw and elementary |
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primogeniture
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the state of being the firstborn child
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privateer
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an armed ship owned and officered by private individuals holding a gov't commission and authorized for use in war, esp. in the capture of enemy merchant shipping
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privation
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a state in which things that are essential for well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking.
2) the loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally present: "cold is the privation of heat." |
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privity
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a relation between two parties that is recognized by law, e.g. blood, lease, or service
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prix fixe
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"pre feks" a meal consisting of several courses, served at a fixed price.
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probity
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the quality of having strong moral principles, honesty, and decency.
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proclivity
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a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing
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prodigal
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spending money freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant, on a lavish scale
2) "prodigal son" a person who leaves home and behaves in such a way, but later makes a repentant turn |
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prodigious
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1) remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree
2) unnatural or abnormal |
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proem
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a preface or preamble to a book or speech
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pro forma
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as a matter of form or politeness
2) denoting a standard document or form, esp. an invoice sent in advance of or w/ good supplied |
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profuse
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(of a person) lavish; extravagant
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progenitive
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having the quality of producing offspring; having reproductive power
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progenitor
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ancestor/parent
2) a person who originates an artistic, political, intellectual, etc. movement |
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prognosis
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the likely course of a disease or ailment;
2) a forecast of the likely course of a disease or ailment (or situation) |
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prole
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a member of the working class; a worker; working class
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prolegomenon
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a critical or discursive introduction to a book
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prolepsis
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1) the anticipation and answering of possible objections in rhetorical speech.
2) the representation of a thing as existing before it actually does or did so, as in "he was a dead man when he entered" |
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prolix
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(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
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prolusion
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a preliminary action or event; a prelude.
2) a preliminary essay or article |
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promissory
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(in law) conveying or implying a promise
2) indicative of something to come; full of promise |
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promontory
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a point of high land that juts out into the sea or a large lake; a headland
2) a prominence or protuberance on an organ or other structure of the body |
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pronate
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put or hold (a hand, foot, or limb) with the palm or sole turned downward. The opposite of supinate.
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propaedeutic
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(of an area of study) serving as a preliminary instruction or as an introduction to further study.
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propinquity
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the state of being close to someone or something; proximity
2) close kinship |
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propitiate
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win or regain the favor of a god, spirit, or person, by doing something that pleases them.
=> propitious |
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propitious
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giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable;
2) favorably disposed toward someone |
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propound
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put forward an idea/theory/point-of-view for consideration by others
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proscenium
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the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain.
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