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250 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
pittance n
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Any small portion or meager allowance
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placate v
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To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness
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placid adj
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Serene
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plagiarism n
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The stealing of passages from the writings of another and publishing them as one's own
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planisphere n
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A polar projection of the heavens on a chart
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plasticity n
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The property of some substances through which the form of the mass can readily be
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changed
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platitude n
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A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace
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plaudit n
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An expression of applause
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plausible adj
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Seeming likely to be true, though open to doubt
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playful adj
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Frolicsome
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playwright n
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A maker of plays for the stage
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plea n
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An argument to obtain some desired action
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pleasant adj
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Agreeable
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pleasurable adj
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Affording gratification
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plebeian adj
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Common
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pledgee n
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The person to whom anything is pledged
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pledgeor n
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One who gives a pledge
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plenary adj
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Entire
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plenipotentiary n
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A person fully empowered to transact any business
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plenitude n
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Abundance
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plenteous adj
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Abundant
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plumb n
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A weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something
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plummet n
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A piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical
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pluperfect adj
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Expressing past time or action prior to some other past time or action
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plural adj
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Containing or consisting of more than one
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plurality n
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A majority
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plutocracy n
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A wealthy class in a political community who control the government by means of their money
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pneumatic adj
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Pertaining to or consisting of air or gas
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poesy n
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Poetry
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poetaster n
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An inferior poet
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poetic adj
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Pertaining to poetry
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poetics n
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The rules and principles of poetry
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poignancy n
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Severity or acuteness, especially of pain or grief
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poignant adj
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Severely painful or acute to the spirit
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poise n
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Equilibrium
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polar adj
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Pertaining to the poles of a sphere, especially of the earth
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polemics n
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The art of controversy or disputation
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pollen n
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The fine dust-like grains or powder formed within the anther of a flowering plant
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pollute v
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To contaminate
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polyarchy n
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Government by several or many persons of what- ever class
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polycracy n
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The rule of many
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polygamy n
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the fact or condition of having more than one wife or husband at once
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polyglot adj
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Speaking several tongues
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polygon n
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A figure having many angles
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polyhedron n
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A solid bounded by plane faces, especially by more than four
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polysyllable adj
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Having several syllables, especially more than three syllables
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polytechnic adj
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Pertaining to, embracing, or practicing many arts
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polytheism n
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The doctrine or belief that there are more gods than one
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pommel v
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To beat with something thick or bulky
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pomposity n
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The quality of being marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner
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pompous adj
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Marked by an assumed stateliness and impressiveness of manner
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ponder v
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To meditate or reflect upon
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ponderous adj
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Unusually weighty or forcible
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pontiff n
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The Pope
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populace n
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The common people
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populous adj
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Containing many inhabitants, especially in proportion to the territory
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portend v
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To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs
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portent n
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Anything that indicates what is to happen
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portfolio n
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A portable case for holding writing-materials, drawings, etc
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posit v
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To present in an orderly manner
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position n
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The manner in which a thing is placed
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positive adj
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Free from doubt or hesitation
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posse n
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A force of men
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possess v
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To own
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possession n
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The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command
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possessive adj
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Pertaining to the having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command
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possessor n
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One who owns, enjoys, or controls anything, as property
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possible adj
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Being not beyond the reach of power natural, moral, or supernatural
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postdate v
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To make the date of any writing later than the real date
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posterior n
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The hinder part
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postgraduate adj
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Pertaining to studies that are pursued after receiving a degree
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postscript n
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Something added to a letter after the writer's signature
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potency n
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Power
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potent adj
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Physically powerful
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potentate n
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One possessed of great power or sway
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potential n
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Anything that may be possible
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potion n
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A dose of liquid medicine
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powerless adj
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Impotent
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practicable adj
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Feasible
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prate v
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To talk about vainly or foolishly
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prattle v
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To utter in simple or childish talk
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preamble n
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A statement introductory to and explanatory of what follows
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precarious adj
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Perilous
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precaution n
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A provision made in advance for some possible emergency or danger
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precede v
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To happen first
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precedence n
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Priority in place, time, or rank
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precedent n
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An instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule
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precedential adj
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Of the nature of an instance that may serve as a guide or basis for a rule
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precession n
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The act of going forward
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precipice n
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A high and very steep or approximately vertical cliff
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precipitant adj
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Moving onward quickly and heedlessly
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precipitate v
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To force forward prematurely
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precise adj
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Exact
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precision n
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Accuracy of limitation, definition, or adjustment
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preclude v
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To prevent
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precocious adj
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Having the mental faculties prematurely developed
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precursor n
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A forerunner or herald
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predatory adj
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Prone to pillaging
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predecessor n
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An incumbent of a given office previous to another
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predicament n
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A difficult, trying situation or plight
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predicate v
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To state as belonging to something
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predict v
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To foretell
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prediction n
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A prophecy
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predominance n
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Ascendancy or preponderance
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predominant adj
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Superior in power, influence, effectiveness, number, or degree
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predominate v
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To be chief in importance, quantity, or degree
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preeminence n
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Special eminence
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preempt v
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To secure the right of preference in the purchase of public land
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preemption n
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The right or act of purchasing before others
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preengage v
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To preoccupy
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preestablish v
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To settle or arrange beforehand
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preexist v
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To exist at a period or in a state earlier than something else
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preexistence n
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Existence antecedent to something
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preface n
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A brief explanation or address to the reader, at the beginning of a book
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prefatory adj
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Pertaining to a brief explanation to the reader at the beginning of a book
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prefer v
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To hold in higher estimation
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preferable adj
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More desirable than others
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preference n
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An object of favor or choice
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preferential adj
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Possessing, giving, or constituting preference or priority
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preferment n
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Preference
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prefix v
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To attach at the beginning
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prehensible adj
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Capable of being grasped
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prehensile adj
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Adapted for grasping or holding
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prehension n
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The act of laying hold of or grasping
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prejudice n
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A judgment or opinion formed without due examination of the facts
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prelacy n
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A system of church government
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prelate n
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One of a higher order of clergy having direct authority over other clergy
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prelude n
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An introductory or opening performance
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premature adj
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Coming too soon
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premier adj
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First in rank or position
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premise n
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A judgment as a conclusion
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premonition n
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Foreboding
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preoccupation n
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The state of having the mind, attention, or inclination preoccupied
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preoccupy v
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To fill the mind of a person to the exclusion of other subjects
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preordain v
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To foreordain
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preparation n
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An act or proceeding designed to bring about some event
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preparatory adj
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Having to do with what is preliminary
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preponderant adj
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Prevalent
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preponderate v
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To exceed in influence or power
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prepossession n
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A preconceived liking
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preposterous adj
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Utterly ridiculous or absurd
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prerogative adj
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Having superior rank or precedence
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presage v
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To foretell
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prescience n
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Knowledge of events before they take place
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prescient adj
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Foreknowing
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prescript adj
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Prescribed as a rule or model
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prescriptible adj
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Derived from authoritative direction
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prescription n
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An authoritative direction
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presentient adj
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Perceiving or feeling beforehand
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presentiment n
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Foreboding
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presentment n
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Semblance
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preservation n
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Conservation
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presumption n
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That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved
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presumptuous adj
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Assuming too much
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pretension n
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A bold or presumptuous assertion
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pretentious adj
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Marked by pretense, conceit, or display
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preternatural adj
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Extraordinary
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pretext n
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A fictitious reason or motive
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prevalence n
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Frequency
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prevalent adj
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Of wide extent or frequent occurrence
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prevaricate v
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To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention
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prevention n
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Thwarting
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prickle v
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To puncture slightly with fine, sharp points
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priggish adj
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Conceited
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prim adj
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Stiffly proper
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prima adj
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First
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primer n
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An elementary reading-book for children
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primeval adj
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Belonging to the first ages
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primitive adj
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Pertaining to the beginning or early times
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principal adj
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Most important
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principality n
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The territory of a reigning prince
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principle n
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A general truth or proposition
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priory n
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A monastic house
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pristine adj
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Primitive
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privateer n
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A vessel owned and officered by private persons, but carrying on maritime war
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privilege n
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A right or immunity not enjoyed by all, or that may be enjoyed only under special
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conditions
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privity n
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Knowledge shared with another or others regarding a private matter
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privy adj
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Participating with another or others in the knowledge of a secret transaction
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probate adj
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Relating to making proof, as of a will
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probation n
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Any proceeding designed to ascertain or test character, qualification, or the like
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probe v
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To search through and through
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probity n
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Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed
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procedure n
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A manner or method of acting
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proceed v
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To renew motion or action, as after rest or interruption
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proclamation n
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Any announcement made in a public manner
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procrastinate v
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To put off till tomorrow or till a future time
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procrastination n
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Delay
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proctor n
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An agent acting for another
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prodigal n
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One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property
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prodigious adj
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Immense
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prodigy n
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A person or thing of very remarkable gifts or qualities
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productive adj
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Yielding in abundance
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profession n
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Any calling or occupation involving special mental or other special disciplines
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professor n
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A public teacher of the highest grade in a university or college
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proffer v
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To offer to another for acceptance
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proficiency n
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An advanced state of acquirement, as in some knowledge, art, or science
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proficient adj
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Possessing ample and ready knowledge or of skill in any art, science, or industry
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profile n
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An outline or contour
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profiteer n
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One who profits
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profligacy n
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Shameless viciousness
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profligate adj
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Abandoned to vice
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profuse adj
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Produced or displayed in overabundance
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progeny n
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Offspring
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progression n
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A moving forward or proceeding in course
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prohibition n
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A decree or an order forbidding something
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prohibitionist n
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One who favors the prohibition by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic
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beverages
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prohibitory adj
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Involving or equivalent to prohibition, especially of the sale of alcoholic beverages
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projection n
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A prominence
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proletarian n
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A person of the lowest or poorest class
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prolific adj
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Producing offspring or fruit
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prolix adj
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Verbose
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prologue n
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A prefatory statement or explanation to a poem, discourse, or performance
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prolong v
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To extend in time or duration
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promenade v
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To walk for amusement or exercise
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prominence n
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The quality of being noticeable or distinguished
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prominent adj
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Conspicuous in position, character, or importance
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promiscuous adj
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Brought together without order, distinction, or design (for sex)
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promissory adj
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Expressing an engagement to pay
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promontory n
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A high point of land extending outward from the coastline into the sea
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promoter n
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A furtherer, forwarder, or encourager
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promulgate v
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To proclaim
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propaganda n
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Any institution or systematic scheme for propagating a doctrine or system
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propagate v
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To spread abroad or from person to person
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propel v
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To drive or urge forward
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propellant adj
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Propelling
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propeller n
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One who or that which propels
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prophecy n
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Any prediction or foretelling
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prophesy v
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To predict or foretell, especially under divine inspiration and guidance
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propitious adj
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Kindly disposed
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proportionate adj
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Being in proportion
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propriety n
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Accordance with recognized usage, custom, or principles
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propulsion n
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A driving onward or forward
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prosaic adj
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Unimaginative
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proscenium n
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That part of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra
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proscribe v
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To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation
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proscription n
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Any act of condemnation and rejection from favor and privilege
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proselyte n
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One who has been won over from one religious belief to another
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prosody n
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The science of poetical forms
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prospector n
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One who makes exploration, search, or examination, especially for minerals
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prospectus n
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A paper or pamphlet containing information of a proposed undertaking
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prostrate adj
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Lying prone, or with the head to the ground
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protagonist n
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A leader in any enterprise or contest
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protection n
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Preservation from harm, danger, annoyance, or any other evil
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protective adj
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Sheltering
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protector n
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A defender
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protege n
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One specially cared for and favored by another usually older person
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Protestant n
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A Christian who denies the authority of the Pope and holds the right of special judgment
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