BARRON SET#14
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- philatelist
- stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
- philistine
- narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
- philology
- study of language or words
- phlegmatic
- calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
- phobia
- morbid fear
- phoenix
- symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
- phylum
- major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
- physiognomy
- face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
- physiological
- pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
- piebald
- of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
- piecemeal
- one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
- pied
- piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
- piety
- devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
- pigment
- coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
- pilfer
- steal things of small value; filch; snitch
- pillage
- plunder
- pillory
- punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
- pinch
- squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
- pine
- long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
- pinion
- restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird's wing
- pinnace
- small boat
- pinnacle
- peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
- pious
- devout; religious; N. piety
- piquant
- pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
- pique
- irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
- piscatorial
- pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
- pitfall
- hidden danger; concealed trap
- pith
- core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
- pithy
- concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
- pittance
- small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
- pivotal
- of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
- placate
- pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
- placebo
- harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
- placid
- peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
- plagiarize
- steal another's ideas or writings and pass them off as one's own; Ex. ideas plagiarized from my article; N. plagiarism; CF. kidnap
- plaintive
- expressing sorrow; mournful; Ex. plaintive song
- plait
- braid; interwine; interweave strands or lengths of; make by weaving strands together; Ex. plaited hair; N: braided length as of hair o fabric; CF. pigtail, ponytail
- plane
- carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat
- plaster
- paste that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls; V.
- plasticity
- ability to be molded; ADJ. plastic: capable of being shaped or molded; Ex. plastic material such as clay
- platitude
- trite remark; commonplace statement; ADJ. platitudinous
- platonic
- purely spiritual; theoretical; without sensual desire
- plaudit
- praise; enthusiastic approval; round(succession or series) of applause; ADJ. plauditory; CF. applaud
- plausible
- conceivably true; having a show of truth but open to doubt; specious
- plebeian
- common; vulgar; pertaining to the common people; N: common people in ancient Rome; CF. patrician
- plebiscite
- direct vote by the entire electorate (on an important issue)
- plenary
- (of power) complete; full; fully attended by all qualified members; Ex. plenary power
- plenitude
- abundance; plenty; great amount; completeness; fullness; CF. plenary, plenty
- plethora
- excess; overabundance; Ex. a plethora of excuses
- pliable
- flexible; easily influenced; yielding; adaptable
- pliant
- flexible; easily influenced
- plight
- difficult condition; condition or state (esp. a bad state or condition); predicament
- ploy
- strategem to gain an advantage; tactic; Ex. management ploy
- pluck
- courage; V: pull off or out; pull out the hair or feathers of; ADJ. plucky: courageous; brave
- plumage
- feathers of a bird;
- plumb
- exactly vertical; N: weight on the end of a line; V: examine very carefully or critically in order to understand; measure depth (by sounding); Ex. plumb the depth of
- plumber
- one who installs and repairs pipes and plumbing(pipes)
- plume
- feather, esp. large or showy one; something that rises into the air (like the shape of a feather); Ex. plume of smoke: ?? ??
- plummet
- fall sharply; fall straight down; Ex. Stock prices plummeted.
- plump
- pleasantly fat; nicely rounded
- plutocracy
- society ruled by the wealthy
- podiatrist
- doctor who treats ailments of the feet; chiropodist; N. podiatrics
- podium
- pedestal; raised platform
- poignancy
- quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
- poise
- good judgment with composure; balance; V: place in a carefully balanced position
- polar
- of a pole; characterized by opposite extremes; Ex. polar opposites
- polarity
- state of having two opposite qualities
- polarize
- split into opposite extremes or camps
- polemic
- attack or defense of an opinion; controversy or refutation; argument in support of point of view; N. polemics: art of debate or controversy
- polemical(polemic)
- aggressive in verbal attack; disputatious (rather than simply expressing opinions)
- politic
- prudent; judicious; well judged; expedient; well devised
- polity
- (particular form of) political organization; form of government of nation or state; Ex. student polity
- polygamist
- one who has more than one spouse at a time; CF. bigamy; CF. polyandry
- polyglot
- speaking several languages; multilingual; Ex. polyglot person/society; N.
- pomposity
- self-important behavior; acting like a stuffed shirt(pompous person); ADJ. pompous: self-important
- ponderous
- having great weight; weighty; unwieldy; lacking lightness; dull; Ex. ponderous body/style of writing
- pontifical
- pertaining to a bishop or pope; pompous or pretentious; CF. pontiff: pope; bishop
- pore
- study industriously; ponder; scrutinize; Ex. pore over the book; N.
- porridge
- soft food made by boiling oatmeal
- portend
- foretell; presage; be a sign or warning of; N. portent: sign; omen; forewarning
- portly
- stout; corpulent
- pose
- assume a particular posture; put forward; present; affect a particular attitude (to impress others); Ex. pose a threat; N.
- poseur
- person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant, etc., to impress others; person who poses; CF. pose
- posterity
- descendants; future generations; Ex. go down to posterity; CF. posterior, anterior
- posthumous
- after death (as of child born after father's death or book published after author's death); coming or occurring after one's death; Ex. posthumous fame/novel
- postmortem
- autopsy; ADJ: occurring after death; of a postmortem
- postulate
- self-evident truth; something assumed without proof; V: assume the truth of (as a basis of an argument)
- posture
- assume an affected pose; act artificially; N: pose; attitude
- potable
- suitable for drinking; drinkable
- potent
- powerful; convincing; persuasive; greatly influential
- potentate
- monarch; sovereign
- potential
- expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
- potion
- dose (of liquids); liquid dose
- potpourri
- heterogeneous mixture; medley; mixture of dried flower petals a pot (to give a pleasant smell to a room)
- poultice
- soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
- pr'ecis
- abstract; concise summing up of main points; concise summary of a text
- practicable
- feasible
- practical
- based on experience; of or acquired through practice (rather than theory); useful; Ex. practical man
- pragmatic
- practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with practical worth or impact of something; Ex. pragmatic test of the skill
- pragmatist
- practical person; N. pragmatism: pragmatic way of dealing with things
- prance
- move about in a spirited manner (proudly and confidently)
- prank
- mischievous trick
- prate
- talk idly; speak foolishly; boast idly
- prattle
- talk idly; babble; N. CF. prate
- preamble
- introductory statement
- precarious
- unsafe; lacking in stability; uncertain; risky; Ex. precarious living
- precedent
- something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
- precept
- practical rule guiding conduct; Ex. mother's precept
- precinct
- division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
- precipice
- cliff; dangerous position; Ex. on the edge of the precipice
- precipitant
- something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form; ???; OP. solvent
- precipitate
- hurl downward; throw headlong; hasten; cause to happen sooner; condense and fall as rain or snow; cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution; ADJ. hasty; rash; premature; sudden
- precipitous
- steep; overhasty; precipitate
- precise
- exact
- preclude
- make impossible; prevent; exclude; eliminate
- precocious
- advanced in development; N. precocity
- precursor
- forerunner; predecessor
- predator
- predatory animal or bird; predatory person; creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others; ADJ. predatory: living by preying on other organisms; plundering; N. predation
- predecessor
- former occupant of a post
- predetermine
- determine in advance; predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly
- predicament
- difficult situation; tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma
- predilection
- preference; partiality
- predispose
- give an inclination toward (in advance); make susceptible to; Ex. predispose people to certain cancer; N. predisposition
- preeminent
- outstanding; superior
- preempt
- prevent in advance; head off(forestall); forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself before others; supplant; take the place of; displace; Ex. preempt any attempts; ADJ. preemptive
- preen
- make oneself tidy in appearance; feel self-satisfaction or pride; (of a bird) smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak; Ex. preen oneself on; CF. prune
- prefatory
- introductory; of a preface
- prefigure
- be a sign of; foreshadow
- prehensile
- capable of grasping or holding (esp. by wrapping around); Ex. prehensile tails
- prelate
- church dignitary; priest of high position in the church (esp. bishop)
- prelude
- introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner
- premeditate
- plan in advance; Ex. premeditated murder
- premise
- assumption; postulate; proposition upon which an argument is based
- premonition
- forewarning; presentiment; foreboding
- premonitory
- serving to warn
- preponderance
- superiority of power, quantity, etc.; V. preponderate: be greater in power, weight, or importance; ADJ. preponderant
- prepossessing
- attractive; CF. preoccupying ?
- preposterous
- absurd; completely unreasonable; ridiculous
- prerogative
- privilege; unquestionable right; CF. ask before
- presage
- foretell; be a warning or sign of; N: presentiment; foreboding; omen
- prescience
- ability to foretell the future; knowledge of actions before they occur; ADJ. prescient
- presentiment
- premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
- prestige
- respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige
- presume
- take for granted; assume; act overconfidently; take liberties; presume on/upon: take unfair advantage of (someone's kindness or connection); N. presumption
- presumptuous
- going beyond what is right; excessively forward; arrogant; taking liberties
- pretend
- feign; pretend to: claim to possess; make pretensions to; Ex. I don't pretend to much expertise; N. pretense
- pretension
- pretentiousness; claim (without foundation); Ex. I make no pretensions to skill as an artist.
- pretentious
- ostentatious; showy; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious; Ex. pretentious films that claim to be art
- preternatural
- beyond what is normal in nature; supernatural; Ex. preternatural strength/forces
- pretext
- excuse
- prevail
- be widespread; triumph over; gain victory; prevail on: persuade; induce; Ex. Justice has prevailed; Ex. prevail on someone to do something
- prevalent
- widespread; generally accepted
- prevaricate
- lie; hide the truth (by equivocating)
- prey
- target of a hunt; victim; V: hunt and eat as prey; victimize; Ex. Cats prey on mice.
- prim
- proper to the point of affectation; very precise and formal; exceedingly proper
- primal
- first in rank or importance; being first in time; original; Ex. man's primal innocence
- primary
- first in rank or importance; principal; earliest in time; Ex. primary stages; N. CF. first
- primate
- group of mammals including humans
- prime
- period of ideal or peak condition; earliest or beginning stage; Ex. in the prime of life; Ex. prime of the year(spring); ADJ: first in importance or rank; first; V: make ready; prepare
- primogeniture
- seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents)
- primordial
- existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary
- primp
- groom oneself with care; adorn oneself
- pristine
- unspoiled; remaining in a pure state; characteristic of earlier times; primitive; Ex. an old book in pristine condition
- privation
- lack of the basic necessities or comforts of life; hardship; want; CF. deprive
- privy
- secret; hidden; not public; made a participant in something secret; Ex. privy chamber government; Ex. be privy to a discussion; CF. private
- prize
- pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
- probe
- explore with a probe or tools; investigate; N: slender instrument used to explore a wound or body cavity; device designed to investigate an unknown region; thorough investigation; Ex. space probe
- probity
- uprightness; honesty; incorruptibility
- problematic
- causing a problem; open to doubt; doubtful; unsettled; questionable; Ex. Whether the arena will ever be completed is problematic.
- proclivity
- inclination; natural tendency (esp. towards something bad)
- procrastinate
- postpone; delay or put off
- procurement
- obtaining; V. procure: obtain by effort; obtain (a prostitute) for another
- prod
- poke (with a pointed object); stir up; urge; goad to action; N: pointed object used to prod; prodding
- prodigal
- wasteful; reckless with money; profuse; Ex. a mind prodigal of ideas; N. prodigality
- prodigious
- enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex. prodigious amount/memory
- prodigy
- highly gifted child; person with exceptional talents; marvel; wonder
- profane
- violate; desecrate (something holy); treat unworthily; be profane for; ADJ: secular; nonreligious; irreverent for holy things
- profligate
- wasteful (of money); dissipated; wildly immoral; dissolute; N: profligate person; N. profligacy
- profound
- deep; not superficial; complete; Ex. profound thinker/remark/silence/deafness; N. profundity
- profusion
- great amount; plenty; overabundance; excess; lavish expenditure; Ex. profusion of choices; ADJ. profuse: plentiful; copious; giving or given abundantly; extravagant
- progenitor
- ancestor
- progeny
- children; offspring; descendants
- prognosis
- forecasted course of a disease; prediction; CF. prognostic
- prognosticate
- predict (according to present indications)
- prohibitive
- so high as to prohibit purchase or use; tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; prohibiting; inclined to prevent or forbid; Ex. prohibitive tax
- projectile
- missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
- proletarian
- member of the working class; blue collar guy; N. proletariat: working class (who have to work for wages)
- proliferate
- grow rapidly (in numbers); spread; multiply; N. proliferation
- prolific
- producing offspring or fruit in abundance; fertile; fecund; abundantly fruitful; producing abundant works; Ex. prolific writer
- prolixity
- tedious wordiness; verbosity; ADJ. prolix: wordy; verbose; diffuse
- prologue
- introduction (to a poem or play)
- prolong
- lengthen; extend; draw out
- prominent
- protruding(sticking out); conspicuous; notable; eminent
- promiscuous
- mixed indiscriminately; indiscriminate; not choosing carefully; indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners; irregular, particularly sexually; Ex. promiscuous life/girl; N. promiscuity
- promontory
- headland
- promote
- advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; Ex. Milk promotes health; Ex. promote a match/bill; Ex. promote a new product
- prompt
- cause; urge; provoke; provide a cue (for an actor); ADJ: done without delay; done at the right time; punctual; on time; N: reminder or cue
- promulgate
- announce; proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication
- prone
- inclined to; likely to (suffer); prostrate; lying with the front downward; Ex. prone to disease/make mistakes; Ex. accident-prone
- prong
- pointed projecting part
- pronounced
- distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp
- prop
- support placed under or against something; V.
- propagate
- increase in number by producing young; multiply; spread; Ex. Most plants propagate by seed; Ex. newspaper propagating their ideas
- propellant(propellent)
- substance which propels or drives forward (such as an explosive charge or a rocket fuel)
- propensity
- natural inclination
- prophetic
- of a prophet or prophecy; having to do with predicting the future; N. prophecy; V. prophesy; N. prophet
- prophylactic
- used to prevent disease; N: something prophylactic; condom; N. prophylaxis: prevention of disease
- propinquity
- nearness (in space or relationship); proximity; kinship
- propitiate
- appease; conciliate; make peaceful; ADJ. propitiatory
- propitious
- favorable; auspicious; advantageous; fortunate; Ex. propitious day/sign
- proponent
- supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
- propound
- put forth for consideration or analysis; set forth; Ex. propound a problem/theory
- propriety
- fitness; quality of being proper; correct conduct; conformity to prevailing customs and usages; CF. proprietor, proprietary
- propulsive
- driving forward; N. propulsion
- prosaic
- lacking in imagination; dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact(concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings); factual; CF. prose
- proscenium
- part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage
- proscribe
- prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw
- proselytize
- (induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new convert to a doctrine or religion
- prosody
- art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse
- prosper
- become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children prospering under his care
- prosperity
- good fortune and financial success; physical well-being
- prosperous
- successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off
- prostrate
- stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength
- prot'eg'e
- person receiving protection and support from a patron
- protagonist
- leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or story
- protean
- able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change his shape at will
- protocol
- diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that the queen meet him at the airport.
- prototype
- original work used as a model by others
- protract
- prolong; lengthen in time; draw out
- protrude
- stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth
- protuberance
- protrusion; swelling; bulge
- provenance
- place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of Chinese provenance; CF. come
- provender
- dry food for livestock; fodder
- providence
- quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate
- provident
- providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies; OP. improvident
- provincial
- pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated
- provision
- act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement
- provisional
- tentative; temporary
- proviso
- stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision
- provocative
- arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or feeling); N. provocation
- prowess
- extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle
- proximity
- nearness; ADJ. proximate
- proxy
- authorized agent; authority to act for another
- prude
- excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: excessively concerned with propriety
- prudent
- cautious; careful; prudential
- prune
- cut away; trim
- prurient
- having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate sexual desire
- pry
- inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying
- pseudonym
- pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous