|
| pacify |
v. calm or soothe the anger or distress of (sb) |
| packet |
n. (US usu package) small paper or cardboard container
in which goods are packed for selling |
| pact |
n. agreement (between people, groups,countries, etc);
treaty |
| pagan |
n. person who is not a believer in any of the world's
chief religions, esp one who is neither a Christian, a
Jew nor a Moslem |
| pageant |
n. public entertainmentconsisting of a procession of
people in costume, or an outdoor performance of scenes
from history |
| palate |
n. roof of the mouth |
| palatial |
adj. like a palace |
| paleontology |
study of prehistoric life |
| palette |
n. thin board on which an artist mixes colours when
painting, with a hole for the thumb to hold it by |
| palinode |
A retraction. |
| pall |
v. ~ become uninterestingor boring by being experienced
too often |
| palliate |
v. make(esp a pain or disease) less severe or unpleasant,
withoutremoving its cause; alleviate , |
| pallid |
adj. pale, esp because of illness |
| palpable |
adj. that can be felt or touched |
| palsy |
n. paralysis, esp with trembling of the limbs |
| paly |
Lacking color or brilliancy. |
| pamphlet |
n. small book with a paper cover, usu containing information
on a subject of public interest or expressing a political
opinion |
| pamphleteer |
n. person who writes pamphlets |
| panacea |
n. ~ remedy for all diseases or troubles |
| Pan-American |
Including or pertaining to the whole of America, both
North and South. |
| pandemic |
n, adj disease occurring over a whole country or the
whole world |
| Pandemonium |
n. wild and noisy disorder or confusion |
| panegyric |
n. speech or piece of writing praising sb/sth |
| panel |
n. separate, usu rectangular, part of the surface of
a door, wall, ceiling, etc, usu raised above or sunk below
the surrounding area |
| panic |
n. sudden irrational feeling of great fear |
| panoply |
n. complete or splendid display of sth |
| panorama |
n. view of a wide area |
| pantheism |
n. belief that God is everything and everything is
God |
| pantheon |
n. temple dedicated to all the gods |
| pantomime |
n. type of play with music, dancing and clowning, based
on a traditional story or fairy-tale and usu performed
at Christmas |
| papacy |
n. the Papacy position or authority of the Pope |
| papyrus |
n. tall reed-like water-plant with thick fibrous stems
used by the Ancient Egyptians to make paper |
| parable |
n. story told to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth |
| paradox |
n. statement that seems to be absurd or contradictory
but is or may be true |
| paragon |
n. ~ of sth person who is a perfect example of a quality
(used esp in the expression shown) |
| parallel |
adj. (of two or more lines) having the same distance
between each other at every point |
| parallelism |
n. state of being parallel; similarity |
| paralysis |
n. loss of feeling in or control of a part of the body,
caused by a disease of or an injury to the nerves |
| paralyze |
To deprive of the power to act. |
| paramount |
adj. having the greatest importance or significance;
supreme |
| paramour |
illicit lover |
| paraphernalia |
n. numerous small articles or personal belongings,
esp the equipment needed for a hobby or sport |
| paraphrase |
n. re-wording of a piece of writing, statement, etc,
esp in order to make it easier to understand |
| pare |
v. trim by cutting away the edges |
| parentage |
n. descent from parents; origin; ancestry |
| pariah |
n. social outcast |
| Paris |
the capital of France, in the north on the River Seine: |
| parish |
n. area within a diocese, having its own church and
clergyman |
| parity |
n. state of being equal; equality |
| parlance |
n. particular way of speaking or use of words; phraseology |
| parley |
n. (esp formerly) meeting between enemies or opponents
to discuss terms for peace, etc |
| parliament |
n. assembly that makes the laws of a country |
| parlor |
A room for reception of callers or entertainment of
guests. |
| parody |
n. ~ (piece of) speech, writing or music that imitates
the style of an author, composer, etc in an amusing and
often exaggerated way; comic imitation |
| paronymous |
Derived from the same root or primitive word. |
| paroxysm |
n. sudden attack or outburst |
| parricide |
n. killing one's father or a close relative |
| parse |
v. describe the grammatical form and function of (a
word), giving its part of speech, case1(8), etc |
| parsimonious |
adj. very careful in spending money or using resources;
mean |
| partible |
Separable. |
| participant |
n. ~ person or group of people who participate in sth |
| participate |
v. ~ take part or become involved (in an activity) |
| partisan |
n. enthusiastic and often uncritical supporter of a
person, group or cause |
| partition |
n. action of dividing or state of being divided into
parts, esp the division of one country into two or more
nations |
| passible |
Capable of feeling of suffering. |
| passive |
adj. not active; submissive |
| pastoral |
adj. relatingto or portraying country life, the countryside
or shepherds, esp in an idealized way |
| paternal |
adj. of a father; fatherly |
| paternity |
n. state of beinga father; fatherhood |
| pathos |
n. quality, esp in speech, writing, acting, etc that
causes a feeling of pity or sadness |
| patriarch |
n. male head of a family or tribe |
| patrician |
n. member of the aristocracy |
| patrimony |
n. property inherited from one's father or ancestors |
| patriotism |
n. love of one's country and readiness to defend it |
| patronize |
to be kind or helpful to, but in a haughty or snobbish
way, as if dealing with an inferior |
| patronymic |
n, adj derived from the name of one's father or some
other male ancestor |
| patter |
n. rapid and often glib speech used by a comedian,
conjuror or salesman |
| paucity |
n. ~ (fml ) smallness of number or quantity |
| pauper |
n. very poor person |
| pavilion |
n. building next to a sports ground, esp a cricket
field, used by players and spectators |
| payee |
n. person to whom sth is paid |
| peaceable |
adj. not quarrelsome; wishing to live in peace with
others |
| peaceful |
adj. not involving war or violence |
| peccadillo |
n. small unimportant offence or sin |
| peccant |
Guilty. |
| pectoral |
adj. of the chest or breast |
| pecuniary |
adj. of or concerning money |
| pedagogics |
The science and art of teaching. |
| pedagogue |
n. teacher |
| pedagogy |
n. study or science of ways and methods of teaching |
| pedal |
n. lever that drives a machine when pressed down by
the foot or feet |
| pedant |
n. person who attaches too much importance to detail
or to rules, esp when learning or teaching |
| peddle |
v. go from house to house to sell goods; be a pedlar
; |
| peddler |
n. = pedlar |
| pedestal |
n. base of a column |
| pedestrian |
n. person walking in the street |
| pediatrics |
The department of medical science that relates to the
treatment of diseases of childhood. |
| pedigree |
n. line of ancestors |
| peerage |
n. the whole body of peers |
| peerless |
adj. superior to all others; without equal ; |
| peevish |
adj. easily annoyed (esp by unimportant things); irritable
; |
| pellucid |
adj. transparentor translucent; very clear |
| penalty |
n. ~ punishment for breaking a law, rule or contract |
| penance |
n. ~ punishment that one imposes on oneself to show
that one is sorry for having done wrong |
| penchant |
n. ~ for sth liking or taste for sth |
| pendant |
n. ornament that hangs from a chain worn round the
neck |
| pendulous |
adj. hanging down loosely so as to swing from side
to side |
| pendulum |
n. weight hung on a cord from a fixed point so that
it can swing freely |
| penetrable |
adj. that can be penetrated |
| penetrate |
v. ~ sth make a way into or through sth |
| penetration |
n. penetrating |
| penitence |
n. ~ sorrow or regret for having done sth wrong |
| penitential |
adj. of or relatingto penitence or penance |
| pennant |
n. long narrow flag tapering to a point, used on a
ship for signalling or as identification . |
| pension |
n. sum of money paid regularly by the State to people
above a certain age and to widowed or disabled people,
or by an employer to a retired employee |
| pentad |
The number five. |
| pentagon |
n. geometric figure with five sides and angles |
| pentagram |
A figure having five points or lobes. |
| pentahedron |
A solid bounded by five plane faces. |
| pentameter |
n. line of verse with five metrical feet |
| pentathlon |
n. athletic contest in which each competitor takes
part in five events |
| pentavalent |
Quinqeuvalent. |
| penultimate |
adj. next to and before the last one; last but one |
| penurious |
adj. very poor |
| penury |
n. extreme poverty |
| perambulate |
v. walk about, through or over (a place) |
| perceive |
v. become aware of (sb/sth); notice; observe |
| perceptible |
adj. ~ (fml ) that can be observed with the senses |
| perception |
n. ability to see, hear or understand |
| percipience |
The act of perceiving. |
| percipient |
adj. noticing or understanding things quickly or clearly;
perceptive |
| percolate |
v. ~ (through sth)/~ (through) (of water) pass slowly
through (coffee); filter through |
| percolator |
n. pot for making and serving coffee, in which boiling
water is repeatedly forced up a central tube and filtered
down through ground coffee |
| percussion |
n. striking of two (usu hard) objects together |
| peremptory |
adj. (esp derog ) (of a person, his manner, etc) insisting
on immediate obedience or submission; domineering |
| perennial |
adj. lasting for a long time |
| perfectible |
adj. that can be perfected |
| perfidy |
n. ~ (fml ) acting in a treacherous or disloyal way |
| perforate |
v. make a hole or holes through |
| perform |
To accomplish. |
| perfumery |
n. place where perfumes are made or sold |
| perfunctory |
adj. a) (of an action) done as a duty or routine, without
care or interest |
| perhaps |
adv. it may be (that); possibly |
| perigee |
n. point in the orbit of the moon, a planet or a spacecraft
at which it is nearest to the earth |
| periodicity |
The habit or characteristic of recurrence at regular
intervals. |
| peripatetic |
adj. going from place to place |
| perjure |
v. ~ oneself tell a lie (esp in a court of law) after
one has sworn an oath to tell the truth |
| perjury |
n. action of perjuring oneself |
| permanence |
n. state of continuing or remaining for a long time |
| permanent |
adj. lasting or expected to last for a long time or
for ever |
| permeate |
v. ~ sth (fml ) enter sth and spread to every part |
| permissible |
adj. that is or may be allowed |
| permutation |
n. (esp mathematics ) variation in the order of a set
of things |
| pernicious |
adj. ~ (to sb/sth) having a very harmful or destructive
effect (on sb/sth) |
| perpendicular |
adj. ~ at an angle of 90 (to another line or surface) |
| perpetuate |
v. cause to continue |
| perquisite |
n. (fml ) (infml perk) money or goods given or regarded
as a right in addition to one's pay |
| persecution |
n. persecuting or being persecuted |
| perseverance |
n. continued steady effort to achieve an aim; steadfastness |
| persevere |
v. ~ ~ (with sb) (usu approv ) continue trying to do
sth, esp in spite of difficulty |
| persiflage |
n. light good-humoured teasing; banter ; |
| persist |
v. ~ continue to do sth, esp in an obstinate and determined
way and in spite of opposition, argument or failure |
| persistence |
n. being persistent |
| personage |
n. person, esp an important or distinguished one |
| personal |
adj. of or belonging to a particular person rather
than a group or an organization |
| personality |
n. characteristics and qualities of a person seen as
a whole |
| personnel |
n. people employed in one of the armed forces, a firm
or a public office; staff |
| perspective |
n. art of drawing solid objects on a flat surface so
as to give the right impression of their height, width,
depth and position in relation to each other |
| perspicacious |
adj. having or showing great insight or judgement;
discerning |
| perspicacity |
quick judging and understanding |
| perspicuous |
adj. expressed clearly |
| perspiration |
n. moisture given off by the body; sweat |
| perspire |
v. give off moisture through the skin; sweat |
| persuadable |
capable of influencing to action by entreaty, statement,
or anything that moves the feelings. |
| persuade |
v. ~ sb cause sb to do sth by arguing or reasoning
with him |
| pertinacious |
adj. holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action;
determined |
| pertinent |
adj. ~ (fml ) relevant (to sth); to the point |
| perturb |
v. make (sb) very worried; disturb |
| perturbation |
n. state of being perturbed; anxiety ; |
| pervade |
v. spread to and be perceived in every part of |
| pervasion |
n. pervading or being pervaded |
| pervasive |
adj. present and perceived everywhere; pervading |
| perverse |
adj. (of a person) deliberately continuing to behave
in a way that is wrong, unreasonable or unacceptable |
| perversion |
n. changing sth from right to wrong; perverting |
| perversity |
stubborn maintenance of a wrong cause |
| pervert |
v. turn away from its proper nature or use |
| pervious |
penetrable |
| pestilence |
n. (any of various types of) deadly infectious disease
that spreads quickly through large numbers of people,
esp bubonic plague |
| pestilent |
adj. of or like a pestilence |
| pestilential |
causing plague; baneful |
| peter |
v. peter out decrease or fade gradually before coming
to an end |
| petrify |
take away power to feel through terror; turn to stone |
| petulance |
the quality or state of being petulant:PEEVISHNESS |
| petulant |
adj. unreasonably impatient or irritable |
| pharmacopoeia |
n. book containing a list of medicinal drugs and directions
for their use, esp one officially published for use in
a particular country |
| pharmacy |
n. preparation and giving out of medicines and drugs |
| phenomenal |
adj. very remarkable; extraordinary |
| phenomenon |
n. fact or occurrence, esp in nature or society, that
can be perceived by the senses |
| philander |
v. ~ (usu derog ) (of a man) amuse oneself by flirting
with women |
| philanthropic |
adj. of or inspired by philanthropy |
| philanthropist |
n. person who helps others, esp through charitable
work or donations of money |
| philanthropy |
n. concern for the welfare of mankind; benevolence
; |
| philately |
n. collecting and studying postage stamps |
| philharmonic |
adj. devoted to or loving music |
| philology |
n. science or studyof the development of language or
of a particular language |
| philosophize |
To seek ultimate causes and principles. |
| philosophy |
n. search for knowledge and understanding of the nature
and meaning of the universe and of human life |
| phlegmatic |
adj. calm and even-tempered; showing the quality of
phlegm |
| phonetic |
adj. of or concerning the sounds of human speech |
| phonic |
adj. of or concerning sound |
| phonogram |
A graphic character symbolizing an articulate sound. |
| phonology |
n. study of the system of speech sounds, esp in a particular
language |
| phosphorescence |
n. giving out of light without heat or with so little
heat that it cannot be felt |
| photoelectric |
adj. of or using the electrical effects produced by
light |
| photometer |
Any instrument for measuring the intensity of light
or comparing the intensity of two lights. |
| photometry |
The art of measuring the intensity of light. |
| physicist |
n. expert in or student of physics |
| physiognomy |
n. features of a person's face |
| physiography |
Description of nature. |
| physiology |
n. scientific study of the normal functions of living
things |
| physique |
n. general appearance and size of a person's body,
esp of the muscles |
| picayune |
Of small value. |
| piccolo |
n. small musical instrument like the flute but producing
notes an octave higher than those of the flute . |
| piece |
n. any of the parts of which sth is made |
| piecemeal |
adv. piece by piece; a part at a time |
| pillage |
n. (esp formerly) stealing or damaging of property,
esp by soldiers in war , |
| pillory |
n. wooden framework with holes for the head and hands,
into which wrongdoers were locked in former times, so
that they could be publicly ridiculed . |
| pincher |
|
| pinnacle |
n. small pointed ornament built on to a roof or buttress |
| pioneer |
n. person who is among the first to go into an area
or country to settle or work there |
| pious |
adj. having or showing a deep devotion to religion |
| pique |
v. hurt the pride or self-respect of (sb); offend |
| piteous |
adj. arousing or deservingpity |
| pitiable |
adj. deserving or arousing pity |
| pitiful |
adj. arousing pity |
| pitiless |
adj. showing no pity or mercy; cruel |
| pittance |
n. very small or insufficient amount of money paid
or received as wages or an allowance |
| placate |
v. make less angry; soothe or pacify |
| placid |
adj. calm and peaceful; undisturbed |
| plagiarism |
n. action of plagiarizing |
| planisphere |
A polar projection of the heavens on a chart. |
| plasticity |
n. state or quality of being able to be moulded or
shaped |
| platitude |
n. commonplace remark or statement, esp when it is
said as if it were new or interesting |
| plaudit |
n. (fml ) applause, praise or some other sign of approval |
| plausible |
adj. seeming to be right or reasonable; believable |
| playful |
adj. fond of playing; full of fun |
| playwright |
n. person who writes plays; dramatist |
| plea |
n. ~ (for sth) earnest request; appeal |
| pleasant |
adj. ~ (to sth) giving pleasure to the mind, feelings
or senses; enjoyable |
| pleasurable |
adj. givingpleasure; enjoyable |
| plebeian |
adj. of the lower social classes |
| pledgee |
The person to whom anything is pledged. |
| plenary |
adj. attended by all who have the right to attend |
| plenipotentiary |
n. person with full powers to act on behalf of his
government (esp in a foreign country) |
| plenitude |
a full supply |
| plenteous |
adj. plentiful |
| plumb |
n. piece of lead that is tied to a cord and used to
find the depth of water or test whether a wall, etc is
vertical , |
| plummet |
n. plumb-line |
| pluperfect |
adj. (grammar) (of the form of the verb phrase) expressing
an action completed before a particular pointin the past |
| plural |
n. form of a noun or verb which refers to more than
one person or thing |
| plurality |
n. state of being plural |
| plutocracy |
n. government by a rich and powerful class |
| pneumatic |
adj. filled with air |
| poesy |
Poetry. |
| poetaster |
An inferior poet. |
| poetic |
adj. like or suggesting poetry, esp in being graceful
and aesthetically leasing |
| poetics |
The rules and principles of poetry. |
| poignancy |
n. state or quality of being poignant |
| poignant |
adj. affecting one's feelings deeply, making one sad,
full of pity, etc |
| poise |
v. be or keep balanced or suspended |
| polar |
adj. of or near the North or South Pole |
| pollen |
n. fine powder formed in flowers, which fertilizes
other flowers when carried to them by the wind, insects,
etc |
| pollute |
v. ~ sth make sth dirty or impure, esp by adding harmful
or unpleasant substances |
| polygamy |
n. custom of having more than one wife at the same
time |
| polyglot |
adj. knowing, using or written in many languages |
| polygon |
n. figure with many (usu five or more) straight sides |
| polyhedron |
n. solid figure with many (usu seven or more) faces |
| polysyllable |
n. word of several syllables |
| polytechnic |
n. college for advanced full-time and part-time education,
esp in scientific and technical subjects |
| polytheism |
n. belief in or worship of more than one god |
| pommel |
n. rounded part of a saddle which sticks up at the
front |
| pomposity |
n. being pompous |
| pompous |
adj. feeling, or showing that one feels, that one is
much more important than other people |
| ponder |
v. ~ think about (sth) carefully and for a long time,
esp in trying to reach a decision; consider |
| ponderous |
adj. slow and awkward because of great weight |
| pontiff |
n. bishop; chief priest; high priest ; |
| populace |
n. (fml ) the general public; ordinary people |
| populous |
adj. having a large population; densely populated |
| portend |
v. be a sign or warning of (sth in the future); foreshadow |
| portent |
n. ~ (fml ) sign or warning of a future (often unpleasant)
event; omen |
| portfolio |
n. flat case (often made of leather) for carrying loose
papers, documents, drawings, etc , |
| posit |
v. suggest or assume (sth) as a fact; postulate ; |
| position |
n. place where sb/sth is |
| positive |
adj. with no possibility of doubt; clear and definite |
| posse |
n. group of people who can be summoned by an officer
of the law, eg a sheriff, to find a criminal, maintain
order, etc |
| possess |
v. have (sth) as one's belongings; own |
| possession |
n. state of possessing; ownership |
| possessive |
adj. ~ (with sth/sb) showing a desire to own things
and an unwillingness to share what one owns |
| possible |
adj. that can be done |
| postdate |
To make the date of any writing later than the real
date. |
| posterior |
adj. ~ (to sth) later (than sth) in time or in a series |
| postgraduate |
adj. (of studies, etc) done after taking a first degree |
| postscript |
n. ~ (abbr PS) extra message added at the end of a
letter after the signature |
| potency |
Power. |
| potent |
adj. (of drugs, etc) having a strong effect |
| potentate |
n. ruler with direct power over his people; autocratic
monarch |
| potential |
adj. that can or may come into existence; possible |
| potion |
n. drink of medicine, poison or a liquid used in magic |
| powerless |
adj. without power or strength |
| practicable |
adj. that can be put into practice; workable |
| prate |
v. ~ (on about sth) talk or chatter too much (about
sth) |
| prattle |
v. ~ (away) (of a child) talk in a simple way; babble |
| preamble |
n. ~ opening statement explaining the purpose of the
book, document, lecture, etc that follows |
| precarious |
adj. depending on chance; uncertain |
| precaution |
n. ~ thing done in advance to avoid danger, prevent
problems, etc |
| precede |
v. come or go before in time, order, rank, etc |
| precedence |
n. ~ right to come before sb/sth in time, order, rank,
etc |
| precedent |
n. earlier decision, case, event, etc that is regarded
as an example or rule for what comes later |
| precession |
n. gradual change in the angle at which the earth revolves
daily, causing the equinoxes to occur slightly earlier
in each successive year , |
| precipice |
n. very steep or vertical face of a cliff, mountain
or rock |
| precipitant |
Moving onward quickly and heedlessly. |
| precipitate |
v. cause (sth) to happen suddenly or soon(er); hasten |
| precise |
adj. stated clearly andaccurately |
| precision |
n. exactness and clarity; quality of being precise(1) |
| preclude |
v. ~ sb from doing sth prevent (sth, or sb doing sth);
make (sth) impossible |
| precocious |
adj. (of a child) having developed certain abilities
at an earlier age than usual |
| precursor |
n. ~(of sth) person or thing that comes before sth;
forerunner |
| predatory |
adj. (living by) killing other animals for food |
| predecessor |
n. person who held an office or position before sb
else |
| predicament |
n. difficult or unpleasant situation, esp one in which
sb is uncertain what to do |
| predicate |
n. part of a statement that says sth about the subject,
eg `is short' in `Life is short' , Life is short is short |
| predict |
v. say in advance that will happen; forecast |
| prediction |
n. predicting |
| predominance |
n. ~ state of being greater in strength, numbers, etc |
| predominant |
adj. having more power or influence than others |
| predominate |
v. ~ have control, power or influence(over sb/sth) |
| preeminence |
Special eminence. |
| preempt |
to replace with something considered to be of greater
value or priority:take precedence over |
| preemption |
the judicial principle asserting the supremacy of federal
over state legislation on the same subject ; the right
of a government to seize or appropriate something (as
property) |
| preexist |
To exist at a period or in a state earlier than something
else. |
| preexistence |
Existence antecedent to something. |
| preface |
n. introductory statement atthe beginning of a book,
esp one that explains the author'saims |
| prefatory |
adj. acting as a preface; introductory |
| prefer |
v. ~ sth (to sth) choose sth rather than sth else;
like sth better |
| preferable |
adj. ~ (to sth/doing sth) to be preferred (to sth);
more desirable or suitable |
| preference |
n. ~ (for sth) liking for sth (more than sth else) |
| preferential |
adj. of, giving, receiving or showing preference( |
| preferment |
n. promotion to a higher position or rank |
| prefix |
n. word or syllable (eg co-, ex-, non-, pre-, re-)
placed in front of a word to add to or change the meaning
of that word, eg un- in unhappy , co- ex- non- pre- re-,
unhappy un- |
| prehensile |
adj. able to grasp and hold things |
| prehension |
The act of laying hold of or grasping. |
| prejudice |
n. opinion, or like or dislike of sb/sth, that is not
founded on experience or reason |
| prelacy |
n. office, rank or see of a prelate |
| prelate |
n. high-ranking clergyman, eg a bishop or an archbishop |
| prelude |
n. ~ action or event that happens before another larger
or more important one and forms an introduction to it |
| premature |
adj. happening before the proper or expected time |
| premier |
adj. first in importance, position, etc |
| premise |
n. statement or idea on which reasoning is based; hypothesis |
| premonition |
n. ~ feeling that sth unpleasant is going to happen |
| preoccupation |
n. state of being preoccupied; absent-mindedness ; |
| preoccupy |
v. engage (sb or his mind, thoughts, etc) so that he
cannot think of other things; obsess |
| preordain |
To foreordain. |
| preparation |
n. preparing or being prepared |
| preparatory |
adj. preparing for sth; introductory |
| preponderant |
adj. greater in influence, importance, quantity, etc |
| preponderate |
v. ~ (fml ) be greater in influence, importance, quantity,
etc (than sth else) |
| prepossession |
A preconceived liking. |
| preposterous |
adj. completely contrary to reason or common sense;
absurd or outrageous |
| prerogative |
n. right or privilege, esp one belonging to a particular
person or group |
| presage |
n. sign that sth (esp sth unpleasant) will happen;
omen ; |
| prescience |
foreknowledge of events:a:divine omniscience b:human
anticipation of the course of events:FORESIGHT |
| prescient |
adj. knowing about things before they take place; able
to see into the future ; |
| prescript |
n. law, rule or command |
| prescription |
n. doctor's written instruction for the composition
and use of a medicine |
| presentient |
Perceiving or feeling beforehand. |
| presentiment |
n. vague feeling that sth (esp sth unpleasant) will
happen; foreboding |
| presentment |
Semblance. |
| presumption |
n. ~ (of sth) presuming sth to be true or the case |
| presumptuous |
adj. (of a person or his behaviour) too bold or self-confident |
| pretension |
n. ~ (making of a) claim |
| pretentious |
adj. claiming merit or importance; pompous or showy |
| preternatural |
adj. beyond what is natural or normal; unusual |
| pretext |
n. ~ reason given (for doing sth) that is not the real
reason; excuse |
| prevalence |
n. being prevalent |
| prevalent |
adj. ~ (among/in sth/sb) existing or happening generally;
widespread |
| prevaricate |
v. try to avoid telling the (whole) truth by speaking
in an evasive or a misleading way; equivocate |
| prevention |
n. preventing |
| prickle |
n. small pointed growth on the stem or leaf of a plant;
thorn |
| priggery |
[ prig: ] another word for: steal |
| prim |
adj. (usu derog ) (of a person) disliking anything
that is improper, rude or rough; prudish |
| primer |
n. textbook for people just starting to study a subject |
| primeval |
adj. of the earliest period of the history of the world |
| primitive |
adj. of or at an early stage of social development |
| principal |
adj. first in rank or importance; chief; main |
| principality |
n. country ruled by a prince |
| principle |
n. basic general truth that underlies sth |
| priory |
n. monastery governed by a prior or convent governed
by a prioress |
| pristine |
adj. in its original condition; unspoilt |
| privateer |
n. (captainof or sailor on a) ship used for attacking
and robbing other ships; pirate (ship) |
| privilege |
n. special right or advantage available only to a particular
person, class or rank, or to the holder of a certain position |
| privity |
Knowledge shared with another or others regarding a
private matter. |
| privy |
adj. private; secret |
| probate |
n. official process of proving that a will is correct |
| probation |
n. (system of) keeping an official check on the behaviour
of (esp young) people found guilty of crime as an alternative
to sending them to prison |
| probe |
n. tool for examining a place whichcannot be reached
otherwise, esp a thin implement with a blunt end used
by a doctor for examining a wound |
| probity |
n. quality of being honest and trustworthy; integrity
; |
| procedure |
n. order or way of doing things, esp in business, law,
politics, etc |
| proceed |
v. ~ (to sth) go to a further or the next stage; go
on |
| proclamation |
n. action of proclaiming |
| procrastinate |
v. delay or postpone action |
| procrastination |
n. procrastinating |
| proctor |
n. (at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge) either
of two officials with responsibility for discipline |
| prodigal |
adj. spending money or resources too freely; extravagant |
| prodigious |
adj. very great in size, amount or degree, so as to
cause amazement or admiration; enormous |
| prodigy |
n. person with unusual or remarkable qualities or abilities |
| productive |
adj. producing or able to produce goods or crops, esp
in large quantities |
| profession |
n. paid occupation, esp one that requires advanced
education and training, eg architecture, law or medicine |
| professor |
n. (US also full professor) (title of a) university
teacher of the highest grade who holds a chair(3) in a
subject |
| proffer |
v. ~ sth(fml ) offer sth |
| proficiency |
n. ~ eing proficient (in sth) |
| proficient |
adj. ~ doing or able to do sth in a skilled or an expert
way because of training and practice |
| profile |
n. side view, esp of the human face |
| profiteer |
v. maketoo large a profit, esp by exploiting people
in difficult times (eg in a war or famine) |
| profligacy |
n. being profligate |
| profligate |
adj. recklessly extravagant or wasteful |
| profuse |
adj. in large amounts; abundant |
| progeny |
n. offspring |
| progression |
n. ~ (to sth) (process of) moving forward or developing,esp
in stages or gradually; progressing |
| prohibition |
n. forbidding or being forbidden |
| prohibitionist |
n. person who supports the prohibition of sth by law,
esp the sale of alcoholic drinks |
| prohibitory |
adj. intended to prohibit sth |
| projection |
n. projecting or being projected |
| proletarian |
member of the working class |
| prolific |
adj. producing much fruit or many flowers or offspring |
| prolix |
adj. (of a speech, writer, etc) using too many words
and so boring to listen to or read |
| prologue |
n. ~ introductory part of a poem or play |
| prolong |
v. make longer, esp in time; extend |
| promenade |
n. (also Brit infml prom) public place for walking,
esp a paved area along the waterfront at the seaside |
| prominence |
n. state of being prominent |
| prominent |
adj. jutting out; projecting |
| promiscuous |
adj. not carefully chosen; indiscriminate or casual |
| promissory |
adj. conveying a promise |
| promontory |
n. area of high land jutting out into the sea or a
lake; headland ; . |
| promoter |
n. person who organizes or finances (esp a business
company or a sporting event) |
| promulgate |
v. make (sth) widely known; disseminate |
| propaganda |
n. publicity that is intended to spread ideas or information
which will persuade or convince people |
| propagate |
v. increase the number of by a natural processfrom
the parent stock |
| propel |
v. move, driveor push (sth) forward |
| propellant |
n. propelling agent, eg an explosive that propels a
bullet from a weapon, a fuel that provides thrust for
a rocket, or compressed gas that forces out the contents
of an aerosol container |
| propeller |
n. two or more spiral blades fixed to a revolving shaft
for propelling a ship or an aircraft |
| prophecy |
n. saying what will happen in the future |
| propitious |
adj. ~ (fml ) giving or indicating a good chance of
success; favourable |
| proportionate |
adj. ~ (fml ) in proportion (to sth); corresponding
to sth |
| propriety |
n. state of being correct in one's social or moral
behaviour |
| propulsion |
n. driving forward or being driven forward |
| prosaic |
adj. uninspired; unimaginative |
| proscenium |
n. the part of the stage in front of the curtain |
| proscribe |
v. state officially that (sth) is dangerous or forbidden |
| proscription |
n. (instance of) proscribing or beingproscribed |
| proselyte |
n. person who has been converted from one set of religious,
political, etc beliefs to another |
| prosody |
n. science of verse forms and poetic metres |
| prospectus |
n. printed document, leaflet, etc giving details of
and advertising sth, eg a private school or a new business |
| prostrate |
adj. stretched out on the ground face downward, esp
because of exhaustion or in order to show submission,
respect, etc |
| protagonist |
n. (fml ) chief character in a drama; hero |
| protection |
n. ~ (against sth) protecting or being protected |
| protector |
n. person who protects |
| protestant |
n, adj of any of the Christian bodies that separated
from theChurch of Rome in the 16th century, or of their
branchesformed later 16 |
| protocol |
n. system of rules governing formal occasions, eg meetings
between governments, diplomats, etc; official etiquette |
| protomartyr |
The earliest victim in any cause. |
| protoplasm |
n. colourless jelly-like substancethat forms the basis
of all animal and plant cells and tissues |
| prototype |
n. first or original example of sth that has been or
will be copied or developed; model or preliminary version |
| protract |
v. make (sth) last a long time or longer; lengthen
or prolong |
| protrude |
v. ~ (from sth) (cause sth to) jut or stick out from
a surface; (cause sth to) project |
| protrusion |
n. protruding |
| protuberance |
n. being protuberant |
| protuberant |
adj. bulging, curving or swelling outwards from a surface;
prominent |
| proverb |
n. short well-known saying that states a general truth
or gives advice, eg `It takes two to make a quarrel' or
`Don't put all your eggs in one basket' |
| provident |
adj. having or showing wisdom for future needs; thrifty |
| providential |
adj. occurring just at the right time when needed |
| provincial |
adj. of a province (1) |
| proviso |
n. clause, etc that is insisted on as a condition of
an agreement |
| provocation |
n. making sb angry by deliberately doing sth annoying
or offensive; provoking or being provoked |
| prowess |
n. outstanding skill or ability; expertise |
| proxy |
n. person authorized to act on behalf of another |
| prudence |
n. (quality of) being prudent; forethought or wisdom |
| prudential |
Proceeding or marked by caution. |
| prudery |
n. behaviour or attitude of a prude |
| prurient |
adj. having or showing excessive interest in sexual
matters |
| pseudonym |
n. person's name that is not his real name, esp one
used by an author; pen-name |
| pseudonymity |
The state or character of using a fictitious name. |
| psychiatry |
n. study and treatment of mental illness |
| psychic |
adj. concerned with processes and phenomena that seem
to be outside physical or natural laws |
| psychopathic |
adj. of or suffering from a severe emotional or mental
disorder |
| psychotherapy |
n. treatment of mental disorders by psychological methods |
| pudgy |
adj. (infml ) short and fat; podgy |
| puerile |
adj. showing immaturity; childish and silly |
| pugnacious |
adj. inclined or eager to fight; aggressive |
| puissant |
powerful; strong; potent |
| pulmonary |
adj. of, in or affecting the lungs |
| punctilious |
adj. very careful to carry out one's duties, etc correctly;
very attentive to details of behaviour or ceremony |
| punctual |
adj. happening or doing sth at the agreed or proper
time |
| pungency |
n. quality or state of being pungent |
| pungent |
n. having a sharp or strong taste or smell |
| punitive |
adj. intended as punishment |
| pupilage |
The state or period of being a student. |
| purgatory |
n. (in Roman Catholic teaching) place or condition
in which the souls of the dead are purified by suffering
in preparation for Heaven |
| purl |
n. stitch in knitting that produces ridges on the upper
side |
| purloin |
v. steal (sth) |
| purport |
n. ~ (fml ) general meaning or intention (of sth) |
| purveyor |
n. person or firm that supplies goods or services |
| pusillanimous |
adj. cowardly; timid ; |
| putrescent |
adj. inthe process of rotting |
| pyre |
n. large pile of wood, etc for burning a dead body
as part of a funeral ceremony |
| pyromania |
n. illness that causes an uncontrollable desire to
start fires |
| pyrotechnic |
Pertaining to fireworks or their manufacture. |
| pyx |
n. container in which bread that has been consecrated
for Holy Communion is kept |
