P
1522. pablum: something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic.
1523. pablum: something (as writing or speech) that is trite, insipid, or simplistic.
1524. paean: a song or other expression of praise or joy.
1525. paladin: a champion of a cause.
1526. palaver: idle talk; also, to talk idly.
1527. palaver: idle talk; also, to talk idly.
1528. palimpsest: an object a place whose older layers or aspects are apparent.
1529. palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent.
1530. palindrome: a word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward.
1531. palindrome: a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backward or forward.
1532. palliate: to extenuate; also, to relieve.
1533. palpable: plain; distinct; obvious.
1534. palpable: plain; distinct; obvious.
1535. panacea: a cure-all.
1536. panacea: a cure-all.
1537. panacea: a remedy for all diseases or problems.
1538. panache: dash or flamboyance in manner or style.
1539. pandemic: affecting a whole people or a number of countries.
1540. panjandrum: an important or self-important official.
1541. panoply: a splendid or impressive array.
1542. panoply: a splendid or impressive array.
1543. pantheon: the collective gods of a people; also, a group of highly esteemed persons.
1544. pantheon: the collective gods of a people; also, a group of highly esteemed persons.
1545. paragon: a model of excellence or perfection.
1546. paragon: a model of excellence or perfection.
1547. pari passu: at an equal pace or rate.
1548. pari passu: at an equal pace or rate.
1549. parley: a conference or discussion; also, to confer.
1550. parlous: dangerous.
1551. parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous.
1552. paroxysm: an outburst; a fit.
1553. paroxysm: any sudden and violent emotion; a fit.
1554. parse: to analyze.
1555. parsimonious: frugal to excess.
1556. parsimony: excessive sparingness in the expenditure of money.
1557. parvenu: a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status.
1558. parvenu: an upstart; one newly risen in class or economic status.
1559. pastiche: a hodgepodge; a potpourri.
1560. paterfamilias: the male head of a household or the father of a family.
1561. paterfamilias: the male head of a household; the father of a family.
1562. patina: a superficial layer.
1563. patina: a superficial layer.
1564. patrician: a nobleman; also, a person of refined upbringing, manners, and taste.
1565. patrician: a nobleman; also, a person of refined upbringing, manners, and taste.
1566. paucity: fewness.
1567. paucity: fewness; insufficiency.
1568. peccadillo: a slight offense; a petty fault.
1569. peccadillo: a slight trespass or offense.
1570. peccant: sinning.
1571. pecuniary: relating to money.
1572. pejorative: depreciatory; disparaging; unfavorable; belittling.
1573. pejorative: disparaging; belittling.
1574. pelf: money; riches.
1575. pellucid: transparent, clear; also, easily understandable.
1576. pellucid: transparent, clear; easily understandable.
1577. penchant: a strong liking.
1578. penchant: a strong liking.
1579. penury: extreme poverty; also, insufficiency.
1580. penury: extreme poverty; also, insufficiency.
1581. perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over.
1582. perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over.
1583. perdurable: very durable; long lasting.
1584. perdurable: very durable; long lasting.
1585. peregrination: a traveling from place to place.
1586. peremptory: precluding or putting an end to all debate or action.
1587. peremptory: precluding or putting an end to all debate or action.
1588. perfidy: faithlessness; treachery.
1589. perforce: by necessity.
1590. perforce: by necessity.
1591. perfunctory: done routinely.
1592. perfunctory: performed mechanically.
1593. peripatetic: walking about or traveling from place to place.
1594. peripatetic: walking about or traveling from place to place.
1595. permeate: to spread or diffuse through.
1596. pernicious: deadly; destructive; exceedingly harmful.
1597. pernicious: deadly; destructive; exceedingly harmful.
1598. perorate: to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length.
1599. perorate: to conclude or sum up a long discourse; also, to speak at length.
1600. perquisite: a benefit in addition to a salary.
1601. perquisite: a benefit in addition to a salary.
1602. persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk.
1603. persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk.
1604. perspicacity: clearness of understanding.
1605. perspicacity: clearness of understanding.
1606. pertinacious: holding obstinately to a belief, purpose, or design; also, stubbornly persistent.
1607. pertinacious: obstinate; also, stubbornly persistent.
1608. pervicacious: stubborn; obstinate.
1609. pettifogger: a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, one who quibbles over trivia.
1610. pettifogger: a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia.
1611. phantasmagoria: a shifting series or succession of things seen or imagined.
1612. philomath: a lover of learning.
1613. philomath: a lover of learning; a scholar.
1614. philter: a love potion.
1615. physiognomy: the face or appearance.
1616. physiognomy: the face, with respect to the temper of the mind.
1617. piebald: mottled.
1618. piebald: mottled; also, mixed.
1619. pied-a-terre: a temporary or second place of lodging.
1620. pin money: money for incidental expenses; also, a trivial sum.
1621. placate: to appease; to pacify.
1622. plaint: an expression of sorrow; also, a complaint.
1623. plaintive: expressive of sorrow or melancholy.
1624. plaintive: expressive of sorrow or melancholy.
1625. plangent: beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness.
1626. plangent: beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness.
1627. platitude: a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark.
1628. platitude: a thought or remark which is banal, trite, or stale.
1629. plaudit: enthusiastic approval.
1630. plaudit: enthusiastic approval.
1631. plebeian: common; vulgar.
1632. plenary: full; complete.
1633. plenary: full; entire; complete.
1634. plenipotentiary: invested with full power.
1635. pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea.
1636. pleonasm: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea.
1637. plethora: excess.
1638. plethora: excess; superabundance.
1639. politic: political; also, shrewdly tactful.
1640. politic: political; also, shrewdly tactful; also, judicious; expedient.
1641. polyglot: speaking many languages.
1642. polyglot: speaking, writing, or made up of many languages.
1643. polymath: a person of great learning.
1644. polymath: a person of great or varied learning.
1645. popinjay: a vain and talkative person.
1646. portend: to foreshadow; to bode.
1647. portend: to foreshadow; to bode.
1648. portent: a sign or omen.
1649. portentous: foreboding; ominous.
1650. posit: to postulate; also, to suggest.
1651. posit: to postulate; also, to suggest; also, set firmly.
1652. postprandial: happening or done after a meal.
1653. potable: drinkable.
1654. potable: drinkable; also, a beverage, especially an alcoholic one.
1655. potboiler: a usually inferior literary or artistic work, produced quickly for the purpose of
making money.
1656. Potemkin village: a false front or facade.
1657. potentate: one who possesses great power or sway.
1658. potentate: one who possesses great power or sway.
1659. practicable: feasible; also, usable.
1660. precipice: a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place.
1661. precocious: characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development.
1662. predilection: an established preference.
1663. predilection: an established preference.
1664. prelapsarian: pertaining to the time or state before the Fall.
1665. preponderate: to exceed in weight, influence, importance, amount, etc.
1666. prepotency: predominance.
1667. prescience: knowledge of events before they take place.
1668. prescient: knowing or anticipating the outcome of events before they happen.
1669. presentiment: a premonition.
1670. prestidigitation: manual dexterity in the execution of tricks.
1671. prestidigitation: sleight of hand.
1672. preternatural: beyond of different from what is natural; inexplicable; extraordinary;
abnormal.
1673. preternatural: beyond of different from what is natural; inexplicable; extraordinary;
abnormal.
1674. prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth.
1675. prima facie: at first view.
1676. primogeniture: the state of being the firstborn; also, an exclusive right of inheritance that
belongs to the eldest son.
1677. prink: to primp.
1678. privation: the state of being deprived of something.
1679. privation: the state of being deprived of something.
1680. probity: complete and confirmed integrity.
1681. probity: honesty; uprightness.
1682. proclivity: a natural inclination.
1683. proclivity: a natural inclination.
1684. procrastination: the act or habit of delaying doing something.
1685. profligate: dissipated; dissolute.
1686. profligate: shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful.
1687. profuse: plentiful; copious.
1688. prolix: unnecessarily long.
1689. prolix: wordy.
1690. Promethean: of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original.
1691. pronunciamento: a proclamation; a pronouncement.
1692. propinquity: nearness.
1693. propinquity: nearness.
1694. propitiate: to appease; to conciliate.
1695. propitious: presenting favorable circumstances.
1696. propitious: presenting favorable circumstances.
1697. proponent: an advocate.
1698. propound: put forward; to propose.
1699. propound: to put forward for consideration.
1700. proscribe: to forbid; to prohibit.
1701. proscribe: to forbid; to prohibit.
1702. proselytize: to convert (someone) to another religion, belief, etc.
1703. proselytize: to convert (someone) to another religion, belief, etc.
1704. protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms.
1705. protean: readily assuming different shapes.
1706. provenance: origin; source.
1707. provenance: origin; source.
1708. provender: food or provisions.
1709. puckish: whimsical; mischievous; impish.
1710. puckish: whimsical; mischievous; impish.
1711. puerile: displaying a lack of maturity.
1712. puerile: juvenile; childish.
1713. pugilist: a boxer.
1714. pugilist: a boxer.
1715. pugnacious: combative; quarrelsome.
1716. pugnacious: inclined to fighting.
1717. puissant: powerful.
1718. puissant: powerful.
1719. pukka: authentic; genuine; also, first-class.
1720. pulchritude: beauty.
1721. pulchritude: beauty.
1722. pule: to whimper; to whine.
1723. punctilious: precise; exact in the smallest particulars.
1724. punctilious: precise; exact in the smallest particulars.
1725. purblind: having greatly reduced vision.
1726. purblind: having greatly reduced vision.
1727. purdah: a state of seclusion.
1728. pusillanimous: cowardly.
1729. pusillanimous: lacking in courage and resolution.
1730. putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed.
1731. putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed.
1732. putsch: an attempt to overthrow a government.
1733. Pyrrhic victory: a victory achieved at great cost.
