Dictionary — P

A personal lexicon of unusual, archaic, scientific, and otherwise interesting words encountered in reading. Browse other letters from the Dictionary catalog.

Word	Definition
paean	a song of joyful praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or praise
pale	limits, bounds.
paleomagnetism	study of past changes in earth’s magnetic field by examining the magnetic properties of old rocks.
palimpsest	a manuscript that has been written on more than once, with the earlier writing incompletely erased and often legible; an object, a place, or an area that reflects its history.
pall	n. cover for coffin; coffin; a covering that darkens or obscures; a gloomy effect or atmosphere; tr.v. to cover with or as if with a pall.
pallet1	wooden, shovellike tool for mixing and shaping clay; portable platform used for storing or moving cargo or freight
pallet2	a narrow, hard bed or straw-filled mattress
palmate	lobes, etc., radiating from one point, digitate; webbed feet
palsy	n. a weakening or debilitating influence; a fit of strong emotion marked by the inability to act; tr.v. to paralyze, to deprive of strength; to make helpless as with fear.
paltry	trivial; wretched or contemptible; meager; measly, trashy; mean.
panatela	n. long, slender cigar
Panglossian	blindly or naively optimistic.
pangram	a sentence that uses all the letters of the alphabet
panicle	a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes
pantheism	a doctrine that equates god with the forces and laws of the universe.
pantofle	a slipper
par excellance	being the best or truest of a kind; quintessential
paradigm	an example that serves as pattern or model
paragon	a model of perfection; a pattern.
paralogism	a fallacious or illogical argument.
parapet	low protective wall or railing along edge of a raised structure
pare	to remove by or as if by cutting, clipping, or shaving; to reduce as if by cutting off outer parts; trim
pari passu	at an equal pace; side by side
parka	coat or jacket with a hood and usually a warm lining for cold-weather wear
parlay	to increase or change into something of much greater value.
parody	an artistic work that imitates the style of an author for comic effect or ridicule; something so bad as to be equivalent to intentional mockery; a travesty
parole	password; word of honor; the act of speaking; a particular utterance or word
paroxysm	a sudden outburst of emotion or action; convulsion
parse	breaking up into parts of speech
parsimonious	excessively sparing or frugal.
parsimony	unusual or excessive frugality, stinginess
partita	an instrumental piece composed of a series of variations, as a suite.
pas de deux	a dance for two, esp. in ballet; a close relationship between two people or things, as during an activity
pass muster	be accepted as adequate
passé	out-of-date; past the rime, faded or aged
passerine	perching birds and songbirds such as the jays, blackbirds, finches, warblers, and sparrows
pasticcio(ci)	a work or style produced by borrowing fragments, ingredients or motifs from various sources; a potpourri
pastiche	a dramatic, literary, or musical piece openly imitating the previous works of other artists, often with satirical intent; a hodgepodge
pat	adj. trite or glib; timely or opportune, suitable, fitting; adv. completely, exactly, perfectly.
pate	crown of head
paterfamilias	patresfamilia pl. a man who is the head of a household or the father of a family
paternoster	the Lord’s Prayer; large beads on rosary, magic formula
pathography	the retrospective study, often by a physician, of the possible influence and effects of disease on the life and work of a historical personage or group; a style of biography that overemphasizes the negative aspects of a person’s life and work, such as failure, unhappiness, illness and tragedy
patrician	of high birth; aristocrat.
patrimony	an inheritance or a legacy; heritage
pawl	a hinged or pivoted device adapted to fit into a notch of a ratchet wheel to impart forward motion or prevent backward motion
peascod	pod of peas.
pedagogue	school teacher; educator; one who instructs in pedantic or dogmatic manner
pedagogy	the art or profession of teaching; esp. education.
pedant	a person who makes a display of his learning; formal, uninspired teacher.
peeve	tr.v. to cause to be annoyed or resentful; n. a vexation; a grievance; a resentful mood
peevish	querulous or discontented; ill-tempered; contrary; fractious.
pejorative	adj. tending to make or become worse; disparaging or belittling; n. a disparaging or belittling word or expression
pell-mell	in a jumbled, confused manner; helter-skelter; in a frantic, disorderly haste; headlong
pellucid	transparent or translucent; transparently clear in style or meaning. syn. clear, transparent, lucid
pelt	1. n. the skin of an animal with the fur or hair still on it. 2. tr.v. bombard; to cast, hurl or throw; v.intr. to beat or strike heavily or repeatedly; to move at a vigorous gait; n. a whack; a rapid pace
pensioner	an attendant.
peony	garden plants having large, variously colored flowers with numerous stamens and several pistils.
percept	n. the object of perception; a mental impression of something perceived by the senses, viewed as the basic component in the formation of concepts, a sense datum.
perch	North American and European spiny-finned freshwater fish
peregrinate	intr.v. to journey or travel from place to place, esp. on foot; tr.v. to travel through or over; traverse
perfidy	n. deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery
perigee	the point in any orbit nearest to the body being orbited
peripatetic	itinerant.
perorations	concluding part of a speech.
perquisite	a payment or profit received in addition to a regular wage or salary, esp. a benefit expected as one’s due; a tip; a gratuity; something claimed as an exclusive right
Persephone	(Greek mythology) the daughter of Demeter and Zeus who was abducted by Hades but rescued by her mother and thereafter spent six months of the year on earth and six months in the underworld.
persnickety/pernickety	overly particular about trivial details, fastidious; snobbish, pretentious; requiring strict attention to detail; demanding
perspicuity	clearness and lucidity
perspicuous	clearly expressed or presented; easy to understand
pertinacious	holding resolutely to an opinion or purpose; obstinately persistent; tenacious.
pesky	troublesome; annoying.
petulant	unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish; contemptuous in speech or behaviour
pewter	silver-gray alloys of tin with antimony, copper and sometimes lead used for utensils
phantasmagoria	fantastic sequence of haphazardly associative imagery; fantastic art.
philander	intr.v. to carry on a sexual affair, esp. an extramarital affair, with a woman one cannot or does not intend to marry; to engage in many love affairs, esp. with a frivolous or casual attitude
philanthropy	the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations; love of humankind in general; something, such as an activity or institution, intended to promote human welfare
philology	literary study or classical scholarship.
phlox	plant with opposite leaves and flowers with salverform corolla.
Phoenicia	ancient maritime country of southwest Asia consisting of city-states along the eastern Mediterranean Sea in present-day Syria and Lebanon
phoenix	a bird in Egyptian mythology that lived in the desert and consumed itself by fire, later to rise renewed from its ashes; a person or thing of unsurpassed excellence or beauty; a paragon
phoneme	the smallest phonetic unit in a language that is capable of conveying a distinction in meaning.
photon	a quantum of electromagnetic energy, often thought of as the particle associated with light.
phthisis/phthisic	n. wasting; disease of lung
pianissimo	adj.; adv. in a very soft or quiet tone; n. a part of a composition played very softly or quietly
pickaninny	disparaging term for a young black child
piedmont	an area of land lying at the foot of a mountain range.
piezoelectricity	the relationship between mechanical stress and electric charge exhibited by certain crystals.
piffling	intr.v. to talk or act in a feeble or futile way; n. foolish or futile talk or ideas; nonsense
pilaster	a rectangular column with a capital and base, set into a wall as an ornamental motif.
pinnate	resembling a feather; having parts or branches arranged around a common axis
piquant	pleasantly pungent or tart in taste; spicy; appealingly provocative; charming, interesting, or attractive
pique	n. a state of vexation caused by a feeling of wounded pride; tr.v. to cause to feel resentment or indignation; to provoke; arouse; to pride on self
pita	a round, flat bread of middle Eastern origin that can be opened into a pocket for filling
pixy	n. a fairylike or elfin creature, esp. one that is playful or mischievous. adj. playfully mischievous; adj. pixyish adj.
pizzazz	n. dazzling style; flamboyance; flair; vigorous spirit; energy, excitement
plagio-	slanting; inclining
plagioclase	rock-forming triclinic feldspars, consisting of mixtures of sodium and calcium aluminium silicates.
planisphere	(Astronomy) a polar projection of the celestial sphere on a chart equipped with an adjustable overlay to show the stars visible at a particular time and place
plaudits	round of applause; emphatic expression of approval
plectrum	a small piece of metal, plastic used to pluck the strings of certain instruments
plenary	complete; unlimited or full; fully attended by all qualified members
plenipotentiary	adj. invested with or conferring full powers. n.
plenitude	completeness, abundance.
plethora	a superabundance, excess
plover	wading bird which has round body, short tail and beak
plume	a token of achievement; (ecology) a space in air, water, or soil containing pollutants released from a point source. (geology) an upwelling of molten material from the earth’s mantle; tr.v. to smooth feathers; preen; to congratulate (oneself) in a self-satisfied way.
plutocracy	rule of the wealthy
plutonic	of deep igneous origin.
pneumatic	of, or acting by means of wind or (esp. compressed) air
pogrom	an organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group
poignant	physically painful; keenly distressing to mind or feelings; profoundly moving, touching; piercing, incisive; neat, skillful and to the point; astute and pertinent, relevant
poignantly	painfully affecting the feelings; deeply moving.
poinsettia	a tropical American shrub that has showy, usually scarlet bracts beneath the small yellow flowerlike inflorescences
polarized light	light in which the orientation of wave vibrations displays a definite pattern; e.g. being in a single plane.
polemic	n. the art or practice of disputation, a controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine; adj. of or relating to a controversy, an argument, or a refutation.
polonaise	a stately, marchlike Polish dance, primarily a promenade by couples. Music having triple meter.
polyanthus	hybrid primroses having clusters of variously colored flowers.
polymath	a person of great or varied learning
poniard	n. a dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade; tr.v. to stab with such a dagger
pontifical	having the dignity, pomp, or authority of a pontiff or a bishop. Pompously dogmatic or self-important; pretentious
pontificate	n. the office or term of office of a pontiff; intr.v. to express opinions or judgements in a dogmatic way.
poofter
pooh	interj. used to express disdain or disbelief.
pooh-bah	pompous, ostentatious official, esp. one who, holding many offices, fulfills none of them; person who holds high office
pooh-pooh	tr.v. to express contempt for or impatience about; make light of.
port	left hand side of ship or aircraft facing forward
Porter, Cole	1891-1964. American composer and lyricist
portmanteau	a large leather suitcase that opens into two hinged compartments
portmanteau word	a word formed by merging the sounds and meaning of two different words.
poser	a baffling question or problem
posthaste	with great haste; rapidly
pothooks	illegible handwriting or aimless scribbling
potto	small, nocturnal primate of Africa
pragmatism	(Phil) A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, originally developed by Pierce and James and distinguished by the doctrine that the meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable practical consequences. A practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems
prate	v.intr. to talk idly and at length; chatter. tr.v. to utter idly or to little purpose. n. Empty, foolish, or trivial talk; idle chatter
precentor	cleric who directs the choral services of a church or cathedral
precession	slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body.
preponderate	to exceed in weight, force, influence or frequency; predominate.
preposterous	absurd
presage	to give an omen or warning of; foreshadow; foretell, predict.
prestidigitation	sleight of hand.
prestissimo	in as fast a tempo as possible.
presto	in a very fast tempo, usually considered to be faster than allegro but slower than prestissimo; so suddenly that magic seems involved, right away.
preternatural	exceeding what is natural; inexplicable by ordinary means.
prig	a person who demonstrates an exaggerated conformity or propriety, esp. in an irritatingly arrogant or smug manner
prima facie case	a case in which the evidence presented is thought to be sufficient for making a judgment unless the evidence is contested
primogeniture	the state of being the first-born of a family; an exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son.
primrose	variously colored flowers grouped in umbels or heads with funnel-shaped or salverlike corolla and a tube much longer that the calyx.
priory	a monastery governed by a prior or a convent governed by a prioress
prissy	excessively or affectedly prim and proper
privy	n. outhouse; (law) one of the parties having an interest in the same matter
pro-	earlier, before; rudimentary; infront
pro rata	proportionally
pro tem	pro tempore
pro tempore	1. for the time being; temporarily
probate	n. the process of legally establishing the validity of a will before a judicial authority. Judicial certification of the validity of a will. An authenticated copy of a will so certified. tr.v.
probative	serving to test, try or prove. Furnishing evidence of proof
probity	complete and confirmed integrity, uprightness
proclivity	a natural propensity or inclination; predisposition.
prodigious	enormous, great; extraordinary, marvelous
professoriate/professoriat	rank or office of a professor; college or university professors considered as a group
profligate	adj. given over to dissipation; dissolute; recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant; n. wastrel.
Prokofiev, Sergei	1891-1953. Russian composer
prolate	having the shape of a spheroid generated by rotating an ellipse about its long axis
prolix	tediously prolonged, wordy; tending to speak or write at excessive length
promethean	adj. boldly creative; defiantly original. n. one who is boldly creative or defiantly original in behavior or actions
promissory	containing, involving, or having the nature of a promise
promissory note	a written promise to pay or repay a specified sum of money at a stated time or on demand
promulgate	to make known or put into force by open declaration.
pronghorn	small, ruminant mammal resembling the antelope and having small forked horns
propinquity	proximity; nearness; kinship; similarity in nature
propitiate	appease
prosaic	dull.
proscribe	outlaw; condemn or forbid as harmful.
prosody	the study of the metrical structure of verse
provender	dry food used as feed for livestock; food or provisions
proxy	substitute
prude	one who is excessively concerned with being or appearing to be proper, modest or righteous
prudence	n. careful management; economy; syn’s discretion, foresight, forethought, circumspection
prudent	adj. wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgement or common sense; careful in regard to ones own interests; provident; careful about one’s conduct; circumspect
prudish	adj.
prurient	inordinately interested in matters of sex; lascivious; characterized by an inordinate interest in sex; arousing or appealing to an inordinate interest in sex
psaltery	ancient string instrument
psephology	the science of elections and polling
psychedelia	n. subculture associated with psychedelic drugs
ptarmigan	grouse having feathered legs and feet and plumage that is brown or gray in summer and white in winter.
Puccini, Giacomo`	1858-1924. Italian operatic composer
puckish	mischievous, impish
puerile	childish, silly.
puerility	belonging to childhood; juvenile; immature; childish
puffin	sea bird having black and white plumage and a vertically flattened triangular bill that is brightly colored during the breeding season.
pugnacious	combative in nature; belligerent
pullulate	to put forth sprouts or buds; germinate; to breed rapidly or abundantly; to teem, swarm.
punctilious	strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct; precise; scrupulous
punka	Indian fan
purloin	tr.v. to steal, often in a violation of trust; intr.v. to commit theft
pusillanimity	cowardice
pusillanimous	cowardly
putsch	a sudden attempt by a group to overthrow a government
pyroxene	crystalline silicate minerals common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and containing two metallic oxides, as of magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium or aluminium.