SAT List 9

panegyric

formal or elaborate praise at an assembly

panoply

a wide-ranging and impressive array or display

paragon

model of excellence or perfection

partisan

one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party

pathogenic

causing disease

pathological

pertaining to disease; markedly extreme (abnormal)

paucity

smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness

pedantic

showing off learning; bookish

penchant

strong inclination; liking

penury

severe poverty; stinginess

percipient

having perception; discerning; discriminating

perennial

something long-lasting

perfidious

treacherous; disloyal; willing to betray one's trust

perfunctory

superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; done in a routine way

perpatetic

walking or traveling about; itinerant

permeable

penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through

permutation

a complete change; transformation

perquisite

a gratuity, tip

perspicacious

having keen mental perception and understanding; shrewd; astute

pertinacious

resolute; persistent, stubborn

pervasive

spread throughout

petulant

showing sudden irritation, esp. over some annoyance

philanderer

one who carries on flirtations

philanthropy

charity; a desire or effort to promote goodness

philology

the study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine their meaning

phlegmatic

calm; not easily disturbed

piety

devoutness; reverence for God

placate

to pacify/conciliate

plasticity

ability to be molded

platitude

trite remark; commonplace statement

plethora

excess; overabundance

plummet

fall sharply

porous

full of pores; like a sieve

pragmatic

practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something

preamble

introductory statement

precarious

uncertain; risky

precept

a commandment given as a rule of action or conduct

precipitate

to throw violently or bring about abruptly

precipitate

adj. rash, premature, hasty, sudden

preclude

to prevent the presence of

precocious

unusually advanced or mature in mental development or talent

precursor

forerunner

predilection

preference, liking

prescient

having knowledge of things before they happen

presentiment

a feeling of anticipation over a futre event

presumptuous

arrogant; taking liberties

prevaricate

to lie or deviate from the truth

pristine

characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled

probity

honesty; uprightness; incorruptibility

problematic

doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing

prodigal

lavish; wasteful; reckless with money

profound

deep; not superficial; complete

promulgate

to make known by open declaration

propensity

natural inclination

propitiate

to conciliate; to appease

propound

to set forth for consideration

propriety

correct behavior or conduct, obedience to rules and customs

proscribe

to condemn as harmful or odious; ostracize; banish; outlaw

proselytize

to convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another

protract

to prolong, draw out, extend

provident

having or showing foresight

prudence

wisdom, caution or restraint

puerile

childish, immature

pugnacious

to quarrel or fight readily

punctilious

strict or exact in the observance of formalities

pungent

stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic

pusillanimous

lacking courage or resolution