prelude
prelude (n)
An introductory or opening performance.
premature
premature (adj)
Coming too soon.
premier
premier (adj)
First in rank or position.
premise
premise (n)
A judgment as a conclusion.
premonition
premonition (n)
Foreboding.
preoccupation
preoccupation (n)
The state of having the mind, attention, or inclination preoccupied.
preoccupy
preoccupy (v)
To fill the mind of a person to the exclusion of other subjects.
preordain
preordain (v)
To foreordain.
preparation
preparation (n)
An act or proceeding designed to bring about some event.
preparatory
preparatory (adj)
Having to do with what is preliminary.
preponderant
preponderant (adj)
Prevalent.
preponderate
preponderate (v)
To exceed in influence or power.
prepossession
prepossession (n)
A preconceived liking.
preposterous
preposterous (adj)
Utterly ridiculous or absurd.
prerogative
prerogative (adj)
Having superior rank or precedence.
presage
presage (v)
To foretell.
prescience
prescience (n)
Knowledge of events before they take place.
prescient
prescient (adj)
Foreknowing.
prescript
prescript (adj)
Prescribed as a rule or model.
prescriptible
prescriptible (adj)
Derived from authoritative direction.
prescription
prescription (n)
An authoritative direction.
presentient
presentient (adj)
Perceiving or feeling beforehand.
presentiment
presentiment (n)
Foreboding.
presentment
presentment (n)
Semblance.
preservation
preservation (n)
Conservation.
presumption
presumption (n)
That which may be logically assumed to be true until disproved.
presumptuous
presumptuous (adj)
Assuming too much.
pretension
pretension (n)
A bold or presumptuous assertion.
pretentious
pretentious (adj)
Marked by pretense, conceit, or display.
preternatural
preternatural (adj)
Extraordinary.
pretext
pretext (n)
A fictitious reason or motive.
prevalence
prevalence (n)
Frequency.
prevalent
prevalent (adj)
Of wide extent or frequent occurrence.
prevaricate
prevaricate (v)
To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention.
prevention
prevention (n)
Thwarting.
prickle
prickle (v)
To puncture slightly with fine, sharp points.
priggish
priggish (adj)
Conceited.
prim
prim (adj)
Stiffly proper.
prima
prima (adj)
First.
primer
primer (n)
An elementary reading-book for children.
primeval
primeval (adj)
Belonging to the first ages.
primitive
primitive (adj)
Pertaining to the beginning or early times.
principal
principal (adj)
Most important.
principality
principality (n)
The territory of a reigning prince.
principle
principle (n)
A general truth or proposition.
priory
priory (n)
A monastic house.
pristine
pristine (adj)
Primitive.
privateer
privateer (n)
A vessel owned and officered by private persons, but carrying on maritime war.
privilege
privilege (n)
A right or immunity not enjoyed by all, or that may be enjoyed only under special conditions.
privity
privity (n)
Knowledge shared with another or others regarding a private matter.
privy
privy (adj)
Participating with another or others in the knowledge of a secret transaction.
probate
probate (adj)
Relating to making proof, as of a will.
probation
probation (n)
Any proceeding designed to ascertain or test character, qualification, or the like.
probe
probe (v)
To search through and through.
probity
probity (n)
Virtue or integrity tested and confirmed.
procedure
procedure (n)
A manner or method of acting.
proceed
proceed (v)
To renew motion or action, as after rest or interruption.
proclamation
proclamation (n)
Any announcement made in a public manner.
procrastinate
procrastinate (v)
To put off till tomorrow or till a future time.
procrastination
procrastination (n)
Delay.
proctor
proctor (n)
An agent acting for another.
prodigal
prodigal (n)
One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property.
prodigious
prodigious (adj)
Immense.
prodigy
prodigy (n)
A person or thing of very remarkable gifts or qualities.
productive
productive (adj)
Yielding in abundance.
profession
profession (n)
Any calling or occupation involving special mental or other special disciplines.
professor
professor (n)
A public teacher of the highest grade in a university or college.
proffer
proffer (v)
To offer to another for acceptance.
proficiency
proficiency (n)
An advanced state of acquirement, as in some knowledge, art, or science.
proficient
proficient (adj)
Possessing ample and ready knowledge or of skill in any art, science, or industry.
profile
profile (n)
An outline or contour.
profiteer
profiteer (n)
One who profits.
profligacy
profligacy (n)
Shameless viciousness.
profligate
profligate (adj)
Abandoned to vice.
profuse
profuse (adj)
Produced or displayed in overabundance.
progeny
progeny (n)
Offspring.
progression
progression (n)
A moving forward or proceeding in course.
prohibition
prohibition (n)
A decree or an order forbidding something.
prohibitionist
prohibitionist (n)
One who favors the prohibition by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.
prohibitory
prohibitory (adj)
Involving or equivalent to prohibition, especially of the sale of alcoholic beverages.
projection
projection (n)
A prominence.
proletarian
proletarian (n)
A person of the lowest or poorest class.
prolific
prolific (adj)
Producing offspring or fruit.
prolix
prolix (adj)
Verbose.
prologue
prologue (n)
A prefatory statement or explanation to a poem, discourse, or performance.
prolong
prolong (v)
To extend in time or duration.
promenade
promenade (v)
To walk for amusement or exercise.
prominence
prominence (n)
The quality of being noticeable or distinguished.
prominent
prominent (adj)
Conspicuous in position, character, or importance.
promiscuous
promiscuous (adj)
Brought together without order, distinction, or design (for sex).
promissory
promissory (adj)
Expressing an engagement to pay.
promontory
promontory (n)
A high point of land extending outward from the coastline into the sea.
promoter
promoter (n)
A furtherer, forwarder, or encourager.
promulgate
promulgate (v)
To proclaim.
propaganda
propaganda (n)
Any institution or systematic scheme for propagating a doctrine or system.
propagate
propagate (v)
To spread abroad or from person to person.
propel
propel (v)
To drive or urge forward.
propellant
propellant (adj)
Propelling.
propeller
propeller (n)
One who or that which propels.
prophecy
prophecy (n)
Any prediction or foretelling.
prophesy
prophesy (v)
To predict or foretell, especially under divine inspiration and guidance.
propitious
propitious (adj)
Kindly disposed.
proportionate
proportionate (adj)
Being in proportion.
propriety
propriety (n)
Accordance with recognized usage, custom, or principles.
propulsion
propulsion (n)
A driving onward or forward.
prosaic
prosaic (adj)
Unimaginative.
proscenium
proscenium (n)
That part of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra.
proscribe
proscribe (v)
To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation.
proscription
proscription (n)
Any act of condemnation and rejection from favor and privilege.
proselyte
proselyte (n)
One who has been won over from one religious belief to another.
prosody
prosody (n)
The science of poetical forms.
prospector
prospector (n)
One who makes exploration, search, or examination, especially for minerals.
prospectus
prospectus (n)
A paper or pamphlet containing information of a proposed undertaking.
prostrate
prostrate (adj)
Lying prone, or with the head to the ground.
protagonist
protagonist (n)
A leader in any enterprise or contest.
protection
protection (n)
Preservation from harm, danger, annoyance, or any other evil.
protective
protective (adj)
Sheltering.
protector
protector (n)
A defender.
protege
protege (n)
One specially cared for and favored by another usually older person.
Protestant
Protestant (n)
A Christian who denies the authority of the Pope and holds the right of special judgment.
protomartyr
protomartyr (n)
The earliest victim in any cause.
protocol
protocol (n)
A declaration or memorandum of agreement less solemn and formal than a treaty.
protoplasm
protoplasm (n)
The substance that forms the principal portion of an animal or vegetable cell.
prototype
prototype (n)
A work, original in character, afterward imitated in form or spirit.
protract
protract (v)
To prolong.
protrude
protrude (v)
To push out or thrust forth.
protrusion
protrusion (n)
The act of protruding.
protuberance
protuberance (n)
Something that swells out from a surrounding surface.
protuberant
protuberant (adj)
Bulging.
protuberate
protuberate (v)
To swell or bulge beyond the surrounding surface.
proverb
proverb (n)
A brief, pithy saying, condensing in witty or striking form the wisdom of experience.
provident
provident (adj)
Anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies.
providential
providential (adj)
Effected by divine guidance.
provincial
provincial (adj)
Uncultured in thought and manner.
proviso
proviso (n)
A clause in a contract, will, etc., by which its operation is rendered conditional.
provocation
provocation (n)
An action or mode of conduct that excites resentment.
prowess
prowess (n)
Strength, skill, and intrepidity in battle.
proximately
proximately (adv)
Immediately.
proxy
proxy (n)
A person who is empowered by another to represent him or her in a given matter.
prudence
prudence (n)
Caution.
prudential
prudential (adj)
Proceeding or marked by caution.
prudery
prudery (n)
An undue display of modesty or delicacy.
prurient
prurient (adj)
Inclined to lascivious thoughts and desires.
pseudapostle
pseudapostle (n)
A pretended or false apostle.
pseudonym
pseudonym (n)
A fictitious name, especially when assumed by a writer.
pseudonymity
pseudonymity (n)
The state or character of using a fictitious name.
psychiatry
psychiatry (n)
The branch of medicine that relates to mental disease.
psychic
psychic (adj)
Pertaining to the mind or soul.
psychopathic
psychopathic (adj)
Morally irresponsible.
psychotherapy
psychotherapy (n)
The treatment of mental disease.
pudgy
pudgy (adj)
Small and fat.
puerile
puerile (adj)
Childish.
pugnacious
pugnacious (adj)
Quarrelsome.
puissant
puissant (adj)
Possessing strength.
pulmonary
pulmonary (adj)
Pertaining to the lungs.
punctilious
punctilious (adj)
Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom.
punctual
punctual (adj)
Observant and exact in points of time.
pungent
pungent (adj)
Affecting the sense of smell.
pungency
pungency (n)
The quality of affecting the sense of smell.
punitive
punitive (adj)
Pertaining to punishment.
pupilage
pupilage (n)
The state or period of being a student.
purgatory
purgatory (n)
An intermediate state where souls are made fit for paradise or heaven by expiatory suffering.
purl
purl (v)
To cause to whirl, as in an eddy.
purloin
purloin (v)
To steal.
purport
purport (n)
Intent.
purveyor
purveyor (n)
one who supplies
pusillanimous
pusillanimous (adj)
Without spirit or bravery.
putrescent
putrescent (adj)
Undergoing decomposition of animal or vegetable matter accompanied by fetid odors.
pyre
pyre (n)
A heap of combustibles arranged for burning a dead body.
pyromania
pyromania (n)
An insane propensity to set things on fire.
pyrotechnic
pyrotechnic (adj)
Pertaining to fireworks or their manufacture.
pyx
pyx (n)
A vessel or casket, usually of precious metal, in which the host is preserved.
quackery
quackery (n)
Charlatanry
quadrate
quadrate (v)
To divide into quarters.
quadruple
quadruple (v)
To multiply by four.
qualification
qualification (n)
A requisite for an employment, position, right, or privilege.
qualify
qualify (v)
To endow or furnish with requisite ability, character, knowledge, skill, or possessions.
qualm
qualm (n)
A fit of nausea.
quandary
quandary (n)
A puzzling predicament.
quantity
quantity (n)
Magnitude.
quarantine
quarantine (n)
The enforced isolation of any person or place infected with contagious disease.
quarrelsome
quarrelsome (adj)
Irascible.
quarter
quarter (n)
One of four equal parts into which anything is or may be divided.
quarterly
quarterly (adj)
Occurring or made at intervals of three months.
quartet
quartet (n)
A composition for four voices or four instruments.
quarto
quarto (n)
An eight-page newspaper of any size.
quay
quay (n)
A wharf or artificial landing-place on the shore of a harbor or projecting into it.
querulous
querulous (adj)
Habitually complaining.
query
query (v)
To make inquiry.
queue
queue (n)
A file of persons waiting in order of their arrival, as for admittance.
quibble
quibble (n)
An utterly trivial distinction or objection.
quiescence
quiescence (n)
Quiet.
quiescent
quiescent (adj)
Being in a state of repose or inaction.
quiet
quiet (adj)
Making no noise.
quietus
quietus (n)
A silencing, suppressing, or ending.
quintessence
quintessence (n)
The most essential part of anything.