The Big Book of Words You Should Know

by David Olsen

  pacify (PASS-ih-fie), verb

  To bring to a point of peace; to dissuade from anger or hostility. Someone who eases tensions or resolves conflicts pacifies a situation.

  Her suggestion that she offer a written apology to the offended client seemed to PACIFY Mr. Peters.

  pagination (paj-ih-NAY-shun), noun

  The numbers by which one marks the pages in a book. Pagination also refers to the sequence and arrangement of pages in a book.

  The word processor PAGINATED Jim’s document flawlessly the first time.

  palatable (PAL-uh-tuh-bull), adjective

  Agreeable in taste. Palatable can also mean “acceptable.”

  You have two options, Mr. Mayor, neither very PALATABLE.

  pallid (PAL-id), adjective

  Wan, pale; lacking bright, deep color.

  Frazier’s PALLID complexion and inability to bear even the slightest noise led me to conclude that he was hung over.

  palpitate (PAL-pih-tate), verb

  To flutter; to beat more rapidly than usual.

  Mel’s heart PALPITATED wildly at the prospect of a date with Irma.

  paltry (PAHL-tree), adjective

  Trivial; insignificant; worthless.

  The PALTRY sum found in the cash register made us regret having picked this store for our first robbery.

  panache (puh-NASH), noun

  A distinctive flair or style; a flamboyant manner.

  Rosamund was swept away by the charming stranger’s PANACHE—he seemed so dashing and romantic.

  paradigm (PARE-uh-dime), noun

  An example. A paradigm is an ideal instance or a pattern worthy of study.

  There have been a number of presidencies well suited to times of national crisis, but Lincoln’s is the PARADIGM.

  parameter (puh-RAM-uh-ter), noun

  Limit or boundary. Parameter also has a technical meaning within the field of statistics, but this is not in common use.

  Within these broad PARAMETERS, you are free to act as you see fit.

  paraphernalia (pare-uh-fur-NALE-ee-uh), noun

  One’s possessions; accessory items relating to a particular profession, hobby, or activity.

  The abundance of drug PARAPHERNALIA found in his hotel room did not do much to support the rock star’s claim that he abstained from all intoxicating substances on religious grounds.

  parenthetical (par-un-THET-ih-kul) adjective

  Contained within parentheses. Figuratively, something that qualifies or explains in a manner setting it off from a main idea is parenthetical.

  I should add, as a PARENTHETICAL note, that I am donating all monies raised from these efforts to charity.

  parity (PAIR-ih-tee), noun

  Equality in terms of amount, status, position, etc.

  Wait, wait, wait. Five for you and one for me is far from PARITY, my friend!

  parlance (PAR-lunce), noun

  A way of speaking. Something that is in common parlance is familiar to most speakers.

  The special PARLANCE of the construction workers was difficult for Mort to decipher.

  parochial (puh-ROE-key-uhl), adjective

  Limited or narrow in scope, outlook, or ideas. This meaning has become more dominant than the word’s original meaning, which describes something pertaining to a parish, such as a parochial school.

  My grandfather’s PAROCHIAL views about “men’s superiority” are not likely to change.

  partake (par-TAKE), verb

  To participate and share in.

  Your offer is kind, but I’m under strict doctor’s orders not to PARTAKE of any alcoholic beverage.

  paucity (PAW-si-tee), noun

  Smallness of number. A paucity of something is a shortage or lack of it.

  We were forced to head back down the mountain due to a PAUCITY of supplies.

  peccadillo (pek-uh-DILL-oh), noun

  A minor fault. Pecadillo comes from the Italian for “little sin.”

  Jane knew her PECCADILLO would be overlooked, but she could not put it out of her mind.

  pecuniary (pi-KYOO-nee-air-ee), adjective

  Of or pertaining to money. That which consists of or concerns money is pecuniary.

  Uncle Walter decided to stay with us for a few months owing, as he put it, to “PECUNIARY difficulties.”

  pedagogue (PED-uh-gog), noun

  An educator or schoolteacher. A pedagogue is a person who instructs.

  Mr. Harper, a stern PEDAGOGUE, would not tolerate idle chatter in his class.

  pedestrian (puh-DESS-tree-uhn), adjective

  Lacking in originality or vitality. The word also can be used to describe someone who travels on foot.

  If you really want to advance in this company, you’re going to have to come up with something better than the PEDESTRIAN ideas we’ve already tried and rejected.

  peerless (PEER-luss), adjective

  Without peer; above others with regard to ability or quality; beyond compare.

  Mrs. Reilly’s PEERLESS skills as a mediator soon earned her a special position of respect on the school board.

  pellucid (puh-LOOSE-id), adjective

  Objects or meanings clear to the point of transparency.

  I’ ll read anything by that author because her PELLUCID prose can make me interested in any subject.

  penultimate (pen-UL-ti-mut), adjective

  Next-to-last. Penultimate is often thought to mean “final,” but it does not.

  The book’s PENULTIMATE chapter gave no hint of the surprise ending the novel had in store.

  perambulate (puh-RAM-byuh-late), verb

  To walk around. To perambulate is to stroll or saunter.

  The elderly couple PERAMBULATED the city streets every night after dinner.

  permutation (per-myoo-TAY-shun), noun

  A transformation leading to a complete change.

  After exploring numerous PERMUTATIONS of its style, the band returned to the sound with which it had first attracted fans.

  persnickety (purr-SNIK-uh-tee), adjective

  Fussy and overattentive to small details. Persnickety can also mean “snobbish.”

  Gordon made a point of being PERSNICKETY about meals: breakfast was always served in his home at exactly 7:04, and dinner at exactly 6:42.

  pertinacious (per-tih-NAY-shuss), adjective

  Persistent or obstinate to the point of annoyance.

  The car salesman’s PERTINACIOUS patter caused me to leave the lot immediately.

  peruse (puh-ROOZ), verb

  To read through with attention. Peruse can also mean “examine with an eye to detail.”

  The witness PERUSED the document for some time, then declared that it was not the one he had signed.

  petrified (PET-ruh-fied), verb

  Scared to the point of losing the ability to move; scared stiff; turned to stone.

  My aunt was so PETRIFIED of snakes that when one slithered its way onto the pool deck, my brothers and I had to carry her, lounge chair and all, into the house.

  phlegmatic (fleg-MAT-ic), adjective

  Having a calm, unexcitable temperament.

  Allan’s PHLEGMATIC personality was certainly helpful during the deadline crunch in keeping us all from panicking.

  pillory (PILL-uh-ree), verb

  In olden days, a pillory was a wooden frame in which one was imprisoned and subjected to public ridicule. In modern times—and as a verb—pillory means to subject someone to merciless public ridicule or abuse.

  I sipped my morning coffee as the respective party’s pundits PILLORIED each other.

  pithy (PITH-ee), adjective

  Something very brief but meaningful and concise.

  The guest speaker limited his remarks to a few PITHY observations on the impossibility of getting anything done in Washington.

  pittance (PIT-unce), noun

  A very small amount.

  My allowance in those days, of course, was a PITTANCE compared to my brother’s.

&nb
sp; plaintive (PLAIN-tive), adjective

  Expressing sorrow or sadness; mournful.

  A PLAINTIVE feeling hung over the house for weeks after our dog Sasha died.

  platitude (PLAT-ih-tood), noun

  A commonplace or useless remark. A statement that is trite or unoriginal can be considered a platitude.

  You have taken a speech that seemed quite promising and filled it to the brim with PLATITUDES.

  plenitude (PLEN-ti-tood), noun

  Abundance. Plenitude is the standard spelling; plentitude, though commonly used, is generally considered incorrect.

  The sudden PLENITUDE of supplies was certainly a welcome change for the hungry travelers.

  plethora (PLETH-er-uh), noun

  Excessive oversupply. To have a plethora of something is to have a vast quantity of it.

  The new edition contains a PLETHORA of trivia concerning the films made by Mr. Howard and his cohorts in the forties and fifties.

  pontificate (pon-TIF-ih-kate), verb

  To issue authoritative decrees (as a pontiff might). Pontificate usually carries a sense of self-righteous pomposity.

  Can I assume the Senator now intends to PONTIFICATE on the many virtues of our current trade policy?

  portend (por-TEND), verb

  To suggest or foretell. If A portends B, A signifies that B is imminent.

  The tone of Joan’s voice this morning PORTENDS trouble.

  posit (POZ-it), verb

  To stipulate. Someone who posits a thing presents or assumes it.

  In his address, the mayor POSITED the conditions he would have to meet to resolve the fiscal crisis.

  postmodern (post-MAH-dern), adjective

  Very modern, cutting-edge, avant-garde.

  Older audiences stayed away in droves from the director’s POSTMODERN films, but young people ate them up like candy.

  postulate (PAHSS-chuh-late), verb

  To assume as self-evident something for which one has no proof.

  Cindy POSTULATED that “everyone” knows that particular restaurant has terrible service.

  predominate (prih-DOM-uh-nate), verb

  To be the most noticeable or leading element or to have the most authority or force.

  Brad felt that his six months in Europe gave him the right to PREDOMINATE the conversation about European customs and culture.

  preen (preen), verb

  To primp; to perfect one’s appearance. Also: to take pride (in oneself or one’s accomplishments).

  The crew knew that the reason Barry arrived at the studio an hour before broadcast was so that he would have plenty of time to PREEN in front of the mirror before going on camera.

  preposterous (prih-POSS-tur-uss), adjective

  So outlandish as to be unbelievable; incredible.

  Your suggestion that we hold the board meeting in the park in order to enjoy the warm weather is simply PREPOSTEROUS, James.

  presage (PRESS-ij), verb

  To foretell or indicate. If A presages B, A serves as a warning or sign that B will occur soon.

  Such provocation may PRESAGE armed conflict in the region.

  prescience (PRESS-ee-unce), noun

  Foreknowledge. Prescience is the knowledge of events before they take place.

  Lacking PRESCIENCE, I really can’t tell you what Sally intends to do.

  prevalent (PREV-uh-lunt), adjective

  Occurring often; common.

  Although a belief that some kind of conspiracy in President Kennedy’s murder is certainly PREVALENT in public opinion these days, there is no consensus on the nature of that purported conspiracy.

  prevaricate (pri-VARE-uh-kate), verb

  To avoid revealing the true nature of one’s position, actions, feelings, etcetera.

  Someone who “waffles” on an issue, throwing up distractions or responding to questions evasively, is said to prevaricate.

  My opponent has chosen to PREVARICATE rather than address his role in the scandal.

  primacy (PRY-muh-see), noun

  First in order, rank, importance, etc.

  My aging dog, Sally, kept trying to attack my new puppy, Max, because she feared he would disrupt her PRIMACY in the household.

  proclivity (pro-KLIV-ih-tee), noun

  A predisposition. To have a proclivity to do something is to tend to do it.

  Allen has a PROCLIVITY to untidiness that will not go over well with Ralph.

  procure (pro-KYOOR), verb

  To obtain. Someone who procures something gathers or collects it.

  Susan soon PROCURED sufficient financing to close the deal.

  prodigious (pro-DIDGE-uss), adjective

  Impressive in size, impact, or stature; amazing.

  Clark’s PRODIGIOUS collection of old movie posters led many of his friends to ask whether he had once owned a theatre.

  proffer (PROF-fur), verb

  To offer; to tender or volunteer (a thing); as a noun, a thing offered.

  Colin PROFFERED his car as a means of getting to Florida for spring break, but as none of us knew how to drive a standard, we had to decline.

  profundity (pruh-FUN-dih-tee), noun

  Depth of reasoning or insight. Something that shows profundity gives evidence of great understanding and intellectual incisiveness.

  A paper’s length is no indication of its PROFUNDITY.

  profusion (pro-FYOOZH-un), noun

  An abundance or extravagance.

  Jane’s fiance insisted on sending her such a PROFUSION of flowers that she soon ran out of places to put them.

  progenitor (pro-JEN-ih-ter), noun

  An ancestor who can be traced back through the direct line. A progenitor can also be the originator of a school of thought or organization.

  Picasso, considered by many the PROGENITOR of Cubism, showed a mastery of conventional painting technique in his very early work.

  propensity (pruh-PEN-sih-tee), noun

  A tendency or inclination.

  Rhonda’s PROPENSITY for chocolate did not mesh well with her diet plans.

  propinquity (pruh-PIN-kwih-tee), noun

  Nearness, especially with regard to place, sequence, or heredity. If A is in close proximity to B, A is in propinquity to B.

  Living in PROPINQUITY to constant civil conflict, as I did, is hardly a recipe for a happy childhood.

  propound (pruh-POUND), verb

  To set forth. To propound is to offer (a theory) for review or consideration.

  Dr. Richards PROPOUNDED his most complex mathematical theory yet at the conference.

  provenance (PRAHV-uh-nunts), noun

  Derivation, or place of origin.

  At least three cities claim to be the PROVENANCE of “true” barbecue.

  proverbial (pruh-VER-bee-ul), adjective

  Calling to mind (a familiar) proverb. Something that is proverbial shows an immediate parallel with a well-known saying, story, or maxim.

  Stan considered his younger brother about as useful as the PROVERBIAL fifth wheel.

  pugilism (PYOO-juh-liz-um), noun

  Boxing. Pugilism is the science or practice of fistfighting.

  Finally, the two PUGILISTS stepped into the ring; the match was about to begin.

  pulchritude (PUHL-krih-tood), noun

  Physical beauty.

  Emily’s easygoing attitude attracted boys’ attention almost as much as her PULCHRITUDE.

  purvey (pur-VAY), verb

  To supply.

  Beluga caviar, PURVEYED by a local gourmet shop, was set out for the guests on large silver trays.

  purview (PURR-vyoo), noun

  A person’s range of authority and control.

  Yes, Junior, I’m afraid that taking out the garbage DOES in fact fall into your PURVIEW.

  putative (PYOO-tuh-tive), adjective

  Reputed or generally regarded by common assent. Putative is sometimes confused with punitive, which means “inflicting punishment.”

  The defendant, PUTATIVE head
of the city’s most notorious crime family, entered the courtroom confidently.

  quaff (kwoff), verb

  To drink heavily; to engage in the robust intake of alcoholic beverages.

  On his twenty-first birthday, Sean vowed, he would QUAFF at least one glass of beer at every tavern in the city.

  quagmire (KWAG-mire), noun

  An entanglement that offers no ready solution or means of escape. Literally, a quagmire is a boggy patch of ground which wagons and caravans often cannot pass over.

  The hostage situation, which once worked in the President’s favor, now threatens to become the worst QUAGMIRE of his administration.

  quandary (KWON-duh-ree), noun

  A dilemma; a difficult or uncertain situation.

  Alisha found herself in a real QUANDARY when she realized she’ d asked two dates to the prom.

  quash (kwahsh), verb

  To repress or subdue completely.

  The military quickly QUASHED the developing rebellion.

  quintessence (kwin-TESS-unts), noun

  The purest and most perfect form of something.

  “In my opinion,” Howard said, “the Twinkie is the QUINTESSENCE of the snack cake.”

  rabble (RAB-ul), noun

  A mob; a rowdy crowd or disorderly group.

  Flashing cameras recorded the journey of the accused as the police guided him through the RABBLE that had gathered on the courthouse steps.

  raiment (RAY-munt), noun

  Clothing or apparel, often of the best quality.

  Clyde stood uncomfortably at the party in his stiff RAIMENT.

  rambunctious (ram-BUNK-shuss), adjective

  Difficult to manage or control; extremely boisterous.

  We love to have Roman and Marlena over for dinner, but their three-year-old is so RAMBUNCTIOUS that no one gets to relax and enjoy the meal.

  ramification (ram-ih-fih-KAY-shun), noun

  Eventual consequence. Ramification is, literally, the process of extending along branchlike progressions; an act’s ramifications, then, are the events or situations arising from it over time.

  I believe the RAMIFICATIONS of approving this bill have not been thought through fully.

  rarefied (RARE-uh-fied), adjective

  Lofty or exalted. Something that is rarefied is refined and of high caliber.

  I must admit I feel a little out of place in such RAREFIED company.

  reapportionment (re-uh-PORE-shun-ment), noun

  Redistribution. Reapportionment is generally used with reference to changes in political districts based on shifting population.