| Term | Definition |
|---|
| precept | N. practical rule guiding conduct |
| precipice | N. cliff; dangerous position |
| precipitant | N. something that causes a substance in a chemical solution to separate out in solid form |
| precipitate | *ADJ. rash; premature; hasty; sudden V. throw headlong; hasten |
| precipitous | ADJ. steep; overhasty |
| precis | N. concise summing up of main points |
| precise | ADJ. exact |
| preclude | V. make impossible; eliminate |
| precocious | ADJ. advanced in development |
| precursor | N. forerunner |
| predecessor | N. former occupant of a post |
| predetermine | V. predestine; settle or decide beforehand; influence markedly |
| predicament | N. tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma |
| predilection | N. partiality; preference |
| predispose | V. give an inclination toward; make susceptible to |
| preeminent | ADJ. outstanding; superior |
| preempt | V. head off; forestall by acting first; appropriate for oneself; supplant |
| preen | V. make oneself tidy in apprearance; feel self-satisfaction |
| prefatory | ADJ. introductory |
| prehensile | ADJ. capable of grasping or holding |
| prelate | N. church dignitary |
| prelude | N. introduction; forerunner |
| premeditate | V. plan in advance |
| premise | N. assumption; postulate |
| premonition | N. forewarning |
| premonitory | ADJ. serving to warn |
| preponderance | N. superiority of power, quantity, etc. |
| preposterous | ADJ. absurd; ridiculous |
| prerogative | N. privilege; unquestionable right |
| presage | V. foretell |
| prescience | N. ability to foretell the future |
| presentiment | N. feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear; premonition |
| prestige | N. impression produced by achievements or reputation |
| presumptuous | *ADJ. arrogant; taking liberties |
| pretentious | ADJ. ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overambitious |
| preternatural | ADJ. beyond that which is normal in nature |
| pretext | N. excuse |
| prevail | V. induce; triumph over |
| prevalent | ADJ. widespread; generally accepted |
| prevaricate | V. lie |
| prim | ADJ. very precise and formal; exceedingly proper |
| primogeniture | N. seniority by birth |
| primordial | ADJ. existing at the beginning (of time); rudimentary |
| primp | V. groom oneself with care; adorn oneself |
| pristine | *ADJ. characteristic of earlier times; primitive, unspoiled |
| privation | N. hardship; want |
| privy | ADJ. secret; hidden; not public |
| probe | V. explore with tools |
| probity | *N. uprightness; incorruptibility |
| problematic | *ADJ. doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing |
| proclivity | N. inclination; natural tendency |
| procrastinate | V. postpone; delay or put off |
| procurement | N. obtaining |
| prod | V. poke; stir up; urge |
| prodigal | *ADJ. wasteful; reckless with money |
| prodigious | ADJ. marvelous; enormous |
| prodigy | N. highly gifted child; marvel |
| profane | V. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily |
| profligate | ADJ. dissipated; wasteful; wildly immoral |
| profound | *ADJ. deep; not superficial; complete |
| profusion | N. overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess |
| progenitor | N. ancestor |
| progeny | N. children; offspring |
| prognosis | N. forecasted course of a disease; prediction |
| prognosticate | V. predict |
| prohibitive | *ADJ. tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid |
| proletarian | N. member of the working class; blue collar guy |
| proliferate | *V. grow rapidly; spread; multiply |
| prolific | ADJ. abundantly fruitful |
| prolixity | N. tedious wordiness; verbosity |
| prologue | N. introduction (to a poem or play) |
| prolong | V. extend; draw out; lengthen |
| prominent | ADJ. conspicuous; notable; protruding |
| promiscuous | ADJ. mixed indiscriminately; haphazard; irregular, particularly sexually |
| promontory | N. headland |
| prompt | V. cause; provoke; provide a cue for an actor |
| promulgate | V. proclaim a doctrine or law; make known by official publication |
| prone | ADJ. inclined to ; prostrate |
| propagate | V. multiply; spread |
| propellant | N. substance that propels or drives forward |
| propensity | *N. natural inclination |
| prophetic | ADJ. having to do with predicting the future |
| prophylactic | ADJ. used to prevent disease |
| propinquity | N. nearness; kinship |
| propitiate | V. appease |
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