 | Term | Definition |
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palindrome |
a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward |
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panache |
flamboyant confidence of style or manner; a tuft or plume of feathers, esp. as a headdress or on a helmet |
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Panglossian |
optimistic regardless of the circumstances. |
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pantheism |
a doctrine that identifies God with the universe, or regards the universe as a manifestation of God; worship that admits or tolerates all gods |
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pantheon |
all the gods of a people or religion collectively; a temple dedicated to all the gods; a building in which the illustrious dead of a nation are buried or honored; a group of particularly respected, famous, or important people |
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paramour |
a lover, esp. the illicit partner of a married person |
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parlance |
a particular way of speaking or using words, esp. a way common to those with a particular job or interest |
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parvenu |
a person of obscure origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity; having recently achieved, or associated with someone who has recently achieved wealth, influence, or celebrity despite obscure origins |
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pastiche |
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period; an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources; a confused mixture or jumble |
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pathos |
a quality that evokes pity or sadness |
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patois |
the dialect of the common people of a region, differing in various respects from the standard language of the rest of the country; the jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group |
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pedagogue |
a teacher, esp. a strict or pedantic one. |
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pellucid |
translucently clear; lucid in style or meaning; easily understood; (of music or other sound) clear and pure in tone |
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penultimate |
last but one in a series of things; second to the last; |
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penumbra |
the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object; the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse |
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penurious |
extremely poor; poverty-stricken; characterized by poverty or need |
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perdition |
(in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death. |
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pertinacious |
holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action |
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pettifogger |
an inferior legal practitioner, esp. one who deals with petty cases or employs dubious practices. |
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philippic |
a bitter attack or denunciation, esp. a verbal one. |
