TOEFL Vocabulary Page 17

401. PENSIVE: Sadly thoughtful - softly sang his pensive song.

Synonyms: reflective, meditative, contemplative, musing

402. PEREMPTORY: Positive in expressing an opinion - gave a peremptory judgment.

Synonyms:decisive, resolute, imperious, positive, dogmatic

Antonyms:indecisive, tentative

403. PERTINACIOUS: Clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose - pertinacious in his efforts.

Synonyms:obdurate, tenacious, persistent, persevering, intractable, inflexible

404. PERUSE: To read carefully - perused the important letter.

405. PERVERSE: Willfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his parents.

Synonyms:headstrong, froward, refractory, wayward, fractious

406. PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.

Synonyms:stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze

407. PLAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of another and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

408. PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and platitudes.

Synonyms:bromide, truism, axiom

409. PLEBEIAN: Pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar - plebeian in his tastes and outlook.

Antonyms:patrician, aristocratic

410. PLEBISCITE. A direct vote by the people - The decision to confederate was ratified by plebiscite.

411. POIGNANT:

(1) Gripping and moving the feelings powerfully - a poignant grief.

(2) Piercing, biting, pointed - a poignant cry; poignant wit.

412. PONDEROUS: Very heavy; clumsy; dull - a ponderous speech, extremely boring.

413. PRECARIOUS: Uncertain or risky - earning a precarious livelihood, providing no luxuries.

414. PRECIPITOUS:

(1) Very steep - a precipitous cliff.

(2) Descending rapidly - a precipitous decline in popularity.

415. PRECOCIOUS: Remarkable for early mental development a precocious genius.

416. PREDATORY:

(1) Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.

(2) Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.

Synonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging

417. PREDILECTION: Partiality or preference for; a favorable opinion arrived at beforehand - a predilection for theatricals.

Synonyms: prepossession, proclivity, predisposition, penchant

Antonyms: aversion, antipathy, repugnance

418. PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.

Synonyms: preface, prologue, preamble.

Antonym: epilogue

419. PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to refuse to tell her age.

Synonym: license

420. PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Senator he enjoyed great prestige.

Synonym: distinction

415, PRECOCIOUS: Remarkable for early mental development a precocious genius.

416. PREDATORY:

(1) Inclined to plunder or rob; - predatory bands roaming the countryside.

(2) Preying on, others - predatory animals prowling about.

Synonyms: predacious, looting, pillaging

417. PREDILECTION: Partiality or pr eference for; a favorable opinion arrived at beforehand - a predilection for theatricals.

Synonyms: prepossession, proclivity, predisposition, penchant

Antonyms: aversion, antipathy, repugnance

418. PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.

Synonyms: Preface, prologue. Preamble

Antonym: epilogue

419. PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to refuse to tell her age.

Synonym: license

420. PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As Senator he enjoyed great prestige.

Synonym: distinction

421. PRESUMPTION:

(1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption.

(2) Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption.

Synonyms: effrontery, forwardness, arrogance

422. PREVARICATE: To disguise or conceal the truth to lie - prevaricated in order to avoid detection.

Synonyms: quibble, equivocate; (adj.) mendacious

Antonyms: (noun) veracity, verity; (adj.) forthright

423. PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by procrastinating too long.

Synonyms: defer, delay

424. PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates daily.

Synonyms:presage, portend, augur, forebode

425. PROLETARIAT: The wage-earning class - a truckman, humble member of the proletariat.