GRE Word List P(part 2)

penchant strong inclination; strong liking (esp. for something that is disapproved of by other people); Ex. penchant for fast cars
pendant(pendent) hanging down from something; pending; N: ornament (hanging from a necklace etc.)
pending not yet decided or settled; impending; Ex. pending decision; PREP. while awaiting; until; Ex. delay the decision pending his return
pendulous hanging; suspended
penetrate enter into; pierce; permeate; see through; grasp the inner significance of; understand
penitent repentant; N.
penology study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation
pensive dreamily or deeply thoughtful; sadly thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative; CF. think over
penumbra partial shadow (in an eclipse); CF. almost shadow
penury extreme poverty; stinginess; ADJ. penurious: very poor; stingy
peon landless agricultural worker; bond servant; menial worker; N. peonage
perceptive insightful; showing a good ability at perceiving and understanding; aware; wise; of perception
percussion striking one object against another sharply; Ex. percussion instrument; N: striking together of two bodies; sound caused by percussion
perdition damnation; complete ruin; hell
peregrination journey; V. peregrinate
peremptory demanding and leaving no choice; imperative; Ex. peremptory decree/knock
perennial something long-lasting; perennial plant; ADJ: lasting through the year or many years; lasting for a long time; enduring
perfidious treacherous; disloyal; N. perfidy: treachery
perforate pierce; put a hole through
perfunctory done routinely and with little care; superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; Ex. perfunctory kiss
perigee point of moon’s orbit when it is nearest the earth; CF. apogee
perimeter outer boundary; length of the outer boundary; circumference
peripatetic walking about from place to place (to work); moving; Ex. peripatetic school of philosophy
peripheral of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest
periphery outside edge especially of a round surface; perimeter; Ex. periphery of the town
perjury false testimony while under oath; V. perjure oneself: testify falsely under oath
permeable that can be permeated; penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through; V. permeate: spread or flow throughout; charge
permissive allowing much freedom; lenient; Ex. permissive society
pernicious very harmful; deadly; very destructive; Ex. pernicious effect/anemia
peroration conclusion of an oration; perorating; V. perorate: conclude a speech; speak at great length
perpetrate commit an offense; do (something wrong)
perpetual everlasting
perpetuate make perpetual; make something last for a long time; preserve from extinction; N. perpetuity
perquisite(perk) any gain above stipulated salary; Ex. perquisites such as free meals and a car
persevere continue steadily in spite of difficulties
persist continue in existence; last; continue in a course of action in spite of opposition; Ex. persist in/with something; ADJ. persistent
personable attractive (in personality or appearance)
personify represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
perspicacious (of someone) having insight; penetrating; astute
perspicuity clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
perspicuous (of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; Ex. perspicuous comments
pert (esp. of a girl or young woman) impertinent; forward; trim; jaunty; Ex. pert young miss/hat
pertinacious holding tenaciously to an action; stubborn; persistent
pertinent suitable; to the point; relevant
perturb disturb greatly
peruse read through with care; N. perusal
pervasive spread throughout; V. pervade: (of smells, ideas, feelings) spread throughout; charge; permeate
perverse purposely continuing to do something wrong; stubbornly wrongheaded; perverted; directed away from what is right; wicked and unacceptable; Ex. perverse satisfaction; Ex. Hannibal Lecter in a perverse mood; N. perversity
perversion corruption; turning from right to wrong
pervert corrupt; turn from right to wrong; misuse; Ex. perverted sexual desire/scientific knowledge; N: person whose sexual behavior is not natural
pessimism belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess; tendency to take the gloomiest possible view of a situation; ADJ. pessimistic
pestilential(pestilent) causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
pestle tool for mashing or grinding substances in a hard bowl or mortar
petrify turn to stone; cause to become stonelike; stun or paralyze
petty trivial; unimportant; very small; small-minded; petty-minded
petulant touchy; peevish; ill-tempered
phalanx formation of infantry carrying overlapping shields and long spears; group of men packed together (for attack or defense)
pharisaical pertaining to the Pharisees, who paid scrupulous attention to tradition; self-righteous; hypocritical
pharisee Pharisee: member of an ancient Jewish group that emphasized strict observance of the Mosaic law (considering themselves very holy); hypocritical self-righteous person
phenomena observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation; SG. phenomenon: observable fact; very unusual person, thing, or event; marvel; wonder; CF. phenomenons; ADJ. phenomenal: very unusual; extraordinary; of a phenomenon; Ex. phenomenal strength
philanderer faithless lover; flirt
philanthropist lover of mankind; doer of good; N. philanthropy
philatelist stamp-collector; N. philately: stamp collecting
Philistine narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain; uncultured person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values; member of an ancient people in Palestine; OP. aesthete
philology study of language or words
phlegmatic calm and unexcitable; not easily disturbed; CF. phlegm: sticky mucus produced in the respiratory tract
phobia morbid fear
phoenix symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
phylum major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals; category ranking below a kingdom and above a class; division
physiognomy face (as showing the character and the mind); art of judging human character from facial features
physiological pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms; N. physiology
piebald of different colors; mottled; spotted in different colors (esp. in black and white); Ex. piebald horse; CF. pie+bald
piecemeal one part at a time; gradually; in stages; Ex. read a novel piecemeal
pied piebald; variegated(many-colored); multicolored
piety devoutness; reverence for God; ADJ. pious
pigment coloring matter (usually powder to be mixed with water or oil)
pilfer steal things of small value; filch; snitch
pillage plunder
pillory punish by placing in a wooden frame or pillory; subject or expose to criticism and ridicule; N.
pinch squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; Ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. N: amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
pine long for; yearn; languish from longing or grief; decline
pinion restrain or immobilize by binding the wings or legs; N: bird’s wing
pinnace small boat
pinnacle peak; highest point; acme; Ex. pinnacle of fame
pious devout; religious; N. piety
piquant pleasantly tart-tasting; spicy; pleasantly stimulating; Ex. piquant situation when my old enemy asked for my help
pique irritation; resentment from wounded pride (eg. loss in a contest); V: provoke; arouse; annoy; cause to feel resentment; Ex. pique her curiosity
piscatorial pertaining to fishing; CF. Pisces
pitfall hidden danger; concealed trap
pith core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
pithy concise and meaningful; substantial; meaty
pittance small amount (of money); small allowance or wage
pivotal of a pivot; central; critical; crucial
placate pacify; bring peace to; conciliate; appease
placebo harmless substance prescribed as a dummy pill
placid peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake