The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate (33 page)

1. a natural or habitual tendency.

2. an inclination.

profligate
(PROF-li-git)
adjective

1. recklessly wasteful or extravagant.

2. dissolute; immoral.

Related words:
profligacy
(PROF-li-g
e
-see) and
proligateness
(PROF-li-git-nis)
both nouns
,
profligately
adverb
.

prolegomenon
(
PROH
-l
e
-GOM-
e
-
NON
)
noun, plural
prolegomena
(
PROH
-l
e
-GOM-
e
-n
e
)

1. preliminary matter in a book.

2. an introductory essay in a book.

Related word:
prolegomenous
(
PROH
-l
e
-GOM-
e
-n
e
s)
adjective
.

prolix
(proh-LIKS
or
PROH-liks)
adjective

1. lengthy.

2. tediously wordy.

Related words:
prolixity
(proh-LIK-si-tee) and
prolixness
(proh-LIKS-nis)
both nouns
,
prolixly
(proh-LIKS-lee)
adverb
.

propinquity
(proh-PING-kwi-tee)
noun

nearness in place, kinship, disposition, or time.

propitiate
(pr
e
-PISH-ee-
AYT
)
verb

1. win the favor or forgiveness of.

2. placate.

Related words:
propitiable
(pr
e
-PISH-ee-
e
-b
e
l),
propitiative
(pr
e
-PISH-ee-
AY
-tiv), and
propitiatory
(pr
e
-PISH-ee-
e
-
TOR
-ee)
all adjectives
;
propitiation
(pr
e
-
PISH
-ee-AY-sh
e
n) and
propitiator
(pr
e
-PISH-ee-
AY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.

propitious
(pr
e
-PISH-
e
s)
adjective

1. favorably inclined.

2. giving a good omen or a suitable opportunity.

Related words:
propitiously
adverb
,
propitiousness
noun
.

prostrate
(PROS-trayt)
adjective

1. lying face downward, especially as a sign of submission or humility.

2. lying in horizontal position.

3. helpless; overcome; physically exhausted.

4. (
verb
) cause to be prostrate; cast oneself face downward on the ground in humility or adoration.

5. (
verb
) reduce to physical exhaustion or helplessness.

The confusion of the adjective
prostrate
,
lying horizontal, helpless
, with the noun
prostate
(PROS-tayt),
a gland around the neck of the bladder in males
, is a boner we hear too often on radio talk shows. Remember to join in the laughter when you hear “He was
prostate
with grief.” While
prostate
trouble may lead to grief, we all hope it does not leave the victim
prostrate
.

Related words:
prostration
(pros-TRAY-sh
e
n) and
prostrator
(PROS-tray-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
prostrative
(PROS-tr
e
-tiv)
adjective
.

protagonist
(proh-TAG-
e
-nist)
noun

1. one of the chief contenders in a contest.

2. an advocate or champion of a cause etc.

3. the leading character in a literary work.

Related word:
protagonism
noun
.

protean
(PROH-tee-
e
n)
adjective

1. taking many forms.

2. variable.

3. versatile.

Related word:
proteanism
(PROH-tee-
e
n-iz-
e
m)
noun
.

provenance
(PROV-
e
-n
e
ns)
noun

of a work of art etc., a place of origin.

proximate
(PROK-s
e
-mit)
adjective

1. nearest.

2. next before or after.

Related words:
proximately
adverb
,
proximateness
and
proximation
(
PROK
-s
e
-MAY-sh
e
n)
both nouns
.

prurient
(PRUUR-ee-
e
nt)
adjective

having or arising from lewd thoughts.

Related words:
prurience
and
pruriency
both nouns
,
pruriently
adverb
.

puissant
(PYOO-
e
-s
e
nt)
adjective

having great power or strength; potent.

Related words:
puissance
noun
,
puissantly
adverb
.

punctilious
(pungk-TIL-ee-
e
s)
adjective

very careful to carry out duties or details of ceremony etc. correctly; conscientious.

Related words:
punctiliously
adverb
,
punctiliousness
noun
.

purulent
(PYUUR-y
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective

1. containing or consisting of pus.

2. discharging pus.

Related words:
purulence
noun
,
purulently
adverb
.

pusillanimous
(
PYOO
-s
e
-LAN-
e
-m
e
s)
adjective

1. timid, faint-hearted.

2. cowardly.

Related words:
pusillanimity
(
PYOO
-s
e
-l
e
-NIM-i-tee)
noun
,
pusillanimously
(
PYOO
-s
e
-LAN-
e
-m
e
s-lee)
adverb
.

putative
(PYOO-t
e
-tiv)
adjective

reputed, supposed.

Related word:
putatively
adverb
.

putrescent
(pyoo-TRES-
e
nt)
adjective

1. in process of decaying.

2. rotting.

Related words:
putrescence
and
putrescency
both nouns
.

Pyrrhic
(PIR-ik)
victory

a victory gained at too great a cost.

quash
(kwosh)
verb

1. annul; by legal authority, reject as not valid.

2. suppress or crush.

Do not confuse
quash
with
squash
. Uprisings and indictments are
quashed
; hats and ripe grapes are
squashed
. But see
squelch
, which in one of its meanings is synonymous with
quash
.

querulous
(KWER-
e
-l
e
s)
adjective

complaining, peevish

Related words:
querulously
adverb
,
querulousness
noun
.

quidnunc
(KWID-
NUNGK
)
noun

1. a busybody.

2. a gossip.

quid pro quo
(KWID proh KWOH),
plural
quid pro quos
or
quids pro quo

a thing given or taken in return for something.

quietus
(kw
I
-EE-t
e
s)
noun, plural
quietuses

1. final release from life, death.

2. a receipt given on payment of a debt.

quintessence
(kwin-TES-
e
ns)
noun

1. an essence of a substance.

2. the essence or essential part of a theory, speech, condition, etc.

3. a perfect example of a quality.

Related words:
quintessential
(
KWIN
-t
e
-SEN-sh
e
l)
adjective
,
quintessentially
(
KWIN
-t
e
-SEN-shee-
e
l-ee)
adverb
.

quisling
(KWIZ-ling)
noun

a traitor, especially one who collaborates with an enemy occupying his country.

quixotic
(kwik-SOT-ik)
adjective
, also given as
quixotical
(kwik-SOT-i-k
e
l)

1. chivalrous and unselfish to an exaggerated degree.

2. impracticable, visionary.

Related word:
quixotically
adverb
.

quondam
(KWON-d
e
m)
adjective

former; sometime; onetime.

quotidian
(kwoh-TID-ee-
e
n)
adjective

1. daily.

2. usual, everyday.

3. ordinary, commonplace; trivial.

Related words:
quotidianly
adverb
,
quotidianness
noun
.