paean
song of praise or joy
Example:-
Paean celebrating the victory filled the air.
Mnemonic:-
Paean sounds like Piano which is used in song of praise.
Parody
a composition that misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way; make a spoof of or make a fun of.
Example:-
He has a talent for writing parodies.
Mnemonic:-
Parody ..... Parrot always imitates people in a humorous way.
Penurious
Penny- pinching, excessively unwilling to spend a penny.
Example:-
Penurious man often is at the stinginess or want of public spirit of another!
Mnemonic:-
Penny + Furious ---> A person who has to spend a penny and is furious about it is penurious.
Penury
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
Example:-
The man spent his entire fortune and died in penury.
Mnemonic:-
pen+ru(pee).........no rupee to buy a pen
Perennial
lasting through years or many years; happening repeatedly.
Example:-
Flooding is a perennial problem for people living by the river.
Mnemonic:-
sounds like PURANI(old) ..... purani things are long lasting for many years.
Perfidy
intentional breach of faith; betrayal of trust.
Example:-
And I simply did not expect the perfidy they were soon to display.
Mnemonic:-
PAR + FIDA ---> a women is fida on other man is betraying his husband.
Perfunctory
cursory; done without care or interest.
Example:-
The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.
Mnemonic:-
PARAI(other's) + FACTORY :- if you are told to take care of somebody else factory, you would do it casually.
Pernicious
extremely harmful; potentially causing death.
Example:-
She had pernicious anemia, in which vitamin B12 is not absorbed from the intestine.
Mnemonic:-
word can be divided like per + nicious(sounds like noxious)
Peruse
to examine with great care
Example:-
Please peruse this report at your leisure.
Mnemonic:-
Prior to use, we always examine the instructions with care.
Pervasive
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout.
Example:-
The detective was rather pervasive in his questioning
Mnemonic:-
sounds like persuasive, if u are persuasive youre ideas will be pervasive
Pine
have a desire for something or someone who is not present
Example:-
When John went away for school, his faithful dog was left at home to pine for his master
Mnemonic:-
pine(verb):Have a desire for something or someone who is not present there. Mera dost jab WINE pe leta hai tab he starts pining for his girlfriend
Pious
showing strong religious devotion.
Example:-
The purpose of the European Union is a very divine purpose, a very pious purpose, a very religious purpose.
Mnemonic:-
We thank to God for the pie (food) he has given to us.
Pith
essential or central part
Example:-
Before I sliced the green pepper I removed the stalk, seeds and pith.
Mnemonic:-
pith : pithaji(father in hindi)essential or central part of the family
Pithy
precise and brief
Example:-
Old Mr Brown was not known for talking much, but what he did say was always pithy.
Mnemonic:-
pi-thy: the math symbol pi is concise and has great meaning
Placate
to appease; to calm by making concessions
Example:-
The clerk at the store was very rude but the Manager was able to Placate me by offering me a discount on my purchase.
Mnemonic:-
PL + ac + ATE = a PLATE full of tasty food to SATISFY someone.
Platitude
a superficial remark, esp. one offered as a remark
Example:-
The platitude of the candidate's speeches cost her the election.
Mnemonic:-
flat + attitude: something flat does not attract us as it is very common. So you will obviously give superficial remarks.
Plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
Example:-
Please provide a plethora of presents for me at Christmas.
Mnemonic:-
like if you go home after many days, your mother will insist that you eat more. What she will say is "Pe Le + Thoda Aur Le" ultimately, aisai lene se, it will become an excess at the end. You will be full :)
Plummet
drop sharply
Example:-
The Air Force uses its radars to track large meteors as they plummet into the atmosphere.
Mnemonic:-
plummet rhymes with "comet" which falls so sharply.
Pragmatic:-
Practical rather than idealistic.
Example:-
The teacher has a very pragmatic attitude towards instructing her students.
Mnemonic:-
PRA + gma + TIC = PRA + c + TIC + al
Prattle
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner.
Example:-
They prattled on into the night, discussing school, music, and friends.
Mnemonic:-
sounds like "babble".
Precipitate
acting with excessive haste.
Example:-
Though I was angry to resign on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion.
Mnemonic:-
When we need to do a precipitation experiment in school practical exam, we need to do it in haste
as there was a time limit.
Predilection
to dress up; to groom oneself with elaborate care.
Example:-
The cat often preened its fur with its rough tongue.
Mnemonic:-
preen sounds like Queen & Queen are always dressed up.
Prescience
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring; power to foresee the future.
Example:-
Her prescience as an investor is impressive.
Mnemonic:-
Pre + science (knowledge) ---> foreknowledge of events.
Presumptuous
overstepping due bounds(as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Example:-
Focus on "Presum" (Presume)--> To overstep your boundaries by boldly PRESUMing/assuming something.
Prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead.
Example:-
Government officials prevaricated about the real costs of the project.
Mnemonic:-
Pre(... before) + var(truth) + icate(gate) ---> Before truth, you have kept a gate. Hence you are lying or hiding the truth.
Pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Example:-
sounds like priest(ine) means pertaining to priests which is to remain in pure state.
Probity
adherence to highest principles; uprightness; having strong moral principles
Example:-
Prodigal
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; lavish
Example:-
The prodigal son made his way back home after he a had run a muck with his own money out in the city.
Mnemonic:-
prod(rodies) +gals(girls)=extravagance. If you are with girls of rodies then you have to be extravagant.
Prodigious
abundant in size, force or extent; extraordinary.
Example:-
We went on a prodigious research grant.
Mnemonic:-
professional DJ takes place at large size, extraordinary hall.
Profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
Example:-
Profuse
produced or growing in extreme abundance
Example:-
He was 40 years old and could never pull himself from poverty, despite his profuse writing career.
Mnemonic:-
to PRODUCE an abundance of energy from nuclear FUSion, you need to join two atomic nuclei.
Prolific
song of praise or joy
Example:-
Paean celebrating the victory filled the air.
Mnemonic:-
Paean sounds like Piano which is used in song of praise.
Parody
a composition that misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way; make a spoof of or make a fun of.
Example:-
He has a talent for writing parodies.
Mnemonic:-
Parody ..... Parrot always imitates people in a humorous way.
Penurious
Penny- pinching, excessively unwilling to spend a penny.
Example:-
Penurious man often is at the stinginess or want of public spirit of another!
Mnemonic:-
Penny + Furious ---> A person who has to spend a penny and is furious about it is penurious.
Penury
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
Example:-
The man spent his entire fortune and died in penury.
Mnemonic:-
pen+ru(pee).........no rupee to buy a pen
Perennial
lasting through years or many years; happening repeatedly.
Example:-
Flooding is a perennial problem for people living by the river.
Mnemonic:-
sounds like PURANI(old) ..... purani things are long lasting for many years.
Perfidy
intentional breach of faith; betrayal of trust.
Example:-
And I simply did not expect the perfidy they were soon to display.
Mnemonic:-
PAR + FIDA ---> a women is fida on other man is betraying his husband.
Perfunctory
cursory; done without care or interest.
Example:-
The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.
Mnemonic:-
PARAI(other's) + FACTORY :- if you are told to take care of somebody else factory, you would do it casually.
Pernicious
extremely harmful; potentially causing death.
Example:-
She had pernicious anemia, in which vitamin B12 is not absorbed from the intestine.
Mnemonic:-
word can be divided like per + nicious(sounds like noxious)
Peruse
to examine with great care
Example:-
Please peruse this report at your leisure.
Mnemonic:-
Prior to use, we always examine the instructions with care.
Pervasive
having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout.
Example:-
The detective was rather pervasive in his questioning
Mnemonic:-
sounds like persuasive, if u are persuasive youre ideas will be pervasive
Pine
have a desire for something or someone who is not present
Example:-
When John went away for school, his faithful dog was left at home to pine for his master
Mnemonic:-
pine(verb):Have a desire for something or someone who is not present there. Mera dost jab WINE pe leta hai tab he starts pining for his girlfriend
Pious
showing strong religious devotion.
Example:-
The purpose of the European Union is a very divine purpose, a very pious purpose, a very religious purpose.
Mnemonic:-
We thank to God for the pie (food) he has given to us.
Pith
essential or central part
Example:-
Before I sliced the green pepper I removed the stalk, seeds and pith.
Mnemonic:-
pith : pithaji(father in hindi)essential or central part of the family
Pithy
precise and brief
Example:-
Old Mr Brown was not known for talking much, but what he did say was always pithy.
Mnemonic:-
pi-thy: the math symbol pi is concise and has great meaning
Placate
to appease; to calm by making concessions
Example:-
The clerk at the store was very rude but the Manager was able to Placate me by offering me a discount on my purchase.
Mnemonic:-
PL + ac + ATE = a PLATE full of tasty food to SATISFY someone.
Platitude
a superficial remark, esp. one offered as a remark
Example:-
The platitude of the candidate's speeches cost her the election.
Mnemonic:-
flat + attitude: something flat does not attract us as it is very common. So you will obviously give superficial remarks.
Plethora
an overabundance; a surplus
Example:-
Please provide a plethora of presents for me at Christmas.
Mnemonic:-
like if you go home after many days, your mother will insist that you eat more. What she will say is "Pe Le + Thoda Aur Le" ultimately, aisai lene se, it will become an excess at the end. You will be full :)
Plummet
drop sharply
Example:-
The Air Force uses its radars to track large meteors as they plummet into the atmosphere.
Mnemonic:-
plummet rhymes with "comet" which falls so sharply.
Pragmatic:-
Practical rather than idealistic.
Example:-
The teacher has a very pragmatic attitude towards instructing her students.
Mnemonic:-
PRA + gma + TIC = PRA + c + TIC + al
Prattle
to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner.
Example:-
They prattled on into the night, discussing school, music, and friends.
Mnemonic:-
sounds like "babble".
Precipitate
acting with excessive haste.
Example:-
Though I was angry to resign on the spot, I had enough sense to keep myself from quitting a job in such a precipitate fashion.
Mnemonic:-
When we need to do a precipitation experiment in school practical exam, we need to do it in haste
as there was a time limit.
Predilection
preference
Example:-
Although the artist used various media from time to time, she had a predilection for watercolors.
Mnemonic:-
Preferred + Direction ---> Preference
Preento dress up; to groom oneself with elaborate care.
Example:-
The cat often preened its fur with its rough tongue.
Mnemonic:-
preen sounds like Queen & Queen are always dressed up.
Prescience
foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring; power to foresee the future.
Example:-
Her prescience as an investor is impressive.
Mnemonic:-
Pre + science (knowledge) ---> foreknowledge of events.
Presumptuous
overstepping due bounds(as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
Example:-
Pardon me sir, but would it be too presumptuous for me to ask where you purchased that camel hair coat?
Mnemonic:-Focus on "Presum" (Presume)--> To overstep your boundaries by boldly PRESUMing/assuming something.
Prevaricate
to deliberately avoid the truth; to mislead.
Example:-
Government officials prevaricated about the real costs of the project.
Mnemonic:-
Pre(... before) + var(truth) + icate(gate) ---> Before truth, you have kept a gate. Hence you are lying or hiding the truth.
Pristine
pure; uncorrupted; clean
Example:-
But the pristine forest and surrounding view was more than worth the tiredness that crept into the arms and legs.
Mnemonic:-sounds like priest(ine) means pertaining to priests which is to remain in pure state.
Probity
adherence to highest principles; uprightness; having strong moral principles
Example:-
With this aim in view he sought to find a man possessing ability in war and probity in civil affairs, who would act as figure-head to his long projected constitution.
Mnemonic:-
PRO(pahle)+beti(ladkiya) sounds like girls first 'something having high morale'
Prodigal
recklessly wasteful; extravagant; lavish
Example:-
The prodigal son made his way back home after he a had run a muck with his own money out in the city.
Mnemonic:-
prod(rodies) +gals(girls)=extravagance. If you are with girls of rodies then you have to be extravagant.
Prodigious
abundant in size, force or extent; extraordinary.
Example:-
We went on a prodigious research grant.
Mnemonic:-
professional DJ takes place at large size, extraordinary hall.
Profligate
excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
Example:-
Profligate waste of resources around the University.
Mnemonic:-
Profligate= spend Profusely like bill Gates
Profuse
produced or growing in extreme abundance
Example:-
He was 40 years old and could never pull himself from poverty, despite his profuse writing career.
Mnemonic:-
to PRODUCE an abundance of energy from nuclear FUSion, you need to join two atomic nuclei.
Prolific
producing large volumes or amounts; productive
Example:-
She was a prolific writer who produces as many as 3 books a year.
Mnemonic:-
"Production Lifted" --> Productive
Propensity
inclination towards something
Example:-
My friend has a real propensity for baking great pies.
Mnemonic:-
now a days people are inclined towards "CITY" dats y thery r migrating from villages....
Prosaic
dull; unimaginative
Example:-
There is some poetry in this composition, but it alternates with very prosaic details.
Mnemonic:-
mosaic--->beautiful artistic work with full of vibrant colours.....prosaic ...opposite of that ...dull
Pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Example:-
My big Brother came out of the Bathroom, and a pungent smell followed in his wake
Mnemonic:-
Pungent: pun-gent: (pun) rhymes with (non) and (gent) rhymes with gentle. It means not gentle or sharp/strong: pungent criticism; pungent cheese.
Putrefy
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor.
Example:-
Putrefy animal flesh, producing a strong rotting odor.
Mnemonic:-
purify means to make pure.
putrefy is opposite of purify, that means to rot.
Propensity
inclination towards something
Example:-
My friend has a real propensity for baking great pies.
Mnemonic:-
now a days people are inclined towards "CITY" dats y thery r migrating from villages....
Prosaic
dull; unimaginative
Example:-
There is some poetry in this composition, but it alternates with very prosaic details.
Mnemonic:-
mosaic--->beautiful artistic work with full of vibrant colours.....prosaic ...opposite of that ...dull
Pungent
characterized by a strong, sharp smell or taste
Example:-
My big Brother came out of the Bathroom, and a pungent smell followed in his wake
Mnemonic:-
Pungent: pun-gent: (pun) rhymes with (non) and (gent) rhymes with gentle. It means not gentle or sharp/strong: pungent criticism; pungent cheese.
Putrefy
to rot; to decay and give off a foul odor.
Example:-
Putrefy animal flesh, producing a strong rotting odor.
Mnemonic:-
purify means to make pure.
putrefy is opposite of purify, that means to rot.
