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(n) a humorous imitation intended for ridicule or comin effect, especially in literature and art
The comedy troupe performed a PARODY in which a popular young actres was portrayed by a large hairy man.
satire, lampoon, caricature |
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(adj) cheap; miserly
The PARSIMONIOUS man left a meager tip for the kind and overworked waitress.
stingy |
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(adj) biased or prejudiced
Many newspapers have become increasingly PARTISAN, and few offer objective and balanced coverage of current events.
sectarian. |
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(n) scarcity
In the dead of winter, there is a PAUCITY of fresh vegetables available at the farmers' market.
dearth |
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(n) a slight of offense; literally, a minor sin
Taking a few office supplies from the office is a PECADILLO, but stealing a laptop is a whole different story.
infraction |
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(adj) having to do with money
The stockbroker was motivated by PECUNIARY interests and resorted to insider trading.
financial |
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(n) the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
The PEDAGOGY of early primary science focuses on the development of cirtical thinking skills and exploration through hands-on experiments.
education |
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(adj) the parading of learning; excessive attention to minutiae and formal rules
Pere is PEDANTIC about grammar and will nitpick my essay for even the minutest of errors.
bookish |
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(adj) transparent; easy to understand
If the tax code were more PELLUCID, thousands of accountants would be out of business.
clear |
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(n) stong inclination; a liking
The stylist has a PENCHANT for expensive designer labels.
fondness |
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(n) pverty; destitution
During the Great Depression, thousands of people lost their life savings and wre reduced to PENURY.
indigence |
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(adj) recurrent throughout the year or over many years; happening repeatedly or continually
David is the PERENNIAL optimistl; he is always hopeful no matter how bad things get at the office.
lasting, returning |
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(adj) done without care or interest; done merely as a duty
I don't expect warm hugs at the registration office, but even a PERFUNCTORY hello would be nice.
obligatory, cursory, automatic |
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(n) the point nearest the earth in an orbit of a body
At its PERIGEE, the moon appears to be larger in our night sky.
nearest point |
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(adj) itinerant; traveling on foot
It's difficult to maintain lasting relationships and long-term employment with such a PERPATETIC lifestyle.
roving |
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(adj) pleasing in appearance or personality
I think PERSONABLE bartenders make more money than the grumpy or homely ones.
winning |
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(v) to examine with great care
Frank PERUSES every page of the newspaper for any mention of his name.
scrutinize |
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(v) to permeate
Spring PERVADED the entire city; flowers were blooming and everyone was energetic and happy.
infuse |
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(adj) having the tendency to permeate or spread throughout
Exafferation is PERVASIVE in advertising today; I just saw an ad for a diet pill that works overnight!
ubiquitous |
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(adj) ill-tempered; irritable
The parents apologized for their PETULANT child and left the dinner party early.
peevish |
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(adj) calm; sluggish; unemotional
Even though Phil seems PLEGMATIC, I think he actually cares about doing a good job.
dispassionate |
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(v) to yearn intensely; to languish; to lose vigor
Meredith lost her appetite and became noticeably thinner as she PINED for her dog, which had been missing for three months.
mourn, desire |
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(v) to illegally use or reproduce
I always heed the warning and do not PIRATE materials by making illegal copies.
steal |
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(n) the essential or central part
Please stop digressing and get to the PITH of your argument.
core quintessence |
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(adj) prescise and brief
The car bad a banal but PITHY bumper sticker: "Mean people suck."
succinct |
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(v) to appease; to calm by making concsesions
Doctors often PLACATE children with lollipops after giving them shots.
assuage, pacify |
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(n) a superficial remark, expecially one offered as meaningful
The politician's speech was full of regular, tired PLATITUDES about "making the world a better place for our children and out children's children."
cliche |
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(n) an overabundance; a surplus
The PLETHORA of pastries at teh bakery made it difficult to decide.
plenty |
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(v) to plunge or drop straight down
I watched my flower pot PLUMMET five stories and then shatter on the pavement.
fall; decline |
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(adj) controversial; argumentative
Paula disagrees with many of her college's policies and often sends POLEMICAL letters to the school paper.
contentious |
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(adj)practical rather than idealistic
PRAGMATIC solutions often involve cooperation and compromise.
realistic |
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(v) to babble meaninglessly; to talk in an empty and idle manner
I couldn't stand to hear my teenage sister PRATTLE on about the prom during dinner, so I left the table.
chatter, blather |
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(v) to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
Male birds of paradise PREEN their feathers and clean their nests in order to woo females.
beautify |
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(n) knowing of events prior to their occuring
The fortune-teller's PRESCIENCE of death prevented her from leaving the house.
presage, foreknowledge, insight |
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(adj) overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties
It was very PRESUMPTUOUS of him to ask for a raise after only two months at the company.
presuming, rash |
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(v) to deliberately avoid the truth; mislead
When my grandmother asked about her broken vase, my brother and I began to PREVARICATE.
misinform, deceive, hedge |
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(adj) pure; uncorrupted; clean
Much of the tundra in northern Canada is still PRISTINE sinc ehte region has not been developed.
untouched |
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(n) adherence to highest principles; uprightness
The judge's reputation of PROBITY is well deserved;she resuced herself from a case because she had gone to school with the defendant.
integrity |
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(n) a natural predisposition or inclination
Gerald's main personality flaw in his PROCLIVITY to do anything that anyone asks of him.
penchant |
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(adj) recklessly wasteful; extravagant
The teacher's pet was given PRODIGAL praise.
profuse, lavish |
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(adj) abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
PRODIGIOUS numbers of villagers, young and old, traveled to the castle to pay their respects to the departed queen.
immense |
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(adj) excessively wasteful; recklessly extravagant
The PROFLIGATE young man racked up quite the credit card debt.
prodigal |
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(adj) given or coming forth in great abundance
Dogs tend to shed PROFUSE amounts of fur with the change of the seasons.
copious, extravagant |
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(v) to grow or increase swiftly and abundantly
Without expedient diplomacy, nuclear weapons might PROLIFERATE.
burgeon, propagate |
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(n) a natural inclination or tendency
Independent study programs are designed for students who have a PROPENSITY for taking cross-curricular courses and have the discipline to do so on their own.
proclivity |
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(adj) dull; unimaginative
Critics bashed the plkay because of its uncreative and PROSAIC plot.
lackluster; commonplace |
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