P-Word Vocabulary Definitions
| pac. | moccasin or soft shoe to be worn inside a boot |
| paca. | nocturnal, tropical rodent w. short tail |
| pace. | with the permission of, in deference to "I have not, pace my instructors, entered into any deals" |
| pachisi. | used cowry shells instead of dice |
| pachysandra. | Japanese, evergreen leaves |
| Pacyion corpuscle. | heavy pressure and touch sensor |
| packthread. | strong two- or three ply thread |
| padauk. | Burmese tree with mottled grain; wood from the tree |
| Padishah. | shah of Iran; former Sultan of Turkey |
| padrone. | owner or manager; man who exploits Italian immigrants |
| paduassoy. | rich, heavy, ribbed silk fabric |
| paedogenesis. | Reproduction in pre-adult insects (bugs). |
| paedomorphism. | retention of juvenile characteristics in adult |
| paelia. | saffron-flavored Spanish dish: rice and vegetable, meat, chicken, or seafood |
| pahlavi. | gold Iranian coin |
| pahlavi. | Iranian language used in Persia during Sassanids |
| pallaise. | thin straw-filled mattress |
| paillette. | piece of foil used in enamel painting; spangle |
| painted cup. | Indian paintbrush |
| painted lady. | butterfly |
| painter. | mountain lion or lynx |
| painter. | bow rope |
| pair of virginals. | a virginal (small, legless, rectangular harpsichord) |
| palsa. | Indian currency |
| pak choi. | Chinese pseudo-cabbage, used as vegetable |
| palatine. | palace guard after Diocletian; soldier in major division of Constantine's army; various administrator's in late Roman and Byzantine empires; feudal lord |
| palatine. | fur cape and hood worn by women |
| palatine. | pertaining to the palate (palatine arch). |
| palea. | small chaff-like bract enclosing flower of a grass spikelet |
| Palearctic. | Europe, northwestern Africa, and Asia north of Himalayans |
| paleography. | study and interpretation of ancient written documents |
| paleontology. | fossils |
| palestra. | public place of wrestling and other athletics. (see "odeum"). |
| pali. | scriptural and liturgical language of Hinayana Buddhism |
| palingenesis. | metempsychosis; recapitulation of phylogeny (ontogeny?) - Gr.: palin, (again). |
| palinode. | poem that retracts something said in a previous poem |
| palisade parenchyma. | leaf cell containing numerous chloroplasts |
| palladian. | pertaining to Pallas Athene; wisdom or study |
| palladian. | architectural style of Renaissance architect Andrea Plladio |
| palladic. | tetravalent palladium compounds |
| palladium. | sacred object having power to preserve a city; safeguard (Bill of Rights) |
| paladrous. | bivalent palladium |
| Pallas. | second-largest asteroid (300 miles d.) |
| palial. | pertaining to cerebral cortex (cerebral); mantle of mollusk or brachiopod |
| pallium. | cloak worn by Romans; vestment worn by Pope and conferred by him on archbishops and sometimes on bishops; pallial |
| pall mall. | game like croquet; alley in which played |
| palmar. | pertaining to palm or paw |
| palmar. | worthy of the palm, outstanding |
| palmation. | all or part of a palmate structure |
| palmer. | Medieval pilgrim who carried a palm branch for visiting the Holy Land |
| palmerworm. | leaf-eating caterpillar |
| palmette. | stylized palm leaf |
| Palm Sunday. | Sunday before Easter |
| palmy. | covered with palm trees |
| palmyra. | tall palm |
| palomino.. | golden or tan coat, white or cream neck |
| paloverde. | spiny, yellow flowers - as in palo verde. |
| palp. | elongated sense organ, usually near mouth, in insects, mollusks, crustaceans |
| palpebral. | Pertaining to the eyelids - Lat.: palpebra, (eyelid); Gr.: blepharon, (eyelid). |
| palsgrave. | A palatine - palix, (palatine) + grave, (count). |
| paludal. | Pertaining to a swamp - Lat.: palas, (marsh). ("The ground was low and paludal, with scouring rushes and horsetails.") (See "pocosin"," calamite") |
| paludism. | Malaria. |
| palynology. | The scientific study of spores and pollen - Gr.: palus, (dust). ("He was a mycologist and palynologist.") |
| pampero. | A strong, cold, southwest wind that blows across the pampas. (bise, mistral). |
| pan. | 1. Betel nuts (for chewing). 2. A piece of drift ice that has broken off from an ice floe. |
| panache. | 1. A plume, esp. on a helmet. 2. Dash, swagger, verve. ("his sallet bore a panache.") |
| panada. | A paste of breadcrumbs, toast, or flour Lat.: panis, (bread) ("We breaded our veal with a panada.") |
| panagglutin. | An agglutin capable of agglutinating hematocytes of every blood group. |
| panchax. | Bright tropical fish. |
| Panchen Lama. | The other Grand Lama. |
| panda car. | A police cruiser. |
| pandanus. | Palm, S. E. Asia. Used to weave mats. |
| Pandian Pipes. | A panpipe. |
| pandect. | 1. A comprehensive digest or complete treatise. 2. A legal code. 3. The Roman code. |
| pandore. | A bandore. |
| pandurate. | Resembling a violin. Used of leaves. Gr.: pandoura, (3-stringed instrument). |
| pangenesis. | The now-discredited theory that every somatic cell generates self-representative hereditary materials that enter the bloodstream and eventually coalesce in reproductive cells, making possible the inheritance of acquired characteristics. |
| Panglossian. | Blindly optimistic. Pollyanna. Conteism. (after Pangloss in Candide). |
| pangolin. | scaly African ant-eater (tamanua). |
| panicle. | flower cluster that is closely and irregularly branched |
| panmixis. | random mating within a breeding population |
| panne. | high luster finish for velvet and satin |
| pannier. | one of pair of pack-animal baskets; framework of wire to expand a woman's skirt at the hips; a skirt or over skirt puffed out at the hips |
| panocha. | Coarse grade of Mexican sugar; fudge (penush; see also jagger). |
| pantechnicon. | furniture warehouse; furniture truck |
| pantile. | overlapping, S-shaped roofing tile |
| pantoffle. | a slipper |
| pantoum. | quatrains. Second and fourth lines appear as first and third line of next quatrain. Last line repeats the first line. |
| pawpaw. | tree with edible fruit |
| papeterie. | box used to hold paper and other writing materials |
| papilote. | frilled paper cover decorating end of cooked chop or cutlet |
| papovirus. | animal viruses associated with warts or papillomas |
| pappus. | tuft of bristles surmounting the achene of dandelions or thistles |
| papule. | infected pimple |
| parabiosis. | fusion of two organisms, like Siamese twins or animals joined for research |
| parablast. | Yolk of meroblastic (undergoing partial cleavage - used of an egg with a large yolk.) egg. |
| Paraclete. | The Holy Ghost; champion |
| paragenesis. | successive order in which a formation of associated minerals is generated |
| paramatta. | fine lightweight cotton-and-wool dress fabric |
| parament. | ecclesiastical vestments and hangings |
| paralogism. | faulty reasoning of which the reasoner is unaware |
| paramnesia. | distortion of memory in which fantasy and experience are confused |
| paramo. | high, treeless plain of tropical S. A. (llano, altiplano). |
| paramylum. | reserve carbohydrate like starch found in protozoa and algae |
| parang. | short, heavy, straight-edged Malaysian knife |
| paranthropus. | Olduvai anthropoid ape. |
| paraph. | Flourish made after or below signature to prevent forgery. |
| paraphrastic. | explaining or translating more amply or clearly. ( vs. periphrastic). |
| paraphysis. | sterile filament accompanying spore-carrying organs of cryptogamous.. |
| parapodium. | fleshy feet of worms that function in breathing and locomotion |
| Para rubber. | rubber obtained from tropical S. A. trees |
| parasong. | Persian, 3½ miles |
| paraselene. | luminous spot on lunar halo |
| parasitosis. | disease resulting from parasites |
| parataxis. | coordination of grammatical phrases or clauses with out using conjunctions |
| paratyphoid. | controls phosphorous and calcium metabolism |
| paratyphoid fever. | acute intestinal disease similar to typhoid but less severe |
| paravane. | towed alongside ship to cut mooring cables of submerged mines |
| parcenary. | coparcenary |
| parcener. | coparcener |
| parenchyma. | tissue characteristic of an organ, as distinguished from connective tissue; plant tissue composed of soft, unspecialized, thin-walled cells |
| paresis. | slight or partial paralysis |
| parasthesia. | abnormal or impaired skin sensation |
| pareu. | Polynesian wraparound skirt or loincloth |
| pareve, parve. | Hebrew food that are prepared without meat, milk, or derivatives that may be eaten with meat or dairy dishes |
| parfleche. | rawhide soaked in lye and water, then dried on a stretcher for shields |
| parget. | plaster or roughcast to line chimneys; ornamental plasterwork; cement mixture for waterproofing outer walls |
| paries. | the wall of an organ |
| parietal. | forming the wall of a hollow structure; attached to a plant ovary wall; dwelling within or having authority within the walls of a college; rules governing visiting privileges of members of the opposite sex in university dormitories |
| parietal bones. | between frontal and occipital bones (joining at coronal suture) |
| parietal cell. | peripheral cells of gastric mucosa that secrete hydrochloric acid |
| parietal lobe. | division of each cerebral hemisphere that lies beneath parietal bones |
| parimutual. | bettors pool bets |
| pari passu. | with equal pace, side by side |
| parity. | having born offspring, number of children borne by one woman |
| parlando. | Sung in a style suggestive of speech (Gilbert and Sullivan) (parlando). |
| parlous. | perilous, dangerous (perdu, minatory) |
| Parnassian. | 19th C. French poets. Detachment and emphasis on metrical form |
| parol. | oral utterance, word of mouth |
| paranomasia. | word play, a pun |
| paronychia. | agnail: inflammation of a nail |
| paronymous. | derived from the same root word: beautiful and beauteous |
| parotid gland. | salivary gland |
| parotitis. | inflammation of the parotids, as in mumps |
| Parousia. | Chilead, Second Coming |
| paroxytone. | acute accent on penultimate syllable |
| parquet. | floor of theater between orchestra and parquet circle |
| parquet circle. | under balcony |
| parr. | young salmon, during its freshwater days (1st two years) |
| parrel. | sliding loop of rope to which a running yard or gaff is fastened |
| Parsee. | Zoroastrian religious sect in India; Iranina dialect used in Parsee literature |
| Parson's table. | rectangular table: :straight legs form four corners |
| parterre. | parquet circle; flower garden, beds and paths form a pattern |
| parthenocarpy. | fruit production without fertilization |
| Parthian. | shots fired by retreating archers (may be faking retreat) (parting shots). |
| partible. | can be parted |
| participial. | involves a participle |
| parte pris. | A bias, prejudice (private part). |
| partita. | Related instrumental pieces (variations on a theme). |
| partlet. | 16th C. women cover for neck and shoulders, with ruffles at the neck |
| parton. | Hypothetical elementary particle thought to be constituent of hadrons. |
| parturifacient. | producing labor |
| parure. | matched jewelry or other ornaments |
| parvis. | Enclosed courtyard or space in front of palace or church, a bailey or garth. |
| parvovirus. | DNA-containing animal virus |
| pas. | ballet step or series of steps; ballet dance; the right to go before, precedence |
| pascal. | one newton per square meter |
| paschal. | pertaining to Passover or Easter (See "Pesach")> |
| paschal lamb. | eaten at Feast of Passover |
| pase. | matador's presentation of cape to the bull |
| pasha. | former honorific after names of Turkish military and civic officials |
| pasquinade. | lampoon in a public place; satire |
| passant. | beast facing and walking toward right with one raised front leg |
| passe mentarie. | ornamental trimming for a garment: lace, braid, metallic beads (Pr.: pahs-mentree). |
| passe partout. | master key, go-anywhere pass; picture mounting: colored tape forms the frame; mat used in mounting a picture (Pr.: pahs-partoo). |
| passerine. | Perching birds, and songbirds: jays, warblers, finches, blackbirds, sparrows (see also insessile). |
| pas seul. | Dance or ballet figure performed by one person (step solo). |
| passible. | sensitive, capable of suffering |
| pastern. | horse's hoof between fetlock and hoof |
| pasticcio. | potpourri; a work, esp. musical, produced by borrowing fragments or motifs from various sources |
| pastiche | dramatic, literary, or musical piece, often satirical, openly imitating another work (parody?); a hodgepodge, pasticcio |
| pastille. | flavored or medicated troche; ignitable fumigant or deodorant tablet; pastel |
| pastina. | tiny pieces of pasta cooked in soups or used as baby food |
| pastorium. | parsonage. |
| patagium. | bat and flying squirrel membrane |
| patchouli. | Asiatic trees with fragrant perfume oil; the resulting perfume |
| pâte. | paste used in making porcelain and pottery |
| paté. | meat paste; small pastry filled with meat or fish |
| paté de foie gras. | paste made from goose liver, with truffles |
| patelliform | shaped like a pan, dish, or cup (see "acetabuliform") |
| patin | plate used to hold Eucharist bread; thin metal disk |
| paternoster | Lord's Prayer; large beads on a rosary on which the Lord's Prayer is said; sequence of words said as a prayer or a magic formula; weighted fishing line with jointed attachments for hooks connected by bead-like swivels |
| pathognomic | characteristic of a certain disease or condition |
| patine | to coat with a patina |
| patisserie | a bakery specializing in French pastry |
| patriclinous | derived from the male line |
| patrilineal | tracing descent through the male line |
| patristic | relating to the fathers of the early Christian Church or their writings |
| Patroclus | Greek warrior, Achilles' friend |
| patronym | name from male side, as in Johnson, son of John (affix) |
| patroon | landholder in NY, NJ, granted proprietary & manorial powers under Dutch rule |
| patten | a wooden sandal, shoe, or clog |
| patulous | spreading or expanded |
| paulonia | Oriental tree with heart-shaped leaves |
| pavane | Slow, stately 16th C. dance ("Pavanne for a Dead Princess). |
| pavid | timid. |
| pavior | one who paves; paving material or tools |
| pavis. | Medieval shield large enough to cover the entire body. |
| pavonine. | pertaining to a peacock |
| paynim. | non-Christian, esp, a Moslem; the pagan world. |
| peafowl. | large pheasant |
| peag. | wampum |
| pear haw. | shrub or small tree |
| pearlite. | ferrite and cementite showing distinct bands in slowly cooled carbon steels |
| pearmain. | red-skinned apple |
| pease. | a pea |
| peas-cod. | pea pod |
| peavey. | wooden lever, metal point, hinged hook near the end. Used by lumbermen. |
| peccant. | Violating a rule or accepted practice, erring. Lat.: peccavi, (I have sinned.) |
| Pecksniffian. | hypocritically benevolent, sanctimonious |
| pecten. | body structure resembling a comb, such as ridged eyelids of reptiles and birds. |
| A scallop. | |
| pectinate. | having teeth like a comb, comb-like. (cteno-) |
| pedaler. | soil rich in alumina and iron and low in carbonates. Hot humid regions with forest cover. |
| pedate. | having feet; resembling a foot; having radiating lobes with cleft lateral lobes |
| pederast. | anal sex with a boy |
| pedicel. | a small stalk serving as support; several small stalks bearing a single flower. |
| pediculate. | angler fishes |
| pediculosis. | infested with lice, lousy - phthiriasis. |
| pediment. | wide, low-pitched gable surmounting the façade of a building |
| pedipalp. | one of the 2nd pair of appendages of an arachnoid, modified for feel |
| pedocal. | lime-rich soil of cool, arid and semi-arid regions |
| pedodontia. | dentistry of children's teeth |
| pedogenesis. | process of soil generation |
| pedology. | behavior and development of children |
| peduncle. | main stalk of an infloresence; stalk-like bundle of nerve fibers; |
| peel. | baker's shovel-like tool for pulling bread out of oven; T-shaped printers' pole for hanging sheets to dry |
| peeler. | a policeman (after Sir John Peel) |
| peepul. | fig tree |
| peetweet. | spotted sandpiper |
| pejoration. | degeneration: "hector" has degenerated from "hero" to scourge |
| pekan. | the fisher (carnivorous mammal with thick, brown fur) |
| pekin. | striped or figured silk fabric; Pekin duck |
| pelage. | coat of a mammal: hair, fur, wool, as distinguished from bare skin |
| Pelagianism. | Irish monk who denied original sin, man could be righteous by exercise of free will |
| pelargonium. | geraniums - Gr.: pelagos, (stork). |
| Pelasgian. | lived in Aegean before Greeks |
| petecypod. | lamellibranch (clams, mussels, and oysters) |
| pelerine. | a woman's cape, usually short, with points in front - Gr.: pelegrinus, (pilgrim). |
| Peleus. | Achille's dad |
| pelisse. | Long cloak or robe, usually of fur; woman's loose, light cloak with arm openings - Gr,: Lat.: pellicus, (made of skin) < pellus, (skin). |
| pelite. | fine-fragment rock. |
| pelicle. | thin skin or film, e.g., organic membrane or liquid film - Gr.: pellus, |
| pellitory. | plant. Volatile oil once used for toothache and facial neuralgia - Lat.: pyrethrum. |
| Pelops. | Tantalus' son, Atreus' dad |
| pelorus. | Fixed compass card on which bearings relative to a ship's heading are taken. - Gr.: pellorus, (unusual regularity). |
| pelota. | jai lai ball |
| pellate. | leafstalk attached near center rather than margin |
| pelting. | paltry, petty, contemptible |
| peltry. | undressed pelts |
| pemphigus. | acute or chronic skin diseases: groups of itching blisters |
| pen. | A female swan. |
| pendentive. | Overhanging, triangular section of vaulting between dome rim and supporting arches. |
| pendragon. | Supreme war leader of post-Roman Celts of south Britain. |
| penetralia. | Innermost or most secret parts. |
| penetrance. | degree or frequency with which a gene manifests its effect |
| penna. | larger feathers forming visible plumage of a bird, vs. down. |
| pennoncel. | Streamer on a lance. |
| pencel. | Flag steamer at top of lance. |
| penates. | Tutelary (guardian) duties of the home and of the state. |
| pensile. | Hanging down loosely, suspended; building a hanging nest. |
| pentaploid. | Five haploid chromosomes in each nucleus. |
| pentastitch. | 5-line poem. - Gr.: stikhos, (line). |
| pentatuech. | first five books of Old Testament. |
| pentlandite. | principal ore of nickel. |
| pentosan. | complex carbohydrates found in cellulose |
| penush. | Fudge-like confection: brown sugar, milk, chopped nuts |
| peplos. | Loose outer robe worn by Greek women |
| peplum. | Peplos; short overskirt or ruffle attached at waistline of jacket, blouse, dress |
| pepo. | hard rind fruit such as melons, pumpkin, cucumber, or squash |
| peptidoglycan. | polymer in cell walls of procaryocytes in a strong molecular network |
| peptize. | to increase the dispersion; to liquefy (colloid) to form a gel |
| peradventure. | perchance, perhaps |
| percept. | impression of what is perceived. Basis of concept. |
| per contra. | on the contrary, by contrast; as an offset |
| percurrent. | midriff of leaf extending from stem to apex |
| perdu. | soldier sent on dangerous mission |
| perdurable. | Extremely durable, permanent - (permanently durable). |
| periera bark. | used to treat malaria |
| perfecta. | an exacta |
| perfoliate. | leaf that completely clasps the stem and seems pierced by it |
| perianth. | outer envelope of a flower, covering the anthers |
| periapt. | amulet or charm worn to protect against mischief and disease. |
| pericarp. | ripened fruit |
| perichondrium. | fibrous membrane covering cartilage except at joints |
| periclase. | isomeric crystals of MgO |
| pericline. | albite |
| pericycle. | growing layer of parenchymal cells between the endodermis and the conducting tissue in plant roots and stems |
| periderm. | bark and Cambium layer |
| peridot. | green olivine used as a gem |
| peridotite. | igneous granite-like rock: olivine, pyroxenes, amphibole |
| perigynous. | petals, sepals around ovary (daisy?) |
| perikaryon. | cell body of neuron containing nucleus |
| perimorph. | mineral enclosing different mineral |
| perimyseum. | connective tissue enveloping muscle tissue |
| perineum. | region of pelvis containing urogenital passage and rectum, bounded by pubic arch, coccyx, and hipbones; between scrotum and anus in males, between posterior vulva junction and anus in females - Gr.: peri, (around) + inan, (to excrete). |
| perineurium. | Connective tissue enclosing a nerve bundle. |
| periodic acid. | iodic acid used as oxidizer |
| perionychium. | Tissue surrounding a nail - Gr.: anux, (nail). |
| peripetela. | abrupt or unexpected change, especially in a literary work |
| periphrasis. | circumlocution |
| periphrastic. | circumlocuitous; using an extra word rather than an inflected form |
| peripteral. | row of columns on all sides |
| perique. | Strong, black, Louisiana tobacco. |
| peristoma. | "Teeth" around moss mouth; area around an invertebrate's mouth |
| perithecium. | A small fruiting body containing ascospores - Gr.: theke, (case). |
| peritrich. | Campanulate microorganism, wide mouth surrounded by cilia - Gr.: peri (around) + thris, (hair). |
| periwig. | wig or peruke |
| periwinkle. | marine snail |
| periwinkle. | Sarmentose evergreen (vinca). |
| perlite. | pearly volcanic glass. Used as plaster and concrete filler |
| peroneal. | pertaining to the fibula or outer portion of the leg - Gr.: perone, (fibula). |
| perorate. | to recap a speech at the end; to harangue at length (grandiloquent) |
| Persephone. | wife of Hades and queen of the underworld |
| Perseus. | son of Zeus and Danai who slew Medusa and rescued Andromeda |
| pertinaceous. | stubbornly or perversely persistent |
| pes. | foot-like part esp., of a quadruped |
| Pesach. | Passover. (See "paschal") |
| pesade. | act or position of rearing horse |
| pessary. | mechanical contraceptive |
| petechia. | small spot on skin caused hemorrhaging, seen in typhus |
| petiole. | leafstalk; slender connection between thorax and abdomen |
| petiolute. | stalk of a leaflet in a compound leaf |
| petite marmite. | broth made and served in a small, covered, earthenware casserole |
| petitio principii. | begging the question: the fallacy of assuming in the premise of an argument that which one wishes to prove in the conclusion |
| petrolic. | derived from petroleum |
| petrology. | the study of rocks |
| petrosal. | pertaining to that portion of the temporal bone that lies near the inner ear |
| petrous. | hard, stony |
| petticoat narcissus. | small Mediterranean daffodil |
| pettifogger. | petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer |
| pewee. | small, olive-brown, woodland N A. birds |
| pewit. | lapwing |
| Phaedra. | Theseus wife, who fell in love with her stepson, Hippolytus |
| Phaëthon. | Helios' son who was killed when he drove his father's chariot across the sky |
| phaeton. | light, open, 4-wheeled carriage pulled by two horses |
| phalangeal. | pertaining to a phalanx |
| phalanger. | small, arborial marsupials, long tail, dense fur |
| phanerogam. | produces flowers and true seeds |
| pharisaic. | hypocritically self-righteous and condemnatory |
| Pharos. | island near Alexandria |
| phellum. | cork |
| phelloderm. | soft green tissue inside phellogen in some trees |
| phellogen. | tissue in woody plants from which cork and phelloderm develop |
| phenocopy. | environmentally induced phenotypic variation that closely resembles a genetically determined character |
| phenocyst. | large crystal embedded in porphyritic igneous rock |
| phenotype. | observable appearance of an organism, esp. as considered with respect to all possible genetically influenced expressions of one specific character; group of organisms exhibiting a particular phenotype |
| philhellene. | Greek-o-phile |
| philomel. | nightingale |
| philomela. | Athenian princess: raped, tongue cut out, turned into swallow or nightingale |
| phlebology. | medical study of diseases and veins |
| phlebotomy. | opening a vein to draw blood |
| phloem. | food-conducting tissue of vascular plants |
| phlogistic. | pertaining to inflammation and fever |
| phlogopite. | mica used in insulation |
| phlyctena. | blister - Gr.: phluzein, (to boil over). |
| phoebe. | bird |
| Phoebe. | goddess Artemis; the moon |
| Phoebus. | sun-god |
| phonate. | to vocalize |
| phoneme. | "em", "tee" |
| phonocardiogram. | heart sounds |
| phonolite. | Volcanic. Orthoclase, nephreline (sodium silicate. Used for ceramics, enamels) |
| phonotypy. | Transcribing words on basis of sounds (shades of George Bernard Shaw!) |
| phorate. | Insecticide |
| phosphatide. | Lipids such as lecithin and cephalin composed mainly of glycerol and phosphoric acid, and found in great abundance in living tissues with stored fat. |
| phosphorism. | Chronic phosphorus poisoning. |
| phosphorite. | fibrous apatite |
| phosphoylase. | catalyzes production of phosphates from glucone. |
| photoautotrophic. | light as energy source in the synthesis of food from inorganic matter |
| photobiotic. | depending on light for continuance of life and growth |
| photoperiod. | relative exposure of organism to daylight as a proportion of total daylight, esp. with regard to effect on growth and functioning. |
| photorespiration. | respiration during photosynthesis |
| phototelegraph. | |
| fax | |
| photopia. | dark adaptation |
| photorespiration. | respiration during photosynthesis |
| phaseogram. | shorthand symbol |
| phraty. | Greek: primitive - several patrilinear clans, classical: military and territorial subdivision of Athenian state; exogamous subdivision of a tribe: 2 or more clans |
| phreati. | pertaining to ground water - Gr.: phreos, (well). |
| phrenic. | Pertaining to the mind |
| phrenitis. | Frenzy; inflammation of the diaphragm ("phrenitic") |
| Phrygian cap. | Soft cap, forward-curving peak worn by ancient Phyrgians |
| phthalic. | pertaining to naphthalene |
| phthiriasis. | thi-ri-a-sis, lice infestation (pediculosis). (See 'pithyriasis") |
| phthisis. | TB; wasting away |
| phycobilin. | water-soluble pigments in some algae |
| phycology. | study of seaweeds and algae |
| phycomycete. | fungi resembling algae |
| phylactery. | two small leather boxes containing Hebrew scripture, one strapped to forehead, one strapped to arm during morning service except on Sabbath and holidays; an amulet; a reminder |
| phyle. | large Greek citizens org. based on kinship forming largest political subdiv. |
| phyletic. | pertaining to phylogeny or phylogenetic development |
| phyllite. | green, gray, or red metamorphic rock like slate, but wavy and shiny |
| phyllocade. | Flattened branch or stem that photosynthesizes |
| phyllode. | Flattened leafstalk that serves as a leaf. (See "cladode") |
| phylloid. | resembling a leaf - Gr.: phloem, (food-conducting layer - sieve tubes). |
| phyllome. | leaf or plant structure that functions as a leaf (See "cladophyll") |
| phyllopod. | Crustaceans whose swimming and respiratory appendages resemble leaves |
| philotophagous. | Leaf eater |
| phyllotaxy. | arrangement of leaves on a stem |
| phylloxera. | grape-eating bugs |
| phylogeny. | Evolutionary development; historical development of tribe |
| physiatry. | Physical therapy |
| physicalism. | Everything can be explained in spatio-temporal terms. Any descriptive scientific statement can, in principle, be reduced to an empirically verifiable statement |
| physiography. | Physical geography |
| physostigmine. | Poison extracted from Calabar bean. |
| physostomous. | Connecting tube between bladder and alimentary canal, as in fishes. |
| phytography. | Descriptive botany. |
| phytol. | Alcohol used to synthesize vitamins E and K. |
| phytology. | Botany |
| phyton. | Cutting that is able to grow. |
| phytosociology. | Sociology of plants. |
| pi. | Type thrown together at random |
| pia. | Pia mater |
| piaffer. | Horse high-steps in place. |
| pia mater. | Fine vascular membrane between arachnoid membrane and dura mater. |
| piasava. | fibrous palm used for brushes and brooms. |
| piaster. | Pieces of eight |
| piazzah. | Public square; colonnade; verandah |
| pibroch. | Variations on a dirge or martial theme for bagpipes |
| pica. | About 1/6th inch (12 points) |
| pica. | Unnatural food craving, as in pregnancy. (See "polyphagia") |
| picador. | Horseman who lances bull's neck muscles. |
| picara. | Woman who behaves like a picador, an adventuress. |
| picorao. | Bohemian adventurer, rogue. |
| picaroon. | Pirate; pirate ship; a picaro. |
| piccalilli. | Chopped vegetable pickle relish. |
| piccolo. | Musical instrument considerably smaller than usual size. |
| pice. | Hindu coin. |
| piceous. | Pertaining to pitch; glossy black.- Gr.: pix, (pitch). |
| pichiciego. | Small S.A. armadillo, pink shell, silky white hair; yellow-brown armor, whitish hair. |
| pictoram. | Herbicide. |
| picoline. | Industrial solvent. |
| picornavirus. | Very small RNA viruses, including Cocksackle virus |
| picot. | Embroidered loop edging on lace (tricot). |
| picotee. | Two-toned carnation |
| picro. | Picric acid.; bitter |
| picrotoxin. | Barbiturate antitoxin. |
| picro. | Bitter, picric acid |
| picrotoxin. | Barbiturate antidote |
| Pict. | Absorbed by invading Scots |
| piddock. | mollusk that can bore wood, rock |
| pie. | magpie |
| pie. | Indian monetary unit. |
| pie. | English service almanac before Reformation |
| pied. | Past participle of pi. |
| pied-a-terre. | Secondary or temporary lodging, townhouse. Pr.: pyay-day-tair |
| Pierian Spring. | Myth.: Macedonian spring sacred to the Muses; source of inspiration. Pr.: Pie-ear-e-an. |
| pierrot. | French pantomime, dressed in floppy white suit. Pr.: pee-a-ro'. |
| Pieta. | Virgin Mary mourning over body of dead Christ. |
| pietism. | Exaggerated piety. Movement striving to renew Protestant devotional ideal. |
| piffle. | To talk in a feeble or futile way.; foolish or futile talk. |
| pigboat. | Submarine. |
| pigeonwing. | Jumping and clapping feet together. |
| piggin. | Small wooden bucket with one stave projecting above the rim as a handle. |
| pigsney. | A darling; an eye. |
| pika. | Small, tailless, hare-like mammals. |
| pike. | Turnpike; toll gate; toll paid |
| pike. | Hill with pointed summit. |
| pilaster. | Hemi-column molded into wall. |
| pilchard. | Like a herring. |
| pileum. | Top of bird's head, from beak to nape. |
| pileus. | Umbrella cap of a mushroom or toadstool; skullcap worn by Romans |
| pilewort. | Treats piles. |
| pillion. | Cushion for second rider on horse or motorcycle. (postillion) |
| pilocarpine. | Hidrotic agent from leaves of jaborandi tree |
| pilose. | Covered with soft, downy hair (pile) |
| pilule. | Small pill. |
| pilus. | Hair or hair-like structure |
| pima cotton. | Southwestern U.S. |
| piña cloth. | Soft, sheer fabric made from pineapple leaves. |
| pinafore. | Sleeveless garment like apron.. |
| pinaster. | Pine tree. |
| pinchbeck. | Cheap imitation, spurious; orlulu from zinc and copper. |
| Pindaric ode. | Triads, composed of strophe, antistrophe, and epode |
| pine finch. | The pine siskin (small European birds) |
| pine mouse. | N. A. voles |
| pine nut. | Edible seed of certain pines such as the piñon nut |
| pinery. | Pineapple, hothouse or plantation. |
| pinesap. | Fleshy white sparophyte. |
| pine siskin. | N. A. finch. |
| pinetum. | Area planted with pine trees or related conifers. |
| pinite. | Amorphous aluminum and potassium silicate. |
| pink. | A sailing vessel. |
| pink-root. | Root once used as vermifuge. |
| pink root. | Fungal onion disease. |
| pinna. | 1. Leaflets of a pinnate leaf. 2. Feather, wing, pin. 3. Ear, auricle. Gr.: pinna, (feather). |
| pinnatilid. | Pnnately-cleft lobes (e. g., leaves) |
| pinnatisect. | Divided nearly to the midrib. |
| pinniped. | Walruses and similar animals.- "feather-foot". |
| pinnule. | Leaflets of a pinnately-compound leaf; a feather-like or plume-like organ |
| pinocytosis. | Cell takes on fluids by invaginating, forming vesicles. |
| pinote. | Ground corn or wheat meal and mesquite beans. |
| pinta. | Contagious spirochete skin disease caused by spirochetes, thickening, spots. |
| pintail. | Duck. |
| pintano. | Dark-banded fish. |
| pintle. | Rudder, gun carriage pin. |
| Pinyin. | system for translating Chinese ideograms into Roman alphabet (katakana, hiragana). |
| piolet. | mountain-climbing ice axe. |
| piosity. | Ostentatious or exaggerated devoutness. |
| pip. | Fruit seed; something remarkable of its kind ("It's a pip!") |
| pip. | To break through a shell (hatchling). |
| pip. | Dot on dominoes (ace); rootstock of flowers; shoulderboard; radar signal. |
| pip. | A bird disease. |
| pipit | Songbird. |
| pipkin. | Earthenware or metal cooking pot. |
| pippin. | Apple; seed of fruit; admired person or thing. "She was a pippin!" |
| piracuru. | Arapaima. |
| pirog. | Russian pastry stuffed with meat, fish, eggs, or cabbage (like a pita). |
| piroshki. | Small Russian pastry made with meat or cabbage filling. |
| pis aller. | Last resort. (dernier) |
| piscary. | Right to fish in someone else's waters; fishery. (See "terbary") |
| pisciculture. | Fish-farming. |
| piscina. | Stone basin for ablutions. |
| pishoge. | Black magic, witchcraft,; evil spell. |
| pisiform. | Pea-like; small bone at juncture of ulna and the wrist. |
| pisolite. | A small, round, accretionary limestone mass. |
| pissant. | A stickler for petty details. |
| pissoir. | A public urinal on the streets of Paris. |
| pistareen. | 18th C. African/West Indian silver coin. |
| pistole. | Old European gold coin. |
| pita. | Plant with strong fiber; fibrous pineapple; fiber thus obtained (paper) |
| pitchstone. | Volcanic glass. |
| pituicyte. | Modified neuroglia cell of the posterior lobe of the pituitary. |
| pituitous. | Pertaining to mucus. |
| pithriasis. | Epidermal shedding of flaky scales. - desquamation. (See "phthiriasis") |
| piu. | "More" (mus.). (bise, de trop). |
| pix. | Plural of pyx. |
| pizzle. | Animal's penis, whip made from same. |
| placer. | Glacial or alluvial deposit of gravel containing eroded particles of valuable minerals; place where a placer deposit is washed. |
| placket. | Slit in a dress, blouse, or skirt to make it easier to put on; skirt pocket. |
| placoid. | Plate-like (sharks, skates and rays hard, tooth-like scales). |
| plagal. | Designating a medieval mode having a range from the fourth below to the fifth above its final tone; cadence with the subdominant chord preceding the tonic chord. |
| plagiotropism. | Tendency to grow at an oblique or horizontal angle. |
| plaguy. | Bothersome. |
| plaice. | Flatfish. |
| plain-laid. | Rope made with three strands, tied together with a right-hand twist. |
| Plain People. | Mennonites, Amish, or Dunkers. |
| plainsong. | Gregorian chant. bodies of medieval, a capella liturgical music sans meter |
| planarian. | Flatworm |
| planation. | Lateral erosion, as a valley, by a running stream. |
| planchette. | Ouija board |
| plangent. | Deep and reverberating; loud and resounding; plaintive, expressing sadness. |
| plankter. | Individual in plankton. |
| plantigrade. | Walking with entire bottom of foot on ground, like humans and bears. |
| planula. | Free-swimming larva of a coelenterate. |
| plash. | Light splash. |
| plasma cell. | Produces immunoglobulins. |
| plasmagel. | Near surface of amoeba. |
| plasmagene. | A self-reproducing structure like the mitochondria. |
| plasmid. | Genetic unit found outside nucleus in some bacteria. |
| plasmin. | Dissolves fibrin and clotting factors in blood. |
| plasmodesma. | Strand of living cytoplasm connecting two cells. |
| plasmodium. | protozoan that causes malaria. Naked, multi-nucleate mass of protoplasm (slime molds). |
| plasmosome. | Nucleolus. |
| plastid. | Cytoplasmic structures in plant cells having various functions. |
| plastomer. | Tough, hard polymers, such as acrylate resin. |
| plastron. | Breastplate worn under suit of mail; fencers' breastplate; trimming on the front of a bodice;' front of a man's dress shirt; surface of turtle shell. |
| plat. | To plait or braid. |
| platinoid. | Alloy of copper, nickel, tungsten, and zinc used in electric coils; osmium, iridium, or palladium. |
| platy. | Soils or minerals occurring in flaky layers. |
| platy. | Colorful aquarium fish. |
| platyhelminth. | Tapeworm or planarian. |
| platyrine. | Having a broad, flat nose, as in certain monkeys. ("flat-yrene") |
| plausive. | Applauding," plaudatory".. |
| playa. | Nearly level area at the bottom of a desert basin. May be inundated. |
| pleach. | To plait, making a hedge or arbor. |
| pleasance. | Pleasure or source of pleasure; secluded garden. |
| plecoptern. | Stonefly. Gr.: plekein, (to braid).+ pteron, (wing). |
| plectognath. | Triggerfishes, puffers, and trunkfishes. Gr.: plekto, (twisted). |
| plectrum. | Guitar or lute pick. |
| pleiotaxy. | Increase in number of whorls in an inflorescence Gr.: pleion, (more). |
| pleiotropism. | Single gene controls or determines more than one characteristic function. |
| plenary indulgence. | Remits full temporal punishment incurred by a sinner. |
| plench. | Zero-G gripping, turning, and pulling hand tool. |
| pleochroism. | Crystals that exhibit different colors when viewed along different axes. |
| pleomorphism. | Polymorphism; occurrence of two or more structural forms during a life cycle. |
| pleonasm. | Verbal redundancy |
| pleopod. | A swimmeret (abdominal appendages of shrimps, lobsters, and isopods for locomotion or respiration). |
| plerocercoid. | Infective larva of tapeworms - Gr.: pleres, (full) + kerkes, (tail). |
| plethysmograph. | Measures size variations of organs based upon blood engorgement |
| pleura. | Lung sac reducing friction. - Gr.: pleura, (side). |
| pleuron. | External, lateral body part of arthropods. |
| pleuropneumonia. | Pneumonia aggravated by pleurisy. |
| pleurotomy. | Cutting into the Pleura. |
| pleuston. | Floating plants. |
| plexiform. | Shaped like a plexus. |
| plexor. | Rubber reflex hammer. |
| plica. | Fold or ridge; matted and encrusted state of the hair. |
| plimsoll. | Sneaker. |
| plinth. | slab at base of column; square where horizontal and vertical. moldings meet; continuous course of stone supporting a wall; square base for a vase. |
| plisse. | Puckered cloth texture from caustic soda treatment; fabric so treated. |
| ploidy. | Multiple set of chromosomes. |
| plosion. | Articulation of a plosive sound such as p in lop or d in adorn. |
| plumbago. | Graphite; leadwort |
| plumb rule. | Narrow strip of wood with a plumb line and a plumb bob. |
| plum duff. | Flour pudding with raisins, boiled in a cloth bag. |
| plummy. | Filled with plums. choice, desirable. |
| plumose. | Having plumes. |
| plumule. | Rudimentary bud of plant embryo; down feather. (See "gemmule") |
| pluperfect. | had been gone |
| pluralism. | Numerous religious or cultural groups coexist within one nation; holding more than one office, especially ecclesiastical benefices, at a time; reality is composed of many ultimate substances; belief that no one explanatory system can describe it all. |
| pluralize. | To hold more than one ecclesiastical benefice or position at a time. |
| plus fours. | Loose knickers bagging below the knees (for sports) |
| plus ca change plus le meme chose. | "The more things change, the more they remain the same." |
| pluvial. | Pertaining to rain. |
| pneumothorax. | Accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity. |
| pochard. | European duck. |
| poco curante. | Indifferent, apathetic. |
| pocosin. | Swamp in a upland coastal region. |
| podite. | Limb segment of an arthropod. |
| podzol. | Leached soil formed in cool, humid climates. |
| podophilin. | Cathartic from dried root of May-apple. |
| podzolization. | Process by which soils are leached of bases and become acidic. |
| poetaster. | Inferior poet. |
| pogonia. | Terrestrial orchids. |
| pogonip. | Dense fog of suspended ice particles. (Mountain valleys) |
| pogy. | Menhaden. (See "porgy") |
| poi. | Hawaiian food made of taro root, cooked pounded to a paste, and fermented. |
| poikilotherm. | Cold-blooded. |
| poilu. | French front-line soldier in WWI. |
| poise. | Dynamic viscosity. |
| polder. | Area of low-lying land reclaimed from a body of water (Netherlands). |
| polecat. | Carnivorous Eurasian or African mammal with dark brown or black fur. |
| policlinic | Outpatient department. |
| politesse. | Courteous formality, politeness. |
| pollard. | Tree pruned back to the trunk; de-horned animal. |
| pollex. | The innermost forelimb digit, thumb. "hallux". |
| polliniferous. | Producing pollen; adapted for carrying pollen. |
| pollineum. | A mass of pollen grains, as in milkweed. |
| pollinosis. | Allergic reaction to pollen. |
| pollock. | Food fish. |
| polychaete. | Marine worms with bristle locomotion. |
| polyconic projection. | Equal distances between meridians along every parallel equal to those distances on a globe. Parallels are arcs of circles. |
| polydactyl. | Having more than the normal number of fingers or toes. |
| polydipsia. | Abnormal thirst. |
| polygala. | Milkwort. |
| polygene. | Set of cooperating genes, each producing a small effect. |
| polygenesis. | Derivation of a species or type from more than one ancestor. |
| polygonum. | Plants with knot-like joints. |
| polymastigote. | Tuftlike arrangement of flagella - poly, (many) + mastigos, (whip). |
| polymorphism. | Different forms, stages, or color types in an individual or the species; crystallization of a compound in at least two distinct forms. |
| polymyxin. | Mainly toxic antibiotics. |
| Polynices. | Son of Oedipus for whom an expedition against Thebes was raised. |
| polynya. | Large open area of water surrounded by sea ice. |
| polypary. | Framework and base of a polyp colony, esp. coral. - Lat.: parere, (to give birth). |
| polypeptide. | Contains between 10 and 100 peptides. |
| polypetalous. | Separate petals. |
| polyphagia. | Pathological desire to eat. |
| polyphagous. | Feeding on a variety of foods (See "polytrophic") |
| polyphone. | Written character having two or more phonetic values, such as "a". |
| polyploid. | Having more than twice the normal chromosome number |
| polypnea. | Panting, very rapid breathing. |
| polypod. | Having numerous feet. |
| polypody. | Has creeping rootstocks. (See "tiller", "sarmentose", "stolon") |
| polypore. | Pore fungus. |
| polyprotic. | Acid with two or more replaceable H ions in each molecule. |
| polyptych. | Decorated altarpiece or panel with 3 or more hinged sections that can be folded together. Gr.: ptuke, (fold). ("diptych", "triptych") |
| polysepalous. | Separate sepals. |
| polysorbate. | Emulsifier. |
| polystichous. | Two or more rows or series. Gr.: stikhos, (row), |
| polysyndeton. | Repetition of connectives or conjunctions for rhetorical effect. |
| polytocous. | Producing many ova or offspring at a time. - Gr.: tokos, (offspring). |
| polytonality. | Two or more tonalities in a composition. |
| polytrophic. | Eating various types of organic material; Excessive nutrition. |
| polyuria. | Excessive urination. |
| polyzoan. | Bryozoan. |
| polyzoarium. | Bryozoan colony or supporting structure. |
| polyzoic. | Colony of zooids. |
| pomace. | Pulp, esp., apple pulp. |
| pomander. | Nosegay. |
| pomelo. | Grapefruit. (See "tangelo") |
| Pompeian red. | Grayish to moderate red. |
| pompelmous. | The shaddock. |
| pongee. | Chinese or Indian silk with knotty weave. (Congee is permission to depart). |
| poniard. | Dagger. |
| pons asinorum. | Problem that severely tests a rookie's skill. |
| pons varoli. | The nerve band connecting medulla oblongata and mesencephalon below the cerebellum. |
| pontifex. | Member of Pontifical College, headed by Pontifex Maximus. |
| pontil. | Punty (glass rod used in glass-making). |
| Pont I'Eveque. | Whole milk cheese. |
| pontonier. | In charge of building pontoon bridges. |
| poori. | A deep-fat-fried, light, flat wheat cake (Pakistan and N. India). |
| popple. | Sound made by boiling water. ; to move in a tossing, bubbling, or rippling manner. |
| popple. | Poplar. |
| porbeagle. | Shark. (See "basking shark", "mako, "tope") |
| porgy. | Marine fish. (See "pogy") |
| poriferous. | Having pores.; sponge phylum. ("osculum") |
| poromeric. | Tough leather substitute. |
| porphyria. | Photosensitivity and excretion of porphyrins in urea. |
| porphyrin. | nitrogenous compounds occurring in protoplasm. Basis for hemoglobins, chlorophyll, and certain enzymes. |
| porphyritic. | Containing large, isolated crystals in a fine-textured rock. |
| porphyroid. | Metamorphic rock having porphyritic texture. |
| porphyry. | Same thing (feldspar in igneous matrix.). |
| porringer. | shallow cup or bowl with a handle (for eating porridge?). |
| port. | Carry weapon diagonally across the body. |
| portal vein. | Carries blood from GI tract, spleen, pancreas, and gall bladder to the liver.. |
| portamento. | Smooth glide from one note to another, with the voice of a bowed, stringed instrument. (See "glissando"). |
| portative. | Portable. |
| Porte. | Government of the Ottoman Empire. |
| portecochere. | Carriage entrance leading into the courtyard of a town house; roofed entrance. |
| portiere. | Heavy curtain across a doorway. |
| portmanteau word. | Word formed by combining sound and meaning of two words: "slithy' from lithe and slimy, chortle from chuckle and snort. |
| Port Salut. | Semi-hard fermented cheese (Trappist monks). (See "Port L'Eveque") |
| posigrade. | Auxiliary rocket: thrust in direction of motion. |
| posset. | spice drink of hot, sweetened milk, curdled with wine or ale. |
| postaxial. | Behind an axis of the body, esp., posterior to the fibula or the ulna. |
| postcava. | Inferior vena cava (right atrium of the heart). |
| poste restante. | "Hold at Post Office until claimed by addressee". |
| postern. | Small rear gate of fort or castle. (See "lich gate") |
| postexilian. | Following Babylonian captivity (586 B. C.) |
| postiche. | Hairpiece, toupee. |
| postilion. | One who rides the near horse of the leaders to guide the coach. (See "pillion") |
| postobit. | Taking effect after someone's death. |
| postorbital. | Behind the eye. |
| potation. | drinking; a drink, esp. alcoholic. |
| potatory. | Bibulous. |
| potaufeu. | Meat and vegetables. |
| poteen. | Bootleg Irish whiskey. |
| potentilla. | Garden valerian. |
| pother. | Commotion , disturbance; nervous activity; choking smoke or dust. |
| potiche. | Round or polygonal jar, tapering at neck, with removable cover. |
| potlatch. | Ceremonial N. W. feast with gift-giving. |
| pottage. | Thick soup or stew of vegetables and sometimes, meat. |
| potstone. | Impure steatite used for cooking vessels. |
| potter wasp. | Pot-shaped nests. |
| pottie. | Two-quart pot or drinking mug. |
| potto. | African primates, wooly hair. |
| Pott's disease. | Tuberculosis-induced vertebral bone degeneration causing deformity. |
| potty. | Trivial; slightly inebriated; addlebrained. |
| pouilly-fuisse. | Dry, white Burgundy. Pr.: "poo-yee-fwah-say" |
| poulard. | Spayed hen (for fattening). (See "capon") |
| poult. | Young fowl, esp. a turkey. |
| poulterer. | Poultry dealer. |
| poulter's measure. | couplet: 12 syllables followed by 14. "Few extra eggs". |
| pounce. | fine powder to smooth writing paper and to soak up ink; fine powder such as charcoal dusted over a surface to transfer a design to an underlying surface. |
| pounce. | To ornament metal by perforating from the back with a pointed implement. |
| pouncel box. | Small perfume box with perforated lid. |
| pouboire. | Cumshaw. |
| pourparler. | conversation preliminary to negotiation. Pr.: "poor-par-lay". |
| pour point. | Lowest pourable temperature. |
| pousse-café. | Drink with different-colored layers; postprandial brandy with coffee. Pr.: "poos-kah-fay". |
| poussette. | Square dance figure in which two couples join hands and dance around the floor. |
| powdery mildew. | 1. The fungus. 2. The plant disease. |
| pozzuolana. | Siliceous volcanic ash used to make hydraulic cement. |
| pram. | Flat-bottomed boat or barge; snub-nosed dinghy. |
| praedial. | Land or its products; attached to land or landed property - "praedial serfs" - Lat.: praes, (surety). |
| preamuniere. | Appealing to or obeying a foreign court, in defiance of the Crown. |
| praenomen. | First or given name (as opposed to surname, cognomen or family name). |
| pragmatics. | Branch of semiotics concerned with relations between signs or expressions and their users. |
| pragmatic sanction. | Edict issued by sovereign that becomes part of the law of the land. |
| prajna. | Enlightenment. Pure and unqualified knowledge. |
| priarie oyster. | Raw egg swallowed whole (cure for hangover). |
| pralltriller. | Trill. |
| prandial. | Relating to a meal. |
| prank. | To decorate ostentatiously. (See "prink", "titivate") |
| prat. | The buttocks. "To fall on your prat." |
| pratincole. | Old World fork-tailed bird. |
| pratique. | Ship clearance after quarantine. |
| paxiology. | Study of human conduct. |
| praxis. | Practical application; common practice. |
| prebend. | Clergyman's stipend, drawn from church endowment. |
| prebendary. | Anglican churchman who receives title with the stipend. |
| precatory. | Relating to entreaty or supplication.. to adjure (de-precatory). |
| precava. | Superior vena cava. |
| precentor. | Director of church choir. |
| preceptor. | Teacher. |
| procession of the equinoxes. | Slow westward precession of the equinoctial points along the plane of the ecliptic at rate of 50.27 seconds/year, (precession of earth's axis). |
| preciosity. | Extreme meticulousness or over-refinement (as in language). |
| precipitin. | Antibody that reacts with an antigen to cause a precipitate. |
| precipitinogen. | Antigen that induces specific precipitin. |
| precis. | Concise summary. |
| precisan. | Puritan, punctilious person. |
| precocial. | Birds covered with down and capable of moving around when first hatched. |
| preconcert. | Agree in advance. |
| predicate nominative. | Noun or pronoun that follows linking verb and refers to the same person or thing as the verb. |
| predicatory. | Pertaining to preaching or a preacher. |
| preexilian. | Jewish history before the Babylonian exile. |
| prefect. | Roman magistrates or administrators; head of prefecture or chief of police; Jesuit dean; private school student officer. |
| preferment. | Promotion; higher opening. |
| prefigure. | To suggest by an antecedent form or model. |
| prelapsarian. | Before the Fall of Man. |
| prelect. | To lecture in public. |
| premaxilla. | Between maxillary bones in upper jaw of vertebrates. |
| premillenialnism. | Christ's second coming will be immediately followed by the Millenium. |
| premolar. | One of 8 bicuspids behind canines and in front of molars. |
| premorse. | Abruptly truncated, as though bitten or broken off. |
| premunition. | Relative immunity to a severe infection as a result of inducing a low-grade. |
| prepense. | Premeditated. "pre-pensive". |
| prepotent. | Greater in power, influence , or importance; predominant. |
| prescind. | To separate or divide in thought. |
| prescriptive. | 1. Sanctioned by long-standing usage. 2. Making injunctions, laws, or rules. 3. Law: Acquired through uninterrupted possession. il comme faut. |
| present participle. | infinitive + "ing". |
| present perfect. | |
| "He has spoken". | |
| presidio. | Spanish fortress established in S. W. U. S. |
| press board. | Heavy glazed paper or pasteboard covering platen or cylinder of printing press; a small ironing board. |
| pressmark. | Mark showing Dewey Decimal category for a book; insignia of press. |
| press of sail. | All the sail she can take. |
| pressor. | Causing an increase in blood pressure. |
| pressure point. | Where artery runs near bone. |
| Prester John. | Legendary: Far East or Ethiopia. |
| pretissimo. | As fast as she goes. |
| presto. | In rapid tempo; suddenly, at once. |
| preterit. | Verb tense, form, verb that expresses past or completed action or condition. as in "did", "have done". |
| preterition. | Passing by, disregarding or omitting; neglecting to mention a legal heir in a will; Calvin: God neglected to mention those who would be permanently damned, positively determining only the elect. |
| pretermit. | To intentionally disregard, or to allow to pass unnoticed or unmentioned; to fail to do or to omit; to interrupt or terminate. |
| prevenient. | Antecedent; anticipatory. |
| priapic. | Phallic. |
| Priapus. | Roman god of procreation, guardian of gardens and vineyards, personification of an erect phallus; used as a scarecrow. |
| pricket. | Small point or spike for holding candle erect; buck his 2nd year before his horns branch. |
| priedieu. | Low desk with a book-space above and a foot-piece for kneeling in prayer. |
| primary atypical pneumonia. | Virus-induced mild pneumonia. |
| primavera. | S. A. tree used for cabinetwork. - as in "aloe vera". |
| primero. | An Elizabethan card game. |
| primipara. | A woman pregnant for the first time - Lat.: prima, (first) + parere (to give birth). |
| primo. | Principal part in a duet or ensemble. |
| primordium. | First recognizable, histologically differentiated stage in the development of an organ. |
| primum motile. | The tenth and outermost sphere of the universe thought to revolve around the earth every 24 hours and to cause the other 9 spheres to revolve with it; a prime mover. |
| princess royal. | Eldest princess. |
| principal parts. | Primary forms of a verb from which other forms may be derived: present infinitive (play, eat), past tense (played, ate), and the present participle (playing, eating). |
| prink. | To adorn oneself in a showy manner. (See "prank, titivate"). |
| printer's devil. | Printer's apprentice. |
| prior. | 1. In charge of a priory, ranking second to abbot. 2. Ruling magistrate of Florence. |
| prisere. | The succession of vegetation that occurs in a previously unoccupied area as it passes from barren earth or water to a climax community. (See "sere") |
| prismoid. | polygons with the same number of sides as bases, faces that are parallelograms or trapezoids. |
| prison fever. | Typhus. |
| privatism. | Noncommittal, or involved only in one's own interests. (See "realpolitik") |
| privet. | shrub. |
| prix fie. | Table d'hôte. Price of table d'hôte meal. |
| proa. | Swift Malayan sailboat with triangular sail and one outrigger. |
| probang. | Long flexible rod with a sponge on the end used to remove foreign bodies from the larynx or the esophagus. |
| procambium. | Undifferentiated plant cells from which the vascular tissue is formed. |
| procephalic. | Near front of head. |
| procéverbal. | Detailed official record, e. g., of diplomatic proceedings. |
| proclitic. | Forming an accentual unit with the following word, and thus having no independent accent.; a proclitic word. |
| Procne. | Philomela's sister and betrayed wife of Tereus. Changed into nightingale before Tereus could kill her. |
| procryptic. | Has natural camouflage. "apatetic". |
| proctitis. | Guess! |
| procumbent. | Trailing along the ground. |
| procurator. | Has power of attorney; Emperor's financial agent or lesser governor. |
| prodrome. | A symptom of the onset of a disease. |
| proem. | Short introduction, preface. - prolegomenon |
| proglottid. | Segment of a tapeworm. |
| prognathous. | Projecting jaws. |
| projective geometry. | Geometrical properties that are invariant under a projective transformation. |
| prokaryote. | bacterium or blue-green algae whose nucleus lacks a limiting membrane. |
| prolamine. | Simple proteins found in wheat and rye. |
| prolan. | Gonadotropic hormone used to test for cyesis. |
| proleg. | Stubby limbs on caterpillars. |
| prolegomenon. | Critical introduction. |
| prolepsis. | Anticipating and answering an objection before it has been voiced; use of a descriptive word in anticipation of circumstances that would make it applicable. |
| prolusion. | Preliminary exercise; essay written as preface to a more detailed work. |
| pronate. | To turn the palm downward or backward. |
| pronator. | The forearm muscle that effects pronation. |
| pronephros. | primitive kidney that disappears early in embryonic development. |
| pronucleus. | Haploid nucleus of a gametosome prior to fusion. |
| propaedeutic | Providing introductory instruction. |
| propend. | To have a propensity toward. |
| properdin. | Natural protein in blood that helps provide immunity to infectious disease. |
| prophage. | noninfectious association between a bacterial virus and a bacterium in which the viral chromosomes link with bacterial chromosomes but don't cause bacterial cell disruption or promote replication of the virus. |
| prophase. | First stage in cell division, during which chromosomes form the chromatin of the nucleus. |
| proplastid. | Precursor of a cell plastid. |
| propositus. | Person from whom one can trace one's immediate line of descent; Person immediately affected by an action. |
| proprioception. | Inner sensory perception. |
| proptosis. | Forward displacement of an organ, particularly the eyeball. |
| propylaeum. | Entrance or vestibule to temple or group of buildings. |
| propylon. | A propylaeum. |
| prosaism. | Prosaic style. (straightforward). |
| prosciutto. | Aged, dry-cured Italian ham. Ready to eat and usually sliced thin. |
| prosencephalon. | Forebrain. |
| prosenchyma. | Elongated, unspecialized cells, found in most flowering plants. |
| Proserpine. | Pluto's wife, Ceres' daughter, and queen of the underworld. |
| prosimians. | Lemurs, tarsiers, and lorises. |
| prosti. | Drinking toast. |
| prosody. | Study of metrical forms of verse; a particular system of verification. |
| prosoma. | Anterior body of invertebrate when primitive segmentation is not evident. |
| prosopopeia. | Impersonation of absent or imaginary speaker; Personification. |
| prostomium. | Portion of mollusks and annelids heads' in front of their mouths. |
| prostyle. | Row of columns only along the front. |
| protamine. | a group of the simplest proteins that are highly basic, soluble in water, not coagulated by heat, and yield only amino acids, chiefly arginine. |
| protanopia. | Color blindness in which red and bluish-green are confused with neural stimuli and with each other. |
| protasis. | Subordinate clause, particularly in conditional sentence; The introductory part of a classical drama. |
| proteus. | bacilliform gram-negative bacteria. Some can case enteritis. |
| prothalamion. | Epithalamium. - Gr, epi, (upon) + thalamium, (bridal chamber). |
| prothallus. | Small, flat mass of tissue produced by a generating spore. Eventually develops into a small plant. |
| prothesis. | Addition of a phoneme at the beginning of a word to form a new word or to ease pronunciation of the word. |
| protonotary. | Principle law clerk in certain courts of law; one of a college of 12 ecclesiastics who register important documents; a chief scribe. "First Notary" |
| prothonotary warbler. | deep-yellow head and grayish wings. |
| protist. | Protozoans, algae, bacteria, and other forms not readily classified as plant or animal. |
| protium. | Hydrogen one. |
| protoderm. | Dermatogen. |
| protolithic. | Very beginning of the Stone Age. |
| protonema. | Green' threadlike embryo that arises from a moss spore. |
| protopathic. | Gross cutaneous sensory perception of pressure, pain, heat, or cold. |
| protoplast. | Prototype. |
| protoporphyrin. | Metal-free porphyrin derived from blood hemin. |
| prototrophic. | Eats inorganics. |
| protozoology. | Protozoans. |
| protrusile. | Can stick it forward like the tongue. |
| provenance. | Place of origin, derivation. |
| provenience. | Source of something. |
| provetriculous. | Stomach division in front of the gizzard in birds; same in insects |
| provisory. | Depending on a proviso. |
| provitamin. | Pre-vitamin. |
| provost court. | Trial of minor offenses in occupied territory. |
| provost marshall. | Head of M P's.; naval officer responsible for court martials. |
| pruinose. | Having white powdery covering or bloom. - "pulverulent". |
| prunella. | Strong, heavy fabric of worsted twill. Shoe uppers, clerical robes, academic gowns. |
| prunelle. | Brownish, sloe-flavored French liqueur. |
| prurient. | Obsessed with sex. |
| prurigo. | Chronic skin eruption and severe itching. |
| pruritis. | Severe itching, usually of undamaged skin. |
| prutah. | Israeli currency. |
| pasimody. | Singing psalms; composing/arranging psalms; Collection of psalms. |
| Psalter. | Book of Psalms, musical setting for, or selection of. |
| psalterium. | Th omasum. |
| psaltery. | Ancient stringed instruments plucked by fingers or with plectrum. |
| psephology. | Study of elections. |
| pseudepigrapha. | spurious "Biblical" writings; Jewish religious texts spuriously attributed to Hebrew prophets and kings. |
| pseudocarp. | An accessory fruit. |
| pseudocoel. | Body cavity not formed by gastrulation and lacking a mesodermal lining. |
| pseudomonad. | Virgate plant and animal pathogens. |
| pseudopodium. | Amoeba. |
| psilocybin. | Hallucinogen. |
| psittacine. | Pertaining to parrots. |
| psychedelia. | LSD subculture. |
| psychodrama. | Therapeutic drama. |
| psychograph. | Psychological profile; psychobiology. |
| psychotechnics. | Practical applications of psychology. |
| psychomimetic. | Inducing symptoms of a psychotic state; a psychomimetic agent. |
| psychrometer. | Hygrometer. |
| psychrophilic. | Thriving at temperatures below 15° |
| pteridology. | Study of ferns. |
| pteridophyte. | Ferns, club mosses and horsetails. |
| pterocercoid. | Infective larva of tapeworms. |
| pteropod. | Wing-like expanded lobes of the foot. |
| pterygoid. | processes in skull attached like wings to the sphenoid bone (wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull). |
| ptisan. | A slightly medicated infusion, such as barley water. |
| ptosis. | Abnormal lowering of organ: drooping of eyelid. |
| plyalin. | Salivary enzyme converting starch into maltose and dextrins. |
| plyalism. | Excessive salivation. |
| puberulent. | Covered with minute hairs or very fine down. |
| pubis. | Forward juncture of the pelvic bones forming the front arch of the pelvis. |
| publican. | Innkeeper; Roman tax collector. |
| puccon. | Dye-yielding plants. |
| puce. | deep red to dark-grayish purple. |
| pudding stone. | A conglomerate. |
| puddle duck. | A dabbler. |
| pudency. | Modesty. |
| puerpural. | Connected with childbirth. |
| pug. | Clay ground with water for forming bricks and pottery; machine for same. |
| pug. | Animal footprint, track or trail. |
| puggree. | Cloth band or scarf around hat or pith helmet. |
| puisne. | Lower in rank, junior. Associate judge. |
| puissance. | Force, power, might. |
| pukka. | Genuine. First-class. |
| puli. | Hungarian long-haired sheep dog. |
| pullorum disease. | Severe contagious diarrhea of young chickens. caused by salmonella pullorum. |
| pullulate. | To put forth sprouts, germinate; to swarm. |
| pulque. | Fermented, milky Mexican beverage made from agave. |
| pulsatile. | Pulsating, vibrating. |
| pulsometer. | Raises water by pulsed condensation of steam. |
| pulverulant. | Covered with fine powder or dust; Dusty, crumbly. |
| pulvillus. | Soft, cushion-like pads between the claws of an insect's feet. |
| pulvinate. | A swelling of the stem at the base of a leafstalk. |
| puncheon. | Short, wooden upright used in framing. |
| puncheon. | 18-gallon cask. "firkin". |
| punch-up . | Fist fight. |
| punctate. | Having tiny spots, points or depressions. |
| punctilio. | Fine point of etiquette; Precise observance of formalities. |
| pung. | A low box sleigh drawn by one horse. |
| punkah. | Palm frond fan suspended from ceiling and moved by a servant. |
| punty. | Molten-glass-handling rod. |
| pupierous. | Producing young that are ready to pupate (parasitic flies). |
| Purim. | Jewish holiday celebrating deliverance of Jews from Haman's massacre. |
| Purkinje cell. | Nerve cells of cerebellar cortex with large, rounded cell bodies. |
| Purkinje fibers. | Large, modified cardiac muscle fibers comprising cardiac impulse conducting system of the heart. |
| purl. | To knit with purl stitch. Edge with lace or embroidery; inversion of a knit stitch; gold or silver used in embroidery. |
| purlieu. | Outskirts; Neighboring area. Place that one frequents. "Exurbs". |
| purse seine. | Purse-shaped fishing net. |
| purslane. | Trailing weed sometimes used in salads. |
| pursuivant. | Follower or attendant; officer ranking below a herald in College of Heralds. |
| pussley. | Purslane. |
| putamen. | Hard, shell-like covering like peach seed covering. |
| Potonghua. | Mandarin. |
| put-out. | batter/base runner is out. |
| puttee. | Spiral-wound strip of cloth around calves. |
| puttyroot. | N. A, orchid with sticky corm used for cement. |
| put-up. | Planned or prearranged secretly. "a put-up job". |
| pycnidium. | Spore-bearing, flask-shaped, asexual, fruiting body. |
| pycnometer. | Measures density or specific gravity. Gr.: puknes, (thick). |
| pyelitis. | Pyelonephritis. |
| pyelonephritis. | Inflammation of both the kidney and its pelvis.- Gr.: puelas, (basin). |
| pygidium. | Posterior body region of some arthropods. |
| pygmean. | pygmy. |
| Pygmalion. | A king of Cyprus who carved and then fell in love with a statue of Galatea. |
| pyknic. | Endomorphic. Chubby. |
| pyo-. | pus. |
| pyralids. | Small or medium-sized moths. |
| Pyramus. | Babylonian youth who committed suicide when he erroneously thought his lover was dead. |
| pyrargyrite. | Deep-red to black silver ore - Gr.: pur, (fire) + arguros, (silver) |
| pyrene. | Stone of certain fruits. |
| pyrethrum. | Plants cultivated for showy flowers. |
| pyrexia. | Fever. |
| pyric. | Pertaining to burning. |
| pyriform. | Pear-shaped - Lat.: pyrum, (pear) |
| pyrogenic. | Producing or produced by fever. Caused by or generating heat. Igneous. |
| pyrography. | Producing designs with a hot iron. |
| pyrolusite. | Black dark-gray manganese ore. |
| pyromorphite. | Green, brown, or yellow lead ore. - "fire-formed". |
| prope. | Deep-red garnet. |
| pyrophoric. | Spontaneously igniting in air. Producing sparks by friction. |
| pyrophyllite. | Silvery-white to pale-green aluminum silicate. |
| pyrosis. | Cardialgia, heartburn. |
| pyroxene. | Group of crystalline mineral silicates common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and containing two metallic oxides as of sodium, magnesium, iron, or calcium. |
| pyroxenite. | Igneous rock consisting primarily of pyroxenes. |
| pyroxylin. | highly flammable nitrocellulose used in plastics manufacture. |
| pyrrhic. | Greek metrical foot consisting of two short syllables. |
| pyrrholite. | Naturally-occurring brownish-bronze iron sulfide. |
| pyrhuloxia. | Crested gray and red S. W. bird with short, thick bill. |
| pyruvic acid. | Fundamental intermediate in protein and carbohydrate metabolism. |
| Pythgoreanism. | syncretistic philosophy: description of reality in terms of mathematical relationships. |
| Pythian. | Pertaining to oracle at Delphi. |
| Pythias. | Offered his life as hostage for Damon. |
| pythonic. | Pertaining to pythons |
| pyuria. | Pus in urine. |
| pyx. | Container in which wafers for Eucharist are kept. |
| pyxie. | Creeping evergreen shrub |
| pyxidium. | A pyxis. |
| pyxis. | Seed with circular lid that falls off to release seeds. |