portentous

->For example, in a movie ominous music playing in the background while someone turns a dark corner can have a portentous quality, predicting doom for the hapless character
->Roberts’ portentous silence left no sign as to where he was leaning on the case.

posterity

->Posterity will judge our generation harshly for having been responsible for depletions of rhinos, black lechwes and other species.

potent

potentate

pragmatic

preamble

precarious

1. This is a precarious situation as we face the highest levels of food demand in history.
2.a precarious truce

precedent

(People often refer to a precedent later on as a reference point for how things should be)
->A teacher who lets kids chew gum is setting a precedent that gum-chewing will be OK in the future.

precocious

->a precocious achievement

predominance

->The musical is the one area in which America hasn't lost its predominance

preponderance

-->a preponderance of evidence against the defendant
->the preponderance of good over evil
->the least preponderance in either pan will unbalance the scale
->the preponderance of Mother Nature motifs and organic materials

prerogative

->But it is within the prerogative of the District to make that disappointing choice.

prescience

prevalent
->You may never have seen those things before, and then suddenly they're prevalent.

prevaricate

(syn. equivocate, palter, tergiversate, beat-around-the-bush)
->go ahead and tell me whether you already knew that meaning, and don’t prevaricate about it — give me the story straight

privation
(Deprivation usually suggests that someone or something has actually caused the privation)
->nutritional privation
->Functioning societies require individuals who have courage, take risks, accept pain and privation, and think beyond conventions

prodigal

->also use this word to describe something that is very abundant or generous in quantity, such as prodigal praise
->prodigal in their expenditures

prodigious

->1. a prodigious storm
->2.the young Mozart's prodigious talents
->Cubans rival Southeast Asians as prodigious consumers of rice.

prognosticate

->Bush said he’s no pro at prognosticating basketball.
(a prediction that's actually thousands of years old.)

prolific

(often are relayed at biological terms)
->flying foxes are extremely prolific
->a prolific pear tree

prolix
(syn. less formal word choice try wordy, verbose, long-winded or drawn out.)
->a prolix lecturer telling you more than you want to know
->Hopkins, who is known for his prickly charm and prolix self-assessments

prominent ^

->a prominent citizen
->this theory is the most prominent feature of the book
->Baroness Scotland, the first ethnic minority attorney general, was another prominent appointment

propel

->Our passions are the winds that propel our vessel. Our reason is the pilot that steers her. Without winds the vessel would not move and without a pilot she would be lost.

propensity
(If you have a propensity for something, then it's something that comes naturally to you or something you just do a lot)

->Dogs have a propensity to bark, and many people have a propensity for getting annoyed by it.
->We humans tend to have a propensity to conform to our environments more than we’d probably like to admit

propitious

->a propitious alignment of planets for space exploration
->propitious gales speeded us along
->Propitious results have also been seen in bladder and kidney cancers
->If you believe in astrology, you might check your horoscope to settle on a propitious day for your wedding

propriety

->If she was pregnant, everyone would cover their mouths and gasp. She'd committed an impropriety
->The auditor general, if he takes up the case, can only review the financial propriety of the use of public funds.

prosaic

->For others, the job has become more prosaic.

prostrate
(Syn. prone*)
(Prostate is a gland found in male mammals)
->Howard retreated to Ridgewood and remained secluded there for months, prostrate with grief

proverbial

->her proverbial lateness
->the proverbial absentminded professor
->Through their easement of resistance from the market, heavily greased wheels can weaken those pushing the proverbial cart.

provocative

(is often used to describe actions or ways of dressing that cause sexual feelings)

prowess

->The best you can do is hope you have a wider face and then let your physical prowess speak for itself
->Yet if any region of the world could compete successfully with the United States in technological prowess, it would seem to be Europe

peurile

->I bet it took him 30 minutes to laboriously transcribe his puerile insult.
( if you hear someone talk about puerile toys, they may merely be remarking on the toys of childhood, but it is more likely they are discussing whoopee cushions, fake dog poo, and the like.)

pugilist

->Still, Mr. Warner, a former history teacher, has kept a pugilist’s resolve.
->Boxing is a naturally brutal sport; not all pugilists are naturally brutal.

pugnacious

-->Your brother is a pugnacious thug––always ready to use his fists to settle arguments, and he has the strength to do so.
->Over time, it has reduced the number of headlines about its pugnacious tendency to play rough with competitors.

puissant (pew-sant)

(Syn. forcible, mighty, strong, steady, unyielding, and vigorous.)
->Despite Mali, the sense that there is a French prerogative in Africa is not as puissant as it once was

pusillanimous

->Just read its pusillanimous "statement of support" for Sony in its hour of need.

zeal
(often used in a religious sense, meaning devotion to God or another religious cause, like being a missionary)
->1.The relentless zeal that pushed them to two early victories in the NBA finals has drained away.
2.-> they disliked his zeal in demonstrating his superiority

zenith

-> the high school quarterback hit his zenith in high school, and it was all downhill from there.

zany

->They trust me because a lot of the zany one-liners are straight from me because that’s the homework I did.

zest

("zest for life." means live their lives with a lot of flavor and gusto )
->The included lemon zest extracts are ideal if you only need the lightest exfoliation.

Zeitgeist

(Whatever seems particular to or symbolic of a certain time is likely part of its Zeitgeist.)
->Woodstock was part of the Zeitgeist of the 1960s.
->Here is a terror organization perfectly suited to the Zeitgeist, skilled in the art of delusion and technological legerdemain.

zephyr

zeugma

(Some literary experts distinguish a zeugma from a syllepsis by insisting that in a zeugma, only one of the two thoughts should make literal or grammatical sense)

->"She broke his car and his heart" is zeugma
->`Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave' is an example of zeugma

quack

quaff

(stuffing food,quaffing water)
->If you want to heal, you instead have to quaff blood flasks swiped from defeated enemies.

quaint *

->houses with quaint thatched roofs
->2.quaint dialect words
->3.came forth a quaint and fearful sight"- Sir Walter Scott
->As quaint as these might sound, the techniques are shockingly effective when multiplied by the staggering number of Filipino hands that employ them.

qualm
( Usually a qualm comes from doubt about an action and a feeling that you are doing, or are about to do, something wrong) (syn. misgivings)

->Walker suggested that he had qualms about drinking the water in other countries he had visited.
->qualms about lying to get into the over-18 dance club

quandary

(syn. predicament, dilemma, plight, and pickle -> choosing which word to use is a quandary in itself)

quantum

(Outside of physics, the word might be used with "not" to refer to something insignificant, as in "There's not a quantum of truth in what you say.")
->2. quantum leap
2.->There was a connection between Entertainment Studio to publishing with Quantum Break

quarry

-> 1. stag's heart is the best quarry for hunters
2. ->quarry marble stones

quash
(If something is quashed it is completely suppressed, usually by something or someone very powerful or authoritative)

->Russia quashed speculation;
->quashed revolution;

quay (kay)

queasy

->If you feel queasy during a flight, both meanings of the word can apply: you may be queasy — as in anxious — because you're afraid of flying. And you may also be queasy — as in sick to your stomach — as a result of the air turbulence

quell

(days quell is often used to mean "pacify," as in the police quelling an angry mob or a mom quelling a kid's temper tantrum.)
->quell my hunger
->The agents were attacked in an all-night riot that claimed two lives and was ultimately quelled by federal troops

quench

->3. quench steel
1.quenched his thirst

querulous

->It’s perfectly reasonable to make a query; just don’t be querulous if you don’t like the answer you get
->In fact, some querulous readers might even ask, “Are these people real?”

quibble

->"Let's not quibble over price," people will say, usually when they plan to gouge you

quiescent

->2.the quiescent level of centimeter wave-length solar radiation
->3. “a quiescent tumor”

quietude

->White noise has the curious, counterintuitive effect of making a room louder in order to cultivate a womblike sense of quietude.

quintessence

->Love, respect, and mutual support between spouses is the quintessence of marriage today.

quip

quisling

(Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician, volunteered to help the occupying Nazis rule Norway for Germany)

quiver *

->2.With each impact, the thousands of keys in their cabinets quiver on their pegs.
->4.They have a point; actually, they have a quiver full of them.

quixotic

quizzical

->he had a quizzical expression
->"his face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air"- Lawrence Durrell
->Their study revealed some interesting trends ranging from the obvious to the quizzical among young people coming of age in the travel industry.

quotidian

->By their very nature, black churches pose threats to white dominance in both quotidian and structural ways.
-> working or going to school,brushing your teeth are all quotidian

profligate

->The city that symbolizes Southern California luxury has come under fire in recent weeks as one of the state's most profligate water users.

herald

-> If you've been away from home for a long time, your family might herald your return, especially if you come bearing gifts
->A Grand Slam is so difficult that winning all four majors at any time in one’s career is a much heralded accomplishment itself.
3.->This paper might herald a new era in scientific reports.

Procrastinate
->He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days
->Many college students say they procrastinate because they do their best work under pressure.

masticate

->The cows were masticating the grass

equivocate

probity

->he enjoys an exaggerated reputation for probity
->in a world where financial probity may not be widespread
->Mr. Stephanopoulos projects choir boy decency and probity on camera, so he might have wanted to feel better about himself off the set.

peculate

->He knows how pedants hoodwink people, how priests act the hypocrite, how physicians act the rake, how lawyers peculate.

peremptory

->Each side will be given 23 peremptory strikes to excuse jurors without giving a reason.
->a peremptory decree
->gave peremptory commands

apt **

1.4.->"With his dark, brooding persona, actor Christian Bale is an apt Batman, and audiences are apt to come to the theatres in droves to see him fight villains."
-> teens are more apt to feel intensely and take risks without considering consequences

incongruity

->The result created an incongruity of the breast as a source of infant nutrition.

doting

droll

->a droll little man with a quiet tongue-in-cheek kind of humor

callous

->It’s a callous disregard of the sensibilities of others who are not us.

lassitude

->But the medication produced lassitude and I felt constantly on the verge of nausea.
->Yet Obama’s reaction to, shall we say, turmoil abroad has been one of alarming lassitude and passivity.

lax

->1.such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable;
-> Poor food safety is a major concern in China, where standards are lax and scandals involving tainted products are common.

lurid

->1. "spare me the lurid details" or "spare me the gory details,"
->2. a lurid sunset
-> 3. moonlight gave the statue a lurid luminence

labile

(can also be used in psychology to describe someone who is emotionally unstable)
-> While the shock memory was active and labile, the mice got to play with females
->Sadness was the least labile, or fluctuating, of the day's reactions and that's not a surprise.

lachrymose

-> Because Mr. Lee’s character has none of her gumption, it’s hard not to feel a twinge of contempt for his lachrymose self-pity.
->The lachrymose British drama “Lilting” pivots on the prickly relationship between two people who are mourning a third.

lackadaisical
(similar: listless,lassitude)
-> 1. she was annoyingly lackadaisical and impractical
->2. a lackadaisical attempt
->If Mr. Jiao was trying to recruit Mrs. Chen, he was awfully lackadaisical about it.

laconic
(ant. prolix)

lament

->if you keep saying how sorry you are about something, someone could say, "Enough of your laments!"
->3. we lamented the loss of benefits
->4. we lamented the death of the child

lampoon
(Imagine you were frustrated by having your allowance reduced, so you wrote a funny play portraying mom and dad as dictators extracting lots of unfair taxes from their people. That's lampooning. And it probably won't help your allowance situation.)
->Capitol Steps The comedy group uses songs to lampoon the government.

lancet

(A lancer is a soldier bearing a long spear, called a lance, while a lancet is like a tiny spear — sharp on two sides and meant to pierce things)

languid
(sim: lackadaisical ,listless,lassitude)
(You can describe yourself as languid when you have that feeling of not being entirely awake — kind of lazy in the mind.)
->a languid mood
->a languid wave of the hand
->The relatively languid step-by-step preparation of patients in the emergency room was transformed

languish
(syn. yearn ; fade)

->1. The prisoner has been languishing for years in the dungeon
->But his existing loans languished in deferment, bloating his principal balance.

languor

->If you are languishing or becoming weaker, you are showing languor.
->The film has a deliberate yet canny pace that matches the methodical languor of its villain.
->There is no time for languor if you have an exam tomorrow, and you are just beginning to study now.

latent

->they have latent talents or capabilities.
->latent illness or infection
->I had wet spots on my underwear due to a latent drip that oozed throughout the day. (= Senzai noryoku)

laudable
(laudatory=Something or someone that gives praise -> If you've done praise-worthy acts and people will use laudatory words when talking about you.)
->“The general premise of the idea is laudable, but I believe that this violates privacy,” she said.

lavish

->a lavish buffet
->distributed gifts with a lavish hand
->I don't like it when people lavish me with attention

leery

->Also, be leery about leaving personal information like your credit cards or passport in your hotel room.

legerdemain (le-ji-di-main)
(figuratively to describe some other kind of trickery or deceit)

-> No amount of diplomatic legerdemain, it seems to me, can avoid answering this question with a simple yes or no.

(sim: languid, lackadaisical, listless, lassitude)
->bullfrogs became lethargic with the first cold nights
->She sentenced one lethargic young man to do 25 pushups and film it on his phone.

levee*

->The levee would protect structures where floodwaters would be staged when the diversion channel is needed.

leviathan

->they were assigned the leviathan of textbooks

levity
(Syn. giddy)
->Her foresight allowed her and her children to start the day with levity instead of stress.
->There was a moment of awkward levity in Scalia’s announcement of the ruling.

lexicon

->CEO,The corporate lexicon is full of bloodthirsty metaphors.
->"go-ahead run," and "Baltimore chop" are part of the baseball lexicon.

liability

(A personal liability, however, is some element of your past, your character, or your behavior that damages your reputation.)
->A bank becomes “insolvent” when the value of its assets is less than its total liabilities
->They argued that allowing them would essentially force them to make race-conscious decisions to avoid liability

liaison*

libation**
(nivedhyam)
->There she made her libations, and spent most of the night in cries and lamentations.
->Each state gets the same treatment: one page each for an introductory essay and libation facts, plus historical, political and pop-culture factoids.

libel

->The newspaper was accused of libeling him
->Croswell established the notion that a statement is not libel if it is the truth.

limber

->

pliant*
(flexible, but less tangible)

->In order to survive the recession, the company had to be pliant and adjust to the new economic conditions.

limpid *
(mostly 1,2 used,not 3)
->1.limpid blue eyes
->2.could see the sand on the bottom of the limpid pool
->3.writes in a limpid style; answer in a single limpid sentence.

lissome
(Syn. lithe)
->A star of Italian cinema by age 20, Ms. Lisi drew international attention for her lissome appeal in a range of dramas and farces.

listless
(It's not just laziness, it's not just fatigue; an utter indifference to whatever is going on around you makes you listless.)
->In fact, they looked pretty listless in the attack, shut out by the Swedes with few looks on goal.
->Dad ordered two bottles of red wine, I lit a cigarette and gazed at him through listless eyes.

livid
-> If the sky is livid, there's something ominous about it. Similarly, if your skin is livid, there's something wrong — you're either covered with bruises or you're at death's door, anemic and ashen
->1. You order, wait, then when you get livid, you get a refund.

loll

->His tongue lolled
->If you take your dog for a long run in the hot sun, its tongue will loll out of its mouth.
->If you fall asleep on the bus ride home, your head might loll onto your neighbor’s shoulder.

loquacious

lugubrious

->After many lugubrious turns, "breaking bad" ended on an uplifting note.
->There is something still lugubrious and overwrought about “True Detective,” but there’s also a mesmerizing style to it — it’s imperfect, but well made.

lull **
(as in lulling a baby to sleep with a lullaby)
4.->there was a lull in the storm
3.->the fighting lulled for a moment
2.->Don't let yourself be lulled into a false state of security
->It’s supposed to lull you in a sense that it’s all okay.

luminary

->It was unclear who was piloting the aircraft but tributes and condolences from Hollywood luminaries poured in on social media.

lustrous

[ Anty. limpid, lucid
( reflecting <-> transmitting ) ]

->If someone has a long and successful work history, you might say their career is illustrious, meaning it has been lustrous for a long time.

gruntle