CEFR Level
To express the meaning of something using different words, often to make it clearer.
"The teacher asked the students to paraphrase the poem in their own words."
An organism that lives in or on another organism and benefits at the host’s expense.
"The parasite weakened the tree by feeding on its nutrients."
extremely dry, especially because of heat or thirst
"After walking in the desert, he was parched with thirst."
a thin material made from animal skin, used in the past for writing
"The ancient manuscript was written on parchment."
able to be forgiven; excusable
"His mistake was pardonable given the difficult circumstances."
to cut away the outer covering or reduce something gradually
"She pared the apple before eating it."
The identity and origins of one's parents; descent or lineage.
"Her noble parentage gave her access to the royal court."
A pair of curved marks ( ) used to enclose words or numbers; also an interruption or digression in speech or writing.
"The explanation was given in a parenthesis within the text."
An outcast; someone who is rejected by society or a social group.
"After the scandal, he became a social pariah."
relating to Paris or its people
"She wore a Parisian style dress at the party."
the state or condition of being equal, especially in status or pay
"The campaign aims to achieve pay parity between men and women."
A sitting room in a private house, or a shop providing specified services.
"They welcomed the guests into the front parlor."
Having a limited or narrow outlook; relating to a parish.
"His parochial view prevented him from understanding global issues."
A humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature, music, or style.
"The comedian performed a parody of the president’s speech."
A floor made of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern.
"The old mansion had a beautiful parquet floor."
a climbing plant with curved red and orange flowers resembling a parrot's beak
"The parrot beak flower's unique curved shape makes it a fascinating addition to any garden."
to ward off or deflect an attack, especially in fencing or conversation
"He managed to parry the opponent’s sword with quick reflexes."
to analyze a sentence or text grammatically or logically
"The software can parse large amounts of text data efficiently."
The process of analyzing sentence structure to understand grammatical relationships.
"The AI model performs parsing to understand syntax."
an unfair preference or bias toward one side or person
"The judge was criticized for showing partiality in the case."
A strong supporter of a party, cause, or person; showing biased allegiance.
"The debate quickly turned partisan, with each side defending their own agenda."
good enough to be accepted, though not excellent
"The road is barely passable after the storm."
no longer fashionable or current; out of date
"Some trends from last decade feel utterly passé now."
A climbing plant with intricate, colorful flowers; also refers to royal poinciana tree with red-orange blooms
"The passion flower vine covered the garden wall with beautiful blooms."
a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation
"The pastor delivered a heartfelt sermon on compassion."
relating to the countryside, shepherds, or rural life; also relating to spiritual guidance by a pastor
"The painting had a calm pastoral scene with sheep grazing."
Relating to or characteristic of a father.
"He took a paternal interest in the boy’s education."
The state of being someone's father.
"He demanded a paternity test to confirm his relationship with the child."
Capable of causing disease.
"Some bacteria are harmless, while others are highly pathogenic."
Relating to disease; extreme or obsessive in a way that is abnormal.
"He has a pathological fear of failure."
the scientific study of diseases, their causes, processes, and effects on the body
"Advances in pathology helped the doctors identify the rare infection quickly."
a quality in speech, writing, or events that evokes pity or deep emotion
"The documentary balanced pathos with hope, making the audience both weep and think."
a male head of a family or tribe; an older respected man who leads a group
"As the family patriarch, he mediated disputes and kept long traditions alive."
showing kindness that is perceived as condescending or superior
"His patronizing tone offended the audience."
to make a repeated light tapping sound; to talk quickly in a rehearsed or mechanical way
"Rain pattered softly on the window."
the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities
"The project was delayed due to a paucity of funds."
A very poor person.
"The pauper begged for food on the street corner."
A large tent or temporary building, often used for events or exhibitions.
"The wedding reception was held in a decorated pavilion."
A person to whom money is paid or is to be paid.
"The payee must sign the check before cashing it."
inclined to avoid conflict; friendly and non-violent in nature
"She is a peaceable neighbor who never quarrels with anyone."
a tropical tree with bright orange and red flowers that resemble a peacock's tail
"The peacock flower tree blooms with stunning orange flowers in summer."
female peacock
"The peahen is less colorful than the male peacock."
a single pearl used as jewelry, often in earrings or pendants
"The elegant pearl drop earrings complemented her outfit perfectly."
To strike or bite something with a beak; to eat in small bites.
"The hen began to peck at the grains scattered on the ground."
relating to money or financial matters
"They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed."
relating to the methods and practice of teaching
"The teacher introduced new pedagogical approaches in the classroom."
The art, science, or profession of teaching and education methods.
"Modern pedagogy emphasizes student-centered learning."
Excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overly academic or bookish.
"Her pedantic explanations made the lecture dull."
To sell goods, often by going from place to place; sometimes used negatively to mean promoting an idea or product in a pushy way.
"Street vendors peddle handmade jewelry to tourists."
