CEFR Level
having great power or influence; mighty
"The king was a puissant ruler whose word was law."
physical beauty
"The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent."
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
"The machine can pulverize stones into dust."
Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
"She was punctilious in her attention to etiquette."
The quality of having a strong, sharp taste or smell.
"The pungency of garlic filled the kitchen."
The state of being a pupil or under instruction.
"During his pupilage, he studied law under a senior barrister."
Having impaired or defective vision; lacking insight or understanding.
"The purblind approach to the problem led to many mistakes."
To knit with a purl stitch; to flow with a murmuring sound (as a stream).
"The brook purled softly through the meadow."
The area near or surrounding a place; an outlying or neighboring district.
"They spent the afternoon exploring the purlieus of the ancient city."
to steal something, often in a sneaky or dishonest way
"He tried to purloin a book from the library without being noticed."
in accordance with or following something, especially a law or rule
"The decision was made pursuant to the regulations."
to supply or provide goods, services, or information, often as a business
"The company purveys organic food to health-conscious customers."
the scope or range of authority, responsibility, or knowledge
"The case does not fall within the purview of this court."
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid
"The pusillanimous leader avoided making tough decisions."
commonly accepted or supposed; generally regarded as such
"He is the putative father of the child."
to decay or rot, producing a foul smell
"The meat began to putrefy in the heat."
undergoing the process of decay; rotting
"The putrescent odor made everyone leave the room."
A heap of combustible material, especially one used for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony.
"The villagers built a pyre to honor the deceased."
An uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
"The suspect was diagnosed with pyromania after repeated incidents of arson."
A person with an uncontrollable desire to set things on fire.
"The pyromaniac was arrested for setting several buildings ablaze."
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
"The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve."
A victory won at such a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat.
"The general declared the battle a pyrrhic victory due to heavy losses."
a small container, often used in Christian liturgy to carry the consecrated host
"The priest placed the consecrated host into the pyx before visiting the sick."
square or nearly square; having four sides or being suited or corresponding to something
"The tiles had a neat quadrate shape that made the floor look orderly."
an animal that walks on four feet
"Most mammals are quadruped creatures adapted for running and stability."
to drink something heartily or in large gulps, especially an alcoholic drink
"He quaffed a mug of ale after the long day."
A fundamental subatomic particle that combines to form protons and neutrons.
"Quarks form protons and neutrons."
A book size resulting from folding each printed sheet into four leaves (eight pages).
"The library has rare Shakespeare quartos."
To shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.
"Her voice quavered as she spoke before the crowd."
A flowering tree with colorful, crepe-like flowers, scientifically known as Lagerstroemia
"The Queen crape myrtle bloomed beautifully in the garden with its purple flowers."
Complaining in a whining or irritable manner.
"The querulous customer kept finding fault with every detail."
A state of alertness or vigilance.
"The guards were on the qui vive during the night."
Mercury; a liquid metal, or something that is quick and unpredictable.
"His mood was as changeable as quicksilver."
A state of quietness, inactivity, or dormancy.
"The volcano has been in a state of quiescence for decades."
In a state of inactivity or dormancy; quiet.
"The patient remained quiescent during the procedure."
A state of stillness and tranquility.
"She enjoys the quietude of the countryside."
Something that ends or settles a situation; release from life, death.
"The scandal brought a quietus to his political career."
A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.
"During the war, he was branded a quisling for aiding the invaders."
Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
"His quixotic plan to end poverty overnight was admired but not taken seriously."
Ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
"He focused on the quotidian details of family life."
A disorderly crowd or mob; the common people regarded as noisy or unruly.
"A rabble gathered in the streets to protest the decision."
A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.
"The professor was a brilliant raconteur who kept his audience entertained."
the base or root of something; the number on which a system of numeration is built
"In mathematics, the decimal system has a radix of ten."
unconventional and slightly disreputable but attractive
"He had a raffish charm that made him popular in the city."
A person, typically a child, in ragged, dirty clothes.
"The little ragamuffin begged for food on the street."
good-humored teasing or joking
"Their friendship was full of light-hearted raillery."
clothing, especially fine or formal wear
"The king wore royal raiment during the ceremony."
to spread or branch out into divisions or subdivisions.
"The river ramifies into several smaller streams."
having many branches.
"The ramose tree shaded the entire garden."
A feeling of deep and bitter anger or resentment.
"There was a rancor between the two rivals that never faded."
