pauperism
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C2 noun /ˈpɔːpərɪzəm/

pauperism

Meaning
The state of being extremely poor.
Example
The country struggled with rising pauperism in the 19th century.
B2 adjective /ˈpʌz.lɪŋ/

Puzzling

Meaning
confusing; perplexing;
Example
The scientist found the results puzzling.
A2 noun /fəˈtɒɡrəfi/

photography

Meaning
the art or practice of taking and processing photographs
Example
She studied photography in college.
C2 adverb /ˌpɛlˈmɛl/

pell-mell

Meaning
In a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
Example
The children ran pell-mell through the playground.
C1 noun /ˈpæs.ɪ.fɪst/

pacifist

Meaning
a person who believes in peace and opposes war or violence
Example
She is a committed pacifist who campaigns against armed conflict.
A1 noun /ˈpæstə/

pasta

Meaning
an Italian food made from flour and water, typically shaped into noodles or sheets
Example
We had creamy pasta for dinner last night.
B2 noun fəˈnɒm.ɪ.nə

phenomena

Meaning
Facts or situations that are observed to exist or happen, especially ones whose cause or explanation is in question.
Example
Phenomena like floods disrupt agricultural systems.
C1 noun /ˈpɑːr.keɪ/

parquet

Meaning
A floor made of wooden blocks arranged in a geometric pattern.
Example
The old mansion had a beautiful parquet floor.
C2 verb /preɪt/

prate

Meaning
to talk foolishly or at tedious length about something
Example
He would prate endlessly about his minor achievements.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːsɪti/

paucity

Meaning
the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities
Example
The project was delayed due to a paucity of funds.
B2 noun /ˈpæd.ɪŋ/

padding

Meaning
soft material added for comfort, protection, or to fill space
Example
The chair had extra padding for comfort.
B2 noun prɛsˈtiːʒ

prestige

Meaning
Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of a perception of their achievements or quality.
Example
The university has gained international prestige for its research.
C1 noun /ˈpæl.ə.tə.bəl miːt/

Palatable meat

Meaning
Meat that is pleasant to taste; appetizing meat dish
Example
The chef prepared palatable meat dishes for the dinner party.
B2 noun, verb /pɪə(r)/

peer

Meaning
noun: a person of the same rank or status; verb: to look closely or with difficulty
Example
He tried to peer through the fog to see his peers on the other side.
C1 adjective /pɑːrtʃt/

parched

Meaning
extremely dry, especially because of heat or thirst
Example
After walking in the desert, he was parched with thirst.
B2 adjective /ˌpriːməˈtjʊər/

premature

Meaning
Happening or done before the usual or proper time.
Example
His decision to quit the job was premature.
B1 noun /ˈpæsɪŋ/

passing

Meaning
the act of moving past something or the end of someone's life
Example
The passing of the leader was a great loss for the nation.
B2 noun /ˈpaɪ.rət/

Pirate

Meaning
a person who attacks and robs ships at sea; someone who uses or reproduces copyrighted material illegally
Example
The pirate ship was spotted near the coast.
C2 noun /ˈplɛnɪtjuːd/

plenitude

Meaning
the condition of being full or abundant; a great quantity
Example
The garden was a plenitude of flowers in spring.
C1 adjective /prəˈsiːdʒərəl/

procedural

Meaning
Relating to an established or official way of doing something; concerned with procedure.
Example
The committee followed the procedural rules strictly.
A2 noun ˈprɒdʒekt

project

Meaning
An individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim
Example
Working on two projects simultaneously is difficult.
C2 verb /ˈprɛsɪdʒ/

presage

Meaning
to be a sign or warning that something will happen; to foreshadow
Example
Dark clouds presage a storm.
C2 noun /ˈpjuː.pɪ.lɪdʒ/

pupilage

Meaning
The state of being a pupil or under instruction.
Example
During his pupilage, he studied law under a senior barrister.
C1 noun /ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃən/

provocation

Meaning
An action or statement that is intended to make someone angry or to cause a reaction.
Example
His rude comment was a clear provocation.
C1 noun /ˌpɒməˈdɔːrəʊ/

pomodoro

Meaning
A time management technique that uses a timer to break down work into intervals.
Example
The Pomodoro technique improves productivity.
B2 adverb /ˈpʌb.lɪk.li/

Publicly

Meaning
in a public manner; openly; for everyone to see or know
Example
The company publicly announced their new policy.
B1 noun /pɑːm/

Palm

Meaning
a tropical tree with fan-shaped leaves; fruit of the palm tree
Example
The palm tree produces sweet fruit that we enjoy eating.
B2 adjective /ˌpeɪ.triˈɑː.tɪk/

Patriotic

Meaning
showing love for one's country
Example
The patriotic citizens celebrated Independence Day with great enthusiasm.
B2 noun /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/

psychology

Meaning
the scientific study of the mind and behavior
Example
Psychology helps us understand how people think and act.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːpər/

pauper

Meaning
A very poor person.
Example
The pauper begged for food on the street corner.
B1 noun/verb /ˈprɛʃər/

pressure

Meaning
the force applied to something or the feeling of stress or tension
Example
The pressure of the situation made him nervous.
C1 noun /ˌfɪziˈɑːlədʒi/

physiology

Meaning
the scientific study of the functions and mechanisms in a living system
Example
She is majoring in human physiology at the university.
C1 adjective /ˈpɛnsɪv/

pensive

Meaning
Engaged in deep or serious thought.
Example
She looked pensive as she stared out of the window.
C1 noun /pəˈrɪm.ɪ.tər/

perimeter

Meaning
the continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure or area
Example
The soldiers guarded the perimeter of the camp.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
C1 verb /priːˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

preoccupy

Meaning
To dominate or engross the mind of someone to the exclusion of other thoughts.
Example
Worries about the future preoccupy him constantly.
B2 noun /ˌproʊɪˈbɪʃən/

prohibition

Meaning
The act of forbidding something by law or authority.
Example
The government announced the prohibition of smoking in public places.
C1 noun ˌpriː.dɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən

predisposition

Meaning
A natural tendency or inclination toward a particular behavior or condition.
Example
Genetic factors can influence a person's predisposition to diseases.
B2 verb /pɔːˈtreɪ/

portray

Meaning
to describe or represent something or someone in a work of art or literature
Example
The novel portrays a vivid picture of life in the countryside.
B2 adjective /ˈpæʃənət/

passionate

Meaning
showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief
Example
He is passionate about environmental conservation.
B1 noun prəˈtek.ʃən

protection

Meaning
The action of protecting someone or something, or the state of being protected.
Example
The movement focused on the protection of rights.
A1 noun /ˈfəʊtəʊ/

photo

Meaning
a picture or image captured by a camera
Example
I took a photo of the sunset.
C1 noun /ˈpɒpjʊləs/

populace

Meaning
the general public; the ordinary people living in a country or area
Example
The new law was welcomed by the local populace.
C2 adjective /ˈpjʊəraɪl/

puerile

Meaning
childishly silly or immature
Example
His puerile jokes annoyed the audience.
A2 noun ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃən

population

Meaning
All the inhabitants of a particular place; the number of people living in a country or region.
Example
The population supported autonomy.
C1 verb /priːˈɛmpt/

pre-empt

Meaning
to act in advance to prevent an anticipated event from happening; forestall
Example
The government moved to pre-empt a crisis by introducing new policies.
C1 noun /pəˈθɒlədʒi/

pathology

Meaning
the scientific study of diseases, their causes, processes, and effects on the body
Example
Advances in pathology helped the doctors identify the rare infection quickly.
B2 noun /pʌls/

Pulse

Meaning
edible seeds of leguminous plants such as lentils, beans, and peas
Example
Pulses are an excellent source of protein for vegetarians.
B2 adjective /pəˈrɛntəl/

parental

Meaning
relating to a parent or parents; characteristic of a mother or father
Example
Parental guidance is important for a child's development.
C2 noun /ˈpɔl.zi/

Palsy

Meaning
paralysis, especially that which is accompanied by involuntary tremors; loss of muscle control
Example
The elderly man suffered from palsy in his hands.
B2 noun /ˌpʌɪ.əˈnɪr/

Pioneer

Meaning
a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new area; someone who develops new ideas or methods
Example
She was a pioneer in the field of computer science.
A2 noun /pəˈluː.ʃən/

pollution

Meaning
The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.
Example
Industrial pollution harms marine life.
B2 adjective ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk

prehistoric

Meaning
Belonging to the time before written records.
Example
The prehistoric era was marked by the rise of early humans.
A1 noun/verb /pɛn/

pen

Meaning
A writing instrument using ink; also, to write something.
Example
She used a pen to sign the document.
C2 adjective /ˈprɛfətɔːri/

prefatory

Meaning
serving as an introduction or preface
Example
He made some prefatory remarks before the lecture began.
A2 noun /ˈprɪn.ses/

princess

Meaning
a female royal family member, especially the daughter of a king or queen; a woman regarded as noble, cherished, or elegant
Example
The princess waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.
B2 noun, adjective /ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒuət/

postgraduate

Meaning
A student who has completed a first degree and is studying for a further degree.
Example
She is doing postgraduate research in physics.
B2 noun/verb /preɪ/

prey

Meaning
an animal hunted by another for food; to hunt and feed on
Example
Lions prey on zebras in the wild.
C1 noun /pərˈveɪər/

purveyor

Meaning
a person or business that supplies goods, services, or information
Example
He is a well-known purveyor of fine wines.
C2 noun /pərˈsɪpiəns/

percipience

Meaning
The ability to perceive, understand, or notice things quickly.
Example
His percipience in reading people made him a great negotiator.
C1 verb /priːn/

preen

Meaning
To groom or dress oneself with care; to show pride in one's appearance.
Example
She preened in front of the mirror before leaving for the party.
C2 adjective /prəˈpɪʃəs/

propitious

Meaning
giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable
Example
The sunny weather was a propitious start to the picnic.
C1 noun /prəˈpraɪəti/

propriety

Meaning
Conformity to accepted standards of behavior or morality.
Example
He always behaved with the utmost propriety in public.
C2 noun /pəˈræm.bjə.leɪ.tər/

Perambulator

Meaning
a four-wheeled carriage for a baby; baby stroller or pram
Example
She pushed the perambulator through the park while the baby slept peacefully.
B1 noun /ˈpɒlɪtɪks/

politics

Meaning
activities related to the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power
Example
Politics often involves making difficult decisions.
C1 noun /ˈpɛsəl/

pestle

Meaning
A heavy tool with a rounded end used for crushing or grinding substances in a mortar.
Example
She used a pestle to grind the spices.
B2 adjective /prɪˈventɪv/

Preventive

Meaning
designed to prevent something from happening; protective against disease
Example
Regular exercise is a preventive measure against heart disease.
B2 adjective /ˈprɪm.ɪ.tɪv/

Primitive

Meaning
ancient; basic; crude; undeveloped; simple
Example
The tribe still uses primitive tools for hunting and farming.
C1 noun /ˈpɛs.tɪ.saɪd ˈrɛz.ɪ.djuː/

pesticide-residue

Meaning
Chemical remnants left over from pesticides used on crops or in soil.
Example
Excess pesticide-residue in food can be harmful to health.
B1 noun /pɑrˈtɪs.ə.pənt/

Participant

Meaning
a person who takes part in something; someone who participates in an activity or event
Example
Every participant in the marathon received a medal.
B1 noun, verb /praɪz/

prize

Meaning
something given as a reward for achievement; to value highly
Example
He won the first prize in the competition.
B2 noun /ˈpɑː.tɪ.klz/

particles

Meaning
Minute portions of matter.
Example
PM2.5 particles harm respiratory health.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈpæstərəl/

pastoral

Meaning
relating to the countryside, shepherds, or rural life; also relating to spiritual guidance by a pastor
Example
The painting had a calm pastoral scene with sheep grazing.
C2 adjective /ˈpaɪbɔːld/

piebald

Meaning
having irregular patches of two colors, especially black and white
Example
The farmer owns a piebald horse with black and white spots.
B1 noun /ˈprəʊ.tiːnz/

proteins

Meaning
Large biomolecules consisting of amino acids that perform essential functions in living organisms, including building and repairing tissues.
Example
Lean meats and legumes provide high-quality proteins.
C1 adjective /ˈpɛtjʊlənt/

petulant

Meaning
Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Example
The child became petulant when denied more candy.
B2 adjective /ˈpæn.ɪ.ki/

Panicky

Meaning
feeling or showing panic; anxious and fearful
Example
The crowd became panicky when the fire alarm sounded.
C2 adjective /ˌprɛsɪˈdɛnʃəl/

precedential

Meaning
Relating to, or serving as, a precedent; having authority as an example.
Example
The court’s decision has precedential value.
C1 noun /ˈplæn.teɪn ˈflaʊ.ər/

Plantain flower

Meaning
The flower bud of a banana plant, used as a vegetable in cooking
Example
We cooked plantain flower curry for dinner.
C2 noun /prɔːŋ/

prong

Meaning
a projecting pointed part, such as one of the pointed ends of a fork
Example
The fork has four prongs.
C2 adjective /ˈpjuːtətɪv/

putative

Meaning
commonly accepted or supposed; generally regarded as such
Example
He is the putative father of the child.
C2 noun /proʊˈsiː.ni.əm/

proscenium

Meaning
the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain; the arch framing the stage
Example
The actors bowed at the proscenium before leaving the stage.
B2 noun /saɪˈkaɪətrɪst/

psychiatrist

Meaning
a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness
Example
The psychiatrist prescribed medication for the patient’s anxiety.
C1 adjective /ˈpærəmaʊnt/

paramount

Meaning
more important than anything else; supreme
Example
Safety is of paramount importance in this factory.
A2 noun ˈpʌblɪk træns ˈpɔːt

public transport

Meaning
Transportation systems available for use by the general public, typically including buses, trains, and metros.
Example
Public transport systems are essential for reducing traffic congestion.
C1 verb /ˈpærəlaɪz/

paralyze

Meaning
to cause someone or something to lose the ability to move or function normally
Example
The sudden shock seemed to paralyze him.
C2 noun /pəˈruːzl/

perusal

Meaning
The action of reading or examining something carefully.
Example
The contract was given to the lawyer for perusal.
C1 adjective /pɜːrt/

pert

Meaning
attractively lively or cheeky in manner or style
Example
She gave a pert reply that made everyone laugh.
C2 noun /prɪˈhɛnʃən/

prehension

Meaning
the act of grasping or seizing; the ability to take hold of something
Example
Therapists assessed the patient's prehension during hand therapy.
B2 noun /proʊˈbeɪʃən/

probation

Meaning
a period of testing or supervision, especially for offenders or new employees
Example
He was placed on probation for six months.
B2 adjective /ˈprɒb.ə.bəl/

Probable

Meaning
likely to happen; expected; plausible
Example
It is probable that it will rain tomorrow according to the weather forecast.
B1 noun pəˈten.ʃəl

potential

Meaning
Having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
Example
The potential for innovation is immense.
C1 verb /pəˈruːz/

peruse

Meaning
to read something carefully and thoroughly; sometimes used to mean to browse casually
Example
She sat down to peruse the contract before signing it.
C1 adjective /prɪm/

prim

Meaning
stiffly formal and proper in appearance or behavior
Example
She looked prim in her neatly pressed dress.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛndjʊləs/

pendulous

Meaning
hanging down loosely; drooping
Example
The pendulous fruit weighed down the branch.
C1 noun ˌpraɪɔːrɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən

prioritization

Meaning
The action or process of deciding the relative importance or urgency of things.
Example
Effective prioritization ensures resources are used efficiently.
C2 noun /ˈpɛd.ən.tri/

pedantry

Meaning
Excessive concern with minor details or rules.
Example
His pedantry made the meeting unnecessarily long.
B2 noun /ˈpɒp.i/

Poppy

Meaning
a bright red flower with black seeds, often used as a symbol of remembrance
Example
The red poppy bloomed beautifully in the garden.
C1 adjective /pərˈvɜːrs/

perverse

Meaning
showing a deliberate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable, contrary, or unacceptable
Example
He took a perverse pleasure in upsetting his colleagues.
C1 noun /ˈpɜːrkəleɪtər/

percolator

Meaning
A device used for brewing coffee by continually cycling boiling water through coffee grounds.
Example
She made a fresh pot of coffee using the percolator.
B1 noun, verb /ˈfəʊtəʊˌkɒpi/

photocopy

Meaning
a copy of a document made using a photocopying machine; to make such a copy
Example
Please photocopy these documents before the meeting.
B2 noun /pʌbˈlɪs.ɪ.ti/

Publicity

Meaning
public attention or notice given to someone or something; advertising or promotion
Example
The movie received a lot of publicity before its release.
C1 noun /ˌpændəˈmoʊniəm/

pandemonium

Meaning
Wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.
Example
When the concert was canceled, pandemonium broke out among the crowd.
C2 adverb /pəˈfɔːs/

perforce

Meaning
by necessity; inevitably
Example
He had to perforce accept the decision.
C2 noun /ˈpiːən/

paean

Meaning
A song or piece of writing expressing great praise or triumph.
Example
The article was a paean to the beauty of nature.
C1 noun /ˈpreɪsiː/

precis

Meaning
A concise summary of a text or speech.
Example
The student submitted a précis of the long article.
B2 adjective prɪˈlɪm.ɪ.nər.i

preliminary

Meaning
Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.
Example
Preliminary steps are crucial before the main project.
A2 noun /piːs/

peace

Meaning
a state of tranquility or quiet, freedom from disturbance
Example
They hope for peace in the region.
C1 adjective /fəˈnɛtɪk/

phonetic

Meaning
relating to the sounds of speech or pronunciation
Example
The teacher taught the students the phonetic spelling of difficult words.
B1 verb /prəˈmoʊt/

promote

Meaning
to help something develop or increase; to advance someone to a higher position
Example
The company promotes environmental awareness.
C2 verb /ˈpɜː.fə.reɪt/

perforate

Meaning
to make a hole or holes through something
Example
The machine can perforate sheets of paper for easy tearing.
C2 adjective /prəˈvaɪzəri/

provisory

Meaning
conditional; depending on certain terms being met
Example
The arrangement was only provisory until the final contract was signed.
B2 adjective /pælɛˈstɪnɪən/

palestinian

Meaning
relating to Palestine or its people
Example
The Palestinian people have a rich cultural heritage.
C1 noun, adjective /ˌpəʊstˈmɔːtəm/

postmortem

Meaning
An examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death.
Example
The doctor carried out a postmortem on the body.
C2 verb /pərˈveɪ/

purvey

Meaning
to supply or provide goods, services, or information, often as a business
Example
The company purveys organic food to health-conscious customers.
B2 noun /ˈpærɪʃ/

parish

Meaning
A local church community or the area served by a parish church.
Example
The parish gathered for Sunday service.
A2 noun ˈprɒdʒ.ekts

projects

Meaning
Individual or collaborative enterprises that are carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
Example
These projects aim for technological breakthroughs.
B1 noun /pɜːrl/

Pearl

Meaning
a hard, lustrous object produced within the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk; used in jewelry
Example
She wore a beautiful pearl necklace to the wedding.
B1 adverb /ˈpræk.tɪ.kəl.i/

Practically

Meaning
in a practical manner; almost; nearly
Example
The project is practically finished.
C2 noun prəˈklɪv.ə.ti

proclivity

Meaning
A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.
Example
She has a proclivity for learning new languages.
B1 verb /pəʊs(t)ˈpəʊn/

postpone

Meaning
to delay something to a later time
Example
The meeting was postponed until next week.