pentameter
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C2 noun /pɛnˈtæmɪtər/

pentameter

Meaning
A line of verse consisting of five metrical feet.
Example
Shakespeare often wrote his plays in iambic pentameter.
C1 noun ˈpɛd.ə.ɡɒ.dʒi

pedagogy

Meaning
The method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.
Example
Modern pedagogy focuses on student-centered learning.
C1 adjective /ˈpjuː.ni/

puny

Meaning
Small, weak, or insignificant.
Example
He felt puny compared to his stronger classmates.
C1 adjective /ˈpɒs.tʃə.məs/

Posthumous

Meaning
occurring or continuing after death; published after the author's death
Example
The author received a posthumous award for his last novel.
C1 adjective /ˈpjuː.nɪ.tɪv/

punitive

Meaning
Inflicting or intended as punishment.
Example
The company faced punitive measures for violating the law.
C1 verb /ˈpætər/

patter

Meaning
to make a repeated light tapping sound; to talk quickly in a rehearsed or mechanical way
Example
Rain pattered softly on the window.
C2 noun /pruːd/

prude

Meaning
A person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity; someone overly modest.
Example
He was called a prude for blushing at the movie scenes.
C1 adjective /praɪˈmiːvəl/

primeval

Meaning
Relating to the earliest ages in history; ancient and primitive.
Example
The explorers ventured into the primeval forest untouched by humans.
B1 adjective /ˈpeɪn.fəl/

painful

Meaning
causing physical or emotional pain
Example
The injury was very painful, and he needed immediate care.
C1 verb /ˈpæri/

parry

Meaning
to ward off or deflect an attack, especially in fencing or conversation
Example
He managed to parry the opponent’s sword with quick reflexes.
A1 noun /praɪs/

price

Meaning
the amount of money expected, required, or given for something
Example
The price of the car has increased recently.
A2 noun /ˈpɑːswɜːd/

password

Meaning
a secret word or phrase used to gain access to something
Example
Make sure your password is strong and unique.
C2 noun /ˈprɑːflɪɡəsi/

profligacy

Meaning
reckless wastefulness or extravagance
Example
His profligacy with money led him to bankruptcy.
C2 adjective /ˌpɜːrtɪˈneɪʃəs/

pertinacious

Meaning
holding firmly to an opinion, purpose, or course of action; stubbornly persistent
Example
The pertinacious lawyer refused to give up the case.
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 /ˈpleɪər/

player

Meaning
a person who participates in a game or sport
Example
The player scored the winning goal.
C1 noun /ˌprəʊ.baɪˈɒt.ɪks/

probiotics

Meaning
Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host, especially for digestive health.
Example
Probiotics improve digestion and enhance gut health.
A2 verb /pʊl/

pull

Meaning
to exert force to move something toward oneself; to drag or tug
Example
Please pull the door to open it.
A2 adverb /ˈprɒb.ə.bli/

Probably

Meaning
almost certainly; very likely; in all likelihood
Example
He will probably arrive late tonight.
B2 noun /saɪˈkaɪətri/

psychiatry

Meaning
the branch of medicine focused on the study and treatment of mental illness
Example
She decided to study psychiatry to help people with mental health issues.
C1 verb /ˈpɜːmieɪt/

permeate

Meaning
Spread throughout (something); pervade.
Example
The scent of fresh flowers permeated the entire room.
C1 adjective /ˈpraɪ.məl/

primal

Meaning
Relating to the earliest stage of development; essential or fundamental.
Example
Fear is one of the most primal emotions humans experience.
C1 noun /ˈpærəˌlɛlɪzəm/

parallelism

Meaning
The state of being parallel or similar; in literature, the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in construction.
Example
The writer used parallelism to give rhythm to his prose.
B2 noun /prəˈfɪʃənsi/

proficiency

Meaning
Competency or skill; expertise.
Example
His proficiency in multiple languages is remarkable.
B2 noun, verb /ˈpɛdəl/

pedal

Meaning
A foot-operated lever for powering or controlling a mechanism, especially on a bicycle.
Example
He pressed down hard on the bicycle pedal.
B2 adjective /ˈprɛsɪŋ/

pressing

Meaning
Requiring immediate attention or urgent action.
Example
The manager had to deal with several pressing issues at once.
C2 noun /fɪˈlæt.əl.i/

philately

Meaning
the collection and study of postage stamps
Example
Philately is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages.
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.
B1 noun /prəˈməʊ.ʃən/

Promotion

Meaning
the act of raising someone to a higher position; advertising to increase sales
Example
She received a promotion to manager after five years of hard work.
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.
C2 noun /ˈpær.əkˌsɪz.əm/

paroxysm

Meaning
A sudden, violent outburst of emotion or activity.
Example
She was seized by a paroxysm of laughter.
C2 /ˈpæn.ə.pli/

panoply

Meaning
A complete or impressive collection of things; a full set of armor.
Example
The museum displayed a panoply of ancient weapons.
C1 adjective /ˈfɒnɪk/

phonic

Meaning
relating to speech sounds or their production; connected to phonics
Example
Children learn phonic rules to read new words accurately.
C2 noun /prɪˈsɛntɪmənt/

presentiment

Meaning
An intuitive feeling about the future, especially of something bad about to happen.
Example
He had a strong presentiment that the plan would fail.
C1 verb /prɪˈzaɪd/

preside

Meaning
to be in charge of a meeting, event, or organization
Example
She will preside over the meeting tomorrow.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːrvənuː/

parvenu

Meaning
A person who has recently gained wealth or influence but is not yet accepted socially.
Example
He was seen as a parvenu who lacked refinement despite his riches.
C2 noun /ˈpɑːr.kə.tri/

parquetry

Meaning
The art or technique of laying parquet floors.
Example
The craftsman specialized in parquetry for luxury homes.
B2 noun prəˈdʒɛk.ʃən

projection

Meaning
The strength and range of voice when speaking.
Example
Proper projection ensures that every listener hears clearly.
B2 adjective /ˈpen.dɪŋ/

Pending

Meaning
awaiting; not yet decided or settled; in the process of being completed
Example
The application is still pending approval.
C2 verb /ˈpælpɪˌteɪt/

palpitate

Meaning
to beat rapidly and strongly, often because of fear, excitement, or illness
Example
Her heart began to palpitate with fear.
C2 verb /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/

pulverize

Meaning
To crush or grind something into a fine powder; to completely defeat or destroy.
Example
The machine can pulverize stones into dust.
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.
C2 adjective /ˌfæntæzməˈɡɒrɪkəl/

phantasmagorical

Meaning
Having a fantastic, dreamlike, or surreal appearance, often shifting or illusory.
Example
The movie created a phantasmagorical vision of another world.
C2 noun /ˌsuːdəˈnɪmɪti/

pseudonymity

Meaning
the practice or state of using a pseudonym
Example
The author maintained pseudonymity throughout her career.
C1 adjective /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/

poignant

Meaning
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret; deeply touching
Example
The movie's ending was so poignant that many in the audience were moved to tears.
C1 adjective /pərˈveɪsɪv/

pervasive

Meaning
Existing in or spreading through every part of something
Example
Pervasive technology has become a fundamental part of daily life.
C1 noun /ˈpɛndənt/

pendant

Meaning
a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain worn around the neck
Example
She wore a silver pendant around her neck.
A2 adjective /ˈplɛzənt/

pleasant

Meaning
giving a sense of happiness, enjoyment, or satisfaction
Example
We had a pleasant evening at the park.
C2 noun /prɪˈzɛntmənt/

presentment

Meaning
The act of presenting something formally or officially; a formal statement or document.
Example
The lawyer made a presentment of the evidence to the court.
C1 noun /ˈpɑːrlər/

parlor

Meaning
A sitting room in a private house, or a shop providing specified services.
Example
They welcomed the guests into the front parlor.
C2 adjective /pərˈspɪkjuəs/

perspicuous

Meaning
Clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid.
Example
The teacher gave a perspicuous explanation of the theory.
B2 noun /ˈpɑːtnəʃɪp/

partnership

Meaning
the state of being a partner or a group of partners
Example
Our partnership has helped both companies grow.
C1 noun /prəˈspɛktəs/

prospectus

Meaning
a printed document that advertises or describes a school, business, or investment offering
Example
The university sent out a prospectus to attract new students.
A2 verb /ˈpræktɪs/

practise

Meaning
to do something repeatedly to improve skill; to work in a profession
Example
She practises piano for two hours daily.
C2 noun /ˌpætrəˈnɪmɪk/

patronymic

Meaning
a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor
Example
In many cultures, surnames are patronymic in origin.
C2 noun /ˈpɜːrsɪflɑːʒ/

persiflage

Meaning
light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter
Example
Their conversation was full of persiflage and jokes.
B1 noun /prəˈfeʃ.ən/

Profession

Meaning
a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill
Example
Teaching is a noble profession that shapes future generations.
A1 noun /peɪdʒ/

page

Meaning
one side of a sheet of paper, or a single sheet of paper in a book or document
Example
Turn to the next page for more information.
B2 verb, noun, adjective /prɑːmpt/

prompt

Meaning
To cause someone to take action; done without delay.
Example
His speech prompted the audience to ask questions.
A1 noun /plæn/

plan

Meaning
A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.
Example
A good plan keeps you focused.
A2 noun /ˈpoʊɪtri/

poetry

Meaning
a literary form that uses rhythmic and metaphorical language to express emotions or ideas
Example
She loves reading poetry in her free time.
C1 noun /ˈpraɪməsi/

primacy

Meaning
the state of being first in importance or authority
Example
The primacy of education cannot be denied.
C1 adjective /ˈprɪvi/

privy

Meaning
having access to secret or private knowledge
Example
She was privy to the confidential discussions.
B2 adjective /ˈpæʃənət/

passionate

Meaning
showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief
Example
He is passionate about environmental conservation.
C1 noun /ˈpɜːrɡəˌtɔːri/

purgatory

Meaning
A place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven; a temporary condition of torment or suffering.
Example
After the accident, the long recovery felt like a kind of purgatory.
B1 noun /ˈpɪ.ti/

Pity

Meaning
a feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone's misfortune; something that causes regret or disappointment
Example
I felt pity for the homeless man in the rain.
C1 noun /ˈpræɡmətɪst/

pragmatist

Meaning
A person who deals with things in a practical and realistic way.
Example
He is a true pragmatist who values results over ideals.
B1 noun /ˈprɪn.tər/

Printer

Meaning
a person whose job is printing books, newspapers, or other materials; a machine that prints documents
Example
The printer delivered the wedding invitations on time.
C2 adjective /ˌpaɪroʊˈtɛknɪk/

pyrotechnic

Meaning
Relating to fireworks or spectacular displays involving fire.
Example
The city celebrated with a grand pyrotechnic display on New Year's Eve.
C2 noun /ˈpælɪmpsɛst/

palimpsest

Meaning
a manuscript or document that has been written over but still bears traces of earlier writing; something reused or altered but still retaining traces of its earlier form
Example
The ancient manuscript was a palimpsest, showing faint traces of previous texts beneath the new writing.
B2 verb /pərˈsɪst/

persist

Meaning
to continue firmly in an action or opinion despite difficulty or opposition
Example
She decided to persist in her efforts to learn French.
C1 noun /ˈpɔːpər/

pauper

Meaning
A very poor person.
Example
The pauper begged for food on the street corner.
B2 noun prəˈtæɡənɪst

protagonist

Meaning
The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.
Example
Charles Darnay is one of the protagonists of the story.
C1 noun /ˌplɔː.zəˈbɪl.ə.ti/

plausibility

Meaning
The quality of being reasonable or probable.
Example
The plausibility of his explanation convinced the jury.
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.
C2 verb /ˈpɛkjʊˌleɪt/

peculate

Meaning
To embezzle or steal money, especially public funds.
Example
The corrupt official was found guilty of peculating government funds.
C1 adjective /priːˈɛmɪnənt/

preeminent

Meaning
Surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way.
Example
She is a preeminent scientist in the field of genetics.
C1 noun /ˈprɒv.ɜːb/

Proverb

Meaning
a short saying that expresses a general truth or gives advice
Example
The proverb 'Early to bed, early to rise' teaches us about good habits.
B2 adverb /ˈpjʊərli/

purely

Meaning
only and completely; entirely
Example
The decision was purely based on economic factors.
C2 noun /pɪks/

pyx

Meaning
a small container, often used in Christian liturgy to carry the consecrated host
Example
The priest placed the consecrated host into the pyx before visiting the sick.
C2 adjective /ˈpæsɪbəl/

passible

Meaning
capable of feeling or suffering; susceptible to sensation or emotion (often theological)
Example
In some traditions, deities are described as passible, sharing human emotions.
C1 noun /ˈpɪt.əns/

pittance

Meaning
a very small or inadequate amount of money
Example
She worked long hours for a mere pittance.
B1 noun /ˈpɔɪ.zən/

Poison

Meaning
a substance that is capable of causing death or illness
Example
The snake's bite contains deadly poison.
C1 noun /ˌprɒk.ləˈmeɪ.ʃən/

Proclamation

Meaning
an official public announcement, especially one made by someone in authority
Example
The king issued a proclamation declaring peace.
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.
C2 verb /ˌpriːɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

preengage

Meaning
To contract or engage beforehand; to arrange in advance.
Example
The workers were preengaged before the project officially started.
C1 noun/verb ˈpɪv.ət

pivot

Meaning
A significant change in business strategy or direction.
Example
The company decided to pivot its business strategy.
B1 verb /peɪst/

paste

Meaning
to stick something onto a surface using glue or adhesive
Example
I paste the picture into my scrapbook.
B2 adjective /pəˈθet.ɪk/

Pathetic

Meaning
arousing pity; extremely poor or inadequate
Example
His pathetic attempt to apologize made things worse.
C2 noun /pəˈtiːnə/

patina

Meaning
a surface film or sheen on metal, stone, or wood due to age or use; also, a superficial appearance
Example
The bronze statue developed a green patina after years in the sea air.
B2 verb /piːp/

peep

Meaning
to look quickly or secretly; to make a short high sound
Example
The child tried to peep through the keyhole.
A2 adjective /praʊd/

Proud

Meaning
feeling deep pleasure from one's achievements; having high self-respect
Example
She was proud of her daughter's academic achievements.
A1 noun /pəˈteɪ.toʊ/

Potato

Meaning
a round white vegetable with a brown or red skin that grows underground
Example
She boiled potatoes for dinner.
B1 adverb /ˈpɜr.sən.ə.li/

Personally

Meaning
as a person; in one's own opinion; for oneself; in person
Example
Personally, I think the movie was excellent, though others disagree.
C1 adjective /ˈpræk.tɪ.kə.bəl/

practicable

Meaning
able to be done or put into practice successfully
Example
The plan is not practicable without more resources.
B2 verb prəˈlɒŋ

prolong

Meaning
To extend the duration of something; to make something last longer.
Example
A healthy diet helps prolong life expectancy.
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.
C1 verb /pɜːrdʒ/

purge

Meaning
To remove unwanted feelings, people, or things; to cleanse or purify.
Example
The new leader promised to purge corruption from the government.
C2 verb /fɪˈlɒs.ə.faɪz/

philosophize

Meaning
to think or talk about the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
Example
He likes to philosophize about life and its meaning.
B2 noun /ˈpred.ə.ses.ər/

Predecessor

Meaning
a person who held a job or office before the current holder; something that came before another thing
Example
The new manager learned from his predecessor's mistakes.
C1 adjective /ˈpriːmə/

prima

Meaning
first or most important; excellent
Example
She was treated as the prima ballerina of the troupe.
C2 noun /ˈpɔːrtɛnt/

portent

Meaning
A sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen.
Example
The sudden drop in stock prices was seen as a portent of economic trouble.
B2 noun plɒt

plot

Meaning
The main story of a piece of writing, or the series of events that happen in it.
Example
The plot of A Tale of Two Cities is intense and gripping.
C2 noun /ˈpɛdənt/

pedant

Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with minor details or rules, often in a showy way.
Example
The professor was criticized as a pedant who focused too much on trivial details.
C2 verb /ˈpælieɪt/

palliate

Meaning
to make a disease, symptoms, or problem less severe without removing the cause
Example
The doctor prescribed medicine to palliate the patient's pain.
B2 noun /ˈpæn.ɪk/

Panic

Meaning
sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety; a state of widespread fear and anxiety
Example
The fire alarm caused panic among the students.
A2 adjective /pjʊər/

Pure

Meaning
clean; clear; untainted; without discrimination;
Example
The water from the mountain spring is pure.
C2 noun /ˌpɛntəˈhiːdrən/

pentahedron

Meaning
A solid geometric figure with five faces.
Example
In geometry class, the teacher explained the structure of a pentahedron.
C2 noun /ˈpær.ɪ.saɪd/

parricide

Meaning
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
Example
The court tried him for parricide after the tragic incident.
C2 noun /ˈpɒtˌbɔɪlə/

potboiler

Meaning
a book, play, or film produced quickly to make money rather than for artistic value
Example
The novel was dismissed by critics as a mere potboiler.
C2 noun /ˌpɒl.iˈsɪl.ə.bəl/

polysyllable

Meaning
a word with more than one syllable
Example
The word 'elephant' is a polysyllable because it has three syllables.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈpɪt.i.ləs/

pitiless

Meaning
showing no pity or compassion; cruel
Example
The pitiless ruler ignored the suffering of his people.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːmi/

palmy

Meaning
prosperous, flourishing, or relating to palm trees
Example
He often reminisced about the palmy days of his youth.
B2 noun /pænˈdɛmɪk/

pandemic

Meaning
An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale.
Example
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world dramatically.
B1 noun /piː/

Pea

Meaning
a small round green seed eaten as a vegetable
Example
The children enjoyed eating sweet peas with dinner.
C2 noun, adjective /pəˈtrɪʃən/

patrician

Meaning
A person of noble rank or high social standing; relating to aristocracy.
Example
The patrician families of Rome wielded great power in politics.
C2 noun /ˈpæntəˌskoʊp/

pantoscope

Meaning
An optical instrument that provides a wide or panoramic view.
Example
The scientist used a pantoscope to observe the entire horizon.
C1 verb /praɪ/

pry

Meaning
to look closely into something; to try to find out private information
Example
She tried to pry into her neighbor’s private life.
B1 noun /ˈproʊtiːn/

protein

Meaning
a molecule composed of amino acids essential for bodily functions
Example
Proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues in the body.
C1 adjective prɪˈkeə.ri.əs

precarious

Meaning
Not securely held or in position; dependent on chance; uncertain.
Example
His financial situation is precarious.