principled
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C1 adjective /ˈprɪnsəpəld/

principled

Meaning
acting in accordance with moral or ethical standards
Example
He is a principled leader who always puts honesty first.
C2 noun /ˈpaʊ.waʊ/

powwow

Meaning
an informal meeting or conference to discuss something
Example
The team held a quick powwow before the presentation.
C2 noun /ˈpɛd.ən.tri/

pedantry

Meaning
Excessive concern with minor details or rules.
Example
His pedantry made the meeting unnecessarily long.
C2 verb /fɪˈlændər/

philander

Meaning
to engage in casual or frivolous romantic or sexual relationships
Example
He was known to philander with many women in town.
B2 noun /plæˈtoʊ/

plateau

Meaning
an elevated flat area of land or a period of little change
Example
After months of growth, sales reached a plateau.
C1 noun /ˈpɛdəstəl/

pedestal

Meaning
the base or support on which a statue or object stands
Example
The statue was placed on a marble pedestal.
B1 noun /piː/

Pea

Meaning
a small round green seed eaten as a vegetable
Example
The children enjoyed eating sweet peas with dinner.
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 verb /ˈprɒsɪkjuːt/

prosecute

Meaning
to institute legal proceedings against someone
Example
The lawyer decided to prosecute the case after gathering sufficient evidence.
C2 noun /ˈpoʊ.ɪˌtæs.tər/

poetaster

Meaning
an inferior or trivial poet
Example
He was mocked as a poetaster by the literary critics.
C1 adjective /priˈɛmptɪv/

preemptive

Meaning
Serving or intended to prevent something by taking action first.
Example
The government took preemptive measures to control inflation.
C2 verb /prəˈpɪʃieɪt/

propitiate

Meaning
to win or regain the favor of someone by doing something that pleases them
Example
He offered gifts to propitiate the angry gods.
C2 noun /ˈpɜr.kwɪ.zɪt/

Perquisite

Meaning
an additional benefit or privilege given to an employee beyond their regular salary; a special right or advantage
Example
Company car was one of the perquisites of his executive position.
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.
B2 verb /plʌndʒ/

plunge

Meaning
to jump or dive quickly; to fall sharply
Example
She plunged into the swimming pool.
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 prəʊb

probe

Meaning
An unmanned exploratory spacecraft designed to transmit information about its environment.
Example
The probe collected data from the planet's surface.
C1 noun /ˈpæʃ.ən ˌflaʊ.ər/

Passion flower

Meaning
A climbing plant with intricate, colorful flowers; also refers to royal poinciana tree with red-orange blooms
Example
The passion flower vine covered the garden wall with beautiful blooms.
B2 noun /ˈpleɪˌɔːf/

playoff

Meaning
a series of games played to determine a champion among top teams
Example
The team qualified for the playoffs after a strong season.
B1 verb /preɪ/

pray

Meaning
to speak to God or a deity; to hope earnestly
Example
Many people pray for peace in the world.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛkəbl/

peccable

Meaning
liable to sin or error; capable of doing wrong
Example
Humans are peccable, but they strive for goodness.
C1 adjective /ˌsaɪkəˈpæθɪk/

psychopathic

Meaning
Relating to or affected by psychopathy; showing chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent behavior.
Example
The film portrayed a psychopathic killer with no sense of empathy.
B1 noun /ˈpeɪvmənt/

pavement

Meaning
a hard paved surface such as a road or sidewalk; the act or result of paving
Example
She walked along the pavement to reach the bus stop.
C1 verb /pərˈplɛks/

perplex

Meaning
To confuse or puzzle someone.
Example
The complex instructions perplexed the students.
C1 noun prɪˌsɪp.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən

precipitation

Meaning
Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to or condenses on the ground.
Example
Annual precipitation levels are decreasing.
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.
A2 adjective /ˈpɒp.jʊ.lər/

Popular

Meaning
liked or admired by many people; well-known and widely accepted
Example
This restaurant is very popular among young people.
B1 noun /ˈfɑːrməsi/

pharmacy

Meaning
A place where medicinal drugs are prepared and sold.
Example
I went to the pharmacy to buy antibiotics.
C2 noun /ˌpæl.ənˈkiːn/

Palanquin

Meaning
a covered chair or bed carried on poles by bearers
Example
The bride was carried to the wedding ceremony in an ornate palanquin.
B1 adjective /ˈpeɪn.fəl/

painful

Meaning
causing physical or emotional pain
Example
The injury was very painful, and he needed immediate care.
B2 noun /ˈpen.ʃən/

Pension

Meaning
a regular payment made to someone who is no longer working because of age or disability
Example
After retirement, he receives a monthly pension from the company.
C2 adjective /ˈpjuːɪsənt/

puissant

Meaning
having great power or influence; mighty
Example
The king was a puissant ruler whose word was law.
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.
B2 noun /ˈpoʊ.di.əm/

Podium

Meaning
a small platform on which a person may stand to be seen by an audience
Example
The winner stood on the podium to receive the gold medal.
C2 adjective /ˈpɔːntʃi/

paunchy

Meaning
Having a large or protruding belly.
Example
The paunchy man struggled to button his shirt.
A2 noun /ˈpɑːrkɪŋ/

parking

Meaning
the action or practice of leaving a vehicle in a particular place for a period of time
Example
There was no available parking near the restaurant.
A1 noun /pɪɡ/

Pig

Meaning
a domestic farm animal with a short curly tail and a flat nose
Example
The farmer fed the pig in the pen.
A2 noun pəˈzɪʃ.ən

position

Meaning
A particular way in which someone or something is placed or arranged.
Example
The team's position reflects consistent performance.
B1 verb /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/

purchase

Meaning
to buy something; to acquire by paying money
Example
I need to purchase groceries for the week.
C1 verb /prɪˈzaɪd/

preside

Meaning
to be in charge of a meeting, event, or organization
Example
She will preside over the meeting tomorrow.
B1 verb /pɔːr/

pour

Meaning
to flow or cause to flow in a steady stream; to rain heavily
Example
Please pour the water into the glass carefully.
B1 noun /ˈpoʊni/

Pony

Meaning
a small horse, typically under 14.2 hands high
Example
The children enjoyed riding the gentle pony at the farm.
C2 noun /proʊˈdʒɛnɪtər/

progenitor

Meaning
a direct ancestor; a person or thing that originates something
Example
Researchers traced the custom back to a common progenitor.
B2 verb /prəˈvoʊk/

provoke

Meaning
To cause someone to become angry or to cause a reaction.
Example
His words provoked a heated argument.
B2 verb /poʊz/

pose

Meaning
To assume a particular position, especially for a photograph or display; to present a problem or question.
Example
She posed for a picture in front of the monument.
C1 noun /ˈpoʊtənsi/

potency

Meaning
The power or ability of something to affect or influence; strength or effectiveness.
Example
The potency of the new medicine amazed the doctors.
C1 adjective /ˈpæs.ə.bəl/

passable

Meaning
good enough to be accepted, though not excellent
Example
The road is barely passable after the storm.
C2 adjective /ˈprəʊ.lɪks/

prolix

Meaning
using too many words; tediously lengthy
Example
The professor’s prolix lecture put many students to sleep.
B2 noun pɪər ˈɪnfluəns

peer influence

Meaning
The effect that members of a peer group have on each other, especially in terms of behavior, attitudes, and decision-making.
Example
Peer influence can shape juvenile behavior significantly.
C1 verb /ˈprɒfəsaɪ/

prophesy

Meaning
to state or predict that something will happen in the future, especially as if divinely inspired
Example
The monk prophesied that peace would return to the land.
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.
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 /fɪˈlæn.θrə.pɪst/

philanthropist

Meaning
a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes
Example
The philanthropist donated millions to build schools in rural areas.
C2 verb /pɜːrl/

purl

Meaning
To knit with a purl stitch; to flow with a murmuring sound (as a stream).
Example
The brook purled softly through the meadow.
B1 verb /piːl/

peel

Meaning
to remove the outer covering or skin from a fruit or vegetable
Example
She peeled the mango before eating it.
C2 noun /pəˈtruːn/

poltroon

Meaning
a cowardly person
Example
He acted like a poltroon during the crisis.
B1 verb /prəˈsiːd/

proceed

Meaning
to continue with a course of action; to move forward
Example
Let's proceed with the meeting as planned.
C1 adjective /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/

precocious

Meaning
Showing advanced development or maturity at an unusually early age.
Example
The precocious child was reading novels at the age of five.
B2 adjective /fəˈnɒmɪnəl/

phenomenal

Meaning
extraordinary, remarkable, or exceptional in a way that is very impressive
Example
The team achieved phenomenal success in the tournament.
C1 adjective /ˈpleɪntɪv/

plaintive

Meaning
expressing sadness or sorrow
Example
He raised a plaintive cry for help.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛneɪt/

pennate

Meaning
Having parts or structures arranged like a feather; feather-shaped.
Example
The fern has a pennate leaf structure.
C1 noun, verb /pliːt/

pleat

Meaning
a fold in fabric made by doubling the material back upon itself
Example
She added a pleat to the skirt for extra volume.
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.
B1 noun /ˈproʊˌfaɪl/

profile

Meaning
a description or representation of someone or something; an outline
Example
He updated his profile on the company website.
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 verb /ˈproʊtjuːbəreɪt/

protuberate

Meaning
To swell out or bulge.
Example
The roots began to protuberate from the ground.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛnɪtrəbl/

penetrable

Meaning
Capable of being passed through or entered.
Example
The thin wall was easily penetrable.
C2 noun /ˈplænɪsfɪr/

planisphere

Meaning
a rotating star chart used to display the visible stars for any time and date
Example
The astronomer used a planisphere to identify the constellations.
C2 adjective /ˈpɛktərəl/

pectoral

Meaning
Relating to the chest or breast.
Example
The athlete focused on strengthening his pectoral muscles.
B2 verb /pliːd/

plead

Meaning
to make an emotional appeal; to present a case in court
Example
She pleaded for mercy.
C2 noun /pɛnˈtæmɪtər/

pentameter

Meaning
A line of verse consisting of five metrical feet.
Example
Shakespeare often wrote his plays in iambic pentameter.
B1 noun /ˈpʊl.oʊ.vər/

Pullover

Meaning
a knitted garment worn on the upper body, typically pulled on over the head
Example
She wore a warm pullover during the cold winter evening.
C2 adjective /ˌpəʊstˈprændɪəl/

postprandial

Meaning
Occurring after a meal.
Example
He went for a postprandial walk after dinner.
B2 adjective ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk

prehistoric

Meaning
Belonging to the time before written records.
Example
The prehistoric era was marked by the rise of early humans.
C1 noun ˌpriːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən

preoccupation

Meaning
The state of being absorbed in thought; mental distraction.
Example
His preoccupation with work led to neglecting his personal life.
B2 noun /ˈpes.ə.mɪst/

Pessimist

Meaning
a person who tends to see the worst aspect of things or believes that the worst will happen; someone who lacks hope or confidence in the future
Example
Being a pessimist, he always expected the worst outcome.
B1 noun /ˈpæk.ɪt/

packet

Meaning
a small package or container holding items or information
Example
He bought a packet of biscuits from the shop.
B2 adjective /ˈpreɪz.wɜː.ði/

Praiseworthy

Meaning
deserving praise; commendable; admirable
Example
Her charitable work is truly praiseworthy.
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 noun /ˈpæd.ɪŋ/

padding

Meaning
soft material added for comfort, protection, or to fill space
Example
The chair had extra padding for comfort.
C2 adjective /ˈpɑːrtəbl/

partible

Meaning
capable of being divided or separated
Example
The estate was partible among the heirs.
A1 noun /ˈprɒb.ləm/

Problem

Meaning
a situation that causes difficulties and needs to be dealt with or solved
Example
We need to solve this problem quickly.
A1 noun /pɑːrt/

part

Meaning
a piece or segment of something
Example
She gave me a part of her chocolate.
C2 noun /ˌfəʊ.təʊ.sen.sɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/

photosensitivity

Meaning
Sensitivity to light, especially abnormal sensitivity that may cause discomfort or damage.
Example
Overrubbing can increase photosensitivity.
C2 noun /ˌfɪziˈɒnəmi/

physiognomy

Meaning
the study of facial features to judge character or personality
Example
He believed in physiognomy and tried to read people's personalities from their faces.
B2 noun /ˈpɜː.tʃəs.ɪŋ ˈpaʊ.ɚ/

purchasing power

Meaning
The amount of goods and services that can be purchased with a unit of currency.
Example
Due to inflation, people's purchasing power has decreased.
B1 adjective; verb (past and past participle of prepare) /prɪˈpɛrd/

prepared

Meaning
made ready in advance; having made plans or taken steps beforehand
Example
She was fully prepared for the final exam.
B2 adjective /prɛsˈtɪdʒəs/

prestigious

Meaning
having a high reputation; respected
Example
Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
C1 noun ˈpraʊ.es

prowess

Meaning
Skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
Example
Prowess in sports enhances team strength.
C1 noun /ˈpɜːʃən/

Persian

Meaning
a native or inhabitant of Iran; the language spoken in Iran (Farsi)
Example
The Persian language has a rich literary history.
C2 noun /ˌfɑːsfəˈrɛsəns/

phosphorescence

Meaning
the property of emitting light without noticeable heat
Example
The deep-sea creatures displayed a beautiful phosphorescence.
C2 noun /ˈfaɪəl/

phial

Meaning
a small glass container for liquids, especially medicines
Example
The doctor gave her a phial of medicine.
C2 noun /ˈpʌlkrɪˌtjuːd/

pulchritude

Meaning
physical beauty
Example
The actress was admired for her pulchritude as well as her talent.
B2 noun pərˈsweɪ.ʒən

persuasion

Meaning
The act of convincing someone to change their viewpoint through reasoning or emotion.
Example
Effective persuasion is key to a successful speech.
C1 noun /ˌsaɪkoʊˈθɛrəpi/

psychotherapy

Meaning
The treatment of mental disorder by psychological rather than medical means.
Example
She attended weekly psychotherapy sessions to cope with her anxiety.
C1 noun /ˌpæl.pɪˈteɪ.ʃən/

Palpitation

Meaning
a noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat due to agitation or medical condition
Example
She experienced palpitations before her job interview.
C1 noun /ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

perjury

Meaning
The offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after taking an oath.
Example
She was convicted of perjury after giving false evidence.
C2 noun /ˈpeɪpəsi/

papacy

Meaning
The office or authority of the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church.
Example
The papacy played a significant role in medieval European politics.
C2 noun /ˈpɒlɪti/

polity

Meaning
an organized society or form of government
Example
The ancient Greek polity had a system of city-states.
C2 noun /pɪˈlɑːf/

Pillaw

Meaning
a dish of rice cooked in seasoned broth, often with meat and vegetables
Example
We enjoyed a delicious chicken pillaw for dinner.
C2 verb /ˈpʌkər/

pucker

Meaning
to tighten or contract into small folds or wrinkles
Example
She puckered her lips before kissing the child.
C1 noun /pɔl/

Pall

Meaning
a cloth spread over a coffin; a dark covering that creates a gloomy atmosphere
Example
A pall of smoke hung over the burning building.
A1 noun /piːˈɛm/

pm

Meaning
abbreviation for post meridiem; after midday
Example
The meeting is scheduled at 3 pm.
B1 noun /per/

Pear

Meaning
a sweet juicy fruit with a rounded shape that is wider at the bottom than the top
Example
She enjoyed a fresh pear from the orchard.
B2 verb /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/

polish

Meaning
to make smooth and shiny by rubbing; to improve or refine
Example
She needs to polish her shoes before the interview.
B2 verb /ˈprɒspər/

prosper

Meaning
to succeed or flourish, especially in financial or business matters
Example
With hard work and determination, she managed to prosper in her career.
C1 noun /prəˈpɛlər/

propeller

Meaning
A mechanical device with blades that rotates to drive a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle forward.
Example
The airplane’s propeller cut through the air with great speed.
A2 noun, verb, adjective /ˈprɛzənt/

present

Meaning
existing or happening now; to give something to someone in a formal way
Example
She presented her report to the team yesterday.
C2 adjective /ˈprɑːflɪɡət/

profligate

Meaning
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in resources
Example
The king was known for his profligate lifestyle.
C2 adjective /ˈprʊəriənt/

prurient

Meaning
having or showing an excessive interest in sexual matters
Example
The magazine was criticized for its prurient content.
C2 noun /pɪˈnɒlədʒi/

penology

Meaning
The study of prison management and criminal rehabilitation.
Example
He decided to specialize in penology to help improve the prison system.
A2 verb /pʊʃ/

push

Meaning
to exert force to move something away from oneself; to press against
Example
Push the button to ring the bell.
B2 verb /paɪn/

pine

Meaning
to long intensely for something or someone; to suffer from longing
Example
He pined for his hometown after moving abroad.
C1 verb prəˈpel

propel

Meaning
To drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.
Example
Lack of proper guidance can propel adolescents toward delinquency.
C2 verb /ˈprɒsəˌlaɪtaɪz/

proselytize

Meaning
To try to persuade someone to convert to a different belief or religion.
Example
They tried to proselytize the villagers with their new ideas.
C1 adjective /pɪˈkjuːniˌɛri/

pecuniary

Meaning
relating to money or financial matters
Example
They faced pecuniary difficulties after the business failed.
C1 noun /ˈpɪt.əns/

pittance

Meaning
a very small or inadequate amount of money
Example
She worked long hours for a mere pittance.
C2 noun /ˈpætwɑː/

patois

Meaning
a regional or social dialect, especially one considered nonstandard or informal
Example
The guide slipped into local patois when chatting with the fishermen.
B2 noun /ˌpɪə.riˈɒd.ɪ.kəl/

periodical

Meaning
a magazine or journal published at regular intervals
Example
She subscribed to a science periodical.
B1 noun /ˈpɑr.səl/

Parcel

Meaning
an object or collection of objects wrapped in paper for carrying or sending by mail; a piece of land
Example
The postman delivered a parcel to our door.
B2 verb /prəˈkleɪm/

proclaim

Meaning
to announce something publicly or officially, especially something important
Example
The president proclaimed a national day of mourning.