Dictionary of Rare and Pretty Words

P

Paean, a song expressing praise

Palanquin, a method of transportation most commonly used in past centuries in Asia, where people carry a large box that hold a passenger

Palatial, palace-like

Panegyric, a eulogy

Paphian, relating to love, illicit acts, prostitution, or sexual desire; a prostitute

Papyrus, a material used to write or paint on in ancient times

Parenthetical, added into parentheses

Parley, negotiation/conference/talk between opposing sides

Paroxysm, a sudden, uncontrollable fit of emotion; a sudden attack of a disease

Parry, evade, fend off

Parsimonious, stingy

Parvenu, a person from a poor/normal background who has become rich or famous, typically used negatively

Patrician, an aristocrat; aristocratic

Paucity, shortage, scarcity

Peahen, a female peacock

Peccant, (Archaic) diseased/infectious; guilty of a sin or offense

Peculate, steal, especially of public funds

Pecuniary, of/relating to money

Pedagogue, a formal, strict teacher

Pedantic, describing someone who is overscrupulous, especially about trivial matters

Pell-mell, in a disorderly way; disorganized

Pellucid, bright and translucent; easy to understand; pure

Penchant, an inclination

Pendulous, dangling

Penetralia, a secret place; the innermost parts

Penury, poverty

Perambulate, to walk leisurely

Peremptory, authoritative and brusque

Perfidy, the state of being untrustworthy

Perry, an alcohol made from pears

Persiflage, light or friendly teasing or mockery

Pert, attractively jaunty, typically of a young woman

Pertinacious, persistent

Pestilential, irritating; destructive; causing pestilence

Petrichor, the pleasant smell of the earth after rain falls

Pettifogging, dwelling on petty or insignificant details

Phaeton, an open, horse-drawn carriage

Phantasm, an illusion

Pharisaic, sanctimonious; like the Pharisees

Pharos, the lighthouse of Alexandria; a lighthouse

Phial, vial

Philter, a magic potion that induces love

Piazza, a marketplace in an Italian town

Piebald, describing patches on a horse that are black and white

Pilose, hairy/furry, typically of soft hair

Pink, dianthus

Plasma, a type of mineral

Plebeian, a commoner; like a commoner; uncultured

Pluvial, relating to an abundance of rain

Pneuma, a person's breath, spirit or soul

Polaris, the north star

Pollard, (Archaic) an animal that has lost its horns

Poltroon, a total coward

Poniard, a slim blade

Pons asinorum, the part of something that is extremely difficult; a very hard test of understanding or ability

Pore, (Archaic) study, ponder

Porphyry, a type of rock

Precipitous, steep; risky, of an action

Precocious, gifted ahead of one's age

Premonition, a presentiment

Preternatural, beyond natural, but not supernatural

Prig, a self-righteous person

Pro tem, temporarily

Probity, integrity

Proletariat, the working class

Prolix, long and drawn-out

Promulgate, to publicize; to implement

Propensity, a tendency or predisposition

Propitiate, to appease something, typically a god or deity, with something they like

Prosaic, plain and unromantic

Proselyte, a new convert

Prosody, the patterns of sounds in poetry

Pseudomorph, A crystal made of one mineral but has the form of another

Puerile, childish

Pugnacious, aggressive

Punctilious, extremely attentive to detail

Pur sang, pure blooded; true

Purblind, having bad vision; dimwitted or obtuse

Purlieu, the area surrounding somewhere

Pursy, (Archaic) overweight; out of breath

Pyre, a fire used for burning a body