Barron gre word list A

part of stage in front of curtain; front arch of a stage 
proscribe
prohibit; ostracize; banish; outlaw 
proselytize
(induce someone to) convert to a religion or belief; N. proselyte: new 
convert to a doctrine or religion 
prosody
art of versification; study of the metrical structure of verse 
prosper
become successful (esp. financially); thrive; grow well; Ex. children 
prospering under his care 
prosperity
good fortune and financial success; physical well-being 
prosperous
successful; rich; affluent; well-to-do; well-off 
prostrate
stretch out full on ground; make prostrate; enervate; Ex. prostrating 
illness; ADJ: lying face down; having lost all strength 
prot\'eg\'e
person receiving protection and support from a patron 
protagonist
leader or noticeable supporter of an idea; chief character in a play or 
story 
protean
able to take on many forms; versatile; CF. Proteus: sea god to change 
his shape at will 
protocol
diplomatic etiquette; ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats; 
first copy of a treaty before its ratification; Ex. Protocol demands that 
the queen meet him at the airport. 
prototype
original work used as a model by others 
protract
prolong; lengthen in time; draw out 
protrude
stick out; jut; project; Ex. protruding teeth 
protuberance
protrusion; swelling; bulge 
provenance
place of origin; origin or source of something; Ex. Gunpowder is of 
Chinese provenance; CF. come 
provender
dry food for livestock; fodder 
proverb
adage; someone or something well known for notoriety; ADJ. 
proverbial: of a proverb; widely known; ADV. proverbially 
providence
quality of being provident; divine care; god's care; Providence: god; 
Ex. It seemed like providence that the doctor happened to be there; 
ADJ. providential: of divine providence; fortunate 
provident
providing for future needs; displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for 
emergencies; OP. improvident 
provincial
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; narrow; unsophisticated 

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provision
act of providing; something provided; preparatory measure; 
provisions: necessary supplies (esp. food); stipulation; condition in 
an agreement; Ex. According to the provisions of the agreement 
provisional
tentative; temporary 
proviso
stipulation; condition in an agreement; provision 
provocative
arousing anger or sexual interest; annoying; Ex. provocative in tight 
jeans; V. provoke: incite to anger; cause (an unpleasant action or 
feeling); N. provocation 
prowess
extraordinary ability; military bravery; Ex. prowess in battle 
proximity
nearness; ADJ. proximate 
proxy
authorized agent; authority to act for another 
prude
excessively modest or proper person (who is easily shocked by 
improper things, esp. of a sexual nature); N. prudery; ADJ. prudish: 
excessively concerned with propriety 
prudent
cautious; careful; prudential 
prune
cut away; trim 
prurient
having or causing lustful desires and thoughts; arousing immoderate 
sexual desire 
pry
inquire impertinently (someone else's private affairs); use leverage to 
raise or open something; prize; N. pries: tool for prying 
pseudonym
pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. 
pseudonymous 
psyche
soul; mind 
psychiatrist
doctor who treats mental diseases 
psychic
of psyche; mental; of or possessing extraordinary mental powers 
psychopathic
pertaining to mental dearrangement; N. psychopath: person with an 
antisocial personality disorder 
psychosis
mental disorder; ADJ. N. psychotic 
psychosomatic
of the influence of the mind on the body (esp. with respect to disease) 
pterodactyl
extinct flying reptile; CF. wing+finger 
pucker
gather into wrinkles or folds; N: wrinkle or fold 
pudding
hot sweet dish 
puerile
childish; immature; CF. puer: boy 
pugilist
boxer; CF. pugilism: boxing 
pugnacity
combativeness; disposition to fight; ADJ. pugnacious: (of people) 
belligerent; combative in nature 

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puissant
powerful; strong; potent; N. puissance: power 
pulchritude
beauty; comeliness; ADJ. pulchritudinous 
pulmonary
pertaining to the lungs 
pulpit
raised platform used in preaching (in a church) 
pulsate
throb; beat regularly; vibrate regularly 
pulse
rhythmical throbbing of arteries; brief sudden change in a normally 
constant quantity; V: pulsate 
pulverize
crush or grind into very small particles 
pummel
pommel; beat or pound with fists 
punctilious
minutely attentive (perhaps too much so) to fine points; stressing 
niceties of conduct or form; N. punctilio, punctiliousness: careful 
attention payed to every small exact detail 
pundit
authority on a subject; expert; learned person 
pungent
stinging; acrid; sharp in taste or smell; (of speech or writing) caustic; 
N. pungency 
punitive
punishing; Ex. punitive measures 
puny
tiny; weak; insignificant 
purchase
secure grasp or hold; firm grasp or footing 
purgatory
place of spiritual expiation; temporary state or place in which the 
souls must expiate their sins 
purge
remove or get rid of something or someone unwanted; eliminate; free 
from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify (esp. of sin, guilt, or 
defilement); N. 
purport
intention; purpose; meaning; V: claim; profess; Ex. order which 
purports to be signed by the general 
purported
alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored; Ex. purported Satanists 
purse
pucker; contract (lips) into wrinkles; N: wallet 
purveyor
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; V. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; 
CF. provide 
pushy
disagreeably aggressive 
pusillanimous
cowardly; lacking courage; fainthearted 
putative
supposed; reputed; generally regarded as such; Ex. putative father of 
the child 
putrefy
make or become putrid; N. putrefaction 
putrescent
becoming putrid; putrefying 

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putrid
decayed and foul-smelling; foul; rotten; decayed; N. putridity 
puzzle
baffle or confuse by a difficult problem; ponder over a problem in an 
effort to solve; clarify or solve by reasoning; Ex. puzzle out the 
answer; N. 
pyromaniac
person with an insane desire to set things on fire 
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