Page 185 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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pellagra (pil AG ruh) n. a vitamin deficiency disease caused by a lack of ade-
quate supply of Vitamin B 6, characterized by skin eruptions, gastrointestinal prob-
lems, and mental disorders
• Pellagra is endemic in certain parts of the world.
• Those who consume a lot of protein-rich foods need not be concerned
with contracting pellagra.
penurious (pen YOOR ee uhs) adj. 1. unwilling to part with money; miserly;
stingy; 2. very poor; in poverty
• Mythical King Midas had a well-documented history of being penurious.
• Strangely enough, sharecroppers also have a history of being penurious but
in the second sense of the word.
[-ly adv., -ness n.] [Syn. stingy]
perceive (poer SEEV) vt. 1. to mentally grasp; observe; take note of; 2. to
become aware of through one of the senses
• The ant was able to perceive that when the spider invited her to dinner, she
was the main course.
• By the odor of food and hickory in the air, Raldo perceived that there was a
barbecue nearby.
[-d, perceiving*] [Syn. discern]
perception (poer SEP shin) n. 1. the act of perceiving or the ability to perceive
by means of the senses; 2. insight or intuition or the possession of either of them;
3. the idea, concept, or impression formed as a result of perceiving something
• The nose of the wine gave David the perception of ripe cherries and
blackberries.
• Despite knowing that they were meeting for the first time, Helene could
not shake the perception that she knew him from somewhere.
perceptive (poer SEP tiv) adj. 1. of or capable of perceiving; 2. having sharp
insight or intuition; penetrating
• It was extremely perceptive of Frederika to know who the real murderer was
before completing even half of Agatha Christie’s tale.
• Bruce was perceptive enough to tell from the interview that the position
had already been filled and that the interviewer was just going through the
motions.
[-ly adv.]
perfidy (POER fi dee) n. a deliberate breaking of trust; faithlessness; treachery
• Susan could not belive Jonathan’s perfidy in seeing Daphne behind her
back.
• General Washington could scarcely believe Benedict Arnold’s perfidy in giv-
ing the British the plans to West Point.
[perfidious* adj., perfidiously adv.]