Page 189 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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Essential Vocabulary
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perspicuity (POER spi KYOO i tee) n. clear and easily understood; lucidity; clar-
ity in statement and expression
• It is a talent to speak with perspicuity.
• Perspicuity makes it easy to convey your ideas to others.
[perspicuous adj., perspicuously adv.]
persuasive (per SWAY siv) adj. having the power to sway one’s opinion or tend-
ing to sway one’s opinion, beliefs, etc.
• Your argument against a national pickle-spotting hotline was not very
persuasive to the gherkin lobbyist.
• Over the course of time, the pen has proven to be much more persuasive
than the sword.
pertinent (PER ti nint) adj. to the point; connected to the matter under consid-
eration; relevant
• When seeking a new veterinarian, one’s dog’s opinion might be quite
pertinent.
• A list of references and what they have to say could be pertinent to the hir-
ing of a housekeeper.
pervasive (poer VAY siv) adj. tending to spread throughout something or some
group
• Malicious gossip can often be pervasive around the workplace, spreading in
a matter of minutes.
• The pervasive nature of some diseases is the reason for isolating any sus-
pected cases.
[-ly adv., -ness n.]
pessimism (PES i mi zm) n. 1. expecting the worst at all times; 2. the philoso-
phy that evil always triumphs over good
• Pessimism leads the driver to believe that the bridge is out just around the
bend.
• The expectation that bad instincts will win out over good ones is a sign of
pessimism.
• Pessimism makes one see the half-full glass as half empty.
[pessimistic adj.]
phenomenal (fe NAHM in il) adj. very unusual; extraordinary; very remarkable
• The medical community has had phenomenal success with curing certain
cancers.
• Phenomenal advances took aviation from the Wright Brothers’ flyer to the
space shuttle in less than 100 years.