Page 199 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary
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Essential Vocabulary
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QUICK REVIEW #67
Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.
1. precedence a. doctrine
2. precedent b. prevent
3. precept c. grasping
4. precipitate d. ancestor
5. precise e. foretell
6. preclude f. earlier event
7. precocious g. presumption
8. predators h. ordering
9. predecessor i. explicit
10. predict j. advanced
11. prehensile k. hasten
12. premise l. exploiters
preoccupy (pree AHK yoo py) vt. to occupy one’s thoughts to the total exclu-
sion of everything else; to engross or absorb
• Sandy was so preoccupied with the book she was reading that she didn’t
hear her mother call her to dinner.
• It was the job of the point man to preoccupy the sentry so that he didn’t see
the rest of the attacking force.
[preoccupied, -ing, preoccupation* n.]
prepossess (pree PUH zes) vt. 1. to prejudice or bias, especially favorably; 2. to
favorably impress immediately
• Linda loved to prepossess a new teacher by showing off her good manners
at every opportunity.
• Prepossessing one’s new employer is not a bad way to start a new business
relationship.
[-ed, -ing, prepossessing, adj.]
prescribe (pri SKRYB) vt. 1. to order or direct; ordain; 2. to order as a medicine
or method of treatment (by a medical doctor); 3. (law) to outlaw or invalidate
• The traffic officer prescribed a left turn for all traffic at the intersection.
• The doctor prescribed a regimen of bed rest and a liquid diet.
• The Constitution prescribes cruel and unusual punishment.
[-d, prescribing]