Page 330 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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propel (pruh PEL) vt. to push; drive; impel onward O – P: GRE Words 321
• Jet engines propel most of today’s commercial aircraft.
• Propellers propel most boats through the water. (Coincidence? We think
not!)
• Thomas Edison was propelled to fame by his inventions, including the elec-
tric lightbulb.
[-led, -ling] [Syn. push]
propitiate (pruh PISH ee ayt) vt. to cause to be favorably inclined; to win over;
to appease; pacify; regain the goodwill of
• Lincoln planned the Reconstruction to propitiate the people of the former
Confederacy.
• The clothing store manager gave Gail a partial refund to propitiate her and
win her furture business.
[-d, propitiating, propitiatory n.] [Syn. pacify]
protracted (proh TRAK tid) adj. lengthy; drawn out; extended
• The Civil War, which everyone expected to be brief, lasted for a protracted
period of time.
• Most new car purchases spread payments over a protracted number of
months.
• When asked why he had not brought home the groceries, Jack gave his
wife, Jill, a protracted response.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. extended]
pundit (PUN dit) n. a person who professes to have a great deal of learning on a
subject; a supposed or self-supposed authority on something
• Before buying golf clubs, it makes sense to consult a golf club pundit.
• Readers of consumer magazines believe themselves to be pundits on
refrigerators.
• Political commentators profess to be pundits on politics.
[Syn. maven]
pungency (PUN jin see) n. a strong, sharp taste and/or smell; acridness
• Certain peppers, such as the poblano, are noted for their pungency.
• The pungency of an onion is enough to bring tears to the eyes of the person
slicing it—and not for sentimental reasons.
[pungent adj., pungently adv.] [Syn. acridness]