SAT Master Word List #31

pathological

related to the study of disease; diseased or markedly abnormal

pathos

tender sorrow; pity; quality in art or literature that produces these feelings

patronize

support; act superior toward; be a customer of

pecuniary

pertaining to money

pedagogy

teaching; art of education

pedantic

showing off learning; bookish

pedestrian

ordinary; unimaginative

peerless

having no equal; incomparable

penchant

strong inclination; liking

penitent

repentant

pensive

dreamily thoughtful; thoughtful with a hint of sadness; contemplative

penury

severe poverty; stinginess

perceptive

insightful; aware; wise

peremptory

demanding and leaving no choice

perennial

something that is continuing or recurrent

perfunctory

superficial; not thorough; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm

peripheral

outer; of minor importance

permeable

penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through

permeate

pass through; spread

pernicious

very destructive

perpetrate

commit an offense

perpetual

everlasting

perpetuate

make something last; preserve from extinction

persevere

persist; endure; strive

perspicacious

having insight; penetrating; astute

pertinent

to the point; relevant

perturb

disturb greatly

peruse

read with care

pervasive

pervading; spread throughout every part

perverse

stubbornly wrongheaded; wicked and perverted

pessimism

belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess

petrify

turn to stone

petty

trivial; unimportant; very small

petulant

touchy; peevish

phenomena

plural; observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation

philanthropist

lover of mankind; doer of good

philistine

narrow-minded person, uncultured and exclusively interested in material gain

phlegmatic

calm; not easily disturbed

phobia

morbid fear

physiological

pertaining to the science of the function of living organisms

piety

religious devotion; godliness

pious

devout; religious

pique

provoke or arouse; annoy

pitfall

hidden danger; concealed trap

pithy

concise; meaningful; substantial; meaty

pivotal

crucial; key; vital

placate

pacify; conciliate

placid

peaceful; calm

plagiarize

steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own

platitude

trite remark; commonplace statement