polemic(poh LEM ik) adj. 1. of or concerning dispute; controversial; 2. argu-
mentative; disputatious
- Polemicpersons often enjoy becoming members of a debating team.
- Some of the great polemicsof the western plains concerned property
borders. - The border polemics usually concerned water rights but occasionally dealt
with mineral rights.
[-ally adv.]
poseur(poh ZOER) n. a person who affects attitudes or manners for the benefit
of others; an actor; pretender
•A poseurmight deliberately affect the manner of another or might do so
naturally.- Impersonators and impressionists are deliberate poseurs.
- Sometimes a poseuraffects an attitude of concern just for the benefit of a
judge or jury.
pottery(PAH toer ee) n. objects made from clay by a potter; urns, bowls, dishes,
and so on made of clay and hardened by heat in a kiln; earthenware - Some of our best knowledge of ancient civilizations comes from having
unearthed their pottery. - Most dishes are made of pottery.
- Terra-cotta potteryis commonly used for household plants, although plastic
is also frequently used.
[Syn. earthenware]
precipitation(pree SIP i TAY shun) n. 1. rash haste; impetuousness; 2. the
bringing about of something suddenly; acceleration; 3. snow, rain, sleet, hail, and
so on - The precipitationof a conflict is rarely a cause to celebrate.
- Driving too fast might be the precipitationfor a high-speed accident.
- In the winter, frozen precipitationmight fall from the sky.
[precipitate vt.]
preempt(pree EMPT) vt. 1. to seize before anyone else can; 2. to replace a
previously scheduled program (on TV or radio) - A municipal government can preempt someone’s property for public use.
- A news bulletin or presidential address sometimes preemptsscheduled
programming.
[-ed, -ing]
318 Essential Vocabulary