propel(pruh PEL) vt. to push; drive; impel onward- Jet engines propelmost of today’s commercial aircraft.
- Propellers propel most boats through the water. (Coincidence? We think
not!) - Thomas Edison was propelledto 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 propitiatethe people of the former
Confederacy. - The clothing store manager gave Gail a partial refund to propitiateher 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 protractednumber of
months. - When asked why he had not brought home the groceries, Jack gave his
wife, Jill, a protractedresponse.
[-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 punditson
refrigerators. - Political commentators profess to be punditson 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.
- Thepungencyof 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]
O – P: GRE Words 321