Word Roots: P

pel (v.), puls (adj., n.)  (pull, push) 

• repel, Likes repel. Opposites attract. 
• repulsive, repulsive force, a repulsive smell
• repellent (adj. n.) insect repellent, water repellent
• impel, impel sb. to do sth.; sb. feel impelled to do sth. 
• impulse buying/shopping; on an impulse, 
• compel: compel sb. to do sth. 
• compulsive (obsessive) gambler/liar/eating disorder
• compulsory = mandatory: compulsory education

pol, pon, pos, port (pul):

• extrapolate, interpolate, pole, polar
• opponent, proponent, exponent, component
• pore, porous, emporium, porosity, osteoporosis
• pose, repose, depose, dispose, compose, expose, impose, propose, interpose, transpose, 
• Prolactin releases, disposing you toward sleep. 
• Man proposes, but God disposes. 
• disposed, indispose, predispose, composed, discomposed, composure, discomposure, imposing
• postulate, expostulate
• import, export, port, deport, transport, portable, portfolio, porter, portage, important, 
• comport, disport, rapport, support, report, portly, 
• opportunity, inopportune, importunate, opportune, importune, 

puls (pushed):

• pulse, pulsate, pulsar, pulsating,
• drum- throb/thrum/thump/thud/pound
• repulse, impulse

ped (child): encyclopedia, cyclopedia, pedant, pedantic, pedantry, pedagogy, pedagogue, pediatrician, pediatrics, 

pod (foot): antipodal, Antipodes, podium, tripod, podiatry, podiatrist, cephalopod (octopus), 

ped (foot): E-extend, symmetrical,  

• pedal,  pedestal, peddle, (petal), pedestrian, biped, bipedal, pedometer, centipede, millipede
• pedigree,
• impediment, impede,
• expedite, expedient, expeditious,  expedition

pal (be pale): pale, appalling, pallid, appall, pall, pallor

palp (stroke, caress, touch): palpate, impalpable, palpable, 

palpitate, palpitation,

pan (bread): pantry, companion, appanage

pan- (all): pan (v.), panorama, pandemic, pancreas, panacea, pantomime, pandemonium,  panoply, pantheon, panegyric,

parl (talk, speak) parliament

parley, parlance, parlor,

pass: compass,  encompass, impasse, trespass, surpass, underpass

past (dough, paste) – pasta, pasty, 

paste, pastel, pastiche, pastry,  patisserie

path (feeling, disease): pathogenic, pathos, sociopath, psychopath

patr (father): 

expatriate, repatriate, (extradite,) patriarch, patron, patronize, patronage, patronizing, patriotic, patriot, patriotism, patrimony, patricide, patrician, 

par: beside, alongside, related, equal

• compare, comparative, comparison, incomparable
• par: stock face value
• parity, disparity
• disparage: regard as being of little worth
• disparate: essentially different in kind, not allowing comparison
• nonpareil: having no match or equal; unrivaled

• parable: a moral story
• parody: a humorous imitation
• paraphrase
• parenthetical: a remark further explaining or qualifies information
• paragraph
• paragon: a best example of a kind
• parochial: having a limited or narrow outlook or scope
• paradigm: a model or an example
• paradigmatic
• paradox: a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or unrealistic by may surprisingly express a possible truth
• paranoia: extreme distrust of others
• Paraphernalia: miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity
• paralyze = para + ly (untie) + ze 
• paralysis
• paramecium
• parasite
• paramedic
• parabola
• hyperbola
• parallel, unparalleled, parallelogram
• parameter:
  
  noun: parameter; plural noun: parameters
  1. a numerical or other measurable factor forming one of a set that defines a system or sets the conditions of its operation.

     “the transmission will not let you downshift unless your speed is within the lower gear’s parameters”

     • MATHEMATICS

       a quantity whose value is selected for the particular circumstances and in relation to which other variable quantities may be expressed.
     • STATISTICS

       a numerical characteristic of a population, as distinct from a statistic of a sample.
     • (in general use) a limit or boundary that defines the scope of a particular process or activity.

       “they set the parameters of the debate”

par (make, prepare)

• pare: to reduce or lessen
• parry: to ward (guard) something off or deflect (divert) it
• ===
• apparel, appareled
• apparatus
• parachute
• parade, repair, irreparable
• reparation: compensation for an insult or injury
• prepare, preparatory
• parasol: a handheld collapsible source of shade, umbrella
• parlay: stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager. 
• rampart, parapet: a low wall along the edge of a roof or a balcony
• ====
• apparat: the administrative system of a communist party. 
• apparatchik: a member of a Communist Party apparat, a very loyal subordinate to someone or something, especially to a particular political organization or leader

par (come to sight) parent

• parent, parentage, parental, parenthood, postpartum
• parturition: the action of giving birth to young, childbirth
• antepartum: occurring not long before childbirth
• multipara: a mother who has had more than one pregnancy resulting in viable offspring.
• oviparous: producing young by means of eggs that are hatched after they have been laid by the parent. 
• viviparous: bringing forth live young that have developed inside the body of the parent.  
• transparent: transparently, transparency
• apparition: something that is unexpectedly appears that is either a ghost or ghostly
• repertoire: a performer’s ready stock or range of pieces that he can perform. 
• repertory

pec = mouth + extend + bite (peck, pick)

peccadillo, impeccable, peculiar, peculiarity,

pecuni (money): peculate (embezzle), peculation, pecuniary, impecunious, 

pen (hang, weigh, pound): pendant, penalty

• pend, pendant, pendent (adj.), penchant, pensive
• append, appendage, appendices, appendix, 
• impend, impending, 
• dispense, 
• expend, expenditure, expense,  expensive, 
• compendium, compendious, 
• compensate, compensatory, recompense
• propensity
• suspense, suspenseful, 

penitent, penitence, impenitent, penitentiary, penance, subpoena, repent, repentant, 

pen- (almost, nearly): peninsula

penury, penurious, penultimate, antepenultimate, penumbra

pet (seek, attack, request, go for) 

• compete, competent, incompetent
• petition
• repetition
• appetite, appetizer
• perpetuate
• petulant (cross, sulky, insolent, peevish, captious, capricious, tetchy, cantankerous ): he was moody and petulant. 

• petulant

  A petulant person behaves in an unreasonable and childish way, especially because they cannot get their own way or what they want.

• competent

  If someone is competent in a job, they are able and skilled enough to do it well.

• perpetuate

  When you perpetuate something, you keep it going or continue it indefinitely.

• competition

  A competition is a match or game between people; each side tries its hardest to win.

• appetite

  a feeling of craving something

• appetizer

  food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course)

• compete

  compete for something

• competence

  the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually

• incompetent

  legally not qualified or sufficient

• perpetual

  continuing forever or indefinitely

• perpetuity

  the property of being perpetual (seemingly ceaseless)

• petition

  write a petition for something to somebody

• repetition

  an event that repeats

• repetitive

  repetitive and persistent

•  

per (through) = mouth + extend + head (words go through head)

• permeate, pervasive, impervious
• imperious
• peregrination = per + egrin (path) + ation
• perspire = per + spire (breathe)
• perjury
• perish
• a great part of his army perished of hunger and disease.
• permit = per + mit (send)
• perforate = per + for (outside) + ate
• perspicacity = per + spic + acity
• obstreperous = ob + stre (street) + per (appear) + ous

per-: thoroughly, around (away from the center)

• peruse: scrutinize, inspect; it is always advisable to peruse legal documents. 
• perturb: disturb; imperturbable
• perpetrate: a crime has been perpetrated against the state.
• pertinent
• perfidious = per+fid (trust) +ious
• peremptory (overbearing)
• pernicious: the pernicious influences of the mass media
• perfunctory: he gave a perfunctory nod.
• pellucid: pellucid waters
• perennial
• persiflage (banter, raillery)
• percussion
• repercussion = re + per + cuss (strike)
• perquisite (perk) = per + quisit (seek, ask) + e
• requisite, acquisitive, require
• perplexed
• perpetuate = per + pet (attack, seek, go for) 
• pertinacious
• He worked with a pertinacious resistance to interruptions. 
• peroration = per + orat (talk) + ion 
• imperceptible

peri- (around, near, about) perimeter, period

perihelion, perigee, periphery, peripheral, peripatetic, periphrastic, periscope. 

person (character): 

persona, impersonator, impersonal, personable, personification, impersonate, personage, personify

phan (cause to appear, show) 

• sycophant, epiphany, epiphanic, cellophane, 
• phantom, phantasm, diaphanous
• emphasis, phase, 

phem (saying, speech) 

blasphemy, euphemism

phenom, phenomenon, phenomenal, phenomena, 

phil (love)

• philter = aphrodisiac (Aphrodite) 
• philander = phil + ander (male) , philanderer, promiscuous
• philanthropy, philosophy, bibliophile, philately, philatelist,  philology, Philadelphia (adelphos – brother); 
• hemophilia, hemophiliac
• Anglophile, Francophile, Russophile, Hispanophile, Germanophile, Nipponophile, Sinophile

phor, pher (fe – waw + extend) a carrying

• metaphor, euphoria, semaphore
• pheromone, phosphorescent (fluorescence) 
• paraphernalia (belongings, furnishings, appurtenances), periphery, peripheral, 

phrase (explain)

paraphrase (beside), periphrasis (around), phraseology

phyt: plant

zoophyt, saprophyte, neophyte 

pi (cleanse, make) – pity

• piety, pious, piousness,
• expiate, 
• pity, propitiate

pic, pig (paint, portray)

depict, pigment, pigmentation, pictorial, pixel, pixelate, picturesque

pictograph: cuneiform – Mesopo’tamia, ‘hieroglyph – Egypt

pil (pile, pillar) pile (v., n.), compile, pillory, 

pin: pinnacle, panache, pennon, penant, pinion, pinhole, pincushion

plac, plais  (please, suit, be acceptable)

• placid, placebo, placating
• placate: make sb less angry
• implacability, implacable
• complacent: you cannot afford to be complacent about security.
• plea, please, pleasure, pleasant, pleasurable
• pleasantry
• complaisant: When unharness, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant. 

plas (form, mold): plastic

plasma, cytoplasm

plat (flat, broad): plate, breastplate, plateau, platonic, platinum, platelet, platter, platypus, platitude, boilerplate (hackneyed)

plaud, plod (clap, applaud)

applaud, plausible,  explode, explosive, implosion, implode, plaudit

===

ple (fill): plenty, plethora, plenteous

• complete, complement, <compliment>, replete (adj. v.), replenish (v.), deplete,
• pleonasm (see with one’s eyes),  expletive, 
•  plenary, plenipotentiary,

plex (weave): complex, perplexed, complexion, plexus, multiplex

===

pli (fold, bend): pliers  

plight (n.), pliant = pliable, pliancy, suppliant = supplicant, 

complicate, duplicate, supplicant, explicate (explain), complicity, complicit and its accomplices, implicate, applicant

comply, compliance, compliant, accomplish, 

plor (weep over)  deplore, explore, implore, 

ploy (fold) : employ, exploit, deploy

plus (more): nonplus (v.) 

Danne was nonplussed by such an odd question. 

pop = mouth + eye + mouth :

1. 大众: populace, population, populous, populate, unpopulated, overpopulate, depopulate, depopulation, 
2. 出现 – 发展 – 普及 pop, lollipop, popular, popularity, popularize, popularizer, popularization, populism, 
3. 拟声: popcorn 

pot = 拟声，水罐摔到地上的声音

capacity, 

Harry 攻击 Potter 能力的人

1. 喝；： potable, potation, 
2. 能力: potent, potency, potential, impotent, impotency, multipotent, omnipotent, prepotent, potentiality, plenipotentiary, potentate, 
3. potpourri

potent: powerful, capable 

• potentate

  A potentate is a ruler who has great power over people.

• plenipotentiary

  A plenipotentiary is someone who has full power to take action or make decisions on behalf of their government in a foreign country.

• omnipotent

  An omnipotent being or entity is unlimited in its power.

• potency

  Something’s potency is how powerful or effective it is.

• potential

  A potential event is likely to happen, is possible, or can occur.

• impotence

  the quality of lacking strength or power

• impotent

  lacking power or ability

• omnipotence

  the state of being omnipotent

• potent

  having great influence

• potentiality

  the inherent capacity for coming into being

point: appoint, disappoint, pointed, viewpoint, standpoint, counterpoint, pointy, 

ponder (pound): ponder, ponderous, preponderance, preponderate (to exceed in weight, influence, power, or importance)

possess: possess, possession,  repossess, prepossess,  

pover (poor): poverty, impoverished, pauper, pauperism

pract (do): practice, pragmatic, praxis

prehend, prise (seize):

• apprentice, apprehend, apprehensive, reprehend (reprimand), reprehensible, comprehend
• comprise, (constitute, consist of, composed of, made up of, omit – omission), apprise, appraise 
• The country comprises 20 states. 
• The exhibition consists of 180 drawings. 
• Single parents constitute a great portion of poor. 

pris (seize hold of) comprise, apprise, reprisal, prison, reprise, reprieve (relief), enterprise, surprise

preci (precious): appreciate, preciosity (fastidious), 

press: express, depress, suppress, impress, compress, repress = again press, pressurize, oppress, 

prim (first): prim, primeval, primordial, primary, prime, primate, 

priv  (without, individual) private

• private, privatize, privilege, deprive, deprivation
• privation: If you suffer privation, you live without many of the basic things required for a comfortable life. 
• privy: hidden from general view or use. 

proach: reproach

prob (prove, test, approve): proof, probe, prove, reproof, reprove, probate, probation, reprobate, approve, approbation, disapprobation, probity

probable, probability,

proper, property

• apropos, appropriate (adj.), propriety, 
• proprietary, proprietor, proprietorship,
• appropriate (v.), appropriation, expropriate, 
• malapropism, 

pud: mouth + waw + door 

• repudiate: refuse to accept 
• She has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders. 
• repudiation
• impudence

pugn (quarrel, argue): impugn, repugnance, pugnacity, pugilist, 

pun (punish), punct (pinted, stabbed, pierced)

• punish, punitive, impunity
• punctuate, punctuation
• punctilious
• puncture, acupuncture
• punctual, punctuality
• punctilio
• compunction: spend money without compunction
• poignancy

purg (clean): pure, purge, purgative, expurgate, 

putr (rotten): putrefy, putrid

put (think, consider): 

• putative, 
• repute, depute, impute, dispute, compute, disrepute, 
• computation, disputation, disputatious, undisputed, indisputable, deputy, deputation, reputed, reputedly, reputation, disrepute, disreputable
• depute = away + think
  
  appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible.
  “she had been deputed to look after him while Clarissa was away”
• impute
  
  represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute.
  “the crimes imputed to Richard”
• repute:
  
  be generally regarded to be or as being (but not definitely the case).
  “he’s reputed to earn $7m per annum”
• putative:
  
  generally considered or reputed to be.
  “the putative author of the book”

pro:, proliferate, prolific, proliferation

prole = proletarian, proletariate (working class),

Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labor, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman. “Elegy for the Floating City“

mand (order): reprimand, imprimatur, mandatory 

precarious, deprecate, imprecate

pred: predator, prey, depredation,