Descriptionary

paradigm n. (PAIR uh dime) a model serving as a base for instruction. The Wall Street guru's invest­ment strategy serves as an excellent paradigm for wealth building.

paradox n. (PAIR uh doks) a statement or observa­tion that contradicts itself but is nevertheless true. Her wealth was a paradox; the more money she made, the less she enjoyed it.

paragon n. (PAIR uh gon) a model of excellence. Some consider Mother Teresa a paragon of virtue.

paranoia n. (pair uh NOY uh) the belief or delusion that one is being persecuted; acute and irrational dis­trust of others. Your paranoia has reached an extreme when you're certain the football players in a huddle are plotting to get you.

paraphrase vb. (PAIR uh frase) to restate some­thing not verbatim but in an approximate or roughly accurate form; to summarize. I don't remember Ken­nedy's famous speech word for word, so I'll have to paraphrase.

parochial adj. (puh ROHK ee ul) narrow in expe­rience, scope, or outlook; provincial. He had a parochial view of people and therefore mistrusted those of other races, ethnic groups, and sexual ori­entation.

parody n. (PAIR uh dee) a humorous or ridiculing imitation of a show, book, song, etc. The comedy troupe performed an irreverent parody of religious programming.

partisan adj. (PART uh sun) following the tenets or beliefs of one's political party; biased. Republicans and Democrats are expected to vote in a completely partisan manner, although one or two rogues may cross party lines.

pass the buck to cast blame or responsibility onto someone other than yourself. When it comes to accepting responsibility for the nation's economic woes, Republicans can be expected to pass the buck to the Democrats and vice versa.

pastoral adj. (PAS tuh rul) designating the peaceful- ness and simplicity of rural life; idyllic. Longing for the pastoral life, Jane bought some land and a flock of sheep and became a shepherd.

pathos n. (PAY thos) that which produces feelings of pity or poignancy; also, these feelings themselves. The movie was so steeped in pathos, most of the the­atergoers left in tears.

patriarch n. (PAY treek ark) a male head or leader of a group. The tribal patriarch warned us not to cross into his territory again.

patronize vb. (PAY truh nize) to talk down to; to condescend or treat as one's inferior. Whenever I disagree with my professor, she puts on a superior expression and patronizes me.

paucity n. (PAW is tee) a lack; dearth. A paucity of money to pay bills will motivate most people to find work.

peccadillo n. (PEK uh DIL oh) a minor fault or offense. You can't criticize politicians for every little thing they've done wrong in their lives; we've all got our peccadilloes.