Descriptionary

perversion n. (pur VUR zshun) a sexual deviation. Some would call Hank's foot fetish a perversion, but others would just think it was silly.

petty adj. (PET ee) unimportant or trivial. I've got enough to worry about without you burdening me with petty demands.

petulant adj. (PECH uh lunt) moody and irritable.

Don't even think about asking your father for money when he is in such a petulant mood.

philanthropy n. (fil AN thruh pee) humanitari- anism; good deeds and charity. She will always be remembered for her generous philanthropy.

piece de resistance n. (PEE es de ray zee

STONSE) the crowning piece in a work, meal, etc. After our appetizer and salad, we were brought the piece de resistance, a feast of Main lobster and clams.

pious adj. (PI us) very religious; having a holier- than-thou attitude. I don't appreciate your pious atti­tude; what I choose to believe and how I choose to worship is my business.

piquant adj. (pee KAHNT) sharp to the taste. I like my salsa to be so piquant that my tongue feels about to burst into flame.

placate vb. (PLAY kayt) to pacify or soothe; to appease. In order to placate the screaming toddler, we gave him a cookie.

placid adj. (PLAS id) peaceful, tranquil. We told the pet store owner that any dog we bought would have to have a placid temperament, especially around children.

plaintive adj. (PLAYN tiv) expressing sadness. All the plaintive calls Bambi made in the forest would not bring back his mother.

platitude n. (PLAT i tood) a cliched remark given as if it is original or profound. The politician obviously hadn't studied our problems in depth because the best he could do was to spew glib platitudes.

platonic adj. (pluh TON ik) loving but not sexual. I

have a friend who is of the opposite sex, but our rela­tionship is not physical—it's strictly platonic.

plausible adj. (PLAWZ uh bul) believable, possible. Joe's excuse of losing his homework to aliens wasn't plausible.

plead the Fifth in a legal or figurative sense, to plead the Fifth Amendment of the United States Con­stitution, through which one refuses to testify (in court) in order to avoid incriminating oneself. Did I steal the last piece of Aunt Mary's cake? I plead the Fifth.

plethora n. (PLETH ur uh) an overabundance. This country produces a plethora of nonrecyclable trash.

poignant adj. (POYN yunt) touching; moving. The movie's poignant story tugged at my heartstrings.

polarize vb. (POH luh RIZE) to take opposite sides. The controversial issue has only served to polarize the candidates, with each taking an opposing viewpoint.