Descriptionary

proliferate vb. (pro LIF uh RAYT) to multiply quickly. With America's aggressive entrepreneurs, a new successful franchise can always be expected to proliferate.

prolific adj. (pro LIF ik) very productive. She was a prolific author, producing more than three novels per year.

promiscuous adj. (proh MIS kyoo us) sexually indiscriminate. He readily admitted to being promis­cuous; he'd had, he said, romances with more than fifty women.

propensity n. (pro PEN sit ee) a natural inclination.

Like her mother, she had a propensity to coddle her children.

propitious adj. (pruh PISH us) opportune; favor­able. May is always a propitious time of year to plant a vegetable garden.

proponent n. (pruh POH nunt) a supporter, advo­cate, or backer. I'm a proponent of strong environ­mental conservation.

propriety n. (pruh PRY uh tee) proper behavior and decorum. In church, you are expected to conduct yourself with a certain propriety.

prosaic adj. (proh ZAY ik) dull; ordinary. This story is nothing out of the ordinary; it's as prosaic as all of the other amateur entries.

proscribe vb. (proh SKRIBE) to prohibit or outlaw.

The city council will meet tomorrow to draw up plans to proscribe public drunkenness in the parks.

proselytize vb. (PROS uh li tize) to convert some­one to one's own religion, political party, belief sys­tem, etc. Members of the religious cult visit my house once a year in an attempt to proselytize, but I usually don't answer the door.

protocol n. (PROH tuh col) a code of conduct.

When visiting the president, remember we must fol­low protocol exactly.

protract vb. (proh TRACT) to prolong or stretch out. The arctic cold front coming down from Canada is expected to protract winter by at least another week.

prototype n. (PROH toh tipe) an original model; a forerunner or mockup. The prototype of our solar- powered car seats only one, but the revamped model will seat two.

provincial adj. (pruh VIN shul) having a narrow outlook, from lack of worldly experience, as some­one living in a small town. His provincial attitude precludes him from understanding or appreciating homosexuals.

provocative adj. (pro VAWk uh tiv) provoking or stimulating. The ad recruiting new marines was so provocative that three young men from our town immediately signed up for duty.

prudent adj. (PROO dunt) wise and judicious; intel­ligently cautious. Before going out on the ice, it is always prudent to measure its thickness first.

psychotic adj. (is KOT ik) insane; crazy. Believing wholeheartedly that moon monsters are after you is probably psychotic.