| A | B |
|---|
| catatonic (adj) | dazed, mentally out of touch; marked by stupor or immobility |
| cataclysm (n) | disaster, upheaval |
| catacombs (n) | underground cemetery |
| peripatetic (adj) | given to walking, moving from place to place |
| itinerant (adj) | traveling or moving from place to place; peripatetic |
| peripheral (adj) | outer, away from the center |
| periphery (n) | edge, outer part |
| perphrasis (n) | using more words than necessary; wordiness |
| paradox (n) | statement that appears false but is true; a seeming contradiction |
| paradigm (n) | an outstanding example; overall concept accepted by most people in an intelligent community |
| paragon (n) | model of excellence or perfection |
| parasite (n) | one which lives off another without contributing anything |
| para- | beside, next to, like |
| peri- | around |
| cata- | down |
| impervious (adj) | not able to be harmed |
| impecunious (adj) | without money; poor |
| implacable (adj) | not able to be soothed or calmed |
| implicit (adj) | understood though not plainly expressed; implied but not stated |
| imprecation (n) | curse; execration |
| incessant (adj) | non-stop, continual, endless |
| incorrigible (adj/n) | difficult to control, unruly (adj); a delinquent (n) |
| incongito (adj/adv) | with hidden identity; so as not to be recognized |
| indolent (adj) | lazy |
| ineffable (adj) | unable to be put into words; indescribable |
| im-, in- | not |
| inexorable (adj) | relentless; inflexible |
| infidel (n) | non-believer in any particular religion; desbeliever in something specific |
| iniquity (n) | wickedness; sin |
| innocuous (adj) | not harmful or offensive |
| insidious (adj) | treacherous; dangerous or harmful but enticing; developing gradually before becoming apparent |
| intrinsic (adj) | innate, inborn; part of the essential nature |
| insipid (adj) | dull, bland, uninteresting; tasteless |
| im-, in- | not; into, against |
| impetus (n) | stimulus; driving force |
| incite (v) | to stimulate, provoke |
| inundate (v) | to flood, overwhelm, swamp |
| prodigal (adj) | very wasteful, extravagant; very generous, lavish |
| profane (adj/v) | obscene, sacrilegious; to desecrate or treat irreverently |
| propagate (v) | to cause to multiply, breed; to publicize |
| progentior (n) | ancestor, forefather, originator |
| prognosticate (v) | to predict |
| proliferation (n) | rapid growth, increase or spread |
| prosaic (adj) | commonplace, dull, ordinary |
| prostrate (v/adj) | to stretch out on the ground; lying on the ground |
| provincial (adj) | limited in scope; unsophisticated |
| propensity (n) | natural inclination, preference, tendency |
| proclivity (n) | natural tendency or inclination (usually toward something objectionable) |
| pro- | before, for, forward |
| superfluous (adj) | excessive, unnecessary, irrelevant |
| supercilious (adj) | arrogant, snobbish, haughty |
| supernal (adj) | heavenly, celestial |
| subliminal (adj) | below conscious perception |
| sublime (adj) | lofty, noble, grand, majestic; of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth |
| sublimate (v) | to refine, to purify |
| subservient (adj) | behaving like a slave; submissive, compliant |
| subjugate (v) | to conquer; to bring under control |
| subterfuge (n) | deception by means of escape, concealment, or evasion |
| subversive (adj) | rebellious; seeking to overthrow or destroy |
| subterranean (adj) | underground |
| super- | above, beyond |
| sub- | under |
