LESSON EIGHTY-FOUR.

Knowledge of books, and a habit of careful reading, is a most important means of intellectual development.-J. F. Clark. policy (pol'-i-si), n. Wisdom in conducting affairs; shrewdness; worldly wisdom; a definite principle of conduct or procedure. He allowed policy to outweigh probity.

"Honesty is the best policy."

The policy of this course is doubtful.

pollute (po-lūt'), v. t. To render or make unclean or impure; foul; profane; defile.

This would pollute love.

The brook is polluted at its source.

poltroon (pol-trōōn'), n. An arrant coward; a craven. They called him a poltroon.

The poltroon refused to stand his ground, and fled. polygamy (pō-līg’-ȧ-mĭ), n. Having two or more wives at the same time; having plural wives.

The Mormons do not tolerate polygamy now, and its practice is prohibited in Christian countries.

polytheism pōl'-i-the-iz'm), n. Belief in or doctrine of more than one God.

He was a writer concerning polytheism.

She was virtually a believer in polytheism.

pomology (pō-mŏl'-ō-ji), n. Science of fruit growing (apple, pear, quince, etc).

They were interested in pomology and gardening.

Pomology has been studied and practiced extensively in California.

pomposity (pom-pŏs'-Ĭ-ti), n. Ostentation or pompous conduct. Despite his pomposity, he was popular.

pontiff (pon'-tif), n. Originally from Pontifex, the Roman magistrate who had charge of the regulation of religious rites and ceremonies, and other high duties, and was of the utmost consequence in the life of Rome. He bore the title of Pontifex Maximus (eytmological meaning: Bridge maker); a bishop; the Pope; high priest of any religion.

The Pope is often entitled the Pontiff.

For a moment he was pontiff of the world.

portend (por-těnd'), v. t. To indicate events as coming in the future, especially, of unpropitious signs.

What did that look portend?

A sign or omen;

portent (pôr'-těnt; pōr'-těnt; por-těnt'), n. anything that indicates what is to happen.

It was the portent of glad tidings.

Of what disaster is this thing a portent?

postern (pōs'-tern), n. also a. A small door in a rear wall; back door or gate.

The traitor opened the postern, and the enemy gained

entrance.

She entered the garden by the postern gate.

posthumous (pos'-tu-mus; post'-hu-mus), adj. Born after the death of the father; published after the death of the writer, as a book; appearing or continuing after one's death.

He was a posthumous child.

The desire of posthumous honor and fame could not be

overcome.

postulate (pos'-tū-lāt), n. A demand for the acceptance of a proposition as true; something taken for granted; supposition assumed without proof.

The armistice was a postulate to precede the signing of a treaty.

From these postulates we assume that the theorem is

correct.

potation (pō-tā'-shun), n. Act of drinking; a drink.

He felt sick at heart and discouraged after the previous night's potations.

potentate (pō'-ten-tāt), n. One who possesses great power, as a ruler; hence; one of importance.

The Emperor was the highest potentate of the States in union.

potency (pō'-těn-sĩ), n. Quality of possessing power; efficiency; ability, strength; power.

The error was overcome by the potency of thought.
The potency of the drink was very apparent.

potent (pō'-těnt), adj. Having power or influence; forceful;
having great authority; effective; strong; efficacious.
This is a most potent power for evil.

An influence which is potent over women.

It has been far more potent than former methods.
The potent drug had at last overcome him.

potential (pō-těn'-shǎl), adj. Inherent but not yet developed; anything that may be possible; latent.

He was a potential rival.

It has been said that every one is a potential profiteer.
This is called potential energy.

The youth showed by his drawing that he was a potential architect.

potentiality (pō-těn-shi-ǎl'-i-ti), n. Capability of development into actuality; possibility.

When you do this you rob nature of all its potentialities.
California is a land of mighty potentialities.

The potentialities of the canal were not realized at that time.

When we recognize these potentialities we think differently.

potentially (põ-těn'-shěl-li), adv. Latently; in a potential

manner.

Potentially, he was born a ruler.

This is potentially applicable to almost every condition. prænomen (prē-nō'-měn), n. Among the ancient Romans, the first name of a person.

The Christian name may be termed a prænomen.

LESSON EIGHTY-FIVE.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.-Shakespeare.

preamble (pre’-ăm-b’l), n. Preface; introductory statement; the introductory part of a discourse or writing indicative of what follows; preliminary. Words of similar import, "prologue," "prelude."

The preamble to the constitution does not mention these things.

This was only the preamble of a lengthy speech.

She said it without preamble.

precarious (pre-kā’-rĭ-ŭs), adj. Uncertain; insecure; depending on unknown factors; unfounded; doubtful.

Substituting "precarious" for "dangerous" is not good

usage.

Hers was a sad and precarious existence.

She depended upon the precarious charity of her relatives.

He earned a precarious livelihood by shining shoes. precedence (prē-sēd'-ĕns), n. Act of preceding in time or order.

We should give goodness precedence of everything else. precedent (prěs'-ē-děnt), n. Anything said or done that may serve as a rule or example to authorize or justify a following act of the same kind; previous method of procedure; establishing a new rule.

It established a valuable precedent.

This will serve as a precedent to future ages.

Following the established precedent, we removed our shoes before entering the tabernacle.

She followed her own precedent.

precept (prē'-sept), n. A command or counsel respecting moral conduct; a rule of conduct. Word of similar import, "maxim." Line upon line, precept upon precept is a precept of Holy Scripture.

"Know thyself" is a precept that we would do well to follow.

preciosity (prěsh-i-ŏs'-i-ti), n. Quality of being over nice; a meticulous care in the usage of words.

As a writer we find no fault with his preciosity.
He was taught to use the utmost preciosity.

precipitate (prē-sip'-i-tāt), adj. also v. t.

Overhasty; acting with unwise haste; rash; without deliberation or consideration; to cause to happen sooner than otherwise would be the case.

I wish I had not been so precipitate.

This last injustice will precipitate a catastrophe.

It has precipitated a crisis.

preclude (pre-klōōd'), v. t. To put a barrier before; to shut out; to render ineffectual; prevent. Word of similar import, "prevent."

These circumstances preclude any possibility of an extension.

The noise outside precluded the lively gossip.

precocity (prē-kos'-i-ti), n. State of being precocious; development before the natural time; forward; early development of the mind.

The precocity of his mind amounts to genius.

His act was attributed to the precocity of a clever child. She had the dismal precocity of poverty.-Thackeray. precursor (pre-kûr'-ser), n. A forerunner; one who goes before to indicate approach; harbinger; that which precedes an

event.

Then came a thunderclap, precursor of a storm.

The accusation was the immediate precursor of a scene. predatory (prěd'-à-tō-ri), adj. Characterized by plundering; preying upon others for livelihood.

They carried on a predatory warfare.

The tribe was by nature predatory.

The boys had planned a predatory excursion into the pantry.

Many animals are predatory.

predecessor (prěd-e-sĕs'-er; prē-dē-sěs'-ēr), n. One who has preceded another in any office, position, etc.; an ancestor.

During this period each succeeding president was more capable than his predecessor.

predicate (prěd'-i-kāt), v. t. also i. also n. To declare; affirm; to imply; to say one thing of another.

Jet predicates black.

It is predicated of God that He is life, love, and truth.
It cannot be predicated of him one way or the other.
My theory is predicated on these facts.

predilection (pre-di-lěk'-shun; prěd-i-lěk'-shŭn), n. A preference; partiality; previous liking. Words of similar import, "inclination," "fancy," "favor," "liking."

I did not understand her predilection for animals.
They have a predilection for tea.

The general public have a predilection for the comical. Critics are often influenced by the predilections of their sentiments.

predispose (prē-dis-pōz'), v. t. To dispose beforehand; to dispose of or bequeath previously; cause a tendency in a certain direction; make susceptible.

She was predisposed to dislike them on account of their nationality.

He was predisposed to leniency.

preen (prēn), v. t. also i To trim or oil with the beak; to dress and smooth, as feathers; also used fig., dress or trim up. The bird was preening its wings for flight.

She was preening herself in preparation for his coming. preface (pref'-as), n. also v. i. and t. Introduction to a book or discourse; brief explanation; preliminary remarks, as in the beginning of a book; to speak, write or make a preface; to say as a preface.

They did not give the preface even a cursory glance.

A mental prayer prefaced my words.

prefatory (prěf'-à-tō-ri), adj. Introductory; of the nature of a preface; preliminary.

After a few prefatory remarks, the lecture began.

It was a prefatory discourse on peace.

An amusing anecdote was prefatory to his discourse on wit.

pregnant (prĕg'-nănt), adj. Instinct with the inception of life; fig., full of meaning; suggestive; furnishing food for thought; full of significance; important thought.

The criminal was released because she was pregnant,
The lines are pregnant with meaning.
The verses are pregnant with beauty.
Each day is pregnant with opportunity,