English Words in Action, Group P

1. A small area of deep or shallow water; such as, a fishpond or a puddle, etc.: Deer often come to drink at the pools near the forest.

Tracy dived into the swimming pool in her back yard for her exercise.
2. A small amount of liquid which is on a surface: The police found the man's dead body on the floor in a pool of blood.
3. A focus of light or an illumination on a small flat surface: When the sun came up, Shelby could see people standing in pools of light.
4. Money which is bet by an individual or a group of people on an event; such as, sports, or some other competitive activity: Who won the football pool this week?

Well, it seems that Bill lucked out and won this week's football pool.

5. An association, group, or coalition of people: Mildred was employed as a member of the typing pool.

The high gas prices made Frank decide to join the car pool in order to save money.

1. To merge, to combine, or to band together: Eric and Carla pooled their resources and they got the job done much faster.

The students were convinced that they could accomplish their project faster if they pooled their ideas and research materials.

2. To combine something to form a supply which can be used by a group: The two couples pooled their money and rented a car for the trip.

1. With great speed; quickly, rapidly: Jim was told to complete his business assignment posthaste because the customer would pick up the product the next day.

After falling and injuring her back, Joan was sent posthaste to the hospital.

2. Etymology: in the 16th century, the phrase "haste, post, haste" was used to inform "posts," which couriers were then called, that a letter was urgent and must be quickly delivered.

The "posts" would then gallop along a route, with a series of places at which to get a fresh horse or to relay the letter to a different messenger for the fastest delivery possible.

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1. Someone who likes to play jokes or mischievous tricks on other people: Jimmy was told by his mother that being a prankster can get him into a lot of trouble with other people because they usually don't like to be fooled by anyone.
2. Etymology: from English prank, "playful trick, a mischievous act" + -ster, "a person who deceives or cheats." © ALL rights are reserved.

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Foolish, empty, or trivial talk; idle chatter with little purpose: The detective often picked up some clues about criminal cases by listening to the prate at the local pub.

1. To talk idly and at length; to chatter: The two adolescents prated endlessly while traveling on the subway.
2. To utter words lacking substance, value, or purpose: Scott told Abigail that he didn't have time to prate with her about the local office gossip.
3. To babble; to talk foolishly and at length; to chatter; to prattle: Gregory learned that it is better not to prate about family affairs.

Marvin continually prated about his medical ailments.

4. Etymology: from Middle English praten, "chatter". © ALL rights are reserved.

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Someone who babbles or who talks foolishly and for a long time: Ryan was a prater about his financial losses.

Etta was a prater about her two sons and their "wonderful" children.

1. To talk or to babble idly or without a purpose: The group in the corner of the auditorium continued to prattle even after they were asked to stop.
2. To go on and on talking or chattering foolishly about something: Deloris loves to prattle on and on about the cute activities of her puppy.

1. Someone who engages in childish or meaningless conversation or verbal interchanges: Carl's aunt is a great prattler when she is with her fellow workers.
2. Conversation or verbal interchanges which tend to be idle and shallow: Once given a forum, the senator turned out to be a prattler, going on about what a wonderful member of the Senate he was.
3. A noise or sound that may be interpreted as incoherent and meaningless: Patricia's baby was quite a prattler and she was often entertained by her little boy.

1. To clean, to arrange, to groom as birds do with their feathers by using their beaks: Ray saw the pigeons preening themselves in the tree in his backyard.
2. To make oneself neat and tidy: Shirley stood in front of the mirror preening herself before going on a date with Warren.
3. Etymology: from Latin pro-, "before" + oindre, "to trim, to cut back." © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. The working class or lower social class: In ancient Rome, the proletariats were the lowest class of citizens, who had no property and who were regarded as contributing nothing to the state except their offspring.
2. The wage earners collectively, excluding salaried workers: Jim's father was a member of the proletariat who was being paid hourly wages.
3. Etymology: from Latin proletarius, "a man whose only wealth is his offspring" or "whose sole service to the state is as a father."

By 1856, the term proletariats was applied specifically to the laboring or working classes of people in Europe who were characterized as having no reserve money and who depended only on low wages for subsistence.

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1. A reference to a person who is daringly original, boldly inventive or creative: Some artists are more Promethean when they produce their works in enormous sizes than others do it.

A Promethean is someone who is very clever or defiantly original in behavior or actions.

2. Etymology: from Greek mythology "one who created mortals from clay and gave them fire" from pro-, "before" + manthano, "learn, perceive."

Prometheus was a demigod, one of the Titans, who was worshiped by craftsmen. When Zeus hid fire from mankind, Prometheus stole it by trickery and returned it to earth.

As punishment, Zeus chained Proetheus to a rock where an eagle fed on his liver every day, which grew again each night; then he was finally rescued by Hercules.

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1. A reference to the nature of something or someone that is able to assume different shapes, forms, or roles easily: When Mildred is described as a protean genius of novels, it means that not only was she brilliant, but that she utilized her talents to write in many styles.
2. Relating to the variety or great diversity of skills or aptitudes a person can display; many-sided; changeable: It is believed that, as a versatile musical composer, Shostakovich's protean talents resulted in many wonderful styles of music.
3. Etymology: from Greek proteus, "sea god who could change into many different shapes." © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A skillful and manual ability: Samuel had significant prowess as a carpenter for his construction company.

Lina had exceptional prowess as a pubic speaker for her company's financial success.

2. Distinguished courage and bravery; especially, in war: Raymond was serving his military time with prowess for which he received special recognition by his superior officers.
3. Etymology: from Old French proece, from prod, "valiant." Prow was in Middle English as a noun meaning "advantage, profit" and then "valiant, brave." © ALL rights are reserved.
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A person who is excessively concerned about proper behavior and is easily disturbed by things which don't shock or offend other people in general: Jaden's cousin was accused of being too much of a prude to enjoy movies containing violence or the mistreatment of others. © ALL rights are reserved.

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