Words starting with:
  P  

Words Explainer

 www.okram.fr 

padan

noun

Plural:   padans 

Autumn;  fall.  Adapted from Slavic languages.


palorsome

adjective

Pale;  sick-looking.


Pambari

noun  ●  geographical name

A fictional country in Africa.


pancakery

noun

Plural:   pancakeries

A place where pancakes are made and/or sold;  sweetshop;  patisserie.  The art of frying pancakes.

Examples:

Don't stack them on top of each other like goodies in a downtown promenade pancakery's shop window:  They will steam up in stacks, losing their crispiness in a matter of moments.  (Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


panwards

adverb

Towards a pan;  in the direction of a pan's surface.

Examples: 

Finally, swiftly upturn the tray with the attached pan.  The intact pancake will fall panwards comfortably, needless of acrobatic stunts or in-air juggling feats, with its unfried surface facing the pan's bottom(Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


pappification

noun

Plural:   pappifications

Turning something into a mushy, pap-like substance;  especially:  softening and disintegration of overcooked or poorly designed food.

Examples: 

There are huge inter-variety differences in the potato lineage.  In pulpy cookouts (e.g., coulis, puree), the strain-specific uniquities are scarcely noticeable.  Contrastingly, with Barton-design pancakes, the unequal processing characteristics will magnify - mainly the pappification-proneness of class-C potatoes will be unmissable(Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


parentical

adjective

(pseudo-archaism)   Pertaining to parents;  parental.

Examples:

This will be the sleeproom parentical.  Just temporary.  Because dignified it is not, for a scholar distinguished, to aberthe in an ordinary bedroom!  (Context:  A visiting family will be spending a night unexpectedly on 5 Misty Road.  Grandma Estela prepares rooms for them, frustrated that she did not have enough upfront time to do it properly.  Source:  J∙ Okram - The Mystery of the Rammed Key.) 

Translations:

Slovak / slovenčina:   rodičenský;  rodičovský


parget

noun

Plural:   pargets

Smoothened or ornamental wall surface;  pargeting;  mortar;  plaster.


peonal

adjective

Regarding, prepared from, or containing a flowering Paeonia plant (peony), especially its flowers.

Examples:

Grandma straightened up and took a deep breath.  With a hand pressed over her mouth, she coursed Bruno back into his guest bedroom and slung the tear-soaked nightgown on his bedfront.  At the sight of the empty enamel bowl, she caught a new fit.  It was only now that Bruno recognised that these, in fact, were uncontrollable waves of amused squeals and suppressed laughter: 
—That...  Eah...  That thing...—  she gasped.  —Before sleep!  Not drink up were you supposed to, that conpotion peonal!  The master should have rinsed in there that thingy of boys'...!  (Context:  A visiting family will be spending a night unexpectedly on 5 Misty Road.  Grandma Estela instructs their son Bruno how to prepare himself for bed in an old-fashion way.  By mistake, he gulps up a fragrant concoction meant for hygienic purposes, believing it was tea.  Source:  J∙ Okram - The Mystery of the Rammed Key.) 

Translations:

Slovak / Slovenčina (SK):   pivonkový;  pivonný 


pettifogger

noun

Plural:   pettifoggers

1.  A person who uses questionable, unscrupulous, or unethical methods to achieve their goals.  

2.  A person who exaggerates petty matters, excessively argues over trivia, and complicates everything with irritating objections or silly philosophising.  

3.  Especially:  A politician, lawyer, state clerk, or someone with similar importance or authority, who takes advantage from stirring up insignificant cases, or who utilises dirty practices to win elections, lawsuits, client cases, etc∙.

Examples:

The second encounter with his future refuge and investigator's office occurred as part of an official family visit with his parents.  The hullabaloo over the problematic emblem on the chest's lid was already in full swing back then.  That evening, the waspish young Mrs∙ Grosman was breathing down their necks; the school-wide exhortation on account of Bruno's alleged neo-fascist transgression was preoccupying them more than accommodable; and the gallimaufry with the investigating pettifoggers' punitive inflictions was about to stir up - so the whole excursion carried under a stressful overtone.  (Context:  A boy named Bruno recollects his second visit to a basement cellar during a stressful time following his discovery of a historical chest with an unknown emblem resembling a swastika on it.  Source:  J∙ Okram - The Mystery of the Rammed Key.) 

Translations:

Slovak / Slovenčina (SK):   hochštapler;  šarlatán;  podfukár;  zádrapčivý byrokrat;  malicherník


pis aller

noun

Plural:   pis allers

The only remaining option;  steps undertaken as a last resort;  the final resource or device.

Examples:

Driven by that unpleasant idea, he concentrated all his strength and imagination, sliding down like a snake.  He paid no heed to the duskfall's dwindling visibility, all-penetrating dirt, torn clothes, or bleeding scratches.  Sacrificing everything to get down as soon as possible was his onliest decorous fallback pis aller.  Because the lastest-resort expedient appeared too dreadful to even imagine:  By calling out for help from a tree in the densening twilight, by alarming complete strangers in their own houseyard, he would make a blithering imbecile of himself...  (Context:  A boy named Bruno is trying to get down from a tree - but the old linden is too massive for a third-grader who struggles with every movement between dangerously separated and ungraspable thick branches.  Source:  J∙ Okram - The Mystery of the Rammed Key.) 

Translations:

Slovak / Slovenčina (SK):   posledná možnosť;  tiesňová záchrana;  krajné riešenie;  východisko z núdze;  spásonosná rezerva


plaintively

adverb

In a complaining manner or voice, or showing pain or sorrow;  mournfully;  sadly.

Examples:

Mam was plaintively recounting their travails with the social custodian lady, and Doctor Barton continued pondering stiffly.  He sympathetically muttered that if it were in his power to abate a mere half a per cent of the worriments in his own microsphere, the world would look different.  But even he himself supposed he had to stay away from certain kinds of people whenever possible.  Or at least to keep them at arm's length.  And he definitely wasn't omnipotent.  (Context:  Dr∙ Barton thinks hard about how he could help the Boleks harassed by the administrative oversight of their family life.  He makes it clear upfront that fighting dysfunctional state authorities will not be easy.  Source:  J∙ Okram - The Mystery of the Rammed Key.) 


Podravka

noun  ●  business name

Plural:   Podravkas

The manufacturer of food seasoning once known as "Vegeta 40", located in Croatia, EU (a former Yugoslavian country).  The product "Vegeta 40" was later rebranded to "Podravka".  Thus, the same word "Podravka" is used interchangeably to mean either the condiment itself or its Croatian manufacturer.  The term "Vegeta" became a trademark of the Czech company Vitana, which produces a virtually indistinguishable powdered tastifier marketed under the identical name "VEGETA".

Examples:

Basic ingredients:  ...Vegeta  ●  8 g / 0.3 oz  -  aka Podravka, 1 teaspoon;  can be substituted with ½ cube (5 g / 0.2 oz) dry bouillon block or ¼ teaspoon salt.  (Source: J∙ Okram - Semolina Dumplings for Soups  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


polymerate

noun

Plural:   polymerates

A compound or substance originated by polymerisation;  polymer;  plastic.

Examples: 

A well-maintained overlayer of periodically re-smoothed polymerate evolves a partial repulsive capacity of approx∙ one-third level of a good-quality stickinessless pan (equivalent to a year-old Teflonette deployed daily)(Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


potatophilic

adjective

Loving potatoes;  potato-loving;  potato-craving.

Examples:

The golden guiding essentials of potatophilic gourmetism hence include:  (i) buying from conscientious and experienced farmers...  (Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


potware

noun

Plural:   potwares

An individual or collective name for pans, pots, and other vessels used for cooking, frying or baking.

Examples: 

Depending on the amount and shapes of potware we own and the models of ovens or hotplates available, we have to figure out our own approach to the multi-plate challenge.  Say, we need plenteous pans.  As makeshift, we can use shoal pots instead.  Pancakes don't know whether they are being slow-roasted in a flatpan or in a casserole, wok, saucepan, or laver (but we avoid non-cooking containers posing the threat of toxic varnishes, thermolabile paints, harmful metals, etc∙)(Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


preprint

noun

Plural:   preprints
Alternatives:   pre-print,  pl∙ pre-prints 

Preliminary version of a literary work intended for publication.  A special edition in pre-production preparation, designed to catch the last flaws and mistakes before the mass production is launched.  It is shared in a closed circle of reviewers, opponents, critics, editors, etc∙, or even in public.  Making preprints publicly available is very common for scientific papers - it ensures early access to the hottest findings that might become outdated during the transformation of an approved manuscript into a polished journal format.  Access to the raw preprint form may or may not be chargeable; once the official first edition is published, the preprint may be withdrawn or retained (usually at a lower price or for free, depending on the producer's editorial strategy).  Other or similar terms:  first print;  pre-release;  beta release;  null edition;  editorial / printer's proofs.

Examples:

Writer Julion Okram offers free pre-publication and post-publication access to preprint versions of his complete works or book excerpts.  (Source: J∙ Okram - Free chapters and entire e-books.) 

Translations:

Slovak (SK) / Slovenčina:  preprint;  obťah;  prvotlač


primavera

noun

Plural:   primaveras

Springtime;  spring.  Adapted from Hispanic languages.


pristinity

noun

Plural:   pristinities

The quality or status of being pristine, untouched, unmarked, not worn out;  pristine condition;  pristineness.

Examples:

Things will get worse, nevertheless, when the novelty and pristinity of laminated pans wear off.  Teflon pans are notorious for manufacturers applying just a sparing microlayer of PTFE polymer.  (Source: J∙ Okram - Bartonian Potato Pancakes  ●  Cooking Recipe.) 


privillaged

adjective

Misspelled (by a former tractorist) form of:   privileged (having a privilege or many privileges).


pseudoarchaism

noun

Plural:   pseudoarchaisms
Alternatives:   pseudo-archaism,  pl∙ pseudo-archaisms 

A newly invented word that sounds or feels like an ancient obsolete word (archaism);  pseudoarchaism;  neoarchaism.


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Less  Usual  &  Rare  Words

Julion Okram's Word Explainer is a concise dictionary of uncommon, less standard and expert words appearing in mystery thrillers and science fiction adventures.  It contains little-known or fictional geographical names, scientific terms, slang, professional jargons, archaisms, dialects, neologisms, composite expressions, etc⋅.  Find word definitions, alternative meanings, occasional notes about etymology and stems, and story-related contextual remarks.  The entire vocabulary is searchable online.  Readers wishing to go offline or have a printed reference at hand can download this full glossary as a wordbook in PDF format.