📖 P — The English dictionary · page 67

prophetess — Everyday, meaning 1: A woman who foretells what will happen in the future.↗ Example: The prophetess warned the king of the flood.↗ · Nobody believed the prophetess.↗ · The prophetess had said the boy would be a hero.↗ · Her words came true, as the prophetess had said.↗ · And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son.↗ (Prophets ISA.8.3, JPS 1917)↗ · Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time.↗ (Prophets JDG.4.4, JPS 1917)↗ · And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.↗ (Torah EXO.15.20, JPS 1917)↗ · Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have me put in fear.↗ (Writings NEH.6.14, JPS 1917)↗

prophetic — Everyday, meaning 1: Telling in advance what will happen; showing that something will come true.↗ Example: The old woman gave a prophetic warning.↗ · Her dream was prophetic: the storm came.↗ · The nymphs were prophetic and could see the future.↗ · His words were prophetic, for the bridge did break.↗

propitiate — Everyday, meaning 1: To make a god, spirit or angry person calm and friendly again, often by gifts or sacrifices.↗ Example: The sailors gave gifts to propitiate the sea god.↗ · They made a sacrifice to propitiate the angry goddess.↗ · The king tried to propitiate the giant with gold.↗ · Before the voyage, they sacrificed a lamb to propitiate Neptune.↗

proportion — Everyday, meaning 1: A proportion is a part of a whole, thought of as a share.↗ e.g. "a large proportion of the class walks to school".↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Proportion is how big one thing is compared with another: the ratio between them.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: In maths, a proportion is a statement that two ratios are equal, like 1 : 2 = 3 : 6.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: Proportions (plural) are the size and shape of something.↗ e.g. "a room of huge proportions".↗ Everyday, meaning 5: In proportion means the right size compared with other parts; out of proportion means too big or too small, or (about feelings) blown up too much.↗ Example: A large proportion of the pupils have a pet.↗ · What proportion of the pizza did you eat?↗ · The recipe uses flour and sugar in the proportion 3 to 1.↗ · Six is to twelve as two is to four, so the numbers are in proportion.↗ · His drawing of the dog's head is out of proportion with its body.↗ · Don't blow a small argument out of proportion.↗ · The cost goes up in proportion to the number of tickets.↗ · The castle hall was of enormous proportions.↗ · Then he gave each man presents in proportion to his rank.↗ · The Decad, which is the sum of the four former, comprehends all arithmetical and musical proportions.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

proportional — Everyday, meaning 1: In maths, two amounts are proportional if they grow or shrink together at the same rate, so that one is always the same number times the other.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Proportional means having the right size or amount compared with something else, fair in size.↗ Example: The cost is proportional to the number of tickets you buy.↗ · If you double the recipe, keep the ingredients proportional.↗ · The time taken is inversely proportional to the speed.↗ · Her drawing of the face was nicely proportional.↗ · The punishment should be proportional to what he did wrong.↗ · On a graph, proportional amounts make a straight line through zero.↗ · New Zealand uses a kind of proportional representation in elections.↗

proportionally — Everyday, meaning 1: In a way that keeps the same ratio, so that when one amount changes, the other changes by the same scale: «If you double the recipe, increase everything proportionally.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Fairly and in the right size compared with something else: «Punishments should be given proportionally.».↗ Example: If you double the cake recipe, add all the ingredients proportionally.↗ · The map shrinks the whole country proportionally.↗ · The prize money was shared proportionally to how much each person paid.↗ · Big dogs eat proportionally more than small dogs.↗ · When you resize a photo, keep the sides proportionally the same.↗ · The punishment should be proportionally fair to what was done.↗

proportionate — Everyday, meaning 1: In the right size, amount or degree compared with something else; fair and not too much.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (maths) Growing or shrinking in the same ratio as something else: «proportionate to».↗ Example: The punishment should be proportionate to what you did.↗ · Your pocket money is proportionate to the jobs you do.↗ · The cost of the apples is proportionate to their weight.↗ · Doubling the recipe needs a proportionate amount of eggs.↗ · Shouting at a tiny mistake is not a proportionate response.↗ · Her pay was proportionate to her hours.↗

proportionately — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: In a way that matches in size or amount.↗

proposal — Everyday, meaning 1: A proposal is a plan or idea that you put forward for others to think about and agree to.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A proposal is when someone asks another person to marry them.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) A proposal is a written plan, for example asking for money or permission.↗ Example: Our class council made a proposal for a new bike shed.↗ · He made a proposal on the beach and she said yes.↗ · The teacher liked my proposal for a science project.↗ · The council rejected the proposal to close the park.↗ · Write a short proposal explaining your idea.↗ · The proposal was voted on by the whole school.↗ · The king listened to this proposal.↗

propose — Everyday, meaning 1: To suggest a plan or idea for others to think about.↗ e.g. I propose we have a picnic.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To ask someone to marry you.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) To intend or plan to do something.↗ e.g. What do you propose to do?↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To suggest someone for a job or vote.↗ Example: I propose that we vote on it.↗ · He proposed to her on the beach.↗ · Propose a way to test which paper towel soaks up the most water.↗ · The council proposed a new cycle path.↗ · What do you propose to do about the leak?↗ · She was proposed as class captain.↗

proposeth — Early Modern English, meaning 1: «proposeth» means «proposes», a form of «propose»: To suggest a plan or idea for others to think about.↗ e.g. I propose we have a picnic.↗

proposition — Everyday, meaning 1: An idea, plan or offer that is suggested, especially in business: a business proposition.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (maths, logic) A statement that is either true or false: «7 is odd» is a true proposition.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A task or thing to deal with, described in a certain way: «That hill is a tough proposition».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (verb, informal) To make an improper suggestion to someone (adult use).↗ Example: «All squares have four sides» is a true proposition.↗ · Is the proposition «10 is odd» true or false?↗ · The pirate had a proposition for the sailors.↗ · Climbing the mountain in winter is a tough proposition.↗ · Selling lemonade was a good business proposition.↗ · The idea of a free trip was an attractive proposition.↗ · Prove the proposition step by step.↗ · The proposition pleased the two others, and they set out on their way together.↗

propound — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) To put forward an idea, theory or question for people to think about.↗ Example: Darwin propounded the theory of evolution by natural selection.↗ · The professor propounded a new idea about dinosaurs.↗ · She propounded a plan to the school council.↗ · The Hatter propounded a riddle that had no answer.↗ · He propounded a theory about the stars.↗ · The question was propounded at the meeting.↗

proprietor — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) The owner of a business, such as a shop, hotel, restaurant or newspaper.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An owner of property.↗ Example: The proprietor of the café gave us free cookies.↗ · Ask the proprietor if we can leave our bikes here.↗ · The hotel proprietor greeted the guests.↗ · The sign said «Mrs Patel, Proprietor».↗ · The proprietor buys apples at 20p and sells them at 35p.↗ · The shop's proprietor closed early on Sunday.↗ · He had all his company with him in a large box, for he was the proprietor of a puppet-show.↗

propriety — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) Propriety is behaving in a correct, polite and proper way, following the rules of good manners and morals.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) The proprieties are the rules of polite behaviour in society.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Propriety can also mean how right or fitting something is in a particular situation.↗ Example: In the old story, the governess was very strict about propriety.↗ · Victorian children were taught propriety at the dinner table.↗ · (formal) The newspaper questioned the propriety of the mayor giving the job to his son.↗ · She behaved with complete propriety at the funeral.↗ · (formal) The judge must act with propriety at all times.↗ · Running around shouting in the museum was not the height of propriety!↗ · Children appreciate the dramatic propriety of this as much as their elders.↗

propulsion — Everyday, meaning 1: Propulsion is the force that pushes something forward, such as a car, boat, rocket or animal.↗ Example: Rockets use jet propulsion.↗ · A squid moves by jet propulsion.↗ · Oars are a simple means of propulsion.↗ · The engine gives propulsion to the ship.↗ · The balloon rocket shows propulsion in action.↗ · Fish use their tails for propulsion.↗ · Sails use wind for propulsion.↗ · Scientists are testing new kinds of propulsion for spacecraft.↗

prosaic — Everyday, meaning 1: Ordinary and dull; not imaginative or exciting.↗ Example: The cow is a prosaic animal, not a magic one.↗ · His prosaic answer disappointed the children.↗ · We went by a prosaic bus, not a flying carpet.↗ · The story had a prosaic ending.↗

proscribe — Everyday, meaning 1: (formal) To proscribe something is to forbid it officially, by a law or a rule.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, law) To proscribe a group or a person is to name them as banned or outlawed, so that joining or helping them is a crime.↗ Example: The rules proscribe the use of phones during the exam.↗ · The old law proscribed meetings of more than ten people.↗ · The government proscribed the group after the attacks.↗ · Some books were proscribed in that country, so people read them in secret.↗ · Doping is proscribed in all sports.↗ · Running in the corridors is proscribed, the notice said, in very grown-up words.↗ · Membership of a proscribed organisation is a crime.↗

prose — Everyday, meaning 1: Prose is ordinary written or spoken language in sentences and paragraphs, not in the lines and rhythm of poetry.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A writer's prose is their writing style.↗ Example: Novels are written in prose.↗ · Rewrite the poem in prose.↗ · Her prose is clear and lively.↗ · A newspaper article is prose.↗ · We compared a poem with a prose passage.↗ · Most of our reading books are prose.↗ · This would have sounded somewhat bold in prose.↗

prosecute — Everyday, meaning 1: (law) To officially accuse someone of a crime in a court of law and try to prove they are guilty.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) To carry on or continue something, such as a war or a plan, until it is finished.↗ Example: Shoplifters will be prosecuted.↗ · The police decided to prosecute the driver for speeding.↗ · He was prosecuted for stealing a car.↗ · The lawyer who prosecutes is called the prosecutor.↗ · The sign said trespassers would be prosecuted.↗ · The general prosecuted the war for five years.↗ · The angel which the cipher n symbolizes, is apparently Satan ]r:z', who appears before God to prosecute all mortal beings as he prosecuted (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

prosecution — Everyday, meaning 1: (law) Taking someone to court and charging them with a crime.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (law) «The prosecution» is the lawyer or team trying to prove that the accused person is guilty.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (formal) Carrying on with something, as in «the prosecution of a war».↗ Example: The prosecution showed the evidence to the jury.↗ · He faced prosecution for shoplifting.↗ · The prosecution called its first witness.↗ · Toad was prosecuted for stealing a motor-car.↗ · The case was dropped, so there was no prosecution.↗ · The defence argued against the prosecution.↗

prospect — Everyday, meaning 1: The possibility that something will happen: «There is little prospect of rain.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: An event you expect: «the prospect of a holiday».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: prospects (plural) Chances of success in the future, especially in a job.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: A person likely to be chosen, or a good player for the future.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: (literary) A wide view of land.↗ Everyday, meaning 6: verb To search land for gold, oil or minerals.↗ Example: The prospect of a snow day made us all cheer.↗ · There is no prospect of the rain stopping soon.↗ · She is the club's brightest prospect.↗ · Good exam results improve your job prospects.↗ · Miners came to prospect for gold in the hills.↗ · From the hilltop we had a fine prospect of the valley.↗ · I don't like the prospect of a long car journey.↗ · He immediately started off, delighted at the prospect of trying his sword.↗ · And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.↗ (Prophets EZK.43.4, JPS 1917)↗ · And he said unto me: 'This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.↗ (Prophets EZK.40.45, JPS 1917)↗ · Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.↗ (Prophets EZK.42.15, JPS 1917)↗