Flashcard #17

Front

placebo

Back

a harmless unpotent medication given to a patient

Sentence: The doctor gave him a placebo instead of the real medication to see if the patient's symptoms were due to the drug or the power of suggestion.

Front

plagiarize

Back

to take ideas, writings

Sentence: The student was caught plagiarizing a research paper, copying paragraphs directly from online sources.

Front

ponderous

Back

very heavy

Sentence: The ponderous book was so thick that it took up half the suitcase.

Front

precarious

Back

uncertain, insecure

Sentence: The hikers found themselves in a precarious situation when their path led them to a steep cliff.

Front

precedent

Back

an early decision

Sentence: The court's decision set a legal precedent that would affect future cases.

Front

precipitate

Back

to cause to happen before expected

Sentence: The news of the company's bankruptcy precipitated a wave of panic among the employees.

Front

precise

Back

accurately said, exactly defined

Sentence: The scientist took precise measurements to ensure the accuracy of the experiment.

Front

preclude

Back

to make impossible

Sentence: His injuries precluded him from participating in the competition.

Front

predecessor

Back

an ancestor

Sentence: The new software was an improvement over its predecessor, which had several technical issues.

Front

premise

Back

a prior statement that serves as the basis of argument

Sentence: The premise of her argument was that all people deserve equal rights.