Word origins

• phrenitisMadness, especially as caused by inflammation of the brain; encephalitis, encephalomeningitis, or meningitis.
• phthisicalSynonym of phthisic.
• phycomaterA gelatin in which the algae spores have been supposed to vegetate.
• phylarchThe ruler of a phyle in Ancient Greece.
• phyllodeA flattened petiole or leaf rachis that resembles and functions as a leaf, and may or may not be combined with an actual lamina.
• physic fingerThe ring finger.
• phytivorousFeeding on plants; herbivorous.
• piacleA heinous offense that requires expiation.
• piacularityThe quality of being piacular, of requiring atonement.
• piaculativePiacular; atoning for sin or crime.
• PiaristA member of the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools, a Catholic educational order founded in the sixteenth century.
• piationatonement or expiation.
• picamarAn oily liquid hydrocarbon extracted from the creosote of beechwood tar, and consisting essentially of certain derivatives of pyrogallol.
• piccageMoney paid at fairs for permission to set up booths.
• piceousOf or pertaining to pitch (“a sticky, dark brown substance obtained from distilling turpentine or wood tar, or crude oil or tar”); having a quality like pitch.
• pignisticBeing or relating to a probability that a rational person will assign to an option when required to make a decision.
• pignorationThe act of pledging or pawning.
• pileousOf, pertaining to, or consisting of hair.
• pileumThe top of a bird's head, from the base of the bill to the nape.
• piliferousContaining or producing hair.
• piliformResembling hair.
• piligerouspiliferous (covered in hair)
• pilo-hair
• pilocyteAny cell with prominent external hair-like structures.
• piluleA little pill.
• pilulousResembling a pill or pilule.
• pinacolinA colourless oily liquid related to the ketones, and obtained by the decomposition of pinacol.
• pinacothecaAn art gallery, especially one exhibiting pictures.
• pinaneThe saturated bicyclic hydrocarbon 2,6,6-trimethyl-, (1a,2b,5a)-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane made by the hydrogenation of pinene
• PindusA mountain range in northern Greece, often called the "spine of Greece"
• pinguescencethe process of growing obese
• pinguescentgrowing obese, fattening
• pinguidRelating to fat.
• pinguidinousContaining fat; fatty.
• pinguitudefatness; obesity
• pinic acidA dicarboxylic acid and recognized as an oxidation product of α-pinene, a common terpene found in pine resin.
• pinniformShaped like a fin or feather.
• pinnothereA small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, which live symbiotically in the shells of certain molluscs.
• pinnulaA pinnule or subleaflet.
• pinnuleAny of the ultimate leaflets of a bipinnate or tripinnate leaf; a subleaflet.
• pinophyteAny gymnosperm (of the division Pinophyta)
• piroplasmaBabesia, a genus of hematozoa that invades the red blood cells of humans and domesticated animals such as dogs and sheep
• piscaryfishery
• piscationfishing; fishery
• piscatologyThe study of fishing.
• piscatorialOf or pertaining to fishermen or fishing.
• piscatoryOf or pertaining to fishermen or fishing.
• pisci-Related to fish.
• pisciformHaving the shape of a fish.
• pisculentAbundant with fish.
• pisiformResembling a pea or peas in size and shape
• pisoidA concretionary grain, typically of calcium carbonate, between a microid and a macroid in size.
• pisoliteA sedimentary rock formed from pisoids
• pisolithA pisoid.
• pisticHaving faith; trusting
• pituitaPhlegm; mucus.
• pituitousConsisting of, or resembling, pituite or mucus.
• placableAble to be easily pacified; quick to forgive.
• placationA process or act of placating; appeasement or an expression of appeasement.
• placenta cakeA dessert cake originating in ancient Greece, consisting essentially of layered dough interwoven with cheese and honey.
• placetA vote of assent, as of the governing body of a university, an ecclesiastical council, etc.
• placitA decree or dictum.
• plagiaryThe crime of literary theft; plagiarism.
• plagiumabduction, especially of a child
• plagoseFond of flogging.
• planetalityMembership of a particular planet or moon, by origin, birth, naturalization, ownership, allegiance or otherwise.
• planetuleA little planet.
• plangentHaving a loud, mournful sound.
• plani-flat, level, plane
• planishTo repeatedly hammer (a sheet of metal) so as to shape and smooth it or create a decorative indented finish.
• plantarisA muscle running at the posterior compartment of the calf from the knee to over the hump of the heel.
• planto-Plantar; related to the foot.
• plasmationThe act of forming or moulding.
• platitudinalCharacterized by banality or triteness.
• platitudinarianOne who uses many platitudes in speaking or writing.
• platitudinizeTo utter one or more platitudes; to make obvious, trivial, or clichéd remarks concerning a topic.
• platitudinousCharacterised by clichés or platitudes.
• platonicalPertaining to Plato or his philosophy; Platonic.
• plausiveLaudable, praisable.
• plaustralOf or relating to a wagon.
• PlautinianOf or pertaining to the unknown Roman playwright Plautius, known only for being confused with the playwright Plautus; especially to contrast with Plautus himself.
• -pleA tuple containing the specified number of terms.
• plebicolistSomeone who flatters, or curries favor with the general public; a demagogue.
• plebificationMaking plebeian; vulgarizing.
• plenalfull; complete
• pleneWith matres lectionis (letters indicating vowels) written out.
• pleniloquenceExcessive or overly full speech.
• plenilunarOf, pertaining to, or resembling the full moon.
• plenipotentHaving full power.
• plenipotentialPertaining to a plenipotentiary; having full authority.
• plenismThe belief that all space is full of matter; horror vacui
• plenistA believer in plenism; someone who believes that all space is full of matter.
• plenitudinaryHaving plenitude; full; complete; thorough.
• plenitudinousCharacterised by plenitude; abundant
• plenopticOf or relating to all the light, travelling in every direction, in a given space.
• plethoryA plethora.
• pleuro-Of or pertaining to the pleura; pleural.
• plicaA fold or crease, especially of skin or other tissue.
• plica polonicaA condition characterised by matted and unhygienic hair.
• plicateFolded multiple times lengthwise like a fan, usually lending stiffness to a flat structure such as a leaf; corrugated; pleated.