12-letter words containing i, s, o, p
- parachronism — a chronological error in which a person, event, etc., is assigned a date later than the actual one.
- paramorphism — the process by which a paramorph is formed.
- paraphimosis — inability to retract the penis into the prepuce as a result of narrowing of the prepuce
- parapophysis — the process of a vertebra
- parasitology — the branch of biology dealing with parasites and the effects of parasitism.
- parasol pine — stone pine (def 1).
- parasphenoid — a bone next to the sphenoid bone in the skull of some animals
- parish house — a building used by a church chiefly for administrative and social purposes.
- parkinsonian — (sometimes initial capital letter) of, related to, or resembling Parkinson's disease.
- parkinsonism — Parkinson's disease.
- parochialise — to make parochial.
- parochialism — a parochial character, spirit, or tendency; excessive narrowness of interests or view; provincialism.
- parochialist — a parochial character, spirit, or tendency; excessive narrowness of interests or view; provincialism.
- paronomastic — the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.
- parsimonious — characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy.
- parting shot — a threat, insult, condemnation, sarcastic retort, or the like, uttered upon leaving.
- pas d'action — a dramatic, pantomimic dance sequence serving to advance the plot.
- pas de trois — a dance for three dancers.
- passing note — a note that is foreign to a harmony and is introduced between two successive chord tones in order to produce a melodic transition.
- passing shot — a shot played to one side of and beyond the reach of an opponent coming to or stationed at the net.
- passion play — a dramatic representation of the passion of Christ, as that given every ten years at the Bavarian village of Oberammergau.
- passion week — the week preceding Easter; Holy Week.
- passionately — having, compelled by, or ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling; fervid: a passionate advocate of socialism.
- passionfruit — any edible fruit of a passionflower, as the maypop.
- passive noun — a noun whose referent is the recipient of an action, as trainee, multiplicand.
- pathogenesis — the production and development of disease.
- patroclinous — inheritance in which the traits of the offspring are derived primarily from the paternal parent (opposed to matrocliny).
- patron saint — a saint regarded as the special guardian of a person, group, trade, country, etc.
- paving stone — slab used to lay a path
- pax vobiscum — peace be with you
- peau de soie — a soft, satin-weave cloth of silk or rayon, grainy and having a dull luster, used to make dresses, coats, trimmings, etc.
- peccadilloes — a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault.
- pedomorphism — a speeding up of the rate of development, resulting in an adult form that has the appearance of its larval or juvenile ancestor.
- pekinologist — a person who studies the People's Republic of China
- pension book — In Britain, a pension book is a small book which is given to pensioners by the government. Each week, one page can be exchanged for money at a Post Office.
- pension fund — a fund created and maintained, as by a corporation, to provide benefits under a pension plan.
- pension plan — a systematic plan created and maintained, as by a corporation, to make regular payments of benefits to retired or disabled employees, either on a contributory or a noncontributory basis.
- percussional — of or relating to percussion
- perfidiously — deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful: a perfidious lover.
- perforations — the holes punched that allow individual stamps, coupons, etc to be easily separated
- perfusionist — a medical technician or nurse who monitors and operates equipment that oxygenates the blood, as during open-heart surgery
- perichoresis — the relationship between or interlinking of the three Persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
- period costs — Period costs are general costs that cannot be associated with a particular product, such as utilities or insurance.
- periodontics — the branch of dentistry dealing with the study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium.
- periodontist — a specialist in periodontics.
- periostracum — the external, chitinlike covering of the shell of certain mollusks that protects the limy portion from acids.
- perispomenon — (of a Greek word) bearing a circumflex accent on the last syllable
- peristeronic — of, pertaining to, or resembling pigeons
- peristomatic — surrounding a leaf's stoma or stomata
- peritrichous — (of bacteria) having a uniform distribution of flagella over the body surface.