12-letter words containing p, i, s
- 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.
- participates — to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually followed by in): to participate in profits; to participate in a play.
- particulates — very small particles of a substance, esp those that are produced when fuel is burned
- parting shot — a threat, insult, condemnation, sarcastic retort, or the like, uttered upon leaving.
- partisanship — an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
- party spirit — If you talk about someone being in the party spirit, you mean that they are in the mood to enjoy a party or to have fun.
- pas d'action — a dramatic, pantomimic dance sequence serving to advance the plot.
- pas de trois — a dance for three dancers.
- pascal-linda — Ian Flockhart, U Edinburgh, 1991. Under development.
- passing bell — a bell tolled to announce a death or funeral.
- passing lane — a highway lane in which a driver may pass other vehicles legally.
- 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.
- pasteurising — to expose (a food, as milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, or wine) to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy certain microorganisms, as those that can produce disease or cause spoilage or undesirable fermentation of food, without radically altering taste or quality.
- patent still — a type of still in which the distillation is continuous
- pathogenesis — the production and development of disease.
- patristicism — the study or science of the Fathers
- 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
- pay increase — a rise in pay or salary
- paying guest — lodger
- pearl primus — Pearl, 1919–1994, U.S. dancer, born in Trinidad.
- 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.
- pecksniffery — hypocritically and unctuously affecting benevolence or high moral principles.
- pecksniffian — hypocritically and unctuously affecting benevolence or high moral principles.
- pedomorphism — a speeding up of the rate of development, resulting in an adult form that has the appearance of its larval or juvenile ancestor.
- peeblesshire — a historic county in S Scotland.
- pekinologist — a person who studies the People's Republic of China
- pencil skirt — women's garment: straight skirt
- penguin suit — a man's formal evening suit
- pennine alps — a range of the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. Highest peak: Monte Rosa, 4634 m (15 204 ft)
- pennsylvania — a state in the E United States. 45,333 sq. mi. (117,410 sq. km). Capital: Harrisburg. Abbreviation: PA (for use with zip code), Pa., Penn., Penna.
- pennywhistle — a cheap toy whistle orig. sold for a penny
- 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.
- penthesileia — the daughter of Ares and queen of the Amazons, whom she led to the aid of Troy. She was slain by Achilles