scholar who overemphasizes rules or technicalities
pedestrian
ordinary
peerless
having no equal; incomparable
pejorative
negative connotation; having a belittling effect
pell-mell
in confusion (adverb)
pellucid
clear; transparent; limpid
penance
self-imposed punishment for sin
pendant
hanging down from something
pendulous
hanging; suspended
penitent
repentant
penumbra
partial shadow (in an eclipse)
peon
landless agricultural worker; bond servant
percussion
striking one object against another sharply
perdition
damnation; complete ruin
peregrination
journey
peremptory
demanding and leaving no choice
perforate
to pierce; put a hole through
perigee
point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth
peripatetic
walking about; moving
pernicious
very destructive
hortatory
encouraging; exhorting
peroration
conclusion of an oration
perpetrate
to commit an offense
perquisite
any gain above stipulated salary
personable
attractive
perspicuous
clearly expressed; lucid; perspicacious
pert
impertinently bold; forward
pertinacious
stubborn; persistent
peruse
to read or examine with care
perverse
turned away from or rejecting what is right, good, or proper; wicked or corrupt
pestilential
causing plague; baneful
petulant
irritable, peevish, fretful, pettish, touchy
pharisaical
practicing or advocating strict observance of external forms and ceremonies of religion or conduct without regard to the spirit; self-righteous; hypocritical