2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently psychiatry ptarmigan pugilist n n n / sDSkIEtrG / / StBrmDgEn / / SpyVjElDst / Gk + L ScotGael L + E a branch of medicine that deals any of various grouses of northern a professional boxer. with the science of treating mental, regions having completely Years as a pugilist took their toll on emotional, or behavioral disorders. feathered feet. Leo’s coordination. The concept of multiple “Why did the ptarmigan cross the personalities is of special interest road?” asked Martha. pugilistic to Helen, who plans to pursue a career in psychiatry. pteridology pugnacious adj psychological ptomaine / pEgSnCshEs / n L psychomachy / StPTmCn / having a quarrelsome or belligerent n Gk > It nature. / sISkBmEkG / any of various organic bases some Bushpigs are pugnacious enough to Gk > L of which are poisonous and which put up a fight against a leopard. a conflict of the soul (as with the are formed by the action of body or between good and evil). putrefactive bacteria on puissance Countless novels have as their nitrogenous matter. theme the psychomachy within the About three hours after he had pulchritude hero as he struggles to do right. eaten, Dunstan realized that his lunch had been tainted with pulmonary psychrometer ptomaine. adj n / SpUlmETnerG / / sISkrBmEZE(r) / ptosis L Gk + Gk n of, relating to, or associated with a hygrometer whose operation / StPsDs / the lungs. depends on two similar Gk Uncle Rob’s pulmonary disease thermometers with the bulb of one [has near homonym: tussis] a requires that he breathe pure being kept wet so that it is cooled sagging or prolapse of an organ or oxygen at all times. as a result of evaporation and part; specifically : drooping of the shows a temperature lower than upper eyelid. pulsatile that of the dry-bulb thermometer. The film star had a clear case of adj Greg built a crude psychrometer ptosis. / SpElsEZFl / out of two old thermometers and L some cotton gauze. publication beating, throbbing. The heart is a pulsatile muscular psychrophilic puce organ that maintains the flow of adj blood. / TsIkrPSfilik / puchero Gk n pultaceous thriving at a relatively low / pVScheTrP / adj temperature. L > Sp / TpElStCshEs / The psychrophilic bacteria died a Latin American boiled dinner or L + Ecf when the refrigerator’s compressor stew containing beef, sausage, having a consistency like that of failed. bacon, and various vegetables. porridge. Olivia sampled puchero at an Serena dislikes rice pudding ptarmic Argentine restaurant. because of its pultaceous n consistency. / StBrmik / puerile Gk > L adj pulverize a substance that causes sneezing. / SpyU(E)rEl / Andrea is extremely allergic to L dust, an everpresent ptarmic childish or immature. difficult for her to avoid. Mrs. Yolton was not impressed by Tommy’s puerile behavior. Page 204 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently pulverulent purlieu putrid adj n adj / pElSveryElEnt / / SpErl(T)yV / / SpyVtrDd / L F L consisting of or reducible to fine a place of resort : haunt. in an advanced state of powder. Vince can be found most evenings decomposition : rotten. Chalk is a pulverulent deposit of in the local pool hall, his favorite The putrid heap of kitchen scraps calcium carbonate. purlieu. will compost in no time. pumice purloin putsch n v n / SpEmDs / / pE(r)SlOin / / SpUch / L L > F > E imit G [has homonyms: pomace and appropriate wrongfully and often a secretly plotted and suddenly pumace] hardened volcanic froth. under circumstances that involve a executed attempt to overthrow a Ground pumice is sometimes used breach of trust. government or governing body. as an abrasive ingredient in soap. The district manager was fired The right-wing nationalist group when he was caught trying to plotted a putsch for early punchinello purloin company earnings. September. punctilious purportedly puzzling adj adj / TpEN(k)StilGEs / pursued / SpEz(E)liN / L unknown + Ecf marked by precise exact purveyor mystifying : difficult to understand. accordance with the details of n The puzzling directions in the codes or conventions. / pE(r)SvCE(r) / instruction manual rendered it Inflexible people often pay L > F > E useless. punctilious attention to rules of one who provides supplies of food etiquette. or whose business is to make pylon provisions for the table : caterer. n punctual The reception was delayed because / SpITlBn / adj the purveyor got stuck in traffic. Gk / SpEN(k)ch(Ew)El / a tower for supporting either end of L pusillanimous a wire over a long span. marked by exact adherence to an adj The steel pylon at the north end of appointed time. / TpyVsESlanEmEs / the footbridge was showing Everybody was punctual for the L dangerous signs of wear. wedding, and all behaved lacking or showing a lack of charmingly. courage, manly strength, and pyramid resolution : marked by mean- n punctuation spirited and contemptible timidity. / SpirETmid / Edgar never forgave his brother’s Gk punditry pusillanimous desertion during the an ancient massive structure of war. huge stone blocks found especially pungent in Egypt having typically a square adj putrescent ground plan, outside walls in the / SpEnjEnt / adj form of four triangles that meet in a L / pyVStresFnt / point at the top, and inner causing a sharp sensation : L sepulchral chambers. pricking, irritating, acrid. decaying, rotting. The sight of a pyramid on the The pungent odor of wet dog sent The disagreeable odor was coming desert horizon took Rico’s breath the guests out for fresh air. from the putrescent skunk carcass. away. punishment pyre punitive purgatory Page 205 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently pyrethrum quadragenarian quagmire n n n / pISrGthrEm / / TkwBdrEjDSna(a)rGEn / / SkwagTmI(E)r / Gk > L L unknown + ON > E any of various chrysanthemums a person who is 40 or more and less a complex or precarious position with finely divided and often than 50 years old. where disengagement is difficult. aromatic leaves. Evelyn became a grandmother In his position as protocol officer, The pyrethrum is a source of a while she was a quadragenarian. Russell often found himself in a natural insecticide. quagmire of delicate relationships. quadrangle pyretogenic n quail adj / SkwBTdraNgEl / n / TpirEtPSjenik / L > F > E / SkwCl / Gk a square or rectangular enclosure or L > F > E inducing fever. court especially when surrounded a migratory game bird of Europe, Because Jamie’s illness was not by buildings (as in some schools Asia, and Africa that is about seven pyretogenic, his mom did not and colleges). inches long. initially believe that he was sick. Norm sailed a pie tin across the The vintner decided to name his quadrangle. wine after the quail because the pyrite birds were so plentiful on his quadrant property. pyrosis n quadrennial qualitative / pISrPsDs / adj Gk quadrilateral / SkwBlETtCZiv / heartburn. n L Gill had a wicked case of pyrosis / TkwBdrESlaZErEl / of, relating to, or involving quality after eating at Billy Joe Bob’s Char L or kind. and Grill. a plane figure of four sides and Although the essay was judged to consequently four angles. be short quantitatively, it was a pyrotechnics The perimeter of a baseball qualitative masterpiece. n pl diamond forms a quadrilateral. / TpIrEStekniks / qualm Gk quadrille a display of fireworks. n quandary The amusement park had a show / kwBSdril / n including pyrotechnics every night. F / SkwBnd(E)rG / a four-handed form of a card game unknown Pyrrhic played throughout Europe in the a state of perplexity or doubt : adj 17th and 18th centuries. dilemma. / Spirik / Mrs. Bates was a very old lady, Taylor’s advice left Miriam in more Gk > L almost past everything but tea and of a quandary than she was in [has homonym: pyric] of, relating quadrille. when she sought his help. to, or resembling that of Pyrrhus, a king who sustained heavy losses in quadrumanous quantum defeating the Romans. adj When the team’s star quarterback / kwBSdrVmEnEs / quarantine broke his leg in the game it won L against its toughest rival, the win having four hands. quarrel was indeed a Pyrrhic victory. Luke complained that a bass player would have to be quadrumanous to quarrelsome quackery master the piece he was given to adj play. / SkwOr(E)lsEm / L > F > E + E apt or disposed to argue : contentious. If Angie weren’t so quarrelsome, she might have more friends. Page 206 2003 Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Consolidated Word List: Words Appearing Frequently quarry quenelle quest n n quartz / kESnel / / Skwest / G > F L > F > E quash a ball or oval of meat stuffing an act or instance of searching : cooked in boiling water or stock expedition, pursuit, venture. quasi and served as a garnish or as a In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” separate dish. the horseman rides forth to the quaternion Martha served a quenelle of scene of battle in nightly quest of n chicken in brown onion sauce as an his head. / kwEStErnGEn / appetizer. L question a set of four parts, things, or quercitron v persons. n / Skwes(h)chEn / The auto parts store offered a / SkwErTsitrEn / L special price on a quaternion of L express doubt about : dispute. tires. a black oak or the bark of this tree Corporal Sage decided he had to used in tanning and dyeing. question Sergeant McGonigle’s quatorzain When used as a dye, quercitron orders. n turns fabrics yellow. / kEStOrTzCn / questionnaire F querimonious a poem of 14 lines that resembles a adj queue sonnet but lacks strict sonnet / TkwerESmPnGEs / structure. L queuer When his English teacher was habitually complaining. satisfied with Walter’s quatorzain, Luther was known for his quibble she encouraged him to write a querimonious temperament. sonnet. quiche quern n quatrefoil n / SkGsh / n / SkwErn / G > F / SkaZE(r)TfOil / E a baked custard pie usually having F a primitive mill for grinding grain an added savory ingredient (as a conventionalized representation consisting of two circular stones chopped ham, seafood, or of a flower with four petals or of a with the upper one being turned by vegetables).