In Luke 2, the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth, the author reports the shepherds receive the news of Jesus’ arrival and hurry straight to Bethlehem. The shepherds then share the words spoken about the baby boy. They also disclose the messengers of those words: angels, a multitude of the heavenly host.
Neither Joseph nor Mary appears perturbed or excited by the account. In fact, the author’s mute on the subject of Joseph. Mary, though, treasures all the things she hears, “pondering them in her heart.”
To ponder means several things. Merriam Webster defines the word as to “weigh in the mind” or “think about.” Generally, however, ponder hearkens to a quiet, sober, and deep reflection upon events, words, and other things.
I like the word because it makes Mary relatable. She’s a thinker. I understand people like her because I count myself one of them. At the very least, I think I possess a proclivity for deep thinking. I’ve certainly been told I think too much a time or two.
Proclivity, of course, serves as another excellent word beginning with the letter “p,” as does ponder. Here are some other words to consider adding to the lexicon. Think of them as an early Christmas gift.
Pachisi
Noun. [From the Hindu pacīsī.] (1800) An ancient board game played with dice and counters on a cruciform board in which players attempt to be the first to reach the home square.
(Although the games sound similar and are played with dice, pachisi and Parcheesi are not to be confused for one another.)
Pageant
Noun. [From the Middle English pagyn, padgeant, literally, scene of a play. From the Middle Latin pagina. From the Latin, page.] (1300s) A mere show: PRETENSE. An ostentatious display. SHOW, EXHIBITION; especially: an elaborate, colorful exhibition or spectacle often with music that consists of a series of tableaux, or a loosely unified drama, or of a procession, usually with floats. PAGEANTRY.
(Despite the wise men losing their gifts backstage and the angel’s laryngitis, the children’s Christmas pageant ended up being a success.)
Pancake Landing
Noun. (c. 1928) A landing in which the airplane is leveled off higher than for a normal landing, causing it to stall and drop in an approximately horizontal position with little forward motion.
(During World War I, pilots often performed pancake landings when dropping supplies or conducting reconnaissance missions in enemy territory.)
Parapet
Noun. [From the Italian parapetto; from parare, to shield (From the Latin, to prepare.) + petto, chest (From the Latin pectus—more at PARE, PECTORAL.).] (1590) A wall, rampart, or elevation of earth or stone to protect soldiers: BREASTWORK. A low wall or railing to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge—called also parapet wall.
(The baron employed catapults to demolish his enemy’s parapets.)
Pastry
Noun. [From paste.] (1539) PASTE. Sweet baked goods made of dough having a high fat content. A piece of pastry.
(The teacher stifled a sigh when a fourth student gave her yet another Christmas present of pastry.)
Paunch
Noun. [From the Middle English. From the Middle French panche. From the Latin pantic-, pantex.] (1300s) The belly ands contents. POTBELLY. RUMEN.
(Santa’s paunch must be magical, considering how many cookies and glasses of milk he consumes during his Christmas Eve flight.)
Peevish
Adjective. [From the Middle English pevish, spiteful.] Querulous in temperament or mood: FRETFUL. Perversely obstinate. Marked by ill temper.
(Santa’s elves become increasingly peevish during the final days leading up to Christmas Eve.)
Penchant
Noun. Especially British. [From the French; from the present participle pencher, to incline. From (assumed) Vulgar Latin pendicare. From the Latin pendere, to weigh.] (1672) A strong and continued inclination; broadly: LIKING. Synonym: see LEANING.
(Emily’s parents knew of her penchant for sweets, perhaps explaining the stocking filled with what she called “coal”; it contained only floss, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.)
Percussionist
Noun. (1939) One skilled in the playing of percussion instruments.
(The little percussionist had to be all of five years old, but his level of skill and dexterity belonged to that of someone much older.)
Phantom
Noun. [From the Middle English fantosme, fantome. From the Middle French fantosme, modification of the Latin phantasma.] (1300s) Something (as a specter) apparent to sense but with no substantial existence: APPARITION. Something elusive or visionary: WILL-O’-THE-WISP. An object of continual dread or abhorrence: BUGBEAR <the ~ of disease and want>. Something existing in appearance only. A representation of something abstract, ideal, or incorporeal <she was a ~ of delight—William Wordsworth>.
Adjective. (1400s) Of the nature of, suggesting, or being a phantom: ILLUSORY. FICTITIOUS, DUMMY <~ voters>.
(It takes three Christmas phantoms to change Ebenezer Scrooge’s ways.)
Pigeonwing
Noun. (c. 1807) A fancy dance step executed by jumping and striking the legs together.
(The tap dancer developed a reputation for his pigeonwings.)
Pledge
Noun. [From the Middle English, security. From the Middle French plege. From the Late Latin plebium; from (assumed) Late Latin plebere, to pledge.] (1300s) A bailment of a chattel as security for a debt or other obligation without involving transfer of title; the chattel so delivered; the contract incidental to such a bailment. The state of being held as a security or guaranty; something given as security for the performance of an act. A token, sign, or earnest of something else. A gage of battle. TOAST. A binding promise or agreement to do or forbear; a promise to join a fraternity or secret society; a person who has so promised.
Verb transitive. (1400s) To make a pledge of; specifically: PAWN. To drink the health of. To bind by a pledge. To promise the performance of by a pledge.
(When we sing “Auld Lang Syne,” we pledge a cup of kindness to each other.)
Poinsettia
Noun. [From the New Latin. From Joel R. Poinsett, an American diplomat.] (1836) Any of various spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts; especially: a showy Mexican and South American plant (E. pulcherrima) with tapering scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers.
(Natasha couldn’t buy any poinsettias for her home this Christmas because her new kitten was sure to nibble on them.)
Praline
Noun. [From the French. From Count Plessis-Praslin, a French soldier.] (c. 1727) A confection of nut kernels. Almonds cooked in boiling sugar until brown and crisp. A patty of creamy brown sugar and pecan meats.
(Every Christmas season, Ben continued the family tradition of making homemade pralines and giving them to neighbors and coworkers as gifts.)
Pull Off
Verb transitive. (1883) To carry out despite difficulties: accomplish successfully against odds.
(Every Christmas, Nate’s mother had to pull off hiding the presents someplace he couldn’t reach or wouldn’t look.)
What are your favorite “p” words? Share them in a comment below.
Image: Jeremy Segrott (Creative Commons)