precocious (prɪˈkəʊʃəs)

pre-coc(~cook)-ious

adj.(ex.像是指兒童)在某方面早熟的, 較早具備某種能力的 [exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age]

ex. a precocious child who could play the piano at the age of three.

 

字源:from præ-  "before" + coquere  "to ripen," lit. "to cook". Originally of flowers or fruits

 

 

 

 

precursor

pre-curs(run)-or

n. [one that precedes and indicates the approach of another; A precursor of something is a similar thing that happened or existed before it, often something which led to the existence or development of that thing. ]

ex. small disturbances that were precursors of the revolution to come

 

 

 

 

predecessor

pre(before)-de(down)-cess(go, yeild)-or

n.(職務或職位的)前任者 [one that precedes especially : a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded]

 

字源:pre(前),decessor(retiring official)

 

 

 

 

 

predator

n.捕食其他動物的動物; 食肉動物 [one that preys, destroys, or devours ]

 

字源:1922, from L. praedator  "plunderer". Originally (1840) used of insects that ate other insects.

Predators Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

predestine (priːˈdɛstɪn )

pre-destine(to determine)

v.命中注定 [decide or determine sth (as if) by fate ]

ex. It seemed that his failure was predestined.
他的失敗似乎是命中注定的.

 

ps. destiny n.命運

 

 

 

 

 

predicament (prɪˈdɪkəmənt)

n. [ difficult or unpleasant situation, esp one in which sb is uncertain what to do; an unpleasant state of being ]

ex. Your refusal puts me in an awkward predicament. 你一拒絕讓我感到十分為難.

ps. predict n.預言

 

 

 

 

 

 

predilection (ˌpriːdɪˈlɛkʃən)

n. [an established preference for something( implies a strong liking deriving from one's temperament or experience ) ]

ex. a predilection for Japanese food 對日本食物的偏愛.

 

聯想:predi l ection ~~pre+di r ection..

字源:from French prédilection,  from Medieval Latin praedīligere  to prefer, from Latin prae  before + dīligere  to love

 

 

 

 

 

 

predisposition

pre-disposition (review p.155)

n. 性向; 癖性; 易患某病之身心素質 [state of mind or body that makes sb liable to act in a certain way or to suffer from a certain disease]

ex. a predisposition towards melancholia

易患憂鬱症的精神傾向

 

 

 

 

 

 

predominate

pre-dominate

v. [have control, power or influence(over sb/sth)]

ex. A smallgroup has begun to predominate in policy-making.
一小撮人在制定政策中已開始起主導作用

v. [be superior in numbers, strength, etc]

ex. a colour scheme in which red predominates
以紅色為主的色彩設計

 

 

 

 

predominant

pre-dominant

adj. [having more power or influence than others]

ex. the predominant member