Test Your Knowledge On English Literature

"Prickle" in this context refers to the action of puncturing slightly with fine, sharp points. It describes an action rather than a person, place, thing, or quality. Therefore, "prickle" is a verb, as it represents an action or a state of being.

"Privateer" is a noun in this context because it refers to a specific type of vessel. It is used to describe a ship that is owned and operated by private individuals and is engaged in maritime warfare. As a noun, "privateer" functions as the subject or object of a sentence and can be modified by adjectives or determiners. It does not function as a verb, adverb, or adjective in this particular definition.

"Privity" is a noun because it refers to a concept or idea, specifically the knowledge shared with another or others regarding a private matter. It does not describe an action (verb), modify a noun (adjective), or describe how something is done (adverb). Instead, it functions as a naming word for this particular concept, making it a noun.

"Primer" is a noun in this context because it refers to a specific type of book, namely an elementary reading-book for children. As a noun, "primer" functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It can be preceded by articles (e.g., "a primer" or "the primer") and can be pluralized (e.g., "primers"). In this case, "primer" is used to identify a type of book, indicating that it is a noun.

"Pretext" is a noun because it refers to a specific thing, in this case, a fictitious reason or motive. Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas, and "pretext" fits into the category of naming a thing. It does not describe an action (verb), modify a noun (adjective), or describe how something is done (adverb). Therefore, "noun" is the correct part of speech for "pretext" in the given context.

"Principle" in the given context refers to a general truth or proposition, which is a characteristic of a noun. As a noun, "principle" functions as the subject or object of a sentence, and it can be modified by adjectives or determiners. It does not describe or modify a noun (adjective), an action (verb), or a manner (adverb). Therefore, the correct answer is noun.

"Privilege" in this context refers to a right or immunity that is not enjoyed by everyone or can only be enjoyed under specific circumstances. It functions as a noun because it is a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, "privilege" represents an idea or concept rather than describing or modifying something, which is characteristic of adjectives. Therefore, the correct answer is noun.

"Prim" is a word used to describe someone who is stiffly proper, indicating a sense of formality and adherence to social norms. This aligns with the characteristics of an adjective, as adjectives are used to modify nouns and provide descriptive information about them. In this case, "prim" is describing a person's behavior or demeanor, making it an adjective.

"Principality" is a noun because it refers to a specific type of territory, namely the land or domain controlled by a reigning prince. It is not an adverb, adjective, or verb, as these parts of speech do not accurately describe the meaning or usage of "principality".

"Pretension" is a noun because it refers to a specific thing, namely a bold or presumptuous assertion. It is not an adverb, adjective, or verb, as it does not describe an action, quality, or manner.

"Presentment" is a noun because it refers to a thing or concept, specifically the act of presenting or the state of being presented. In this context, it means "semblance," which is also a noun. Adjectives describe or modify nouns, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and verbs are action words. Therefore, "noun" is the correct answer as it correctly identifies the part of speech for "presentment."

"Preservation" is a noun because it refers to the act or process of protecting or maintaining something in its original state. It is a word that represents a thing or an idea rather than describing or modifying something else, which is characteristic of nouns. In this case, "preservation" specifically means "conservation," further reinforcing its noun classification.

"Priggish" is a word used to describe someone who is conceited or excessively concerned with propriety. This indicates that "priggish" is an adjective, as adjectives are used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns. In this case, "priggish" is describing the characteristic or quality of being conceited. Therefore, the correct answer is adjective.

"Prevaricate" is a verb that means to use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention. It is an action word that describes the act of using deceptive language, making it the correct answer in this context.

"Principal" in the context of meaning "most important" is used as an adjective. Adjectives describe or modify nouns, and in this case, "principal" is describing the noun it is referring to. It is used to convey the significance or importance of something, indicating that it holds a primary or leading position among other things.