Return to article by James Harris Atkinson

P

"passed off" - went by; moved by

"pass my work" - do well on the assignments; get good (passing) grades

"penetrating thinkers" - deep or profound thinkers or scholars

permanent - lasting or meant to last; enduring

permission - consent (from someone in authority); allowance

pioneers - people who were among the first to explore and settle a region

pleasant - good; nice; pleasurable

"pleasing countenance" - pleasant manner

"politically ambitious" - had goals of going into politics and holding a public office

popular - well-liked

"practice the strictest economy" - live frugally; live as inexpensively as possible

preparation - the condition of being made ready

pretense - false show

previous - coming before; earlier (in this case, the classes the author took before going to the University)

proceedings - in this case, the rest of the meeting

"profited greatly" - benefited a great deal

profound - showing great understanding or knowledge; very great or deep

prominent - well-known or important

pupil(s) - student(s)

"puzzled over" - studied and thought about something that is confusing (in this case, the author's records) in order to make the best decision (in this case, whether or not to let the author become a student at the Unversity)