ponderous Slow and clumsy because of great weight portentous Of or like a portent; ominous, foreshadowing something bad poseur A person who pretends to be what they are not or to have feelings or attitudes which they do not actually possess, especially in a pretentious or affected way posit To assume as a fact or put forward as a basis of argument posthumous Occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator prattle To talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way precarious not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse predilection A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something prescient Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place pretext A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason