Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 38 of 60)
1. Equal value; equality of nominal and actual value; the value expressed on the face or in the words of a certificate of value, as a bond or other commercial paper.
2. Equality of condition or circumstances. At par, at the original price; neither at a discount nor at a premium. -- Above par, at a premium. -- Below par, at a discount. -- On a par, on a level; in the same condition, circumstances, position, rank, etc.; as, their pretensions are on a par; his ability is on a par with his ambition. -- Par of exchange. See under Exchange. -- Par value, nominal value; face value.
PARA- Par"a-. Etym: [Gr. for- in forgive. Cf. For-.]
1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.
PARA Pa*ra", n. Etym: [Turk., fr. Per. parah a piece.]
Defn: A piece of Turkish money, usually copper, the fortieth part of a piaster, or about one ninth of a cent.
PARA-ANAESTHESIA; PARA-ANESTHESIA Par`a-an`æs*the"si*a, -an`es*the"si*a, n. [NL.; para- + anæsthesia.] (Med.)
Defn: Anæsthesia of both sides of the lower half of the body.
PARABANIC Par`a*ban"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid which is obtained by the oxidation of uric acid, as a white crystalline substance (C3N2H2O3); -- also called oxalyl urea.
PARABLAST Par"a*blast, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. Para-, and -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: A portion of the mesoblast (of peripheral origin) of the developing embryo, the cells of which are especially concerned in forming the first blood and blood vessels. C. S. Minot.
PARABLASTIC Par`a*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the parablast; as, the parablastic cells.
PARABLE Par"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. parabilis, fr. parare to provide.]
Defn: Procurable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PARABLE Par"a*ble, n. Etym: [F. parabole, L. parabola, fr. Gr. gal to drop. Cf. Emblem, Gland, Palaver, Parabola, Parley, Parabole, Symbol.]
Defn: A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Chaucer. Declare unto us the parable of the tares. Matt. xiii. 36.
Syn. -- See Allegory, and Note under Apologue.
PARABLE Par"a*ble, v. t.
Defn: To represent by parable. [R.] Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled. Milton.
PARABOLA Pa*rab"o*la, n.; pl. Parabolas. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Parable, and cf. Parabole.] (Geom.) (a) A kind of curve; one of the conic sections formed by the intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane parallel to one of its sides. It is a curve, any point of which is equally distant from a fixed point, called the focus, and a fixed straight line, called the directrix. See Focus. (b) One of a group of curves defined by the equation y = axn where n is a positive whole number or a positive fraction. For the cubical parabola n = 3; for the semicubical parabola n = Cubical, and Semicubical. The parabolas have infinite branches, but no rectilineal asymptotes.
PARABOLE Pa*rab"o*le, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Parable.] (Rhet.)
Defn: Similitude; comparison.
PARABOLIC; PARABOLICAL Par`a*bol"ic, Par`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. parabolique. See Parable.]
1. Of the nature of a parable; expressed by a parable or figure; allegorical; as, parabolical instruction.
2. Etym: [From Parabola.] (Geom.) (a) Having the form or nature of a parabola; pertaining to, or resembling, a parabola; as, a parabolic curve. (b) Generated by the revolution of a parabola, or by a line that moves on a parabola as a directing curve; as, a parabolic conoid. Parabolic conoid, a paraboloid; a conoid whose directing curve is a parabola. See Conoid. -- Parabolic mirror (Opt.), a mirror having a paraboloidal surface which gives for parallel rays (as those from very distant objects) images free from aberration. It is used in reflecting telescopes. -- Parabolic spindle, the solid generated by revolving the portion of a parabola cut off by a line drawn at right angles to the axis of the curve, about that line as an axis. -- Parabolic spiral, a spiral curve conceived to be formed by the periphery of a semiparabola when its axis is wrapped about a circle; also, any other spiral curve having an analogy to the parabola.
PARABOLICALLY Par`a*bol"ic*al*ly, adv.
1. By way of parable; in a parabolic manner.
2. In the form of a parabola.
PARABOLIFORM Par`a*bol"i*form, a. Etym: [Parabola + -form.]
Defn: Resembling a parabola in form.
PARABOLISM Pa*rab"o*lism, n. Etym: [From Parabola.] (Alg.)
Defn: The division of the terms of an equation by a known quantity that is involved in the first term. [Obs.]
PARABOLIST Pa*rab"o*list, n.
Defn: A narrator of parables.
PARABOLOID Pa*rab"o*loid, n. Etym: [Parabola + -oid: cf. F. paraboloïde.] (Geom.)
Defn: The solid generated by the rotation of a parabola about its axis; any surface of the second order whose sections by planes parallel to a given line are parabolas.
Note: The term paraboloid has sometimes been applied also to the parabolas of the higher orders. Hutton.
PARABOLOIDAL Par`a*bo*loid"al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a paraboloid.
PARABRONCHIUM Par`a*bron"chi*um, n.; pl. Parabronchia. Etym: [NL. See Para-, Bronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the branches of an ectobronchium or entobronchium.
PARACELSIAN Par`a*cel"si*an, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in conformity with, the practice of Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the 15th century. Ferrand.
PARACELSIAN Par`a*cel"si*an, n.
Defn: A follower of Paracelsus or his practice or teachings. Hakewill.
PARACELSIST Par`a*cel"sist, n.
Defn: A Paracelsian.
PARACENTESIS Par`a*cen*te"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The perforation of a cavity of the body with a trocar, aspirator, or other suitable instrument, for the evacuation of effused fluid, pus, or gas; tapping.
PARACENTRIC; PARACENTRICAL Par`a*cen"tric, Par`a*cen"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + centric, - ical: cf. F. paracentrique.]
Defn: Deviating from circularity; changing the distance from a center. Paracentric curve (Math.), a curve having the property that, when its plane is placed vertically, a body descending along it, by the force of gravity, will approach to, or recede from, a fixed point or center, by equal distances in equal times; -- called also a paracentric. -- Paracentric motton or velocity, the motion or velocity of a revolving body, as a planet, by which it approaches to, or recedes from, the center, without reference to its motion in space, or to its motion as reckoned in any other direction.
PARACHORDAL Par`a*chor"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + chordal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated on either side of the notochord; -- applied especially to the cartilaginous rudiments of the skull on each side of the anterior part of the notochord. -- n.
Defn: A parachordal cartilage.
PARACHRONISM Pa*rach"ro*nism, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + Gr. parachronisme.]
Defn: An error in chronology, by which the date of an event is set later than the time of its occurrence. [R.]
PARACHROSE Par"a*chrose, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Changing color by exposure Mohs.
PARACHUTE Par"a*chute, n. Etym: [F., fr. paper to ward off, guard + chute a fall. See Parry, and Chute, Chance.]
1. A contrivance somewhat in the form of an umbrella, by means of which a descent may be made from a balloon, or any eminence.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A web or fold of skin which extends between the legs of certain mammals, as the flying squirrels, colugo, and phalangister.
PARACLETE Par"a*clete, n. Etym: [L. paracletus, Gr.
Defn: An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; -- a term applied to the Holy Spirit. From which intercession especially I conceive he hath the name of the Paraclete given him by Christ. Bp. Pearson.
PARACLOSE Par"a*close, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Parclose.
PARACMASTIC Par`ac*mas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Para-, and Acme.] (Med.)
Defn: Gradually decreasing; past the acme, or crisis, as a distemper. Dunglison.
PARACONIC Par`a*con"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + aconitic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid obtained as a deliquescent white crystalline substance, and isomeric with itaconic, citraconic, and mesaconic acids.
PARACONINE Par`a*co"nine, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + conine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A base resembling and isomeric with conine, and obtained as a colorless liquid from butyric aldehyde and ammonia.
PARACOROLLA Par`a*co*rol"la, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + corolla.] (Bot.)
Defn: A secondary or inner corolla; a corona, as of the Narcissus.
PARA CRESS Pará cress.
Defn: An annual asteraceous herb (Spilances oleracea) grown in tropical countries as a pungent salad, and also used medicinally.
PARACROSTIC Par`a*cros"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + acrostic.]
Defn: A poetical composition, in which the first verse contains, in order, the first letters of all the verses of the poem. Brande & C.
PARACYANOGEN Par`a*cy*an"o*gen, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + cyanogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A polymeric modification of cyanogen, obtained as a brown or black amorphous residue by heating mercuric cyanide.
PARACYMENE Par`a*cy"mene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + cymene.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Cymene.
PARADACTYLUM Par`a*dac"ty*lum, n.; pl. Paradactyla. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Dactyl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The side of a toe or finger.
PARADE Pa*rade", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See Pare, v. t.]
1. The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled.
3. Pompous show; formal display or exhibition. Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade. Swift.
4. That which is displayed; a show; a spectacle; an imposing procession; the movement of any body marshaled in military order; as, a parade of firemen. In state returned the grand parade. Swift.
5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.] When they are not in parade, and upon their guard. Locke.
6. A public walk; a promenade. Dress parade, Undress parade. See under Dress, and Undress. -- Parade rest, a position of rest for soldiers, in which, however, they are required to be silent and motionless. Wilhelm.
Syn. -- Ostentation; display; show. -- Parade, Ostentation. Parade is a pompous exhibition of things for the purpose of display; ostentation now generally indicates a parade of virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be honored. "It was not in the mere parade of royalty that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power." Robertson. "We are dazzled with the splendor of titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of victories." Spectator.
PARADE Pa*rade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Parading.] Etym: [Cf. F. parader.]
1. To exhibit in a showy or ostentatious manner; to show off. Parading all her sensibility. Byron.
2. To assemble and form; to marshal; to cause to maneuver or march ceremoniously; as, to parade troops.
PARADE Pa*rade", v. i.
1. To make an exhibition or spectacle of one's self, as by walking in a public place.
2. To assemble in military order for evolutions and inspection; to form or march, as in review.
PARADIGM Par"a*digm, n. Etym: [F. paradigme, L. paradigma, fr. Gr. Para-, and Diction.]
1. An example; a model; a pattern. [R.] "The paradigms and patterns of all things." Cudworth.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: An example of a conjugation or declension, showing a word in all its different forms of inflection.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: An illustration, as by a parable or fable.
PARADIGMATIC; PARADIGMATICAL Par`a*dig*mat"ic, Par`a*dig*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Exemplary. -- Par`a*dig*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.]
PARADIGMATIC Par`a*dig*mat"ic, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A writer of memoirs of religious persona, as examples of Christian excellence.
PARADIGMATIZE Par`a*dig"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paradigmatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Paradigmatizing.] Etym: [Gr. Paradigm.]
Defn: To set forth as a model or example. [Obs.] Hammond.
PARADISAIC; PARADISAICAL Par`a*di*sa"ic, Par`a*di*sa"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or resembling, paradise; paradisiacal. "Paradisaical pleasures." Gray.
PARADISAL Par"a*di`sal, a.
Defn: Paradisiacal.
PARADISE Par"a*dise, n. Etym: [OE. & F. paradis, L. paradisus, fr. Gr. para`deisos park, paradise, fr. Zend pairidaeza an inclosure; pairi around (akin to Gr. diz to throw up, pile up; cf. Skr. dih to smear, and E. dough. Cf. Parvis.]
1. The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed after their creation.
2. The abode of sanctified souls after death. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke xxiii. 43. It sounds to him like her mother's voice, Singing in Paradise. Longfellow.
3. A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight; hence, a state of happiness. The earth Shall be all paradise. Milton. Wrapt in the very paradise of some creative vision. Beaconsfield.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc.
5. A churchyard or cemetery. [Obs.] Oxf. Gloss. Fool's paradise. See under Fool, and Limbo. -- Grains of paradise. (Bot.) See Melequeta pepper, under Pepper. -- Paradise bird. (Zoöl.) Same as Bird of paradise. Among the most beautiful species are the superb (Lophorina superba); the magnificent (Diphyllodes magnifica); and the six-shafted paradise bird (Parotia sefilata). The long-billed paradise birds (Epimachinæ) also include some highly ornamental species, as the twelve-wired paradise bird (Seleucides alba), which is black, yellow, and white, with six long breast feathers on each side, ending in long, slender filaments. See Bird of paradise in the Vocabulary. -- Paradise fish (Zoöl.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish (Macropodus viridiauratus) having very large fins. It is often kept alive as an ornamental fish. -- Paradise flycatcher (Zoöl.), any flycatcher of the genus Terpsiphone, having the middle tail feathers extremely elongated. The adult male of T. paradisi is white, with the head glossy dark green, and crested. -- Paradise grackle (Zoöl.), a very beautiful bird of New Guinea, of the genus Astrapia, having dark velvety plumage with brilliant metallic tints. -- Paradise nut (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See Sapucaia nut. [Local, U. S.] -- Paradise whidah bird. (Zoöl.) See Whidah.
PARADISE Par"a*dise, v. t.
Defn: To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch. [R.] Marston.
PARADISEAN Par`a*dis"e*an, a.
Defn: Paradisiacal.
PARADISED Par"a*dised, a.
Defn: Placed in paradise; enjoying delights as of paradise.
PARADISIAC; PARADISIACAL Par`a*dis"i*ac, Par`a*di*si"a*cal, a. Etym: [L. paradisiacus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to paradise; suitable to, or like, paradise. C. Kingsley. T. Burnet. "A paradisiacal scene." Pope. The valley . . . is of quite paradisiac beauty. G. Eliot.
PARADISIAL; PARADISIAN Par`a*dis"i*al, Par`a*dis"i*an, a.
Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.]
PARADISIC Par`a*dis"ic, a.
Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.] Broome.
PARADISICAL Par`a*dis"ic*al, a.
Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.]
PARADOS Par`a*dos, n.; pl. Paradoses. Etym: [F., fr. parer to defend + dos back, L. dorsum.] (Fort.)
Defn: An intercepting mound, erected in any part of a fortification to protect the defenders from a rear or ricochet fire; a traverse. Farrow.
PARADOX Par`a*dox, n.; pl. Paradoxes. Etym: [F. paradoxe, L. paradoxum, fr. Gr. Para-, and Dogma.]
Defn: A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact. A gloss there is to color that paradox, and make it appear in show not to be altogether unreasonable. Hooker. This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. Shak. Hydrostatic paradox. See under Hydrostatic.
PARADOXAL Par"a*dox`al, a.
Defn: Paradoxical. [Obs.]
PARADOXER; PARADOXIST Par"a*dox`er, n., Par"a*dox`ist (, n.
Defn: One who proposes a paradox.
PARADOXICAL Par`a*dox"ic*al, a.
1. Of the nature of a paradox.
2. Inclined to paradoxes, or to tenets or notions contrary to received opinions. Southey. -- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ness, n.
PARADOXIDES Par`a*dox"i*des, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large trilobites characteristic of the primordial formations.
PARADOXOLOGY Par`a*dox*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Paradox + -logy.]
Defn: The use of paradoxes. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PARADOXURE Par`a*dox"ure, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Paradoxurus, a genus of Asiatic viverrine mammals allied to the civet, as the musang, and the luwack or palm cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). See Musang.
PARADOXY Par"a*dox`y, n.
1. A paradoxical statement; a paradox.
2. The quality or state of being paradoxical. Coleridge
PARAFFIN; PARAFFINE Par"af*fin, Par"af*fine, n. Etym: [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used as an illuminant and lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins.
Note: In the present chemical usage this word is spelt paraffin, but in commerce it is commonly spelt paraffine. Native paraffin. See Ozocerite. -- Paraffin series. See Methane series, under Methane.
PARAGE Par"age, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. par, adj., equal. Cf. Peerage, Peer an equal.]
1. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: Equality of condition, blood, or dignity; also, equality in the partition of an inheritance. Spelman.
2. (Feudal Law)
Defn: Equality of condition between persons holding unequal portions of a fee. Burrill.
3. Kindred; family; birth. [Obs.] Ld. Berners. We claim to be of high parage. Chaucer.
PARAGENESIS Par`a*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + genesis.] (Min.)
Defn: The science which treats of minerals with special reference to their origin.
PARAGENIC Par`a*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- the root of (Biol.)
Defn: Originating in the character of the germ, or at the first commencement of an individual; -- said of peculiarities of structure, character, etc.
PARAGLOBULIN Par`a*glob"u*lin, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + globulin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An albuminous body in blood serum, belonging to the group of globulins. See Fibrinoplastin.
PARAGLOSSA Par`a*glos"sa, n.; pl. Paraglossæ. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a pair of small appendages of the lingua or labium of certain insects. See Illust. under Hymenoptera.
PARAGNATH Par"ag*nath, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Paragnathus.
PARAGNATHOUS Pa*rag"na*thous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having both mandibles of equal length, the tips meeting, as in certain birds.
PARAGNATHUS Pa*rag"na*thus, n.; pl. Paragnathi. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Gnathic.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the two lobes which form the lower lip, or metastome, of Crustacea. (b) One of the small, horny, toothlike jaws of certain annelids.
PARAGOGE Par`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The addition of a letter or syllable to the end of a word, as withouten for without.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Coaptation. [Obs.] Dunglison.
PARAGOGIC; PARAGOGICAL Par`a*gog"ic, Par`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. paragogique.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or constituting, a paragoge; added to the end of, or serving to lengthen, a word. Paragogic letters, in the Semitic languages, letters which are added to the ordinary forms of words, to express additional emphasis, or some change in the sense.
PARAGON Par"a*gon, n. Etym: [OF. paragon, F. parangon; cf. It. paragone, Sp. paragon, parangon; prob. fr. Gr.
1. A companion; a match; an equal. [Obs.] Spenser. Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister. Sir P. Sidney.
2. Emulation; rivalry; competition. [Obs.] Full many feats adventurous Performed, in paragon of proudest men. Spenser.
3. A model or pattern; a pattern of excellence or perfection; as, a paragon of beauty or eloquence. Udall. Man, . . . the paragon of animals ! Shak. The riches of sweet Mary's son, Boy-rabbi, Israel's paragon. Emerson.
4. (Print.)
Defn: A size of type between great primer and double pica. See the Note under Type.
PARAGON Par"a*gon, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. paragonner, F. parangonner.]
1. To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. To compare with; to equal; to rival. [R.] Spenser. In arms anon to paragon the morn, The morn new rising. Glover.
3. To serve as a model for; to surpass. [Obs.] He hath achieved a maid That paragons description and wild fame. Shak.
PARAGON Par"a*gon, v. i.
Defn: To be equal; to hold comparison. [R.] Few or none could . . . paragon with her. Shelton.
PARAGONITE Pa*rag"o*nite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of mica related to muscovite, but containing soda instead of potash. It is characteristic of the paragonite schist of the Alps.
PARAGRAM Par"a*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. Paragraph.]
Defn: A pun. Puns, which he calls paragrams. Addison.
PARAGRAMMATIST Par`a*gram"ma*tist, n.
Defn: A punster.
PARAGRANDINE Pa`ra*gran"di*ne, n. Etym: [It., from parare to parry + grandine hail.]
Defn: An instrument to avert the occurrence of hailstorms. See Paragr. Knight.
PARAGRAPH Par"a*graph, n. Etym: [F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.]
1. Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character
Note: This character is merely a modification of a capital P (the initial of the word paragraph), the letter being reversed, and the black part made white and the white part black for the sake of distinctiveness.
2. A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark
3. A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.
PARAGRAPH Par"a*graph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paragraphed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paragraphing.]
1. To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character .
2. To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.
3. To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs
PARAGRAPHER Par"a*graph`er, n.
Defn: A writer of paragraphs; a paragraphist.
PARAGRAPHIC; PARAGRAPHICAL Par`a*graph"ic, Par`a*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, a paragraph or paragraphs. -- Par`a*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
PARAGRAPHIST Par"a*graph`ist, n.
Defn: A paragrapher.
PARAGRAPHISTICAL Par`a*gra*phis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a paragraphist. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
PARA GRASS Pa*ra" grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: A valuable pasture grass (Panicum barbinode) introduced into the Southern United States from Brazil.
PARAGRELE Pa`ra`grêle", n. Etym: [F., fr. parer to guard + grêle hail.]
Defn: A lightning conductor erected, as in a vineyard, for drawing off the electricity in the atmosphere in order to prevent hailstorms. [France] Knight.
PARAGUAYAN Par`a*guay"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Paraguay. -- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Paraguay.
PARAGUAY TEA Pa`ra*guay" tea".
Defn: See Mate, the leaf of the Brazilian holly.
PARAIL Par"ail, n.
Defn: See Apparel. [Obs.] "In the parail of a pilgrim." Piers Plowman.
PARAKEET Par"a*keet`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Parrakeet.
PARAKITE Par"a*kite`, n. [Para- + kite.]
Defn: A train or series of kites on one string and flying tandem, used for attaining great heights and for sending up instruments for meteorological observations or a man for military reconnoissance; also, a kite of such a train.
PARALACTIC Par`a*lac"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + lactic.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Designating an acid called paralactic acid. See Lactic acid, under Lactic.
PARALBUMIN Par`al*bu"min, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A proteidlike body found in the fluid from ovarian cysts and elsewhere. It is generally associated with a substance related to, if not identical with, glycogen.
PARALDEHYDE Par*al"de*hyde, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + aldehyde.] (Chem.)
Defn: A polymeric modification of aldehyde obtained as a white crystalline substance.
PARALEIPSIS Par`a*leip"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, "I do not speak of my adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice." [Written also paralepsis, paralepsy, paralipsis.]
PARALEPSIS Par`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Paraleipsis.
PARALGESIA Par`al*ge"si*a, n. [NL.; para-+ Gr. 'a`lghsis sense of pain.] (Med.)
Defn: Disordered sensibility to pain, including absence of sensibility to pain, excessive sensibility to pain, and abnormal painful results of stimuli. -- Par`al*ge"sic (#), a.
PARALIAN Pa*ra"li*an, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A dweller by the sea. [R.]
PARALIPOMENON Par`a*li*pom"e*non, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. paraleipome`nwn of things omitted, pass. p. pr. (neuter genitive plural) fr.
Defn: A title given in the Douay Bible to the Books of Chronicles.
Note: In the Septuagint these books are called Paraleipome`nwn prw on and dey`teron, which is understood, after Jerome's explanation, as meaning that they are supplementary to the Books of Kings W. Smith.
PARALIPSIS Par`a*lip"sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Paraleipsis.
PARALLACTIC; PARALLACTICAL Par`al*lac"tic, Par`al*lac"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. parallactique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parallax.
PARALLAX Par"al*lax, n. Etym: [Gr. parallaxe. Cf. Parallel.]
1. The apparent displacement, or difference of position, of an object, as seen from two different stations, or points of view.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The apparent difference in position of a body (as the sun, or a star) as seen from some point on the earth's surface, and as seen from some other conventional point, as the earth's center or the sun. Annual parallax, the greatest value of the heliocentric parallax, or the greatest annual apparent change of place of a body as seen from the earth and sun; as, the annual parallax of a fixed star. -- Binocular parallax, the apparent difference in position of an object as seen separately by one eye, and then by the other, the head remaining unmoved. -- Diurnal, or Geocentric, parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the earth's center. This is the kind of parallax that is generally understood when the term is used without qualification. -- Heliocentric parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the sun, or the angle subtended at the body by lines drawn from it to the earth and sun; as, the heliocentric parallax of a planet. -- Horizontal parallax, the geocentric parallx of a heavenly body when in the horizon, or the angle subtended at the body by the earth's radius. -- Optical parallax, the apparent displacement in position undergone by an object when viewed by either eye singly. Brande & C. -- Parallax of the cross wires (of an optical instrument), their apparent displacement when the eye changes its position, caused by their not being exactly in the focus of the object glass. -- Stellar parallax, the annual parallax of a fixed star.
PARALLEL Par"al*lel, a. Etym: [F. parallèle, L. parallelus, fr. Gr. alius. See Allien.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes. Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial. Hakluyt.
Note: Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel when they are in all parts equally distant.
2. Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; -- used with to and with. When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished. Addison.
3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage. Addison. Parallel bar. (a) (Steam Eng.) A rod in a parallel motion which is parallel with the working beam. (b) One of a pair of bars raised about five feet above the floor or ground, and parallel to each other, -- used for gymnastic exercises. -- Parallel circles of a sphere, those circles of the sphere whose planes are parallel to each other. -- Parallel columns, or Parallels (Printing), two or more passages of reading matter printed side by side, for the purpose of emphasizing the similarity or discrepancy between them. -- Parallel forces (Mech.), forces which act in directions parallel to each other. -- Parallel motion. (a) (Mach.) A jointed system of links, rods, or bars, by which the motion of a reciprocating piece, as a piston rod, may be guided, either approximately or exactly in a straight line. Rankine. (b) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more parts at fixed intervals, as thirds or sixths. -- Parallel rod (Locomotive Eng.), a metal rod that connects the crank pins of two or more driving wheels; -- called also couping rod, in distinction from the connecting rod. See Illust. of Locomotive, in App. -- Parallel ruler, an instrument for drawing parallel lines, so constructed as to have the successive positions of the ruling edge parallel to each other; also, one consisting of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are always parallel. -- Parallel sailing (Naut.), sailing on a parallel of latitude. -- Parallel sphere (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole. -- Parallel vise, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain parallel in all positions.
PARALLEL Par"al*lel, n.
1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc. Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line Pope.
2. Direction conformable to that of another line, Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth.
3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity. Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. Swift.
4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.
5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart. None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope.
6. (Geog.)
Defn: One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth, parallel to the equator, marking the latitude; also, the corresponding line on a globe or map.
7. (Mil.)
Defn: One of a series of long trenches constructed before a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the fortress.
8. (Print.)
Defn: A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines (thus, ) used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page. Limiting parallels. See under Limit, v. t. -- Parallel of altitude (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar. -- Parallel of declination (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator. -- Parallel of latitude. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic.
PARALLEL Par"al*lel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralleled; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralleling.]
1. To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else. The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian. Sir T. Browne.
2. Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, or the like. His life is paralleled Even with the stroke and line of his great justice. Shak.
3. To equal; to match; to correspond to. Shak.
4. To produce or adduce as a parallel. [R.] Locke. My young remembrance can not parallel A fellow to it. Shak.
PARALLEL Par"al*lel, v. i.
Defn: To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [Obs.] Bacon.
PARALLELABLE Par"al*lel`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being paralleled, or equaled. [R.] Bp. Hall.
PARALLELISM Par"al*lel*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélisme.]
1. The quality or state of being parallel.
2. Resemblance; correspondence; similarity. A close parallelism of thought and incident. T. Warton.
3. Similarity of construction or meaning of clauses placed side by side, especially clauses expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, as is common in Hebrew poetry; e. g.: -- At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Judg. v. 27.
PARALLELISTIC Par`al*lel*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a parallelism; involving parallelism. The antithetic or parallelistic form of Hebrew poetry is entirely lost. Milman.
PARALLELIZE Par"al*lel*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render parallel. [R.]
PARALLELLESS Par"al*lel*less, a.
Defn: Matchless. [R.]
PARALLELLY Par"al*lel*ly, adv.
Defn: In a parallel manner; with parallelism. [R.] Dr. H. More.
PARALLELOGRAM Par`al*lel"o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélogramme. See Parallel, and - gram.] (Geom.)
Defn: A right-lined quadrilateral figure, whose opposite sides are parallel, and consequently equal; -- sometimes restricted in popular usage to a rectangle, or quadrilateral figure which is longer than it is broad, and with right angles. Parallelogram of velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc. (Mech.), a parallelogram the diagonal of which represents the resultant of two velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., both in quantity and direction, when the velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., are represented in quantity and direction by the two adjacent sides of the parallelogram.
PARALLELOGRAMMATIC Par`al*lel`o*gram*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parallelogram; parallelogrammic.
PARALLELOGRAMMIC; PARALLELOGRAMMICAL Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic, Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic*al, a.
Defn: Having the properties of a parallelogram. [R.]
PARALLELOPIPED Par`al*lel`o*pi"ped, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélopipède.] (Geom.)
Defn: A solid, the faces of which are six parallelograms, the opposite pairs being parallel, and equal to each other; a prism whose base is a parallelogram.
PARALLELOPIPEDON Par`al*lel`o*pip"e*don, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A parallelopiped. Hutton.
PARALLEL STANDARDS Parallel standards. (Numismatics)
Defn: Two or more metals coined without any attempt by the government to regulate their values.
PARALLEL SULCUS Parallel sulcus. (Anat.)
Defn: A sulcus parallel to, but some distance below, the horizontal limb of the fissure of Sylvius.
PARALLEL TRANSFORMER Parallel transformer. (Elec.)
Defn: A transformer connected in parallel.
PARALLEL VISE Parallel vise.
Defn: A vise with jaws so guided as to remain parallel.
PARALOGICAL Par`a*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Containing paralogism; illogical. "Paralogical doubt." Sir T. Browne.
PARALOGISM Pa*ral"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. paralogisme.] (Logic)
Defn: A reasoning which is false in point of form, that is, which is contrary to logical rules or formulæ; a formal fallacy, or pseudo- syllogism, in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises.
PARALOGIZE Pa*ral"o*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paralogized; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralogizing.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To reason falsely; to draw conclusions not warranted by the premises. [R.]
PARALOGY Pa*ral"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: False reasoning; paralogism.
PARALYSE Par"a*lyse, v. t.
Defn: Same as Paralyze.
PARALYSIS Pa*ral"y*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Para-, and Loose, and cf. Palsy.] (Med.)
Defn: Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; esp., the loss of the power of voluntary motion, with or without that of sensation, in any part of the body; palsy. See Hemiplegia, and Paraplegia. Also used figuratively. "Utter paralysis of memory." G. Eliot. Mischievous practices arising out of the paralysis of the powers of ownership. Duke of Argyll (1887).
PARALYTIC Par`a*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [L. paralyticus, Gr. paralytique.]
1. Of or pertaining to paralysis; resembling paralysis.
2. Affected with paralysis, or palsy. The cold, shaking, paralytic hand. Prior.
3. Inclined or tending to paralysis. Paralytic secretion (Physiol.), the fluid, generally thin and watery, secreted from a gland after section or paralysis of its nerves, as the pralytic saliva.
PARALYTIC Par`a*lyt"ic, n.
Defn: A person affected with paralysis.
PARALYTICAL Par`a*lyt"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Paralytic.
PARALYZATION Par`a*ly*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of paralyzing, or the state of being paralyzed.
PARALYZE Par"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralyzing.] Etym: [F. paralyser. See Paralysis.]
1. To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.
2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency paralyzed his efforts.
PARAM Par"am, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C2H4N4); -- called also dicyandiamide.
PARAMAGNETIC Par`a*mag*net"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + magnetic.]
Defn: Magnetic, as opposed to Ant: diamagnetic. -- n.
Defn: A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. -- Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
PARAMAGNETISM Par`a*mag"net*ism, n.
Defn: Magnetism, as opposed to diamagnetism. Faraday.
PARAMALEIC Par`a*ma*le"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + maleic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called fumaric acid. [Obs.]
PARAMALIC Par`a*ma"lic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + malic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.
PARAMASTOID Par`a*mas"toid, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + mastoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone; paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.
PARAMATTA Par`a*mat"ta, n. Etym: [So named from Paramatta, in Australia.]
Defn: A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck (Draper's Dict.)
PARAMENT Par"a*ment, n. Etym: [Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare.]
Defn: Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.] Lords in paraments on their coursers. Chaucer. Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.
PARAMENTO Pa`ra*men"to, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl.
PARAMERE Par"a*mere, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + -mere.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish.
PARAMETER Pa*ram"e*ter, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramètre.]
1. (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) Specifically (Conic Sections), in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.
Note: The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species.
PARAMETRITIS Par`a*me*tri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Metritis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus.
PARAMIOGRAPHER Par`a*mi*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph + -er.]
Defn: A collector or writer of proverbs. [R.]
PARAMITOME Par`a*mi"tome, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + mitome.] (Biol.)
Defn: The fluid portion of the protoplasm of a cell.
PARAMO Pa"ra*mo, n.; pl. Paramos. Etym: [Sp. pæramo.]
Defn: A high, bleak plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere, as in the Andes, in South America.
PARAMORPH Par"a*morph, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite.
PARAMORPHISM Par`a*mor"phism, n. (Min.)
Defn: The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition.
PARAMORPHOUS Par`a*mor"phous, a. (Min.)
Defn: Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting paramorphism.
PARAMOUNT Par"a*mount, a. Etym: [OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) + amont above. See Amount.]
Defn: Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preëminent; as, a paramount duty. "A traitor paramount." Bacon. Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. -- Lord paramount, the king.
Syn. Superior; principal; preëminent; chief.
PARAMOUNT Par"a*mount, n.
Defn: The highest or chief. Milton.
PARAMOUNTLY Par"a*mount`ly, adv.
Defn: In a paramount manner.
PARAMOUR Par"a*mour, n. Etym: [F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour.]
1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman. The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour Macaulay.
2. Love; gallantry. [Obs.] "For paramour and jollity." Chaucer.
PARAMOUR; PARAMOURS Par"a*mour`, Par"a*mours`, adv.
Defn: By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [Obs.] For par amour, I loved her first ere thou. Chaucer.
PARAMYLUM Par*am"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance resembling starch, found in the green frothy scum formed on the surface of stagnant water.
PARANAPHTHALENE Par`a*naph"tha*lene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + naphthalene.] (Chem.)
Defn: Anthracene; -- called also paranaphthaline. [Obs.]
PARANOIA Par`a*noi"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Mental derangement; insanity.
PARANOIAC Par`a*noi"ac, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to paranoia; affected with, or characteristic of, paranoia.
PARANOIAC Par`a*noi"ac, n.
Defn: A person affected with paranoia.
PARANTHRACENE Par*an"thra*cene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + anthracene.] (Chem.)
Defn: An inert isomeric modification of anthracene.
PARANUCLEUS Par`a*nu"cle*us, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + nucleus.] (Biol.)
Defn: Some as Nucleolus.
PARA NUT Pa*ra" nut`. (Bot.)
Defn: The Brazil nut.
PARANYMPH Par"a*nymph, n. Etym: [L. paranymphus, Gr. paranymphe.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.) (a) A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride. Milton. (b) The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom.
2. Hence: An ally; a supporter or abettor. Jer. Taylor.
PARANYMPHAL Par`a*nym"phal, a.
Defn: Bridal; nuptial. [R.] At some paranymphal feast. Ford.
PARAPECTIN Par`a*pec"tin, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + pectin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A gelatinous modification of pectin.
PARAPEGM Par"a*pegm, n. Etym: [L. parapegma, Gr. parapegme.]
Defn: An engraved tablet, usually of brass, set up in a public place.
Note: Parapegms were used for the publication of laws, proclamations, etc., and the recording of astronomical phenomena or calendar events.
PARAPEPTONE Par`a*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + peptone.] (Phisiol. Chem.)
Defn: An albuminous body formed in small quantity by the peptic digestion of proteids. It can be converted into peptone by pancreatic juice, but not by gastric juice.
PARAPET Par"a*pet, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. parapetto, fr. parare to ward off, guard (L. parare to prepare, provide) + petto the breast, L. pectus. See Parry, and Pectoral.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A low wall, especially one serving to protect the edge of a platform, roof, bridge, or the like.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: A wall, rampart, or elevation of earth, for covering soldiers from an enemy's fire; a breastwork. See Illust. of Casemate.
PARAPETALOUS Par`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Growing by the side of a petal, as a stamen.
PARAPETED Par"a*pet`ed, a.
Defn: Having a parapet.
PARAPH Par"aph, n. Etym: [F. paraphe, parafe, contr. fr. paragraphe.]
Defn: A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery. Brande & C.
PARAPH Par"aph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphing.] Etym: [Cf. F. parapher, parafer.]
Defn: To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.
PARAPHERNA Par`a*pher"na, n. pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: The property of a woman which, on her marriage, was not made a part of her dower, but remained her own.
PARAPHERNAL Par`a*pher"nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. paraphernal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to paraphernalia; as, paraphernal property. Kent.
PARAPHERNALIA Par`a*pher*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [LL. paraphernalia bona, fr. L. parapherna, pl., parapherna, Gr. fe`rein to bring. See 1st Bear.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree.
2. Appendages; ornaments; finery; equipments.
PARAPHIMOSIS Par`a*phi*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A condition in which the prepuce, after being retracted behind the glans penis, is constricted there, and can not be brought forward into place again.
PARAPHOSPHORIC Par`a*phos*phor"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + phosphoric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pyrophosphoric. [Obs.]
PARAPHRAGMA Par`a*phrag"ma, n.; pl. Paraphragmata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the outer divisions of an endosternite of Crustacea. -- Par`a*phrag"mal, a.
PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, n. Etym: [L. paraphrasis, Gr. paraphrase. See Para-, and Phrase.]
Defn: A restatement of a text, passage, or work, expressing the meaning of the original in another form, generally for the sake of its clearer and fuller exposition; a setting forth the signification of a text in other and ampler terms; a free translation or rendering; -- opposed to metaphrase. In paraphrase, or translation with latitude, the author's words are not so strictly followed as his sense. Dryden. Excellent paraphrases of the Psalms of David. I. Disraeli. His sermons a living paraphrase upon his practice. Sowth. The Targums are also called the Chaldaic or Aramaic Paraphrases. Shipley.
PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphrased; p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphrasing.]
Defn: To express, interpret, or translate with latitude; to give the meaning of a passage in other language. We are put to construe and paraphrase our own words. Bp. Stillingfleet.
PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, v. i.
Defn: To make a paraphrase.
PARAPHRASER Par"a*phra`ser, n.
Defn: One who paraphrases.
PARAPHRASIAN Par`a*phra"sian, n.
Defn: A paraphraser. [R.]
PARAPHRAST Par"a*phrast, n. Etym: [L. paraphrastes, Gr. paraphraste.]
Defn: A paraphraser. T. Warton.
PARAPHRASTIC; PARAPHRASTICAL Par`a*phras"tic, Par`a*phras"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.paraphrastique.]
Defn: Paraphrasing; of the nature of paraphrase; explaining, or translating in words more clear and ample than those of the author; not literal; free. -- Par`a*phras"tic*al*ly, adv.
PARAPHYSIS Pa*raph"y*sis, n.; pl. Paraphyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A minute jointed filament growing among the archegonia and antheridia of mosses, or with the spore cases, etc., of other flowerless plants.
PARAPLEGIA; PARAPLEGY Par`a*ple"gi*a, Par"a*ple`gy, n. Etym: [NL. paraplegia, fr. Gr. paraplégie.] (Med.)
Defn: Palsy of the lower half of the body on both sides, caused usually by disease of the spinal cord. -- Par`a*pleg"ic, a.
PARAPLEURA Par`a*pleu"ra, n.; pl. Parapleuræ. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and 2d Pleura.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chitinous piece between the metasternum and the pleuron of certain insects.
PARAPODIUM Par`a*po"di*um, n.; pl. Parapodia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the lateral appendages of an annelid; -- called also foot tubercle.
Note: They may serve for locomotion, respiration, and sensation, and often contain spines or setæ. When well developed, a dorsal part, or notopodium, and a ventral part, or neuropodium, are distinguished.
PARAPOPHYSIS Par`a*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Parapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.)
Defn: The ventral transverse, or capitular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra. -- Par*ap`o*phys"ic*al, a.
PARAPTERUM Pa*rap"te*rum, n.; pl. Paraptera. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Pteron.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A special plate situated on the sides of the mesothorax and metathorax of certain insects.
PARAQUET; PARAQUITO Par`a*quet", Par`a*qui"to, n. Etym: [See Paroquet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Parrakeet.
PARA RUBBER Pará rubber.
Defn: The caoutchouc obtained from the South American euphorbiaceous tree Hevea brasiliensis, hence called the Pará rubber tree, from the Brazilian river and seaport named Pará; also, the similar product of other species of Hevea. It is usually exported in flat round cakes, and is a chief variety of commercial India rubber.
PARASANG Par"a*sang, n. Etym: [L. parasanga, Gr. farsang.]
Defn: A Persian measure of length, which, according to Herodotus and Xenophon, was thirty stadia, or somewhat more than three and a half miles. The measure varied in different times and places, and, as now used, is estimated at from three and a half to four English miles.
PARASCENIUM Par`a*sce"ni*um, n.; pl. Parascenia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Greek & Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: One of two apartments adjoining the stage, probably used as robing rooms.
PARASCEVE Par`a*sce"ve, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
1. Among the Jews, the evening before the Sabbath. [Obs.] Mark xv. 42 (Douay ver.)
2. A preparation. [R.] Donne.
PARASCHEMATIC Par`a*sche*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a change from the right form, as in the formation of a word from another by a change of termination, gender, etc. Max Müller.
PARASELENE Par`a*se*le"ne, n.; pl. Paraselenæ. Etym: [NL., from Gr. parasélène.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A mock moon; an image of the moon which sometimes appears at the point of intersection of two lunar halos. Cf. Parhelion.
PARASHAH Par"a*shah, n.; pl. -shoth (#) or -shioth (#). [Heb. parashah.]
Defn: A lesson from the Torah, or Law, from which at least one section is read in the Jewish synagogue on every Sabbath and festival.
PARASHOTH Par"a*shoth, n.;
Defn: pl. of Parashah.
PARASITA Par`a*si"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) An artificial group formerly made for parasitic insects, as lice, ticks, mites, etc. (b) A division of copepod Crustacea, having a sucking mouth, as the lerneans. They are mostly parasites on fishes. Called also Siphonostomata.
PARASITAL Par"a*si`tal, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to parasites; parasitic.
PARASITE Par"a*site, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. parasitus, Gr.
1. One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant. Thou, with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st. Milton. Parasites were called such smell-feasts as would seek to be free guests at rich men's tables. Udall.
2. (Bot.) (a) A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; -- sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte. (b) A plant living on or within an animal, and supported at its expense, as many species of fungi of the genus Torrubia.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc. (b) An animal which steals the food of another, as the parasitic jager. (c) An animal which habitually uses the nest of another, as the cowbird and the European cuckoo.
PARASITIC; PARASITICAL Par`a*sit"ic, Par`a*sit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. parasiticus, Gr. parasitique.]
1. Of the nature of a parasite; fawning for food or favors; sycophantic. "Parasitic preachers." Milton.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to parasites; living on, or deriving nourishment from, some other living animal or plant. See Parasite, 2 & 3. Parasitic gull, Parasitic jager. (Zoöl.) See Jager. -- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ness, n.
PARASITICIDE Par`a*sit"i*cide, n. Etym: [Parasite + L. caedere to kill.]
Defn: Anything used to destroy parasites. Quain.
PARASITISM Par"a*si`tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. parasitisme.]
1. The state or behavior of a parasite; the act of a parasite. "Court parasitism." Milton.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: The state of being parasitic.
PARASOL Par"a*sol`, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. or Pg. parasol, or It. parasole; It. parare to ward off, Sp. & Pg. parar (L. parare to prepare) + It. sole sun, Sp. & Pg. sol (L. sol). See Parry, Solar.]
Defn: A kind of small umbrella used by women as a protection from the sun.
PARASOL Par"a*sol`, v. t.
Defn: To shade as with a parasol. [R.]
PARASOLETTE Par`a*sol*ette", n.
Defn: A small parasol.
PARASPHENOID Par`a*sphe"noid, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + sphenoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Near the sphenoid bone; -- applied especially to a bone situated immediately beneath the sphenoid in the base of the skull in many animals. -- n.
Defn: The parasphenoid bone.
PARASTICHY Pa*ras"ti*chy, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A secondary spiral in phyllotaxy, as one of the evident spirals in a pine cone.
PARASYNAXIS Par`a*syn*ax"is, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Civil Law)
Defn: An unlawful meeting.
PARASYNTHETIC Par`a*syn*thet"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Para-, and Synthetic.]
Defn: Formed from a compound word. "Parasynthetic derivatives." Dr. Murray.
PARATACTIC Par`a*tac"tic, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Of pertaining to, or characterized by, parataxis.
PARATAXIS Par`a*tax"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: The mere ranging of propositions one after another, without indicating their connection or interdependence; -- opposed to syntax. Brande & C.
PARATHESIS Pa*rath"e*sis, n.; pl. Paratheses. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The placing of two or more nouns in the same case; apposition.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A parenthetical notice, usually of matter to be afterward expanded. Smart.
3. (Print.)
Defn: The matter contained within brackets.
4. (Eccl.)
Defn: A commendatory prayer. Shipley.
PARATHETIC Par`a*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to parathesis.
PARATONNERRE Pa`ra`ton`nerre", n. Etym: [F., fr. parer to parry + tonnerre thunderbolt.]
Defn: A conductor of lightning; a lightning rod.
PARAUNTER Par*aun"ter, adv. Etym: [Par + aunter.]
Defn: Peradventure. See Paraventure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARAUQUE Pa*rauque", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird (Nyctidromus albicollis) ranging from Texas to South America. It is allied to the night hawk and goatsucker.
PARAVAIL Par`a*vail", a. Etym: [OF. par aval below; par through (L. per) + aval down; a- (L. ad) + val (L. vallis) a valley. Cf. Paramount.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: At the bottom; lowest. Cowell.
Note: In feudal law, the tenant paravail is the lowest tenant of the fee, or he who is immediate tenant to one who holds over of another. Wharton.
PARAVANT; PARAVANT Par"a*vant`, Par"a*vant`, adv. Etym: [OF. par avant. See Par, and lst Avaunt.]
1. In front; publicly. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Beforehand; first. [Obs.] Spenser.
PARAVENTURE Par`a*ven"ture, adv. Etym: [Par + aventure.]
Defn: Peradventure; perchance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARAXANTHIN Par`a*xan"thin, n. Etym: [Pref. Para- + xanthin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline substance closely related to xanthin, present in small quantity in urine.
PARAXIAL Par*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + axial.] (Anat.)
Defn: On either side of the axis of the skeleton.
PARAXYLENE Par`a*xy"lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon of the aromatic series obtained as a colorless liquid by the distillation of camphor with zinc chloride. It is one of the three metamers of xylene. Cf. Metamer, and Xylene.
PARBOIL Par"boil`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parboiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Parboiling.] Etym: [OE. parboilen, OF. parbouillir to cook well; par through (see Par) + bouillir to boil, L. bullire. The sense has been influenced by E. part. See lst Boil.]
1. To boil or cook thoroughly. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. To boil in part; to cook partially by boiling.
PARBREAK Par"break`, v. i. & t. Etym: [Par + break.]
Defn: To throw out; to vomit. [Obs.] Skelton.
PARBREAK Par"break`, n.
Defn: Vomit. [Obs.] Spenser.
PARBUCKLE Par"buc`kle, n. (a) A kind of purchase for hoisting or lowering a cylindrical burden, as a cask. The middle of a long rope is made fast aloft, and both parts are looped around the object, which rests in the loops, and rolls in them as the ends are hauled up or payed out. (b) A double sling made of a single rope, for slinging a cask, gun, etc.
PARBUCKLE Par"buc`kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parbuckled; p. pr. & vb. n. Parbuckling.]
Defn: To hoist or lower by means of a parbuckle. Totten.
PARCAE Par"cæ, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The Fates. See Fate, 4.
PARCASE Par*case", adv. Etym: [Par + case.]
Defn: Perchance; by chance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARCEL Par"cel, n. Etym: [F. parcelle a small part, fr. (assumed) LL. particella, dim. of L. pars. See Part, n., and cf. Particle.]
1. A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a whole; a part. [Archaic] "A parcel of her woe." Chaucer. Two parcels of the white of an egg. Arbuthnot. The parcels of the nation adopted different forms of self-government. J. A. Symonds.
2. (Law)
Defn: A part; a portion; a piece; as, a certain piece of land is part and parcel of another piece.
3. An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or quantity; a collection; a group. This youthful parcel Of noble bachelors stand at my disposing. Shak.
4. A number or quantity of things put up together; a bundle; a package; a packet. 'Tis like a parcel sent you by the stage. Cowper. Bill of parcels. See under 6th Bill. -- Parcel office, an office where parcels are received for keeping or forwarding and delivery. -- Parcel post, that department of the post office concerned with the collection and transmission of parcels. -- Part and parcel. See under Part.
PARCEL Par"cel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parceled or Parcelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Parceling or Parcelling.]
1. To divide and distribute by parts or portions; -- often with out or into. "Their woes are parceled, mine are general." Shak. These ghostly kings would parcel out my power. Dryden. The broad woodland parceled into farms. Tennyson.
2. To add a parcel or item to; to itemize. [R.] That mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy. Shak.
3. To make up into a parcel; as, to parcel a customer's purchases; the machine parcels yarn, wool, etc. To parcel a rope (Naut.), to wind strips of tarred canvas tightly arround it. Totten. -- To parcel a seam (Naut.), to cover it with a strip of tarred canvas.
PARCEL Par"cel, a. & adv.
Defn: Part or half; in part; partially. Shak. [Sometimes hyphened with the word following.] The worthy dame was parcel-blind. Sir W. Scott. One that . . . was parcel-bearded [partially bearded]. Tennyson. Parcel poet, a half poet; a poor poet. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
PARCELING Par"cel*ing, n. Etym: [Written also parcelling.]
1. The act of dividing and distributing in portions or parts.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Long, narrow slips of canvas daubed with tar and wound about a rope like a bandage, before it is served; used, also, in mousing on the stayes, etc.
PARCEL-MELE Par"cel-mele`, adv. Etym: [See Parcel, and Meal a part.]
Defn: By parcels or parts. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARCEL POST Par"cel post.
Defn: That branch of the post office having to do with the collection, transmission, and delivery of parcels. The British Inland Parcel Post was established in 1883. The present rates, dating from 1897, are 3d. for parcels not exceeding one pound and 1d. for each additional pound up to the limit of 10 pounds. A general parcel post was established in the United States by Act of August 24, 1912, which took effect Jan. 1, 1913. Parcels must not exceed 11 pounds in weight nor 72 inches in length and girth combined. Provision is made from insuring parcels up to $50.00, and also for sending parcels C.O.D. The rates of postage vary with the distance. See Zone, below.
PARCENARY Par"ce*na*ry, n. Etym: [See Parcener, partner.] (Law)
Defn: The holding or occupation of an inheritable estate which descends from the ancestor to two or more persons; coheirship.
Note: It differs in many respects from joint tenancy, which is created by deed or devise. In the United States there is no essential distinction between parcenary and tenancy in common. Wharton. Kent.
PARCENER Par"ce*ner, n. Etym: [Of. paronnier, parsonnier, fr. parzon, par, parcion, part, portion, fr. L. partitio a division. See Partition, and cf. Partner.] (Law)
Defn: A coheir, or one of two or more persons to whom an estate of inheritance descends jointly, and by whom it is held as one estate.
PARCH Parch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parched; p. pr. & vb. n. Parching.] Etym: [OE. perchen to pierce, hence used of a piercing heat or cold, OF. perchier, another form of percier, F. percer. See Pierce.]
1. To burn the surface of; to scorch; to roast over the fire, as dry grain; as, to parch the skin; to parch corn. Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn. Lev. xxiii. 14.
2. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth is parched from fever. The ground below is parched. Dryden.
PARCH Parch, v. i.
Defn: To become scorched or superficially burnt; to be very dry. "Parch in Afric sun." Shak.
PARCHEDNESS Parch"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being parched.
PARCHEESI Par*chee"si, n.
Defn: See Pachisi.
PARCHESI Par*che"si, n.
Defn: See Pachisi.
PARCHING Parch"ing, a.
Defn: Scorching; burning; drying. "Summer's parching heat." Shak. -- Parch"ing*ly, adv.
PARCHMENT Parch"ment, n. Etym: [OE. parchemin, perchemin, F. parchemin, LL. pergamenum, L. pergamena, pergamina, fr. L. Pergamenus of or belonging to Pergamus an ancient city of Mysia in Asia Minor, where parchment was first used.]
1. The skin of a lamb, sheep, goat, young calf, or other animal, prepared for writing on. See Vellum. But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar. Shak.
2. The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp. Parchment paper. See Papyrine.
PARCHMENTIZE Parch"ment*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -ized; p. pr. & vb. n. -izing.]
Defn: To convert to a parchmentlike substance, esp. by sulphuric acid.
PARCITY Par"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. parcitas, fr. parcus sparing.]
Defn: Sparingless. [Obs.]
PARCLOSE Par"close, n. Etym: [OF. See Perclose.] (Eccl. Arch.)
Defn: A screen separating a chapel from the body of the church. [Written also paraclose and perclose.] Hook.
PARD Pard, n. Etym: [L. pardus, Gr. p tiger, panther.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A leopard; a panther. And more pinch-spotted make them Than pard or cat o'mountain. Shak.
PARDALE Par"dale, n. Etym: [L. pardalis, Gr. Pard.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A leopard. [Obs.] Spenser.
PARDE; PARDIE Par*de", Par*die", adv. or interj. Etym: [F. pardi, for par Dieu by God.]
Defn: Certainly; surely; truly; verily; -- originally an oath. [Written also pardee, pardieux, perdie, etc.] [Obs.] He was, parde, an old fellow of yours. Chaucer.
PARDINE Par"dine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Spotted like a pard. Pardine lynx (Zoöl.), a species of lynx (Felis pardina) inhabiting Southern Europe. Its color is rufous, spotted with black.
PARDO Par"do, n. Etym: [Pg. pardao, fr. Skr. pratapa splendor, majesty.]
Defn: A money of account in Goa, India, equivalent to about 2s. 6d. sterling. or 60 cts.
PARDON Par"don, n. Etym: [F., fr. pardonner to pardon. See Pardon, v. t.]
1. The act of pardoning; forgiveness, as of an offender, or of an offense; release from penalty; remission of punishment; absolution. Pardon, my lord, for me and for my tidings. Shak. But infinite in pardon was my judge. Milton. Used in expressing courteous denial or contradiction; as, I crave your pardon; or in indicating that one has not understood another; as, I beg pardon.
2. An official warrant of remission of penalty. Sign me a present pardon for my brother. Shak.
3. The state of being forgiven. South.
4. (Law)
Defn: A release, by a sovereign, or officer having jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being distinguished from amenesty, which is a general obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past offenses.
Syn. -- Forgiveness; remission. See Forgiveness.
PARDON Par"don, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pardoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pardoning.] Etym: [Either fr. pardon, n., or from F. pardonner, LL. perdonare; L. per through, thoroughly, perfectly + donare to give, to present. See Par-, and Donation.]
1. To absolve from the consequences of a fault or the punishment of crime; to free from penalty; -- applied to the offender. In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant. 2 Kings v. 18. I pray you, pardon me; pray heartily, pardom me. Shak.
2. To remit the penalty of; to suffer to pass without punishment; to forgive; -- applied to offenses. I pray thee, pardon my sin. 1 S Apollo, pardon My great profaneness 'gainst thine oracle Shak.
3. To refrain from exacting as a penalty. I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. Shak.
4. To give leave (of departure) to. [Obs.] Even now about it! I will pardon you. Shak. Pardon me, forgive me; excuse me; -- a phrase used also to express courteous denial or contradiction.
Syn. -- To forgive; absolve; excuse; overlook; remit; asquit. See Excuse.
PARDON; REMISSION Pardon,
Syn: remission.
Defn: -- Forgiveness, Pardon. Forgiveness is Anglo-Saxon, and pardon Norman French, both implying a giving back. The word pardon, being early used in our Bible, has, in religious matters, the same sense as forgiveness; but in the language of common life there is a difference between them, such as we often find between corresponding Anglo-Saxon and Norman words. Forgive points to inward feeling, and suppose alienated affection; when we ask forgiveness, we primarily seek the removal of anger. Pardon looks more to outward things or consequences, and is often applied to trifling matters, as when we beg pardon for interrupting a man, or for jostling him in a crowd. The civil magistrate also grants a pardon, and not forgiveness. The two words are, therefore, very clearly distinguished from each other in most cases which relate to the common concerns of life.
PARDONABLE Par"don*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pardonnable.]
Defn: Admitting of pardon; not requiring the excution of penalty; venial; excusable; -- applied to the offense or to the offender; as, a pardonable fault, or culprit.
PARDONABLENESS Par"don*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pardonable; as, the pardonableness of sin. Bp. Hall.
PARDONABLY Par"don*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner admitting of pardon; excusably. Dryden.
PARDONER Par"don*er, n.
1. One who pardons. Shak.
2. A seller of indulgences. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARDONING Par"don*ing, a.
Defn: Relating to pardon; having or exercising the right to pardon; willing to pardon; merciful; as, the pardoning power; a pardoning God.
PARE Pare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pared; p. pr. & vb. n. Paring.] Etym: [F. parer to pare, as a horse's hoofs, to dress or curry, as, leather, to clear, as anchors or cables, to parry, ward off, fr. L. parare to prepare. Cf. Empire, Parade, Pardon, Parry, Prepare.]
1. To cut off, or shave off, the superficial substance or extremities of; as, to pare an apple; to pare a horse's hoof.
2. To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin, ring, or outside part, from anything; -- followed by off or away; as; to pare off the ring of fruit; to pare away redundancies.
3. Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen. The king began to pare a little the privilege of clergy. Bacon.
PAREGORIC Par`e*gor"ic a. Etym: [L. paregoricus, Gr. parégorique. See Allegory.]
Defn: Mitigating; assuaging or soothing pain; as, paregoric elixir.
PAREGORIC Par`e*gor"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that mitigates pain; an anodyne; specifically, camphorated tincture of opium; -- called also paregoric elexir.
PARELCON Pa*rel"con, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: The addition of a syllable or particle to the end of a pronoun, verb, or adverb.
PARELECTRONOMIC Par`e*lec`tro*nom"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or relating to parelectronomy; as, the parelectronomic part of a muscle.
PARELECTRONOMY Par*e`lec*tron"o*my, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + electro- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A condition of the muscles induced by exposure to severe cold, in which the electrical action of the muscle is reversed.
PARELLA; PARELLE Pa*rel"la, Pa`relle, n. Etym: [Cf. F. parelle.] (Bot.) (a) A name for two kinds of dock (Rumex Patientia and R. Hydrolapathum). (b) A kind of lichen (Lecanora parella) once used in dyeing and in the preparation of litmus.
PAREMBOLE Pa*rem"bo*le (, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Para-, and Embolus.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A kind of parenthesis.
PAREMENT Pare"ment, n.
Defn: See Parament. [Obs.]
PAREMPTOSIS Par`emp*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
Defn: Same as Parembole.
PARENCHYMA Pa*ren"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. parenchyme.] (Biol.)
Defn: The soft celluar substance of the tissues of plants and animals, like the pulp of leaves, to soft tissue of glands, and the like.
PARENCHYMAL Pa*ren"chy*mal, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, parenchyma.
PARENCHYMATOUS; PARENCHYMOUS Par`en*chym"a*tous, Pa*ren"chy*mous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. parenchymateux.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or connected with, the parenchyma of a tissue or an organ; as, parenchymatous degeneration.
PARENESIS Pa*ren"e*sis, n. Etym: [L. paraenesis, Gr.
Defn: Exhortation. [R.]
PARENETIC; PARENETIOAL Par`e*net"ic, Par`e*net"io*al, a. Etym: [Gr. parénétique.]
Defn: Hortatory; encouraging; persuasive. [R.] F. Potter.
PARENT Par"ent, n. Etym: [L. parens, -entis; akin to parere to bring forth; cf. Gr. parent. Cf. Part.]
1. One who begets, or brings forth, offspring; a father or a mother. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. Eph. vi. 1.
2. That which produces; cause; source; author; begetter; as, idleness is the parent of vice. Regular industry is the parent of sobriety. Channing. Parent cell. (Biol.) See Mother cell, under Mother, also Cytula. -- Parent nucleus (Biol.), a nucleus which, in cell division, divides, and gives rise to two or more daughter nuclei. See Karyokinesis, and Cell division, under Division.
PARENTAGE Par"ent*age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. parentage relationship.]
Defn: Descent from parents or ancestors; parents or ancestors considered with respect to their rank or character; extraction; birth; as, a man of noble parentage. "Wilt thou deny thy parentage" Shak. Though men esteem thee low of parentage. Milton.
PARENTAL Pa*ren"tal, a. Etym: [L. parentalis.]
1. Of or pertaining to a parent or to parents; as, parental authority; parental obligations.
2. Becoming to, or characteristic of, parents; tender; affectionate; devoted; as, parental care. The careful course and parental provision of nature. Sir T. Browne.
PARENTALLY Pa*ren"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a parental manner.
PARENTATION Par`en*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. parentatio, fr. parentare to offer a solemn sacrifice in honor of deceased parents. See Parent.]
Defn: Something done or said in honor of the dead; obsequies. [Obs.] Abp. Potter.
PARENTELE Par"en`tele`, n. Etym: [F. parentèle, L. parentela.]
Defn: Kinship; parentage. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARENTHESIS Pa*ren"the*sis, n.; pl. Parentheses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Para-, En-, 2, and Thesis.]
1. A word, phrase, or sentence, by way of comment or explanation, inserted in, or attached to, a sentence which would be grammatically complete without it. It is usually inclosed within curved lines (see def. 2 below), or dashes. "Seldom mentioned without a derogatory parenthesis." Sir T. Browne. Don't suffer every occasional thought to carry you away into a long parenthesis. Watts.
2. (Print.)
Defn: One of the curved lines () which inclose a parenthetic word or phrase.
Note: Parenthesis, in technical grammar, is that part of a sentence which is inclosed within the recognized sign; but many phrases and sentences which are punctuated by commas are logically parenthetical. In def. 1, the phrase "by way of comment or explanation" is inserted for explanation, and the sentence would be grammatically complete without it. The present tendency is to avoid using the distinctive marks, except when confusion would arise from a less conspicuous separation.
PARENTHESIZE Pa*ren"the*size, v. t.
Defn: To make a parenthesis of; to include within parenthetical marks. Lowell.
PARENTHETIC; PARENTHETICAL Par`en*thet"ic, Par`en*thet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. Gr.
1. Of the nature of a parenthesis; pertaining to, or expressed in, or as in, a parenthesis; as, a parenthetical clause; a parenthetic remark. A parenthetical observation of Moses himself. Hales.
2. Using or containing parentheses.
PARENTHETICALLY Par`en*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a parenthetical manner; by way of parenthesis; by parentheses.
PARENTHOOD Par"ent*hood, n.
Defn: The state of a parent; the office or character of a parent.
PARENTICIDE Pa*ren"ti*cide, n. Etym: [L. parenticida a parricide; parens parent + caedere to kill.]
1. The act of one who kills one's own parent. [R.]
2. One who kills one's own parent; a parricide. [R.]
PARENTLESS Par"ent*less, a.
Defn: Deprived of parents.
PAREPIDIDYMIS Par*ep`i*did"y*mis, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Epididymis.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small body containing convoluted tubules, situated near the epididymis in man and some other animals, and supposed to be a remnant of the anterior part of the Wolffian body.
PARER Par"er, n. Etym: [From Pare, v. t.]
Defn: One who, or that which, pares; an instrument for paring.
PARERGON Pa*rer"gon, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Parergy.
PARERGY Par"er*gy, n. Etym: [L. parergon, Gr.
Defn: Something unimportant, incidental, or superfluous. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PARESIS Par"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Incomplete paralysis, affecting motion but not sensation.
PARETHMOID Par*eth"moid, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + ethmoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Near or beside the ethmoid bone or cartilage; -- applied especially to a pair of bones in the nasal region of some fishes, and to the ethmoturbinals in some higher animals. -- n.
Defn: A parethmoid bone.
PARETIC Pa*ret"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to paresis; affected with paresis.
PARFAY Par*fay", interj. Etym: [Par + fay.]
Defn: By my faith; verily. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARFIT Par"fit, a.
Defn: Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARFITLY Par"fit*ly, adv.
Defn: Perfectly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARFLECHE Par*fleche", n. [Prob. through Canadian F. fr. Amer. Indian.]
Defn: A kind of rawhide consisting of hide, esp. of the buffalo, which has been soaked in crude wood-ash lye to remove the hairs, and then dried.
PARFOCAL Par*fo"cal, a. [Pari- + focal.] (Opt.)
Defn: With the lower focal points all in the same plane; -- said of sets of eyepieces so mounted that they may be interchanged without varying the focus of the instrument (as a microscope or telescope) with which they are used.
PARFORN; PARFOURN Par*forn", Par*fourn", v. t.
Defn: To perform. [Obs.] Chaucer. Piers Plowman.
PARGASITE Par"gas*ite, n. Etym: [So called from Pargas, in Finland.] (Min.)
Defn: A dark green aluminous variety of amphibole, or hornblende.
PARGEBOARD Parge"board`, n.
Defn: See Bargeboard.
PARGET Par"get, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pargeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pargeting.] Etym: [OE. pargeten, also spargeten, sparchen; of uncertain origin.]
1. To coat with parget; to plaster, as walls, or the interior of flues; as, to parget the outside of their houses. Sir T. Herbert. The pargeted ceiling with pendants. R. L. Stevenson.
2. To paint; to cover over. [Obs.]
PARGET Par"get, v. i.
1. To lay on plaster.
2. To paint, as the face. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
PARGET Par"get, n.
1. Gypsum or plaster stone.
2. Plaster, as for lining the interior of flues, or for stuccowork. Knight.
3. Paint, especially for the face. [Obs.] Drayton.
PARGETER Par"get*er, n.
Defn: A plasterer. Johnson.
PARGETING Par"get*ing, n. Etym: [Written also pargetting.]
Defn: Plasterwork; esp.: (a) A kind of decorative plasterwork in raised ornamental figures, formerly used for the internal and external decoration of houses. (b) In modern architecture, the plastering of the inside of flues, intended to give a smooth surface and help the draught.
PARGETORY Par"get*o*ry, n.
Defn: Something made of, or covered with, parget, or plaster. [Obs.] Milton.
PARHELIC Par*he"lic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to parhelia.
PARHELION Par*hel"ion, n.; pl. Parhelia. Etym: [L. parelion, Gr.
Defn: A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called an anthelion. Often several mock suns appear at the same time. Cf. Paraselene.
PARHELIUM Par*he"li*um, n.
Defn: See Parhelion.
PARI- Par"i-. Etym: [L. par, paris, equal.]
Defn: A combining form signifying equal; as, paridigitate, paripinnate.
PARIAH Pa"ri*ah, n. Etym: [From Tamil paraiyan, pl. paraiyar, one of the low caste, fr. parai a large drum, because they beat the drums at certain festivals.]
1. One of an aboriginal people of Southern India, regarded by the four castes of the Hindoos as of very low grade. They are usually the serfs of the Sudra agriculturalists. See Caste. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
2. An outcast; one despised by society. Pariah dog (Zoöl.), a mongrel race of half-wild dogs which act as scavengers in Oriental cities. -- Pariah kite (Zoöl.), a species of kite (Milvus govinda) which acts as a scavenger in India.
PARIAL Pa*ri"al, n.
Defn: See Pair royal, under Pair, n.
PARIAN Pa"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Parius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Paros, an island in the Ægean Sea noted for its excellent statuary marble; as, Parian marble. Parian chronicle, a most ancient chronicle of the city of Athens, engraved on marble in the Isle of Paros, now among the Arundelian marbles.
PARIAN Pa"ri*an, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Paros.
2. A ceramic ware, resembling unglazed porcelain biscuit, of which are made statuettes, ornaments, etc.
PARIDIGITATA Par`i*dig`i*ta"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pari-, and Digitate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Artiodactyla.
PARIDIGITATE Par`i*dig"i*tate, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Having an evennumber of digits on the hands or the feet. Qwen.
PARIES Pa"ri*es, n.; pl. Parietes. Etym: [See Parietes.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The triangular middle part of each segment of the shell of a barnacle.
PARIETAL Pa*ri"e*tal, a. Etym: [L. parietalis, fr. paries, -ietis, a wall: cf. F. pariétal. Cf. Parietary, Pellitory.]
1. Of or pertaining to a wall; hence, pertaining to buildings or the care of them.
2. Resident within the walls or buildings of a college. At Harvard College, the officers resident within the college walls constitute a permanent standing committee, called the Parietal Committee. B. H. Hall (1856).
3. (Anat.) (a) Of pertaining to the parietes. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the parietal bones, which form the upper and middle part of the cranium, between the frontals and occipitals.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Attached to the main wall of the ovary, and not to the axis; -- said of a placenta.
PARIETAL Pa*ri"e*tal, n.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the parietal bones.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the special scales, or plates, covering the back of the head in certain reptiles and fishes.
PARIETARY Pa*ri"e*ta*ry, a.
Defn: See Parietal, 2.
PARIETARY Pa*ri"e*ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. parietaria, fr. parietarius parietal. Cf. Pellitory, Parietal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Parietaria. See 1st Pellitory.
PARIETES Pa*ri"e*tes, n. pl. Etym: [L. paries a wall.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The walls of a cavity or an organ; as, the abdominal parietes; the parietes of the cranium.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The sides of an ovary or of a capsule.
PARIETIC Pa`ri*et"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in the lichen Parmelia parietina, and called also chrysophanic acid.
PARIETINE Pa*ri"e*tine, n. Etym: [L. parietinus parietal: cf. parietinae ruined walls.]
Defn: A piece of a fallen wall; a ruin. [Obs.] Burton.
PARIETO- Pa*ri"e*to- (. (Anat.)
Defn: A combining form used to indicate connection with, or relation to, the parietal bones or the parietal segment of the skull; as, the parieto-mastoid suture.
PARIGENIN Pa*rig"e*nin, n. Etym: [Parillin + -gen + -in.] (Chem.)
Defn: A curdy white substance, obtained by the decomposition of parillin.
PARILLIN Pa*ril"lin, n. Etym: [Shortened fr. sarsaparillin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside resembling saponin, found in the root of sarsaparilla, smilax, etc., and extracted as a bitter white crystalline substance; -- called also smilacin, sarsaparilla saponin, and sarsaparillin.
PARING Par"ing, n. Etym: [From Pare, v. t.]
1. The act of cutting off the surface or extremites of anything.
2. That which is pared off. Pope. Pare off the surface of the earth, and with the parings raise your hills. Mortimer.
PARIPINNATE Par`i*pin"nate, a. Etym: [Pari- + pinnate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pinnate with an equal number of leaflets on each side; having no odd leaflet at the end.
PARIS Par"is, n. Etym: [From Paris, the son of Priam.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant common in Europe (Paris quadrifolia); herb Paris; truelove. It has been used as a narcotic.
Note: It much resembles the American genus Trillium, but has usually four leaves and a tetramerous flower.
PARIS Par"is, n.
Defn: The chief city of France. Paris green. See under Green, n. -- Paris white (Chem.), purified chalk used as a pigment; whiting; Spanish white.
PARISH Par"ish, n. Etym: [OE. parishe, paresche, parosche, OF. paroisse, parosse, paroiche, F. paroisse, L. parochia, corrupted fr. paroecia, Gr. vicus village. See Vicinity, and cf. Parochial.]
1. (Eccl. & Eng. Law) (a) That circuit of ground committed to the charge of one parson or vicar, or other minister having cure of souls therein. Cowell. (b) The same district, constituting a civil jurisdiction, with its own officers and regulations, as respects the poor, taxes, etc.
Note: Populous and extensive parishes are now divided, under various parliamentary acts, into smaller ecclesiastical districts for spiritual purposes. Mozley & W.
2. An ecclesiastical society, usually not bounded by territorial limits, but composed of those persons who choose to unite under the charge of a particular priest, clergyman, or minister; also, loosely, the territory in which the members of a congregation live. [U. S.]
3. In Louisiana, a civil division corresponding to a county in other States.
PARISH Par"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parish; parochial; as, a parish church; parish records; a parish priest; maintained by the parish; as, parish poor. Dryden. Parish clerk. (a) The clerk or recording officer of a parish. (b) A layman who leads in the responses and otherwise assists in the service of the Church of England. -- Parish court, in Louisiana, a court in each parish.
PARISHEN Par"ish*en, n.
Defn: A parishioner. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARISHIONAL Pa*rish"ion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parish; parochial. [R.] Bp. Hall.
PARISHIONER Pa*rish"ion*er, n. Etym: [F. paroissien, LL. parochianus.]
Defn: One who belongs to, or is connected with, a parish.
PARISIAN Pa*ri"sian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. parisen.]
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Paris, the capital of France.
PARISIAN Pa*ri"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Paris.
PARISIENNE Pa`ri`si`enne", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A female native or resident of Paris.
PARISOLOGY Par`i*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The use of equivocal or ambiguous words. [R.]
PARISYLLABIC; PARISYLLABICAL Par`i*syl*lab"ic, Par`i*syl*lab"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pari- + syllabic, - ical: cf. F. parisyllabique.]
Defn: Having the same number of syllables in all its inflections.
PARITOR Par"i*tor, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. apparitor: cf. L. paritor a servant, attendant.]
Defn: An apparitor. "Summoned by an host of paritors." Dryden.
PARITORY Par"i*to*ry, n.
Defn: Pellitory. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARITY Par"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. paritas, fr. par, paris, equal: cf. F. parité. See Pair, Peer an equal.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being equal or equivalent; A like state or degree; equality; close correspondence; analogy; as, parity of reasoning. "No parity of principle." De Quincey. Equality of length and parity of numeration. Sir T. Browne.
PARK Park, n. Etym: [AS. pearroc, or perh. rather fr. F. parc; both being of the same origin; cf. LL. parcus, parricus, Ir. & Gael. pairc, W. park, parwg. Cf. Paddock an inclosure, Parrock.]
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A piece of ground inclosed, and stored with beasts of the chase, which a man may have by prescription, or the king's grant. Mozley & W.
2. A tract of ground kept in its natural state, about or adjacent to a residence, as for the preservation of game, for walking, riding, or the like. Chaucer. While in the park I sing, the listening deer Attend my passion, and forget to fear. Waller.
3. A piece of ground, in or near a city or town, inclosed and kept for ornament and recreation; as, Hyde Park in London; Central Park in New York.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: A space occupied by the animals, wagons, pontoons, and materials of all kinds, as ammunition, ordnance stores, hospital stores, provisions, etc., when brought together; also, the objects themselves; as, a park of wagons; a park of artillery.
5. A partially inclosed basin in which oysters are grown. [Written also parc.] Park of artillery. See under Artillery. -- Park phaeton, a small, low carriage, for use in parks.
PARK Park, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parked; p. pr. & vb. n. Parking.]
1. To inclose in a park, or as in a park. How are we parked, and bounded in a pale. Shak.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To bring together in a park, or compact body; as, to park the artillery, the wagons, etc.
PARKA; PARKEE Par"ka, Par"kee, n. [Russ. parka, parki, dim. of para a pair, fr. G. paar, L. par. Cf. Pair.]
Defn: An outer garment made of the skins of birds or mammals, worn by Eskimos, etc.
PARKER Park"er, n
Defn: , The keeper of a park. Sir M. Hale.
PARKERIA Par*ke"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. So named from W. K. Parker, a British zoölogist.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large arenaceous fossil Foraminifera found in the Cretaceous rocks. The species are globular, or nearly so, and are of all sizes up to that of a tennis ball.
PARKESINE Parkes"ine, n. Etym: [So called from Mr. Parkes, the inventor.]
Defn: A compound, originally made from gun cotton and castor oil, but later from different materials, and used as a substitute for vulcanized India rubber and for ivory; -- called also xylotile.
PARKLEAVES Park"leaves`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A European species of Saint John's-wort; the tutsan. See Tutsan.
PARLANCE Par"lance, n. Etym: [OF., fr. F. parler to speak. See Parley.]
Defn: Conversation; discourse; talk; diction; phrase; as, in legal parlance; in common parlance. A hate of gossip parlance and of sway. Tennyson.
PARLANDO; PARLANTE Par*lan"do, Par*lan"te, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Speaking; in a speaking or declamatory manner; to be sung or played in the style of a recitative.
PARLE Parle, v. i. Etym: [F. parler. See Parley.]
Defn: To talk; to converse; to parley. [Obs.] Shak. Finding himself too weak, began to parle. Milton.
PARLE Parle, n.
Defn: Conversation; talk; parley. [Obs.] They ended parle, and both addressed for fight. Milton.
PARLEY Par"ley, n.; pl. Parleys. Etym: [F. parler speech, talk, fr. parler to speak, LL. parabolare, fr. L. parabola a comparison, parable, in LL., a word. See Parable, and cf. Parliament, Parlor.]
Defn: Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce. We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain. Dryden. To beat a parley (Mil.), to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.
PARLEY Par"ley, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Parleyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Parleying.]
Defn: To speak with another; to confer on some point of mutual concern; to discuss orally; hence, specifically, to confer orally with an enemy; to treat with him by words, as on an exchange of prisoners, an armistice, or terms of peace. They are at hand, To parley or to fight; therefore prepare. Shak.
PARLIAMENT Par"lia*ment, n. Etym: [OE. parlement, F. parlement, fr. parler to speak; cf. LL. parlamentum, parliamentum. See Parley.]
1. A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [Obs.] But first they held their parliament. Rom. of R.
2. A formal conference on public affairs; a general council; esp., an assembly of representatives of a nation or people having authority to make laws. They made request that it might be lawful for them to summon a parliament of Gauls. Golding.
3. The assembly of the three estates of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, viz., the lords spiritual, lords temporal, and the representatives of the commons, sitting in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, constituting the legislature, when summoned by the royal authority to consult on the affairs of the nation, and to enact and repeal laws.
Note: Thought the sovereign is a constituting branch of Parliament, the word is generally used to denote the three estates named above.
4. In France, before the Revolution of 1789, one of the several principal judicial courts. Parliament heel, the inclination of a ship when made to careen by shifting her cargo or ballast. -- Parliament hinge (Arch.), a hinge with so great a projection from the wall or frame as to allow a door or shutter to swing back flat against the wall. -- Long Parliament, Rump Parliament. See under Long, and Rump.
PARLIAMENTAL Par`lia*men"tal, a.
Defn: Parliamentary. [Obs.]
PARLIAMENTARIAN Par`lia*men*ta"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Parliament. Wood.
PARLIAMENTARIAN Par`lia*men*ta"ri*an, n.
1. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: One who adhered to the Parliament, in opposition to King Charles I. Walpole.
2. One versed in the rules and usages of Parliament or similar deliberative assemblies; as, an accomplished parliamentarian.
PARLIAMENTARILY Par`lia*men"ta*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a parliamentary manner.
PARLIAMENTARY Par`lia*men"ta*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. parlementaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to Parliament; as, parliamentary authority. Bacon.
2. Enacted or done by Parliament; as, a parliamentary act. Sir M. Hale.
3. According to the rules and usages of Parliament or of deliberative bodies; as, a parliamentary motion. Parliamentary agent, a person, usually a solicitor, professionally employed by private parties to explain and recommend claims, bills, etc., under consideration of Parliament. [Eng.] -- Parliamentary train, one of the trains which, by act of Parliament, railway companies are required to run for the conveyance of third-class passengers at a reduced rate. [Eng.]
PARLOR Par"lor, n. Etym: [OE. parlour, parlur, F. parloir, LL. parlatorium. See Parley.] [Written also parlour.]
Defn: A room for business or social conversation, for the reception of guests, etc. Specifically: (a) The apartment in a monastery or nunnery where the inmates are permitted to meet and converse with each other, or with visitors and friends from without. Piers Plowman. (b) In large private houses, a sitting room for the family and for familiar guests, -- a room for less formal uses than the drawing- room. Esp., in modern times, the dining room of a house having few apartments, as a London house, where the dining parlor is usually on the ground floor. (c) Commonly, in the United States, a drawing-room, or the room where visitors are received and entertained.
Note: "In England people who have a drawing-room no longer call it a parlor, as they called it of old and till recently." Fitzed. Hall. Parior car. See Palace car, under Car.
PARLOR MATCH Par"lor match`.
Defn: A friction match that contains little or no sulphur.
PARLOUS Par"lous, a. Etym: [For perlous, a contr. fr. perilous.]
1. Attended with peril; dangerous; as, a parlous cough. [Archaic] "A parlous snuffing." Beau. & Fl.
2. Venturesome; bold; mischievous; keen. [Obs.] "A parlous boy." Shak. "A parlous wit." Dryden. -- Par"lous*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Par"lous*ness, n. [Obs.]
PARMESAN Par`me*san", a. Etym: [F. parmesan, It. parmigiano.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Parma in Italy. Parmesan cheese, a kind of cheese of a rich flavor, though from skimmed milk, made in Parma, Italy.
PARNASSIA Par*nas"si*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbs growing in wet places, and having white flowers; grass of Parnassus.
PARNASSIAN Par*nas"sian, a. Etym: [L. Parnassius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Parnassus.
PARNASSIAN Par*nas"sian, n. Etym: [See Parnassus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of butterflies belonging to the genus Parnassius. They inhabit the mountains, both in the Old World and in America.
PARNASSIEN Par`nas`si`en", n. [F.]
Defn: Same as Parnassian.
PARNASSUS Par*nas"sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anc. Geog. & Gr. Myth.)
Defn: A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring. Grass of Parnassus. (Bot.) See under Grass, and Parnassia. -- To climb Parnassus, to write poetry. [Colloq.]
PARNELLISM Par"nell*ism, n. (Eng. Politics)
Defn: The policy or principles of the Parnellites.
PARNELLITE Par"nell*ite, n. (Eng. Politics)
Defn: One of the adherents of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-91) in his advocacy of home rule for Ireland.
PAROCCIPITAL Par`oc*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + occipital.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated near or beside the occipital condyle or the occipital bone; paramastoid; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.
PAROCHIAL Pa*ro"chi*al, a. Etym: [LL. parochialis, from L. parochia. See Parish.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parish; restricted to a parish; as, parochial duties. "Parochial pastors." Bp. Atterbury. Hence, limited; narrow. "The parochial mind." W. Black.
PAROCHIALISM Pa*ro"chi*al*ism, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being parochial in form or nature; a system of management peculiar to parishes.
PAROCHIALITY Pa*ro`chi*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being parochial. [R.] Sir J. Marriot.
PAROCHIALIZE Pa*ro"chi*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render parochial; to form into parishes.
PAROCHIALLY Pa*ro"chi*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a parochial manner; by the parish, or by parishes. Bp. Stillingfleet.
PAROCHIAN Pa*ro"chi*an, a. Etym: [See Parochial, Parishioner.]
Defn: Parochial. [Obs.] "Parochian churches." Bacon.
PAROCHIAN Pa*ro"chi*an, n. Etym: [LL. parochianus.]
Defn: A parishioner. [Obs.] Ld. Burleigh.
PARODIC; PARODICAL Pa*rod"ic, Pa*rod"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. parodique.]
Defn: Having the character of parody. Very paraphrastic, and sometimes parodical. T. Warton.
PARODIST Par"o*dist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. parodiste.]
Defn: One who writes a parody; one who parodies. Coleridge.
PARODY Par"o*dy, n.; pl. Parodies. Etym: [L. parodia, Gr. parodie. See Para- , and Ode.]
1. A writing in which the language or sentiment of an author is mimicked; especially, a kind of literary pleasantry, in which what is written on one subject is altered, and applied to another by way of burlesque; travesty. The lively parody which he wrote . . . on Dryden's "Hind and Panther" was received with great applause. Macaulay.
2. A popular maxim, adage, or proverb. [Obs.]
PARODY Par"o*dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parodied; p. pr. & vb. n. Parodying.] Etym: [Cf. F. parodier.]
Defn: To write a parody upon; to burlesque. I have translated, or rather parodied, a poem of Horace. Pope.
PAROKET Par"o*ket`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Paroquet.
PAROL Pa*rol", n. Etym: [See Parole, the same word.]
1. A word; an oral utterance. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: Oral declaration; word of mouth; also, a writing not under seal. Blackstone.
PAROL Pa*rol", a.
Defn: Given or done by word of mouth; oral; also, given by a writing not under seal; as, parol evidence. Parol arrest (Law), an arrest in pursuance of a verbal order from a magistrate. -- Parol contract (Law), any contract not of record or under seal, whether oral or written; a simple contract. Chitty. Story.
PAROLE Pa*role", n. Etym: [F. parole. See Parley, and cf. Parol.]
1. A word; an oral utterance. [Obs.]
2. Word of promise; word of honor; plighted faith; especially (Mil.), promise, upon one's faith and honor, to fulfill stated conditions, as not to bear arms against one's captors, to return to custody, or the like. This man had forfeited his military parole. Macaulay.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A watchword given only to officers of guards; -- distinguished from countersign, which is given to all guards.
4. (Law)
Defn: Oral declaration. See lst Parol, 2.
PAROLE Pa*role", a.
Defn: See 2d Parol.
PAROLE Pa*role", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paroled; p. pr. & vb. n. Paroling.] (Mil.)
Defn: To set at liberty on parole; as, to parole prisoners.
PAROMOLOGY Par`o*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. fr. Homologous.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A concession to an adversary in order to strengthen one's own argument.
PARONOMASIA Par`o*no*ma"si*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A play upon words; a figure by which the same word is used in different senses, or words similar in sound are set in opposition to each other, so as to give antithetical force to the sentence; punning. Dryden.
PARONOMASTIC; PARONOMASTICAL Par`o*no*mas"tic, Par`o*no*mas"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to paronomasia; consisting in a play upon words.
PARONOMASY Par`o*nom"a*sy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. paronomasie.]
Defn: Paronomasia. [R.] B. Jonson.
PARONYCHIA Par`o*nych"i*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A whitlow, or felon. Quincy.
PARONYM Par"o*nym, n.
Defn: A paronymous word. [Written also paronyme.]
PARONYMOUS Pa*ron"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Having the same derivation; allied radically; conjugate; -- said of certain words, as man, mankind, manhood, etc.
2. Having a similar sound, but different orthography and different meaning; -- said of certain words, as al and awl; hair and hare, etc.
PARONYMY Pa*ron"y*my, n.
Defn: The quality of being paronymous; also, the use of paronymous words.
PAROOPHORON; PAROOEPHORON Par`o*öph"o*ron, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Para-) + (Anat.)
Defn: A small mass of tubules near the ovary in some animals, and corresponding with the parepididymis of the male.
PAROQUET Par"o*quet`, n. Etym: [F. perroquet, or Sp. periquito; both prob. orig. meaning, little Peter. See Parrot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Parrakeet. [Written also paroket, parroquet, and perroquet.] Paroquet auk or auklet (Zoöl.), a small auk (Cyclorrhynchus psittaculus) inhabiting the coast and islands of Alaska. The upper parts are dark slate, under parts white, bill orange red. Called also perroquet auk.
PARORCHIS Pa*ror"chis, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Orchis.] (Anat.)
Defn: The part of the epididymis; or the corresponding part of the excretory duct of the testicle, which is derived from the Wolffian body.
PAROSTEAL Pa*ros"te*al, (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to parostosis; as, parosteal ossification.
PAROSTOSIS Par`os*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Ostosis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Ossification which takes place in purely fibrous tracts; the formation of bone outside of the periosteum.
PAROSTOTIC Par`os*tot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to parostosis.
PAROTIC Pa*rot"ic, a. Etym: [See Parotid.] (Anat.)
Defn: On the side of the auditory capsule; near the external ear. Parotic region (Zoöl.), the space around the ears.
PAROTID Pa*rot"id, a. Etym: [L. parotis, -idis, Gr. parotide. ] (Anat.) (a) Situated near the ear; -- applied especially to the salivary gland near the ear. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the parotid gland. Parotid gland (Anat.), one of the salivary glands situated just in front of or below the ear. It is the largest of the salivary glands in man, and its duct opens into the interior of the mouth opposite the second molar of the upper jaw.
PAROTID Pa*rot"id, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The parotid gland.
PAROTITIS Par`o*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Parotid, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the parotid glands. Epidemic, or Infectious, parotitis, mumps.
PAROTOID Par"o*toid, a. Etym: [Parotid + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling the parotid gland; -- applied especially to cutaneous glandular elevations above the ear in many toads and frogs. -- n.
Defn: A parotoid gland.
PAROUSIA Pa*rou"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Parusia.] (a) The nativity of our Lord. (b) The last day. Shipley.
PAROVARIUM Par`o*va"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Ovarium.] (Anat.)
Defn: A group of tubules, a remnant of the Wolffian body, often found near the ovary or oviduct; the epoöphoron.
PAROXYSM Par"ox*ysm, n. Etym: [F. paroxysme, Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: The fit, attack, or exacerbation, of a disease that occurs at intervals, or has decided remissions or intermissions. Arbuthnot.
2. Any sudden and violent emotion; spasmodic passion or action; a convulsion; a fit. The returning paroxysms of diffidence and despair. South.
PAROXYSMAL Par`ox*ys"mal, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a paroxysm; characterized or accompanied by paroxysms; as, a paroxysmal pain; paroxysmal temper. -- Par`ox*ys"mal*ly, adv.
PAROXYTONE Par*ox"y*tone, n. Etym: [Gr. a. See Para-, and Oxytone.] (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: A word having an acute accent on the penultimate syllable.
PARQUET Par*quet", n. Etym: [F. See Parquetry.]
1. A body of seats on the floor of a music hall or theater nearest the orchestra; but commonly applied to the whole lower floor of a theater, from the orchestra to the dress circle; the pit.
2. Same as Parquetry.
PARQUETAGE Par"quet*age, n.
Defn: See Parquetry.
PARQUET CIRCLE Parquet circle.
Defn: That part of the lower floor of a theater with seats at the rear of the parquet and beneath the galleries; -- called also, esp. in U. S., orchestra circle or parterre.
PARQUETED Par"quet*ed, a.
Defn: Formed in parquetry; inlaid with wood in small and differently colored figures. One room parqueted with yew, which I liked well. Evelyn.
PARQUETRY Par"quet*ry, n. Etym: [F. parqueterie, fr. parquet inlaid flooring, fr. parquet, dim. of parc an inclosure. See Park.]
Defn: A species of joinery or cabinet-work consisting of an inlay of geometric or other patterns, generally of different colors, -- used especially for floors.
PARQUETTE Par*quette", n.
Defn: See Parquet.
PARR Parr, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. bradan a salmon.] (Zoöl.) (a) A young salmon in the stage when it has dark transverse bands; -- called also samlet, skegger, and fingerling. (b) A young leveret.
PARRAKEET; PARAKEET Par"ra*keet`, Par"a*keet`, n. Etym: [See Paroquet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small parrots having a graduated tail, which is frequently very long; -- called also paroquet and paraquet.
Note: Many of the Asiatic and Australian species belong to the genus Paleornis; others belong to Polytelis, Platycercus, Psephotus, Euphema, and allied genera. The American parrakeets mostly belong to the genus Conurus, as the Carolina parrakeet (C. Carolinensis).
PARRAL; PARREL Par"ral, Par"rel, n. Etym: [F. appareil. See Apparel, n.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The rope or collar by which a yard or spar is held to the mast in such a way that it may be hoisted or lowered at pleasure. Totten.
2. A chimney-piece. Halliwell.
PARRAQUA Par*ra"qua, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A curassow of the genus Ortalida, allied to the guan.
PARRHESIA Par*rhe"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: Boldness or freedom of speech.
PARRICIDAL Par"ri*ci`dal, a. Etym: [L. parricidalis, parricidialis. See Parricide.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to parricide; guilty of parricide.
PARRICIDE Par"ri*cide, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. parricida; pater father + caedere to kill. See Father, Homicide, and cf. Patricide.]
1. Properly, one who murders one's own father; in a wider sense, one who murders one's father or mother or any ancestor.
2. Etym: [L. parricidium.]
Defn: The act or crime of murdering one's own father or any ancestor.
PARRICIDIOUS Par`ri*cid"i*ous, a.
Defn: Parricidal. [Obs.]
PARROCK Par"rock, n. Etym: [AS. pearruc, pearroc. See Park.]
Defn: A croft, or small field; a paddock. [Prov. Eng.]
PARROT Par"rot, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. F. Pierrot, dim. of Pierre Peter. F. pierrot is also the name of the sparrow. Cf. Paroquet, Petrel, Petrify.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: In a general sense, any bird of the order Psittaci.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Psittacus, Chrysotis, Pionus, and other genera of the family Psittacidæ, as distinguished from the parrakeets, macaws, and lories. They have a short rounded or even tail, and often a naked space on the cheeks. The gray parrot, or jako (P. erithacus) of Africa (see Jako), and the species of Amazon, or green, parrots (Chrysotis) of America, are examples. Many species, as cage birds, readily learn to imitate sounds, and to repeat words and phrases. Carolina parrot (Zoöl.), the Carolina parrakeet. See Parrakeet. -- Night parrot, or Owl parrot. (Zoöl.) See Kakapo. -- Parrot coal, cannel coal; -- so called from the crackling and chattering sound it makes in burning. [Eng. & Scot.] -- Parrot green. (Chem.) See Scheele's green, under Green, n. -- Parrot weed (Bot.), a suffrutescent plant (Bocconia frutescens) of the Poppy family, native of the warmer parts of America. It has very large, sinuate, pinnatifid leaves, and small, panicled, apetalous flowers. -- Parrot wrasse, Parrot fish (Zoöl.), any fish of the genus Scarus. One species (S. Cretensis), found in the Mediterranean, is esteemed by epicures, and was highly prized by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
PARROT Par"rot, v. t.
Defn: To repeat by rote, as a parrot.
PARROT Par"rot, v. i.
Defn: To chatter like a parrot.
PARROTER Par"rot*er, n.
Defn: One who simply repeats what he has heard. [R.] J. S. Mill.
PARROTRY Par"rot*ry, n.
Defn: Servile imitation or repetition. [R.] Coleridge. "The supine parrotry." Fitzed. Hall.
PARROT'S-BILL Par"rot's-bill`, n. Etym: [So called from the resemblance of its curved superior petal to a parrot's bill.] (Bot.)
Defn: The glory pea. See under Glory.
PARRY Par"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parried; p. pr. & vb. n. Parrying.] Etym: [F. paré, p. p. of parer. See Pare, v. t.]
1. To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm. Locke. Vice parries wide The undreaded volley with a sword of straw. Cowper.
2. To avoid; to shift or put off; to evade. The French government has parried the payment of our claims. E. Everett.
PARRY Par"ry, v. i.
Defn: To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow, argument, etc. Locke.
PARRY Par"ry, n.; pl. Parries (.
Defn: A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or other intellectual encounter.
PARSE Parse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Parsing.] Etym: [L. pars a part; pars orationis a part of speech. See Part, n.] (Gram.)
Defn: To resolve into its elements, as a sentence, pointing out the several parts of speech, and their relation to each other by government or agreement; to analyze and describe grammatically. Let him construe the letter into English, and parse it over perfectly. Ascham.
PARSEE Par"see, n. Etym: [Hind. & Per. parsi a Persian, a follower of Zoroaster, a fire worshiper. Cf. Persian.]
1. One of the adherents of the Zoroastrian or ancient Persian religion, descended from Persian refugees settled in India; a fire worshiper; a Gheber.
2. The Iranian dialect of much of the religious literature of the Parsees.
PARSEEISM Par"see*ism, n.
Defn: The religion and customs of the Parsees.
PARSER Pars"er, n.
Defn: One who parses.
PARSIMONIOUS Par`si*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. parcimonieux. See Parsimony.]
Defn: Exhibiting parsimony; sparing in expenditure of money; frugal to excess; penurious; niggardly; stingy. -- Par`si*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv. -- Par`si*mo"ni*ous*ness, n. A prodigal king is nearer a tyrant than a parsimonious. Bacon. Extraordinary funds for one campaign may spare us the expense of many years; whereas a long, parsimonious war will drain us of more men and money. Addison.
Syn. -- Covetous; niggardly; miserly; penurious; close; saving; mean; stingy; frugal. See Avaricious.
PARSIMONY Par"si*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. parsimonia, parcimonia; cf. parcere to spare, parsus sparing: cf. F. parcimonie.]
Defn: Closeness or sparingness in the expenditure of money; -- generally in a bad sense; excessive frugality; niggardliness. Bacon. Awful parsimony presided generally at the table. Thackeray.
Syn. -- Economy; frugality; illiberality; covetousness; closeness; stinginess. See Economy.
PARSLEY Pars"ley, n. Etym: [OE. persely, persil, F. persil, L. petroselinum rock parsley, Gr. Celery.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic umbelliferous herb (Carum Petroselinum), having finely divided leaves which are used in cookery and as a garnish. As she went to the garden for parsley, to stuff a rabbit. Shak. Fool's parsley. See under Fool. -- Hedge parsley, Milk parsley, Stone parsley, names given to various weeds of similar appearance to the parsley. -- Parsley fern (Bot.), a small fern with leaves resembling parsley (Cryptogramme crispa). -- Parsley piert (Bot.), a small herb (Alchemilla arvensis) formerly used as a remedy for calculus.
PARSNIP Pars"nip, n. Etym: [OE. parsnepe, from a French form, fr. L. pastinaca; cf. pastinare to dig up, pastinum a kind of dibble; cf. OF. pastenade, pastenaque.] (Bot.)
Defn: The aromatic and edible spindle-shaped root of the cultivated form of the Pastinaca sativa, a biennial umbelliferous plant which is very poisonous in its wild state; also, the plant itself. Cow parsnip. See Cow parsnip. -- Meadow parsnip, the European cow parsnip. -- Poison parsnip, the wild stock of the parsnip. -- Water parsnip, any plant of the umbelliferous genus Sium, the species of which are poisonous.
PARSON Par"son, n. Etym: [OE. persone person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne person, LL. persona (sc. ecclesiae), fr. L. persona a person. See Person.]
1. (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: A person who represents a parish in its ecclesiastical and corporate capacities; hence, the rector or incumbent of a parochial church, who has full possession of all the rights thereof, with the cure of souls.
2. Any clergyman having ecclesiastical preferment; one who is in orders, or is licensed to preach; a preacher. He hears the parson pray and preach. Longfellow. Parson bird (Zoöl.), a New Zealand bird (Prosthemadera Novæseelandiæ) remarkable for its powers of mimicry and its ability to articulate words. Its color is glossy black, with a curious tuft of long, curly, white feathers on each side of the throat. It is often kept as a cage bird.
PARSONAGE Par"son*age, n.
1. (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: A certain portion of lands, tithes, and offerings, for the maintenance of the parson of a parish.
2. The glebe and house, or the house only, owned by a parish or ecclesiastical society, and appropriated to the maintenance or use of the incumbent or settled pastor.
3. Money paid for the support of a parson. [Scot.] What have I been paying stipend and teind, parsonage and vicarage, for Sir W. Scott.
PARSONED Par"soned, a.
Defn: Furnished with a parson.
PARSONIC; PARSONICAL Par*son"ic, Par*son"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a parson; clerical. Vainglory glowed in his parsonic heart. Colman. -- Par*son"ic*al*ly, adv.
PARSONISH Par"son*ish, a.
Defn: Appropriate to, or like, a parson; -- used in disparagement. [Colloq.]
PART Part, n. Etym: [F. part, L. pars, gen. partis; cf. parere to bring forth, produce. Cf. Parent, Depart, Parcel, Partner, Party, Portion.]
1. One of the portions, equal or unequal, into which anything is divided, or regarded as divided; something less than a whole; a number, quantity, mass, or the like, regarded as going to make up, with others, a larger number, quantity, mass, etc., whether actually separate or not; a piece; a fragment; a fraction; a division; a member; a constituent. And kept back part of the price, . . . and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'feet. Acts v. 2. Our ideas of extension and number -- do they not contain a secret relation of the parts Locke. I am a part of all that I have met. Tennyson.
2. Hence, specifically: (a) An equal constituent portion; one of several or many like quantities, numbers, etc., into which anything is divided, or of which it is composed; proportional division or ingredient. An homer is the tenth part of an ephah. Ex. xvi. 36. A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward. Shak.
(b) A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element. All the parts were formed . . . into one harmonious body. Locke. The pulse, the glow of every part. Keble.
(c) A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; -- usually in the plural with a collective sense. "Men of considerable parts." Burke. "Great quickness of parts." Macaulay. Which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. Shak.
(d) Quarter; region; district; -- usually in the plural. "The uttermost part of the heaven." Neh. i. 9. All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears. Dryden. (e) (Math.)
Defn: Such portion of any quantity, as when taken a certain number of times, will exactly make that quantity; as, 3 is a part of 12; -- the opposite of multiple. Also, a line or other element of a geometrical figure.
3. That which belongs to one, or which is assumed by one, or which falls to one, in a division or apportionment; share; portion; lot; interest; concern; duty; office. We have no part in David. 2 Sam. xx. 1. Accuse not Nature! she hath done her part; Do thou but thine. Milton. Let me bear My part of danger with an equal share. Dryden.
4. Hence, specifically: (a) One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction. For he that is not against us is on our part. Mark ix. 40. Make whole kingdoms take her brother's part. Waller.
(b) A particular character in a drama or a play; an assumed personification; also, the language, actions, and influence of a character or an actor in a play; or, figuratively, in real life. See To act a part, under Act. That part Was aptly fitted and naturally performed. Shak. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf. Shak. Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies. Pope. (c) (Mus.)
Defn: One of the different melodies of a concerted composition, which heard in union compose its harmony; also, the music for each voice or instrument; as, the treble, tenor, or bass part; the violin part, etc. For my part, so far as concerns me; for my share. -- For the most part. See under Most, a. -- In good part, as well done; favorably; acceptably; in a friendly manner. Hooker. In ill part, unfavorably; with displeasure. -- In part, in some degree; partly. -- Part and parcel, an essential or constituent portion; -- a reduplicative phrase. Cf. might and main, kith and kin, etc. "She was . . . part and parcel of the race and place." Howitt. -- Part of speech (Gram.), a sort or class of words of a particular character; thus, the noun is a part of speech denoting the name of a thing; the verb is a part of speech which asserts something of the subject of a sentence. -- Part owner (Law), one of several owners or tenants in common. See Joint tenant, under Joint. -- Part singing, singing in which two or more of the harmonic parts are taken. -- Part song, a song in two or more (commonly four) distinct vocal parts. "A part song differs from a madrigal in its exclusion of contrapuntual devices; from a glee, in its being sung by many voices, instead of by one only, to each part." Stainer & Barrett.
Syn. -- Portion; section; division; fraction; fragment; piece; share; constituent. See Portion, and Section.
PART Part, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parted; p. pr. & vb. n. Parting.] Etym: [F. partir, L. partire, partiri, p. p. partitus, fr. pars, gen. partis, a part. See Part, n.]
1. To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into two or more parts or pieces; to sever. "Thou shalt part it in pieces." Lev. ii. 6. There, [celestial love] parted into rainbow hues. Keble.
2. To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot; to apportion; to share. To part his throne, and share his heaven with thee. Pope. They parted my raiment among them. John xix. 24.
3. To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove from contact or contiguity; to sunder. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. Ruth i. 17. While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke xxiv. 51. The narrow seas that part The French and English. Shak.
4. Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene betwixt, as combatants. The stumbling night did part our weary powers. Shak.
5. To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion; as, to part gold from silver. The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and strains the vital juices. Prior.
6. To leave; to quit. [Obs.] Since presently your souls must part your bodies. Shak. To part a cable (Naut.), to break it. -- To part company, to separate, as travelers or companions.
PART Part, v. i.
1. To be broken or divided into parts or pieces; to break; to become separated; to go asunder; as, rope parts; his hair parts in the middle.
2. To go away; to depart; to take leave; to quit each other; hence, to die; -- often with from. He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. Shak. He owned that he had parted from the duke only a few hours before. Macaulay. His precious bag, which he would by no means part from. G. Eliot.
3. To perform an act of parting; to relinquish a connection of any kind; -- followed by with or from. Celia, for thy sake, I part With all that grew so near my heart. Waller. Powerful hands . . . will not part Easily from possession won with arms. Milton. It was strange to him that a father should feel no tenderness at parting with an only son. A. Trollope.
4. To have a part or share; to partake. [Obs.] "They shall part alike." 1 Sam. xxx. 24.
PART Part, adv.
Defn: Partly; in a measure. [R.] Shak.
PARTABLE Part"a*ble, a.
Defn: See Partible. Camden.
PARTAGE Part"age, n. Etym: [F. See Part, v. & n.]
1. Division; the act of dividing or sharing. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. Part; portion; share. [Obs.] Ford.
PARTAKE Par*take", v. i. [imp. Partook; p. p. Partaken (; p. pr. & vb. n. Partaking.] Etym: [Part + take.]
1. To take a part, portion, lot, or share, in common with others; to have a share or part; to participate; to share; as, to partake of a feast with others. "Brutes partake in this faculty." Locke. When I against myself with thee partake. Shak.
2. To have something of the properties, character, or office; -- usually followed by of. The attorney of the Duchy of Lancaster partakes partly of a judge, and partly of an attorney-general. Bacon.
PARTAKE Par*take", v. t.
1. To partake of; to have a part or share in; to share. Let every one partake the general joy. Driden.
2. To admit to a share; to cause to participate; to give a part to. [Obs.] Spencer.
3. To distribute; to communicate. [Obs.] Shak.
PARTAKER Par*tak"er, n.
1. One who partakes; a sharer; a participator. Partakers of their spiritual things. Rom. xv. 27. Wish me partaker in my happiness. Shark.
2. An accomplice; an associate; a partner. [Obs.] Partakers wish them in the blood of the prophets. Matt. xxiii. 30.
PARTAN Par"tan, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael. partan.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edible British crab. [Prov. Eng.]
PARTED Part"ed, a.
1. Separated; devided.
2. Endowed with parts or abilities. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Cleft so that the divisions reach nearly, but not quite, to the midrib, or the base of the blade; -- said of a leaf, and used chiefly in composition; as, three-parted, five-parted, etc. Gray.
PARTER Part"er, n.
Defn: One who, or which, parts or separates. Sir P. Sidney.
PARTERRE Par*terre", n. Etym: [F., fr. par on, by (L. per)+terre earth, ground, L. terra. See Terrace.]
1. (Hort.)
Defn: An ornamental and diversified arrangement of beds or plots, in which flowers are cultivated, with intervening spaces of gravel or turf for walking on.
2. The pit of a theater; the parquet. [France]
PARTHENIAD Par*the"ni*ad, n. Etym: [See Parthenic.]
Defn: A poem in honor of a virgin. [Obs.]
PARTHENIC Par*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Spartan Partheniæ, or sons of unmarried women.
PARTHENOGENESIS Par`the*no*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. parqe`nos a virgin + E. genesis.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: The production of new individuals from virgin females by means of ova which have the power of developing without the intervention of the male element; the production, without fertilization, of cells capable of germination. It is one of the phenomena of alternate generation. Cf. Heterogamy, and Metagenesis.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The production of seed without fertilization, believed to occur through the nonsexual formation of an embryo extraneous to the embrionic vesicle.
PARTHENOGENETIC Par`the*no*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or produced by, parthenogenesis; as, parthenogenetic forms. -- Par`the*no*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
PARTHENOGENITIVE Par`the*no*gen"i*tive, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Parthenogenetic.
PARTHENOGENY Par`the*nog"e*ny, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Parthenogenesis.
PARTHENON Par"the*non, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Parqenw`n, fr.parqe`nos a virgin, i. e., Athene, the Greek goddess called also Pallas.]
Defn: A celebrated marble temple of Athene, on the Acropolis at Athens. It was of the pure Doric order, and has had an important influence on art.
PARTHENOPE; PARTENOPE Par*then"o*pe, Par*ten"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., the name of a Siren, fr. Gr.
1. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: One of the Sirens, who threw herself into the sea, in despair at not being able to beguile Ulysses by her songs.
2. One of the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, descovered by M. de Gasparis in 1850.
PARTHIAN Par"thi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ancient Parthia, in Asia. -- n.
Defn: A native Parthia. Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot.
PARTIAL Par"tial, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL. partials, fr. L. pars, gen. partis, a part; cf. (for sense 1) F. partiel. See Part, n.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as, a partial eclipse of the moon. "Partial dissolutions of the earth." T. Burnet.
2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause, or one side of a question, more then the other; baised; not indifferent; as, a judge should not be partial. Ye have been partial in the law. Mal. ii. 9.
3. Having a predelection for; inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond. "A partial parent." Pope. Not partial to an ostentatious display. Sir W. Scott.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to a subordinate portion; as, a compound umbel is made up of a several partial umbels; a leaflet is often supported by a partial petiole. Partial differentials, Partial differential coefficients, Partial differentiation, etc. (of a function of two or more variables), the differentials, differential coefficients, differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis that some of the variables are for the time constant. -- Partial fractions (Alg.), fractions whose sum equals a given fraction. -- Partial tones (Music), the simple tones which in combination form an ordinary tone; the overtones, or harmonics, which, blending with a fundamental tone, cause its special quality of sound, or timbre, or tone color. See, also, Tone.
PARTIALISM Par"tial*ism, n.
Defn: Partiality; specifically (Theol.), the doctrine of the Partialists.
PARTIALIST Par"tial*ist n.
1. One who is partial. [R.]
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who holds that the atonement was made only for a part of mankind, that is, for the elect.
PARTIALITY Par`ti*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. partialité.]
1. The quality or state of being partial; inclination to favor one party, or one side of a question, more than the other; undue bias of mind.
2. A predilection or inclination to one thing rather than to others; special taste or liking; as, a partiality for poetry or painting. Roget.
PARTIALIZE Par"tial*ize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or be partial. [R.]
PARTIALLY Par"tial*ly adv.
1. In part; not totally; as, partially true; the sun partially eclipsed. Sir T. Browne.
2. In a partial manner; with undue bias of mind; with unjust favor or dislike; as, to judge partially. Shak.
PARTIBILITY Part`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [From Partible.]
Defn: The quality or state of being partible; divisibility; separability; as, the partibility of an inherttance.
PARTIBLE Part"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. partibilis, fr. partire to part, divide, fr. L. pars: cf. F. partible. See Part.]
Defn: Admitting of being parted; divisible; separable; susceptible of severance or partition; as, an estate of inheritance may be partible. "Make the molds partible." Bacon.
PARTICIPABLE Par*tic"i*pa*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being participated or shared. [R.] Norris.
PARTICIPANT Par*tic"i*pant, a. Etym: [L. participans, p.pr. of participare: cf. F. participant. See Participate.]
Defn: Sharing; participating; having a share of part. Bacon.
PARTICIPANT Par*tic"i*pant, n.
Defn: A participator; a partaker. Participants in their . . . mysterious rites. Bp. Warburton.
PARTICIPANTLY Par*tic"i*pant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a participant manner.
PARTICIPATE Par*tic"i*pate, a. Etym: [L. participatus, p.p. of participare to participate; pars, partis, part + capere to take. See Part, and Capacious.]
Defn: Acting in common; participating. [R.] Shak.
PARTICIPATE Par*tic"i*pate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Participated; p. pr. & vb. n. Participating.]
Defn: Tj have a share in common with others; to take a part; to partake; -- followed by in, formely by of; as, to participate in a debate. Shak. So would he participateof their wants. Hayward. Mine may come when men With angels may participate. Milton.
PARTICIPATE Par*tic"i*pate, v. t.
1. To partake of; to share in; to receive a part of. [R.] Fit to participate all rational delight. Milton.
2. To impart, or give, or share of. [Obs.] Drayton.
PARTICIPATION Par*tic`i*pa"tion, n. Etym: [F. participation, L. participatio.]
1. The act or state of participating, or sharing in common with others; as, a participation in joy or sorrows. These deities are so by participation. Bp. Stillingfleet. What an honor, that God should admit us into such a blessed participation of himself! Atterbury.
2. Distribution; division into shares. [Obs.] Raleigh.
3. community; fellowship; association. [Obs.] Shak.
PARTICIPATIVE Par*tic"i*pa*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. participatif.]
Defn: Capable of participating.
PARTICIPATOR Par*tic"i*pa`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who participates, or shares with another; a partaker.
PARTICIPIAL Par`ti*cip"i*al, a. Etym: [L. participialis: cf. E. participal. See Participle.]
Defn: Having, or partaking of, the nature and use of a participle; formed from a participle; as, a participial noun. Lowth.
PARTICIPIAL Par`ti*cip"i*al, n.
Defn: A participial word.
PARTICIPIALIZE Par`ti*cip"i*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p.p Participialized; p. pr. & vb. n. Participializing.]
Defn: To form into, or put in the form of, a participle. [R.]
PARTICIPIALLY Par`ti*cip"i*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the sense or manner of a participle.
PARTICIPLE Par"ti*ci*ple, n. Etym: [F. participe, L. participium, fr. particeps sharing, participant; pars, gen. partis, a part + capere to take. See Participate.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: A part of speech partaking of the nature both verb and adjective; a form of a verb, or verbal adjective, modifying a noun, but taking the adjuncts of the verb from which it is derived. In the sentences: a letter is written; being asleep he did not hear; exhausted by toil he will sleep soundly, -- written, being, and exhaustedare participles. By a participle, [I understand] a verb in an adjectival aspect. Earle.
Note: Present participles, called also imperfect, or incomplete, participles, end in -ing. Past participles, called also perfect, or complete, participles, for the most part end in -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n. A participle when used merely as an attribute of a noun, without reference to time, is called an adjective, or a participial adjective; as, a written constitution; a rolling stone; the exhausted army. The verbal noun in -ing has the form of the present participle. See Verbal noun, under Verbal, a.
2. Anything that partakes of the nature of different things. [Obs.] The participles or confines between plants and living creatures. Bacon.
PARTICLE Par"ti*cle, n. Etym: [L. particula, dim of pars, gen partis, a part: cf. F. particule. See Part, and cf. Parcel.]
1. A minute part or portion of matter; a morsel; a little bit; an atom; a jot; as, a particle of sand, of wood, of dust. The small size of atoms which unite To make the smallest particle of light. Blackmore.
2. Any very small portion or part; the smallest portion; as, he has not a particle of patriotism or virtue. The houses had not given their commissioners authority in the least particle to recede. Clarendon.
3. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A crumb or little piece of concecrated host. (b) The smaller hosts distributed in the communion of the laity. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: A subordinate word that is never inflected (a preposition, conjunction, interjection); or a word that can not be used except in compositions; as, ward in backward, ly in lovely.
PARTICOLORED Par"ti*col`ored, a.
Defn: Same as Party-colored.
PARTICULAR Par*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [OE. particuler, F. particulier, L. particularis. See Particle.]
1. Relating to a part or portion of anything; concerning a part separated from the whole or from others of the class; separate; sole; single; individual; specific; as, the particular stars of a constellation. Shak. [/Make] each particular hair to stand an end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine. Shak. Seken in every halk and every herne Particular sciences for to lerne. Chaucer.
2. Of or pertaining to a single person, class, or thing; belonging to one only; not general; not common; hence, personal; peculiar; singular. "Thine own particular wrongs." Shak. Wheresoever one plant draweth such a particular juice out of the earth. Bacon.
3. Separate or distinct by reason of superiority; distinguished; important; noteworthy; unusual; special; as, he brought no particular news; she was the particular belle of the party.
4. Concerned with, or attentive to, details; minute; circumstantial; precise; as, a full and particular account of an accident; hence, nice; fastidious; as, a man particular in his dress.
5. (Law) (a) Containing a part only; limited; as, a particular estate, or one precedent to an estate in remainder. (b) Holding a particular estate; as, a particular tenant. Blackstone.
6. (Logic)
Defn: Forming a part of a genus; relatively limited in extension; affirmed or denied of a part of a subject; as, a particular proposition; -- opposed to universal: e. g. (particular affirmative) Some men are wise; (particular negative) Some men are not wise. Particular average. See under Average. -- Particular Baptist, one of a branch of the Baptist denomination the members of which hold the doctrine of a particular or individual election and reprobation. -- Particular lien (Law), a lien, or a right to retain a thing, for some charge or claim growing out of, or connected with, that particular thing. -- Particular redemption, the doctrine that the purpose, act, and provisions of redemption are restricted to a limited number of the human race. See Calvinism.
Syn. -- Minute; individual; respective; appropriate; peculiar; especial; exact; specific; precise; critical; circumstantial. See Minute.
PARTICULAR Par*tic"u*lar, n.
1. A separate or distinct member of a class, or part of a whole; an individual fact, point, circumstance, detail, or item, which may be considered separately; as, the particulars of a story. Particulars which it is not lawful for me to reveal. Bacon. It is the greatest interest of particulars to advance the good of the community. L'Estrange.
2. Special or personal peculiarity, trait, or character; individuality; interest, etc. [Obs.] For his particular I'll receive him gladly. Shak. If the particulars of each person be considered. Milton. Temporal blessings, whether such as concern the public . . . or such as concern our particular. Whole Duty of Man.
3. (Law)
Defn: One of the details or items of grounds of claim; -- usually in the pl.; also, a bill of particulars; a minute account; as, a particular of premises. The reader has a particular of the books wherein this law was written. Ayliffe. Bill of particulars. See under Bill. -- In particular, specially; peculiarly. "This, in particular, happens to the lungs." Blackmore. -- To go into particulars, to relate or describe in detail or minutely.
PARTICULARISM Par*tic"u*lar*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. particularisme.]
1. A minute description; a detailed statement. [R.]
2. (Theol.)
Defn: The doctrine of particular election.
3. (German Politics)
Defn: Devotion to the interests of one's own kingdom or province rather than to those of the empire.
PARTICULARIST Par*tic"u*lar*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. particulariste.]
Defn: One who holds to particularism. -- Par*tic`u*lar*is"tic, a.
PARTICULARITY Par*tic`u*lar"i*ty, n.; pl. Particularities. Etym: [Cf. F. particularité.]
1. The state or quality of being particular; distinctiveness; circumstantiality; minuteness in detail.
2. That which is particular; as: (a) Peculiar quality; individual characteristic; peculiarity. "An old heathen altar with this particularity." Addison. (b) Special circumstance; minute detail; particular. "Even descending to particularities." Sir P. Sidney. (c) Something of special or private concern or interest. Let the general trumpet blow his blast, Particularities and petty sounds To cease! Shak .
PARTICULARIZATION Par*tic`u*lar*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of particularizing. Coleridge.
PARTICULARIZE Par*tic"u*lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Particularized; p. pr. & vb. n. Particularizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. particulariser.]
Defn: To give as a particular, or as the particulars; to mention particularly; to give the particulars of; to enumerate or specify in detail. He not only boasts of his parentage as an Israelite, but particularizes his descent from Benjamin. Atterbury.
PARTICULARIZE Par*tic"u*lar*ize, v. i.
Defn: To mention or attend to particulars; to give minute details; to be circumstantial; as, to particularize in a narrative.
PARTICULARLY Par*tic"u*lar*ly, adv.
1. In a particular manner; expressly; with a specific reference or interest; in particular; distinctly.
2. In an especial manner; in a high degree; as, a particularly fortunate man; a particularly bad failure. The exact propriety of Virgil I particularly regarded as a great part of his character. Dryden.
PARTICULARMENT Par*tic"u*lar*ment, n.
Defn: A particular; a detail. [Obs.]
PARTICULATE Par*tic"u*late, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Particle.]
Defn: To particularize. [Obs.]
PARTICULATE Par*tic"u*late, a.
1. Having the form of a particle.
2. Referring to, or produced by, particles, such as dust, minute germs, etc. [R.] The smallpox is a particulate disease. Tyndall.
PARTING Par"ting, a. Etym: [From Part, v.]
1. Serving to part; dividing; separating.
2. Given when departing; as, a parting shot; a parting salute. "Give him that parting kiss." Shak.
3. Departing. "Speed the parting guest." Pope.
4. Admitting of being parted; partible. Parting fellow, a partner. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Parting pulley. See under Pulley. -- Parting sand (Founding), dry, nonadhesive sand, sprinkled upon the partings of a mold to facilitate the separation. -- Parting strip (Arch.), in a sash window, one of the thin strips of wood let into the pulley stile to keep the sashes apart; also, the thin piece inserted in the window box to separate the weights. -- Parting tool (Mach.), a thin tool, used in turning or planing, for cutting a piece in two.
PARTING Par"ting, n.
1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; division; separation. "The parting of the way." Ezek. xxi. 21.
2. A separation; a leave-taking. Shak. And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts. Byron.
3. A surface or line of separation where a division occurs.
4. (Founding)
Defn: The surface of the sand of one section of a mold where it meets that of another section.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation and determination of alloys; esp., the separation, as by acids, of gold from silver in the assay button.
6. (Geol.)
Defn: A joint or fissure, as in a coal seam.
7. (Naut.)
Defn: The breaking, as of a cable, by violence.
8. (Min.)
Defn: Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellæ.
PARTISAN Par"ti*san, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. partigiano. See Party, and cf. Partisan a truncheon.] [Written also partizan.]
1. An adherent to a party or faction; esp., one who is strongly and passionately devoted to a party or an interest. "The violence of a partisan." Macaulay. Both sides had their partisans in the colony. Jefferson.
2. (Mil.) (a) The commander of a body of detached light troops engaged in making forays and harassing an enemy. (b) Any member of such a corps.
PARTISAN Par"ti*san, a. Etym: [Written also partizan.]
1. Adherent to a party or faction; especially, having the character of blind, passionate, or unreasonable adherence to a party; as, blinded by partisan zeal.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: Serving as a partisan in a detached command; as, a partisan officer or corps. Partisan ranger (Mil.), a member of a partisan corps.
PARTISAN Par"ti*san, n. Etym: [F. pertuisane, prob. fr. It. partigiana, influenced in French by OF. pertuisier to pierce. It was prob. so named as the weapon of some partisans, or party men. Cf. Partisan one of a corps of light troops.]
Defn: A kind of halberd or pike; also, a truncheon; a staff. And make him with our pikes and partisans a grave. Shak.
PARTISANSHIP Par"ti*san*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a partisan, or adherent to a party; feelings or conduct appropriate to a partisan.
PARTITA Par*ti"ta, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A suite; a set of variations.
PARTITE Par"tite, a. Etym: [L. partitus, p.p. of partire to part, divide, from pars. See Part, and cf. Party, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: Divided nearly to the base; as, a partite leaf is a simple separated down nearly to the base.
PARTITION Par*ti"tion, n. Etym: [F. partition, L. partitio. See Part, v.]
1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; separation; division; distribution; as, the partition of a kingdom. And good from bad find no partition. Shak.
2. That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; separating boundary; dividing line or space; specifically, an interior wall dividing one part or apartment of a house, an inclosure, or the like, from another; as, a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions. No sight could pass Betwixt the nice partitions of the grass. Dryden.
3. A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment. [R.] "Lodged in a small partition." Milton.
4. (Law.)
Defn: The servance of common or undivided interests, particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by compulsion of law.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A score. Partition of numbers (Math.), the resolution of integers into parts subject to given conditions. Brande & C.
PARTITION Par*ti"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Partitioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Partitioning.]
1. To divide into parts or shares; to divide and distribute; as, to partition an estate among various heirs.
2. To divide into distinct parts by lines, walls, etc.; as, to partition a house. Uniform without, though severally partitioned within. Bacon.
PARTITIONMENT Par*ti"tion*ment, n.
Defn: The act of partitioning.
PARTITIVE Par"ti*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. partitif.] (Gram.)
Defn: Denoting a part; as, a partitive genitive.
PARTITIVE Par"ti*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A word expressing partition, or denoting a part.
PARTITIVELY Par"ti*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a partitive manner.
PARTLET Part"let, n. Etym: [Dim. of part.]
1. A covering for the neck, and sometimes for the shoulders and breast; originally worn by both sexes, but laterby women alone; a ruff. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A hen; -- so called from the ruffing of her neck feathers. "Dame Partlett, the hen." Shak.
PARTLY Part"ly, adv.
Defn: In part; in some measure of degree; not wholly. "I partly believe it." 1 Cor. xi. 18.
PARTNER Part"ner, n. Etym: [For parcener, influenced by part.]
1. One who has a part in anything with an other; a partaker; an associate; a sharer. "Partner of his fortune." Shak. Hence: (a) A husband or a wife. (b) Either one of a couple who dance together. (c) One who shares as a member of a partnership in the management, or in the gains and losses, of a business. My other self, the partner of my life. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: An associate in any business or occupation; a member of a partnership. See Partnership.
3. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: A framework of heavy timber surrounding an opening in a deck, to strengthen it for the support of a mast, pump, capstan, or the like. Dormant, or Silent, partner. See under Dormant, a.
Syn. -- Associate; colleague; coadjutor; confederate; partaker; participator; companion; comrade; mate.
PARTNER Part"ner, v. t.
Defn: To associate, to join. [Obs.] Shak.
PARTNERSHIP Part"ner*ship, n.
1. The state or condition of being a partner; as, to be in partnership with another; to have partnership in the fortunes of a family or a state.
2. A division or sharing among partners; joint possession or interest. Rome, that ne'er knew three lordly heads before, First fell by fatal partnership of power. Rowe. He does possession keep, And is too wise to hazard partnership. Dryden.
3. An alliance or association of persons for the prosecution of an undertaking or a business on joint account; a company; a firm; a house; as, to form a partnership.
4. (Law)
Defn: A contract between two or more competent persons for joining together their money, goods, labor, and skill, or any or all of them, under an understanding that there shall be a communion of profit between them, and for the purpose of carrying on a legal trade, business, or adventure. Kent. Story.
Note: Community of profit is absolutely essential to, though not necessary the test of, a partnership.
5. (Arith.)
Defn: See Fellowship, n., 6. Limited partnership, a form of partnership in which the firm consists of one or more general partners, jointly and severally responsible as ordinary partners, and one or more special partners, who are not liable for the debts of the partnership beyond the amount of cash they contribute as capital. -- Partnership in commendam, the title given to the limited partnership (F. société en commandité) of the French law, introduced into the code of Louisiana. Burrill. -- Silent partnership, the relation of partnership sustained by a person who furnishes capital only.
PARTOOK Par*took",
Defn: imp. of Partake.
PARTRIDGE Par"tridge, n. Etym: [OE. partriche, pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix, -icis, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus Perdix and several related genera of the family Perdicidæ, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird. Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. Chaucer.
Note: The common European, or gray, partridge (Perdix cinerea) and the red-legged partridge (Caccabis rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known species.
2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
Note: Among them are the bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) of the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge (Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena partridge (Cyrtonyx Montezumæ); and the California partridge (Callipepla Californica).
3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.] Bamboo partridge (Zoöl.), a spurred partridge of the genus Bambusicola. Several species are found in China and the East Indies. -- Night partridge (Zoöl.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.] -- Painted partridge (Zoöl.), a francolin of South Africa (Francolinus pictus). -- Partridge berry. (Bot.) (a) The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant (Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiaceæ, having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs with the ovaries united, and producing the berries which remain over winter; also, the plant itself. (b) The fruit of the creeping wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens); also, the plant itself. -- Partridge dove (Zoöl.) Same as Mountain witch, under Mountain. -- Partridge pea (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous herb (Cassia Chamæcrista), common in sandy fields in the Eastern United States. -- Partridge shell (Zoöl.), a large marine univalve shell (Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of the partridge. -- Partridge wood (a) A variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. It is obtained from tropical America, and one source of it is said to be the leguminous tree Andira inermis. Called also pheasant wood. (b) A name sometimes given to the dark-colored and striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for walking sticks and umbrella handles. -- Sea partridge (Zoöl.), an Asiatic sand partridge (Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note. -- Snow partridge (Zoöl.), a large spurred partridge (Lerwa nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia. -- Spruce partridge. See under Spruce. -- Wood partridge, or Hill partridge (Zoöl.), any small Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola.
PARTURE Par"ture, n.
Defn: Departure. [Obs.] Spenser.
PARTURIATE Par*tu"ri*ate, v. i. Etym: [See Parturient.]
Defn: To bring forth young. [Obs.]
PARTURIENCY Par*tu"ri*en*cy, n.
Defn: Parturition.
PARTURIENT Par*tu"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. parturiens, p.pr. of parturire to desire to bring forth, fr. parere, partum, to bring forth. See Parent.]
Defn: Bringing forth, or about to bring forth, young; fruitful. Jer. Tailor.
PARTURIFACIENT Par*tu`ri*fa"cient, n. Etym: [L. parturire to desire to bring forth + facere to make.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine tending to cause parturition, or to give relief in childbearing. Dunglison.
PARTURIOUS Par*tu"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Parturient. [Obs.] Drayton.
PARTURITION Par`tu*ri"tion, n. Etym: [L. parturitio, fr. parturire: cf. F. parturition. See Parturient.]
1. The act of bringing forth, or being delivered of, young; the act of giving birth; delivery; childbirth.
2. That which is brought forth; a birth. [Obs.]
PARTURITIVE Par*tu"ri*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to parturition; obstetric. [R.]
PARTY Par"ty, n.; pl. Parties. Etym: [F. parti and partie, fr. F. partir to part, divide, L. partire, partiri. See Part, v.]
1. A part or portion. [Obs.] "The most party of the time." Chaucer.
2. A number of persons united in opinion or action, as distinguished from, or opposed to, the rest of a community or association; esp., one of the parts into which a people is divided on questions of public policy. Win the noble Brutus to our party. Shak. The peace both parties want is like to last. Dryden.
3. A part of a larger body of company; a detachment; especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on special service.
4. A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company; as, a dinner party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a party.
5. One concerned or interested in an affair; one who takes part with others; a participator; as, he was a party to the plot; a party to the contract.
6. The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant. The cause of both parties shall come before the judges. Ex. xxii. 9.
7. Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another. It the jury found that the party slain was of English race, it had been adjudged felony. Sir J. Davies.
8. Cause; side; interest. Have you nothing said Upon this Party 'gainst the Duke of Albany Shak.
9. A person; as, he is a queer party. [Now accounted a vulgarism.]
Note: "For several generations, our ancestors largely employed party for person; but this use of the word, when it appeared to be reviving, happened to strike, more particularly, the fancy of the vulgar; and the consequence has been, that the polite have chosen to leave it in their undisputed possession." Fitzed. Hall. Party jury (Law), a jury composed of different parties, as one which is half natives and half foreigners. -- Party man, a partisan. Swift. -- Party spirit, a factious and unreasonable temper, not uncommonly shown by party men. Whately. -- Party verdict, a joint verdict. Shak. -- Party wall. (a) (Arch.) A wall built upon the dividing line between two adjoining properties, usually having half its thickness on each property. (b) (Law) A wall that separates adjoining houses, as in a block or row.
PARTY Par"ty, a. Etym: [F. parti divided, fr. partir to divide. See Part, v., and cf. Partite.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries; as, an escutcheon party per pale.
2. Partial; favoring one party. I will be true judge, and not party. Chaucer. Charter party. See under Charter.
PARTY Par"ty, adv.
Defn: Partly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PARTY-COATED Par"ty-coat`ed, a.
Defn: Having a motley coat, or coat of divers colors. Shak.
PARTY-COLORED; PARTI-COLORED Par"ty-col`ored, Par"ti-col`ored, a.
Defn: Colored with different tints; variegated; as, a party-colored flower. "Parti-colored lambs." Shak.
PARTYISM Par"ty*ism, n.
Defn: Devotion to party.
PARUMBILICAL Par`um*bil"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + umbilical.] (Anat.)
Defn: Near the umbilicus; -- applied especially to one or more small veins which, in man, connect the portal vein with the epigastric veins in the front wall of the abdomen.
PARURE Pa`rure", n. [F., OF. pareure, LL. paraura, fr. L. parare to prepare. See Pare.]
Defn: An ornament or decoration for the person; esp., a decoration consisting of a set of ornaments to be used together; as, a parure of rubies or of embroideries.
PARUSIA Pa*ru"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech by which the present tense is used instead of the past or the future, as in the animated narration of past, or in the prediction of future, events.
PARVANIMITY Par`va*nim"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. parvus little + animus mind.]
Defn: The state or quality of having a little or ignoble mind; pettiness; meanness; -- opposed to magnanimity. De Quincey.
PARVENU Par"ve*nu`, n. Etym: [F., prop. p.p. of parvenir to attain to, to succeed, to rise to high station, L. pervenire to come to; per through + venire to come. See Par, prep., and Come.]
Defn: An upstart; a man newly risen into notice.
PARVIS; PARVISE Par"vis, Par"vise, n. Etym: [F. parvis, fr. LL. paravisus, fr. L. paradisus. See Paradise.]
Defn: a court of entrance to, or an inclosed space before, a church; hence, a church porch; -- sometimes formerly used as place of meeting, as for lawyers. Chaucer.
PARVITUDE; PARVITY Par"vi*tude, Par"vi*ty, n. Etym: [L. parvitas, fr. parvus little: cf. OF. parvité.]
Defn: Littleness. [Obs.] Glanvill. Ray.
PARVOLIN Par"vo*lin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A nonoxygenous ptomaine, formed in the putrefaction of albuminous matters, especially of horseflesh and mackerel.
PARVOLINE Par"vo*line, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid base, C
PAS Pas, n. Etym: [F. See Pace.]
1. A pace; a step, as in a dance. Chaucer.
2. Right of going foremost; precedence. Arbuthnot.
PASAN Pa"san, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The gemsbok.
PASCH; PASCHA Pasch, Pas"cha, n. Etym: [AS. pascha, L. pascha, Gr. pesach, fr. pasach to pass over: cf. OF. pasque, F. pâque. Cf. Paschal, Paas, Paque.]
Defn: The passover; the feast of Easter. Pasch egg. See Easter egg, under Easter. -- Pasch flower. See Pasque flower, under Pasque.
PASCHAL Pas"chal, a. Etym: [L. paschalis: cf. F. pascal. See Pasch.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the passover, or to Easter; as, a paschal lamb; paschal eggs. Longfellow. Paschal candle (R. C. Ch.), a large wax candle, blessed and placed on the altar on Holy Saturday, or the day before Easter. -- Paschal flower. See Pasque flower, under Pasque.
PASENG Pa*seng", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild or bezoar goat. See Goat.
PASH Pash, v. t. Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin, or possibly akin to box to fight with the fists.]
Defn: To strike; to crush; to smash; to dash in pieces. [Obs.] P. Plowman. "I'll pash him o'er the face." Shak.
PASH Pash, n. Etym: [Scot., the pate. Cf. Pash, v. t.]
1. The head; the poll. [R.] "A rough pash." Shak.
2. A crushing blow. [Obs.]
3. A heavy fall of rain or snow. [Prov. Eng.]
PASHA Pa*sha", n. Etym: [Turk. pasha, basha; cf. Per. basha, badshah; perh. a corruption of Per. padishah. Cf. Bashaw, Padishah, Shah.]
Defn: An honorary title given to officers of high rank in Turkey, as to governers of provinces, military commanders, etc. The earlier form was bashaw. [Written also pacha.]
Note: There are three classes of pashas, whose rank is distinguished by the number of the horsetails borne on their standards, being one, two, or three, a pasha of three tails being the highest.
PASHALIC Pa*sha"lic, n. [Written also pachalic.] Etym: [Turk.]
Defn: The jurisdiction of a pasha.
PASHAW Pa*shaw", n.
Defn: See Pasha.
PASIGRAPHIC; PASIGRAPHICAL Pas`i*graph"ic, Pas`i*graph"ic*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pasigraphy.
PASIGRAPHY Pa*sig"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A system of universal writing, or a manner of writing that may be understood and used by all nations. Good.
PASILALY Pas"i*la`ly, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A form of speech adapted to be used by all mankind; universal language.
PASK Pask, n. Etym: [See Pasque.]
Defn: See Pasch.
PASPY Pas"py, n. Etym: [F. passe-pied.]
Defn: A kind of minuet, in triple time, of French origin, popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and for some time after; -- called also passing measure, and passymeasure. Percy Smith.
PASQUE Pasque, n. Etym: [OF. pasque.]
Defn: See Pasch. Pasque flower (Bot.), a name of several plants of the genus Anemone, section Pulsatilla. They are perennial herbs with rather large purplish blossoms, which appear in early spring, or about Easter, whence the common name. Called also campana.
PASQUIL Pas"quil, n. Etym: [It. pasquillo.]
Defn: See Pasquin. [R.]
PASQUIL Pas"quil, v. t. [R.]
Defn: See Pasquin.
PASQUILANT Pas"quil*ant, n.
Defn: A lampooner; a pasquiler. [R.] Coleridge.
PASQUILER Pas"quil*er, n.
Defn: A lampooner. [R.] Burton.
PASQUIN Pas"quin, n. Etym: [It. pasquino a mutilated statue at Rome, set up against the wall of the place of the Orsini; -- so called from a witty cobbler or tailor, near whose shop the statue was dug up. On this statue it was customary to paste satiric papers.]
Defn: A lampooner; also, a lampoon. See Pasquinade. The Grecian wits, who satire first began, Were pleasant pasquins on the life of man. Dryden.
PASQUIN Pas"quin, v. t.
Defn: To lampoon; to satiraze. [R.] To see himself pasquined and affronted. Dryden.
PASQUINADE Pas`quin*ade", n. Etym: [F. pasquinade, It. pasquinata.]
Defn: A lampoon or satirical writing. Macaulay.
PASQUINADE Pas`quin*ade", v. t.
Defn: To lampoon, to satirize.
PASS Pass, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Passed; p. pr. & vb. n. Passing.] Etym: [F. passer, LL. passare, fr. L. passus step, or from pandere, passum, to spread out, lay open. See Pace.]
1. To go; to move; to proceed; to be moved or transferred from one point to another; to make a transit; -- usually with a following adverb or adverbal phrase defining the kind or manner of motion; as, to pass on, by, out, in, etc.; to pass swiftly, directly, smoothly, etc.; to pass to the rear, under the yoke, over the bridge, across the field, beyond the border, etc. "But now pass over [i.e., pass on]." Chaucer. On high behests his angels to and fro Passed frequent. Milton. Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths, And from their bodies passed. Coleridge.
2. To move or be transferred from one state or condition to another; to change possession, condition, or circumstances; to undergo transition; as, the business has passed into other hands. Others, dissatisfied with what they have, . . . pass from just to unjust. Sir W. Temple.
3. To move beyond the range of the senses or of knowledge; to pass away; hence, to disappear; to vanish; to depart; specifically, to depart from life; to die. Disturb him not, let him pass paceably. Shak. Beauty is a charm, but soon the charm will pass. Dryden. The passing of the sweetest soul That ever looked with human eyes. Tennyson.
4. To move or to come into being or under notice; to come and go in consciousness; hence, to take place; to occur; to happen; to come; to occur progressively or in succession; to be present transitorly. So death passed upon all men. Rom. v. 12. Our own consciousness of what passes within our own mind. I. Watts.
5. To go by or glide by, as time; to elapse; to be spent; as, their vacation passed pleasantly. Now the time is far passed. Mark vi. 35
6. To go from one person to another; hence, to be given and taken freely; as, clipped coin will not pass; to obtain general acceptance; to be held or regarded; to circulate; to be current; -- followed by for before a word denoting value or estimation. "Let him pass for a man." Shak. False eloquence passeth only where true is not understood. Felton. This will not pass for a fault in him. Atterbury.
7. To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to validity or effectiveness; to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject; to receive legislative sanction; to be enacted; as, the resolution passed; the bill passed both houses of Congress.
8. To go through any inspection or test successfully; to be approved or accepted; as, he attempted the examination, but did not expect to pass.
9. To be suffered to go on; to be tolerated; hence, to continue; to live alogn. "The play may pass." Shak.
10. To go unheeded or neglected; to proceed without hindrance or opposition; as, we let this act pass.
11. To go beyond bounds; to surpass; to be in excess. [Obs.] "This passes, Master Ford." Shak.
12. To take heed; to care. [Obs.] As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not. Shak.
13. To go through the intestines. Arbuthnot.
14. (Law)
Defn: To be conveyed or transferred by will, deed, or other instrument of conveyance; as, an estate passes by a certain clause in a deed. Mozley & W.
15. (Fencing)
Defn: To make a lunge or pass; to thrust.
16. (Card Playing)
Defn: To decline to play in one's turn; in euchre, to decline to make the trump. She would not play, yet must not pass. Prior. To bring to pass, To come to pass. See under Bring, and Come. -- To pass away, to disappear; to die; to vanish. "The heavens shall pass away." 2 Pet. iii. 10. "I thought to pass away before, but yet alive I am." Tennyson. -- To pass by, to go near and beyond a certain person or place; as, he passed by as we stood there. -- To pass into, to change by a gradual transmission; to blend or unite with. -- To pass on, to proceed. -- To pass on or upon. (a) To happen to; to come upon; to affect. "So death passed upon all men." Rom. v. 12. "Provided no indirect act pass upon our prayers to define them." Jer. Taylor. (b) To determine concerning; to give judgment or sentence upon. "We may not pass upon his life." Shak. -- To pass off, to go away; to cease; to disappear; as, an agitation passes off. -- To pass over, to go from one side or end to the other; to cross, as a river, road, or bridge.
PASS Pass, v. t.
1. In simple, transitive senses; as: (a) To go by, beyond, over, through, or the like; to proceed from one side to the other of; as, to pass a house, a stream, a boundary, etc. (b) Hence:
Defn: To go from one limit to the other of; to spend; to live through; to have experience of; to undergo; to suffer. "To pass commodiously this life." Milton. She loved me for the dangers I had passed. Shak.
(c) To go by without noticing; to omit attention to; to take no note of; to disregard. Please you that I may pass This doing. Shak. I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array. Dryden.
(d) To transcend; to surpass; to excel; to exceed. And strive to pass . . . Their native music by her skillful art. Spenser. Whose tender power Passes the strength of storms in their most desolate hour. Byron.
(e) To go successfully through, as an examination, trail, test, etc.; to obtain the formal sanction of, as a legislative body; as, he passed his examination; the bill passed the senate.
2. In causative senses: as: (a) To cause to move or go; to send; to transfer from one person, place, or condition to another; to transmit; to deliver; to hand; to make over; as, the waiter passed bisquit and cheese; the torch was passed from hand to hand. I had only time to pass my eye over the medals. Addison. Waller passed over five thousand horse and foot by Newbridge. Clarendon.
(b) To cause to pass the lips; to utter; to pronounce; hence, to promise; to pledge; as, to pass sentence. Shak. Father, thy word is passed. Milton.
(c) To cause to advance by stages of progress; to carry on with success through an ordeal, examination, or action; specifically, to give legal or official sanction to; to ratify; to enact; to approve as valid and just; as, he passed the bill through the committee; the senate passed the law. (e) To put in circulation; to give currency to; as, to pass counterfeit money. "Pass the happy news." Tennyson. (f) To cause to obtain entrance, admission, or conveyance; as, to pass a person into a theater, or over a railroad.
3. To emit from the bowels; to evacuate.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: To take a turn with (a line, gasket, etc.), as around a sail in furling, and make secure.
5. (Fencing)
Defn: To make, as a thrust, punto, etc. Shak. Passed midshipman. See under Midshipman. -- To pass a dividend, to omit the declaration and payment of a dividend at the time when due. -- To pass away, to spend; to waste. "Lest she pass away the flower of her age." Ecclus. xlii. 9. -- To pass by. (a) To disregard; to neglect. (b) To excuse; to spare; to overlook. -- To pass off, to impose fraudulently; to palm off. "Passed himself off as a bishop." Macaulay. -- To pass (something) on or upon (some one), to put upon as a trick or cheat; to palm off. "She passed the child on her husband for a boy." Dryden. -- To pass over, to overlook; not to note or resent; as, to pass over an affront.
PASS Pass, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pas (for sense 1), and passe, fr. passer to pass. See Pass, v. i.]
1. An opening, road, or track, available for passing; especially, one through or over some dangerous or otherwise impracticable barrier; a passageway; a defile; a ford; as, a mountain pass. "Try not the pass!" the old man said. Longfellow.
2. (Fencing)
Defn: A thrust or push; an attempt to stab or strike an adversary. Shak.
3. A movement of the hand over or along anything; the manipulation of a mesmerist.
4. (Rolling Metals)
Defn: A single passage of a bar, rail, sheet, etc., between the rolls.
5. State of things; condition; predicament. Have his daughters brought him to this pass. Shak. Matters have been brought to this pass. South.
6. Permission or license to pass, or to go and come; a psssport; a ticket permitting free transit or admission; as, a railroad or theater pass; a military pass. A ship sailing under the flag and pass of an enemy. Kent.
7. Fig.: a thrust; a sally of wit. Shak.
8. Estimation; character. [Obs.] Common speech gives him a worthy pass. Shak.
9. Etym: [Cf. Passus.]
Defn: A part; a division. [Obs.] Chaucer. Pass boat (Naut.), a punt, or similar boat. -- Pass book. (a) A book in which a trader enters articles bought on credit, and then passes or sends it to the purchaser. (b) See Bank book. -- Pass box (Mil.), a wooden or metallic box, used to carry cartridges from the service magazine to the piece. -- Pass check, a ticket of admission to a place of entertainment, or of readmission for one who goes away in expectation of returning.
PASSABLE Pass"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. passable.]
1. Capable of being passed, traveled, navigated, traversed, penetrated, or the like; as, the roads are not passable; the stream is passablein boats. His body's a passable carcass if it be not hurt; it is a throughfare for steel. Shak.
2. Capable of being freely circulated or disseminated; acceptable; generally receivable; current. With men as with false money -- one piece is more or less passable than another. L'Estrange. Could they have made this slander passable. Collier.
3. Such as may be allowed to pass without serious objection; tolerable; admissable; moderate; mediocre. My version will appear a passable beauty when the original muse is absent. Dryden.
PASSABLENESS Pass"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being passable.
PASSABLY Pass"a*bly, adv.
Defn: Tolerably; moderately.
PASSACAGLIA; PASSACAGLIO Pas`sa*ca*glia, Pas`sa*ca*glio, n. Etym: [Sp. pasacalle a certain tune on the guitar, prop., a tune played in passing through the streets.] (Mus.)
Defn: An old Italian or Spanish dance tune, in slow three-four measure, with divisions on a ground bass, resembling a chaconne.
PASSADE; PASSADO Pas*sade", Pas*sa"do, n. Etym: [F. passade; cf. Sp. pasada. See Pass, v. i.]
1. (Fencing)
Defn: A pass or thrust. Shak.
2. (Man.)
Defn: A turn or course of a horse backward or forward on the same spot of ground.
PASSAGE Pas"sage, n. Etym: [F. passage. See Pass, v. i.]
1. The act of passing; transit from one place to another; movement from point to point; a going by, over, across, or through; as, the passage of a man or a carriage; the passage of a ship or a bird; the passage of light; the passage of fluids through the pores or channels of the body. What! are my doors opposed against my passage! Shak.
2. Transit by means of conveyance; journey, as by water, carriage, car, or the like; travel; right, liberty, or means, of passing; conveyance. The ship in which he had taken passage. Macaulay.
3. Price paid for the liberty to pass; fare; as, to pay one's passage.
4. Removal from life; decease; departure; death. [R.] "Endure thy mortal passage." Milton. When he is fit and season'd for his passage. Shak.
5. Way; road; path; channel or course through or by which one passes; way of exit or entrance; way of access or transit. Hence, a common avenue to various apartments in a building; a hall; a corridor. And with his pointed dart Explores the nearest passage to his heart. Dryden. The Persian army had advanced into the . . . passages of Cilicia. South.
6. A continuous course, process, or progress; a connected or continuous series; as, the passage of time. The conduct and passage of affairs. Sir J. Davies. The passage and whole carriage of this action. Shak.
7. A separate part of a course, process, or series; an occurrence; an incident; an act or deed. "In thy passages of life." Shak. The . . . almost incredible passage of their unbelief. South.
8. A particular portion constituting a part of something continuous; esp., a portion of a book, speech, or musical composition; a paragraph; a clause. How commentators each dark passage shun. Young.
9. Reception; currency. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.
10. A pass or en encounter; as, a passage at arms. No passages of love Betwixt us twain henceforward evermore. Tennyson.
11. A movement or an evacuation of the bowels.
12. In parliamentary proceedings: (a) The course of a proposition (bill, resolution, etc.) through the several stages of consideration and action; as, during its passage through Congress the bill was amended in both Houses. (b) The advancement of a bill or other proposition from one stage to another by an affirmative vote; esp., the final affirmative action of the body upon a proposition; hence, adoption; enactment; as, the passage of the bill to its third reading was delayed. "The passage of the Stamp Act." D. Hosack. The final question was then put upon its passage. Cushing. In passage, in passing; cursorily. "These . . . have been studied but in passage." Bacon. -- Middle passage, Northeast passage, Northwest passage. See under Middle, Northeast, etc. -- Of passage, passing from one place, region, or climate, to another; migratory; -- said especially of birds "Birds of passage." Longfellow. -- Passage hawk, a hawk taken on its passage or migration. -- Passage money, money paid for conveyance of a passenger, -- usually for carrying passengers by water.
Syn. -- Vestibule; hall; corridor. See Vestibule.
PASSAGER Pas"sa*ger, n. Etym: [See Passenger.]
Defn: A passenger; a bird or boat of passage. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.
PASSAGEWAY Pas"sage*way`, n.
Defn: A way for passage; a hall. See Passage, 5.
PASSANT Pas"sant, a. Etym: [F., p.pr. of passer. See Pass, v. i.]
1. Passing from one to another; in circulation; current. [Obs.] Many opinions are passant. Sir T. Browne.
2. Curs [Obs.] On a passant rewiew of what I wrote to the bishop. Sir P. Pett.
3. Surpassing; excelling. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (Her.)
Defn: Walking; -- said of any animal on an escutcheon, which is represented as walking with the dexter paw raised.
PASSE; PASSEE Pas`sé", masc. Pas`sé"e, fem., a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Past; gone by; hence, past one's prime; worn; faded; as, a passée belle. Ld. Lytton.
PASSEGARDE Passe"garde`, n. Etym: [F.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: A ridge or projecting edge on a shoulder piece to turn the blow of a lance or other weapon from the joint of the armor.
PASSEMENT Passe"ment, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Lace, gimp, braid etc., sewed on a garment. Sir W. Scott.
PASSEMENTERIE Passe*men"terie, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Beaded embroidery for women's dresses.
PASSENGER Pas"sen*ger, n. Etym: [OE. & F. passager. See Passage, and cf. Messenger.]
1. A passer or passer-by; a wayfarer. Shak.
2. A traveler by some established conveyance, as a coach, steamboat, railroad train, etc. Passenger falcon (Zoöl.), a migratory hawk. Ainsworth. -- Passenger pigeon (Zoöl.), the common wild pigeon of North America (Ectopistes migratorius), so called on account of its extensive migrations.
PASSENGER MILE Pas"sen*ger mile. (Railroads)
Defn: A unit of measurement of the passenger transportation performed by a railroad during a given period, usually a year, the total of which consists of the sum of the miles traversed by all the passengers on the road in the period in question.
PASSENGER MILEAGE Passenger mileage. (Railroads)
Defn: Passenger miles collectively; the total number of miles traveled by passengers on a railroad during a given period.
PASSE PARTOUT Passe" par`tout", n. Etym: [F., from passer to pass + partout everywhere.]
1. That by which one can pass anywhere; a safe-conduct. [Obs.] Dryden.
2. A master key; a latchkey.
3. A light picture frame or mat of cardboard, wood, or the like, usually put between the picture and the glass, and sometimes serving for several pictures.
PASSER Pass"er, n.
Defn: One who passes; a passenger.
PASSER-BY Pass`er-by", n.
Defn: One who goes by; a passer.
PASSERES Pas"se*res, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. passer a sparrow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order, or suborder, of birds, including more that half of all the known species. It embraces all singing birds (Oscines), together with many other small perching birds.
PASSERIFORM Pas*ser"i*form, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the Passeres.
PASSERINE Pas"ser*ine, a. Etym: [L. passerinus, fr. passer a sparrow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Passeres. The columbine, gallinaceous, and passerine tribes people the fruit trees. Sydney Smith.
PASSERINE Pas"ser*ine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Passeres.
PASSIBILITY Pas`si*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. passibilitas: cf. F. passibilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being passible; aptness to feel or suffer; sensibility. Hakewill.
PASSIBLE Pas"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. passibilis, fr. pati, to suffer: cf. F. passible. See Passion.]
Defn: Susceptible of feeling or suffering, or of impressions from external agents. Apolinarius, which held even deity itself passible. Hooker.
PASSIBLENESS Pas"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Passibility. Brerewood.
PASSIFLORA Pas"si*flo"ra, n. Etym: [NL., from L. passio passion (fr. pati, passus, to suffer) + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, including the passion flower. It is the type of the order Passifloreæ, which includes about nineteen genera and two hundred and fifty species.
PASSIM Pas"sim, adv. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Here and there; everywhere; as, this word occurs passim in the poem.
PASSING Pass"ing, n.
Defn: The act of one who, or that which, passes; the act of going by or away. Passing bell, a tolling of a bell to announce that a soul is passing, or has passed, from its body (formerly done to invoke prayers for the dying); also, a tolling during the passing of a funeral procession to the grave, or during funeral ceremonies. Sir W. Scott. Longfellow.
PASSING Pass"ing, a.
1. Relating to the act of passing or going; going by, beyond, through, or away; departing.
2. Exceeding; surpassing, eminent. Chaucer. "Her passing deformity." Shak. Passing note (Mus.), a character including a passing tone. -- Passing tone (Mus.), a tone introduced between two other tones, on an unaccented portion of a measure, for the sake of smoother melody, but forming no essential part of the harmony.
PASSING Pass"ing, adv.
Defn: Exceedingly; excessively; surpassingly; as, passing fair; passing strange. "You apprehend passing shrewdly." Shak.
PASSINGLY Pass"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Exceedingly. Wyclif.
PASSION Pas"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. passio, fr. pati, passus, to suffer. See Patient.]
1. A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion); specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the cross. "The passions of this time." Wyclif (Rom. viii. 18). To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs. Acts i. 3.
2. The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; -- opposed to action. A body at rest affords us no idea of any active power to move, and, when set is motion, it is rather a passion than an action in it. Locke.
3. Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents. [R.] Moldable and not moldable, scissible and not scissible, and many other passions of matter. Bacon.
4. The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and influenced by something external to itself; the state of any particular faculty which, under such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear, etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should have passion as well as rhetorical skill. "A passion fond even to idolatry." Macaulay. "Her passion is to seek roses." Lady M. W. Montagu. We also are men of like passions with you. Acts xiv. 15. The nature of the human mind can not be sufficiently understood, without considering the affections and passions, or those modifications or actions of the mind consequent upon the apprehension of certain objects or events in which the mind generally conceives good or evil. Hutcheson. The term passion, and its adverb passionately, often express a very strong predilection for any pursuit, or object of taste -- a kind of enthusiastic fondness for anything. Cogan. The bravery of his grief did put me Into a towering passion. Shak. The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still. Pope. Who walked in every path of human life, Felt every passion. Akenside. When statesmen are ruled by faction and interest, they can have no passion for the glory of their country. Addison.
5. Disorder of the mind; madness. [Obs.] Shak.
6. Passion week. See Passion week, below. R. of Gl. Passion flower (Bot.), any flower or plant of the genus Passiflora; -- so named from a fancied resemblance of parts of the flower to the instruments of our Savior's crucifixion.
Note: The flowers are showy, and the fruit is sometimes highly esteemed (see Granadilla, and Maypop). The roots and leaves are generally more or less noxious, and are used in medicine. The plants are mostly tendril climbers, and are commonest in the warmer parts of America, though a few species are Asiatic or Australian. Passion music (Mus.), originally, music set to the gospel narrative of the passion of our Lord; after the Reformation, a kind of oratorio, with narrative, chorals, airs, and choruses, having for its theme the passion and crucifixion of Christ. -- Passion play, a mystery play, in which the scenes connected with the passion of our Savior are represented dramatically. -- Passion Sunday (Eccl.), the fifth Sunday in Lent, or the second before Easter. -- Passion Week, the last week but one in Lent, or the second week preceding Easter. "The name of Passion week is frequently, but improperly, applied to Holy Week." Shipley.
Syn. -- Passion, Feeling, Emotion. When any feeling or emotion completely masters the mind, we call it a passion; as, a passion for music, dress, etc.; especially is anger (when thus extreme) called passion. The mind, in such cases, is considered as having lost its self- control, and become the passive instrument of the feeling in question.
PASSION Pas"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Passioned; p.pr & vb. n. Passioning.]
Defn: To give a passionate character to. [R.] Keats.
PASSION Pas"sion, v. i.
Defn: To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated. [Obs.] "Dumbly she passions, frantically she doteth." Shak.
PASSIONAL Pas"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to passion or the passions; exciting, influenced by, or ministering to, the passions. -- n.
Defn: A passionary.
PASSIONARY Pas"sion*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. passionarius: cf. F. passionaire.]
Defn: A book in which are described the sufferings of saints and martyrs. T. Warton.
PASSIONATE Pas"sion*ate, a. Etym: [LL. passionatus: cf. F. passionné.]
1. Capable or susceptible of passion, or of different passions; easily moved, excited or agitated; specifically, easily moved to anger; irascible; quick-tempered; as, a passionate nature. Homer's Achilles is haughty and passionate. Prior.
2. Characterized by passion; expressing passion; ardent in feeling or desire; vehement; warm; as, a passionate friendship. "The passionate Pilgrim." Shak.
3. Suffering; sorrowful. [Obs.] Shak.
PASSIONATE Pas"sion*ate, v. i.
1. To affect with passion; to impassion. [Obs.] Great pleasure, mixed with pitiful regard, The godly kind and queen did passionate. Spenser.
2. To express feelingly or sorrowfully. [Obs.] Shak.
PASSIONATELY Pas"sion*ate*ly, adv.
1. In a passionate manner; with strong feeling; ardently. Sorrow expresses itself . . . loudly and passionately. South.
2. Angrily; irascibly. Locke.
PASSIONATENESS Pas"sion*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being passionate.
PASSIONIST Pas"sion*ist, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A member of a religious order founded in Italy in 1737, and introduced into the United States in 1852. The members of the order unite the austerities of the Trappists with the activity and zeal of the Jesuits and Lazarists. Called also Barefooted Clerks of the Most Holy Cross.
PASSIONLESS Pas"sion*less, a.
Defn: Void of passion; without anger or emotion; not easily excited; calm. "Self-contained and passionless." Tennyson.
PASSIONTIDE Pas"sion*tide`, n. Etym: [Passion + tide time.]
Defn: The last fortnight of Lent.
PASSIVE Pas"sive, a. Etym: [L. passivus: cf. F. passif. See Passion.]
1. Not active, but acted upon; suffering or receiving impressions or influences; as, they were passive spectators, not actors in the scene. The passive air Upbore their nimble tread. Milton. The mind is wholly passive in the reception of all its simple ideas. Locke.
2. Receiving or enduring without either active sympathy or active resistance; without emotion or excitement; patient; not opposing; unresisting; as, passive obedience; passive submission. The best virtue, passive fortitude. Massinger.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Inactive; inert; not showing strong affinity; as, red phosphorus is comparatively passive.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Designating certain morbid conditions, as hemorrhage or dropsy, characterized by relaxation of the vessels and tissues, with deficient vitality and lack of reaction in the affected tissues. Passive congestion (Med.), congestion due to obstruction to the return of the blood from the affected part. -- Passive iron (Chem.), iron which has been subjected to the action of heat, of strong nitric acid, chlorine, etc. It is then not easily acted upon by acids. -- Passive movement (Med.), a movement of a part, in order to exercise it, made without the assistance of the muscles which ordinarily move the part. -- Passive obedience (as used by writers on government), obedience or submission of the subject or citizen as a duty in all cases to the existing government. -- Passive prayer, among mystic divines, a suspension of the activity of the soul or intellectual faculties, the soul remaining quiet, and yielding only to the impulses of grace. -- Passive verb, or Passive voice (Gram.), a verb, or form of a verb, which expresses the effect of the action of some agent; as, in Latin, doceor, I am taught; in English, she is loved; the picture is admired by all; he is assailed by slander.
Syn. -- Inactive; inert; quiescent; unresisting; unopposing; suffering; enduring; submissive; patient.
PASSIVE BALLOON; PASSIVE AEROPLANE Pas"sive bal*loon" or a"ër*o*plane.
Defn: One unprovided with motive power.
PASSIVE FLIGHT Passive flight.
Defn: Flight, such as gliding and soaring, accomplished without the use of motive power.
PASSIVELY Pas"sive*ly, adv.
1. In a passive manner; inertly; unresistingly.
2. As a passive verb; in the passive voice.
PASSIVENESS Pas"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being passive; unresisting submission. To be an effect implies passiveness, or the being subject to the power and action of its cause. J. Edwards.
PASSIVITY Pas*siv"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. passivité.]
1. Passiveness; -- opposed to activity. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The tendency of a body to remain in a given state, either of motion or rest, till disturbed by another body; inertia. Cheyne.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The quality or condition of any substance which has no inclination to chemical activity; inactivity.
PASS-KEY Pass"-key`, n.
Defn: A key for opening more locks than one; a master key.
PASSLESS Pass"less, a.
Defn: Having no pass; impassable. Cowley.
PASSMAN Pass"man, n.; pl. Passmen (.
Defn: One who passes for a degree, without honors. See Classman, 2. [Eng. Univ.]
PASSOVER Pass"o`ver, n. Etym: [Pass + over. See Pasch.] (Jewish Antiq.) (a) A feast of the Jews, instituted to commemorate the sparing of the Hebrews in Egypt, when God, smiting the firstborn of the Egyptians, passed over the houses of the Israelites which were marked with the blood of a lamb. (b) The sacrifice offered at the feast of the passover; the paschal lamb. Ex. xii.
PASS-PAROLE Pass`-pa*role", n. Etym: [F. passe-parole.] (Mil.)
Defn: An order passed from front to rear by word of mouth.
PASSPORT Pass"port (, n. Etym: [F. passeport, orig., a permission to leave a port or to sail into it; passer to pass + port a port, harbor. See Pass, and Port a harbor.]
1. Permission to pass; a document given by the competent officer of a state, permitting the person therein named to pass or travel from place to place, without molestation, by land or by water. Caution in granting passports to Ireland. Clarendon.
2. A document carried by neutral merchant vessels in time of war, to certify their nationality and protect them from belligerents; a sea letter.
3. A license granted in time of war for the removal of persons and effects from a hostile country; a safe-conduct. Burrill.
4. Figuratively: Anything which secures advancement and general acceptance. Sir P. Sidney. His passport is his innocence and grace. Dryden.
PASSUS Pas"sus, n.; pl. L. Passus, E. Passuses (. Etym: [L., a step, a pace. See Pace.]
Defn: A division or part; a canto; as, the passus of Piers Plowman. See 2d Fit.
PASSWORD Pass"word`, n.
Defn: A word to be given before a person is allowed to pass; a watchword; a countersign. Macaulay.
PASSYMEASURE Pas"sy*meas`ure, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. It. passamezzo.] [Obs.]
Defn: See Paspy. Shak.
PAST Past, a. Etym: [From Pass, v.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences. "Past ages." Milton. Past master. See under Master.
PAST Past, n.
Defn: A former time or state; a state of things gone by. "The past, at least, is secure." D. Webster. The present is only intelligible in the light of the past, often a very remote past indeed. Trench.
PAST Past, prep.
1. Beyond, in position, or degree; further than; beyond the reach or influence of. "Who being past feeling." Eph. iv. 19. "Galled past endurance." Macaulay. Until we be past thy borders. Num. xxi. 22. Love, when once past government, is consequently past shame. L'Estrange.
2. Beyond, in time; after; as, past the hour. Is it not past two o'clock Shak.
3. Above; exceeding; more than. [R.] Not past three quarters of a mile. Shak. Bows not past three quarters of a yard long. Spenser.
PAST Past, adv.
Defn: By; beyond; as, he ran past. The alarum of drums swept past. Longfellow.
PASTE Paste, n. Etym: [OF. paste, F. pâte, L. pasta, fr. Gr. Pasty, n., Patty.]
1. A soft composition, as of flour moistened with water or milk, or of earth moistened to the consistence of dough, as in making potter's ware.
2. Specifically, in cookery, a dough prepared for the crust of pies and the like; pastry dough.
3. A kind of cement made of flour and water, starch and water, or the like, -- used for uniting paper or other substances, as in bookbinding, etc., -- also used in calico printing as a vehicle for mordant or color.
4. A highly refractive vitreous composition, variously colored, used in making imitations of precious stones or gems. See Strass.
5. A soft confection made of the inspissated juice of fruit, licorice, or the like, with sugar, etc.
6. (Min.)
Defn: The mineral substance in which other minerals are imbedded. Paste eel (Zoöl.), the vinegar eel. See under Vinegar.
PASTE Paste, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pasting.]
Defn: To unite with paste; to fasten or join by means of paste.
PASTEBOARD Paste"board`, n.
1. A stiff thick kind of paper board, formed of several single sheets pasted one upon another, or of paper macerated and pressed into molds, etc.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: A board on which pastry dough is rolled; a molding board.
PASTEL Pas"tel, n. Etym: [F.; cf. It. pastello. Cf. Pastil.]
1. A crayon made of a paste composed of a color ground with gum water. [Sometimes incorrectly written pastil.] "Charming heads in pastel." W. Black.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant affording a blue dye; the woad (Isatis tinctoria); also, the dye itself.
PASTER Past"er, n.
1. One who pastes; as, a paster in a government department.
2. A slip of paper, usually bearing a name, intended to be pasted by the voter, as a substitute, over another name on a printed ballot. [Cant, U.S.]
PASTERN Pas"tern, n. Etym: [Of. pasturon, F. pâturon, fr. OF. pasture a tether, for beasts while pasturing; prop., a pasturing. See Pasture.]
1. The part of the foot of the horse, and allied animals, between the fetlock and the coffin joint. See Illust. of Horse.
Note: The upper bone, or phalanx, of the foot is called the great pastern bone; the second, the small pastern bone; and the third, in the hoof, the coffin bone. Pastern joint, the joint in the hoof of the horse, and allied animals, between the great and small pastern bones.
2. A shackle for horses while pasturing. Knight.
3. A patten. [Obs.] Dryden.
PASTEURIAN Pas*teur"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pasteur.
PASTEURISM Pas*teur"ism, n. Etym: [Fr. Pasteur, a French scientist.]
1. A method of treatment, devised by Pasteur, for preventing certain diseases, as hydrophobia, by successive inoculations with an attenuated virus of gradually increasing strength.
2. Pasteurization.
PASTEURIZATION Pas*teur`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: A process devised by Pasteur for preventing or checking fermentation in fluids, such as wines, milk, etc., by exposure to a temperature of 140º F., thus destroying the vitality of the contained germs or ferments.
PASTEURIZE Pas*teur"ize, v. t.
1. To subject to pasteurization.
2. To treat by pasteurizm.
PASTEURIZER Pas"teur*iz`er, n.
Defn: One that Pasteurizes, specif. an apparatus for heating and agitating, fluid.
PASTEUR'S FLUID Pas`teur's" flu"id. (Biol.)
Defn: An artificial nutrient fluid invented by Pasteur for the study of alcoholic fermentation, but used also for the cultivation of bacteria and other organisms. It contains all the elements of protoplasm, and was originally made of the ash of yeast, some ammonia compound, sugar, and water.
PASTICCIO Pas*tic"ci*o, n. Etym: [It., fr. pasta. See Paste.]
1. A medley; an olio. [R.] H. Swinburne.
2. (Fine Arts) (a) A work of art imitating directly the work of another artist, or of more artists than one. (b) A falsified work of art, as a vase or statue made up of parts of original works, with missing parts supplied.
PASTIL; PASTILLE Pas"til, Pas*tille", n. Etym: [F. pastille, L. pastillusa pastus food. See Pasture, and cf. Pastel.]
1. (Pharmacy)
Defn: A small cone or mass made of paste of gum, benzoin, cinnamon, and other aromatics, -- used for fumigating or scenting the air of a room.
2. An aromatic or medicated lozenge; a troche.
3. See Pastel, a crayon.
PASTIME Pas"time`, n. Etym: [Pass + time: cf. F. passetemps.]
Defn: That which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably; sport; amusement; diversion.
PASTIME Pas"time`, v. i.
Defn: To sport; to amuse one's self. [R.]
PASTOR Pas"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. pascere, pastum, to pasture, to feed. Cf. Pabulum, Pasture, Food.]
1. A shepherd; one who has the care of flocks and herds.
2. A guardian; a keeper; specifically (Eccl.), a minister having the charge of a church and parish.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of starling (Pastor roseus), native of the plains of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Its head is crested and glossy greenish black, and its back is rosy. It feeds largely upon locusts.
PASTORAGE Pas"tor*age, n.
Defn: The office, jurisdiction, or duty, of a pastor; pastorate.
PASTORAL Pas"tor*al, a. Etym: [L. pastoralis: cf. F. pastoral. See Pastor.]
1. Of or pertaining to shepherds; hence, relating to rural life and scenes; as, a pastoral life.
2. Relating to the care of souls, or to the pastor of a church; as, pastoral duties; a pastoral letter. Pastoral staff (Eccl.), a staff, usually of the form of a shepherd's crook, borne as an official emblem by a bishop, abbot, abbess, or other prelate privileged to carry it. See Crook, and Crosier. -- Pastoral Theology, that part of theology which treats of the duties of pastors.
PASTORAL Pas"tor*al, n.
1. A poem describing the life and manners of shepherds; a poem in which the speakers assume the character of shepherds; an idyl; a bucolic. A pastoral is a poem in which any action or passion is represented by its effects on a country life. Rambler.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A cantata relating to rural life; a composition for instruments characterized by simplicity and sweetness; a lyrical composition the subject of which is taken from rural life. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: A letter of a pastor to his charge; specifically, a letter addressed by a bishop to his diocese; also (Prot. Epis. Ch.), a letter of the House of Bishops, to be read in each parish.
PASTORALE Pas`to*ra"le, n. Etym: [It.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A composition in a soft, rural style, generally in 6-8 or 12-8 time.
2. A kind of dance; a kind of figure used in a dance.
PASTORALLY Pas"tor*al*ly, adv.
1. In a pastoral or rural manner.
2. In the manner of a pastor.
PASTORATE Pas"tor*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pastorat. See Pastor.]
Defn: The office, state, or jurisdiction of a pastor.
PASTORIUM Pas*to"ri*um, n. [See Pastor; cf. Auditorium.]
Defn: A parsonage; -- so called in some Baptist churches. [Southern U. S.]
PASTORLESS Pas"tor*less, a.
Defn: Having no pastor.
PASTORLING Pas"tor*ling, n.
Defn: An insignificant pastor. [R.]
PASTORLY Pas"tor*ly, a.
Defn: Appropriate to a pastor. Milton.
PASTORSHIP Pas"tor*ship, n.
Defn: Pastorate. Bp. Bull.
PASTRY Pas"try, n.; pl. Pastries (.
1. The place where pastry is made. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Articles of food made of paste, or having a crust made of paste, as pies, tarts, etc. Pastry cook, one whose occupation is to make pastry; as, the pastry cook of a hotel.
PASTURABLE Pas"tur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit for pasture.
PASTURAGE Pas"tur*age, n. Etym: [OF. pasturage, F. pâturage. See Pasture.]
1. Grazing ground; grass land used for pasturing; pasture.
2. Grass growing for feed; grazing.
3. The business of feeding or grazing cattle.
PASTURE Pas"ture, n. Etym: [OF. pasture, F. pâture, L. pastura, fr. pascere, pastum, to pasture, to feed. See Pastor.]
1. Food; nourishment. [Obs.] Toads and frogs his pasture poisonous. Spenser.
2. Specifically: Grass growing for the food of cattle; the food of cattle taken by grazing.
3. Grass land for cattle, horses, etc.; pasturage. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Ps. xxiii. 2. So graze as you find pasture. Shak.
PASTURE Pas"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pastured; p. pr. & vb. n. Pasturing.]
Defn: To feed, esp. to feed on growing grass; to supply grass as food for; as, the farmer pastures fifty oxen; the land will pasture forty cows.
PASTURE Pas"ture, v. i.
Defn: To feed on growing grass; to graze.
PASTURELESS Pas"ture*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of pasture. Milton.
PASTURER Pas"tur*er, n.
Defn: One who pastures; one who takes cattle to graze. See Agister.
PASTY Pas"ty, a.
Defn: Like paste, as in color, softness, stickness. "A pasty complexion." G. Eliot.
PASTY Pas"ty, n.; pl. Pasties. Etym: [OF. pasté, F. pâté. See Paste, and cf. Patty.]
Defn: A pie consisting usually of meat wholly surrounded with a crust made of a sheet of paste, and often baked without a dish; a meat pie. "If ye pinch me like a pasty." Shak. "Apple pasties." Dickens. A large pasty baked in a pewter platter. Sir W. Scott.
PAT Pat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patted; p. pr. & vb. n. Patting.] Etym: [Cf. G. patschen, Prov. G. patzen, to strike, tap.]
Defn: To strike gently with the fingers or hand; to stroke lightly; to tap; as, to pat a dog. Gay pats my shoulder, and you vanish quite. Pope.
PAT Pat, n.
1. A light, quik blow or stroke with the fingers or hand; a tap.
2. A small mass, as of butter, shaped by pats. It looked like a tessellated work of pats of butter. Dickens.
PAT Pat, a. Etym: [Cf. pat a light blow, D. te pas convenient, pat, where pas is fr. F. passer to pass.]
Defn: Exactly suitable; fit; convenient; timely. "Pat allusion." Barrow.
PAT Pat, adv.
Defn: In a pat manner. I foresaw then 't would come in pat hereafter. Sterne.
PATACA Pa*ta"ca, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: The Spanish dollar; -- called also patacoon. [Obs.]
PATACHE Pa`tache", n. Etym: [F. & Sp. patache, P. patacho.] (Naut.)
Defn: A tender to a fleet, formerly used for conveying men, orders, or treasure. [Spain & Portugal]
PATACOON Pa`ta*coon", n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: See Pataca.
PATAGIUM Pa*ta"gi*um, n.; pl. Patagia. Etym: [L., an edge or border.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: In bats, an expansion of the integument uniting the fore limb with the body and extending between the elongated fingers to form the wing; in birds, the similar fold of integument uniting the fore limb with the body.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a pair of small vesicular organs situated at the bases of the anterior wings of lepidopterous insects. See Illust. of Butterfly.
PATAGONIAN Pat`a*go"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Patagonia. -- n.
Defn: A native of Patagonia.
PATAMAR Pat"a*mar, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel resembling a grab, used in the coasting trade of Bombay and Ceylon. [Written also pattemar.]
PATAS Pa*tas", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West African long-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ruber); the red monkey.
PATAVINITY Pat`a*vin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. patavinitas, fr. Patavium: cf. F. patavinité]
Defn: The use of local or provincial words, as in the peculiar style or diction of Livy, the Roman historian; -- so called from Patavium, now Padua, the place of Livy's nativity.
PATCH Patch, n. Etym: [OE. pacche; of uncertain origin, perh. for placche; cf. Prov. E. platch patch, LG. plakk, plakke.]
1. A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp. upon an old garment to cover a hole. Patches set upon a little breach. Shak.
2. Hence: A small piece of anything used to repair a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc.
3. A small piece of black silk stuck on the face, or neck, to hide a defect, or to heighten beauty. Your black patches you wear variously. Beau. & Fl.
4. (Gun.)
Defn: A piece of greased cloth or leather used as wrapping for a rifle ball, to make it fit the bore.
5. Fig.: Anything regarded as a patch; a small piece of ground; a tract; a plot; as, scattered patches of trees or growing corn. Employed about this patch of ground. Bunyan.
6. (Mil.)
Defn: A block on the muzzle of a gun, to do away with the effect of dispart, in sighting.
7. A paltry fellow; a rogue; a ninny; a fool. [Obs. or Colloq.] "Thou scurvy patch." Shak. Patch ice, ice in overlapping pieces in the sea. -- Soft patch, a patch for covering a crack in a metallic vessel, as a steam boiler, consisting of soft material, as putty, covered and held in place by a plate bolted or riveted fast.
PATCH Patch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patched; p. pr. & vb. n. Patching.]
1. To mend by sewing on a piece or pieces of cloth, leather, or the like; as, to patch a coat.
2. To mend with pieces; to repair with pieces festened on; to repair clumsily; as, to patch the roof of a house.
3. To adorn, as the face, with a patch or patches. Ladies who patched both sides of their faces. Spectator.
4. To make of pieces or patches; to repair as with patches; to arrange in a hasty or clumsy manner; -- generally with up; as, to patch up a truce. "If you'll patch a quarrel." Shak.
PATCHER Patch"er, n.
Defn: One who patches or botches. Foxe.
PATCHERY Patch"er*y, n.
Defn: Botchery; covering of defects; bungling; hypocrisy. [R.] Shak.
PATCHINGLY Patch"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Knavishy; deceitfully. [Obs.]
PATCHOULI; PATCHOULY Pa*tchou"li, Pa*tchou"ly, n. Etym: [CF. F. patchouli; prob. of East Indian origin.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A mintlike plant (Pogostemon Patchouli) of the East Indies, yielding an essential oil from which a highly valued perfume is made.
2. The perfume made from this plant. Patchouly camphor (Chem.), a substance homologous with and resembling borneol, found in patchouly oil.
PATCHWORK Patch"work`, n.
Defn: Work composed of pieces sewed together, esp. pieces of various colors and figures; hence, anything put together of incongruous or ill-adapted parts; something irregularly clumsily composed; a thing putched up. Swift.
PATCHY Patch"y, a.
Defn: Full of, or covered with, patches; abounding in patches.
PATE Pa`té", a. (Her.)
Defn: See Patté.
PATE Pa`té", n. Etym: [F. pâté.]
1. A pie. See Patty.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: A kind of platform with a parapet, usually of an oval form, and generally erected in marshy grounds to cover a gate of a fortified place. [R.]
PATE Pate, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. & Prov. G. pattkopf, patzkopf, scabby head; patt, patz, scab + kopf head.]
1. The head of a person; the top, or crown, of the head. [Now generally used in contempt or ridicule.] His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. Ps. vii. 16. Fat paunches have lean pate. Shak.
2. The skin of a calf's head.
PATED Pat"ed, a.
Defn: Having a pate; -- used only in composition; as, long-pated; shallow-pated.
PATEE Pa*tee", n.
Defn: See Pattee.
PATEFACTION Pat`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. patefactio, fr. patefacere to open; patere to lie open + facere to make.]
Defn: The act of opening, disclosing, or manifesting; open declaration. Jer. Taylor.
PATELA Pat"e*la, n. Etym: [Hind. patela.]
Defn: A large flat-bottomed trading boat peculiar to the river Ganges; -- called also puteli.
PATELLA Pa*tel"la, n.; pl. Patellæ. Etym: [L., a small pan, the kneepan, dim. of patina, patena, a pan, dish.]
1. A small dish, pan, or vase.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The kneepan; the cap of the knee.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine gastropods, including many species of limpets. The shell has the form of a flattened cone. The common European limpet (Patella vulgata) is largely used for food.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of apothecium in lichens, which is orbicular, flat, and sessile, and has a special rim not a part of the thallus.
PATELLAR Pa*tel"lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the patella, or kneepan.
PATELLIFORM Pa*tel"li*form, a. Etym: [Patella + form: cf. F. pattelliforme.]
1. Having the form of a patella.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a limpet of the genus Patella.
PATELLULA Pa*tel"lu*la, n.; pl. Patellulæ. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. patella. See Patella.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cuplike sucker on the feet of certain insects.
PATEN Pat"en, n. Etym: [LL. patina, patena, fr. L. patina, patena, a pan; cf. L. patere to be open, E. patent, and Gr. patène. Cf. Patina.]
1. A plate. [Obs.]
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: The place on which the consecrated bread is placed in the Eucharist, or on which the host is placed during the Mass. It is usually small, and formed as to fit the chalice, or cup, as a cover. [Written also patin, patine.]
PATENA Pat"e*na, n. Etym: [LL.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A paten.
PATENA Pa*te"na, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. patena a paten.]
Defn: A grassy expanse in the hill region of Ceylon.
PATENCY Pa"ten*cy, n. Etym: [See Patent.]
1. The condition of being open, enlarged, or spread.
2. The state of being patent or evident.
PATENT Pat"ent (pât"ent or pat"ent), a. Etym: [L. patens, -entis, p.pr. of patere to be open: cf. F. patent. Cf. Fathom.]
1.
Note: (Oftener pronounced pat"ent in this sense)
Defn: Open; expanded; evident; apparent; unconcealed; manifest; public; conspicuous. He had received instructions, both patent and secret. Motley.
2. Open to public perusal; -- said of a document conferring some right or privilege; as, letters patent. See Letters patent, under 3d Letter.
3. Appropriated or protected by letters patent; secured by official authority to the exclusive possession, control, and disposal of some person or party; patented; as, a patent right; patent medicines. Madder . . . in King Charles the First's time, was made a patent commodity. Mortimer.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Spreading; forming a nearly right angle with the steam or branch; as, a patent leaf. Patent leather, a varnished or lacquered leather, used for boots and shoes, and in carriage and harness work. -- Patent office, a government bureau for the examination of inventions and the granting of patents. -- Patent right. (a) The exclusive right to an invention, and the control of its manufacture. (b) (Law) The right, granted by the sovereign, of exclusive control of some business of manufacture, or of the sale of certain articles, or of certain offices or prerogatives. -- Patent rolls, the registers, or records, of patents.
PATENT Pat"ent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. patente. See Patent, a.]
1. A letter patent, or letters patent; an official document, issued by a sovereign power, conferring a right or privilege on some person or party. Specifically: (a) A writing securing to an invention. (b) A document making a grant and conveyance of public lands. Four other gentlemen of quality remained mentioned in that patent. Fuller.
Note: In the United States, by the act of 1870, patents for inventions are issued for seventeen years, without the privilege of renewal except by act of Congress.
2. The right or privilege conferred by such a document; hence, figuratively, a right, privilege, or license of the nature of a patent. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent to offend. Shak.
PATENT Pat"ent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patented; p. pr. & vb. n. Patenting.]
Defn: To grant by patent; to make the subject of a patent; to secure or protect by patent; as, to patent an invention; to patent public lands.
PATENTABLE Pat"ent*a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable to be patented; capable of being patented.
PATENTEE Pat`ent*ee", n.
Defn: One to whom a grant is made, or a privilege secured, by patent. Bacon.
PATENT-HAMMERED Pat"ent-ham"mered, a. (Stone Cutting)
Defn: Having a surface dressed by cutting with a hammer the head of which consists of broad thin chisels clamped together.
PATENTLY Pat"ent*ly (; see Patent, a.), adv.
Defn: Openly; evidently.
PATERA Pat"e*ra, n.; pl. Pateræ(. Etym: [ L., fr. patere to lie open.]
1. A saucerlike vessel of earthenware or metal, used by the Greeks and Romans in libations and sacrificies.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A circular ornament, resembling a dish, often worked in relief on friezes, and the like.
PATERERO Pat`e*re"ro, n.
Defn: See Pederero. [Obs.]
PATERFAMILIAS Pa`ter*fa*mil`i*as, n.; pl. Pateresfamilias. Etym: [L., fr. pater father + familias, gen. of familia family.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: The head of a family; in a large sense, the proprietor of an estate; one who is his own master.
PATERNAL Pa*ter"nal, a. Etym: [L. paternus, fr. pater a father: cf. F. paternel. See Father.]
1. Of or pertaining to a father; fatherly; showing the disposition of a father; guiding or instructing as a father; as, paternal care. "Under paternal rule." Milton.
2. Received or derived from a father; hereditary; as, a paternal estate. Their small paternal field of corn. Dryden. Paternal government (Polit. Science), the assumption by the governing power of a quasi-fatherly relation to the people, involving strict and intimate supervision of their business and social concerns, upon the theory that they are incapable of managing their own afffairs.
PATERNALISM Pa*ter"nal*ism, n. (Polit. Science)
Defn: The theory or practice of paternal government. See Paternal government, under Paternal. London Times.
PATERNALLY Pa*ter"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a paternal manner.
PATERNITY Pa*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. paternitas: cf. F. paternité. See Paternal.]
1. The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; family headship; as, the divine paternity. The world, while it had scarcity of people, underwent no other dominion than paternity and eldership. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as, the paternity of a child.
3. Origin; authorship. The paternity of these novels was . . . disputed. Sir W. Scott.
PATERNOSTER Pa"ter*nos`ter, n. Etym: [L., Our Father.]
1. The Lord's prayer, so called from the first two words of the Latin version.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A beadlike ornament in moldings.
3. (Angling)
Defn: A line with a row of hooks and bead Paternoster pump, Paternoster wheel, a chain pump; a noria. -- Paternoster while, the space of time required for repeating a paternoster. Udall.
PATESI Pa*te"si, n. [Assyrian.] (Babylonian Antiq.)
Defn: A religious as well as a secular designation applied to rulers of some of the city states of ancient Chaldea, as Lagash or Shirpurla, who were conceived to be direct representatives of the tutelary god of the place.
PATH Path, n.; pl. Paths. Etym: [As. pad, G. pfad, of uncertain origin; cf. Gr. patha, path. sq. root21.]
1. A trodden way; a footway. The dewy paths of meadows we will tread. Dryden.
2. A way, course, or track, in which anything moves or has moved; route; passage; an established way; as, the path of a meteor, of a caravan, of a storm, of a pestilence. Also used figuratively, of a course of life or action. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. Ps. xxv. 10. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. Gray.
PATH Path, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pathed; pr.p. & vb. n. Pathing.]
Defn: To make a path in, or on (something), or for (some one). [R.] "Pathing young Henry's unadvised ways." Drayton.
PATH Path, v. i.
Defn: To walk or go. [R.] Shak.
PATHEMATIC Path`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, emotion or suffering. [R.] Chalmers.
PATHETIC Pa*thet"ic, a. Etym: [L. patheticus, Gr. pathétique. See Pathos.]
1. Expressing or showing anger; passionate. [Obs.]
2. Affecting or moving the tender emotions, esp. pity or grief; full of pathos; as, a pathetic song or story. "Pathetic action." Macaulay. No theory of the passions can teach a man to be pathetic. E. Porter. Pathetic muscle (Anat.), the superior oblique muscle of the eye. -- Pathetic nerve (Anat.), the fourth cranial, or trochlear, nerve, which supplies the superior oblique, or pathetic, muscle of the eye. -- The pathetic, a style or manner adapted to arouse the tender emotions.
PATHETICAL Pa*thet"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pathetic. [R.] -- Pa*thet"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Pa*thet"ic*al*ness, n.
PATHETISM Path"e*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pathétisme.]
Defn: See Mesmerism. L. Sunderland.
PATHFINDER Path"find`er, n.
Defn: One who discovers a way or path; one who explores untraversed regions. The cow is the true pathfinder and pathmaker. J. Burroughs.
PATHIC Path"ic, n. Etym: [L. pathicus, Gr.
Defn: A male who submits to the crime against nature; a catamite. [R.] B. Jonson.
PATHIC Path"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Passive; suffering.
PATHLESS Path"less, a.
Defn: Having no beaten path or way; untrodden; impenetrable; as, pathless woods. Trough the heavens' wide, pathless way. Milton.
PATHMAKER Path"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, makes a way or path.
PATHOGENE Path"o*gene, n. Etym: [See Pathogenic.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of a class of virulent microörganisms or bacteria found in the tissues and fluids in infectious diseases, and supposed to be the cause of the disease; a pathogenic organism; a pathogenic bacterium; -- opposed to zymogene.
PATHOGENESIS Path`o*gen"e*sis, n. (Med.)
Defn: Pathogeny.
PATHOGENETIC Path`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pathogenic.
PATHOGENIC Path`o*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med. & Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to pathogeny; producting disease; as, a pathogenic organism; a pathogenic bacterium.
PATHOGENY Pa*thog"e*ny, n. (Med.) (a) The generation, and method of development, of disease; as, the pathogeny of yellow fever is unsettled. (b) That branch of pathology which treats of the generation and development of disease.
PATHOGNOMONIC Pa*thog`no*mon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. pathognomonique. See Gnomic.] (Med.)
Defn: Specially or decisively characteristic of a disease; indicating with certainty a disease; as, a pathognomonic symptom. The true pathognomonic sign of love jealousy. Arbuthnot.
PATHOGNOMY Pa*thog"no*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Expression of the passions; the science of the signs by which human passions are indicated.
PATHOLOGIC; PATHOLOGICAL Path`o*log"ic, Path`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. pathologique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to pathology. -- Path`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
PATHOLOGIST Pa*thol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pathologiste.]
Defn: One skilled in pathology; an investigator in pathology; as, the pathologist of a hospital, whose duty it is to determine the causes of the diseases.
PATHOLOGY Pa*thol"o*gy, n.; pl. Pathologies. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. pathologie.] (Med.)
Defn: The science which treats of diseases, their nature, causes, progress, symptoms, etc.
Note: Pathology is general or special, according as it treats of disease or morbid processes in general, or of particular diseases; it is also subdivided into internal and external, or medical and surgical pathology. Its departments are nosology, ætiology, morbid anatomy, symptomatology, and therapeutics, which treat respectively of the classification, causation, organic changes, symptoms, and cure of diseases. Celluar pathology, a theory that gives prominence to the vital action of cells in the healthy and diseased function of the body. Virchow.
PATHOPOELA Path`o*poe"la, n.; pl. -ias. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A speech, or figure of speech, designed to move the passion. Smart.
PATHOS Pa"thos, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. pati to suffer, E. patient.]
Defn: That quality or property of anything which touches the feelings or excites emotions and passions, esp., that which awakens tender emotions, such as pity, sorrow, and the like; contagious warmth of feeling, action, or expression; pathetic quality; as, the pathos of a picture, of a poem, or of a cry. The combination of incident, and the pathos of catastrophe. T. Warton.
PATHWAY Path"way n.
Defn: A footpath; a beaten track; any path or course. Also used figuratively. Shak. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof is no death. Prov. xii. 28. We tread the pathway arm in arm. Sir W. Scott.
PATIBLE Pat"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. patibilis, fr. pati to suffer.]
Defn: Sufferable; tolerable; endurable. [Obs.] Bailey.
PATIBULARY Pa*tib"u*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. patibulum a gallows: cf. F. patibulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the gallows, or to execution. [R.] Carlyle.
PATIBULATED Pa*tib"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Hanged on a gallows. [R.]
PATIENCE Pa"tience, n. Etym: [F. patience, fr. L. patientia. See Patient.]
1. The state or quality of being patient; the power of suffering with fortitude; uncomplaining endurance of evils or wrongs, as toil, pain, poverty, insult, oppression, calamity, etc. Strenthened with all might, . . . unto all patience and long- suffering. Col. i. 11. I must have patience to endure the load. Shak. Who hath learned lowliness From his Lord's cradle, patience from his cross. Keble.
2. The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for; forbearance. Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Matt. xviii. 29.
3. Constancy in labor or application; perseverance. He learned with patience, and with meekness taught. Harte.
4. Sufferance; permission. [Obs.] Hooker. They stay upon your patience. Shak.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of dock (Rumex Patientia), less common in America than in Europe; monk's rhubarb.
6. (Card Playing)
Defn: Solitaire.
Syn. -- Patience, Resignation. Patience implies the quietness or self- possession of one's own spirit under sufferings, provocations, etc.; resignation implies submission to the will of another. The Stoic may have patience; the Christian should have both patience and resignation.
PATIENT Pa"tient, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. patiens, -entis, p.pr. of pati to suffer. Cf. Pathos, Passion.]
1. Having the quality of enduring; physically able to suffer or bear. Patient of severest toil and hardship. Bp. Fell.
2. Undergoing pains, trails, or the like, without murmuring or fretfulness; bearing up with equanimity against trouble; long- suffering.
3. Constant in pursuit or exertion; persevering; calmly diligent; as, patient endeavor. Whatever I have done is due to patient thought. Sir I. Newton.
4. Expectant with calmness, or without discontent; not hasty; not overeager; composed. Not patient to expect the turns of fate. Prior.
5. Forbearing; long-suffering. Be patient toward all men. 1 Thess. v. 14.
PATIENT Pa"tient, n.
1. ONe who, or that which, is passively affected; a passive recipient. Malice is a passion so impetuous and precipitate that often involves the agent and the patient. Gov. of Tongue.
2. A person under medical or surgical treatment; -- correlative to physician or nurse. Like a physician, . . . seeing his patient in a pestilent fever. Sir P. Sidney. In patient, a patient who receives lodging and food, as treatment, in a hospital or an infirmary. -- Out patient, one who receives advice and medicine, or treatment, from an infirmary.
PATIENT Pa"tient, v. t.
Defn: To compose, to calm. [Obs.] "Patient yourself, madam." Shak.
PATIENTLY Pa"tient*ly, adv.
Defn: In a patient manner. Cowper.
PATIN; PATINE Pat"in, Pat"ine, n.
Defn: A plate. See Paten. "Inlaid with patines of bright gold." Shak.
PATINA Pat"ina, n. Etym: [It., fr. L. patina a dish, a pan, a kind of cake. Cf. Paten.]
1. A dish or plate of metal or earthenware; a patella.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The color or incrustation which age gives to works of art; especially, the green rust which covers ancient bronzes, coins, and medals. Fairholt.
PATIO Pa"ti*o, n. Etym: [Sp., a court] (Metal)
Defn: A paved yard or floor where ores are cleaned and sorted, or where ore, salt, mercury, etc., are trampled by horses, to effect intermixture and amalgamation.
Note: The patioprocess is used to reduce silver ores by amalgamation.
PATISSERIE Pâ`tis`serie", n. [F. pâtisserie. See Pate.]
Defn: Pastry. Sterne.
PATLY Pat"ly, adv.
Defn: Fitly; seasonably. Barrow.
PATNESS Pat"ness, n.
Defn: Fitness or appropriateness; striking suitableness; convenience. The description with equal patness may suit both. Barrow.
PATOIS Pa`tois", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A dialect peculiar to the illiterate classes; a provincial form of speech. The jargon and patois of several provinces. Sir T. Browne.
PATOLLI Pa*tol"li, n. [Mex. patolli dice.]
Defn: An American Indian game analogous to dice, probably originally a method of divination.
PATONCE Pa*tonce", a. Etym: [Cf. F. patte d'once paw of an ounce.] (Her.)
Defn: Having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end; - - said of a cross. See Illust. 9 of Cross.
PATRIAL Pa"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. patria fatherland, country, fr. pater father.] (Lat. Gram.)
Defn: Derived from the name of a country, and designating an inhabitant of the country; gentile; -- said of a noun. -- n.
Defn: A patrial noun. Thus Romanus, a Roman, and Troas, a woman of Troy, are patrial nouns, or patrials. Andrews.
PATRIARCH Pa"tri*arch, n. Etym: [F. patriarche, L. patriarcha, Gr. Father, Archaic.]
1. The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; -- usually applied to heads of families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses.
2. (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.)
Defn: A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch.
3. A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively. The patriarch hoary, the sage of his kith and the hamlet. Longfellow. The monarch oak, the partiarch of trees. Dryde.
PATRIARCHAL Pa`tri*ar"chal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. patriarcal.]
1. Of or pertaining to a patriarch or to patriarchs; possessed by, or subject to, patriarchs; as, patriarchal authority or jurisdiction; a patriarchal see; a patriarchal church.
2. Characteristic of a patriarch; venerable. About whose patriarchal knee Late the little children clung. Tennyson.
3. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Having an organization of society and government in which the head of the family exercises authority over all its generations. Patriarchal cross (Her.), a cross, the shaft of which is intersected by two transverse beams, the upper one being the smaller. See Illust. (2) of Cross. -- Patriarchal dispensation, the divine dispensation under which the patriarchs lived before the law given by Moses.
PATRIARCHATE Pa`tri*ar"chate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. patriarcat.]
1. The office, dignity, or jurisdiction of a patriarch. Jer. Taylor.
2. The residence of an ecclesiastic patriarch.
3. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A patriarchal form of government or society. See Patriarchal, a., 3.
PATRIARCHDOM Pa"tri*arch*dom, n.
Defn: The office or jurisdiction of a patriarch; patriarchate. [R.]
PATRIARCHIC Pa`tri*ar"chic, a. Etym: [L. patriarchicus, Gr.
Defn: Patriarchal.
PATRIARCHISM Pa"tri*arch*ism, n.
Defn: Government by a patriarch, or the head of a family.
PATRIARCHSHIP Pa"tri*arch*ship, n.
Defn: A patriarchate. Ayliffe.
PATRIARCHY Pa"tri*arch`y, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. The jurisdiction of a patriarch; patriarchship. Brerewood.
2. Government by a patriarch; patriarchism.
PATRICIAN Pa*tri"cian, a. Etym: [L. patricius, fr. patres fathers or senators, pl. of pater: cf. F. patricien. See Paternal.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (fathers) or senators, or patricians.
2. Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian. Born in the patrician file of society. Sir W. Scott. His horse's hoofs wet with patrician blood. Addison.
PATRICIAN Pa*tri"cian, n. Etym: [L. patricius: cf. F. patricien.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: Originally, a member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman citizens, before the development of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the nobility.
2. A person of high birth; a nobleman.
3. One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore. [R.] Colridge.
PATRICIANISM Pa*tri"cian*ism, n.
Defn: The rank or character of patricians.
PATRICIATE Pa*tri"ci*ate, n.
Defn: The patrician class; the aristocracy; also, the office of patriarch. Milman.
PATRICIDAL Pat*ri"ci`dal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to patricide; parricidal.
PATRICIDE Pat*ri"cide, n. Etym: [L. pater father + caedere to kill. Cf. Parricide.]
1. The murderer of his father.
2. The crime of one who murders his father. Same as Parricide.
PATRIMONIAL Pat`ri*mo"ni*al, a. Etym: [L.patrimonialis: cf. F. patrimonial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a patrimony; inherited from ancestors; as, a patrimonial estate.
PATRIMONIALLY Pat`ri*mo"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By inheritance.
PATRIMONY Pat"ri*mo*ny, n.; pl. Patrimonies. Etym: [L. patrimonium, fr. pater father: cf. F. patrimoine. See Paternal.]
1. A right or estate inherited from one's father; or, in a larger sense, from any ancestor. "'Reave the orphan of his patrimony." Shak.
2. Formerly, a church estate or endowment. Shipley.
PATRIOT Pa"tri*ot, n. Etym: [F. patriote; cf. Sp. patriota, It. patriotto; all fr. Gr. Father.]
Defn: One who loves his country, and zealously supports its authority and interests. Bp. Hall. Such tears as patriots shaed for dying laws. Pope.
PATRIOT Pa"tri*ot, a.
Defn: Becoming to a patriot; patriotic.
PATRIOTIC Pa`tri*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. patriotique, Gr.
Defn: Inspired by patriotism; actuated by love of one's country; zealously and unselfishly devoted to the service of one's country; as, a patriotic statesman, vigilance.
PATRIOTICAL Pa`tri*ot"ic*al, a.
Defn: Patriotic; that pertains to a patriot. -- Pa`tri*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.
PATRIOTISM Pa"tri*ot*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. patriotisme.]
Defn: Love of country; devotion to the welfare of one's country; the virtues and actions of a patriot; the passion which inspires one to serve one's country. Berkley.
PATRIOTS' DAY Pa"tri*ots' Day.
Defn: A legal holiday in the States of Massachusetts and Maine, April 19, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington in 1775. It was first observed in 1894. [U. S.]
PATRIPASSIAN Pa`tri*pas"sian, n. Etym: [LL. Patripassiani, pl.; L. pater father + pati, passus, to suffer: cf. F. patripassiens.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a body of believers in the early church who denied the independent preëxistent personality of Christ, and who, accordingly, held that the Father suffered in the Son; a monarchian. -- Pa`tri*pas"sian*ism, n.
PATRIST Pa"trist, n.
Defn: One versed in patristics.
PATRISTIC; PATRISTICAL Pa*tris"tic, Pa*tris"tic*al, a. Etym: [F. patristique. See Paternal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Fathers of the Christian church. The voluminous editor of Jerome anf of tons of patristic theology. I. Taylor.
PATRISTICS Pa*tris"tics, n.
Defn: That departnent of historical theology which treats of the lives and doctrines of the Fathers of the church.
PATRIZATE Pa"tri*zate, v. i. Etym: [L. patrissare, patrizare;cf. Gr.
Defn: To imitate one's father. [R.]
PATROCINATE Pa*troc"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. patrocinatus, p.p. of patrocinari to patronize, fr. patronus patron.]
Defn: To support; to patronize. [Obs.] Urquhart.
PATROCINATION Pa*troc`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of patrocinating or patronizing. [Obs.] "Patrocinations of treason." Bp. Hall.
PATROCINY Pa*troc"i*ny, n. Etym: [L. patrocinium.] [Obs.]
Defn: See Patrocination.
PATROL Pa*trol", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Patrolled; p. pr. & vb. n. Patrolling.] Etym: [F. patrouiller, O. & Prov. F. patrouiller to paddle, paw about, patrol, fr. patte a paw; cf. D. poot paw, G. pfote, and E. pat, v.]
Defn: To go the rounds along a chain of sentinels; to traverse a police district or beat.
PATROL Pa*trol", v.
Defn: t To go the rounds of, as a sentry, guard, or policeman; as, to patrol a frontier; to patrol a beat.
PATROL Pa*trol", n. Etym: [F. patrouille, OF. patouille. See Patrol, v. i.]
1. (Mil.) (a) A going of the rounds along the chain of sentinels and between the posts, by a guard, usually consisting of three or four men, to insure greater security from attacks on the outposts. (b) A movement, by a small body of troops beyond the line of outposts, to explore the country and gain intelligence of the enemy's whereabouts. (c) The guard or men who go the rounds for observation; a detachment whose duty it is to patrol.
2. Any perambulation of a particular line or district to guard it; also, the men thus guarding; as, a customs patrol; a fire patrol. In France there is an army of patrols to secure her fiscal regulations. A. Hamilton.
PATROLE Pa*trole", n. & v.
Defn: See Patrol, n. & v.
PATROLMAN Pa*trol"man, n.; pl. Patrolmen (.
Defn: One who patrols; a watchman; especially, a policeman who patrols a particular precinct of a town or city.
PATRON Pa"tron, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. patronus, fr. pater a father. See Paternal, and cf. Patroon, Padrone, Pattern.]
1. One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The patron of true holiness." Spenser.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A master who had freed his slave, but still retained some paternal rights over him. (b) A man of distinction under whose protection another person placed himself. (c) An advocate or pleader. Let him who works the client wrong Beware the patron's ire. Macaulay.
3. One who encourages or helps a person, a cause, or a work; a furtherer; a promoter; as, a patron of art.
4. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: One who has gift and disposition of a benefice. [Eng.]
5. A guardian saint. -- called also patron saint.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: See Padrone, 2. Patrons of Husbandry, the grangers. See Granger, 2.
PATRON Pa"tron, v. t.
Defn: To be a patron of; to patronize; to favor. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PATRON Pa"tron, a.
Defn: Doing the duty of a patron; giving aid or protection; tutelary. Dryden. Patron saint (R. C. Ch.), a saint regarded as the peculiar protector of a country, community, church, profession, etc., or of an individual.
PATRONAGE Pa"tron*age, n. Etym: [F. patronage. Cf. LL. patronaticum, and L. patronatus.]
1. Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters; patronage given to an author.
2. Business custom. [Commercial Cant]
3. Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care. Addison.
4. The right of nomination to political office; also, the offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer may bestow by favor.
5. (Eng. Law)
Defn: The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson. Blackstone.
PATRONAGE Pa"tron*age, v. t.
Defn: To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend. [Obs.] Shak.
PATRONAL Pa"tron*al, a. Etym: [L. patronalis; cf. F. patronal.]
Defn: Patron; protecting; favoring. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
PATRONATE Pa"tron*ate, n. Etym: [L. patronatus.]
Defn: The right or duty of a patron; patronage. [R.] Westm. Rev.
PATRONESS Pa"tron*ess, n. Etym: [Cf. F. patronnesse.]
Defn: A female patron or helper. Spenser. Night, best patroness of grief. Milton.
PATRONIZATION Pa`tron*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of patronizing; patronage; support. [R.]
PATRONIZE Pa"tron*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patronized; p. pr. & vb. n. Patronizing.]
1. To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid. The idea has been patronized by two States only. A. Hamilton.
2. To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer. [Commercial Cant]
3. To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; -- used in an unfavorable sense; as, to patronize one's equals.
PATRONIZER Pa"tron*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who patronizes.
PATRONIZING Pa"tron*i`zing, a.
Defn: Showing condescending favor; assuming the manner of airs of a superior toward another. -- Pat"ron*i`zing*ly, adv. Thackeray.
PATRONLESS Pa"tron*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a patron.
PATRONOMAYOLOGY Pa`tro*nom`a*yol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. onomatology.]
Defn: That branch of knowledge which deals with personal names and their origin; the study of patronymics.
PATRONYMIC Pa`tro*nym"ic, a. Etym: [L. patronymicus, Gr. patronymique.]
Defn: Derived from ancestors; as, a patronymic denomination.
PATRONYMIC Pa`tro*nym"ic, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A modification of the father's name borne by the son; a name derived from that of a parent or ancestor; as, Pelides, the son of Peleus; Johnson, the son of John; Macdonald, the son of Donald; Paulowitz, the son of Paul; also, the surname of a family; the family name. M. A. Lower.
PATRONYMICAL Pa`tro*nym"ic*al, a.
Defn: Same as Patronymic.
PATROON Pa*troon", n. Etym: [D. patroon a patron, a protector. See Patron.]
Defn: One of the proprietors of certain tracts of land with manorial privileges and right of entail, under the old Dutch governments of New York and New Jersey.
PATROONSHIP Pa*troon"ship, n.
Defn: The office of a patroon. Irving.
PATTE; PATTEE Pat`té", Pat*tee", a. Etym: [F. patté, fem. pattée, fr. patte paw, foot. Cf. Patten.] (Her.)
Defn: Narrow at the inner, and very broad at the other, end, or having its arms of that shape; -- said of a cross. See Illust. (8) of Cross. [Written also paté, patee.]
PATTEMAR Pat"te*mar, n.
Defn: See Patamar.
PATTEN Pat"ten, n. Etym: [F. patin a high-heeled shoe, fr. patte paw, foot. Cf. Panton, Patté.]
1. A clog or sole of wood, usually supported by an iron ring, worn to raise the feet from the wet or the mud. The patten now supports each frugal dame. Gay.
2. A stilt. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
PATTENED Pat"ten*ed, a.
Defn: Wearing pattens. "Some pattened girl." Jane Austen.
PATTER Pat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pattering.] Etym: [Freq. of pat to strike gently.]
1. To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet. The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard. Thomson.
2. To mutter; to mumble; as, to patter with the lips. Tyndale. Etym: [In this sense, and in the following, perh. from paternoster.]
3. To talk glibly; to chatter; to harangue. [Colloq.] I've gone out and pattered to get money. Mayhew.
PATTER Pat"ter, v. t.
1. To spatter; to sprinkle. [R.] "And patter the water about the boat." J. R. Drake.
2. Etym: [See Patter, v. i., 2.]
Defn: To mutter; as prayers. [The hooded clouds] patter their doleful prayers. Longfellow. To patter flash, to talk in thieves' cant. [Slang]
PATTER Pat"ter, n.
1. A quick succession of slight sounds; as, the patter of rain; the patter of little feet.
2. Glib and rapid speech; a voluble harangue.
3. The cant of a class; patois; as, thieves's patter; gypsies' patter.
PATTERER Pat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who patters, or talks glibly; specifically, a street peddler. [Cant, Eng.]
PATTERN Pat"tern, n. Etym: [OE. patron, F. patron, a patron, also, a pattern. See Patron.]
1. Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine. I will be the pattern of all patience. Shak.
2. A part showing the figure or quality of the whole; a specimen; a sample; an example; an instance. He compares the pattern with the whole piece. Swift.
3. Stuff sufficient for a garment; as, a dress pattern.
4. Figure or style of decoration; design; as, wall paper of a beautiful pattern.
5. Something made after a model; a copy. Shak. The patterns of things in the heavens. Heb. ix. 23.
6. Anything cut or formed to serve as a guide to cutting or forming objects; as, a dressmaker's pattern.
7. (Founding)
Defn: A full-sized model around which a mold of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mold without injuring it. Pattern box, chain, or cylinder (Figure Weaving), devices, in a loom, for presenting several shuttles to the picker in the proper succession for forming the figure. -- Pattern card. (a) A set of samples on a card. (b) (Weaving) One of the perforated cards in a Jacquard apparatus. -- Pattern reader, one who arranges textile patterns. -- Pattern wheel (Horology), a count-wheel.
PATTERN Pat"tern, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Patterned; p. pr. & vb. n. Patterning.]
1. To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate. Milton. [A temple] patterned from that which Adam reared in Paradise. Sir T. Herbert.
2. To serve as an example for; also, to parallel. To pattern after, to imitate; to follow.
PATTINSON'S PROCESS Pat"tin*son's proc"ess. (Metal.)
Defn: A process of desilverizing argentiferous lead by repeated meltings and skimmings, which concentrate the silver in the molten bath, the final skimmings being nearly pure lad. The processwas invented in 1833 by Hugh Lee Pattinson, an English metallurgist.
PATTY Pat"ty, n.; pl. Patties. Etym: [F. pâté. See Pasty.]
Defn: A little pie.
PATTYPAN Pat"ty*pan`, n.
1. A pan for baking patties.
2. A patty. [Obs.]
PATULOUS Pat"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. patulus, fr. patere to be open, extend.]
Defn: Open; expanded; slightly spreading; having the parts loose or dispersed; as, a patulous calyx; a patulous cluster of flowers. The eyes are large and patulous. Sir J. Hill.
PAU Pau, n.
Defn: See Pah.
PAUCILOQUENT Pau*cil"o*quent, a.
Defn: Uttering few words; brief in speech. [R.]
PAUCILOQUY Pau*cil"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. pauciloquium; paucus little + loqui to speak.]
Defn: Brevity in speech. [R.]
PAUCISPIRAL Pau`ci*spi"ral, a. Etym: [L. paucus few + E. spiral.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having few spirals, or whorls; as, a paucispiral operculum or shell.
PAUCITY Pau"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. paucitas, fr. paucus few, little: cf. F. paucité See Few.]
1. Fewness; smallness of number; scarcity. Hooker. Revelation denies it by the stern reserve, the paucity, and the incompleteness, of its communications. I. Taylor.
2. Smallnes of quantity; exiguity; insufficiency; as, paucity of blood. Sir T. Browne.
PAUGIE; PAUGY Pau"gie, Pau"gy, n.; pl. Paugies. Etym: [Corrupted from Amer. Indian mishcuppauog. See Scup.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The scup. See Porgy, and Scup.
PAUHAUGEN Pau*hau"gen, n. Etym: [North Amer. Indian.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaden; -- called also poghaden.
PAUL Paul, n.
Defn: See Pawl.
PAUL Paul, n.
Defn: An Italian silver coin. See Paolo.
PAULDRON Paul"dron, n. Etym: [See Powldron.] (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A piece of armor covering the shoulder at the junction of the body piece and arm piece.
PAULIAN; PAULIANIST Pau"li*an, Pau"li*an*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Paul of Samosata, a bishop of Antioch in the third century, who was deposed for denying the divinity of Christ.
PAULICIAN Pau"li*cian, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of Christian dualists originating in Armenia in the seventh century. They rejected the Old Testament and the part of the New.
PAULIN Pau"lin, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Tarpaulin.
PAULINE Pau"line, a. Etym: [L. Paulinus, fr. Paulus Paul.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the apostle Paul, or his writings; resembling, or conforming to, the writings of Paul; as, the Pauline epistles; Pauline doctrine. My religion had always been Pauline. J. H. Newman.
PAULIST Paul"ist, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A member of The Institute of the Missionary Priests of St. Paul the Apostle, founded in 1858 by the Rev. I. T. Hecker of New York. The majority of the members were formerly Protestants.
PAULOWNIA Pau*low"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. So named from the Russian princess Anna Pavlovna.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees of the order Scrophulariaceæ, consisting of one species, Paulownia imperialis.
Note: The tree is native to Japan, and has immense heart-shaped leaves, and large purplish flowers in panicles. The capsules contain many little winged seeds, which are beautiful microscopic objects. The tree is hardy in America as far north as Connecticut.
PAUM Paum, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Palm to cheat.]
Defn: To palm off by fraud; to cheat at cards. [Obs.] Swift.
PAUNCE Paunce, n. Etym: [See Pansy.] (Bot.)
Defn: The pansy. "The pretty paunce." Spenser.
PAUNCH Paunch, n. Etym: [OF. panch, pance, F. panse, L. pantex, panticis.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The belly and its contents; the abdomen; also, the first stomach, or rumen, of ruminants. See Rumen.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A paunch mat; -- called also panch.
3. The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper. Paunch mat (Naut.), a thick mat made of strands of rope, used to prevent the yard or rigging from chafing.
PAUNCH Paunch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paunched; p. pr. & vb. n. Paunching.]
1. To pierce or rip the belly of; to eviscerate; to disembowel. Shak.
2. To stuff with food. [Obs.] Udall.
PAUNCHY Paunch"y, a.
Defn: Pot-bellied. [R.] Dickens.
PAUNE Paune, n.
Defn: A kind of bread. See Pone.
PAUPER Pau"per, n. Etym: [L. See Poor.]
Defn: A poor person; especially, one development on private or public charity. Also used adjectively; as, pouper immigrants, pouper labor.
PAUPERISM Pau"per*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. paupérisme.]
Defn: The state of being a pauper; the state of indigent persons requiring support from the community. Whatly.
Syn. -- Poverty; indigence; penury; want; need; destitution. See Poverty.
PAUPERIZATION Pau`per*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of reducing to pauperism. C. Kingsley.
PAUPERIZE Pau"per*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pauperized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pauperizing.]
Defn: To reduce to pauperism; as, to pauperize the peasantry.
PAUROPODA Pau*rop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of small myriapods having only nine pairs of legs and destitute of tracheæ.
PAUSE Pause, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pausa. See Pose.]
1. A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
2. Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt. I stand in pause where I shall first begin. Shak.
3. In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts.
4. In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
5. A break or paragraph in writing. He writes with warmth, which usually neglects method, and those partitions and pauses which men educated in schools observe. Locke.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: A hold. See 4th Hold, 7.
Syn. -- Stop; cessation; suspension.
PAUSE Pause, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paused; p. pr. & vb. n. Pausing.] Etym: [Cf. F. pauser, L. pausare. See Pause, n., Pose.]
1. To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest. "Tarry, pause a day or two." Shak. Pausing while, thus to herself she mused. Milton.
2. To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
3. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. [R.] Why doth the Jew pause Take thy forfeiture. Shak.
4. To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect. [R.] "Take time to pause." Shak. To pause upon, to deliberate concerning. Shak.
Syn. -- To intermit; stop; stay; wait; delay; tarry; hesitate; demur.
PAUSE Pause, v. t.
Defn: To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively. [R.] Shak.
PAUSER Paus"er, n.
Defn: One who pauses. Shak.
PAUSINGLY Paus"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With pauses; haltingly. Shak.
PAUXI Paux"i, n. Etym: [From the native name: cf. Sp. pauji.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A curassow (Ourax pauxi), which, in South America, is often domesticated.
PAVAGE Pav"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pavage.]
Defn: See Pavage. [R.]
PAVAN Pav"an, n. Etym: [F. pavane; cf. It. & Sp. pavana, and Sp. pavon, pavo, a peacock, L. pavo.]
Defn: A stately and formal Spanish dance for which full state costume is worn; -- so called from the resemblance of its movements to those of the peacock. [Written also pavane, paven, pavian, and pavin.]
PAVE Pa`vé", n. Etym: [F., from paver to pave. See Pave.]
Defn: The pavement. Nymphe du pavé ([A low euphemism.]
PAVE Pave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paved; p. pr. & vb. n. Paving.] Etym: [F. paver to pave, LL. pavare, from L. pavire to beat, ram, or tread down; cf. Gr.
1. To lay or cover with stone, brick, or other material, so as to make a firm, level, or convenient surface for horses, carriages, or persons on foot, to travel on; to floor with brick, stone, or other solid material; as, to pave a street; to pave a court. With silver paved, and all divine with gold. Dryden. To pave thy realm, and smooth the broken ways. Gay.
2. Fig.: To make smooth, easy, and safe; to prepare, as a path or way; as, to pave the way to promotion; to pave the way for an enterprise. It might open and pave a prepared way to his own title. Bacon.
PAVEMENT Pave"ment, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. pavamentum, L. pavimentum. See Pave.]
Defn: That with which anythingis paved; a floor or covering of solid material, laid so as to make a hard and convenient surface for travel; a paved road or sidewalk; a decorative interior floor of tiles or colored bricks. The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold. Milton. Pavement teeth (Zoöl.), flattened teeth which in certain fishes, as the skates and cestracionts, are arranged side by side, like tiles in a pavement.
PAVEMENT Pave"ment, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a pavement; to pave. [Obs.] "How richly pavemented!" Bp. Hall.
PAVEN Pav"en, n.
Defn: See Pavan.
PAVER Pav"er, n.
Defn: One who paves; one who lays a pavement. [Written also pavier and pavior.]
PAVESADE Pav`e*sade", n. Etym: [F. See Pavise.]
Defn: A canvas screen, formerly sometimes extended along the side of a vessel in a naval engagement, to conceal from the enemy the operations on board.
PAVESE; PAVESSE Pa*vese", Pa*vesse", n.
Defn: Pavise. [Obs.]
PAVIAGE Pa"vi*age, n. (Law)
Defn: A contribution or a tax for paving streets or highways. Bouvier.
PAVIAN Pav"i*an
Defn: , n. See Pavan.
PAVID Pav"id, a. Etym: [L. pavidus, from pavere to be afraid.]
Defn: Timid; fearful. [R.] Thackeray.
PAVIDITY Pa*vid"i*ty, n.
Defn: Timidity. [R.]
PAVIER Pav"ier, n.
Defn: A paver.
PAVIIN Pa"vi*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside found in species of the genus Pavia of the Horse- chestnut family.
PAVILION Pa*vil"ion, n. Etym: [F. pavillon, fr. L. pavilio a butterfly, also, a tent, because spread out like a butterfly's wings.]
1. A temporary movable habitation; a large tent; a marquee; esp., a tent raised on posts. "[The] Greeks do pitch their brave pavilions." Shak.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A single body or mass of building, contained within simple walls and a single roof, whether insulated, as in the park or garden of a larger edifice, or united with other parts, and forming an angle or central feature of a large pile.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A flag, colors, ensign, or banner.
4. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Tent (Her.)
5. That part of a brilliant which lies between the girdle and collet. See Illust. of Brilliant.
6. (Anat.)
Defn: The auricle of the ear; also, the fimbriated extremity of the Fallopian tube.
7. A covering; a canopy; figuratively, the sky. The pavilion of heaven is bare. Shelley.
PAVILION Pa*vil"ion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pavilioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pavilioning.]
Defn: To furnish or cover with, or shelter in, a tent or tents. The field pavilioned with his guardians bright. Milton.
PAVIN Pav"in, n.
Defn: See Pavan.
PAVING Pav"ing, n.
1. The act or process of laying a pavement, or covering some place with a pavement.
2. A pavement.
PAVIOR Pav"ior, n.
1. One who paves; a paver.
2. A rammer for driving paving stones.
3. A brick or slab used for paving.
PAVISE Pa*vise, n. Etym: [OF. pavaix, F. pavois; cf. It. pavese, LL. pavense; perh. named from Pavia in Italy.] (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A large shield covering the whole body, carried by a pavisor, who sometimes screened also an archer with it. [Written also pavais, pavese, and pavesse.] Fairholt.
PAVISOR Pa*vis"or, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A soldier who carried a pavise.
PAVO Pa"vo, n. Etym: [L., a peacock. See Peacock.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of birds, including the peacocks.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The Peacock, a constellation of the southern hemisphere.
PAVON Pa"von, n.
Defn: A small triangular flag, esp. one attached to a knight's lance; a pennon.
PAVONE Pa*vone", n. Etym: [Cf. It. pavone, Sp. pavon, fr. L. pavo.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peacock. [Obs.] Spenser.
PAVONIAN Pa*vo"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a peacock. [R.] Southey.
PAVONINE Pav"o*nine, a. Etym: [L. pavoninus, fr. pavo a peacock. See Peacock.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Pavo.
2. Characteristic of a peacock; resembling the tail of a peacock, as in colors; iridescent. P. Cleaveland.
PAW Paw, n. Etym: [OE. pawe, poue, OF. poe: cf. patte, LG. pote, D. poot, G. pfote.]
1. The foot of a quadruped having claws, as the lion, dog, cat, etc.
2. The hand. [Jocose] Dryden. Paw clam (Zoöl.), the tridacna; -- so called because shaped like an animal's paw.
PAW Paw, v. i.
Defn: To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot. Job xxxix. 21.
PAW Paw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pawing.]
1. To pass the paw over; to stroke or handle with the paws; hence, to handle fondly or rudely.
2. To scrape or beat with the forefoot. His hot courser pawed the Hungarian plane. Tickell.
PAWK Pawk, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small lobster. Travis.
PAWKY Paw"ky, a. Etym: [Cf. AS. pæcean to deceive.]
Defn: Arch; cunning; sly. [Scot.] Jamieson.
PAWL Pawl, n. Etym: [W. pawl a pole, a stake. Cf. Pole a stake.] (Mach.)
Defn: A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of Ratchet Wheel. [Written also paul, or pall.] Pawl bitt (Naut.), a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. -- Pawl rim or ring (Naut.), a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.
PAWL Pawl, v. t.
Defn: To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off. To pawl the capstan. See under Capstan.
PAWN Pawn, n.
Defn: See Pan, the masticatory.
PAWN Pawn, n. Etym: [OE. paune, poun, OF. peon, poon, F. pion, LL. pedo a foot soldier, fr. L. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pioneer, Peon.] (Chess)
Defn: A man or piece of the lowest rank.
PAWN Pawn, n. Etym: [OF. pan pledge, assurance, skirt, piece, F. pan skirt, lappet, piece, from L. pannus. See Pane.]
1. Anything delivered or deposited as security, as for the payment of money borrowed, or of a debt; a pledge. See Pledge, n., 1. As for mortgaging or pawning, . . . men will not take pawns without use [i.e., interest]. Bacon.
2. State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise. [R.] Redeem from broking pawn the blemish'd crown. Shak. As the morning dew is a pawn of the evening fatness. Donne.
3. A stake hazarded in a wager. [Poetic] My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies. Shak. In pawn, At pawn, in the state of being pledged. "Sweet wife, my honor is at pawn." Shak. -- Pawn ticket, a receipt given by the pawnbroker for an article pledged.
PAWN Pawn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pawning.]
1. To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to put in pawn; to pledge; as, to pawn one's watch. And pawned the last remaining piece of plate. Dryden.
2. To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to risk; to wager; to hazard. Pawning his honor to obtain his lust. Shak.
PAWNABLE Pawna*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being pawned.
PAWNBROKER Pawn"bro`ker, n.
Defn: One who makes a business of lending money on the security of personal property pledged or deposited in his keeping.
PAWNBROKING Pawn"bro`king, n.
Defn: The business of a pawnbroker.
PAWNEE Pawn*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: One or two whom a pledge is delivered as security; one who takes anything in pawn.
PAWNEES Paw`nees", n. pl.; sing. Pawnee (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians (called also Loups) who formerly occupied the region of the Platte river, but now live mostly in the Indian Territory. The term is often used in a wider sense to include also the related tribes of Rickarees and Wichitas. Called also Pani.
PAWNER; PAWNOR Pawn"er, Pawn*or", n. (Law)
Defn: One who pawns or pledges anything as security for the payment of borrowed money or of a debt.
PAWPAW Paw`paw", n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Papaw.
PAX Pax, n. Etym: [L. pax peace. See Peace.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: The kiss of peace; also, the embrace in the sanctuary now substituted for it at High Mass in Roman Catholic churches.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A tablet or board, on which is a representation of Christ, of the Virgin Mary, or of some saint and which, in the Mass, was kissed by the priest and then by the people, in mediæval times; an osculatory. It is still used in communities, confraternities, etc. Kiss the pax, and be quiet like your neighbors. Chapman.
PAXILLOSE Pax"il*lose`, a. Etym: [L. paxillus a small stake.] (Geol.)
Defn: Resembling a little stake.
PAXILLUS Pax*il"lus, n.; pl. Paxilli. Etym: [L., a peg.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a peculiar kind of spines covering the surface of certain starfishes. They are pillarlike, with a flattened summit which is covered with minute spinules or granules. See Illustration in Appendix.
PAXWAX Pax"wax`, n. Etym: [For faxvax, fr. AS. fea hair (akin to OHG. fahs) + weaxan to grow. See Wax to grow, and cf. Faxed, Pectinate.] (Anat.)
Defn: The strong ligament of the back of the neck in quadrupeds. It connects the back of the skull with dorsal spines of the cervical vertebræ, and helps to support the head. Called also paxywaxy and packwax.
PAXYWAXY Pax"y*wax`y, n. (Anat.)
Defn: See Paxwax.
PAY Pay, v. t. Etym: [OF. peier, fr. L. picare to pitch, i pitch: cf. OF. peiz pitch, F. poix. See Pitch a black substance.] (Naut.)
Defn: To cover, as bottom of a vessel, a seam, a spar, etc., with tar or pitch, or waterproof composition of tallow, resin, etc.; to smear.
PAY Pay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paid; p. pr. & vb. n. Paying.] Etym: [OE. paien, F. payer, fr. L. pacare to pacify, appease, fr. pax, pacis, peace. See Peace.]
1. To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service rendered, property delivered, etc.; to discharge one's obligation to; to make due return to; to compensate; to remunerate; to recompense; to requite; as, to pay workmen or servants. May no penny ale them pay [i. e., satisfy]. P. Plowman. [She] pays me with disdain. Dryden.
2. Hence, figuratively: To compensate justly; to requite according to merit; to reward; to punish; to retort or retaliate upon. For which, or pay me quickly, or I'll pay you. B. Jonson.
3. To discharge, as a debt, demand, or obligation, by giving or doing what is due or required; to deliver the amount or value of to the person to whom it is owing; to discharge a debt by delivering (money owed). "Pay me that thou owest." Matt. xviii. 28. Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Matt. xviii. 26. If they pay this tax, they starve. Tennyson.
4. To discharge or fulfill, as a duy; to perform or render duty, as that which has been promised. This day have I paid my vows. Prov. vii. 14.
5. To give or offer, without an implied obligation; as, to pay attention; to pay a visit. Not paying me a welcome. Shak. To pay off. (a) To make compensation to and discharge; as, to pay off the crew of a ship. (b) To allow (a thread, cord, etc.) to run off; to unwind. -- To pay one's duty, to render homage, as to a sovereign or other superior. -- To pay out (Naut.), to pass out; hence, to slacken; to allow to run out; as, to pay out more cable. See under Cable. -- To pay the piper, to bear the cost, expense, or trouble. [Colloq.]
PAY Pay, v. i.
Defn: To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, or satisfaction; to discharge a debt. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again. Ps. xxxvii. 21.
2. Hence, to make or secure suitable return for expense or trouble; to be remunerative or profitable; to be worth the effort or pains required; as, it will pay to ride; it will pay to wait; politeness always pays. To pay for. (a) To make amends for; to atone for; as, men often pay for their mistakes with loss of property or reputation, sometimes with life. (b) To give an equivalent for; to bear the expense of; to be mulcted on account of. 'T was I paid for your sleeps; I watched your wakings. Beau. & Fl. -- To pay off. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) To fall to leeward, as the head of a vessel under sail. -- To pay on. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] To beat with vigor; to redouble blows. [Colloq.] -- To pay round Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.) To turn the ship's head.
PAY Pay, n.
1. Satisfaction; content. Chaucer.
2. An equivalent or return for money due, goods purchased, or services performed; salary or wages for work or service; compensation; recompense; payment; hire; as, the pay of a clerk; the pay of a soldier. Where only merit constant pay receives. Pope. There is neither pay nor plunder to be got. L'Estrange. Full pay, the whole amount of wages or salary; maximum pay; especially, the highest pay or allowance to civil or military officers of a certain rank, without deductions. -- Half pay. See under Half. -- Pay day, the day of settlement of accounts. -- Pay dirt (Mining), earth which yields a profit to the miner. [Western U.S.] -- Pay office, a place where payment is made. -- Pay roll, a roll or list of persons entitled to payment, with the amounts due.
PAYABLE Pay"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. payable. Cf. Pacable.]
1. That may, can, or should be paid; suitable to be paid; justly due. Drayton. Thanks are a tribute payable by the poorest. South.
2. (Law) (a) That may be discharged or settled by delivery of value. (b) Matured; now due.
PAY CERPS Pay Cerps.
Defn: A staff corps in the United States navy, consisting of pay directors, pay inspectors, paymasters, passed assistant paymasters, and assistant paymasters, having relative rank from captain to ensign, respectively.
PAY DIRT; PAY ROCK Pay dirt, Pay rock, etc. (Mining)
Defn: Earth, rock, etc., which yields a profit to the miner. [Western U. S.]
PAYEE Pay*ee", n.
Defn: The person to whom money is to be, or has been, paid; the person named in a bill or note, to whom, or to whose order, the amount is promised or directed to be paid. See Bill of exchange, under Bill.
PAYEN Pay"en, n. & a.
Defn: Pagan. Etym: [F.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
PAYER Pay"er, n.
Defn: One who pays; specifically, the person by whom a bill or note has been, or should be, paid.
PAYMASTER Pay"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One who pays; one who compensates, rewards, or requites; specifically, an officer or agent of a government, a corporation, or an employer, whose duty it is to pay salaries, wages, etc., and keep account of the same.
PAYMASTER-GENERAL Pay"mas`ter-gen"er*al.
1. (a) (Mil.) In the United States army, an officer of the rank of brigadier general, who commands the pay department, which is charged with the payment of the officers and men. (b) (Nav.) In the United States navy, the Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, who has charge of the payment of officers and men and their clothing and subsistence. He has the rank of rear admiral.
2. In Great Britain, an officer of the Treasury who makes all payments and disbursements, civil as well as military. He is a member of the ministry, but not of the cabinet.
PAYMENT Pay"ment, n. Etym: [F. payment, paiement. See Pay to requite.]
1. The act of paying, or giving compensation; the discharge of a debt or an obligation. No man envieth the payment of a debt. Bacon.
2. That which is paid; the thing given in discharge of a debt, or an obligation, or in fulfillment of a promise; reward; recompense; requital; return. Shak.
3. Punishment; chastisement. [R.]
PAYN Payn, n. Etym: [OF. & F. pain, fr. L. panis bread.]
Defn: Bread. Having Piers Plowman.
PAYNDEMAIN Payn`de*main", n. Etym: [OF. pain bread + demaine manorial, lordly, own, private. See Payn, and Demesne. Said to be so called from the figure of our Lord impressed upon it.]
Defn: The finest and whitest bread made in the Middle Ages; -- called also paynemain, payman. [Obs.]
PAYNE'S PROCESS Payne's process.
Defn: A process for preserving timber and rendering it incombustible by impregnating it successively with solutions of sulphate of iron and calcium chloride in vacuo. --Payn"ize, v. t.
PAYNIM Pay"nim, n & a.
Defn: See Painim.
PAYNIZE Payn"ize, v. t. Etym: [From Mr. Payne, the inventor.]
Defn: To treat or preserve, as wood, by a process resembling kyanizing.
PAYOR Pay*or", n. (Law)
Defn: See Payer. [R.]
PAYSE Payse, v. t.
Defn: To poise. [Obs.] Spenser.
PAY STREAK Pay streak.
1. (Mining) The zone, parallel to the walls of a vein, in which the ore is concentrated, or any narrow streak of paying ore in less valuable material.
2. (Oil Boring) A stratum of oil sand thick enough to make a well pay.
PAYTINE Pay"tine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid obtained from a white bark resembling that of the cinchona, first brought from Payta, in Peru.
PEA Pea, n. Etym: [OF. peis. See Poise.]
Defn: The sliding weight on a steelyard. [Written also pee.]
PEA Pea, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Peak, n., 3.
PEA Pea, n.; pl. Peas or Pease. Etym: [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. s was misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf. Pease.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume, popularly called a pod.
Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form peas being used in both senses.
2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of the seed.
Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below. Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus. -- Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name for Dolichos sphærospermus and its seed. -- Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy blossoms. -- Chick pea. See Chick-pea. -- Egyptian pea. Same as Chick-pea. -- Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting. -- Glory pea. See under Glory, n. -- Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's rue. -- Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris. -- Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk. -- Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee. -- Pea bug. (Zoöl.) Same as Pea weevil. -- Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal. -- Pea crab (Zoöl.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species (P. pisum) which lives in the common mussel and the cockle. -- Pea dove (Zoöl.), the American ground dove. -- Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder (Papilionaceæ) of leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. G. Bentham. -- Pea maggot (Zoöl.), the larva of a European moth (Tortrix pisi), which is very destructive to peas. -- Pea ore (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore. -- Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc. -- Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the genus Caragana, natives of Siberia and China. -- Pea vine. (Bot.) (a) Any plant which bears peas. (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States (Lathyrus Americana, and other similar species). -- Pea weevil (Zoöl.), a small weevil (Bruchus pisi) which destroys peas by eating out the interior. -- Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea. -- Sweet pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.
PEABIRD Pea"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wryneck; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
PEABODY BIRD Pea"bod*y bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) having a conspicuous white throat. The name is imitative of its note. Called also White-throated sparrow.
PEACE Peace, n. Etym: [OE. pees, pais, OF. pais, paiz, pes, F. paix, L. pax, pacis, akin to pacere, paciscere, pacisci, to make an agreement, and prob. also pangere to fasten. Cf. Appease, Fair, a., Fay, v., Fang, Pacify, Pact, Pay to requite.]
Defn: A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically: (a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord. "The eternal love and pees." Chaucer.
Note: Peace is sometimes used as an exclamation in commanding silence, quiet, or order. "Peace! foolish woman." Shak. At peace, in a state of peace. -- Breach of the peace. See under Breach. -- Justice of the peace. See under Justice. -- Peace of God. (Law) (a) A term used in wills, indictments, etc., as denoting a state of peace and good conduct. (b) (Theol.) The peace of heart which is the gift of God. -- Peace offering. (a) (Jewish Antiq.) A voluntary offering to God in token of devout homage and of a sense of friendly communion with Him. (b) A gift or service offered as satisfaction to an offended person. -- Peace officer, a civil officer whose duty it is to preserve the public peace, to prevent riots, etc., as a sheriff or constable. -- To hold one's peace, to be silent; to refrain from speaking. -- To make one's peace with, to reconcile one with, to plead one's cause with, or to become reconciled with, another. "I will make your peace with him." Shak.
PEACE Peace, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop. [R.] "Peace your tattlings." Shak. When the thunder would not peace at my bidding. Shak.
PEACEABLE Peace"a*ble, a. Etym: [OE. peisible, F. paisible.]
Defn: Begin in or at peace; tranquil; quiet; free from, or not disposed to, war, disorder, or excitement; not quarrelsome. -- Peace"a*ble*ness, n. -- Peace"a*bly, adv.
Syn. -- Peaceful; pacific; tranquil; quiet; mild; undisturbed; serene; still. -- Peaceable, Peaceful. Peaceable describes the state of an individual, nation, etc., in reference to external hostility, attack, etc.; peaceful, in respect to internal disturbance. The former denotes "in the spirit of peace;" latter; "in the possession or enjoyment of peace." A peaceable adjustment of difficulties; a peaceful life, scene.
PEACEBREAKER Peace"break`er, n.
Defn: One who disturbs the public peace. -- Peace"break`ing, n.
PEACEFUL Peace"ful, a.
1. Possessing or enjoying peace; not disturbed by war, tumult, agitation, anxiety, or commotion; quiet; tranquil; as, a peaceful time; a peaceful country; a peaceful end.
2. Not disposed or tending to war, tumult or agitation; pacific; mild; calm; peaceable; as, peaceful words.
Syn. -- See Peaceable. --Peace"ful*ly, adv.. -- Peace"ful*ness, n.
PEACELESS Peace"less, a.
Defn: Without peace; disturbed. Sandys.
PEACEMAKER Peace"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance. Matt. v. 9. --Peace"mak`ing, n.
PEACH Peach, v. t. Etym: [See Appeach, Impeach.]
Defn: To accuse of crime; to inform against. [Obs.] Foxe.
PEACH Peach, v. i.
Defn: To turn informer; to betray one's accomplice. [Obs. or Colloq.] If I be ta'en, I'll peach for this. Shak.
PEACH Peach, n. Etym: [OE. peche, peshe, OF. pesche, F. pêche, fr. LL. persia, L. Persicum (sc. malum) a Persian apple, a peach. Cf. Persian, and Parsee.] (Bot.)
Defn: A well-known high-flavored juicy fruit, containing one or two seeds in a hard almond-like endocarp or stone; also, the tree which bears it (Prunus, or Amygdalus Persica). In the wild stock the fruit is hard and inedible. Guinea, or Sierra Leone, peach, the large edible berry of the Sarcocephalus esculentus, a rubiaceous climbing shrub of west tropical Africa. -- Palm peach, the fruit of a Venezuelan palm tree (Bactris speciosa). -- Peach color, the pale red color of the peach blossom. -- Peach-tree borer (Zoöl.), the larva of a clearwing moth (Ægeria, or Sannina, exitiosa) of the family Ægeriidæ, which is very destructive to peach trees by boring in the wood, usually near the ground; also, the moth itself. See Illust. under Borer.
PEACHBLOW Peach"blow`, a. (Ceramics)
Defn: Of the delicate purplish pink color likened to that of peach blooms; -- applied esp. to a Chinese porcelain, small specimens of which bring great prices in the Western countries.
PEACH-COLORED Peach"-col`ored, a.
Defn: Of the color of a peach blossom. "Peach-colored satin." Shak.
PEACHER Peach"er, n.
Defn: One who peaches. [Low] Foxe.
PEACHICK Pea"chick`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chicken of the peacock.
PEACHY Peach"y, a.
Defn: Resembling a peach or peaches.
PEACOCK Pea"cock`, n. Etym: [OE. pecok. Pea- in this word is from AS. peá, pawa, peacock, fr. L. pavo, prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Gr. taus, tawus, Ar. tawu. See Cock the bird.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of any pheasant of the genus Pavo, of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.
Note: The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is Pavo cristatus. The Javan peacock (P. muticus) is more brilliantly colored than the common species.
2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl. Peacock butterfly (Zoöl.), a handsome European butterfly (Hamadryas Io) having ocelli like those of peacock. -- Peacock fish (Zoöl.), the European blue-striped wrasse (Labrus variegatus); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook. -- Peacock pheasant (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron. They resemble the peacock in color.
PEACOCK THRONE Pea"cock` Throne.
1. A famous throne formerly of the kings of Delhi, India, but since 1739, when it was carried off by Nadir Shah, held by the shahs of Persia (later Iran); -- so called from its bearing a fully expanded peacock's tail done in gems.
PEAFOWL Pea"fowl`, n. Etym: [See Peacock.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The peacock or peahen; any species of Pavo.
PEAG Peag, n. [Written also peage, peak, peeke.] [Prob. of North Amer. Indian origin.]
Defn: A kind of aboriginal shell money, or wampum, of the Atlantic coast of the United States; -- originally applied only to polished white cylindrical beads.
PEAGE Pe"age, n.
Defn: See Paage.
PEAGRIT Pea"grit`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A coarse pisolitic limestone. See Pisolite.
PEAHEN Pea"hen`, n. Etym: [See Peacock.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hen or female peafowl.
PEA-JACKET Pea"-jack`et, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. D. pij, pije, a coat of a coarse woolen stuff.]
Defn: A thick loose woolen jacket, or coat, much worn by sailors in cold weather.
PEAK Peak, n. Etym: [OE. pek, AS. peac, perh of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. peac a sharp-pointed thing. Cf. Pike.]
1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap. "Run your beard into a peak." Beau. & Fl.
2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe. Silent upon a peak in Darien. Keats.
3. (Naut.) (a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc. (b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. (c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [In the last sense written also pea and pee.] Fore peak. (Naut.) See under Fore.
PEAK Peak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Peaking.]
1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak. There peaketh up a mighty high mount. Holand.
2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sicky. "Dwindle, peak, and pine." Shak.
3. Etym: [Cf. Peek.]
Defn: To pry; to peep slyly. Shak. Peak arch (Arch.), a pointed or Gothic arch.
PEAK Peak, v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.
PEAKED Peaked, a.
1. Pointed; ending in a point; as, a peaked roof.
2. (Oftener
Defn: Sickly; not robust. [Colloq.]
PEAKING Peak"ing, a.
1. Mean; sneaking. [Vulgar]
2. Pining; sickly; peakish. [Colloq.]
PEAKISH Peak"ish, a.
1. Of or relating to a peak; or to peaks; belonging to a mountainous region. "Her peakish spring." Drayton. "His peakish dialect." Bp. Hall.
2. Having peaks; peaked.
3. Having features thin or sharp, as from sickness; hence, sickly. [Colloq.]
PEAKY Peak"y, a.
1. Having a peak or peaks. Tennyson.
2. Sickly; peaked. [Colloq.]
PEAL Peal, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin. [Prov. Eng.]
PEAL Peal, v. i.
Defn: To appeal. [Obs.] Spencer.
PEAL Peal, n. Etym: [An abbrev. of F. appel a call, appeal, ruffle of a drum, fr. appeller to call, L. appellare. See Appeal.]
1. A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, of a multitude, etc. "A fair peal of artillery." Hayward. Whether those peals of praise be his or no. Shak. And a deep thunder, peal on peal, afar. Byron.
2. A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale; also, the changes rung on a set of bells. To ring a peal. See under Ring.
PEAL Peal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pealing.]
1. To utter or give out loud sounds. There let the pealing organ blow. Milton.
2. To resound; to echo. And the whole air pealed With the cheers of our men. Longfellow.
PEAL Peal, v. t.
1. To utter or give forth loudly; to cause to give out loud sounds; to noise abroad. The warrior's name, Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame. J. Barlow.
2. To assail with noise or loud sounds. Nor was his ear less pealed. Milton.
3. To pour out. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
PEAN Pean, n. Etym: [OF. pene, F. panne.] (Her.)
Defn: One of the furs, the ground being sable, and the spots or tufts or.
PEAN Pe"an, n.
Defn: A song of praise and triumph. See Pæan.
PEANISM Pe"an*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The song or shout of praise, of battle, or of triumph. [R.]
PEANUT Pea"nut, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of a trailing leguminous plant (Arachis hypogæa); also, the plant itself, which is widely cultivated for its fruit.
Note: The fruit is a hard pod, usually containing two or three seeds, sometimes but one, which ripen beneath the soil. Called also earthnut, groundnut, and goober.
PEANUT BUTTER Pea"nut but"ter.
Defn: A paste made by mixing ground fresh roasted peanuts with a small quantity of water or oil, and used chiefly as a relish on sandwiches, etc.
PEAR Pear, n. Etym: [OE. pere, AS. peru, L. pirum: cf. F. poire. Cf. Perry.] (Bot.)
Defn: The fleshy pome, or fruit, of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus communis), cultivated in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family, below. Pear blight. (a) (Bot.) A name of two distinct diseases of pear trees, both causing a destruction of the branches, viz., that caused by a minute insect (Xyleborus pyri), and that caused by the freezing of the sap in winter. A. J. Downing. (b) (Zoöl.) A very small beetle (Xyleborus pyri) whose larvæ bore in the twigs of pear trees and cause them to wither. -- Pear family (Bot.), a suborder of rosaceous plants (Pomeæ), characterized by the calyx tube becoming fleshy in fruit, and, combined with the ovaries, forming a pome. It includes the apple, pear, quince, service berry, and hewthorn. -- Pear gauge (Physics), a kind of gauge for measuring the exhaustion of an air-pump receiver; -- so called because consisting in part of a pear-shaped glass vessel. Pear shell (Zoöl.), any marine gastropod shell of the genus Pyrula, native of tropical seas; -- so called from the shape. -- Pear slug (Zoöl.), the larva of a sawfly which is very injurious to the foliage of the pear tree.
PEARCH Pearch, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Perch.
PEARL Pearl, n.
Defn: A fringe or border. [Obs.] -- v. t.
Defn: To fringe; to border. [Obs.] See Purl. Pearl stitch. See Purl stitch, under Purl.
PEARL Pearl, n. Etym: [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See Pear, and cf. Purl to mantle.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.
2. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl. Shak. And those pearls of dew she wears. Milton.
3. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A light-colored tern.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
7. A whitish speck or film on the eye. [Obs.] Milton.
8. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.
9. (Print.)
Defn: A size of type, between agate and diamond. * This line is printed in the type called pearl. Ground pearl. (Zoöl.) See under Ground. -- Pearl barley, kernels of barley, ground so as to form small, round grains. -- Pearl diver, one who dives for pearl oysters. -- Pearl edge, an edge of small loops on the side of some kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace. -- Pearl eye, cataract. [R.] -- Pearl gray, a very pale and delicate blue-gray color. -- Pearl millet, Egyptian millet (Penicillaria spicata). -- Pearl moss. See Carrageen. -- Pearl moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Margaritia; -- so called on account of its pearly color. -- Pearl oyster (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large tropical marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Meleagrina, or Margaritifera, found in the East Indies (especially at Ceylon), in the Persian Gulf, on the coast of Australia, and on the Pacific coast of America. Called also pearl shell, and pearl mussel. -- Pearl powder. See Pearl white, below. -- Pearl sago, sago in the form of small pearly grains. -- Pearl sinter (Min.), fiorite. -- Pearl spar (Min.), a crystallized variety of dolomite, having a pearly luster. -- Pearl white. (a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; - - used chiefly as a cosmetic. (b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue.
PEARL Pearl, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl.
PEARL Pearl, v. t.
1. To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.
2. To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.
PEARL Pearl, v. i.
1. To resemble pearl or pearls.
2. To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.
PEARLACEOUS Pearl*a"ceous, a.
Defn: Resembling pearl or mother-of-pearl; pearly in quality or appearance.
PEARLASH Pearl"ash`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous or granular substance which consists principally of potassium carbonate, and has a strong alkaline reaction. It is obtained by lixiviating wood ashes, and evaporating the lye, and has been an important source of potassium compounds. It is used in making soap, glass, etc.
PEARL-EYED Pearl"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having a pearly speck in the eye; afflicted with the cataract.
PEARLFISH Pearl"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish whose scales yield a pearl-like pigment used in manufacturing artificial pearls, as the bleak, and whitebait.
PEARLINS; PEARLINGS Pearl"ins, Pearl"ings, n. pl. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of purflings. See Purfle.]
Defn: A kind of lace of silk or thread. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
PEARLITE; PEARLSTONE Pearl"ite, Pearl"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A glassy volcanic rock of a grayish color and pearly luster, often having a spherulitic concretionary structure due to the curved cracks produced by contraction in cooling. See Illust. under Perlitic.
PEARLWORT Pearl"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several species of Sagina, low and inconspicuous herbs of the Chickweed family.
PEARLY Pearl"y, a.
1. Containing pearls; abounding with, or yielding, pearls; as, pearly shells. Milton.
2. Resembling pearl or pearls; clear; pure; transparent; iridescent; as, the pearly dew or flood.
PEARMAIN Pear"main, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several kinds of apples; as, the blue pearmain, winter pearmain, and red pearmain.
PEAR-SHAPED Pear"-shaped`, a.
Defn: Of the form of a pear.
PEART Peart, a. Etym: [A variant of pert, a.]
Defn: Active; lively; brisk; smart; -- often applied to convalescents; as, she is quite peart to-day. [O. Eng. & Colloq. U. S.] There was a tricksy girl, I wot, albeit clad in gray, As peart as bird, as straight as bolt, as fresh as flowers in May. Warner (1592).
PEASANT Peas"ant, n. Etym: [OF. païsant (the i being perh. due to confusion with the p.pr. of verbs), païsan, F. paysan, fr. OF. & F. pays country, fr. L. pagus the country. See Pagan.]
Defn: A countryman; a rustic; especially, one of the lowest class of tillers of the soil in European countries.
Syn. -- Countryman; rustic; swain; hind.
PEASANT Peas"ant, a.
Defn: Rustic, rural. Spenser.
PEASANTLIKE Peas"ant*like`, a.
Defn: Rude; clownish; illiterate.
PEASANTLY Peas"ant*ly, a.
Defn: Peasantlike. [Obs.] Milton.
PEASANTRY Peas"ant*ry, n.
1. Peasants, collectively; the body of rustics. "A bold peasantry." Goldsmith.
2. Rusticity; coarseness. [Obs.] p. Butler.
PEASCOD Peas"cod`, n.
Defn: The legume or pericarp, or the pod, of the pea.
PEASE Pease, n.; obs.pl. Peases, Peasen. Etym: [See Pea.]
1. A pea. [Obs.] "A peose." "Bread . . . of beans and of peses." Piers Plowman.
2. A plural form of Pea. See the Note under Pea.
PEASTONE Pea"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: Pisolite.
PEASWEEP Peas"weep`, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] [Prov. Eng.] (Zoöl.) (a) The pewit, or lapwing. (b) The greenfinch.
PEAT Peat, n. Etym: [Cf. Pet a fondling.]
Defn: A small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [Obs.] Shak.
PEAT Peat, n. Etym: [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire burn better, fr. AS. b to better, mend (a fire), b advantage. See Better, Boot advantage.]
Defn: A substance of vegetable origin, consisting of roots and fibers, moss, etc., in various stages of decomposition, and found, as a kind of turf or bog, usually in low situations, where it is always more or less saturated with water. It is often dried and used for fuel. Peat bog, a bog containing peat; also, peat as it occurs in such places; peat moss. -- Peat moss. (a) The plants which, when decomposed, become peat. (b) A fen producing peat. (c) (Bot.) Moss of the genus Sphagnum, which often grows abundantly in boggy or peaty places. -- Peat reek, the reek or smoke of peat; hence, also, the peculiar flavor given to whisky by being distilled with peat as fuel. [Scot.]
PEATY Peat"y, a.
Defn: Composed of peat; abounding in peat; resembling peat.
PEAVEY; PEAVY Pea"vey Pea"vy, n. [Said to be from the inventor's name.] (Lumbering)
Defn: A cant hook having the end of its lever armed with a spike.
PEBA Pe"ba, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. peba.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An armadillo (Tatusia novemcincta) which is found from Texas to Paraguay; -- called also tatouhou.
PEBBLE Peb"ble, n. Etym: [AS. papolstan; cf. L. papula pimple, mote. See Stone.]
1. A small roundish stone or bowlder; especially, a stone worn and rounded by the action of water; a pebblestone. "The pebbles on the hungry beach." Shak. As children gathering pebbles on the shore. Milton.
2. Transparent and colorless rock crystal; as, Brazilian pebble; -- so called by opticians. Pebble powder, slow-burning gunpowder, in large cubical grains. -- Scotch pebble, varieties of quartz, as agate, chalcedony, etc., obtained from cavities in amygdaloid.
PEBBLE Peb"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pebbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pebbling.]
Defn: To grain (leather) so as to produce a surface covered with small rounded prominences.
PEBBLED Peb"bled, a.
Defn: Abounding in pebbles. Thomson.
PEBBLESTONE Peb"ble*stone`.
Defn: A pebble; also, pebbles collectively. "Chains of pebblestone." Marlowe.
PEBBLY Peb"bly, a.
Defn: Full of pebbles; pebbled. "A hard, pebbly bottom." Johnson.
PEBRINE Pe`brine", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An epidemic disease of the silkworm, characterized by the presence of minute vibratory corpuscles in the blood.
PECAN Pe*can", n. Etym: [Cf. F. pacane the nut.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of hickory (Carya olivæformis), growing in North America, chiefly in the Mississippi valley and in Texas, where it is one of the largest of forest trees; also, its fruit, a smooth, oblong nut, an inch or an inch and a half long, with a thin shell and well- flavored meat. [Written also pacane.]
PECARY Pec"a*ry, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Peccary.
PECCABILITY Pec`ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being peccable; lability to sin. The common peccability of mankind. Dr. H. More.
PECCABLE Pec"ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. peccable. See Peccant.]
Defn: Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law. "A frail and peccable mortal." Sir W. Scott.
PECCADILLO Pec`ca*dil"lo, n; pl. Peccadillos. Etym: [Sp. pecadillo, dim. of pecado a sin, fr. L. peccatum. See Peccant.]
Defn: A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime or fault. Sir W. Scott.
PECCANCY Pec"can*cy, n. Etym: [L. peccantia.]
1. The quality or state of being peccant.
2. A sin; an offense. W. Montagu.
PECCANT Pec"cant, a. Etym: [L. peccans, -antis, p.pr. of peccare to sin: cf. F. peccant.]
1. Sinning; guilty of transgression; criminal; as, peccant angels. Milton.
2. Morbid; corrupt; as, peccant humors. Bacon.
3. Wrong; defective; faulty. [R.] Ayliffe.
PECCANT Pec"cant, n.
Defn: An offender. [Obs.] Whitlock.
PECCANTLY Pec"cant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a peccant manner.
PECCARY Pec"ca*ry, n.; pl. Peccaries. Etym: [From the native South American name: cf. F. pécari, Sp. pecar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A pachyderm of the genus Dicotyles.
Note: The collared peccary, or tajacu (Dicotyles torquatus), is about the size and shape of a small hog, and has a white ring aroung the neck. It ranges from Arkansas to Brazil. A larger species (D. labiatus), with white cheeks, is found in South America.
PECCAVI Pec*ca"vi. Etym: [L.]
Defn: I have sinned; -- used colloquially to express confession or acknowledgment of an offense. Aubrey.
PECCO Pec"co, n.
Defn: See Pekoe.
PECK Peck, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to pack; or, orig., an indefinite quantity, and fr. peck, v. (below): cf. also F. picotin a peak.]
1. The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat. "A peck of provender." Shak.
2. A great deal; a large or excessive quantity. "A peck of uncertainties and doubts." Milton.
PECK Peck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pecked; p. pr. & vb. n. Pecking.] Etym: [See Pick, v.]
1. To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree.
2. Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements.
3. To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; -- often with up. Addison. This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons peas. Shak.
4. To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree.
PECK Peck, v. i.
1. To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument. Carew.
2. To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat. [The hen] went pecking by his side. Dryden. To peck at, to attack with petty and repeated blows; to carp at; to nag; to tease.
PECK Peck, n.
Defn: A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument.
PECKER Peck"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, pecks; specif., a bird that pecks holes in trees; a woodpecker.
2. An instrument for pecking; a pick. Garth. Flower pecker. (Zoöl.) See under Flower.
PECKISH Peck"ish, a.
Defn: Inclined to eat; hungry. [Colloq.] "When shall I feel peckish again" Beaconsfield.
PECKLED Pec"kled, a.
Defn: Speckled; spotted. [Obs.]
PECOPTERIS Pe*cop"te*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extensive genus of fossil ferns; -- so named from the regular comblike arrangement of the leaflets.
PECORA Pec"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pecus. See Pecuniary.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive division of ruminants, including the antelopes, deer, and cattle.
PECTATE Pec"tate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of pectic acid.
PECTEN Pec"ten, n. Etym: [L. pecten, -inis, a comb, a kind of shellfish. See Pectinate.]
1. (Anat.) (a) A vascular pigmented membrane projecting into the vitreous humor within the globe of the eye in birds, and in many reptiles and fishes; -- also called marsupium. (b) The pubic bone.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of bivalve mollusks of the genus Pecten, and numerous allied genera (family Pectinidæ); a scallop. See Scallop.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The comb of a scorpion. See Comb, 4 (b).
PECTIC Pec"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to pectin; specifically, designating an acid obtained from ordinary vegetable jelly (pectin) as an amorphous substance, tough and horny when dry, but gelatinous when moist.
PECTIN Pec"tin, n. Etym: [Gr. pectine.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of carbohydrates, commonly called vegetable jelly, found very widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom, especially in ripe fleshy fruits, as apples, cranberries, etc. It is extracted as variously colored, translucent substances, which are soluble in hot water but become viscous on cooling.
PECTINAL Pec"ti*nal, a. Etym: [L. pecten comb. See Pectinate.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a comb; resembling a comb.
PECTINAL Pec"ti*nal, n.
Defn: A fish whose bone Sir T. Browne.
PECTINATE; PECTINATED Pec"ti*na`te, Pec"ti*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. pectinatus, p.pr. of pectinare to comb, from pecten, -inis, a comb; cf. Gr. feax hair, OHG. fahs, E. paxwax.]
1. Resembling the teeth of a comb.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Having very narrow, close divisions, in arrangement and regularity resembling those of a comb; comblike; as, a pectinate leaf; pectinated muscles. See Illust. (e) of Antennæ.
3. Interlaced, like two combs. [R.] "Our fingers pectinated, or shut together." Sir T. Browne. Pectinate claw (Zoöl.), a claw having a serrate edge, found in some birds, and supposed to be used in cleaning the feathers.
PECTINATELY Pec"ti*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pectinate manner.
PECTINATION Pec`ti*na"tion, n.
1. The state of being pectinated; that which is pectinated. Sir T. Browne.
2. The act of combing; the combing of the head.
3. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Comblike toothing.
PECTINEAL Pec*tin"e*al, a. Etym: [See Pecten.] (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the pecten. (b) Relating to, or connected with, the pubic bone.
PECTINIBRANCH Pec*tin"i*branch, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Pectinibranchiata. Also used adjectively.
PECTINIBRANCHIATA Pec`ti*ni*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pecten, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Gastropoda, including those that have a comblike gill upon the neck.
PECTINIBRANCHIATE Pec`ti*ni*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [L. pecten, -inis, a comb + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having pectinated gills.
PECTINIFORM Pec*tin"i*form, a.
Defn: Comblike in form.
PECTIZE Pec*tize", v. i. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To congeal; to change into a gelatinous mass. [R.] H. Spencer.
PECTOLITE Pec"to*lite, n. Etym: [L. pecten a comb + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A whitish mineral occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It is a hydrous silicate of lime and soda.
PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, a. Etym: [L. pectoralis, fr. pectus, -oris the breast; cf. F. pectoral.]
1. Of or pertaining to the breast, or chest; as, the pectoral muscles.
2. Relating to, or good for, diseases of the chest or lungs; as, a pectoral remedy.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the breast conspicuously colored; as, the pectoral sandpiper. Pectoral arch, or Pectoral girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the fore limbs are articulated; the shoulder girdle. In man it consists of two bones, the scapula and clavicle, on each side. -- Pectorial cross (Eccl.), a cross worn on the breast by bishops and abbots, and sometimes also by canons. -- Pectorial fins, or Pectorials (Zoöl.), fins situated on the sides, behind the gills. See Illust. under Fin. -- Pectorial rail. (Zoöl.) See Land rail (b) under Land. -- Pectorial sandpiper (Zoöl.), the jacksnipe (b).
PECTORAL Pec"to*ral, n. Etym: [L. pectorale a breastplate, neut. of pectorials.]
1. A covering or protecting for the breast.
2. (Eccl.) (a) A breastplate, esp. that worn by the Jewish high person. (b) A clasp or a cross worn on the breast.
3. A medicine for diseases of the chest organs, especially the lungs.
PECTORALLY Pec"to*ral*ly, adv.
Defn: As connected with the breast.
PECTORILOQUIAL Pec`to*ri*lo"qui*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pectoriloque.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pectoriloquy.
PECTORILOQUISM Pec`to*ril"o*quism, n.
Defn: Pectoriloquy.
PECTORILOQUOUS Pec`to*ril"o*quous, a.
Defn: Pectoriloquial.
PECTORILOQUY Pec`to*ril"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. pectus, -oris, the breast + loqui to speak: cf. F. pectoriloquie.] (Med.)
Defn: The distinct articulation of the sounds of a patient's voice, heard on applying the ear to the chest in auscultation. It usually indicates some morbid change in the lungs or pleural cavity.
PECTOSE Pec"tose`, n. Etym: [Pectic + cellulose.] (Chem.)
Defn: An amorphous carbohydrate found in the vegetable kingdom, esp. in unripe fruits. It is associated with cellulose, and is converted into substances of the pectin group.
PECTOSIC Pec*to"sic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, resembling, or derived from, pectose; specifically, designating an acid supposed to constitute largely ordinary pectin or vegetable jelly.
PECTOSTRACA Pec*tos"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A degenerate order of Crustacea, including the Rhizocephala and Cirripedia.
PECTOUS Pec"tous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, pectose.
PECTUS Pec"tus, n.; pl. Pectora. Etym: [L., the breast.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The breast of a bird.
PECUL Pec"ul, n.
Defn: See Picul.
PECULATE Pec"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Peculating.] Etym: [L. peculatus, p.p. of peculari to peculate, akin to peculium private property. See Peculiar.]
Defn: To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys intrusted to one's care; to embezzle. An oppressive, . . . rapacious, and peculating despotism. Burke.
PECULATION Pec`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act or practice of peculating, or of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods intrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement. Every British subject . . . active in the discovery of peculations has been ruined. Burke.
PECULATOR Pec"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who peculates. "Peculators of the public gold." Cowper.
PECULIAR Pe*cul"iar, a. Etym: [L. peculiaris, fr. peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. OF. peculier. See Pecuniary.]
1. One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation. And purify unto himself a peculiar people. Titus ii. 14. Hymns . . . that Christianity hath peculiar unto itself. Hooker.
2. Particular; individual; special; appropriate. While each peculiar power forgoes his wonted seat. Milton. My fate is Juno's most peculiar care. Dryden.
3. Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the sky had a peculiarappearance.
Syn. -- Peculiar, Special, Especial. Peculiar is from the Roman peculium, which was a thing emphatically and distinctively one's own, and hence was dear. The former sense always belongs to peculiar (as, a peculiar style, peculiar manners, etc.), and usually so much of the latter as to involve feelings of interest; as, peculiar care, watchfulness, satisfaction, etc. Nothing of this kind belongs to special and especial. They mark simply the relation of species to genus, and denote that there is something in this case more than ordinary; as, a special act of Congress; especial pains, etc. Beauty, which, either walking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces. Milton. For naught so vile that on the earth doth live, But to the earth some special good doth give. Shak.
PECULIAR Pe*cul"iar, n.
1. That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic. Revenge is . . . the peculiar of Heaven. South.
2. (Eng. Canon Law)
Defn: A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary. Court of Peculiars (Eng. Law), a branch of the Court of Arches having cognizance of the affairs of peculiars. Blackstone. -- Dean of peculiars. See under Dean, 1.
PECULIARITY Pe*cul`iar"i*ty, n.; pl. Peculiarities (.
1. The quality or state of being peculiar; individuality; singularity. Swift.
2. That which is peculiar; a special and distinctive characteristic or habit; particularity. The smallest peculiarity of temper on manner. Macaulay.
3. Exclusive possession or right. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
PECULIARIZE Pe*cul"iar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pecularized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pecularizing.]
Defn: To make peculiar; to set appart or assign, as an exclusive possession. [R.] Dr. John Smith.
PECULIARLY Pe*cul"iar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a peculiar manner; particulary; in a rare and striking degree; unusually.
PECULIARNESS Pe*cul"iar*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being peculiar; peculiarity. Mede.
PECULIUM Pe*cu"li*um, n. Etym: [L. See Peculiar.]
1. (Rom. Law)
Defn: The saving of a son or a slave with the father's or master's consent; a little property or stock of one's own; any exclusive personal or separate property. Burrill.
2. A special fund for private and personal uses. A slight peculium only subtracted to supply his snuff box and tobacco pouch. Sir W. Scott.
PECUNIAL Pe*cu"ni*al, a.
Defn: Pecuniary. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PECUNIARILY Pe*cun"ia*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pecuniary manner; as regards money.
PECUNIARY Pe*cun"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. pecuniarius, fr. pecunia money, orig., property in cattle, fr. pecus cattle: cf. F. pécuniaire. See Fee, and cf. Peculiar.]
1. Relating to money; monetary; as, a pecuniary penalty; a pecuniary reward. Burke.
PECUNIOUS Pe*cu"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. pecuniosus, fr. pecunia: cf. F. pécunieux.]
Defn: Abounding in money; wealthy; rich. [Obs.] Sherwood.
PED Ped, n. Etym: [OE. See Peddler.]
Defn: A basket; a hammer; a pannier. [Obs.] Halliwell.
PEDAGE Ped"age, n. Etym: [LL. pedagium, for pedaticum. See Paage.]
Defn: A toll or tax paid by passengers, entitling them to safe- conduct and protection. [Obs.] Spelman.
PEDAGOG Ped"a*gog, n.
Defn: Pedagogue.
PEDAGOGIC Ped`a*gog"ic, n. Etym: [From Pedagogic, a.; cf. G. pedagogik.]
Defn: See Pedagogics.
PEDAGOGIC; PEDAGOGICAL Ped`a*gog"ic, Ped`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. pédagogique. See Pedagogue.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pedagogue; suited to, or characteristic of, a pedagogue.
PEDAGOGICS Ped`a*gog"ics, n.
Defn: The science or art of teaching; the principles and rules of teaching; pedagogy.
PEDAGOGISM Ped"a*gog*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédagogisme.]
Defn: The system, occupation, character, or manner of pedagogues. Milton. Avocation of pedantry and pedagogism. De Foe.
PEDAGOGUE Ped"a*gogue, n. Etym: [F. pédagogue, L. paedagogus, Gr. Page a servant, Agent.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A slave who led his master's children to school, and had the charge of them generally.
2. A teacher of children; one whose occupation is to teach the young; a schoolmaster.
3. One who by teaching has become formal, positive, or pedantic in his ways; one who has the manner of a schoolmaster; a pedant. Goldsmith.
PEDAGOGUE Ped"a*gogue, v. t. Etym: [Cf. L. paedagogare to instruct.]
Defn: To play the pedagogue toward. [Obs.] Prior.
PEDAGOGY Ped"a*go`gy, n. Etym: [Gr. pédagogie.]
Defn: Pedagogics; pedagogism. South.
PEDAL Pe"dal, a. Etym: [L. pedalis, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pew.]
1. Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or figuratively; specifically (Zoöl.), pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion.
2. (
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals. Pedal curve or surface (Geom.), the curve or surface which is the locus of the feet of perpendiculars let fall from a fixed point upon the straight lines tangent to a given curve, or upon the planes tangent to a given surface. -- Pedal note (Mus.), the note which is held or sustained through an organ point. See Organ point, under Organ. -- Pedal organ (Mus.), an organ which has pedals or a range of keys moved by the feet; that portion of a full organ which is played with the feet.
PEDAL Pe"dal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédale, It. pedale. See Pedal, a.]
1. (Mech.)
Defn: A lever or key acted on by the foot, as in the pianoforte to raise the dampers, or in the organ to open and close certain pipes; a treadle, as in a lathe or a bicycle.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A pedal curve or surface.
PEDALIAN Pe*da"li*an, a.
Defn: Relating to the foot, or to a metrical foot; pedal. [R.] Maunder.
PEDALITY Pe*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The act of measuring by paces. [R.] Ash.
PEDANEOUS Pe*da"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. pedaneus of the size of a foot.]
Defn: Going on foot; pedestrian. [R.]
PEDANT Ped"ant, n. Etym: [F. pédant, It. pedante, fr. Gr. pai^s boy. See Pedagogue.]
1. A schoolmaster; a pedagogue. [Obs.] Dryden. A pedant that keeps a school i'th' church. Shak.
2. One who puts on an air of learning; one who makes a vain display of learning; a pretender to superior knowledge. Addison. A scholar, yet surely no pedant, was he. Goldsmith.
PEDANTIC; PEDANTICAL Pe*dan"tic, Pe*dan"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pedant; characteristic of, or resembling, a pedant; ostentatious of learning; as, a pedantic writer; a pedantic description; a pedantical affectation. "Figures pedantical." Shak.
PEDANTICALLY Pe*dan"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pedantic manner.
PEDANTICLY Pe*dan"tic*ly, adv.
Defn: Pedantically. [R.]
PEDANTISM Ped"ant*ism, n.
Defn: The office, disposition, or act of a pedant; pedantry. [Obs.]
PEDANTIZE Ped"ant*ize, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. pédantiser.]
Defn: To play the pedant; to use pedantic expressions. [R.]
PEDANTOCRACY Ped`an*toc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Pedant + democracy.]
Defn: The sway of pedants. [R.] J. S. Mill.
PEDANTRY Ped"ant*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédanterie.]
Defn: The act, character, or manners of a pedant; vain ostentation of learning. "This pedantry of quotation." Cowley. 'T is a practice that savors much of pedantry. Sir T. Browne.
PEDANTY Ped"ant*y, n.
Defn: An assembly or clique of pedants. [Obs.] Milton.
PEDARIAN Pe*da"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. pedarius, fr. pedarius belonging to the foot, fr. pes, pedis, foot.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: One of a class eligible to the office of senator, but not yet chosen, who could sit and speak in the senate, but could not vote; -- so called because he might indicate his opinion by walking over to the side of the party he favored when a vote was taken.
PEDARY Ped"a*ry, n.; pl. Pedaries. Etym: [L. pedarius of the foot.]
Defn: A sandal. [Obs.] Latimer.
PEDATA Pe*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of holothurians, including those that have ambulacral suckers, or feet, and an internal gill.
PEDATE Ped"ate, a. Etym: [L. pedatus, p.p. of pedare to furnish with feet, fr. pes, pedis, a foot.] (Bot.)
Defn: Palmate, with the lateral lobes cleft into two or more segments; -- said of a leaf. -- Ped"ate*ly, adv.
PEDATIFID Pe*dat"i*fid, a. Etym: [Pedate + root of L. findere to split.] [Colloq.]
Defn: Cleft in a pedate manner, but having the lobes distinctly connected at the base; -- said of a leaf.
PEDDLE Ped"dle, v. i. Etym: [From Peddler.]
1. To travel about with wares for sale; to go from place to place, or from house to house, for the purpose of retailing goods; as, to peddle without a license.
2. To do a small business; to be busy about trifles; to piddle.
PEDDLE Ped"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Peddling.]
Defn: To sell from place to place; to retail by carrying around from customer to customer; to hawk; hence, to retail in very small quantities; as, to peddle vegetables or tinware.
PEDDLER Ped"dler, n. Etym: [OE. pedlere, pedlare, also peddare, peoddare, fr. OE. ped a basket, of unknown origin.]
Defn: One who peddles; a traveling trader; one who travels about, retailing small wares; a hawker. [Written also pedlar and pedler.] "Some vagabond huckster or peddler." Hakluyt.
PEDDLERY Ped"dler*y, n. Etym: [Written also pedlary and pedlery.]
1. The trade, or the goods, of a peddler; hawking; small retail business, like that of a peddler.
2. Trifling; trickery. [Obs.] "Look . . . into these their deceitful peddleries." Milton.
PEDDLING Ped"dling, a.
1. Hawking; acting as a peddler.
2. Petty; insignificant. "The miserable remains of a peddling commerce." Burke.
PEDERAST Ped"er*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. paiderasth`s; pai^s, paido`s, a boy + 'era^n to love: cf. F. pédéraste.]
Defn: One guilty of pederasty; a sodomite.
PEDERASTIC Ped`er*as"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. paiderastiko`s.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to pederasty.
PEDERASTY Ped"er*as`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. paiderasti`a: cf. F. pédérastie.]
Defn: The crime against nature; sodomy.
PEDERERO Ped`e*re"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. pedrero, fr. OSp. pedra, Sp. piedra, a stone, L. petra, fr. Gr. (Mil.)
Defn: A term formerly applied to a short piece of chambered ordnance. [Written also paterero and peterero.]
PEDESIS Pe*de"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
Defn: Same as Brownian movement, under Brownian.
PEDESTAL Ped"es*tal, n. Etym: [Sp. pedestal; cf. F. piédestal, It. piedestallo; fr. L. es, pedis, foot + OHG. stal standing place, station, place, akin to E. stall. See Foot, and Stall, and Footstall.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, lamp, or the like; the part on which an upright work stands. It consists of three parts, the base, the die or dado, and the cornice or surbase molding. See Illust. of Column. Build him a pedestal, and say, "Stand there!" Cowper.
2. (a) (Railroad Cars) A casting secured to the frame of a truck and forming a jaw for holding a journal box. (b) (Mach.) A pillow block; a low housing. (c) (Bridge Building) An iron socket, or support, for the foot of a brace at the end of a truss where it rests on a pier. Pedestal coil (steam Heating), a group of connected straight pipes arranged side by side and one above another, -- used in a radiator.
PEDESTALED Ped"es*taled, a.
Defn: Placed on, or supported by, a pedestal; figuratively, exalted. Hawthorne. Pedestaled haply in a palace court. Keats.
PEDESTRIAL Pe*des"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. pedester, -esteris, fr. pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pédestere. See Pedal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the feet; employing the foot or feet.
PEDESTRIALLY Pe*des"tri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pedestrial manner.
PEDESTRIAN Pe*des"tri*an, a.
Defn: Going on foot; performed on foot; as, a pedestrian journey.
PEDESTRIAN Pe*des"tri*an, n.
Defn: A walker; one who journeys on foot; a foot traveler; specif., a professional walker or runner.
PEDESTRIANISM Pe*des"tri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The act, art, or practice of a pedestrian; walking or running; traveling or racing on foot.
PEDESTRIANIZE Pe*des"tri*an*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pedestrianized; p. pr. & vb. n. Pedestrianizing.]
Defn: To practice walking; to travel on foot.
PEDESTRIOUS Pe*des"tri*ous, a.
Defn: Going on foot; not winged. [Obs.] "Pedestrious animals." Sir T. Browne.
PEDETENTOUS Ped`e*ten"tous, a. Etym: [L. pes, pedis, foot + tendere to stretch out: cf. L. tentim by degrees.]
Defn: Proceeding step by step; advancing cautiously. [R.] That pedetentous pace and pedetentous mind in which it behooves the wise and virtuous improver to walk. Sydney Smith.
PEDI-; PEDO- Ped"i-, Ped"o-. Etym: [See Foot.]
Defn: Combining forms from L. pes, pedis, foot, as pedipalp, pedireme, pedometer.
PEDIAL Pe"di*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the foot, or to any organ called a foot; pedal. Dana.
PEDIATRIC Ped`i*at"ric (ped`i*at"rik or ped`i*at"rik), a. [Gr. pai^s, paido`s, child + 'iatrei`a healing.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to the care and medical treatment of children. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
PEDIATRICS Ped`i*at"rics, n.
Defn: That branch of medical science which treats of the hygiene and diseases of children.
PEDICEL Ped"i*cel, n. Etym: [F. pédicelle. See Pedicle.]
1. (Bot.) (a) A stalk which supports one flower or fruit, whether solitary or one of many ultimate divisions of a common peduncle. See Peduncle, and Illust. of Flower. (b) A slender support of any special organ, as that of a capsule in mosses, an air vesicle in algæ, or a sporangium in ferns.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A slender stem by which certain of the lower animals or their eggs are attached. See Illust. of Aphis lion.
3. (Anat.) (a) The ventral part of each side of the neural arch connecting with the centrum of a vertebra. (b) An outgrowth of the frontal bones, which supports the antlers or horns in deer and allied animals.
PEDICELED Ped"i*celed, a.
Defn: Pedicellate.
PEDICELLARIA Ped`i*cel*la"ri*a, n.; pl. Pedicellariæ. Etym: [NL. See Pedicel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar forcepslike organ which occurs in large numbers upon starfishes and echini. Those of starfishes have two movable jaws, or blades, and are usually nearly, or quite, sessile; those of echini usually have three jaws and a pedicel. See Illustration in Appendix.
PEDICELLATE Ped"i*cel`late, a.
Defn: Having a pedicel; supported by a pedicel.
PEDICELLINA Ped`i*cel*li"na, n. Etym: [NL. See Pedicel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Bryozoa, of the order Entoprocta, having a bell- shaped body supported on a slender pedicel. See Illust. under Entoprocta.
PEDICLE Ped"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. pediculus a little foot, dim. of pes foot: cf. F. pédicule. See edal, and cf. Pedicel.]
Defn: Same as Pedicel.
PEDICULAR Pe*dic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. pedicularis, fr. pediculus a louse: cf. F. pédiculaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to lice; having the lousy distemper (phthiriasis); lousy. Southey.
PEDICULATE Pe*dic"u*late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pediculati.
PEDICULATI Pe*dic`u*la"ti, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedicle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes including the anglers. See Illust. of Angler and Batfish.
PEDICULATION Pe*dic`u*la"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: Phthiriasis.
PEDICULE Ped"i*cule, n. Etym: [See Pedicle.]
Defn: A pedicel.
PEDICULINA Pe*dic`u*li"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pediculus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of parasitic hemipterous insects, including the true lice. See Illust. in Appendix.
PEDICULOUS Pe*dic"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. pediculosus.]
Defn: Pedicular.
PEDICULUS Pe*dic"u*lus, n.; pl. Pediculi. Etym: [L., a louse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of wingless parasitic Hemiptera, including the common lice of man. See Louse.
PEDICURE Ped"i*cure, n. [Pedi- + L. cura care.]
1. The care of the feet and nails.
2. One who cares for the feet and nails; a chiropodist. -- Ped"i*cure, v. t. --Ped"i*cur*ism (#), n. --Ped"i*cur*ist (#), n.
PEDIFORM Ped"i*form, a. Etym: [Pedi- + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a foot.
PEDIGEROUS Pe*dig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pedi- + -gerous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing or having feet or legs.
PEDIGREE Ped"i*gree, n. Etym: [Of unknown origin; possibly fr. F. par degrés by degrees, -- for a pedigree is properly a genealogical table which records the relationship of families by degrees; or, perh., fr. F. pied de grue crane's foot, from the shape of the heraldic genealogical trees.]
1. A line of ancestors; descent; lineage; genealogy; a register or record of a line of ancestors. Alterations of surnames . . . have obscured the truth of our pedigrees. Camden. His vanity labored to contrive us a pedigree. Milton. I am no herald to inquire of men's pedigrees. Sir P. Sidney. The Jews preserved the pedigrees of their tribes. Atterbury.
2. (Stock Breeding)
Defn: A record of the lineage or strain of an animal, as of a horse.
PEDIGREE CLAUSE Ped"i*gree clause.
Defn: A clause sometimes inserted in contracts or specifications, requiring that a material of construction, as cement, must be of a brand that has stood the test of a specified number of years' use in an important public work. [Cant, U. S.]
PEDILUVY Ped"i*lu`vy, n. Etym: [Pedi- + L. luere to wash: cf. It. & Sp. pediluvio, F. pédiluve.]
Defn: The bathing of the feet, a bath for the feet. [Obs.]
PEDIMANA Pe*dim"a*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pes, pedis, foot + manus hand.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of marsupials, including the opossums.
PEDIMANE Ped"i*mane, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédimane.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A pedimanous marsupial; an opossum.
PEDIMANOUS Pe*dim"a*nous, a. Etym: [See Pedimana.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having feet resembling hands, or with the first toe opposable, as the opossums and monkeys.
PEDIMENT Ped"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. pes, pedis, a foot. See Foot.] (Arch.)
Defn: Originally, in classical architecture, the triangular space forming the gable of a simple roof; hence, a similar form used as a decoration over porticoes, doors, windows, etc.; also, a rounded or broken frontal having a similar position and use. See Temple.
PEDIMENTAL Ped`i*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pediment.
PEDIPALP Ped"i*palp, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pédipalpe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Pedipalpi.
PEDIPALPI Ped`i*pal"pi, n pl. Etym: [NL. See Pedipalpus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Arachnida, including the whip scorpions (Thelyphonus) and allied forms. Sometimes used in a wider sense to include also the true scorpions.
PEDIPALPOUS Ped`i*pal"pous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the pedipalps.
PEDIPALPUS Ped`i*pal"pus, n.; pl. Pedipalpi. Etym: [NL. See Pes, and Palpus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the second pair of mouth organs of arachnids. In some they are leglike, but in others, as the scorpion, they terminate in a claw.
PEDIREME Ped"i*reme, n. Etym: [Pedi- + L. remus oar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A crustacean, some of whose feet serve as oars.
PEDLAR; PEDLER Ped"lar, Ped"ler, n.
Defn: See Peddler.
PEDOBAPTISM Pe`do*bap"tism, n. Etym: [Gr. baptism.]
Defn: The baptism of infants or of small children. [Written also pædobaptism.]
PEDOBAPTIST Pe`do*bap"tist, n.
Defn: One who advocates or practices infant baptism. [Written also pædobaptist.]
PEDOGRAPH Ped"o*graph, n. [Gr. ground + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument carried by a pedestrian for automatically making a topographical record of the ground covered during a journey.
PEDOLOGY Pe*dol"o*gy, n. [Gr. , , child + -logy.] (Med.)
Defn: Pediatrics.
PEDOMANCY Ped"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Pedi- + -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by examining the soles of the feet.
PEDOMETER Pe*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Pedi-, pedo- + -meter: cf. F. pédomètre.] (Mech.)
Defn: An instrument for including the number of steps in walking, and so ascertaining the distance passed over. It is usually in the form of a watch; an oscillating weight by the motion of the body causes the index to advance a certain distance at each step.
PEDOMETRIC; PEDOMETRICAL Ped`o*met"ric, Ped`o*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or measured by, a pedometer.
PEDOMOTIVE Ped`o*mo"tive, a. Etym: [Pedi-, pedo- + -motive.]
Defn: Moved or worked by the action of the foot or feet on a pedal or treadle.
PEDOTROPHY Pe*dot"ro*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. pédotrophie.]
Defn: The art of nourishing children properly.
PEDRAIL Ped"rail`, n. [See Pedi-; Rail.] (Mach.) (a) A device intended to replace the wheel of a self-propelled vehicle for use on rough roads and to approximate to the smoothness in running of a wheel on a metal track. The tread consists of a number of rubber shod feet which are connected by ball-and-socket joints to the ends of sliding spokes. Each spoke has attached to it a small roller which in its turn runs under a short pivoted rail controlled by a powerful set of springs. This arrangement permits the feet to accomodate themselves to obstacles even such as steps or stairs. The pedrail was invented by one B. J. Diplock of London, Eng. (b) A vehicle, as a traction engine, having such pedrails.
PEDREGAL Pe`dre*gal", n. Etym: [Sp., a stony place, fr. piedra stone.]
Defn: A lava field. [Mexico & Western U.S.]
PEDRO Pe"dro, n. [From Sp. Pedro Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. .] (Card Playing) (a) The five of trumps in certain varieties of auction pitch. (b) A variety of auction pitch in which the five of trumps counts five.
PEDUNCLE Pe*dun"cle, n. Etym: [Formed fr. (assumed) L. pedunculus, dim. of pes, pedis, a foot: cf. F. pédoncule.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The stem or stalk that supports the flower or fruit of a plant, or a cluster of flowers or fruits.
Note: The ultimate divisions or branches of a peduncle are called pedicels. In the case of a solitary flower, the stalk would be called a peduncle if the flower is large, and a pedicel if it is small or delicate.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sort of stem by which certain shells and barnacles are attached to other objects. See Illust. of Barnacle.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: A band of nervous or fibrous matter connecting different parts of the brain; as, the peduncles of the cerebellum; the peduncles of the pineal gland.
PEDUNCLED Pe*dun"cled, a.
Defn: Having a peduncle; supported on a peduncle; pedunculate.
PEDUNCULAR Pe*dun"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pédonculaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as, a peduncular tendril.
PEDUNCULATA Pe*dun`cu*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Peduncle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Cirripedia, including the stalked or goose barnacles.
PEDUNCULATE; PEDUNCULATED Pe*dun"cu*late, Pe*dun"cu*la`ted, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having a peduncle; growing on a peduncle; as, a pedunculate flower; a pedunculate eye, as in a lobster.
PEE Pee, n.
Defn: See 1st Pea.
PEE Pee, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Bill of an anchor. See Peak, 3 (c).
PEECE Peece, n. & v. [Obs.]
Defn: See Piece.
PEECHI Pee"chi, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dauw.
PEEK Peek, v. i. Etym: [OE. piken: cf. F. piquer to pierce, prick, E. pique. Cf. Peak.]
Defn: To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or through a crevice; to peep. [Colloq.]
PEEKABOO Peek"a*boo, n.
Defn: A child's game; bopeep.
PEEL Peel, n. Etym: [OE. pel. Cf. Pile a heap.]
Defn: A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep. [Scot.]
PEEL Peel, n. Etym: [F. pelle, L. pala.]
Defn: A spadelike implement, variously used, as for removing loaves of bread from a baker's oven; also, a T-shaped implement used by printers and bookbinders for hanging wet sheets of paper on lines or poles to dry. Also, the blade of an oar.
PEEL Peel, v. t. Etym: [Confused with peel to strip, but fr. F. piller to pillage. See Pill to rob, Pillage.]
Defn: To plunder; to pillage; to rob. [Obs.] But govern ill the nations under yoke, Peeling their provinces. Milton.
PEEL Peel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Peeling.] Etym: [F. peler to pull out the hair, to strip, to peel, fr. L. pilare to deprive of hair, fr. pilus a hair; or perh. partly fr. F. peler to peel off the skin, perh. fr. L. pellis skin (cf. Fell skin). Cf. Peruke.]
1. To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin, bark, husks, etc.; to flay; to decorticate; as, to peel an orange. The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands. Shak.
2. To strip or tear off; to remove by stripping, as the skin of an animal, the bark of a tree, etc.
PEEL Peel, v. i.
Defn: To lose the skin, bark, or rind; to come off, as the skin, bark, or rind does; -- often used with an adverb; as, the bark peels easily or readily.
PEEL Peel, n.
Defn: The skin or rind; as, the peel of an orange.
PEELE Pee"le, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A graceful and swift South African antelope (Pelea capreola). The hair is woolly, and ash-gray on the back and sides. The horns are black, long, slender, straight, nearly smooth, and very sharp. Called also rheeboc, and rehboc.
PEELER Peel"er, n.
Defn: One who peels or strips.
PEELER Peel"er, n. Etym: [See Peel to plunder.]
Defn: A pillager.
PEELER Peel"er, n.
Defn: A nickname for a policeman; -- so called from Sir Robert Peel. [British Slang] See Bobby.
PEELHOUSE Peel"house`, n.
Defn: See 1st Peel. Sir W. Scott.
PEEN Peen, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pinne pane of a hammer.] (a) A round-edged, or hemispherical, end to the head of a hammer or sledge, used to stretch or bend metal by indentation. (b) The sharp-edged end of the head of a mason's hammer. [Spelt also pane, pein, and piend.]
PEEN Peen, v. t.
Defn: To draw, bend, or straighten, as metal, by blows with the peen of a hammer or sledge.
PEENGE Peenge, v. i.
Defn: To complain. [Scot.]
PEEP Peep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Peeped; p. pr. & vb. n. Peeping.] Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. pipen, F. piper, pépier, L. pipire, pipare, pipiare, D. & G. piepen. Senses 2 and 3 perhaps come from a transfer of sense from the sound which chickens make upon the first breaking of the shell to the act accompanying it; or perhaps from the influence of peek, or peak. Cf. Pipe.]
1. To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep. There was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Is. x. 14.
2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance. When flowers first peeped, and trees did blossoms bear. Dryden.
3. To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry. eep through the blanket of the dark. Shak. From her cabined loophole peep. Milton. Peep sight, an adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech.
PEEP Peep, n.
1. The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.
2. First outlook or appearance. Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn. Gray.
3. A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment. To take t' other peep at the stars. Swift.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla). (b) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). Peep show, a small show, or object exhibited, which is viewed through an orifice or a magnifying glass. -- Peep-o'-day boys, the Irish insurgents of 1784; -- so called from their visiting the house of the loyal Irish at day break in search of arms. [Cant]
PEEPER Peep"er, n.
1. A chicken just breaking the shell; a young bird.
2. One who peeps; a prying person; a spy. Who's there peepers, . . . eavesdroppers J. Webster.
3. The eye; as, to close the peepers. [Colloq.]
PEEPHOLE Peep"hole`, n.
Defn: A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep without being discovered.
PEEPING HOLE Peep"ing hole`.
Defn: See Peephole.
PEEP SIGHT Peep sight.
Defn: An adjustable piece, pierced with a small hole to peep through in aiming, attached to a rifle or other firearm near the breech; -- distinguished from an open sight.
PEEPUL TREE Pee"pul tree`. Etym: [Hind. pipal, Skr. pippala.] (Bot.)
Defn: A sacred tree (Ficus religiosa) of the Buddhists, a kind of fig tree which attains great size and venerable age. See Bo tree. [Written also pippul tree, and pipal tree.]
PEER Peer, v. i. [imp. & p.p Peered; p. pr. & vb. n. Peering.] Etym: [OF. parir, pareir equiv. to F. paraître to appear, L. parere. Cf. Appear.]
1. To come in sight; to appear. [Poetic] So honor peereth in the meanest habit. Shak. See how his gorget peers above his gown! B. Jonson.
2. Etym: [Perh. a different word; cf. OE. piren, LG. piren. Cf. Pry to peep.]
Defn: To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day. Milton. Peering in maps for ports, and piers, and roads. Shak. As if through a dungeon grate he peered. Coleridge.
PEER Peer, n. Etym: [OE. per, OF. per, F. pair, fr. L. par equal. Cf. Apparel, Pair, Par, n., Umpire.]
1. One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate. In song he never had his peer. Dryden. Shall they consort only with their peers I. Taylor.
2. A comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate. He all his peers in beauty did surpass. Spenser.
3. A nobleman; a member of one of the five degrees of the British nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron; as, a peer of the realm. A noble peer of mickle trust and power. Milton. House of Peers, The Peers, the British House of Lords. See Parliament. -- Spiritual peers, the bishops and archibishops, or lords spiritual, who sit in the House of Lords.
PEER Peer v. t.
Defn: To make equal in rank. [R.] Heylin.
PEER Peer v. t.
Defn: To be, or to assume to be, equal. [R.]
PEERAGE Peer"age, n. Etym: [See Peer an equal, and cf. Parage.]
1. The rank or dignity of a peer. Blackstone.
2. The body of peers; the nobility, collectively. When Charlemain with all his peerage fell. Milton.
PEERDOM Peer"dom, n.
Defn: Peerage; also, a lordship. [Obs.]
PEERESS Peer"ess, n.
Defn: The wife of a peer; a woman ennobled in her own right, or by right of marriage.
PEERIE; PEERY Peer"ie, Peer"y, a. Etym: [See 1st Peer, 2.]
Defn: Inquisitive; suspicious; sharp. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] "Two peery gray eyes." Sir W. Scott.
PEERLESS Peer"less, a.
Defn: Having no peer or equal; matchless; superlative. "Her peerless feature." Shak. Unvailed her peerless light. Milton. --Peer"less*ly, adv. -- Peer"less*ness, n.
PEERT Peert, a.
Defn: Same as Peart.
PEERWEET Peer"weet, n.
Defn: Same as Pewit (a & b).
PEEVISH Pee"vish, a. Etym: [OE. pevische; of uncertain origin, perh. from a word imitative of the noise made by fretful children + -ish.]
1. Habitually fretful; easily vexed or fretted; hard to please; apt to complain; querulous; petulant. "Her peevish babe." Wordsworth. She is peevish, sullen, froward. Shak.
2. Expressing fretfulness and discontent, or unjustifiable dissatisfaction; as, a peevish answer.
3. Silly; childish; trifling. [Obs.] To send such peevish tokens to a king. Shak.
Syn. -- Querulous; petulant; cross; ill-tempered; testy; captious; discontented. See Fretful.
PEEVISHLY Pee"vish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a peevish manner. Shak.
PEEVISHNESS Pee"vish*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being peevish; disposition to murmur; sourness of temper.
Syn. -- See Petulance.
PEEVIT; PEEWIT Pee"vit, Pee"wit, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Pewit.
PEG Peg, n. Etym: [OE. pegge; cf. Sw. pigg, Dan. pig a point, prickle, and E. peak.]
1. A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening boards together, in attaching the soles of boots or shoes, etc.; as, a shoe peg.
2. A wooden pin, or nail, on which to hang things, as coats, etc. Hence, colloquially and figuratively: A support; a reason; a pretext; as, a peg to hang a claim upon.
3. One of the pins of a musical instrument, on which the strings are strained. Shak.
4. One of the pins used for marking points on a cribbage board.
5. A step; a degree; esp. in the slang phrase "To take one down peg." To screw papal authority to the highest peg. Barrow. And took your grandess down a peg. Hudibras. Peg ladder, a ladder with but one standard, into which cross pieces are inserted. -- Peg tankard, an ancient tankard marked with pegs, so as divide the liquor into equal portions. "Drink down to your peg." Longfellow. -- Peg tooth. See Fleam tooth under Fleam. -- Peg top, a boy's top which is spun by throwing it. -- Screw peg, a small screw without a head, for fastening soles.
PEG Peg, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pegged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pegging.]
1. To put pegs into; to fasten the parts of with pegs; as, to peg shoes; to confine with pegs; to restrict or limit closely. I will rend an oak And peg thee in his knotty entrails. Shak.
2. (Cribbage)
Defn: To score with a peg, as points in the game; as, she pegged twelwe points. [Colloq.]
PEG Peg, v. i.
Defn: To work diligently, as one who pegs shoes; -- usually with on, at, or away; as, to peg away at a task.
PEGADOR Pe`ga*dor", n. Etym: [Sp., a sticker.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of remora (Echeneis naucrates). See Remora.
PEGASEAN Pe*ga"se*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pegasus, or, figuratively, to poetry.
PEGASOID Peg"a*soid, a. Etym: [Pegasus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to Pegasus.
PEGASUS Peg"a*sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: A winged horse fabled to have sprung from the body of Medusa when she was slain. He is noted for causing, with a blow of his hoof, Hippocrene, the inspiring fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount Helicon. On this account he is, in modern times, associated with the Muses, and with ideas of poetic inspiration. Each spurs his jaded Pegasus apace. Byron.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A northen constellation near the vernal equinoctial point. Its three brightest stars, with the brightest star of Andromeda, form the square of Pegasus.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small fishes, having large pectoral fins, and the body covered with hard, bony plates. Several species are known from the East Indies and China.
PEGGER Peg"ger, n.
Defn: One who fastens with pegs.
PEGGING Peg"ging, n.
Defn: The act or process of fastening with pegs.
PEGM Pegm, n. Etym: [L. pegma a movable stage, Gr.
Defn: A sort of moving machine employed in the old pageants. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
PEGMATITE Peg"ma*tite, n. Etym: [From Gr. pegmatite. See Pegm.] (Min.) (a) Graphic granite. See under Granite. (b) More generally, a coarse granite occurring as vein material in other rocks.
PEGMATITIC Peg`ma*tit"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, pegmatite; as, the pegmatic structure of certain rocks resembling graphic granite.
PEGMATOID Peg"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Pegmatite + -oid.] (Min.)
Defn: Resembling pegmatite; pegmatic.
PEGOMANCY Peg"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -macy.]
Defn: Divination by fountains. [R.]
PEGROOTS Peg"roots`, n.
Defn: Same as Setterwort.
PEHLEVI Peh"le*vi`, n. Etym: [Parsee Pahlavi.]
Defn: An ancient Persian dialect in which words were partly represented by their Semitic equivalents. It was in use from the 3d century (and perhaps earlier) to the middle of the 7th century, and later in religious writings. [Written also Pahlavi.]
PEIGNOIR Pei`gnoir", n. [F., fr. peigner to comb, L. pectinare. See Pectinate.]
Defn: A woman's loose dressing sack; hence, a loose morning gown or wrapper.
PEIN Pein, n.
Defn: See Peen.
PEIRAMETER Pei*ram"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: A dynamometer for measuring the force required to draw wheel carriages on roads of different constructions. G. Francis.
PEIRASTIC Pei*ras"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Fitted for trail or test; experimental; tentative; treating of attempts.
PEISE Peise, n. Etym: [See Poise.]
Defn: A weight; a poise. [Obs.] "To weigh pence with a peise." Piers Plowman.
PEISE Peise, v. t.
Defn: To poise or weight. [Obs.] Chaucer. Lest leaden slumber peise me down. Shak.
PEITREL Pei"trel, n. (Anc. Armor)
Defn: See Peytrel.
PEJORATIVE Pe*jor"a*tive, a. Etym: [F. péjoratif, fr. L. pejor, used as compar. of malus evil.]
Defn: Implying or imputing evil; depreciatory; disparaging; unfavorable.
PEKAN Pek"an, n. Etym: [F. pekan.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Fisher, 2.
PEKOE Pek"oe, n. Etym: [Chin. pih-hoau: cf. F. pekoë]
Defn: A kind of black tea. [Written also pecco.]
PELA Pe"la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wax insect, under Wax.
PELAGE Pel"age, n. Etym: [F. pelage, fr. L. pilus hair.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The covering, or coat, of a mammal, whether of wool, fur, or hair.
PELAGIAN Pe*la"gi*an, a. Etym: [L. pelagius, Gr. pélagien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sea; marine; pelagic; as, pelagian shells.
PELAGIAN Pe*la"gi*an, n. Etym: [L. Pelagianus: cf. F. pélagien.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Pelagius, a British monk, born in the later part of the 4th century, who denied the doctrines of hereditary sin, of the connection between sin and death, and of conversion through grace.
PELAGIAN Pe*la"gi*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pélagien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pelagius, or to his doctrines.
PELAGIANISM Pe*la"gi*an*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pélagianisme.]
Defn: The doctrines of Pelagius.
PELAGIC Pe*lag"ic, a. Etym: [L. pelagicus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ocean; -- applied especially to animals that live at the surface of the ocean, away from the coast.
PELARGONIC Pel`ar*gon"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid (called also nonoic acid) found in the leaves of the geranium (Pelargonium) and allied plants.
PELARGONIUM Pel`ar*go"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of plants of the order Geraniaceæ, differing from Geranium in having a spurred calyx and an irregular corolla.
Note: About one hundred and seventy species are known, nearly all of them natives of South Africa, and many having very beautiful blossoms. See the Note under Geranium.
PELASGIAN; PELASGIC Pe*las"gi*an, Pe*las"gic, a. Etym: [L. Pelasgus, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to the Pelasgians, an ancient people of Greece, of roving habits.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Wandering.
PELECAN Pel"e*can, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Pelican.
PELECANIFORMES Pel`e*can`i*for"mes, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pelican, and -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Those birds that are related to the pelican; the Totipalmi.
PELECOID Pel"e*coid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Geom.)
Defn: A figure, somewhat hatched-shaped, bounded by a semicircle and two inverted quadrants, and equal in area to the square ABCD inclosed by the chords of the four quadrants. [Written also pelicoid.] Math. Dict.
PELECYPODA Pel`e*cyp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Lamellibranchia.
PELEGRINE Pel"e*grine, a.
Defn: See Peregrine. [Obs.]
PELERINE Pel"er*ine, n. Etym: [F. pèlerine a tippet, fr. pèlerin a pilgrim, fr. L. peregrinus foreign, alien. See Pilgrim.]
Defn: A woman's cape; especially, a fur cape that is longer in front than behind.
PELE'S HAIR Pe"le's hair. [After a Hawaiian goddess associated with the crater Kilauea.]
Defn: Glass threads or fibers formed by the wind from bits blown from frothy lava or from the tips of lava jets or from bits of liquid lava thrown into the air. It often collects in thick masses resembling tow.
PELF Pelf, n. Etym: [OE. pelfir booty, OF. pelfre, akin to pelfrer to plunder, and perh. to E. pillage. Cf. Pilfer.]
Defn: Money; riches; lucre; gain; -- generally conveying the idea of something ill-gotten or worthless. It has no plural. "Mucky pelf." Spenser. "Paltry pelf." Burke. Can their pelf prosper, not got by valor or industry Fuller.
PELFISH Pelf"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pelf. Stanyhurst.
PELFRAY; PELFRY Pel"fray, Pel"fry, n.
Defn: Pelf; also, figuratively, rubbish; trash. [Obs.] Cranmer.
PELICAN Pel"i*can, n. Etym: [F. pélican, L. pelicanus, pelecanus, Gr. paraçu.] [Written also pelecan.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any large webfooted bird of the genus of Pelecanus, of which about a dozen species are known. They have an enormous bill, to the lower edge of which is attached a pouch in which captured fishes are temporarily stored.
Note: The American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and the brown species (P. fuscus) are abundant on the Florida coast in winter, but breed about the lakes in the Rocky Mountains and British America.
2. (Old Chem.)
Defn: A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.
Note: The principle is still employed in certain modern forms of distilling apparatus. Frigate pelican (Zoöl.), the frigate bird. See under Frigate. -- Pelican fish (Zoöl.), deep-sea fish (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) of the order Lyomeri, remarkable for the enormous development of the jaws, which support a large gular pouch. -- Pelican flower (Bot.), the very large and curiously shaped blossom of a climbing plant (Aristolochia grandiflora) of the West Indies; also, the plant itself. -- Pelican ibis (Zoöl.), a large Asiatic wood ibis (Tantalus leucocephalus). The head and throat are destitute of feathers; the plumage is white, with the quills and the tail greenish black. -- Pelican in her piety (in heraldry and symbolical art), a representation of a pelican in the act of wounding her breast in order to nourish her young with her blood; -- a practice fabulously attributed to the bird, on account of which it was adopted as a symbol of the Redeemer, and of charity. -- Pelican's foot (Zoöl.), a marine gastropod shell of the genus Aporrhais, esp. Aporrhais pes-pelicani of Europe.
PELICAN STATE Pel"i*can State.
Defn: Louisiana; -- a nickname alluding to the device on its seal.
PELICK Pel"ick, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American coot (Fulica).
PELICOID Pel"i*coid, n.
Defn: See Pelecoid.
PELICOSAURIA Pel`i*co*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A suborder of Theromorpha, including terrestrial reptiles from the Permian formation.
PELIOM Pe"li*om, n. Etym: [See Pelioma.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of iolite, of a smoky blue color; pelioma.
PELIOMA Pe`li*o"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: A livid ecchymosis.
2. (Min.)
Defn: See Peliom.
PELISSE Pe*lisse", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pelliceus, pellicius, made of skins, fr. pellis a skin. Cf. Pelt skin, Pilch, and see 2d Pell.]
Defn: An outer garment for men or women, originally of fur, or lined with fur; a lady's outer garment, made of silk or other fabric.
PELL Pell, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Pelt, v. t.]
Defn: To pelt; to knock about. [Obs.] Holland.
PELL Pell, n. Etym: [OF. pel, F. peau, L. pellis a skin. See Fell a skin.]
1. A skin or hide; a pelt.
2. A roll of parchment; a parchment record. Clerk of the pells, formerly, an officer of the exchequer who entered accounts on certain parchment rolls, called pell rolls. [Eng.]
PELLACK Pel"lack, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. Peileag.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A porpoise.
PELLAGE Pell"age, n. Etym: [See 2d Pell.]
Defn: A customs duty on skins of leather.
PELLAGRA Pel"la*gra (pel"la*gra), n. (Med.)
Defn: An erythematous affection of the skin, with severe constitutional and nervous symptoms, endemic in Northern Italy.
PELLAGRIN Pel"la*grin, n.
Defn: One who is afficted with pellagra. Chambers's Encyc.
PELLAGROUS Pel*lag"rous, a. [It. pellagroso: cf. F. pellagreux.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or affected with, or attendant on, pellagra; as, pellagrous insanity.
PELLET Pel"let, n. Etym: [F. pelote, LL. pelota, pilota, fr. L. pila a ball. Cf. Platoon.]
1. A little ball; as, a pellet of wax .
2. A bullet; a ball for firearms. [Obs.] Bacon. As swift as a pellet out of a gun. Chaucer. Pellet molding (Arch.), a narrow band ornamented with smalt, flat disks.
PELLET Pel"let, v.
Defn: To form into small balls. [Obs.] Shak.
PELLETED Pel"let*ed, a.
Defn: Made of, or like, pellets; furnished with pellets. [R.] "This pelleted storm." Shak.
PELLIBRANCHIATA Pel`li*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. pellis garment + branchia a gill.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Nudibranchiata, in which the mantle itself serves as a gill.
PELLICLE Pel"li*cle, n. Etym: [L. pellicu, dim. of pellis skin: cf. F. pellicule.]
1. A thin skin or film.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A thin film formed on the surface of an evaporating solution.
PELLICULAR Pel*lic"u*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pellicle. Henslow.
PELLILE Pel*li"le, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The redshank; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]
PELLITORY Pel"li*to*ry, n. Etym: [OE. paritorie, OF. paritoire, F. pariétaire; (cf. It. & Sp. parietaria), L. parietaria the parietary, or pellitory, the wall plant, fr. parietarus belonging to the walls, fr. paries, parietis a wall. Cf. Parietary.] (Bot.)
Defn: The common name of the several species of the genus Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; -- also called wall pellitory, and lichwort.
Note: Parietaria officinalis is common on old walls in Europe; P.Pennsylvanica is found in the United States; and six or seven more species are found near the Mediterranean, or in the Orient.
PELLITORY Pel"li*to*ry, n. Etym: [Sp. pelitre, fr. L. pyrethrum. See Bertram.] (Bot.) (a) A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) of the Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also bertram, and pellitory of Spain. (b) The feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium); -- so called because it resembles the above.
PELL-MELL Pell`-mell" (, n.
Defn: See Pall-mall.
PELLMELL Pell`mell", adv. Etym: [F. pêle-mêle, prob. fr. pelle a shovel + mêler to mix, as when different kinds of grain are heaped up and mixed with a shovel. See Pell shovel, Medley.]
Defn: In utter confusion; with confused violence. "Men, horses, chariots, crowded pellmell." Milton.
PELLUCID Pel*lu"cid, a. Etym: [L. pellucidus; per (see Per-) + lucidus clear, bright: cf. F. pellucide.]
Defn: Transparent; clear; limpid; translucent; not opaque. "Pellucid crystal." Dr. H. More. "Pellucid streams." Wordsworth.
PELLUCIDITY; PELLUCIDNESS Pel`lu*cid"i*ty, Pel*lu"cid*ness, n. Etym: [L. pelluciditas.]
Defn: The quality or state of being pellucid; transparency; translucency; clearness; as, the pellucidity of the air. Locke.
PELLUCIDLY Pel*lu"cid*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pellucid manner.
PELMA Pel"ma, n.; pl. Pelmata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The under surface of the foot.
PELOPIUM Pe*lo"pi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Pelops, brother of Niobe, Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed new metal found in columbite, afterwards shown to be identical with columbium, or niobium.
PELOPONNESIAN Pel`o*pon*ne"sian, a. Etym: [L. Peloponnesius, fr. Peloponnesus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Peloponnesus, or southern peninsula of Greece. -- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of the Peloponnesus.
PELORIA Pe*lo"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Abnormal regularity; the state of certain flowers, which, being naturally irregular, have become regular through a symmetrical repetition of the special irregularity.
PELORIC Pe*lo"ric, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Abnormally regular or symmetrical. Darwin.
PELORUS Pe*lo"rus, n. [After Pelorus, said to have been Hannibal's pilot when he left Italy.] (Navig.)
Defn: An instrument similar to a mariner's compass, but without magnetic needles, and having two sight vanes by which bearings are taken, esp. such as cannot be taken by the compass.
PELOTA Pe*lo"ta, n. [Sp., lit., ball.]
Defn: A Basque, Spanish, and Spanish-American game played in a court, in which a ball is struck with a wickerwork racket.
PELOTAGE Pel"o*tage, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Packs or bales of Spanish wool.
PELT Pelt, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pelz a pelt, fur, fr. OF. pelice, F. pelisse (see Pelisse); or perh. shortened fr. peltry.]
1. The skin of a beast with the hair on; a raw or undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. See 4th Fell. Sir T. Browne. Raw pelts clapped about them for their clothes. Fuller.
2. The human skin. [Jocose] Dryden.
3. (Falconry)
Defn: The body of any quarry killed by the hawk. Pelt rot, a disease affecting the hair or wool of a beast.
PELT Pelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pelting.] Etym: [OE. pelten, pulten, pilten, to thrust, throw, strike; cf. L. pultare, equiv. to pulsare (v. freq. fr. pellere to drive), and E. pulse a beating.]
1. To strike with something thrown or driven; to assail with pellets or missiles, as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail. The children billows seem to pelt the clouds. Shak.
2. To throw; to use as a missile. My Phillis me with pelted apples plies. Dryden.
PELT Pelt, v. i.
1. To throw missiles. Shak.
2. To throw out words. [Obs.] Another smothered seems to peltand swear. Shak.
PELT Pelt, n.
Defn: A blow or stroke from something thrown.
PELTA Pel"ta, n.; pl. Peltæ. Etym: [L., a shield, fr. Gr.
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A small shield, especially one of an approximately elliptic form, or crescent-shaped.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A flat apothecium having no rim.
PELTATE; PELTATED Pel"tate, Pel"ta*ted, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pelté. See Pelta.]
Defn: Shield-shaped; scutiform; (Bot.) having the stem or support attached to the lower surface, instead of at the base or margin; -- said of a leaf or other organ. -- Pel"tate*ly, adv.
PELTER Pelt"er, n.
Defn: One who pelts.
PELTER Pel"ter, n.
Defn: A pinchpenny; a mean, sordid person; a miser; a skinflint. [Obs.] "Let such pelters prate." Gascoigne.
PELTIER EFFECT Pel`tier" ef*fect". [After Jean C. A. Peltier, French physicist, the discoverer.] (Elec.)
Defn: The production or absorption of heat at the junction of two metals on the passage of a current. Heat generated by the passage of the current in one direction will be absorbed if the current is reversed.
PELTIER'S CROSS Pel`tier's" cross. (Elec.)
Defn: A cross formed of two strips of different metals, to illustrate the Peltier effect.
PELTIFORM Pel"ti*form, a. Etym: [Pelta + -form.]
Defn: Shieldlike, with the outline nearly circular; peltate. Henslow.
PELTING Pel"ting, a.
Defn: Mean; paltry. [Obs.] Shak.
PELTON WHEEL Pel"ton wheel. (Mech.)
Defn: A form of impulse turbine or water wheel, consisting of a row of double cup-shaped buckets arranged round the rim of a wheel and actuated by one or more jets of water playing into the cups at high velocity.
PELTRY Pelt"ry, n. Etym: [F. pelleterie peltry, furriery, fr. pelletier a furrier, fr. OF. pel skin, F. peau, L. pelis. See Pelt a skin, Pell, n., Fell a skin.]
Defn: Pelts or skins, collectively; skins with the fur on them; furs.
PELTRYWARE Pelt"ry*ware`, n.
Defn: Peltry. [Obs.]
PELUDO Pe*lu"do, n. Etym: [Sp. peludo hairy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The South American hairy armadillo (Dasypus villosus).
PELURE Pe*lure", n. [F., lit., peel, fr. peler to peel.]
Defn: A crisp, hard, thin paper, sometimes used for postage stamps.
PELUSIAC Pe*lu"si*ac, a. Etym: [L. Pelusiacus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pelusium, an ancient city of Egypt; as, the Pelusiac (or former eastern) outlet of the Nile.
PELVIC Pel"vic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the pelvis; as, pelvic cellulitis. Pelvic arch, or Pelvic girdle (Anat.), the two or more bony or cartilaginous pieces of the vertebrate skeleton to which the hind limbs are articulated. When fully ossified, the arch usually consists of three principal bones on each side, the ilium, ischium, and pubis, which are often closely united in the adult, forming the innominate bone. See Innominate bone, under Innominate.
PELVIMETER Pel*vim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Pelvis + -meter.: cf. F. pelvimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the dimensions of the pelvis. Coxe.
PELVIMETRY Pel*vim"e*try, n. [Pelvis + -metry.] (Med.)
Defn: The measurement of the pelvis.
PELVIS Pel"vis, n. Etym: [L., a basin, laver; cf. Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The pelvic arch, or the pelvic arch together with the sacrum. See Pelvic arch, under Pelvic, and Sacrum.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The calyx of a crinoid. Pelvis of the kidney (Anat.), the basinlike cavity into which the ureter expands as it joins the kidney.
PEMBROKE TABLE Pem"broke ta`ble. [From Pembroke, a town and shire in Wales.]
Defn: A style of four-legged table in vogue in England, chiefly in the later Georgian period.
The characteristic which gives a table the name of Pembroke consists in the drop leaves, which are held up, when the table is open, by brackets which turn under the top. F. C. Morse.
PEMMICAN Pem"mi*can, n. Etym: [Written also pemican.]
1. Among the North American Indians, meat cut in thin slices, divested of fat, and dried in the sun. Then on pemican they feasted. Longfellow.
2. Meat, without the fat, cut in thin slices, dried in the sun, pounded, then mixed with melted fat and sometimes dried fruit, and compressed into cakes or in bags. It contains much nutriment in small compass, and is of great use in long voyages of exploration.
PEMPHIGUS Pem*phi"gus, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A somewhat rare skin disease, characterized by the development of blebs upon different part of the body. Quain.
PEN Pen, n. Etym: [OE. penne, OF. penne, pene, F. penne, fr. L. penna.]
1. A feather. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A wing. [Obs.] Milton.
3. An instrument used for writing with ink, formerly made of a reed, or of the quill of a goose or other bird, but now also of other materials, as of steel, gold, etc. Also, originally, a stylus or other instrument for scratching or graving. Graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock. Job xix. 24.
4. Fig.: A writer, or his style; as, he has a sharp pen. "Those learned pens." Fuller.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The internal shell of a squid.
6. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A female swan. [Prov. Eng.] Bow pen. See Bow-pen. -- Dotting pen, a pen for drawing dotted lines. -- Drawing, or Ruling, pen, a pen for ruling lines having a pair of blades between which the ink is contained. -- Fountain pen, Geometric pen. See under Fountain, and Geometric. -- Music pen, a pen having five points for drawing the five lines of the staff. -- Pen and ink, or pen-and-ink, executed or done with a pen and ink; as, a pen and ink sketch. -- Pen feather. A pin feather. [Obs.] -- Pen name. See under Name. -- Sea pen (Zoöl.), a pennatula. [Usually written sea-pen.]
PEN Pen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penned; p. pr. & vb. n. Penning.]
Defn: To write; to compose and commit to paper; to indite; to compose; as, to pen a sonnet. "A prayer elaborately penned." Milton.
PEN Pen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penned or Pent (p. pr. & vb. n. Penning.] Etym: [OE. pennen, AS. pennan in on-pennan to unfasten, prob. from the same source as pin, and orig. meaning, to fasten with a peg.See Pin, n. & v.]
Defn: To shut up, as in a pen or cage; to confine in a small inclosure or narrow space; to coop up, or shut in; to inclose. "Away with her, and pen her up." Shak. Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve. Milton.
PEN Pen, n. Etym: [From Pen to shut in.]
Defn: A small inclosure; as, a pen for sheep or for pigs. My father stole two geese out of a pen. Shak.
PENAL Pe"nal, a. Etym: [L. poenalis, fr. poena punishment: cf. F. pénal. See Pain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence: as: (a) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue; the penal code. (b) Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penalact of offense. (c) Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment; as, a penal colony or settlement. "Adamantine chains and penal fire." Milton. Penal code (Law), a code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment. -- Penal laws, Penal statutes (Law), laws prohibited certain acts, and imposing penalties for committing them. -- Penal servitude, imprisonment with hard labor, in a prison, in lieu of transportation. [Great Brit.] -- Penal suit, Penal action (Law), a suit for penalties.
PENALITY Pe*nal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. poenalitas. See Penalty.]
Defn: The quality or state of being penal; lability to punishment. Sir T. Browne.
PENALIZE Pe"nal*ize, v. t.
1. To make penal.
2. (Sport.)
Defn: To put a penalty on. See Penalty, 3. [Eng.]
PENALLY Pe"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a penal manner.
PENALTY Pe"nal*ty, n.; pl. Penalties. Etym: [F. pénalité. See Penal.]
1. Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass. Death is the penalty imposed. Milton.
2. The suffering, or the sum to be forfeited, to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine. The penalty and forfeit of my bond. Shak.
3. A handicap. [Sporting Cant]
Note: The term penalty is in law mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment. Bill of pains and penalties. See under Bill. -- On, or Under, penalty of, on pain of; with exposure to the penalty of, in case of transgression.
PENANCE Pen"ance, n. Etym: [OF. penance, peneance, L. paenitentia repentance. See Penitence.]
1. Repentance. [Obs.] Wyclif (Luke xv. 7).
2. Pain; sorrow; suffering. [Obs.] "Joy or penance he feeleth none." Chaucer.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: A means of repairing a sin committed, and obtaining pardon for it, consisting partly in the performance of expiatory rites, partly in voluntary submission to a punishment corresponding to the transgression. Penance is the fourth of seven sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church. Schaff-Herzog Encyc. And bitter penance, with an iron whip. Spenser. Quoth he, "The man hath penance done, And penance more will do." Coleridge.
PENANCE Pen"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penanced.]
Defn: To impose penance; to punish. "Some penanced lady elf." Keats.
PENANCELESS Pen"ance*less, a.
Defn: Free from penance. [R.]
PENANG LAWYER Pe*nang" law"yer. [Prob. fr. Malay pinang liar.]
Defn: A kind of walking stick made from the stem of an East Asiatic palm (Licuala acutifida).
PENANG NUT Pe*nang" nut`. Etym: [From the native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: The betel nut. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
PENANNULAR Pen*an"nu*lar, a. Etym: [L. pene, paene, almost + E. annular.]
Defn: Nearly annular; having nearly the form of a ring. "Penannular relics." D. Wilson.
PENARY Pe"na*ry, a.
Defn: Penal. [Obs.] Gauden.
PENATES Pe*na"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: The household gods of the ancient Romans. They presided over the home and the family hearth. See Lar.
PENAUNT Pen"aunt, n. Etym: [OF. penant, peneant. See Penitent.]
Defn: A penitent. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PENCE Pence, n.,
Defn: pl. of Penny. See Penny.
PENCEL Pen"cel, n. Etym: [See Pennoncel.]
Defn: A small, narrow flag or streamer borne at the top of a lance; - - called also pennoncel. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Chaucer.
PENCHANT Pen`chant", n. Etym: [F., fr. pencher to bend, fr. (assumed) LL. pendicare, L. pendere. See Pendant.]
Defn: Inclination; decided taste; bias; as, a penchant for art.
PENCHUTE Pen"chute`, n.
Defn: See Penstock.
PENCIL Pen"cil, n. Etym: [OF. pincel, F. pinceau, L. penicillum, penicillus, equiv. to peniculus, dim. of penis a tail. Cf. Penicil.]
1. A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors. With subtile pencil depainted was this storie. Chaucer.
2. A slender cylinder or strip of black lead, colored chalk, slate etc., or such a cylinder or strip inserted in a small wooden rod intended to be pointed, or in a case, which forms a handle, -- used for drawing or writing. See Graphite.
3. Hence, figuratively, an artist's ability or peculiar manner; also, in general, the act or occupation of the artist, descriptive writer, etc.
4. (Opt.)
Defn: An aggregate or collection of rays of light, especially when diverging from, or converging to, a point.
5. (Geom.)
Defn: A number of lines that intersect in one point, the point of intersection being called the pencil point.
6. (Med.)
Defn: A small medicated bougie. Pencil case, a holder for pencil lead. -- Pencil flower (Bot.), an American perennial leguminous herb (Stylosanthes elatior). -- Pencil lead, a slender rod of black lead, or the like, adapted for insertion in a holder.
PENCIL Pen"cil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penciled or Pencilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Penciling or Pencilling.]
Defn: To write or mark with a pencil; to paint or to draw. Cowper. Where nature pencils butterflies on flowers. Harte.
PENCILED Pen"ciled, a. Etym: [Written also pencilled.]
1. Painted, drawn, sketched, or marked with a pencil.
2. Radiated; having pencils of rays.
3. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Marked with parallel or radiating lines.
PENCILING Pen"cil*ing, n. Etym: [Written also pencilling.]
1. The work of the pencil or bruch; as, delicate penciling in a picture.
2. (Brickwork)
Defn: Lines of white or black paint drawn along a mortar joint in a brick wall. Knight.
PENCILLATE; PENCILLATED Pen"cil*late, Pen"cil*la`ted, a.
Defn: Shaped like a pencil; penicillate.
PENCRAFT Pen"craft, n.
1. Penmanship; skill in writing; chirography.
2. The art of composing or writing; authorship. I would not give a groat for that person's knowledge in pencraft. S
PEND Pend, n.
Defn: Oil cake; penock. [India]
PEND Pend, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pending.] Etym: [L. pendere.]
1. To hang; to depend. [R.] Pending upon certain powerful motions. I. Taylor.
2. To be undecided, or in process of adjustment.
PEND Pend, v. t. Etym: [Cf. pen to shut in, or AS. pyndan, E. pound an inclosure.]
Defn: To pen; to confine. [R.] ended within the limits . . . of Greece. Udall.
PENDANT Pend"ant, n. Etym: [F., orig. p.pr. of pendre to hang, L. pendere. Cf. Pendent, Pansy, Pensive, Poise, Ponder.]
1. Something which hangs or depends; something suspended; a hanging appendage, especially one of an ornamental character; as to a chandelier or an eardrop; also, an appendix or addition, as to a book. Some hang upon the pendants of her ear. Pope. Many . . . have been pleased with this work and its pendant, the Tales and Popular Fictions. Keightley.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A hanging ornament on roofs, ceilings, etc., much used in the later styles of Gothic architecture, where it is of stone, and an important part of the construction. There are imitations in plaster and wood, which are mere decorative features. "[A bridge] with . . . pendants graven fair." Spenser.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: One of a pair; a counterpart; as, one vase is the pendant to the other vase.
4. A pendulum. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.
5. The stem and ring of a watch, by which it is suspended. [U.S.] Knight. Pendant post (Arch.), a part of the framing of an open timber roof; a post set close against the wall, and resting upon a corbel or other solid support, and supporting the ends of a collar beam or any part of the roof.
PENDENCE Pend"ence, n. Etym: [See Pendent.]
Defn: Slope; inclination. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
PENDENCY Pend"en*cy, n.
1. The quality or state of being pendent or suspended.
2. The quality or state of being undecided, or in continuance; suspense; as, the pendency of a suit. Ayliffe.
PENDENT Pend"ent, a. Etym: [L. pendens, -entis, p.pr. of pendere to hang, to be suspended. Cf. Pendant.]
1. Supported from above; suspended; depending; pendulous; hanging; as, a pendent leaf. "The pendent world." Shak. Often their tresses, when shaken, with pendent icicles tinkle. Longfellow.
2. Jutting over; projecting; overhanging. "A vapor sometime like a . . . pendent rock." Shak.
PENDENTIVE Pen*den"tive, n. Etym: [F. pendentif, fr. L. pendere to hang.] (Arch.) (a) The portion of a vault by means of which the square space in the middle of a building is brought to an octagon or circle to receive a cupola. (b) The part of a groined vault which is supported by, and springs from, one pier or corbel.
PENDENTLY Pend"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pendent manner.
PENDICE Pen"dice, n. Etym: [Cf. Pentice.]
Defn: A sloping roof; a lean-to; a penthouse. [Obs.] Fairfax.
PENDICLE Pen"di*cle, n. Etym: [Cf. Appendicle.]
Defn: An appendage; something dependent on another; an appurtenance; a pendant. Sir W. Scott.
PENDICLER Pen*di*cler, n.
Defn: An inferior tenant; one who rents a pendicle or croft. [Scot.] Jamieson.
PENDING Pend"ing, a. Etym: [L. pendere to hang, to be suspended. Cf. Pendent.]
Defn: Not yet decided; in continuance; in suspense; as, a pending suit.
PENDING Pend"ing, prep.
Defn: During; as, pending the trail.
PENDRAGON Pen"drag*on, n.
Defn: A chief leader or a king; a head; a dictator; -- a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs. The dread Pendragon, Britain's king of kings. Tennyson.
PENDULAR Pen"du*lar, a.
Defn: Pendulous.
PENDULATE Pen"du*late, v. i.
Defn: To swing as a pendulum. [R.]
PENDULE Pen"dule, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A pendulum. [R.] Evelyn.
PENDULINE Pen"du`line, n. Etym: [F. See Pendulum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European titmouse (Parus, or Ægithalus, pendulinus). It is noted for its elegant pendulous purselike nest, made of the down of willow trees and lined with feathers.
PENDULOSITY Pen`du*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Pendulous.]
Defn: The state or quality of being pendulous. Sir T. Browne.
PENDULOUS Pen"du*lous, a. Etym: [L. pendulus, fr. pendere to hang. Cf. Pendant, and cf. Pendulum.]
1. Depending; pendent loosely; hanging; swinging. Shak. "The pendulous round earth. Milton.
2. Wavering; unstable; doubtful. [R.] "A pendulous state of mind." Atterbury.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Inclined or hanging downwards, as a flower on a recurved stalk, or an ovule which hangs from the upper part of the ovary.
PENDULOUSLY Pen"du*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pendulous manner.
PENDULOUSNESS Pen"du*lous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pendulous; the state of hanging loosely; pendulosity.
PENDULUM Pen"du*lum, n.; pl. Pendulums. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See Pendulous.]
Defn: A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery.
Note: The time of oscillation of a pendulum is independent of the arc of vibration, provided this arc be small. Ballistic pendulum. See under Ballistic. -- Compensation pendulum, a clock pendulum in which the effect of changes of temperature of the length of the rod is so counteracted, usually by the opposite expansion of differene metals, that the distance of the center of oscillation from the center of suspension remains invariable; as, the mercurial compensation pendulum, in which the expansion of the rod is compensated by the opposite expansion of mercury in a jar constituting the bob; the gridiron pendulum, in which compensation is effected by the opposite expansion of sets of rodsof different metals. -- Compound pendulum, an ordinary pendulum; -- so called, as being made up of different parts, and contrasted with simple pendulum. -- Conical or Revolving, pendulum, a weight connected by a rod with a fixed point; and revolving in a horizontal cyrcle about the vertical from that point. -- Pendulum bob, the weight at the lower end of a pendulum. -- Pendulum level, a plumb level. See under Level. -- Pendulum wheel, the balance of a watch. -- Simple or Theoretical, pendulum, an imaginary pendulum having no dimensions except length, and no weight except at the center of oscillation; in other words, a material point suspended by an ideal line.
PENELOPE Pe*nel"o*pe, n. Etym: [From. L. Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, the hero of the Odyssey, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of curassows, including the guans.
PENEPLAIN Pe"ne*plain`, n. [L. paene, pene, almost + E. plain.] (Phys. Geog.)
Defn: A land surface reduced by erosion to the general condition of a plain, but not wholly devoid of hills; a base-level plain.
PENETRABILITY Pen`e*tra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pénétrabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being penetrable; susceptibility of being penetrated, entered, or pierced. Cheyne.
PENETRABLE Pen"e*tra*ble, a. Etym: [L. penetrabilus: cf. F. pénétrable.]
Defn: Capable of being penetrated, entered, or pierced. Used also figuratively. And pierce his only penetrable part. Dryden. I am not made of stones, But penetrable to your kind entreats. Shak. -- Pen"e*tra*ble*ness, n. -- Pen"e*tra*bly, adv.
PENETRAIL Pen"e*trail, n.
Defn: Penetralia. [Obs.] Harvey.
PENETRALIA Pen`e*tra"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. penetralis penetrating, internal. See Penetrate.]
1. The recesses, or innermost parts, of any thing or place, especially of a temple or palace.
2. Hidden things or secrets; privacy; sanctuary; as, the sacred penetralia of the home.
PENETRANCE; PENETRANCY Pen"e*trance, Pen"e*tran*cy, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being penetrant; power of entering or piercing; penetrating power of quality; as, the penetrancy of subtile effluvia.
PENETRANT Pen"e*trant, a. Etym: [L. penetrans, p.pr. of penetrare: cf. F. pénétrant.]
Defn: Having power to enter or pierce; penetrating; sharp; subtile; as, penetrant cold. "Penetrant and powerful arguments." Boyle.
PENETRATE Pen"e*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Penetrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Penetrating.] Etym: [L. penetratus, p.p. of penetrare to penetrate; akin to penitus inward, inwardly, and perh. to pens with, in the power of, penus store of food, innermost part of a temple.]
1. To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to effect an entrance into; to pierce; as, light penetrates darkness.
2. To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to move deeply; as, to penetrate one's heart with pity. Shak. The translator of Homer should penetrate himself with a sense of the plainness and directness of Homer's style. M. Arnold.
3. To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult subject; to comprehend; to understand. Things which here were too subtile for us to penetrate. Ray.
PENETRATE Pen"e*trate, v. i.
Defn: To pass; to make way; to pierce. Also used figuratively. Preparing to penetrate to the north and west. J. R. Green. Born where Heaven's influence scarce can penetrate. Pope. The sweet of life that penetrates so near. Daniel.
PENETRATING Pen"e*tra`ting, a.
1. Having the power of entering, piercing, or pervading; sharp; subtile; penetrative; as, a penetrating odor.
2. Acute; discerning; sagacious; quick to discover; as, a penetrating mind.
PENETRATINGLY Pen"e*tra`ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a penetrating manner.
PENETRATION Pen"e*tra`tion, n. Etym: [L. penetratio: cf. F. pénétration.]
1. The act or process of penetrating, piercing, or entering; also, the act of mentally penetrating into, or comprehending, anything difficult. And to each in ward part, With gentle penetration, though unseen, Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep. Milton. A penetration into the difficulties of algebra. Watts.
2. Acuteness; insight; sharp discoverment; sagacity; as, a person of singular penetration. Walpole.
Syn. -- Discernment; sagacity; acuteness; sharpness; discrimination. See Discernment, and Sagacity.
PENETRATIVE Pen"e*tra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pénétratif.]
1. Tending to penetrate; of a penetrating quality; piercing; as, the penetrative sun. His look became keen and penetrative. Hawthorne.
2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind or heart; impressive; as, penetrative shame. Shak.
3. Acute; discerning; sagacious; as, penetrative wisdom. "The penetrative eye." Wordsworth. Led on by skill of penetrative soul. Grainger.
PENETRATIVENESS Pen"e*tra*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being penetrative.
PENFISH Pen"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A squid.
PENFOLD Pen"fold`, n.
Defn: See Pinfold.
PENGOLIN Pen"go*lin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pangolin.
PENGUIN Pen"guin, n. Etym: [Perh. orig. the name of another bird, and fr. W. pen head + gwyn white; or perh. from a native South American name.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the order Impennes, or Ptilopteri. They are covered with short, thick feathers, almost scalelike on the wings, which are without true quills. They are unable to fly, but use their wings to aid in diving, in which they are very expert. See King penguin, under Jackass.
Note: Penguins are found in the south temperate and antarctic regions. The king penguins (Aptenodytes Patachonica, and A. longirostris) are the largest; the jackass penguins (Spheniscus) and the rock hoppers (Catarractes) congregate in large numbers at their breeding grounds.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The egg-shaped fleshy fruit of a West Indian plant (Bromelia Pinguin) of the Pineapple family; also, the plant itself, which has rigid, pointed, and spiny-toothed leaves, and is used for hedges. [Written also pinguin.] Arctic penguin (Zoöl.), the great auk. See Auk.
PENGUINERY Pen"guin*er*y, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A breeding place, or rookery, of penguins.
PENHOLDER Pen"hold`er, n.
Defn: A handle for a pen.
PENHOUSE Pen"house`, n.
Defn: A penthouse. [Obs.]
PENIBLE Pen*i"ble, a. Etym: [OF. penible. Cf. Painable.]
Defn: Painstaking; assidous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PENICIL Pen"i*cil, n. Etym: [L. penicillum, penicillus, a painter's brush, a roil of lint, a tent for wounds.] (mented.)
Defn: A tent or pledget for wounds or ulcers.
PENICILLATE Pen`i*cil"late, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pénicillé. See Penicil.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having the form of a pencil; furnished with a pencil of fine hairs; ending in a tuft of hairs like a camel's-hair brush, as the stigmas of some grasses.
PENICILLIFORM Pen`i*cil"li*form, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Penicillate.
PENINSULA Pen*in"su*la, n. Etym: [L. peninsula or paeninsula; paene almost + insula an island. See Isle.]
Defn: A portion of land nearly surrounded by water, and connected with a larger body by a neck, or isthmus.
PENINSULAR Pen*in"su*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. péninsulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a peninsula; as, a peninsular form; peninsular people; the peninsular war.
PENINSULA STATE Pen*in"su*la State.
Defn: Florida; -- a nickname.
PENINSULATE Pen*in"su*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peninsulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Peninsulating.]
Defn: To form into a peninsula. South River . . . peninsulates Castle Hill farm. W. Bentley.
PENIS Pe"nis, n. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: The male member, or organ of generation.
PENITENCE Pen"i*tence, n. Etym: [F. pénitence, L. paenitentia. See Penitent, and cf. Penance.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; sorrow for sins or faults; repentance; contrition. "Penitence of his old guilt." Chaucer. Death is deferred, and penitenance has room To mitigate, if not reverse, the doom. Dryden.
Syn. -- Repentance; contrition; compunction.
PENITENCER Pen"i*ten*cer, n. Etym: [F. pénitencier.]
Defn: A priest who heard confession and enjoined penance in extraordinary cases. [Written also penitenser.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
PENITENCY Pen"i*ten*cy, n.
Defn: Penitence. [Obs.]
PENITENT Pen"i*tent, a. Etym: [F. pénitent, L. paenitens, -entis, poenitens, p.pr. of paenitere, poenitere, to cause to repent, to repent; prob. akin to poena punishment. See Pain.]
1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life. Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite. Milton. The pound he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.
2. Doing penance. [Obs.] Shak.
PENITENT Pen"i*tent, n.
1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
3. One under the direction of a confessor.
Note: Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in Roman Catholic countries, distinguished by their habit, and employed in charitable acts.
PENITENTIAL Pen`i*ten"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pénitentiel.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to penitence, or to penance; expressing penitence; of the nature of penance; as, the penitential book; penitential tears. "Penitential stripes." Cowper. Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse. Sir W. Scott.
PENITENTIAL Pen`i*ten"tial, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A book formerly used by priests hearing confessions, containing rules for the imposition of penances; -- called also penitential book.
PENITENTIALLY Pen`i*ten"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a penitential manner.
PENITENTIARY Pen`i*ten"tia*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pénitentiaire.]
1. Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance. "A penitentiary tax." Abp. Bramhall.
2. Expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter.
3. Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation. "Penitentiary houses." Blackstone.
PENITENTIARY Pen`i*ten"tia*ry, n.; pl. Penitentiaries. Etym: [Cf. F. pénitencier. See Penitent.]
1. One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. One who does penance. [Obs.] Hammond.
3. A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed. Shpiley.
4. That part of a church to which penitents were admitted. Shipley.
5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope. (b) An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him.
6. A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor.
PENITENTIARYSHIP Pen`i*ten"tia*ry*ship, n.
Defn: The office or condition of a penitentiary of the papal court. [R.] Wood.
PENITENTLY Pen"i*tent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a penitent manner.
PENK Penk, n.
Defn: A minnow. See Pink, n., 4. [Prov. Eng.] Walton.
PENKNIFE Pen"knife`, n.; pl. Penknives. Etym: [Pen + knife.]
Defn: A small pocketknife; formerly, a knife used for making and mending quill pens.
PENMAN Pen"man, n.; pl. Penmen (.
1. One who uses the pen; a writer; esp., one skilled in the use of the pen; a calligrapher; a writing master.
2. An author; a composer. South.
PENMANSHIP Pen"man*ship, n.
Defn: The use of the pen in writing; the art of writing; style or manner of writing; chirography; as, good or bad penmanship.
PENNA Pen"na, n.; pl. Pennæ. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A perfect, or normal, feather.
PENNACEOUS Pen"na"ceous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to a normal feather.
PENNACH Pen"nach, n. Etym: [OF. pennache. See Panache.]
Defn: A bunch of feathers; a plume. [Obs.] Holland.
PENNACHED Pen"nached, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. pennaché. See Panache.]
Defn: Variegated; striped. [Obs.] Evelyn.
PENNAGE Pen"nage, n. Etym: [L. penna feather.]
Defn: Feathery covering; plumage. [Obs.] Holland.
PENNANT Pen"nant, n. Etym: [OE. penon, penoun, pynoun, OF. penon, F. pennon, fr. L. penna feather. See Pen a feather, and cf. Pennon, Pinion.] (Naut.) (a) A small flag; a pennon. The narrow, or long, pennant (called also whip or coach whip) is a long, narrow piece of bunting, carried at the masthead of a government vessel in commission. The board pennant is an oblong, nearly square flag, carried at the masthead of a commodore's vessel. "With flags and pennants trimmed." Drayton. (b) A rope or strap to which a purchase is hooked.
PENNATE; PENNATED Pen"nate, Pen"na*ted, a. Etym: [L. pennatus feathered, winged, from penna feather, wing.]
1. Winged; plume-shaped.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Pinnate.
PENNATULA Pen*nat"u*la, n.; pl. L. Pennatulæ, E. Pennatulas. Etym: [NL., fr. L. penna a feather.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of Pennatula, Pteroides, and allied genera of Alcyonaria, having a featherlike form; a sea-pen. The zooids are situated along one edge of the side branches.
PENNATULACEA Pen*nat`u*la"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pennatula.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of alcyonoid corals, including the seapens and related kinds. They are able to move about by means of the hollow muscular peduncle, which also serves to support them upright in the mud. See Pennatula, and Illust. under Alcyonaria.
PENNED Penned, a.
1. Winged; having plumes. [Obs.]
2. Written with a pen; composed. "Their penned speech." Shak.
PENNER Pen"ner, n.
1. One who pens; a writer. Sir T. North.
2. A case for holding pens. [Obs.]
PENNIFORM Pen"ni*form, a. Etym: [L. penna feather + -form: cf. F. penniforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a feather or plume.
PENNIGEROUS Pen*nig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. penniger; penna feather + gerere to bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing feathers or quills.
PENNILESS Pen"ni*less, a. Etym: [From Penny.]
Defn: Destitute of money; impecunious; poor. -- Pen"ni*less*ness, n.
PENNINERVED Pen"ni*nerved`, a. Etym: [L. penna feather + E. nerve.]
Defn: Pinnately veined or nerved.
PENNIPOTENT Pen*nip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. pennipotens; penna wing + potens strong.]
Defn: Strong of wing; strong on the wing. [Poetic] Davies (Holy Roode).
PENNON Pen"non, n. Etym: [Cf. Pinion.]
Defn: A wing; a pinion. Milton.
PENNON Pen"non, n. Etym: [See Pennant.]
Defn: A pennant; a flag or streamer. Longfellow.
PENNONCEL; PENNONCELLE Pen"non*cel`, Pen"non*celle`, n. Etym: [OF. penoncel. See Pennant.]
Defn: See Pencel.
PENNY Pen"ny, a. Etym: [Perh. a corruption of pun, for pound.]
Defn: Denoting pound weight for one thousand; -- used in combination, with respect to nails; as, tenpenny nails, nails of which one thousand weight ten pounds.
PENNY Pen*ny, n.; pl. Pennies or Pence (. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. Etym: [OE. peni, AS. penig, pening, pending; akin to D. penning, OHG. pfenning, pfenting, G. pfennig, Icel. penningr; of uncertain origin.]
1. An English coin, formerly of copper, now of bronze, the twelfth part of an English shilling in account value, and equal to four farthings, or about two cents; -- usually indicated by the abbreviation d. (the initial of denarius).
Note: "The chief Anglo-Saxon coin, and for a long period the only one, corresponded to the denarius of the Continent . . . [and was] called penny, denarius, or denier." R. S. Poole. The ancient silver penny was worth about three pence sterling (see Pennyweight). The old Scotch penny was only one twelfth the value of the English coin. In the United States the word penny is popularly used for cent.
2. Any small sum or coin; a groat; a stiver. Shak.
3. Money, in general; as, to turn an honest penny. What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent Shak.
4. (Script.)
Defn: See Denarius. Penny cress (Bot.), an annual herb of the Mustard family, having round, flat pods like silver pennies (Thlaspi arvense). Dr. Prior. -- Penny dog (Zoöl.), a kind of shark found on the South coast of Britain: the tope. -- Penny father, a penurious person; a niggard. [Obs.] Robinson (More's Utopia). -- Penny grass (Bot.), pennyroyal. [R.] -- Penny post, a post carrying a letter for a penny; also, a mail carrier. -- Penny wise, wise or prudent only in small matters; saving small sums while losing larger; -- used chiefly in the phrase, penny wise and pound foolish.
PENNY Pen"ny, a.
Defn: Worth or costing one penny.
PENNY-A-LINER Pen"ny-a-lin"er, n.
Defn: One who furnishes matter to public journals at so much a line; a poor writer for hire; a hack writer. Thackeray.
PENNYROYAL Pen`ny*roy"al, n. Etym: [A corruption of OE. puliall royal. OE. puliall is ultimately derived fr. L. puleium, or pulegium regium (so called as being good against fleas), fr. pulex a flea; and royal is a translation of L. regium, in puleium regium.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic herb (Mentha Pulegium) of Europe; also, a North American plant (Hedeoma pulegioides) resembling it in flavor. Bastard pennyroyal (Bot.) See Blue curls, under Blue.
PENNYWEIGHT Pen"ny*weight`, n.
Defn: A troy weight containing twenty-four grains, or the twentieth part of an ounce; as, a pennyweight of gold or of arsenic. It was anciently the weight of a silver penny, whence the name.
PENNYWORT Pen"ny*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A European trailing herb (Linaria Cymbalaria) with roundish, reniform leaves. It is often cultivated in hanging baskets. March, or Water, pennywort. (Bot.) See under March.
PENNYWORTH Pen"ny*worth`, n.
1. A penny's worth; as much as may be bought for a penny. "A dear pennyworth." Evelyn.
2. Hence: The full value of one's penny expended; due return for money laid out; a good bargain; a bargain. The priests sold the better pennyworths. Locke.
3. A small quantity; a trifle. Bacon.
PENOCK Pen"ock, n.
Defn: See Pend.
PENOLOGICAL Pen`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to penology.
PENOLOGIST Pe*nol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in, or a student of, penology.
PENOLOGY Pe*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. poena, punishment + -logy.]
Defn: The science or art of punishment. [Written also poenology.]
PENRACK Pen"rack`, n.
Defn: A rack for pens not in use.
PENS Pens, n.,
Defn: pl. of Penny. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PENSATIVE Pen"sa*tive, a.
Defn: Pensive. [Obs.] Shelton.
PENSEL Pen"sel, n.
Defn: A pencel. Chaucer.
PENSIBLE Pen"si*ble, a.
Defn: Held aloft. [Obs.] Bacon.
PENSILE Pen"sile, a. Etym: [L. pensilis, fr. pendere to hang: cf. OE. pensil. See Pendant.]
Defn: Hanging; suspended; pendent; pendulous. Bacon. The long, pensile branches of the birches. W. Howitt.
PENSILENESS Pen"sile*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being pensile; pendulousness.
PENSION Pen"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pensio a paying, payment, fr. pendere, pensum, to weight, to pay; akin to pend to hang. See Pendant, and cf. Spend.]
1. A payment; a tribute; something paid or given. [Obs.] The stomach's pension, and the time's expense. Sylvester.
2. A stated allowance to a person in consideration of past services; payment made to one retired from service, on account of age, disability, or other cause; especially, a regular stipend paid by a government to retired public officers, disabled soldiers, the families of soldiers killed in service, or to meritorious authors, or the like. To all that kept the city pensions and wages. 1 Esd. iv. 56.
3. A certain sum of money paid to a clergyman in lieu of tithes. [Eng.] Mozley & W.
4. Etym: [F., pronounced .]
Defn: A boarding house or boarding school in France, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.
PENSION Pen"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pensioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pensioning.]
Defn: To grant a pension to; to pay a regular stipend to; in consideration of service already performed; -- sometimes followed by off; as, to pension off a servant. One knighted Blackmore, and one pensioned Quarles. Pope.
PENSIONARY Pen"sion*a*ry, a.
1. Maintained by a pension; receiving a pension; as, pensionary spies. Donne.
2. Consisting of a pension; as, a pensionary provision for maintenance.
PENSIONARY Pen"sion*a*ry, n.; pl. Pensionaries. Etym: [Cf. F. pensionnaire. Cf. Pensioner.]
1. One who receives a pension; a pensioner. E. Hall.
2. One of the chief magistrates of towns in Holland. Grand pensionary, the title of the prime minister, or or president of the Council, of Holland when a republic.
PENSIONER Pen"sion*er, n.
1. One in receipt of a pension; hence, figuratively, a dependent. The fickle pensioners of Morpheus' train. Milton. Old pensioners . . . of Chelsea Hospital. Macaulay.
2. One of an honorable band of gentlemen who attend the sovereign of England on state occasions, and receive an annual pension, or allowance, of £150 and two horses.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. pensionnaire one who pays for his board. Cf. Pensionary, n.]
Defn: In the university of Cambridge, England, one who pays for his living in commons; -- corresponding to commoner at Oxford. Ld. Lytton.
PENSIVE Pen"sive, a. Etym: [F. pensif, fr. penser to think, fr. L. pensare to weigh, ponder, consider, v. intens. fr. pendere to weigh. See Pension, Poise.]
1. Thoughtful, sober, or sad; employed in serious reflection; given to, or favorable to, earnest or melancholy musing. The pensive secrecy of desert cell. Milton. Anxious cares the pensive nymph oppressed. Pope.
2. Expressing or suggesting thoughtfulness with sadness; as, pensive numbers. Prior.
PENSIVED Pen"sived, a.
Defn: Made pensive. [R.] Shak.
PENSIVELY Pen"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pensive manner.
PENSIVENESS Pen"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being pensive; serious thoughtfulness; seriousness. Hooker.
PENSTOCK Pen"stock, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain; perh. fr. pen an inclosure + stock.]
1. A close conduit or pipe for conducting water, as, to a water wheel, or for emptying a pond, or for domestic uses.
2. The barrel of a wooden pump.
PENT Pent, p. p. or a. Etym: [From Pen, v. t.]
Defn: Penned or shut up; confined; -- often with up. Here in the body pent. J. Montgomery. No pent-up Utica contracts your powers. J. M. Sewall.
PENTA- Pen"ta-. Etym: [Gr. Five.]
1. A combining form denoting five; as, pentacapsular; pentagon.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Denoting the degree of five, either as regards quality, property, or composition; as, pentasulphide; pentoxide, etc. Also used adjectively.
PENTABASIC Pen`ta*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Penta- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Capable of uniting with five molecules of a monacid base; having five acid hydrogen atoms capable of substitution by a basic radical; -- said of certain acids.
PENTACAPSULAR Pen`ta*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Penta- + capsular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having five capsules.
PENTACHENIUM Pen`ta*che"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Penta-, and Achenium.] (Bot.)
Defn: A dry fruit composed of five carpels, which are covered by an epigynous calyx and separate at maturity.
PENTACHLORIDE Pen`ta*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Penta- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A chloride having five atoms of chlorine in each molecule.
PENTACHORD Pen"ta*chord, n. Etym: [L. pentachordus five-stringed, Gr.
1. An ancient instrument of music with five strings.
2. An order or system of five sounds. Busby.
PENTACID Pen*tac"id ( Etym: [Penta- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Capable of neutralizing, or combining with, five molecules of a monobasic acid; having five hydrogen atoms capable of substitution by acid residues; -- said of certain complex bases.
PENTACLE Pen"ta*cle, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A figure composed of two equilateral triangles intersecting so as to form a six-pointed star, -- used in early ornamental art, and also with superstitious import by the astrologers and mystics of the Middle Ages.
PENTACOCCOUS Pen`ta*coc"cous, a. Etym: [See Penta-, Coccus.] (Bot.)
Defn: Composed of five united carpels with one seed in each, as certain fruits.
PENTACONTER Pen"ta*con`ter, n. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: See Penteconter.
PENTACRININ Pen*tac"ri*nin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A red and purple pigment found in certain crinoids of the genus Pentacrinus.
PENTACRINITE Pen*tac"ri*nite, n. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Pentacrinus.
PENTACRINOID Pen*tac"ri*noid, n. Etym: [Pentacrinus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An immature comatula when it is still attached by a stem, and thus resembles a Pentacrinus.
PENTACRINUS Pen*tac"ri*nus, n. Etym: [NL. See Penta-, and Crinum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large, stalked crinoids, of which several species occur in deep water among the West Indies and elsewhere.
PENTACRON Pen*ta"cron, n.; pl. L. Pentacra, E. Pentacrons. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A solid having five summits or angular points.
PENTACROSTIC Pen`ta*cros"tic, n. Etym: [Penta- + acrostic.]
Defn: A set of verses so disposed that the name forming the subject of the acrostic occurs five times -- the whole set of verses being divided into five different parts from top to bottom.
PENTAD Pen"tad, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Any element, atom, or radical, having a valence of five, or which can be combined with, substituted for, or compared with, five atoms of hydrogen or other monad; as, nitrogen is a pentad in the ammonium compounds.
PENTAD Pen"tad, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Having the valence of a pentad.
PENTADACTYL; PENTADACTYLE Pen`ta*dac"tyl, Pen`ta*dac"tyle, a. Etym: [Gr. Penta-, and Dactyl.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Having five digits to the hand or foot.
2. Having five appendages resembling fingers or toes.
PENTADACTYLOID Pen`ta*dac"tyl*oid, a. Etym: [Pentadactyl + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the form of, or a structure modified from, a pentadactyl limb.
PENTADECANE Pen`ta*dec"ane, n. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon of the paraffin series, (C15H32) found in petroleum, tar oil, etc., and obtained as a colorless liquid; -- so called from the fifteen carbon atoms in the molecule.
PENTADECATOIC Pen`ta*dec`a*to"ic, a. Etym: [Penta- + decatoic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, pentadecane, or designating an acid related to it.
PENTADECYLIC Pen`ta*decyl"ic, a. Etym: [Penta- + decylic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Quindecylic.
PENTADELPHOUS Pen`ta*del"phous, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the stamens arranged in five clusters, those of each cluster having their filaments more or less united, as the flowers of the linden.
PENTAFID Pen"ta*fid, a. Etym: [Penta- + root of L. findere to split.] (Bot.)
Defn: Divided or cleft into five parts.
PENTAGLOT Pen"ta*glot, n. Etym: [Penta- + -glot, as in polyglot.]
Defn: A work in five different tongues.
PENTAGON Pen"ta*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. Penta-) + gwni`a angle: cf. L. pentagonium, F. pentagone.] (Geom.)
Defn: A plane figure having five angles, and, consequently, five sides; any figure having five angles. Regular pentagon, a pentagon in which the angles are all equal, and the sides all equal.
PENTAGONAL Pen*tag"o*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pentagonal, pentagone, L. pentagonus, pentagonius, Gr.
Defn: Having five corners or angles. Pentagonal dodecahedron. See Dodecahedron, and Pyritohedron.
PENTAGONALLY Pen*tag"o*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form of a pentagon; with five angles. Sir T. Browne.
PENTAGONOUS Pen*tag"o*nous, a.
Defn: Pentagonal.
PENTAGRAM Pen"ta*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. Penta-, and -gram.]
Defn: A pentacle or a pentalpha. "Like a wizard pentagram." Tennyson.
PENTAGRAPHIC; PENTAGRAPHICAL Pen`ta*graph"ic, Pen`ta*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Corrupted fr. pantographic, -ical.]
Defn: Pantographic. See Pantograph.
PENTAGYNIA Pen`ta*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Penta-) + (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants, having five styles or pistils.
PENTAGYNIAN; PENTAGYNOUS Pen`ta*gyn"i*an, Pen*tag"y*nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to plants of the order Pentagyna; having five styles.
PENTAHEDRAL Pen`ta*he"dral, a.
Defn: Having five sides; as, a pentahedral figure.
PENTAHEDRICAL Pen`ta*hed"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pentahedral. [R.]
PENTAHEDRON Pen`ta*he"dron, n. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. "e`dra seat, base.]
Defn: A solid figure having five sides.
PENTAHEDROUS Pen`ta*he"drous, a.
Defn: Pentahedral. Woodward.
PENTAIL Pen"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar insectivore (Ptilocercus Lowii) of Borneo; -- so called from its very long, quill-shaped tail, which is scaly at the base and plumose at the tip.
PENTALPHA Pen*tal"pha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pentalpha. See Penta-, and Alpha.]
Defn: A five-pointed star, resembling five alphas joined at their bases; -- used as a symbol.
PENTAMERA Pen*tam"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pentamerous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive division of Coleoptera, including those that normally have five-jointed tarsi. It embraces about half of all the known species of the Coleoptera.
PENTAMERAN Pen*tam"er*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Pentamera.
PENTAMEROUS Pen*tam"er*ous, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr.
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Divided into, or consisting of, five parts; also, arranged in sets, with five parts in each set, as a flower with five sepals, five petals, five, or twice five, stamens, and five pistils.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Pentamera.
PENTAMERUS Pen*tam"e*rus, n. Etym: [NL. See Pentamerous.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct Paleozoic brachiopods, often very abundant in the Upper Silurian. Pentamerus limestone (Geol.), a Silurian limestone composed largely of the shells of Pentamerus.
PENTAMETER Pen*tam"e*ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Penta-) + (Gr. & L.Pros.)
Defn: A verse of five feet.
Note: The dactylic pentameter consists of two parts separated by a diæresis. Each part consists of two dactyls and a long syllable. The spondee may take the place of the dactyl in the first part, but not in the second. The elegiac distich consists of the hexameter followed by the pentameter. Harkness.
PENTAMETER Pen*tam"e*ter, a.
Defn: Having five metrical feet.
PENTAMETHYLENE Pen`ta*meth"yl*ene, n. Etym: [Penta- + methylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hypothetical hydrocarbon, C5H10, metameric with the amylenes, and the nucleus of a large number of derivatives; -- so named because regarded as composed of five methylene residues. Cf. Trimethylene, and Tetramethylene.
PENTANDRIA Pen*tan"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Penta-) + (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having five separate stamens.
PENTANDRIAN; PENTANDROUS Pen*tan"dri*an, Pen*tan"drous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Pentadria; having five stamens.
PENTANE Pen"tane, n. Etym: [See Penta-.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of the three metameric hydrocarbons, C5H12, of the methane or paraffin series. They are colorless, volatile liquids, two of which occur in petroleum. So called because of the five carbon atoms in the molecule.
PENTANGLE Pen"tan`gle, n. Etym: [Penta- + angle.]
Defn: A pentagon. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
PENTANGULAR Pen*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Penta- + angular.]
Defn: Having five corners or angles. [R.]
PENTAPETALOUS Pen`ta*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Penta- + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having five petals, or flower leaves.
PENTAPHYLLOUS Pen*taph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having five leaves or leaflets.
PENTAPODY Pen*tap"o*dy, n. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A measure or series consisting of five feet.
PENTAPTOTE Pen"tap*tote, n. Etym: [L. (pl.) pentaptota. Gr. Penta-) + (Gram.)
Defn: A noun having five cases.
PENTAPTYCH Pen"tap*tych, n. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A picture, or combination of pictures, consisting of a centerpiece and double folding doors or wings, as for an altarpiece.
PENTARCHY Pen"tar*chy, n. Etym: [Gr. pentarchie. See Penta-, and -archy.]
Defn: A government in the hands of five persons; five joint rulers. P. Fletcher. "The pentarchy of the senses." A. Brewer.
PENTASPAST Pen"ta*spast, n. Etym: [L. pentaspaston, Gr. Penta-) + pentaspaste.]
Defn: A purchase with five pulleys. [R.]
PENTASPERMOUS Pen`ta*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Containing five seeds.
PENTASTICH Pen"ta*stich, n. Etym: [Gr. Penta-) +
Defn: A composition consisting of five verses.
PENTASTICHOUS Pen*tas"ti*chous, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having, or arranged in, five vertical ranks, as the leaves of an apple tree or a cherry tree.
PENTASTOMIDA Pen`ta*stom"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Penta-) + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Linguatulina.
PENTASTYLE Pen"ta*style, a. Etym: [Penta- + Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: Having five columns in front; -- said of a temple or portico in classical architecture. -- n.
Defn: A portico having five columns.
PENTATEUCH Pen"ta*teuch, n. Etym: [L. pentateuchus, Gr. Penta-) + text. See Five, and Text.]
Defn: The first five books of the Old Testament, collectively; -- called also the Law of Moses, Book of the Law of Moses, etc.
PENTATEUCHAL Pen`ta*teu"chal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pentateuch.
PENTATHIONIC Pen`ta*thi*on"ic, a. Etym: [Penta- + thionic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of sulphur obtained by leading hydrogen sulphide into a solution of sulphur dioxide; -- so called because it contains five atoms of sulphur.
PENTATHLON Pen*tath"lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A fivefold athletic performance peculiar to the great national games of the Greeks, including leaping, foot racing, wrestling, throwing the discus, and throwing the spear.
PENTATOMIC Pen`ta*tom"ic, a. Etym: [Penta- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Having five atoms in the molecule. (b) Having five hydrogen atoms capable of substitution.
PENTAVALENT Pen*tav"a*lent, a. Etym: [Penta- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having a valence of five; -- said of certain atoms and radicals.
PENTECONTER Pen"te*con`ter, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A Grecian vessel with fifty oars. [Written also pentaconter.]
PENTECOST Pen"te*cost, n. Etym: [L. pentecoste, Gr. Five, and cf. Pingster.]
1. A solemn festival of the Jews; -- so called because celebrated on the fiftieth day (seven weeks) after the second day of the Passover (which fell on the sixteenth of the Jewish month Nisan); -- hence called, also, the Feast of Weeks. At this festival an offering of the first fruits of the harvest was made. By the Jews it was generally regarded as commemorative of the gift of the law on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt.
2. A festival of the Roman Catholic and other churches in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; which occurred on the day of Pentecost; -- called also Whitsunday. Shak.
PENTECOSTAL Pen`te*cos"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Pentecost or to Whitsuntide.
PENTECOSTALS Pen`te*cos"tals, n. pl.
Defn: Offerings formerly made to the parish priest, or to the mother church, at Pentecost. Shipley.
PENTECOSTER Pen`te*cos"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: An officer in the Spartan army commanding fifty men. Mitford.
PENTECOSTY Pen`te*cos"ty, n.; pl. Pentecosties. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A troop of fifty soldiers in the Spartan army; -- called also pentecostys. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
PENTELIC; PENTELICAN Pen*tel"ic, Pen*tel"i*can, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mount Pentelicus, near Athens, famous for its fine white marble quarries; obtained from Mount Pentelicus; as, the Pentelic marble of which the Parthenon is built.
PENTENE Pen"tene, n. Etym: [See Penta-.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Amylene.
PENTHOUSE Pent"house`, n. Etym: [A corruption of pentice.]
Defn: A shed or roof sloping from the main wall or building, as over a door or window; a lean-to. Also figuratively. "The penthouse of his eyes." Sir W. Scott.
PENTHOUSE Pent"house`, a.
Defn: Leaning; overhanging. "Penthouse lid." Shak. "My penthouse eyebrows." Dryden.
PENTICE Pen"tice, n. Etym: [F. appentis a penthouse. See Append.]
Defn: A penthouse. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
PENTILE Pen"tile`, n.
Defn: See Pantile.
PENTINE Pen"tine, n. Etym: [See Penta-.] (Chem.)
Defn: An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C5H8, of the acetylene series. Same as Valerylene.
PENTOIC Pen*to"ic, a. Etym: [See Penta-.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or desingating, an acid (called also valeric acid) derived from pentane.
PENTONE Pen"tone, n. Etym: [See Penta-.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Valylene.
PENTOSAN; PENTOSANE Pen"to*san, n. Also -sane. [From Pentose.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of substances (complex carbohydrates widely distributed in plants, as in fruits, gums, woods, hay, etc.) which yield pentoses on hydrolysis.
PENTOSE Pen"tose, n. [Penta- + -ose.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any of a group of sugars of the formula C5H10O5, as arabinose; -- so called from the five carbon atoms in the molecule. They are not fermented by yeast.
PENTOXIDE Pen*tox"ide, n. Etym: [Penta- + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in each molecule; as, phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5.
PENTREMITE Pen"tre*mite, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Pentremites.
PENTREMITES Pen`tre*mi"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. remus an oar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of crinoids belonging to the Blastoidea. They have five petal-like ambulacra.
PENTROOF Pent"roof`, n. Etym: [F. pente slope + E. roof, or from penthouse roof.]
Defn: See Lean-to.
PENTROUGH Pen"trough`, n.
Defn: A penstock.
PENTYL Pen"tyl, n. Etym: [Penta + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical, C5H11, of pentane and certain of its derivatives. Same as Amyl.
PENTYLIC Pen*tyl"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, pentyl; as, pentylic alcohol
PENUCHLE; PINOCLE Pe"nu*chle, Pin"o*cle, n.
Defn: A game at cards, played with forty-eight cards, being all the cards above the eight spots in two packs.
PENULT Pe"nult, n. Etym: [Abbreviated fr. penultima.] (Gram. & Pros.)
Defn: The last syllable but one of a word; the syllable preceding the final one.
PENULTIMA Pe*nul"ti*ma, n. Etym: [L. (sc. syllaba), fr. penultimus, paenultimus, the last but one; paene almost + ultimus the last.]
Defn: Same as Penult.
PENULTIMATE Pe*nul"ti*mate, a.
Defn: Last but one; as, the penultimate syllable, the last syllable but one of a word.
PENULTIMATE Pe*nul"ti*mate, n.
Defn: The penult.
PENUMBRA Pe*num"bra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. paene almost + umbra shade.]
1. An incomplete or partial shadow.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the space of partial illumination between the umbra, or perfect shadow, on all sides, and the full light. Sir I. Newton.
Note: The faint shade surrounding the dark central portion of a solar spot is also called the penumbra, and sometimes umbra.
3. (Paint.)
Defn: The part of a picture where the shade imperceptibly blends with the light.
PENUMBRALA Pe*num"brala.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a penumbra; resembling a penumbra; partially illuminated.
PENURIOUS Pe*nu"ri*ous, a. Etym: [From Penury.]
1. Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly. "A penurious niggard of his wealth." Milton.
2. Not bountiful or liberal; scanty. Here creeps along a poor, penurious stream. C. Pitt.
3. Destitute of money; suffering extreme want. [Obs.] "My penurious band." Shak.
Syn. -- Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; miserly; niggardly; stingy. See Avaricious. --Pe*nu"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pe*nu"ri*ous*ness, n.
PENURY Pen"u*ry, n. Etym: [L. penuria; cf. Gr. pénurie.]
1. Absence of resources; want; privation; indigence; extreme poverty; destitution. "A penury of military forces." Bacon. They were exposed to hardship and penury. Sprat. It arises in neither from penury of thought. Landor.
2. Penuriousness; miserliness. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
PENWIPER Pen"wip`er, n.
Defn: A cloth, or other material, for wiping off or cleaning ink from a pen.
PENWOMAN Pen"wom`an, n.; pl. Penwomen (.
Defn: A female writer; an authoress. Johnson.
PEON Pe"on, n.
Defn: See Poon.
PEON Pe"on, n. Etym: [Sp. peon, or Pg. pe, one who travels on foot, a foot soldier, a pawn in chess. See Pawn in chess.]
1. A foot soldier; a policeman; also, an office attendant; a messenger. [India]
2. A day laborer; a servant; especially, in some of the Spanish American countries, debtor held by his creditor in a form of qualified servitude, to work out a debt.
3. (Chess)
Defn: See 2d Pawn.
PEONAGE Pe"on*age, n.
Defn: The condition of a peon.
PEONISM Pe"on*ism, n.
Defn: Same as Peonage. D. Webster.
PEONY Pe"o*ny, n.; pl. Peonies. Etym: [OE. pione, pioine, pioni, OF. pione, F. pivoine, L. paeonia, Gr. Pæan.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant, and its flower, of the ranunculaceous genus Pæonia. Of the four or five species, one is a shrub; the rest are perennial herbs with showy flowers, often double in cultivation. [Written also pæony, and piony.]
PEOPLE Peo"ple, n. Etym: [OE. peple, people, OF. pueple, F. peuple, fr. L. populus. Cf. Populage, Public, Pueblo.]
1. The body of persons who compose a community, tribe, nation, or race; an aggregate of individuals forming a whole; a community; a nation. Unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen. xlix. 10. The ants are a people not strong. Prov. xxx. 25. Before many peoples, and nations, and tongues. Rev. x. 11. Earth's monarchs are her peoples. Whitter . A government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people. T. Parker.
Note: Peopleis a collective noun, generally construed with a plural verb, and only occasionally used in the plural form (peoples), in the sense of nations or races.
2. Persons, generally; an indefinite number of men and women; folks; population, or part of population; as, country people; -- sometimes used as an indefinite subject or verb, like on in French, and man in German; as, people in adversity. People were tempted to lend by great premiums. Swift . People have lived twenty-four days upon nothing but water. Arbuthnot .
3. The mass of comunity as distinguished from a special class; the commonalty; the populace; the vulgar; the common crowd; as, nobles and people. And strive to gain his pardon from the people. Addison .
4. With a possessive pronoun: (a) One's ancestors or family; kindred; relations; as, my people were English. (b) One's subjects; fellow citizens; companions; followers. "You slew great number of his people." Shak.
Syn. -- People, Nation. When speaking of a state, we use people for the mass of the community, as distinguished from their rulers, and nation for the entire political body, including the rulers. In another sense of the term, nation describes those who are descended from the same stock; and in this sense the Germans regard themselves as one nation, though politically subject to different forms of government.
PEOPLE Peo"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peopled p. pr. & vb. n. Peopling (.] Etym: [Cf. OF. popler, puepler, F. puepler. Cf. Populate.]
Defn: To stock with people or inhabitants; to fill as with people; to populate. "Peopled heaven with angels." Dryden. As the gay motes that people the sunbeams. Milton .
PEOPLED Peo"pled, a.
Defn: Stocked with, or as with, people; inhabited. "The peopled air." Gray.
PEOPLELESS Peo"ple*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of people. Poe.
PEOPLER Peo"pler, n.
Defn: A settler; an inhabitant. "Peoplers of the peaceful glen." J. S. Blackie.
PEOPLE'S BANK Peo"ple's bank.
Defn: A form of coöperative bank, such as those of Germany; -- a term loosely used for various forms of coöperative financial institutions.
PEOPLE'S PARTY People's party. (U. S. Politics)
Defn: A party formed in 1891, advocating in an increase of the currency, public ownership and operation of railroads, telegraphs, etc., an income tax, limitation in ownership of land, etc.
PEOPLISH Peo"plish, a.
Defn: Vulgar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PEORIAS Pe*o"ri*as, n. pl.; sing. Peoria (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An Algonquin tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited a part of Illinois.
PEPASTIC Pe*pas"tic, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. pépastique.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Maturative.
PEPERINE; PEPERINO Pep"e*rine, Pep`e*ri"no, n. Etym: [It. peperino, L. piper pepper. So called on account of its color.] (Geol.)
Defn: A volcanic rock, formed by the cementing together of sand, scoria, cinders, etc.
PEPLIS Pep"lis, n. Etym: [L., a kind of plant, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including water purslane.
PEPLUM Pep"lum, n.; pl. E. -lumus, L. -la. [L.]
Defn: A peplos. Hence: An overskirt hanging like an ancient peplos; also, a short fitted skirt attached to a waist or coat.
PEPLUS Pep"lus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. An upper garment worn by Grecian and Roman women.
2. A kind of kerchief formerly worn by Englishwomen. [Obs.] Fairholt.
PEPO Pe"po, n. Etym: [L., a kind of melon, from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Any fleshy fruit with a firm rind, as a pumpkin, melon, or gourd. See Gourd.
PEPPER Pep"per, n. Etym: [OE. peper, AS. pipor, L. piper, fr. Gr. pippala, pippali.]
1. A well-known, pungently aromatic condiment, the dried berry, either whole or powdered, of the Piper nigrum.
Note: Common, or black, pepper is made from the whole berry, dried just before maturity; white pepper is made from the ripe berry after the outer skin has been removed by maceration and friction. It has less of the peculiar properties of the plant than the black pepper. Pepper is used in medicine as a carminative stimulant.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The plant which yields pepper, an East Indian woody climber (Piper nigrum), with ovate leaves and apetalous flowers in spikes opposite the leaves. The berries are red when ripe. Also, by extension, any one of the several hundred species of the genus Piper, widely dispersed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the earth.
3. Any plant of the genus Capsicum, and its fruit; red pepper; as, the bell pepper.
Note: The term pepper has been extended to various other fruits and plants, more or less closely resembling the true pepper, esp. to the common varieties of Capsicum. See Capsicum, and the Phrases, below. African pepper, the Guinea pepper. See under Guinea. -- Cayenne pepper. See under Cayenne. -- Chinese pepper, the spicy berries of the Xanthoxylum piperitum, a species of prickly ash found in China and Japan. -- Guinea pepper. See under Guinea, and Capsicum. -- Jamaica pepper. See Allspice. -- Long pepper. (a) The spike of berries of Piper longum, an East Indian shrub. (b) The root of Piper, or Macropiper, methysticum. See Kava. -- Malaguetta, or Meleguetta, pepper, the aromatic seeds of the Amomum Melegueta, an African plant of the Ginger family. They are sometimes used to flavor beer, etc., under the name of grains of Paradise. -- Red pepper. See Capsicum. -- Sweet pepper bush (Bot.), an American shrub (Clethra alnifolia), with racemes of fragrant white flowers; -- called also white alder. -- Pepper box or caster, a small box or bottle, with a perforated lid, used for sprinkling ground pepper on food, etc. -- Pepper corn. See in the Vocabulary. -- Pepper elder (Bot.), a West Indian name of several plants of the Pepper family, species of Piper and Peperomia. -- Pepper moth (Zoöl.), a European moth (Biston betularia) having white wings covered with small black specks. -- Pepper pot, a mucilaginous soup or stew of vegetables and cassareep, much esteemed in the West Indies. -- Pepper root. (Bot.). See Coralwort. -- pepper sauce, a condiment for the table, made of small red peppers steeped in vinegar. -- Pepper tree (Bot.), an aromatic tree (Drimys axillaris) of the Magnolia family, common in New Zealand. See Peruvian mastic tree, under Mastic.
PEPPER Pep"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peppered; p. pr. & vb. n. Peppering.]
1. To sprinkle or season with pepper.
2. Figuratively: To shower shot or other missiles, or blows, upon; to pelt; to fill with shot, or cover with bruises or wounds. "I have peppered two of them." "I am peppered, I warrant, for this world." Shak.
PEPPER Pep"per, v. i.
Defn: To fire numerous shots (at).
PEPPER BOX Pep"per box`, n.
Defn: A buttress on the left-hand wall of a fives court as the game is played at Eton College, England.
PEPPERBRAND Pep"per*brand`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See 1st Bunt.
PEPPERCORN Pep"per*corn`, n.
1. A dried berry of the black pepper (Piper nigrum).
2. Anything insignificant; a particle.
PEPPER DULSE Pep"per dulse`. (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of edible seaweed (Laurencia pinnatifida) distinguished for its pungency. [Scot.] Lindley.
PEPPERER Pep"per*er, n.
Defn: A grocer; -- formerly so called because he sold pepper. [Obs.]
PEPPERGRASS Pep"per*grass`, n. (Bot.) (a) Any herb of the cruciferous genus Lepidium, especially the garden peppergrass, or garden cress, Lepidium sativum; -- called also pepperwort. All the species have a pungent flavor. (b) The common pillwort of Europe (Pilularia globulifera). See Pillwort.
PEPPERIDGE Pep"per*idge, n. Etym: [Cf. NL. berberis, E. barberry.] (Bot.)
Defn: A North American tree (Nyssa multiflora) with very tough wood, handsome oval polished leaves, and very acid berries, -- the sour gum, or common tupelo. See Tupelo. [Written also piperidge and pipperidge.] Pepperidge bush (Bot.), the barberry.
PEPPERING Pep"per*ing, a.
Defn: Hot; pungent; peppery. Swift.
PEPPERMINT Pep"per*mint, n. Etym: [Pepper + mint.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic and pungent plant of the genus Mentha (M. piperita), much used in medicine and confectionery.
2. A volatile oil (oil of peppermint) distilled from the fresh herb; also, a well-known essence or spirit (essence of peppermint) obtained from it.
3. A lozenge of sugar flavored with peppermint. Peppermint camphor. (Chem.) Same as Menthol. -- Peppermint tree (Bot.), a name given to several Australian species of gum tree (Eucalyptus amygdalina, E. piperita, E. odorata, etc.) which have hard and durable wood, and yield an essential oil.
PEPPERWORT Pep"per*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Peppergrass.
PEPPERY Pep"per*y, a.
1. Of or pertaining to pepper; having the qualities of pepper; hot; pungent.
2. Fig.: Hot-tempered; passionate; choleric.
PEPSIN Pep"sin, n. Etym: [Gr. pepsine. Cf. Dyspepsia.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An unorganized proteolytic ferment or enzyme contained in the secretory glands of the stomach. In the gastric juice it is united with dilute hydrochloric acid (0.2 per cent, approximately) and the two together constitute the active portion of the digestive fluid. It is the active agent in the gastric juice of all animals.
Note: As prepared from the glandular layer of pigs' or calves' stomachs it constitutes an important article of pharmacy.
PEPSINHYDROCHLORIC Pep`sin*hy`dro*chlo"ric, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Same as Peptohydrochloric.
PEPSINOGEN Pep*sin"o*gen, n. Etym: [Pepsin + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The antecedent of the ferment pepsin. A substance contained in the form of granules in the peptic cells of the gastric glands. It is readily convertible into pepsin. Also called propepsin.
PEPTIC Pep"tic, a. Etym: [L. pepticus, Gr. Pepsin.]
1. Relating to digestion; promoting digestion; digestive; as, peptic sauces.
2. Able to digest. [R.] Tolerably nutritive for a mind as yet so peptic. Carlyle.
3. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to pepsin; resembling pepsin in its power of digesting or dissolving albuminous matter; containing or yielding pepsin, or a body of like properties; as, the peptic glands.
PEPTIC Pep"tic, n.
1. An agent that promotes digestion.
2. pl.
Defn: The digestive organs. Is there some magic in the place, Or do my peptics differ Tennyson.
PEPTICS Pep"tics, n.
Defn: The science of digestion.
PEPTOGEN Pep"to*gen, n. Etym: [Peptone + -gen.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A substance convertible into peptone.
PEPTOGENIC Pep`to*gen"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Peptogenous.
PEPTOGENOUS Pep*tog"e*nous, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Capable of yielding, or being converted into, peptone.
PEPTOHYDROCHLORIC Pep`to*hy`dro*chlo"ric, a. Etym: [See Peptone, and Hydrochloric.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Designating a hypothetical acid (called peptohydrochloric acid, pepsinhydrochloric acid, and chloropeptic acid) which is supposed to be formed when pepsin and dilute (0.1-0.4 per cent) hydrochloric acid are mixed together.
PEPTONE Pep"tone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.) (a) The soluble and diffusible substance or substances into which albuminous portions of the food are transformed by the action of the gastric and pancreatic juices. Peptones are also formed from albuminous matter by the action of boiling water and boiling dilute acids. (b) Collectively, in a broader sense, all the products resulting from the solution of albuminous matter in either gastric or pancreatic juice. In this case, however, intermediate products (albumose bodies), such as antialbumose, hemialbumose, etc., are mixed with the true peptones. Also termed albuminose.
Note: Pure peptones are of three kinds, amphopeptone, antipeptone, and hemipeptone, and, unlike the albumose bodies, are not precipitated by saturating their solutions with ammonium sulphate.
PEPTONIZE Pep"to*nize, v. t. (Physiol.)
Defn: To convert into peptone; to digest or dissolve by means of a proteolytic ferment; as, peptonized food.
PEPTONOID Pep"to*noid, n. Etym: [Peptone + -oid.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A substance related to peptone.
PEPTONURIA Pep`to*nu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Peptone, and Urine.] (Med.)
Defn: The presence of peptone, or a peptonelike body, in the urine.
PEPTOTOXINE Pep`to*tox"ine, n. Etym: [Peptone + toxic + -ine.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A toxic alkaloid found occasionally associated with the peptones formed from fibrin by pepsinhydrochloric acid.
PEQUOTS Pe"quots, n. pl.; sing. Pequot (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited Eastern Connecticut. [Written also Pequods.]
PER- Per-. Etym: [See Per.]
1. A prefix used to signify through, throughout, by, for, or as an intensive as perhaps, by hap or chance; perennial, that lasts throughout the year; perforce, through or by force; perfoliate, perforate; perspicuous, evident throughout or very evident; perplex, literally, to entangle very much.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Originally, denoting that the element to the name of which it is prefixed in the respective compounds exercised its highest valence; now, only that the element has a higher valence than in other similar compounds; thus, barium peroxide is the highest oxide of barium; while nitrogen and manganese peroxides, so-called, are not the highest oxides of those elements.
PER Per, prep. Etym: [L. Cf. Far, For-, Pardon, and cf. Par, prep.]
Defn: Through; by means of; through the agency of; by; for; for each; as, per annum; per capita, by heads, or according to individuals; per curiam, by the court; per se, by itself, of itself. Per is also sometimes used with English words. Per annum, by the year; in each successive year; annually. -- Per cent, Per centum, by the hundred; in the hundred; -- used esp. of proportions of ingredients, rate or amount of interest, and the like; commonly used in the shortened form per cent. -- Per diem, by the day. [For other phrases from the Latin, see Quotations, Phrases, etc., from Foreign Languages, in the Supplement.]
PERACT Per*act", v. t. Etym: [L. peractus, p.p. of peragere.]
Defn: To go through with; to perform. [Obs.] Sylvester.
PERACUTE Per`a*cute", a. Etym: [L. peracutus. See Per-, and Acute.]
Defn: Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [R.] Harvey.
PERADVENTURE Per`ad*ven"ture, adv. & conj. Etym: [OE. per aventure, F. par aventure. See Per, and Adventure.]
Defn: By chance; perhaps; it may be; if; supposing. "If peradventure he speak against me." Shak. Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city. Gen. xviii. 24.
PERADVENTURE Per`ad*ven"ture, n.
Defn: Chance; hap; hence, doubt; question; as, proved beyond peradventure. South.
PERAEOPOD Pe*ræ"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the thoracic legs of a crustacean. See Illust. of Crustacea.
PERAGRATE Per"a*grate, v. t. Etym: [L. peragratus, p.p. of peragrate.]
Defn: To travel over or through. [Obs.]
PERAGRATION Per`agra"tion, n. Etym: [L. peragratio: cf. F. peragration.]
Defn: The act or state of passing through any space; as, the peragration of the moon in her monthly revolution. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PERAMBULATE Per*am"bu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perambulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Perambulating.] Etym: [L. perambulatus, p.p. of perambulare to perambulate; per through + ambulare to walk. See Per-, and Amble.]
Defn: To walk through or over; especially, to travel over for the purpose of surveying or examining; to inspect by traversing; specifically, to inspect officially the boundaries of, as of a town or parish, by walking over the whole line.
PERAMBULATE Per*am"bu*late, v. i.
Defn: To walk about; to ramble; to stroll; as, he perambulated in the park.
PERAMBULATION Per*am`bu*la"tion, n.
1. The act of perambulating; traversing. Bacon.
2. An annual survey of boundaries, as of town, a parish, a forest, etc.
3. A district within which one is authorized to make a tour of inspection. "The . . . bounds of his own perambulation." [Obs.] Holyday.
PERAMBULATOR Per*am"bu*la`tor, n.
1. One who perambulates.
2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring distances. It consists of a wheel arranged to roll along over the ground, with an apparatus of clockwork, and a dial plate upon which the distance traveled is shown by an index. See Odometer.
3. A low carriage for a child, propelled by pushing.
PERAMELES Per`a*me"les, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. meles a badger.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any marsupial of the genus Perameles, which includes numerous species found in Australia. They somewhat resemble rabbits in size and form. See Illust. under Bandicoot.
PERBEND Per"bend, n.
Defn: See Perpender.
PERBREAK Per"break`, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Parbreak.
PERBROMATE Per*bro"mate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of perbromic acid.
PERBROMIC Per*bro"mic, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + bromic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, the highest oxygen acid, HBrO4, of bromine.
PERBROMIDE Per*bro"mide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A bromide having a higher proportion of bromine than any other bromide of the same substance or series.
PERCA Per"ca, n. Etym: [L., a perch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, including the fresh-water perch.
PERCALE Per`cale", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A fine cotton fabric, having a linen finish, and often printed on one side, -- used for women's and children's wear.
PERCALINE Per`ca`line", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A fine kind of French cotton goods, usually of one color.
PERCARBIDE Per*car"bide, n. Etym: [Pref. per- + carbide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing a relatively large amount of carbon. [R.]
PERCARBURET Per*car"bu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. per- + carburet.] (Chem.)
Defn: A percarbide. [Obsoles.]
PERCARBURETED Per*car"bu*ret`ed, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with a relatively large amount of carbon.
PERCASE Per*case", adv. Etym: [OE. per cas. See Parcase.]
Defn: Perhaps; perchance. [Obs.] Bacon.
PERCE Perce, v. t.
Defn: To pierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PERCEIVABLE Per*ceiv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being perceived; perceptible. -- Per*ceiv"a*bly, adv.
PERCEIVANCE Per*ceiv"ance, n.
Defn: Power of perceiving. [Obs.] "The senses and common perceivance." Milton.
PERCEIVE Per*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Perceiving.] Etym: [OF. percevoir, perceveir, L. percipere, perceptum; per (see Per-) + capere to take, receive. See Capacious, and cf. Perception.]
1. To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence, character, or identity of, by means of the senses; to see, hear, or feel; as, to perceive a distant ship; to perceive a discord. Reid.
2. To take intellectual cognizance of; to apprehend by the mind; to be convinced of by direct intuition; to note; to remark; to discern; to see; to understand. Jesus perceived their wickedness. Matt. xxii. 18. You may, fair lady, Perceive I speak sincerely. Shak. Till we ourselves see it with our own eyes, and perceive it by our own understandings, we are still in the dark. Locke.
3. To be affected of influented by. [R.] The upper regions of the air perceive the collection of the matter of tempests before the air here below. Bacon.
Syn. -- To discern; distinguish; observe; see; feel; know; understand. -- To Perceive, Discern. To perceive a thing is to apprehend it as presented to the senses or the intellect; to discern is to mark differences, or to see a thing as distinguished from others around it. We may perceive two persons afar off without being able to discern whether they are men or women. Hence, discern is often used of an act of the senses or the mind involving close, discriminating, analytical attention. We perceive that which is clear or obvious; we discern that which requires much attention to get an idea of it. "We perceive light, darkness, colors, or the truth or falsehood of anything. We discern characters, motives, the tendency and consequences of actions, etc." Crabb.
PERCEIVER Per*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who perceives (in any of the senses of the verb). Milton.
PERCELY Perce"ly, n.
Defn: Parsley. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PERCENTAGE Per*cent"age, n. Etym: [Per cent + -age, as in average. See Per, and Cent.] (Com.)
Defn: A certain rate per cent; the allowance, duty, rate of interest, discount, or commission, on a hundred.
PERCEPT Per"cept, n. Etym: [From L. percipere, perceptum.]
Defn: That which is perceived. Sir W. Hamilton. The modern discussion between percept and concept, the one sensuous, the other intellectual. Max Müller.
PERCEPTIBILITY Per*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perceptibilité.]
1. The quality or state of being perceptible; as, the perceptibility of light or color.
2. Perception. [R.] Dr. H. More.
PERCEPTIBLE Per*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. perceptibilis: cf. F. perceptible. See Perceive.]
Defn: Capable of being perceived; cognizable; discernible; perceivable. With a perceptible blast of the air. Bacon. -- Per*cep"ti*ble*ness, n. -- Per*cep"ti*bly, adv.
PERCEPTION Per*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. perceptio: cf. F. perception. See Perceive.]
1. The act of perceiving; cognizance by the senses or intellect; apperhension by the bodily organs, or by the mind, of what is presented to them; discernment; apperhension; cognition.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: The faculty of perceiving; the faculty, or peculiar part, of man's constitution by which he has knowledge through the medium or instrumentality of the bodily organs; the act of apperhending material objects or qualities through the senses; -- distinguished from conception. Sir W. Hamilton. Matter hath no life nor perception, and is not conscious of its own existence. Bentley.
3. The quality, state, or capability, of being affected by something external; sensation; sensibility. [Obs.] This experiment discovereth perception in plants. Bacon.
4. An idea; a notion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Note: "The word perception is, in the language of philosophers previous to Reid, used in a very extensive signification. By Descartes, Malebranche, Locke, Leibnitz, and others, it is employed in a sense almost as unexclusive as consciousness, in its widest signification. By Reid this word was limited to our faculty acquisitive of knowledge, and to that branch of this faculty whereby, through the senses, we obtain a knowledge of the external world. But his limitation did not stop here. In the act of external perception he distinguished two elements, to which he gave the names of perception and sensation. He ought perhaps to have called these perception proper and sensation proper, when employed in his special meaning." Sir W. Hamilton.
PERCEPTIVE Per*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perceptif.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the act or power of perceiving; having the faculty or power of perceiving; used in perception. "His perceptive and reflective faculties." Motley.
PERCEPTIVITY Per`cep*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perceptive; power of perception. Locke.
PERCESOCES Per*ces"o*ces, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. perca a perch + esox, -ocis, a pike.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes including the gray mullets (Mugil), the barracudas, the silversides, and other related fishes. So called from their relation both to perches and to pikes.
PERCH Perch, n. [Written also pearch.] Etym: [OE. perche, F. perche, L. perca, fr. Gr. p spotted, speckled, and E. freckle.] (Zoöl.)
1. Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several other allied genera of the family Percidæ, as the common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens, or Americana), and the European perch (P. fluviatilis).
2. Any one of numerous species of spiny-finned fishes belonging to the Percidæ, Serranidæ, and related families, and resembling, more or less, the true perches. Black perch. (a) The black bass. (b) The flasher. (c) The sea bass. -- Blue perch, the cunner. -- Gray perch, the fresh-water drum. -- Red perch, the rosefish. -- Red-bellied perch, the long-eared pondfish. -- Perch pest, a small crustacean, parasitic in the mouth of the perch. -- Silver perch, the yellowtail. -- Stone, or Striped, perch, the pope. -- White perch, the Roccus, or Morone, Americanus, a small silvery serranoid market fish of the Atlantic coast.
PERCH Perch, n. Etym: [F. perche, L. pertica.]
1. A pole; a long staff; a rod; esp., a pole or other support for fowls to roost on or to rest on; a roost; figuratively, any elevated resting place or seat. As chauntecleer among his wives all Sat on his perche, that was in his hall. Chaucer. Not making his high place the lawless perch Of winged ambitions. Tennyson.
2. (a) A measure of length containing five and a half yards; a rod, or pole. (b) In land or square measure: A square rod; the 160th part of an acre. (c) In solid measure: A mass 16
3. A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.
PERCH Perch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perched; p. pr. & vb. n. Perching.] Etym: [F. percher. See Perch a pole.]
Defn: To alight or settle, as a bird; to sit or roost. Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. Shak.
PERCH Perch, v. t.
1. To place or to set on, or as on, a perch.
2. To occupy as a perch. Milton.
PERCHANCE Per*chance", adv. Etym: [F. par by (L. per) + chance. See Par, and Chance.]
Defn: By chance; perhaps; peradventure.
PERCHANT Perch"ant, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A bird tied by the foot, to serve as decoy to other birds by its fluttering.
PERCHER Perch"er, n. Etym: [From Perch, v. i.]
1. One who, or that which, perches. J. Burroughs.
2. One of the Insessores.
3. Etym: [From Perch a pole.]
Defn: A Paris candle anciently used in England; also, a large wax candle formerly set upon the altar. [Obs.] Bailey.
PERCHERON Per"che*ron, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of a breed of draught horses originating in Perche, an old district of France; -- called also Percheron-Norman.
PERCHLORATE Per*chlo"rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of perchloric acid.
PERCHLORIC Per*chlo"ric, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + chloric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HClO4), of chlorine; -- called also hyperchloric.
PERCHLORIDE Per*chlo"ride, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A chloride having a higher proportion of chlorine than any other chloride of the same substance or series.
PERCHROMIC Per*chro"mic, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + chromic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a certain one of the highly oxidized compounds of chromium, which has a deep blue color, and is produced by the action of hydrogen peroxide.
PERCIFORM Per"ci*form, a. Etym: [NL., & L. perca a perch + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Perciformes.
PERCIFORMES Per`ci*for"mes, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive tribe or suborder of fishes, including the true perches (Percidæ); the pondfishes (Centrarchidæ); the sciænoids (Sciænidæ); the sparoids (Sparidæ); the serranoids (Serranidæ), and some other related families.
PERCIPIENCE; PERCIPIENCY Per*cip"i*ence, Per*cip"i*en*cy, n.
Defn: The faculty, act or power of perceiving; perception. Mrs. Browning.
PERCIPIENT Per*cip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. percipiens, -entis, p.pr. of percipere. See Perceive.]
Defn: Having the faculty of perception; perceiving; as, a percipient being. Bentley. -- n.
Defn: One who, or that which, is percipient. Glanvill.
PERCLOSE Per*close", n. Etym: [OF. parclose an inclosed place; L. per through + claudere, clausum, to shut.]
1. (Eccl. Arch.)
Defn: Same as Parclose.
2. Conclusion; end. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
PERCOID Per"coid, a. Etym: [L. perca a perch + -oid: cf. F. percoïde.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the perches, or family Percidæ. -- n.
Defn: Any fish of the genus Perca, or allied genera of the family Percidæ.
PERCOIDEA Per*coi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Perciformes.
PERCOLATE Per"co*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Percolated; p. pr. & vb. n. Percolating.] Etym: [L. percolatus, p.p. of percolare to percolate; per through + colare to strain.]
Defn: To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain. Sir M. Hale.
PERCOLATE Per"co*late, v. i.
Defn: To pass through fine interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through porous stone.
PERCOLATION Per`co*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. percolatio.]
Defn: The act or process of percolating, or filtering; filtration; straining. Specifically (Pharm.), the process of exhausting the virtues of a powdered drug by letting a liquid filter slowly through it.
PERCOLATOR Per"co*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, filters. "[Tissues] act as percolators." Henfrey.
PERCOMORPHI Per`co*mor"phi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. perca perch + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of fishes including the perches and related kinds.
PERCULACED Per"cu*laced, a. Etym: [Prob. corrupt. fr. portcullised.] (Her.)
Defn: Latticed. See Lattice, n., 2.
PERCURRENT Per*cur"rent, a. Etym: [L. percurrens, p.pr. of percurrere to run through; per through + currere to run.]
Defn: Running through the entire length.
PERCURSORY Per*cur"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. percursor one who runs through, fr. percurrere. See Percurrent.]
Defn: Running over slightly or in haste; cursory. [R.]
PERCUSS Per*cuss", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Percussed; p. pr. & vb. n. Percussing.] Etym: [L. percussus, p.p. of percutere; per + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.]
Defn: To strike smartly; to strike upon or against; as, to percuss the chest in medical examination. Flame percussed by air giveth a noise. Bacon.
PERCUSS Per*cuss", v. i. (Med.)
Defn: To strike or tap in an examination by percussion. See Percussion, 3. Quain.
PERCUSSION Per*cus"sion, n. Etym: [L. percussio: cf. F. percussion. See Percuss.]
1. The act of percussing, or striking one body against another; forcible collision, esp. such as gives a sound or report. Sir I. Newton.
2. Hence: The effect of violent collision; vibratory shock; impression of sound on the ear. The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds. Shak.
3. (Med.)
Defn: The act of tapping or striking the surface of the body in order to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the sound emitted or the sensation imparted to the fingers. Percussion is said to be immediate if the blow is directly upon the body; if some interventing substance, as a pleximeter, is, used, it is called mediate. Center of percussion. See under Center. -- Percussion bullet, a bullet containing a substance which is exploded by percussion; an explosive bullet. -- Percussion cap, a small copper cap or cup, containing fulminating powder, and used with a percussion lock to explode gunpowder. -- Percussion fuze. See under Fuze. -- Percussion lock, the lock of a gun that is fired by percussion upon fulminating powder. -- Percussion match, a match which ignites by percussion. -- Percussion powder, powder so composed as to ignite by slight percussion; fulminating powder. -- Percussion sieve, Percussion table, a machine for sorting ores by agitation in running water.
PERCUSSIVE Per*cuss"ive, a.
Defn: Striking against; percutient; as, percussive force.
PERCUTIENT Per*cu"tient, a. Etym: [L. percutiens, p.pr. of percutere. See Percuss.]
Defn: Striking; having the power of striking. -- n.
Defn: That which strikes, or has power to strike. Bacon.
PERDICINE Per"di*cine, a. Etym: [See Perdix.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Perdicidæ, or partridges.
PERDIE Per*die", adv.
Defn: See Parde. Spenser.
PER DIEM Per di"em. [L.]
Defn: By the day; substantively (chiefly U. S.), an allowance or amount of so much by the day.
PERDIFOIL Per"di*foil, n. Etym: [L. perdere to lose + folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: A deciduous plant; -- opposed to Ant: evergreen. J. Barton.
PERDITION Per*di"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. perditio, fr. perdere, perditum, to ruin, to lose; per (cf. Skr. para away) + -dere (only in comp.) to put; akin to Gr. do. See Do.]
1. Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin; esp., the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. The mere perdition of the Turkish fleet. Shak. If we reject the truth, we seal our own perdition. J. M. Mason.
2. Loss of diminution. [Obs.] Shak.
PERDITIONABLE Per*di"tion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being ruined; worthy of perdition. [R.] Pollok.
PERDIX Per"dix, n. Etym: [L., a partridge, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of birds including the common European partridge. Formerly the word was used in a much wider sense to include many allied genera.
PERDU Per*du", n. Etym: [See Perdu, a.]
1. One placed on watch, or in ambush.
2. A soldier sent on a forlorn hope. Shak.
PERDU; PERDUE Per*du", Per*due", a. Etym: [F. perdu, f. perdue, lost, p.p. of perdre to lose, L. perdere. See Perdition.]
1. Lost to view; in concealment or ambush; close. He should lie perdue who is to walk the round. Fuller.
2. Accustomed to, or employed in, desperate enterprises; hence, reckless; hopeless. "A perdue captain." Beau. & Fl.
PERDUELLION Per`du*el"lion, n. Etym: [L. perduellio; per + duellum, bellum, war.] (Civil Law)
Defn: Treason.
PERDULOUS Per"du*lous, a. Etym: [See Perdu, a.]
Defn: Lost; thrown away. [Obs.] Abp. Bramhall.
PERDURABILITY Per*dur`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Durability; lastingness. [Archaic] Chaucer.
PERDURABLE Per*dur"a*ble, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perdurable, OE. pardurable. See Perdure.]
Defn: Very durable; lasting; continuing long. [Archaic] Chaucer. Shak. -- Per*dur"a*bly, adv. [Archaic]
PERDURANCE; PERDURATION Per*dur"ance, Per`du*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Long continuance. [Archaic]
PERDURE Per*dure", v. i. Etym: [L. perdurare; per trough + durare to last.]
Defn: To last or endure for a long time; to be perdurable or lasting. [Archaic] The mind perdures while its energizing may construct a thousand lines. Hickok.
PERDY Per*dy", adv.
Defn: Truly. See Parde. [Obs.] Ah, dame! perdy ye have not done me right. Spenser.
PERE Pere, n.
Defn: A peer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PEREGAL Per*e"gal, a. Etym: [OF. par very (L. per) + egal equal, L. aequalis.]
Defn: Fully equal. [Obs.] Chaucer. "Peregal to the best." Spenser.
PEREGRINATE Per"e*gri*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. peregrinatus, p.p. of peregrinari to travel. See Pilgrim.]
Defn: To travel from place to place, or from one country to another; hence, to sojourn in foreign countries.
PEREGRINATE Per"e*gri*nate, a. Etym: [L. peregrinatus, p.p.]
Defn: Having traveled; foreign. [Obs.] Shak.
PEREGRINATION Per`e*gri*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. peregrinatio: cf. F. pérégrination.]
Defn: A traveling from one country to another; a wandering; sojourn in foreign countries. "His peregrination abroad." Bacon.
PEREGRINATOR Per"e*gri*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who peregrinates; one who travels about.
PEREGRINE Per"e*grine, a. Etym: [L. peregrinus. See Pilgrim.]
Defn: Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic. [Spelt also pelegrine.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat." Bacon. Peregrine falcon (Zoöl.), a courageous and swift falcon (Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks, white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called also peregrine hawk, duck hawk, game hawk, and great-footed hawk.
PEREGRINE Per"e*grine, n.
Defn: The peregrine falcon.
PEREGRINITY Per`e*grin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. peregrinitas: cf. F. pérégrinité.]
1. Foreignness; strangeness. [Obs.] "Somewhat of a peregrinity in their dialect." Johnson.
2. Travel; wandering. [R.] Carlyle.
PEREL Per"el, n.
Defn: Apparel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PEREMPT Per*empt", v. t. Etym: [L. peremptus, p.p. of perimere to take away entirely, to destroy; per (see Per-) + OL. emere to take. See Redeem.] (Law)
Defn: To destroy; to defeat. [R.] Ayliffe.
PEREMPTION Per*emp"tion, n. Etym: [L. peremptio: cf. F. péremption.] (Law)
Defn: A quashing; a defeating. [Obs.]
PEREMPTORILY Per"emp*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a peremptory manner; absolutely; positively. Bacon.
PEREMPTORINESS Per"emp*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being peremptory; positiveness.
PEREMPTORY Per"emp*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. peremptorius destructive, deadly, decisive, final: cf. F. péremptorie. See Perempt.]
1. Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final. Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to get thither. Jer. Taylor.
2. Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical. Be not too positive and peremptory. Bacon. Briefly, then, for we are peremptory. Shak.
3. Firmly determined; unawed. [Poetic] Shak. Peremptory challenge (Law) See under Challenge. -- Peremptory mandamus, a final and absolute mandamus. -- Peremptory plea, a plea by a defendant tending to impeach the plaintiff's right of action; a plea in bar.
Syn. -- Decisive; positive; absolute; authoritative; express; arbitrary; dogmatical.
PERENNIAL Per*en"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through; per through + annus year. See Per-, and Annual.]
1. ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains.
2. Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing. The perennial existence of bodies corporate. Burke.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or root, or plant.
Syn. -- Perpetual; unceasing; never failing; enduring; continual; permanent; uninterrupted.
PERENNIAL Per*en"ni*al, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.
PERENNIALLY Per*en"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perennial manner.
PERENNIBRANCHIATA Per*en`ni*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Perennial, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Those Batrachia which retain their gills through life, as the menobranchus.
PERENNIBRANCHIATE Per*en`ni*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [See Perennial, and Branchiate.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Having branchæ, or gills, through life; -- said especially of certain Amphibia, like the menobranchus. Opposed to caducibranchiate.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Perennibranchiata.
PERENNITY Per*en"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. perennitas.]
Defn: The quality of being perennial. [R.] Derham.
PERERRATION Per`er*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. pererrare, pererratum, to wander through.]
Defn: A wandering, or rambling, through various places. [R.] Howell.
PERFECT Per"fect, a. Etym: [OE. parfit, OF. parfit, parfet, parfait, F. parfait, L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere to carry to the end, to perform, finish, perfect; per (see Per-) + facere to make, do. See Fact.]
1. Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct. My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun. Shak. I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Shak. O most entire perfect sacrifice! Keble. God made thee perfect, not immutable. Milton.
2. Well informed; certain; sure. I am perfect that the Pannonains are now in arms. Shak.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Hermaphrodite; having both stamens and pistils; -- said of flower. Perfect cadence (Mus.), a complete and satisfactory close in harmony, as upon the tonic preceded by the dominant. -- Perfect chord (Mus.), a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the unison, octave, fifth, and fourth; a perfect consonance; a common chord in its original position of keynote, third, fifth, and octave. -- Perfect number (Arith.), a number equal to the sum of all its divisors; as, 28, whose aliquot parts, or divisors, are 14, 7, 4, 2, 1. See Abundant number, under Abundant. Brande & C. -- Perfect tense (Gram.), a tense which expresses an act or state completed.
Syn. -- Finished; consummate; complete; entire; faultless; blameless; unblemished.
PERFECT Per"fect, n.
Defn: The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
PERFECT Per"fect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfected; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfecting.] Etym: [L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.]
Defn: To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind. God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. 1 John iv. 12. Inquire into the nature and properties of the things, . . . and thereby perfect our ideas of their distinct species. Locke. Perfecting press (Print.), a press in which the printing on both sides of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.
Syn. -- To finish; accomplish; complete; consummate.
PERFECTER Per"fect*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, makes perfect. "The . . . perfecter of our faith." Barrow.
PERFECTIBILIAN Per*fect`i*bil"i*an, n.
Defn: A perfectionist. [R.] Ed. Rev.
PERFECTIBILIST Per`fec*tib"i*list, n.
Defn: A perfectionist. See also Illuminati, 2. [R.]
PERFECTIBILITY Per*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectibilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being perfectible.
PERFECTIBLE Per*fect"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectible.]
Defn: Capable of becoming, or being made, perfect.
PERFECTION Per*fec"tion, n. Etym: [F. perfection, L. perfectio.]
1. The quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system; perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.
2. A quality, endowment, or acquirement completely excellent; an ideal faultlessness; especially, the divine attribute of complete excellence. Shak. What tongue can her perfections tell Sir P. Sidney. To perfection, in the highest degree of excellence; perfectly; as, to imitate a model to perfection.
PERFECTION Per*fec"tion, v. t.
Defn: To perfect. [Obs.] Foote.
PERFECTIONAL Per*fec"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to perfection; characterized by perfection. [R.] Bp. Pearson.
PERFECTIONATE Per*fec"tion*ate, v. t.
Defn: To perfect. Dryden.
PERFECTIONISM Per*fec"tion*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of the Perfectionists.
PERFECTIONIST Per*fec"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One pretending to perfection; esp., one pretending to moral perfection; one who believes that persons may and do attain to moral perfection and sinlessness in this life. South.
PERFECTIONMENT Per*fec"tion*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectionnement.]
Defn: The act of bringing to perfection, or the state of having attained to perfection. [R.] I. Taylor.
PERFECTIVE Per*fect"ive, a.
Defn: Tending or conducing to make perfect, or to bring to perfection; -- usually followed by of. "A perfective alteration." Fuller. Actions perfective of their natures. Ray.
PERFECTIVELY Per*fec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perfective manner.
PERFECTLY Per"fect*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; throughly; faultlessly. "Perfectly divine." Milton. As many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matt. xiv. 36.
PERFECTNESS Per"fect*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perfect; perfection. "Charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. iii. 14.
PERFERVID Per*fer"vid, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + fervid.]
Defn: Very fervid; too fervid; glowing; ardent.
PERFICIENT Per*fi"cient, a. Etym: [L. perficiens, p.pr. of perficere to perform. See Perfect.]
Defn: Making or doing throughly; efficient; effectual. [R.] Blackstone.
PERFICIENT Per*fi"cient, n.
Defn: One who performs or perfects a work; especially, one who endows a charity. [R.]
PERFIDIOUS Per*fid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. perfidious.]
1. Guilty of perfidy; violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence reposed; teacherous; faithless; as, a perfidious friend. Shak.
2. Involving, or characterized by, perfidy. "Involved in this perfidious fraud." Milton.
PERFIDIOUSLY Per*fid"i*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perfidious manner.
PERFIDIOUSNESS Per*fid"i*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being perfidious; perfidy. Clarendon.
PERFIDY Per"fi*dy, n.; pl. Perfidies. Etym: [L. perfidia, fr. L. perfidus faithless; per (cf. Skr. para away) + fides faith: cf. F. perfidie. See Faith.]
Defn: The act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; teachery. The ambition and perfidy of tyrants. Macaulay. His perfidy to this sacred engagement. DeQuincey.
PERFIT Per"fit, a.
Defn: Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PERFIX Per*fix", v. t. Etym: [Pref. per- + fix.]
Defn: To fix surely; to appoint. [Obs.]
PERFLABLE Per"fla*ble, a. Etym: [L. perflabilis. See Perflate.]
Defn: Capable of being blown through. [Obs.]
PERFLATE Per*flate", v. t. Etym: [L. perflatus, p.p. of perflare to blow through.]
Defn: To blow through. [Obs.] Harvey.
PERFLATION Per*fla"tion, n. Etym: [L. perflatio.]
Defn: The act of perflating. [Obs.] Woodward.
PERFOLIATE Per*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + L. folium leaf.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the basal part produced around the stem; -- said of leaves which the stem apparently passes directory through.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Surrounded by a circle of hairs, or projections of any kind.
PERFORATA Per`fo*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Perforate.] (Zoöl.) (a) A division of corals including those that have a porous texture, as Porites and Madrepora; -- opposed to Aporosa. (b) A division of Foraminifera, including those having perforated shells.
PERFORATE Per"fo*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perforated; p. pr. & vb. n. Perforating.] Etym: [L. perforatus, p.p. of perforare to perforate; per through + forare to bore. See Bore, v.]
Defn: To bore through; to pierce through with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through by boring or piercing; to pierce or penetrate the surface of. Bacon.
PERFORATE; PERFORATED Per"fo*rate, Per"fo*ra`ted, a.
Defn: Pierced with a hole or holes, or with pores; having transparent dots resembling holes.
PERFORATION Per`fo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perforation.]
1. The act of perforating, or of boring or piercing through. Bacon.
2. A hole made by boring or piercing; an aperture. "Slender perforations." Sir T. Browne.
PERFORATIVE Per"fo*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perforatif.]
Defn: Having power to perforate or pierce.
PERFORATOR Per"fo*ra`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perforateur.]
Defn: One who, or that which, perforates; esp., a cephalotome.
PERFORCE Per*force", adv. Etym: [F. par (L. per) + force.]
Defn: By force; of necessary; at any rate. Shak.
PERFORCE Per*force", v. t.
Defn: To force; to compel. [Obs.]
PERFORM Per*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Performed; p. pr. & vb. n. Performing.] Etym: [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see Par) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by form; cf. L. performare to form thoroughly. See Furnish.]
1. To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me. Ps. lvii. 2. Great force to perform what they did attempt. Sir P. Sidney.
2. To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow. To perform your father's will. Shak.
3. To represent; to act; to play; as in drama. Perform a part thou hast not done before. Shak.
Syn. -- To accomplish; do; act; transact; achieve; execute; discharge; fulfill; effect; complete; consummate. See Accomplish.
PERFORM Per*form", v. i.
Defn: To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the organ.
PERFORMABLE Per*form"a*ble, a.
Defn: Admitting of being performed, done, or executed; practicable.
PERFORMANCE Per*form"ance, n.
Defn: The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty. Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible. Paley.
2. That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character. "Her walking and other actual performances." Shak. "His musical performances." Macaulay.
Syn. -- Completion; consummation; execution; accomplishment; achievement; production; work; act; action; deed; exploit; feat.
PERFORMER Per*form"er, n.
Defn: One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.
PERFRICATE Per"fri*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. perfricatus, p.p. of perfricare.]
Defn: To rub over. Bailey.
PERFUMATORY Per*fu"ma*to*ry, a.
Defn: Emitting perfume; perfuming. [R.] Sir E. Leigh.
PERFUME Per*fume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfuming.] Etym: [F. parfumer (cf. Sp. perfumar); par (see Par) + fumer to smoke, L. fumare, fr. fumus smoke. See Fume.]
Defn: To fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent. And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies. Pope.
PERFUME Per"fume, n. Etym: [F. parfum; cf. Sp. perfume. See Perfume, v.]
1. The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet- smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma. No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field. Pope.
2. A substance that emits an agreeable odor. And thou shalt make it a perfume. Ex. xxx. 35.
PERFUMER Per*fum"er, n.
1. One who, oe that which, perfumes.
2. One whose trade is to make or sell perfumes.
PERFUMERY Per*fum"er*y, n.
1. Perfumes, in general.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. parfumerie.]
Defn: The art of preparing perfumes.
PERFUNCTORILY Per*func"to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. Boyle.
PERFUNCTORINESS Per*func"to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perfunctory.
PERFUNCTORY Per*func"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. perfunctorius, fr. perfunctus dispatched, p.p. of perfungi to discharge, dispatch; per (see Per) + fungi to perform. See Function.]
1. Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions. Macaulay.
2. Hence: Mechanical; indifferent; listless; careless. "Perfunctory in his devotions." Sharp.
PERFUNCTURATE Per*func"tu*rate, v. t.
Defn: To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]
PERFUSE Per*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfused; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfusing.] Etym: [L. perfusus, p.p. of perfundere to pour over; per + fundere to pour.]
Defn: To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. Harvey.
PERFUSION Per*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. perfusio.]
Defn: The act of perfusing.
PERFUSIVE Per*fu"sive, a.
Defn: Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.
PERGAMENOUS; PERGAMENTACEOUS Per`ga*me"no*us, Per`ga*men*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. pergamena parchment. See Parchment.]
Defn: Like parchment.
PERGOLA Per"go*la, n. [It., fr. L. pergula shed, shop, vine arbor.]
Defn: Lit., an arbor or bower; specif.: (Italian art)
Defn: An arbor or trellis treated architecturally, as with stone columns or similar massive structure.
PERGOLO Per"go*lo, n. [It.]
Defn: A continuous colonnade or arcade; -- applied to the decorative groups of windows, as in Venetian palazzi.
PERHAPS Per*haps", adv. Etym: [Per + hap chance.]
Defn: By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be. And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts viii. 22.
PERI- Per"i-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed; perispherical, quite spherical.
PERI Pe"ri, n.; pl. Peris. Etym: [Per. peri a female genus, a fairy.] (Persian Myth.)
Defn: An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise till penance is accomplished. Moore.
PERIAGUA Per`i*a"gua, n.
Defn: See Pirogue.
PERIANTH Per"i*anth, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. périanthe.] (Bot.) (a) The leaves of a flower generally, especially when the calyx and corolla are not readily distinguished. (b) A saclike involucre which incloses the young fruit in most hepatic mosses. See Illust. of Hepatica.
PERIANTHIUM Per`i*an"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: The perianth.
PERIAPT Per"i*apt, n. Etym: [Gr. périapte.]
Defn: A charm worn as a protection against disease or mischief; an amulet. Coleridge. Now help, ye charming spells and periapts. Shak.
PERIASTRAL Per`i*as"tral, a.
Defn: Among or around the stars. "Comets in periastral passage." R. A. Proctor.
PERIASTRON Per`i*as"tron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: That point, in the real or apparent orbit of one star revolving around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.
PERIAUGER Per"i*au"ger, n.
Defn: See Pirogue. W. Irving.
PERIBLAST Per"i*blast, a. Etym: [Gr. Peri-, and -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell nucleus, and undergoes segmentation. -- Per`i*blas"tic, a.
PERIBLEM Per"i*blem, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + root of Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent cortex, or immature cellular bark.
PERIBOLOS Pe*rib"o*los, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. peribolus.]
Defn: In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.
PERIBRANCHIAL Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounding the branchiæ; as, a peribranchial cavity.
PERIBRANCHIAL Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Around the bronchi or bronchial tubes; as, the peribronchial lymphatics.
PERICAMBIUM Per`i*cam"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Cambium.] (Biol.)
Defn: A layer of thin-walled young cells in a growing stem, in which layer certain new vessels originate.
PERICARDIAC; PERICARDIAL Per`i*car"di*ac, Per`i*car"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to pericardium; situated around the heart. Pericardial fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid of a pale yellow color contained in the pericardium.
PERICARDIAN Per`i*car"di*an, a.
Defn: Pericardiac.
PERICARDIC Per`i*car"dic, a.
Defn: Pericardiac.
PERICARDITUS Per`i*car*di"tus, n. Etym: [NL. See Pericardium, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the pericardium. Dunglison.
PERICARDIUM Per`i*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.
Note: The inner layer is closely adherent to the outer surface of the heart, and is called the cardiac pericardium. The outer layer loosely incloses the heart and the adherent inner layer, and is called the parietal pericardium. At the base of the heart the two layers are continuous, and form a narrow closed cavity filled with fluid, in which the pulsations of the heart cause little friction.
PERICARP Per"i*carp, n. Etym: [Gr. péricarpe.] (Bot.)
Defn: The ripened ovary; the walls of the fruit. See Illusts. of Capsule, Drupe, and Legume.
PERICARPIAL; PERICARPIC Per`i*car"pi*al, Per`i*car"pic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pericarp.
PERICELLULAR Per`i*cel"lu*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounding a cell; as, the pericellular lymph spaces surrounding ganglion cells.
PERICHAETH Per"i*chæth, n. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Bot.)
Defn: The leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk of mosses; perichætium; perichete.
PERICHAETIAL Per`i*chæ"ti*al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichæth.
PERICHAETIUM Per`i*chæ"ti*um, n.; pl. Perichætia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Perichæth.
PERICHAETOUS Per`i*chæ"tous, a. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Surrounded by setæ; -- said of certain earthworms (genus Perichætus).
PERICHETE Per"i*chete, n.
Defn: Same as Perichæth.
PERICHONDRIAL Per`i*chon"dri*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichondrium; situated around cartilage.
PERICHONDRITIS Per`i*chon*dri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Perichondrium, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the perichondrium.
PERICHONDRIUM Per`i*chon"dri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests cartilage, except where covering articular surfaces.
PERICHORDAL Per`i*chor"dal, a.
Defn: Around the notochord; as, a perichordal column. See Epichordal.
PERICLASE; PERICLASITE Per"i*clase, Per`i*cla"site, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A grayish or dark green mineral, consisting essentially of magnesia (magnesium oxide), occurring in granular forms or in isometric crystals.
PERICLINIUM Per`i*clin"i*um, n.; pl. Periclinia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The involucre which surrounds the common receptacle in composite flowers.
PERICLITATE Pe*ric"li*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. periclitatus, p.p. of periclitari, fr. periculum.]
Defn: To endanger. [Obs.] Periclitating, pardi! the whole family. Sterne.
PERICLITATION Pe*ric`li*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. periclitatio: cf. F. périclitation.]
1. Trial; experiment. [Obs.]
2. The state of being in peril. [Obs.]
PERICOPE Pe*ric"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., section of a book, Gr.
Defn: A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or used as a text for a sermon.
PERICRANIAL Per`i*cra"ni*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pericranium.
PERICRANIUM Per`i*cra"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The periosteum which covers the cranium externally; the region around the cranium.
PERICULOUS Pe*ric"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. periculosus. See Perilous.]
Defn: Dangerous; full of peril. [Obs.]
PERICULUM Pe*ric"u*lum, n.; pl. Pericula. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & O.Eng. Law)
1. Danger; risk.
2. In a narrower, judicial sense: Accident or casus, as distinguished from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving one from the duty of performing an obligation.
PERICYSTITIS Per`i*cys*ti"tis, n. [NL. See Peri-, and Cystitis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the bladder.
PERIDERM Per"i*derm, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The outer layer of bark.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine animals; the perisarc.
PERIDIASTOLE Per`i*di*as"to*le, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The almost inappreciable time which elapses between the systole and the diastole of the heart.
PERIDIUM Pe*rid"i*um, n.; pl. Peridia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as the puffballs and earthstars.
PERIDOT Per"i*dot, n. Etym: [F. péridot.] (Min.)
Defn: Chrysolite.
PERIDOTITE Per"i*do*tite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. péridotite.] (Min.)
Defn: An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to serpentine.
Note: The chief diamond deposits in South Africa occur in a more or less altered peridotite.
PERIDROME Per"i*drome, n. Etym: [Gr. péridrome.] (Archæol.)
Defn: The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman temple.
PERIECIANS Per`i*e"cians, n. pl.
Defn: See Perioecians.
PERIENTERON Per`i*en"te*ron, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Enteron.] (Anat.)
Defn: The primitive perivisceral cavity.
PERIERGY Per"i*er`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. Excessive care or diligence. [Obs.]
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A bombastic or labored style. [R.]
PERIGANGLIONIC Per`i*gan`gli*on"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounding a ganglion; as, the periganglionic glands of the frog.
PERIGASTRIC Per`i*gas"tric, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Surrounding the stomach; -- applied to the body cavity of Bryozoa and various other Invertebrata.
PERIGEAN Per`i*ge"an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the perigee. Perigean tides, those spring tides which occur soon after the moon passes her perigee.
PERIGEE; PERIGEUM Per"i*gee, Per`i*ge"um, n. Etym: [NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. périgée.] (Astron.)
Defn: That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to Ant: apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.
PERIGENESIS Per`i*gen"e*sis, n. (Biol.)
Defn: A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.
PERIGENETIC Per`i*gen"e*tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to perigenesis.
PERIGONE Per"i*gone, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr.
1. (Bot.) (a) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth. (b) In mosses, the involucral bracts of a male flower.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of a hydroid.
PERIGONIUM Per`i*go"ni*um, n.; pl. Perigonia. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Perigone.
PERIGORD PIE Per"i*gord pie`. Etym: [From Périgord, a former province of France.]
Defn: A pie made of truffles, much esteemed by epicures.
PERIGRAPH Per"i*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A careless or inaccurate delineation of anything. Etym: [R.]
PERIGYNIUM Per`i*gyn"i*um, n.; pl. Perigynia. Etym: [NL. See Perigynous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Some unusual appendage about the pistil, as the bottle-shaped body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera of the Sedge family, or Cyperaceæ.
PERIGYNOUS Pe*rig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovary free, but the petals and stamens borne on the calyx; -- said of flower such as that of the cherry or peach.
PERIHELION; PERIHELIUM Per`i*hel"ion, Per`i*he"li*um, n.; pl. Perihelia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest to the sun; -- opposed to Ant: aphelion.
PERIL Per"il, n. Etym: [F. péril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare. See Fare, and cf. Experience.]
Defn: Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction. In perils of waters, in perils of robbers. 2 Cor. xi. 26. Adventure hard With peril great achieved. Milton. At, or On, one's peril, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of. "On thy soul's peril." Shak.