Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 39 of 60)

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 39 of 60)

Syn. -- Hazard; risk; jeopardy. See Danger.

PERIL Per"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periled or Perilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Periling or Perilling.]

Defn: To expose to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one's life.

PERIL Per"il, v. i.

Defn: To be in danger. [Obs.] Milton.

PERILLA Pe*ril"la, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of labiate herbs, of which one species (Perilla ocimoides, or P. Nankinensis) is often cultivated for its purple or variegated foliage.

PERILOUS Per"il*ous, a. Etym: [OF. perillous, perilleus, F. périlleux, L. periculosus. See Peril.] [Written also perillous.]

1. Full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous; as, a perilous undertaking. Infamous hills, and sandy, perilous wilds. Milton.

2. Daring; reckless; dangerous. [Obs.] Latimer. For I am perilous with knife in hand. Chaucer. -- Per"il*ous*ly, adv. -- Per"il*ous*ness, n.

PERILYMPH Per"i*lymph, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The fluid which surrounds the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear, and separates it from the walls of the chambers in which the labyrinth lies.

PERILYMPHANGIAL Per`i*lym*phan"gi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around, or at the side of, a lymphatic vessel.

PERILYMPHATIC Per`i*lym*phat"ic, a. (Anat.) (a) Pertaining to, or containing, perilymph. (b) Perilymphangial.

PERIMETER Per*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. périmètre.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: The outer boundary of a body or figure, or the sum of all the sides.

2. An instrument for determining the extent and shape of the field of vision.

PERIMETRIC; PERIMETRICAL Per`i*met"ric, Per`i*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perimeter, or to perimetry; as, a perimetric chart of the eye.

PERIMETRY Per*im"e*try, n.

Defn: The art of using the perimeter; measurement of the field of vision.

PERIMORPH Per"i*morph, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A crystal of one species inclosing one of another species. See Endomorph.

PERIMYSIAL Per`i*my"sial, a. (Anat.) (a) Surrounding a muscle or muscles. (b) Of or pertaining to the perimysium.

PERIMYSIUM Per`i*my"si*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a muscle, and sends partitions inwards between the bundles of muscular fibers.

PERINAEUM Per`i*næ"um, n.

Defn: See Perineum.

PERINEAL Per`i*ne"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perineum.

PERINEOPLASTY Per`i*ne"o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Perineum + -plasty.] (Med.)

Defn: The act or process of restoring an injured perineum.

PERINEORRHAPHY Per`i*ne*or"rha*phy, n. Etym: [Perineum + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of sewing up a ruptured perineum.

PERINEPHRITIS Per`i*ne*phri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Nephritis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the cellular tissue around the kidney. -- Per`i*ne*phrit"ic, a.

PERINEUM Per`i*ne"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The region which is included within the outlet of the pelvis, and is traversed by the urinogenital canal and the rectum.

PERINEURIAL Per`i*neu"ri*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding nerves or nerve fibers; of or pertaining to the perineurium.

PERINEURIUM Per`i*neu"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a bundle of nerve fibers. See Epineurium, and Neurilemma.

PERINUCLEAR Per`i*nu"cle*ar, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a nucleus; situated around a nucleus; as, the perinuclear protoplasm.

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, n. Etym: [L. periodus, Gr. période.]

1. A portion of time as limited and determined by some recurring phenomenon, as by the completion of a revolution of one of the heavenly bodies; a division of time, as a series of years, months, or days, in which something is completed, and ready to recommence and go on in the same order; as, the period of the sun, or the earth, or a comet.

2. Hence: A stated and recurring interval of time; more generally, an interval of time specified or left indefinite; a certain series of years, months, days, or the like; a time; a cycle; an age; an epoch; as, the period of the Roman republic. How by art to make plants more lasting than their ordinary period. Bacon.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: One of the great divisions of geological time; as, the Tertiary period; the Glacial period. See the Chart of Geology.

4. The termination or completion of a revolution, cycle, series of events, single event, or act; hence, a limit; a bound; an end; a conclusion. Bacon. So spake the archangel Michael; then paused, As at the world's great period. Milton. Evils which shall never end till eternity hath a period. Jer. Taylor. This is the period of my ambition. Shak.

5. (Rhet.)

Defn: A complete sentence, from one full stop to another; esp., a well-proportioned, harmonious sentence. "Devolved his rounded periods." Tennyson. Periods are beautiful when they are not too long. B. Johnson.

Note: The period, according to Heyse, is a compound sentence consisting of a protasis and apodosis; according to Becker, it is the appropriate form for the coördinate propositions related by antithesis or causality. Gibbs.

6. (Print.)

Defn: The punctuation point [.] that marks the end of a complete sentence, or of an abbreviated word.

7. (Math.)

Defn: One of several similar sets of figures or terms usually marked by points or commas placed at regular intervals, as in numeration, in the extraction of roots, and in circulating decimals.

8. (Med.)

Defn: The time of the exacerbation and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and intermission.

9. (Mus.)

Defn: A complete musical sentence. The period, the present or current time, as distinguished from all other times.

Syn. -- Time; date; epoch; era; age; duration; limit; bound; end; conclusion; determination.

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, v. t.

Defn: To put an end to. [Obs.] Shak.

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, v. i.

Defn: To come to a period; to conclude. [Obs.] "You may period upon this, that," etc. Felthman.

PERIODATE Per*i"o*date, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of periodic acid.

PERIODIC Per`i*od"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + iodic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HIO

PERIODIC; PERIODICAL Pe`ri*od"ic, Pe`ri*od"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. periodicus, Gr. périodique.]

1. Of or pertaining to a period or periods, or to division by periods. The periodicaltimes of all the satellites. Sir J. Herschel.

2. Performed in a period, or regular revolution; proceeding in a series of successive circuits; as, the periodical motion of the planets round the sun.

3. Happening, by revolution, at a stated time; returning regularly, after a certain period of time; acting, happening, or appearing, at fixed intervals; recurring; as, periodical epidemics. The periodic return of a plant's flowering. Henslow. To influence opinion through the periodical press. Courthope.

4. (Rhet.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a period; constituting a complete sentence. Periodic comet (Astron.), a comet that moves about the sun in an elliptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of its approaches to the sun. -- Periodic function (Math.), a function whose values recur at fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. The trigonomertic functions, as sin x, tan x, etc., are periodic functions. Exponential functions are also periodic, having an imaginary period, and the elliptic functions have not only a real but an imaginary period, and are hence called doubly periodic. -- Periodic law (Chem.), the generalization that the properties of the chemical elements are periodic functions of their atomic wieghts. "In other words, if the elements are grouped in the order of their atomic weights, it will be found that nearly the same properties recur periodically throughout the entire series." The following tabular arrangement of the atomic weights shows the regular recurrence of groups (under I., II., III., IV., etc.), each consisting of members of the same natural family. The gaps in the table indicate the probable existence of unknown elements. TABLE OF THE PERIODIC LAW OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS (The vertical columns contain the periodic groups) Series1{ 2{ 3{ 4{ 5{ 6{ 7{ 8{ 9{ 10{ 11{ 12{ --------------------------------------------------------- -----|I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. | RH4 RH3 RH3 RH |R2O RO R3O3 RO2 R2O5 RO3 R2O7 RO4 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------H 1 Li 7 Na 23 K 39 (Cu) 63 Rb 85.2 (Ag) (108) Cs 133 (-) (-) (Au) (197) (-) ---------------------------------------------- -------------------

Note: A similar relation had been enunciated in a crude way by Newlands; but the law in its effective form was developed and elaborated by Mendelejeff, whence it is sometimes called Mendelejeff's law. Important extensions of it were also made by L. Meyer. By this means Mendelejeff predicted with remarkable accuracy the hypothetical elements ekaboron, ekaluminium, and ekasilicon, afterwards discovered and named respectively scandium, gallium, and germanium. -- Periodic star (Astron.), a variable star whose changes of brightness recur at fixed periods. -- Periodic time of a heavenly body (Astron.), the time of a complete revolution of the body about the sun, or of a satellite about its primary.

PERIODICAL Pe`ri*od"ic*al, n.

Defn: A magazine or other publication which appears at stated or regular intervals.

PERIODICALIST Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who publishes, or writes for, a periodical.

PERIODICALLY Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a periodical manner.

PERIODICALNESS Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ness, n.

Defn: Periodicity.

PERIODICITY Pe`ri*o*dic"i*ty, n.; pl. Periodicities. Etym: [Cf. F. périodicité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being periodical, or regularly recurrent; as, the periodicity in the vital phenomena of plants. Henfrey.

PERIODIDE Per*i"o*dide, n. Etym: [Pref. per- + iodide.]

Defn: An iodide containing a higher proportion of iodine than any other iodide of the same substance or series.

PERIODONTAL Per`i*o*don"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the teeth.

PERIODOSCOPE Pe`ri*od"o*scope, n. Etym: [Period + -scope.] (Med.)

Defn: A table or other means for calculating the periodical functions of women. Dunglison.

PERIOECI; PERIOECIANS Per`i*oe"ci, Per`i*oe"cians, n. pl. Etym: [NL. perioeci, fr. Gr.

Defn: Those who live on the same parallel of latitude but on opposite meridians, so that it is noon in one place when it is midnight in the other. Compare Antoeci.

PERIOPLE Per"i*o*ple, n. Etym: [F. périople, from Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The external smooth horny layer of the hoof of the horse and allied animals.

PERIOPLIC Per`i*op"lic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the periople; connected with the periople.

PERIOSTEAL Per`i*os"te*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Situated around bone; of or pertaining to the periosteum.

PERIOSTEUM Per`i*os"te*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. periosteon.] (Anat.)

Defn: The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests all bones except at the articular surfaces.

PERIOSTITIS Per`i*os*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Periosteum, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the periosteum.

PERIOSTRACUM Per`i*os"tra*cum, n.; pl. Periostraca. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chitinous membrane covering the exterior of many shells; -- called also epidermis.

PERIOTIC Per`i*o"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding, or pertaining to the region surrounding, the internal ear; as, the periotic capsule. -- n.

Defn: A periotic bone.

PERIPATECIAN Per`i*pa*te"cian, n.

Defn: A peripatetic. [Obs.]

PERIPATETIC Per`i*pa*tet"ic, a. Etym: [L. peripateticus, Gr. péripatétique.]

1. Walking about; itinerant.

2. Of or pertaining to the philosophy taught by Aristotle (who gave his instructions while walking in the Lyceum at Athens), or to his followers. "The true peripatetic school." Howell.

PERIPATETIC Per`i*pa*tet"ic, n.

1. One who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant. Tatler.

2. A disciple of Aristotle; an Aristotelian.

PERIPATETICAL Per`i*pa*tet"ic*al, a.

Defn: Peripatetic. [R.] Hales.

PERIPATETICISM Per`i*pa*tet"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. péripatétisme.]

Defn: The doctrines or philosophical system of the peripatetics. See Peripatetic, n., 2. Lond. Sat. Rev.

PERIPATUS Pe*rip"a*tus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of lowly organized arthropods, found in South Africa, Australia, and tropical America. It constitutes the order Malacopoda.

PERIPETALOUS Per`i*pet"al*ous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Surrounding, or situated about, the petals.

PERIPHERAL Pe*riph"er*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery; peripheric.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: External; away from the center; as, the peripheral portion of the nervous system.

PERIPHERIC; PERIPHERICAL Per`i*pher"ic, Per`i*pher"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périphérique. See Periphery.]

Defn: See Peripheral.

PERIPHERY Pe*riph"er*y, n.; pl. Peripheries. Etym: [L. peripheria, Gr. périphérie.]

1. The outside or superficial portions of a body; the surface.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, n. Etym: [L. periphrasis, Gr. périphrase. See Phrase.] (Rhet.)

Defn: The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. "To describe by enigmatic periphrases." De Quincey.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periphrased; p. pr. & vb. n. Periphrasing.] Etym: [Cf. F. périphraser.]

Defn: To express by periphrase or circumlocution.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, v. i.

Defn: To use circumlocution.

PERIPHRASIS Pe*riph"ra*sis, n.; pl. Periphrases. Etym: [L.]

Defn: See Periphrase.

PERIPHRASTIC; PERIPHRASTICAL Per`i*phras"tic, Per`i*phras"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. périphrastique.]

Defn: Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory. Periphrastic conjugation (Gram.), a conjugation formed by the use of the simple verb with one or more auxiliaries.

PERIPHRASTICALLY Per`i*phras"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: With circumlocution.

PERIPLAST Per"i*plast, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Same as Periblast. -- Per`i*plas"tic, a. Huxley.

PERIPNEUMONIA; PERIPNEUMONY Per`ip*neu*mo"ni*a, Per`ip*neu"mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. peripneumonia, Gr. péripneumonie. See Peri-, Pneumonia.] (Med.)

Defn: Pneumonia. (Obsoles.)

PERIPNEUMONIC Per`ip*neu*mon"ic, a. Etym: [L. peripneumonicus, Gr. péripneumonique.] (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to peripneumonia.

PERIPROCT Per"i*proct, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The region surrounding the anus, particularly of echinoderms.

PERIPROCTITIS Per`i*proc*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Proctitus.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the tissues about the rectum.

PERIPTERAL Pe*rip"ter*al, a. Etym: [Gr., fr. (Arch.)

Defn: Having columns on all sides; -- said of an edifice. See Apteral.

PERIPTEROUS Pe*rip"ter*ous, a.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: Peripteral.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Feathered all around.

PERIPTERY Pe*rip"ter*y, n. [Gr. flying round about.]

Defn: The region surrounding a moving body, such as the wing of a bird or a gliding aëroplane, within which cyclic or vortical motion of the air occur.

PERIQUE Pe*rique", n. [Louisiana F.]

Defn: A kind of tobacco with medium-sized leaf, small stem, tough and gummy fiber, raised in Louisiana, and cured in its own juices, so as to be very dark colored, usually black. It is marketed in tightly wrapped rolls called carottes.

PERISARC Per"i*sarc, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The outer, hardened integument which covers most hydroids.

PERISCIAN Pe*ris"cian, a. Etym: [Gr. périscien.]

Defn: Having the shadow moving all around.

PERISCIANS; PERISCII Pe*ris"cians, Pe*ris"ci*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Periscian.]

Defn: Those who live within a polar circle, whose shadows, during some summer days, will move entirely round, falling toward every point of the compass.

PERISCOPE Per"i*scope, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + -scope.]

Defn: A general or comprehensive view. [R.]

PERISCOPIC Per`i*scop"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périscopique.]

Defn: Viewing all around, or on all sides. Periscopic spectacles (Opt.), spectacles having concavo-convex or convexo-concave lenses with a considerable curvature corresponding to that of the eye, to increase the distinctness of objects viewed obliquely.

PERISH Per"ish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perished; p. pr. & vb. n. Perishing.] Etym: [OE. perissen, perisshen, F. périr, p.pr. périssant, L. perire to go or run through, come to nothing, perish; per through + ire to go. Cf. Issue, and see -ish.]

Defn: To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost; to die; hence, to wither; to waste away. I perish with hunger! Luke xv. 17. Grow up and perish, as the summer fly. Milton. The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking. Locke.

PERISH Per"ish, v. t.

Defn: To cause perish. [Obs.] Bacon.

PERISHABILITY Per`ish*a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Perishableness.

PERISHABLE Per"ish*a*ble, a. Etym: [F. périssable.]

Defn: Liable to perish; subject to decay, destruction, or death; as, perishable goods; our perishable bodies.

PERISHABLENESS Per"ish*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perishable; liability to decay or destruction. Locke.

PERISHABLY Per"ish*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a perishable degree or manner.

PERISHMENT Per"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. perissement.]

Defn: The act of perishing. [R.] Udall.

PERISOMA Per`i*so"ma, n.; pl. Perisomata. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Perisome.

PERISOME Per"i*some, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + -some body.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The entire covering of an invertebrate animal, as echinoderm or coelenterate; the integument.

PERISPERM Per"i*sperm, n. Etym: [F. périsperme. See Peri-, and Sperm.] (Bot.)

Defn: The albumen of a seed, especially that portion which is formed outside of the embryo sac. -- Per`i*sper"mic, a.

PERISPHERIC; PERISPHERICAL Per`i*spher"ic, Per`i*spher"ic*al, a.

Defn: Exactly spherical; globular.

PERISPOMENON Per`i*spom"e*non, n.; pl. Perispomena. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Gram.)

Defn: A word which has the circumflex accent on the last syllable. Goodwin.

PERISPORE Per"i*spore, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The outer covering of a spore.

PERISSAD Per"is*sad, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Odd; not even; -- said of elementary substances and of radicals whose valence is not divisible by two without a remainder. Contrasted with artiad.

PERISSE Per"isse, v. i.

Defn: To perish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERISSODACTYL Per`is*so*dac"tyl, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Perissodactyla.

PERISSODACTYLA Per`is*so*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of ungulate mammals, including those that have an odd number of toes, as the horse, tapir, and rhinoceros; -- opposed to Artiodactyla.

PERISSOLOGICAL Per`is*so*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périssologique.]

Defn: Redundant or excessive in words. [R.]

PERISSOLOGY Per`is*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. perissologia, Gr.

Defn: Superfluity of words. [R.] G. Campbell.

PERISTALSIS Per`i*stal"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Peristaltic contraction or action.

PERISTALTIC Per`i*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. péristaltique.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Applied to the peculiar wormlike wave motion of the intestines and other similar structures, produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. -- Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly, adv.

PERISTERIA Per`is*te"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Peristerion.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of orchidaceous plants. See Dove plant.

PERISTERION Per`is*te"ri*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. peristereon.] (Bot.)

Defn: The herb vervain (Verbena officinalis).

PERISTERITE Pe*ris"ter*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of albite, whitish and slightly iridescent like a pigeon's neck.

PERISTEROMORPHOUS Pe*ris`ter*o*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Gr. -morphous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the pigeons or Columbæ.

PERISTEROPODOUS Pe*ris`ter*op"o*dous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having pigeonlike feet; -- said of those gallinaceous birds that rest on all four toes, as the curassows and megapods.

PERISTOLE Pe*ris"to*le, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. péristole. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Peristaltic action, especially of the intestines.

PERISTOMA Pe*ris"to*ma, n.; pl. Peristomata. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Peristome.

PERISTOME Per"i*stome, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The fringe of teeth around the orifice of the capsule of mosses. It consists of 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 teeth, and may be either single or double.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The lip, or edge of the aperture, of a spiral shell. (b) The membrane surrounding the mouth of an invertebrate animal.

PERISTOMIAL Per`i*sto"mi*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a peristome.

PERISTOMIUM Per`i*sto"mi*um, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Peristome.

PERISTREPHIC Per`i*streph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Turning around; rotatory; revolving; as, a peristrephic painting (of a panorama).

PERISTYLE Per"i*style, n. Etym: [L. peristylum, Gr. péristyle.] (Arch.)

Defn: A range of columns with their entablature, etc.; specifically, a complete system of columns, whether on all sides of a court, or surrounding a building, such as the cella of a temple. Used in the former sense, it gives name to the larger and inner court of a Roman dwelling, the peristyle. See Colonnade.

PERISYSTOLE Per`i*sys"to*le, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + systole: cf. F. périsystole.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The interval between the diastole and systole of the heart. It is perceptible only in the dying.

PERITE Pe*rite", a. Etym: [L. peritus.]

Defn: Skilled. [Obs.]

PERITHECIUM Per`i*the"ci*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: An organ in certain fungi and lichens, surrounding and enveloping the masses of fructification. Henslow.

PERITOMOUS Pe*rit"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Peri-, and Tome.] (Min.)

Defn: Cleaving in more directions than one, parallel to the axis.

PERITONAEUM Per`i*to*næ"um, n. (Anat.)

Defn: Same as Peritoneum.

PERITONEAL Per`i*to*ne"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. péritonéal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the peritoneum.

PERITONEUM Per`i*to*ne"um, n. Etym: [L. peritoneum, peritonaeum, Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The smooth serous membrane which lines the cavity of the abdomen, or the whole body cavity when there is no diaphragm, and, turning back, surrounds the viscera, forming a closed, or nearly closed, sac. [Written also peritonæum.]

PERITONITIS Per`i*to*ni"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peritoneum, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the peritoneum.

PERITRACHEAL Per`i*tra"che*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounding the tracheæ.

PERITREME Per"i*treme, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) That part of the integument of an insect which surrounds the spiracles. (b) The edge of the aperture of a univalve shell.

PERITRICHA Pe*rit"ri*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of ciliated Infusoria having a circle of cilia around the oral disk and sometimes another around the body. It includes the vorticellas. See Vorticella.

PERITROCHIUM Per`i*tro"chi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Mech.)

Defn: The wheel which, together with the axle, forms the axis in peritrochio, which see under Axis.

PERITROPAL Per*it"ro*pal, a. Etym: [Gr. péritrope.]

1. Rotatory; circuitous. [R.]

2. Having the axis of the seed perpendicular to the axis of the pericarp to which it is attached.

PERITROPOUS Per*it"ro*pous, a.

Defn: Peritropal.

PERITYPHLITIS Per`i*typh*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Typhlitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the connective tissue about the cæcum.

PERIUTERINE Per`i*u"ter*ine, a. (Med.)

Defn: Surrounding the uterus.

PERIVASCULAR Per`i*vas"cu*lar, a.

Defn: Around the blood vessels; as, perivascular lymphatics.

PERIVERTEBRAL Per`i*ver"te*bral, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the vertebræ.

PERIVISCERAL Per`i*vis"cer*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around the viscera; as, the perivisceral cavity.

PERIVITELLINE Per`i*vi*tel"line, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + vitelline.] (Biol.)

Defn: Situated around the vitellus, or between the vitellus and zona pellucida of an ovum.

PERIWIG Per"i*wig, n. Etym: [OE. perrwige, perwicke, corrupt. fr. F. perruque; cf. OD. peruyk, from French. See Peruke, and cf. Wig.]

Defn: A headdress of false hair, usually covering the whole head, and representing the natural hair; a wig. Shak.

PERIWIG Per"i*wig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perwigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Perwigging.]

Defn: To dress with a periwig, or with false hair. Swift.

PERIWINKLE Per"i*win`kle, n. Etym: [From AS. pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is fr. L. pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. Winkle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina.

Note: In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as Fulgur carica, and F. canaliculata.

PERIWINKLE Per"i*win`kle, n. Etym: [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr. L. pervinca.] (Bot.)

Defn: A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.

Note: The common perwinkle (Vinca minor) has opposite evergreen leaves and solitary blue or white flowers in their axils. In America it is often miscalled myrtle. See under Myrtle.

PERJENET Per"jen*et, n. Etym: [Cf. Pear, and Jenneting.]

Defn: A kind of pear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERJURE Per"jure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perjured; p. pr. & vb. n. Perjuring.] Etym: [F. parjurer, L. perjurare, perjerare; per through, over + jurare to swear. See Jury.]

1. To cause to violate an oath or a vow; to cause to make oath knowingly to what is untrue; to make guilty of perjury; to forswear; to corrupt; -- often used reflexively; as, he perjured himself. Want will perjure The ne'er-touched vestal. Shak.

2. To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations. [Obs.] And with a virgin innocence did pray For me, that perjured her. J. Fletcher.

Syn. -- To Perjure, Forswear. These words have been used interchangeably; but there is a tendency to restrict perjure to that species of forswearing which constitutes the crime of perjury at law, namely, the willful violation of an oath administered by a magistrate or according to law.

PERJURE Per"jure, n. Etym: [L. perjurus: cf. OF. parjur, F. parjure.]

Defn: A perjured person. [Obs.] Shak.

PERJURED Per"jured, a.

Defn: Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely; forsworn. Shak. "Perjured persons." 1 Tim. i. 10. "Their perjured oath." Spenser.

PERJURER Per"jur*er, n.

Defn: One who is guilty of perjury; one who perjures or forswears, in any sense.

PERJURIOUS; PERJUROUS Per*ju"ri*ous, Per"ju*rous, a. Etym: [L. perjuriosus, perjurus.]

Defn: Guilty of perjury; containing perjury. [Obs.] Quarles. B. Johnson.

PERJURY Per"ju*ry, n.; pl. Perjuries. Etym: [L. perjurium. See Perjure, v.]

1. False swearing.

2. (Law)

Defn: At common law, a willfully false statement in a fact material to the issue, made by a witness under oath in a competent judicial proceeding. By statute the penalties of perjury are imposed on the making of willfully false affirmations.

Note: If a man swear falsely in nonjudicial affidavits, it is made perjury by statute in some jurisdictions in the United States.

PERK Perk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perked; p. pr. & vb. n. Perking.] Etym: [Cf. W. percu to trim, to make smart.]

Defn: To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of; as, to perk the ears; to perk up one's head. Cowper. Sherburne.

PERK Perk, v. i.

Defn: To exalt one's self; to bear one's self loftily. "To perk over them." Barrow. To perk it, to carry one's self proudly or saucily. Pope.

PERK Perk, a.

Defn: Smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain. "Perk as a peacock." Spenser.

PERK Perk, v. i.

Defn: To peer; to look inquisitively. Dickens.

PERKIN Per"kin, n.

Defn: A kind of weak perry.

PERKINISM Per"kin*ism, n. (Med.)

Defn: A remedial treatment, by drawing the pointed extremities of two rods, each of a different metal, over the affected part; tractoration, -- first employed by Dr. Elisha Perkins of Norwich, Conn. See Metallotherapy.

PERKY Perk"y, a.

Defn: Perk; pert; jaunty; trim. There amid perky larches and pines. Tennyson.

PERLACEOUS Per*la"ceous, a. Etym: [See Pearl.]

Defn: Pearly; resembling pearl.

PERLID Per"lid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any insect of the genus Perla, or family Perlidæ. See Stone fly, under Stone.

PERLITE Per"lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Same as Pearlite.

PERLITIC Per*lit"ic, a. (Min.)

Defn: Relating to or resembling perlite, or pearlstone; as, the perlitic structure of certain rocks. See Pearlite.

PERLOUS Per"lous, a.

Defn: Perilous. [Obs.] Spenser.

PERLUSTRATION Per`lus*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perlustrare to wander all through, to survey. See 3d Luster.]

Defn: The act of viewing all over. [Archaic] Howell.

PERMANABLE Per"ma*na*ble, a.

Defn: Permanent; durable. [Obs.] Lydgate.

PERMANENCE; PERMANENCY Per"ma*nence, Per"ma*nen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. permanence.]

Defn: The quality or state of being permanent; continuance in the same state or place; duration; fixedness; as, the permanence of institutions; the permanence of nature.

PERMANENT Per"ma*nent, a. Etym: [L. permanens, -entis, p.pr. of permanere to stay or remain to the end, to last; per + manere to remain: cf. F. permanent. See Per-, and Mansion.]

Defn: Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression. Eternity stands permanent and fixed. Dryden. Permanent gases (Chem. & Physics), hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; -- also called incondensible or incoercible gases, before their liquefaction in 1877. -- Permanent way, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; -- so called in distinction from the contractor's temporary way. -- Permanent white (Chem.), barium sulphate (heavy spar), used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.

Syn. -- Lasting; durable; constant. See Lasting.

PERMANENTLY Per"ma*nent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a permanent manner.

PERMANGANATE Per*man"ga*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of permanganic acid. Potassium permanganate. (Chem.) See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.

PERMANGANIC Per`man*gan"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, one of the higher acids of manganese, HMnO4, which forms salts called permanganates.

PERMANSION Per*man"sion, n. Etym: [L. permansio. See Permanent.]

Defn: Continuance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

PERMEABILITY Per`me*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perméabilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being permeable. Magnetic permeability (Physics), the specific capacity of a body for magnetic induction, or its conducting power for lines of magnetic force. Sir W. Thomson.

PERMEABLE Per"me*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. permeabilis: cf. F. perméable. See Permeate.]

Defn: Capable of being permeated, or passed through; yielding passage; passable; penetrable; -- used especially of substances which allow the passage of fluids; as, wood is permeable to oil; glass is permeable to light. I. Taylor.

PERMEABLY Per"me*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a permeable manner.

PERMEANCE Per"me*ance, n. [See Permeant.]

Defn: Permeation; specif. (Magnetism),

Defn: the reciprocal of reluctance.

PERMEANT Per"me*ant, a. Etym: [L. permeans, p.pr.]

Defn: Passing through; permeating. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

PERMEATE Per"me*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Permeating.] Etym: [L. permeatus, p.p. of permeare to permeate; per + meare to go, pass.]

1. To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; -- applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand. Woodward.

2. To enter and spread through; to pervade. God was conceived to be diffused throughout the whole world, to permeate and pervade all things. Cudworth.

PERMEATION Per`me*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of permeating, passing through, or spreading throughout, the pores or interstices of any substance. Here is not a mere involution only, but a spiritual permeation and inexistence. Bp. Hall.

PERMIAN Per"mi*an, a. Etym: [From the ancient kingdom of Permia, where the Permian formation exists.] (Geol.)

Defn: Belonging or relating to the period, and also to the formation, next following the Carboniferous, and regarded as closing the Carboniferous age and Paleozoic era. -- n.

Defn: The Permian period. See Chart of Geology.

PERMIANS Per"mi*ans, n. pl.; sing. Permian (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe belonging to the Finnic race, and inhabiting a portion of Russia.

PERMISCIBLE Per*mis"ci*ble, a. Etym: [L. permiscere to mingle; per + miscere to mix.]

Defn: Capable of being mixed.

PERMISS Per*miss", n. Etym: [See Permit.]

Defn: A permitted choice; a rhetorical figure in which a thing is committed to the decision of one's opponent. [Obs.] Milton.

PERMISSIBILITY Per*mis`si*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being permissible; permissibleness; allowableness.

PERMISSIBLE Per*mis"si*ble, a.

Defn: That may be permitted; allowable; admissible. -- Per*mis"si*ble*ness, n. -- Per*mis"si*bly, adv.

PERMISSION Per*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. permissio: cf. F. permission. See Permit.]

Defn: The act of permitting or allowing; formal consent; authorization; leave; license or liberty granted. High permission of all-ruling Heaven. Milton. You have given me your permission for this address. Dryden.

Syn. -- Leave; liberty; license. -- Leave, Permission. Leave implies that the recipient may decide whether to use the license granted or not. Permission is the absence on the part of another of anything preventive, and in general, at least by implication, signifies approval.

PERMISSIVE Per*mis"sive, a.

1. Permitting; granting leave or liberty. "By his permissive will." Milton.

2. Permitted; tolerated; suffered. Milton.

PERMISSIVELY Per*mis"sive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a permissive manner.

PERMISTION Per*mis"tion, n. Etym: [L. permistio, permixtio, fr. permiscere, permistum, and permixtum. See Permiscible.]

Defn: The act of mixing; the state of being mingled; mixture. [Written also permixtion.]

PERMIT Per*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.] Etym: [L. permittere, permissum, to let through, to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-, and Mission.]

1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with. What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth with approbation either to be done or left undone. Hooker.

2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive. Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Acis xxvi. 1.

3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit. Let us not aggravate our sorrows, But to the gods permit the event of things. Addison.

Syn. -- To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to. -- To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication. To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention. The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.

PERMIT Per*mit", v. i.

Defn: To grant permission; to allow.

PERMIT Per"mit, n.

Defn: Warrant; license; leave; permission; specifically, a written license or permission given to a person or persons having authority; as, a permit to land goods subject to duty.

PERMITTANCE Per*mit"tance, n.

Defn: The act of permitting; allowance; permission; leave. Milton.

PERMITTEE Per`mit*tee", n.

Defn: One to whom a permission or permit is given.

PERMITTER Per*mit"ter, n.

Defn: One who permits. A permitter, or not a hinderer, of sin. J. Edwards.

PERMIX Per*mix", v. t.

Defn: To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

PERMIXTION Per*mix"tion, n.

Defn: See Permission.

PERMULATOR Per"mu*la`tor, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A special form of rotary converter with stationary commutator and rotating brushes, in which the exciting field is induced by the alternating current in a short-circuited magnetic core instead of being produced by an external magnet.

PERMUTABLE Per*mut"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. permutable.]

Defn: Capable of being permuted; exchangeable. -- Per*mut"a*ble*ness, n. -- Per*mut"a*bly, adv.

PERMUTATION Per`mu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. permutatio: cf. F. permutation. See Permute.]

1. The act of permuting; exchange of the thing for another; mutual transference; interchange. The violent convulsions and permutations that have been made in property. Burke.

2. (Math.) (a) The arrangement of any determinate number of things, as units, objects, letters, etc., in all possible orders, one after the other; -- called also alternation. Cf. Combination, n., 4. (b) Any one of such possible arrangements.

3. (Law)

Defn: Barter; exchange. Permutation lock, a lock in which the parts can be transposed or shifted, so as to require different arrangements of the tumblers on different occasions of unlocking.

PERMUTE Per*mute", v. t. Etym: [L. permutare, permutatum; per + mutare to change: cf. F. permuter.]

1. To interchange; to transfer reciprocally.

2. To exchange; to barter; to traffic. [Obs.] Bought, trucked, permuted, or given. Hakluyt.

PERMUTER Per*mut"er, n.

Defn: One who permutes.

PERN Pern, v. t. Etym: [See Pernancy.]

Defn: To take profit of; to make profitable. [Obs.] Sylvester.

PERN Pern, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The honey buzzard.

PERNANCY Per"nan*cy, n. Etym: [OF. prenance, fr. prendre, prenre, penre, to take, L. prendere, prehendere.] (Law)

Defn: A taking or reception, as the receiving of rents or tithes in kind, the receiving of profits. Blackstone.

PERNEL Per"nel, n.

Defn: See Pimpernel. [Obs.]

PERNICION Per*ni"cion, n. Etym: [See 2d Pernicious.]

Defn: Destruction; perdition. [Obs.] hudibras.

PERNICIOUS Per*ni"cious, a. Etym: [L. pernix, -icis.]

Defn: Quick; swift (to burn). [R.] Milton.

PERNICIOUS Per*ni"cious, a. Etym: [L. perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from pernecare to kill or slay outright; per + necare to kill, slay: cf. F. pernicieux. Cf. Nuisance, Necromancy.]

Defn: Having the quality of injuring or killing; destructive; very mischievous; baleful; malicious; wicked. Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar. Shak. Pernicious to his health. Prescott.

Syn. -- Destructive; ruinous; deadly; noxious; injurious; baneful; deleterious; hurtful; mischievous. -- Per*ni"cious*ly, adv., -- Per*ni"cious*ness, n.

PERNICITY Per*nic"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pernicitas. See 1st Pernicious.]

Defn: Swiftness; celerity. [R.] Ray.

PERNICKETY PERNICKETTY { Per*nick"et*y Per*nick"et*ty }, a.

Defn: Finical or fussy; full of petty details. [Colloq.]

PERNIO Per"ni*o, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)

Defn: A chilblain.

PERNOCTALIAN Per`noc*ta"li*an, n.

Defn: One who watches or keeps awake all night.

PERNOCTATION Per`noc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. pernoctatio, fr. pernoctare to stay all night; per + nox, noctis, night.]

Defn: The act or state of passing the whole night; a remaining all night. "Pernoctation in prayer." Jer. Taylor.

PERNOR Per"nor, n. Etym: [See Pern, v.] (Law)

Defn: One who receives the profits, as of an estate.

PERNOT FURNACE Per"not fur"nace. Etym: [So called from Charles Pernot, its inventor.]

Defn: A reverberatory furnace with a circular revolving hearth, -- used in making steel.

PERNYI MOTH Per"ny*i moth". (Zoöl.)

Defn: A silk-producing moth (Attacus Pernyi) which feeds upon the oak. It has been introduced into Europe and America from China.

PEROFSKITE Per*of"skite, n. Etym: [From von Perovski, of St.Petersburg.] (Min.)

Defn: A titanate of lime occurring in octahedral or cubic crystals. [Written also Perovskite.]

PEROGUE Pe*rogue, n.

Defn: See Pirogue.

PERONATE Per"o*nate, a. Etym: [L. peronatus roughpero, -onis, a kind of rough boot.] (Bot.)

Defn: A term applied to the stipes or stalks of certain fungi which are covered with a woolly substance which at length becomes powdery. Henslow.

PERONEAL Per`o*ne"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the fibula; in the region of the fibula.

PERORATE Per"o*rate, v. i. Etym: [See Peroration.]

Defn: To make a peroration; to harangue. [Colloq.]

PERORATION Per`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. peroratio, fr. perorate, peroratum, to speak from beginning to end; per + orate to speak. See Per-, and Oration.] (Rhet.)

Defn: The concluding part of an oration; especially, a final summing up and enforcement of an argument. Burke.

PEROXIDATION Per*ox`i*da"tion, n.

Defn: Act, process, or result of peroxidizing; oxidation to a peroxide.

PEROXIDE Per*ox"ide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An oxide containing more oxygen than some other oxide of the same element. Formerly peroxides were regarded as the highest oxides. Cf. Per-, 2.

PEROXIDIZE Per*ox"i*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peroxidized; p. pr. & vb. n. Peroxidizing.] (Chem.)

Defn: To oxidize to the utmost degree, so as to form a peroxide.

PERPEND Per*pend", v. t. Etym: [L. perpendere, perpensum; per + pendere to weight.]

Defn: To weight carefully in the mind. [R.] "Perpend my words." Shak.

PERPEND Per*pend", v. i.

Defn: To attend; to be attentive. [R.] Shak.

PERPENDER Per*pend"er, n. Etym: [F. parpaing, pierre parpaigne; of uncertain origin.] (Masonry)

Defn: A large stone reaching through a wall so as to appear on both sides of it, and acting as a binder; -- called also perbend, perpend stone, and perpent stone.

PERPENDICLE Per*pen"di*cle, n. Etym: [L. perpendiculum; per + pendere to hang: cf. F. perpendicule.]

Defn: Something hanging straight down; a plumb line. [Obs.]

PERPENDICULAR Per`pen*dic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. perpendicularis, perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle, Pension.]

1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc. Perpendicular style (Arch.), a name given to the latest variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed from the close of the 14th century to the early part of the 16th; -- probably so called from the vertical style of its window mullions.

PERPENDICULAR Per`pen*dic"u*lar, n.

1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side.

PERPENDICULARITY Per`pen*dic`u*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perpendicularité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being perpendicular.

PERPENDICULARLY Per`pen*dic"u*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perpendicular manner; vertically.

PERPEND STONE Per"pend stone`.

Defn: See Perpender.

PERPENSION Per*pen"sion, n. Etym: [See Perpend.]

Defn: Careful consideration; pondering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

PERPENSITY Per*pen"si*ty, n.

Defn: Perpension. [Obs.]

PERPENT STONE Per"pent stone`.

Defn: See Perpender.

PERPESSION Per*pes"sion, n. Etym: [L. perpessio, fr. perpeti, perpessus, to bear steadfastly; per + pati to bear.]

Defn: Suffering; endurance. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

PERPETRABLE Per"pe*tra"ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being perpetrated. R. North.

PERPETRATE Per"pe*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Perpetrating.] Etym: [L. perpetratus, p.p. of perpetrare to effect, perpetrare; per + patrare to perform.]

Defn: To do or perform; to carry through; to execute, commonly in a bad sense; to commit (as a crime, an offense); to be guilty of; as, to perpetrate a foul deed. What the worst perpetrate, or best endure. Young.

PERPETRATION Per`pe*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perpetratio: cf. F. perpétration.]

1. The act of perpetrating; a doing; -- commonly used of doing something wrong, as a crime.

2. The thing perpetrated; an evil action.

PERPETRATOR Per"pe*tra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who perpetrates; esp., one who commits an offense or crime.

PERPETUABLE Per*pet"u*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being perpetuated or continued. Varieties are perpetuable, like species. Gray.

PERPETUAL Per*pet"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. perpetuel, F. perpétuel, fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout, continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.]

Defn: Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous. Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. Shak. Perpetual feast of nectared sweets. Milton. Circle of perpetual apparition, or occultation. See under Circle. -- Perpetual calendar, a calendar so devised that it may be adjusted for any month or year. -- Perpetual curacy (Ch. of Eng.), a curacy in which all the tithes are appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed. Blackstone. -- Perpetual motion. See under Motion. -- Perpetual screw. See Endless screw, under Screw.

Syn. -- Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant; constant; eternal. See Constant.

PERPETUAL CALENDAR Per*pet"u*al cal"en*dar.

Defn: A calendar that can be used perpetually or over a wide range of years. That of Capt. Herschel covers, as given below, dates from 1750 to 1961 only, but is capable of indefinite extension.

PERPETUAL CALENDAR Day of the monthJan. Oct.Apr. July Jan.Sept. Dec.JuneFeb. Mar. Nov.Aug. Feb.MayDay of the Week 1815 2229 2916 2330 31017 2431 41118 25 51219 26 61320 27 @71421 28 To find the day of the week corresponding to any date, find the small letter directly under the month and opposite the day of the month; the same small letter also appears in the vertical column that contains the number of the year, and if the line in which it stands is followed out to the right, the day of the week is found. Thus, the small letter under March and opposite 18 is b; b appears again directly over 1904, and at its right is the word Friday. March 18 fell on Friday in 1904, and also in 1898, 1892, etc. The calendar has other uses, as for finding the months which begin on Sunday in a particular year, etc. |1753 |1754 |1755 |1750 |1751 |1757 |*1752 |1759 |1765 |*1760 |1761 |*1756 |1763 |1758

PERPETUALLY Per*pet"u*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perpetual manner; constantly; continually. The Bible and Common Prayer Book in the vulgar tongue, being perpetually read in churches, have proved a kind of standard for language. Swift.

PERPETUALTY Per*pet"u*al*ty, n.

Defn: The state or condition of being perpetual. [Obs.] Testament of Love.

PERPETUANCE Per*pet"u*ance, n.

Defn: Perpetuity. [Obs.]

PERPETUATE Per*pet"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Perpetuating.] Etym: [L. perpetuatus, p.p. of perpetuare to perpetuate. See Perpetual.]

Defn: To make perpetual; to cause to endure, or to be continued, indefinitely; to preserve from extinction or oblivion; to eternize. Addison. Burke.

PERPETUATE Per*pet"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. perpetuatus, p.p.]

Defn: Made perpetual; perpetuated. [R.] Southey.

PERPETUATION Per*pet`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perpétuation.]

Defn: The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time; continuance. Sir T. Browne.

PERPETUITY Per`pe*tu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perpetuitas: cf. F. perpétuité.]

1. The quality or state of being perpetual; as, the perpetuity of laws. Bacon. A path to perpetuity of fame. Byron. The perpetuity of single emotion is insanity. I. Taylor.

2. Something that is perpetual. South.

3. Endless time. "And yet we should, for perpetuity, go hence in debt." Shak.

4. (Annuities) (a) The number of years in which the simple interest of any sum becomes equal to the principal. (b) The number of years' purchase to be given for an annuity to continue forever. (c) A perpetual annuity.

5. (Law) (a) Duration without limitations as to time. (b) The quality or condition of an estate by which it becomes inalienable, either perpetually or for a very long period; also, the estate itself so modified or perpetuated.

PERPLEX Per*plex", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Perplexing.] Etym: [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.]

1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts. No artful wildness to perplex the scene. Pope. What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view. Locke.

2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety. "Perplexd beyond self- explication." Shak. We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. iv. 8. We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind. Locke.

3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. Glanvill.

Syn. -- To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.

PERPLEX Per*plex", a. Etym: [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.]

Defn: Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanvill.

PERPLEXED Per*plexed", a.

Defn: Entangled, involved, or confused; hence, embarrassd; puzzled; doubtful; anxious. -- Per*plex"ed*ly, adv. -- Per*plex"ed*ness, n.

PERPLEXING Per*plex"ing, a.

Defn: Embarrassing; puzzling; troublesome. "Perplexing thoughts." Milton.

PERPLEXITY Per*plex"i*ty, n.; pl. Perplexities. Etym: [L. perplexitas: cf. F. perplexité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being perplexed or puzzled; complication; intricacy; entanglement; distraction of mind through doubt or difficulty; embarrassment; bewilderment; doubt. By their own perplexities involved, They ravel more. Milton.

PERPLEXIVENESS Per*plex"ive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

PERPLEXLY Per*plex"ly, adv.

Defn: Perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.

PERPOTATION Per`po*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. perpotatio, fr. perpotate. See Per-, and Potation.]

Defn: The act of drinking excessively; a drinking bout. [Obs.]

PERQUISITE Per"qui*site, n. Etym: [L. perquisitum, fr. perquisitus, p.p. of perquirere to ask for diligently; per + quaerere to seek. See Per-, and Quest.]

1. Something gained from a place or employment over and above the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service. The pillage of a place taken by storm was regarded as the perquisite of the soldiers. Prescott. The best perquisites of a place are the advantages it gaves a man of doing good. Addison.

2. pl. (Law)

Defn: Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.

PERQUISITED Per"qui*sit*ed, a.

Defn: Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] "Perquisited varlets frequent stand." Savage.

PERQUISITION Per`qui*si"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perquisition.]

Defn: A thorough inquiry of search. [R.] Berkeley.

PERRADIAL Per*ra"di*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Situated around the radii, or radial tubes, of a radiate.

PERRIE Per"rie, n. Etym: [F. pierreries, pl., fr. pierre stone, L. petra.]

Defn: Precious stones; jewels. [Obs.] [Written also perre, perrye, etc.] Chaucer.

PERRIER Per"ri*er, n. Etym: [OF. perriere, perrier, F. perrier. Cf. Pederero.] (Mil.)

Defn: A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.

PERRON Per"ron, n. [F.] (Arch.)

Defn: An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; -- usually applied to mediævel or later structures of some architectural pretensions.

PERROQUET Per`ro*quet", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Paroquet, Parakeet.

PERRUQUE Per`ruque", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Peruke.

PERRUQUIER Per*ru"qui*er, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A marker of perukes or wigs.

PERRY Per"ry, n. Etym: [OF. peré, F. poiré, fr. poire a pear, L. pirum. See Pear the fruit.]

Defn: A fermented liquor made from pears; pear cider. Mortimer.

PERRY Per"ry, n.

Defn: A suddent squall. See Pirry. [Obs.]

PERS Pers, a. Etym: [F. pers.]

Defn: Light blue; grayish blue; -- a term applied to different shades at different periods. -- n.

Defn: A cloth of sky-blue color. [Obs.] "A long surcoat of pers." Chaucer.

PERSALT Per"salt`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A term formerly given to the salts supposed to be formed respectively by neutralizing acids with certain peroxides. [Obsoles.]

PERSANT Per"sant, a. Etym: [F. perçant, p.pr. of percer to pierce.]

Defn: Piercing. [Obs.] Spenser.

PERSCRUTATION Per`scru*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. perscrutatio, fr. perscrutari to search through.]

Defn: A thorough searching; a minute inquiry or scrutiny. Carlyle

PERSECOT Per"se*cot, n.

Defn: See Persicot.

PERSECUTE Per"se*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persecuting.] Etym: [F. persécueter, L. persequi, persecutus, to pursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, and Second.]

1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matt. v. 44.

2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy. Johnson.

Syn. -- To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy.

PERSECUTION Per`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. persécution, L. persecutio.]

1. The act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship. Persecution produces no sincere conviction. Paley.

2. The state or condition of being persecuted. Locke.

3. A carrying on; prosecution. [Obs.]

PERSECUTOR Per"se*cu`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. persécuteur.]

Defn: One who persecutes, or harasses. Shak.

PERSECUTRIX Per"se*cu`trix, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A woman who persecutes.

PERSEID Per"se*id, n. (Astron.)

Defn: One of a group of shooting stars which appear yearly about the 10th of August, and cross the heavens in paths apparently radiating from the constellation Perseus. They are beleived to be fragments once connected with a comet visible in 1862.

PERSEUS Per"se*us, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who slew the Gorgon Medusa.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A consellation of the northern hemisphere, near Taurus and Cassiopea. It contains a star cluster visible to the naked eye as a nebula.

PERSEVER Per*sev"er, v. i.

Defn: To persevere. [Obs.]

PERSEVERANCE Per`se*ver"ance, n. Etym: [F. persévérance, L. perseverantia.]

1. The act of persevering; persistence in anything undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun. "The king-becoming graces . . . perseverance, mercy, lowliness." Shak. Whose constant perseverance overcame Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. Milton.

2. Discrimination. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism.

Syn. -- Persistence; steadfastness; constancy; steadiness; pertinacity.

PERSEVERANT Per`se*ver"ant, a. Etym: [L. perseverans, -antis, p.pr.: cf. F. persévérant.]

Defn: Persevering. [R.] "Perseverant faith." Whitby. -- Per`se*ver"ant*ly, adv. [R.]

PERSEVERE Per`se*vere", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persevered; p. pr. & vb. n. Persevering.] Etym: [F. persévérer, L. perseverare, fr. perseverus very strict; per + severus strict, severe. See Per-, and Severe.]

Defn: To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken. Thrice happy, if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright. Milton.

Syn. -- To Persevere, Continue, Persist. The idea of not laying aside is common to these words. Continue is the generic term, denoting simply to do as one has done hitherto. To persevere is to continue in a given course in spite of discouragements, etc., from a desire to obtain our end. To persist is to continue from a determination of will not to give up. Persist is frequently used in a bad sense, implying obstinacy in pursuing an unworthy aim.

PERSEVERING Per`se*ver"ing, a.

Defn: Characterized by perseverance; persistent. -- Per`se*ver"ing*ly, adv.

PERSIAN Per"sian, a. Etym: [From Persia: cf. It. Persiano. Cf. Parsee, Peach, Persic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Persia, to the Persians, or to their language. Persian berry, the fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind of buckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly from Trebizond. -- Persian cat. (Zoöl.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora. -- Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft represents a Persian slave; -- called also Persians. See Atlantes. -- Persian drill (Mech.), a drill which is turned by pushing a nut back and forth along a spirally grooved drill holder. -- Persian fire (Med.), malignant pustule. -- Persian powder. See Insect powder, under Insect. -- Persian red. See Indian red (a), under Indian. -- Persian wheel, a noria; a tympanum. See Noria.

PERSIAN Per"sian, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of Persia.

2. The language spoken in Persia.

3. A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. Beck.

4. pl. (Arch.)

Defn: See Persian columns, under Persian, a.

PERSIC Per"sic, a. Etym: [L. Persicus. Cf. Persian.]

Defn: Of or relating to Persia. -- n.

Defn: The Persian language.

PERSICARIA Per`si*ca"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., from LL. persicarius a peach tree. See Peach.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Lady's thumb.

PERSICO Per"si*co, n.

Defn: = Persicot.

PERSICOT Per"si*cot, n. Etym: [F. See Peach.]

Defn: A cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, etc., with refined spirit.

PERSIENNE Per`si*enne" (per`si*en"; -shi*en"; F. per`syen"), n. [F., fem. of presien Persian.]

Defn: Properly, printed calico, whether Oriental or of fanciful design with flowers, etc., in Western work. Hence, as extended in English, material of a similar character.

PERSIENNES Per`si*ennes" (-enz"; F. per`syen"), n. pl. [F.]

Defn: Window blinds having movable slats, similar to Venetian blinds.

PERSIFLAGE Per`si`flage", n. Etym: [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr. L. per + siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.]

Defn: Frivolous or bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether serious or otherwise; light raillery. Hannah More.

PERSIFLEUR Per`si`fleur, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: One who indulges in persiflage; a banterer; a quiz. Carlyle.

PERSIMMON Per*sim"mon, n. Etym: [Virginia Indian.] (Bot.)

Defn: An American tree (Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes palatable and nutritious. Japanese persimmon, Diospyros Kaki and its red or yellow edible fruit, which outwardly resembles a tomato, but contains a few large seeds.

PERSIS Per"sis, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: A kind of coloring matter obtained from lichens.

PERSISM Per"sism, n.

Defn: A Persian idiom.

PERSIST Per*sist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persisting.] Etym: [L. persistere; per + sistere to stand or be fixed, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. persister. See Per-, and Stand.]

Defn: To stand firm; to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; -- sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy. If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals. Addison. Some positive, persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so. Pope. That face persists. It floats up; it turns over in my mind. Mrs. Browning.

Syn. -- See Persevere, and Insist.

PERSISTENCE; PERSISTENCY Per*sist"ence, Per*sist"en*cy, n. Etym: [See Persistent.]

1. The quality or state of being persistent; staying or continuing quality; hence, in an unfavorable sense, doggedness; obstinacy.

2. The continuance of an effect after the cause which first gave rise to it is removed; as: (a) (Physics)

Defn: The persistence of motion. (b) (Physiol.) Visual persistence, or persistence of the visual impression; auditory persistence, etc.

PERSISTENT Per*sist"ent, a. Etym: [L. persistens, -entis, p.pr. of persistere. See Persist.]

1. Inclined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious of position or purpose.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Remaining beyond the period when parts of the same kind sometimes fall off or are absorbed; permanent; as, persistent teeth or gills; a persistent calyx; -- opposed to deciduous, and caducous.

PERSISTENTLY Per*sist"ent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a persistent manner.

PERSISTING Per*sist"ing, a.

Defn: Inclined to persist; tenacious of purpose; persistent. -- Per*sist"ing*ly, adv.

PERSISTIVE Per*sist"ive, a.

Defn: See Persistent. Shak.

PERSOLVE Per*solve", v. t. Etym: [L. persolvere.]

Defn: To pay wholly, or fully. [Obs.] E. Hall.

PERSON Per"son, n. Etym: [OE. persone, persoun, person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne, L. persona a mask (used by actors), a personage, part, a person, fr. personare to sound through; per + sonare to sound. See Per-, and cf. Parson.]

1. A character or part, as in a play; a specific kind or manifestation of individual character, whether in real life, or in literary or dramatic representation; an assumed character. [Archaic] His first appearance upon the stage in his new person of a sycophant or juggler. Bacon. No man can long put on a person and act a part. Jer. Taylor. To bear rule, which was thy part And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. Milton. How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the person of a magistrate and that of a friend! South.

2. The bodily form of a human being; body; outward appearance; as, of comely person. A fair persone, and strong, and young of age. Chaucer. If it assume my noble father's person. Shak. Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. Milton.

3. , self-conscious being, as distinct from an animal or a thing; a moral agent; a human being; a man, woman, or child. Consider what person stands for; which, I think, is a thinking, intelligent being, that has reason and reflection. Locke.

4. A human being spoken of indefinitely; one; a man; as, any person present.

5. A parson; the parish priest. [Obs.] Chaucer.

6. (Theol.)

Defn: Among Trinitarians, one of the three subdivisions of the Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost); an hypostasis. "Three persons and one God." Bk. of Com. Prayer.

7. (Gram.)

Defn: One of three relations or conditions (that of speaking, that of being spoken to, and that of being spoken of) pertaining to a noun or a pronoun, and thence also to the verb of which it may be the subject.

Note: A noun or pronoun, when representing the speaker, is said to be in the first person; when representing what is spoken to, in the second person; when representing what is spoken of, in the third person.

8. (Biol.)

Defn: A shoot or bud of a plant; a polyp or zooid of the compound Hydrozoa Anthozoa, etc.; also, an individual, in the narrowest sense, among the higher animals. Haeckel. True corms, composed of united personæ . . . usually arise by gemmation, . . . yet in sponges and corals occasionally by fusion of several originally distinct persons. Encyc. Brit. Artificial, or Fictitious, person (Law), a corporation or body politic. blackstone. -- Natural person (Law), a man, woman, or child, in distinction from a corporation. -- In person, by one's self; with bodily presence; not by representative. "The king himself in person is set forth." Shak. -- In the person of, in the place of; acting for. Shak.

PERSON Per"son, v. t.

Defn: To represent as a person; to personify; to impersonate. [Obs.] Milton.

PERSONA Per*so"na, n.; pl. Personæ. Etym: [L.] (Biol.)

Defn: Same as Person, n., 8.

PERSONABLE Per"son*a*ble, a.

1. Having a well-formed body, or person; graceful; comely; of good appearance; presentable; as, a personable man or woman. Wise, warlike, personable, courteous, and kind. Spenser. The king, . . . so visited with sickness, was not personable. E. Hall.

2. (Law) (a) Enabled to maintain pleas in court. Cowell. (b) Having capacity to take anything granted.

PERSONAGE Per"son*age, n. Etym: [F. personnage.]

1. Form, appearance, or belongings of a person; the external appearance, stature, figure, air, and the like, of a person. "In personage stately." Hayward. The damsel well did view his personage. Spenser.

2. Character assumed or represented. "The actors and personages of this fable." Broome. "Disguised in a false personage." Addison.

3. A notable or distinguished person; a conspicious or peculiar character; as, an illustrious personage; a comely personage of stature tall. Spenser.

PERSONAL Per"son*al, a. Etym: [L. personalis: cf. F. personnel.]

1. Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things. Every man so termed by way of personal difference. Hooker.

2. Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general; as, personal comfort; personal desire. The words are conditional, -- If thou doest well, -- and so personal to Cain. Locke.

3. Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms. Addison.

4. Done in person; without the intervention of another. "Personal communication." Fabyan. The immediate and personal speaking of God. White.

5. Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.

6. (Gram.)

Defn: Denoting person; as, a personal pronoun. Personal action (Law), a suit or action by which a man claims a debt or personal duty, or damages in lieu of it; or wherein he claims satisfaction in damages for an injury to his person or property, or the specific recovery of goods or chattels; -- opposed to real action. -- Personal equation. (Astron.) See under Equation. -- Personal estate or property (Law), movables; chattels; -- opposed to real estate or property. It usually consists of things temporary and movable, including all subjects of property not of a freehold nature. -- Personal identity (Metaph.), the persistent and continuous unity of the individual person, which is attested by consciousness. -- Personal pronoun (Gram.), one of the pronouns I, thou, he, she, it, and their plurals. -- Personal representatives (Law), the executors or administrators of a person deceased. -- Personal rights, rights appertaining to the person; as, the rights of a personal security, personal liberty, and private property. -- Personal tithes. See under Tithe. -- Personal verb (Gram.), a verb which is modified or inflected to correspond with the three persons.

PERSONAL Per"son*al, n. (Law)

Defn: A movable; a chattel.

PERSONALISM Per"son*al*ism, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being personal; personality. [R.]

PERSONALITY Per`son*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Personalities. Etym: [Cf. F. personnalité. Cf. Personality.]

1. That which constitutes distinction of person; individuality. Personality is individuality existing in itself, but with a nature as a ground. Coleridge.

2. Something said or written which refers to the person, conduct, etc., of some individual, especially something of a disparaging or offensive nature; personal remarks; as, indulgence in personalities. Sharp personalities were exchanged. Macaulay.

3. (Law)

Defn: That quality of a law which concerns the condition, state, and capacity of persons. Burrill.

PERSONALIZE Per"son*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Personalizing.]

Defn: To make personal. "They personalize death." H. Spencer.

PERSONALLY Per"son*al*ly, adv.

1. In a personal manner; by bodily presence; in person; not by representative or substitute; as, to deliver a letter personally. He, being cited, personally came not. Grafton.

2. With respect to an individual; as regards the person; individually; particularly. She bore a mortal hatred to the house of Lancaster, and personally to the king. Bacon.

3. With respect to one's individuality; as regards one's self; as, personally I have no feeling in the matter.

PERSONALTY Per"son*al*ty, n.

1. The state of being a person; personality. [R.]

2. (Law)

Defn: Personal property, as distinguished from realty or real property.

PERSONATE Per"son*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personated; p. pr. & vb. n. Personating.] Etym: [L. personare to cry out, LL., to extol. See Person.]

Defn: To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise. [Obs.] In fable, hymn, or song so personating Their gods ridiculous. Milton.

PERSONATE Per"son*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. personatus masked, assumed, fictitious, fr. persona a mask. See Person.]

1. To assume the character of; to represent by a fictitious appearance; to act the part of; hence, to counterfeit; to feign; as, he tried to personate his brother; a personated devotion. Hammond.

2. To set forth in an unreal character; to disguise; to mask. [R.] "A personated mate." Milton.

3. To personify; to typify; to describe. Shak.

PERSONATE Per"son*ate, v. i.

Defn: To play or assume a character.

PERSONATE Per"son*ate, a. Etym: [L. personatus masked.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the throat of a bilabiate corolla nearly closed by a projection of the base of the lower lip; masked, as in the flower of the snapdragon.

PERSONATION Per`son*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of personating, or conterfeiting the person or character of another.

PERSONATOR Per"son*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who personates. "The personators of these actions." B. Jonson.

PERSONEITY Per`son*e"i*ty, n.

Defn: Personality. [R.] Coleridge.

PERSONIFICATION Per*son`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. personnification.]

1. The act of personifying; impersonation; embodiment. C. Knight.

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstract idea is represented as animated, or endowed with personality; prosopopas, the floods clap their hands. "Confusion heards his voice." Milton.

PERSONIFIER Per*son"i*fi`er, n.

Defn: One who personifies.

PERSONIFY Per*son"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personified; p. pr. & vb. n. Personifying.] Etym: [Person + -fy: cf. F. personnifier.]

1. To regard, treat, or represent as a person; to represent as a rational being. The poets take the liberty of personifying inanimate things. Chesterfield.

2. To be the embodiment or personification of; to impersonate; as, he personifies the law.

PERSONIZE Per"son*ize, v. t.

Defn: To personify. [R.] Milton has personized them. J. Richardson.

PERSONNEL Per`son`nel", n. Etym: [F. See Personal.]

Defn: The body of persons employed in some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; -- distinguished from matériel.

PERSPECTIVE Per*spec"tive, a. Etym: [L. perspicere, perspectum, to look through; per + spicere, specere, to look: cf. F. perspectif; or from E. perspective, n. See Spy, n.]

1. Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective. Perspective plane, the plane or surface on which the objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of projection; -- distinguished from the ground plane, which is that on which the objects are represented as standing. When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the object, the perspective is called oblique perspective; when parallel to that face, parallel perspective. -- Perspective shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Solarium and allied genera. See Solarium.

PERSPECTIVE Per*spec"tive, n. Etym: [F. perspective, fr. perspectif: cf. It. perspettiva. See Perspective, a.]

1. A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] "Not a perspective, but a mirror." Sir T. Browne.

2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista. "The perspective of life." Goldsmith.

3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aërial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects. Aërial perspective is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of color, etc. Ruskin.

4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; -- called also linear perspective.

5. A drawing in linear perspective. Isometrical perspective, an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube. -- Perspective glass, a telescope which shows objects in the right position.

PERSPECTIVELY Per*spec"tive*ly, adv.

1. Optically; as through a glass. [R.] You see them perspectively. Shak.

2. According to the rules of perspective.

PERSPECTOGRAPH Per*spec"to*graph, n. Etym: [L. perspectus (p.p. of perspicere to look through) + -graph.]

Defn: An instrument for obtaining, and transferring to a picture, the points and outlines of objects, so as to represent them in their proper geometrical relations as viewed from some one point.

PERSPECTOGRAPHY Per`spec*tog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The science or art of delineating objects according to the laws of perspective; the theory of perspective.

PERSPICABLE Per"spi*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. perspicabilis, fr. perspicere.]

Defn: Discernible. [Obs.] Herbert.

PERSPICACIOUS Per`spi*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. perspicax, -acis, fr. perspicere to look through: cf. F. perspicace. See Perspective.]

1. Having the power of seeing clearly; quick-sighted; sharp of sight.

2. Fig.: Of acute discernment; keen. -- Per`spi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`spi*ca"cious*ness, n.

PERSPICACITY Per`spi*cac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perspicacitas: cf. F. perspicacité. See Perspicacious.]

Defn: The state of being perspicacious; acuteness of sight or of intelligence; acute discernment. Sir T. Browne.

PERSPICACY Per"spi*ca*cy, n.

Defn: Perspicacity. [Obs.]

PERSPICIENCE Per*spi"cience, n. Etym: [L. perspicientia, fr. perspiciens, p.p. of perspicere. See Perspective.]

Defn: The act of looking sharply. [Obs.] Bailey.

PERSPICIL Per"spi*cil, n. Etym: [LL. perspicilla, fr. L. perspicere to look through.]

Defn: An optical glass; a telescope. [Obs.] Crashaw.

PERSPICUITY Per`spi*cu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perspicuitas: cf. F. perspicuité.]

1. The quality or state of being transparent or translucent. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. The quality of being perspicuous to the understanding; clearness of expression or thought.

3. Sagacity; perspicacity.

Syn. -- Clearness; perspicuousness; plainness; distinctness; lucidity; transparency. See Clearness.

PERSPICUOUS Per*spic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. perspicuus, from perspicere to look through. See Perspective.]

1. Capable of being through; transparent; translucent; not opaque. [Obs.] Peacham.

2. Clear to the understanding; capable of being clearly understood; clear in thought or in expression; not obscure or ambiguous; as, a perspicuous writer; perspicuous statements. "The purpose is perspicuous." Shak. -- Per*spic"u*ous*ly, adv. -- Per*spic"u*ous*ness, n.

PERSPIRABILITY Per*spir`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perspirable.

PERSPIRABLE Per*spir"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perspirable.]

1. Capable of being perspired. Sir T. Browne.

2. Emitting perspiration; perspiring. [R.] Bacon.

PERSPIRATION Per`spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perspiration.]

1. The act or process of perspiring.

2. That which is excreted through the skin; sweat.

Note: A man of average weight throws off through the skin during 24 hours about 18 ounces of water, 300 grains of solid matter, and 400 grains of carbonic acid gas. Ordinarily, this constant exhalation is not apparent, and the excretion is then termed insensible perspiration.

PERSPIRATIVE Per*spir"a*tive, a.

Defn: Performing the act of perspiration; perspiratory.

PERSPIRATORY Per*spir"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or producing, perspiration; as, the perspiratory ducts.

PERSPIRE Per*spire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Perspiring.] Etym: [L. perspirare to breathe through; per + spirare. See Per-, and Spirit.]

1. (Physiol.)

Defn: To excrete matter through the skin; esp., to excrete fluids through the pores of the skin; to sweat.

2. To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin; as, a fluid perspires.

PERSPIRE Per*spire", v. t.

Defn: To emit or evacuate through the pores of the skin; to sweat; to excrete through pores. Firs . . . perspire a fine balsam of turpentine. Smollett.

PERSTREPEROUS Per*strep"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. perstrepere to make a great noise.]

Defn: Noisy; obstreperous. [Obs.] Ford.

PERSTRINGE Per*stringe", v. t. Etym: [L. perstringere; per + stringere to bind up, to touch upon.]

1. To touch; to graze; to glance on. [Obs.]

2. To criticise; to touch upon. [R.] Evelyn.

PERSUADABLE Per*suad"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be persuaded. -- Per*suad"a*ble*ness, n. -- Per*suad"a*bly, adv.

PERSUADE Per*suade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persuaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Persuading.] Etym: [L. persuadere, persuasum; per + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. persuader. See Per-, and Suasion.]

1. To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. We will persuade him, be it possible. Shak.

2. To try to influence. [Obsolescent] Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you. 2 Kings xviii. 32.

3. To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe. Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. Heb. vi. 9.

4. To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend. Jer. Taylor.

Syn. -- To convince; induce; prevail on; win over; allure; entice. See Convince.

PERSUADE Per*suade", v. i.

Defn: To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion. Shak.

PERSUADE Per*suade", n.

Defn: Persuasion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

PERSUADED Per*suad"ed, p. p. & a.

Defn: Prevailed upon; influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced. -- Per*suad"ed*ly, adv. -- Per*suad"ed*ness, n.

PERSUADER Per*suad"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, persuades or influences. "Powerful persuaders." Milton.

PERSUASIBILITY Per*sua`si*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capability of being persuaded. Hawthorne.

PERSUASIBLE Per*sua"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. L. persuasibilis persuasive, F. persuasible persuasible.]

1. Capable of being persuaded; persuadable.

2. Persuasive. [Obs.] Bale. -- Per*sua"si*ble*ness, n. -- Per*sua"si*bly, adv.

PERSUASION Per*sua"sion, n. Etym: [L. persuasio; Cf. F. persuasion.]

1. The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination. For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion. Otway.

2. The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced. If the general persuasion of all men does so account it. Hooker. My firm persuasion is, at least sometimes, That Heaven will weigh man's virtues and his crimes With nice attention. Cowper.

3. A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions; as, of the same persuasion; all persuasions are agreed. Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Jefferson.

4. The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness. Is 't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion Shak.

5. That which persuades; a persuasive. [R.]

Syn. -- See Conviction.

PERSUASIVE Per*sua"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. persuasif.]

Defn: Tending to persuade; having the power of persuading; as, persuasive eloquence. "Persuasive words." Milton.

PERSUASIVE Per*sua"sive, n.

Defn: That which persuades; an inducement; an incitement; an exhortation. -- Per*sua"sive*ly, adv. -- Per*sua"sive*ness, n.

PERSUASORY Per*sua"so*ry, a.

Defn: Persuasive. Sir T. Browne.

PERSULPHATE Per*sul"phate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A sulphate of the peroxide of any base. [R.]

PERSULPHIDE Per*sul"phide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A sulphide containing more sulphur than some other compound of the same elements; as, iron pyrites is a persulphide; -- formerly called persulphuret.

PERSULPHOCYANATE Per*sul`pho*cy"a*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of persulphocyanic acid. [R.]

PERSULPHOCYANIC Per*sul`pho*cy*an"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a yellow crystalline substance (called also perthiocyanic acid), analogous to sulphocyanic acid, but containing more sulphur.

PERSULPHOCYANOGEN Per*sul`pho*cy*an"o*gen, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An orange-yellow substance, produced by the action of chlorine or boiling dilute nitric acid and sulphocyanate of potassium; -- called also pseudosulphocyanogen, perthiocyanogen, and formerly sulphocyanogen.

PERSULPHURET Per*sul"phu*ret, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A persulphide. [Obs.]

PERT Pert, a. Etym: [An aphetic form of OE. & OF. apert open, known, true, free, or impudent. See Apert.]

1. Open; evident; apert. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

2. Lively; brisk; sprightly; smart. [Obs.] Shak.

3. Indecorously free, or presuming; saucy; bold; impertinent. "A very pert manner." Addison. The squirrel, flippant, pert, and full of play. Cowper.

PERT Pert, v. i.

Defn: To behave with pertness. [Obs.] Gauden.

PERTAIN Per*tain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Pertaining.] Etym: [OE. partenen, OF. partenir, fr. L. pertinere to stretch out, reach, pertain; per + tenere to hold, keep. See Per-, and Tenable, and cf. Appertain, Pertinent.]

1. To belong; to have connection with, or dependence on, something, as an appurtenance, attribute, etc.; to appertain; as, saltness pertains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life. Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them. Hayward.

2. To have relation or reference to something. These words pertain unto us at this time as they pertained to them at their time. Latimer.

PERTEREBRATION Per*ter`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perterebratus, p.p. of perterebrare to bore through.]

Defn: The act of boring through. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

PERTHIOCYANOGEN Per*thi`o*cy*an"o*gen, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Persulphocyanogen.

PERTHITE Perth"ite, n. Etym: [So called from Perth, in canada.] (Min.)

Defn: A kind of feldspar consisting of a laminated intertexture of albite and orthoclase, usually of different colors. -- Per*thit"ic, a.

PERTINACIOUS Per`ti*na"cious, a.Etym: [L. pertinax, -acis; per + tenax tenacious. See Per-, and Tenacious.]

1. Holding or adhering to any opinion, purpose, or design, with obstinacy; perversely persistent; obstinate; as, pertinacious plotters; a pertinacious beggar.

2. Resolute; persevering; constant; steady. Diligence is a steady, constant, and pertinacious study. South.

Syn. -- Obstinate; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; resolute; determined; firm; constant; steady. -- Per`ti*na"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`ti*na"cious*ness, n.

PERTINACITY Per`ti*nac"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pertinacité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being pertinacious; obstinacy; perseverance; persistency. Macaulay.

Syn. -- See Obstinacy.

PERTINACY Per"ti*na*cy, n. Etym: [L. pertinere to pertain. See Pertinence.]

Defn: The quality or state of being pertinent; pertinence. [Obs.]

PERTINACY Per"ti*na*cy, n. Etym: [L. pertinacia, fr. pertinax. See Pertinacious.]

Defn: Pertinacity. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERTINATE Per"ti*nate, a.

Defn: Pertinacious. [Obs.]

PERTINATELY Per"ti*nate*ly, adv.

Defn: Pertinaciously. [Obs.]

PERTINENCE; PERTINENCY Per"ti*nence, Per"ti*nen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pertinence. See Pertinent.]

Defn: The quality or state of being pertinent; justness of relation to the subject or matter in hand; fitness; appositeness; relevancy; suitableness. The fitness and pertinency of the apostle's discourse. Bentley.

PERTINENT Per"ti*nent, a. Etym: [L. pertinens, -entis, p.pr. of pertinere: cf. F. pertinent. See Pertain.]

1. Belonging or related to the subject or matter in hand; fit or appropriate in any way; adapted to the end proposed; apposite; material; relevant; as, pertinent illustrations or arguments; pertinent evidence.

2. Regarding; concerning; belonging; pertaining. [R.] "Pertinent unto faith." Hooker.

Syn. -- Apposite; relevant; suitable; appropriate; fit. -- Per"ti*nent*ly, adv. -- Per"ti*nent*ness, n.

PERTLY Pert"ly, adv.

Defn: In a pert manner.

PERTNESS Pert"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being pert.

PERTRANSIENT Per*tran"sient, a. Etym: [L. pertransiens, p.pr. of pertransire.]

Defn: Passing through or over. [R.]

PERTURB Per*turb", v. t. Etym: [L. perturbare, perturbatum; per + turbare to disturb, fr. turba a disorder: cf. OF. perturber. See Per-, and Turbid.]

1. To disturb; to agitate; to vex; to trouble; to disquiet. Ye that . . . perturb so my feast with crying. Chaucer.

2. To disorder; to confuse. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

PERTURBABILITY Per*turb`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perturbable.

PERTURBABLE Per*turb"a*ble, a.

Defn: Liable to be perturbed or agitated; liable to be disturbed or disquieted.

PERTURBANCE Per*turb"ance, n.

Defn: Disturbance; perturbation. [R.] "Perturbance of the mind." Sharp.

PERTURBATE Per"tur*bate, v. t. Etym: [From L. perturbatus, p.p.]

Defn: To perturb. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

PERTURBATE Per"tur*bate, a.

Defn: Perturbed; agitated. [R.]

PERTURBATION Per`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. perturbatio: cf. F. perturbation.]

1. The act of perturbing, or the state of being perturbed; esp., agitation of mind.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A disturbance in the regular elliptic or other motion of a heavenly body, produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion; as, the perturbations of the planets are caused by their attraction on each other. Newcomb.

PERTURBATIONAL Per`tur*ba"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to perturbation, esp. to the perturbations of the planets. "The perturbational theory." Sir J. Herschel.

PERTURBATIVE Per"tur*ba*tive, a.

Defn: Tending to cause perturbation; disturbing. Sir J. Herschel.

PERTURBATOR Per"tur*ba`tor, n.

Defn: A perturber. [R.]

PERTURBED Per*turbed", a.

Defn: Agitated; disturbed; troubled. Shak. -- Per*turb"ed*ly, adv.

PERTURBER Per*turb"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, perturbs, or cause perturbation.

PERTUSATE Per*tus"ate, a. Etym: [See Pertuse.] (Bot.)

Defn: Pierced at the apex.

PERTUSE; PERTUSED Per*tuse", Per*tused", a. Etym: [L. pertusus, p.p. of pertundere to beat or thrust through, to bore through; per + tundere to beat: cf. F. pertus. Cf. Pierce.]

Defn: Punched; pierced with, or having, holes.

PERTUSION Per*tu"sion, n. Etym: [L. pertusio.]

Defn: The act of punching or piercing with a pointed instrument; as, pertusion of a vein. [R.] Arbuthnot.

2. A punched hole; a perforation. Bacon.

PERTUSSIS Per*tus"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. per through, very + tussis cough.] (Med.)

Defn: The whooping cough.

PERUKE Per"uke, n. Etym: [F. perruque, It. perrucca, parrucca, fr. L. pilus hair. Cf. Periwig, Wig, Peel to strip off, Plush, Pile a hair.]

Defn: A wig; a periwig.

PERUKE Per"uke, v. t.

Defn: To dress with a peruke. [R.]

PERULA Per"u*la, n.; pl. Perulæ. Etym: [L., dim. of pera wallet, Gr. pérule.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the scales of a leaf bud.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A pouchlike portion of the perianth in certain orchides.

PERULE Per"ule, n.

Defn: Same as Perula.

PERUSAL Pe*rus"al, n. Etym: [From Peruse.]

1. The act of carefully viewing or examining. [R.] Tatler.

2. The act of reading, especially of reading through or with care. Woodward.

PERUSE Pe*ruse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perused; p. pr. & vb. n. Perusing.] Etym: [Pref. per- + use.]

1. To observe; to examine with care. [R.] Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed. Milton.

2. To read through; to read carefully. Shak.

PERUSER Pe*rus"er, n.

Defn: One who peruses.

PERUVIAN Pe*ru"vi*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. péruvien, Sp. peruviano.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America. -- n.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Peru. Peruvian balsam. See Balsam of Peru, under Balsam. -- Peruvian bark, the bitter bark of trees of various species of Cinchona. It acts as a powerful tonic, and is a remedy for malarial diseases. This property is due to several alkaloids, as quinine, cinchonine, etc., and their compounds; -- called also Jesuit's bark, and cinchona. See Cinchona.

PERVADE Per*vade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pervaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pervading.] Etym: [L. pervadere, pervasum; per + vadere to go, to walk. See Per-, and Wade.]

1. To pass or flow through, as an aperture, pore, or interstice; to permeate. That labyrinth is easily pervaded. Blackstone.

2. To pass or spread through the whole extent of; to be diffused throughout. A spirit of cabal, intrigue, and proselytism pervaded all their thoughts, words, and actions. Burke.

PERVASION Per*va"sion, n. Etym: [L. pervasio. See Pervade.]

Defn: The act of pervading, passing, or spreading through the whole extent of a thing. Boyle.

PERVASIVE Per*va"sive, a.

Defn: Tending to pervade, or having power to spread throughout; of a pervading quality. "Civilization pervasive and general." M. Arnold.

PERVERSE Per*verse", a. Etym: [L. perversus turned the wrong way, not right, p.p. of pervertereto turn around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers. See Pervert.]

1. Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted. The only righteous in a word perverse. Milton.

2. Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary. To so perverse a sex all grace is vain. Dryden.

Syn. -- Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable; intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious. -- Perverse, Froward. One who is froward is capricious, and reluctant to obey. One who is perverse has a settled obstinacy of will, and likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to the will of others.

PERVERSED Per*versed", a.

Defn: Turned aside. [Obs.]

PERVERSEDLY Per*vers"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Perversely. [Obs.]

PERVERSELY Per*verse"ly, adv.

Defn: In a perverse manner.

PERVERSENESS Per*verse"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perverse. "Virtue hath some perverseness." Donne.

PERVERSION Per*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. perversio: cf. F. perversion. See Pervert.]

Defn: The act of perverting, or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use. "Violations and perversions of the laws." Bacon.

PERVERSITY Per*ver"si*ty, n. Etym: [L. perversitas: cf. F. perversité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being perverse; perverseness.

PERVERSIVE Per*ver"sive, a.

Defn: Tending to pervert.

PERVERT Per*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Perverting.] Etym: [F. pervertir, L. pervertere, perversum; per + vertere to turn. See Per-, and Verse.]

1. To turnanother way; to divert. [Obs.] Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath. Shak.

2. To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt; also, to misapply; to misinterpret designedly; as, to pervert one's words. Dryden. He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve. Milton.

PERVERT Per*vert", v. i.

Defn: To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [R.] Testament of Love.

PERVERT Per"vert, n.

Defn: One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error, especially in religion; -- opposed to convert. See the Synonym of Convert. That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre. Thackeray.

PERVERTER Per*vert"er, n.

Defn: One who perverts (a person or thing). "His own parents his perverters." South. "A perverter of his law." Bp. Stillingfleet.

PERVERTIBLE Per*vert"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being perverted.

PERVESTIGATE Per*ves"ti*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. pervestigatus, p.p. of pervestigare.]

Defn: To investigate thoroughly. [Obs.]

PERVESTIGATION Per*ves`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. pervestigatio.]

Defn: Thorough investigation. [Obs.] Chillingworth.

PERVIAL Per"vi*al, a. Etym: [See Pervious.]

Defn: Pervious. [Obs.] -- Per"vi*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] Chapman.

PERVICACIOUS Per`vi*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. pervicax, -acis.]

Defn: Obstinate; willful; refractory. [Obs.] -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ness, n. [Obs.]

PERVICACITY Per`vi*cac"i*ty, n.

Defn: Obstinacy; pervicaciousness. [Obs.] Bentley.

PERVICACY Per"vi*ca*cy, n. Etym: [L. pervicacia.]

Defn: Pervicacity. [Obs.]

PERVIGILATION Per*vig`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. pervigilatio, fr. pervigilare.]

Defn: Careful watching. [Obs.]

PERVIOUS Per"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. pervis; per + via a way. See Per-, and Voyage.]

1. Admitting passage; capable of being penetrated by another body or substance; permeable; as, a pervious soil. [Doors] . . . pervious to winds, and open every way. Pope.

2. Capable of being penetrated, or seen through, by physical or mental vision. [R.] God, whose secrets are pervious to no eye. Jer. Taylor.

3. Capable of penetrating or pervading. [Obs.] Prior.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Open; -- used synonymously with perforate, as applied to the nostrils or birds.

PERVIOUSNESS Per"vi*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being pervious; as, the perviousness of glass. Boyle.

PERVIS Per"vis, n.

Defn: See Parvis.

PERY Per"y, n.

Defn: A pear tree. See Pirie. [Obs.]

PES Pes, n.; pl. Pedes . Etym: [L., the foot.] (Anat.)

Defn: The distal segment of the hind limb of vertebrates, including the tarsus and foot.

PESADE Pe*sade", n. Etym: [F.] (Man.)

Defn: The motion of a horse when, raising his fore quarters, he keeps his hind feet on the ground without advancing; rearing.

PESAGE Pes"age, n. Etym: [F., fr. peser to weigh.]

Defn: A fee, or toll, paid for the weighing of merchandise.

PESANE Pes"ane, n. (Anc. Armor.)

Defn: See Pusane.

PESANTED Pes"ant*ed, a. Etym: [F. pesant heavy.]

Defn: Made heavy or dull; debased. [Obs.] "Pesanted to each lewd thought's control." Marston.

PESCHITO Pe*schit"o, n.

Defn: See Peshito.

PESE Pese, n. Etym: [See Pea.]

Defn: A pea. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PESETA Pe*se"ta, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A Spanish silver coin, and money of account, equal to about nineteen cents, and divided into 100 centesimos.

PESHITO; PESHITTO Pe*shit"o, Pe*shit"to, n. Etym: [Syriac peshîtâ simple.]

Defn: The earliest Syriac version of the Old Testament, translated from Hebrew; also, the incomplete Syriac version of the New Testament. [Written also peschito.]

PESKY Pes"ky, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Pestering; vexatious; troublesome. Used also as an intensive. [Colloq. & Low, U.S.] Judd.

PESO Pe"so, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A Spanish dollar; also, an Argentine, Chilian, Colombian, etc., coin, equal to from 75 cents to a dollar; also, a pound weight.

PESSARY Pes"sa*ry, n.; pl. Pessaries. Etym: [L. pessarium, pessum, pessus, Gr. pessaire.] (Med.) (a) An instrument or device to be introduced into and worn in the vagina, to support the uterus, or remedy a malposition. (b) A medicinal substance in the form of a bolus or mass, designed for introduction into the vagina; a vaginal suppository.

PESSIMISM Pes"si*mism, n. Etym: [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.]

1. (Metaph.)

Defn: The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the world is wholly evil; -- opposed to Ant: optimism.

2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.

PESSIMIST Pes"si*mist, n. Etym: [L. pessimus worst: cf. F. pessimiste.]

1. (Metaph.)

Defn: One who advocates the doctrine of pessimism; -- opposed to Ant: optimist.

2. One who looks on the dark side of things.

PESSIMIST; PESSIMISTIC Pes"si*mist, Pes`si*mis"tic, a. (Metaph.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to pessimism; characterized by pessimism; gloomy; foreboding. "Giving utterance to pessimistic doubt." Encyc. Brit.

PESSIMISTICAL Pes`si*mis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Pessimistic.

PESSIMIZE Pes"si*mize, v. i.

Defn: To hold or advocate the doctrine of pessimism. London Sat. Rev.

PESSULUS Pes"su*lus, n.; pl. Pessuli. Etym: [L., a bolt.] (Anat.)

Defn: A delicate bar of cartilage connecting the dorsal and ventral extremities of the first pair of bronchial cartilages in the syrinx of birds.

PEST Pest, n. Etym: [L. pestis: cf. F. peste.]

1. A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague. England's sufferings by that scourge, the pest. Cowper.

2. Anything which resembles a pest; one who, or that which, is troublesome, noxious, mischievous, or destructive; a nuisance. "A pest and public enemy." South.

PESTALOZZIAN Pes`ta*loz"zi*an, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or characteristic of, a system of elementary education which combined manual training with other instruction, advocated and practiced by Jean Henri Pestalozzi (1746-1827), a Swiss teacher. -- n.

Defn: An advocate or follower of the system of Pestalozzi.

PESTALOZZIANISM Pes`ta*loz"zi*an*ism, n.

Defn: The system of education introduced by Pestalozzi.

PESTER Pes"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pestered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pestering.] Etym: [Abbrev. fr. impester, fr. OF. empaistrier, empestrer, to entangle the feet or legs, to embarrass, F. empêtrer; pref. em-, en- (L. in in) + LL. pastorium, pastoria, a fetter by which horses are prevented from wandering in the pastures, fr. L. pastorius belonging to a herdsman or shepherd, pastor a herdsman. See In, and Pasture, Pastor.]

1. To trouble; to disturb; to annoy; to harass with petty vexations. We are pestered with mice and rats. Dr. H. More. A multitude of scribblers daily pester the world. Dryden.

2. To crowd together in an annoying way; to overcrowd; to infest. [Obs.] Milton. All rivers and pools . . . pestered full with fishes. Holland.

PESTERER Pes"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who pesters or harasses.

PESTERMENT Pes"ter*ment, n.

Defn: The act of pestering, or the state of being pestered; vexation; worry. "The trouble and pesterment of children." B. Franklin.

PESTEROUS Pes"ter*ous, a.

Defn: Inclined to pester. Also, vexatious; encumbering; burdensome. [Obs.] Bacon.

PESTFUL Pest"ful, a.

Defn: Pestiferous. "After long and pestful calms." Coleridge.

PESTHOUSE Pest`house", n.

Defn: A house or hospital for persons who are infected with any pestilential disease.

PESTIDUCT Pes"ti*duct, n. Etym: [L. pestis pest + ductus a leading, fr. ducere to lead.]

Defn: That which conveys contagion or infection. [Obs.] Donne.

PESTIFEROUS Pes*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pestiferus, pestifer; pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestifère.]

1. Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. "Poor, pestiferous creatures begging alms." Evelyn. "Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations." Burke.

2. Noxious to peace, to morals, or to society; vicious; hurtful; destructive; as, a pestiferous demagogue. Pestiferous reports of men very nobly held. Shak.

PESTIFEROUSLY Pes*tif"er*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pestiferuos manner.

PESTILENCE Pes"ti*lence, n. Etym: [F. pestilence, L. pestilentia. See Pestilent.]

1. Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. The pestilence That walketh in darkness. Ps. xci. 6.

2. Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers. I'll pour this pestilence into his ear. Shak. Pestilence weed (Bot.), the butterbur coltsfoot (Petasites vulgaris), so called because formerly considered a remedy for the plague. Dr. Prior.

PESTILENT Pes"ti*lent, a. Etym: [L. pestilens, -entis, fr. pestis pest: cf. F. pestilent.]

Defn: Pestilential; noxious; pernicious; mischievous. "Corrupt and pestilent." Milton. "What a pestilent knave is this same!" Shak.

PESTILENTIAL Pes`ti*len"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pestilentiel.]

1. Having the nature or qualities of a pestilence. "Sends the pestilential vapors." Longfellow.

2. Hence: Mischievous; noxious; pernicious; morally destructive. So pestilential, so infectious a thing is sin. Jer. Taylor.

PESTILENTIALLY Pes`ti*len"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: Pestilently.

PESTILENTIOUS Pes`ti*len"tious, a.

Defn: Pestilential. [Obs.]

PESTILENTLY Pes"ti*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pestilent manner; mischievously; destructively. "Above all measure pestilently noisome." Dr. H. More.

PESTILENTNESS Pes"ti*lent*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being pestilent.

PESTILLATION Pes`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. pestillum, L. pistillum. See Pestle.]

Defn: The act of pounding and bruising with a pestle in a mortar. Sir T. Browne.

PESTLE Pes"tle, n. Etym: [OE. pestel, OF. pestel, LL. pestellum, L. pistillum, pistillus, a pounder, pestle, fr. pisere, pinsere, to pound, crush, akin to Gr. pish. Cf. Pistil.]

1. An implement for pounding and breaking or braying substances in a mortar.

2. A constable's or bailiff's staff; -- so called from its shape. [Obs.] Chapman.

3. The leg and leg bone of an animal, especially of a pig; as, a pestle of pork.

PESTLE Pes"tle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Pestled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pestling.]

Defn: To pound, pulverize, bray, or mix with a pestle, or as with a pestle; to use a pestle.

PET Pet, n. Etym: [Formerly peat, perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.]

1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.

2. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite child. The love of cronies, pets, and favorites. Tatler.

3. Etym: [Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the behavior or humor of a spoiled child.]

Defn: A slight fit of peevishness or fretfulness. "In a pet she started up." Tennyson.

PET Pet, a.

Defn: Petted; indulged; admired; cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet theory. Some young lady's pet curate. F. Harrison. Pet cock. Etym: [Perh. for petty cock.] (Mach.) A little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.

PET Pet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petted; p. pr. & vb. n. Petting.]

Defn: To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge; as, she was petted and spoiled.

PET Pet, v. i.

Defn: To be a pet. Feltham.

PETAL Pet"al, n. Etym: [Gr. pétale. See Fathom.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the leaves of the corolla, or the colored leaves of a flower. See Corolla, and Illust. of Flower.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the expanded ambulacra which form a rosette on the black of certain Echini.

PETALED Pet"aled, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having petals; as, a petaled flower; -- opposed to Ant: apetalous, and much used in compounds; as, one-petaled, three- petaled, etc.

PETALIFEROUS Pet`al*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Petal + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing petals.

PETALIFORM Pe*tal"i*form, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a petal; petaloid; petal-shaped.

PETALINE Pet"al*ine, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétalin.] (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining to a petal; attached to, or resembling, a petal.

PETALISM Pet"al*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. pétalisme.] (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A form of sentence among the ancient Syracusans by which they banished for five years a citizen suspected of having dangerous influence or ambition. It was similar to the ostracism in Athens; but olive leaves were used instead of shells for ballots.

PETALITE Pet"al*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétalite.] (Min.)

Defn: A rare mineral, occurring crystallized and in cleavable masses, usually white, or nearly so, in color. It is a silicate of aluminia and lithia.

PETALODY Pe*tal"o*dy, n. Etym: [Petal + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The metamorphosis of various floral organs, usually stamens, into petals.

PETALOID Pet"al*oid, a. Etym: [Petal + -oid: cf. F. pétaloïde.] (Bot.)

Defn: Petaline.

PETALOIDEOUS Pet`al*oid"e*ous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the whole or part of the perianth petaline. Petaloideous division, that division of endogenous plants in which the perianth is wholly or partly petaline, embracing the Liliaceæ, Orchidaceæ, Amaryllideæ, etc.

PETALOSTICHA Pet`a*los"ti*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Echini, including the irregular sea urchins, as the spatangoids. See Spatangoid.

PETALOUS Pet"al*ous, a.

Defn: Having petals; petaled; -- opposed to Ant: apetalous.

PETALUM Pet"a*lum, n.; pl. Petala. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: A petal.

PETAR Pe*tar", n.

Defn: See Petard. [Obs.] "Hoist with his own petar." Shak.

PETARD Pe*tard", n. Etym: [F. pétard, fr. péter to break wind, to crack, to explode, L. pedere, peditum.] (Mil.)

Defn: A case containing powder to be exploded, esp. a conical or cylindrical case of metal filled with powder and attached to a plank, to be exploded against and break down gates, barricades, drawbridges, etc. It has been superseded.

PETARDEER; PETARDIER Pet`ar*deer", Pet`ar*dier", n. Etym: [F. pétardier.] (Mil.)

Defn: One who managed a petard.

PETASUS Pet"a*sus, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: The winged cap of Mercury; also, a broad-brimmed, low-crowned hat worn by Greeks and Romans.

PETAURIST Pe*tau"rist, n. Etym: [L. petaurista a ropedancer, Gr. pétauriste.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any flying marsupial of the genera Petaurus, Phalangista, Acrobata, and allied genera. See Flying mouse, under Flying, and Phalangister.

PETECHIAE Pe*tech"i*æ, n. pl.; sing. Petechia (. Etym: [NL., fr. LL. peteccia; cf. F. pétéchie, It. petecchia, Sp. petequia, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Small crimson, purple, or livid spots, like flea-bites, due to extravasation of blood, which appear on the skin in malignant fevers, etc.

PETECHIAL Pe*tech"i*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétéchial, LL. petecchialis.] (Med.)

Defn: Characterized by, or pertaining to, petechiæ; spotted. Petechial fever, a malignant fever, accompanied with livid spots on the skin.

PETER Pe"ter, n.

Defn: A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the apostles, Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers. -- Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.] -- Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; -- called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope. -- Peter's fish (Zoöl.), a haddock; -- so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.

PETER Pet"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Petered; p. pr. & vb. n. Petering.] Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: To become exhausted; to run out; to fail; -- used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. [Slang, U.S.]

PETEREL Pet"er*el, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Petrel.

PETERERO Pet`e*re"ro, n. (Mil.)

Defn: See Pederero.

PETERMAN Pe"ter*man, n.; pl. Petermen (.

Defn: A fisherman; -- so called after the apostle Peter. [An obs. local term in Eng.] Chapman.

PETERSHAM Pe"ter*sham, n. Etym: [Named after Lord Petersham.]

Defn: A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men's overcoats; also, a coat of that material.

PETERWORT Pe"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Saint Peter's-wort, under Saint.

PETIOLAR; PETIOLARY Pet"i*o*lar, Pet"i*o*la*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétiolarie.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to petiole, or proceeding from it; as, a petiolar tendril; growing or supported upon a petiole; as, a petiolar gland; a petiolar bud.

PETIOLATE; PETIOLATED Pet"i*o*late, Pet"i*o*la`ted, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a stalk or petiole; as, a petioleate leaf; the petiolated abdomen of certain Hymenoptera.

PETIOLE Pet"i*ole, n. Etym: [F. pétiole, fr. L. petiolus a little foot, a fruit stalk; cf. pes, pedis, a foot.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A leafstalk; the footstalk of a leaf, connecting the blade with the stem. See Illust. of Leaf.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A stalk or peduncle.

PETIOLED Pet"i*oled, a.

Defn: Petiolate.

PETIOLULATE Pet`i*ol"u*late, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Supported by its own petiolule. Gray.

PETIOLULE Pet"i*o*lule, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétiolule.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small petiole, or the petiole of a leaflet.

PETIT Pet"it, a. Etym: [F. See Petty.]

Defn: Small; little; insignificant; mean; -- Same as Petty. [Obs., except in legal language.] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. Petit constable, an inferior civil officer, subordinate to the high constable. -- Petit jury, a jury of twelve men, impaneled to try causes at the bar of a court; -- so called in distinction from the grand jury. -- Petit larceny, the stealing of goods of, or under, a certain specified small value; -- opposed to grand larceny. The distinction is abolished in England. -- Petit maître (. Etym: [F., lit., little master.] A fop; a coxcomb; a ladies' man. Goldsmith. -- Petit serjeanty (Eng. Law), the tenure of lands of the crown, by the service of rendering annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, a flag, etc. -- Petit treason, formerly, in England, the crime of killing a person to whom the offender owed duty or subjection, as one's husband, master, mistress, etc. The crime is now not distinguished from murder.

PETITE Pe*tite", a. [F., fem. of petit.]

Defn: Small, little; of a woman or girl, of small size and trim figure.

PETITION Pe*ti"tion, n. Etym: [F. pétition, L. petitio, fr. petere, petitum, to beg, ask, seek; perh. akin to E. feather, or find.]

1. A prayer; a supplication; an imploration; an entreaty; especially, a request of a solemn or formal kind; a prayer to the Supreme Being, or to a person of superior power, rank, or authority; also, a single clause in such a prayer. A house of prayer and petition for thy people. 1 Macc. vii. 37. This last petition heard of all her prayer. Dryden.

2. A formal written request addressed to an official person, or to an organized body, having power to grant it; specifically (Law), a supplication to government, in either of its branches, for the granting of a particular grace or right; -- in distinction from a memorial, which calls certain facts to mind; also, the written document. Petition of right (Law), a petition to obtain possession or restitution of property, either real or personal, from the Crown, which suggests such a title as controverts the title of the Crown, grounded on facts disclosed in the petition itself. Mozley & W. -- The Petition of Right (Eng. Hist.), the parliamentary declaration of the rights of the people, assented to by Charles I.

PETITION Pe*ti"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petitioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Petitioning.]

Defn: To make a prayer or request to; to ask from; to solicit; to entreat; especially, to make a formal written supplication, or application to, as to any branch of the government; as, to petition the court; to petition the governor. You have . . . petitioned all the gods for my prosperity. Shak.

PETITION Pe*ti"tion, v. i.

Defn: To make a petition or solicitation.

PETITIONARILY Pe*ti"tion*a*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of begging the question; by an assumption. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

PETITIONARY Pe*ti"tion*a*ry, a.

1. Supplicatory; making a petition. Pardon Rome, and any petitionary countrymen. Shak.

2. Containing a petition; of the nature of a petition; as, a petitionary epistle. Swift.

PETITIONEE Pe*ti`tion*ee", n.

Defn: A person cited to answer, or defend against, a petition.

PETITIONER Pe*ti"tion*er, n.

Defn: One who presents a petition.

PETITIONING Pe*ti"tion*ing, n.

Defn: The act of presenting apetition; a supplication.

PETIT MAL Pe*tit" mal". [F., lit., little sickness.] (Med.)

Defn: The mildest form of epilepsy, with momentary faintness or unconsciousness, but without convulsions; -- opposed to grand mal.

PETITOR Pet"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. petere to seek.]

Defn: One who seeks or asks; a seeker; an applicant. [R.] Fuller.

PETITORY Pet"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. petitorius, fr. petere, petitum, to beg, ask: cf. F. pétitore.]

Defn: Petitioning; soliciting; supplicating. Sir W. Hamilton. Petitory suit or action (Admiralty Law), a suit in which the mere title to property is litigated and sought to be enforced, as distinguished from a possessory suit; also (Scots Law), a suit wherein the plaintiff claims something as due him by the defendant. Burrill.

PETONG Pe*tong", n. (Metal.)

Defn: See Packfong.

PETRALOGY Pe*tral"o*gy, n.

Defn: See Petrology.

PETRARY Pet"ra*ry, n. Etym: [L. petra stone. Cf. Sp. petraria, and E. Pederero.]

Defn: An ancient war engine for hurling stones.

PETRE Pe"tre, n.

Defn: See Saltpeter.

PETREAN Pe*tre"an, a. Etym: [L. petraeus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to to rock. G. S. Faber.

PETREL Pe"trel, n. Etym: [F. pétrel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. John i.42); -- probably so called in allusion to St.Peter's walking on the sea. See Petrify.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging to the family Procellaridæ. The small petrels, or Mother Carey's chickens, belong to Oceanites, Oceanodroma, Procellaria, and several allied genera. Diving petrel, any bird of the genus Pelecanoides. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere. -- Fulmar petrel, Giant petrel. See Fulmar. -- Pintado petrel, the Cape pigeon. See under Cape. -- Pintado petrel, any one of several small petrels, especially Procellaria pelagica, or Mother Carey's chicken, common on both sides of the Atlantic.

PETRESCENCE Pe*tres"cence, n.

Defn: The process of changing into stone; petrification.

PETRESCENT Pe*tres"cent, a. Etym: [L. petra rock, stone, Gr.

Defn: Petrifying; converting into stone; as, petrescent water. Boyle.

PETRIFACTION Pet`ri*fac"tion, n. Etym: [See Petrify.]

1. The process of petrifying, or changing into stone; conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable) into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.

2. The state or condition of being petrified.

3. That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation.

4. Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy. "Petrifaction of the soul." Cudworth.

PETRIFACTIVE Pet`ri*fac"tive, a.

1. Having the quality of converting organic matter into stone; petrifying.

2. Pertaining to, or characterized by, petrifaction. The . . . petrifactive mutations of hard bodies. Sir T. Browne.

PETRIFIC Pe*trif"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétrifique.]

Defn: Petrifying; petrifactive. Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry. Milton.

PETRIFICATE Pet"ri*fi*cate, v. t.

Defn: To petrify. [Obs.] Our hearts petrificated were. J. Hall (1646).

PETRIFICATION Pet`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétrification. See Petrify.]

1. See Petrifaction.

2. Fig.: Obduracy; callousness. Hallywell.

PETRIFY Pet"ri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petrified; p. pr. & vb. n. Petrifying.] Etym: [L. petra rock, Gr. -fy: cf. F. pétrifier. Cf. Parrot, Petrel, Pier.]

1. To convert, as any animal or vegetable matter, into stone or stony substance. A river that petrifies any sort of wood or leaves. Kirwan.

2. To make callous or obdurate; to stupefy; to paralyze; to transform; as by petrifaction; as, to petrify the heart. Young. "Petrifying accuracy." Sir W. Scott. And petrify a genius to a dunce. Pope. The poor, petrified journeyman, quite unconscious of what he was doing. De Quincey. A hideous fatalism, which ought, logically, to petrify your volition. G. Eliot.

PETRIFY Pet"ri*fy, v. i.

1. To become stone, or of a stony hardness, as organic matter by calcareous deposits.

2. Fig.: To become stony, callous, or obdurate. Like Niobe we marble grow, And petrify with grief. Dryden.

PETRINE Pe"trine, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to St.Peter; as, the Petrine Epistles.

PETRO- Pet"ro-.

Defn: A combining form from Gr. rock, stone; as, petrology, petroglyphic.

PETROGALE Pe*trog"a*le, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any Australian kangaroo of the genus Petrogale, as the rock wallaby (P. penicillata).

PETROGLYPHIC Pet`ro*glyph"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to petroglyphy.

PETROGLYPHY Pe*trog"ly*phy, n. Etym: [Petro + Gr.

Defn: The art or operation of carving figures or inscriptions on rock or stone.

PETROGRAPHIC; PETROGRAPHICAL Pet`ro*graph"ic, Pet`ro*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to petrography.

PETROGRAPHY Pe*trog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Petro + -graphy.]

1. The art of writing on stone.

2. The scientific description of rocks; that department of science which investigates the constitution of rocks; petrology.

PETROHYOID Pet`ro*hy"oid, a. Etym: [Petro + hyoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to petrous, oe periotic, portion of the skull and the hyoid arch; as, the petrohyoid muscles of the frog.

PETROL Pe*trol", n.

Defn: Petroleum. [R.]

PETROLATUM Pet`ro*la"tum, n. (Chem. & Pharm.)

Defn: A semisolid unctuous substance, neutral, and without taste or odor, derived from petroleum by distilling off the lighter portions and purifying the residue. It is a yellowish, fatlike mass, transparent in thin layers, and somewhat fluorescent. It is used as a bland protective dressing, and as a substitute for fatty materials in ointments. U. S. Pharm.

Note: Petrolatum is the official name for the purified product. Cosmoline and vaseline are commercial names for substances essentially the same, but differing slightly in appearance and consistency or fusibility.

PETROLEUM Pe*tro"le*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. petra a rock + oleum oil: cf. F. pétrole. Cf. Petrify, and Oil.]

Defn: Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc. Petroleum spirit, a volatile liquid obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum at a temperature of 170° Fahr., or below. The term is rather loosely applied to a considerable range of products, including benzine and ligroin. The terms petroleum ether, and naphtha, are sometimes applied to the still more volatile products, including rhigolene, gasoline, cymogene, etc.

PETROLEUR; PETROLEUSE Pé`tro`leur", n. m. Pé`tro`leuse", n. f.Etym: [F.]

Defn: One who makes use of petroleum for incendiary purposes.

PETROLINE Pet"ro*line, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A paraffin obtained from petroleum from Rangoon in India, and practically identical with ordinary paraffin.

PETROLOGIC; PETROLOGICAL Pet`ro*log"ic, Pet`ro*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to petrology.

PETROLOGICALLY Pet`ro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to petrology.

PETROLOGIST Pe*trol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who is versed in petrology.

PETROLOGY Pe*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Petro + -logy.]

1. The department of science which is concerned with the mineralogical and chemical composition of rocks, and with their classification: lithology.

2. A treatise on petrology.

PETROMASTOID Pet`ro*mas"toid, a. Etym: [Petro + mastoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the petrous and mastoid parts of the temporal bone, periotic.

PETROMYZONT Pet`ro*my"zont, n. Etym: [Petro + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lamprey.

PETRONEL Pet`ro*nel, n. Etym: [OF. petrinal, fr. peitrine, petrine, the breast, F. poitrine; so called because it was placed against the breast in order to fire. See Poitrel.]

Defn: A sort of hand cannon, or portable firearm, used in France in the 15th century.

PETROSAL Pe*tro"sal, a. Etym: [See Petrous.] (Anat.) (a) Hard; stony; petrous; as, the petrosal bone; petrosal part of the temporal bone. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the petrous, or petrosal, bone, or the corresponding part of the temporal bone. Petrosal bone (Anat.), a bone corresponding to the petrous portion of the temporal bone of man; or one forming more or less of the periotic capsule.

PETROSAL Pe*tro"sal, n. (Anat.) (a) A petrosal bone. (b) The auditory capsule. Owen.

PETROSILEX Pet`ro*si"lex, n. Etym: [Petro + silex.] (Min.)

Defn: Felsite.

PETROSILICIOUS Pet`ro*si*li"cious, a.

Defn: Containing, or consisting of, petrosilex.

PETROSTEARINE Pet`ro*ste"a*rine, n. Etym: [Petro + stearine.]

Defn: A solid unctuous material, of which candles are made.

PETROUS Pe"trous, a. Etym: [L. petrosus, fr. petra a stone.]

1. Like stone; hard; stony; rocky; as, the petrous part of the temporal bone. Hooper.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: Same as Petrosal.

PETTICHAPS Pet"ti*chaps, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Pettychaps.

PETTICOAT Pet"ti*coat, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Petty + coat.]

Defn: A loose under-garment worn by women, and covering the body below the waist. Petticoat government, government by women, whether in politics or domestic affairs. [Colloq.] -- Petticoat pipe (Locomotives), a short, flaring pipe surrounding the blast nozzle in the smoke box, to equalize the draft.

PETTIFOG Pet"ti*fog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pettifogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pettifogging.] Etym: [Petty + fog to pettifog.]

Defn: To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. "He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis." S. Butler.

PETTIFOG Pet"ti*fog, v. t.

Defn: To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to pettifog a claim. [Colloq.]

PETTIFOGGER Pet"ti*fog`ger, n.

Defn: A lawyer who deals in petty cases; an attorney whose methods are mean and tricky; an inferior lawyer. A pettifogger was lord chancellor. Macaulay.

PETTIFOGGERY Pet"ti*fog`ger*y, n.; pl. -ies (.

Defn: The practice or arts of a pettifogger; disreputable tricks; quibbles. Quirks of law, and pettifoggeries. Barrow.

PETTIFOGGING Pet"ti*fog`ging, a.

Defn: Paltry; quibbling; mean.

PETTIFOGGING Pet"ti*fog`ging, n.

Defn: Pettifoggery.

PETTIFOGULIZE Pet`ti*fog"u*lize, v. i.

Defn: To act as a pettifogger; to use contemptible tricks. De Quincey.

PETTILY Pet"ti*ly, adv.

Defn: In a petty manner; frivolously.

PETTINESS Pet"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being petty or paltry; littleness; meanness.

PETTISH Pet"tish, a. Etym: [From Pet.]

Defn: Fretful; peevish; moody; capricious; inclined to ill temper. "A pettish kind of humor." Sterne. -- Pet"tish*ly, adv. -- Pet"tish*ness, n.

PETTITOES Pet"ti*toes, n. pl. Etym: [Petty + toes.]

Defn: The toes or feet of a pig, -- often used as food; sometimes, in contempt, the human feet. Shak.

PETTO Pet"to, n. Etym: [It., fr. L. pectus.]

Defn: The breast. In petto, in the breast; hence, in secrecy; in reserve.

PETTY Pet"ty, a. [Compar. Pettier; superl. Pettiest.] Etym: [OE. petit, F. petit; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E. piece. Cf. Petit.]

Defn: Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince. Denham. Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under Average. -- Petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. -- Petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.

Note: For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason, See Petit.

Syn. -- Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.

PETTYCHAPS Pet"ty*chaps, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small European singing birds of the subfamily Sylviinæ, as the willow warbler, the chiff-chaff, and the golden warbler (Sylvia hortensis).

PETTYWHIN Pet"ty*whin, n. Etym: [Petty + whin.] (Bot.)

Defn: The needle furze. See under Needle.

PETULANCE; PETULANCY Pet"u*lance, Pet"u*lan*cy, n. Etym: [L. petulania: cf. F. pétulance. See Petulant.]

Defn: The quality or state of being petulant; temporary peevishness; pettishness; capricious ill humor. "The petulancy of our words." B. Jonson. Like pride in some, and like petulance in others. Clarendon. The lowering eye, the petulance, the frown. Cowper.

Syn. -- Petulance, Peevishness. -- Peevishness implies the permanence of a sour, fretful temper; petulance implies temporary or capricious irritation.

PETULANT Pet"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. petulans, -antis, prop., making slight attacks upon, from a lost dim. of petere to fall upon, to attack: cf. F. pétulant. See Petition.]

1. Forward; pert; insolent; wanton. [Obs.] Burton.

2. Capriciously fretful; characterized by ill-natured freakishness; irritable. "Petulant moods." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Irritable; ill-humored; peevish; cross; fretful; querulous.

PETULANTLY Pet"u*lant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a petulant manner.

PETULCITY Pe*tul"ci*ty, n. Etym: [See Petulcous.]

Defn: Wantonness; friskiness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

PETULCOUS Pe*tul"cous, a. Etym: [L. petulcus. Cf. Petulant.]

Defn: Wanton; frisky; lustful. [Obs.] J. V. Cane.

PETUNE Pe*tune", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petuned; p. pr. & vb. n. Petuning.] [See Petunia.] (Agric.)

Defn: To spray (tobacco) with a liquid intended to produce flavor or aroma.

PETUNIA Pe*tu"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Braz. petun tobacco.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of solanaceous herbs with funnelform or salver-shaped corollas. Two species are common in cultivation, Petunia violacera, with reddish purple flowers, and P. nyctaginiflora, with white flowers. There are also many hybrid forms with variegated corollas.

PETUNSE; PETUNTSE; PETUNTZE Pe*tunse", Pe*tuntse", Pe*tuntze", n. Etym: [From Chinese.]

Defn: Powdered fledspar, kaolin, or quartz, used in the manufacture of porcelain.

PETWORTH MARBLE Pet"worth mar"ble.

Defn: A kind of shell marble occurring in the Wealden clay at Petworth, in Sussex, England; -- called also Sussex marble.

PETZITE Petz"ite, n. Etym: [From Petz, who analyzed it.] (Min.)

Defn: A telluride of silver and gold, related to hessite.

PEUCEDANIN Peu*ced"a*nin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A tasteless white crystalline substance, extracted from the roots of the sulphurwort (Peucedanum), masterwort (Imperatoria), and other related plants; -- called also imperatorin.

PEUCIL Peu"cil, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A liquid resembling camphene, obtained by treating turpentine hydrochloride with lime. [Written also peucyl.]

PEW Pew, n. Etym: [OE. pewe, OF. puie parapet, balustrade, balcony, fr. L. podium an elevated place, a jutty, balcony, a parapet or balcony in the circus, where the emperor and other distinguished persons sat, Gr. Foot, and cf. Podium, Poy.]

1. One of the compartments in a church which are separated by low partitions, and have long seats upon which several persons may sit; - - sometimes called slip. Pews were originally made square, but are now usually long and narrow.

2. Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall, formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] Pepys. Milton. Pew opener, an usher in a church. [Eng.] Dickens.

PEW Pew, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with pews. [R.] Ash.

PEWEE Pe"wee, n. Etym: [So called from its note.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A common American tyrant flycatcher (Sayornis phoebe, or S. fuscus). Called also pewit, and phoebe.

2. The woodcock. [Local, U.S.] Wood pewee (Zoöl.), a bird (Contopus virens) similar to the pewee (See Pewee, 1), but of smaller size.

PEWET Pe"wet, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Pewit.

PEWFELLOW Pew"fel`low, n.

1. One who occupies the same pew with another.

2. An intimate associate; a companion. Shak.

PEWIT Pe"wit, n. Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. OD. piewit, D. kievit, G. kibitz.] (Zoöl.) (a) The lapwing. (b) The European black-headed, or laughing, gull (Xema ridibundus). See under Laughing. (c) The pewee. [Written also peevit, peewit, pewet.]

PEWTER Pew"ter, n. Etym: [OE. pewtyr, OF. peutre, peautre, piautre: cf. D. peauter, piauter, It. peltro, Sp. & Pg. peltre, LL. peutreum, pestrum. Cf. Spelter.]

1. A hard, tough, but easily fusible, alloy, originally consisting of tin with a little lead, but afterwards modified by the addition of copper, antimony, or bismuth.

2. Utensils or vessels made of pewter, as dishes, porringers, drinking vessels, tankards, pots.

Note: Pewter was formerly much used for domestic utensils. Inferior sorts contain a large proportion of lead.

PEWTERER Pew"ter*er, n.

Defn: One whose occupation is to make utensils of pewter; a pewtersmith. Shak.

PEWTERY Pew"ter*y, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, pewter; as, a pewtery taste.

PEXITY Pex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pexitas, fr. pexus woolly, nappy, p.p. of pectere to comb.]

Defn: Nap of cloth. [Obs.]

PEYER'S GLANDS Pey"er's glands`. Etym: [So called from J.K.Peyer, who described them in 1677.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pathches of lymphoid nodules, in the walls of the small intestiness; agminated glands; -- called also Peyer's patches. In typhoid fever they become the seat of ulcers which are regarded as the characteristic organic lesion of that disease.

PEYTREL Pey"trel, n. Etym: [OF. peitral. See Poitrel.] (Anc. Armor)

Defn: The breastplate of a horse's armor or harness. [Spelt also peitrel.] See Poitrel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PEZIZA Pe*zi"za, n. Etym: [NL., corrupt. from L. pezica a sessile mushroom, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of fungi embracing a great number of species, some of which are remarkable for their regular cuplike form and deep colors.

PEZIZOID Pez"i*zoid, a. Etym: [Peziza + -oid.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling a fungus of the genus Peziza; having a cuplike form.

PFENNIG Pfen"nig, n.; pl. Pfennigs, G. Pfennige. Etym: [G. See Penny.]

Defn: A small copper coin of Germany. It is the hundredth part of a mark, or about a quarter of a cent in United States currency.

PHACELLUS Pha*cel"lus, n.; pl. Phacelli. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the filaments on the inner surface of the gastric cavity of certain jellyfishes.

PHACOCHERE Phac"o*chere, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wart hog.

PHACOID Pha"coid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a lentil; lenticular.

PHACOLITE Phac"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A colorless variety of chabazite; the original was from Leipa, in Bohemia.

PHACOPS Pha"cops, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of trilobites found in the Silurian and Devonian formations. Phacops bufo is one of the most common species.

PHAEACIAN Phæ*a"cian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Phæacians, a fabulous seafaring people fond of the feast, the lyre, and the dance, mentioned by Homer.

PHAENOGAM Phæ"no*gam, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the class Phænogamia.

PHAENOGAMIA Phæ`no*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Bot.)

Defn: The class of flowering plants including all which have true flowers with distinct floral organs; phanerogamia.

PHAENOGAMIAN; PHAENOGAMIC Phæ`no*ga"mi*an, Phæ`no*gam"ic, a.

Defn: Same as Phænogamous.

PHAENOGAMOUS Phæ*nog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having true flowers with with distinct floral organs; flowering.

PHAENOMENON Phæ*nom"e*non, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: See Phenomenon.

PHAEOSPORE Phæ"o*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. spore.] (Bot.)

Defn: A brownish zoöspore, characteristic of an order (Phæosporeæ) of dark green or olive-colored algæ. -- Phæ`o*spor"ic, a.

PHAETHON Pha"ë*thon, n. Etym: [L., Phaëthon (in sense 1), fr. Gr. Phantom.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: The son of Helios (Phoebus), that is, the son of light, or of the sun. He is fabled to have obtained permission to drive the chariot of the sun, in doing which his want of skill would have set the world on fire, had he not been struck with a thunderbolt by Jupiter, and hurled headlong into the river Po.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of oceanic birds including the tropic birds.

PHAETON Pha"ë*ton, n. Etym: [F. phaéton a kind of carriage, fr. Phaéthon Phaëthon, the son of Helios. See Phaëthon.]

1. A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses.

2. See Phaëthon.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A handsome American butterfly (Euphydryas, or Melitæa, Phaëton). The upper side of the wings is black, with orange-red spots and marginal crescents, and several rows of cream-colored spots; -- called also Baltimore.

PHAGEDENA Phag`e*de"na, n. Etym: [L. phagedaena, Gr. (Med.) (a) A canine appetite; bulimia. [Obs.] (b) Spreading, obstinate ulceration.

PHAGEDENIC; PHAGEDENICAL Phag`e*den"ic, Phag`e*den"ic*AL, a. Etym: [L. phagedaenicus, Gr. phagédénique.] (Med.)

Defn: Of, like, or pertaining to, phagedena; used in the treatment of phagedena; as, a phagedenic ulcer or medicine. -- n.

Defn: A phagedenic medicine.

PHAGEDENOUS Phag`e*de"nous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Phagedenic.

PHAGOCYTE Phag"o*cyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A leucocyte which plays a part in retrogressive processes by taking up (eating), in the form of fine granules, the parts to be removed.

PHAINOPEPLA Pha*i`no*pep"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small crested passerine bird (Phaïnopepla nitens), native of Mexico and the Southern United States. The adult male is of a uniform glossy blue-black; the female is brownish. Called also black flycatcher.

PHAKOSCOPE Phak"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for studying the mechanism of accommodation.

PHALAENA Pha*læ"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A linnæan genus which included the moths in general.

PHALAENID Pha*læ"nid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any moth of the family Phalænidæ, of which the cankerworms are examples; a geometrid.

PHALANGEAL; PHALANGAL Pha*lan"ge*al, Pha*lan"gal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the phalanges. See Phalanx, 2.

PHALANGER Pha*lan"ger, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phalanger. See Phalanx.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any marsupial belonging to Phalangista, Cuscus, Petaurus, and other genera of the family Phalangistidæ. They are arboreal, and the species of Petaurus are furnished with lateral parachutes. See Flying phalanger, under Flying.

PHALANGES Pha*lan"ges, n.

Defn: , pl. of Phalanx.

PHALANGIAL; PHALANGIAN Pha*lan"gi*al, Pha*lan"gi*an, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Phalangeal.

PHALANGID Pha*lan"gid, n.; pl. Phalangides (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Phalangoidea.

PHALANGIOUS Pha*lan"gi*ous, a. Etym: [L. phalangium a kind of venomous spider, Gr. Phalanx.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Phalangoidea.

PHALANGIST Pha*lan"gist, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any arboreal marsupial of the genus Phalangista. The vulpine phalangist (P. vulpina) is the largest species, the full grown male being about two and a half feet long. It has a large bushy tail.

PHALANGISTER; PHALANGISTINE Phal`an*gis"ter, Phal`an*gis"tine, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Phalangist.

PHALANGITE Phal"an*gite, n. Etym: [Gr. phalangite.]

Defn: A soldier belonging to a phalanx. [Obs.]

PHALANGOIDEA Phal`an*goi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Phalangium the daddy longlegs (see Phalangious) + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Arachnoidea, including the daddy longlegs or harvestman (Phalangium) and many similar kinds. They have long, slender, many-jointed legs; usually a rounded, segmented abdomen; and chelate jaws. They breathe by tracheæ. Called also Phalangides, Phalangidea, Phalangiida, and Opilionea.

PHALANSTERE Pha`lan`stére", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A phalanstery.

PHALANSTERIAN Phal`an*ste"ri*an, a. Etym: [F. phalanstérien, a. & n.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to phalansterianism.

PHALANSTERIAN Phal`an*ste"ri*an, n.

Defn: One who favors the system of phalansteries proposed by Fourier.

PHALANSTERISM; PHALANSTERIANISM Pha*lan"ster*ism, Phal`an*ste"ri*an*ism, n.

Defn: A system of phalansteries proposed by Fourier; Fourierism.

PHALANSTERY Phal"an*ster*y, n.; pl. -ies. Etym: [F. phalanstère, fr. Gr.

1. An association or community organized on the plan of Fourier. See Fourierism.

2. The dwelling house of a Fourierite community.

PHALANX Pha"lanx, n.; pl. Phalanxes, L. Phalanges. Etym: [L., from Gr.

1. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A body of heavy-armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep. There were several different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from four to twenty-five or more ranks of men. "In cubic phalanx firm advanced." Milton. The Grecian phalanx, moveless as a tower. Pope.

2. Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of a union. At present they formed a united phalanx. Macaulay. The sheep recumbent, and the sheep that grazed, All huddling into phalanx, stood and gazed. Cowper.

3. A Fourierite community; a phalanstery.

4. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the digital bones of the hand or foot, beyond the metacarpus or metatarsus; an internode.

5. Etym: [pl. Phalanges.] (Bot.)

Defn: A group or bundle of stamens, as in polyadelphous flowers.

PHALAROPE Phal"a*rope, n. Etym: [Gr. phalarope.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Phalaropus and allied genera of small wading birds (Grallæ), having lobate toes. They are often seen far from land, swimming in large flocks. Called also sea goose.

PHALLIC Phal"lic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the phallus, or to phallism.

PHALLICISM Phal"li*cism, n.

Defn: See Phallism.

PHALLISM Phal"lism, n.

Defn: The worship of the generative principle in nature, symbolized by the phallus.

PHALLUS Phal"lus, n.; pl. Phalli (. Etym: [L., a phallus (in sense 1), Gr.

1. The emblem of the generative power in nature, carried in procession in the Bacchic orgies, or worshiped in various ways.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The penis or clitoris, or the embryonic or primitive organ from which either may be derived.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of fungi which have a fetid and disgusting odor; the stinkhorn.

PHANAR Phan"ar, n. [Turk. fanar, fr. NGr. lighthouse, Gr. lantern; -- from a lighthouse on a point projecting into the Golden Horn.]

Defn: A quarter of Constantinople which, after the Turkish conquest of the city, became the chief Greek quarter; hence, the Greek officials of Turkey, or phanariots, as a class.

PHANARIOT; PHANARIOTE Pha*nar"i*ot, n. Also Pha*nar"i*ote. [NGr., fr. Phanar. See Phanar.]

Defn: One of the Greeks of Constantinople who after the Turkish conquest became powerful in clerical and other offices under Turkish patronage.

PHANE Phane, n.

Defn: See Fane. [Obs.] Joye.

PHANERITE Phan"er*ite, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Evident; visible. Phanerite series (Geol.), the uppermost part of the earth's crust, consisting of deposits produced by causes in obvious operation.

PHANEROCARPAE Phan`er*o*car"pæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Acraspeda.

PHANEROCODONIC Phan`er*o*co*don"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having an umbrella-shaped or bell-shaped body, with a wide, open cavity beneath; -- said of certain jellyfishes.

PHANEROCRYSTALLINE Phan`er*o*crys"tal*line, a. Etym: [Gr. crystalline.] (Geol.)

Defn: Distinctly crystalline; -- used of rocks. Opposed to Ant: cryptocrystalline.

PHANERODACTYLA Phan`er*o*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Saururæ.

PHANEROGAMIA Phan`er*o*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: That one of the two primary divisions of the vegetable kingdom which contains the phanerogamic, or flowering, plants.

PHANEROGAMIAN Phan`er*o*ga"mi*an, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Phanerogamous.

PHANEROGAMIC; PHANEROGAMOUS Phan`er*o*gam"ic, Phan`er*og"a*mous, a.

Defn: Having visible flowers containing distinct stamens and pistils; -- said of plants.

PHANEROGLOSSAL Phan`er*o*glos"sal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a conspicious tongue; -- said of certain reptiles and insects.

PHANTASCOPE Phan"ta*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]

Defn: An optical instrument or toy, resembling the phenakistoscope, and illustrating the same principle; -- called also phantasmascope.

PHANTASM Phan"tasm, n. Etym: [L. phantasma. See Phantom, and cf. Fantasm.] [Spelt also fantasm.]

1. An image formed by the mind, and supposed to be real or material; a shadowy or airy appearance; sometimes, an optical illusion; a phantom; a dream. They be but phantasms or apparitions. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. A mental image or representation of a real object; a fancy; a notion. Cudworth. Figures or little features, of which the description had produced in you no phantasm or expectation. Jer. Taylor.

PHANTASMA Phan"tas"ma, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A phantasm.

PHANTASMAGORIA Phan*tas`ma*go"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. phantasmagorie.]

1. An optical effect produced by a magic lantern. The figures are painted in transparent colors, and all the rest of the glass is opaque black. The screen is between the spectators and the instrument, and the figures are often made to appear as in motion, or to merge into one another.

2. The apparatus by which such an effect is produced.

3. Fig.: A medley of figures; illusive images. "This mental phantasmagoria." Sir W. Scott.

PHANTASMAGORIAL Phan*tas`ma*go"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of, relating to, or resembling phantasmagoria; phantasmagoric.

PHANTASMAGORIC Phan*tas`ma*gor"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phantasmagoria; phantasmagorial. Hawthorne.

PHANTASMAGORY Phan*tas"ma*go*ry, n.

Defn: See Phantasmagoria.

PHANTASMAL Phan*tas"mal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or resembling, a phantasm; spectral; illusive.

PHANTASMASCOPE Phan*tas"ma*scope, n.

Defn: See Phantascope.

PHANTASMATICAL Phan`tas*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. phantasmaticus.]

Defn: Phantasmal. Dr. H. More.

PHANTASMATOGRAPHY Phan*tas`ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: A description of celestial phenomena, as rainbows, etc.

PHANTASTIC; PHANTASTICAL Phan*tas"tic, Phan*tas"tic*al, a.

Defn: See Fantastic.

PHANTASY Phan"ta*sy, n.

Defn: See Fantasy, and Fancy.

PHANTOM Phan"tom, n. Etym: [OE. fantome, fantosme, fantesme, OF. fantôme, fr. L. phantasma, Gr. Fancy, and cf. Phaëton, Phantasm, Phase.]

Defn: That which has only an apparent existence; an apparition; a specter; a phantasm; a sprite; an airy spirit; an ideal image. Strange phantoms rising as the mists arise. Pope. She was a phantom of delight. Wordsworth. Phantom ship. See Flying Dutchman, under Flying. -- Phantom tumor (Med.), a swelling, especially of the abdomen, due to muscular spasm, accumulation of flatus, etc., simulating an actual tumor in appearance, but disappearing upon the administration of an anæsthetic.

PHANTOMATIC Phan`tom*at"ic, a.

Defn: Phantasmal. [R.] Coleridge.

PHANTOM CIRCUIT Phantom circuit. (Elec.)

Defn: The equivalent of an additional circuit or wire, in reality not existing, obtained by certain arrangements of real circuits, as in some multiplex telegraph systems.

PHARAOH Pha"raoh, n. Etym: [Heb. paroh; of Egyptian origin: cf. L. pharao, Gr. Faro.]

1. A title by which the sovereigns of ancient Egypt were designated.

2. See Faro. Pharaoh's chicken (Zoöl.), the gier-eagle, or Egyptian vulture; -- so called because often sculpured on Egyptian monuments. It is nearly white in color. -- Pharaoh's rat (Zoöl.), the common ichneumon.

PHARAON Pha"ra*on, n.

Defn: See Pharaoh, 2.

PHARAONIC Phar`a*on"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pharaonique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pharaohs, or kings of ancient Egypt.

PHARE Phare, n. Etym: [See Pharos.]

1. A beacon tower; a lighthouse. [Obs.]

2. Hence, a harbor. Howell.

PHARISAIC; PHARISAICAL Phar`i*sa"ic, Phar`i*sa"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. Pharisaicus, Gr. pharisaïque. See Pharisee.]

1. Of or pertaining to the Pharisees; resembling the Pharisees. "The Pharisaic sect among the Jews." Cudworth.

2. Hence: Addicted to external forms and ceremonies; making a show of religion without the spirit of it; ceremonial; formal; hypocritical; self-righteous. "Excess of outward and pharisaical holiness. " Bacon. "Pharisaical ostentation." Macaulay. -- Phar`i*sa"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Phar`i*sa"ic*al*ness, n.

PHARISAISM Phar`i*sa"ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pharisaisme.]

1. The notions, doctrines, and conduct of the Pharisees, as a sect. Sharp.

2. Rigid observance of external forms of religion, without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners. "A piece of pharisaism." Hammond.

PHARISEAN Phar`i*se"an, a. Etym: [L. Pharisaeus, Gr.

Defn: Following the practice of Pharisees; Pharisaic. [Obs.] "Pharisean disciples." Milton.

PHARISEE Phar"i*see, n. Etym: [L. Pharisaeus, Gr. parash to separate.]

Defn: One of a sect or party among the Jews, noted for a strict and formal observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders, and whose pretensions to superior sanctity led them to separate themselves from the other Jews.

PHARISEEISM Phar"i*see*ism, n.

Defn: See Pharisaism.

PHARMACEUTIC; PHARMACEUTICAL Phar`ma*ceu"tic, Phar`ma*ceu"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. pharmaceuticus, Gr. pharmaceutique. See Pharmacy.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the knowledge or art of pharmacy, or to the art of preparing medicines according to the rules or formulas of pharmacy; as, pharmaceutical preparations. -- Phar`ma*ceu"tic*al*ly, adv. Pharmaceutical chemistry, that department of chemistry which ascertains or regulates the composition of medicinal substances.

PHARMACEUTICS Phar`ma*ceu"tics, n.

Defn: The science of preparing medicines.

PHARMACEUTIST Phar`ma*ceu"tist, n.

Defn: One skilled in pharmacy; a druggist. See the Note under Apothecary.

PHARMACIST Phar"ma*cist, n.

Defn: One skilled in pharmacy; a pharmaceutist; a druggist.

PHARMACODYMANICS Phar`ma*co*dy*man"ics, n. [Gr. drug + E. dynamics.]

Defn: That branch of pharmacology which treats of the action and the effects of medicines.

PHARMACODYNAMICS Phar`ma*co*dy*nam"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. dynamics.]

Defn: That branch of pharmacology which considers the mode of action, and the effects, of medicines. Dunglison.

PHARMACOGNOSIS Phar`ma*cog*no"sis, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: That branch of pharmacology which treats of unprepared medicines or simples; -- called also pharmacography, and pharmacomathy.

PHARMACOGNOSY Phar`ma*cog"no*sy, n.

Defn: Pharmacognosis.

PHARMACOGRAPHY Phar`ma*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: See Pharmacognosis.

PHARMACOLITE Phar*mac"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. pharmacolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous arsenate of lime, usually occurring in silky fibers of a white or grayish color.

PHARMACOLOGIST Phar`ma*col"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pharmacologiste.]

Defn: One skilled in pharmacology.

PHARMACOLOGY Phar`ma*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. pharmacologie.]

1. Knowledge of drugs or medicines; the art of preparing medicines.

2. A treatise on the art of preparing medicines.

PHARMACOMATHY Phar`ma*com"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: See Pharmacognosis.

PHARMACON Phar"ma*con, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A medicine or drug; also, a poison. Dunglison.

PHARMACOPOEIA Phar`ma*co*poe"ia, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.

1. A book or treatise describing the drugs, preparations, etc., used in medicine; especially, one that is issued by official authority and considered as an authoritative standard.

2. A chemical laboratory. [Obs.] Dunglison.

PHARMACOPOLIST Phar`ma*cop"o*list, n. Etym: [L. pharmacopola, Gr.

Defn: One who sells medicines; an apothecary.

PHARMACOSIDERITE Phar`ma*co*sid"er*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. siderite.] (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous arsenate of iron occurring in green or yellowish green cubic crystals; cube ore.

PHARMACY Phar"ma*cy, n. Etym: [OE. fermacie, OF. farmacie, pharmacie, F. pharmacie, Gr.

1. The art or practice of preparing and preserving drugs, and of compounding and dispensing medicines according to prescriptions of physicians; the occupation of an apothecary or a pharmaceutical chemist.

2. A place where medicines are compounded; a drug store; an apothecary's shop.

PHARO Pha"ro, n.

1. A pharos; a lighthouse. [Obs.]

2. See Faro.

PHAROLOGY Pha*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The art or science which treats of lighthouses and signal lights.

PHAROS Pha"ros, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: A lighthouse or beacon for the guidance of seamen. He . . . built a pharos, or lighthouse. Arbuthnot.

PHARYNGAL Pha*ryn"gal, a.

Defn: Pharyngeal. H. Sweet.

PHARYNGEAL Phar`yn*ge"al, a. Etym: [See Pharynx.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pharynx; in the region of the pharynx.

PHARYNGEAL Phar`yn*ge"al, n. (Anat.)

Defn: A pharyngeal bone or cartilage; especially, one of the lower pharyngeals, which belong to the rudimentary fifth branchial arch in many fishes, or one of the upper pharyngeals, or pharyngobranchials, which are the dorsal elements in the complete branchial arches.

PHARYNGITIS Phar`yn*gi"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Pharynx, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the pharynx.

PHARYNGOBRANCHIAL Pha*ryn`go*bran"chi*al, a. Etym: [Pharynx + branchial.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pharynx and the branchiæ; -- applied especially to the dorsal elements in the branchial arches of fishes. See Pharyngeal. -- n.

Defn: A pharyngobranchial, or upper pharyngeal, bone or cartilage.

PHARYNGOBRANCHII Pha*ryn`go*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pharynx, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Leptocardia.

PHARYNGOGNATHI Phar`yn*gog"na*thi, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pharynx, and Gnathic.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of fishes in which the lower pharyngeal bones are united. It includes the scaroid, labroid, and embioticoid fishes.

PHARYNGOLARYNGEAL Pha*ryn`go*lar`yn*ge"al, a. Etym: [Pharynx + laryngeal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining both to pharynx and the larynx.

PHARYNGOPNEUSTA Pha*ryn`gop*neus"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of invertebrates including the Tunicata and Enteropneusta. -- Pha*ryn`gop*neus"tal, a.

PHARYNGOTOME Pha*ryn"go*tome, n. (Surg.)

Defn: An instrument for incising or scarifying the tonsils, etc.

PHARYNGOTOMY Phar`yn*got"o*my, n. Etym: [Pharynx + Gr. : cf. F. pharyngotomie.] (Surg.) (a) The operation of making an incision into the pharynx, to remove a tumor or anything that obstructs the passage. (b) Scarification or incision of the tonsils.

PHARYNX Phar"ynx, n.; pl. pharynges. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pharynx.] (Anat.)

Defn: The part of the alimentary canal between the cavity of the mouth and the esophagus. It has one or two external openings through the nose in the higher vertebrates, and lateral branchial openings in fishes and some amphibias.

PHASCOLOME Phas"co*lome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marsupial of the genus Phascolomys; a wombat.

PHASE Phase, n.; pl. Phases. Etym: [NL. phasis, Gr. phase. See Phenomenon, Phantom, and Emphasis.]

1. That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object.

2. Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases.

3. (Astron.)

Defn: A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form of enlightened disk; as, the phases of the moon or planets. See Illust. under Moon.

4. (Physics)

Defn: Any one point or portion in a recurring series of changes, as in the changes of motion of one of the particles constituting a wave or vibration; one portion of a series of such changes, in distinction from a contrasted portion, as the portion on one side of a position of equilibrium, in contrast with that on the opposite side.

PHASE ANGLE Phase angle. (Elec.)

Defn: The angle expressing phase relation.

PHASE CONVERTER Phase converter. (Elec.)

Defn: A machine for converting an alternating current into an alternating current of a different number of phases and the same frequency.

PHASE DISPLACEMENT Phase displacement. (Elec.)

Defn: A charge of phase whereby an alternating current attains its maximum later or earlier. An inductance would cause a lag, a capacity would cause an advance, in phase.

PHASEL Pha"sel, n. Etym: [L. phaselus, phaseolus, Gr. phaséole, faséole. Cf. Fesels.]

Defn: The French bean, or kidney bean.

PHASELESS Phase"less, a.

Defn: Without a phase, or visible form. [R.] "A phaseless and increasing gloom." Poe.

PHASE METER; PHASEMETER Phase meter, or Phase"me`ter, n. (Elec.)

Defn: A device for measuring the difference in phase of two alternating currents of electromotive forces.

PHASEOLUS Pha*se"o*lus, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leguminous plants, including the Lima bean, the kidney bean, the scarlet runner, etc. See Bean.

PHASEOMANNITE Pha`se*o*man"nite, n. Etym: [So called because found in the unripe fruit of the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Inosite.

PHASE RULE Phase rule. (Phys. Chem.)

Defn: A generalization with regard to systems of chemical equilibrium, discovered by Prof. J. Willard Gibbs. It may be stated thus: The degree of variableness (number of degrees of freedom) of a system is equal to the number of components minus the number of phases, plus two. Thus, if the components be salt and water, and the phases salt, ice, saturated solution, and vapor, the system is invariant, that is, there is only one set of conditions under which these four phases can exist in equilibrium. If only three phases be considered, the system is univariant, that is, the fixing of one condition, as temperature, determines the others.

PHASE SPLITTER Phase splitter. (Elec.)

Defn: A device by which a single-phase current is split into two or more currents differing in phase. It is used in starting single-phase induction motors.

PHASE SPLITTING Phase splitting. (Elec.)

Defn: The dephasing of the two parts of a single alternating current in two dissimilar branches of a given circuit.

PHASING Phas"ing, a. (Elec.)

Defn: Pertaining to phase or differences of phase.

PHASING CURRENT Phasing current.

Defn: The momentary current between two alternating-current generators when juxtaposed in parallel and not agreeing exactly in phase or period.

PHASING TRANSFORMER Phasing transformer.

Defn: Any of several transformers (there must be at least two) for changing phase.

PHASIS Pha"sis, n.; pl. Phases. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Phase. Creech.

PHASM; PHASMA Phasm, Phas"ma, n. Etym: [L. phasma, Gr. Phase.]

Defn: An apparition; a phantom; an appearance. [R.] Hammond. Sir T. Herbert.

PHASMID Phas"mid, n. Etym: [See Phasm. Probably so called from its mimicking, or appearing like, inanimate objects.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any orthopterous insect of the family Phasmidæ, as a leaf insect or a stick insect.

PHASSACHATE Phas"sa*chate, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: The lead-colored agate; -- so called in reference to its color.

PHATAGIN Phat"a*gin, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The long-tailed pangolin (Manis tetradactyla); -- called also ipi.

PHEASANT Pheas"ant, n. Etym: [OE. fesant, fesaunt, OF. faisant, faisan, F. faisan, L. phasianus, Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large gallinaceous birds of the genus Phasianus, and many other genera of the family Phasianidæ, found chiefly in Asia.

Note: The common, or English, pheasant (Phasianus Colchicus) is now found over most of temperate Europe, but was introduced from Asia. The ring-necked pheasant (P. torquatus) and the green pheasant (P. versicolor) have been introduced into Oregon. The golden pheasant (Thaumalea picta) is one of the most beautiful species. The silver pheasant (Euplocamus nychthemerus) of China, and several related species from Southern Asia, are very beautiful.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ruffed grouse. [Southern U.S.]

Note: Various other birds are locally called pheasants, as the lyre bird, the leipoa, etc. Fireback pheasant. See Fireback. -- Gold, or Golden, pheasant (Zoöl.), a Chinese pheasant (Thaumalea picta), having rich, varied colors. The crest is amber-colored, the rump is golden yellow, and the under parts are scarlet. -- Mountain pheasant (Zoöl.), the ruffed grouse. [Local, U.S.] -- Pheasant coucal (Zoöl.), a large Australian cuckoo (Centropus phasianus). The general color is black, with chestnut wings and brown tail. Called also pheasant cuckoo. The name is also applied to other allied species. -- Pheasant duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail. (b) The hooded merganser. -- Pheasant parrot (Zoöl.), a large and beautiful Australian parrakeet (Platycercus Adelaidensis). The male has the back black, the feathers margined with yellowish blue and scarlet, the quills deep blue, the wing coverts and cheeks light blue, the crown, sides of the neck, breast, and middle of the belly scarlet. -- Pheasant's eye. (Bot.) (a) A red-flowered herb (Adonis autumnalis) of the Crowfoot family; -- called also pheasant's-eye Adonis. (b) The garden pink (Dianthus plumarius); -- called also Pheasant's-eye pink. -- Pheasant shell (Zoöl.), any marine univalve shell of the genus Phasianella, of which numerous species are found in tropical seas. The shell is smooth and usually richly colored, the colors often forming blotches like those of a pheasant. -- Pheasant wood. (Bot.) Same as Partridge wood (a), under Partridge. -- Sea pheasant (Zoöl.), the pintail. -- Water pheasant. (Zoöl.) (a) The sheldrake. (b) The hooded merganser.

PHEASANTRY Pheas"ant*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. faisanderie.]

Defn: A place for keeping and rearing pheasants. Gwilt.

PHEBE Phe"be, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Phoebe.

PHEER Pheer, n.

Defn: See 1st Fere. [Obs.] Spenser.

PHEESE Pheese, v. t.

Defn: To comb; also, to beat; to worry. [Obs. or Local] See Feaze, v.

PHEESE Pheese, n.

Defn: Fretful excitement. [Obs. or Local] See Feaze, n.

PHELLODERM Phel"lo*derm, n. Etym: [Gr. -derm.] (Bot.)

Defn: A layer of green parenchimatous cells formed on the inner side of the phellogen.

PHELLOGEN Phel"lo*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)

Defn: The tissue of young cells which produces cork cells.

PHELLOPLASTICS Phel`lo*plas"tics, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Art of modeling in cork.

PHENACETIN; PHENACETINE Phe*nac"e*tin, Phe*nac"e*tine, n. [Phenyl + acetic + -in.] (Pharm.)

Defn: A white, crystalline compound, C10H13O2N, used in medicine principally as an antipyretic.

PHENACITE Phen"a*cite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A glassy colorless mineral occurring in rhombohedral crystals, sometimes used as a gem. It is a silicate of glucina, and receives its name from its deceptive similarity to quartz.

PHENAKISTOSCOPE Phen`a*kis"to*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]

Defn: A revolving disk on which figures drawn in different relative attitudes are seen successively, so as to produce the appearance of an object in actual motion, as an animal leaping, etc., in consequence of the persistence of the successive visual impressions of the retina. It is often arranged so that the figures may be projected upon a screen.

PHENALGIN Phe*nal"gin, n. [Phenyl + analgetic + -in.] (Pharm.)

Defn: An ammoniated compound of phenyl and acetamide, used as an analgesic and antipyretic. It resembles phenacetin in its therapeutic action.

PHENANTHRENE Phe*nan"threne, n. Etym: [Phenyl + antracene.] (Chem.)

Defn: A complex hydrocarbon, C14H10, found in coal tar, and obtained as a white crystalline substance with a bluish fluorescence.

PHENANTHRIDINE Phe*nan"thri*dine, n. Etym: [Phenanthrene + pyridine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous hydrocarbon base, C13H9N, analogous to phenanthrene and quinoline.

PHENANTHROLINE Phe*nan"thro*line, n. Etym: [Phenanthrene + quinoline.] (Chem.)

Defn: Either of two metameric nitrogenous hydrocarbon bases, C12H8N2, analogous to phenanthridine, but more highly nitrogenized.

PHENE Phene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Benzene. [Obs.]

PHENETOL Phe"ne*tol, n. Etym: [Phenyl + ethyl + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: The ethyl ether of phenol, obtained as an aromatic liquid, C6H5.O.C2H5.

PHENIC Phe"nic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, phenyl or phenol. Phenic acid (Chem.), a phenol. [Obsoles.]

PHENICIAN Phe*ni"cian, a. & n.

Defn: See Phoenician.

PHENICINE Phen"i*cine, n. Etym: [Gr. foi^nix purple red: cf. F. phénicine.] (Chem.) (a) A purple powder precipitated when a sulphuric solution of indigo is diluted with water. (b) A coloring matter produced by the action of a mixture of strong nitric and sulphuric acids on phenylic alcohol. Watts.

PHENICIOUS Phe*ni"cious, a. Etym: [L. phoeniceus, Gr. foini`keos, from

Defn: Of a red color with a slight mixture of gray. Dana.

PHENICOPTER Phen`i*cop"ter, n. Etym: [L. phoenicopterus, Gr. foiniko`pteros, i.e., red-feathered; foi^nix, foi`nikos, purple red + ptero`n feather: cf. F. phénicoptère.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A flamingo.

PHENIX Phe"nix, n.; pl. Phenixes. Etym: [L. phoenix, Gr. foi^nix.] [Written also phoenix.]

1. (Gr. Myth.)

Defn: A bird fabled to exist single, to be consumed by fire by its own act, and to rise again from its ashes. Hence, an emblem of immortality.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A southern constellation.

3. A marvelous person or thing. [R.] Latimer.

PHENOCRYST Phe"no*cryst, n. [Gr. to appear + crystal.] (Geol.)

Defn: One of the prominent embedded crystals of a porphyry.

PHENOGAMIA Phen`o*ga"mi*a, n. pl. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Phænogamia.

PHENOGAMIAN; PHENOGAMIC; PHENOGAMOUS Phen`o*ga"mi*an, Phen`o*gam"ic, Phe*nog"a*mous, a.

Defn: Same as Phænogamian, Phænogamic, etc.

PHENOL Phe"nol, n. Etym: [Gr. -ol: cf. F. phénol.] (Chem.)

1. A white or pinkish crystalline substance, C6H5OH, produced by the destructive distillation of many organic bodies, as wood, coal, etc., and obtained from the heavy oil from coal tar.

Note: It has a peculiar odor, somewhat resembling creosote, which is a complex mixture of phenol derivatives. It is of the type of alcohols, and is called also phenyl alcohol, but has acid properties, and hence is popularly called carbolic acid, and was formerly called phenic acid. It is a powerful caustic poison, and in dilute solution has been used as an antiseptic.

2. Any one of the series of hydroxyl derivatives of which phenol proper is the type. Glacial phenol (Chem.), pure crystallized phenol or carbolic acid. -- Phenol acid (Chem.), any one of a series of compounds which are at once derivatives of both phenol and some member of the fatty acid series; thus, salicylic acid is a phenol acid. -- Phenol alcohol (Chem.), any one of series of derivatives of phenol and carbinol which have the properties of both combined; thus, saligenin is a phenol alcohol. -- Phenol aldehyde (Chem.), any one of a series of compounds having both phenol and aldehyde properties. -- Phenol phthalein. See under Phthalein.

PHENOLATE Phe"no*late, n. Etym: [Phenol + -ate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A compound of phenol analogous to a salt.

PHENOLOGY Phe*nol"o*gy, n. [Contracted from Phenomenology.] (Biol.)

Defn: The science of the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena, as the migrations and breeding of birds, the flowering and fruiting of plants, etc. -- Phe`no*log"ic*al (#), a. -- Phe`no*log"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Phe*nol"o*gist (#), n.

PHENOLPHTHALEIN; PHENOL PHTHALEIN Phe`nol*phthal"e*in, n., or Phenol phthalein. (Chem.)

Defn: A white or yellowish white crystalline substance, C20H14O4, formed by condensation of the anhydride of phthalic acid and phenol. Its solution in alkalies is brilliant red, but is decolorized by acids. This reaction, being very delicate, is used as an indicator.

PHENOMENAL Phe*nom"e*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phénoménal.]

Defn: Relating to, or of the nature of, a phenomenon; hence, extraordinary; wonderful; as, a phenomenal memory. -- Phe*nom"e*nal*ly, adv.

PHENOMENALISM Phe*nom"e*nal*ism, n. (Metaph.)

Defn: That theory which limits positive or scientific knowledge to phenomena only, whether material or spiritual.

PHENOMENIST Phe*nom"e*nist, n.

Defn: One who believes in the theory of phenomenalism.

PHENOMENOLOGY Phe*nom`e*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phenomenon + -logy: cf. F. phénoménologie.]

Defn: A description, history, or explanation of phenomena. "The phenomenology of the mind." Sir W. Hamilton.

PHENOMENON Phe*nom"e*non, n.; pl. Phenomena. Etym: [L. phaenomenon, Gr. faino`menon, fr. fai`nesqai to appear, fai`nein to show. See Phantom.]

1. An appearance; anything visible; whatever, in matter or spirit, is apparent to, or is apprehended by, observation; as, the phenomena of heat, light, or electricity; phenomena of imagination or memory. In the phenomena of the material world, and in many of the phenomena of mind. Stewart.

2. That which strikes one as strange, unusual, or unaccountable; an extraordinary or very remarkable person, thing, or occurrence; as, a musical phenomenon.

PHENOSE Phe"nose`, n. Etym: [Phenyl + dextrose.] (Chem.)

Defn: A sweet amorphous deliquescent substance obtained indirectly from benzene, and isometric with, and resembling, dextrose.

PHENYL Phe"nyl, n. Etym: [Gr. -yl: cf. F. phényle. So called because it is a by-product of illuminating gas.] (Chem.)

Defn: A hydrocarbon radical (C6H5) regarded as the essential residue of benzene, and the basis of an immense number of aromatic derivatives. Phenyl hydrate (Chem.), phenol or carbolic acid. -- Phenyl hydrazine (Chem.), a nitrogenous base (C6H5.N2H3) produced artificially as a colorless oil which unites with acids, ketones, etc., to form well-crystallized compounds.

PHENYLAMINE Phe`nyl*am"ine, n. Etym: [Phenyl + amine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of certain class of organic bases regarded as formed from ammonia by the substitution of phenyl for hydrogen.

PHENYLENE Phe"nyl*ene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A hypothetic radical (C6H4) occurring in certain derivatives of benzene; as, phenylene diamine.

PHENYLIC Phe*nyl"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, phenyl. Phenylic alcohol (Chem.), phenol.

PHEON Phe"on, n. Etym: [Prob. from Old French.] (Her.)

Defn: A bearing representing the head of a dart or javelin, with long barbs which are engrailed on the inner edge.

PHIAL Phi"al, n. Etym: [F. fiole, L. phiala a broad, flat, shallow cup or bowl, Gr. Vial.]

Defn: A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small bottle for medicines; a vial.

PHIAL Phi"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Phialed; p. pr. & vb. n. Phialing.]

Defn: To put or keep in, or as in, a phial. Its phial'd wrath may fate exhaust. Shenstone.

PHILABEG Phil"a*beg, n.

Defn: See Filibeg.

PHILADELPHIAN Phil`a*del"phi*an, a. Etym: [Gr. filadelfia brotherly love, from fila`delfos brotherly; fi`los loved, loving, friendly + 'adelfo`s brother.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Ptolemy Philadelphus, or to one of the cities named Philadelphia, esp. the modern city in Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIAN Phil`a*del"phi*an, n.

1. A native or an inhabitant of Philadelphia.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a society of mystics of the seventeenth century, -- called also the Family of Love. Tatler.

PHILALETHIST Phil`a*le"thist, n. Etym: [Philo- + Gr.

Defn: A lover of the truth. [Obs.] Brathwait.

PHILANDER Phi*lan"der, v. i. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: To make love to women; to play the male flirt. You can't go philandering after her again. G. Eliot.

PHILANDER Phi*lan"der, n.

Defn: A lover. [R.] Congreve.

PHILANDER Phi*lan"der, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A South American opossum (Didelphys philander). (b) An Australian bandicoot (Perameles lagotis).

PHILANDERER Phi*lan"der*er, n.

Defn: One who hangs about women; a male flirt. [R.] C. Kingsley.

PHILANTHROPE Phil"an*thrope, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A philanthropist. [Obs.] R. North.

PHILANTHROPIC; PHILANTHROPICAL Phil`an*throp"ic, Phil`an*throp"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. philanthropique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to philanthropy; characterized by philanthropy; loving or helping mankind; as, a philanthropic enterprise. -- Phil`an*throp"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHILANTHROPINISM Phil`an*throp"i*nism, n.

Defn: A system of education on so-called natural principles, attempted in Germany in the last century by Basedow, of Dessau.

PHILANTHROPINIST Phil`an*throp"i*nist, n.

Defn: An advocate of, or believer in, philanthropinism.

PHILANTHROPIST Phi*lan"thro*pist, n. Etym: [Gr. philanthrope.]

Defn: One who practices philanthropy; one who loves mankind, and seeks to promote the good of others.

PHILANTHROPISTIC Phi*lan`thro*pis"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, a philanthropist. [R.] Carlyle.

PHILANTHROPY Phi*lan"thro*py, n. Etym: [L. philanthropia, Gr. philanthropie.]

Defn: Love to mankind; benevolence toward the whole human family; universal good will; desire and readiness to do good to all men; -- opposed to misanthropy. Jer. Taylor.

PHILATELIC Phil`a*tel"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to philately.

PHILATELIST Phi*lat"e*list, n.

Defn: One versed in philately; one who collects postage stamps.

PHILATELY Phi*lat"e*ly, n. Etym: [Philo- + Gr. frank to send free.]

Defn: The collection of postage stamps of various issues.

PHILATHEA Phi*la"the*a, n. [Coined from Gr. loving + truth.]

Defn: An international, interdenominational organization of Bible classes of young women.

PHILATORY Phil"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [OF. filatiere, philatiere. See Phylactery.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A kind of transparent reliquary with an ornamental top.

PHILAUTY Phil"au*ty, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Self-love; selfishness. [Obs.] Beaumont.

PHILHARMONIC Phil`har*mon"ic, a. Etym: [Philo- + Gr. philharmonique.]

Defn: Loving harmony or music.

PHILHELLENE Phil*hel"lene, n.

Defn: A friend of Greece, or of the Greeks; a philhellenist. Emerson.

PHILHELLENIC Phil`hel*len"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to philhellenism.

PHILHELLENISM Phil*hel"len*ism, n.

Defn: Love of Greece.

PHILHELLENIST Phil*hel"len*ist, n. Etym: [Philo- + Gr. philhellène.]

Defn: A friend of Greece; one who supports the cause of the Greeks; particularly, one who supported them in their struggle for independence against the Turks; a philhellene.

PHILIBEG Phil"i*beg, n.

Defn: See Filibeg. [Scot.]

PHILIP Phil"ip, n. Etym: [So called from their notes.] (Zoöl.) (a) The European hedge sparrow. (b) The house sparrow. Called also phip. [Prov. Eng.]

PHILIPPIAN Phi*lip"pi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Philippi, a city of ancient Macedonia. -- n.

Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Philippi.

PHILIPPIC Phi*lip"pic, n. Etym: [L. Philippicus belonging to Philip, Philippic, Gr. philippique.]

1. Any one of the series of famous orations of Demosthenes, the Grecian orator, denouncing Philip, king of Macedon.

2. Hence: Any discourse or declamation abounding in acrimonious invective.

PHILIPPIUM Phi*lip"pi*um, n. Etym: [NL. So named from Philippe Plantamour, of Geneva, Switzerland.] (Chem.)

Defn: A rare and doubtful metallic element said to have been discovered in the mineral samarskite.

PHILIPPIZE Phil"ip*pize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Philippized; p. pr. & vb. n. Philippizing.] Etym: [Gr.

1. To support or advocate the cause of Philip of Macedon.

2. Etym: [See Philippic.]

Defn: To write or speak in the style of a philippic.

PHILISTER Phi*lis"ter, n. Etym: [G.]

Defn: A Philistine; -- a cant name given to townsmen by students in German universities.

PHILISTINE Phi*lis"tine, n. Etym: [L. Philistinus, Heb. Phlishthi, pl. Phlishthim.]

1. A native or an inhabitant of ancient Philistia, a coast region of southern Palestine.

2. A bailiff. [Cant, Eng.] [Obs.] Swift.

3. A person deficient in liberal culture and refinement; one without appreciation of the nobler aspirations and sentiments of humanity; one whose scope is limited to selfish and material interests. [Recent] M. Arnold.

PHILISTINE Phi*lis"tine, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the Philistines.

2. Uncultured; commonplace.

PHILISTINISM Phi*lis"tin*ism, n.

Defn: The condition, character, aims, and habits of the class called Philistines. See Philistine, 3. [Recent] Carlyle. On the side of beauty and taste, vulgarity; on the side of morals and feeling, coarseness; on the side of mind and spirit, unintelligence, -- this is Philistinism. M. Arnold.

PHILLIPSITE Phil"lips*ite, n. Etym: [So named after John Phillips, an English mineralogist.] (Min.) (a) A hydrous silicate of aluminia, lime, and soda, a zeolitic mineral commonly occurring in complex twin crystals, often cruciform in shape; -- called also christianite.

PHILLYGENIN Phil*lyg"e*nin, n. Etym: [Phillyrin + -gen + -in.] (Chem.)

Defn: A pearly crystalline substance obtained by the decomposition of phillyrin.

PHILLYREA Phil*lyr"e*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of evergreen plants growing along the shores of the Mediterranean, and breading a fruit resembling that of the olive.

PHILLYRIN Phil"ly*rin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside extracted from Phillyrea as a bitter white crystalline substance. It is sometimes used as a febrifuge.

PHILO- Philo-.

Defn: A combining form from Gr. fi`los loving, fond of, attached to; as, philosophy, philotechnic.

PHILOGYNIST Phi*log"y*nist, n. Etym: [See Philogyny.]

Defn: A lover or friend of women; one who esteems woman as the higher type of humanity; -- opposed to Ant: misogynist.

PHILOGYNY Phi*log"y*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Fondness for women; uxoriousness; -- opposed to Ant: misogyny. [R.] Byron.

PHILOHELLENIAN Phil`o*hel*le"ni*an, n.

Defn: A philhellenist.

PHILOLOGER Phi*lol"o*ger, n. Etym: [Cf. L. philologus a man of letters, Gr.

Defn: A philologist. Burton.

PHILOLOGIAN Phil`o*lo"gi*an, n.

Defn: A philologist. [R.]

PHILOLOGICAL; PHILOLOGIC Phil`o*log"ic*al, Phil`o*log"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. philologique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to philology. -- Phil`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHILOLOGIST Phi*lol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One versed in philology.

PHILOLOGIZE Phi*lol"o*gize, v. i.

Defn: To study, or make critical comments on, language. Evelyn.

PHILOLOGUE Phil"o*logue, n. Etym: [Cf. F. philologue.]

Defn: A philologist. [R.] Carlyle.

PHILOLOGY Phi*lol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. philologia love of learning, interpretation, philology, Gr. philologie. See Philologer.]

1. Criticism; grammatical learning. [R.] Johnson.

2. The study of language, especially in a philosophical manner and as a science; the investigation of the laws of human speech, the relation of different tongues to one another, and historical development of languages; linguistic science.

Note: Philology comprehends a knowledge of the etymology, or origin and combination of words; grammar, the construction of sentences, or use of words in language; criticism, the interpretation of authors, the affinities of different languages, and whatever relates to the history or present state of languages. It sometimes includes rhetoric, poetry, history, and antiquities.

3. A treatise on the science of language.

PHILOMATH Phil"o*math, n. Etym: [Gr. fi`los loving, a friend + ma`qh learning, fr.

Defn: A lover of learning; a scholar. Chesterfield.

PHILOMATHEMATIC Phil`o*math`e*mat"ic, n.

Defn: A philomath.

PHILOMATHIC Phil`o*math"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. philomathique.]

1. Of or pertaining to philomathy.

2. Having love of learning or letters.

PHILOMATHY Phi*lom"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The love of learning or letters.

PHILOMEL Phil"o*mel, n.

Defn: Same as Philomela, the nightingale. [Poetic] Milton. Cowper.

PHILOMELA Phil`o*me"la, n. Etym: [L. philomela, Gr.

1. The nightingale; philomel. Shak.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of birds including the nightingales.

PHILOMENE Phil"o*mene, n.

Defn: The nightingale. [Obs.]

PHILOMOT Phil"o*mot, a. Etym: [See Filemot.]

Defn: Of the color of a dead leaf. [Obs.] Addison.

PHILOMUSICAL Phil`o*mu"sic*al, a. Etym: [Philo- + musical.]

Defn: Loving music. [R.]Busby.

PHILOPENA Phil`o*pe"na, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption fr. G. vielliebchen, LG. vielliebken, or D. veelliebken, a philopena, literally, much loved; but influenced by Gr. poena penalty, from an idea that the gift was a penalty of friendship or love.]

Defn: A present or gift which is made as a forfeit in a social game that is played in various ways; also, the game itself. [Written also fillipeen and phillippine.]

Note: One of the ways may be stated as follows: A person finding a nut with two kernels eats one, and gives the other to a person of the opposite sex, and then whichever says philopena first at the next meeting wins the present. The name is also applied to the kernels eaten.

PHILOPOLEMIC; PHILOPOLEMICAL Phil`o*po*lem"ic, Phil`o*po*lem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Fond of polemics or controversy. [R.]

PHILOPROGENITIVE Phil`o*pro*gen"i*tive, a.

Defn: Having the love of offspring; fond of children.

PHILOPROGENITIVENESS Phil`o*pro*gen"i*tive*ness, n. Etym: [Philo- + L. progenies offspring.] (Phren.)

Defn: The love of offspring; fondness for children.

PHILOSOPHASTER Phi*los"o*phas`ter, n. Etym: [L., a bad philosopher, fr. philosophus: cf. OF. philosophastre.]

Defn: A pretender to philosophy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

PHILOSOPHATE Phi*los"o*phate, v. i. Etym: [L. philosophatus, p.p. of philosophari to philosophize.]

Defn: To play the philosopher; to moralize. [Obs.] Barrow.

PHILOSOPHATION Phi*los`o*pha"tion, n.

Defn: Philosophical speculation and discussion. [Obs.] Sir W. Petty.

PHILOSOPHE Phil"o*sophe, n. Etym: [F., a philosopher.]

Defn: A philosophaster; a philosopher. [R.] Carlyle.

PHILOSOPHEME Phi*los"o*pheme, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A philosophical proposition, doctrine, or principle of reasoning. [R.] This, the most venerable, and perhaps the most ancient, of Grecian myths, is a philosopheme. Coleridge.

PHILOSOPHER Phi*los"o*pher, n. Etym: [OE. philosophre, F. philosophe, L. philosophus, Gr. Philosophy.]

1. One who philosophizes; one versed in, or devoted to, philosophy. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. Acts xvii. 18.

2. One who reduces the principles of philosophy to practice in the conduct of life; one who lives according to the rules of practical wisdom; one who meets or regards all vicissitudes with calmness.

3. An alchemist. [Obs.] Chaucer. Philosopher's stone, an imaginary stone which the alchemists formerly sought as instrument of converting the baser metals into gold.

PHILOSOPHIC; PHILOSOPHICAL Phil`o*soph"ic, Phil`o*soph"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. philosophicus: cf. F. philosophique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to philosophy; versed in, or imbued with, the principles of philosophy; hence, characterizing a philosopher; rational; wise; temperate; calm; cool. -- Phil`o*soph"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHILOSOPHISM Phi*los"o*phism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. philosophisme.]

Defn: Spurious philosophy; the love or practice of sophistry. Carlyle.

PHILOSOPHIST Phi*los"o*phist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. philosophiste.]

Defn: A pretender in philosophy.

PHILOSOPHISTIC; PHILOSOPHISTICAL Phi*los`o*phis"tic, Phi*los`o*phis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the love or practice of sophistry. [R.]

PHILOSOPHIZE Phi*los"o*phize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Philosophized; p. pr. & vb. n. Philosophizing.]

Defn: To reason like a philosopher; to search into the reason and nature of things; to investigate phenomena, and assign rational causes for their existence. Man philosophizes as he lives. He may philosophize well or ill, but philosophize he must. Sir W. Hamilton.

PHILOSOPHIZER Phi*los"o*phi`zer, n.

Defn: One who philosophizes.

PHILOSOPHY Phi*los"o*phy, n.; pl. Philosophies. Etym: [OE. philosophie, F. philosophie, L. philosophia, from Gr. Philosopher.]

1. Literally, the love of, including the search after, wisdom; in actual usage, the knowledge of phenomena as explained by, and resolved into, causes and reasons, powers and laws.

Note: When applied to any particular department of knowledge, philosophy denotes the general laws or principles under which all the subordinate phenomena or facts relating to that subject are comprehended. Thus philosophy, when applied to God and the divine government, is called theology; when applied to material objects, it is called physics; when it treats of man, it is called anthropology and psychology, with which are connected logic and ethics; when it treats of the necessary conceptions and relations by which philosophy is possible, it is called metaphysics.

Note: "Philosophy has been defined: tionscience of things divine and human, and the causes in which they are contained; -- the science of effects by their causes; -- the science of sufficient reasons; -- the science of things possible, inasmuch as they are possible; -- the science of things evidently deduced from first principles; -- the science of truths sensible and abstract; -- the application of reason to its legitimate objects; -- the science of the relations of all knowledge to the necessary ends of human reason; -- the science of the original form of the ego, or mental self; -- the science of science; -- the science of the absolute; -- the scienceof the absolute indifference of the ideal and real." Sir W. Hamilton.

2. A particular philosophical system or theory; the hypothesis by which particular phenomena are explained. [Books] of Aristotle and his philosophie. Chaucer. We shall in vain interpret their words by the notions of our philosophy and the doctrines in our school. Locke.

3. Practical wisdom; calmness of temper and judgment; equanimity; fortitude; stoicism; as, to meet misfortune with philosophy. Then had he spent all his philosophy. Chaucer.

4. Reasoning; argumentation. Of good and evil much they argued then, . . . Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.

5. The course of sciences read in the schools. Johnson.

6. A treatise on philosophy. Philosophy of the Academy, that of Plato, who taught his disciples in a grove in Athens called the Academy. -- Philosophy of the Garden, that of Epicurus, who taught in a garden in Athens. -- Philosophy of the Lyceum, that of Aristotle, the founder of the Peripatetic school, who delivered his lectures in the Lyceum at Athens. -- Philosophy of the Porch, that of Zeno and the Stoics; -- so called because Zeno of Citium and his successors taught in the porch of the Poicile, a great hall in Athens.

PHILOSTORGY Phil`o*stor"gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Natural affection, as of parents for their children. [R.]

PHILOTECHNIC; PHILOTECHNICAL Phil`o*tech"nic, Phil`o*tech"nic*al, a. Etym: [Philo- + Gr. philotechnique.]

Defn: Fond of the arts. [R.]

PHILTER Phil"ter, n. Etym: [F. philtre, L. philtrum, Gr.

Defn: A potion or charm intended to excite the passion of love. [Written also philtre.] Addison.

PHILTER Phil"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Philtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Philtering.]

1. To impregnate or mix with a love potion; as, to philter a draught.

2. To charm to love; to excite to love or sexual desire by a potion. Gov. of Tongue.

PHIMOSIS Phi*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A condition of the penis in which the prepuce can not be drawn back so as to uncover the glans penis.

PHITONESS Phi"ton*ess, n.

Defn: Pythoness; witch. [Obs.]

PHIZ Phiz, n.; pl. Phizes. Etym: [Contr. fr. physiognomy.]

Defn: The face or visage. [Colloq.] Cowper.

PHLEBITIS Phle*bi"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of a vein.

PHLEBOGRAM Phleb"o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A tracing (with the sphygmograph) of the movements of a vein, or of the venous pulse.

PHLEBOLITE; PHLEBOLITH Phleb"o*lite, Phleb"o*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite, -lith.] (Med.)

Defn: A small calcareous concretion formed in a vein; a vein stone.

PHLEBOLOGY Phle*bol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: A branch of anatomy which treats of the veins.

PHLEBOTOMIST Phle*bot"o*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phlébotomiste.] (Med.)

Defn: One who practiced phlebotomy.

PHLEBOTOMIZE Phle*bot"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Phlebotomized; p. pr. & vb. n. Phlebotomizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. phlébotomiser.]

Defn: To let blood from by opening a vein; to bleed. [R.] Howell.

PHLEBOTOMY Phle*bot"o*my, n. Etym: [L. phlebotomia, Gr. phlébotomie. Cf. Fleam.] (Med.)

Defn: The act or practice of opening a vein for letting blood, in the treatment of disease; venesection; bloodletting.

PHLEGETHON Phleg"e*thon, n. [L., fr. Gr. , prop. p.pr. of to blaze.] (Class Myth.)

Defn: One of the principal rivers of Hades, in the channel of which fire flowed instead of water.

Fierce Phlegethon, Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Milton.

PHLEGM Phlegm, n. Etym: [F. phlegme, flegme, L. phlegma, fr. Gr. Phlox, Flagrant, Flame, Bleak, a., and Fluminate.]

1. One of the four humors of which the ancients supposed the blood to be composed. See Humor. Arbuthnot.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Viscid mucus secreted in abnormal quantity in the respiratory and digestive passages.

3. (Old Chem.)

Defn: A watery distilled liquor, in distinction from a spirituous liquor. Crabb.

4. Sluggishness of temperament; dullness; want of interest; indifference; coldness. They judge with fury, but they write with phlegm. Pope.

PHLEGMAGOGUE Phleg"ma*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. (Old Med.)

Defn: A medicine supposed to expel phlegm.

PHLEGMASIA Phleg*ma"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Phlegm.] (Med.)

Defn: An inflammation; more particularly, an inflammation of the internal organs. Phlegmasia dolens ( Etym: [NL.], milk leg.

PHLEGMATIC Phleg*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. phlegmaticus, Gr. phlegmatique.]

1. Watery. [Obs.] "Aqueous and phlegmatic." Sir I. Newton.

2. Abounding in phlegm; as, phlegmatic humors; a phlegmatic constitution. Harvey.

3. Generating or causing phlegm. "Cold and phlegmatic habitations." Sir T. Browne.

4. Not easily excited to action or passion; cold; dull; sluggish; heavy; as, a phlegmatic person. Addison. Phlegmatic temperament (Old Physiol.), lymphatic temperament. See under Lymphatic.

PHLEGMATICAL Phleg*mat"ic*al, a.

Defn: Phlegmatic. Ash.

PHLEGMATICALLY Phleg*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a phlegmatic manner.

PHLEGMATICLY Phleg*mat"ic*ly, a.

Defn: Phlegmatically. [Obs.]

PHLEGMON Phleg"mon, n. Etym: [L. phlegmone, phlegmon, inflammation beneath the skin, Gr. phlegmon.] (Med.)

Defn: Purulent inflammation of the cellular or areolar tissue.

PHLEGMONOUS Phleg"mon*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phlegmoneux.]

Defn: Having the nature or properties of phlegmon; as, phlegmonous pneumonia. Harvey.

PHLEME Phleme, n. (Surg. & Far.)

Defn: See Fleam.

PHLEUM Phle"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of grasses, including the timothy (Phleum pratense), which is highly valued for hay; cat's-tail grass. Gray.

PHLOEM Phlo"ëm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: That portion of fibrovascular bundles which corresponds to the inner bark; the liber tissue; -- distinguished from xylem.

PHLOGISTIAN Phlo*gis"tian, n.

Defn: A believer in the existence of phlogiston.

PHLOGISTIC Phlo*gis"tic, a.

1. (Old Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to phlogiston, or to belief in its existence.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Inflammatory; belonging to inflammations and fevers.

PHLOGISTICAL Phlo*gis"tic*al, a. (Old Chem.)

Defn: Phlogistic.

PHLOGISTICATE Phlo*gis"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Phlogisticated; p. pr. & vb. n. Phlogisticating.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: To combine phlogiston with; -- usually in the form and sense of the p. p. or the adj.; as, highly phlogisticated substances.

PHLOGISTICATION Phlo*gis`ti*ca"tion, n. (Old Chem.)

Defn: The act or process of combining with phlogiston.

PHLOGISTON Phlo*gis"ton, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Phlox.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical principle of fire, or inflammability, regarded by Stahl as a chemical element.

Note: This was supposed to be united with combustible (phlogisticated) bodies and to be separated from incombustible (dephlogisticated) bodies, the phenomena of flame and burning being the escape of phlogiston. Soot and sulphur were regarded as nearly pure phlogiston. The essential principle of this theory was, that combustion was a decomposition rather than the union and combination which it has since been shown to be.

PHLOGOGENOUS Phlo*gog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.] (Med.)

Defn: Causing inflammation.

PHLOGOPITE Phlog"o*pite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of mica having generally a peculiar bronze-red or copperlike color and a pearly luster. It is a silicate of aluminia, with magnesia, potash, and some fluorine. It is characteristic of crystalline limestone or dolomite and serpentine. See Mica.

PHLOGOSIS Phlo*go"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of external parts of the body; erysipelatous inflammation.

PHLOGOTIC Phlo*got"ic, n. (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to phlogisis.

PHLORAMINE Phlo*ram"ine, n. Etym: [Phlorlucin + amine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A basic amido derivative of phloroglucin, having an astringent taste.

PHLORETIC Phlo*ret"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, or designating, an organic acid obtained by the decomposition of phloretin.

PHLORETIN Phlor"e*tin, n. Etym: [From Phlorizin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter white crystalline substance obtained by the decomposition of phlorizin, and formerly used to some extent as a substitute for quinine.

PHLORIZIN Phlor"i*zin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter white crystalline glucoside extracted from the root bark of the apple, pear, cherry, plum, etc. [Formerly also written phloridzin.]

PHLOROGLUCIN Phlor`o*glu"cin, n. Etym: [Phloretin + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A sweet white crystalline substance, metameric with pyrogallol, and obtained by the decomposition of phloretin, and from certain gums, as catechu, kino, etc. It belongs to the class of phenols. [Called also phloroglucinol.]

PHLOROL Phlo"rol, n. Etym: [Phloretic + -ol.] (Chem.)

Defn: A liquid metameric with xylenol, belonging to the class of phenols, and obtained by distilling certain salts of phloretic acid.

PHLORONE Phlo"rone, n. Etym: [Phlorol + quinone.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance having a peculiar unpleasant odor, resembling the quinones, and obtained from beechwood tar and coal tar, as also by the oxidation of xylidine; -- called also xyloquinone.

PHLOX Phlox, n. Etym: [L., a kind of flower, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of American herbs, having showy red, white, or purple flowers. Phlox worm (Zoöl.), the larva of an American moth (Heliothis phloxiphaga). It is destructive to phloxes. -- Phlox subulata, the moss pink. See under Moss.

PHLYCTENULAR Phlyc*ten"u*lar, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Characterized by the presence of small pustules, or whitish elevations resembling pustules; as, phlyctenular ophthalmia.

PHOCA Pho"ca, n. Etym: [L., a seal, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of seals. It includes the common harbor seal and allied species. See Seal.

PHOCACEAN Pho*ca"cean, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Phoca; a seal.

PHOCAL Pho"cal, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to seals.

PHOCENIC Pho*cen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to dolphin oil or porpoise oil; -- said of an acid (called also delphinic acid) subsequently found to be identical with valeric acid. Watts.

PHOCENIN Pho*ce"nin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phocénine.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Delphin.

PHOCINE Pho"cine, a. Etym: [L. phoca a seal.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the seal tribe; phocal.

PHOCODONT Pho"co*dont, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Phocodontia.

PHOCODONTIA Pho`co*don"ti*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of extinct carnivorous whales. Their teeth had compressed and serrated crowns. It includes Squalodon and allied genera.

PHOEBE Phoe"be, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pewee, or pewit.

PHOEBUS Phoe"bus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: Apollo; the sun god.

2. The sun. "Phoebus 'gins arise." Shak.

PHOENICIAN Phoe*ni"cian, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Phoenica. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Phoenica.

PHOENICIOUS Phoe*ni"cious, a.

Defn: See Phenicious.

PHOENICOPTERUS Phoe`ni*cop"te*rus, n. Etym: [NL. See Phenicopter.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of birds which includes the flamingoes.

PHOENIX Phoe"nix, n. Etym: [L., a fabulous bird. See Phenix.]

1. Same as Phenix. Shak.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of palms including the date tree.

PHOLAD Pho"lad, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Pholas.

PHOLADEAN Pho*la"de*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pholad.

PHOLAS Pho"las, n.; pl. Pholades. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Pholas, or family Pholadidæ. They bore holes for themselves in clay, peat, and soft rocks.

PHONAL Pho"nal, a.Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Of or relating to the voice; as, phonal structure. Max Müller.

PHONASCETICS Pho`nas*cet"ics, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Treatment for restoring or improving the voice.

PHONATION Pho*na"tion, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The act or process by which articulate sounds are uttered; the utterance of articulate sounds; articulate speech.

PHONAUTOGRAPH Pho*nau"to*graph, n. Etym: [Phono- + Gr. -graph.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument by means of which a sound can be made to produce a visible trace or record of itself. It consists essentially of a resonant vessel, usually of paraboloidal form, closed at one end by a flexible membrane. A stylus attached to some point of the membrane records the movements of the latter, as it vibrates, upon a moving cylinder or plate.

PHONE Phone, n. & v. t.

Defn: Colloq. for Telephone.

PHONEIDOSCOPE Pho*nei"do*scope, n. Etym: [Phono- + Gr. -scope.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for studying the motions of sounding bodies by optical means. It consists of a tube across the end of which is stretched a film of soap solution thin enough to give colored bands, the form and position of which are affected by sonorous vibrations.

PHONETIC Pho*net"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. phonétique. See Ban a proclamation.]

1. Of or pertaining to the voice, or its use.

2. Representing sounds; as, phonetic characters; -- opposed to ideographic; as, a phonetic notation. Phonetic spelling, spelling in phonetic characters, each representing one sound only; -- contrasted with Romanic spelling, or that by the use of the Roman alphabet.

PHONETICALLY Pho*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a phonetic manner.

PHONETICIAN Pho`ne*ti"cian, n.

Defn: One versed in phonetics; a phonetist.

PHONETICS Pho*net"ics, n.

1. The doctrine or science of sounds; especially those of the human voice; phonology.

2. The art of representing vocal sounds by signs and written characters.

PHONETISM Pho"ne*tism, n.

Defn: The science which treats of vocal sounds. J. Peile.

PHONETIST Pho"ne*tist, n.

1. One versed in phonetics; a phonologist.

2. One who advocates a phonetic spelling.

PHONETIZATION Pho`ne*ti*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act, art, or process of representing sounds by phonetic signs.

PHONETIZE Pho"ne*tize, v. t.

Defn: To represent by phonetic signs. Lowell.

PHONIC Phon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. phonique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to sound; of the nature of sound; acoustic. Tyndall.

PHONICS Phon"ics, n.

Defn: See Phonetics.

PHONO- Pho"no-.

Defn: A combining form from Gr. sound, tone; as, phonograph, phonology.

PHONO Phono, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A South American butterfly (Ithonia phono) having nearly transparent wings.

PHONOCAMPTIC Pho`no*camp"tic, a. Etym: [Phono- + Gr. phonocamptique.]

Defn: Reflecting sound. [R.] "Phonocamptic objects." Derham.

PHONOGRAM Pho"no*gram, n. Etym: [Phono- + -gram.]

1. A letter, character, or mark used to represent a particular sound. Phonograms are of three kinds: (1) Verbal signs, which stand for entire words; (2) Syllabic signs, which stand for the articulations of which words are composed; (3) Alphabetic signs, or letters, which represent the elementary sounds into which the syllable can be resolved. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

2. A record of sounds made by a phonograph.

PHONOGRAPH Pho"no*graph, n. Etym: [Phono- + -graph.]

1. A character or symbol used to represent a sound, esp. one used in phonography.

2. (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for the mechanical registration and reproduction of audible sounds, as articulate speech, etc. It consists of a rotating cylinder or disk covered with some material easily indented, as tinfoil, wax, paraffin, etc., above which is a thin plate carrying a stylus. As the plate vibrates under the influence of a sound, the stylus makes minute indentations or undulations in the soft material, and these, when the cylinder or disk is again turned, set the plate in vibration, and reproduce the sound.

PHONOGRAPHER Pho*nog"ra*pher, n.

1. One versed or skilled in phonography.

2. One who uses, or is skilled in the use of, the phonograph. See Phonograph, 2.

PHONOGRAPHIC; PHONOGRAPHICAL Pho`no*graph"ic, Pho`no*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phonographique.]

1. Of or pertaining to phonography; based upon phonography.

2. Of or pertaining to phonograph; done by the phonograph.

PHONOGRAPHICALLY Pho`no*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a phonographic manner; by means of phonograph.

PHONOGRAPHIST Pho*nog"ra*phist, n.

Defn: Phonographer.

PHONOGRAPHY Pho*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Phono- + -graphy.]

1. A description of the laws of the human voice, or sounds uttered by the organs of speech.

2. A representation of sounds by distinctive characters; commonly, a system of shorthand writing invented by Isaac Pitman, or a modification of his system, much used by reporters.

Note: The consonants are represented by straight lines and curves; the vowels by dots and short dashes; but by skilled phonographers, in rapid work, most vowel marks are omitted, and brief symbols for common words and combinations of words are extensively employed. The following line is an example of phonography, in which all the sounds are indicated: -- They also serve who only stand and wait. Milton.

3. The art of constructing, or using, the phonograph.

PHONOLITE Pho"no*lite, n. Etym: [Phono- + -lite: cf. F. phonolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A compact, feldspathic, igneous rock containing nephelite, haüynite, etc. Thin slabs give a ringing sound when struck; -- called also clinkstone.

PHONOLOGER Pho*nol"o*ger, n.

Defn: A phonologist.

PHONOLOGIC; PHONOLOGICAL Pho`no*log"ic, Pho`no*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phonology.

PHONOLOGIST Pho*nol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One versed in phonology.

PHONOLOGY Pho*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phono- + -logy.]

Defn: The science or doctrine of the elementary sounds uttered by the human voice in speech, including the various distinctions, modifications, and combinations of tones; phonetics. Also, a treatise on sounds.

PHONOMETER Pho*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Phono- + -meter.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring sounds, as to their intensity, or the frequency of the vibrations.

PHONOMOTOR Pho`no*mo"tor, n. Etym: [Phono- + -motor.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument in which motion is produced by the vibrations of a sounding body.

PHONORGANON Pho*nor"ga*non, n. Etym: [NL. See Phono-, and Organon.]

Defn: A speaking machine.

PHONOSCOPE Pho"no*scope, n. Etym: [Phono- + -scope.] (Physics) (a) An instrument for observing or exhibiting the motions or properties of sounding bodies; especially, an apparatus invented by König for testing the quality of musical strings. (b) An instrument for producing luminous figures by the vibrations of sounding bodies.

PHONOTYPE Pho"no*type, n. Etym: [Phono- + -type.]

Defn: A type or character used in phonotypy.

PHONOTYPIC; PHONOTYPICAL Pho`no*typ"ic, Pho`no*typ"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phonotypy; as, a phonotypic alphabet.

PHONOTYPIST Pho*not"y*pist, n.

Defn: One versed in phonotypy.

PHONOTYPY Pho*not"y*py, n.

Defn: A method of phonetic printing of the English language, as devised by Mr. Pitman, in which nearly all the ordinary letters and many new forms are employed in order to indicate each elementary sound by a separate character.

PHORMINX Phor"minx, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A kind of lyre used by the Greeks. Mrs. Browning.

PHORMIUM Phor"mi*um, n. Etym: [NL. fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of liliaceous plants, consisting of one species (Phormium tenax). See Flax-plant.

PHORONE Phor"one, n. Etym: [Camphor + acetone.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, having a geraniumlike odor, regarded as a complex derivative of acetone, and obtained from certain camphor compounds.

PHORONIS Pho*ro"nis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Phoronis, a surname of Io, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A remarkable genus of marine worms having tentacles around the mouth. It is usually classed with the gephyreans. Its larva (Actinotrocha) undergoes a peculiar metamorphosis.

PHORONOMIA Phor`o*no"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Phoronomics.

PHORONOMICS Phor`o*nom"ics, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The science of motion; kinematics. [R.] Weisbach.

PHOSGENE Phos"gene, a. Etym: [Gr. phosgène.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: Producing, or produced by, the action of light; -- formerly used specifically to designate a gas now called carbonyl chloride. See Carbonyl.

PHOSGENITE Phos"gen*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A rare mineral occurring in tetragonal crystals of a white, yellow, or grayish color and adamantine luster. It is a chlorocarbonate of lead.

PHOSPHAM Phos"pham, n. Etym: [Phosphorus + ammonia.] (Chem.)

Defn: An inert amorphous white powder, PN2H, obtained by passing ammonia over heated phosphorus. [Spelt also phosphame.] -- Phos"pham"ic, a.

PHOSPHATE Phos"phate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of phosphoric acid.

PHOSPHATIC Phos*phat"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, phosphorus, phosphoric acid, or phosphates; as, phosphatic nodules. Phosphatic diathesis (Med.), a habit of body which leads to the undue excretion of phosphates with the urine.

PHOSPHATURIA Phos`pha*tu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Phosphate, and Urine.] (Med.)

Defn: The excessive discharge of phosphates in the urine.

PHOSPHENE Phos"phene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A luminous impression produced through excitation of the retina by some cause other than the impingement upon it of rays of light, as by pressure upon the eyeball when the lids are closed. Cf. After- image.

PHOSPHIDE Phos"phide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A binary compound of phosphorus.

PHOSPHINE Phos"phine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless gas, PH3, analogous to ammonia, and having a disagreeable odor resembling that of garlic. Called also hydrogen phosphide, and formerly, phosphureted hydrogen.

Note: It is the most important compound of phosphorus and hydrogen, and is produced by the action of caustic potash on phosphorus. It is spontaneously inflammable, owing to impurities, and in burning produces peculiar vortical rings of smoke.

PHOSPHINIC Phos*phin"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, certain acids analogous to the phosphonic acids, but containing two hydrocarbon radicals, and derived from the secondary phosphines by oxidation.

PHOSPHITE Phos"phite, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of phosphorous acid.

PHOSPHONIC Phos*phon"ic, a. Etym: [Phosphoric + sulphonic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, certain derivatives of phosphorous acid containing a hydrocarbon radical, and analogous to the sulphonic acid.

PHOSPHONIUM Phos*pho"ni*um, n. Etym: [Phosphorus + ammonium.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical PH4, analogous to ammonium, and regarded as the nucleus of certain derivatives of phosphine.

PHOSPHOR Phos"phor, n. Etym: [Cf. G. phosphor. See Phosphorus.]

1. Phosphorus. [Obs.] Addison.

2. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; Lucifer. [Poetic] Pope. Tennyson.

PHOSPHORATE Phos"phor*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Phosphorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorating.] (Chem.)

Defn: To impregnate, or combine, with phosphorus or its compounds; as, phosphorated oil.

PHOSPHOR-BRONZE Phos"phor-bronze`, n. Etym: [Phosphor + bronze.] (Metal.)

Defn: A variety of bronze possessing great hardness, elasticity, and toughness, obtained by melting copper with tin phosphide. It contains one or two per cent of phosphorus and from five to fifteen per cent of tin.

PHOSPHOREOUS Phos*pho"re*ous, a.

Defn: Phosphorescent. [Obs.]

PHOSPHORESCE Phos`phor*esce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Phosphoresced; p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorescing.]

Defn: To shine as phosphorus; to be phosphorescent; to emit a phosphoric light.

PHOSPHORESCENCE Phos`phor*es"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phosphorescence.]

1. The quality or state of being phosphorescent; or the act of phosphorescing.

2. A phosphoric light.

PHOSPHORESCENT Phos`phor*es"cent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phosphorescent.]

Defn: Shining with a phosphoric light; luminous without sensible heat. -- n.

Defn: A phosphorescent substance.

PHOSPHORIC Phos*phor"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phosphorique.]

1. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling, or containing, from us; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a higher valence as contrasted with the phosphorous compounds.

2. Phosphorescent. "A phosphoric sea." Byron. Glacial phosphoric acid. (Chem.) (a) Metaphosphoric acid in the form of glassy semitransparent masses or sticks. (b) Pure normal phosphoric acid. -- Phosphoric acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, H3PO4, which is the most highly oxidized acid of phosphorus, and forms an important and extensive series of compounds, viz., the phosphates. -- Soluble phosphoric acid, Insoluble phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid combined in acid salts, or in neutral or basic salts, which are respectively soluble and insoluble in water or in plant juices. -- Reverted phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid changed from acid (soluble) salts back to neutral or basic (insoluble) salts.

PHOSPHORICAL Phos*phor"ic*al, a. (Old Chem.)

Defn: Phosphoric.

PHOSPHORITE Phos"phor*ite, n.

Defn: (min.) A massive variety of apatite.

PHOSPHORITIC Phos`phor*it"ic, a. (Min.)

Defn: Pertaining to phosphorite; resembling, or of the nature of, phosphorite.

PHOSPHORIZE Phos"phor*ize, v. t.

Defn: To phosphorate.

PHOSPHORIZED Phos"phor*ized, a.

Defn: Containing, or impregnated with, phosphorus.

PHOSPHOROGENIC Phos`phor*o*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Phosphorus + -gen + -ic.]

Defn: Generating phosphorescence; as, phosphorogenic rays.

PHOSPHOROSCOPE Phos*phor"o*scope, n. Etym: [Phosphorus + -scope.] (Physics)

Defn: An apparatus for observing the phosphorescence produced in different bodies by the action of light, and for measuring its duration.

PHOSPHOROUS Phos"phor*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phosphoreux.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling or containing phosphorus; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a lower valence as contrasted with phosphoric compounds; as, phosphorous acid, H3PO3.

PHOSPHORUS Phos"phor*us, n.; pl. Phosphori. Etym: [L., the morning star, Gr.

1. The morning star; Phosphor.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous nonmetallic element of the nitrogen group, obtained as a white, or yellowish, translucent waxy substance, having a characteristic disagreeable smell. It is very active chemically, must be preserved under water, and unites with oxygen even at ordinary temperatures, giving a faint glow, -- whence its name. It always occurs compined, usually in phosphates, as in the mineral apatite, in bones, etc. It is used in the composition on the tips of friction matches, and for many other purposes. The molecule contains four atoms. Symbol P. Atomic weight 31.0.

3. (Chem.)

Defn: Hence, any substance which shines in the dark like phosphorus, as certain phosphorescent bodies. Bologna phosphorus (Chem.), sulphide of barium, which shines in the dark after exposure to light; -- so called because this property was discovered by a resident of Bologna. The term is sometimes applied to other compounds having similar properties. -- Metallic phosphorus (Chem.), an allotropic modification of phosphorus, obtained as a gray metallic crystalline substance, having very inert chemical properties. It is obtained by heating ordinary phosphorus in a closed vessel at a high temperature. -- Phosphorus disease (Med.), a disease common among workers in phosphorus, giving rise to necrosis of the jawbone, and other symptoms. -- Red, or Amorphous, phosphorus (Chem.), an allotropic modification of phosphorus, obtained as a dark red powder by heating ordinary phosphorus in closed vessels. It is not poisonous, is not phosphorescent, and is only moderately active chemically. It is valuable as a chemical reagent, and is used in the composition of the friction surface on which safety matches are ignited. -- Solar phosphori (Chem.), phosphorescent substances which shine in the dark after exposure to the sunlight or other intense light.

PHOSPHORUS STEEL Phosphorus steel.

Defn: A steel in which the amount of phosphorus exceeds that of carbon.

PHOSPHORYL Phos"phor*yl, n. Etym: [Phosphorus + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The radical PO, regarded as the typical nucleus of certain compounds.

PHOSPHURET Phos"phu*ret, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A phosphide. [Obsoles.]

PHOSPHURETED Phos"phu*ret`ed, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Impregnated, or combined, with phosphorus. [Obsoles.] [Written also phosphuretted.] Phosphureted hydrogen. (Chem.) See Phosphine.

PHOTIC Pho"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Relating to the production of light by the lower animals.

PHOTIC REGION Photic region. (Phytogeography)

Defn: The uppermost zone of the sea, which receives the most light.

PHOTICS Pho"tics, n. (Physics)

Defn: The science of light; -- a general term sometimes employed when optics is restricted to light as a producing vision. Knight.

PHOTISM Pho"tism, n. [Gr. illumination.] (Psycol.)

Defn: A luminous image or appearance of a hallucinatory character.

PHOTO Pho"to, n.; pl. Photos (.

Defn: A contraction of Photograph. [Colloq.]

PHOTO- Pho"to-.

Defn: A combining form from Gr. fw^s, fwto`s, light; as, photography, phototype, photometer.

PHOTOBACTERIUM Pho`to*bac*te"ri*um, n. [NL. See Photo-, and Bacterium.] (Bacteriol.)

Defn: A genus including certain comma-shaped marine bacteria which emit bluish or greenish phosphorescence. Also, any microörganism of this group.

PHOTOBIOTIC Pho`to*bi*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Photo- + biotic.] (Biol.)

Defn: Requiring light to live; incapable of living without light; as, photobiotic plant cells.

PHOTOCERAMICS Pho`to*ce*ram"ics, n.

Defn: Art or process of decorating pottery with photographically prepared designs. -- Pho`to*ce*ram"ic (#), a.

PHOTOCHEMICAL Pho`to*chem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Photo- + chemical.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to chemical action of light, or produced by it; as, the photochemical changes of the visual purple of the retina.

PHOTOCHEMISTRY Pho`to*chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Photo- + chemistry.] (Chem.)

Defn: The branch of chemistry which relates to the effect of light in producing chemical changes, as in photography.

PHOTOCHROMIC; PHOTOCHROMATIC Pho`to*chro"mic, Pho`to*chro*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to photochromy; produced by photochromy.

PHOTOCHROMOGRAPHY Pho`to*chro*mog"ra*phy, n. [Photo- + Gr. color + -graphy.]

Defn: Art or process of printing colored photographs.

PHOTOCHROMOSCOPE Pho`to*chro"mo*scope, n. [Photo-+ Gr. color + -scope.]

1. A device for giving shifting effects of color to a photograph. The unmounted print, made translucent, is illuminated from behind with colored light.

2. A combination of three optical lanterns for projecting objects on a screen in the colors of nature. The images of three partial photographs taken through color screens (red, green, and blue, respectively) are superimposed. Each image is given its own primary color, and these colors blend and reproduce the colors of the object.

PHOTOCHROMOTYPE Pho`to*chro"mo*type, n. [Photo-+ Gr. color + -type.]

Defn: A colored print made photomechanically.

PHOTOCHROMOTYPE Pho`to*chro"mo*type, v. t.

Defn: To represent by a colored print made by any photomechanical process.

PHOTOCHROMOTYPY Pho`to*chro"mo*typ`y, n.

Defn: The art of making photochromotypes.

PHOTOCHROMY Pho*toch"ro*my, n. Etym: [Photo- + Gr.

Defn: The art or process of reproducing colors by photography.

PHOTOCHRONOGRAPH Pho`to*chron"o*graph, n. [Photo-+ chronograph.]

1. (Physics) An instrument for recording minute intervals of time. The record is made by the power of a magnetic field, due to an electric signaling current, to turn the plane of polarization of light. A flash, coinciding in time and duration with the signal, is thus produced and is photographed on a moving plate.

2. (Astron.) An instrument for the photographic recording of star transits.

PHOTOCHRONOGRAPHY Pho`to*chro*nog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: Art of recording or measuring intervals of time by the photochronograph. -- Pho`to*chron`o*graph"ic (#), -graph"ic*al (#), a. -- -graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHOTODROME Pho"to*drome, n. Etym: [Photo- + Gr. (Physics)

Defn: An apparatus consisting of a large wheel with spokes, which when turning very rapidly is illuminated by momentary flashes of light passing through slits in a rotating disk. By properly timing the succession of flashes the wheel is made to appear to be motionless, or to rotate more or less slowly in either direction.

PHOTODYNAMICS Pho`to*dy*nam"ics, n. [Photo-+ dynamics.] (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: The relation of light to the movements of plants and their organs; the study of the phenomena of curvatures induced by the stimulus of light. --Pho`to*dy*nam"ic (#), Pho`to*dy*nam"ic*al (#), a.

PHOTO-ELECTRIC Pho`to-e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Photo- + electric.]

Defn: Acting by the operation of both light and electricity; -- said of apparatus for producing pictures by electric light.

PHOTO-ELECTRIC; PHOTO-ELECTRICAL Pho`to-e*lec"tric, Pho`to-e*lec"tric*al, a.

Defn: Pert. to, or capable of developing, photo-electricity.

PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL Photo-electric cell.

Defn: A cell (as one of two electrodes embedded in selenium) which by exposure to light generates an electric current.

PHOTO-ELECTRICITY Pho`to-e*lec*tric"i*ty, n. [Photo-+ electricity.]

Defn: Electricity produced by light.

PHOTO-ELECTROGRAPH Pho`to-e*lec"tro*graph, n. [See Photo-; Electrograph.] (Meteor.)

Defn: An electrometer registering by photography.

PHOTO-ELECTROTYPE Pho`to-e*lec"tro*type, n. (Print.)

Defn: An electrotype plate formed in a mold made by photographing on prepared gelatine, etc.

PHOTO-ENGRAVE Pho`to-en*grave", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Photo-engraved; p. pr. & vb. n. Photo-engraving.] [Photo- + engrave.]

Defn: To engrave by a photomechanical process; to make a photo- engraving of. -- Pho`to-en*grav"er (#), n.

PHOTO-ENGRAVING Pho`to-en*grav"ing, n. Etym: [Photo- + engraving.]

Defn: The process of obtaining an etched or engraved plate from the photographic image, to be used in printing; also, a picture produced by such a process.

PHOTO-EPINASTY Pho`to-ep"i*nas`ty, n. Etym: [See Photo-, and Epinastic.] (Bot.)

Defn: A disproportionately rapid growth of the upper surface of dorsiventral organs, such as leaves, through the stimulus of exposure to light. Encyc. Brit.

PHOTO-ETCH Pho`to-etch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Photo-etched; p. pr. & vb. n. Photo-etching.] [Photo- + etch.]

Defn: To engrave, or make an engraving of, by any photomechanical process involving etching of the plate.

PHOTO-ETCHING Pho`to-etch"ing, n.

Defn: A photo-engraving produced by any process involving the etching of the plate.

PHOTOGALVANOGRAPHY Pho`to*gal`va*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Photo- + galvanography.]

Defn: The art or process of making photo-electrotypes. Sir D. Brewster.

PHOTOGEN Pho"to*gen, n. Etym: [Photo- + -gen.] (Chem.)

Defn: A light hydrocarbon oil resembling kerosene. It is obtained by distilling coal, paraffin, etc., and is used as a lubricant, illuminant, etc. [Written also photogene.]

PHOTOGENE Pho"to*gene, n. Etym: [See Photogen.]

1. A photograph. [Obsoles.]

2. A more or less continued impression or image on the retina. H. Spencer.

PHOTOGENIC Pho`to*gen"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to photogeny; producing or generating light.

PHOTOGENY Pho*tog"e*ny, n. Etym: [See Photogen.]

Defn: See Photography. [Obsoles.]

PHOTOGLYPHIC Pho`to*glyph"ic, a. Etym: [Photo- + Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to the art of engraving by the action of light. [Written also photoglyptic.] Photoglyphic engraving, a process of etching on copper, steel, or zinc, by means of the action of light and certain chemicals, so that from the plate impressions may be taken. Sir D. Brewster.

PHOTOGLYPHY Pho*tog"ly*phy, n.

Defn: Photoglyphic engraving. See under Photoglyphic.

PHOTOGLYPTIC Pho`to*glyp"tic, a.

Defn: Same as Photoglyphic.

PHOTOGRAM Pho"to*gram, n. Etym: [Photo- + -gram.]

Defn: A photograph. [R.]

PHOTOGRAMMETER Pho`to*gram"me*ter, n. [See Photogram; -meter.]

Defn: A phototheodolite, or a camera designed for use in photogrammetry. --Pho`to*gram*met"ric (#), Pho`to*gram*met"ric*al (#), a.

PHOTOGRAMMETRY Pho`to*gram"me*try, n. [Photogram + metry.]

Defn: A method of surveying or map making by photography, used also in determining the height and motions of clouds, sea waves, and the like.

PHOTOGRAPH Pho"to*graph, n. Etym: [Photo- + -graph.]

Defn: A picture or likeness obtained by photography.

PHOTOGRAPH Pho"to*graph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Photographed; p. pr. & vb. n. Photographing.]

Defn: To take a picture or likeness of by means of photography; as, to photograph a view; to photograph a group. He makes his pen drawing on white paper, and they are afterwards photographed on wood. Hamerton.

Note: Also used figuratively. He is photographed on my mind. Lady D. Hardy.

PHOTOGRAPH Pho"to*graph, v. i.

Defn: To practice photography; to take photographs.

PHOTOGRAPHER Pho*tog"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One who practices, or is skilled in, photography.

PHOTOGRAPHIC; PHOTOGRAPHICAL Pho`to*graph"ic, Pho`to*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. photographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to photography; obtained by photography; used ib photography; as a photographic picture; a photographic camera. -- Pho`to*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. Photographic printing, the process of obtaining pictures, as on chemically prepared paper, from photographic negatives, by exposure to light.

PHOTOGRAPHIST Pho*tog"ra*phist, n.

Defn: A photographer.

PHOTOGRAPHOMETER Pho*tog"ra*phom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Photograph + -meter.] (Photog.)

Defn: An instrument for determining the sensibility of the plates employed in photographic processes to luminous rays.

PHOTOGRAPHONE Pho*tog"ra*phone, n. [See Photograph; -phone.]

Defn: A device, consisting essentially of an electric arc and a camera, by which a series of photographs of the variations of the arc due to sound waves are obtained for reproduction by means of a selenium cell and a telephone.

PHOTOGRAPHY Pho*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Photo- + -graphy: cf. F. photographie.]

1. The science which relates to the action of light on sensitive bodies in the production of pictures, the fixation of images, and the like.

2. The art or process of producing pictures by this action of light.

Note: The well-focused optical image is thrown on a surface of metal, glass, paper, or other suitable substance, coated with collodion or gelatin, and sensitized with the chlorides, bromides, or iodides of silver, or other salts sensitive to light. The exposed plate is then treated with reducing agents, as pyrogallic acid, ferrous sulphate, etc., to develop the latent image. The image is then fixed by washing off the excess of unchanged sensitive salt with sodium hyposulphite (thiosulphate) or other suitable reagents.

PHOTOGRAVURE Pho`to*grav"ure, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A photoengraving; also, the process by which such a picture is produced.

PHOTOHELIOGRAPH Pho`to*he"li*o*graph, n. Etym: [Photo- + heliograph.] (Physics)

Defn: A modified kind of telescope adapted to taking photographs of the sun.

PHOTOHELIOMETER Pho`to*he`li*om"e*ter, n. [Photo- + heliometer.] (Astron.)

Defn: A double-lens instrument for measuring slight variations of the sun's diameter by photography, utilizing the common chord of two overlapping images.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPH Pho`to*lith"o*graph, n. Etym: [Photo- + lithograph.]

Defn: A lithographic picture or copy from a stone prepared by the aid of photography.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPH Pho`to*lith"o*graph, v. t.

Defn: To produce (a picture, a copy) by the process of photolithography.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER Pho`to*li*thog"ra*pher, n.

Defn: One who practices, or one who employs, photolithography.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC Pho`to*lith`o*graph"ic, n.

Defn: Of or pertaining to photolithography; produced by photolithography.

PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY Pho`to*li*thog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The art or process of producing photolithographs.

PHOTOLOGIC; PHOTOLOGICAL Pho`to*log"ic, Pho`to*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to photology, or the doctrine of light.

PHOTOLOGIST Pho*tol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who studies or expounds the laws of light.

PHOTOLOGY Pho*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Photo- + -logy: cf. F. photologie.]

Defn: The doctrine or science of light, explaining its nature and phenomena; optics.

PHOTOLUMINESCENT Pho`to*lu`mi*nes"cent, a. [Photo- + luminescent.] (Physics)

Defn: Luminescent by exposure to light waves. -- Pho`to*lu`mi*nes"cence (#), n.

PHOTOMAGNETIC Pho`to*mag*net"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to photomagnetism.

PHOTOMAGNETISM Pho`to*mag"net*ism, n.

Defn: The branch of science which treats of the relation of magnetism to light.

PHOTOMECHANICAL Pho`to*me*chan"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, any photographic process in which a printing surface is obtained without the intervention of hand engraving.

PHOTOMETER Pho*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Photo- + -meter: cf. F. photomètre.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the intensity of light, or, more especially, for comparing the relative intensities of different lights, or their relative illuminating power.

PHOTOMETRIC; PHOTOMETRICAL Pho`to*met"ric, Pho`to*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. photométrique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to photometry, or to a photometer.

PHOTOMETRICIAN Pho*tom`e*tri"cian, n.

Defn: One engaged in the scientific measurement of light.

PHOTOMETRICIAN; PHOTOMETRIST Pho*tom`e*tri"cian, Pho*tom"e*trist, n.

Defn: A specialist in photometry.

PHOTOMETRY Pho*tom"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. photométrie.]

Defn: That branch of science which treats of the measurement of the intensity of light.

PHOTOMEZZOTYPE Pho`to*mez"zo*type, n. [Photo-+ It. mezzo middle, half + -type.]

Defn: A photomechanical process similar to collotype.

PHOTOMICROGRAPH Pho`to*mi"cro*graph, n. Etym: [Photo- + micro + -graph.]

1. An enlarged or macroscopic photograph of a microscopic object. See Microphotograph.

2. A microscopically small photograph of an object.

PHOTOMICROGRAPHY Pho`to*mi*crog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The art of producing photomicrographs.

PHOTONEPHOGRAPH Pho`to*neph"o*graph (-nef"o*graf), n. [Photo- + Gr. ne`fos a cloud + -graph.] (Meteor.)

Defn: A nephoscope registering by photography, commonly consisting of a pair of cameras used simultaneously.

PHOTOPHILOUS Pho*toph"i*lous, n. [Photo-+ Gr. loving.] (Phytogeog.)

Defn: Light-loving; growing in strong light, as many plants.

PHOTOPHOBIA Pho`to*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A dread or intolerance of light. Sir T. Watson.

PHOTOPHONE Pho"to*phone, n. Etym: [Photo- + Gr. (Physics)

Defn: An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of rays of light. A. G. Bell.

PHOTOPHONIC Pho`to*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to photophone.

PHOTOPHONY Pho*toph"o*ny, n.

Defn: The art or practice of using the photophone.

PHOTOPHORE Pho"to*phore, n. [Photo- + Gr. to bear.]

1. (Med.) A form of endoscope using an electric light.

2. (Zoöl.) A light-emitting organ; specif., one of the luminous spots on certain marine (mostly deep-sea) fishes.

PHOTOPLAY Pho"to*play`, n.

Defn: A play for representation or exhibition by moving pictures; also, the moving-picture representation of a play.

PHOTOPRINT Pho"to*print`, n.

Defn: Any print made by a photomechanical process.

PHOTOPSIA Pho*top"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: An affection of the eye, in which the patient perceives luminous rays, flashes, coruscations, etc. See phosphene.

PHOTOPSY Pho*top"sy, n.

Defn: Same as Photopsia.

PHOTORELIEF Pho`to*re*lief", n.

Defn: A printing surface in relief, obtained by photographic means and subsequent manipulations. Knight.

PHOTOSCOPE Pho"to*scope, n. Etym: [Photo- + -scope.] (Physics)

Defn: Anything employed for the observation of light or luminous effects.

PHOTOSCOPIC Pho`to*scop"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the photoscope or its uses.

PHOTOSCULPTURE Pho`to*sculp"ture, n. Etym: [Photo- + sculpture.]

Defn: A process in which, by means of a number of photographs simultaneously taken from different points of view on the same level, rough models of the figure or bust of a person or animal may be made with great expedition.

PHOTOSPHERE Pho"to*sphere, n. Etym: [Photo- + sphere.]

Defn: A sphere of light; esp., the luminous envelope of the sun.

PHOTOSPHERIC Pho`to*spher"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the photosphere.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS Pho`to*syn"the*sis, n. (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: The process of constructive metabolism by which carbohydrates are formed from water vapor and the carbon dioxide of the air in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to the action of light. It was formerly called assimilation, but this is now commonly used as in animal physiology. The details of the process are not yet clearly known. Baeyer's theory is that the carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, which, uniting with the hydrogen of the water in the cell, produces formaldehyde, the latter forming various sugars through polymerization. Vines suggests that the carbohydrates are secretion products of the chloroplasts, derived from decomposition of previously formed proteids. The food substances are usually quickly translocated, those that accumulate being changed to starch, which appears in the cells almost simultaneously with the sugars. The chloroplasts perform photosynthesis only in light and within a certain range of temperature, varying according to climate. This is the only way in which a plant is able to organize carbohydrates. All plants without a chlorophyll apparatus, as the fungi, must be parasitic or saprophytic. --Pho`to*syn*thet"ic (#), a. -- Pho`to*syn*thet"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

PHOTOTAXIS; PHOTOTAXY Pho`to*tax"is, Pho"to*tax`y, n. [NL. phototaxis; photo- + Gr. an arranging.] (Biol.)

Defn: The influence of light on the movements of low organisms, as various infusorians, the zoöspores of certain algæ, etc.; also, the tendency to follow definite directions of motion or assume definite positions under such influence. If the migration is toward the source of light, it is termed positive phototaxis; if away from the light, negative phototaxis. --Pho`to*tac"tic (#), a. --Pho`to*tac"tic*al*ly, adv.

PHOTOTELEGRAPHY Pho`to*te*leg"ra*phy, n.

Defn: Telegraphy by means of light, as by the heliograph or the photophone. Also, less properly, telephotography. -- Pho`to*tel"e*graph (#), n. --Pho`to*tel`e*graph"ic (#), a.

PHOTOTELESCOPE Pho`to*tel"e*scope, n. (Astron.)

Defn: A telescope adapted for taking photographs of the heavenly bodies.

PHOTOTHEODOLITE Pho`to*the*od"o*lite, n.

Defn: An arrangement of two photographic cameras, the plates of which may be brought into exactly the same plane, used in surveying and map making. From the differences between two pictures taken at the same moment, measurements in all dimensions of the region may be obtained.

PHOTOTHERAPY Pho`to*ther"a*py, n. (Med.)

Defn: The application of light for therapeutic purposes, esp. for treating diseases of the skin. -- Pho`to*the*rap"ic (#), Pho`to*ther`a*peu"tic (#), a.

PHOTOTHERMIC Pho`to*ther"mic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to both light and heat.

PHOTOTONUS Pho*tot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL. See Photo-, and Tone.] (Bot.)

Defn: A motile condition in plants resulting from exposure to light. -- Pho`to*ton"ic, a.

PHOTOTOPOGRAPHY Pho`to*to*pog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: Photogrammetry. -- Pho`to*top`o*graph"ic (#), Pho`to*top`o*graph"ic*al (#), a.

PHOTOTRICHROMATIC Pho`to*tri`chro*mat"ic, a. [Photo- + tri- + chromatic.]

Defn: Designating a photomechanical process for making reproductions in natural colors by three printings.

PHOTOTROPIC Pho`to*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Photo- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Heliotropic.

PHOTOTROPISM Pho*tot"ro*pism, n. [Photo-+ Gr. to turn.] (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: The tendency of growing plant organs to move or curve under the influence of light. In ordinary use the term is practically synonymous with heliotropism.

PHOTOTYPE Pho"to*type, n. Etym: [Photo- + -type.]

Defn: A plate or block with a printing surface (usually in relief) obtained from a photograph; also, any one of the many methods of processes by which such a printing surface is obtained.

PHOTOTYPIC Pho`to*typ"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a phototype or phototypy.

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHY Pho`to*ty*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Photo- + typography.]

Defn: Same as Phototypy.

PHOTOTYPY Pho*tot"y*py, n.

Defn: The art or process of producing phototypes.

PHOTOVISUAL Pho`to*vis"u*al, a. (Optics)

Defn: Of certain achromatic lenses, having the same focus for the actinic and for the brightest of the visual rays.

PHOTOXYLOGRAPHY Pho`to*xy*log"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Photo- + xylography.]

Defn: The process of producing a representation of an object on wood, by photography, for the use of the wood engraver.

PHOTOZINCOGRAPH Pho`to*zin"co*graph, n.

Defn: A print made by photozincography. -- Pho`to*zin`co*graph"ic, a.

PHOTOZINCOGRAPHY Pho`to*zin*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Photo- + zincography.]

Defn: A process, analogous to photolithography, for reproducing photographed impressions transferred to zinc plate.

PHRAGMOCONE Phrag"mo*cone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The thin chambered shell attached to the anterior end of a belemnite. [Written also phragmacone.]

PHRAGMOSIPHON Phrag`mo*si"phon, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The siphon of a phragmocone.

PHRASAL Phras"al, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a phrase; consisting of a phrase; as, a phrasal adverb. Earlc.

PHRASE Phrase, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. phrasis diction, phraseology, Gr.

1. A brief expression, sometimes a single word, but usually two or more words forming an expression by themselves, or being a portion of a sentence; as, an adverbial phrase. "Convey" the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! a fico for the phrase. Shak.

2. A short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human.

3. A mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression. "Phrases of the hearth." Tennyson. Thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst. Shak.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: A short clause or portion of a period.

Note: A composition consists first of sentences, or periods; these are subdivided into sections, and these into phrases. Phrase book, a book of idiomatic phrases. J. S. Blackie.

PHRASE Phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Phrased; p. pr. & vb. n. Phrasing.] Etym: [Cf. F. phraser.]

Defn: To express in words, or in peculiar words; to call; to style. "These suns -- for so they phrase 'em." Shak.

PHRASE Phrase, v. i.

1. To use proper or fine phrases. [R.]

2. (Mus.)

Defn: To group notes into phrases; as, he phrases well. See Phrase, n., 4.

PHRASELESS Phrase"less, a.

Defn: Indescribable. Shak.

PHRASEOGRAM Phra"se*o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.] (Phonography)

Defn: A symbol for a phrase.

PHRASEOLOGIC; PHRASEOLOGICAL Phra`se*o*log"ic, Phra`se*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phraseology; consisting of a peculiar form of words. "This verbal or phraseological answer." Bp. Pearson.

PHRASEOLOGIST Phra`se*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: A collector or coiner of phrases.

PHRASEOLOGY Phra`se*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. phraséologie.]

1. Manner of expression; peculiarity of diction; style. Most completely national in his . . . phraseology. I. Taylor.

2. A collection of phrases; a phrase book. [R.]

Syn. -- Diction; style. See Diction.

PHRASING Phras"ing, n.

1. Method of expression; association of words.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: The act or method of grouping the notes so as to form distinct musical phrases.

PHRATRY Phra"try, n.; pl. Phratries. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A subdivision of a phyle, or tribe, in Athens.

PHREATIC Phre*at"ic, a. Etym: [F. phréatique, from Gr. (Geol.)

Defn: Subterranean; -- applied to sources supplying wells.

PHRENETIC; PHRENETICAL Phre*net"ic, Phre*net"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. phreneticus, Gr. phrénétique. See Frantic, and cf. Frenetic.]

Defn: Relating to phrenitis; suffering from frenzy; delirious; mad; frantic; frenetic. -- Phre*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHRENETIC Phre*net"ic, n.

Defn: One who is phrenetic. Harvey.

PHRENIC Phren"ic, a.Etym: [Gr. phrénique.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the diaphragm; diaphragmatic; as, the phrenic nerve.

PHRENICS Phren"ics, n.

Defn: That branch of science which relates to the mind; mental philosophy. [R.]

PHRENISM Phre"nism, n. Etym: [See Phrenic.] (Biol.)

Defn: See Vital force, under Vital.

PHRENITIS Phre*ni"tis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the brain, or of the meninges of the brain, attended with acute fever and delirium; -- called also cephalitis.

2. See Frenzy.

PHRENOGRAPH Phre"no*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for registering the movements of the diaphragm, or midriff, in respiration.

PHRENOLOGER Phre*nol"o*ger, n.

Defn: A phrenologist.

PHRENOLOGIC Phren`o*log"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phrénologique.]

Defn: Phrenological.

PHRENOLOGICAL Phren`o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phrenology. -- Phren`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHRENOLOGIST Phre*nol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phrénologiste.]

Defn: One versed in phrenology; a craniologist.

PHRENOLOGY Phre*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. phrénologie.]

1. The science of the special functions of the several parts of the brain, or of the supposed connection between the various faculties of the mind and particular organs in the brain.

2. In popular usage, the physiological hypothesis of Gall, that the mental faculties, and traits of character, are shown on the surface of the head or skull; craniology.

Note: Gall marked out on his model of the head the places of twenty- six organs, as round inclosures with vacant interspaces. Spurzheim and Combe divided the whole scalp into oblong and conterminous patches. Encyc. Brit.

PHRENOMAGNETISM Phre`no*mag"net*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. magnetism.]

Defn: The power of exciting the organs of the brain by magnetic or mesmeric influence.

PHRENOSIN Phre"no*sin, n. Etym: [See Phrenic.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous body, related to cerebrin, supposed to exist in the brain.

PHRENSIED Phren"sied, p. p. & a.

Defn: See Frenzied.

PHRENSY Phren"sy, n.

Defn: Violent and irrational excitement; delirium. See Frenzy.

PHRENSY Phren"sy, v. t.

Defn: To render frantic.

PHRENTIC Phren"tic, n. & a.

Defn: See Phrenetic. [Obs.]

PHRYGANEID Phry*ga"ne*id, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any insect belonging to the Phryganeides.

PHRYGANEIDES Phryg`a*ne"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Phryganea, the typical genus, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of neuropterous insects which includes the caddice flies; -- called also Trichoptera. See Trichoptera. [Written also Phryganides.]

PHRYGIAN Phryg"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Phrygius, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Phrygia, or to its inhabitants. Phrygian mode (Mus.), one of the ancient Greek modes, very bold and vehement in style; -- so called because fabled to have been invented by the Phrygian Marsyas. Moore (Encyc. of Music). -- Phrygian stone, a light, spongy stone, resembling a pumice, -- used by the ancients in dyeing, and said to be drying and astringent.

PHRYGIAN Phryg"i*an, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of Phrygia.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A Montanist.

PHRYGIAN CAP Phryg"i*an cap`.

Defn: A close-fitting cap represented in Greek art as worn by Orientals, assumed to have been conical in shape. It has been adopted in modern art as the so-called liberty cap, or cap of liberty.

PHTHALATE Phthal"ate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of phthalic acid.

PHTHALEIN Phthal"e*in, n. Etym: [See Phthalic.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of artificial organic dyes made as condensation products of the phenols with phthalic acid, and well represented by phenol phthaleïn. Their alkaline solutions are fluorescent. Phenol phthalein, a white or yellowish white crystalline substance made from phthalic acid and phenol. Its solution in alkalies is brilliant red, but is decolorized by acids, and as this reaction is exceedingly delicate it is used as an indicator.

PHTHALIC Phthal"ic, a. Etym: [Naphthalene + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a dibasic acid obtained by the oxidation of naphthalene and allied substances. Phthalic acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, C6H4.(CO2H)2, analogous to benzoic acid, and employed in the brilliant dyestuffs called the phthaleins.

PHTHALIDE Phthal"ide, n. Etym: [Phthalyl + anhydride.] (Chem.)

Defn: A lactone obtained by reduction of phthalyl chloride, as a white crystalline substance; hence, by extension, any one of the series of which phthalide proper is the type. [Written also phthalid.]

PHTHALIMIDE Phthal"i*mide, n. Etym: [Phthalic + imide.] (Chem.)

Defn: An imido derivative of phthalic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance, C6H4.(CO)2NH, which has itself (like succinimide) acid properties, and forms a series of salts. Cf. Imido acid, under Imido.

PHTHALIN Phthal"in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless crystalline substance obtained by reduction from phthaleïn, into which it is easily converted by oxidation; hence, any one of the series of which phthalin proper is the type.

PHTHALYL Phthal"yl, n. Etym: [Phthalic + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical of phthalic acid.

PHTHIRIASIS Phthi*ri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A disease (morbus pediculous) consisting in the excessive multiplication of lice on the human body.

PHTHISIC Phthis"ic, n.

Defn: Same as Phthisis.

PHTHISICAL Phthis"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. phthisicus, Gr. phthisique. See Phthisis.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to phthisis; affected with phthisis; wasting; consumptive.

PHTHISICKY Phthis"ick*y, a.

Defn: Having phthisis, or some symptom of it, as difficulty in breathing.

PHTHISIOLOGY Phthis`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phthisis + -logy.] (Med.)

Defn: A treatise on phthisis. Dunglison.

PHTHISIPNEUMONIA; PHTHISIPNEUMONY Phthis`ip*neu*mo"ni*a, Phthis`ip*neu"mo*ny, n. Etym: [NL. See Phthisis, Pneumonia.] (Med.)

Defn: Pulmonary consumption.

PHTHISIS Phthi"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. phthisie.] (Med.)

Defn: A wasting or consumption of the tissues. The term was formerly applied to many wasting diseases, but is now usually restricted to pulmonary phthisis, or consumption. See Consumption. Fibroid phthisis. See under Fibroid.

PHTHONGAL Phthon"gal, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Formed into, or characterized by, voice; vocalized; -- said of all the vowels and the semivowels, also of the vocal or sonant consonants g, d, b, l, r, v, z, etc.

PHTHONGAL Phthon"gal, n.

Defn: A vocalized element or letter.

PHTHONGOMETER Phthon*gom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring vocal sounds. Whewell.

PHTHOR Phthor, n. Etym: [F. phthore, Gr. (Old Chem.)

Defn: Fluorine. [Written also phthor.]

PHYCITE Phy"cite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: See Erythrite, 1.

PHYCOCHROME Phy"co*chrome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A bluish green coloring matter of certain algæ.

PHYCOCYANIN; PHYCOCYANINE Phy`co*cy"a*nin, Phy`co*cy"a*nine, n. Etym: [Gr. cyanin.]

Defn: A blue coloring matter found in certain algæ.

PHYCOERYTHRIN; PHYCOERYTHRINE Phy`co*e*ryth"rin, Phy`co*e*ryth"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. erythrin, -ine.]

Defn: A red coloring matter found in algæ of the subclass Florideæ.

PHYCOGRAPHY Phy*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: A description of seaweeds.

PHYCOLOGY Phy*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The science of algæ, or seaweeds; algology.

PHYCOMATER Phy`co*ma"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. mater mother.] (Bot.)

Defn: A gelatin in which the algæ spores have been supposed to vegetate.

PHYCOMYCETES Phy`co*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL.; Gr. seaweed + mycetes.] (Bot.)

Defn: A large, important class of parasitic or saprophytic fungi, the algal or algalike fungi. The plant body ranges from an undifferentiated mass of protoplasm to a well-developed and much- branched mycelium. Reproduction is mainly sexual, by the formation of conidia or sporangia; but the group shows every form of transition from this method through simple conjugation to perfect sexual reproduction by egg and sperm in the higher forms. -- Phy`co*my*ce"tous (#), a.

PHYCOPHAEINE Phy`co*phæ"ine, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A brown coloring matter found in certain algæ.

PHYCOXANTHIN; PHYCOXANTHINE Phy`co*xan"thin, Phy`co*xan"thine, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A yellowish coloring matter found in certain algæ.

PHYLACTER Phy*lac"ter, n.

Defn: A phylactery. Sandys.

PHYLACTERED Phy*lac"tered, a.

Defn: Wearing a phylactery.

PHYLACTERIC; PHYLACTERICAL Phyl`ac*ter"ic, Phyl`ac*ter"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phylacteries.

PHYLACTERY Phy*lac"ter*y, n.; pl. Phylacteries. Etym: [OE. filateri, OF. filatire, filatiere, F. phylactère, L. phylacterium, Gr. Philatory.]

1. Any charm or amulet worn as a preservative from danger or disease.

2. A small square box, made either of parchment or of black calfskin, containing slips of parchment or vellum on which are written the scriptural passages Exodus xiii. 2-10, and 11-17, Deut. vi. 4-9, 13- 22. They are worn by Jews on the head and left arm, on week-day mornings, during the time of prayer. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.

3. Among the primitive Christians, a case in which the relics of the dead were inclosed.

PHYLACTOCARP Phy*lac"to*carp, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A branch of a plumularian hydroid specially modified in structure for the protection of the gonothecæ.

PHYLACTOLAEMA; PHYLACTOLAEMATA Phy*lac`to*læ"ma, Phy*lac`to*læ"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fresh-water Bryozoa in which the tentacles are arranged on a horseshoe-shaped lophophore, and the mouth is covered by an epistome. Called also Lophopoda, and hippocrepians.

PHYLACTOLAEMATOUS Phy*lac`to*læ"ma*tous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Phylactolæma.

PHYLACTOLEMA; PHYLACTOLEMATA Phy*lac`to*le"ma, Phy*lac`to*le"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Phylactolæma.

PHYLARCH Phy"larch, n. Etym: [L. phylarchus, Gr. Phyle, and -arch.] (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: The chief of a phyle, or tribe.

PHYLARCHY Phy"larch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The office of a phylarch; government of a class or tribe.

PHYLE Phy"le, n.; pl. Phylæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A local division of the people in ancient Athens; a clan; a tribe.

PHYLLITE Phyl"lite, n. Etym: [See Phylo-.] (Min.) (a) A mineral related to ottrelite. (b) Clay slate; argillaceous schist.

PHYLLO- Phyl"lo-.

Defn: A combining form from Gr. a leaf; as, phyllopod, phyllotaxy.

PHYLLOBRANCHIA Phyl`lo*bran"chi*a, n.; pl. Phyllobranciæ. Etym: [NL. See Phyllo-, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A crustacean gill composed of lamellæ.

PHYLLOCLADIUM Phyl`lo*cla"di*um, n.; pl. Phyllocladia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A flattened stem or branch which more or less resembles a leaf, and performs the function of a leaf as regards respiration and assimilation.

PHYLLOCYANIN Phyl`lo*cy"a*nin, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + cyanin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A blue coloring matter extracted from chlorophyll. [Written also phyllocyanine.]

PHYLLOCYST Phyl"lo*cyst, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + cyst.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cavity of a hydrophyllium.

PHYLLODE Phyl"lode, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Phyllodium.

PHYLLODINEOUS Phyl`lo*din"eous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having phyllodia; relating to phyllodia.

PHYLLODIUM Phyl*lo"di*um, n.; pl. Phyllodia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A petiole dilated into the form of a blade, and usually with vertical edges, as in the Australian acacias.

PHYLLODY Phyl"lo*dy, n. Etym: [See Phyllodium.] (Bot.)

Defn: A retrograde metamorphosis of the floral organs to the condition of leaves.

PHYLLOID Phyl"loid, a. Etym: [Phyllo- + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a leaf.

PHYLLOMANIA Phyl`lo*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + mania.] (Bot.)

Defn: An abnormal or excessive production of leaves.

PHYLLOME Phyl"lome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A foliar part of a plant; any organ homologous with a leaf, or produced by metamorphosis of a leaf.

PHYLLOMORPHOSIS Phyl`lo*mor*pho"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Phyllo-, Morphosis.] (Bot.)

Defn: The succession and variation of leaves during different seasons. R. Brown.

PHYLLOPHAGAN Phyl*loph"a*gan, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) One of a group of marsupials including the phalangists. (b) One of a tribe of beetles which feed upon the leaves of plants, as the chafers.

PHYLLOPHAGOUS Phyl*loph"a*gous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Substituting on leaves; leaf-eating.

PHYLLOPHOROUS Phyl*loph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Leaf-bearing; producing leaves.

PHYLLOPOD Phyl"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Phyllopoda.

Note: [Also used adjectively.]

PHYLLOPODA Phyl*lop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Entomostraca including a large number of species, most of which live in fresh water. They have flattened or leaflike legs, often very numerous, which they use in swimming. Called also Branchiopoda.

Note: In some, the body is covered with a bivalve shell (Holostraca); in others, as Apus, by a shield-shaped carapace (Monostraca); in others, like Artemia, there is no carapace, and the body is regularly segmented. Sometimes the group is made to include also the Cladocera.

PHYLLOPODOUS Phyl*lop"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Phyllopoda.

PHYLLORHINE Phyl"lo*rhine, a. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Phyllorhina and other related genera of bats that have a leaflike membrane around the nostrils.

PHYLLOSOMA Phyl`lo*so"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Phyllo-, and -some body.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of the spiny lobsters (Palinurus and allied genera). Its body is remarkably thin, flat, and transparent; the legs are very long. Called also glass-crab, and glass-shrimp.

PHYLLOSTOME Phyl"lo*stome, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bat of the genus Phyllostoma, or allied genera, having large membranes around the mouth and nose; a nose-leaf bat.

PHYLLOSTOMID Phyl*los"to*mid, n.

Defn: A phyllostome.

PHYLLOTACTIC Phyl`lo*tac"tic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to phyllotaxy.

PHYLLOTAXY; PHYLLOTAXIS Phyl"lo*tax`y, Phyl"lo*tax`is, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The order or arrangement of leaves on the stem; the science of the relative position of leaves.

PHYLLOUS Phyl"lous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Homologous with a leaf; as, the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils are phyllous organs.

PHYLLOXANTHIN Phyl`lo*xan"thin, n. Etym: [Phyllo- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A yellow coloring matter extracted from chlorophyll.

PHYLLOXERA Phyl`lox*e"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small hemipterous insect (Phylloxera vastatrix) allied to the aphids. It attacks the roots and leaves of the grapevine, doing great damage, especially in Europe.

Note: It exists in several forms, some of which are winged, other wingless. One form produces galls on the leaves and twigs, another affects the roots, causing galls or swellings, and often killing the vine.

2. The diseased condition of a vine caused by the insect just described.

PHYLOGENESIS; PHYLOGENY Phy`lo*gen"e*sis, Phy*log"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. genesis, or root of Gr.

Defn: The history of genealogical development; the race history of an animal or vegetable type; the historic exolution of the phylon or tribe, in distinction from ontogeny, or the development of the individual organism, and from biogenesis, or life development generally.

PHYLOGENETIC Phy*lo*ge*net"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to phylogenesis, or the race history of a type of organism. -- Phy*lo*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHYLON Phy"lon, n.; pl. Phyla. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A tribe.

PHYLUM Phy"lum, n.; pl. Phyla. Etym: [NL. See Phylon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the larger divisions of the animal kingdom; a branch; a grand division.

PHYMA Phy"ma, n.; pl. Phymata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A tubercle on any external part of the body.

PHYSA Phy"sa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of fresh-water Pulmonifera, having reversed spiral shells. See Pond snail, under Pond.

PHYSALIA Phy*sa"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large oceanic Siphonophora which includes the Portuguese man-of-war.

Note: It has a large air sac, or float, with a sail-like crest on its upper side. Numerous zooids of different kinds are attached to the under side of the float. Some of the zooids have very long tentacles; some have a mouth and digest food; others produce gonophores. The American species (Physalia arethusa) is brilliantly colored, the float being pink or purple, and bright blue; the zooids blue. It is noted for its virulent stinging powers, as well as for its beautiful colors, graceful motions, and its ability to sail to windward.

PHYSALIAE Phy*sa"li*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Siphonophora which includes Physalia.

PHYSEMARIA Phys`e*ma"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of simple marine organisms, usually classed as the lowest of the sponges. They have inflated hollow bodies.

PHYSETER Phy*se"ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. physétère.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The genus that includes the sperm whale.

2. A filtering machine operated by air pressure.

PHYSIANTHROPY Phys`i*an"thro*py, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The philosophy of human life, or the doctrine of the constitution and diseases of man, and their remedies.

PHYSIC Phys"ic, n. Etym: [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.]

1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine. "A doctor of physik." Chaucer.

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.

4. A physician. [R.] Shak. Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities.

PHYSIC Phys"ic, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Physiced; p. pr. & vb. n. Physicking.]

1. To treat with physic or medicine; to administer medicine to, esp. a cathartic; to operate on as a cathartic; to purge.

2. To work on as a remedy; to heal; to cure. The labor we delight in physics pain. Shak. A mind diseased no remedy can physic. Byron.

PHYSICAL Phys"ic*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man. Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion. J. S. Mill. A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force. Macaulay.

2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. "Physical philosophy." Pope.

3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.

4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] "Physical herbs." Sir T. North. Is Brutus sick and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning Shak. Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation. -- Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor. -- Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person. -- Physical geography. See under Geography. -- Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point. -- Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination.

PHYSICALLY Phys"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a physical manner; according to the laws of nature or physics; by physical force; not morally. I am not now treating physically of light or colors. Locke.

2. According to the rules of medicine. [Obs.] He that lives physically must live miserably. Cheyne.

PHYSICIAN Phy*si"cian, n. Etym: [OE. fisician, fisicien, OF. physucien, a physician, in F., a natural philosopher, an experimentalist in physics. See Physic.]

1. A person skilled in physic, or the art of healing; one duty authorized to prescribe remedies for, and treat, diseases; a doctor of medicine.

2. Hence, figuratively, one who ministers to moral diseases; as, a physician of the soul.

PHYSICIANED Phy*si"cianed, a.

Defn: Licensed as a physician. [Obs.] "A physicianed apothecary." Walpole.

PHYSICISM Phys"i*cism, n.

Defn: The tendency of the mind toward, or its preoccupation with, physical phenomena; materialism in philosophy and religion. Anthropomorphism grows into theology, while physicism (if I may so call it) develops into science. Huxley.

PHYSICIST Phys"i*cist, n.

Defn: One versed in physics.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: A believer in the theory that the fundamental phenomena of life are to be explained upon purely chemical and physical principles; -- opposed to vitalist.

PHYSICKING Phys"ick*ing,

Defn: p. pr. & vb. n. fr. Physic, v. t.

PHYSICO- Phys"i*co-. Etym: [Fr. Gr.

Defn: A combining form, denoting relation to, or dependence upon, natural causes, or the science of physics.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL Phys`i*co*chem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Physico- + chemical.]

Defn: Involving the principles of both physics and chemistry; dependent on, or produced by, the joint action of physical and chemical agencies. Huxley.

PHYSICOLOGIC Phys`i*co*log"ic, n. Etym: [Physico- + logic.]

Defn: Logic illustrated by physics.

PHYSICOLOGICAL Phys`i*co*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to physicologic. Swift.

PHYSICOLOGY Phys`i*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Physico- + -logy.]

Defn: Physics. [R.] -- Phys`i*col"o*gist, n. [R.]

PHYSICO-MATHEMATICS Phys`i*co-math`e*mat"ics, n. Etym: [Physico- + mathematics.]

Defn: Mixed mathematics.

PHYSICO-PHILOSOPHY Phys`i*co-phi*los"o*phy, n. Etym: [Physico- + philosophy.]

Defn: The philosophy of nature.

PHYSICO-THEOLOGY Phys`i*co-the*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Physico- + theology.]

Defn: Theology or divinity illustrated or enforced by physics or natural philosophy.

PHYSICS Phys"ics, n. Etym: [See Physic.]

Defn: The science of nature, or of natural objects; that branch of science which treats of the laws and properties of matter, and the forces acting upon it; especially, that department of natural science which treats of the causes (as gravitation, heat, light, magnetism, electricity, etc.) that modify the general properties of bodies; natural philosophy.

Note: Chemistry, though a branch of general physics, is commonly treated as a science by itself, and the application of physical principles which it involves constitute a branch called chemical physics, which treats more especially of those physical properties of matter which are used by chemists in defining and distinguishing substances.

PHYSIOCRAT Phys"i*o*crat, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One of the followers of Quesnay of France, who, in the 18th century, founded a system of political economy based upon the supremacy of natural order. F. A. Walker. -- Phys`i*o*crat"ic, a.

PHYSIOGENY Phys`i*og"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The germ history of the functions, or the history of the development of vital activities, in the individual, being one of the branches of ontogeny. See Morphogeny. Haeckel.

PHYSIOGNOMER Phys`i*og"no*mer, n.

Defn: Physiognomist.

PHYSIOGNOMIC; PHYSIOGNOMICAL Phys`i*og*nom"ic, Phys`i*og*nom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. physiognomonique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to physiognomy; according with the principles of physiognomy. -- Phys`i*og*nom"ic*al*ly, adv.

PHYSIOGNOMIST Phys`i*og*nom"ist, n.

Defn: Same as Physiognomy, 1.

PHYSIOGNOMIST Phys`i*og"no*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. physiognomiste.]

1. One skilled in physiognomy. Dryden.

2. One who tells fortunes by physiognomy. Holland.

PHYSIOGNOMIZE Phys`i*og"no*mize, v. t.

Defn: To observe and study the physiognomy of. [R.] Southey.

PHYSIOGNOMMONIC Phys`i*og`no*mmon"ic, a.

Defn: Physiognomic.

PHYSIOGNOMY Phys`i*og"no*my, n.; pl. Physiognomies. Etym: [OE. fisonomie, phisonomie, fisnamie, OF. phisonomie, F. physiognomie, physiognomonie, from Gr. Physic, and Know, and cf. Phiz.]

1. The art and science of discovering the predominant temper, and other characteristic qualities of the mind, by the outward appearance, especially by the features of the face.

2. The face or countenance, with respect to the temper of the mind; particular configuration, cast, or expression of countenance, as denoting character.

3. The art telling fortunes by inspection of the features. [Obs.] Bale.

4. The general appearance or aspect of a thing, without reference to its scientific characteristics; as, the physiognomy of a plant, or of a meteor.

PHYSIOGONY Phys`i*og"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The birth of nature. [R.] Coleridge.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC; PHYSIOGRAPHICAL Phys`i*o*graph"ic, Phys`i*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. physiographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to physiography.

PHYSIOGRAPHY Phys`i*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. physiographie.]

Defn: The science which treats of the earth's exterior physical features, climate, life, etc., and of the physical movements or changes on the earth's surface, as the currents of the atmosphere and ocean, the secular variations in heat, moisture, magnetism, etc.; physical geography.

PHYSIOLATRY Phys`i*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The worship of the powers or agencies of nature; materialism in religion; nature worship. "The physiolatry of the Vedas." M. Williams.

PHYSIOLOGER Phys`i*ol"o*ger, n.

Defn: A physiologist.

PHYSIOLOGIC Phys`i*o*log"ic, a. Etym: [L. physiologicus, Gr. physiologique.]

Defn: Physiological.

PHYSIOLOGICAL Phys`i*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to physiology; relating to the science of the functions of living organism; as, physiological botany or chemistry.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY Phys`i*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a physiological manner.

PHYSIOLOGIST Phys`i*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. physiologiste.]

Defn: One who is versed in the science of physiology; a student of the properties and functions of animal and vegetable organs and tissues.

PHYSIOLOGIZE Phys`i*ol"o*gize, v. i.

Defn: To speculate in physiology; to make physiological investigations. Cudworth.

PHYSIOLOGY Phys`i*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. Physiologies. Etym: [L. physiologia, Gr. physiologie.]

1. The science which treats of the phenomena of living organisms; the study of the processes incidental to, and characteristic of, life.

Note: It is divided into animal and vegetable physiology, dealing with animal and vegetable life respectively. When applied especially to a study of the functions of the organs and tissues in man, it is called human physiology.

2. A treatise on physiology. Mental physiology, the science of the functions and phenomena of the mind, as distinguished from a philosophical explanation of the same.

PHYSIOPHYLY Phys`i*oph"y*ly, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The tribal history of the functions, or the history of the paleontological development of vital activities, -- being a branch of phylogeny. See Morphophyly. Haeckel.

PHYSIQUE Phy*sique", n. Etym: [F. See Physic.]

Defn: The natural constitution, or physical structure, of a person. With his white hair and splendid physique. Mrs. Stowe.

PHYSNOMY Phys"no*my, n.

Defn: Physiogmony. [Obs.]

PHYSOCLIST Phys"o*clist, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Physoclisti.

PHYSOCLISTI Phys`o*clis"ti, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of teleost in which the air bladder has no opening.

PHYSOGRADE Phys"o*grade, n. Etym: [Gr. gradi to walk, go.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any siphonophore which has an air sac for a float, as the Physalia.

PHYSOPHORAE Phy*soph"o*ræ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of Siphonophora, furnished with an air sac, or float, and a series of nectocalyces. See Illust. under Nectocalyx.

PHYSOPOD Phy"so*pod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Physopoda; a thrips.

PHYSOPODA Phy*sop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Thysanoptera.

PHYSOSTIGMINE Phy`so*stig"mine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean (the seed of Physostigma venenosum), and extracted as a white, tasteless, substance, amorphous or crystalline; -- formerly called eserine, with which it was regarded as identical.

PHYSOSTOMI Phy*sos"to*mi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of fishes in which the air bladder is provided with a duct, and the ventral fins, when present, are abdominal. It includes the salmons, herrings, carps, catfishes, and others.

PHYSOSTOMOUS Phy*sos"to*mous, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having a duct to the air bladder. (b) Pertaining to the Physostomi.

PHYTELEPHAS Phy*tel"e*phas, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of South American palm trees, the seeds of which furnish the substance called vegetable ivory.

PHYTIVOROUS Phy*tiv"o*rous, a. Etym: [Phyto- + L. vorare to eat greedily.]

Defn: Feeding on plants or herbage; phytophagous; as, phytivorous animals. Ray.

PHYTO- Phy"to-. Etym: [See Physic.]

Defn: A combining form from Gr. fyto`n a plant; as, phytochemistry, phytography.

PHYTOCHEMICAL Phy`to*chem"ic*al, a.

Defn: Relating to phytochemistry. R. Hunt.

PHYTOCHEMISTRY Phy"to*chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Phyto- + chemistry.]

Defn: Chemistry in its relation to vegetable bodies; vegetable chemistry. R. Hunt.

PHYTOCHIMY Phy*toch"i*my, n. Etym: [F. phytochimie; Gr. chimie chemistry.]

Defn: Phytochemistry. [Obsoles.]

PHYTOGENESIS; PHYTOGENY Phy`to*gen"e*sis, Phy*tog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Phyto- + genesis, or root of Gr.

Defn: The doctrine of the generation of plants.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL Phy`to*ge"o*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to phytogeography.

PHYTOGEOGRAPHY Phy`to*ge*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + geography.]

Defn: The geographical distribution of plants.

PHYTOGLYPHIC Phy`to*glyph"ic, a.

Defn: Relating to phytoglyphy.

PHYTOGLYPHY Phy*tog"ly*phy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + Gr.

Defn: See Nature printing, under Nature.

PHYTOGRAPHICAL Phy`to*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phytographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to phytography.

PHYTOGRAPHY Phy*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + -graphy: cf. F. phytographie.]

Defn: The science of describing plants in a systematic manner; also, a description of plants.

PHYTOID Phy"toid, a. Etym: [Phyto- + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a plant; plantlike.

PHYTOLACCA Phy`to*lac"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. lacca lac.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants, some of them having berries which abound in intensely red juice; poke, or pokeweed.

PHYTOLITE Phy"to*lite, n. Etym: [Phyto- + -lite: cf. F. phytolithe.]

Defn: An old name for a fossil plant.

PHYTOLITHOLOGIST Phy`to*li*thol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One versed in phytolithology; a paleobotanist.

PHYTOLITHOLOGY Phy`to*li*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + lithology.]

Defn: The branch of science which treats of fossil plants; -- usually called paleobotany, sometimes paleophytology.

PHYTOLOGICAL Phy`to*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. phytologique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to phytology; botanical.

PHYTOLOGIST Phy*tol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One skilled in phytology; a writer on plants; a botanist. Evelyn.

PHYTOLOGY Phy*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + -logy: cf. F. phytologie.]

Defn: The science of plants; a description of the kinds and properties of plants; botany. Sir T. Browne.

PHYTOMER; PHYTOMERON Phy"to*mer, Phy*tom"e*ron, n. Etym: [NL. phytomeron, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: An organic element of a flowering plant; a phyton.

PHYTON Phy"ton, n.; pl. Phytons. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the parts which by their repetition make up a flowering plant, each being a single joint of a stem with its leaf or leaves; a phytomer.

PHYTONOMY Phy*ton"o*my, n. Etym: [Phyto- + Gr. phytonomie.]

Defn: The science of the origin and growth of plants.

PHYTOPATHOLOGIST Phy`to*pa*thol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One skilled in diseases of plants.

PHYTOPATHOLOGY Phy`to*pa*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + pathology.]

Defn: The science of diseases to which plants are liable.

PHYTOPHAGA Phy*toph"a*ga, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Hymenoptera; the sawflies.

PHYTOPHAGIC Phy`to*phag"ic, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Phytophagous.

PHYTOPHAGOUS Phy*toph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Phyto- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Feeding on plants; herbivorous; as, a phytophagous animal.

PHYTOPHAGY Phy*toph"a*gy, n.

Defn: The eating of plants.

PHYTOPHYSIOLOGY Phy`to*phys`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Phyto- + physiology.]

Defn: Vegetable physiology.

PHYTOTOMIST Phy*tot"o*mist, n.

Defn: One versed in phytotomy.

PHYTOTOMY Phy*tot"o*my, n. Etym: [Phyto- + Gr.

Defn: The dissection of plants; vegetable anatomy.

PHYTOZOARIA Phy`to*zo*a"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Phytozoön.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Infusoria.

PHYTOZOON; PHYTOZOOEN Phy`to*zo"ön, n.; pl. Phytozoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A plantlike animal. The term is sometimes applied to zoöphytes.

PHYZ Phyz, n.

Defn: See Phiz.

PI Pi, n. Etym: [See Pica, Pie magpie, service-book.] (Print.)

Defn: A mass of type confusedly mixed or unsorted. [Written also pie.]

PI Pi, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pied; p. pr. & vb. n. Pieing.] (Print.)

Defn: To put into a mixed and disordered condition, as type; to mix and disarrange the type of; as, to pi a form. [Written also pie.]

PIACABA Pi*aç"a*ba, n.

Defn: See Piassava.

PIACLE Pi"a*cle, n. Etym: [L. piaculum a propitiatory sacrifice, that which requires expiation, a wicked action, fr. piare to appease, to expiate, pius pious.]

Defn: A heinous offense which requires expiation. [R.] Howell.

PIACULAR Pi*ac"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. piacularis: cf. F. piaculaire.]

1. Expiatory; atoning. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. Requiring expiation; criminal; atrociously bad. "Piacular pollution." De Quincey.

PIACULARITY Pi*ac`u*lar"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being piacular; criminality; wickedness. De Quincey.

PIACULOUS Pi*ac"u*lous, a.

Defn: Same as Piacular.

PIAL Pi"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the pia mater.

PIA MATER Pi"a ma"ter. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pia (fem. of pius tender, kind) + mater mother.] (Anat.)

Defn: The delicate and highly vascular membrane immediately investing the brain and spinal cord.

PIAN Pian, n. Etym: [Pg. pian, epian, or. Sp. pian; from the native name in South America: cf. F. pian.] (Med.)

Defn: The yaws. See Yaws.

PIANET Pi"a*net`, n. Etym: [Cf. Pie magpie.] (Zoöl.) (a) The magpie. [Written also pianate, and pyenate.] (b) The lesser woodpecker. [Obs.] Bailey.

PIANETTE Pi*a*nette", n. Etym: [Dim. of piano.] (Mus.)

Defn: A small piano; a pianino.

PIANINO Pi`a*ni"no, n. Etym: [It., dim. of piano, adj. See Piano.] (Mus.)

Defn: A pianette, or small piano.

PIANISSIMO Pi`a*nis"si*mo, a.Etym: [It., superl. of piano.] (Mus.)

Defn: Very soft; -- a direction to execute a passage as softly as possible. (Abbrev. pp.)

PIANIST Pi*an"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pianiste, It. pianista.]

Defn: A performer, esp. a skilled performer, on the piano.

PIANO Pi*a"no, a. & adv. Etym: [It., even, smooth, soft, fr. L. planus even, level.] (Mus.)

Defn: Soft; -- a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.)

PIANO; PIANOFORTE Pi*an"o, Pi*an"o*for`te, n. Etym: [It. piano soft (fr. L. planus even, smooth; see Plain, a.) + It. forte strong, fr. L. fortis (see Fort).] (Mus.)

Defn: A well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the harpsichord, and consisting of a sreies of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys. Dumb piano. See Digitorium. -- Grand piano. See under Grand. -- Square piano, one with a horizontal frame and an oblong case. -- Upright piano, one with an upright frame and vertical wires.

PIANOGRAPH Pi*an"o*graph, n. Etym: [Piano + -graph.] (Mus.)

Defn: A form of melodiograph applied to a piano.

PIAPEC Pi"a*pec, n. Etym: [Cf. Pie a magpie.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A West African pie (Ptilostomus Senegalensis).

PIARIST Pi"a*rist, n. Etym: [L. pius pious.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: One of a religious order who are the regular clerks of the Scuole Pie (religious schools), an institute of secondary education, founded at Rome in the last years of the 16th century. Addis & Arnold.

PIASSAVA Pi*as"sa*va, n. Etym: [Pg. piasaba.]

Defn: A fibrous product of two Brazilian palm trees (Attalea funifera and Leopoldinia Piassaba), -- used in making brooms, and for other purposes. Called also piaçaba and piasaba.

PIASTER Pi*as"ter, n. Etym: [F. piastre, It. piastra a thin plate of metal, a dollar, LL. piastra, fr. L. emplastrum. See Plaster.]

Defn: A silver coin of Spain and various other countries. See Peso. The Spanish piaster (commonly called peso, or peso duro) is of about the value of the American dollar. The Italian piaster, or scudo, was worth from 80 to 100 cents. The Turkish and Egyptian piasters are now worth about four and a half cents.

PIASTRE Pi*as"tre, n.

Defn: See Piaster.

PIATION Pi*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. piatio. See Piacle.]

Defn: The act of making atonement; expiation. [Obs.]

PIATTI Pi*at"ti, n. pl. Etym: [It., prop., plates.] (Mus.)

Defn: Cymbals. [Written also pyatti.]

PIAZZA Pi*az"za, n.; pl. Piazzas. Etym: [It., place, square, market place, L. platea street, courtyard. See Place.]

Defn: An open square in a European town, especially an Italian town; hence (Arch.), an arcaded and roofed gallery; a portico. In the United States the word is popularly applied to a veranda. We walk by the obelisk, and meditate in piazzas. Jer. Taylor.

PIBCORN Pib"corn`, n. Etym: [W. pib pipe + corn horn.] (Mus.)

Defn: A wind instrument or pipe, with a horn at each end, -- used in Wales.

PIBROCH Pi"broch, n. Etym: [Gael. piobaireachd pipe music, fr. piobair a piper, fr. pioba pipe, bagpipe, from English. See Pipe, n.]

Defn: A Highland air, suited to the particular passion which the musician would either excite or assuage; generally applied to those airs that are played on the bagpipe before the Highlanders when they go out to battle. Jamieson.

PIC Pic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pic.]

Defn: A Turkish cloth measure, varying from 18 to 28 inches.

PICA Pi"ca, n. Etym: [L. pica a pie, magpie; in sense 3 prob. named from some resemblance to the colors of the magpie. Cf. Pie magpie.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The genus that includes the magpies.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A vitiated appetite that craves what is unfit for food, as chalk, ashes, coal, etc.; chthonophagia.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A service-book. See Pie. [Obs.]

4. (Print.)

Defn: A size of type next larger than small pica, and smaller than English.

Note: This line is printed in pica

Note: Pica is twice the size of nonpareil, and is used as a standard of measurement in casting leads, cutting rules, etc., and also as a standard by which to designate several larger kinds of type, as double pica, two-line pica, four-line pica, and the like. Small pica (Print.), a size of type next larger than long primer, and smaller than pica.

Note: This line is printed in small pica

PICADOR Pic`a*dor", n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A horseman armed with a lance, who in a bullfight receives the first attack of the bull, and excites him by picking him without attempting to kill him.

PICAMAR Pic"a*mar`, n. Etym: [L. pix, picis, pitch + amarus bitter.] (Chem.)

Defn: An oily liquid hydrocarbon extracted from the creosote of beechwood tar. It consists essentially of certain derivatives of pyrogallol.

PICAPARE Pic"a*pare, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The finfoot.

PICARD Pic"ard, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of Adamites in the fifteenth century; -- so called from one Picard of Flanders. See Adamite.

PICARESQUE Pic`a*resque", a. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. picaro rogue.]

Defn: Applied to that class of literature in which the principal personage is the Spanish picaro, meaning a rascal, a knave, a rogue, an adventurer.

PICARIAE Pi*ca"ri*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. picus a woodpecker.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive division of birds which includes the woodpeckers, toucans, trogons, hornbills, kingfishers, motmots, rollers, and goatsuckers. By some writers it is made to include also the cuckoos, swifts, and humming birds.

PICARIAN Pi*ca"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Picariæ. -- n.

Defn: One of the Picariæ.

PICAROON Pic`a*roon", n. Etym: [Sp. picaron, aug. of picaro roguish, n., a rogue.]

Defn: One who plunders; especially, a plunderer of wrecks; a pirate; a corsair; a marauder; a sharper. Sir W. Temple.

PICAYUNE Pic`a*yune", n. Etym: [From the language of the Caribs.]

Defn: A small coin of the value of six and a quarter cents. See Fippenny bit. [Local, U.S.]

PICAYUNISH Pic`a*yun"ish, a.

Defn: Petty; paltry; mean; as, a picayunish business. [Colloq. U.S.]

PICCADIL; PICCADILLY Pic"ca*dil, Pic`ca*dil"ly, n. Etym: [OF. piccagilles the several divisions of pieces fastened together about the brim of the collar of a doublet, a dim. fr. Sp. picado, p.p. of picar to prick. See Pike.]

Defn: A high, stiff collar for the neck; also, a hem or band about the skirt of a garment, -- worn by men in the 17th century.

PICCAGE Pic"cage, n. Etym: [LL. piccadium, fr. F. piquer to prick.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: Money paid at fairs for leave to break ground for booths. Ainsworth.

PICCALILLI Pic"ca*lil`li, n.

Defn: A pickle of various vegetables with pungent species, -- originally made in the East Indies.

PICCOLO Pic"co*lo, n. Etym: [It., small.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: A small, shrill flute, the pitch of which is an octave higher than the ordinary flute; an octave flute.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A small upright piano.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: An organ stop, with a high, piercing tone.

PICE Pice, n. Etym: [Hind. paisa]

Defn: A small copper coin of the East Indies, worth less than a cent. Malcom.

PICEA Pic"e*a, n. Etym: [L., the pitch pine, from pix, picis, pitch.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of coniferous trees of the northen hemisphere, including the Norway spruce and the American black and white spruces. These trees have pendent cones, which do not readily fall to pieces, in this and other respects differing from the firs.

PICENE Pi"cene, n. Etym: [See Piceous.] (Chem.)

Defn: A hydrocarbon (C

PICEOUS Pic"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. piceus, fr. pix, picis, pitch.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to pitch; resembling pitch in color or quality; pitchy.

PICHEY Pi"chey, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A Brazilian armadillo (Dasypus minutus); the little armadillo. [Written also pichiy.]

PICHICIAGO Pi`chi*ci*a"go, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, burrowing, South American edentate (Chlamyphorus truncatus), allied to the armadillos. The shell is attached only along the back. [Written also pichyciego.]

PICHURIM BEAN Pich"u*rim bean`. (Bot.)

Defn: The seed of a Brazilian lauraceous tree (Nectandra Puchury) of a taste and smell between those of nutmeg and of sassafras, -- sometimes used medicinally. Called also sassafras nut.

PICI Pi"ci, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. picus a woodpecker.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of birds including the woodpeckers and wrynecks.

PICIFORM Pi"ci*form, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Piciformes.

PICIFORMES Pic`i*for"mes, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Picus, and -Form.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of birds including the woodpeckers, toucans, barbets, colies, kingfishes, hornbills, and some other related groups.

PICINE Pi"cine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the woodpeckers (Pici), or to the Piciformes.

PICK Pick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picked; p. pr. & vb. n. Picking.] Etym: [OE. picken, pikken, to prick, peck; akin to Icel. pikka, Sw. picka, Dan. pikke, D. pikken, G. picken, F. piquer, W. pigo. Cf. Peck, v., Pike, Pitch to throw.]

1. To throw; to pitch. [Obs.] As high as I could pick my lance. Shak.

2. To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.

3. To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points; as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.

4. To open (a lock) as by a wire.

5. To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc.

6. To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket. Did you pick Master Slender's purse Shak. He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems With an old tavern quill, is hungry yet. Cowper.

7. To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; -- often with out. "One man picked out of ten thousand." Shak.

8. To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; -- often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information.

9. To trim. [Obs.] Chaucer. To pick at, to tease or vex by pertinacious annoyance. -- To pick a bone with. See under Bone. -- To pick a thank, to curry favor. [Obs.] Robynson (More's Utopia). -- To pick off. (a) To pluck; to remove by picking. (b) To shoot or bring down, one by one; as, sharpshooters pick off the enemy. -- To pick out. (a) To mark out; to variegate; as, to pick out any dark stuff with lines or spots of bright colors. (b) To select from a number or quantity. -- To pick to pieces, to pull apart piece by piece; hence [Colloq.], to analyze; esp., to criticize in detail. -- To pick a quarrel, to give occasion of quarrel intentionally. -- To pick up. (a) To take up, as with the fingers. (b) To get by repeated efforts; to gather here and there; as, to pick up a livelihood; to pick up news.(c) to acquire (an infectious disease); as, to pick up a cold on the airplane. (d) To meet (a person) and induce to accompany one; as, to pick up a date at the mall. [See several other defs in MW10]

PICK Pick, v. i.

1. To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble. Why stand'st thou picking Is thy palate sore Dryden.

2. To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care.

3. To steal; to pilfer. "To keep my hands from picking and stealing." Book of Com. Prayer. To pick up, to improve by degrees; as, he is picking up in health or business. [Colloq. U.S.]

PICK Pick, n. Etym: [F. pic a pickax, a pick. See Pick, and cf. Pike.]

1. A sharp-pointed tool for picking; -- often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock.

2. (Mining & Mech.)

Defn: A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at both ends, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in the middle, -- used by quarrymen, roadmakers, etc.; also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones.

3. A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler. [Obs.] "Take down my buckler . . . and grind the pick on 't." Beau. & Fl.

4. Choice; right of selection; as, to have one's pick. France and Russia have the pick of our stables. Ld. Lytton.

5. That which would be picked or chosen first; the best; as, the pick of the flock.

6. (Print.)

Defn: A particle of ink or paper imbedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and occasioning a spot on a printed sheet. MacKellar.

7. (Painting)

Defn: That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture.

8. (Weawing)

Defn: The blow which drives the shuttle, -- the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute; hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread; as, so many picks to an inch. Pick dressing (Arch.), in cut stonework, a facing made by a pointed tool, leaving the surface in little pits or depressions. -- Pick hammer, a pick with one end sharp and the other blunt, used by miners.

PICKABACK Pick"a*back`, adv.

Defn: On the back or shoulders; as, to ride pickback. [Written also pickapack, pickback, and pickpack.] A woman stooping to take a child pickaback. R,Jefferies.

PICKANINNY Pick"a*nin`ny, n.; pl. Pickaninnies. Etym: [Cf. Sp. pequeño little, young.]

Defn: A small child; especially, a negro or mulatto infant. [U.S. & West Indies]

PICKAPACK Pick"a*pack`, adv.

Defn: Pickaback.

PICKAX; PICKAXE Pick"ax`, Pick"axe`, n. Etym: [A corruption of OE. pikois, pikeis, F. picois, fr. pic. See Pick, n.]

Defn: A pick with a point at one end, a transverse edge or blade at the other, and a handle inserted at the middle; a hammer with a flattened end for driving wedges and a pointed end for piercing as it strikes. Shak.

PICKBACK Pick"back`, adv.

Defn: On the back.

PICKED Pick"ed, a.

1. Pointed; sharp. "Picked and polished." Chapman. Let the stake be made picked at the top. Mortimer.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a pike or spine on the back; -- said of certain fishes.

3. Carefully selected; chosen; as, picked men.

4. Fine; spruce; smart; precise; dianty. [Obs.] Shak. Picked dogfish. (Zoöl.) See under Dogfish. -- Picked out, ornamented or relieved with lines, or the like, of a different, usually a lighter, color; as, a carriage body dark green, picked out with red.

PICKEDNESS Pick"ed*ness, n.

1. The state of being sharpened; pointedness.

2. Fineness; spruceness; smartness. [Obs.] Too much pickedness is not manly. B. Jonson.

PICKEER Pick*eer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pickeered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pickeering.] Etym: [F. picorer to go marauding, orig., to go to steal cattle, ultimately fr. L. pecus, pecoris, cattle; cf. F. picorée, Sp. pecorea robbery committed by straggling soldiers.]

Defn: To make a raid for booty; to maraud; also, to skirmish in advance of an army. See Picaroon. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

PICKEERER Pick*eer"er, n.

Defn: One who pickeers. [Obs.]

PICKER Pick"er, n. Etym: [From Pick.]

1. One who, or that which, picks, in any sense, -- as, one who uses a pick; one who gathers; a thief; a pick; a pickax; as, a cotton picker. "Pickers and stealers." Shak.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A machine for picking fibrous materials to pieces so as to loosen and separate the fiber.

3. (Weaving)

Defn: The piece in a loom which strikes the end of the shuttle, and impels it through the warp.

4. (Ordnance)

Defn: A priming wire for cleaning the vent.

PICKEREL Pick"er*el, n. Etym: [Dim. of Pike.] [Written also pickerell.]

1. A young or small pike. [Obs.] Bet [better] is, quoth he, a pike than a pickerel. Chaucer.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of freshwater fishes of the genus Esox, esp. the smaller species. (b) The glasseye, or wall-eyed pike. See Wall-eye.

Note: The federation, or chain, pickerel (Esox reticulatus) and the brook pickerel (E. Americanus) are the most common American species. They are used for food, and are noted for their voracity. About the Great Lakes the pike is called pickerel. Pickerel weed (Bot.), a blue-flowered aquatic plant (Pontederia cordata) having large arrow- shaped leaves. So called because common in slow-moving waters where pickerel are often found.

PICKERING Pick"er*ing, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption of Pickerel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The sauger of the St.Lawrence River.

PICKERY Pick"er*y, n. Etym: [From Pick to steal; or perhaps from Pickeer.]

Defn: Petty theft. [Scot.] Holinshed.

PICKET Pick"et, n. Etym: [F. piquet, properly dim. of pique spear, pike. See Pike, and cf. Piquet.]

1. A stake sharpened or pointed, especially one used in fortification and encampments, to mark bounds and angles; or one used for tethering horses.

2. A pointed pale, used in marking fences.

3. Etym: [Probably so called from the picketing of the horses.] (Mil.)

Defn: A detached body of troops serving to guard an army from surprise, and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the enemy; -- called also outlying picket.

4. By extension, men appointed by a trades union, or other labor organization, to intercept outsiders, and prevent them from working for employers with whom the organization is at variance. [Cant]

5. A military punishment, formerly resorted to, in which the offender was forced to stand with one foot on a pointed stake.

6. A game at cards. See Piquet. Inlying picket (Mil.), a detachment of troops held in camp or quarters, detailed to march if called upon. -- Picket fence, a fence made of pickets. See def. 2, above. -- Picket guard (Mil.), a guard of horse and foot, always in readiness in case of alarm. -- Picket line. (Mil.) (a) A position held and guarded by small bodies of men placed at intervals. (b) A rope to which horses are secured when groomed. -- Picketpin, an iron pin for picketing horses.

PICKET Pick"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Picketing.]

1. To fortify with pointed stakes.

2. To inclose or fence with pickets or pales.

3. To tether to, or as to, a picket; as, to picket a horse.

4. To guard, as a camp or road, by an outlying picket.

5. To torture by compelling to stand with one foot on a pointed stake. [Obs.]

PICKETEE Pick`e*tee", n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Picotee.

PICK-FAULT Pick"-fault`, n.

Defn: One who seeks out faults.

PICKING Pick"ing, n.

1. The act of digging or breaking up, as with a pick.

2. The act of choosing, plucking, or gathering.

3. That which is, or may be, picked or gleaned.

4. Pilfering; also, that which is pilfered.

5. pl.

Defn: The pulverized shells of oysters used in making walks. [Eng.] Simmonds.

6. (Mining)

Defn: Rough sorting of ore.

7. Overburned bricks. Simmonds.

PICKING Pick"ing, a.

1. Done or made as with a pointed tool; as, a picking sound.

2. Nice; careful. [Obs.] was too warm on picking work to dwell. Dryden. Picking peg. (Weaving) See Picker, n., 3.

PICKLE Pic"kle, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Picle.

PICKLE Pic"kle, n. Etym: [Cf. D. pekel. Probably a dim. fr. Pick, v. t., alluding to the cleaning of the fish.]

1. (a) A solution of salt and water, in which fish, meat, etc., may be preserved or corned; brine. (b) Vinegar, plain or spiced, used for preserving vegetables, fish, eggs, oysters, etc.

2. Any article of food which has been preserved in brine or in vinegar.

3. (Founding)

Defn: A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their color.

4. A troublesome child; as, a little pickle. [Colloq.] To be in a pickle, to be in disagreeable position; to be in a condition of embarrassment, difficulty, or disorder. "How cam'st thou in this pickle" Shak. -- To put a rod in pickle, to prepare a particular reproof, punishment, or penalty for future application.

PICKLE Pic"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pickled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pickling.]

1. To preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers.

2. To give an antique appearance to; -- said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.

PICKLED Pic"kled, a.

Defn: Preserved in a pickle.

PICKLE-HERRING Pic"kle-her"ring, n.

1. A herring preserved in brine; a pickled herring. [Obs.] Shak.

2. A merry-andrew; a buffoon. [Obs.] Addison.

PICKLER Pic"kler, n.

Defn: One who makes pickles.

PICKLOCK Pick"lock`, n.

1. An instrument for picking locks. Shak.

2. One who picks locks; a thief. "A picklock of secrets." Jer. Taylor.

PICK-ME-UP Pick"-me-up`, n.

Defn: A stimulant, restorative, or tonic; a bracer. [Colloq.]

PICKMIRE Pick"mire`, n. Etym: [So called from its picking its food from the mire.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pewit, or black-headed gull. [Prov. Eng.]

PICKNICK Pick"nick, n.

Defn: See Picnic.

PICKPACK Pick"pack`, adv.

Defn: Pickaback.

PICKPENNY Pick"pen`ny, n.; pl. Pickpennies (.

Defn: A miser; also, a sharper. Dr. H. More.

PICKPOCKET Pick"pock`et, n.

Defn: One who steals purses or other articles from pockets. Bentley.

PICKPURSE Pick"purse`, n.

Defn: One who steals purses, or money from purses. Latimer. Shak.

PICKSY Pick"sy, n.

Defn: See Pixy.

PICKTHANK Pick"thank`, n.

Defn: One who strives to put another under obligation; an officious person; hence, a flatterer. Used also adjectively. Smiling pickthanks, and base newsmongers. Shak.

PICKTOOTH Pick"tooth`, n.

Defn: A toothpick. [Obs.] Swift.

PICK-UP; PICKUP Pick"-up, or Pick"up`, n. [Colloq., Cant. or Slang]

1. Act of picking up, as, in various games, the fielding or hitting of a ball just after it strikes the ground.

2. That which picks up; specif.: (Elec.)

Defn: = Brush b.

3. One that is picked up, as a meal hastily got up for the occasion, a chance acquaintance, an informal game, etc.

PICLE; PICKLE Pi"cle, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. pightel or pingle.]

Defn: A small piece of land inclosed with a hedge; a close. [Obs.] [Written also pickle.]

PI CLOTH Pi"ña cloth`.

Defn: A fine material for ladies' shawls, scarfs, handkerchiefs, etc., made from the fiber of the pineapple leaf, and perhaps from other fibrous tropical leaves. It is delicate, soft, and transparent, with a slight tinge of pale yellow.

PI CLOTH Pi`ña cloth. [See Piña.]

Defn: A fine fabric for scarfs, handkerchiefs, embroidery, etc., woven from the fiber obtained from the leaf of the sterile pineapple plant. It is delicate, soft, and transparent, with a tinge of pale yellow.

PICNIC Pic"nic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. piquenique. See Pick, v., and cf. Knickknack.]

Defn: Formerly, an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table; now, an excursion or pleasure party in which the members partake of a collation or repast (usually in the open air, and from food carried by themselves).

PICNIC Pic"nic, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Picnicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Picnicking.]

Defn: To go on a picnic, or pleasure excursion; to eat in public fashion.

PICNICKER Pic"nick*er, n.

Defn: One who takes part in a picnic.

PICOID Pi"coid, a. Etym: [Picus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the Pici.

PICOLINE Pic"o*line, n. Etym: [L. pix, picis, pitch + oleum oil + -ine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of three isometric bases (C6H7N) related to pyridine, and obtained from bone oil, acrolein ammonia, and coal-tar naphtha, as colorless mobile liquids of strong odor; -- called also methyl pyridine.

PICOT Pi`cot", n. [F.]

Defn: One of many small loops, as of thread, forming an ornamental border, as on a ribbon.

PICOTEE; PICOTINE Pic`o*tee", Pic`o*tine", n. Etym: [F. picoté dotted, picked.] (Bot.)

Defn: A variety of carnation having petals of a light color variously dotted and spotted at the edges.

PICQUET Pic"quet, n.

Defn: See Piquet.

PICRA Pi"cra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The powder of aloes with canella, formerly officinal, employed as a cathartic.

PICRATE Pi"crate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of picric acid.

PICRIC Pi"cric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a strong organic acid (called picric acid), intensely bitter.

Note: Picric acid is obtained by treating phenol with strong nitric acid, as a brilliant yellow crystalline substance, C6H2(NO2)3.OH. It is used in dyeing silk and wool, and also in the manufacture of explosives, as it is very unstable when heated. Called also trinitrophenol, and formerly carbazotic acid.

PICRITE Pic"rite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A dark green igneous rock, consisting largely of chrysolite, with hornblende, augite, biotite, etc.

PICROLITE Pic"ro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.: cf. F. picrolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A fibrous variety of serpentine.

PICROMEL Pic"ro*mel, n. Etym: [Gr. picromel.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: A colorless viscous substance having a bitter-sweet taste.

Note: It was formerly supposed to be the essential principle of the bile, but is now known to be a mixture, principally of salts of glycocholic and taurocholic acids.

PICROTOXIN Pic`ro*tox"in, n. Etym: [Gr. toxic + -in.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter white crystalline substance found in the cocculus indicus. It is a peculiar poisonous neurotic and intoxicant, and consists of a mixture of several neutral substances.

PICRYL Pi"cryl, n. Etym: [Picric + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: The hypothetical radical of picric acid, analogous to phenyl.

PICTISH Pict"ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Picts; resembling the Picts. "The Pictish peer." Byron.

PICTOGRAPH Pic"to*graph, n. Etym: [See Picture, and -graph.]

Defn: A picture or hieroglyph representing and expressing an idea. -- Pic`to*graph"ic, a.

PICTORIAL Pic*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. pictorius, fr. pictor a painter, fr. pingere to paint. See Paint.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to pictures; illustrated by pictures; forming pictures; representing with the clearness of a picture; as, a pictorial dictionary; a pictorial imagination. "Pictorial rhetoric." Ruskin. -- Pic*to"ri*al*ly, adv.

PICTORIC; PICTORICAL Pic*tor"ic, Pic*tor"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pictorial. [Obs.]

PICTS Picts, n. pl.; sing. Pict (. Etym: [L. Picti; cf. AS. Peohtas.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: A race of people of uncertain origin, who inhabited Scotland in early times.

PICTURA Pic*tu"ra, n. Etym: [L., a painting.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pattern of coloration.

PICTURABLE Pic"tur*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being pictured, or represented by a picture.

PICTURAL Pic"tur*al, a.

Defn: Pictorial. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

PICTURAL Pic"tur*al, n.

Defn: A picture. [Obs.] Spenser.

PICTURE Pic"ture, n. Etym: [L. pictura, fr. pingere, pictum, to paint: cf. F. peinture. See Paint.]

1. The art of painting; representation by painting. [Obs.] Any well-expressed image . . . either in picture or sculpture. Sir H. Wotton.

2. A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, produced by means of painting, drawing, engraving, photography, etc.; a representation in colors. By extension, a figure; a model. Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects. Bacon. The young king's picture . . . in virgin wax. Howell.

3. An image or resemblance; a representation, either to the eye or to the mind; that which, by its likeness, brings vividly to mind some other thing; as, a child is the picture of his father; the man is the picture of grief. My eyes make pictures when they are shut. Coleridge.

Note: Picture is often used adjectively, or in forming self- explaining compounds; as, picture book or picture-book, picture frame or picture-frame, picture seller or picture-seller, etc. Picture gallery, a gallery, or large apartment, devoted to the exhibition of pictures. -- Picture red, a rod of metal tube fixed to the walls of a room, from which pictures are hung. -- Picture writing. (a) The art of recording events, or of expressing messages, by means of pictures representing the actions or circumstances in question. Tylor. (b) The record or message so represented; as, the picture writing of the American Indians.

Syn. -- Picture, Painting. Every kind of representation by drawing or painting is a picture, whether made with oil colors, water colors, pencil, crayons, or India ink; strictly, a painting is a picture made by means of colored paints, usually applied moist with a brush.

PICTURE Pic"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pictured; p. pr. & vb. n. Picturing.]

Defn: To draw or paint a resemblance of; to delineate; to represent; to form or present an ideal likeness of; to bring before the mind. "I . . . do picture it in my mind." Spenser. I have not seen him so pictured. Shak.

PICTURED Pic"tured, a.

Defn: Furnished with pictures; represented by a picture or pictures; as, a pictured scene.

PICTURER Pic"tur*er, n.

Defn: One who makes pictures; a painter. [R.] Fuller.

PICTURESQUE Pic`tur*esque", a. Etym: [It. pittoresco: cf. F. pittoresque. See Pictorial.]

Defn: Forming, or fitted to form, a good or pleasing picture; representing with the clearness or ideal beauty appropriate to a picture; expressing that peculiar kind of beauty which is agreeable in a picture, natural or artificial; graphic; vivid; as, a picturesque scene or attitude; picturesque language. What is picturesque as placed in relation to the beautiful and the sublime It is . . . the characteristic pushed into a sensible excess. De Quincey. -- Pic`tur*esque"ly, adv. -- Pic`tur*esque"ness, n.

PICTURESQUISH Pic`tur*esqu"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat picturesque. [R.]

PICTURIZE Pic"tur*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picturized; p. pr. & vb. n. Picturizing.] [R.]

1. To picture.

2. To adorn with pictures.

PICUL Pic"ul, n. Etym: [Jav. & Malay pikul, fr. pikul to carry on the back, to carry a burden; n., a man's burden.]

Defn: A commercial weight varying in different countries and for different commodities. In Borneo it is 135tan. [Written also pecul, and pecal.]

PICULET Pic"u*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of Picus.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of very small woodpeckers of the genus Picumnus and allied genera. Their tail feathers are not stiff and sharp at the tips, as in ordinary woodpeckers.

PICUS Pi"cus, n.; pl. Pici. Etym: [L., a woodpecker.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of woodpeckers, including some of the common American and European species.

PIDDLE Pid"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Piddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piddling.] Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. pittla to keep picking at, Sw. peta to pick.]

1. To deal in trifles; to concern one's self with trivial matters rather than with those that are important. Ascham.

2. To be squeamishly nice about one's food. Swift.

3. To urinate; -- child's word.

PIDDLER Pid"dler, n.

Defn: One who piddles.

PIDDLING Pid"dling, a.

Defn: Trifling; trivial; frivolous; paltry; -- applied to persons and things. The ignoble hucksterage of piddling tithes. Milton.

PIDDOCK Pid"dock, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Pholas; a pholad. See Pholas.

PIE Pie, n. Etym: [OE. pie, pye; cf. Ir. & Gael. pighe pie, also Gael. pige an earthen jar or pot. Cf. Piggin.]

1. An article of food consisting of paste baked with something in it or under it; as, chicken pie; venison pie; mince pie; apple pie; pumpkin pie.

2. See Camp, n., 5. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Pie crust, the paste of a pie.

PIE Pie, n. Etym: [F. pie, L. pica; cf. picus woodpecker, pingere to paint; the bird being perhaps named from its colors. Cf. Pi, Paint, Speight.]

1. (Zoöl.) (a) A magpie. (b) Any other species of the genus Pica, and of several allied genera. [Written also pye.]

2. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: The service book.

3. (Pritn.)

Defn: Type confusedly mixed. See Pi. By cock and pie, an adjuration equivalent to "by God and the service book." Shak. -- Tree pie (Zoöl.), any Asiatic bird of the genus Dendrocitta, allied to the magpie. -- Wood pie. (Zoöl.) See French pie, under French.

PIE Pie, v. t.

Defn: See Pi.

PIEBALD Pie"bald`, a. Etym: [Pie the party-colored bird + bald.]

1. Having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled; pied. "A piebald steed of Thracian strain." Dryden.

2. Fig.: Mixed. "Piebald languages." Hudibras.

PIECE Piece, n. Etym: [OE. pece, F. pièce, LL. pecia, petia, petium, probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. peth a thing, a part, portion, a little, Armor. pez, Gael. & Ir. cuid part, share. Cf. Petty.]

1. A fragment or part of anything separated from the whole, in any manner, as by cutting, splitting, breaking, or tearing; a part; a portion; as, a piece of sugar; to break in pieces. Bring it out piece by piece. Ezek. xxiv. 6.

2. A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.

3. Any one thing conceived of as apart from other things of the same kind; an individual article; a distinct single effort of a series; a definite performance; especially: (a) A literary or artistic composition; as, a piece of poetry, music, or statuary. (b) A musket, gun, or cannon; as, a battery of six pieces; a following piece. (c) A coin; as, a sixpenny piece; -- formerly applied specifically to an English gold coin worth 22 shillings. (d) A fact; an item; as, a piece of news; a piece of knowledge.

4. An individual; -- applied to a person as being of a certain nature or quality; often, but not always, used slightingly or in contempt. "If I had not been a piece of a logician before I came to him." Sir P. Sidney. Thy mother was a piece of virtue. Shak. His own spirit is as unsettled a piece as there is in all the world. Coleridge. a piece of cake, a task easily accomplished. a piece of work, a disparaging term for a person considered to have an excess of some undesirable quality; esp. difficult or eccentric person. Piece of ass vulgar term for a woman, considered as a partner in sexual intercourse

5. (Chess)

Defn: One of the superior men, distinguished from a pawn.

6. A castle; a fortified building. [Obs.] Spenser. Of a piece, of the same sort, as if taken from the same whole; like; -- sometimes followed by with. Dryden. -- Piece of eight, the Spanish piaster, formerly divided into eight reals. -- To give a piece of one's mind to, to speak plainly, bluntly, or severely to (another). Tackeray. -- Piece broker, one who buys shreds and remnants of cloth to sell again. -- Piece goods, goods usually sold by pieces or fixed portions, as shirtings, calicoes, sheetings, and the like.

PIECE Piece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pieced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piecing.]

1. To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; as, to piece a garment; -- often with out. Shak.

2. To unite; to join; to combine. Fuller. His adversaries . . . pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him. Fuller.

PIECE Piece, v. i.

Defn: To unite by a coalescence of parts; to fit together; to join. "It pieced better." Bacon.

PIECELESS Piece"less, a.

Defn: Not made of pieces; whole; entire.

PIECELY Piece"ly, adv.

Defn: In pieces; piecemeal. [Obs.]

PIECEMEAL Piece"meal`, adv. Etym: [OE. pecemele; pece a piece + AS. m, dat. pl. of m part. See Meal a portion.]

1. In pieces; in parts or fragments. "On which it piecemeal brake." Chapman. The beasts will tear thee piecemeal. Tennyson.

2. Piece by piece; by little and little in succession. Piecemeal they win, this acre first, than that. Pope.

PIECEMEAL Piece"meal`, a.

Defn: Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate. "These piecemeal guilts." Gov. of Tongue.

PIECEMEAL Piece"meal`, n.

Defn: A fragment; a scrap. R. Vaughan.

PIECEMEALED Piece"mealed`, a.

Defn: Divided into pieces.

PIECENER Piece"ner, n.

1. One who supplies rolls of wool to the slubbing machine in woolen mills.

2. Same as Piecer, 2.

PIECER Pie"cer, n.

1. One who pieces; a patcher.

2. A child employed in spinning mill to tie together broken threads.

PIECEWORK Piece"work`, n.

Defn: Work done by the piece or job; work paid for at a rate based on the amount of work done, rather than on the time employed. The reaping was piecework, at so much per acre. R. Jefferies.

PIED Pied,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Pi, or Pie, v.

PIED Pied, a. Etym: [From Pie the party-colored bird.]

Defn: Variegated with spots of different colors; party-colored; spotted; piebald. "Pied coats." Burton. "Meadows trim with daisies pied." Milton. Pied antelope (Zoöl.), the bontebok. -- Pied-billed grebe (Zoöl.), the dabchick. -- Pied blackbird (Zoöl.), any Asiatic thrush of the genus Turdulus. -- Pied finch (Zoöl.) (a) The chaffinch. (b) The snow bunting. [Prov. Eng.] -- Pied flycatcher (Zoöl.), a common European flycatcher (Ficedula atricapilla). The male is black and white.

PIEDMONT Pied"mont, a. Etym: [F. pied foot + mont mountain.] (Geol.)

Defn: Noting the region of foothills near the base of a mountain chain.

PIEDMONTITE Pied"mont*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A manganesian kind of epidote, from Piedmont. See Epidote.

PIEDNESS Pied"ness, n.

Defn: The state of being pied. Shak.

PIEDOUCHE Pié`douche", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. peduccio console, corbel.]

Defn: A pedestal of small size, used to support small objects, as busts, vases, and the like.

PIEDSTALL Pied"stall, n.

Defn: See Pedestal. [Obs.]

PIEMAN Pie"man, n.; pl. Piemen (.

Defn: A man who makes or sells pies.

PIEND Piend, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. pind a peg.]

Defn: See Peen.

PIENO Pi*e"no, a. Etym: [It., fr. L. plenus full.] (Mus.)

Defn: Full; having all the instruments.

PIEPLANT Pie"plant`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Rheum Rhaponticum) the leafstalks of which are acid, and are used in making pies; the garden rhubarb.

PIEPOUDRE; PIEPOWDER Pie"pou`dre, Pie"pow`der, n. Etym: [Lit., dustyfoot, i.e., dusty- footed dealers, fr. F. pied foot + poudreux dusty.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: An ancient court of record in England, formerly incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owned or had the toll was the judge. Blackstone.

PIER Pier, n. Etym: [OE. pere, OF. piere a stone, F. pierre, fr. L. petra, Gr. Petrify.]

1. (Arch.) (a) Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings. (b) Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress.

2. A projecting wharf or landing place. Abutment pier, the pier of a bridge next the shore; a pier which by its strength and stability resists the thrust of an arch. -- Pier glass, a mirror, of high and narrow shape, to be put up between windows. -- Pier table, a table made to stand between windows.

PIERAGE Pier"age, n.

Defn: Same as Wharfage. Smart.

PIERCE Pierce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pierced; p. pr. & vb. n. Piercing.] Etym: [OE. percen, F. percer, OF. percier, perchier, parchier; perh. fr. (assumed) LL. pertusiare for pertusare, fr. L. pertundere, pertusum, to beat, push, bore through; per through + tundere to beat: cf. OF. pertuisier to pierce, F. pertuis a hole. Cf. Contuse, Parch, Pertuse.]

1. To thrust into, penetrate, or transfix, with a pointed instrument. "I pierce . . . her tender side." Dryden.

2. To penetrate; to enter; to force a way into or through; to pass into or through; as, to pierce the enemy's line; a shot pierced the ship.

3. Fig.: To penetrate; to affect deeply; as, to pierce a mystery. "Pierced with grief." Pope. Can no prayers pierce thee Shak.

PIERCE Pierce, v. i.

Defn: To enter; to penetrate; to make a way into or through something, as a pointed instrument does; -- used literally and figuratively. And pierced to the skin, but bit no more. Spenser. She would not pierce further into his meaning. Sir P. Sidney.

PIERCEABLE Pierce"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be pierced.

PIERCED Pierced, a.

Defn: Penetrated; entered; perforated.

PIERCEL Pier"cel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perce.]

Defn: A kind of gimlet for making vents in casks; -- called also piercer.

PIERCER Pier"cer, n.

1. One who, or that which, pierces or perforates; specifically: (a) An instrument used in forming eyelets; a stiletto. (b) A piercel.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The ovipositor, or sting, of an insect. (b) An insect provided with an ovipositor.

PIERCING Pier"cing, a.

Defn: Forcibly entering, or adapted to enter, at or by a point; perforating; penetrating; keen; -- used also figuratively; as, a piercing instrument, or thrust. "Piercing eloquence." Shak. -- Pier"cing*ly, adv. -- Pier"cing*ness, n.

PIERIAN Pi*e"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Pierius, from Mount Pierus, in Thessaly, sacred to the Muses.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Pierides or Muses. Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.

PIERID Pi"er*id, n. Etym: [See Peirides.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any butterfly of the genus Pieris and related genera. See Cabbage butterfly, under Cabbage.

PIERIDES Pi*er"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Pierian.] (Class. Myth.)

Defn: The Muses.

PIERRE-PERDU Pierre`-per`du", n. [F. pierre perdue lost stone.]

Defn: Blocks of stone or concrete heaped loosely in the water to make a foundation (as for a sea wall), a mole, etc.

PIET Pi"et, n. Etym: [Dim. of Pie a magpie: cf. F. piette a smew.] (Zoöl.) (a) The dipper, or watter ouzel. [Scot.] (b) The magpie. [Prov.Eng.] Jay piet (Zoöl.), the European jay. [Prov.Eng.] -- Sea piet (Zoöl.), the oyster catcher. [Prov.Eng.]

PIETA Pi*e*tà", n. Etym: [It.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: A representation of the dead Christ, attended by the Virgin Mary or by holy women and angels. Mollett.

PIETISM Pi"e*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pietismus, F. piétisme.]

1. The principle or practice of the Pietists.

2. Strict devotion; also, affectation of devotion. The Schöne Seele, that ideal of gentle pietism, in "Wilhelm Meister." W. Pater.

PIETIST Pi"e*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. G. pietist, F. piétiste. See Piety.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a class of religious reformers in Germany in the 17th century who sought to revive declining piety in the Protestant churches; -- often applied as a term of reproach to those who make a display of religious feeling. Also used adjectively.

PIETISTIC; PIETISTICAL Pi`e*tis"tic, Pi`e*tis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Pietists; hence, in contempt, affectedly or demonstratively religious. Addison.

PIETRA DURA Pi*e"tra du"ra. Etym: [It., hard stone.] (Fine Arts)

Defn: Hard and fine stones in general, such as are used for inlay and the like, as distinguished from the softer stones used in building; thus, a Florentine mosaic is a familiar instance of work in pietra dura, though the ground may be soft marble.

PIETY Pi"e*ty, n. Etym: [F. piété; cf. It. pietà; both fr. L. pietas piety, fr. pius pious. See Pious, and cf. Pity.]

1. Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his character; loving obedience to the will of God, and earnest devotion to his service. Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man. Rambler.

2. Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Conferred upon me for the piety Which to my country I was judged to have shown. Milton.

Syn. -- Religion; sanctity; devotion; godliness; holiness. See Religion.

PIEWIPE Pie"wipe`, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lapwing, or pewit. [Prov. Eng.]

PIEZOMETER Pi`e*zom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. piézomètre.]

1. (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the compressibility of liquids.

2. (Physics)

Defn: A gauge connected with a water main to show the pressure at that point.

PIFFERO; PIFFARA Pif"fe*ro, Pif"fa*ra, n. Etym: [It. piffero.] (Mus.)

Defn: A fife; also, a rude kind of oboe or a bagpipe with an inflated skin for reservoir.

PIFFLE Pif"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Piffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piffling.]

Defn: To be sequeamish or delicate; hence, to act or talk triflingly or ineffectively; to twaddle; piddle. [Dial. or Slang]

PIFFLE Pif"fle, n.

Defn: Act of piffling; trifling talk or action; piddling; twaddle. [Dial. or Slang] "Futile piffle." Kipling.

PIG Pig, n.

Defn: A piggin. [Written also pigg.]

PIG Pig, n. Etym: [Cf. D. big, bigge, LG. bigge, also Dan. pige girl, Sw. piga, Icel. pika.]

1. The young of swine, male or female; also, any swine; a hog. "Two pigges in a poke." Chaucer.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any wild species of the genus Sus and related genera.

3. Etym: [Cf. Sow a channel for melted iron.]

Defn: An oblong mass of cast iron, lead, or other metal. See Mine pig, under Mine.

4. One who is hoggish; a greedy person. [Low] Masked pig. (Zoöl.) See under Masked. -- Pig bed (Founding), the bed of sand in which the iron from a smelting furnace is cast into pigs. -- Pig iron, cast iron in pigs, or oblong blocks or bars, as it comes from the smelting furnace. See Pig, 4. -- Pig yoke (Naut.), a nickname for a quadrant or sextant. -- A pig in a poke (that is, bag), a blind bargain; something bought or bargained for, without the quality or the value being known. [Colloq.]

PIG Pig, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Pigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pigging.]

1. To bring forth (pigs); to bring forth in the manner of pigs; to farrow.

2. To huddle or lie together like pigs, in one bed.

PIGEON Pi"geon, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. Peep to chirp.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any bird of the order Columbæ, of which numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world.

Note: The common domestic pigeon, or dove, was derived from the Old World rock pigeon (Columba livia). It has given rise to numerous very remarkable varieties, such as the carrier, fantail, nun, pouter, tumbler, etc. The common wild pigeons of the Eastern United States are the passenger pigeon, and the Carolina dove. See under Passenger, and Dove. See, also, Fruit pigeon, Ground pigeon, Queen pigeon, Stock pigeon, under Fruit, Ground, etc.

2. An unsuspected victim of sharpers; a gull. [Slang] Blue pigeon (Zoöl.), an Australian passerine bird (Graucalus melanops); -- called also black-faced crow. -- Green pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of Old World pigeons belonging to the family Treronidæ. -- Imperial pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of the large Asiatic fruit pigeons of the genus Carpophada. -- Pigeon berry (Bot.), the purplish black fruit of the pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See Pokeweed. -- Pigeon English Etym: [perhaps a corruption of business English], an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindoostanee. Johnson's Cyc. -- Pigeon grass (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly eaten by pigeons and other birds. -- Pigeon hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American falcon (Falco columbarius). The adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked with brown. The tail is banded. (b) The American sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter velox, or fuscus). -- Pigeon hole. (a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house. (b) See Pigeonhole. (c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled through little arches. Halliwell. -- Pigeon house, a dovecote. -- Pigeon pea (Bot.), the seed of Cajanus Indicus; a kind of pulse used for food in the East and West Indies; also, the plant itself. -- Pigeon plum (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African species of Chrysobalanus (C. ellipticus and C. luteus). -- Pigeon tremex. (Zoöl.) See under Tremex. -- Pigeon wood (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for the wood of several very different kinds of trees, species of Dipholis, Diospyros, and Coccoloba. -- Pigeon woodpecker (Zoöl.), the flicker. -- Prairie pigeon. (Zoöl.) (a) The upland plover. (b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]

PIGEON Pi"geon, v. t.

Defn: To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in gambling. [Slang] Smart. He's pigeoned and undone. Observer.

PIGEON-BREASTED Pi"geon-breast`ed, a.

Defn: Having a breast like a pigeon, -- the sternum being so prominent as to constitute a deformity; chicken-breasted.

PIGEONFOOT Pi"geon*foot`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The dove's-foot geranium (Geranium molle).

PIGEON-HEARTED Pi"geon-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Timid; easily frightened; chicken-hearted. Beau. & Fl.

PIGEONHOLE Pi"geon*hole`, n.

Defn: A small compartment in a desk or case for the keeping of letters, documents, etc.; -- so called from the resemblance of a row of them to the compartments in a dovecote. Burke.

PIGEONHOLE Pi"geon*hole`, v. t.

Defn: To place in the pigeonhole of a case or cabinet; hence, to put away; to lay aside indefinitely; as, to pigeonhole a letter or a report.

PIGEON-LIVERED Pi"geon-liv`ered, a.

Defn: Pigeon-hearted.

PIGEONRY Pi"geon*ry, n.

Defn: A place for pigeons; a dovecote.

PIGEONTOED Pi"geon*toed`, a.

Defn: Having the toes turned in.

PIGEONWING Pi"geon*wing`, n.

1. A wing of a pigeon, or a wing like it.

2. An old mode of dressing men's side hair in a form likened to a pigeon's wings; also, a wig similarly shaped.

3. (Dancing) A fancy step executed by jumping and striking the legs together; as, to cut a pigeonwing.

4. A certain fancy figure in skating.

5. (Tempering) A color, brown shaded with purple, coming between dark brown and light blue in the table of colors in drawing the temper of hardened steel.

PIG-EYED Pig"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having small, deep-set eyes.

PIGFISH Pig"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of salt-water grunts; -- called also hogfish. (b) A sculpin. The name is also applied locally to several other fishes.

PIGFOOT Pig"foot`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine fish (Scorpæna porcus), native of Europe. It is reddish brown, mottled with dark brown and black.

PIGG Pigg, n.

Defn: A piggin. See 1st Pig. Sir W. Scott.

PIGGERY Pig"ger*y, n.; pl. Piggeries (.

Defn: A place where swine are kept.

PIGGIN Pig"gin, n. Etym: [Scot.; cf. Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, pige, an earthen jar, pitcher, or pot, Ir. pigin, pighead, W. piccyn.]

Defn: A small wooden pail or tub with an upright stave for a handle, -- often used as a dipper.

PIGGISH Pig"gish, a.

Defn: Relating to, or like, a pig; greedy.

PIG-HEADED Pig"-head`ed, a.

Defn: Having a head like a pig; hence, figuratively: stupidity obstinate; perverse; stubborn. B. Jonson. -- Pig"-head`ed*ness, n.

PIGHT Pight, imp. & p. p. of Pitch, to throw; -- used also adjectively.

Defn: Pitched; fixed; determined. [Obs.] [His horse] pight him on the pommel of his head. Chaucer. I found him pight to do it. Shak.

PIGHTEL Pigh"tel, n. Etym: [Cf. Pight, Picle.]

Defn: A small inclosure. [Written also pightle.] [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

PIG-JAWED Pig"-jawed`, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, with the upper incisors in advance of the lower; -- said of dogs.

PIGMEAN Pig*me"an, a.

Defn: See Pygmean.

PIGMENT Pig"ment, n. Etym: [L. pigmentum, fr. the root of pingere to paint: cf. F. pigment. See Paint, and cf. Pimento, Orpiment.]

1. Any material from which a dye, a paint, or the like, may be prepared; particularly, the refined and purified coloring matter ready for mixing with an appropriate vehicle.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Any one of the colored substances found in animal and vegetable tissues and fluids, as bilirubin, urobilin, chlorophyll, etc.

3. Wine flavored with species and honey. Sir W. Scott. Pigment cell (Physiol.), a small cell containing coloring matter, as the pigmented epithelial cells of the choroid and iris, or the pigmented connective tissue cells in the skin of fishes, reptiles, etc.

PIGMENTAL; PIGMENTARY Pig*men"tal, Pig"men*ta*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to pigments; furnished with pigments. Dunglison. Pigmentary degeneration (Med.), a morbid condition in which an undue amount of pigment is deposited in the tissues.

PIGMENTATION Pig`men*ta"tion, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: A deposition, esp. an excessive deposition, of coloring matter; as, pigmentation of the liver.

PIGMENTED Pig"ment*ed, a.

Defn: Colored; specifically (Biol.), filled or imbued with pigment; as, pigmented epithelial cells; pigmented granules.

PIGMENTOUS Pig*men"tous, a.

Defn: Pigmental.

PIGMY Pig"my, n.

Defn: See Pygmy. Pigmy falcon. (Zoöl.) Same as Falconet, 2 (a).

PIGNERATE Pig"ner*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. pigneratus, p.p. of pignerate to pledge.]

1. To pledge or pawn. [Obs.]

2. to receive in pawn, as a pawnbroker does. [Obs.]

PIGNORATION Pig`no*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. pignoratio, L. pigneratio, fr. pignerate to pledge, fr. pignus, gen. -ous and -eris, a pledge, a pawn: cf. F. pignoration.]

1. The act of pledging or pawning.

2. (Civil Law)

Defn: The taking of cattle doing damage, by way of pledge, till satisfaction is made. Burrill.

PIGNORATIVE Pig"no*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pignoratif.]

Defn: Pledging, pawning. [R.]

PIGNUS Pig"nus, n.; pl. Pignora. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)

Defn: A pledge or pawn.

PIGNUT Pig"nut, n. (Bot.) (a) See Groundnut (d). (b) The bitter-flavored nut of a species of hickory (Carya glabra, or porcina); also, the tree itself.

PIGPEN Pig"pen`, n.

Defn: A pen, or sty, for pigs.

PIGSKIN Pig"skin`, n.

Defn: The skin of a pig, -- used chiefly for making saddles; hence, a colloquial or slang term for a saddle.

PIGSNEY Pigs"ney, n. Etym: [Perh. a dim. of Dan. pige a girl, or Sw. piga; or from E. pig's eye.]

Defn: A word of endearment for a girl or woman. [Obs.] [Written also pigsnie, pigsny, etc.] Chaucer.

PIG-STICKING Pig"-stick`ing, n.

Defn: Boar hunting; -- so called by Anglo-Indians. [Colloq.] Tackeray.

PIGSTY Pig"sty`, n.; pl. Pigsties (.

Defn: A pigpen.

PIGTAIL Pig"tail`, n.

1. The tail of a pig.

2. (Hair Dressing)

Defn: A cue, or queue. J. & H. Smith.

3. A kind of twisted chewing tobacco. The tobacco he usually cheweth, called pigtail. Swift.

PIGTAILED Pig"tailed`, a.

Defn: Having a tail like a pig's; as, the pigtailed baboon.

PIGWEED Pig"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name of several annual weeds. See Goosefoot, and Lamb's- quarters.

PIGWIDGEON Pig"wid`geon, n. Etym: [Written also pigwidgin and pigwiggen.]

Defn: A cant word for anything petty or small. It is used by Drayton as the name of a fairy.

PIKA Pi"ka, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of rodents of the genus Lagomys, resembling small tailless rabbits. They inhabit the high mountains of Asia and America. Called also calling hare, and crying hare. See Chief hare.

PIKE Pike, n. Etym: [F. pique; perhaps of Celtic origin; cf. W. pig a prick, a point, beak, Arm. pik pick. But cf. also L. picus woodpecker (see Pie magpie), and E. spike. Cf. Pick, n. & v., Peak, Pique.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: A foot soldier's weapon, consisting of a long wooden shaft or staff, with a pointed steel head. It is now superseded by the bayonet.

2. A pointed head or spike; esp., one in the center of a shield or target. Beau. & Fl.

3. A hayfork. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

4. A pick. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Raymond.

5. A pointed or peaked hill. [R.]

6. A large haycock. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

7. A turnpike; a toll bar. Dickens.

8. (Zoöl.) sing. & pl.

Defn: A large fresh-water fish (Esox lucius), found in Europe and America, highly valued as a food fish; -- called also pickerel, gedd, luce, and jack.

Note: Blue pike, grass pike, green pike, wall-eyed pike, and yellow pike, are names, not of true pike, but of the wall-eye. See Wall-eye. Gar pike. See under Gar. -- Pike perch (Zoöl.), any fresh-water fish of the genus Stizostedion (formerly Lucioperca). See Wall-eye, and Sauger. -- Pike pole, a long pole with a pike in one end, used in directing floating logs. -- Pike whale (Zoöl.), a finback whale of the North Atlantic (Balænoptera rostrata), having an elongated snout; -- called also piked whale. -- Sand pike (Zoöl.), the lizard fish. -- Sea pike (Zoöl.), the garfish (a).

PIKED Piked, a.

Defn: Furnished with a pike; ending in a point; peaked; pointed. "With their piked targets bearing them down." Milton.

PIKE-DEVANT Pike`-de*vant", n. Etym: [Pike point (fr. F. pique) + F. devant before.]

Defn: A pointed beard. [Obs.]

PIKELET; PIKELIN Pike"let, Pike"lin, n.

Defn: A light, thin cake or muffin. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

PIKEMAN Pike"man, n.; pl. Pikeman (.

1. A soldier armed with a pike. Knolles.

2. A miner who works with a pick. Beaconsfield.

3. A keeper of a turnpike gate. T. Hughes.

PIKESTAFF Pike"staff`, n.

1. The staff, or shaft, of a pike.

2. A staff with a spike in the lower end, to guard against slipping. Sir W. Scott.

PIKETAIL Pike"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Pintail, 1.

PIKROLITE Pik"ro*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: See Picrolite.

PILAGE Pi"lage, n.

Defn: See Pelage.

PILASTER Pi*las"ter, n. Etym: [F. pilastre, It. pilastro, LL. pilastrum, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pillar.] (Arch.)

Defn: An upright architectural member right-angled in plan, constructionally a pier (See Pier, 1 (b)), but architecturally corresponding to a column, having capital, shaft, and base to agree with those of the columns of the same order. In most cases the projection from the wall is one third of its width, or less.

PILASTERED Pi*las"tered, a.

Defn: Furnished with pilasters.

PILAU Pi*lau", n.

Defn: See Pillau.

PILCH Pilch, n. Etym: [AS. pylce, pylece, LL. pellicia. See Pelisse, and Pelt skin.]

Defn: A gown or case of skin, or one trimmed or lined with fur. [Obs.]

PILCHARD Pil"chard, n. Etym: [Cf. It. pilseir, W. pilcod minnows.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small European food fish (Clupea pilchardus) resembling the herring, but thicker and rounder. It is sometimes taken in great numbers on the coast of England. Fools are as like husbands as pilchards are to herrings. Shak.

PILCHER Pilch"er, n. Etym: [From Pilch.]

Defn: A scabbard, as of a sword. [Obs.] Shak.

PILCHER Pilch"er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pilchard.

PILCROW Pil"crow, n. Etym: [A corruption of Paragraph.] (Print.)

Defn: a paragraph mark, . [Obs.] Tusser.

PILE Pile, n. Etym: [L. pilus hair. Cf. Peruke.]

1. A hair; hence, the fiber of wool, cotton, and the like; also, the nap when thick or heavy, as of carpeting and velvet. Velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile. Cowper.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A covering of hair or fur.

PILE Pile, n. Etym: [L. pilum javelin. See Pile a stake.]

Defn: The head of an arrow or spear. [Obs.] Chapman.

PILE Pile, n. Etym: [AS. pil arrow, stake, L. pilum javelin; but cf. also L. pila pillar.]

1. A large stake, or piece of timber, pointed and driven into the earth, as at the bottom of a river, or in a harbor where the ground is soft, for the support of a building, a pier, or other superstructure, or to form a cofferdam, etc.

Note: Tubular iron piles are now much used.

2. Etym: [Cf. F. pile.] (Her.)

Defn: One of the ordinaries or subordinaries having the form of a wedge, usually placed palewise, with the broadest end uppermost. Pile bridge, a bridge of which the roadway is supported on piles. -- Pile cap, a beam resting upon and connecting the heads of piles. -- Pile driver, or Pile engine, an apparatus for driving down piles, consisting usually of a high frame, with suitable appliances for raising to a height (by animal or steam power, the explosion of gunpowder, etc.) a heavy mass of iron, which falls upon the pile. -- Pile dwelling. See Lake dwelling, under Lake. -- Pile plank (Hydraul. Eng.), a thick plank used as a pile in sheet piling. See Sheet piling, under Piling. -- Pneumatic pile. See under Pneumatic. -- Screw pile, one with a screw at the lower end, and sunk by rotation aided by pressure.

PILE Pile, v. t.

Defn: To drive piles into; to fill with piles; to strengthen with piles. To sheet-pile, to make sheet piling in or around. See Sheet piling, under 2nd Piling.

PILE Pile, n. Etym: [F. pile, L. pila a pillar, a pier or mole of stone. Cf. Pillar.]

1. A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of stones; a pile of wood.

2. A mass formed in layers; as, a pile of shot.

3. A funeral pile; a pyre. Dryden.

4. A large building, or mass of buildings. The pile o'erlooked the town and drew the fight. Dryden.

5. (Iron Manuf.)

Defn: Same as Fagot, n., 2.

6. (Elec.)

Defn: A vertical series of alternate disks of two dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, laid up with disks of cloth or paper moistened with acid water between them, for producing a current of electricity; -- commonly called Volta's pile, voltaic pile, or galvanic pile.

Note: The term is sometimes applied to other forms of apparatus designed to produce a current of electricity, or as synonymous with battery; as, for instance, to an apparatus for generating a current of electricity by the action of heat, usually called a thermopile.

7. Etym: [F. pile pile, an engraved die, L. pila a pillar.]

Defn: The reverse of a coin. See Reverse. Cross and pile. See under Cross. -- Dry pile. See under Dry.

PILE Pile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piled; p. pr. & vb. n. Piling.]

1. To lay or throw into a pile or heap; to heap up; to collect into a mass; to accumulate; to amass; -- often with up; as, to pile up wood. "Hills piled on hills." Dryden. "Life piled on life." Tennyson. The labor of an age in piled stones. Milton.

2. To cover with heaps; or in great abundance; to fill or overfill; to load. To pile arms or muskets (Mil.), to place three guns together so that they may stand upright, supporting each other; to stack arms.

PILEATE; PILEATED Pi"le*ate, Pi"le*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. pileatus, fr. pileus a felt cap or hat.]

1. Having the form of a cap for the head.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a crest covering the pileus, or whole top of the head. Pileated woodpecker (Zoöl.), a large American woodpecker (Ceophloeus pileatus). It is black, with a bright red pointed crest. Called also logcock, and woodcock.

PILED Piled, a. Etym: [From 2d Pile.]

Defn: Having a pile or point; pointed. [Obs.] "Magus threw a spear well piled." Chapman.

PILED Piled, a. Etym: [From 1d Pile.]

Defn: Having a pile or nap. "Three-piled velvet." L. Barry (1611).

PILED Piled, a. Etym: [From 6d Pile.] (Iron Manuf.)

Defn: Formed from a pile or fagot; as, piled iron.

PILEIFORM Pi*le"i*form, a. Etym: [Pileus + -form.]

Defn: Having the form of a pileus or cap; pileate.

PILEMENT Pile"ment, n. Etym: [From Pile to lay into a heap.]

Defn: An accumulation; a heap. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

PILENTUM Pi*len"tum, n.; pl. Pilenta. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: An easy chariot or carriage, used by Roman ladies, and in which the vessels, etc., for sacred rites were carried.

PILEORHIZA Pi`le*o*rhi"za, n.; pl. Pilorhizæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A cap of cells which covers the growing extremity of a root; a rootcap.

PILEOUS Pi"le*ous, a. Etym: [See Pilous.]

Defn: Consisting of, or covered with, hair; hairy; pilose.

PILER Pil"er, n.

Defn: One who places things in a pile.

PILES Piles, n. pl. Etym: [L. pila a ball. Cf. Pill a medicine.] (Med.)

Defn: The small, troublesome tumors or swellings about the anus and lower part of the rectum which are technically called hemorrhoids. See Hemorrhoids.

Note: [The singular pile is sometimes used.] Blind piles, hemorrhoids which do not bleed.

PILEUS Pi"le*us, n.; pl. Pilei. Etym: [L., a felt cap.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A kind of skull cap of felt.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The expanded upper portion of many of the fungi. See Mushroom.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The top of the head of a bird, from the bill to the nape.

PILEWORM Pile"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The teredo.

PILE-WORN Pile"-worn`, a.

Defn: Having the pile worn off; threadbare.

PILEWORT Pile"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Ranunculus Ficaria of Linnæus) whose tuberous roots have been used in poultices as a specific for the piles. Forsyth.

PILFER Pil"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pilfered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pilfering.] Etym: [OF. pelfrer. See Pelf.]

Defn: To steal in small quantities, or articles of small value; to practice petty theft.

PILFER Pil"fer, v. t.

Defn: To take by petty theft; to filch; to steal little by little. And not a year but pilfers as he goes Some youthful grace that age would gladly keep. Cowper.

PILFERER Pil"fer*er, n.

Defn: One who pilfers; a petty thief.

PILFERING Pil"fer*ing, a.

Defn: Thieving in a small way. Shak. -- n.

Defn: Petty theft. -- Pil"fer*ing*ly, adv.

PILFERY Pil"fer*y, n.

Defn: Petty theft. [R.] Sir T. North.

PILGARLIC Pil*gar"lic, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: One who has lost his hair by disease; a sneaking fellow, or one who is hardly used.

PILGRIM Pil"grim, n. Etym: [OE. pilgrim, pelgrim, pilegrim, pelegrim; cf. D. pelgrim, OHG. piligrim, G. pilger, F. pèlerin, It. pellegrino; all fr. L. peregrinus a foreigner, fr. pereger abroad; per through + ager land, field. See Per-, and Acre, and cf. Pelerine, Peregrine.]

1. A wayfarer; a wanderer; a traveler; a stranger. Strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb. xi. 13.

2. One who travels far, or in strange lands, to visit some holy place or shrine as a devotee; as, a pilgrim to Loretto; Canterbury pilgrims. See Palmer. P. Plowman.

PILGRIM Pil"grim, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pilgrim, or pilgrims; making pilgrimages. "With pilgrim steps." Milton. Pilgrim fathers, a name popularly given to the one hundred and two English colonists who landed from the Mayflower and made the first settlement in New England at Plymouth in 1620. They were separatists from the Church of England, and most of them had sojourned in Holland.

PILGRIM Pil"grim, v. i.

Defn: To journey; to wander; to ramble. [R.] Grew. Carlyle.

PILGRIMAGE Pil"grim*age, n. Etym: [OE. pilgrimage, pelgrinage; cf. F. pèlerinage.]

1. The journey of a pilgrim; a long journey; especially, a journey to a shrine or other sacred place. Fig., the journey of human life. Shak. The days of the years of my pilgrimage. Gen. xlvii. 9.

2. A tedious and wearisome time. In prison hast thou spent a pilgrimage. Shak.

Syn. -- Journey; tour; excursion. See Journey.

PILGRIMIZE Pil"grim*ize, v. i.

Defn: To wander as a pilgrim; to go on a pilgrimage. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

PILIDIUM Pi*lid"i*um, n.; pl. Pildia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The free-swimming, hat-shaped larva of certain nemertean worms. It has no resemblance to its parent, and the young worm develops in its interior.

PILIFERA Pi*lif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Piliferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Mammalia.

PILIFEROUS Pi*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pilus hair + -ferous: cf. F. pilifère.]

1. Bearing a single slender bristle, or hair.

2. Beset with hairs.

PILIFORM Pil"i*form, a. Etym: [L. pilus hair + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling hairs or down.

PILIGEROUS Pi*lig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pilus hair + -gerous: cf. F. piligère.]

Defn: Bearing hair; covered with hair or down; piliferous.

PILING Pil"ing, n. Etym: [See Pile a heap.]

1. The act of heaping up.

2. (Iron Manuf.)

Defn: The process of building up, heating, and working, fagots, or piles, to form bars, etc.

PILING Pil"ing, n. Etym: [See Pile a stake.]

Defn: A series of piles; piles considered collectively; as, the piling of a bridge. Pug piling, sheet piles connected together at the edges by dovetailed tongues and grooves. -- Sheet piling, a series of piles made of planks or half logs driven edge to edge, -- used to form the walls of cofferdams, etc.

PILL Pill, n. Etym: [Cf. Peel skin, or Pillion.]

Defn: The peel or skin. [Obs.] "Some be covered over with crusts, or hard pills, as the locusts." Holland.

PILL Pill, v. i.

Defn: To be peeled; to peel off in flakes.

PILL Pill, v. t. Etym: [Cf. L. pilare to deprive of hair, and E. pill, n. (above).]

1. To deprive of hair; to make bald. [Obs.]

2. To peel; to make by removing the skin. [Jacob] pilled white streaks . . . in the rods. Gen. xxx. 37.

PILL Pill, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Pilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pilling.] Etym: [F. piller, L. pilare; cf. It. pigliare to take. Cf. Peel to plunder.]

Defn: To rob; to plunder; to pillage; to peel. See Peel, to plunder. [Obs.] Spenser. Pillers and robbers were come in to the field to pill and to rob. Sir T. Malroy.

PILL Pill, n. Etym: [F. pilute, L. pilula a pill, little ball, dim. of L. pila a ball. Cf. Piles.]

1. A medicine in the form of a little ball, or small round mass, to be swallowed whole.

2. Figuratively, something offensive or nauseous which must be accepted or endured. Udall. Pill beetle (Zoöl.), any small beetle of the genus Byrrhus, having a rounded body, with the head concealed beneath the thorax. -- Pill bug (Zoöl.), any terrestrial isopod of the genus Armadillo, having the habit of rolling itself into a ball when disturbed. Called also pill wood louse.

PILLAGE Pil"lage, n. Etym: [F., fr. piller to plunder. See Pill to plunder.]

1. The act of pillaging; robbery. Shak.

2. That which is taken from another or others by open force, particularly and chiefly from enemies in war; plunder; spoil; booty. Which pillage they with merry march bring home. Shak.

Syn. -- Plunder; rapine; spoil; depredation. -- Pillage, Plunder. Pillage refers particularly to the act of stripping the sufferers of their goods, while plunder refers to the removal of the things thus taken; but the words are freely interchanged.

PILLAGE Pil"lage, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pillaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pillaging.]

Defn: To strip of money or goods by open violence; to plunder; to spoil; to lay waste; as, to pillage the camp of an enemy. Mummius . . . took, pillaged, and burnt their city. Arbuthnot.

PILLAGE Pil"lage, v. i.

Defn: To take spoil; to plunder; to ravage. They were suffered to pillage wherever they went. Macaulay.

PILLAGER Pil"la*ger, n.

Defn: One who pillages. Pope.

PILLAR Pil"lar, n. Etym: [OE. pilerF. pilier, LL. pilare, pilarium, pilarius, fr. L. pila a pillar. See Pile a heap.]

1. The general and popular term for a firm, upright, insulated support for a superstructure; a pier, column, or post; also, a column or shaft not supporting a superstructure, as one erected for a monument or an ornament. Jacob set a pillar upon her grave. Gen. xxxv. 20. The place . . . vast and proud, Supported by a hundred pillars stood. Dryden.

2. Figuratively, that which resembles such a pillar in appearance, character, or office; a supporter or mainstay; as, the Pillars of Hercules; a pillar of the state. "You are a well-deserving pillar." Shak. By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire. Milton.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church. [Obs.] Skelton.

4. (Man.)

Defn: The center of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns. From pillar to post, hither and thither; to and fro; from one place or predicament to another; backward and forward. [Colloq.] -- Pillar saint. See Stylite. -- Pillars of the fauces. See Fauces, 1.

PILLAR Pil"lar, a. (Mach.)

Defn: Having a support in the form of a pillar, instead of legs; as, a pillar drill.

PILLAR-BLOCK Pil"lar-block`, n.

Defn: See under Pillow.

PILLARED Pil"lared, a.

Defn: Supported or ornamented by pillars; resembling a pillar, or pillars. "The pillared arches." Sir W. Scott. "Pillared flame." Thomson.

PILLARET Pil"lar*et, n.

Defn: A little pillar. [R.] Fuller.

PILLARIST Pil"lar*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: See Stylite.

PILLAU Pil*lau", n. Etym: [Per. & Turk. pilau.]

Defn: An Oriental dish consisting of rice boiled with mutton, fat, or butter. [Written also pilau.]

PILLED Pilled, a. Etym: [See 3rd Pill.]

Defn: Stripped of hair; scant of hair; bald. [Obs.] "Pilled beard." Chaucer.

PILLED-GARLIC Pilled"-gar"lic, n.

Defn: See Pilgarlic.

PILLER Pill"er, n.

Defn: One who pills or plunders. [Obs.]

PILLERY Pill"er*y, n.; pl. Pilleries (.

Defn: Plunder; pillage. [Obs.] Daniel.

PILLION Pil"lion, n. Etym: [Ir. pillin, pilliun (akin to Gael. pillean, pillin), fr. Ir. & Gael. pill, peall, a skin or hide, prob. fr. L. pellis. See Pell, n., Fell skin.]

Defn: A panel or cushion saddle; the under pad or cushion of saddle; esp., a pad or cushion put on behind a man's saddle, on which a woman may ride. His [a soldier's] shank pillion without stirrups. Spenser.

PILLORIZE Pil"lo*rize, v. t.

Defn: To set in, or punish with, the pillory; to pillory. [R.]

PILLORY Pil"lo*ry, n.; pl. Pillories. Etym: [F. pilori; cf. Pr. espitlori, LL. piloricum, pilloricum, pellericum, pellorium, pilorium, spilorium; perhaps from a derivative of L. speculari to look around, observe. Cf. Speculate.]

Defn: A frame of adjustable boards erected on a post, and having holes through which the head and hands of an offender were thrust so as to be exposed in front of it. Shak.

PILLORY Pil"lo*ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pilloried; p. pr. & vb. n. Pillorying.] Etym: [Cf. F. pilorier.]

1. To set in, or punish with, the pillory. "Hungering for Puritans to pillory." Macaulay.

2. Figuratively, to expose to public scorn. Gladstone.

PILLOW Pil"low, n. Etym: [OE. pilwe, AS. pyle, fr. L. pilvinus.]

1. Anything used to support the head of a person when reposing; especially, a sack or case filled with feathers, down, hair, or other soft material. [Resty sloth] finds the down pillow hard. Shak.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A piece of metal or wood, forming a support to equalize pressure; a brass; a pillow block. [R.]

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A block under the inner end of a bowsprit.

4. A kind of plain, coarse fustian. Lace pillow, a cushion used in making hand-wrought lace. -- Pillow bier Etym: [OE. pilwebere; cf. LG. büre a pillowcase], a pillowcase; pillow slip. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Pillow block (Mach.), a block, or standard, for supporting a journal, as of a shaft. It is usually bolted to the frame or foundation of a machine, and is often furnished with journal boxes, and a movable cover, or cap, for tightening the bearings by means of bolts; -- called also pillar block, or plumber block. -- Pillow lace, handmade lace wrought with bobbins upon a lace pillow. -- Pillow of a plow, a crosspiece of wood which serves to raise or lower the beam. -- Pillow sham, an ornamental covering laid over a pillow when not in use. -- Pillow slip, a pillowcase.

PILLOW Pil"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pillowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pillowing.]

Defn: To rest or lay upon, or as upon, a pillow; to support; as, to pillow the head. Pillows his chin upon an orient wave. Milton.

PILLOWCASE Pil"low*case`, n.

Defn: A removable case or covering for a pillow, usually of white linen or cotton cloth.

PILLOWED Pil"lowed, a.

Defn: Provided with a pillow or pillows; having the head resting on, or as on, a pillow. Pillowedon buckler cold and hard. Sir W. Scott.

PILLOW LACE Pil"low lace.

Defn: Lace made by hand with bobbins on a pillow.

PILLOWY Pil"low*y, a.

Defn: Like a pillow. Keats.

PILL-WILLET Pill"-wil`let, n. Etym: [So named from its note.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The willet.

PILLWORM Pill"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any myriapod of the genus Iulus and allied genera which rolls up spirally; a galleyworm. See Illust. under Myriapod.

PILLWORT Pill"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Pilularia; minute aquatic cryptograms, with small pill-shaped fruit; -- sometimes called peppergrass.

PILOCARPINE Pi`lo*car"pine, n. Etym: [From NL. Pilocarpus pennatifolius jaborandi; L. pilus hair + Gr. pilocarpine.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid extracted from jaborandi (Pilocarpus pennatifolius) as a white amorphous or crystalline substance which has a peculiar effect on the vasomotor system.

PILON Pi*lon", n. [Sp., sugar loaf.] [Sp. Amer.]

1. A conical loaf of sugar.

2. A gratuity given by tradesmen to customers settling their accounts. [Southern U. S.]

PILONCE Pi*lon"ce, n. [Amer. Sp. See Piloncillo.]

Defn: Same as Pilon. [Texas]

PILONCILLO Pi`lon*cil"lo, n. [Amer. Sp., dim. of pilon.]

Defn: Same as Pilon. [Texas]

PILOSE Pi*lose", a. Etym: [L. pilosus, fr. pilus hair. See Pile.]

1. Hairy; full of, or made of, hair. The heat-retaining property of the pilose covering. Owen.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Clothed thickly with pile or soft down.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Covered with long, slender hairs; resembling long hairs; hairy; as, pilose pubescence.

PILOSITY Pi*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pilosité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being pilose; hairiness. Bacon.

PILOT Pi"lot, n. Etym: [F. pilote, prob. from D. peillood plummet, sounding lead; peilen, pegelen, to sound, measure (fr. D. & G. peil, pegel, a sort of measure, water mark) + lood lead, akin to E. lead. The pilot, then, is the lead man, i.e., he who throws the lead. See Pail, and Lead a metal.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman. Dryden.

2. Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees.

3. Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.

4. An instrument for detecting the compass error.

5. The cowcatcher of a locomotive. [U.S.] Pilot balloon, a small balloon sent up in advance of a large one, to show the direction and force of the wind. -- Pilot bird. (Zoöl.) (a) A bird found near the Caribbee Islands; - - so called because its presence indicates to mariners their approach to these islands. Crabb. (b) The black-bellied plover. [Local, U.S.] -- Pilot boat, a strong, fast-sailing boat used to carry and receive pilots as they board and leave vessels. -- Pilot bread, ship biscuit. -- Pilot cloth, a coarse, stout kind of cloth for overcoats. -- Pilot engine, a locomotive going in advance of a train to make sure that the way is clear. -- Pilot fish. (Zoöl) (a) A pelagic carangoid fish (Naucrates ductor); -- so named because it is often seen in company with a shark, swimming near a ship, on account of which sailors imagine that it acts as a pilot to the shark. (b) The rudder fish (Seriola zonata). -- Pilot jack, a flag or signal hoisted by a vessel for a pilot. -- Pilot jacket, a pea jacket. -- Pilot nut (Bridge Building), a conical nut applied temporarily to the threaded end of a pin, to protect the thread and guide the pin when it is driven into a hole. Waddell. -- Pilot snake (Zoöl.) (a) A large North American snake (Coluber obsoleus). It is lustrous black, with white edges to some of the scales. Called also mountain black snake. (b) The pine snake. -- Pilot whale. (Zoöl.) Same as Blackfish, 1.

PILOT Pi"lot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Piloting.] Etym: [Cf. F. piloter.]

1. To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.

2. Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties. "The art of piloting a state." Berkeley.

PILOTAGE Pi"lot*age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pilotage.]

1. The pilot's skill or knowledge, as of coasts, rocks, bars, and channels. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. The compensation made or allowed to a pilot.

3. Guidance, as by a pilot. Sir W. Scott.

PILOT BALLOON Pilot balloon.

Defn: A small, unmanned balloon sent up to indicate the direction of air currents.

PILOT FLAG Pilot flag.

Defn: The flag hoisted at the fore by a vessel desiring a pilot, in the United States the union jack, in Great Britain the British union jack with a white border.

PILOTISM; PILOTRY Pi"lot*ism, Pi"lot*ry, n.

Defn: Pilotage; skill in the duties of a pilot. [R.]

PILOT LAMP; PILOT LIGHT Pilot lamp or light . (Elec.)

Defn: A small incandescent telltale lamp on a dynamo or battery circuit to show approximately by its brightness the voltage of the current.

PILOT VALVE Pilot valve. (Hydraulics)

Defn: A small hand-operated valve to admit liquid to operate a valve difficult to turn by hand.

PILOT WHEEL Pilot wheel. (Mach.)

Defn: A wheel, usually with radial handles projecting from the rim, for traversing the saddle of a machine tool, esp. an automatic machine tool, by hand.

PILOUR Pil"our, n.

Defn: A piller; a plunderer. [Obs.]

PILOUS Pil"ous, a.

Defn: See Pilose.

PILPUL Pil"pul, n. [Aramaic pilpul; cf. Heb. pilpel to spice, to season, dispute violently.]

Defn: Among the Jews, penetrating investigation, disputation, and drawing of conclusions, esp. in Talmudic study. -- Pil"pul*ist (#), n. --Pil`pul*is"tic (#), a.

PILSER Pil"ser, n.

Defn: An insect that flies into a flame.

PILULAR Pil"u*lar, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to pills; resembling a pill or pills; as, a pilular mass.

PILULOUS Pil"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. pilula a pill. See Pill.]

Defn: Like a pill; small; insignificant. [R.] G. Eliot.

PILWE Pil"we, n.

Defn: A pillow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PILY Pi"ly, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like pile or wool.

PIMARIC Pi*mar"ic, a. Etym: [NL. pinum maritima, an old name for P. Pinaster, a pine which yields galipot.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in galipot, and isomeric with abietic acid.

PIMELIC Pi*mel"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a substance obtained from certain fatty substances, and subsequently shown to be a mixture of suberic and adipic acids. (b) Designating the acid proper (C5H10(CO2/H)2) which is obtained from camphoric acid.

PIMELITE Pim"e*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: An apple-green mineral having a greasy feel. It is a hydrous silicate of nickel, magnesia, aluminia, and iron.

PIMENT Pi"ment, n. Etym: [F. See Pimento.]

Defn: Wine flavored with spice or honey. See Pigment, 3. [Obs.]

PIMENTA Pi*men"ta, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Pimento.

PIMENTO Pi*men"to, n. Etym: [Sp. pimiento, pimienta; cf. Pg. pimenta, F. piment; all fr. L. pigmentum a paint, pigment, the juice of plants; hence, something spicy and aromatic. See Pigment.] (Bot.)

Defn: Allspice; -- applied both to the tree and its fruit. See Allspice.

PIMIENTO Pi*mien"to, n. [Sp.]

Defn: The Spanish sweet pepper, the fruit of which is used as a vegetable, to stuff olives, etc.

PIMLICO Pim"li*co, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The friar bird.

PIMOLA Pim*o"la, n.

Defn: An olive stuffed with a kind of sweet red pepper, or pimiento.

PIMP Pimp, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pimpant smart, sparkish; perh. akin to piper to pipe, formerly also, to excel. Cf. Pipe.]

Defn: One who provides gratification for the lust of others; a procurer; a pander. Swift.

PIMP Pimp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pimped; p. pr. & vb. n. Pimping.]

Defn: To procure women for the gratification of others' lusts; to pander. Dryden.

PIMPERNEL Pim"per*nel, n. Etym: [F. pimprenelle; cf. Sp. pimpinela, It. pimpinella; perh. from LL. bipinnella, for bipinnula two-winged, equiv. to L. bipennis; bis twice + penna feather, wing. Cf. Pen a feather.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Anagallis, of which one species (A. arvensis) has small flowers, usually scarlet, but sometimes purple, blue, or white, which speedily close at the approach of bad weather. Water pimpernel. (Bot.) See Brookweed.

PIMPILLO Pim"pil*lo, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A West Indian name for the prickly pear (Opuntia); -- called also pimploes.

PIMPINEL Pim"pi*nel, n. Etym: [See Pimpernel.] (Bot.)

Defn: The burnet saxifrage. See under Saxifrage.

PIMPING Pimp"ing, a. Etym: [Cf. G. pimpelig, pimpelnd, sickly, weak.]

1. Little; petty; pitiful. [Obs.] Crabbe.

2. Puny; sickly. [Local, U.S.]

PIMPLE Pim"ple, n. Etym: [AS. pipelian to blister; cf. L. papula pimple.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Any small acuminated elevation of the cuticle, whether going on to suppuration or not. "All eyes can see a pimple on her nose." Pope.

2. Fig.: A swelling or protuberance like a pimple. "A pimple that portends a future sprout." Cowper.

PIMPLED Pim"pled, a.

Defn: Having pimples. Johnson.

PIMPLY Pim"ply, a.

Defn: Pimpled.

PIMPSHIP Pimp"ship, n.

Defn: The office, occupation, or persom of a pimp. [R.]

PIN Pin, v. t. (Metal Working)

Defn: To peen.

PIN Pin, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Pen to confine, or Pinfold.]

Defn: To inclose; to confine; to pen; to pound.

PIN Pin, n. Etym: [OE. pinne, AS. pinn a pin, peg; cf. D. pin, G. pinne, Icel. pinni, W. pin, Gael. & Ir. pinne; all fr. L. pinna a pinnacle, pin, feather, perhaps orig. a different word from pinna feather. Cf. Fin of a fish, Pen a feather.]

1. A piece of wood, metal, etc., generally cylindrical, used for fastening separate articles together, or as a support by which one article may be suspended from another; a peg; a bolt. With pins of adamant And chains they made all fast. Milton.

2. Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening clothes, attaching papers, etc.

3. Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle. He . . . did not care a pin for her. Spectator.

4. That which resembles a pin in its form or use; as: (a) A peg in musical instruments, for increasing or relaxing the tension of the strings. (b) A linchpin. (c) A rolling-pin. (d) A clothespin. (e) (Mach.) A short shaft, sometimes forming a bolt, a part of which serves as a journal. See Illust. of Knuckle joint, under Knuckle. (f) (Joinery) The tenon of a dovetail joint.

5. One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each man should drink.

6. The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center. [Obs.] "The very pin of his heart cleft." Shak.

7. Mood; humor. [Obs.] "In merry pin." Cowper.

8. (Med.)

Defn: Caligo. See Caligo. Shak.

9. An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin.

10. The leg; as, to knock one off his pins. [Slang] Banking pin (Horol.), a pin against which a lever strikes, to limit its motion. -- Pin drill (Mech.), a drill with a central pin or projection to enter a hole, for enlarging the hole, or for sinking a recess for the head of a bolt, etc.; a counterbore. -- Pin grass. (Bot.) See Alfilaria. -- Pin hole, a small hole made by a pin; hence, any very small aperture or perforation. -- Pin lock, a lock having a cylindrical bolt; a lock in which pins, arranged by the key, are used instead of tumblers. -- Pin money, an allowance of money, as that made by a husband to his wife, for private and personal expenditure. -- Pin rail (Naut.), a rail, usually within the bulwarks, to hold belaying pins. Sometimes applied to the fife rail. Called also pin rack. -- Pin wheel. (a) A contrate wheel in which the cogs are cylindrical pins. (b) (Fireworks) A small coil which revolves on a common pin and makes a wheel of yellow or colored fire.

PIN Pin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pinning.] Etym: [See Pin, n.]

Defn: To fasten with, or as with, a pin; to join; as, to pin a garment; to pin boards together. "Aa if she would pin her to her heart." Shak. To pin one's faith upon, to depend upon; to trust to.

PINACATE BUG Pin`a*ca"te bug. [Orig. uncert.]

Defn: Any of several clumsy, wingless beetles of the genus Eleodes, found in the Pacific States.

PINA CLOTH; PINYA CLOTH Pi"ña cloth`.

Defn: A fine material for ladies' shawls, scarfs, handkerchiefs, etc., made from the fiber of the pineapple leaf, and perhaps from other fibrous tropical leaves. It is delicate, soft, and transparent, with a slight tinge of pale yellow.

PINACOID Pin"a*coid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: A plane parallel to two of the crystalline axes.

PINACOLIN Pi*nac"o*lin, n. Etym: [Pinacone + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless oily liquid related to the ketones, and obtained by the decomposition of pinacone; hence, by extension, any one of the series of which pinacolin proper is the type. [Written also pinacoline.]

PINACONE Pin"a*cone, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance related to the glycols, and made from acetone; hence, by extension, any one of a series of substances of which pinacone proper is the type. [Written also pinakone.]

PINACOTHECA Pin`a*co*the"ca, n. Etym: [L. pinacotheca, fr. Gr.

Defn: A picture gallery.

PINAFORE Pin"a*fore`, n. Etym: [Pin + afore.]

Defn: An apron for a child to protect the front part of dress; a tier.

PINAKOTHEK Pin"a*ko*thek`, n. Etym: [G.]

Defn: Pinacotheca.

PINASTER Pi*nas"ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. pinus a pine.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of pine (Pinus Pinaster) growing in Southern Europe.

PINAX Pi"nax, n.; pl. Pinaces. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: A tablet; a register; hence, a list or scheme inscribed on a tablet. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

PINCE-NEZ Pince`-nez", n. Etym: [F. pincer to pinch + nez nose.]

Defn: Eyeglasses kept on the nose by a spring.

PINCERS Pin"cers, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. pince pinchers, fr. pincer to pinch. See Pinch, Pinchers.]

Defn: See Pinchers.

PINCH Pinch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Pinching.] Etym: [F. pincer, probably fr. OD. pitsen to pinch; akin to G. pfetzen to cut, pinch; perhaps of Celtic origin. Cf. Piece.]

1. To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two hard bodies.

2. o seize; to grip; to bite; -- said of animals. [Obs.] He [the hound] pinched and pulled her down. Chapman.

3. To plait. [Obs.] Full seemly her wimple ipinched was. Chaucer.

4. Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money. Want of room . . . pinching a whole nation. Sir W. Raleigh.

5. To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. See Pinch, n., 4.

PINCH Pinch, v. i.

1. To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches."

2. (Hunt.)

Defn: To take hold; to grip, as a dog does. [Obs.]

3. To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous. Gower. The wretch whom avarice bids to pinch and spare. Franklin. To pinch at, to find fault with; to take exception to. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PINCH Pinch, n.

1. A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip.

2. As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff.

3. Pian; pang. "Necessary's sharp pinch." Shak.

4. A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a fulcrum, -- used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also pinch bar. At a pinch, On a pinch, in an emergency; as, he could on a pinch read a little Latin.

PINCHBECK Pinch"beck, n. Etym: [Said to be from the name of the inventor; cf. It. prencisbecco.]

Defn: An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling gold; a yellow metal, composed of about three ounces of zinc to a pound of copper. It is much used as an imitation of gold in the manufacture of cheap jewelry.

PINCHBECK Pinch"beck, a.

Defn: Made of pinchbeck; sham; cheap; spurious; unreal. "A pinchbeck throne." J. A. Symonds.

PINCHCOCK Pinch"cock`, n.

Defn: A clamp on a flexible pipe to regulate the flow of a fluid through the pipe.

PINCHEM Pin"chem, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European blue titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]

PINCHER Pinch"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, pinches.

PINCHERS Pinch"ers, n. pl. Etym: [From Pinch.]

Defn: An instrument having two handles and two grasping jaws working on a pivot; -- used for griping things to be held fast, drawing nails, etc.

Note: This spelling is preferable to pincers, both on account of its derivation from the English pinch, and because it represents the common pronunciation.

PINCHFIST Pinch"fist`, n.

Defn: A closefisted person; a miser.

PINCHING Pinch"ing, a.

Defn: Compressing; nipping; griping; niggardly; as, pinching cold; a pinching parsimony. Pinching bar, a pinch bar. See Pinch, n., 4. -- Pinching nut, a check nut. See under Check, n.

PINCHINGLY Pinch"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pinching way.

PINCHPENNY Pinch"pen`ny, n.

Defn: A miserly person.

PINCOFFIN Pin"coff*in, n. Etym: [From Pincoff, an English manufacturer.]

Defn: A commercial preparation of garancin, yielding fine violet tints.

PINCPINC Pinc"pinc`, n. Etym: [Named from its note.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African wren warbler. (Drymoica textrix).

PINCUSHION Pin"cush`ion, n.

Defn: A small cushion, in which pins may be stuck for use.

PINDAL; PINDAR Pin"dal, Pin"dar, n. Etym: [D. piendel.] (Bot.)

Defn: The peanut (Arachis hypogæa); -- so called in the West Indies.

PINDARIC Pin*dar"ic, a. Etym: [L. Pindaricus, Gr. Pindarus) Pindar: cf. F. pindarique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Pindar, the Greek lyric poet; after the style and manner of Pindar; as, Pindaric odes. -- n.

Defn: A Pindaric ode.

PINDARICAL Pin*dar"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pindaric. Too extravagant and Pindarical for prose. Cowley.

PINDARISM Pin"dar*ism, n.

Defn: Imitation of Pindar.

PINDARIST Pin"dar*ist, n.

Defn: One who imitates Pindar.

PINDER Pin"der, n. Etym: [AS. pyndan to pen up, fr. pund a pound.]

Defn: One who impounds; a poundkeeper. [Obs.]

PINE Pine, n. Etym: [AS. pin, L. poena penalty. See Pain.]

Defn: Woe; torment; pain. [Obs.] "Pyne of hell." Chaucer.

PINE Pine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pined; p. pr. & vb. n. Pining.] Etym: [AS. pinan to torment, fr. pin torment. See 1st Pine, Pain, n. & v.]

1. To inflict pain upon; to torment; to torture; to afflict. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shak. That people that pyned him to death. Piers Plowman. One is pined in prison, another tortured on the rack. Bp. Hall.

2. To grieve or mourn for. [R.] Milton.

PINE Pine, v. i.

1. To suffer; to be afflicted. [Obs.]

2. To languish; to lose flesh or wear away, under any distress or anexiety of mind; to droop; -- often used with away. "The roses wither and the lilies pine." Tickell.

3. To languish with desire; to waste away with longing for something; -- usually followed by for. For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. Shak.

Syn. -- To languish; droop; flag; wither; decay.

PINE Pine, n. Etym: [AS. pin, L. pinus.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Any tree of the coniferous genus Pinus. See Pinus.

Note: There are about twenty-eight species in the United States, of which the white pine (P. Strobus), the Georgia pine (P. australis), the red pine (P. resinosa), and the great West Coast sugar pine (P. Lambertiana) are among the most valuable. The Scotch pine or fir, also called Norway or Riga pine (Pinus sylvestris), is the only British species. The nut pine is any pine tree, or species of pine, which bears large edible seeds. See Pinon. The spruces, firs, larches, and true cedars, though formerly considered pines, are now commonly assigned to other genera.

2. The wood of the pine tree.

3. A pineapple. Ground pine. (Bot.) See under Ground. -- Norfolk Island pine (Bot.), a beautiful coniferous tree, the Araucaria excelsa. -- Pine barren, a tract of infertile land which is covered with pines. [Southern U.S.] -- Pine borer (Zoöl.), any beetle whose larvæ bore into pine trees. -- Pine finch. (Zoöl.) See Pinefinch, in the Vocabulary. -- Pine grosbeak (Zoöl.), a large grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator), which inhabits the northern parts of both hemispheres. The adult male is more or less tinged with red. -- Pine lizard (Zoöl.), a small, very active, mottled gray lizard (Sceloporus undulatus), native of the Middle States; -- called also swift, brown scorpion, and alligator. -- Pine marten. (Zoöl.) (a) A European weasel (Mustela martes), called also sweet marten, and yellow-breasted marten. (b) The American sable. See Sable. -- Pine moth (Zoöl.), any one of several species of small tortricid moths of the genus Retinia, whose larvæ burrow in the ends of the branchlets of pine trees, often doing great damage. -- Pine mouse (Zoöl.), an American wild mouse (Arvicola pinetorum), native of the Middle States. It lives in pine forests. -- Pine needle (Bot.), one of the slender needle-shaped leaves of a pine tree. See Pinus. -- Pine-needle wool. See Pine wool (below). -- Pine oil, an oil resembling turpentine, obtained from fir and pine trees, and used in making varnishes and colors. -- Pine snake (Zoöl.), a large harmless North American snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). It is whitish, covered with brown blotches having black margins. Called also bull snake. The Western pine snake (P. Sayi) is chestnut-brown, mottled with black and orange. -- Pine tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Pinus; pine. -- Pine-tree money, money coined in Massachusetts in the seventeenth century, and so called from its bearing a figure of a pine tree. -- Pine weevil (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of weevils whose larvæ bore in the wood of pine trees. Several species are known in both Europe and America, belonging to the genera Pissodes, Hylobius, etc. -- Pine wool, a fiber obtained from pine needles by steaming them. It is prepared on a large scale in some of the Southern United States, and has many uses in the economic arts; -- called also pine- needle wool, and pine-wood wool.

PINEAL Pi"ne*al, a. Etym: [L. pinea the cone of a pine, from pineus of the pine, from pinus a pine: cf. F. pinéale.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pine cone; resembling a pine cone. Pineal gland (Anat.), a glandlike body in the roof of the third ventricle of the vertebrate brain; -- called also pineal body, epiphysis, conarium. In some animals it is connected with a rudimentary eye, the so-called pineal eye, and in other animals it is supposed to be the remnant of a dorsal median eye.

PINEAPPLE Pine"ap`ple, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tropical plant (Ananassa sativa); also, its fruit; -- so called from the resemblance of the latter, in shape and external appearance, to the cone of the pine tree. Its origin is unknown, though conjectured to be American.

PINEASTER Pine`as"ter, n.

Defn: See Pinaster.

PINE-CLAD; PINE-CROWNED Pine"-clad`, Pine"-crowned`, a.

Defn: Clad or crowned with pine trees; as, pine-clad hills.

PINEDROPS Pine"drops`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A reddish herb (Pterospora andromedea) of the United States, found parasitic on the roots of pine trees.

PINEFINCH Pine"finch`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American bird (Spinus, or Chrysomitris, spinus); -- called also pine siskin, and American siskin. (b) The pine grosbeak.

PINENCHYMA Pi*nen"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -enchyma, as in parenchyma.] (Bot.)

Defn: Tabular parenchyma, a form of cellular tissue in which the cells are broad and flat, as in some kinds of epidermis.

PINERY Pin"er*y, n.; pl. Pineries (.

1. A pine forest; a grove of pines.

2. A hothouse in which pineapples are grown.

PINESAP Pine"sap`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A reddish fleshy herb of the genus Monotropa (M. hypopitys), formerly thought to be parasitic on the roots of pine trees, but more probably saprophytic.

PINE-TREE STATE Pine-tree State.

Defn: Maine; -- a nickname alluding to the pine tree in its coat of arms.

PINETUM Pi*ne"tum, n. Etym: [L., a pine grove.]

Defn: A plantation of pine trees; esp., a collection of living pine trees made for ornamental or scientific purposes.

PINEWEED Pine"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A low, bushy, nearly leafless herb (Hypericum Sarothra), common in sandy soil in the Eastern United States.

PINEY Pin"ey, a.

Defn: See Piny.

PINEY Pin"ey, a. Etym: [Of East Indian origin.]

Defn: A term used in designating an East Indian tree (the Vateria Indica or piney tree, of the order Dipterocarpeæ, which grows in Malabar, etc.) or its products. Piney dammar, Piney resin, Piney varnish, a pellucid, fragrant, acrid, bitter resin, which exudes from the piney tree (Vateria Indica) when wounded. It is used as a varnish, in making candles, and as a substitute for incense and for amber. Called also liquid copal, and white dammar. -- Piney tallow, a solid fatty substance, resembling tallow, obtained from the roasted seeds of the Vateria Indica; called also dupada oil. -- Piney thistle (Bot.), a plant (Atractylis gummifera), from the bark of which, when wounded, a gummy substance exudes.

PIN-EYED Pin"-eyed`, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the stigma visible at the throad of a gamopetalous corolla, while the stamens are concealed in the tube; -- said of dimorphous flowers. The opposite of Ant: thrum-eyed.

PINFEATHER Pin"feath`er, n.

Defn: A feather not fully developed; esp., a rudimentary feather just emerging through the skin.

PINFEATHERED Pin"feath`ered, a.

Defn: Having part, or all, of the feathers imperfectly developed.

PIN-FIRE Pin"-fire`, a. (Mil.)

Defn: Having a firing pin to explode the cartridge; as, a pin-fire rifle.

PINFISH Pin"fish`, n. Etym: [So called from their sharp dorsal spines.] (Zoöl.) (a) The sailor's choice (Diplodus, or Lagodon, rhomboides). (b) The salt-water bream (Diplodus Holbrooki).

Note: Both are excellent food fishes, common on the coast of the United States south of Cape Hatteras. The name is also applied to other allied species.

PINFOLD Pin"fold`, n. Etym: [For pindfold. See Pinder, Pound an inclosure, and Fold an inclosure.]

Defn: A place in which stray cattle or domestic animals are confined; a pound; a penfold. Shak. A parish pinfold begirt by its high hedge. Sir W. Scott.

PING Ping, n. Etym: [Probably of imitative origin.]

Defn: The sound made by a bullet in striking a solid object or in passing through the air.

PING Ping, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pinged; p. pr. & vb. n. Pinging.]

Defn: To make the sound called ping.

PINGLE Pin"gle, n. Etym: [Perhaps fr. pin to impound.]

Defn: A small piece of inclosed ground. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

PING-PONG Ping"-pong`, n. [Imitative.]

1. An indoor modification of lawn tennis played with small bats, or battledores, and a very light, hollow, celluloid ball, on a large table divided across the middle by a net.

2. A size of photograph a little larger than a postage stamp.

PING-PONG Ping"-pong`, v. i.

Defn: To play ping-pong.

PINGSTER Ping"ster, n.

Defn: See Pinkster.

PINGUEFACTION Pin`gue*fac"tion, n. [L. pinguefacere, pinguefactum, to fatten; pinguis fat + facere to make.] (Med.)

Defn: A making of, or turning into, fat.

PINGUICULA Pin*guic"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. pinguiculus somewhat fat, fattish.] (Bot.)

Defn: See Butterwort.

PINGUID Pin"guid, a. Etym: [L. pinguis fat.]

Defn: Fat; unctuous; greasy. [Obs.] "Some clays are more pinguid." Mortimer.

PINGUIDINOUS Pin*guid"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. pinguedo fatness, fr. pinguis fat.]

Defn: Containing fat; fatty. [Obs.]

PINGUITUDE Pin"gui*tude, n. Etym: [L. pinguitudo, from pinguis fat.]

Defn: Fatness; a growing fat; obesity. [R.]

PINHOLD Pin"hold`, n.

Defn: A place where a pin is fixed.

PINIC Pi"nic ( a. Etym: [L. pinus pine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pine; obtained from the pine; formerly, designating an acid which is the chief constituent of common resin, - - now called abietic, or sylvic, acid.

PINING Pin"ing, a.

1. Languishing; drooping; wasting away, as with longing.

2. Wasting; consuming. "The pining malady of France." Shak.

PININGLY Pin"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a pining manner; droopingly. Poe.

PINION Pin"ion, n. (Zoöl.)