Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Pepper Philomusical

Pepper, pep′ėr, n. a pungent aromatic condiment consisting of the dried berries of the pepper-plant, entire or powdered: any plant of genus Piper: a plant of genus Capsicum, or one of its pods, whence Cayenne pepper.—v.t. to sprinkle with pepper: to hit or pelt with shot, &c.: to pelt thoroughly: to do for.—adj. ', of a colour composed of a light ground dotted with fine spots of a dark colour, or of a dark ground with light spots.—ns. ', a box with a perforated top for sprinkling pepper on food; ', a kind of spiced cake or gingerbread; ', the vessel, on a cruet-stand, from which pepper is sprinkled; ', the berry of the pepper plant: something of little value—Peppercorn rent, a nominal rent; ', one who sells pepper, a grocer; ', hot-spiced gingerbread; ', any plant of genus Lepidium; '; ', a species of mint, aromatic and pungent like pepper: a liquor distilled from the plant: a lozenge flavoured with peppermint—Peppermint-drop, a confection so flavoured; ', a West Indian dish, of cassareep, together with flesh or dried fish and vegetables, esp. green okra and chillies: tripe shredded and stewed, with balls of dough and plenty of pepper; ', a shrub of the cashew family, native to South America, &c.—also Pepper shrub and Chili pepper; ', the dittander.—adj. ', possessing the qualities of pepper: hot, choleric.—Æthiopian pepper, the produce of Xylopia Æthiopica; Benin pepper, of Cubeba Clusii; Guinea pepper, or Maleguetta pepper, of Amomum; Jamaica pepper, or Pimento, of species of Eugenia (Myrtaceæ); Long pepper, the fruit of Piper Longum; White pepper, the seed freed from the skin and fleshy part of the fruit by soaking in water and rubbing the dried fruit. [A.S. pipor—L. piper—Gr. peperi—Sans. pippala.]

Pepper's Ghost, pep′ėrs gōst, n. a device for associating on the same stage living persons and phantoms to act together—the phantom produced by a large sheet of unsilvered glass on the stage, practically invisible to the spectators, reflecting to them, along with a visible actor or actors, the appearance of another actor on an understage, himself invisible. [John H. Pepper (b. 1821), the improver and exhibitor of Henry Dircks' invention.]

Pepsin, Pepsine, pep′sin, n. one of the essential constituents of the gastric juice: the active agent in fermenting food in the stomach—a hydrolytic ferment.—adj. ', relating to or promoting digestion: having a good digestion.—ns. ', eupepsia; ', digestion considered as a science: the digestive organs; ', a substance producing peptone, any preparation that facilitates digestion.—adjs. ', ', '.—ns. ', one of a class of albumenoids formed by the action of the chemical ferment pepsin and hydrochloric acid, the latter first converting into a syntonin or acid protein, the former converting this syntonin into peptone—they are soluble in water, are not coagulated by boiling, and pass readily through an animal membrane, being therefore easily absorbed; '.—v.t. ', to convert into peptones.—n. , a substance like peptone: one of certain food preparations. [Fr.,—Gr. pepsis, digestion—peptein, to digest.]

Pepysian, pep′is-i-an, adj. pertaining to Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), his inimitable diary, or the collection of prints, books, ballads, &c. he bequeathed to Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Per, pėr, prep. through, by means of, according to.—Per annum, year by year: for each year; Per capita, by heads, implying equal rights to two or more persons; Per cent., per hundred; Per contra, on the contrary: as a set-off; Per diem, every day: day by day; Per mensem, monthly: by the month; Per saltum, at a single leap: all at once; Per se, by himself, &c.: essentially.

Peracute, per-a-kūt′, adj. very sharp or violent.

Peradventure, per-ad-vent′ūr, adv. by adventure: by chance: perhaps.—n. uncertainty: question.

Perambulate, per-am′bū-lāt, v.t. to walk through or over: to pass through for the purpose of surveying: to survey the boundaries of.—ns. ', act of perambulating: a survey or inspection by travelling through: the district within which a person has the right of inspection; ', one who perambulates: an instrument for measuring distances on roads: a light carriage for a child.—adj. . [L. perambulāre, -ātum—per, through, ambulāre, to walk.]

Percale, per-käl′, n. a closely woven French cambric.—n. , a glossy cotton cloth. [Fr.]

Percase, per-kās′, adv. (Bacon) perchance, perhaps. [L. per, through, by, casus, a chance.]

Perceable, pėrs′a-bl, adj. (Spens.)=Pierceable.

Perceant, pėrs′ant, adj. piercing, penetrating.—v.t.  (Spens.), to pierce. [Fr. perçant, pr.p. of percer, to pierce.]

Perceive, per-sēv′, v.t. to become aware of through the senses: to get knowledge of by the mind: to see: to understand: to discern.—adj. ' (same as Perceptible).—adv. ' (same as Perceptibly).—ns. '; ' (Bacon), perception. [O. Fr. percever—L. percipĕre, perceptum—per, perfectly, capĕre, to take.]

Percentage, per-sen′tāj, n. rate per hundred: an allowance of so much for every hundred.—adj. . [Cf. Cent.]

Percept, pėr′sept, n. that which is perceived by means of the senses.—n. ', quality of being perceptible.—adj. ', that can be perceived: that may be known by the senses: discernible.—adv. '.—n. ', act of perceiving: discernment: (phil.) the faculty of perceiving: the evidence of external objects by our senses.—adjs. '; ', having the power of perceiving or discerning.—ns. ', the faculty or power of perceiving: readiness to perceive; ', character or quality of being perceptive: power of perceiving.—adj. , of the nature of perception.

Perch, pėrch, n. a genus of fresh-water fishes.—adjs. ', shaped like a perch's back; ', percoid; ', perciform; ', like the perch: pertaining to the perch family. [Fr. perche—L. perca—Gr. perkē, a perch, prob. conn. with perknos, spotted.]

Perch, pėrch, n. a rod on which birds roost: any high seat or position: a measure=5½ yards: a square measure=30¼ square yards: a pole joining the fore and hind gear of a spring carriage: a frame on which cloth is examined for flaws.—v.i. to sit or roost on a perch: to settle.—v.t. to place, as on a perch.—ns. ', a bird that perches on trees; ', the examination of cloth stretched on a frame for burs, knots, or holes—also called Burling.—adj. insessorial.—ns. ', a plate or block above or below a carriage-reach, at the king-bolt; ', an acrobat's climbing-pole; , one of the side-rods bracing the perch to the hind-axle. [Fr. perche—L. pertica, a rod.]

Perchance, per-chans′, adv. by chance: perhaps.

Percheron, per-she-rong′, n. a horse of the Percheron breed, large strong draught-horses, usually dapple-gray—also Norman and Norman Percheron.—adj. pertaining to the foregoing. [Fr.,—Perche, in southern Normandy.]

Perchloric, per-klō′rik, adj. pertaining to an acid, a syrupy liquid obtained by decomposing potassium perchlorate by means of sulphuric acid.—n. , a salt of perchloric acid.

Percipient, per-sip′i-ent, adj. perceiving: having the faculty of perception.—n. one who perceives or who has the power of perceiving.—ns. ', '.

Perclose, per-klōz′, n. an enclosed place: (archit.) a railing separating a tomb or chapel from the rest of the church: (her.) the lower half of a garter with the buckle.—Also ', '. [O. Fr.,—L. præ, in front, claudĕre, clausum, to shut.]

Percoct, per-kokt′, adj. well-cooked. [L. percoctus, percoquĕre, to cook thoroughly.]

Percoid, per′koid. See Perch (1).

Percolate, pėr′kō-lāt, v.t. to strain through pores or small openings, as a liquid: to filter.—v.i. to pass or ooze through very small openings: to filter.—n. a filtered liquid.—ns. ', act of filtering; ', a filtering vessel. [L. percolāre,-ātum—per, through, colāre, to strain.]

Percurrent, per-kur′ent, adj. running through the whole length.—adj. , running over slightly or in haste (same as Cursory). [L. percurrens, pr.p. of percurrĕre, percursum, to run through.]

Percuss, per-kus′, v.t. to strike so as to shake: to tap for purposes of diagnosis.—adj. ' (her.), bent round and striking the side, as a lion's tail—also '.

Percussion, per-kush′un, n. the forcible striking of one body against another: collision, or the shock produced by it: impression of sound on the ear: (med.) the tapping upon the body to find the condition of an internal organ by the sounds: in the jargon of palmistry, the outer side of the hand.—adjs. ', '.—ns. ', a bullet so formed as to explode on striking something: an explosive bullet; ', a cap of copper partly filled with a substance which explodes when struck, formerly used for firing rifles, &c.; ', a fuse in a projectile set in action by concussion when the projectile strikes the object; ', a small hammer for percussion in diagnosis; ', a kind of lock for a gun in which a hammer strikes upon a percussion-cap on the nipple, igniting the charge; ', powder which explodes on being struck, called also fulminating powder.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', an instrument for light percussion in neuralgia, &c.—adj. ', striking or having power to strike.—n. that which strikes or has power to strike. [L. percussion-em—percutĕre, percussum—per, thoroughly, quatĕre, to shake.]

Percutaneous, per-kū-tā′nē-us, adj. done or applied through or by means of the skin.—adv. . [L. per, through, cutis, the skin.]

Perdendo, per-den′dō, adj. (mus.) dying away.—Also . [It.]

Perdie, Perdy, pėr′di, adv.=Pardieu.

Perdition, per-dish′un, n. utter loss or ruin: the utter loss of happiness in a future state.—n. ', a lost woman.—adj. '. [Fr.,—L. perditio—perdĕre, perditum—per, entirely, dăre, to put.]

Perdu, Perdue, per-dū′, adj. lost to view: concealed: being on a forlorn hope or on a desperate enterprise: reckless.—n. (Shak.) one lying in concealment or ambush: one on a forlorn hope. [Fr., pa.p. of perdre, to lose—L. perdĕre, to destroy.]

Perduellion, per-dū-el′i-on, n. treason. [L.]

Perdurable, per′dū-ra-bl, adj. (Shak.) very durable, long continued.—ns. ', ', '.—adv. ' (Shak.), very durably: everlastingly.—v.i. , to last for a very long time. [L. perdurāre—per, through, durāre, to last.]

Peregal, per′e-gal, adj. fully equal.—n. equal.

Peregrinate, per′ē-gri-nāt, v.i. to travel through the country: to travel about from place to place: to live in a foreign country.—adj. foreign.—ns. ', act of peregrinating or travelling about; ', one who travels about.—adj. ', foreign, not native: migratory, as a bird.—n. a foreigner resident in any country: a kind of falcon.—n. ', foreignness. [L. peregrināri, -ātus—peregrinus, foreign.]

Pereion, pe-rī′on, n. the thorax in crustacea:—pl. '.—n. ', one of the true thoracic limbs of a crustacean. [Gr. periiōn, pr.p. of periienai, to go about.]

Perelle, pe-rel′, n. Same as Parella.

Peremptory, per′emp-tō-ri, adj. preventing debate: authoritative: dogmatical: final, determinate: fully resolved or determined: that must be done.—adv. '.—n. '. [Fr.,—L. peremptorius—perimĕre, peremptum—per, entirely, emĕre, to take.]

Perennial, pe-ren′i-al, adj. lasting through the year: perpetual: never failing: growing constantly: (bot.) lasting more than two years: of insects, living more than one year.—n. a plant which lives more than two years.—v.i. ', to live perennially.—n. '.—adv. . [L. perennis—per, through, annus, a year.]

Perennibranchiate, pe-ren-i-brang′ki-āt, adj. having perennial branchiæ or gills.—Also .

Perfect, pėr′fekt, adj. done thoroughly or completely: completed: without blemish, fault, or error: having neither too much nor too little: entire, very great: in the highest degree: possessing every moral excellence: completely skilled or acquainted: (gram.) expressing an act completed: (bot.) having both stamens and pistils, hermaphrodite.—v.t. (or to make perfect: to finish: to teach fully, to make fully skilled in anything.—ns. ' (rare); '; ', a body of Catharists in the 12th and 13th centuries, of very strict lives; ', quality of being made perfect.—adj. ', that may be made perfect.—ns. ', state of being perfect: a perfect quality or acquirement: the highest state or degree; ' (or '), the belief that man in a state of grace may attain to a relative perfection or a state of living without sin in this life; ', one who pretends to be perfect: one who thinks that moral perfection can be attained in this life: one of the Bible Communists or Free-lovers, a small American sect founded by J. H. Noyes (1811-86), which settled at Oneida in 1848, holding that the gospel if accepted secures freedom from sin.—adj. ', tending to make perfect.—advs. ', ', in a perfect manner: completely: exactly: without fault.—n. , state or quality of being perfect: completeness: perfection: consummate excellence.—Perfect insect, the imago or completely developed form of an insect; Perfect metals (see Metal); Perfect number, a number equal to the sum of all its divisors, the number itself of course excepted, as 6 = 1 + 2 + 3, 28 = 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14. [Fr.,—L. perfectus, pa.p. of perficĕre—per, thoroughly, facĕre, to do.]

Perfervid, per-fer′vid, adj. very fervid: very hot or eager.—n. .—Perfervidum ingenium, a very ardent disposition. [L. perfervidus, præfervidus—præ, before, fervidus, fervid.]

Perficient, pėr-fish′ent, adj. effectual.—n. one who does a lasting work, esp. who endows a charity.

Perfidious, per-fid′i-us, adj. faithless: unfaithful: basely violating trust: treacherous.—adv. '.—ns. ', , treachery. [L. perfidiosus—perfidia, faithlessness.]

Perfoliate, -d, per-fō′li-āt, -ed, adj. (bot.) having the stem as it were passing through the blade—of a leaf: having the leaf round the stem at the base: (zool.) surrounded by a circle of hairs, &c., taxicorn. [L. per, through, folium, a leaf.]

Perforate, pėr′fō-rāt, v.t. to bore through: to pierce: to make a hole through.—adj. ', capable of being perforated.—n. ', the long flexor muscle of the toes, or the deep flexor muscle of the fingers.—adjs. ', perforating; ', ' (bot.), pierced with holes: having transparent dots, as the leaves of certain flowers.—n. ', act of boring through: a hole through or into anything.—adj. ', having power to pierce.—ns. ', one who bores, or an instrument for boring; , the short flexor of the toes, or the superficial flexor of the fingers. [L. perforāre, -ātum—per, through, forāre, to bore.]

Perforce, per-fōrs′, adv. by force: of necessity.

Perform, per-form′, v.t. to do thoroughly: to carry out: to achieve: to act, as on the stage.—v.i. to do: to act a part: to play, as on a musical instrument.—adj. ', capable of being performed: practicable.—ns. ', act of performing: a carrying out of something: something done, esp. of a public character: a piece of work: an exhibition in a theatre or a place of amusement: an act or action; ', one who performs, esp. one who makes a public exhibition of his skill: an actor, an actress, &c.—adj. ', doing: trained to perform tricks. [O. Fr. parfournir, par—L. per, through, fournir, to furnish.]

Perfume, pėr′fūm, or pėr-fūm′, n. sweet-smelling smoke: sweet scent: anything which yields a sweet odour.—v.t. to fill with a pleasant odour: to scent.—adj. ', yielding perfume.—ns. ', a small appliance for throwing a jet or spray of perfume; ', one who or that which perfumes: one who makes or sells perfumes; ', perfumes in general: the art of preparing perfumes; ', a set of articles for the toilet-table.—adj. '. [Fr. parfum—L. per, through, fumus, smoke.]

Perfunctory, per-fungk′tō-ri, adj. done merely as a duty to be passed over: performed carelessly or without interest: negligent: slight.—adv. ', in a careless, half-hearted manner: without zeal or interest.—n. ', careless performance: half-heartedness. [L. perfunctorius—perfunctus, pa.p. of perfungi, to execute—per, thoroughly, fungi, to do.]

Perfuse, per-fūz′, v.t. to pour through or over.—n. '.—adj. ', sprinkling, or tending to sprinkle. [L. perfusus, poured over—per, through, fundĕre, to pour.]

Pergameneous, per-ga-mē′nē-us, adj. thin and parchment-like in texture.—adj. , parchment-like. [L. pergamena, parchment.]

Pergola, per′gō-la, n. an arbour, a balcony.—Also . [It.,—L. pergula, a shed.]

Pergunnah, pėr-gun′a, n. a sub-division of a zillah or district in India.—Also . [Hind.]

Perhaps, per-haps′, adv. it may be: possibly.

Peri, pē′ri, n. in Persian mythology, a female elf or fairy, represented as descended from the fallen angels. [Fr. péri—Pers. parī, a fairy.]

Periagua, per-i-ä′gwä, n. a canoe hollowed out of a single trunk, a dug-out: a vessel made by cutting a canoe in two lengthwise and inserting a large plank: a large keelless flat-bottomed boat for shoal-water navigation, decked at the ends only, propelled by rowing, or by sails on two masts capable of being struck.—Also . [Sp. piragua.]

Periaktos, per-i-ak′tos, n. in the ancient Greek theatre a tall prism-shaped frame or screen at the side entrances, each carrying three scenes changed by turning the frames. [Gr.]

Perianth, per′i-anth, n. the floral envelope where the calyx and corolla are not easily distinguished. [Gr. peri, around, anthos, a flower.]

Periapt, per′i-apt, n. (Shak.) an amulet. [Gr. periapton, something hung round, peri, about, aptos—aptein, to fasten.]

Periaxial, per-i-ak′si-al, adj. surrounding an axis.

Periblast, per′i-blast, n. the protoplasm about the nucleus of a cell.—adj. . [Gr. peri, about, blastos, a germ.]

Peribolos, pe-rib′o-los, n. a court enclosed by a wall, esp. one containing a temple or a church, the whole outer enclosure of sanctuary or refuge. [Gr. peribolos, encircling—peri, around, ballein, to throw.]

Pericardium, per-i-kär′di-um, n. (anat.) the bag or sac composed of two layers which surrounds the heart.—adjs. ', ', '.—n. ', inflammation of the pericardium. [Late L.,—Gr. perikardion—peri, around, kardia, heart.]

Pericarp, per′i-kärp, n. (bot.) the covering, shell, or rind of fruits: a seed-vessel.—adj. . [Gr. perikarpion—peri, around, karpos, fruit.]

Pericentral, per-i-sen′tral, adj. surrounding a central body.—adj. .

Perichondrium, per-i-kon′dri-um, n. the fibrous investment of cartilage. [Gr. peri, about, chondros, cartilage.]

Periclase, per′i-klāz, n. a rare mineral consisting of magnesia with a little iron protoxide. [Gr. peri, about, klasis, fracture.]

Periclean, per-i-klē′an, adj. of Pericles (died 429 B.C.) or the golden age of art and letters at Athens.

Pericope, pē-rik′ō-pē, n. an extract, esp. the selections from the epistles and gospels for the Sundays of the year. [Gr. peri, around, koptein, to cut.]

Pericranium, per-i-krā′ni-um, n. (anat.) the membrane that surrounds the cranium.—adj. '.—n. ' (obs.), the skull. [Late L.,—Gr. perikranion—peri, around, kranion, the skull.]

Periculum, pē-rik′ū-lum, n. (Scots law) a risk:—pl. . [L.]

Pericystitis, per-i-sis-tī′tis, n. inflammation around the bladder. [Gr. peri, around, kystis, the bladder.]

Peridental, per-i-den′tal, adj. surrounding the teeth.

Periderm, per′i-derm, n. the hard integument of some tubularian hydromedusans: (bot.) the outer bark.—adj. . [Gr. peri, about, derma, skin.]

Peridesmium, per-i-des′mi-um, n. (anat.) the areolar tissue round a ligament. [Gr. peri, around, desmos, a band.]

Peridium, pē-rid′i-um, n. the outer coat of a sporophore in angiocarpous fungi.—adj. '.—n. ' (bot.), an inner peridium inside of which the hymenium is formed. [Gr. pēridion, dim. of pēra, a wallet.]

Peridotite, per′i-dō-tīt, n. rock mainly composed of olivine.—n. ', chrysolite.—adj. '.

Peridrome, per′i-drōm, n. the space between the inner cell or chamber and the surrounding pillars in an ancient temple. [Gr. peridromos, running round—peri, around, dromos, a race.]

Periegesis, per-i-ē-jē′sis, n. a progress or journey through. [Gr.]

Perienteron, per-i-en′te-ron, n. the primitive perivisceral cavity.—adj. . [Gr. peri, about, enteron, an intestine.]

Perifibrum, per-i-fī′brum, n. the membraneous covering of the spicules and fibre of sponges.

Periganglionic, per-i-gang-gli-on′ik, adj. surrounding a ganglion.

Perigastric, per-i-gas′trik, adj. surrounding the alimentary canal.

Perigee, per′i-jē, n. (astron.) the point of the moon's orbit at which it is nearest the earth—opp. to Apogee.—adjs. ', '. [Gr. peri, near, gē, the earth.]

Perigenesis, per-i-jen′e-sis, n. wave-generation, the dynamic theory of reproduction by a kind of wave-motion of plastidules.

Periglottis, per-i-glot′is, n. the epidermis of the tongue.—adj. .

Perigone, per′i-gōn, n. (bot.) the same as Perianth—also '.—adj. '. [Gr. peri, about, gonē, seed.]

Perigraph, per′i-graf, n. an inaccurate delineation of anything.—adj. .

Perigynous, per-ij′i-nus, adj. (bot.) denoting flowers which have the petals and stamens growing on the calyx, or around the pistil.—n. . [Gr. peri, about, gynē, a female.]

Perihelion, per-i-hē′li-on, n. the point of the orbit of a planet or a comet at which it is nearest to the sun—opp. to Aphelion.—Also . [Gr. peri, near, hēlios, the sun.]

Perihepatic, per-i-hē-pat′ik, adj. surrounding the liver.

Peril, per′il, n. danger: a source of danger: exposure to danger.—v.t. to expose to danger:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —adj. ', full of peril: dangerous.—adv. '.—n. . [Fr. péril—L. periculum.]

Perilymph, per′i-limf, n. the fluid which surrounds the membraneous labyrinth of the ear.

Perimeter, pē-rim′e-tėr, n. (geom.) the circuit or boundary of any plane figure, or the sum of all its sides: an instrument for measuring the area over which a person can see distinctly.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to the perimeter.—n. , the act of making perimetrical measurements. [Gr. perimetros—peri, around, metron, measure.]

Perimorph, per′i-morf, n. a mineral enclosing another.—adjs. ', '.

Perineum, Perinæum, per-i-nē′um, n. the lower part of the body between the genital organs and the rectum.—adj. . [L.,—Gr.]

Period, pē′ri-ud, n. the time in which anything is performed: (astron.) the time occupied by one of the heavenly bodies in making its revolution: a stated interval of time, at the end of which certain events begin again to go through the same course as before: a series of events: a series of years: length of duration: the time at which anything ends: conclusion: (gram.) a mark at the end of a sentence: (rhet.) a complete sentence.—v.t. (Shak.) to put an end to.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to a period: happening by revolution: occurring at regular intervals: pertaining to periodicals.—ns. ', a magazine or other publication which appears in parts at regular periods; ', one who writes in a periodical.—adv. '.—n. ', state of being periodic: tendency to happen over again at regular intervals of time.—Periodical literature, literature published in magazines, &c.; Periodic function, one whose operation being iterated a certain number of times restores the variable: a function having a period; Periodic inequality, a disturbance in the motion of a planet due to its position in its orbit relatively to another planet; Periodic law (chem.), a relation of elements according to their atomic weights. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. periodos—peri, around, hodos, a way.]

Periophthalmus, per-i-of-thal′mus, n. a genus of acanthopterous fishes, allied to gobies, with protruding mobile eyes, pectoral fins that can be used as legs.

Periorbital, per-i-or′bi-tal, adj. pertaining to the orbit of the eye.

Periosteum, per-i-os′tē-um, n. a tough fibrous membrane which forms the outer coating of bones.—adjs. ', '; '.—n. ', inflammation of the periosteum. [Gr. periosteon—peri, around, osteon, a bone.]

Periotic, per-i-ō′tik, adj. surrounding the inner ear.—n. a periotic bone. [Gr. peri, about, ous, ōtos, the ear.]

Peripatetic, -al, per-i-pa-tet′ik, -al, adj. walking about: of or pertaining to the philosophy of Aristotle, who taught while walking up and down in the Lyceum at Athens.—n. ', an adherent of the philosophy of Aristotle: one accustomed or obliged to walk: (pl.) instruction by lectures.—n. ', the philosophy of Aristotle. [Gr. peripatētikos—peri, about, patein, to walk.]

Peripatus, pe-rip′ā-tus, n. a genus of myriapods.

Peripetia, per-i-pe-tī′a, n. the dénouement of a drama.

Periphery, pe-rif′ėr-i, n. (geom.) the circumference of a circle or of any closed figure: the outside of anything generally.—adjs. ', ', . [L.—Gr. peri, around, pherein, to carry.]

Periphractic, per-i-frak′tik, adj. enclosed around. [Gr. peri, about, phrassein, to enclose.]

Periphrase, per′i-frāz, n. a round-about way of speaking: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea: (rhet.) a figure employed to avoid a trite expression—also '.—v.t. or v.i. to use circumlocution.—adjs. ', ', containing or expressed by periphrasis or circumlocution.—adv. '. [L.,—Gr. periphrasis—peri, about, phrasis, a speaking.]

Periplast, per′i-plast, n. the intercellular substance of an organ or tissue of the body.—adj. .

Periplus, per′i-plus, n. a circumnavigation. [Gr. peri, around, ploos, plous, a voyage.]

Periptery, pe-rip′tėr-i, n. (archit.) a building surrounded by a wing or row of columns.—adjs. ', having a periptery or range of columns all round, said of a temple, &c.; ', feathered on all sides: peripteral. [Gr. peripteros—peri, about, pteron, a wing.]

Perirhinal, per-i-rī′nal, adj. surrounding the nose.

Periscii, pe-rish′i-ī, n.pl. the people within the polar circle, because their shadows, on some days in summer, move round in a complete circle, owing to the fact that on those days the sun does not set.—adj. . [Gr. periskios, throwing a shadow all round; peri, around, skia, a shadow.]

Periscope, per′i-skōp, n. an instrument like the altiscope, used in directing submarine boats.—adj. . [Gr. peri, about, skopein, to see.]

Perish, per′ish, v.i. to pass away completely: to waste away: to decay: to lose life: to be destroyed: to be ruined or lost.—ns. ', ', the quality of being liable to speedy decay or destruction.—adj. ', that may perish: subject to speedy decay.—adv. '.—v.i.  (Spens.), to perish. [O. Fr. perir, pr.p. perissant—L. perīre, to perish—per, completely, īre, to go.]

Perisperm, per′i-spėrm, n. (bot.) that which is round a seed, the albumen.—adj. . [Gr. peri, around, sperma, seed.]

Perispheric, -al, per-i-sfer′ik, -al, adj. globular.

Perispore, per′i-spōr, n. the outer covering of a spore.

Perissad, pe-ris′ad, n. (chem.) an atom whose valency is represented by an odd number—opp. to Artiad—also adj. [Gr. perissos, beyond the regular number.]

Perissodactyla, pe-ris-ō-dak′ti-la, n. one of the two divisions of the great mammalian order Ungulata, including the horse, tapir, and rhinoceros, distinguished by the third digit of each limb being symmetrical in itself, by the presence of an odd number of digits on the hind-foot, &c.—opp. to Artiodactyla.—adjs. ', ', ', '. [Gr. perissos, beyond the regular number, daktylos, a finger.]

Perissology, per-i-sol′ō-ji, n. verbiage.—adj. , redundant in words.

Perissosyllabic, pe-ris-o-si-lab′ik, adj. having superfluous syllables.

Peristalith, pe-ris′ta-lith, n. a series of standing stones surrounding a barrow or burial-mound. [Gr. peri, around, histanai, to stand, lithos, a stone.]

Peristaltic, per-i-stalt′ik, adj. noting the involuntary muscular action of the alimentary canal, by which it forces its contents onwards.—n. . [Gr. peristaltikos—peristellein, to wrap round—peri, around, stellein, to place.]

Peristeropod, pē-ris′te-rō-pod, adj. pigeon-toed—also n. [Gr. peristera, a pigeon, pous, podos, a foot.]

Peristome, per′i-stōm, n. the mouth-parts of echinoderms, &c.: the fringe of hair-like appendages round the rim of the capsule of a moss.

Peristyle, per′i-stīl, n. a range of columns round a building or round a square: a court, square, &c., with columns all round.—adj. . [L. peristylium—Gr. peristylon, with pillars round the wall—peri, around, stylos, a column.]

Perithoracic, per-i-thō-ras′ik, adj. around the thorax.

Peritomous, pe-rit′ō-mus, adj. (min.) cleaving in more directions than one parallel to the axis, the faces being all similar. [Gr. peri, round, temnein, to cut.]

Peritoneum, Peritonæum, per-i-tō-nē′um, n. a serous membrane which encloses all the viscera lying in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.—adjs. '; '.—n. , inflammation of the peritoneum. [Gr. peritoneion—peri, around, teinein, to stretch.]

Perityphlitis, per-i-tif-lī′tis, n. inflammation of the cæcum, appendix, and connective tissue, or of the peritoneum covering cæcum and appendix. [Gr. peri, round, typhlos, blind (the cæcum being the 'blind gut').]

Perivascular, per-i-vas′kū-lar, adj. surrounding a vascular structure.

Perivisceral, per-i-vis′e-ral, adj. surrounding viscera.

Periwig, per′i-wig, n. a peruke or small wig, usually shortened to Wig: an artificial head of hair.—v.t. to dress with a periwig.—adj. , wearing a periwig. [Old Dut. peruyk—Fr. perruque.]

Periwinkle, per′i-wingk-l, n. a creeping evergreen plant, growing in woods. [M. E. peruenke, through A.S. peruincæ, from L. pervinca, vincīre, to bind.]

Periwinkle, per′i-wingk-l, n. a small univalve mollusc: a small shellfish, abundant between tide-marks on the rocks, boiled and eaten as food. [Corrupted by confusion with preceding from A.S. pinewincla—wincle, a whelk; prov. Eng. pin-patch.]

Perjure, pėr′jōōr, v.t. to swear falsely (followed by a reciprocal pronoun): to cause to swear falsely.—v.i. to be false to one's oath.—n. (Shak.) a perjured person.—adj. ', having sworn falsely: being sworn falsely, as an oath.—n. '.—adjs. ', ', guilty of perjury.—n. , false swearing: the breaking of an oath: (law) the crime committed by one who, when giving evidence on oath as a witness in a court of justice, gives evidence which he knows to be false. [Fr.,—L. perjurāre—per-, jurāre, to swear.]

Perk, pėrk, adj. trim: spruce: jaunty: proud.—v.t. to make smart or trim.—v.i. to hold up the head with smartness: to toss or jerk the head.—adj.  (Tenn.), perk, trim. [W. perc, trim.]

Perk, pėrk, v.i. (prov.) to peer.—adj. , peering, inquisitive.

Perkin, per′kin, n. weak perry.

Perlaceous=Pearlaceous. See Pearl.

Perlite, pėr′līt, n. the name given to some vitreous rocks, as obsidian, which seem as if made up of little pearly or enamel-like spheroids.—adj. .

Perlous, pėrl′us, adj. (Spens.). Same as Perilous.

Perlustrate, per-lus′trāt, v.t. to survey carefully.—n. . [L. perlustrāre, -ātum.]

Permanent, pėr′ma-nent, adj. lasting: durable: not subject to change: not to be removed: (zool.) always present.—ns. ', ', state or quality of being permanent: continuance in the same state, position, &c.: unlikelihood of change: duration.—adv. .—Permanent way, the finished road of a railway. [Fr.,—L. permanēre—per, through, manēre, to continue.]

Permanganate, per-man′gan-āt, n. a salt containing manganese.—adj. .

Permeate, pėr′mē-āt, v.t. to pass through the pores of: to penetrate and fill the pores of.—n. '.—adj. ', that may be permeated or passed through: allowing the passage of liquids.—adv. '.—n. ', act of permeating, or state of being permeated.—adj. . [L. permeatus—per, through, meāre, to pass.]

Permian, per′mi-an, n. a group of strata forming the uppermost division of the Palezoic series.

Permiscible, per-mis′i-bl, adj. capable of being mixed.

Permit, per-mit′, v.t. to give leave to: to allow to be or to be done: to afford means: to give opportunity:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —n.  a written permission, esp. from a custom-house officer to remove goods.—n. '.—adj. ', that may be permitted: allowable.—adv. '.—n. ', act of permitting: liberty granted: allowance.—adj. ', granting permission or liberty: allowing: granted: not hindered.—adv. ', by permission, without prohibition.—ns. ', permission; ', one to whom permission is granted; , one who permits.—Permissive Bill, a measure embodying the principles of local option for the regulation of the liquor traffic; Permissive laws, laws that permit certain things without enforcing anything. [L. permittĕre, -missum, to let pass through—per, through, mittĕre, to send.]

Permutable, per-mū′ta-bl, adj. that may be changed one for another.—ns. ', '.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', act of changing one thing for another: (math.) the arrangement of things or letters in every possible order.—v.t. '. [L.,—permutāre—per, through, mutāre, to change.]

Pern, pėrn, n. a honey-buzzard.—Also .

Pernicious, per-nish′us, adj. killing utterly: hurtful: destructive: highly injurious.—adv. '.—n. '. [Fr.,—L. perniciosus—per, completely, nex, necis, death by violence.]

Pernickety, per-nik′e-ti, adj. easily troubled about trifles: (coll.) fastidious.—n. .

Pernoctation, pėr-nok-tā′shun, n. act of passing the whole night, esp. in prayer or watching: a watch all night. [L. per, through, nox, noctis, night.]

Perone, per′ō-nē, n. the fibula or small bone of the leg.—adjs. '; ', pertaining to the perone and the tibia.—n. a muscle from the fibula to the tibia in some marsupials: an anomalous muscle in man, constant in apes, between the inner side of the head of the fibula and the tibia.—n. , one of several fibular muscles. [Fr.,—Gr. peronē, the tongue of a buckle.]

Peropod, pē′rō-pod, adj. having rudimentary hind limbs, as serpents—also n. [Gr. pēros, maimed, pous, podos, a foot.]

Peroration, per-ō-rā′shun, n. the conclusion of a speech, usually summing up the points and enforcing the argument.—v.i. , to make a peroration: (coll.) to make a speech. [Fr.,—L. peroratio—perorāre, to bring a speech to an end—per, through, orāre, to speak—os, oris, the mouth.]

Peroxide, per-ox′īd, n. an oxide having a larger proportion of oxygen than any other oxide of the same series.—n. '.—v.t. and v.i. '.

Perpend, per-pend′, v.t. to weigh in the mind, to consider carefully. [L. perpendĕre—per, inten., pendĕre, to weigh.]

Perpend, per′pend, n. in building, a bond-stone or bonder.—Also ', '. [O. Fr. parpaigne, Fr. parpaing.]

Perpendicular, pėr-pen-dik′ū-lar, adj. exactly upright: extending in a straight line toward the centre of the earth: (geom.) at right angles to a given line or surface.—n. a perpendicular line or plane.—n. ', state of being perpendicular.—adv. '.—Perpendicular style, a style of Gothic architecture in England which succeeded the Decorated style, prevailing from the end of the 14th to the middle of the 16th century, contemporary with the Flamboyant style in France, marked by stiff and rectilinear lines, mostly vertical window-tracery, depressed or four-centre arch, fan-tracery vaulting, and panelled walls. [Fr.,—L. perpendicularis—perpendiculum, a plumb-line—per, through, pendĕre, to weigh.]

Perpetrate, pėr′pē-trāt, v.t. to perform or commit (usually in a bad sense): to produce (as a poor pun).—adj. '.—ns. ', act of committing a crime: the thing perpetrated: an evil action; . [L. perpetrāre, -ātum—per, thoroughly, patrāre, to perform.]

Perpetual, per-pet′ū-al, adj. never ceasing: everlasting: not temporary.—adv. .—Perpetual curate, a curate of a parish where there was neither rector nor vicar, the tithes being in the hands of a layman—abolished in 1868, every incumbent not a rector now being a vicar; Perpetual motion, motion of a machine arising from forces within itself, constantly kept up without any force from without; Perpetual screw, an endless screw. [Fr. perpétuel—L. perpetuus, continuous.]

Perpetuate, per-pet′ū-āt, v.t. to make perpetual: to cause to last for ever or for a very long time: to preserve from extinction or oblivion.—adj. ', capable of being perpetuated.—n. ', the act of making perpetual.—adjs. ', ', made perpetual: continued for an indefinite time.—n. ', act of perpetuating or preserving from oblivion: preservation for ever, or for a very long time; ', state of being perpetual: endless time: duration for an indefinite period: something lasting for ever: the sum paid for a perpetual annuity: the annuity itself.

Perplex, per-pleks′, v.t. to make difficult to be understood: to embarrass: to puzzle: to tease with suspense or doubt.—n. (obs.) a difficulty.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. '.—adv. '.—n. , state of being perplexed: confusion of mind arising from doubt, &c.: intricacy: embarrassment: doubt. [Fr.,—L. perplexus, entangled—per, completely, plexus, involved, pa.p. of plectĕre.]

Perquisite, pėr′kwi-zit, n. an allowance granted over and above the settled wages: a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service.—ns. ', a strict search: diligent inquiry; ', the first purchaser of an estate. [L. perquisitum, from perquirĕre—per, thoroughly, quærĕre, to ask.]

Perradial, pėr-rā′di-al, adj. fundamentally radial.—n. .

Perrier, per′i-ėr, n. a machine for hurling stones.

Perron, per′on, n. an external flight of steps giving access to the entrance-door of a building.

Perruque, Perruquier. See Peruke.

Perry, per′i, n. an agreeable beverage made by fermenting the juice of pears. [Fr. poiré, from poire, a pear—L. pirum.]

Persant, pėrs′ant, adj. (Spens.). Same as Perceant.

Perscrutation, per-skrōō-tā′shun, n. a thorough search through: a minute inquiry. [L. per, through, scrutāri, to search carefully.]

Perse, pers, adj. dark blue, bluish-gray.—n. a dark-blue colour, a cloth of such colour. [O. Fr. pers—L. persicum, a peach.]

Persecute, pėr′se-kūt, v.t. to pursue so as to injure or annoy: to follow after persistently: to annoy or punish, esp. for religious or political opinions.—ns. ', act or practice of persecuting: state of being persecuted: a time of general oppression on account of religious opinions; ':—fem. . [Fr.,—L. persequi, persecutus—per, thoroughly, sequi, to follow.]

Perseus, per′sūs, n. a fabled Greek hero, who slew the Gorgon Medusa, and rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster: a constellation in the northern sky. [Gr.]

Persevere, pėr-sē-vēr′, v.i. to persist in anything: to pursue anything steadily: to be constant: not to give over.—n. ', act or state of persevering: continued application to anything which one has begun: a going on till success is met with.—adj. '.—adv. .—Perseverance of saints, the Calvinistic doctrine that those who are effectually called by God cannot fall away so as to be finally lost. [Fr.,—L. perseverāre—perseverus, very strict—per, very, severus, strict.]

Persian, pėr′shi-an, adj. of, from, or relating to Persia, its inhabitants, or language.—n. a native of Persia: the language of Persia: (archit.) male figures used instead of columns to support an entablature—also .—Persian apple, the peach; Persian berry, the fruit of several buckthorns; Persian blinds (see Persienne); Persian wheel, a large wheel for raising water, fixed vertically with a number of buckets at its circumference.

Persicot, per′si-kot, n. a cordial flavoured with kernels of peaches and apricots. [Fr.,—L. persicum, a peach.]

Persienne, per-si-en′, n. an Eastern cambric or muslin with coloured printed pattern: (pl.) Persian blinds, outside shutters of thin movable slats in a frame.

Persiflage, pėr′si-fläzh, n. a frivolous way of talking or treating any subject: banter.—adj. ', bantering.—v.i. ' (Thackeray).—n.  (Carlyle). [Fr.,—persifler, to banter—L. per, through, Fr. siffler—L. sibilāre, to whistle, to hiss.]

Persimmon, Persimon, per-sim′on, n. the American date-plum. [Amer. Ind.]

Persist, per-sist′, v.i. to stand throughout to something begun: to continue in any course, esp. against opposition: to persevere.—ns. ', ', quality of being persistent: perseverance: obstinacy: duration, esp. of an effect after the exciting cause has been removed.—adj. ', persisting: pushing on, esp. against opposition: tenacious: fixed: (bot.) remaining till or after the fruit is ripe, as a calyx.—advs. '; '.—adj. ' (Shak.), persistent. [Fr.,—L. persistĕre—per, through, sistĕre, to cause to stand—stāre, to stand.]

Person, pėr′sun, n. character represented, as on the stage: character: an individual, sometimes used slightingly: a living soul: a human being: the outward appearance, &c.: bodily form: one of the three hypostases or individualities in the triune God: (gram.) a distinction in form, according as the subject of the verb is the person speaking, spoken to, or spoken of.—adj. ', having a well-formed body or person: of good appearance.—n. ', a person: character represented: an individual of eminence: external appearance.—adj. ', belonging to a person: having the nature or quality of a person: peculiar to a person or to his private concerns: pertaining to the external appearance: done in person: relating to one's own self: applied offensively to one's character: (gram.) denoting the person.—n. ', personification.—v.t. ', to make personal.—ns. ', the character of being personal; ', one who writes personal notes; ', that which distinguishes a person from a thing, or one person from another: individuality: a derogatory remark or reflection directly applied to a person—esp. in pl. '.—adv. ', in a personal or direct manner: in person: individually.—n. ' (law), all the property which, when a man dies, goes to his executor or administrator, as distinguished from the realty, which goes to his heir-at-law.—v.t. ', to assume the likeness or character of: to represent: to counterfeit: to feign.—adj. (bot.) mask-like, as in the corollary of the snapdragon: larval, cucullate.—adj. ', impersonated, feigned, assumed.—ns. '; '.—n. '.—v.t. ', to personify.—n. ', the persons employed in any service, as distinguished from the materiel.—Personal estate, property, movable goods or property, as distinguished from freehold or real property, esp. in land; Personal exception (Scots law), a ground of objection which applies to an individual and prevents him from doing something which, but for his conduct or situation, he might do; Personal identity, the continued sameness of the individual person, through all changes both without and within, as testified by consciousness; Personal rights, rights which belong to the person as a living, reasonable being; Personal security, security or pledge given by a person, as distinguished from the delivery of some object of value as security; Personal service, delivery of a message or an order into a person's hands, as distinguished from delivery in any other indirect way; Personal transaction, something done by a person's own effort, not through the agency of another.—In person, by one's self, not by a representative. [Fr.,—L. persōna, a player's mask, perh. from persŏnāre, -ātum—per, through, sonāre, to sound.]

Persona, pėr-sō′na, n. a person.—Persona grata, a person who is acceptable to those to whom he is sent.—Dramatis personæ, the characters in a play or story. [L.]

Personify, per-son′i-fī, v.t. (rhet.) to treat, look on, or describe as a person: to ascribe to any inanimate object the qualities of a person: to be the embodiment of:—pa.t. and pa.p. —n. . [L. persona, a person, facĕre, to make.]

Perspective, per-spek′tiv, n. a view or a vista: the art of drawing objects on a plane surface, so as to give the picture the same appearance to the eye as the objects themselves: just proportion in all the parts: a telescope or field-glass: a picture in perspective.—adj. pertaining or according to perspective.—adv. '.—ns. ', an instrument for indicating correctly the points and outlines of objects; , the science of perspective, or of delineating it.—Perspective plane, the surface on which the picture of the objects to be represented in perspective is drawn.—In perspective, according to the laws of perspective. [Fr.,—L. perspicĕre, perspectum—per, through, specĕre, to look.]

Perspicacious, pėr-spi-kā′shus, adj. of clear or acute understanding: quick-sighted.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', state of being acute in discerning: keenness of sight or of understanding; ', state of being perspicacious: clearness in expressing ideas so as to make them easily understood by others: freedom from obscurity.—adj. ', that can be seen through: clear to the mind: easily understood: not obscure in any way: evident.—adv. '.—n. . [L. perspicax, perspicacis—perspicĕre, to see through.]

Perspire, per-spīr′, v.i. and v.t. to emit or to be emitted, as moisture, through the pores of the skin: to sweat.—n. '.—adj. ', capable of being perspired.—v.i. ' (rare), to sweat.—n. ', act of perspiring: that which is perspired: moisture given out through the pores of the skin: sweat.—adj. , pertaining to or causing perspiration. [L. perspirāre, -ātum—per, through, spirāre, to breathe.]

Perstringe, pėr-strinj′, v.t. to criticise.

Persuade, per-swād′, v.t. to influence successfully by argument, advice, &c.: to bring to any particular opinion: to cause to believe: to convince.—adj. '.—n. '.—adj. ', capable of being persuaded.—ns. ', '; ', act of persuading: state of being persuaded: settled opinion: a creed: a party adhering to a creed: (Spens.) an inducement.—adjs. ', ', having the power to persuade: influencing the mind or passions.—n. that which persuades or wins over.—adv. '.—n. '. [Fr.,—L. persuadēre, -suasum—per, thoroughly, suadēre, to advise.]

Persue, pėrs′ū, n. (Spens.) a track.

Persulphate, pėr-sul′fāt, n. that sulphate of a metal which contains the relatively greater quantity of acid.

Pert, pėrt, adj. (obs.) open: evident: plain. [O. Fr. apert—L. aperīre, apertum, to open.]

Pert, pėrt, adj. forward: saucy: impertinent: too free in speech: (obs.) clever.—n. an impudent person.—adv. '.—n. '. [Perk.]

Pertain, per-tān′, v.i. to belong: to relate (with to).—ns. ', ', state of being pertinent or to the point: fitness for the matter on hand: suitableness: appositeness.—adj. ', pertaining or related to a subject: being to the point: fitted for the matter on hand: fitting or appropriate: suitable: apposite.—adv. '.—n. . [O. Fr. partenir—L. pertinēre—per, thoroughly, tenēre, to hold.]

Pertinacious, pėr-ti-nā′shus, adj. thoroughly tenacious: holding obstinately to an opinion or a purpose: obstinate: unyielding.—adv. '.—ns. '; , quality of being pertinacious or unyielding: obstinacy: resoluteness. [Fr.,—L. pertinax, -acis, holding fast—per, thoroughly, tenax, tenacious—tenēre, to hold.]

Perturb, per-turb′, v.t. to disturb greatly: to agitate—also '.—adj. ', that can be agitated or confused.—ns. ', ', act of perturbing or state of being perturbed: disquiet of mind: irregular action, esp. (astron.) the disturbance produced in the simple elliptic motion of one heavenly body about another by the action of a third body, or by the non-sphericity of the principal body; ', any disturbing thing.—adjs. '; '.—n. ', the power of deflecting the divining-rod by magnetic influence.—p.adj. '.—adv. '.—ns. ', ':—fem. . [Fr.,—L. perturbāre, -ātum—per, thoroughly, turbāre, to disturb—turba, a crowd.]

Pertusion, pėr-tū′zhon, n. a hole made by a sharp instrument.—adjs. ', pierced at the apex; ', , pierced with holes. [L. pertundĕre, -tusum—per, through, tundĕre, to strike.]

Pertussis, per-tus′is, n. whooping-cough.—adj. .

Peruke, per-ūk′, or per′ūk, n. an artificial cap of hair: a periwig—also Perruque.—adj. ', of or pertaining to the making of wigs.—n. ', a wigmaker. [Fr. perruque—It. parrucca (Sp. peluca)—L. pilus, hair.]

Peruse, per-ūz′, or per-ōōz′, v.t. to read attentively: to examine carefully or in detail.—ns. Perusal or  the act of perusing: careful examination: study: reading; . [Formed from L. per, thoroughly, uti, usum, to use.]

Peruvian, per-ōō′vi-an, adj. pertaining to Peru in South America.—n. a native of Peru.—Peruvian balsam, a fragrant bitterish liquid yielded by a South American tree, used for asthma and in making soaps; Peruvian bark, cinchona (q.v.).

Pervade, per-vād′, v.t. to go through or penetrate: to spread all over.—n. '.—adj. ', tending or having power to pervade. [L. pervadĕre, pervasum—per, through, vadĕre, to go.]

Perverse, per-vėrs′, adj. turned aside: obstinate in the wrong: stubborn: vexatious.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', state or quality of being perverse: inclination to oppose: wickedness.—adj. ', tending to pervert. [L. perversus, turned the wrong way.]

Pervert, per-vėrt′, v.t. to turn wrong or from the right course: to change from its true use: to corrupt: to turn from truth or virtue.—v.i. to go wrong or out of the right course.—n. one who has changed from a former position: an apostate.—ns. ', the act of perverting: a diverting from the true object: a turning from truth or propriety: misapplication; '.—adj. , able to be perverted. [Fr. pervertir—L. pervertĕre—per, thoroughly, vertĕre, versum, to turn.]

Perveyaunce. Same as Purveyance.

Pervicacious, per-vi-kā′shus, adj. very obstinate.—ns. ', '.

Pervious, pėr′vi-us, adj. permeable, penetrable: open, perforate.—adv. '.—n. '. [L. pervius—per, through, via, a way.]

Pesade, pe-zād′, n. the act or position of a saddle-horse in rearing. [Fr.]

Peseta, pe-sā′ta, n. a silver coin of Spain worth 9½d. [Sp., dim. of pesa, weight.]

Peshito, pe-shē′to, n. a translation of the Bible into Syriac, made in the second century.—Also . [Syriac, pĕshittá, the simple.]

Peshwa, pesh′wa, n. a chief or prince of the Mahrattas.—Also .

Pesky, pes′ki, adj. annoying.—adv. .

Peso, pā′so, n. a Spanish dollar. [Sp.,—L. pensum, pendĕre, to weigh.]

Pessary, pes′a-ri, n. an instrument worn in the vagina to remedy displacement of the womb. [Fr. pessaire—Low L. pessarium—Gr. pessos, a pebble.]

Pessimism, pes′i-mizm, n. the doctrine that on the whole the world is bad rather than good: a temper of mind that looks too much on the dark side of things: a depressing view of life.—v.i. '.—n. ', one who believes that everything is tending to the worst: one who looks too much on the dark side of things—opp. to Optimist.—adjs. ', '. [L. pessimus, worst.]

Pest, pest, n. a deadly disease: a plague: anything destructive: a troublesome person.—n. ', a hospital for persons afflicted with any contagious disease.—adj. ', contagious: pestilent: annoying.—adv. '.—n. ', any contagious deadly disease: anything that is hurtful to the morals.—adjs. ', producing pestilence: hurtful to health and life: mischievous: corrupt: troublesome; ', of the nature of pestilence: producing pestilence: destructive.—advs. ', '. [Fr. peste—L. pestis, a contagious disease.]

Pestalozzian, pes-ta-lot′si-an, adj. pertaining to graduated object-teaching as originated by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1745-1827).

Pester, pes′tėr, v.t. to disturb, to annoy.—n. a bother.—n. ', one who pesters.—adv. '.—n. , annoyance. [Short for impester, O. Fr. empestrer (Fr. empêtrer), to entangle, from in, in, Low L. pastorium, a foot-shackle—L. pastus, pa.p. of pascĕre, to feed.]

Pestle, pes′l, or pest′l, n. an instrument for pounding anything in a mortar.—v.t. and v.i. to pound with a pestle: to use a pestle. [O. Fr. pestel—L. pistillum, a pounder, pinsĕre, pistum, to pound.]

Pet, pet, n. any animal tame and fondled: a word of endearment often used to young children: a favourite child: a wilful young woman—also Peat.—adj. indulged: cherished: favourite.—v.t. to treat as a pet: to fondle:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p.  [Celt., as Ir. peat, Gael. peata.]

Pet, pet, n. a sudden fit of peevishness or slight passion: ill-humour.—v.i. to be peevish, to sulk. [From the above word.]



Petal, pet′al, n. a flower-leaf: a corolla leaf.—adjs. ', ', ', having petals or flower-leaves; ', pertaining to or resembling a petal: attached to a petal.—n. ', a method of ostracism practised in ancient Syracuse, the name being written on an olive-leaf.—adj. ', having the form of a petal—also . [Gr. petalon, a leaf.]

Petard, pē-tärd′, n. a kind of mortar filled with gunpowder, fixed to gates, barriers, &c., to break them down by explosion—(Shak.) ': a paper bomb in pyrotechny.—ns. ', .—Hoist with one's own petard (see Hoist). [O. Fr.—péter, to crack or explode—L. pedĕre, cog. with Gr. perdein, Eng. fart.]

Petary, pē′tar-i, n. a peat-bog.

Petasus, pet′a-sus, n. a low broad-brimmed hat worn by heralds, &c., characteristic of Hermes. [Gr.]

Petaurist, pe-taw′rist, n. a flying opossum, Australian squirrel, &c.—adj. . [Gr.]

Petchary, pech′a-ri, n. the gray king-bird.

Petechiæ, pē-tek′i-ē, n.pl. purple spots on the skin.—adj. . [L. petigo, a scab.]

Peter, pē′tėr, v.i. in mining, to become exhausted (with out): (fig.) to lose power or value.

Peter, pē′tėr, v.i. to call for trumps at whist, by throwing away a higher card of a suit while holding a smaller.—n. this signal for trumps.

Peterel. Same as Petrel.

Petersham, pē′tėr-sham, n. a heavy greatcoat, also the rough-napped cloth, generally dark blue, of which it is made. [From Lord Petersham.]

Peter's-pence. See Penny.

Petiole, pet′i-ōl, n. the stalk which joins a leaf to the twig or branch: a footstalk—also '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or growing upon, a petiole; ', ', ', growing on a petiole.—n. , a little or partial petiole. [Fr.,—L. petiolus, a little foot—pes, pedis, a foot.]

Petit, pet′i, adj. small:—fem. Petite —n. , a dandy, a coxcomb generally. [Fr.]

Petition, pē-tish′un, n. a request generally from an inferior to a superior: a written request presented to a court of law, or to a body of legislators: a prayer: a supplication.—v.t. to present a petition to: to ask as a favour: to supplicate.—adj. ', offering or containing a petition: supplicatory.—ns. ', one who offers a petition or prayer; ', the act of presenting a petition: entreaty: solicitation; '.—adj. , petitioning.—Petitio principii, the fallacy of begging the question—a taking for granted in argument of that which has yet to be proved. [Fr.,—L. petitio—petĕre, petitum, to ask.]

Petrary, pe-trā′ri, n. an engine for hurling stones.

Petre. Same as Saltpetre.

Petrean, pē-trē′an, adj. pertaining to rock. [L. petræus—Gr. petraios—petra, a rock.]

Petrel, pet′rel, n. a long-winged dusky sea-bird, rarely landing except to lay its eggs, esp. the Stormy petrel, called by sailors 'Mother Carey's Chickens,' scarcely larger than a lark, the smallest web-footed bird known. [Fr.; from Matt. xiv. 29.]

Petrify, pet′ri-fī, v.t. to turn into stone: to make hard like a stone: to fix in amazement.—v.i. to become stone, or hard like stone:—pa.t. and pa.p. —n. '.—adjs. ', growing into or becoming stone; ', inhabiting rocks.—n. ', the act of turning into stone: the state of being turned into stone: that which is made stone: a fossil.—adjs. ', ', changing animal or vegetable substances into stone; '.—ns. ', the science of the origin of rocks; ', a rock-carving.—adj. '.—ns. ', the art of writing on rocks or stones; ', a student of petrography.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—n. ', the study of rocks: petrology.—adj. '.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', the science of the composition and classification of rocks.—adjs. ', of great hardness: petrous; ', like stone: hard: rocky. [L. petra—Gr. petra, rock, L. facĕre, factum, to make.]

Petrine, pē′trin, adj. pertaining to, or written by, the Apostle Peter.—n. , the Tübingen theory of F. C. Baur (1792-1860) and his school, of a doctrinal trend in primitive Christianity towards Judaism, ascribed to Peter and his party in opposition to Paulinism. [L. Petrinus—Petrus, Peter.]

Petroleum, pē-trō′lē-um, n. a liquid inflammable substance issuing or pumped up from the earth in various parts of the world.—ns. ', a spirit obtained from petroleum; Petroleur one of those Parisians who, with the help of petroleum, set fire to many of the public buildings of Paris in May 1871: an incendiary:—fem. '.—adj. , yielding petroleum. [L. petra, rock, oleum, oil.]

Petronel, pet′ro-nel, n. a large horse-pistol: a small carbine. [O. Fr. petrinal, the breast—L. pectus.]

Petted, pet′ed, adj. treated as a pet: indulged.—adj. ', given to take the pet: peevish: fretful.—adv. '.—n. .

Pettichaps, Petty-Chaps, pet′i-chaps, n. the garden warbler, the willow-warbler, chiff-chaff.

Petticoat, pet′i-kōt, n. a loose under-skirt worn by females and little boys: (coll.) a woman: a fisherman's loose canvas or oilcloth skirt: a bell-mouthed piece over the exhaust nozzles in the smoke-box of a locomotive, strengthening and equalising the draught through the boiler-tubes.—adj. feminine: female, as 'petticoat influence.'—n. ', an affair in which a woman is concerned.—n.pl. ', a loose short breeches worn by men in the 17th century.—adj. .—Petticoat government, government by women, either at home or in the state. [Petty + coat.]

Pettifogger, pet′i-fog-ėr, n. a lawyer who practises only in paltry cases.—v.i. ', to play the pettifogger.—n. ', mean tricks: quibbles.—adj. . [Petty, and obs. fog, to cheat (cf. Old Dut. focker).]

Pettitoes, pet′i-tōz, n.pl. the feet of a sucking pig: (Shak.) human feet. [Petty + toe.]

Pettle, pet′l, v.t. (Scot.) to indulge, pet.

Petto, pet′o, n. the breast. [It.,—L. pectus, breast.]

Petty, pet′i, adj. small: of less importance: lower in rank, power, &c.: inconsiderable, insignificant: contemptible.—adv. '.—n. '.—Petty cash, small sums of money received or paid; Petty larceny (see Larceny); Petty officer, a naval officer with rank corresponding to a non-commissioned officer in the army. [O. Fr. petit.]

Petulant, pet′ū-lant, adj. showing peevish impatience, irritation, or caprice: forward, impudent in manner.—ns. ', ', sauciness: peevishness or impatience.—adv. . [L. petulans, —obs. petulāre, dim. of petĕre, to fall upon.]

Petunia, pē-tū′ni-a, n. a Brazilian genus of ornamental plants of the nightshade family, with small undivided leaves and showy funnel-form flowers. [Amer. Ind. petun, tobacco.]

Pew, pū, n. an enclosed seat in a church.—ns. ', companion; ', one who rents a pew in a church; ', an attendant who opens pews in a church; ', rent paid for the use of a pew in church. [O. Fr. pui, a raised place—L. podium, a front seat in the amphitheatre—Gr. podion, orig. a footstool—pous, podos, foot.]

Pewit, pē′wit, n. the lapwing, a bird with a black head and crest, common in moors.—Also ', '. [Imit.; cf. Dut. piewit or kiewit.]

Pewter, pū′tėr, n. an alloy of four parts of tin and one of lead: sometimes tin with a little copper and antimony: a vessel made of pewter, esp. a beer-tankard: (slang) prize-money.—adj. made of pewter.—ns. ', one who works in pewter; ', a lapidaries' polishing-wheel for amethyst, agate, &c.—adj. , belonging to pewter. [O. Fr. peutre (It. peltro), from a Teut. root, seen in Low Ger. spialter, Eng. spelter.]

Pfennig, pfen′ig, n. a German copper coin, the hundredth part of a mark.—Also .

Phacitis, fā-sī′tis, n. inflammation of the crystalline lens of the eye.—n. ', inflammation of the capsule of the crystalline lens of the eye.—adj. ', lentil-shaped.—n. . [Gr. phakos, a lentil.]

Phænogamous, Phenogamous, fē-nog′a-mus, adj. having manifest flowers, phanerogamous.—ns. ', a phanerogamous plant; '=Phanerogamia.—adj. . [Gr. phainein, to show, gamos, marriage.]

Phaeton, fā′e-ton, n. a kind of open pleasure-carriage on four wheels, drawn by one or two horses, from Phaëthon, son of Helios, the sun, whose chariot he attempted to drive: a tropic bird.—adj. .

Phagedena, Phagedæna, faj-e-dē′na, n. a sloughing ulcer, hospital gangrene.—adjs. ', '. [Gr. phagein, to eat.]

Phagocyte, fag′o-sīt, n. a white or colourless blood-corpuscle—also called leucocyte—an active amœboid cell, which engulfs both nutritive and harmful particles.—adjs. ', '.—ns. ', the nature or function of a phagocyte; ', the destruction of microbes by phagocytes. [Gr. phagein, to eat, kytos, a vessel.]

Phalæna, fā-lē′na, n. the Linnæan genus including moths.—adj. . [Gr. phalaina, a moth.]

Phalange, fā-lanj′, n. a phalanx of a digit: any of the joints of an insect's tarsus: a bundle of stamens joined by their filaments: a socialistic community in Fourier's dream of an ideal arrangement of society, consisting of 1800 persons living in a phalanstère—generally in pl., the usual sing. being ' (q.v.).—adjs. ', ', ', '; '; '.—ns. ', '; ', the dwelling of the phalange in the ideal social system of Fourier (1772-1837), a vast structure in the midst of a square league of cultivated land.

Phalanger, fā-lan′jer, n. a genus of small arboreal Australasian marsupials. [Fr.,—L. phalanx.]

Phalanx, fal′angks, or fā′-, n. a line of battle: a square battalion of heavy-armed infantry drawn up in ranks and files close and deep: any compact body of men: one of the small bones of the fingers and toes:—pl. ', or '. [L.,—Gr. phalangks.]

Phalarope, fal′a-rōp, n. a genus of wading birds, forming a sub-family of the snipes. [Gr. phalaris, a coot, pous, a foot.]

Phallus, fal′us, n. the symbol of generation which figures in the rites and ceremonies of most primitive peoples: (biol.) the organ of sex.—adj. '.—ns. ', ', the phallic worship.—adj. '. [L.,—Gr. phallos.]

Phanariot, fa-nar′i-ot, n. one of the Greeks inhabiting the Fanar quarter of Constantinople—in Turkish history mostly diplomatists, administrators, and bankers, also hospodars of Wallachia and Moldavia.—adj. '.—Also '.

Phanerogamous, fan-e-rog′a-mus, adj. having true flowers containing stamens and pistils—opp. to Cryptogamous—also '.—n. ', a phanerogamic plant. [Gr. phaneros, visible, gamos, marriage.]

Phantasm, fan′tazm, n. a vain, airy appearance: a fancied vision: an apparition or spectre—also ' (Shak.):—pl. ', '.—adjs. '; ' (rare).—n. '.—adv. '.—adjs. ', '; '; ', begetting phantasms.—adv. '.—adj. ', pertaining to phantasms as subjects of inquiry.—n. ', the science of phantasms. [Gr. phantasma—phantazein, to make visible—phainein, to bring to light—pha-ein, to shine.]

Phantasmagoria, fan-taz-ma-gō′ri-a, n. a fantastic series of illusive images: a gathering of appearances or figures upon a flat surface by a magic-lantern.—adjs. ', pertaining to or resembling a phantasmagoria; ', . [Gr. phantasma, an appearance, agora, an assembly—ageirein, to gather.]

Phantastic, Phantasy. See Fantastic, Fantasy.—n. , one of those Docetæ who believed Christ's body to have been a mere phantom.

Phantom, fan′tom, n. a phantasm.—adj. illusive, spectral.—adj. , relating to a phantom. [O. Fr. fantosme—Gr. phantasma.]

Pharaoh, fā′rō, n. a title of the kings of ancient Egypt.—adj. . [Heb.,—Egyptian.]

Phare, fär, n. a lighthouse.—Also . [Pharos.]

Pharisee, far′i-sē, n. one of a religious school among the Jews, marked by their strict observance of the law and of religious ordinances: any one more careful of the outward forms than of the spirit of religion, a formalist.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or like, the Pharisees: hypocritical.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', ', the practice and opinions of the Pharisees: strict observance of outward forms in religion without the spirit of it: hypocrisy. [Late L. pharisæus—Gr. pharisaios—Heb. pārūsh, separated from, parash, to separate.]

Pharmaceutic, -al, fär-ma-sū′tik, -al, adj. pertaining to the knowledge or art of preparing medicines.—adv. '.—ns. ', the science of preparing medicines; , one who practises pharmacy.

Pharmacopœia, fär-ma-kō-pē′ya, n. a book containing directions for the preparation of medicines: a collection of drugs.—adj. . [Gr. pharmakon, a drug, poiein, to make.]

Pharmacy, fär′ma-si, n. a department of the medical art which consists in the collecting, preparing, preserving, and dispensing of medicines: the art of preparing and mixing medicines: a drug-store.—ns. ', a druggist, one skilled in pharmacy; ', the sum of knowledge about drugs; ', a description of drugs; ', one skilled in pharmacology; ', pharmacy; ', a drug; , a dealer in drugs. [Fr. pharmacie—L.,—Gr. pharmakon, a drug.]

Pharo=Faro.

Pharos, fā′ros, n. a lighthouse or beacon, so named from the famous lighthouse on the island of Pharos in the Bay of Alexandria.—n. , the art or science of directing the course of ships by means of light-signals from the shore.

Pharynx, far′ingks, n. the cleft or cavity forming the upper part of the gullet, and lying behind the nose, mouth, and larynx:—pl. ', '.—adjs. '; ', pertaining to pharyngitis.—n. ', inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx.—adjs. ', pertaining to the pharynx and the tongue; ', to that and the larynx; ', and the nose; ', and the mouth.—ns. ', a description of the pharynx; ', an instrument for inspecting the pharynx; '; , the operation of making an incision into the pharynx to remove a tumour. [Late L.,—Gr. pharyngkx, the pharynx.]

Phase, fāz, n. aspect, appearance, at any stage: an era: the form in which an object or a question presents itself to the mind: the appearance at a given time of the illuminated surface exhibited by a planet—also ':—pl. '.—adj. , unchanging. [Gr. phasis—phaein, to shine.]

Phasma, fas′mä, n. a genus of gressorial orthopterous insects—walking-stick insects, spectre-insects (Phasma), and leaf-insects.

Pheasant, fez′ant, n. a gallinaceous bird abundant in Britain, and highly valued as food.—n. , an enclosure for pheasants, where they may be bred and reared. [O. Fr. faisan—L. Phasiana (avis)—Gr. Phasianos, of Phasis, in Colchis.]

Pheer, fēr, n. (Shak.). Same as Fere, a mate.

Pheese, fēz, v.t. (Shak.) to beat, to drive off: to worry.—v.i. (U.S.) to worry.—n. worry—better Feeze.—n. , one of the mad host's words (Merry Wives, I. iii. 10).

Phelloplastics, fel-ō-plas′tiks, n. modelling in cork.—n. ', cork-meristem.—adj. '. [Gr. phellos, cork, plassein, to form.]

Phenacetin, fē-nas′e-tin, n. a drug prepared from carbolic acid, good against fevers, insomnia, &c.

Phenakistoscope, fen-a-kis′tō-skōp, n. an optical instrument which produces the appearances of objects in motion, as birds flying, &c.—n.  (Bacon), deceit. [Gr. phenakistikos—phenakizein—phenax, a cheat.]

Phenix=Phœnix.

Phenogam=Phænogam.

Phenogamia=Phænogamia.

Phenol, fē′nol. n. phenyl alcohol or carbolic acid. [Fr.]

Phenology, Phænology, fē-nol′ō-ji, n. the branch of biology treating of animal or plant life and development as affected by climate.—adjs. ', '.—n. . [Phenomenology.]

Phenomenon, fē-nom′e-non, n. an appearance: the appearance which anything makes to our consciousness, as distinguished from what it is in itself: an observed result: a remarkable or unusual person, thing, or appearance:—pl. '.—adj. ', pertaining to a phenomenon: of the nature of a phenomenon: so strange as to excite great wonder: out of the common.—v.t. ', to represent as a phenomenon.—ns. ', the philosophical doctrine that the phenomenal and the real are identical—that phenomena are the only realities—also Externalism; ', one who believes in phenomenalism; ', the character of being phenomenal.—adv. '.—v.t. ', to bring into the world of experience.—ns. ', the doctrines of the phenomenists; ', one who believes only what he observes, or phenomena, one who rejects necessary primary principles.—adj. '.—n. ', a description of phenomena. [Gr. phainomenon—phainein, to show.]

Phenyl, fē′nil, n. an organic radical found esp. in carbolic acid, benzole, and aniline.—adjs. ', '. [Fr. phényle.]

Pheon, fē′on, n. (her.) the barbed iron head of a dart: the broad arrow marking property of the Crown.

Phew, fū, interj. an exclamation of disgust.

Phial, fī′al, n. a small glass vessel or bottle. [L. phiala—Gr. phialē, a vial.]

Phi Beta Kappa, fi bet-a kap-a, the oldest of the American college Greek letter societies. [From the initial letters of its motto—Philosophia biou kubernētēs, 'Philosophy is the guide of life.']

Philadelphian, fil-a-del′fi-an, n. one of a mystic sect emphasising 'brotherly love,' founded in London in 1652 under the influence of Boehme. [Gr. philein, to love, adelphos, a brother.]

Philander, fi-lan′dėr, v.i. to make love: to flirt or coquet.—n. a lover.—n. . [Gr. philandros, loving men—philos, dear—philein, to love, anēr, andros, a man.]

Philanthropy, fi-lan′thrō-pi, n. love of mankind, esp. as shown in good deeds and services to others: goodwill towards all men.—ns. ', ', one who tries to benefit mankind.—adjs. ', ', doing good to others, benevolent.—adv. . [L.,—Gr. philanthrōpia—philos, loving, anthrōpos, a man.]

Philately, fi-lat′e-li, n. the study and collection of postage and revenue stamps and labels (also Timbrophily, Timbrology).—adj. '.—n. ', one devoted to this pursuit. [Formed in 1865 from Gr. philos, loving, atelēs, free of tax, 'prepaid'—a-, neg., telos, tax.]

Philharmonic, fil-har-mon′ik, adj. loving music. [Gr. philos, loving, harmonia, harmony.]

Philhellenic, fil-he-len′ik, adj. loving Greece.—ns. ', ', a supporter of Greece, esp. in 1821-32; , love of Greece. [Gr. philos, loving, Hellēn, a Greek.]

Philibeg, Philabeg. See Fillibeg.

Philippian, fi-lip′i-an, n. a native of Philippi in Macedonia—also adj.

Philippic, fil-ip′ik, n. one of the three orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedon, or of Cicero against Marc Antony: any discourse full of invective.—v.i. , to utter such.

Philistine, fil′is-tin, n. one of the ancient inhabitants of south-western Palestine, enemies of the Israelites—also ', and ' (Milt.): a name applied by German students to shopkeepers and others not connected with the university: an uncultured person.—n. .

Phill-horse, fil′-hors, n.=Thill-horse, a shaft-horse.

Philogyny, fil-oj′i-ni, n. love of women.—n. . [Gr. philos, loving, gynē, a woman.]

Philology, fi-lol′ō-ji, n. the science of language: the study of etymology, grammar, rhetoric, and literary criticism: (orig.) the knowledge which enabled men to study and explain the classical languages of Greece and Rome.—ns. ', ', ', ', one versed in philology.—adjs. ', '.—adv. .—Comparative philology, study of languages by comparing their history, forms, and relationships with each other. [L.,—Gr. philologia—philologos, fond of words—philos, loving, logos, discourse.]

Philomath, fil′ō-math, n. a lover of learning.—adjs. ', '.—n. , love of learning. [Gr. philomathēs, fond of learning—philos, loving, e-math-on, 2d aorist manthanein, to learn.]

Philomel, fil′ō-mel, n. the nightingale.—Also . [Gr. Philomela, daughter of Pandion, king of Athens, changed into a nightingale or swallow.]

Philomusical, fil-ō-mū′zi-cal, adj. fond of music.