Per"fume, n. Etym: [F. parfum; cf. Sp. perfume. See Perfume, v.]

1. The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-
smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.
No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field. Pope.

2. A substance that emits an agreeable odor.
And thou shalt make it a perfume. Ex. xxx. 35.

PERFUMER
Per*fum"er, n.

1. One who, oe that which, perfumes.

2. One whose trade is to make or sell perfumes.

PERFUMERY
Per*fum"er*y, n.

1. Perfumes, in general.

2. Etym: [Cf. F. parfumerie.]

Defn: The art of preparing perfumes.

PERFUNCTORILY
Per*func"to*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. Boyle.

PERFUNCTORINESS
Per*func"to*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perfunctory.

PERFUNCTORY
Per*func"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. perfunctorius, fr. perfunctus
dispatched, p.p. of perfungi to discharge, dispatch; per (see Per) +
fungi to perform. See Function.]

1. Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a
thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner;
characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions. Macaulay.

2. Hence: Mechanical; indifferent; listless; careless. "Perfunctory
in his devotions." Sharp.

PERFUNCTURATE
Per*func"tu*rate, v. t.

Defn: To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]

PERFUSE
Per*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfused; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfusing.]
Etym: [L. perfusus, p.p. of perfundere to pour over; per + fundere to
pour.]

Defn: To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. Harvey.

PERFUSION
Per*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. perfusio.]

Defn: The act of perfusing.

PERFUSIVE
Per*fu"sive, a.

Defn: Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.

PERGAMENOUS; PERGAMENTACEOUS
Per`ga*me"no*us, Per`ga*men*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. pergamena
parchment. See Parchment.]

Defn: Like parchment.

PERGOLA
Per"go*la, n. [It., fr. L. pergula shed, shop, vine arbor.]

Defn: Lit., an arbor or bower; specif.: (Italian art)

Defn: An arbor or trellis treated architecturally, as with stone
columns or similar massive structure.

PERGOLO
Per"go*lo, n. [It.]

Defn: A continuous colonnade or arcade; -- applied to the decorative
groups of windows, as in Venetian palazzi.

PERHAPS
Per*haps", adv. Etym: [Per + hap chance.]

Defn: By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be.
And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee. Acts viii. 22.

PERI-
Per"i-. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to
give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee,
point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed;
perispherical, quite spherical.

PERI
Pe"ri, n.; pl. Peris. Etym: [Per. peri a female genus, a fairy.]
(Persian Myth.)

Defn: An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy,
represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise
till penance is accomplished. Moore.

PERIAGUA
Per`i*a"gua, n.

Defn: See Pirogue.

PERIANTH
Per"i*anth, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. périanthe.] (Bot.)
(a) The leaves of a flower generally, especially when the calyx and
corolla are not readily distinguished.
(b) A saclike involucre which incloses the young fruit in most
hepatic mosses. See Illust. of Hepatica.

PERIANTHIUM
Per`i*an"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: The perianth.

PERIAPT
Per"i*apt, n. Etym: [Gr. périapte.]

Defn: A charm worn as a protection against disease or mischief; an
amulet. Coleridge.
Now help, ye charming spells and periapts. Shak.

PERIASTRAL
Per`i*as"tral, a.

Defn: Among or around the stars. "Comets in periastral passage." R.
A. Proctor.

PERIASTRON
Per`i*as"tron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: That point, in the real or apparent orbit of one star revolving
around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.

PERIAUGER
Per"i*au"ger, n.

Defn: See Pirogue. W. Irving.

PERIBLAST
Per"i*blast, a. Etym: [Gr. Peri-, and -blast.] (Biol.)

Defn: The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell
nucleus, and undergoes segmentation.
 -- Per`i*blas"tic, a.

PERIBLEM
Per"i*blem, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + root of Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Nascent cortex, or immature cellular bark.

PERIBOLOS
Pe*rib"o*los, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. peribolus.]

Defn: In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one
surrounding a temple.

PERIBRANCHIAL
Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the branchiæ; as, a peribranchial cavity.

PERIBRANCHIAL
Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around the bronchi or bronchial tubes; as, the peribronchial
lymphatics.

PERICAMBIUM
Per`i*cam"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Cambium.] (Biol.)

Defn: A layer of thin-walled young cells in a growing stem, in which
layer certain new vessels originate.

PERICARDIAC; PERICARDIAL
Per`i*car"di*ac, Per`i*car"di*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to pericardium; situated around the heart.
Pericardial fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid of a pale yellow color
contained in the pericardium.

PERICARDIAN
Per`i*car"di*an, a.

Defn: Pericardiac.

PERICARDIC
Per`i*car"dic, a.

Defn: Pericardiac.

PERICARDITUS
Per`i*car*di"tus, n. Etym: [NL. See Pericardium, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the pericardium. Dunglison.

PERICARDIUM
Per`i*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the
heart.

Note: The inner layer is closely adherent to the outer surface of the
heart, and is called the cardiac pericardium. The outer layer loosely
incloses the heart and the adherent inner layer, and is called the
parietal pericardium. At the base of the heart the two layers are
continuous, and form a narrow closed cavity filled with fluid, in
which the pulsations of the heart cause little friction.

PERICARP
Per"i*carp, n. Etym: [Gr. péricarpe.] (Bot.)

Defn: The ripened ovary; the walls of the fruit. See Illusts. of
Capsule, Drupe, and Legume.

PERICARPIAL; PERICARPIC
Per`i*car"pi*al, Per`i*car"pic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pericarp.

PERICELLULAR
Per`i*cel"lu*lar, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding a cell; as, the pericellular lymph spaces
surrounding ganglion cells.

PERICHAETH
Per"i*chæth, n. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Bot.)

Defn: The leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk of mosses;
perichætium; perichete.

PERICHAETIAL
Per`i*chæ"ti*al, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichæth.

PERICHAETIUM
Per`i*chæ"ti*um, n.; pl. Perichætia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Perichæth.

PERICHAETOUS
Per`i*chæ"tous, a. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounded by setæ; -- said of certain earthworms (genus
Perichætus).

PERICHETE
Per"i*chete, n.

Defn: Same as Perichæth.

PERICHONDRIAL
Per`i*chon"dri*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichondrium; situated around
cartilage.

PERICHONDRITIS
Per`i*chon*dri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Perichondrium, and -itis.]
(Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the perichondrium.

PERICHONDRIUM
Per`i*chon"dri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests
cartilage, except where covering articular surfaces.

PERICHORDAL
Per`i*chor"dal, a.

Defn: Around the notochord; as, a perichordal column. See Epichordal.

PERICLASE; PERICLASITE
Per"i*clase, Per`i*cla"site, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A grayish or dark green mineral, consisting essentially of
magnesia (magnesium oxide), occurring in granular forms or in
isometric crystals.

PERICLINIUM
Per`i*clin"i*um, n.; pl. Periclinia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The involucre which surrounds the common receptacle in
composite flowers.

PERICLITATE
Pe*ric"li*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. periclitatus, p.p. of periclitari,
fr. periculum.]

Defn: To endanger. [Obs.]
Periclitating, pardi! the whole family. Sterne.

PERICLITATION
Pe*ric`li*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. periclitatio: cf. F. périclitation.]

1. Trial; experiment. [Obs.]

2. The state of being in peril. [Obs.]

PERICOPE
Pe*ric"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., section of a book, Gr.

Defn: A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a
selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or
used as a text for a sermon.

PERICRANIAL
Per`i*cra"ni*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pericranium.

PERICRANIUM
Per`i*cra"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)

Defn: The periosteum which covers the cranium externally; the region
around the cranium.

PERICULOUS
Pe*ric"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. periculosus. See Perilous.]

Defn: Dangerous; full of peril. [Obs.]

PERICULUM
Pe*ric"u*lum, n.; pl. Pericula. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & O.Eng. Law)

1. Danger; risk.

2. In a narrower, judicial sense: Accident or casus, as distinguished
from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving one from the duty of
performing an obligation.

PERICYSTITIS
Per`i*cys*ti"tis, n. [NL. See Peri-, and Cystitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the bladder.

PERIDERM
Per"i*derm, n.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The outer layer of bark.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine animals;
the perisarc.

PERIDIASTOLE
Per`i*di*as"to*le, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The almost inappreciable time which elapses between the systole
and the diastole of the heart.

PERIDIUM
Pe*rid"i*um, n.; pl. Peridia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as the puffballs
and earthstars.

PERIDOT
Per"i*dot, n. Etym: [F. péridot.] (Min.)

Defn: Chrysolite.

PERIDOTITE
Per"i*do*tite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. péridotite.] (Min.)

Defn: An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite
(peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite,
etc. It is often altered to serpentine.

Note: The chief diamond deposits in South Africa occur in a more or
less altered peridotite.

PERIDROME
Per"i*drome, n. Etym: [Gr. péridrome.] (Archæol.)

Defn: The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a
Greek or a Roman temple.

PERIECIANS
Per`i*e"cians, n. pl.

Defn: See Perioecians.

PERIENTERON
Per`i*en"te*ron, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Enteron.] (Anat.)

Defn: The primitive perivisceral cavity.

PERIERGY
Per"i*er`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. Excessive care or diligence. [Obs.]

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: A bombastic or labored style. [R.]

PERIGANGLIONIC
Per`i*gan`gli*on"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding a ganglion; as, the periganglionic glands of the
frog.

PERIGASTRIC
Per`i*gas"tric, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounding the stomach; -- applied to the body cavity of
Bryozoa and various other Invertebrata.

PERIGEAN
Per`i*ge"an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the perigee. Perigean tides, those spring tides
which occur soon after the moon passes her perigee.

PERIGEE; PERIGEUM
Per"i*gee, Per`i*ge"um, n. Etym: [NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. périgée.]
(Astron.)

Defn: That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the
earth; -- opposed to Ant: apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used
of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc.
Called also epigee, epigeum.

PERIGENESIS
Per`i*gen"e*sis, n. (Biol.)

Defn: A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the
type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.

PERIGENETIC
Per`i*gen"e*tic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to perigenesis.

PERIGONE
Per"i*gone, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr.

1. (Bot.)
(a) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth.
(b) In mosses, the involucral bracts of a male flower.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of
a hydroid.

PERIGONIUM
Per`i*go"ni*um, n.; pl. Perigonia. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Perigone.

PERIGORD PIE
Per"i*gord pie`. Etym: [From Périgord, a former province of France.]

Defn: A pie made of truffles, much esteemed by epicures.

PERIGRAPH
Per"i*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A careless or inaccurate delineation of anything. Etym: [R.]

PERIGYNIUM
Per`i*gyn"i*um, n.; pl. Perigynia. Etym: [NL. See Perigynous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Some unusual appendage about the pistil, as the bottle-shaped
body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera
of the Sedge family, or Cyperaceæ.

PERIGYNOUS
Pe*rig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the ovary free, but the petals and stamens borne on the
calyx; -- said of flower such as that of the cherry or peach.

PERIHELION; PERIHELIUM
Per`i*hel"ion, Per`i*he"li*um, n.; pl. Perihelia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
(Astron.)

Defn: That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest
to the sun; -- opposed to Ant: aphelion.

PERIL
Per"il, n. Etym: [F. péril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to
peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare. See Fare, and cf.
Experience.]

Defn: Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property
to injury, loss, or destruction.
In perils of waters, in perils of robbers. 2 Cor. xi. 26.
Adventure hard With peril great achieved. Milton.
At, or On, one's peril, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of.
"On thy soul's peril." Shak.

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.