PEACE, noun [Latin pax, paco, to appease.]

1. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

2. Freedom from war with a foreign nation; public quiet.

3. Freedom from internal commotion or civil war.

4. Freedom from private quarrels, suits or disturbance.

5. Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquillity; calmness; quiet of conscience.

Great peace have they that love the law. Psalms 119:165.

6. Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven.

7. Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance.

8. Public tranquillity; that quiet, order and security which is guaranteed by the laws; as, to keep the peace; to break the peace

This word is used in commanding silence or quiet; as, peace to this troubled soul.

PEACE, the lovers are asleep.

To be at peace to be reconciled; to live in harmony.

To make peace to reconcile, as parties at variance.

To hold the peace to be silent; to suppress one's thoughts; not to speak.

PE'ACEABLE, adjective Free from war, tumult or public commotion. We live in peaceable times. The reformation was introduced in a peaceable manner.

1. Free from private feuds or quarrels. The neighbors are peaceable These men are peaceable

2. Quiet; undisturbed; not agitated with passion. His mind is very peaceable

3. Not violent, bloody or unnatural; as, to die a peaceable death.

PE'ACEABLENESS, noun The state of being peaceable; quietness.

1. Disposition to peace.

PE'ACEABLY, adverb Without war; without tumult or commotion; without private feuds and quarrels.

1. Without disturbance; quietly; without agitation; without interruption.

PE'ACEBREAKER, noun One that violates or disturbs public peace.

PE'ACEFUL, adjective Quiet; undisturbed; not in a state of war or commotion; as a peaceful time; a peaceful country.

1. Pacific; mild; calm; as peaceful words; a peaceful temper.

2. Removed from noise or tumult; still; undisturbed; as the peaceful cottage; the peaceful scenes of rural life.

PE'ACEFULLY, adverb Without war or commotion.

1. Quietly; without disturbance.

Our loved earth, where peacefully we slept.

2. Mildly; gently.

PE'ACEFULNESS, noun Quiet; freedom from war, tumult, disturbance or discord.

1. Freedom from mental perturbation; as peacefulness of mind.

PE'ACELESS, adjective Without peace; disturbed.

PE'ACEMAKER, noun One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.

PEACH, noun A tree and its fruit, of the genus Amygdalus, of many varieties. This is a delicious fruit, the produce of warm or temperate climates. In America, the peach thrives and comes to perfection in the neighborhood of Boston, northward of which it usually fails.

PEACH, for impeach, not used.

PE'ACHER, noun An accuser. [Not used.]

PE'ACHICK, noun The chicken or young of the peacock.

PE'ACOCK, noun [Latin pavo.] A large and beautiful fowl of the genus Pavo, properly the male of the species, but in usage the name is applied to the species in general. The feathers of this fowl's tail are very long, and variegated with rich and elegant colors. The peacock is a native of India.

PE'AHEN, noun The hen or female of the peacock.

PEAK, noun [Eng. pike, beak.]

1. The top of a hill or mountain, ending in a point; as the peak of Teneriffe.

2. A point; the end of any thing that terminates in a point.

3. The upper corner of a sail which is extended by a gaff or yard; also, the extremity of the yard or gaff.

PEAK, verb intransitive To look sickly or thin. [Not used.]

1. To make a mean figure; to sneak. [Not used.]

PEAK, verb transitive To raise a gaff or yard more obliquely to the mast.

PE'AKING, adjective Mean; sneaking; poor. [Vulgar.]

PE'AKISH, adjective Denoting or belonging to an acuminated situation.

PEAL, noun [from Latin pello, whence appello, to appeal. The sense is to drive; a peal is a driving of sound. This word seems to belong to the family of Latin balo, and Eng. to bawl, jubilee, bell, etc.]

A loud sound, usually a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts of a multitude, etc.

PEAL, verb intransitive To utter loud and solemn sounds; as the pealing organ.

PEAL, verb transitive To assail with noise.

Nor was his ear less pealed.

1. To cause to ring or sound; to celebrate.

The warrior's name

Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame.

2. To stir or agitate. [Not used.]

PE'ALED, participle passive Assailed with sound; resounded; celebrated.

PE'ALING, participle present tense Uttering a loud sound or successive sounds; resounding.

PE'AN, noun [L poean.] A song of praise or triumph.

PE'AN , noun Among the ancients, a song of rejoicing in honor of Apollo; hence, a song of triumph.

1. In ancient poetry, a foot of four syllables; written also paeon. Of this there are four kinds; the first consisting of one long and three short syllables, or a trochee and a pyrrhic, as temporibus; the second of a short syllable, a long and two short, or an iambus and a pyrrhic, as potentia; the third of two short syllables, a long and a short one, or a phrrhic and a trochee, as animatus; the fourth of three short syllables and along one, or a pyrrhic and iambus, as celeritus.

PE'ANISM, noun The song or shouts of praise or of battle; shouts of triumph.

PEAR, noun [Latin pyrum.] The fruit of the Pyrus communis, of many varieties, some of which are delicious to the taste.

PEARCH. [See Perch.]

PEARL, noun perl.

1. A white, hard, smooth, shining body, usually roundish, found in a testaceous fish of the oyster kind. The pearl-shell is called matrix perlarum, mother of pearl and the pearl is found only in the softer part of the animal. It is found in the Persian seas and in many parts of the ocean which washes the shores of Arabia and the continent and isles of Asia, and is taken by divers. Pearls are of different sizes and colors; the larger ones approach to the figure of a pear; some have been found more than an inch in length. They are valued according to their size, their roundness, and their luster or purity, which appears in a silvery brightness.

2. Poetically, something round and clear, as a drop of water or dew.

3. A white speck of film growing on the eye.

PEARL, verb intransitive perl. To set or adorn with pearls.

PEARL, verb intransitive perl. To resemble pearls.

PEARLED, adjective perl'ed. Set or adorned with pearls.

PEARLY, adjective perl'y. Containing pearl; abounding with pearls; as pearly shells; a pearly shore.

1. Resembling pearls; clear; pure; transparent; as the pearly flood; pearly dew.

PEARMAIN, noun A variety of the apple.

PEASANT, n. pez'ant. A countryman; one whose business is rural labor.

PEASANT, a. pez'ant. Rustic; rural.

PEASANTRY, noun pez'antry. Peasants; rustics; the body of country people.

1. Rusticity. [Not used.]

PEASE, noun Peas collectively, or used as food. [See Pea.]

PE'ASTONE, noun A subspecies of limestone.

PEAT, noun A substance resembling turf, used as fuel. It is found in low grounds or moorish lands, and is of several species; one is of a brown or yellowish brown color, and when first cut has a viscid consistence, but hardens when exposed to the air; another consists chiefly of vegetable substances, as branches of trees, roots, grass, etc.

PEAT. [See Pet.]

PEB'BLE

PEB'BLE-CRYSTAL, noun A crystal in form of nodules, found in earthy stratums and irregular in shape.

PEB'BLED, adjective Abounding with pebbles.

PEB'BLESTONE, noun In popular usage, a roundish stone of any kind from the size of a nut to that of a man's head. In a philosophical sense, minerals distinguished from flints by their variety of colors, consisting of crystalline matter debased by earths of various kinds, with veins, clouds and other variegations, formed by incrustation round a central nucleus, but sometimes the effect of a simple concretion. Pebbles are much used in the pavement of streets.

A general term for water-worn minerals.

PEB'BLY, adjective Full of pebbles; abounding with small roundish stones.

PEC'ARY

PECCABIL'ITY, noun [from peccable.] State of being subject to sin; capacity of sinning.

PEC'CABLE, adjective [from Latin pecco.]

Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law.

PECCADIL'LO, noun [Latin peccatum.]

1. A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime or fault.

2. A sort of stiff ruff.

PEC'CANCY, noun [from peccant.] Bad quality; as the peccancy of the humors.

1. Offense.

PEC'CANT, adjective [Latin peccans. See Peccable.]

1. Sinning; guilty of sin or transgression; criminal; as peccant angels.

2. Morbid; bad; corrupt; not healthy; as peccant humors.

3. Wrong; bad; defective; informal; as a peccant citation. [Not used.]

PEC'CANT, noun An offender. [Not used.]

PECCA'VI. [Latin I have offended.] A colloquial word used to express confession or acknowledgment of an offense.

PECH'BLEND, noun Pitchblend, an ore of uranium; a metallic substance found in masses, or stratified with earths or with other minerals, in Swedish and Saxon mines. It is of a blackish color, inclining to a deep steel gray, and one kind has a mixture of spots of red.

PECK, noun

1. The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as a peck of wheat or oats.

2. In low language, a great deal; as, to be in a peck of troubles.

PECK, verb transitive

1. To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into, as a bird that pecks a hole in a tree.

2. To strike with a pointed instrument, or to delve or dig with any thing pointed, as with a pick-ax.

3. To pick up food with the beak.

4. To strike with small and repeated blows; to strike in manner to make small impressions. In this sense, the verb is generally intransitive. We say, to peck at.]

[This verb and pick are radically the same.]

PECK'ED, participle passive Struck or penetrated with a beak or pointed instrument.

PECK'ER, noun One that pecks; a bird that pecks holes in trees; a woodpecker.

PECK'ING, participle present tense Striking with the bill; thrusting the beak into; thrusting into with a pointed instrument; taking up food with the beak.

PECKLED, for speckled, not used.

PEC'TINAL, adjective [Latin pecten, a comb; pecto, to comb.]

Pertaining to a comb; resembling a comb.

PEC'TINAL, noun A fish whose bones resemble the teeth of a comb.

PEC'TINATE

PEC'TINATED, adjective [from Latin pecten, a comb.] Having resemblance to the teeth of a comb. In botany, a pectinate leaf is a sort of pinnate leaf, in which the leaflets are toothed like a comb.

A mineral is pectinated, when it presents short filaments, crystals or branches, nearly parallel and equidistant.

PEC'TINATED, a. [from L. pecten, a comb.] Having resemblance to the teeth of a comb. In botany, a pectinate leaf is a sort of pinnate leaf, in which the leaflets are toothed like a comb.

PECTINA'TION, noun The state of being pectinated.

1. A combing; the combing of the head.

PEC'TINITE, noun [Latin pecten, a comb.]

A fossil pecten or scallop, or scallop petrified.

PEC'TORAL, adjective [Latin pectoralis, from pectus, breast.]

Pertaining to the breast; as the pectoral muscles; pectoral medicines.

The pectoral fins of a fish are situated on the sides of the fish, behind the gills.

PEC'TORAL, noun A breastplate.

1. A sacerdotal habit or vestment worn by the Jewish high priest, called in our version of the Bible, a breastplate.

2. A medicine adapted to cure or relieve complaints of the breast and lungs.

PEC'ULATE, verb intransitive [Latin peculatus, peculor, from peculium, private property, from pecus, cattle.]

1. To defraud the public of money or goods entrusted to one's care, by appropriating the property to one's own use; to defraud by embezzlement.

2. Among civilians, to steal.

PECULA'TION, noun The act, practice or crime of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods entrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement of public money or goods.

PEC'ULATOR, noun [Latin] One that defrauds the public by appropriating to his own use money entrusted to his care.

PECU'LIAR, adjective [Latin peculiaris, from peculium, one's own property, from pecus, cattle.]

1. Appropriate; belonging to a person and to him only. Almost every writer has a peculiar style. Most men have manners peculiar to themselves.

2. Singular; particular. The man has something peculiar in his deportment.

3. Particular; special.

My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.

[Most cannot, in strict propriety, be prefixed to peculiar but it is used to give emphasis to the word.]

4. Belonging to a nation, system or other thing, and not to others.

PECU'LIAR, noun Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.

1. In the canon law, a particular parish or church which has the probate of wills within itself, exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop's court.

Court of peculiars, in England, is a branch of the court of arches. It has jurisdiction over all the parishes dispersed through the province of Canterbury, in the midst of other dioceses, which are exempt from the ordinary jurisdiction, and subject to the metropolitan only.

PECULIAR'ITY, noun Something peculiar to a person or thing; that which belongs to or is found in one person or thing and in no other; as a peculiarity of style or manner of thinking; peculiarity in dress.

PECU'LIARIZE, verb transitive To appropriate; to make peculiar.

PECU'LIARLY, adverb Particularly; singly.

1. In a manner not common to others.

PECU'LIARNESS, noun The state of being peculiar; appropriation. [Little used.]

PECU'NIARY, adjective [Latin pecuniarius, from pecunia, money, from pecus, cattle.]

1. Relating to money; as pecuniary affairs or losses.

2. Consisting of money; as a pecuniary mulct or penalty.

PECU'NIOUS, adjective Full of money. [Not used.]

PED, noun [for pad.] A small pack-saddle.

1. A basket; a hamper.

PEDAGOG'IC

PEDAGOG'ICAL, adjective [from pedagogue.]

Suiting or belonging to a teacher of children or to a pedagogue.

PEDAGOG'ICAL, a. [from pedagogue.]

Suiting or belonging to a teacher of children or to a pedagogue.

PED'AGOGISM, noun The business, character or manners of a pedagogue.

PEDAGOGUE, noun ped'agog.[Gr. a child, and to lead.]

1. A teacher of children; one whose occupation is to instruct young children; a schoolmaster.

2. A pedant.

PED'AGOGUE, verb transitive To teach with the air of a pedagogue; to instruct superciliously.

PED'AGOGY, noun Instruction in the first rudiments; preparatory discipline.

PE'DAL, adjective [Latin pedalis, from pes, pedis, foot.]

Pertaining to a foot.

PED'AL, noun One of the large pipes of an organ, so called because played and stopped with the foot.

1. A fixed or stationary base.

PEDA'NEOUS, adjective [Latin pedaneus, from pes, the foot.]

Going on foot; walking.

PED'ANT, noun

1. A schoolmaster.

2. A person who makes a vain display of his learning.

PEDANT'IC

PEDANT'ICAL, adjective Ostentatious of learning; vainly displaying or making a show of knowledge; applied to persons or things; as a pedantic writer or scholar; a pedantic description or expression.

PEDANT'ICAL, a. Ostentatious of learning; vainly displaying or making a show of knowledge; applied to persons or things; as a pedantic writer or scholar; a pedantic description or expression.

PEDANT'ICALLY, adverb With a vain or boastful display of learning.

PED'ANTIZE, verb intransitive To play the pedant; to domineer over lads; to use pedantic expressions.

PED'ANTRY, noun Vain ostentation of learning; a boastful display of knowledge of any kind.

Horace has enticed me into this pedantry of quotation.

Pedantry is the unseasonable ostentation of learning.

PEDA'RIAN, noun A Roman senator who gave his vote by the feet, that is, by walking over to the side he espoused, in divisions of the senate.

PED'ATE, adjective [Latin pedatus, from pes, the foot.] In botany, divided like the toes. A pedate leaf is one in which a bifid petiole connects several leaflets on the inside only.

PED'ATIFID, adjective [Latin pes, foot, and findo, to divide.]

A pedatifid leaf, in botany, is one whose parts are not entirely separate, but connected like the toes of a water-fowl.

PED'DLE, verb intransitive To be busy about trifles.

1. To travel about the country and retail goods. He peddles for a living.

PED'DLE, verb transitive To sell or retail, usually by traveling about the country.

PED'DLING, participle present tense Traveling about and selling small wares.

1. adjective Trifling; unimportant.

PED'ERAST, noun [Gr. a boy, and love.] A sodomite.

PEDERAS'TIC, adjective Pertaining to pederasty.

PED'ERASTY, noun Sodomy; the crime against nature.

PEDERE'RO, noun [Latin petra; Gr. so named from the use of stones in the charge, before the invention or iron balls.]

A swivel gun; sometimes written paterero.

PED'ESTAL, noun [Latin pes, the foot.] In architecture, the lowest part of a column or pillar; the part which sustains a column or serves as its foot. It consists of three parts, the base, the die and the cornice.

PEDES'TRIAL, adjective [Latin pedestris.] Pertaining to the foot.

PEDES'TRIAN, adjective [Latin pedestris, form pes, the foot.]

Going on foot; walking; made on foot; as a pedestrian journey.

PEDES'TRIAN, noun One that walks or journeys on foot.

1. One that walks for a wager; a remarkable walker.

PEDES'TRIOUS, adjective Going on foot; not winged.

PED'ICEL

PED'ICELLATE, adjective Having a pedicel or supported by a pedicel

PED'ICELLATE, a. Having a pedicel, or supported by a pedicel.

PED'ICLE, noun [Latin pediculus, form pes, the foot.] In botany, the ultimate division of a common peduncle; the stalk that supports one flower only when there are several on a peduncle.

PEDIC'ULAR

PEDIC'ULOUS, adjective [Latin pedicularis, form pediculus, a louse.]

Lousy; having the lousy distemper.

PED'IGREE, noun [probably from Latin pes, pedis, foot.]

1. Lineage; line of ancestors from which a person or tribe descends; genealogy.

Alterations of surnames--have obscured the truth of our pedigrees.

2. An account or register of a line of ancestors.

The Jews preserved the pedigrees of their several tribes.

PED'ILUVY, noun [Latin pes, foot, and lavo, to wash.]

The bathing of the feet; a bath for the feet.

PED'IMENT, noun [from Latin pes, the foot.] In architecture, an ornament that crowns the ordinances, finishes the fronts of buildings and serves as a decoration over gates, windows and niches. It is of two forms, triangular and circular. A pediment is properly the representation of the roof.

PED'LER, noun [Latin pes, pedis, the foot.] A traveling foot-trader; one that carries about small commodities on his back, or in a cart or wagon, and sells them.

PED'LERESS, noun A female pedler.

PED'LERY, noun Small wares sold or carried about for sale by pedlers.

PEDOBAP'TISM, noun [Gr. a child, and baptism.]

The baptism of infants or of children.

PEDOBAP'TIST, noun One that holds to infant baptism; one that practices the baptism of children. Most denominations of christians are pedobaptists.

PEDOM'ETER, noun [Latin pes, the foot, and Gr.measure.] An instrument by which paces are numbered as a person walks, and the distance from place to place ascertained. It also marks the revolutions of wheels. This is done by means of wheels with teeth and a chain or string fastened to the foot or to the wheel of a carriage; the wheels advancing a notch at every step or at every revolution of the carriage wheel.

PEDOMET'RICAL, adjective Pertaining to or measured by a pedometer.

PEDUN'CLE, noun [Latin pes, the foot.] In botany, the stem or stalk that supports the fructification of a plant, and of course the fruit.

PEDUN'CULAR, adjective Pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as a peduncular tendril.

PEDUN'CULATE, adjective Growing on a peduncle; as a pedunculate flower.

PEE, verb intransitive To look with one eye. [Not used.]

PEED, adjective Blind of one eye. [Not used.]

PEEK, in our popular dialect, is the same as peep, to look through a crevice.

PEEL, verb transitive [Latin pilo, to pull off hair and to pillage; pilus, the hair.]

1. To strip off skin, bark or rind without a cutting instrument; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin; to bark; to flay; to decorticate. When a knife is used, we call it paring. Thus we say, to peel a tree, to peel an orange; but we say, to pare an apple to pare land.

2. In a general sense, to remove the skin, bark or rind, even with an instrument.

3. To strip; to plunder; to pillage; as, to peel a province or conquered people.

PEEL, noun [Latin pellis.] The skin or rind of any thing; as the peel of an orange.

PEEL, noun [Latin pala; pello; Eng. shovel, from shove; or from spreading.] A kind of wooden shovel used by bakers, with a broad palm and long handle; hence, in popular use in America, any large fire-shovel.

PEE'LED, participle passive Stripped of skin, bark or rind; plundered; pillaged.

PEE'LER, noun One that peels, strips or flays.

1. A plunderer; pillaged.

PEE'LING, participle present tense Stripping off skin or bark; plundering.

PEEP, verb intransitive [Latin pipio; Heb. to cry out.]

1. To begin to appear; to make the first appearance; to issue or come forth from concealment, as through a narrow avenue.

I can see his pride

PEEP through each part of him.

When flowers first peeped--

2. To look through a crevice; to look narrowly, closely or slyly.

A fool will peep in at the door.

Thou are a maid and must not peep

3. To cry, as chickens; to utter a fine shrill sound, as through a crevice; usually written pip, but without reason, as it is the same word as is here defined, and in America is usually pronounced peep

PEEP, noun First appearance; as the peep of day.

1. A sly look, or a look through a crevice.

2. The cry of a chicken.

PEE'PER, n. A chicken just breaking the shell.

PEER, noun [Latin par.]

1. An equal; one of the same rank. A man may be familiar with his peers.

2. An equal in excellence or endowments.

In song he never had his peer

3. A companion; a fellow; an associate.

He all his peers in beauty did surpass.

4. A nobleman; as a peer of the realm; the house of peers, so called because noblemen and barons were originally considered as the companions of the king, like Latin comes, count. In England, persons belonging to the five degrees of nobility are all peers.

PEER, verb intransitive [Latin pareo.]

1. To come just in sight; to appear; a poetic word.

So honor peereth in the meanest habit.

See how his gorget peers above his gown.

2. To look narrowly; to peep; as the peering day.

PEERing in maps for ports and piers and roads.

PEE'RAGE, noun [See Peer, an equal.]

The rank or dignity of a peer or nobleman.

1. The body of peers.

PEE'RDOM, noun Peerage. [Not used.]

PEE'RESS, noun The consort of a peer; a noble lady.

PEE'RLESS, adjective Unequaled; having no peer or equal; as peerless beauty or majesty.

PEE'RLESSLY, adverb Without an equal.

PEE'RLESSNESS, noun The state of having no equal.

PEE'VISH, adjective

1. Fretful; petulant; apt to mutter and complain; easily vexed or fretted; querulous; hard to please.

She is peevish sullen, froward.

2. Expressing discontent and fretfulness.

I will not presume

To send such peevish tokens to a king.

3. Silly; childish.

PEE'VISHLY, adverb Fretfully; petulantly; with discontent and murmuring.

PEE'VISHNESS, noun Fretfulness; petulance; disposition to murmur; sourness of temper; as childish peevishness

When peevishness and spleen succeed.

PEG, noun [This is probably from the root of Latin pango, pactus; Gr. denoting that which fastens, or allied to beak and picket.]

1. A small pointed piece of wood used in fastening boards or other work of wood, etc. It does the office of a nail. The word is applied only to small pieces of wood pointed; to the larger pieces thus pointed we give the name of pins, and pins in ship carpentry are called tree-nails or trenails. Coxe, in his travels in Russia, speaks of poles or beams fastened into the ground with pegs.

2. The pins of an instrument on which the strings are strained.

3. A nickname for Margaret.

To take a peg lower, to depress; to lower.

PEG, verb transitive To fasten with pegs.

PEG'GER, noun One that fastens with pegs.

PEGM, noun pem. [Gr.] A sort of moving machine in the old pageants.

PEG'MATITE, noun Primitive granitic rock, composed essentially of lamellar feldspar and quartz; frequently with a mixture of mica. In it are found kaolin, tin tourmaline, beryl, aqua marina, tantale, scheelin and other valuable minerals.

PEIRAS'TIC, adjective [Gr. to strain, to attempt.] Attempting; making trial.

1. Treating of or representing trials or attempts; as the peirastic dialogues of Plato.

PEISE. [See Poise.]

PEK'AN, noun A species of weasel.

PEL'AGE, noun [Latin pilus, hair.] The vesture or covering of wild beasts, consisting of hair, fur or wool.

PELA'GIAN

PELA'GIANISM, noun The doctrines of Pelagius.

PELA'GIANISM, n. The doctrines of Pelagius.

PEL'AGIC, adjective [Latin pelagus, the sea.] Pertaining to the sea; as pelagian shells.

PELA'GIAN, noun [from Pelagius, a native of Great Britain, who lived in the fourth century.] A follower of Pelagius, a monk of Banchor or Bangor, who denied original sin, and asserted the doctrine of free will and the merit of good works.

PELA'GIAN, adjective Pertaining to Pelagius and his doctrines.

PELF, noun [probably allied to pilfer.] Money; riches; but it often conveys the idea of something ill gotten or worthless. It has no plural.

PEL'ICAN, noun [Low Latin pelicanus.]

1. A fowl of the genus Pelicanus. It is larger than the swan, and remarkable for its enormous bill, to the lower edges of the under chop of which is attached a pouch or bag, capable of being distended so as to hold many quarts of water. In this bag the fowl deposits the fish is takes for food.

2. A chimical glass vessel or alembic with a tubulated capital, from which two opposite and crooked beaks pass out and enter again at the belly of the cucurbit. It is designed for continued distillation and cohobation; the volatile parts of the substance distilling, rising into the capital and returning through the beaks into the cucurbit.

PE'LIOM, noun [Gr. black color.] A mineral, a variety of iolite.

PELISSE, noun pelee's. [Latin pellis, skin.] Originally, a furred robe or coat. But the name is now given to a silk coat or habit worn by ladies.

PELL, noun [Latin pellis.] A skin or hide.

Clerk of the pells, in England, an officer of the exchequer, who enters every teller's bill on the parchment rolls, the roll or receipts and the roll of disbursements.

PEL'LET, noun [Latin pila, a ball.]

A little ball; as a pellet of wax or lint.

1. A bullet; a ball for fire-arms. [Not now used.]

PEL'LETED, adjective Consisting of bullets.

PEL'LICLE, noun [Latin pellicula, dim. of pellis, skin.]

A thin skin or film.

1. Among chimists, a thin saline crust formed on the surface of a solution of salt evaporated to a certain degree. This pellicle consists of saline particles crystallized.

PEL'LITORY, noun [Latin parietaria, the wall plant, from paries.]

The name of several plants of different genera. The pellitory of the wall or common pellitory is of the genus Parietaria; the bastard pellitory of the genus Achillea; and the pellitory of Spain is the Anthemis pyrethrum.

PELL'-MELL, adverb With confused violence.

PELLU'CID, adjective [Latin pellucidus; per and lucidus; very bright. See Light.] Perfectly clear; transparent; not opake; as a body as pellucid as crystal.

PELLUCID'ITY

PELLU'CIDNESS, noun Perfect clearness; transparency; as the pellucidity of the air; the pellucidness of a gem.

PELT, noun [Latin pellis.]

1. The skin of a beast with the hair on it; a raw hide.

2. The quarry of a hawk all torn.

3. A blow or stroke from something thrown. [infra.]

PELT, verb transitive [Latin pello.]

1. Properly, to strike with something thrown, driven or falling; as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail.

The chiding billows seem to pelt the clouds.

2. To drive by throwing something.

PELT'ATE

PELT'ATED, adjective [Latin pelta, a target.] In botany, having the shape of a target or round shield, as a peltate stigma; having the petiole inserted in the disk, as a peltate leaf.

PELT'ATELY, adverb In the form of a target.

PELT'ED, participle passive Struck with something thrown or driven.

PELT'ER, noun One that pelts; also, a pinch-penny; a mean, sordid person.

PELT'ING, participle present tense Striking with something thrown or driven.

PELT'ING, noun An assault with any thing thrown.

PELT'ING, adjective In Shakespeare, mean; paltry. [Improper.]

PELT'-MONGER, noun A dealer in pelts or raw hides.

PEL'TRY, noun [from pelt, a skin.] The skins of animals producing fur; skins in general, with the fur on them; furs in general.

PELVIM'ETER, noun [Latin pelvis, and Gr. measure.] An instrument to measure the dimensions of the female pelvis.

PEL'VIS, noun [Latin pelvis a bason.] The cavity of the body formed by the os sacrum, os coccyx, and ossa innominata, forming the lower part of the abdomen.

PEN, noun [Latin penna; pinna, a fin, that is, a shoot or point.]

1. An instrument used for writing, usually made of the quill of some large fowl, but it may be of any other material.

2. A feather, a wing. [Not used.]

PEN, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive penned. To write; to compose and commit to paper.

PEN, noun A small inclosure for beasts, as for cows or sheep.

PEN, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive penned or pent. To shut in a pen; to confine in a small inclosure; to coop; to confine in a narrow place, usually followed by up, which is redundant.

PE'NAL, adjective [Latin poena; Gr. pain, punishment. See Pain.]

1. Enacting punishment; denouncing the punishment of offenses; as a penal law or statute; the penal code. penal statutes must be construed strictly.

2. Inflicting punishment.

Adamantine chains and penal fire.

3. Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as a penal act of offense.

PENAL'ITY, noun Liableness or condemnation to punishment. [Not used.]

PEN'ALTY, noun

1. The suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense or trespass, as a punishment. A fine is a pecuniary penalty The usual penalties inflicted on the person, are whipping, cropping, branding, imprisonment, hard labor, transportation or death.

2. The suffering to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of non-fulfillment of his stipulations; the forfeiture or sum to be forfeited for non-payment, or for non-compliance with an agreement; as the penalty of a bond.

PEN'ANCE, noun

1. The suffering, labor or pain to which a person voluntarily subjects himself, or which is imposed on him by authority as a punishment for his faults, or as an expression of penitence; such as fasting, flagellation, wearing chains, etc. penance is one of the seven sacraments of the Romish church.

2. Repentance.

PENCE, noun pens. The plural of penny, when used of a sum of money or value. When pieces of coin are mentioned, we use pennies.

PEN'CIL, noun [Latin penicillus.]

1. A small brush used by painters for laying on colors. The proper pencils are made of fine hair or bristles, as of camels, badgers or squirrels, or of the down of swans, inclosed in a quill. The larger pencils, made of swine's bristles, are called brushes.

2. A pen formed of carburet of iron or plumbago, black lead or red chalk, with a point at one end, used for writing and drawing.

3. Any instrument of writing without ink.

4. An aggregate or collection of rays of light.

PEN'CIL, verb transitive To paint or draw; to write or mark with a pencil

PEN'CILED, participle passive Painted, drawn or marked with a pencil.

1. Radiated; having pencils of rays.

PEN'CILING, participle present tense Painting, drawing or marking with a pencil.

PEND'ANT, noun [Latin pendeo, to hang.]

1. An ornament or jewel hanging at the ear, usually composed of pearl or some precious stone.

2. Any thing hanging by way of ornament.

3. In heraldry, a part hanging from the label, resembling the drops in the Doric frieze.

4. A streamer; a small flag or long narrow banner displayed from a ship's mast head, usually terminating in two points called the swallow's tail. It denotes that a ship is in actual service. The broad pendant is used to distinguish the chief of a squadron.

5. A short piece of rope fixed on each side under the shrouds, on the heads of the main and fore-mast, having an iron thimble to receive the hooks of the tackle.

There are many other pendants consisting of a rope or ropes, to whose lower extremity is attached a block or tackle. The rudder-pendant is a rope made fast to the rudder by a chain, to prevent the loss of the rudder when unshipped.

6. A pendulum. [Not used.]

PEND'ENCE, noun [Latin pendens, pendeo, to hang.] Slope; inclination.

PEND'ENCY, noun [Latin pendens, pendeo, supra.] Suspense; the state of being undecided; as, to wait during the pendency of a suit or petition.

PEND'ENT, adjective [Latin pendens.] Hanging; fastened at one end, the other being loose.

With ribbons pendent flaring about her head.

1. Jutting over; projecting; as a pendant rock.

2. Supported above the ground.

PEND'ING, adjective [Latin pendeo, to hang; pendente lite.] Depending; remaining undecided; not terminated. This was done, pending the suit.

PENDULOS'ITY

PEND'ULOUS, adjective [Latin pendulus, from pendeo, to hang.]

Hanging; swinging; fastened to one end, the other being movable. The dewlap of an animal is pendulous.

PEND'ULOUS, a. [L. pendulus, from pendeo, to hang.]

Hanging; swinging; fastened to one end, the other being movable. The dewlap of an animal is pendulous.

PEND'ULOUSNESS, noun [See Pendulous.] The state of hanging; suspension. [The latter is the preferable word.]

PEND'ULUM, noun [Latin pendulus, pendulum ] A vibrating body suspended from a fixed point; as the pendulum of a clock. The oscillations of a pendulum depend on gravity, and are always performed in nearly equal times, supposing the length of the pendulum and the gravity to remain the same.

PENETRABIL'ITY, noun [from penetrable.] Susceptibility of being penetrated, or of being entered or passed through by another body.

There being no mean between penetrability and impenetrability.

PEN'ETRABLE, adjective [Latin penetrabilis. See Penetrate.]

1. That may be penetrated, entered, or pierced by another body.

Let him try thy dart,

And pierce his only penetrable part.

2. Susceptible of moral or intellectual impression.

I am not made of stone,

But penetrable to your kind entreaties.

PEN'ETRAIL, noun [Latin penetralia.] Interior parts. [Not used.]

PEN'ETRANCY, noun [Latin penetrans.] Power of entering or piercing; as the penetrancy of subtil effluvia.

PEN'ETRANT, adjective [Latin penetrans.] Having the power to enter or pierce; sharp; subtil; as penetrant spirit; food subtilized and rendered fluid and penetrant

PEN'ETRATE, verb transitive [Latin penetro, from the root of pen, a point.]

1. To enter or pierce; to make way into another body; as, a sword or dart penetrates the body; oil penetrates wood; marrow, the most penetrating of oil substances.

2. To affect the mind; to cause to feel. I am penetrated with a lively sense of your generosity.

3. To reach by the intellect; to understand; as, to penetrate the meaning or design of any thing.

4. To enter; to pass into the interior; as, to penetrate a country.

PEN'ETRATE, verb intransitive To pass; to make way.

Born where heaven's influence scarce can penetrate

1. To make way intellectually. He had not penetrated into the designs of the prince.

PEN'ETRATED, participle passive Entered; pierced; understood; fathomed.

PEN'ETRATING, participle present tense Entering; piercing; understanding.

1. adjective Having the power of entering or piercing another body; sharp; subtil. Oil is a penetrating substance.

2. Acute; discerning; quick to understand; as a penetrating mind.

PENETRA'TION, noun The act of entering a body.

1. Mental entrance into any thing abstruse; as a penetration into the abstruse difficulties of algebra.

2. Acuteness; sagacity; as a man of great or nice penetration

PEN'ETRATIVE, adjective Piercing; sharp; subtil.

Let not air be too gross nor too penetrative

1. Acute; sagacious; discerning; as penetrative wisdom.

2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind; as penetrative shame.

PEN'ETRATIVENESS, noun The quality of being penetrative.

PEN'FISH, noun A kind of eelpout with a smooth skin.

PEN'GUIN, noun [Latin pinguidine, with fatness.]

1. A genus of fowls of the order of Palmipeds. The penguin is an aquatic fowl with very short legs, with four toes, three of which are webbed; the body is clothed with short feathers, set as compactly as the scales of a fish; the wings are small like fins, and covered with short scale-like feathers, so that they are useless in flight. Penguins seldom go on shore, except in the season of breeding, when they burrow like rabbits. On land they stand erect; they are tame and may be driven like a flock of sheep. In water they swim with rapidity, being assisted by their wings. These fowls are found only in the southern latitudes.

2. A species of fruit.

PEN'ICIL, noun [Latin penicillus. See Pencil.]

1. Among physicians, a tent or pledget for wounds or ulcers.

2. A species of shell.

PENIN'SULA, noun [Latin pene, almost, and insula, an isle.]

1. A portion of land, connected with a continent by a narrow neck or isthmus, but nearly surrounded with water. Thus Boston stands on a peninsula

2. A large extent of country joining the main land by a part narrower than the tract itself. Thus Spain and Portugal are said to be situated on a peninsula

PENIN'SULAR, adjective In the form or state of a peninsula; pertaining to a peninsula.

PENIN'SULATE, verb transitive To encompass almost with water; to form a peninsula.

South river peninsulates Castle hill farm, and at high tides, surrounds it.

PENIN'SULATED, participle passive Almost surrounded with water.

PENIN'SULATING, participle present tense Nearly surrounding with water.

PEN'ITENCE

PENITENCY, noun [Latin poenitentia, from poeniteo, from poena, pain, punishment. See Pain.] Repentance; pain; sorrow or grief of heart for sins or offenses; contrition. Real penitence springs from a conviction of guilt and ingratitude to God, and is followed by amendment of life.

PENITENCY, n. [L. poenitentia, from poeniteo, from poena, pain, punishment. See Pain.] Repentance; pain; sorrow or grief of heart for sins or offenses; contrition. Real penitence springs from a conviction of guilt and ingratitude to God, and is followed by amendment of life.

PEN'ITENT, adjective [Latin poenitens.] Suffering pain or sorrow of heart on account of sins, crimes or offenses; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt and resolving on amendment of life.

The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd.

PEN'ITENT, noun One that repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.

1. One under church censure, but admitted to penance.

2. One under the direction of a confessor.

Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in catholic countries, distinguished by their habits and employed in charitable acts.

Order of penitents, a religious order established by one Bernard of Marseilles, about the year 1272, for the reception of reformed courtezans. The congregation of penitents at Paris, was founded with a similar view.

PENITEN'TIAL, adjective Proceeding from or expressing penitence or contrition of heart; as penitential sorrow or tears.

PENITEN'TIAL, noun Among the Romanists, a book containing the rules which relate to penance and the reconciliation of penitents.

PENITEN'TIARY, adjective Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.

PENITEN'TIARY, noun One that prescribes the rules and measures of penance.

1. A penitent; one that does penance.

2. At the court of Rome, an office in which are examined and delivered out the secret bulls, graces or dispensations relating to cases of conscience, confession, etc.

3. An officer in some cathedrals, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him. The pope has a grand penitentiary who is a cardinal and is chief of the other penitentiaries.

4. A house of correction in which offenders are confined for punishment and reformation, and compelled to labor; a workhouse. A state prison is a penitentiary

PEN'ITENTLY, adverb With penitence; with repentance, sorrow or contrition for sin.

PEN'KNIFE, noun [See Pen and Knife.] A small knife used for making and mending pens.

PEN'MAN, noun plural penmen. [See Pen and Man.]

1. A man that professes or teaches the art of writing. More generally,

2. One that writes a good hand.

3. An author; a writer; as the sacred penmen.

PEN'MANSHIP, noun The use of the pen in writing; the art of writing.

1. Manner of writing; as good or bad penmanship

PEN'NACHED, adjective Radiated; diversified with natural stripes of various colors; as a flower. [Little used.]

PEN'NANT

PEN'NATE

PEN'NATED, adjective [Latin pennatus, winged, from penna, a quill or wing.]

1. Winged.

2. In botany, a pennate leaf is a compound leaf in which a simple petiole has several leaflets attached to each side of it. [See Pinnate.]

PEN'NATE

PEN'NATED, a. [L.pennatus, winged, from penna, a quill or wing.]

PEN'NED, participle passive Written.

PEN'NED, adjective Winged; having plumes.

PEN'NER, noun A writer.

1. A pen-case. [Local.]

PEN'NIFORM, adjective [Latin penna, a feather or quill, and form.]

Having the form of a quill or feather.

PEN'NILESS, adjective [from penny.] Moneyless; destitute of money; poor.

PEN'NING, participle present tense Committing to writing.

PENNON. [See Pennant.]

PEN'NON, noun [Latin pannus, a cloth]

1. A small flag; a banner. [See Pendant.]

2. A tackle for hoisting things on board a ship.

PEN'NY, noun plural pennies or pence. Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value.

1. An ancient English silver coin; but now an imaginary money of account, twelve of which are equal to a shilling. It is the radical denomination from which English coin is numbered.

2. In ancient English statutes, any or all silver money.

3. Proverbially, a small sum. He will not lend a penny

4. Money in general.

Be sure to turn the penny

PEN'NYPOST, noun One that carries letters from the post office and delivers them to the proper persons for a penny or other small compensation.

PENNYROY'AL, noun A plant of the genus Mentha.

The English pennyroyal is the Mentha pulegium; the noun American pennyroyal is the Cunila pulegioides.

PEN'NYWEIGHT, noun A troy weight containing twenty four grains, each grain being equal in weight to a grain of wheat from the middle of the ear, well dried. It was anciently the weight of a silver penny, whence the name. Twenty penny-weights make an ounce troy.

PEN'NYWISE, adjective Saving small sums at the hazard of larger; niggardly on improper occasions.

PEN'NYWORTH, noun As much as is bought for a penny.

1. Any purchase; any thing bought or sold for money; that which is worth the money given.

2. A good bargain; something advantageously purchased, or for less than it is worth.

3. A small quantity.

PEN'SILE, adjective [Latin pensilis, from pendeo, to hang.]

1. Hanging; suspended; as a pensile bell.

2. Supported above the ground; as a pensile garden.

PEN'SILENESS, noun The state of hanging.

PEN'SION, noun [Latin pensio, form pendo, pensum, to pay.]

1. An annual allowance of a sum of money to a person by government in consideration of past services, civil or military. Men often receive pensions for eminent services on retiring from office. But in particular, officers, soldiers and seamen receive pensions when they are disabled for further services.

2. An annual payment by an individual to an old or disabled servant.

3. In Great Britain, an annual allowance made by government to indigent widows of officers killed or dying in public service.

4. Payment of money; rent.

5. A yearly payment in the inns of court.

6. A certain sum of money paid to a clergyman in lieu of tithes.

7. An allowance or annual payment, considered in the light of a bribe.

PEN'SION, verb transitive To grant a pension to; to grant an annual allowance from the public treasury to a person for past services, or on account of disability incurred in public service, or of old age.

PEN'SIONARY, adjective Maintained by a pension; receiving a pension; as pensionary spies.

1. Consisting in a pension; as a pensionary provision for maintenance.

PEN'SIONARY, noun A person who receives a pension from government for past services, or a yearly allowance from some prince, company or individual.

1. The first minister of the states of the province of Holland; also, the first minister of the regency of a city in Holland.

PEN'SIONED, participle passive Having a pension.

PEN'SIONER, noun One to whom an annual sum of money is paid by government in consideration of past services.

1. One who receives an annual allowance for services.

2. A dependant.

3. In the university of Cambridge, and in that of Dublin, an undergraduate or bachelor of arts who lives at his own expense.

4. One of an honorable band of gentlemen who attend on the king of England, and receive a pension or an annual allowance of a hundred pounds. This band was instituted by Henry VII. Their duty is to guard the king's person in his own house.

PEN'SIONING, participle present tense Granting an annual allowance for past services.

PEN'SIVE, adjective [Latin penso, to weigh, to consider; pendo, to weigh.]

1. Literally, thoughtful; employed in serious study or reflection; but it often implies some degree of sorrow, anxiety, depression or gloom of mind; thoughtful and sad, or sorrowful.

Anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress'd.

2. Expressing thoughtfulness with sadness; as pensive numbers; pensive strains.

PEN'SIVELY, adverb With thoughtfulness; with gloomy seriousness or some degree of melancholy.

PEN'SIVENESS, noun Gloomy thoughtfulness; melancholy; seriousness from depressed spirits.

PEN'STOCK, noun [pen and stock.] A narrow or confined place formed by a frame of timber planked or boarded, for holding or conducting the water of a mill-pond to a wheel, and furnished with a flood gate which may be shut or opened at pleasure.

PENT, participle passive of pen. Shut up; closely confined.

PENTACAP'SULAR, adjective [Gr. five, and capsular.] In botany, having five capsules.

PEN'TACHORD, noun [Gr. five, and chord.]

1. An instrument of music with five strings.

2. An order or system of five sounds.

PEN'TACOCCOUS, adjective [Gr. five, and Latin coccus, a berry.]

Having or containing five grains or seeds, or having five cells with one seed in each.

PEN'TACOSTER, noun [Gr.] In ancient Greece, a military officer commanding fifty men; but the number varied.

PEN'TACOSTYS, noun [Gr.] A body of fifty soldiers; but the number varied.

PENTAC'RINITE, noun The fossil remains of a zoophyte.

PENTACROS'TIC, adjective [Gr. five, and acrostic.] Containing five acrostics of the same name in five divisions of each verse.

PENTACROS'TIC, noun A set of verses so disposed as to have five acrostics of the same name in five divisions of each verse.

PENTADAC'TYL, noun [Gr. five, and finger.]

1. In botany, a plant called five fingers; a name given to the Ricinus or Palma Christi, from the shape of its leaf.

2. In ichthyology, the five fingered fish; a name given to a fish common in the East Indian seas, which has five black streaks on each side resembling the prints of five fingers.

PEN'TAGON, noun [Gr. five, and a corner.]

1. In geometry, a figure of five sides and five angles.

2. In fortification, a fort with five bastions.

PENTAG'ONAL

PENTAG'ONOUS, adjective Having five corners or angles.

PENTAG'ONOUS, a. Having five corners or angles.

PEN'TAGRAPH, noun [Gr. five, and to write.] An instrument for drawing figures in any proportion at pleasure, or for copying or reducing a figure, plan, print, etc. to any desired size.

PENTAGRAPH'IC

PENTAGRAPH'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to a pentagraph; performed by a pentagraph.

PENTAGRAPH'ICAL, a. Pertaining to a pentagraph; performed by a pentagraph.

PEN'TAGYN, noun [Gr. five, and a female.] In botany, a plant having five pistils.

PENTAGYN'IAN, adjective Having five pistils.

PENTAHE'DRAL

PENTAHE'DRON, noun [Gr. five, and a side or base.]

A figure having five equal sides.

PENTAHE'DRON, n. [Gr. five, and a side or base.]

A figure having five equal sides.

PENTAHE'DROUS, adjective Having five equal sides.

PENTAHEXAHE'DRAL, adjective [Gr. five, and hexahedral.] In crystalography, exhibiting five ranges of faces one above another, each range containing six faces.

PENTAM'ETER, noun [Gr. five, and measure.] In ancient poetry, a verse of five feet. The two first feet may be either dactyls or spondees; the third is always a spondee, and the two last anapests. A pentameter verse subjoined to a hexameter, constitutes what is called elegiac.

PENTAM'ETER, adjective Having five metrical feet.

PENTAN'DER, noun [Gr. five, and a male.] In botany, a plant having five stamens.

PENTAN'DRIAN, adjective Having five stamens.

PENTAN'GULAR, adjective [Gr. five, and angular.]

Having five corners or angles.

PENTAPET'ALOUS, adjective [Gr. five, and a petal.]

Having five petals or flower leaves.

PENTAPH'YLLOUS, adjective [Gr. five, and a leaf.] Having five leaves.

PEN'TARCHY, noun [Gr. five, and rule.]

A government in the hands of five persons.

PEN'TASPAST, noun [Gr. five, and to draw.]

An engine with five pulleys.

PENTASPERM'OUS, adjective [Gr. five, and seed.] Containing five seeds.

PEN'TASTICH, noun [Gr. five, and verse.]

A composition consisting of five verses.

PEN'TASTYLE, noun [Gr. five, and a column.] In architecture, a work containing five rows of columns.

PEN'TATEUCH, noun [Gr. five, and a book or composition.]

The first five books of the Old Testament.

PEN'TECONTER, noun [from the Greek.] A Grecian vessel of fifty oars, smaller than a trireme.

PEN'TECOST, noun [Gr. fiftieth.]

1. A solemn festival of the Jews, so called because celebrated on the fiftieth day after the sixteenth of Nisan, which was the second day of the passover. It was called the feast of weeks, because it was celebrated seven weeks after the passover. It was instituted to oblige the people to repair to the temple of the Lord, there to acknowledge his absolute dominion over the country, and offer him the first fruits of their harvest; also that they might call to mind and give thanks to God for the law which he had given them at Sinai on the fiftieth day from their departure from Egypt.

2. Whitsuntide, a solemn feast of the church, held in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Acts 2:1.

PEN'TECOSTAL, adjective Pertaining to Whitsuntide.

PENTECOS'TALS, noun Oblations formerly made by parishioners to the parish priest at the feast of Pentecost, and sometimes by inferior churches to the mother church.

PENT'HOUSE, noun A shed standing aslope from the main wall or building.

PEN'TICE, noun [Latin pendo, to bend.] A sloping roof. [Little used.]

PEN'TILE, noun A tile for covering the sloping part of a roof.

PEN'TREMITE, noun A genus of zoophytes or fossil shells.

PENULT', noun [Latin penultimus; pene, almost, and ultimus, last.]

The last syllable of a word except one.

PENULT'IMATE, adjective [supra.] The last but one; a word used of the last syllable of a word except one. It may be sometimes used as a noun.

PENUM'BRA, noun [Latin pene, almost, and umbra, shade.] In astronomy, a partial shade or obscurity on the margin of the perfect shade in an eclipse, or between the perfect shade, where the light is entirely intercepted, and the full light.

PENU'RIOUS, adjective [Latin penuria, scarcity, want; Gr. poor; rare.]

1. Excessively saving or sparing in the use of money; parsimonious to a fault; sordid; as a penurious man. It expresses somewhat less than niggardly.

2. Scanty; affording little; as a penurious spring.

PENU'RIOUSLY, adverb In a saving or parsimonious manner; with scanty supply.

PEN'URY, noun [Latin penuria, from Gr. needy.]

Want of property; indigence; extreme poverty.

All innocent they were exposed to hardship and penury

PE'ON, noun In Hindoostan, a foot soldier, or a footman armed with sword and target; said to be corrupted from piadah. [Qu. Latin pes, pedis.] Hence,

1. In France, a common man in chess; usually written and called pawn.

PE'ONY, noun [Latin poeonia; Gr. from Apollo.]

A plant and flower of the genus Paeonia. It is written also piony.

PEOPLE, noun [Latin populus.]

1. The body of persons who compose a community, town, city or nation. We say, the people of a town; the people of London or Paris; the English people In this sense, the word is not used in the plural, but it comprehends all classes of inhabitants, considered as a collective body, or any portion of the inhabitants of a city or country.

2. The vulgar; the mass of illiterate persons.

The knowing artist may judge better than the people

3. The commonalty, as distinct from men of rank.

Myself shall mount the rostrum in his favor,

And strive to gain his pardon from the people

4. Persons of a particular class; a part of a nation or community; as country people

5. Persons in general; any persons indefinitely; like on in French, and man in Saxon.

PEOPLE were tempted to lend by great premiums and large interest.

6. A collection or community of animals.

The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. Proverbs 30:25.

7. When people signified a separate nation or tribe, it has the plural number.

Thou must prophesy again before many peoples. Revelation 10:11.

8. In Scripture, fathers or kindred. Genesis 25:8.

9. The Gentiles.

--To him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10.

PEOPLE, verb transitive To stock with inhabitants. Emigrants from Europe have peopled the United States.

PEOPLED, participle passive Stocked or furnished with inhabitants.

PEOPLING, participle present tense Stocking with inhabitants.

PEOPLISH, adjective Vulgar.

PEPAS'TIC, noun [Gr. to concoct or mature.] A medicine that serves to help digestion; applied particularly to such medicines as tend to promote the digestion of wounds.

PEP'PER, noun [Latin piper.] A plant and its seed or grain, of the genus Piper. The stem of the plant is a vine requiring a prop, which is usually a tree. The leaves are oval and the flower white. We have three kinds of pepper the black, the white, and the long. The black pepper is the produce of Java, Sumatra, Ceylon, and other Asiatic countries; The white pepper is the black pepper decorticated; the long pepper is the fruit of a different species, also from the E. Indies. It consists of numerous grains attached to a common footstalk. pepper has a strong aromatic smell and a pungent taste.

PEP'PER, verb transitive To sprinkle with pepper

1. To beat; to pelt with shot; to mangle with blows.

PEP'PERED, participle passive Sprinkled with pepper; pelted; spotted.

PEP'PERGRASS, noun A plant of the genus Pilularia; also, a plant of the genus Lepidium.

PEP'PERING, participle present tense Sprinkling with pepper; pelting.

1. adjective Hot; pungent; angry.

PEP'PERMINT, noun A plant of the genus Mentha. It is aromatic and pungent. Also, a liquor distilled from the plant.

PEP'TIC, adjective [Gr. to digest.]

Promoting digestion; dietetic, as peptic precepts.

PER, a Latin preposition, denoting through, passing, or over the whole extent, as in perambulo. Hence it is sometimes equivalent to very in English, as in peracutus, very sharp. As a prefix, in English, it retains these significations, and in chimistry it is used to denote very of fully, to the utmost extent, as in peroxyd, a substance oxydated to the utmost degree.

PER is used also for by, as per bearer, by the bearer.

PER annum, [Latin] by the year; in each year successively.

PER se, [Latin] by himself; by itself; by themselves.

PERACU'TE, adjective [Latin peracutus; per, through, and acutus, sharp.]

Very sharp; very violent; as a peracute fever. [Little used.]

PERADVENT'URE, adverb [Latin venio, to come.] By chance; perhaps; it may be.

It has been used as a noun for doubt or question, but rather improperly. The word is obsolescent and inelegant.

PER'AGRATE, verb intransitive [Latin peragro; per, through, over, and ager, a field.] To travel over or through; to wander; to ramble. [Little used.]

PERAGRA'TION, noun The act of passing through any space; as the peragration of the moon in her monthly revolution. [Little used.]

PERAM'BULATE, verb transitive [Latin perambulo; per and ambulo, to walk.]

To walk through or over; properly and technically, to pass through or over for the purpose of surveying or examining something; to visit as overseers; as, to perambulate a parish. So in New England, the laws require the select men of towns to appoint suitable persons annually to perambulate the borders or bounds of the township, and renew the boundaries, or see that the old ones are in a good state.

PERAM'BULATED, participle passive Passed over; inspected.

PERAM'BULATING, participle present tense Passing over or through for the purpose of inspection.

PERAMBULA'TION, noun The act of passing or walking through or over.

1. A traveling survey or inspection.

2. A district within which a person has the right of inspection; jurisdiction.

3. Annual survey of the bounds of a parish in England, or of a township in America.

PERAM'BULATOR, noun An instrument or wheel for measuring distances, to be used in surveying or traveling; called also a pedometer.

PERBISUL'PHATE, noun A sulphate with two proportions of sulphuric acid, and combined with an oxyd at the maximum of oxydation.

PERC'ARBURETED, adjective The percarbureted hydrogen of the French chimists is said to be the only definite compound of these two elements.

PERCA'SE, adverb [per and case, by case.]

Perhaps; perchance. [Not used.]

PER'CEANT, noun Piercing; penetrating. [Not used.]

PERCE'IVABLE, adjective [See Perceive.] Perceptible; that may be perceived; that may fall under perception or the cognizance of the senses; that may be felt, seen, heard, smelt or tasted. We say, the roughness of cloth is perceivable; the dawn of the morning is perceivable; the sound of a bell is perceivable; the scent of an orange is perceivable; the difference of taste in an apple and an orange is perceivable

1. That may be known, understood or conceived. [Less proper.]

PERCE'IVABLY, adverb In such a manner as to be perceived.

PERCE'IVANCE, noun Power of perceiving. [Not in use.]

PERCE'IVE, verb transitive [Latin percipio; per and capio, to take.]

1. To have knowledge or receive impressions of external objects through the medium or instrumentality of the senses or bodily organs; as, to perceive light or color; to perceive the cold or ice or the taste of honey.

2. To know; to understand; to observe.

Till we ourselves see it with our own eyes, and perceive it by our own understanding, we are in the dark.

3. To be affected by; to receive impressions from.

The upper regions of the air perceive the collection of the matter of tempests before the air below.

PERCE'IVED, participle passive Known by the senses; felt; understood; observed.

PERCE'IVER, noun One who perceives, feels or observes.

PERCEPTIBIL'ITY, noun The state or quality of being perceptible; as the perceptibility of light or color.

1. Perception. [Less proper.]

PERCEP'TIBLE, adjective [Latin percipio, perceptus.]

1. That may be perceived; that may impress the bodily organs; that may come under the cognizance of the senses; as a perceptible degree of heat or cold; a perceptible odor; a perceptible sound. A thing may be too minute to be perceptible to the touch.

2. That may be known or conceived of.

PERCEP'TIBLY, adverb In a manner to be perceived.

The woman decays perceptibly every week.

PERCEP'TION, noun [Latin perceptio. See Perceive.]

1. The act of perceiving or of receiving impressions by the senses; or that act or process of the mind which makes known an external object. In other words, the notice which the mind takes of external objects. We gain a knowledge of the coldness and smoothness of marble by perception

2. In philosophy, the faculty of perceiving; the faculty or peculiar part of man's constitution, by which he has knowledge through the medium or instrumentality of the bodily organs.

3. Notion; idea.

4. The state of being affected or capable of being affected by something external.

This experiment discovers perception in plants.

PERCEP'TIVE, adjective Having the faculty of perceiving.

PERCEPTIV'ITY, noun The power of perception of thinking.

PERCH, noun [Latin perca.] A fish of the genus Perca. This fish has a deep body, very rough scales, an arched back, and prickly dorsal fins.

PERCH, noun [Latin pertica.]

1. A pole; hence, a roost for fowls, which is often a pole; also, any thing on which they light.

2. A measure of length containing five yards and a half; a rod. In the popular language of America, rod is chiefly used; but rod, pole, and perch all signifying the same thing, may be used indifferently.

PERCH, verb intransitive To sit or roost; as a bird.

1. To light or settle on a fixed body; as a bird.

PERCH, verb transitive To place on a fixed object or perch

PERCH'ANCE, adverb [per and chance.] By chance; perhaps.

PERCH'ERS, noun Paris candles anciently used in England; also, a larger sort of wax candles which were usually set on the altar.

PERCHLO'RATE, noun A compound of perchloric acid with a base.

PERCHLO'RIC, adjective perchloric acid is chlorine converted into an acid by combining with a maximum of oxygen.

PERCIP'IENT, adjective [Latin percipiens.] Perceiving; having the faculty of perception. Animals are percipient beings; mere matter is not percipient

PERCIP'IENT, noun One that perceives or has the faculty of perception.

PERCLO'SE, noun s as z. Conclusion. [Not used.]

PER'COLATE, verb transitive [Latin percolo; per and colo, to strain.] To strain through; to cause to pass through small interstices, as a liquor; to filter.

PER'COLATE, verb intransitive To pass through small interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through a porous stone.

PER'COLATED, participle passive Filtered; passed through small interstices.

PER'COLATING, participle present tense Filtering.

PERCOLA'TION, noun The act of straining or filtering; filtration; the act of passing through small interstices, as liquor through felt or a porous stone.

Percolation is intended for the purification of liquors.

PERCUSS', verb transitive [Latin percussus, from percutio, to strike.]

To strike. [Little used.]

PERCUS'SION, noun [Latin percussio.] The act of striking one body against another, with some violence; as the vibrations excited in the air by percussion

1. The impression one body makes on another by falling on it or striking it.

2. The impression or effect of sound on the ear.

PERCU'TIENT, noun [Latin percutiens.] That which strikes, or has power to strike.

PER'DIFOIL, noun [Latin perdo, to lose, and folium, leaf.] A plant that annually loses or drops its leaves; opposed to evergreen.

The passion flower of America and the jasmine of Malabar, which are evergreens in their native climates, become perdifoils when transplanted into Britain.

PERDI'TION, noun [Latin perditio, from perdo, to lose, to ruin.]

1. Entire loss or ruin; utter destruction; as the perdition of the Turkish fleet.

[In this sense, the word is now nearly or wholly obsolete.]

2. The utter loss of the soul or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. The impenitent sinner is condemned to final perdition

If we reject the truth, we seal our own perdition

3. Loss. [Not used.]

PERDU'

PERDU'E, adverb [Latin perdo.] Close; in concealment.

The moderator, out of view,

Beneath the desk had lain perdue.

PERDU', noun One that is placed on the watch or in ambush.

PERDU', adjective Abandoned; employed on desperate purposes; accustomed to desperate purposes or enterprises.

PERDU'E, adv. [L. perdo.] Close; in concealment.

PER'DULOUS, adjective [Latin perdo.] Lost; thrown away. [Not used.]

PERDU'RABLE, adjective [Latin perduro; per and duro, to last.]

Very durable; lasting; continuing long. [Not used.]

PERDU'RABLY, adverb Very durably. [Not used.]

PERDURA'TION, noun Long continuance. [Not used.]

PER'DY, adverb Certainly; verily; in truth.

PER'EGAL, adjective Equal. [Not used.]

PER'EGRINATE, verb intransitive [Latin peregrinor, from peregrinus, a traveler or stranger; peragro, to wander; per and ager.]

To travel from place to place or from one country to another; to live in a foreign country.

PEREGRINA'TION, noun A traveling from one country to another; a wandering; abode in foreign countries.

PER'EGRINATOR, noun A traveler into foreign countries.

PER'EGRINE, adjective [Latin peregrinus.] Foreign; not native. [Little used.]

Peregrine falcon, a species of hawk, the black hawk or falcon, found in America and in Asia, and which wanders in summer to the Arctic circle.

PEREMPT', verb transitive [Latin peremptus, perimo, to kill.]

In law, to kill; to crush or destroy. [Not used.]

PEREMP'TION, noun [Latin peremptio.] A killing; a quashing; nonsuit. [Not used.]

PER'EMPTORILY, adverb [from peremptory.] Absolutely; positively; in a decisive manner; so as to preclude further debate.

Never judge peremptorily on first appearances.

PER'EMPTORINESS, noun Positiveness; absolute decision; dogmatism.

Peremptoriness is of two sorts; one, a magisterialness in matters of opinion; the other, a positiveness in matters of fact.

PER'EMPTORY, adjective [Latin peremptorius, from peremptus, taken away, killed.]

1. Express; positive; absolute; decisive; authoritative; in a manner to preclude debate or expostulation. The orders of the commander are peremptory

2. Positive in opinion or judgment. The genuine effect of sound learning is to make men less peremptory in their determinations.

3. Final; determinate.

4. peremptory challenge, in law, a challenge or right of challenging jurors without showing cause.

PEREN'NIAL, adjective [Latin perennis; per and annus, a year.]

1. Lasting or continuing without cessation through the year.

2. Perpetual; unceasing; never failing.

3. In botany, continuing more than two years; as a perennial stem or root.

4. Continuing without intermission; as a fever.

PEREN'NIAL, noun In botany, a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves or not. That which retains its leaves during winter is called an evergreen; that which casts its leaves, deciduous, or a perdifoil.

PEREN'NIALLY, adverb Continually; without ceasing.

PEREN'NITY, noun [Latin perennitas.] An enduring or continuing through the whole year without ceasing.

PERERRA'TION, noun [Latin perrro; per and erro, to wander.]

A wandering or rambling through various places.

PER'FECT, adjective [Latin perfectus, perficio, to complete; per and facio, to do or make through, to carry to the end.]

1. Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind; as a perfect statue; a perfect likeness; a perfect work; a perfect system.

As full, as perfect in a hair as heart.

2. Fully informed; completely skilled; as men perfect in the use of arms; perfect in discipline.

3. Complete in moral excellencies.

Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect Matthew 5:48.

4. Manifesting perfection.

My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Perfect chord, in music, a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the fifth and the octave; a perfect consonance.

A perfect flower, in botany, has both stamen and pistil, or at least another and stigma.

Perfect tense, in grammar, the preterit tense; a tense which expresses an act completed.

PER'FECT, verb transitive [Latin perfectus, perficio.] To finish or complete so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to any thing all that is requisite to its nature and kind; as, to perfect a picture or statue. 2 Chronicles 8:16.

-Inquire into the nature and properties of things, and thereby perfect our ideas of distinct species.

If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:1.

1. To instruct fully; to make fully skillful; as, to perfect one's self in the rules of music or architecture; to perfect soldiers in discipline.

PER'FECTED, participle passive Finished; completed.

PER'FECTER, noun One that makes perfect.

PERFECTIBIL'ITY, noun [from perfectible.]

The capacity of becoming or being made perfect.

PERFECT'IBLE, adjective Capable of becoming or being made perfect, or of arriving at the utmost perfection of the species.

PER'FECTING, participle present tense Finishing; completing; consummating.

PERFEC'TION, noun [Latin perfectio.] The state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; as perfection in an art or science; perfection in a system of morals.

1. Physical perfection is when a natural object has all its powers, faculties or qualities entire and in full vigor, and all its parts in due proportion.

2. Metaphysical or transcendental perfection is the possession of all the essential attributes or all the parts necessary to the integrity of a substance. This is absolute, where all defect is precluded, such as the perfection of God; or according to its kind, as in created things.

3. Moral perfection is the complete possession of all moral excellence, as in the Supreme Being; or the possession of such moral qualities and virtues as a thing is capable of.

4. A quality, endowment or acquirement completely excellent, or of great worth.

In this sense, the word has a plural.

What tongue can her perfections tell?

5. An inherent or essential attribute of supreme or infinite excellence; or one perfect in its kind; as the perfections of God. The infinite power, holiness, justice, benevolence and wisdom of God are denominated his perfections.

6. Exactness; as, to imitate a model to perfection

PERFEC'TIONAL, adjective Made complete.

PERFEC'TIONATE, used by Dryden and Tooke, in lieu of the verb to perfect, is a useless word.

PERFEC'TIONIST, noun One pretending to perfection; an enthusiast in religion.

PERFECT'IVE, adjective Conducing to make perfect or bring to perfection; followed by of.

Praise and adoration are actions perfective of the soul.

PERFECT'IVELY, adverb In a manner that brings to perfection.

PER'FECTLY, adverb In the highest degree of excellence.

1. Totally; completely; as work perfectly executed or performed; a thing perfectly new.

2. Exactly; accurately; as a proposition perfectly understood.

PER'FECTNESS, noun Completeness; consummate excellence; perfection.

1. The highest degree of goodness or holiness of which man is capable in this life.

And above all things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness Colossians 3:14.

2. Accurate skill.

PERFI'CIENT, noun [Latin perficiens.] One who endows a charity.

PERFID'IOUS, adjective [Latin perfidus; per and fidus, faithful. Per in this word signifies through, beyond, or by, aside.]

1. Violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence reposed; treacherous; as a perfidious agent; a perfidious friend. [See Perfidy.]

2. Proceeding from treachery, or consisting in breach of faith; as a perfidious act.

3. Guilty of violated allegiance; as a perfidious citizen; a man perfidious to his country.

PERFID'IOUSLY, adverb Treacherously; traitorously; by breach of faith or allegiance.

PERFID'IOUSNESS, noun The quality of being perfidious; treachery; traitorousness; breach of faith, of vows or allegiance.

PER'FIDY, noun [Latin perfidia; per and fides, faith.] The act of violating faith, a promise, vow or allegiance; treachery; the violation of a trust reposed. perfidy is not applied to violations of contracts in ordinary pecuniary transactions, but to violations of faith or trust in friendship, in agency and office, in allegiance, in connubial engagements, and in the transactions of kings.

PERFLA'TE, verb intransitive [Latin perflo; per and flo, to blow.] To blow through.

PERFLA'TION, noun The act of blowing through.

PERFO'LIATE, adjective [Latin per and folium, a leaf.] In botany, a perfoliate or perforated leaf, is one that has the base entirely surrounding the stem transversely.

PER'FORATE, verb transitive [Latin perforo; per and foro; Eng. to bore.]

1. To bore through.

2. To pierce with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through any thing by boring or driving; as, to perforate the bottom of a vessel.

PER'FORATED, participle passive Bored or pierced through; pierced.

PER'FORATING, participle present tense Boring or piercing through; piercing.

PERFORA'TION, noun The act of boring or piercing through.

1. A hole or aperture passing through any thing, or into the interior of a substance, whether natural or made by an instrument.

PER'FORATIVE, adjective Having power to pierce; as an instrument.

PER'FORATOR, noun An instrument that bores or perforates.

PERFORCE, adverb [per and force.] By force or violence.

PERFORM', verb transitive [Latin per and formo, to make.]

1. To do; to execute; to accomplish; as, to perform two days' labor in one day; to perform a noble deed or achievement.

2. To execute; to discharge; as, to perform a duty or office.

3. To fulfill; as, to perform a covenant, promise or contract; to perform a vow.

PERFORM', verb intransitive To do; to act a part. The player performs well in different characters. The musician performs well on the organ.

PERFORM'ABLE, adjective That may be done, executed or fulfilled; practicable.

PERFORM'ANCE, noun Execution or completion of any thing; a doing; as the performance of work or of an undertaking; the performance of duty.

1. Action; deed; thing done.

2. The acting or exhibition of character on the state. Garrick was celebrated for his theatrical performances.

3. Composition; work written.

Few of our comic performances give good examples.

4. The acting or exhibition of feats; as performances of horsemanship.

PERFORM'ED, participle passive Done; executed; discharged.

PERFORM'ER, noun One that performs any thing, particularly in an art; as a good performer on the violin or organ; a celebrated performer in comedy or tragedy, or in the circus.

PERFORM'ING, participle present tense Doing; executing; accomplishing.

PERFORM'ING, noun Act done; deed; act of executing.

PERFU'MATORY, adjective [from perfume.] That perfumes.

PERFU'ME, noun [Latin per and fumus, smoke, or fumo, to fumigate.]

1. A substance that emits a scent or odor which affects agreeably the organs of smelling, as musk, civet, spices or aromatics of any kind; or any composition of aromatic substances.

2. The scent, odor or volatile particles emitted from sweet smelling substances.

No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field.

PERFU'ME, verb transitive To scent; to fill or impregnate with a grateful odor; as, to perfume an apartment; to perfume a garment.

And Carmel's flower top perfumes the skies.

PERFU'MED, participle passive Scented; impregnated with fragrant odors.

PERFU'MER, noun He or that which perfumes.

1. One whose trade is to see perfumes.

PERFU'MERY, noun Perfumes in general.

PERFU'MING, participle present tense Scenting; impregnating with sweet odors.

PERFUNC'TORILY, adverb [Latin perfunctorie, from perfungor; per and fungor, to do or execute.] Carelessly; negligently; in a manner to satisfy external form.

PERFUNC'TORINESS, noun Negligent performance; carelessness.

PERFUNC'TORY, adjective [supra.] Slight; careless; negligent.

1. Done only for the sake of getting rid of the duty.

PERFU'SE, verb transitive s as z. [Latin perfusus, perfundo; per and fundo, to pour.] To sprinkle, pour or spread over.

PER'GOLA, noun A kind of arbor.

PERHAPS', adverb [per and hap. See Happen.] By chance; it may be.

PERHAPS her love, perhaps her kingdom charmed him.

PERIAGUA [See Pirogue.]

PER'IANTH, noun [Gr. about, and flower.] The calyx of a flower when contiguous to the other parts of fructification.

PER'IAPT, noun [Gr. to fit or tie to.] An amulet; a charm worn to defend against disease or mischief. [Not used.]

PERIAUGER

PERICARD'IUM, noun [Gr. around, and the heart.] A membrane that incloses the heart. It contains a liquor which prevents the surface of the heart from becoming dry by its continual motion.

PERICARD'IUM, n. [Gr. around, and the heart.] A membrane that incloses the heart. It contains a liquor which prevents the surface of the heart from becoming dry by its continual motion.

PER'ICARP, noun [Gr. about, and fruit.] The seed-vessel of a plant; a general name including the capsule, legume, silique, follicle, drupe, pome, berry and strobile.

PERICRA'NIUM, noun [Gr. about, and the skull.] The periosteum or membrane that invests the skull.

PERIC'ULOUS, adjective [Latin periculosus. See Peril.]

Dangerous; hazardous.

PERIDODECAHE'DRAL, adjective [Gr.] Designating a crystal whose primitive form is a four sided prism, and in its secondary form is converted into a prism of twelve sides.

PER'IDOT, noun Another name of the chrysolite. It may be known by its leek or olive green color of various shades, and by its infusibility. It is found in grains, granular masses, and rounded crystals.

PERIE'CIAN, noun [Gr.] An inhabitant of the opposite side of the globe, in the same parallel of latitude.

PER'IGEE

PERIGE'UM, noun [Gr. about, and the earth.] That point in the orbit of the sun or moon in which it is at the least distance from the earth; opposed to apogee.

PER'IGRAPH, noun [Gr. about, and a writing.]

1. A careless or inaccurate delineation of any thing.

2. The white lines or impressions that appear on the musculus rectus of the abdomen.

PERIG'YNOUS, adjective [Gr. about, and female.] In botany, inserted around the pistil, as the corol or stamens; having the corol or stamens inserted around the pistil, as a flower or plant.

PERIHE'LION

PERIHE'LIUM, noun [Gr. about, and the sun.] That part of the orbit of a planet or comet, in which it is at its least distance from the sun; opposed to aphelion.

PERIHEXAHE'DRAL, adjective [Gr.] Designating a crystal whose primitive form is a four sided prism, and in the secondary form is converted into a prism of six sides.

PER'IL, noun [Latin periculum, from Gr. to try, to attempt, that is, to strain; an attempt, danger, hazard; to pass, to thrust in or transfix; Latin experior; Eng. experience.]

1. Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; particular exposure of person or property to injury, loss or destruction from any cause whatever.

In perils of waters; in perils of robbers. 2 Corinthians 11:26.

2. Danger denounced; particular exposure; You do it at your peril or at the peril of your father's displeasure.

PER'IL, verb intransitive To be in danger. [Not used.]

PER'ILOUS, adjective Dangerous; hazardous; full of risk; as a perilous undertaking; a perilous situation.

1. Vulgarly used for very, like mighty; as perilous shrewd.

2. Smart; witty; as a perilous [parlous boy.]

[Vulgar and obsolete.]

PER'ILOUSLY, adverb Dangerously; with hazard.

PER'ILOUSNESS, noun Dangerousness; danger; hazard.

PERIM'ETER, noun [Gr. about, and measure.] In geometry, the bounds and limits of a body or figure. The perimeters of surfaces or figures are lines; those of bodies are surfaces. In circular figures, instead of perimeter we use circumference or periphery.

PERIOCTAHE'DRAL, adjective [Gr. octahedral.] Designating a crystal whose primitive form is a four sided prism, and in its secondary form is converted into a prism of eight sides.

PE'RIOD, noun [Latin periodus; Gr. about, and way.]

1. Properly, a circuit; hence, the time which is taken up by a planet in making its revolution round the sun, or the duration of its course till it returns to the point of its orbit where it began. Thus the period of the earth or its annual revolution is 365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 30 seconds.

2. In chronology, a stated number of years; a revolution or series of years by which time is measured; as the Calippic period; the Dionysian period; the Julian period

3. Any series of years or of days in which a revolution is completed, and the same course is to begun.

4. Any specified portion of time, designated by years, months, days or hours complete; as a period of a thousand years; the period of a year; the period of a day.

5. End; conclusion. Death puts a period to a state of probation.

6. An indefinite portion of any continued state, existence or series of events; as the first period of life; the last period of a king's reign; the early periods of history.

7. State at which any thing terminates; limit.

8. Length or usual length of duration.

9. A complete sentence from one full stop to another.

Periods are beautiful when they are not too long.

10. The point that marks the end of a complete sentence; a full stop, thus, (.)

11. In numbers, a distinction made by a point or comma after every sixth place or figure.

12. In medicine, the time of intention and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and remission.

Julian period in chronology, a period of 7980 years; a number produced by multiplying 28, the years of the solar cycle, into 19, the years of the lunar cycle, and their product by 15, the years of the Roman indiction.

PE'RIOD, verb transitive To put an end to. [Not used.]

PERIOD'IC

PERIOD'ICAL, adjective

1. Performed in a circuit, or in a regular revolution in a certain time, or in a series of successive circuits; as the periodical motion of the planets round the sun; the periodical motion of the moon round the earth.

2. Happening by revolution, at a stated time; as, the conjunction of the sun and moon is periodical.

3. Happening or returning regularly in a certain period of time. The Olympiads among the Greeks were periodical, as was the jubilee of the Jews.

4. Performing some action at a stated time; as the periodical fountains in Switzerland, which issue only at a particular hour of the day.

5. Pertaining to a period; constituting a complete sentence.

6. Pertaining to a revolution or regular circuit.

PERIOD'ICAL, a.

PERIOD'ICALLY, adverb At stated periods; as a festival celebrated periodically

PERIOS'TEUM, noun [Gr. about, and bone.] A nervous vascular membrane endued with quick sensibility, immediately investing the bones of animals.

The periosteum has very little sensibility in a sound state, but in some cases of disease it appears to be very sensible.

PERIPATET'IC, adjective [Gr. to walk about.] Pertaining to Aristotle's system of philosophy, or to the sect of his followers.

PERIPATET'IC, noun A follower of Aristotle, so called because the founders of his philosophy taught, or his followers disputed questions, walking in the Lyceum at Athens.

1. It is ludicrously applied to one who is obliged to walk, or cannot afford to ride.

PERIPATET'ICISM, noun The notions or philosophical system of Aristotle and his followers.

PERIPH'ERAL, adjective Peripheric.

PERIPHER'IC

PERIPHER'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery.

PERIPHER'ICAL, a. Pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery.

PERIPH'ERY, noun [Gr. around, and to bear.] The circumference of a circle, ellipsis, or other regular curvilinear figure.

PER'IPHRASE, noun s as z. [Gr. about, and to speak.] Circumlocution; a circuit of words; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a figure of rhetoric employed to avoid a common and trite manner of expression.

PER'IPHRASE, verb transitive To express by circumlocution.

PER'IPHRASE, verb intransitive To use circumlocution.

PERIPHRASIS. [See Periphrase.]

PERIPHRAS'TIC

PERIPHRAS'TICAL, adjective Circumlocutory; expressing or expressed in more words than are necessary; expressing the sense of one word in many.

PERIPHRAS'TICAL, a. Circumlocutory; expressing or expressed in more words than are necessary; expressing the sense of one word in many.

PERIPHRAS'TICALLY, adverb With circumlocution.

PER'IPLUS, noun [Gr. about, and to sail.] Circumnavigation; a voyage round a certain sea or sea coast.

PERIPNEUMON'IC, adjective Pertaining to peripneumony; consisting in an inflammation of the lungs.

PERIPNEU'MONY, noun [Gr. about, and the lungs.] An inflammation of the lungs, or of some part of the thorax, attended with acute fever and difficult respiration.

PERIPOLYG'ONAL, adjective [Gr. polygon.] In crystalography, having a great number of sides.

PERIS'CIAN, noun [Gr. around, and shadow.] An inhabitant of a frigid zone or within a polar circle, whose shadow moves round, and in the course of the day falls in every point of compass. The Greek word periscii, in the plural, is generally used in geographies; but the English word is preferable.

PER'ISH, verb intransitive [Latin pereo, supposed to be compounded of per and eo, to go; literally, to depart wholly.]

1. To die; to lose life in any manner; applied to animals. Men perish by disease or decay, by the sword, by drowning, by hunger or famine, etc.

2. To die; to wither and decay; applied to plants.

3. To waste away; as, a leg or an arm has perished.

4. To be in a state of decay or passing away.

Duration, and time which is part of it, is the idea we have of perishing distance.

5. To be destroyed; to come to nothing.

Perish the lore that deadens young desire.

6. To fail entirely or to be extirpated. 2 Kings 9:8.

7. To be burst or ruined; as, the bottles shall perish

Luke 5:37.

8. To be wasted or rendered useless. Jeremiah 9:12.

9. To be injured or tormented. 1 Corinthians 8:11.

10. To be lost eternally; to be sentenced to endless misery. 2 Peter 2:12.

PER'ISH, verb transitive To destroy. [Not legitimate.]

PER'ISHABLE, adjective Liable to perish; subject to decay and destruction. The bodies of animals and plants are perishable The souls of men are not perishable

1. Subject to speedy decay.

Property of a perishable nature saved from a wreck, may be sold within a year and a day.

PER'ISHABLENESS, noun Liableness to decay or destruction.

PER'ISPERM, noun [Gr. around, and seed.] A thick, farinaceous, fleshy, horny or woody part of the seed of plants, either entirely or only partially surrounding the embryo, and inclosed within the investing membrane. It corresponds to the albumen of Gaertner.

PERISPHER'IC, adjective [Gr.] Globular; having the form of a ball.

PERISSOLOG'ICAL, adjective Redundant in words.

PERISSOL'OGY, noun [Gr. redundant, and discourse.] Superfluous words; much talk to little purpose. [Little used.]

PERISTAL'TIC, adjective [Gr. to involve.] Spiral; vermicular or worm-like. The peristaltic motion of the intestines is performed by the contraction of the circular and longitudinal fibers composing their fleshy coats, by which the chyle is driven into the orifices of the lacteals, and the excrements are protruded towards the anus.

PERISTE'RION, noun [Gr.] The herb vervain.

PER'ISTYLE, noun [Gr. about, and a column.] A circular range of columns, or a building encompassed with a row of columns on the outside.

PERISYSTOLE, noun perisys'toly. [Gr. about, and contraction.] The pause or interval between the systole or contraction, and the diastole or dilatation of the heart.

PERI'TE, adjective [Latin peritus.] Skillful. [Little used.]

PERITO'NEAL, adjective Pertaining to the peritoneum.

PERITONE'UM, noun [Gr. about, and to stretch.] A thin, smooth, lubricous membrane investing the whole internal surface of the abdomen, and more or less completely, all the viscera contained in it.

PER'IWIG, noun A small wig; a kind of close cap formed by an intertexture of false hair, worn by men for ornament or to conceal baldness. Periwigs were in fashion in the days of Addison.

PER'IWIG, verb transitive To dress with a periwig or with false hair, or with any thing in like form.

PER'IWINKLE, noun [Latin vinca.]

1. A sea snail, or small shell fish.

2. A plant of the genus Vinca.

PERJURE, verb transitive per'jur. [Latin perjuro; per and juro, to swear; that is, to swear aside or beyond.] Willfully to make a false oath when administered by lawful authority or in a court of justice; to forswear; as, the witness perjured himself.

PER'JURE, noun A perjured person. [Not used.]

PER'JURED, participle passive Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely.

PER'JURER, noun One that willfully takes a false oath lawfully administered.

PER'JURING, participle present tense Taking a false oath lawfully administered.

PERJU'RIOUS, adjective Guilty of perjury; containing perjury.

PER'JURY, noun [Latin perjurium.] The act or crime of willfully making a false oath, when lawfully administered; or a crime committed when a lawful oath is administered in some judicial proceeding, to a person who swears willfully, absolutely and falsely in a matter material to the issue.

PERK, adjective Properly, erect; hence, smart; trim.

PERK, verb intransitive To hold up the head with affected smartness.

PERK, verb transitive To dress; to make trim or smart; to prank.

PERK'IN, noun Cyderkin; a kind of cyder made by steeping the murk in water.

Perlate acid, the acidulous phosphate of soda.

Perlated acid, or ouretic, biphosphate of soda.

PERLEX'ITY, noun Intricacy; entanglement. The jury were embarrassed by the perplexity of the case.

1. Embarrassment of mind; disturbance from doubt, confusion, difficulty or anxiety.

Perplexity not suffering them to be idle, they think and do, as it were, in a frenzy.

PER'LOUS, for perilous, is not used.

PERLUSTRA'TION, noun [Latin perlustro; per and lustro, to survey.]

The act of viewing all over.

PER'MAGY noun A little Turkish boat.

PER'MANENCE

PER'MANENCY, noun [See Permanent.] Continuance in the same state, or without a change that destroys the form or nature of a thing; duration; fixedness; as the permanence of a government or state; the permanence of institutions or of a system of principles.

1. Continuance in the same place or at rest.

PER'MANENCY, n. [See Permanent.] Continuance in the same state, or without a change that destroys the form or nature of a thing; duration; fixedness; as the permanence of a government or state; the permanence of institutions or of a system of principles.

PER'MANENT, adjective [Latin permanens, permaneo, per and maneo, to remain.]

Durable; lasting; continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys the form or nature of the thing. The laws, like the character of God, are unalterably permanent Human laws and institutions may be to a degree permanent but they are subject to change and overthrow. We speak of a permanent wall or building, a permanent bridge, when they are so constructed as to endure long; in which examples, permanent is equivalent to durable or lasting, but not to undecaying or unalterable. So we say, a permanent residence, a permanent intercourse, permanent friendship, when it continues a long time without interruption.

PER'MANENTLY, adverb With long continuance; durably; in a fixed state or place; as a government permanently established.

PERMAN'SION, noun [Latin permansio.] Continuance. [Not used.]

PERMEABIL'ITY, noun [infra.] The quality or state of being permeable.

PER'MEABLE, adjective [Latin permeo; per and meo, to pass or glide.]

That may be passed through without rupture or displacement of its parts, as solid matter; applied particularly to substances that admit the passage of fluids. Thus cloth, leather, wood are permeable to water and oil; glass is permeable to light, but not to water.

PER'MEANT, adjective [supra.] Passing through. [Not used.]

PER'MEATE, verb transitive [Latin permeo; per and meo, to glide, flow, or pass.]

To pass through the pores or interstices of a body; to penetrate and pass through a substance without rupture or displacement of its parts; applied particularly to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand or a filtering stone; light permeates glass.

PER'MEATED, participle passive Passed through, as by a fluid.

PER'MEATING, participle present tense Passing through the pores or interstices of a substance.

PERMEA'TION, noun The act of passing through the pores or interstices of a body.

PERMIS'CIBLE, adjective [Latin permisceo; per and misceo, to mix.]

That may be mixed. [Little used.]

PERMIS'SIBLE, adjective [See Permit.] That may be permitted or allowed.

PERMIS'SION, noun [Latin permissio, from permitto, to permit.]

1. The act of permitting or allowing.

2. Allowance; license or liberty granted.

You have given me your permission for this address.

PERMIS'SIVE, adjective Granting liberty; allowing.

1. Granted; suffered without hinderance.

Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used

Permissive, and acceptance found.

PERMIS'SIVELY, adverb By allowance; without prohibition or hinderance.

PERMIS'TION

PERMIT', verb transitive [Latin permitto; per and mitto, to send.]

1. To allow; to grant leave or liberty to by express consent. He asked my leave and I permitted him.

2. To allow by silent consent or by not prohibiting; to suffer without giving express authority. The laws permit us to do what is not expressly or impliedly forbid.

What God neither commands nor forbids, he permits with approbation to be done or left undone.

3. To afford ability or means. Old age does not permit us to retain the vigor of youth. The man's indigence does not permit him to indulge in luxuries.

4. To leave; to give or resign.

Let us not aggravate our sorrows,

But to the gods permit the event of things.

[The latter sense is obsolete or obsolescent.]

PERMIT', noun A written license or permission from the custom house officer or other proper authority, to export or transport goods or to land goods or persons.

1. Warrant; leave; permission.

PERMIT', v.t. [L. permitto; per and mitto, to send.]

PERMIT', n. A written license or permission from the custom house officer or other proper authority, to export or transport goods or to land goods or persons.

PERMIT'TANCE, noun Allowance; forbearance of prohibition; permission.

PERMIXTION. [See Permistion.]

PERMIX'TION, noun [Latin permistio, permixtio.] The act of mixing; the state of being mingled.

PERMUTA'TION, noun [Latin permutatio, permuto; per and muto, to change.]

1. In commerce, exchange of one thing for another; barter.

2. In the canon law, the exchange of one benefice for another.

3. In algebra, change or different combination of any number of quantities.

PERMU'TE, verb transitive [Latin permuto; per and muto, to change.]

To exchange; to barter. [Not used.]

PERMU'TER, noun One that exchanges. [Not used.]

PER'NANCY, noun A taking or reception, as the receiving of rents or tithes in kind.

PERNI'CIOUS, adjective [Latin perniciosus, from pernicies; perneco, to kill; per and nex, necis, death.]

1. Destructive; having the quality of killing, destroying or injuring; very injurious or mischievous. Food, drink or air may be pernicious to life or health.

2. Destructive; tending to injure or destroy. Evil examples are pernicious to morals. Intemperance is a pernicious vice.

3. [Latin pernix.] Quick. [Not used.]

PERNI'CIOUSLY, adverb Destructively; with ruinous tendency or effects.

PERNI'CIOUSNESS, noun The quality of being very injurious, mischievous or destructive.

PERNIC'ITY, noun [Latin pernicitas, from pernix.]

Swiftness of motion; celerity. [Little used.]

PERNOCTA'TION, noun [Latin pernocto; per and nox, night.]

The act of passing the whole night; a remaining all night.

PEROGUE. [See Pirogue.]

PERORA'TION, noun [Latin peroratio, from peroro; per and oro, to pray.]

The concluding part of an oration, in which the speaker recapitulates the principal points of his discourse or argument, and urges them with greater earnestness and force, with a view to make a deep impression on his hearers.

PEROX'YD, noun [per and oxyd.] A substance containing an unusual quantity of oxygen.

PEROX'YDIZE, verb transitive To oxydize to the utmost degree.

PERPEND', verb transitive [Latin perpendo; per and pendo, to weigh.]

To weigh in the mind; to consider attentively. [Little used.]

PERPEND'ER, noun A coping stone.

PERPEND'ICLE, noun [Latin perpendiculum.]

Something hanging down in a direct line; a plumb line.

PERPENDIC'ULAR, adjective [Latin perpendicularis, from perpendiculum, a plumb line; perpendeo; per and pendeo, to hang.]

1. Hanging or extending in a right line from any point towards the center of the earth or of gravity, or at right angles with the plane of the horizon.

2. In geometry, falling directly on another line at right angles. The line A is perpendicular to the line B.

PERPENDIC'ULAR, noun A line falling at right angles on the plane of the horizon, that is, extending from some point in a right line towards the center of the earth or center of gravity, or any body standing in that direction.

1. In geometry, a line falling at right angles on another line, or making equal angles with it on each side.

PERPENDICULAR'ITY, noun The state of being perpendicular.

PERPENDIC'ULARLY, adverb In a manner to fall on another line at right angles.

1. So as to fall on the plane of the horizon at right angles; in a direction towards the center of the earth or of gravity.

PERPEN'SION, noun [Latin perpendo.] Consideration. [Not used.]

PERPES'SION, noun [Latin perpessio, perpetior, to suffer; per and patior.]

Suffering; endurance. [Not used.]

PER'PETRATE, verb transitive [Latin perpetro; per and patro, to go through, to finish.] To do; to commit; to perform; in an ill sense, that is, always used to express an evil act; as, to perpetrate a crime or an evil design.

PER'PETRATED, participle passive Done; committed; as an evil act.

PER'PETRATING, participle present tense Committing; as a crime or evil act.

PERPETRA'TION, noun The act of committing a crime.

1. An evil action.

PER'PETRATOR, noun One that commits a crime.

PERPET'UAL, adjective [Latin perpetuus, from perpes, perpetis; per and pes, from a root signifying to pass.]

1. Never ceasing; continuing forever in future time; destined to be eternal; as a perpetual covenant; a perpetual statute.

[Literally true with respect to the decrees of the Supreme Being.]

2. Continuing or continued without intermission; uninterrupted; as a perpetual stream; the perpetual action of the heart and arteries.

3. Permanent; fixed; not temporary; as a perpetual law or edict; perpetual love or amity, perpetual incense. Exodus 30:8.

4. Everlasting; endless.

Destructions are come to a perpetual end. Psalms 9:6.

5. During the legal dispensation. Exodus 29:9.

Perpetual curacy, is where all the tithes are appropriated and no vicarage is endowed.

Perpetual motion, motion that generates a power of continuing itself forever or indefinitely, by means of mechanism or some application of the force of gravity; not yet discovered, and probably impossible.

Perpetual screw, a screw that acts against the teeth of a wheel and continues its action without end.

PERPET'UALLY, adverb Constantly; continually; applied to things which proceed without intermission, or which occur frequently or at intervals, without limitation. A perennial spring flows perpetually; the weather varies perpetually

The Bible and common prayer book in the vulgar tongue, being perpetually read in churches, have proved a kind of standard for language.

PERPET'UATE, verb transitive [Latin perpetuo.] To make perpetual; to eternize.

1. To cause to endure or to be continued indefinitely; to preserve from extinction or oblivion; as, to perpetuate the remembrance of a great event or of an illustrious character. The monument in London perpetuates the remembrance of the conflagration in 1666. Medals may perpetuate the glories of a prince.

2. To continue by repetition without limitation.

PERPET'UATED, pp. Made perpetual; continued through eternity, or for an indefinite time.

PERPET'UATING, participle present tense Continuing forever or indefinitely.

PERPETUA'TION, noun The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction or oblivion through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time.

PERPETU'ITY, noun [Latin perpetuitas.] Endless duration; continuance to eternity.

1. Continued uninterrupted existence, or duration for an indefinite period of time; as the perpetuity of laws and institutions; the perpetuity of fame.

2. Something of which there will be no end.

PERPHOS'PHATE, noun A phosphate in which the phosphoric acid is combined with an oxyd at the maximum of oxydation.

PERPLEX', verb transitive [Latin perplexus, perplexor; per and plector, to twist; Latin plico, to fold.]

1. To make intricate; to involve; to entangle; to make complicated and difficult to be understood or unraveled.

What was thought obscure, perplexed and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.

2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to tease with suspense, anxiety or ambiguity.

We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind.

We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8.

3. To plague; to vex.

PERPLEX', adjective Intricate; difficult. [Not used.]

PERPLEX'ED, participle passive Made intricate; embarrassed; puzzled.

PERPLEX'EDLY, adverb Intricately; with involution.

PERPLEX'EDNESS, noun Intricacy; difficulty from want of order or precision.

1. Embarrassment of mind from doubt or uncertainty.

PERQUADRISUL'PHATE, noun A sulphate with four proportions of sulphuric acid combined with a maximum oxyd.

PER'QUISITE, noun s as z. [Latin perquisitus, perquiro; per and quoero, to seek.] A fee or pecuniary allowance to an officer for services, beyond his ordinary salary or settled wages; or a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service, in lieu of an annual salary. [The latter is the common acceptation of the word in American.]

PER'QUISITED, adjective Supplied with perquisites. [A bad word and not used.]

PERQUISI'TION, noun s as z. [Latin perquisitus.]

An accurate inquiry or search.

PERROQUET', noun A species of parrot; also, the Alca Psittacula, an aquatic fowl inhabiting the isles of Japan and the western shores of American.

PER'RY, noun The juice of pears, which being clarified by fermentation, is a pleasant drink.

PERSCRUTA'TION, noun [Latin perscrutatio, perscrutor.]

A searching thoroughly; minute search or inquiry.

PER'SECUTE, verb transitive [Latin persequor; per and sequor, to pursue. See Seek and Essay.]

1. In a general sense, to pursue in a manner to injure, vex or afflict; to harass with unjust punishment or penalties for supposed offenses; to inflict pain from hatred or malignity.

2. Appropriately, to afflict, harass, or destroy for adherence to a particular creed or system of religious principles, or to a mode of worship. Thus Nero persecuted the Christians by crucifying some, burning others, and condemning others to be worried by dogs. See Acts 22:4.

3. To harass with solicitations or importunity.

PER'SECUTED, participle passive Harassed by troubles or punishments unjustly inflicted, particularly for religious opinions.

PER'SECUTING, participle present tense Pursuing with enmity or vengeance, particularly for adhering to a particular religion.

PERSECU'TION, noun The act or practice of persecuting; the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles. Historians enumerate ten persecutions suffered by the Christians, beginning with that of Nero, adjective D. 31, and ending with that of Diocletian, adjective D. 303 to 313.

1. The state of being persecuted.

Our necks are under persecution; we labor and have no rest. Lamentations 5:5.

PER'SECUTOR, noun One that persecutes; one that pursues another unjustly and vexatiously, particularly on account of religious principles.

Henry rejected the pope's supremacy, but retained every corruption beside, and became a cruel persecutor

PERSEVE'RANCE, noun [Latin perseverantia. See Persevere.]

1. Persistence in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun; applied alike to good or evil.

Perseverance keeps honor bright.

Patience and perseverance overcome the greatest difficulties.

2. In theology, continuance in a state of grace to a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance

PERSEVE'RANT, adjective Constant in pursuit of an undertaking. [Not used.]

PERSEVE'RE, verb intransitive [Latin persevero. The last component part of this word, severo, must be the same as in assevero, with the radical sense of set, fixed or continued. So persist is formed with per and sisto, to stand. Constant and continue have a like primary sense. So we say, to hold on.]

To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what is undertaken; applied alike to good and evil.

Thrice happy, if they know

Their happiness, and persevere upright!

To persevere in any evil course, makes you unhappy in this life.

PERSEVE'RING, participle present tense Persisting in any business or course begun.

1. adjective Constant in the execution of a purpose or enterprise; as a persevering student.

PERSEVE'RINGLY, adverb With perseverance or continued pursuit of what is undertaken.

PER'SIFLAGE, noun [Latin sibilo, to hiss.] A jeering; ridicule.

PERSIM'MON, noun A tree and its fruit, a species of Diospyros, a native of the states south of New York. The fruit is like a plum, and when not ripe, very astringent.

PERSIST', verb intransitive [Latin persisto; per and sisto, to stand or be fixed.]

To continue steadily and firmly in the pursuit of any business or course commenced; to persevere. [Persist is nearly synonymous with persevere; but persist frequently implies more obstinacy than persevere, particularly in that which is evil or injurious to others.]

If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.

PERSIST'ENCE, noun The state of persisting; steady pursuit of what is undertaken; perseverance in a good or evil course, more generally in that which is evil and injurious to others, or unadvisable.

1. Obstinacy; contumacy.

PERSIST'ENT

PERSIST'ING, adjective In botany, continuing without withering; opposed to marcescent; as a persisting stigma; continuing after the corol is withered, as a persistent calyx; continuing after the leaves drop off, as a persistent stipule; remaining on the plant till the fruit is ripe, or till after the summer is over, as a persistent leaf.

PERSIST'ING, participle present tense Continuing in the prosecution of an undertaking; persevering.

PERSIST'ING, a. In botany, continuing without withering; opposed to marcescent; as a persisting stigma; continuing after the corol is withered, as a persistent calyx; continuing after the leaves drop off, as a persistent stipule; remaining on the plant till the fruit is ripe, or till after the summer is over, as a persistent leaf.

PERSIST'ING, ppr. Continuing in the prosecution of an undertaking; persevering.

PERSIST'IVE, adjective Steady in pursuit; not receding from a purpose or undertaking; persevering.

PERSON, noun per'sn. [Latin persona; said to be compounded of per, through or by, and sonus, sound; a Latin word signifying primarily a mask used by actors on the state.]

1. An individual human being consisting of body and soul. We apply the word to living beings only, possessed of a rational nature; the body when dead is not called a person It is applied alike to a man, woman or child.

A person is a thinking intelligent being.

2. A man, woman or child, considered as opposed to things, or distinct from them.

A zeal for persons is far more easy to be perverted, than a zeal for things.

3. A human being, considered with respect to the living body or corporeal existence only. The form of her person is elegant.

You'll find her person difficult to gain.

The rebels maintained the fight for a small time, and for their persons showed no want of courage.

4. A human being, indefinitely; one; a man. Let a person's attainments be never so great, he should remember he is frail and imperfect.

5. A human being represented in dialogue, fiction, or on the state; character. A player appears in the person of king Lear.

These tables, Cicero pronounced under the person of Crassus, were of more use and authority than all the books of the philosophers.

6. Character of office.

How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the person of a magistrate and that of a friend.

7. In grammar, the nominative to a verb; the agent that performs or the patient that suffers any thing affirmed by a verb; as, I write; he is smitten; she is beloved; the rain descends in torrents. I, thou or you, he, she or it, are called the first, second and third persons. Hence we apply the word person to the termination or modified form of the verb used in connection with the persons; as the first or the third person of the verb; the verb is in the second person

8. In law, an artificial person is a corporation or body politic.

In person by one's self; with bodily presence; not be representative.

The king in person visits all around.

PER'SON, verb transitive To represent as a person; to make to resemble; to image. [Not in use.]

PER'SONABLE, adjective Having a well formed body or person; graceful; of good appearance; as a personable man or woman.

1. In law, enabled to maintain pleas in court.

2. Having capacity to take any thing granted or given.

[The two latter senses, I believe, are little used.]

PER'SONAGE, noun A man or woman of distinction; as an illustrious personage

1. Exterior appearance; stature; air; as a tall personage; a stately personage

2. Character assumed.

The Venetians, naturally grave, love to give in to the follies of such seasons, when disguised in a false personage

3. Character represented.

Some persons must be found, already known in history, whom we may make the actors and personages of this fable.

PER'SONAL, adjective [Latin personalis.] Belonging to men or women, not to things; not real.

Every man so termed by way of personal difference only.

1. Relating to an individual; affecting individuals; peculiar or proper to him or her, or to private actions or character.

The words are conditional; if thou doest well; and so personal to Cain.

Character and success depend more on personal effort than on any external advantages.

So we speak of personal pride, personal reflections.

2. Pertaining to the corporal nature; exterior; corporal; as personal charms or accomplishments.

3. Present in person; not acting by representative; as a personal interview.

The immediate and personal speaking of God almighty to Abraham, Job and Moses.

Personal estate, in law, movables; chattels; things belonging to the person; as money, jewels, furniture, etc. as distinguished from real estate in land and houses.

Personal action, in 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; an action founded on contract or on tort or wrong; as an action on a debt or promise, or an action for a trespass, assault or defamatory words; opposed to real actions, or such as concern real property.

Personal identity, in metaphysics, sameness of being, of which consciousness is the evidence.

Personal verb, in grammar, a verb conjugated in the three persons; thus called in distinction from an impersonal verb, which has the third person only.

PER'SONAL, noun A movable. [Not in use.]

PERSONAL'ITY, noun That which constitutes an individual a distinct person, or that which constitutes individuality.

The personality of an intelligent being extends itself beyond present existence to what is past, only by consciousness--

1. Direct application or applicability to a person; as the personality of a remark.

PER'SONALLY, adverb In person; by bodily presence; not by representative or substitute; as, to be personally present; to deliver a letter personally They personally declared their assent to the measure.

1. With respect to an individual; particularly.

She bore a mortal hatred to the house of Lancaster, and personally to the king.

2. With regard to numerical existence.

The converted man is personally the same he was before.

PER'SONATE, verb transitive To represent by a fictitious or assumed character so as to pass for the person represented.

1. To represent by action or appearance; to assume the character and act the part of another.

2. To pretend hypocritically. [Little used.]

3. To counterfeit; to feign; as a personated devotion.

4. To resemble.

The lofty cedar personates thee.

5. To make a representation of, as in picture.

6. To describe.

7. To celebrate loudly. [Latin persono.] [Not used.]

PER'SONATE, adjective [Latin persona, a mask.] Masked. A personate corol is irregular and closed by a kind of palate; or ringent, but closed between the lips by the palate.

PERSONA'TION, noun The counterfeiting of the person and character of another.

PER'SONATOR, noun One who assumes the character of another.

1. One that acts or performs.

PERSONIFICA'TION, noun [from personify.] The giving to an inanimate being the figure or the sentiments and language of a rational being; prosopopoeia; as, 'confusion heard his voice.'

PERSON'IFIED, participle passive Represented with the attributes of a person.

PERSON'IFY, verb transitive [Latin persona and facio.] To give animation to inanimate objects; to ascribe to an inanimate being the sentiments, actions or language of a rational being or person, or to represent an inanimate being with the affections and actions of a person. Thus we say, the plants thirst for rain.

The trees said to the fig-tree, come thou, and reign over us. Judges 9:1.

PERSON'IFYING, participle present tense Giving to an inanimate being the attributes of a person.

PER'SONIZE, verb transitive To personify. [Not much used.]

PERSPEC'TIVE, adjective [infra.] Pertaining to the science of optics; optical.

1. Pertaining to the art of perspective

PERSPEC'TIVE, noun [Latin perspicio; per and specio, to see.]

1. A glass through which objects are viewed.

2. The art of drawing on a plane surface true resemblances or pictures of objects, as the objects appear to the eye from any distance and situation, real and imaginary; as the rules of perspective

3. A representation of objects in perspective

4. View; vista; as perspectives of pleasant shades.

5. A kind of painting, often seen in gardens and at the end of a gallery, designed expressly to deceive the sight by representing the continuation of an alley, a building, a landscape or the like.

Aerial perspective the art of giving due diminution to the strength of light, shade and colors of objects, according to their distances and the quantity of light falling on them, and to the medium through which they are seen.

PERSPEC'TIVELY, adverb Optically; through a glass; by representation.

PER'SPICABLE, adjective Discernible.

PERSPICA'CIOUS, adjective [Latin perspicax, from perspicio.]

1. Quick sighted; sharp of sight.

2. Of acute discernment.

PERSPICA'CIOUSNESS, noun Acuteness of sight.

PERSPICAC'ITY, noun [Latin perspicacitas.]

1. Acuteness of sight; quickness of sight.

2. Acuteness of discernment or understanding.

PER'SPICACY, noun Acuteness of sight or discernment.

PER'SPICIL, noun [Latin per and speculum, a glass.]

An optic glass. [Little used.]

PERSPICU'ITY, noun [Latin perspicuitas, from perspicio.]

1. Transparency; clearness; that quality of a substance which renders objects visible through it. [Little used.]

2. Clearness to mental vision; easiness to be understood; freedom from obscurity or ambiguity; that quality of writing or language which readily presents to the mind of another the precise ideas of the author. perspicuity is the first excellence of writing or speaking.

PERSPIC'UOUS, adjective [Latin perspicuus.]

Transparent; translucent. [Little used.]

1. Clear to the understanding; that may be clearly understood; not obscure or ambiguous. Language is perspicuous when it readily presents to the reader or hearer the precise ideas which are intended to be expressed. Meaning, sense or signification if perspicuous when it is clearly and easily comprehended.

PERSPIC'UOUSLY, adverb Clearly; plainly; in a manner to be easily understood.

PERSPIC'UOUSNESS, noun Clearness to intellectual vision; plainness; freedom from obscurity.

[We generally apply perspicuous to objects of intellect, and conspicuous to objects of ocular sight.]

PERSPIRABIL'ITY, noun [from perspirable.]

The quality of being perspirable.

PER'SPIRABLE, adjective [from Latin perspiro. See Perspire.]

1. That may be perspired; that may be evacuated through the pores of the skin.

2. Emitting perspiration. [Not proper.]

PERSPIRA'TION, noun [Latin perspiro. See Perspire.]

1. The act of perspiring; excretion by the cuticular pores; evacuation of the fluids of the body through the pores of the skin.

2. Matter perspired.

PER'SPIRATIVE, adjective Performing the act of perspiration.

PER'SPIRATORY, adjective Perspirative.

PERSPI'RE, verb intransitive [Latin per and spiro, to breathe.]

1. To evacuate the fluids of the body through the pores of the skin; as, a person perspires freely.

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

PERSPI'RE, verb intransitive To emit or evacuate through the pores of the skin.

PERSTRINGE, verb transitive perstrinj'. [Latin perstringo; per and stringo, to graze or brush.] To graze; to glance on.

PERSUA'DABLE, adjective [See Persuade.] That may be persuaded.

PERSUA'DABLY, adverb So as to be persuaded.

PERSUA'DE, verb transitive [Latin persuadeo; per and suadeo, to urge or incite.]

1. To influence by argument, advice, intreaty or expostulation; to draw or incline the will to a determination by presenting motives to the mind.

I should be glad, if I could persuade him to write such another critick on any thing of mine.

Almost thou persuadest me to be a christian. Acts 26:26.

2. To convince by argument, or reasons offered; or to convince by reasons suggested by reflection or deliberation, or by evidence presented in any manner to the mind.

Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. Hebrews 6:9.

3. To inculcate by argument or expostulation. [Little used.]

4. To treat by persuasion. [Not in use.]

PERSUA'DED, participle passive Influenced or drawn to an opinion or determination by argument, advice or reasons suggested; convinced; induced.

PERSUA'DER, noun One that persuades or influences another.

1. That which incites.

Hunger and thirst at once.

Powerful persuaders!

PERSUA'DING, participle present tense Influencing by motives presented.

PERSUASIBIL'ITY, noun Capability of being persuaded.

PERSUA'SIBLE, adjective [Latin persuasibilis.]

That may be persuaded or influenced by reasons offered.

PERSUA'SIBLENESS, noun The quality of being influenced by persuasion.

PERSUA'SION, noun s as z. [Latin persuasio.]

1. The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by any thing that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.

For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion

2. The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction proceeding from arguments and reasons offered by others, or suggested by one's own reflections.

When we have no other certainty of being in the right, but our own persuasion that we are so--

3. A creed or belief; or a sect or party adhering to a creed or system of opinions; as men of the same persuasion; all persuasions concur in the measure.

PERSUA'SIVE, adjective Having the power of persuading; influencing the mind or passions; as persuasive eloquence; persuasive evidence.

PERSUA'SIVELY, adverb In such a manner as to persuade or convince.

PERSUA'SIVENESS, noun The quality of having influence on the mind or passions.

PERSUA'SORY, adjective Having the power or tendency to persuade.

PERSUL'PHATE, noun A combination of sulphuric acid with the peroxyd of iron.

PERT, adjective

1. Lively; brisk; smart.

Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth.

On the lawny sands and shelves,

Trip the pert fairies, and the dapper elves.

2. Forward; saucy; bold; indecorously free.

A lady bids me in a very pert manner mind my own affairs--

PERTA'IN, verb intransitive [Latin pertineo, per and tenco, to hold.]

1. To belong; to be the property, right or duty of.

Men hate those who affect honor by ambition, which pertaineth not to them.

He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah. 2 Kings 18:13.

It pertains to the governor to open the ports by proclamation.

2. To have relation to. Acts 1:3.

PERTEREBRA'TION, noun [Latin per and terebratio.]

The act of boring through.

PERT'ERER, noun One that troubles or harasses with vexation.

PERT'ILENCE, noun [Latin pestilentia, from pestilens; pestis, plague.]

1. Plague, appropriately so called; but in a general sense, any contagious or infectious disease that is epidemic and mortal.

2. Corruption or moral disease destructive to happiness.

Profligate habits carry pestilence into the bosom of domestic society.

PERTINA'CIOUS, adjective [Latin pertinax; per and teneo, to hold.]

1. Holding or adhering to any opinion, purpose or design with obstinacy; obstinate; perversely resolute or persistent; as pertinacious in opinion; a man of pertinacious confidence.

2. Resolute; firm; constant; steady.

Diligence is a steady, constant, pertinacious study--

[This word often implies a censurable degree of firmness of constancy, like obstinacy.

PERTINA'CIOUSLY, adverb Obstinately; with firm or perverse adherence to opinion or purpose. He pertinaciously maintains his first opinions.

PERTINA'CIOUSNESS

PERTINAC'ITY, noun [Latin pertinacia.] Firm or unyielding adherence to opinion or purpose; obstinacy. He pursues his scheme with pertinacity.

1. Resolution; constancy.

PERTINAC'ITY, n. [L. pertinacia.] Firm or unyielding adherence to opinion or purpose; obstinacy. He pursues his scheme with pertinacity.

PER'TINACY, noun [supra.] Obstinacy; stubbornness; persistency; resolution; steadiness. [Little used.]

PER'TINENCE

PER'TINENCY, noun [Latin pertinens, pertineo; per and teneo, to hold.]

Justness of relation to the subject or matter in hand; fitness; appositeness; suitableness.

I have shown the fitness and pertinency of the apostle's discourse to the person he addressed.

PER'TINENCY, n. [L. pertinens, pertineo; per and teneo, to hold.]

Justness of relation to the subject or matter in hand; fitness; appositeness; suitableness.

PER'TINENT, adjective [Latin pertinens.] Related to the subject or matter in

hand; just to the purpose; adapted to the end proposed; apposite; not foreign to the thing intended. We say, he used an argument not pertinent to his subject or design. The discourse abounds with pertinent remarks. He gave pertinent answers to the questions.

1. Regarding; concerning; belonging. [Little used.]

PER'TINENTLY, adverb Appositely; to the purpose. He answered pertinently

PER'TINENTNESS, noun Appositeness.

PERTIN'GENT, adjective [Latin pertingens.] Reaching to.

PERT'LY, adverb Briskly; smartly; with prompt boldness.

1. Saucily; with indecorous confidence or boldness.

PERT'NESS, noun Briskness; smartness.

1. Sauciness; forward promptness or boldness; implying less than effrontery or impudence.

Pertness and ignorance may ask a question in three lines, which it will cost learning and ingenuity thirty pages to answer.

2. Petty liveliness; sprightliness without force, dignity or solidity.

There is in Shaftsbury's works a lively pertness and a parade of literature.

PERTURB'

PER'TURBATE, verb transitive [Latin perturbo; per and turbo, properly to turn, or to stir by turning.]

1. To disturb; to agitate; to disquiet.

2. To disorder; to confuse.

[This verb is little used. The participle is in use.]

PER'TURBATE, v.t. [L. perturbo; per and turbo, properly to turn, or to stir by turning.]

PERTURBA'TION, noun [Latin perturbatio.]

1. Disquiet or agitation of mind.

2. Restlessness of passions; great uneasiness.

3. Disturbance; disorder; commotion in public affairs.

4. Disturbance of passions; commotion of spirit.

5. Cause of disquiet.

O polished perturbation golden care!

PERTURBA'TOR

PERTURB'ED, participle passive Disturbed; agitated; disquieted.

Rest, rest, perturbed spirit.

PERTURB'ED, pp. Disturbed; agitated; disquieted.

PERTURB'ER, noun One that disturbs or raises commotion. [Little used.]

PERTU'SE

PERTU'SED, adjective [Latin pertusus, pertundo; per and tundo, to beat.]

1. Punched; pierced with holes.

2. In botany, full of hollow dots on the surface, as a leaf.

PERTU'SED, a. [L. pertusus, pertundo; per and tundo, to beat.]

PERTU'SION, noun s as z. [Latin pertusus, pertundo.]

1. The act of punching, piercing or thrusting through with a pointed instrument.

The manner of opening a vein in Hippocrates's time, was by stabbing or pertusion

2. A little hole made by punching; a perforation.

PERU'KE, noun An artificial cap of hair; a periwig.

PERU'RIOUSNESS, noun Parsimony; a sordid disposition to save money.

1. Scantiness; not plenty.

PERU'SAL, noun s as z. [from peruse.] The act of reading.

This treatise requires application in the perusal

1. Careful view or examination. [Unusual.]

PERU'SE, verb transitive s as z. [Some of the senses of this word would lead to the inference that it is from the Latin perviso. If not, I know not its origin.]

1. To read, or to read with attention.

2. To observe; to examine with careful survey.

I have perus'd her well.

Myself I then perus'd, and limb by limb

Survey'd.

PERU'SED, participle passive Read; observed; examined.

PERU'SER, noun One that reads or examines.

PERU'SING, participle present tense Reading; examining.

PERU'VIAN, adjective Pertaining to Peru, in South America.

Peruvian bark, the bark of the Cinchona, a tree of Peru; called also Jesuits' bark. The taste is bitter and pungent, and it is used as an astringent and tonic, in cases of debility, and particularly as a febrifuge in intermittents.

PERVA'DE, verb transitive [Latin pervado; per and vado, to go; Eng. to wade.]

1. To pass through an aperture, pore or interstice; to permeate; as liquors that pervade the pores.

2. To pass or spread through the whole extent of a thing and into every minute part.

What but God

Pervades, adjusts and agitates the whole?

3. We use this verb in a transitive form to express a passive or an intransitive signification. Thus when we say, 'the electric fluid pervades the earth, ' or 'either pervades the universe, ' we mean only that the fluid is diffused through the earth or universe, or exists in all parts of them. So when we say, 'a spirit of conciliation pervades all classes of men, ' we may mean that such a spirit passes through all classes, or it exists among all classes.

PERVA'DED, participle passive Passed through; permeated; penetrated in every part.

PERVA'DING, participle present tense Passing through or extending to every part of a thing.

PERVA'SION, noun s as z. The act of pervading or passing through the whole extent of a thing.

PERVERSE, adjective pervers'. [Latin perversus. See Pervert.]

1. Literally, turned aside; hence, distorted from the right.

2. Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be contrary; stubborn; untractable.

To so perverse a sex all grace is vain.

3. Cross; petulant; peevish; disposed to cross and vex.

I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay.

PERVERSELY, adverb pervers'ly. With intent to vex; crossly; peevishly; obstinately in the wrong.

PERVERSENESS, noun pervers'ness. Disposition to cross or vex; untractableness; crossness of temper; a disposition uncomplying, unaccommodating or acting in opposition to what is proper or what is desired by others.

Her whom he wishes most, shall seldom gain

Through her perverseness

1. Perversion. [Not used.]

PERVER'SION, noun [Latin perversus.] The act of perverting; a turning from truth or propriety; a diverting from the true intent or object; change to something worse. We speak of the perversion of the laws, when they are misinterpreted or misapplied; a perversion of reason, when it is misemployed; a perversion of Scripture, when it is willfully misinterpreted or misapplied, etc.

PERVERS'ITY, noun Perverseness; crossness; disposition to thwart or cross.

PERVERS'IVE, adjective Tending to pervert or corrupt.

PERVERT', verb transitive [Latin perverto; per and verto, to turn.]

1. To turn from truth, propriety, or from its proper purpose; to distort from its true use or end; as, to pervert reason by misdirecting it; to pervert the laws by misinterpreting and misapplying them; to pervert justice; to pervert the meaning of an author; to pervert nature; to pervert truth.

2. To turn from the right; to corrupt.

He in the serpent had perverted Eve.

PERVERT'ED, participle passive Turned from right to wrong; distorted; corrupted; misinterpreted; misemployed.

PERVERT'ER, noun One that perverts or turns from right to wrong; one that distorts, misinterprets or misapplies.

PERVERT'IBLE, adjective That may be perverted.

PERVERT'ING, participle present tense Turning from right to wrong; distorting; misinterpreting; misapplying; corrupting.

[Pervert, when used of persons, usually implies evil design.]

PERVES'TIGATE, verb transitive [Latin pervestigo; per and vestigo, to trace; vestigium, a track.] To find out by research.

PERVESTIGA'TION, noun Diligent inquiry; thorough research.

PERVICA'CIOUS, adjective [Latin pervicax; composed perhaps of per and Teutonic wigan, to strive or contend.]

Very obstinate; stubborn; willfully contrary or refractory.

PERVICA'CIOUSLY, adverb With willful obstinacy.

PERVICA'CIOUSNESS

PERVICAC'ITY, noun Stubbornness; willful obstinacy. [Little used.]

PERVICAC'ITY , n. Stubbornness; willful obstinacy. [Little used.]

PER'VIOUS, adjective [Latin pervius; per and via, way, or from the root of that word.]

1. Admitting passage; that may be penetrated by another body or substance; permeable; penetrable. We say, glass is pervious to light; a porous stone is pervious to water; a wood is pervious or not pervious to a body of troops.

A country pervious to the arms and authority of the conqueror.

2. That may be penetrated by the mental sight.

By darkness they mean God, whose secrets are pervious to no eye.

3. Pervading; permeating; as pervious fire. [Not proper.]

PER'VIOUSNESS, noun The quality of admitting passage or of being penetrated; as the perviousness of glass to light.

PESA'DE, noun The motion of a horse when he raises his fore quarters, keeping his hind feet on the ground without advancing.

PE'SO, noun [supra.] A Spanish coin weighing an ounce; a piaster; a piece of eight.

PES'SARY, noun [Latin pessus.] A solid substance composed of wool, lint or linen, mixed with powder, oil, wax, etc. made round and long like a finger, to be introduced into the neck of the matrix for the cure of some disorder.instrument that is introduced into the vagina to support the uterus. It is made of wood, elastic gum, waxed linen, etc.

PEST, noun [Latin pestis; Heb. to be fetid.]

1. Plague; pestilence; a fatal epidemic disease.

Let fierce Achilles

The god propitiate, and the pest assuage.

2. Any thing very noxious, mischievous or destructive. The tale bearer, the gambler, the libertine, the drunkard, are pests to society.

Of all virtues justice is the best;

Valor without it is a common pest

PEST'ER, verb transitive To trouble; to disturb; to annoy; to harass with little vexations.

We are pestered with mice and rats.

A multitude of scribblers daily pester the world with their insufferable stuff.

1. To encumber.

PEST'ERED, participle passive Troubled; disturbed; annoyed.

PEST'ERING, participle present tense Troubling; disturbing.

PEST'EROUS, adjective Encumbering; burdensome. [Little used.]

PEST'HOUSE, noun A house or hospital for persons infected with any contagious and mortal disease.

PESTIF'EROUS, adjective [Latin pestis, plague, and fero, to produce.]

1. Pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious.

2. Noxious to peace, to morals or to society; mischievous; destructive.

3. Troublesome; vexatious.

PEST'ILENT, adjective [Latin pestilens, from pestis, plague.]

1. Producing the plague, or other malignant, contagious disease; noxious to health and life; as a pestilent air or climate.

2. Mischievous; noxious to morals or society; destructive; in a general sense; as pestilent books.

3. Troublesome; mischievous; making disturbance; corrupt; as a pestilent fellow. Acts 24:5.

PESTILEN'TIAL, adjective Partaking of the nature of the plague or other infectious disease; as a pestilential fever.

1. Producing or tending to produce infectious disease; as pestilential vapors.

2. Mischievous; destructive; pernicious.

PEST'ILENTLY, adverb Mischievously; destructively.

PESTILLA'TION, noun [from Latin pistillum; Eng. pestle.]

The act of pounding and bruising in a mortar. [Little used.]

PESTLE, noun pes'l. [Latin pistillum, and probably pinso, for piso, to pound or beat.] An instrument for pounding and breaking substances in a mortar.

PESTLE of port, a gammon of bacon.

PET, noun [This word may be contracted from petulant, or belong to the root of that word. Peevish, which is evidently a contracted word, may be from the same root.]

A slight fit of peevishness or fretful discontent.

Life given for noble purposes must not be thrown away in a pet nor whined away in love.

PET, noun [formerly peat. Latin peto.]

1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.

2. A fondling; any little animal fondled and indulged.

PET, verb transitive To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge.

PE'TAL, noun [Gr. to expand; Latin pateo.] In botany, a flower leaf. In flowers of one petal the corol and petal are the same. In flowers of several petals, the corol is the whole, and the petals are the parts, or the petal is one of the leaves of which the whole corol is composed.

PET'ALED

PET'ALINE, adjective Pertaining to a petal; attached to a petal; as a petaline nectary.

PET'ALINE, a. Pertaining to a petal; attached to a petal; as a petaline nectary.

PET'ALISM, noun [Gr. See Petal.] A form of sentence among the ancient Syracusans, by which they proscribed a citizen whose wealth or popularity alarmed their jealousy, or who was suspected of aspiring to sovereign power; temporary proscription, or banishment for five years. The mode was to give their votes by writing his name on a leaf. petalism in Syracuse answered to ostracism in Athens.

PET'ALITE, noun [Gr. a leaf.] A rare mineral occurring in masses, having a foliated structure; its color milk white or shaded with gray, red or green. The new alkali, lithia, was first discovered in this mineral.

PET'ALOID, adjective [petal and Gr. form.] Having the form of petals.

PET'ALOUS, adjective Having petals; as a petaled flower; opposed to apetalous. This word is much used in compounds; as one-petaled; three petaled.

PET'ARD, noun An engine of war made of metal, nearly in the shape of a hat, to be loaded with powder and fixed on a madrier or plank, and used to break gates, barricades, draw-bridges and the like, by explosion.

PETE'CHIAE, noun Purple spots which appear on the skin in malignant fevers.

PETE'CHIAL, adjective Spotted. A petechial fever is a malignant fever accompanied with purple spots on the skin.

COMPETENCE, PETENCY, noun

1. Sufficiency; such a quantity as is sufficient; property or means of subsistence sufficient to furnish the necessaries and conveniences of life, without superfluity.

Reasons whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,

Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence.

2. Sufficiency, applied to other things than property; but this application is less common.

3. Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; as the competence of a witness, which consists in his having the qualifications required by law, as age, soundness of mind, impartiality, etc.

4. Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of a cause; as the competence of a judge or court to examine and decide.

5. Fitness; adequacy; suitableness; legal sufficiency; as the competency of evidence.

PETER

PET'EREL

PE'TERPENCE, noun A tax or tribute formerly paid by the English people to the pope; being a penny for every house, payable at Lammas day. It was called also Romescot.

PET'EREL

PE'TERWORT, noun A plant.

PET'IOLAR

PET'IOLARY, adjective Pertaining to a petiole, or proceeding from it; as a petiolar tendril.

1. Formed from a petiole; as a petiolar bud.

2. Growing on a petiole; as a petiolar gland.

PET'IOLARY, a. Pertaining to a petiole, or proceeding from it; as a petiolar tendril.

PET'IOLATE

PET'IOLE, noun [Latin petiolus, probably a diminutive from pes, pedis.]

In botany, a leaf-stalk; the foot-stalk of a leaf.

PET'IOLE, n. [L. petiolus, probably a diminutive from pes, pedis.]

In botany, a leaf-stalk; the foot-stalk of a leaf.

PET'IOLED, adjective Growing on a petiole; as a petiolate leaf.

PETIT, adjective pet'ty. Small; little; mean.

This word petit is now generally written petty.

PETIT constable, an inferior civil officer subordinate to the high constable.

PETIT jury, a jury of twelve freeholders who are empanneled to try causes at the bar of a court; so called in distinction from the grand jury, which tries the truth of indictments.

PETIT larceny, the stealing of goods of the value of twelve pence, or under that amount; opposed to grand larceny.

serjeanty, in English law, the tenure of lands of the king, by the service of rendering to him annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, lance, etc.

PETIT treason, the crime of killing a person, to whom the offender owes duty or subjection. Thus it is petit treason for a wife to kill her husband, or a servant his lord or master.

PETI'TION, noun [Latin petitio, from peto, to ask, properly to urge or press.]

1. In a general sense, a request, supplication or prayer; but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication; a prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired, or a branch or particular article of prayer.

2. A formal request or supplication, verbal or written; particularly, a written supplication from an inferior to a superior, either to a single person clothed with power, or to a legislative or other body, soliciting some favor, grant, right or mercy.

3. The paper containing a supplication or solicitation. Much of the time of our legislative bodies is consumed in attending to private petitions. The speaker's table is often loaded with petitions. Petitions to the king of Great Britain must contain nothing reflecting on the administration.

PETI'TION, verb transitive To make a request to; to ask from; to solicit; particularly, to make supplication to a superior for some favor or right; as, to petition the legislature; to petition a court of chancery.

The mother petitioned her goddess to bestow on them the greatest gift that could be given.

PETI'TIONARILY, adverb By way of begging the question.

PETI'TIONARY, adjective Supplicatory; coming with a petition.

Pardon thy petitionary countrymen.

1. Containing a petition or request; as a petitionary prayer; a petitionary epistle.

PETI'TIONER, noun One that presents a petition, either verbal or written.

PETI'TIONING, participle present tense Asking as a favor, grant, right or mercy; supplicating.

PETI'TIONING, noun The act of asking or soliciting; solicitation; supplication. Tumultuous petitioning is made penal by statute.

PET'ITORY, adjective Petitioning; soliciting. [Not used.]

PETONG', noun The Chinese name of a species of copper of a white color. It is sometimes confounded with tutenag.

PETRE, [See Saltpeter.]

PETRE'AN, adjective [Latin petra, a rock.] Pertaining to rock or stone.

PET'REL, noun An aquatic fowl of the genus Procellaria.

PETRES'CENCE, noun The process of changing into stone.

PETRES'CENT, adjective [Gr. a stone; Latin petra.]

Converting into stone; changing into stony hardness.

PETRIFAC'TION, noun [See Petrify.] The process of changing into stone; the conversion of wood or any animal or vegetable substance into stone or a body of stony hardness.

When the water in which wood is lodged is slightly impregnated with petrescent particles, the petrifaction very slowly takes place.

1. That which is converted from animal or vegetable substance into stone.

--The calcarious petrifaction called osteocolla.

An organized body rendered hard by depositions of stony matter in its cavities.

2. In popular usage, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation.

PETRIFAC'TIVE, adjective Pertaining to petrifaction.

1. Having power to convert vegetable or animal substances into stone.

PETRIF'IC, adjective Having power to convert into stone.

The cold, dry, petrific mace of a false and unfeeling philosophy.

PET'RIFICATE, verb transitive To petrify. [Not used.]

PETRIFICA'TION, noun The process of petrifying.

1. That which is petrified; a petrifaction.

[The latter word is generally used.]

2. Obduracy; callousness.

PET'RIFIED, participle passive Changed into stone.

1. Fixed in amazement.

PET'RIFY, verb transitive [Latin petra; Gr. a stone or rock, and facio, to make.]

1. To convert to stone or stony substance; as an animal or vegetable substance.

North of Quito, there is a river that petrifies any sort of wood or leaves.

2. To make callous or obdurate; as, to petrify the heart.

And petrify a genius to a dunce.

3. To fix; as, to petrify one with astonishment.

PET'RIFY, verb intransitive To become stone, or of a stony hardness, as animal or vegetable substances by means of calcarious or other depositions in their cavities.

PET'RIFYING, participle present tense Converting into stone; as petrifying operation.

PE'TROL

PETRO'LEUM, noun [Gr. a stone, and oil; quasi petrolaion.]

Rock oil, a liquid inflammable substance or bitumen exuding from the earth and collected on the surface of the water in wells, in various parts of the world, or oozing from cavities in rocks. This is essentially composed of carbon and hydrogen.

PET'RONEL, noun A horseman's pistol.

PET'ROSILEX, noun [Latin petra, Gr. a stone, and silex, flint.]

Rock stone; rock flint, or compact feldspar.

PETROSILI'CIOUS, adjective Consisting of petrosilex; as petrosilicious breccias.

PE'TROUS, adjective [Latin petra, a stone.] Like stone; hard; stony.

PET'TICOAT, noun A garment worn by females and covering the lower limbs.

PET'TIFOG, verb intransitive [Latin voco, like advocate.]

To do small business; as a lawyer. [Vulgar.]

PET'TIFOGGER, noun An inferior attorney or lawyer who is employed in small or mean business.

PET'TIFOGGERY, noun The practice of a pettifogger; tricks; quibbles.

PET'TINESS, noun [from petty.] Smallness; littleness.

PET'TISH, adjective [from pet.] Fretful; peevish; subject to freaks of ill temper.

PET'TISHLY, adverb In a pet; with a freak of ill temper.

PET'TISHNESS, adjective Fretfulness; petulance; peevishness.

PET'TITOES, noun [petty and toes.] The toes or feet of a pig; sometimes used for the human feet in contempt.

PET'TO, noun [Latin pectus, the breast.]

The breast; hence, in petto in secrecy; in reserve.

PET'TY, adjective Small; little; trifling; inconsiderable; as a petty trespass; a petty crime.

1. Inferior; as a petty prince.

We usually write petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason. [See Petit.]

PET'TYCHAPS, noun A small bird of the genus Motacilla, called also beambird; found in the north of Europe.

The beambird is the spotted fly-catcher, of the genus Muscicapa.

PET'TYCOY, noun An herb.

PET'ULANCE'ULANCY, noun [Latin petulantia.] Freakish passion; peevishness; pettishness; sauciness. Peevishness is not precisely synonymous with petulance; the former implying more permanence of a sour, fretful temper; the latter more temporary or capricious irritation.

That which looked like pride in some, and petulance in others.

The pride and petulance of youth.

PET'ULANT, adjective [Latin petulans.] Saucy; pert or forward with fretfulness or sourness of temper; as a petulant youth.

1. Manifesting petulance; proceeding from pettishness; as a petulant demand; a petulant answer.

2. Wanton; freakish in passion.

PET'ULANTLY, adverb With petulance; with saucy pertness.

PETUNSE

PETUNTSE

PETUNTZE, noun petuns'. Porcelain clay so called, used by the Chinese in the manufacture of porcelain or chinaware. It is a variety of feldspar.

PETUNTSE

PETUNTZE, n. petuns'. Porcelain clay so called, used by the Chinese in the manufacture of porcelain or chinaware. It is a variety of feldspar.

PEW, noun [Latin podium.] An inclosed seat in a church. Pews were formerly made square; in modern churches in America they are generally long and narrow, and sometimes called slips.

PEW, verb transitive To furnish with pews. [Little used.]

PE'WET, noun An aquatic fowl, the sea crow or mire crow, of the genus Larus.

1. The lapwing.

PEW'TER, noun

1. A composition or factitious metal, consisting of tin and lead, or tin, lead and brass, in the proportions of a hundred pounds of tin to fifteen of lead, and six of brass. This was formerly in extensive use in domestic utensils or vessels; but being a soft composition and easily melted, is now less used.

2. Vessels or utensils made of pewter; as plates, dishes, porringers and the like.

PEW'TERER, noun One whose occupation is to make vessels and utensils of pewter.