Perdendo
Perdendo, per-den′dō, adj. (mus.) dying away.—Also Perden′dosi. [It.]
English · e-38699-2612 · brief source recordHistorical source · 1908
Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 107
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Page 107 of 179Perdie
Perdie, Perdy, pėr′di, adv.=Pardieu.
English · e-38699-2613 · brief source recordPerdition
Perdition, per-dish′un, n. utter loss or ruin: the utter loss of happiness in a future state.—n. Per′dita, a lost woman.—adj. Perdi′tionable. [Fr.,—L. perditio—perdĕre, perditum—per, entirely, dăre, to put.]
English · e-38699-2614Perdu
Perdu, Perdue, per-dū′, adj. lost to view: concealed: being on a forlorn hope or on a desperate enterprise: reckless.—n. (Shak.) one lying in concealment or ambush: one on a forlorn hope. [Fr., pa.p. of perdre, to lose—L
English · e-38699-2615Perduellion
Perduellion, per-dū-el′i-on, n. treason. [L.]
English · e-38699-2616 · brief source recordPerdurable
Perdurable, per′dū-ra-bl, adj. (Shak.) very durable, long continued.—ns. Perdurabil′ity, Perdū′rance, Perdurā′tion.—adv. Perdū′rably (Shak.), very durably: everlastingly.—v.i. Perdure′, to last for a very long time. [L.
English · e-38699-2617Peregal
Peregal, per′e-gal, adj. fully equal.—n. equal.
English · e-38699-2618 · brief source recordPeregrinate
Peregrinate, per′ē-gri-nāt, v.i. to travel through the country: to travel about from place to place: to live in a foreign country.—adj. foreign.—ns. Peregrinā′tion, act of peregrinating or travelling about; Per′egrinātor
English · e-38699-2619Pereion
Pereion, pe-rī′on, n. the thorax in crustacea:—pl. Perei′a.—n. Perei′opod, one of the true thoracic limbs of a crustacean. [Gr. periiōn, pr.p. of periienai, to go about.]
English · e-38699-2620Perelle
Perelle, pe-rel′, n. Same as Parella.
English · e-38699-2621 · brief source recordPeremptory
Peremptory, per′emp-tō-ri, adj. preventing debate: authoritative: dogmatical: final, determinate: fully resolved or determined: that must be done.—adv. Per′emptorily.—n. Per′emptoriness. [Fr.,—L. peremptorius—perimĕre, p
English · e-38699-2622Perennial
Perennial, pe-ren′i-al, adj. lasting through the year: perpetual: never failing: growing constantly: (bot.) lasting more than two years: of insects, living more than one year.—n. a plant which lives more than two years.—
English · e-38699-2623Perennibranchiate
Perennibranchiate, pe-ren-i-brang′ki-āt, adj. having perennial branchiæ or gills.—Also Perenn′ibranch.
English · e-38699-2624 · brief source recordPerfect
Perfect, pėr′fekt, adj. done thoroughly or completely: completed: without blemish, fault, or error: having neither too much nor too little: entire, very great: in the highest degree: possessing every moral excellence: co
English · e-38699-2625Perfervid
Perfervid, per-fer′vid, adj. very fervid: very hot or eager.—n. Perfer′vidness.—Perfervidum ingenium, a very ardent disposition. [L. perfervidus, præfervidus—præ, before, fervidus, fervid.]
English · e-38699-2626Perficient
Perficient, pėr-fish′ent, adj. effectual.—n. one who does a lasting work, esp. who endows a charity.
English · e-38699-2627 · brief source recordPerfidious
Perfidious, per-fid′i-us, adj. faithless: unfaithful: basely violating trust: treacherous.—adv. Perfid′iously.—ns. Perfid′iousness, Per′fidy, treachery. [L. perfidiosus—perfidia, faithlessness.]
English · e-38699-2628Perfoliate
Perfoliate, -d, per-fō′li-āt, -ed, adj. (bot.) having the stem as it were passing through the blade—of a leaf: having the leaf round the stem at the base: (zool.) surrounded by a circle of hairs, &c., taxicorn. [L. per,
English · e-38699-2629Perforate
Perforate, pėr′fō-rāt, v.t. to bore through: to pierce: to make a hole through.—adj. Per′forable, capable of being perforated.—n. Per′forans, the long flexor muscle of the toes, or the deep flexor muscle of the fingers.—
English · e-38699-2630Perforce
Perforce, per-fōrs′, adv. by force: of necessity.
English · e-38699-2631 · brief source recordPerform
Perform, per-form′, v.t. to do thoroughly: to carry out: to achieve: to act, as on the stage.—v.i. to do: to act a part: to play, as on a musical instrument.—adj. Perfor′mable, capable of being performed: practicable.—ns
English · e-38699-2632Perfume
Perfume, pėr′fūm, or pėr-fūm′, n. sweet-smelling smoke: sweet scent: anything which yields a sweet odour.—v.t. (pėr-fūm′) to fill with a pleasant odour: to scent.—adj. Perfū′matory, yielding perfume.—ns. Per′fume-foun′ta
English · e-38699-2633Perfunctory
Perfunctory, per-fungk′tō-ri, adj. done merely as a duty to be passed over: performed carelessly or without interest: negligent: slight.—adv. Perfunc′torily, in a careless, half-hearted manner: without zeal or interest.—
English · e-38699-2634Perfuse
Perfuse, per-fūz′, v.t. to pour through or over.—n. Perfū′sion.—adj. Perfū′sive, sprinkling, or tending to sprinkle. [L. perfusus, poured over—per, through, fundĕre, to pour.]
English · e-38699-2635Pergameneous
Pergameneous, per-ga-mē′nē-us, adj. thin and parchment-like in texture.—adj. Pergamentā′ceous, parchment-like. [L. pergamena, parchment.]
English · e-38699-2636Pergola
Pergola, per′gō-la, n. an arbour, a balcony.—Also Per′gula. [It.,—L. pergula, a shed.]
English · e-38699-2637 · brief source recordPergunnah
Pergunnah, pėr-gun′a, n. a sub-division of a zillah or district in India.—Also Pargan′a. [Hind.]
English · e-38699-2638 · brief source recordPerhaps
Perhaps, per-haps′, adv. it may be: possibly.
English · e-38699-2639 · brief source recordPeri
Peri, pē′ri, n. in Persian mythology, a female elf or fairy, represented as descended from the fallen angels. [Fr. péri—Pers. parī, a fairy.]
English · e-38699-2640Periagua
Periagua, per-i-ä′gwä, n. a canoe hollowed out of a single trunk, a dug-out: a vessel made by cutting a canoe in two lengthwise and inserting a large plank: a large keelless flat-bottomed boat for shoal-water navigation,
English · e-38699-2641Periaktos
Periaktos, per-i-ak′tos, n. in the ancient Greek theatre a tall prism-shaped frame or screen at the side entrances, each carrying three scenes changed by turning the frames. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-2642Perianth
Perianth, per′i-anth, n. the floral envelope where the calyx and corolla are not easily distinguished. [Gr. peri, around, anthos, a flower.]
English · e-38699-2643Periapt
Periapt, per′i-apt, n. (Shak.) an amulet. [Gr. periapton, something hung round, peri, about, aptos—aptein, to fasten.]
English · e-38699-2644 · brief source recordPeriaxial
Periaxial, per-i-ak′si-al, adj. surrounding an axis.
English · e-38699-2645 · brief source recordPeriblast
Periblast, per′i-blast, n. the protoplasm about the nucleus of a cell.—adj. Periblast′ic. [Gr. peri, about, blastos, a germ.]
English · e-38699-2646Peribolos
Peribolos, pe-rib′o-los, n. a court enclosed by a wall, esp. one containing a temple or a church, the whole outer enclosure of sanctuary or refuge. [Gr. peribolos, encircling—peri, around, ballein, to throw.]
English · e-38699-2647Pericardium
Pericardium, per-i-kär′di-um, n. (anat.) the bag or sac composed of two layers which surrounds the heart.—adjs. Pericar′diac, Pericar′dial, Pericar′dian.—n. Pericardī′tis, inflammation of the pericardium. [Late L.,—Gr. p
English · e-38699-2648Pericarp
Pericarp, per′i-kärp, n. (bot.) the covering, shell, or rind of fruits: a seed-vessel.—adj. Pericarp′ial. [Gr. perikarpion—peri, around, karpos, fruit.]
English · e-38699-2649Pericentral
Pericentral, per-i-sen′tral, adj. surrounding a central body.—adj. Pericen′tric.
English · e-38699-2650 · brief source recordPerichondrium
Perichondrium, per-i-kon′dri-um, n. the fibrous investment of cartilage. [Gr. peri, about, chondros, cartilage.]
English · e-38699-2651 · brief source recordPericlase
Periclase, per′i-klāz, n. a rare mineral consisting of magnesia with a little iron protoxide. [Gr. peri, about, klasis, fracture.]
English · e-38699-2652Periclean
Periclean, per-i-klē′an, adj. of Pericles (died 429 B.C.) or the golden age of art and letters at Athens.
English · e-38699-2653 · brief source recordPericope
Pericope, pē-rik′ō-pē, n. an extract, esp. the selections from the epistles and gospels for the Sundays of the year. [Gr. peri, around, koptein, to cut.]
English · e-38699-2654Pericranium
Pericranium, per-i-krā′ni-um, n. (anat.) the membrane that surrounds the cranium.—adj. Pericrā′nial.—n. Per′icrāny (obs.), the skull. [Late L.,—Gr. perikranion—peri, around, kranion, the skull.]
English · e-38699-2655Periculum
Periculum, pē-rik′ū-lum, n. (Scots law) a risk:—pl. Peric′ula. [L.]
English · e-38699-2656 · brief source recordPericystitis
Pericystitis, per-i-sis-tī′tis, n. inflammation around the bladder. [Gr. peri, around, kystis, the bladder.]
English · e-38699-2657 · brief source recordPeridental
Peridental, per-i-den′tal, adj. surrounding the teeth.
English · e-38699-2658 · brief source recordPeriderm
Periderm, per′i-derm, n. the hard integument of some tubularian hydromedusans: (bot.) the outer bark.—adj. Per′idermal. [Gr. peri, about, derma, skin.]
English · e-38699-2659Peridesmium
Peridesmium, per-i-des′mi-um, n. (anat.) the areolar tissue round a ligament. [Gr. peri, around, desmos, a band.]
English · e-38699-2660 · brief source recordPeridium
Peridium, pē-rid′i-um, n. the outer coat of a sporophore in angiocarpous fungi.—adj. Perid′ial.—n. Peridī′olum (bot.), an inner peridium inside of which the hymenium is formed. [Gr. pēridion, dim. of pēra, a wallet.]
English · e-38699-2661Peridotite
Peridotite, per′i-dō-tīt, n. rock mainly composed of olivine.—n. Per′idot, chrysolite.—adj. Peridot′ic.
English · e-38699-2662 · brief source recordPeridrome
Peridrome, per′i-drōm, n. the space between the inner cell or chamber and the surrounding pillars in an ancient temple. [Gr. peridromos, running round—peri, around, dromos, a race.]
English · e-38699-2663Periegesis
Periegesis, per-i-ē-jē′sis, n. a progress or journey through. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-2664 · brief source recordPerienteron
Perienteron, per-i-en′te-ron, n. the primitive perivisceral cavity.—adj. Perienter′ic. [Gr. peri, about, enteron, an intestine.]
English · e-38699-2665Perifibrum
Perifibrum, per-i-fī′brum, n. the membraneous covering of the spicules and fibre of sponges.
English · e-38699-2666 · brief source recordPeriganglionic
Periganglionic, per-i-gang-gli-on′ik, adj. surrounding a ganglion.
English · e-38699-2667 · brief source recordPerigastric
Perigastric, per-i-gas′trik, adj. surrounding the alimentary canal.
English · e-38699-2668 · brief source recordPerigee
Perigee, per′i-jē, n. (astron.) the point of the moon's orbit at which it is nearest the earth—opp. to Apogee.—adjs. Perigē′al, Perigē′an. [Gr. peri, near, gē, the earth.]
English · e-38699-2669Perigenesis
Perigenesis, per-i-jen′e-sis, n. wave-generation, the dynamic theory of reproduction by a kind of wave-motion of plastidules.
English · e-38699-2670Periglottis
Periglottis, per-i-glot′is, n. the epidermis of the tongue.—adj. Periglott′ic.
English · e-38699-2671 · brief source recordPerigone
Perigone, per′i-gōn, n. (bot.) the same as Perianth—also Perigō′nium.—adj. Perigō′nial. [Gr. peri, about, gonē, seed.]
English · e-38699-2672 · brief source recordPerigraph
Perigraph, per′i-graf, n. an inaccurate delineation of anything.—adj. Perigraph′ic.
English · e-38699-2673 · brief source recordPerigynous
Perigynous, per-ij′i-nus, adj. (bot.) denoting flowers which have the petals and stamens growing on the calyx, or around the pistil.—n. Perigyn′ium. [Gr. peri, about, gynē, a female.]
English · e-38699-2674Perihelion
Perihelion, per-i-hē′li-on, n. the point of the orbit of a planet or a comet at which it is nearest to the sun—opp. to Aphelion.—Also Perihē′lium. [Gr. peri, near, hēlios, the sun.]
English · e-38699-2675Perihepatic
Perihepatic, per-i-hē-pat′ik, adj. surrounding the liver.
English · e-38699-2676 · brief source recordPeril
Peril, per′il, n. danger: a source of danger: exposure to danger.—v.t. to expose to danger:—pr.p. per′illing; pa.t. and pa.p. per′illed.—adj. Per′ilous, full of peril: dangerous.—adv. Per′ilously.—n. Per′ilousness. [Fr.
English · e-38699-2677Perilymph
Perilymph, per′i-limf, n. the fluid which surrounds the membraneous labyrinth of the ear.
English · e-38699-2678 · brief source recordPerimeter
Perimeter, pē-rim′e-tėr, n. (geom.) the circuit or boundary of any plane figure, or the sum of all its sides: an instrument for measuring the area over which a person can see distinctly.—adjs. Perimet′ric, -al, pertainin
English · e-38699-2679Perimorph
Perimorph, per′i-morf, n. a mineral enclosing another.—adjs. Perimor′phic, Perimor′phous.
English · e-38699-2680 · brief source recordPerineum
Perineum, Perinæum, per-i-nē′um, n. the lower part of the body between the genital organs and the rectum.—adj. Perinē′al. [L.,—Gr.]
English · e-38699-2681Period
Period, pē′ri-ud, n. the time in which anything is performed: (astron.) the time occupied by one of the heavenly bodies in making its revolution: a stated interval of time, at the end of which certain events begin again
English · e-38699-2682Periophthalmus
Periophthalmus, per-i-of-thal′mus, n. a genus of acanthopterous fishes, allied to gobies, with protruding mobile eyes, pectoral fins that can be used as legs.
English · e-38699-2683Periorbital
Periorbital, per-i-or′bi-tal, adj. pertaining to the orbit of the eye.
English · e-38699-2684 · brief source recordPeriosteum
Periosteum, per-i-os′tē-um, n. a tough fibrous membrane which forms the outer coating of bones.—adjs. Perios′tēal, Perios′tēous; Periostit′ic.—n. Periostī′tis, inflammation of the periosteum. [Gr. periosteon—peri, around
English · e-38699-2685Periotic
Periotic, per-i-ō′tik, adj. surrounding the inner ear.—n. a periotic bone. [Gr. peri, about, ous, ōtos, the ear.]
English · e-38699-2686 · brief source recordPeripatetic
Peripatetic, -al, per-i-pa-tet′ik, -al, adj. walking about: of or pertaining to the philosophy of Aristotle, who taught while walking up and down in the Lyceum at Athens.—n. Peripatet′ic, an adherent of the philosophy of
English · e-38699-2687Peripatus
Peripatus, pe-rip′ā-tus, n. a genus of myriapods.
English · e-38699-2688 · brief source recordPeripetia
Peripetia, per-i-pe-tī′a, n. the dénouement of a drama.
English · e-38699-2689 · brief source recordPeriphery
Periphery, pe-rif′ėr-i, n. (geom.) the circumference of a circle or of any closed figure: the outside of anything generally.—adjs. Periph′eral, Peripher′ic, -al. [L.—Gr. peri, around, pherein, to carry.]
English · e-38699-2690Periphractic
Periphractic, per-i-frak′tik, adj. enclosed around. [Gr. peri, about, phrassein, to enclose.]
English · e-38699-2691 · brief source recordPeriphrase
Periphrase, per′i-frāz, n. a round-about way of speaking: the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea: (rhet.) a figure employed to avoid a trite expression—also Periph′rasis.—v.t. or v.i. to use circumlo
English · e-38699-2692Periplast
Periplast, per′i-plast, n. the intercellular substance of an organ or tissue of the body.—adj. Periplast′ic.
English · e-38699-2693 · brief source recordPeriplus
Periplus, per′i-plus, n. a circumnavigation. [Gr. peri, around, ploos, plous, a voyage.]
English · e-38699-2694 · brief source recordPeriptery
Periptery, pe-rip′tėr-i, n. (archit.) a building surrounded by a wing or row of columns.—adjs. Perip′teral, having a periptery or range of columns all round, said of a temple, &c.; Perip′terous, feathered on all sides: p
English · e-38699-2695Perirhinal
Perirhinal, per-i-rī′nal, adj. surrounding the nose.
English · e-38699-2696 · brief source recordPeriscii
Periscii, pe-rish′i-ī, n.pl. the people within the polar circle, because their shadows, on some days in summer, move round in a complete circle, owing to the fact that on those days the sun does not set.—adj. Peris′cian.
English · e-38699-2697Periscope
Periscope, per′i-skōp, n. an instrument like the altiscope, used in directing submarine boats.—adj. Periscop′ic. [Gr. peri, about, skopein, to see.]
English · e-38699-2698Perish
Perish, per′ish, v.i. to pass away completely: to waste away: to decay: to lose life: to be destroyed: to be ruined or lost.—ns. Perishabil′ity, Per′ishableness, the quality of being liable to speedy decay or destruction
English · e-38699-2699Perisperm
Perisperm, per′i-spėrm, n. (bot.) that which is round a seed, the albumen.—adj. Perisper′mic. [Gr. peri, around, sperma, seed.]
English · e-38699-2700Perispheric
Perispheric, -al, per-i-sfer′ik, -al, adj. globular.
English · e-38699-2701 · brief source recordPerispore
Perispore, per′i-spōr, n. the outer covering of a spore.
English · e-38699-2702 · brief source recordPerissad
Perissad, pe-ris′ad, n. (chem.) an atom whose valency is represented by an odd number—opp. to Artiad—also adj. [Gr. perissos, beyond the regular number.]
English · e-38699-2703Perissodactyla
Perissodactyla, pe-ris-ō-dak′ti-la, n. one of the two divisions of the great mammalian order Ungulata, including the horse, tapir, and rhinoceros, distinguished by the third digit of each limb being symmetrical in itself
English · e-38699-2704Perissology
Perissology, per-i-sol′ō-ji, n. verbiage.—adj. Perissolog′ical, redundant in words.
English · e-38699-2705 · brief source recordPerissosyllabic
Perissosyllabic, pe-ris-o-si-lab′ik, adj. having superfluous syllables.
English · e-38699-2706 · brief source recordPeristalith
Peristalith, pe-ris′ta-lith, n. a series of standing stones surrounding a barrow or burial-mound. [Gr. peri, around, histanai, to stand, lithos, a stone.]
English · e-38699-2707Peristaltic
Peristaltic, per-i-stalt′ik, adj. noting the involuntary muscular action of the alimentary canal, by which it forces its contents onwards.—n. Peristal′sis. [Gr. peristaltikos—peristellein, to wrap round—peri, around, ste
English · e-38699-2708Peristeropod
Peristeropod, pē-ris′te-rō-pod, adj. pigeon-toed—also n. [Gr. peristera, a pigeon, pous, podos, a foot.]
English · e-38699-2709 · brief source recordPeristome
Peristome, per′i-stōm, n. the mouth-parts of echinoderms, &c.: the fringe of hair-like appendages round the rim of the capsule of a moss.
English · e-38699-2710Peristyle
Peristyle, per′i-stīl, n. a range of columns round a building or round a square: a court, square, &c., with columns all round.—adj. Peristy′lar. [L. peristylium—Gr. peristylon, with pillars round the wall—peri, around, s
English · e-38699-2711Perithoracic
Perithoracic, per-i-thō-ras′ik, adj. around the thorax.
English · e-38699-2712 · brief source recordPeritomous
Peritomous, pe-rit′ō-mus, adj. (min.) cleaving in more directions than one parallel to the axis, the faces being all similar. [Gr. peri, round, temnein, to cut.]
English · e-38699-2713Peritoneum
Peritoneum, Peritonæum, per-i-tō-nē′um, n. a serous membrane which encloses all the viscera lying in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.—adjs. Peritonē′al; Peritonit′ic.—n. Peritonī′tis, inflammation of the peritoneum. [G
English · e-38699-2714Perityphlitis
Perityphlitis, per-i-tif-lī′tis, n. inflammation of the cæcum, appendix, and connective tissue, or of the peritoneum covering cæcum and appendix. [Gr. peri, round, typhlos, blind (the cæcum being the 'blind gut').]
English · e-38699-2715Perivascular
Perivascular, per-i-vas′kū-lar, adj. surrounding a vascular structure.
English · e-38699-2716 · brief source recordPerivisceral
Perivisceral, per-i-vis′e-ral, adj. surrounding viscera.
English · e-38699-2717 · brief source recordPeriwig
Periwig, per′i-wig, n. a peruke or small wig, usually shortened to Wig: an artificial head of hair.—v.t. to dress with a periwig.—adj. Per′iwig-pā′ted, wearing a periwig. [Old Dut. peruyk—Fr. perruque.]
English · e-38699-2718Periwinkle
Periwinkle, per′i-wingk-l, n. a creeping evergreen plant, growing in woods. [M. E. peruenke, through A.S. peruincæ, from L. pervinca, vincīre, to bind.]
English · e-38699-2719Periwinkle
Periwinkle, per′i-wingk-l, n. a small univalve mollusc: a small shellfish, abundant between tide-marks on the rocks, boiled and eaten as food. [Corrupted by confusion with preceding from A.S. pinewincla—wincle, a whelk;
English · e-38699-2720Perjure
Perjure, pėr′jōōr, v.t. to swear falsely (followed by a reciprocal pronoun): to cause to swear falsely.—v.i. to be false to one's oath.—n. (Shak.) a perjured person.—adj. Per′jured, having sworn falsely: being sworn fals
English · e-38699-2721Perk
Perk, pėrk, adj. trim: spruce: jaunty: proud.—v.t. to make smart or trim.—v.i. to hold up the head with smartness: to toss or jerk the head.—adj. Perk′y (Tenn.), perk, trim. [W. perc, trim.]
English · e-38699-2722Perk
Perk, pėrk, v.i. (prov.) to peer.—adj. Perk′ing, peering, inquisitive.
English · e-38699-2723 · brief source recordPerkin
Perkin, per′kin, n. weak perry.
English · e-38699-2724 · brief source recordPerlaceous
Perlaceous=Pearlaceous. See Pearl.
English · e-38699-2725 · brief source recordPerlite
Perlite, pėr′līt, n. the name given to some vitreous rocks, as obsidian, which seem as if made up of little pearly or enamel-like spheroids.—adj. Perlit′ic.
English · e-38699-2726Perlous
Perlous, pėrl′us, adj. (Spens.). Same as Perilous.
English · e-38699-2727 · brief source recordPerlustrate
Perlustrate, per-lus′trāt, v.t. to survey carefully.—n. Perlustrā′tion. [L. perlustrāre, -ātum.]
English · e-38699-2728 · brief source recordPermanent
Permanent, pėr′ma-nent, adj. lasting: durable: not subject to change: not to be removed: (zool.) always present.—ns. Per′manence, Per′manency, state or quality of being permanent: continuance in the same state, position,
English · e-38699-2729Permanganate
Permanganate, per-man′gan-āt, n. a salt containing manganese.—adj. Permangan′ic.
English · e-38699-2730 · brief source recordPermeate
Permeate, pėr′mē-āt, v.t. to pass through the pores of: to penetrate and fill the pores of.—n. Permēabil′ity.—adj. Per′mēable, that may be permeated or passed through: allowing the passage of liquids.—adv. Per′mēably.—n.
English · e-38699-2731Permian
Permian, per′mi-an, n. a group of strata forming the uppermost division of the Palezoic series.
English · e-38699-2732 · brief source recordPermiscible
Permiscible, per-mis′i-bl, adj. capable of being mixed.
English · e-38699-2733 · brief source recordPermit
Permit, per-mit′, v.t. to give leave to: to allow to be or to be done: to afford means: to give opportunity:—pr.p. permit′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. permit′ted.—n. (per′mit) a written permission, esp. from a custom-house offi
English · e-38699-2734Permutable
Permutable, per-mū′ta-bl, adj. that may be changed one for another.—ns. Permū′tableness, Permutabil′ity.—adv. Permū′tably.—ns. Permū′tant; Permutā′tion, act of changing one thing for another: (math.) the arrangement of t
English · e-38699-2735Pern
Pern, pėrn, n. a honey-buzzard.—Also Per′nis.
English · e-38699-2736 · brief source recordPernicious
Pernicious, per-nish′us, adj. killing utterly: hurtful: destructive: highly injurious.—adv. Perni′ciously.—n. Perni′ciousness. [Fr.,—L. perniciosus—per, completely, nex, necis, death by violence.]
English · e-38699-2737Pernickety
Pernickety, per-nik′e-ti, adj. easily troubled about trifles: (coll.) fastidious.—n. Pernick′etiness.
English · e-38699-2738 · brief source recordPernoctation
Pernoctation, pėr-nok-tā′shun, n. act of passing the whole night, esp. in prayer or watching: a watch all night. [L. per, through, nox, noctis, night.]
English · e-38699-2739Perone
Perone, per′ō-nē, n. the fibula or small bone of the leg.—adjs. Perōnē′al; Perōnēōtib′ial, pertaining to the perone and the tibia.—n. a muscle from the fibula to the tibia in some marsupials: an anomalous muscle in man,
English · e-38699-2740Peropod
Peropod, pē′rō-pod, adj. having rudimentary hind limbs, as serpents—also n. [Gr. pēros, maimed, pous, podos, a foot.]
English · e-38699-2741 · brief source recordPeroration
Peroration, per-ō-rā′shun, n. the conclusion of a speech, usually summing up the points and enforcing the argument.—v.i. Per′orate, to make a peroration: (coll.) to make a speech. [Fr.,—L. peroratio—perorāre, to bring a
English · e-38699-2742Peroxide
Peroxide, per-ox′īd, n. an oxide having a larger proportion of oxygen than any other oxide of the same series.—n. Peroxidā′tion.—v.t. and v.i. Perox′idise.
English · e-38699-2743Perpend
Perpend, per-pend′, v.t. to weigh in the mind, to consider carefully. [L. perpendĕre—per, inten., pendĕre, to weigh.]
English · e-38699-2744 · brief source recordPerpend
Perpend, per′pend, n. in building, a bond-stone or bonder.—Also Per′pend-stone, Per′pent-stone. [O. Fr. parpaigne, Fr. parpaing.]
English · e-38699-2745Perpendicular
Perpendicular, pėr-pen-dik′ū-lar, adj. exactly upright: extending in a straight line toward the centre of the earth: (geom.) at right angles to a given line or surface.—n. a perpendicular line or plane.—n. Perpendicular′
English · e-38699-2746Perpetrate
Perpetrate, pėr′pē-trāt, v.t. to perform or commit (usually in a bad sense): to produce (as a poor pun).—adj. Per′petrable.—ns. Perpetrā′tion, act of committing a crime: the thing perpetrated: an evil action; Per′petrāto
English · e-38699-2747Perpetual
Perpetual, per-pet′ū-al, adj. never ceasing: everlasting: not temporary.—adv. Perpet′ually.—Perpetual curate, a curate of a parish where there was neither rector nor vicar, the tithes being in the hands of a layman—aboli
English · e-38699-2748Perpetuate
Perpetuate, per-pet′ū-āt, v.t. to make perpetual: to cause to last for ever or for a very long time: to preserve from extinction or oblivion.—adj. Perpet′ūable, capable of being perpetuated.—n. Perpet′uance, the act of m
English · e-38699-2749Perplex
Perplex, per-pleks′, v.t. to make difficult to be understood: to embarrass: to puzzle: to tease with suspense or doubt.—n. (obs.) a difficulty.—adv. Perplex′edly.—n. Perplex′edness.—adj. Perplex′ing.—adv. Perplex′ingly.—
English · e-38699-2750Perquisite
Perquisite, pėr′kwi-zit, n. an allowance granted over and above the settled wages: a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service.—ns. Perquisi′tion, a strict search: diligent inquiry; Perquis′itor, the first
English · e-38699-2751Perradial
Perradial, pėr-rā′di-al, adj. fundamentally radial.—n. Perrā′dius.
English · e-38699-2752 · brief source recordPerrier
Perrier, per′i-ėr, n. a machine for hurling stones.
English · e-38699-2753 · brief source recordPerron
Perron, per′on, n. an external flight of steps giving access to the entrance-door of a building.
English · e-38699-2754 · brief source recordPerruque
Perruque, Perruquier. See Peruke.
English · e-38699-2755 · brief source recordPerry
Perry, per′i, n. an agreeable beverage made by fermenting the juice of pears. [Fr. poiré, from poire, a pear—L. pirum.]
English · e-38699-2756 · brief source recordPersant
Persant, pėrs′ant, adj. (Spens.). Same as Perceant.
English · e-38699-2757 · brief source recordPerscrutation
Perscrutation, per-skrōō-tā′shun, n. a thorough search through: a minute inquiry. [L. per, through, scrutāri, to search carefully.]
English · e-38699-2758Perse
Perse, pers, adj. dark blue, bluish-gray.—n. a dark-blue colour, a cloth of such colour. [O. Fr. pers—L. persicum, a peach.]
English · e-38699-2759Persecute
Persecute, pėr′se-kūt, v.t. to pursue so as to injure or annoy: to follow after persistently: to annoy or punish, esp. for religious or political opinions.—ns. Persecū′tion, act or practice of persecuting: state of being
English · e-38699-2760Perseus
Perseus, per′sūs, n. a fabled Greek hero, who slew the Gorgon Medusa, and rescued Andromeda from a sea-monster: a constellation in the northern sky. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-2761Persevere
Persevere, pėr-sē-vēr′, v.i. to persist in anything: to pursue anything steadily: to be constant: not to give over.—n. Persevē′rance, act or state of persevering: continued application to anything which one has begun: a
English · e-38699-2762Persian
Persian, pėr′shi-an, adj. of, from, or relating to Persia, its inhabitants, or language.—n. a native of Persia: the language of Persia: (archit.) male figures used instead of columns to support an entablature—also Per′si
English · e-38699-2763Persicot
Persicot, per′si-kot, n. a cordial flavoured with kernels of peaches and apricots. [Fr.,—L. persicum, a peach.]
English · e-38699-2764 · brief source recordPersienne
Persienne, per-si-en′, n. an Eastern cambric or muslin with coloured printed pattern: (pl.) Persian blinds, outside shutters of thin movable slats in a frame.
English · e-38699-2765Persiflage
Persiflage, pėr′si-fläzh, n. a frivolous way of talking or treating any subject: banter.—adj. Per′siflant, bantering.—v.i. Per′siflāte (Thackeray).—n. Per′siflour (Carlyle). [Fr.,—persifler, to banter—L. per, through, Fr
English · e-38699-2766Persimmon
Persimmon, Persimon, per-sim′on, n. the American date-plum. [Amer. Ind.]
English · e-38699-2767 · brief source recordPersist
Persist, per-sist′, v.i. to stand throughout to something begun: to continue in any course, esp. against opposition: to persevere.—ns. Persis′tence, Persis′tency, quality of being persistent: perseverance: obstinacy: dur
English · e-38699-2768Person
Person, pėr′sun, n. character represented, as on the stage: character: an individual, sometimes used slightingly: a living soul: a human being: the outward appearance, &c.: bodily form: one of the three hypostases or ind
English · e-38699-2769Persona
Persona, pėr-sō′na, n. a person.—Persona grata, a person who is acceptable to those to whom he is sent.—Dramatis personæ, the characters in a play or story. [L.]
English · e-38699-2770Personify
Personify, per-son′i-fī, v.t. (rhet.) to treat, look on, or describe as a person: to ascribe to any inanimate object the qualities of a person: to be the embodiment of:—pa.t. and pa.p. person′ifīed.—n. Personificā′tion.
English · e-38699-2771Perspective
Perspective, per-spek′tiv, n. a view or a vista: the art of drawing objects on a plane surface, so as to give the picture the same appearance to the eye as the objects themselves: just proportion in all the parts: a tele
English · e-38699-2772Perspicacious
Perspicacious, pėr-spi-kā′shus, adj. of clear or acute understanding: quick-sighted.—adv. Perspicā′ciously.—ns. Perspicā′ciousness; Perspicac′ity, state of being acute in discerning: keenness of sight or of understanding
English · e-38699-2773Perspire
Perspire, per-spīr′, v.i. and v.t. to emit or to be emitted, as moisture, through the pores of the skin: to sweat.—n. Perspirabil′ity.—adj. Perspīr′able, capable of being perspired.—v.i. Per′spirāte (rare), to sweat.—n.
English · e-38699-2774Perstringe
Perstringe, pėr-strinj′, v.t. to criticise.
English · e-38699-2775 · brief source recordPersuade
Persuade, per-swād′, v.t. to influence successfully by argument, advice, &c.: to bring to any particular opinion: to cause to believe: to convince.—adj. Persuad′able.—n. Persuad′er.—adj. Persuā′sible, capable of being pe
English · e-38699-2776Persue
Persue, pėrs′ū, n. (Spens.) a track.
English · e-38699-2777 · brief source recordPersulphate
Persulphate, pėr-sul′fāt, n. that sulphate of a metal which contains the relatively greater quantity of acid.
English · e-38699-2778 · brief source recordPert
Pert, pėrt, adj. (obs.) open: evident: plain. [O. Fr. apert—L. aperīre, apertum, to open.]
English · e-38699-2779 · brief source recordPert
Pert, pėrt, adj. forward: saucy: impertinent: too free in speech: (obs.) clever.—n. an impudent person.—adv. Pert′ly.—n. Pert′ness. [Perk.]
English · e-38699-2780Pertain
Pertain, per-tān′, v.i. to belong: to relate (with to).—ns. Per′tinence, Per′tinency, state of being pertinent or to the point: fitness for the matter on hand: suitableness: appositeness.—adj. Per′tinent, pertaining or r
English · e-38699-2781Pertinacious
Pertinacious, pėr-ti-nā′shus, adj. thoroughly tenacious: holding obstinately to an opinion or a purpose: obstinate: unyielding.—adv. Pertinā′ciously.—ns. Pertinā′ciousness; Pertinac′ity, quality of being pertinacious or
English · e-38699-2782Perturb
Perturb, per-turb′, v.t. to disturb greatly: to agitate—also Per′turbate.—adj. Pertur′bable, that can be agitated or confused.—ns. Pertur′bance, Perturbā′tion, act of perturbing or state of being perturbed: disquiet of m
English · e-38699-2783Pertusion
Pertusion, pėr-tū′zhon, n. a hole made by a sharp instrument.—adjs. Pertū′sate, pierced at the apex; Pertuse′, -d, pierced with holes. [L. pertundĕre, -tusum—per, through, tundĕre, to strike.]
English · e-38699-2784Pertussis
Pertussis, per-tus′is, n. whooping-cough.—adj. Pertuss′al.
English · e-38699-2785 · brief source recordPeruke
Peruke, per-ūk′, or per′ūk, n. an artificial cap of hair: a periwig—also Perruque.—adj. Peruquēr′ian, of or pertaining to the making of wigs.—n. Perru′quier, a wigmaker. [Fr. perruque—It. parrucca (Sp. peluca)—L. pilus,
English · e-38699-2786Peruse
Peruse, per-ūz′, or per-ōōz′, v.t. to read attentively: to examine carefully or in detail.—ns. Perusal (per-ūz′al, or per-ōōz′al), the act of perusing: careful examination: study: reading; Perus′er. [Formed from L. per,
English · e-38699-2787Peruvian
Peruvian, per-ōō′vi-an, adj. pertaining to Peru in South America.—n. a native of Peru.—Peruvian balsam, a fragrant bitterish liquid yielded by a South American tree, used for asthma and in making soaps; Peruvian bark, ci
English · e-38699-2788Pervade
Pervade, per-vād′, v.t. to go through or penetrate: to spread all over.—n. Pervā′sion.—adj. Pervā′sive, tending or having power to pervade. [L. pervadĕre, pervasum—per, through, vadĕre, to go.]
English · e-38699-2789Perverse
Perverse, per-vėrs′, adj. turned aside: obstinate in the wrong: stubborn: vexatious.—adv. Perverse′ly.—ns. Perverse′ness, Perver′sity, state or quality of being perverse: inclination to oppose: wickedness.—adj. Perver′si
English · e-38699-2790Pervert
Pervert, per-vėrt′, v.t. to turn wrong or from the right course: to change from its true use: to corrupt: to turn from truth or virtue.—v.i. to go wrong or out of the right course.—n. (per′vert) one who has changed from
English · e-38699-2791Perveyaunce
Perveyaunce. Same as Purveyance.
English · e-38699-2792 · brief source recordPervicacious
Pervicacious, per-vi-kā′shus, adj. very obstinate.—ns. Pervicā′ciousness, Pervicac′ity.
English · e-38699-2793 · brief source recordPervious
Pervious, pėr′vi-us, adj. permeable, penetrable: open, perforate.—adv. Per′viously.—n. Per′viousness. [L. pervius—per, through, via, a way.]
English · e-38699-2794Pesade
Pesade, pe-zād′, n. the act or position of a saddle-horse in rearing. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-2795 · brief source recordPeseta
Peseta, pe-sā′ta, n. a silver coin of Spain worth 9½d. [Sp., dim. of pesa, weight.]
English · e-38699-2796 · brief source recordPeshito
Peshito, pe-shē′to, n. a translation of the Bible into Syriac, made in the second century.—Also Peshit′to. [Syriac, pĕshittá, the simple.]
English · e-38699-2797Peshwa
Peshwa, pesh′wa, n. a chief or prince of the Mahrattas.—Also Peish′wah.
English · e-38699-2798 · brief source recordPesky
Pesky, pes′ki, adj. annoying.—adv. Pes′kily.
English · e-38699-2799 · brief source recordPeso
Peso, pā′so, n. a Spanish dollar. [Sp.,—L. pensum, pendĕre, to weigh.]
English · e-38699-2800 · brief source recordPessary
Pessary, pes′a-ri, n. an instrument worn in the vagina to remedy displacement of the womb. [Fr. pessaire—Low L. pessarium—Gr. pessos, a pebble.]
English · e-38699-2801Pessimism
Pessimism, pes′i-mizm, n. the doctrine that on the whole the world is bad rather than good: a temper of mind that looks too much on the dark side of things: a depressing view of life.—v.i. Pess′imise.—n. Pess′imist, one
English · e-38699-2802Pest
Pest, pest, n. a deadly disease: a plague: anything destructive: a troublesome person.—n. Pest′house, a hospital for persons afflicted with any contagious disease.—adj. Pestif′erous, contagious: pestilent: annoying.—adv.
English · e-38699-2803Pestalozzian
Pestalozzian, pes-ta-lot′si-an, adj. pertaining to graduated object-teaching as originated by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1745-1827).
English · e-38699-2804Pester
Pester, pes′tėr, v.t. to disturb, to annoy.—n. a bother.—n. Pes′terer, one who pesters.—adv. Pes′teringly.—n. Pes′terment, annoyance. [Short for impester, O. Fr. empestrer (Fr. empêtrer), to entangle, from in, in, Low L.
English · e-38699-2805Pestle
Pestle, pes′l, or pest′l, n. an instrument for pounding anything in a mortar.—v.t. and v.i. to pound with a pestle: to use a pestle. [O. Fr. pestel—L. pistillum, a pounder, pinsĕre, pistum, to pound.]
English · e-38699-2806Pet
Pet, pet, n. any animal tame and fondled: a word of endearment often used to young children: a favourite child: a wilful young woman—also Peat.—adj. indulged: cherished: favourite.—v.t. to treat as a pet: to fondle:—pr.p
English · e-38699-2807Pet
Pet, pet, n. a sudden fit of peevishness or slight passion: ill-humour.—v.i. to be peevish, to sulk. [From the above word.]
English · e-38699-2808Petal
Petal, pet′al, n. a flower-leaf: a corolla leaf.—adjs. Pet′aled, Pet′aliform, Pet′alous, having petals or flower-leaves; Pet′aline, pertaining to or resembling a petal: attached to a petal.—n. Pet′alism, a method of ostr
English · e-38699-2809Petard
Petard, pē-tärd′, n. a kind of mortar filled with gunpowder, fixed to gates, barriers, &c., to break them down by explosion—(Shak.) Petar′: a paper bomb in pyrotechny.—ns. Petardeer′, Petardier′.—Hoist with one's own pet
English · e-38699-2810Petary
Petary, pē′tar-i, n. a peat-bog.
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