Chapter XI: Part 11

Pep"per*grass` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) Any herb of the cruciferous genus Lepidium, especially the garden peppergrass, or garden cress, Lepidium sativum; -- called also pepperwort. All the species have a pungent flavor. (b) The common pillwort of Europe (Pilularia globulifera). See Pillwort.

Pep"per*idge (?), n. [Cf. NL. berberis, E. barberry.] (Bot.) A North American tree (Nyssa multiflora) with very tough wood, handsome oval polished leaves, and very acid berries, -- the sour gum, or common tupelo. See Tupelo. [Written also piperidge and pipperidge.]

Pepperidge bush (Bot.), the barberry.

Pep"per*ing, a. Hot; pungent; peppery. Swift.

Pep"per*mint (?), n. [Pepper + mint.] 1. (Bot.) An aromatic and pungent plant of the genus Mentha (M. piperita), much used in medicine and confectionery.

2. A volatile oil (oil of peppermint) distilled from the fresh herb; also, a well-known essence or spirit (essence of peppermint) obtained from it.

3. A lozenge of sugar flavored with peppermint.

Peppermint camphor. (Chem.) Same as Menthol. -- Peppermint tree (Bot.), a name given to several Australian species of gum tree (Eucalyptus amygdalina, E. piperita, E. odorata, etc.) which have hard and durable wood, and yield an essential oil.

Pep"per*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) See Peppergrass.

Pep"per*y (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to pepper; having the qualities of pepper; hot; pungent.

2. Fig.: Hot-tempered; passionate; choleric.

Pep"sin (?), n. [Gr. &?; a cooking, digesting, digestion, fr. &?;, &?;, to cook, digest: cf. F. pepsine. Cf. Dyspepsia.] (Physiol. Chem.) An unorganized proteolytic ferment or enzyme contained in the secretory glands of the stomach. In the gastric juice it is united with dilute hydrochloric acid (0.2 per cent, approximately) and the two together constitute the active portion of the digestive fluid. It is the active agent in the gastric juice of all animals.

As prepared from the glandular layer of pigs' or calves' stomachs it constitutes an important article of pharmacy.

Pep`sin*hy`dro*chlo"ric (?), a. (Physiol. Chem.) Same as Peptohydrochloric.

Pep*sin"o*gen (?), n. [Pepsin + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.) The antecedent of the ferment pepsin. A substance contained in the form of granules in the peptic cells of the gastric glands. It is readily convertible into pepsin. Also called propepsin.

Pep"tic (?), a. [L. pepticus, Gr. &?;. See Pepsin.] 1. Relating to digestion; promoting digestion; digestive; as, peptic sauces.

2. Able to digest. [R.]

Tolerably nutritive for a mind as yet so peptic.

Carlyle.

3. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to pepsin; resembling pepsin in its power of digesting or dissolving albuminous matter; containing or yielding pepsin, or a body of like properties; as, the peptic glands.

Pep"tic, n. 1. An agent that promotes digestion.

2. pl. The digestive organs.

Is there some magic in the place, Or do my peptics differ?

Tennyson.

Pep"tics (?), n. The science of digestion.

Pep"to*gen (?), n. [Peptone + -gen.] (Physiol.) A substance convertible into peptone.

Pep`to*gen"ic (?), a. Same as Peptogenous.

Pep*tog"e*nous (?), a. (Physiol. Chem.) Capable of yielding, or being converted into, peptone.

Pep`to*hy`dro*chlo"ric (?), a. [See Peptone, and Hydrochloric.] (Physiol. Chem.) Designating a hypothetical acid (called peptohydrochloric acid, pepsinhydrochloric acid, and chloropeptic acid) which is supposed to be formed when pepsin and dilute (0.1-0.4 per cent) hydrochloric acid are mixed together.

Pep"tone (?), n. [Gr. &?; cooked.] (Physiol. Chem.) (a) The soluble and diffusible substance or substances into which albuminous portions of the food are transformed by the action of the gastric and pancreatic juices. Peptones are also formed from albuminous matter by the action of boiling water and boiling dilute acids. (b) Collectively, in a broader sense, all the products resulting from the solution of albuminous matter in either gastric or pancreatic juice. In this case, however, intermediate products (albumose bodies), such as antialbumose, hemialbumose, etc., are mixed with the true peptones. Also termed albuminose.

Pure peptones are of three kinds, amphopeptone, antipeptone, and hemipeptone, and, unlike the albumose bodies, are not precipitated by saturating their solutions with ammonium sulphate.

Pep"to*nize (?), v. t. (Physiol.) To convert into peptone; to digest or dissolve by means of a proteolytic ferment; as, peptonized food.

Pep"to*noid (?), n. [Peptone + -oid.] (Physiol. Chem.) A substance related to peptone.

||Pep`to*nu"ri*a (?), n. [NL. See Peptone, and Urine.] (Med.) The ||presence of peptone, or a peptonelike body, in the urine.

Pep`to*tox"ine (?), n. [Peptone + toxic + -ine.] (Physiol. Chem.) A toxic alkaloid found occasionally associated with the peptones formed from fibrin by pepsinhydrochloric acid.

Pe"quots (?), n. pl.; sing. Pequot (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited Eastern Connecticut. [Written also Pequods.]

Per- (?). [See Per.] 1. A prefix used to signify through, throughout, by, for, or as an intensive as perhaps, by hap or chance; perennial, that lasts throughout the year; perforce, through or by force; perfoliate, perforate; perspicuous, evident throughout or very evident; perplex, literally, to entangle very much.

2. (Chem.) Originally, denoting that the element to the name of which it is prefixed in the respective compounds exercised its highest valence; now, only that the element has a higher valence than in other similar compounds; thus, barium peroxide is the highest oxide of barium; while nitrogen and manganese peroxides, so-called, are not the highest oxides of those elements.

Per (?), prep. [L. Cf. Far, For-, Pardon, and cf. Par, prep.] Through; by means of; through the agency of; by; for; for each; as, per annum; per capita, by heads, or according to individuals; per curiam, by the court; per se, by itself, of itself. Per is also sometimes used with English words.

Per annum, by the year; in each successive year; annually. -- Per cent, Per centum, by the hundred; in the hundred; -- used esp. of proportions of ingredients, rate or amount of interest, and the like; commonly used in the shortened form per cent. -- Per diem, by the day. [For other phrases from the Latin, see Quotations, Phrases, etc., from Foreign Languages, in the Supplement.]

Per*act" (?), v. t. [L. peractus, p. p. of peragere.] To go through with; to perform. [Obs.] Sylvester.

Per`a*cute" (?), a. [L. peracutus. See Per-, and Acute.] Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [R.] Harvey.

Per`ad*ven"ture (?), adv. & conj. [OE. per aventure, F. par aventure. See Per, and Adventure.] By chance; perhaps; it may be; if; supposing. "If peradventure he speak against me." Shak.

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city.

Gen. xviii. 24.

Per`ad*ven"ture, n. Chance; hap; hence, doubt; question; as, proved beyond peradventure. South.

Pe*rÊ"o*pod (?), n. [Gr. &?; on the opposite side + -pod.] (Zoˆl.) One of the thoracic legs of a crustacean. See Illust. of Crustacea.

Per"a*grate (?), v. t. [L. peragratus, p. p. of peragrate.] To travel over or through. [Obs.]

Per`agra"tion (?), n. [L. peragratio: cf. F. peragration.] The act or state of passing through any space; as, the peragration of the moon in her monthly revolution. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Per*am"bu*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perambulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perambulating.] [L. perambulatus, p. p. of perambulare to perambulate; per through + ambulare to walk. See Per-, and Amble.] To walk through or over; especially, to travel over for the purpose of surveying or examining; to inspect by traversing; specifically, to inspect officially the boundaries of, as of a town or parish, by walking over the whole line.

Per*am"bu*late, v. i. To walk about; to ramble; to stroll; as, he perambulated in the park.

Per*am`bu*la"tion (?), n. 1. The act of perambulating; traversing. Bacon.

2. An annual survey of boundaries, as of town, a parish, a forest, etc.

3. A district within which one is authorized to make a tour of inspection. "The . . . bounds of his own perambulation." [Obs.] Holyday.

Per*am"bu*la`tor (?), n. 1. One who perambulates.

2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring distances. It consists of a wheel arranged to roll along over the ground, with an apparatus of clockwork, and a dial plate upon which the distance traveled is shown by an index. See Odometer.

3. A low carriage for a child, propelled by pushing.

||Per`a*me"les (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a pouch + L. meles a badger.] ||(Zoˆl.) Any marsupial of the genus Perameles, which includes numerous ||species found in Australia. They somewhat resemble rabbits in size ||and form. See Illust. under Bandicoot.

Per"bend (?), n. See Perpender.

Per"break` (?), n. [Obs.] See Parbreak.

Per*bro"mate (?), n. (Chem.)A salt of perbromic acid.

Per*bro"mic (?), a. [Pref. per- + bromic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, the highest oxygen acid, HBrO4, of bromine.

Per*bro"mide (?), n. (Chem.) A bromide having a higher proportion of bromine than any other bromide of the same substance or series.

||Per"ca (?), n. [L., a perch.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of fishes, including ||the fresh-water perch.

||Per`cale" (?), n. [F.] A fine cotton fabric, having a linen finish, ||and often printed on one side, - - used for women's and children's ||wear.

||Per`ca`line" (?), n. [F.] A fine kind of French cotton goods, usually ||of one color.

Per*car"bide (?), n. [Pref. per- + carbide.] (Chem.)A compound containing a relatively large amount of carbon. [R.]

Per*car"bu*ret (?), n. [Pref. per- + carburet.] (Chem.) A percarbide. [Obsoles.]

Per*car"bu*ret`ed, a. (Chem.) Combined with a relatively large amount of carbon.

Per*case" (?), adv. [OE. per cas. See Parcase.] Perhaps; perchance. [Obs.] Bacon.

Perce (?), v. t. To pierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*ceiv"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being perceived; perceptible. -- Per*ceiv"a*bly, adv.

Per*ceiv"ance (?), n. Power of perceiving. [Obs.] "The senses and common perceivance." Milton.

Per*ceive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perceived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perceiving.] [OF. percevoir, perceveir, L. percipere, perceptum; per (see Per-) + capere to take, receive. See Capacious, and cf. Perception.] 1. To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence, character, or identity of, by means of the senses; to see, hear, or feel; as, to perceive a distant ship; to perceive a discord. Reid.

2. To take intellectual cognizance of; to apprehend by the mind; to be convinced of by direct intuition; to note; to remark; to discern; to see; to understand.

Jesus perceived their wickedness.

Matt. xxii. 18.

You may, fair lady, Perceive I speak sincerely.

Shak.

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

Locke.

3. To be affected of influented by. [R.]

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

Bacon.

Syn. -- To discern; distinguish; observe; see; feel; know; understand. -- To Perceive, Discern. To perceive a thing is to apprehend it as presented to the senses or the intellect; to discern is to mark differences, or to see a thing as distinguished from others around it. We may perceive two persons afar off without being able to discern whether they are men or women. Hence, discern is often used of an act of the senses or the mind involving close, discriminating, analytical attention. We perceive that which is clear or obvious; we discern that which requires much attention to get an idea of it. "We perceive light, darkness, colors, or the truth or falsehood of anything. We discern characters, motives, the tendency and consequences of actions, etc." Crabb.

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Per*ceiv"er (?), n. One who perceives (in any of the senses of the verb). Milton.

Perce"ly (?), n. Parsley. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*cent"age (?), n. [Per cent + -age, as in average. See Per, and Cent.] (Com.) A certain rate per cent; the allowance, duty, rate of interest, discount, or commission, on a hundred.

Per"cept (?), n. [From L. percipere, perceptum.] That which is perceived. Sir W. Hamilton.

The modern discussion between percept and concept, the one
sensuous, the other intellectual.

Max M¸ller.

Per*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. perceptibilitÈ.] 1. The quality or state of being perceptible; as, the perceptibility of light or color.

2. Perception. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Per*cep"ti*ble (?), a. [L. perceptibilis: cf. F. perceptible. See Perceive.] Capable of being perceived; cognizable; discernible; perceivable.

With a perceptible blast of the air.

Bacon.

-- Per*cep"ti*ble*ness, n. -- Per*cep"ti*bly, adv.

Per*cep"tion (?), n. [L. perceptio: cf. F. perception. See Perceive.] 1. The act of perceiving; cognizance by the senses or intellect; apperhension by the bodily organs, or by the mind, of what is presented to them; discernment; apperhension; cognition.

2. (Metaph.) 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; the act of apperhending material objects or qualities through the senses; -- distinguished from conception. Sir W. Hamilton.

Matter hath no life nor perception, and is not conscious of its own
existence.

Bentley.

3. The quality, state, or capability, of being affected by something external; sensation; sensibility. [Obs.]

This experiment discovereth perception in plants.

Bacon.

4. An idea; a notion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

"The word perception is, in the language of philosophers previous to Reid, used in a very extensive signification. By Descartes, Malebranche, Locke, Leibnitz, and others, it is employed in a sense almost as unexclusive as consciousness, in its widest signification. By Reid this word was limited to our faculty acquisitive of knowledge, and to that branch of this faculty whereby, through the senses, we obtain a knowledge of the external world. But his limitation did not stop here. In the act of external perception he distinguished two elements, to which he gave the names of perception and sensation. He ought perhaps to have called these perception proper and sensation proper, when employed in his special meaning." Sir W. Hamilton.

Per*cep"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. perceptif.] Of or pertaining to the act or power of perceiving; having the faculty or power of perceiving; used in perception. "His perceptive and reflective faculties." Motley.

Per`cep*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being perceptive; power of perception. Locke.

||Per*ces"o*ces (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. perca a perch + esox, -ocis, a ||pike.] (Zoˆl.) An order of fishes including the gray mullets (Mugil), ||the barracudas, the silversides, and other related fishes. So called ||from their relation both to perches and to pikes.

Perch (prch), n. [Written also pearch.] [OE. perche, F. perche, L. perca, fr. Gr. pe`rkh; cf. perkno`s dark-colored, Skr. pÁni spotted, speckled, and E. freckle.] (Zoˆl.) 1. Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several other allied genera of the family PercidÊ, as the common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens, or Americana), and the European perch (P. fluviatilis).

2. Any one of numerous species of spiny-finned fishes belonging to the PercidÊ, SerranidÊ, and related families, and resembling, more or less, the true perches.

Black perch. (a) The black bass. (b) The flasher. (c) The sea bass. -- Blue perch, the cunner. -- Gray perch, the fresh-water drum. -- Red perch, the rosefish. -- Red-bellied perch, the long- eared pondfish. -- Perch pest, a small crustacean, parasitic in the mouth of the perch. -- Silver perch, the yellowtail. -- Stone, or Striped, perch, the pope. -- White perch, the Roccus, or Morone, Americanus, a small silvery serranoid market fish of the Atlantic coast.

Perch (?), n. [F. perche, L. pertica.] 1. A pole; a long staff; a rod; esp., a pole or other support for fowls to roost on or to rest on; a roost; figuratively, any elevated resting place or seat.

As chauntecleer among his wives all Sat on his perche, that was in
his hall.

Chaucer.

Not making his high place the lawless perch Of winged ambitions.

Tennyson.

2. (a) A measure of length containing five and a half yards; a rod, or pole. (b) In land or square measure: A square rod; the 160th part of an acre. (c) In solid measure: A mass 16Ω feet long, 1 foot in height, and 1Ω feet in breadth, or 24æ cubic feet (in local use, from 22 to 25 cubic feet); -- used in measuring stonework.

3. A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach.

Perch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perching.] [F. percher. See Perch a pole.] To alight or settle, as a bird; to sit or roost.

Wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.

Shak.

Perch, v. t. 1. To place or to set on, or as on, a perch.

2. To occupy as a perch. Milton.

Per*chance" (?), adv. [F. par by (L. per) + chance. See Par, and Chance.] By chance; perhaps; peradventure.

Perch"ant (?), n. [F.] A bird tied by the foot, to serve as decoy to other birds by its fluttering.

Perch"er (?), n. [From Perch, v. i.] 1. One who, or that which, perches. J. Burroughs.

2. One of the Insessores.

3. [From Perch a pole.] A Paris candle anciently used in England; also, a large wax candle formerly set upon the altar. [Obs.] Bailey.

Per"che*ron (?), n. [F.] One of a breed of draught horses originating in Perche, an old district of France; -- called also Percheron-Norman.

Per*chlo"rate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of perchloric acid.

Per*chlo"ric (?), a. [Pref. per- + chloric.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HClO4), of chlorine; -- called also hyperchloric.

Per*chlo"ride (?), n. (Chem.) A chloride having a higher proportion of chlorine than any other chloride of the same substance or series.

Per*chro"mic (?), a. [Pref. per- + chromic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a certain one of the highly oxidized compounds of chromium, which has a deep blue color, and is produced by the action of hydrogen peroxide.

Per"ci*form (?), a. [NL., & L. perca a perch + -form.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the Perciformes.

||Per`ci*for"mes (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) An extensive tribe or ||suborder of fishes, including the true perches (PercidÊ); the ||pondfishes (CentrarchidÊ); the sciÊnoids (SciÊnidÊ); the sparoids ||(SparidÊ); the serranoids (SerranidÊ), and some other related ||families.

{ Per*cip"i*ence (?), Per*cip"i*en*cy (?), } n. The faculty, act or power of perceiving; perception. Mrs. Browning.

Per*cip"i*ent (?), a. [L. percipiens, -entis, p. pr. of percipere. See Perceive.] Having the faculty of perception; perceiving; as, a percipient being. Bentley. -- n. One who, or that which, is percipient. Glanvill.

Per*close" (?), n. [OF. parclose an inclosed place; L. per through + claudere, clausum, to shut.] 1. (Eccl. Arch.) Same as Parclose.

2. Conclusion; end. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

Per"coid (?), a. [L. perca a perch + -oid: cf. F. percoÔde.] (Zoˆl.) Belonging to, or resembling, the perches, or family PercidÊ. -- n. Any fish of the genus Perca, or allied genera of the family PercidÊ.

||Per*coi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as Perciformes.

Per"co*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Percolated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Percolating.] [L. percolatus, p. p. of percolare to percolate; per through + colare to strain.] To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain. Sir M. Hale.

Per"co*late, v. i. To pass through fine interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through porous stone.

Per`co*la"tion (?), n. [L. percolatio.] The act or process of percolating, or filtering; filtration; straining. Specifically (Pharm.), the process of exhausting the virtues of a powdered drug by letting a liquid filter slowly through it.

Per"co*la`tor (?), n. One who, or that which, filters. "[Tissues] act as percolators." Henfrey.

||Per`co*mor"phi (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. perca perch + Gr. &?; form.] ||(Zoˆl.) A division of fishes including the perches and related kinds.

Per"cu*laced (?), a. [Prob. corrupt. fr. portcullised.] (Her.) Latticed. See Lattice, n., 2.

Per*cur"rent (?), a. [L. percurrens, p. pr. of percurrere to run through; per through + currere to run.] Running through the entire length.

Per*cur"so*ry (?), a. [L. percursor one who runs through, fr. percurrere. See Percurrent.] Running over slightly or in haste; cursory. [R.]

Per*cuss" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Percussed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Percussing.] [L. percussus, p. p. of percutere; per + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.] To strike smartly; to strike upon or against; as, to percuss the chest in medical examination.

Flame percussed by air giveth a noise.

Bacon.

Per*cuss", v. i. (Med.) To strike or tap in an examination by percussion. See Percussion, 3. Quain.

Per*cus"sion (?), n. [L. percussio: cf. F. percussion. See Percuss.] 1. The act of percussing, or striking one body against another; forcible collision, esp. such as gives a sound or report. Sir I. Newton.

2. Hence: The effect of violent collision; vibratory shock; impression of sound on the ear.

The thunderlike percussion of thy sounds.

Shak.

3. (Med.) The act of tapping or striking the surface of the body in order to learn the condition of the parts beneath by the sound emitted or the sensation imparted to the fingers. Percussion is said to be immediate if the blow is directly upon the body; if some interventing substance, as a pleximeter, is, used, it is called mediate.

Center of percussion. See under Center. -- Percussion bullet, a bullet containing a substance which is exploded by percussion; an explosive bullet. -- Percussion cap, a small copper cap or cup, containing fulminating powder, and used with a percussion lock to explode gunpowder. -- Percussion fuze. See under Fuze. -- Percussion lock, the lock of a gun that is fired by percussion upon fulminating powder. -- Percussion match, a match which ignites by percussion. -- Percussion powder, powder so composed as to ignite by slight percussion; fulminating powder. -- Percussion sieve, Percussion table, a machine for sorting ores by agitation in running water.

Per*cuss"ive (?), a. Striking against; percutient; as, percussive force.

Per*cu"tient (?), a. [L. percutiens, p. pr. of percutere. See Percuss.] Striking; having the power of striking. -- n. That which strikes, or has power to strike. Bacon.

Per"di*cine (?), a. [See Perdix.] (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the family PerdicidÊ, or partridges.

Per*die" (?), adv. See Parde. Spenser.

Per"di*foil (?), n. [L. perdere to lose + folium leaf.] (Bot.) A deciduous plant; - - opposed to evergreen. J. Barton.

Per*di"tion (?), n. [F., fr. L. perditio, fr. perdere, perditum, to ruin, to lose; per (cf. Skr. par away) + -dere (only in comp.) to put; akin to Gr. &?;, E. do. See Do.] 1. Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin; esp., the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death.

The mere perdition of the Turkish fleet.

Shak.

If we reject the truth, we seal our own perdition.

J. M. Mason.

2. Loss of diminution. [Obs.] Shak.

Per*di"tion*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being ruined; worthy of perdition. [R.] Pollok.

||Per"dix (pr"dks), n. [L., a partridge, Gr. pe`rdix.] (Zoˆl.) A genus ||of birds including the common European partridge. Formerly the word ||was used in a much wider sense to include many allied genera.

Per*du" (pr*d" or pr"d), n. [See Perdu, a.] 1. One placed on watch, or in ambush.

2. A soldier sent on a forlorn hope. Shak.

{ Per*du", Per*due" } (pr*d" or pr"d), a. [F. perdu, f. perdue, lost, p. p. of perdre to lose, L. perdere. See Perdition.] 1. Lost to view; in concealment or ambush; close.

He should lie perdue who is to walk the round.

Fuller.

2. Accustomed to, or employed in, desperate enterprises; hence, reckless; hopeless. "A perdue captain." Beau. & Fl.

Per`du*el"lion (?), n. [L. perduellio; per + duellum, bellum, war.] (Civil Law) Treason.

Per"du*lous (?), a. [See Perdu, a.] Lost; thrown away. [Obs.] Abp. Bramhall.

Per*dur`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Durability; lastingness. [Archaic] Chaucer.

Per*dur"a*ble (pr*dr"*b'l; 277), n. [Cf. F. perdurable, OE. pardurable. See Perdure.] Very durable; lasting; continuing long. [Archaic] Chaucer. Shak.

-- Per*dur"a*bly, adv. [Archaic]

{ Per*dur"ance (pr*dr"ans), Per`du*ra"tion (pr`d*r"shn), } n. Long continuance. [Archaic]

Per*dure" (pr*dr"), v. i. [L. perdurare; per through + durare to last.] To last or endure for a long time; to be perdurable or lasting. [Archaic]

The mind perdures while its energizing may construct a thousand
lines.

Hickok.

Per*dy" (?), adv. Truly. See Parde. [Obs.]

Ah, dame! perdy ye have not done me right.

Spenser.

Pere (?), n. A peer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*e"gal (?), a. [OF. par very (L. per) + egal equal, L. aequalis.] Fully equal. [Obs.] Chaucer. "Peregal to the best." Spenser.

Per"e*gri*nate (?), v. i. [L. peregrinatus, p. p. of peregrinari to travel. See Pilgrim.] To travel from place to place, or from one country to another; hence, to sojourn in foreign countries.

Per"e*gri*nate (?), a. [L. peregrinatus, p. p.] Having traveled; foreign. [Obs.] Shak.

Per`e*gri*na"tion (?), n. [L. peregrinatio: cf. F. pÈrÈgrination.] A traveling from one country to another; a wandering; sojourn in foreign countries. "His peregrination abroad." Bacon.

Per"e*gri*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who peregrinates; one who travels about.

Per"e*grine (?), a. [L. peregrinus. See Pilgrim.] Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic. [Spelt also pelegrine.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat." Bacon.

Peregrine falcon (Zoˆl.), a courageous and swift falcon (Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks, white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called also peregrine hawk, duck hawk, game hawk, and great-footed hawk.

Per"e*grine (?), n. The peregrine falcon.

Per`e*grin"i*ty (?), n. [L. peregrinitas: cf. F. pÈrÈgrinitÈ.] 1. Foreignness; strangeness. [Obs.] "Somewhat of a peregrinity in their dialect." Johnson.

2. Travel; wandering. [R.] Carlyle.

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Per"el (?), n. Apparel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*empt" (?), v. t. [L. peremptus, p. p. of perimere to take away entirely, to destroy; per (see Per-) + OL. emere to take. See Redeem.] (Law) To destroy; to defeat. [R.] Ayliffe.

Per*emp"tion (?), n. [L. peremptio: cf. F. pÈremption.] (Law) A quashing; a defeating. [Obs.]

Per"emp*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a peremptory manner; absolutely; positively. Bacon.

Per"emp*to*ri*ness, n. The quality of being peremptory; positiveness.

Per"emp*to*ry (?), a. [L. peremptorius destructive, deadly, decisive, final: cf. F. pÈremptorie. See Perempt.] 1. Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final.

Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to get
thither.

Jer. Taylor.

2. Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical.

Be not too positive and peremptory.

Bacon.

Briefly, then, for we are peremptory.

Shak.

3. Firmly determined; unawed. [Poetic] Shak.

Peremptory challenge (Law) See under Challenge. -- Peremptory mandamus, a final and absolute mandamus. -- Peremptory plea, a plea by a defendant tending to impeach the plaintiff's right of action; a plea in bar.

Syn. -- Decisive; positive; absolute; authoritative; express; arbitrary; dogmatical.

Per*en"ni*al (?), a. [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through; per through + annus year. See Per-, and Annual.] 1. ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains.

2. Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing.

The perennial existence of bodies corporate.

Burke.

3. (Bot.) Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or root, or plant.

Syn. -- Perpetual; unceasing; never failing; enduring; continual; permanent; uninterrupted.

Per*en"ni*al, n. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.

Per*en"ni*al*ly, adv. In a perennial manner.

||Per*en`ni*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Perennial, and ||Branchia.] (Zoˆl.) Those Batrachia which retain their gills through ||life, as the menobranchus.

Per*en`ni*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [See Perennial, and Branchiate.] 1. (Anat.) Having branchÊ, or gills, through life; -- said especially of certain Amphibia, like the menobranchus. Opposed to caducibranchiate.

2. (Zoˆl.) Belonging to the Perennibranchiata.

Per*en"ni*ty (?), n. [L. perennitas.] The quality of being perennial. [R.] Derham.

Per`er*ra"tion (?), n. [L. pererrare, pererratum, to wander through.] A wandering, or rambling, through various places. [R.] Howell.

Per"fect (?), a. [OE. parfit, OF. parfit, parfet, parfait, F. parfait, L. perfectus, p. p. of perficere to carry to the end, to perform, finish, perfect; per (see Per-) + facere to make, do. See Fact.] 1. Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct.

My strength is made perfect in weakness.

2 Cor. xii. 9.

Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun.

Shak.

I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Shak.

O most entire perfect sacrifice!

Keble.

God made thee perfect, not immutable.

Milton.

2. Well informed; certain; sure.

I am perfect that the Pannonains are now in arms.

Shak.

3. (Bot.) Hermaphrodite; having both stamens and pistils; -- said of flower.

Perfect cadence (Mus.), a complete and satisfactory close in harmony, as upon the tonic preceded by the dominant. -- Perfect chord (Mus.), a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the unison, octave, fifth, and fourth; a perfect consonance; a common chord in its original position of keynote, third, fifth, and octave. -- Perfect number (Arith.), a number equal to the sum of all its divisors; as, 28, whose aliquot parts, or divisors, are 14, 7, 4, 2, 1. See Abundant number, under Abundant. Brande & C. -- Perfect tense (Gram.), a tense which expresses an act or state completed.

Syn. -- Finished; consummate; complete; entire; faultless; blameless; unblemished.

Per"fect (?), n. The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.

Per"fect (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfected; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfecting.] [L. perfectus, p. p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.] To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind.

God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us.

1 John iv. 12.

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

Locke.

Perfecting press (Print.), a press in which the printing on both sides of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.

Syn. -- To finish; accomplish; complete; consummate.

Per"fect*er (?), n. One who, or that which, makes perfect. "The . . . perfecter of our faith." Barrow.

Per*fect`i*bil"i*an (?), n. A perfectionist. [R.] Ed. Rev.

Per`fec*tib"i*list (?), n. A perfectionist. See also Illuminati, 2. [R.]

Per*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. perfectibilitÈ.] The quality or state of being perfectible.

Per*fect"i*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. perfectible.] Capable of becoming, or being made, perfect.

Per*fec"tion (?), n. [F. perfection, L. perfectio.] 1. The quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system; perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.

2. A quality, endowment, or acquirement completely excellent; an ideal faultlessness; especially, the divine attribute of complete excellence. Shak.

What tongue can her perfections tell?

Sir P. Sidney.

To perfection, in the highest degree of excellence; perfectly; as, to imitate a model to perfection.

Per*fec"tion, v. t. To perfect. [Obs.] Foote.

Per*fec"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to perfection; characterized by perfection. [R.] Bp. Pearson.

Per*fec"tion*ate (?), v. t. To perfect. Dryden.

Per*fec"tion*ism (?), n. The doctrine of the Perfectionists.

Per*fec"tion*ist, n. One pretending to perfection; esp., one pretending to moral perfection; one who believes that persons may and do attain to moral perfection and sinlessness in this life. South.

Per*fec"tion*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. perfectionnement.] The act of bringing to perfection, or the state of having attained to perfection. [R.] I. Taylor.

Per*fect"ive (?), a. Tending or conducing to make perfect, or to bring to perfection; -- usually followed by of. "A perfective alteration." Fuller.

Actions perfective of their natures.

Ray.

Per*fec"tive*ly, adv. In a perfective manner.

Per"fect*ly (?), adv. In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; throughly; faultlessly. "Perfectly divine." Milton.

As many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Matt. xiv. 36.

Per"fect*ness, n. The quality or state of being perfect; perfection. "Charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. iii. 14.

Per*fer"vid (?), a. [Pref. per- + fervid.] Very fervid; too fervid; glowing; ardent.

Per*fi"cient (?), a. [L. perficiens, p. pr. of perficere to perform. See Perfect.] Making or doing throughly; efficient; effectual. [R.] Blackstone.

Per*fi"cient, n. One who performs or perfects a work; especially, one who endows a charity. [R.]

Per*fid"i*ous (pr*fd"*s; 277), a. [L. perfidious.] 1. Guilty of perfidy; violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence reposed; teacherous; faithless; as, a perfidious friend. Shak.

2. Involving, or characterized by, perfidy. "Involved in this perfidious fraud." Milton.

Per*fid"i*ous*ly, adv. In a perfidious manner.

Per*fid"i*ous*ness, n. The quality of being perfidious; perfidy. Clarendon.

Per"fi*dy (pr"f*d), n.; pl. Perfidies (- dz). [L. perfidia, fr. L. perfidus faithless; per (cf. Skr. par away) + fides faith: cf. F. perfidie. See Faith.] The act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; treachery.

The ambition and perfidy of tyrants.

Macaulay.

His perfidy to this sacred engagement.

DeQuincey.

Per"fit (pr"ft), a. Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*fix" (pr"fks), v. t. [Pref. per- + fix.] To fix surely; to appoint. [Obs.]

Per"fla*ble (?), a. [L. perflabilis. See Perflate.] Capable of being blown through. [Obs.]

Per*flate" (?), v. t. [L. perflatus, p. p. of perflare to blow through.] To blow through. [Obs.] Harvey.

Per*fla"tion (?), n. [L. perflatio.] The act of perflating. [Obs.] Woodward.

Per*fo"li*ate (?), a. [Pref. per- + L. folium leaf.] 1. (Bot.) Having the basal part produced around the stem; -- said of leaves which the stem apparently passes directory through.

2. (Zoˆl.) Surrounded by a circle of hairs, or projections of any kind.

Per`fo*ra"ta (pr`f*r"t), n. pl. [NL. See Perforate.] (Zoˆl.) (a) A division of corals including those that have a porous texture, as Porites and Madrepora; -- opposed to Aporosa. (b) A division of Foraminifera, including those having perforated shells.

Per"fo*rate (pr"f*rt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perforated (- r`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Perforating.] [L. perforatus, p. p. of perforare to perforate; per through + forare to bore. See Bore, v.] To bore through; to pierce through with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through by boring or piercing; to pierce or penetrate the surface of. Bacon.

{ Per"fo*rate (pr"f*rt), Per"fo*ra`ted (pr"f*r"td), } a. Pierced with a hole or holes, or with pores; having transparent dots resembling holes.

Per`fo*ra"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. perforation.] 1. The act of perforating, or of boring or piercing through. Bacon.

2. A hole made by boring or piercing; an aperture. "Slender perforations." Sir T. Browne.

Per"fo*ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. perforatif.] Having power to perforate or pierce.

Per"fo*ra`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. perforateur.] One who, or that which, perforates; esp., a cephalotome.

Per*force" (?), adv. [F. par (L. per) + force.] By force; of necessary; at any rate. Shak.

Per*force", v. t. To force; to compel. [Obs.]

Per*form" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Performed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Performing.] [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see Par) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by form; cf. L. performare to form thoroughly. See Furnish.] 1. To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do.

I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things
for me.

Ps. lvii. 2.

Great force to perform what they did attempt.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow.

To perform your father's will.

Shak.

3. To represent; to act; to play; as in drama.

Perform a part thou hast not done before.

Shak.

Syn. -- To accomplish; do; act; transact; achieve; execute; discharge; fulfill; effect; complete; consummate. See Accomplish.

Per*form", v. i. To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the organ.

Per*form"a*ble (?), a. Admitting of being performed, done, or executed; practicable.

Per*form"ance (?), n. The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty.

Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible.

Paley.

2. That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character. "Her walking and other actual performances." Shak. "His musical performances." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Completion; consummation; execution; accomplishment; achievement; production; work; act; action; deed; exploit; feat.

Per*form"er (?), n. One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.

Per"fri*cate (?), v. t. [L. perfricatus, p. p. of perfricare.] To rub over. Bailey.

Per*fu"ma*to*ry (?), a. Emitting perfume; perfuming. [R.] Sir E. Leigh.

Per*fume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perfuming.] [F. parfumer (cf. Sp. perfumar); par (see Par) + fumer to smoke, L. fumare, fr. fumus smoke. See Fume.] To fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent.

And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies.

Pope.

Per"fume (?), n. [F. parfum; cf. Sp. perfume. See Perfume, v.] 1. The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma.

No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field.

Pope.

2. A substance that emits an agreeable odor.

And thou shalt make it a perfume.

Ex. xxx. 35.

Per*fum"er (?), n. 1. One who, oe that which, perfumes.

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

Per*fum"er*y (?), n. 1. Perfumes, in general.

2. [Cf. F. parfumerie.] The art of preparing perfumes.

Per*func"to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. Boyle.

Per*func"to*ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being perfunctory.

Per*func"to*ry (?), a. [L. perfunctorius, fr. perfunctus dispatched, p. p. of perfungi to discharge, dispatch; per (see Per) + fungi to perform. See Function.] 1. Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions. Macaulay.

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

Per*func"tu*rate (?), v. t. To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]

Per*fuse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perfusing.] [L. perfusus, p. p. of perfundere to pour over; per + fundere to pour.] To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. Harvey.

Per*fu"sion (?), n. [L. perfusio.] The act of perfusing.

Per*fu"sive (?), a. Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.

{ Per`ga*me"no*us (?), Per`ga*men*ta"ceous (?), } a. [L. pergamena parchment. See Parchment.] Like parchment.

Per*haps" (?), adv. [Per + hap chance.] By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be.

And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven
thee.

Acts viii. 22.

Per"i- (?). [Gr. &?;, prep.] A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed; perispherical, quite spherical.

Pe"ri (?), n.; pl. Peris (#). [Per. per a female genus, a fairy.] (Persian Myth.) An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise till penance is accomplished. Moore.

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Per`i*a"gua (?), n. See Pirogue.

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

||Per`i*an"thi*um (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.) The perianth.

Per"i*apt (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; hung about, &?; to hang about; &?; about + &?; to tie: cf. F. pÈriapte.] A charm worn as a protection against disease or mischief; an amulet. Coleridge.

Now help, ye charming spells and periapts.

Shak.

Per`i*as"tral (?), a. Among or around the stars. "Comets in periastral passage." R. A. Proctor.

Per`i*as"tron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?; a star.] (Astron.) That point, in the real or apparent orbit of one star revolving around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.

Per"i*au"ger (?), n. See Pirogue. W. Irving.

Per"i*blast (?), a. [Gr. &?; to grow around. See Peri-, and -blast.] (Biol.) The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell nucleus, and undergoes segmentation. -- Per`i*blas"tic, a.

Per"i*blem (?), n. [Pref. peri- + root of Gr. &?; to sprout.] (Bot.) Nascent cortex, or immature cellular bark.

||Pe*rib"o*los (?), n. [Nl., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?;, adj., going round, ||fr. &?; to throw round; cf. L. peribolus.] In ancient architecture, ||an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.

Per`i*bran"chi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Surrounding the branchiÊ; as, a peribranchial cavity.

Per`i*bran"chi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Around the bronchi or bronchial tubes; as, the peribronchial lymphatics.

||Per`i*cam"bi*um (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Cambium.] (Biol.) A layer ||of thin-walled young cells in a growing stem, in which layer certain ||new vessels originate.

{ Per`i*car"di*ac (?), Per`i*car"di*al (?), } a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to pericardium; situated around the heart.

Pericardial fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid of a pale yellow color contained in the pericardium.

Per`i*car"di*an (?), a. Pericardiac.

Per`i*car"dic (?), a. Pericardiac.

||Per`i*car*di"tus (?), n. [NL. See Pericardium, and -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the pericardium. Dunglison.

Per`i*car"di*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; about or near the heart; &?; about + &?; heart.] (Anat.) The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.

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

Per"i*carp (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; fruit: cf. F. pÈricarpe.] (Bot.) The ripened ovary; the walls of the fruit. See Illusts. of Capsule, Drupe, and Legume.

{ Per`i*car"pi*al (?), Per`i*car"pic (?) }, a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a pericarp.

Per`i*cel"lu*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Surrounding a cell; as, the pericellular lymph spaces surrounding ganglion cells.

Per"i*chÊth (?), n. [See PerichÊtium.] (Bot.) The leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk of mosses; perichÊtium; perichete.

Per`i*chÊ"ti*al (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the perichÊth.

||Per`i*chÊ"ti*um (?), n.; pl. PerichÊtia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about ||+ &?; flowing hair, foliage.] (Bot.) Same as PerichÊth.

Per`i*chÊ"tous (?), a. [See PerichÊtium.] (Zoˆl.) Surrounded by setÊ; -- said of certain earthworms (genus PerichÊtus).

Per"i*chete (?), n. Same as PerichÊth.

Per`i*chon"dri*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the perichondrium; situated around cartilage.

||Per`i*chon*dri"tis (?), n. [NL. See Perichondrium, and -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the perichondrium.

||Per`i*chon"dri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; around + &?; cartilage.] ||(Anat.) The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely ||invests cartilage, except where covering articular surfaces.

Per`i*chor"dal (?), a. Around the notochord; as, a perichordal column. See Epichordal.

{ Per"i*clase (?), Per`i*cla"site (?), } n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; to break.] (Min.) A grayish or dark green mineral, consisting essentially of magnesia (magnesium oxide), occurring in granular forms or in isometric crystals.

||Per`i*clin"i*um (?), n.; pl. Periclinia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; around ||+ &?; a bed.] (Bot.) The involucre which surrounds the common ||receptacle in composite flowers.

Pe*ric"li*tate (?), v. t. [L. periclitatus, p. p. of periclitari, fr. periculum.] To endanger. [Obs.]

Periclitating, pardi! the whole family.

Sterne.

Pe*ric`li*ta"tion (?), n. [L. periclitatio: cf. F. pÈriclitation.] 1. Trial; experiment. [Obs.]

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

||Pe*ric"o*pe (?), n. [L., section of a book, Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; ||to cut.] A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a ||selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or ||used as a text for a sermon.

Per`i*cra"ni*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pericranium.

Per`i*cra"ni*um (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The periosteum which covers the cranium externally; the region around the cranium.

Pe*ric"u*lous (?), a. [L. periculosus. See Perilous.] Dangerous; full of peril. [Obs.]

||Pe*ric"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Pericula (#). [L.] (Rom. & O.Eng. Law) 1. ||Danger; risk.

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

Per"i*derm (?), n. 1. (Bot.) The outer layer of bark.

2. (Zoˆl.) The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine animals; the perisarc.

||Per`i*di*as"to*le (?), n. (Physiol.) The almost inappreciable time ||which elapses between the systole and the diastole of the heart.

||Pe*rid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Peridia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?;, ||a dim. ending.] (Bot.) The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as ||the puffballs and earthstars.

Per"i*dot (?), n. [F. pÈridot.] (Min.) Chrysolite.

Per"i*do*tite (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈridotite.] (Min.) An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to serpentine.

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

Per"i*drome (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; running around, fr. &?; to run round; &?; round + &?; to run: cf. F. pÈridrome.] (ArchÊol.) The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman temple.

Per`i*e"cians (?), n. pl. See Periúcians.

||Per`i*en"te*ron (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Enteron.] (Anat.) The ||primitive perivisceral cavity.

Per"i*er`gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; overcareful; &?; about, beyond + &?; work.] 1. Excessive care or diligence. [Obs.]

2. (Rhet.) A bombastic or labored style. [R.]

Per`i*gan`gli*on"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Surrounding a ganglion; as, the periganglionic glands of the frog.

Per`i*gas"tric (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Surrounding the stomach; -- applied to the body cavity of Bryozoa and various other Invertebrata.

Per`i*ge"an (?), a. Pertaining to the perigee.

Perigean tides, those spring tides which occur soon after the moon passes her perigee.

{ Per"i*gee (?), Per`i*ge"um (?), } n. [NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. &?; about, near + &?; the earth: cf. F. pÈrigÈe.] (Astron.) That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.

Per`i*gen"e*sis (?), n. (Biol.) A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.

Per`i*gen"e*tic (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to perigenesis.

Per"i*gone (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; productive organs.] 1. (Bot.) (a) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth. (b) In mosses, the involucral bracts of a male flower.

2. (Zoˆl.) A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of a hydroid.

||Per`i*go"ni*um (?), n.; pl. Perigonia (#). [NL.] Same as Perigone.

Per"i*gord pie` (?). [From PÈrigord, a former province of France.] A pie made of truffles, much esteemed by epicures.

Per"i*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; outline; &?; round, about + &?; to write.] A careless or inaccurate delineation of anything. [R.]

||Per`i*gyn"i*um (?), n.; pl. Perigynia (#). [NL. See Perigynous.] ||(Bot.) Some unusual appendage about the pistil, as the bottle-shaped ||body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera ||of the Sedge family, or CyperaceÊ.

Pe*rig"y*nous (?), a. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; woman.] (Bot.) Having the ovary free, but the petals and stamens borne on the calyx; -- said of flower such as that of the cherry or peach.

{ Per`i*hel"ion (?), Per`i*he"li*um (?), } n.; pl. Perihelia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about, near + &?; the sun.] (Astron.) That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest to the sun; -- opposed to aphelion.

Per"il (?), n. [F. pÈril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare. See Fare, and cf. Experience.] Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction.

In perils of waters, in perils of robbers.

2 Cor. xi. 26.

Adventure hard With peril great achieved.

Milton.

At, or On, one's peril, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of. "On thy soul's peril." Shak.

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

Per"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periled (?) or Perilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Periling or Perilling.] To expose to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one's life.

Per"il (?), v. i. To be in danger. [Obs.] Milton.

||Pe*ril"la (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.) A genus of labiate ||herbs, of which one species (Perilla ocimoides, or P. Nankinensis) is ||often cultivated for its purple or variegated foliage.

Per"il*ous (?), a. [OF. perillous, perilleus, F. pÈrilleux, L. periculosus. See Peril.] [Written also perillous.] 1. Full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous; as, a perilous undertaking.

Infamous hills, and sandy, perilous wilds.

Milton.

2. Daring; reckless; dangerous. [Obs.] Latimer.

For I am perilous with knife in hand.

Chaucer.

-- Per"il*ous*ly, adv. -- Per"il*ous*ness, n.

Per"i*lymph (?), n. (Anat.) The fluid which surrounds the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear, and separates it from the walls of the chambers in which the labyrinth lies.

Per`i*lym*phan"gi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Around, or at the side of, a lymphatic vessel.

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

Per*im"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; measure: cf. F. pÈrimËtre.] 1. (Geom.) The outer boundary of a body or figure, or the sum of all the sides.

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

{ Per`i*met"ric (?), Per`i*met"ric*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to the perimeter, or to perimetry; as, a perimetric chart of the eye.

Per*im"e*try (?), n. The art of using the perimeter; measurement of the field of vision.

Per"i*morph (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; form.] (Min.) A crystal of one species inclosing one of another species. See Endomorph.

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

||Per`i*my"si*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?; muscle.] (Anat.) ||The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a muscle, and sends ||partitions inwards between the bundles of muscular fibers.

||Per`i*nÊ"um (?), n. See Perineum.

Per`i*ne"al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the perineum.

Per`i*ne"o*plas`ty (?), n. [Perineum + -plasty.] (Med.) The act or process of restoring an injured perineum.

Per`i*ne*or"rha*phy (?), n. [Perineum + Gr. &?; to sew.] (Med.) The operation of sewing up a ruptured perineum.

||Per`i*ne*phri"tis (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Nephritis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the cellular tissue around the kidney. -- ||Per`i*ne*phrit"ic, a.

||Per`i*ne"um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;.] (Anat.) The region which ||is included within the outlet of the pelvis, and is traversed by the ||urinogenital canal and the rectum.

Per`i*neu"ri*al (?), a. (Anat.) Surrounding nerves or nerve fibers; of or pertaining to the perineurium.

||Per`i*neu"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?; a nerve.] ||(Anat.) The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a bundle of ||nerve fibers. See Epineurium, and Neurilemma.

Per`i*nu"cle*ar (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to a nucleus; situated around a nucleus; as, the perinuclear protoplasm.

Pe"ri*od (?), n. [L. periodus, Gr. &?; a going round, a way round, a circumference, a period of time; &?; round, about + &?; a way: cf. F. pÈriode.] 1. A portion of time as limited and determined by some recurring phenomenon, as by the completion of a revolution of one of the heavenly bodies; a division of time, as a series of years, months, or days, in which something is completed, and ready to recommence and go on in the same order; as, the period of the sun, or the earth, or a comet.

2. Hence: A stated and recurring interval of time; more generally, an interval of time specified or left indefinite; a certain series of years, months, days, or the like; a time; a cycle; an age; an epoch; as, the period of the Roman republic.

How by art to make plants more lasting than their ordinary period.

Bacon.

3. (Geol.) One of the great divisions of geological time; as, the Tertiary period; the Glacial period. See the Chart of Geology.

4. The termination or completion of a revolution, cycle, series of events, single event, or act; hence, a limit; a bound; an end; a conclusion. Bacon.

So spake the archangel Michael; then paused, As at the world's
great period.

Milton.

Evils which shall never end till eternity hath a period.

Jer. Taylor.

This is the period of my ambition.

Shak.

5. (Rhet.) A complete sentence, from one full stop to another; esp., a well-proportioned, harmonious sentence. "Devolved his rounded periods." Tennyson.

Periods are beautiful when they are not too long.

B. Johnson.

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

6. (Print.) The punctuation point [.] that marks the end of a complete sentence, or of an abbreviated word.

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

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