Chapter XII: Part 12

8. (Med.) The time of the exacerbation and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and intermission.

9. (Mus.) A complete musical sentence.

The period, the present or current time, as distinguished from all other times.

Syn. -- Time; date; epoch; era; age; duration; limit; bound; end; conclusion; determination.

Pe"ri*od (?), v. t. To put an end to. [Obs.] Shak.

Pe"ri*od, v. i. To come to a period; to conclude. [Obs.] "You may period upon this, that," etc. Felthman.

Per*i"o*date (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of periodic acid.

Per`i*od"ic (?), a. [Pref. per- + iodic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HIO&?;) of iodine.

{ Pe`ri*od"ic (?), Pe`ri*od"ic*al (?), } a. [L. periodicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈriodique.] 1. Of or pertaining to a period or periods, or to division by periods.

The periodicaltimes of all the satellites.

Sir J. Herschel.

2. Performed in a period, or regular revolution; proceeding in a series of successive circuits; as, the periodical motion of the planets round the sun.

3. Happening, by revolution, at a stated time; returning regularly, after a certain period of time; acting, happening, or appearing, at fixed intervals; recurring; as, periodical epidemics.

The periodic return of a plant's flowering.

Henslow.

To influence opinion through the periodical press.

Courthope.

4. (Rhet.) Of or pertaining to a period; constituting a complete sentence.

Periodic comet (Astron.), a comet that moves about the sun in an elliptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of its approaches to the sun. -- Periodic function (Math.), a function whose values recur at fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. The trigonomertic functions, as sin x, tan x, etc., are periodic functions. Exponential functions are also periodic, having an imaginary period, and the elliptic functions have not only a real but an imaginary period, and are hence called doubly periodic. -- Periodic law (Chem.), the generalization that the properties of the chemical elements are periodic functions of their atomic wieghts. "In other words, if the elements are grouped in the order of their atomic weights, it will be found that nearly the same properties recur periodically throughout the entire series." The following tabular arrangement of the atomic weights shows the regular recurrence of groups (under I., II., III., IV., etc.), each consisting of members of the same natural family. The gaps in the table indicate the probable existence of unknown elements.

A similar relation had been enunciated in a crude way by Newlands; but the law in its effective form was developed and elaborated by Mendelejeff, whence it is sometimes called Mendelejeff's law. Important extensions of it were also made by L. Meyer. By this means Mendelejeff predicted with remarkable accuracy the hypothetical elements ekaboron, ekaluminium, and ekasilicon, afterwards discovered and named respectively scandium, gallium, and germanium.

-- Periodic star (Astron.), a variable star whose changes of brightness recur at fixed periods. -- Periodic time of a heavenly body (Astron.), the time of a complete revolution of the body about the sun, or of a satellite about its primary.

Pe`ri*od"ic*al, n. A magazine or other publication which appears at stated or regular intervals.

Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ist, n. One who publishes, or writes for, a periodical.

Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ly, adv. In a periodical manner.

Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ness, n. Periodicity.

Pe`ri*o*dic"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Periodicities (#). [Cf. F. pÈriodicitÈ.] The quality or state of being periodical, or regularly recurrent; as, the periodicity in the vital phenomena of plants. Henfrey.

Per*i"o*dide (?), n. [Pref. per- + iodide.] An iodide containing a higher proportion of iodine than any other iodide of the same substance or series.

Per`i*o*don"tal (?), a. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?;, &?;, tooth.] (Anat.) Surrounding the teeth.

Pe`ri*od"o*scope (?), n. [Period + -scope.] (Med.) A table or other means for calculating the periodical functions of women. Dunglison.

{ ||Per`i*ú"ci, Per`i*ú"cians, } n. pl. [NL. perioeci, fr. Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; house, dwelling.] Those who live on the same parallel of latitude but on opposite meridians, so that it is noon in one place when it is midnight in the other. Compare Antúci.

Per"i*o*ple (?), n. [F. pÈriople, from Gr. &?; about + &?; the hoof of a horse.] (Anat.) The external smooth horny layer of the hoof of the horse and allied animals.

Per`i*op"lic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the periople; connected with the periople.

Per`i*os"te*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated around bone; of or pertaining to the periosteum.

||Per`i*os"te*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; round the bones; &?; around ||+ &?; a bone: cf. L. periosteon.] (Anat.) The membrane of fibrous ||connective tissue which closely invests all bones except at the ||articular surfaces.

||Per`i*os*ti"tis (?), n. [NL. See Periosteum, and -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the periosteum.

||Per`i*os"tra*cum (?), n.; pl. Periostraca (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; ||around + &?; shell of a testacean.] (Zoˆl.) A chitinous membrane ||covering the exterior of many shells; -- called also epidermis.

Per`i*o"tic (?), a. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?;, &?;, the ear.] (Anat.) Surrounding, or pertaining to the region surrounding, the internal ear; as, the periotic capsule. -- n. A periotic bone.

Per`i*pa*te"cian (?), n. A peripatetic. [Obs.]

Per`i*pa*tet"ic (?), a. [L. peripateticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to walk about; &?; about + &?; to walk: cf. F. pÈripatÈtique.] 1. Walking about; itinerant.

2. Of or pertaining to the philosophy taught by Aristotle (who gave his instructions while walking in the Lyceum at Athens), or to his followers. "The true peripatetic school." Howell.

Per`i*pa*tet"ic, n. 1. One who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant. Tatler.

2. A disciple of Aristotle; an Aristotelian.

Per`i*pa*tet"ic*al (?), a. Peripatetic. [R.] Hales.

Per`i*pa*tet"i*cism (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈripatÈtisme.] The doctrines or philosophical system of the peripatetics. See Peripatetic, n., 2. Lond. Sat. Rev.

||Pe*rip"a*tus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a walking about.] (Zoˆl.) A ||genus of lowly organized arthropods, found in South Africa, ||Australia, and tropical America. It constitutes the order Malacopoda.

Per`i*pet"al*ous (?), a. (Bot.) Surrounding, or situated about, the petals.

Pe*riph"er*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery; peripheric.

2. (Anat.) External; away from the center; as, the peripheral portion of the nervous system.

{ Per`i*pher"ic (?), Per`i*pher"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. pÈriphÈrique. See Periphery.] See Peripheral.

Pe*riph"er*y (?), n.; pl. Peripheries (#). [L. peripheria, Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; to bear, carry: cf. F. pÈriphÈrie.] 1. The outside or superficial portions of a body; the surface.

2. (Geom.) The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.

Per"i*phrase (?), n. [L. periphrasis, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to think about, to be expressed periphrastically; &?; + &?; to speak: cf. F. pÈriphrase. See Phrase.] (Rhet.) The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. "To describe by enigmatic periphrases." De Quincey.

Per"i*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periphrased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Periphrasing.] [Cf. F. pÈriphraser.] To express by periphrase or circumlocution.

Per"i*phrase, v. i. To use circumlocution.

||Pe*riph"ra*sis (?), n.; pl. Periphrases (#). [L.] See Periphrase.

{ Per`i*phras"tic (?), Per`i*phras"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈriphrastique.] Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory.

Periphrastic conjugation (Gram.), a conjugation formed by the use of the simple verb with one or more auxiliaries.

Per`i*phras"tic*al*ly, adv. With circumlocution.

Per"i*plast (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; to mold, form.] (Biol.) Same as Periblast. -- Per`i*plas"tic (#), a. Huxley.

{ ||Per`ip*neu*mo"ni*a (?), Per`ip*neu"mo*ny (?), } n. [L. peripneumonia, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈripneumonie. See Peri-, Pneumonia.] (Med.) Pneumonia. (Obsoles.)

Per`ip*neu*mon"ic (?), a. [L. peripneumonicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈripneumonique.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to peripneumonia.

Per"i*proct (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; the anus.] (Zoˆl.) The region surrounding the anus, particularly of echinoderms.

||Per`i*proc*ti"tis (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Proctitus.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the tissues about the rectum.

Pe*rip"ter*al (?), a. [Gr., fr. &?; + &?; feather, wing, row of columns.] (Arch.) Having columns on all sides; -- said of an edifice. See Apteral.

Pe*rip"ter*ous (?), a. 1. (Arch.) Peripteral.

2. (Zoˆl.) Feathered all around.

Per"i*sarc (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?;, &?;, flesh.] (Zoˆl.) The outer, hardened integument which covers most hydroids.

Pe*ris"cian (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; shadow: cf. F. pÈriscien.] Having the shadow moving all around.

{ Pe*ris"cians (?), ||Pe*ris"ci*i (?), } n. pl. [NL. See Periscian.] Those who live within a polar circle, whose shadows, during some summer days, will move entirely round, falling toward every point of the compass.

Per"i*scope (?), n. [Pref. peri- + -scope.] A general or comprehensive view. [R.]

Per`i*scop"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈriscopique.] Viewing all around, or on all sides.

Periscopic spectacles (Opt.), spectacles having concavo-convex or convexo-concave lenses with a considerable curvature corresponding to that of the eye, to increase the distinctness of objects viewed obliquely.

Per"ish (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perishing.] [OE. perissen, perisshen, F. pÈrir, p. pr. pÈrissant, L. perire to go or run through, come to nothing, perish; per through + ire to go. Cf. Issue, and see -ish.] To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost; to die; hence, to wither; to waste away.

I perish with hunger!

Luke xv. 17.

Grow up and perish, as the summer fly.

Milton.

The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking.

Locke.

Per"ish, v. t. To cause perish. [Obs.] Bacon.

Per`ish*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. Perishableness.

Per"ish*a*ble (?), a. [F. pÈrissable.] Liable to perish; subject to decay, destruction, or death; as, perishable goods; our perishable bodies.

Per"ish*a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being perishable; liability to decay or destruction. Locke.

Per"ish*a*bly, adv. In a perishable degree or manner.

Per"ish*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. perissement.] The act of perishing. [R.] Udall.

||Per`i*so"ma (?), n.; pl. Perisomata (#). [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as ||Perisome.

Per"i*some (?), n. [Pref. peri- + -some body.] (Zoˆl.) The entire covering of an invertebrate animal, as echinoderm or cúlenterate; the integument.

Per"i*sperm (?), n. [F. pÈrisperme. See Peri-, and Sperm.] (Bot.) The albumen of a seed, especially that portion which is formed outside of the embryo sac. -- Per`i*sper"mic (#), a.

{ Per`i*spher"ic (?), Per`i*spher"ic*al (?), } a. Exactly spherical; globular.

||Per`i*spom"e*non (?), n.; pl. Perispomena (#). [NL., from Gr. &?;, ||pr. pass. p. of &?; to draw around, to circumflex; &?; around + &?; ||to draw.] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the circumflex accent on the ||last syllable. Goodwin.

Per"i*spore (?), n. (Bot.) The outer covering of a spore.

Per"is*sad (?), a. [Gr. &?; odd, from &?; over.] (Chem.) Odd; not even; -- said of elementary substances and of radicals whose valence is not divisible by two without a remainder. Contrasted with artiad.

Per"isse (?), v. i. To perish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per`is*so*dac"tyl (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Perissodactyla.

||Per`is*so*dac"ty*la (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; odd (fr. &?; over) ||+ &?; finger.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ungulate mammals, including ||those that have an odd number of toes, as the horse, tapir, and ||rhinoceros; -- opposed to Artiodactyla.

Per`is*so*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈrissologique.] Redundant or excessive in words. [R.]

Per`is*sol"o*gy (?), n. [L. perissologia, Gr. &?;; &?; odd, superfluous + &?; discourse.] Superfluity of words. [R.] G. Campbell.

||Per`i*stal"sis (?), n. [NL. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.) Peristaltic ||contraction or action.

Per`i*stal"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; clasping and compressing, fr. &?; to surround, wrap up; &?; round + &?; to place, arrange: cf. F. pÈristaltique.] (Physiol.) Applied to the peculiar wormlike wave motion of the intestines and other similar structures, produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. -- Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly (#), adv.

||Per`is*te"ri*a (?), n. [NL. See Peristerion.] (Bot.) A genus of ||orchidaceous plants. See Dove plant.

||Per`is*te"ri*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a dovecote, a kind of ||verbena, fr. &?; a dove, pigeon; cf. L. peristereon.] (Bot.) The herb ||vervain (Verbena officinalis).

Pe*ris"ter*ite (?), n. [Gr. &?; a pigeon.] (Min.) A variety of albite, whitish and slightly iridescent like a pigeon's neck.

Pe*ris`ter*o*mor"phous (?), a. [Gr. &?; a pigeon + -morphous.] (Zoˆl.) Like or pertaining to the pigeons or ColumbÊ.

Pe*ris`ter*op"o*dous (?), a. [Gr. &?; a pigeon + &?;, &?;, foot.] (Zoˆl.) Having pigeonlike feet; -- said of those gallinaceous birds that rest on all four toes, as the curassows and megapods.

Pe*ris"to*le (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. pÈristole. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.) Peristaltic action, especially of the intestines.

||Pe*ris"to*ma (?), n.; pl. Peristomata (#). [NL.] Same as Peristome.

<! p. 1068 !>

Per"i*stome (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?;, &?;, mouth.] 1. (Bot.) The fringe of teeth around the orifice of the capsule of mosses. It consists of 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 teeth, and may be either single or double.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) The lip, or edge of the aperture, of a spiral shell. (b) The membrane surrounding the mouth of an invertebrate animal.

Per`i*sto"mi*al (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to a peristome.

||Per`i*sto"mi*um (?), n. [NL.] Same as Peristome.

Per`i*streph"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to turn round.] Turning around; rotatory; revolving; as, a peristrephic painting (of a panorama).

Per"i*style (?), n. [L. peristylum, Gr. &?;, &?;; &?; about + &?; a column: cf. F. pÈristyle.] (Arch.) A range of columns with their entablature, etc.; specifically, a complete system of columns, whether on all sides of a court, or surrounding a building, such as the cella of a temple. Used in the former sense, it gives name to the larger and inner court of a Roman dwelling, the peristyle. See Colonnade.

Per`i*sys"to*le (?), n. [Pref. peri- + systole: cf. F. pÈrisystole.] (Physiol.) The interval between the diastole and systole of the heart. It is perceptible only in the dying.

Pe*rite" (?), a. [L. peritus.] Skilled. [Obs.]

||Per`i*the"ci*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; around + &?; box.] (Bot.) ||An organ in certain fungi and lichens, surrounding and enveloping the ||masses of fructification. Henslow.

Pe*rit"o*mous (?), a. [Gr. &?; cut off all around. See Peri-, and Tome.] (Min.) Cleaving in more directions than one, parallel to the axis.

Per`i*to*nÊ"um (?), n. (Anat.) Same as Peritoneum.

Per`i*to*ne"al (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈritonÈal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the peritoneum.

Per`i*to*ne"um (?), n. [L. peritoneum, peritonaeum, Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; to stretch all around or over; &?; around + &?; to stretch.] (Anat.) The smooth serous membrane which lines the cavity of the abdomen, or the whole body cavity when there is no diaphragm, and, turning back, surrounds the viscera, forming a closed, or nearly closed, sac. [Written also peritonÊum.]

||Per`i*to*ni"tis (?), n. [NL. See Peritoneum, and -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the peritoneum.

Per`i*tra"che*al (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Surrounding the tracheÊ.

Per"i*treme (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; a hole.] (Zoˆl.) (a) That part of the integument of an insect which surrounds the spiracles. (b) The edge of the aperture of a univalve shell.

||Pe*rit"ri*cha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?;, &?;, hair.] ||(Zoˆl.) A division of ciliated Infusoria having a circle of cilia ||around the oral disk and sometimes another around the body. It ||includes the vorticellas. See Vorticella.

||Per`i*tro"chi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; a ||wheel.] (Mech.) The wheel which, together with the axle, forms the ||axis in peritrochio, which see under Axis.

Per*it"ro*pal (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to turn around; &?; around + &?; to turn: cf. F. pÈritrope.] 1. Rotatory; circuitous. [R.]

2. Having the axis of the seed perpendicular to the axis of the pericarp to which it is attached.

Per*it"ro*pous (?), a. Peritropal.

||Per`i*typh*li"tis (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Typhlitis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the connective tissue about the cÊcum.

Per`i*u"ter*ine (?), a. (Med.) Surrounding the uterus.

Per`i*vas"cu*lar (?), a. Around the blood vessels; as, perivascular lymphatics.

Per`i*ver"te*bral (?), a. (Anat.) Surrounding the vertebrÊ.

Per`i*vis"cer*al (?), a. (Anat.) Around the viscera; as, the perivisceral cavity.

Per`i*vi*tel"line (?), a. [Pref. peri- + vitelline.] (Biol.) Situated around the vitellus, or between the vitellus and zona pellucida of an ovum.

Per"i*wig (?), n. [OE. perrwige, perwicke, corrupt. fr. F. perruque; cf. OD. peruyk, from French. See Peruke, and cf. Wig.] A headdress of false hair, usually covering the whole head, and representing the natural hair; a wig. Shak.

Per"i*wig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perwigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perwigging (?).] To dress with a periwig, or with false hair. Swift.

Per"i*win`kle (?), n. [From AS. pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is fr. L. pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. &?;. Cf. Winkle.] (Zoˆl.) Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina.

In America the name is often applied to several large univalves, as Fulgur carica, and F. canaliculata.

Per"i*win`kle, n. [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr. L. pervinca.] (Bot.) A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.

The common perwinkle (Vinca minor) has opposite evergreen leaves and solitary blue or white flowers in their axils. In America it is often miscalled myrtle. See under Myrtle.

Per"jen*et (?), n. [Cf. Pear, and Jenneting.] A kind of pear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per"jure (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perjured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perjuring.] [F. parjurer, L. perjurare, perjerare; per through, over + jurare to swear. See Jury.] 1. To cause to violate an oath or a vow; to cause to make oath knowingly to what is untrue; to make guilty of perjury; to forswear; to corrupt; -- often used reflexively; as, he perjured himself.

Want will perjure The ne'er-touched vestal.

Shak.

2. To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations. [Obs.]

And with a virgin innocence did pray For me, that perjured her.

J. Fletcher.

Syn. -- To Perjure, Forswear. These words have been used interchangeably; but there is a tendency to restrict perjure to that species of forswearing which constitutes the crime of perjury at law, namely, the willful violation of an oath administered by a magistrate or according to law.

Per"jure, n. [L. perjurus: cf. OF. parjur, F. parjure.] A perjured person. [Obs.] Shak.

Per"jured (?), a. Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely; forsworn. Shak. "Perjured persons." 1 Tim. i. 10. "Their perjured oath." Spenser.

Per"jur*er (?), n. One who is guilty of perjury; one who perjures or forswears, in any sense.

{ Per*ju"ri*ous (?), Per"ju*rous (?), } a. [L. perjuriosus, perjurus.] Guilty of perjury; containing perjury. [Obs.] Quarles. B. Johnson.

Per"ju*ry (?), n.; pl. Perjuries (#). [L. perjurium. See Perjure, v.] 1. False swearing.

2. (Law) At common law, a willfully false statement in a fact material to the issue, made by a witness under oath in a competent judicial proceeding. By statute the penalties of perjury are imposed on the making of willfully false affirmations.

If a man swear falsely in nonjudicial affidavits, it is made perjury by statute in some jurisdictions in the United States.

Perk (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perking.] [Cf. W. percu to trim, to make smart.] To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of; as, to perk the ears; to perk up one's head. Cowper. Sherburne.

Perk, v. i. To exalt one's self; to bear one's self loftily. "To perk over them." Barrow.

To perk it, to carry one's self proudly or saucily. Pope.

Perk, a. Smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain. "Perk as a peacock." Spenser.

Perk, v. i. To peer; to look inquisitively. Dickens.

Per"kin (?), n. A kind of weak perry.

Per"kin*ism (?), n. (Med.) A remedial treatment, by drawing the pointed extremities of two rods, each of a different metal, over the affected part; tractoration, -- first employed by Dr. Elisha Perkins of Norwich, Conn. See Metallotherapy.

Perk"y (?), a. Perk; pert; jaunty; trim.

There amid perky larches and pines.

Tennyson.

Per*la"ceous (?), a. [See Pearl.] Pearly; resembling pearl.

Per"lid (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any insect of the genus Perla, or family PerlidÊ. See Stone fly, under Stone.

Per"lite (?), n. (Min.) Same as Pearlite.

Per*lit"ic (?), a. (Min.) Relating to or resembling perlite, or pearlstone; as, the perlitic structure of certain rocks. See Pearlite.

Per"lous (?), a. Perilous. [Obs.] Spenser.

Per`lus*tra"tion (?), n. [L. perlustrare to wander all through, to survey. See 3d Luster.] The act of viewing all over. [Archaic] Howell.

Per"ma*na*ble (?), a. Permanent; durable. [Obs.] Lydgate.

{ Per"ma*nence (?), Per"ma*nen*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. permanence.] The quality or state of being permanent; continuance in the same state or place; duration; fixedness; as, the permanence of institutions; the permanence of nature.

Per"ma*nent (?), a. [L. permanens, -entis, p. pr. of permanere to stay or remain to the end, to last; per + manere to remain: cf. F. permanent. See Per-, and Mansion.] Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression.

Eternity stands permanent and fixed.

Dryden.

Permanent gases (Chem. & Physics), hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; -- also called incondensible or incoercible gases, before their liquefaction in 1877. -- Permanent way, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; -- so called in distinction from the contractor's temporary way. -- Permanent white (Chem.), barium sulphate (heavy spar), used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.

Syn. -- Lasting; durable; constant. See Lasting.

Per"ma*nent*ly, adv. In a permanent manner.

Per*man"ga*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of permanganic acid.

Potassium permanganate. (Chem.) See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.

Per`man*gan"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, one of the higher acids of manganese, HMnO4, which forms salts called permanganates.

Per*man"sion (?), n. [L. permansio. See Permanent.] Continuance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Per`me*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. permÈabilitÈ.] The quality or state of being permeable.

Magnetic permeability (Physics), the specific capacity of a body for magnetic induction, or its conducting power for lines of magnetic force. Sir W. Thomson.

Per"me*a*ble (?), a. [L. permeabilis: cf. F. permÈable. See Permeate.] Capable of being permeated, or passed through; yielding passage; passable; penetrable; -- used especially of substances which allow the passage of fluids; as, wood is permeable to oil; glass is permeable to light. I. Taylor.

Per"me*a*bly, adv. In a permeable manner.

Per"me*ant (?), a. [L. permeans, p. pr.] Passing through; permeating. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Per"me*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permeated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Permeating.] [L. permeatus, p. p. of permeare to permeate; per + meare to go, pass.] 1. To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; -- applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand. Woodward.

2. To enter and spread through; to pervade.

God was conceived to be diffused throughout the whole world, to
permeate and pervade all things.

Cudworth.

Per`me*a"tion (?), n. The act of permeating, passing through, or spreading throughout, the pores or interstices of any substance.

Here is not a mere involution only, but a spiritual permeation and
inexistence.

Bp. Hall.

Per"mi*an (?), a. [From the ancient kingdom of Permia, where the Permian formation exists.] (Geol.) Belonging or relating to the period, and also to the formation, next following the Carboniferous, and regarded as closing the Carboniferous age and Paleozoic era. -- n. The Permian period. See Chart of Geology.

Per"mi*ans (?), n. pl.; sing. Permian (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe belonging to the Finnic race, and inhabiting a portion of Russia.

Per*mis"ci*ble (?), a. [L. permiscere to mingle; per + miscere to mix.] Capable of being mixed.

Per*miss" (?), n. [See Permit.] A permitted choice; a rhetorical figure in which a thing is committed to the decision of one's opponent. [Obs.] Milton.

Per*mis`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being permissible; permissibleness; allowableness.

Per*mis"si*ble (?), a. That may be permitted; allowable; admissible. -- Per*mis"si*ble*ness, n. -- Per*mis"si*bly, adv.

Per*mis"sion (?), n. [L. permissio: cf. F. permission. See Permit.] The act of permitting or allowing; formal consent; authorization; leave; license or liberty granted.

High permission of all-ruling Heaven.

Milton.

You have given me your permission for this address.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Leave; liberty; license. -- Leave, Permission. Leave implies that the recipient may decide whether to use the license granted or not. Permission is the absence on the part of another of anything preventive, and in general, at least by implication, signifies approval.

Per*mis"sive (?), a. 1. Permitting; granting leave or liberty. "By his permissive will." Milton.

2. Permitted; tolerated; suffered. Milton.

Per*mis"sive*ly, adv. In a permissive manner.

Per*mis"tion (?), n. [L. permistio, permixtio, fr. permiscere, permistum, and permixtum. See Permiscible.] The act of mixing; the state of being mingled; mixture. [Written also permixtion.]

Per*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Permitting.] [L. permittere, permissum, to let through, to allow, permit; per + mittere to let go, send. See Per-, and Mission.] 1. To consent to; to allow or suffer to be done; to tolerate; to put up with.

What things God doth neither command nor forbid . . . he permitteth
with approbation either to be done or left undone.

Hooker.

2. To grant (one) express license or liberty to do an act; to authorize; to give leave; -- followed by an infinitive.

Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.

Acis xxvi. 1.

3. To give over; to resign; to leave; to commit.

Let us not aggravate our sorrows, But to the gods permit the event
of things.

Addison.

Syn. -- To allow; let; grant; admit; suffer; tolerate; endure; consent to. -- To Allow, Permit, Suffer, Tolerate. To allow is more positive, denoting (at least originally and etymologically) a decided assent, either directly or by implication. To permit is more negative, and imports only acquiescence or an abstinence from prevention. The distinction, however, is often disregarded by good writers. To suffer has a stronger passive or negative sense than to permit, sometimes implying against the will, sometimes mere indifference. To tolerate is to endure what is contrary to will or desire. To suffer and to tolerate are sometimes used without discrimination.

Per*mit", v. i. To grant permission; to allow.

Per"mit (?), n. Warrant; license; leave; permission; specifically, a written license or permission given to a person or persons having authority; as, a permit to land goods subject to duty.

Per*mit"tance (?), n. The act of permitting; allowance; permission; leave. Milton.

Per`mit*tee" (?), n. One to whom a permission or permit is given.

Per*mit"ter (?), n. One who permits.

A permitter, or not a hinderer, of sin.

J. Edwards.

Per*mix" (?), v. t. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

Per*mix"tion (?), n. See Permission.

Per*mut"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. permutable.] Capable of being permuted; exchangeable. -- Per*mut"a*ble*ness, n. -- Per*mut"a*bly, adv.

Per`mu*ta"tion (?), n. [L. permutatio: cf. F. permutation. See Permute.] 1. The act of permuting; exchange of the thing for another; mutual transference; interchange.

The violent convulsions and permutations that have been made in
property.

Burke.

2. (Math.) (a) The arrangement of any determinate number of things, as units, objects, letters, etc., in all possible orders, one after the other; -- called also alternation. Cf. Combination, n., 4. (b) Any one of such possible arrangements.

3. (Law) Barter; exchange.

Permutation lock, a lock in which the parts can be transposed or shifted, so as to require different arrangements of the tumblers on different occasions of unlocking.

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Per*mute" (?), v. t. [L. permutare, permutatum; per + mutare to change: cf. F. permuter.] 1. To interchange; to transfer reciprocally.

2. To exchange; to barter; to traffic. [Obs.]

Bought, trucked, permuted, or given.

Hakluyt.

Per*mut"er (?), n. One who permutes.

Pern (?), v. t. [See Pernancy.] To take profit of; to make profitable. [Obs.] Sylvester.

Pern, n. (Zoˆl.) The honey buzzard.

Per"nan*cy (?), n. [OF. prenance, fr. prendre, prenre, penre, to take, L. prendere, prehendere.] (Law) A taking or reception, as the receiving of rents or tithes in kind, the receiving of profits. Blackstone.

Per"nel (?), n. See Pimpernel. [Obs.]

Per*ni"cion (?), n. [See 2d Pernicious.] Destruction; perdition. [Obs.] hudibras.

Per*ni"cious (?), a. [L. pernix, -icis.] Quick; swift (to burn). [R.] Milton.

Per*ni"cious, a. [L. perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from pernecare to kill or slay outright; per + necare to kill, slay: cf. F. pernicieux. Cf. Nuisance, Necromancy.] Having the quality of injuring or killing; destructive; very mischievous; baleful; malicious; wicked.

Let this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar.

Shak.

Pernicious to his health.

Prescott.

Syn. -- Destructive; ruinous; deadly; noxious; injurious; baneful; deleterious; hurtful; mischievous.

-- Per*ni"cious*ly, adv., -- Per*ni"cious*ness, n.

Per*nic"i*ty (?), n. [L. pernicitas. See 1st Pernicious.] Swiftness; celerity. [R.] Ray.

||Per"ni*o (?), n. [L.] (Med.) A chilblain.

Per`noc*ta"li*an (?), n. One who watches or keeps awake all night.

Per`noc*ta"tion (?), n. [L. pernoctatio, fr. pernoctare to stay all night; per + nox, noctis, night.] The act or state of passing the whole night; a remaining all night. "Pernoctation in prayer." Jer. Taylor.

Per"nor (?), n. [See Pern, v.] (Law) One who receives the profits, as of an estate.

Per"not fur"nace (?). [So called from Charles Pernot, its inventor.] A reverberatory furnace with a circular revolving hearth, -- used in making steel.

Per"ny*i moth" (?). (Zoˆl.) A silk- producing moth (Attacus Pernyi) which feeds upon the oak. It has been introduced into Europe and America from China.

Per*of"skite (?), n. [From von Perovski, of St.Petersburg.] (Min.) A titanate of lime occurring in octahedral or cubic crystals. [Written also Perovskite.]

Pe*rogue (?), n. See Pirogue.

Per"o*nate (?), a. [L. peronatus rough&?;booted, fr. pero, -onis, a kind of rough boot.] (Bot.) A term applied to the stipes or stalks of certain fungi which are covered with a woolly substance which at length becomes powdery. Henslow.

Per`o*ne"al (?), a. [Gr. &?; the fibula.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the fibula; in the region of the fibula.

Per"o*rate (?), v. i. [See Peroration.] To make a peroration; to harangue. [Colloq.]

Per`o*ra"tion (?), n. [L. peroratio, fr. perorate, peroratum, to speak from beginning to end; per + orate to speak. See Per-, and Oration.] (Rhet.) The concluding part of an oration; especially, a final summing up and enforcement of an argument. Burke.

Per*ox`i*da"tion (?), n. Act, process, or result of peroxidizing; oxidation to a peroxide.

Per*ox"ide (?), n. (Chem.) An oxide containing more oxygen than some other oxide of the same element. Formerly peroxides were regarded as the highest oxides. Cf. Per-, 2.

Per*ox"i*dize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Peroxidized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Peroxidizing.] (Chem.) To oxidize to the utmost degree, so as to form a peroxide.

Per*pend" (?), v. t. [L. perpendere, perpensum; per + pendere to weight.] To weight carefully in the mind. [R.] "Perpend my words." Shak.

Per*pend", v. i. To attend; to be attentive. [R.] Shak.

Per*pend"er (?), n. [F. parpaing, pierre parpaigne; of uncertain origin.] (Masonry) A large stone reaching through a wall so as to appear on both sides of it, and acting as a binder; -- called also perbend, perpend stone, and perpent stone.

Per*pen"di*cle (?), n. [L. perpendiculum; per + pendere to hang: cf. F. perpendicule.] Something hanging straight down; a plumb line. [Obs.]

Per`pen*dic"u*lar (?), a. [L. perpendicularis, perpendicularius: cf. F. perpendiculaire. See Perpendicle, Pension.] 1. Exactly upright or vertical; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth.

2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given line or surface; as, the line ad is perpendicular to the line bc.

Perpendicular style (Arch.), a name given to the latest variety of English Gothic architecture, which prevailed from the close of the 14th century to the early part of the 16th; -- probably so called from the vertical style of its window mullions.

Per`pen*dic"u*lar (?), n. 1. A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction.

2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each side.

Per`pen*dic`u*lar"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. perpendicularitÈ.] The quality or state of being perpendicular.

Per`pen*dic"u*lar*ly (?), adv. In a perpendicular manner; vertically.

Per"pend stone` (?). See Perpender.

Per*pen"sion (?), n. [See Perpend.] Careful consideration; pondering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Per*pen"si*ty (?), n. Perpension. [Obs.]

Per"pent stone` (?). See Perpender.

Per*pes"sion (?), n. [L. perpessio, fr. perpeti, perpessus, to bear steadfastly; per + pati to bear.] Suffering; endurance. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

Per"pe*tra"ble (?), a. Capable of being perpetrated. R. North.

Per"pe*trate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetrated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perpetrating.] [L. perpetratus, p. p. of perpetrare to effect, perpetrare; per + patrare to perform.] To do or perform; to carry through; to execute, commonly in a bad sense; to commit (as a crime, an offense); to be guilty of; as, to perpetrate a foul deed.

What the worst perpetrate, or best endure.

Young.

Per`pe*tra"tion (?), n. [L. perpetratio: cf. F. perpÈtration.] 1. The act of perpetrating; a doing; -- commonly used of doing something wrong, as a crime.

2. The thing perpetrated; an evil action.

Per"pe*tra`tor (?), n. [L.] One who perpetrates; esp., one who commits an offense or crime.

Per*pet"u*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being perpetuated or continued.

Varieties are perpetuable, like species.

Gray.

Per*pet"u*al (?), a. [OE. perpetuel, F. perpÈtuel, fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout, continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.] Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous.

Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.

Shak.

Perpetual feast of nectared sweets.

Milton.

Circle of perpetual apparition, or occultation. See under Circle. -- Perpetual calendar, a calendar so devised that it may be adjusted for any month or year. -- Perpetual curacy (Ch. of Eng.), a curacy in which all the tithes are appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed. Blackstone. -- Perpetual motion. See under Motion. -- Perpetual screw. See Endless screw, under Screw.

Syn. -- Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant; constant; eternal. See Constant.

Per*pet"u*al*ly, adv. In a perpetual manner; constantly; continually.

The Bible and Common Prayer Book in the vulgar tongue, being
perpetually read in churches, have proved a kind of standard for
language.

Swift.

Per*pet"u*al*ty (?), n. The state or condition of being perpetual. [Obs.] Testament of Love.

Per*pet"u*ance (?), n. Perpetuity. [Obs.]

Per*pet"u*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perpetuating.] [L. perpetuatus, p. p. of perpetuare to perpetuate. See Perpetual.] To make perpetual; to cause to endure, or to be continued, indefinitely; to preserve from extinction or oblivion; to eternize. Addison. Burke.

Per*pet"u*ate (?), a. [L. perpetuatus, p. p.] Made perpetual; perpetuated. [R.] Southey.

Per*pet`u*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. perpÈtuation.] The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time; continuance. Sir T. Browne.

Per`pe*tu"i*ty (?), n. [L. perpetuitas: cf. F. perpÈtuitÈ.] 1. The quality or state of being perpetual; as, the perpetuity of laws. Bacon.

A path to perpetuity of fame.

Byron.

The perpetuity of single emotion is insanity.

I. Taylor.

2. Something that is perpetual. South.

3. Endless time. "And yet we should, for perpetuity, go hence in debt." Shak.

4. (Annuities) (a) The number of years in which the simple interest of any sum becomes equal to the principal. (b) The number of years' purchase to be given for an annuity to continue forever. (c) A perpetual annuity.

5. (Law) (a) Duration without limitations as to time. (b) The quality or condition of an estate by which it becomes inalienable, either perpetually or for a very long period; also, the estate itself so modified or perpetuated.

Per*plex" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perplexing.] [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.] 1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts.

No artful wildness to perplex the scene.

Pope.

What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak
parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view.

Locke.

2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety. "Perplexd beyond self-explication." Shak.

We are perplexed, but not in despair.

2 Cor. iv. 8.

We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to
perplex the mind.

Locke.

3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. Glanvill.

Syn. -- To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.

Per*plex", a. [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.] Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanvill.

Per*plexed" (?), a. Entangled, involved, or confused; hence, embarrassd; puzzled; doubtful; anxious. -- Per*plex"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Per*plex"ed*ness, n.

Per*plex"ing (?), a. Embarrassing; puzzling; troublesome. "Perplexing thoughts." Milton.

Per*plex"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Perplexities (#). [L. perplexitas: cf. F. perplexitÈ.] The quality or state of being perplexed or puzzled; complication; intricacy; entanglement; distraction of mind through doubt or difficulty; embarrassment; bewilderment; doubt.

By their own perplexities involved, They ravel more.

Milton.

Per*plex"ive*ness (?), n. The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Per*plex"ly, adv. Perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.

Per`po*ta"tion (?), n. [L. perpotatio, fr. perpotate. See Per-, and Potation.] The act of drinking excessively; a drinking bout. [Obs.]

Per"qui*site (?), n. [L. perquisitum, fr. perquisitus, p. p. of perquirere to ask for diligently; per + quaerere to seek. See Per-, and Quest.] 1. Something gained from a place or employment over and above the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service.

The pillage of a place taken by storm was regarded as the
perquisite of the soldiers.

Prescott.

The best perquisites of a place are the advantages it gaves a man
of doing good.

Addison.

2. pl. (Law) Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.

Per"qui*sit*ed, a. Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] "Perquisited varlets frequent stand." Savage.

Per`qui*si"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. perquisition.] A thorough inquiry of search. [R.] Berkeley.

Per*ra"di*al (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Situated around the radii, or radial tubes, of a radiate.

Per"rie (?), n. [F. pierreries, pl., fr. pierre stone, L. petra.] Precious stones; jewels. [Obs.] [Written also perre, perrye, etc.] Chaucer.

Per"ri*er (?), n. [OF. perriere, perrier, F. perrier. Cf. Pederero.] (Mil.) A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.

Per`ro*quet" (?), n. [F.] (Zoˆl.) See Paroquet, Parakeet.

||Per`ruque" (?), n. [F.] See Peruke.

Per*ru"qui*er (?), n. [F.] A marker of perukes or wigs.

Per"ry (?), n. [OF. perÈ, F. poirÈ, fr. poire a pear, L. pirum. See Pear the fruit.] A fermented liquor made from pears; pear cider. Mortimer.

Per"ry, n. A suddent squall. See Pirry. [Obs.]

Pers (?), a. [F. pers.] Light blue; grayish blue; -- a term applied to different shades at different periods. -- n. A cloth of sky-blue color. [Obs.] "A long surcoat of pers." Chaucer.

Per"salt` (?), n. (Chem.) A term formerly given to the salts supposed to be formed respectively by neutralizing acids with certain peroxides. [Obsoles.]

Per"sant (?), a. [F. perÁant, p. pr. of percer to pierce.] Piercing. [Obs.] Spenser.

Per`scru*ta"tion (?), n. [L. perscrutatio, fr. perscrutari to search through.] A thorough searching; a minute inquiry or scrutiny. Carlyle

Per"se*cot (?), n. See Persicot.

Per"se*cute (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Persecuting.] [F. persÈcueter, L. persequi, persecutus, to pursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, and Second.] 1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship.

Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you.

Matt. v. 44.

2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy. Johnson.

Syn. -- To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy.

Per`se*cu"tion (?), n. [F. persÈcution, L. persecutio.] 1. The act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship.

Persecution produces no sincere conviction.

Paley.

2. The state or condition of being persecuted. Locke.

3. A carrying on; prosecution. [Obs.]

Per"se*cu`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. persÈcuteur.] One who persecutes, or harasses. Shak.

Per"se*cu`trix (?), n. [L.] A woman who persecutes.

Per"se*id (?), n. (Astron.) One of a group of shooting stars which appear yearly about the 10th of August, and cross the heavens in paths apparently radiating from the constellation Perseus. They are beleived to be fragments once connected with a comet visible in 1862.

Per"se*us (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?;.] 1. (Class. Myth.) A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and DanaÎ, who slew the Gorgon Medusa.

2. (Astron.) A consellation of the northern hemisphere, near Taurus and Cassiopea. It contains a star cluster visible to the naked eye as a nebula.

Per*sev"er (?), v. i. To persevere. [Obs.]

Per`se*ver"ance (?), n. [F. persÈvÈrance, L. perseverantia.] 1. The act of persevering; persistence in anything undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun. "The king-becoming graces . . . perseverance, mercy, lowliness." Shak.

Whose constant perseverance overcame Whate'er his cruel malice
could invent.

Milton.

2. Discrimination. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.

3. (Theol.) Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism.

Syn. -- Persistence; steadfastness; constancy; steadiness; pertinacity.

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Per`se*ver"ant (?), a. [L. perseverans, -antis, p. pr.: cf. F. persÈvÈrant.] Persevering. [R.] "Perseverant faith." Whitby. -- Per`se*ver"ant*ly, adv. [R.]

Per`se*vere" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persevered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Persevering.] [F. persÈvÈrer, L. perseverare, fr. perseverus very strict; per + severus strict, severe. See Per-, and Severe.] To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken.

Thrice happy, if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright.

Milton.

Syn. -- To Persevere, Continue, Persist. The idea of not laying aside is common to these words. Continue is the generic term, denoting simply to do as one has done hitherto. To persevere is to continue in a given course in spite of discouragements, etc., from a desire to obtain our end. To persist is to continue from a determination of will not to give up. Persist is frequently used in a bad sense, implying obstinacy in pursuing an unworthy aim.

Per`se*ver"ing (?), a. Characterized by perseverance; persistent. -- Per`se*ver"ing*ly, adv.

Per"sian (?), a. [From Persia: cf. It. Persiano. Cf. Parsee, Peach, Persic.] Of or pertaining to Persia, to the Persians, or to their language.

Persian berry, the fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind of buckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly from Trebizond. -- Persian cat. (Zoˆl.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora. -- Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft represents a Persian slave; -- called also Persians. See Atlantes. -- Persian drill (Mech.), a drill which is turned by pushing a nut back and forth along a spirally grooved drill holder. -- Persian fire (Med.), malignant pustule. -- Persian powder. See Insect powder, under Insect. -- Persian red. See Indian red (a), under Indian. -- Persian wheel, a noria; a tympanum. See Noria.

Per"sian, n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Persia.

2. The language spoken in Persia.

3. A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. Beck.

4. pl. (Arch.) See Persian columns, under Persian, a.

Per"sic (?), a. [L. Persicus. Cf. Persian.] Of or relating to Persia. -- n. The Persian language.

||Per`si*ca"ri*a (?), n. [NL., from LL. persicarius a peach tree. See ||Peach.] (Bot.) See Lady's thumb.

Per"si*cot (?), n. [F. See Peach.] A cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, etc., with refined spirit.

||Per`si`flage" (?), n. [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr. L. per + ||siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.] Frivolous or ||bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether ||serious or otherwise; light raillery. Hannah More.

||Per`si`fleur (?), n. [F.] One who indulges in persiflage; a banterer; ||a quiz. Carlyle.

Per*sim"mon (?), n. [Virginia Indian.] (Bot.) An American tree (Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes palatable and nutritious.

Japanese persimmon, Diospyros Kaki and its red or yellow edible fruit, which outwardly resembles a tomato, but contains a few large seeds.

Per"sis (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of coloring matter obtained from lichens.

Per"sism (?), n. A Persian idiom.

Per*sist" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persisting.] [L. persistere; per + sistere to stand or be fixed, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. persister. See Per-, and Stand.] To stand firm; to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; - - sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy.

If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular
persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.

Addison.

Some positive, persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong, will
needs be always so.

Pope.

That face persists. It floats up; it turns over in my mind.

Mrs. Browning.

Syn. -- See Persevere, and Insist.

{ Per*sist"ence (?), Per*sist"en*cy (?), } n. [See Persistent.] 1. The quality or state of being persistent; staying or continuing quality; hence, in an unfavorable sense, doggedness; obstinacy.

2. The continuance of an effect after the cause which first gave rise to it is removed; as: (a) (Physics) The persistence of motion. (b) (Physiol.) Visual persistence, or persistence of the visual impression; auditory persistence, etc.

Per*sist"ent (?), a. [L. persistens, -entis, p. pr. of persistere. See Persist.] 1. Inclined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious of position or purpose.

2. (Biol.) Remaining beyond the period when parts of the same kind sometimes fall off or are absorbed; permanent; as, persistent teeth or gills; a persistent calyx; -- opposed to deciduous, and caducous.

Per*sist"ent*ly, adv. In a persistent manner.

Per*sist"ing, a. Inclined to persist; tenacious of purpose; persistent. -- Per*sist"ing*ly, adv.

Per*sist"ive (?), a. See Persistent. Shak.

Per*solve" (?), v. t. [L. persolvere.] To pay wholly, or fully. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Per"son (?), n. [OE. persone, persoun, person, parson, OF. persone, F. personne, L. persona a mask (used by actors), a personage, part, a person, fr. personare to sound through; per + sonare to sound. See Per-, and cf. Parson.] 1. A character or part, as in a play; a specific kind or manifestation of individual character, whether in real life, or in literary or dramatic representation; an assumed character. [Archaic]

His first appearance upon the stage in his new person of a
sycophant or juggler.

Bacon.

No man can long put on a person and act a part.

Jer. Taylor.

To bear rule, which was thy part And person, hadst thou known
thyself aright.

Milton.

How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the
person of a magistrate and that of a friend!

South.

2. The bodily form of a human being; body; outward appearance; as, of comely person.

A fair persone, and strong, and young of age.

Chaucer.

If it assume my noble father's person.

Shak.

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined.

Milton.

3. A living, self-conscious being, as distinct from an animal or a thing; a moral agent; a human being; a man, woman, or child.

Consider what person stands for; which, I think, is a thinking,
intelligent being, that has reason and reflection.

Locke.

4. A human being spoken of indefinitely; one; a man; as, any person present.

5. A parson; the parish priest. [Obs.] Chaucer.

6. (Theol.) Among Trinitarians, one of the three subdivisions of the Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost); an hypostasis. "Three persons and one God." Bk. of Com. Prayer.

7. (Gram.) One of three relations or conditions (that of speaking, that of being spoken to, and that of being spoken of) pertaining to a noun or a pronoun, and thence also to the verb of which it may be the subject.

A noun or pronoun, when representing the speaker, is said to be in the first person; when representing what is spoken to, in the second person; when representing what is spoken of, in the third person.

8. (Biol.) A shoot or bud of a plant; a polyp or zooid of the compound Hydrozoa Anthozoa, etc.; also, an individual, in the narrowest sense, among the higher animals. Haeckel.

True corms, composed of united personÊ . . . usually arise by
gemmation, . . . yet in sponges and corals occasionally by fusion
of several originally distinct persons.

Encyc. Brit.

Artificial, or Fictitious, person (Law), a corporation or body politic. blackstone. -- Natural person (Law), a man, woman, or child, in distinction from a corporation. -- In person, by one's self; with bodily presence; not by representative. "The king himself in person is set forth." Shak. -- In the person of, in the place of; acting for. Shak.

Per"son (?), v. t. To represent as a person; to personify; to impersonate. [Obs.] Milton.

||Per*so"na (?), n.; pl. PersonÊ (#). [L.] (Biol.) Same as Person, n., ||8.

Per"son*a*ble (?), a. 1. Having a well-formed body, or person; graceful; comely; of good appearance; presentable; as, a personable man or woman.

Wise, warlike, personable, courteous, and kind.

Spenser.

The king, . . . so visited with sickness, was not personable.

E. Hall.

2. (Law) (a) Enabled to maintain pleas in court. Cowell. (b) Having capacity to take anything granted.

Per"son*age (?), n. [F. personnage.] 1. Form, appearance, or belongings of a person; the external appearance, stature, figure, air, and the like, of a person. "In personage stately." Hayward.

The damsel well did view his personage.

Spenser.

2. Character assumed or represented. "The actors and personages of this fable." Broome. "Disguised in a false personage." Addison.

3. A notable or distinguished person; a conspicious or peculiar character; as, an illustrious personage; a comely personage of stature tall. Spenser.

Per"son*al (?), a. [L. personalis: cf. F. personnel.] 1. Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.

Every man so termed by way of personal difference.

Hooker.

2. Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general; as, personal comfort; personal desire.

The words are conditional, -- If thou doest well, -- and so
personal to Cain.

Locke.

3. Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms. Addison.

4. Done in person; without the intervention of another. "Personal communication." Fabyan.

The immediate and personal speaking of God.

White.

5. Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.

6. (Gram.) Denoting person; as, a personal pronoun.

Personal action (Law), a suit or action by which a man claims a debt or personal duty, or damages in lieu of it; or wherein he claims satisfaction in damages for an injury to his person or property, or the specific recovery of goods or chattels; -- opposed to real action. -- Personal equation. (Astron.) See under Equation. -- Personal estate or property (Law), movables; chattels; -- opposed to real estate or property. It usually consists of things temporary and movable, including all subjects of property not of a freehold nature. -- Personal identity (Metaph.), the persistent and continuous unity of the individual person, which is attested by consciousness. -- Personal pronoun (Gram.), one of the pronouns I, thou, he, she, it, and their plurals. -- Personal representatives (Law), the executors or administrators of a person deceased. -- Personal rights, rights appertaining to the person; as, the rights of a personal security, personal liberty, and private property. -- Personal tithes. See under Tithe. -- Personal verb (Gram.), a verb which is modified or inflected to correspond with the three persons.

Per"son*al, n. (Law) A movable; a chattel.

Per"son*al*ism (?), n. The quality or state of being personal; personality. [R.]

Per`son*al"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Personalities (#). [Cf. F. personnalitÈ. Cf. Personality.] 1. That which constitutes distinction of person; individuality.

Personality is individuality existing in itself, but with a nature
as a ground.

Coleridge.

2. Something said or written which refers to the person, conduct, etc., of some individual, especially something of a disparaging or offensive nature; personal remarks; as, indulgence in personalities.

Sharp personalities were exchanged.

Macaulay.

3. (Law) That quality of a law which concerns the condition, state, and capacity of persons. Burrill.

Per"son*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Personalizing (?).] To make personal. "They personalize death." H. Spencer.

Per"son*al*ly, adv. 1. In a personal manner; by bodily presence; in person; not by representative or substitute; as, to deliver a letter personally.

He, being cited, personally came not.

Grafton.

2. With respect to an individual; as regards the person; individually; particularly.

She bore a mortal hatred to the house of Lancaster, and personally
to the king.

Bacon.