Chapter XXI: Part 21

5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.

Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise.

Cowley.

Pledg*ee" (?), n. The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered.

Pledge"less (?), a. Having no pledge.

{ Pledge*or", Pledg*or" } (?), n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; -- opposed to pledgee.

This word analogically requires the e after g, but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner.

Pledg"er (?), n. One who pledges.

Pledg"er*y (?), n. [Cf. OF. pleigerie.] A pledging; suretyship. [Obs.]

Pledg"et (?), n. [Prov. E., a small plug.] 1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]

2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.

3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.

||Ple*gep"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (&?;) a stroke + -poda. In ||allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zoˆl.) Same ||as Infusoria.

Ple"iad (?), n. One of the Pleiades.

Ple"ia*des (?; 277), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. (&?;)] 1. (Myth.) The seven daughters of Atlas and the nymph Pleione, fabled to have been made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.

2. (Astron.) A group of small stars in the neck of the constellation Taurus. Job xxxviii. 31.

Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by M‰dler the central point around which our universe is revolving, but there is no sufficient evidence of such motion. Only six pleiads are distinctly visible to the naked eye, whence the ancients supposed that a sister had concealed herself out of shame for having loved a mortal, Sisyphus.

Plein (?), a. Plan. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plein, v. i. & t. To complain. See Plain. [Obs.]

Plein, a. [OF. & F., fr. L. plenus.] Full; complete. [Obs.] "Plein remission." Chaucer. -- Plein"ly, adv.

Plei"o*cene (?), a. (Geol.) See Pliocene.

Plei*oph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. &?; more + &?; leaf.] (Bot.) Having several leaves; -- used especially when several leaves or leaflets appear where normally there should be only one.

||Plei`o*sau"rus (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as Pliosaurus.

Pleis"to*cene (?), a. [Gr. &?; most + &?; new.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the epoch, or the deposits, following the Tertiary, and immediately preceding man. -- n. The Pleistocene epoch, or deposits.

Ple"nal (?), a. [L. plenus full. Cf. Plenary.] Full; complete; as, a plenal view or act. [Obs.]

Ple"na*ri*ly (?), adv. In a plenary manner.

Ple"na*ri*ness, n. Quality or state of being plenary.

Plen"ar*ty (?), n. The state of a benefice when occupied. Blackstone.

Ple"na*ry (?), a. [LL. plenarius, fr. L. plenus full. See Plenty.] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority.

A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full.

I. Watts.

Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.), an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. -- Plenary inspiration. (Theol.) See under Inspiration.

Ple"na*ry, n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]

Plene (?), Ê. [L. plenus full.] Full; complete; plenary. [Obs.]

Ple"ni*corn (?), n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zoˆl.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer. Brande & C.

Plen`i*lu"na*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to the full moon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Plen"i*lune (?), n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

{ Ple*nip"o*tence (?), Ple*nip"o*ten*cy (?), } n. The quality or state of being plenipotent. [R.]

Ple*nip"o*tent (?), a. [L. plenus full + potens, -entis, potent.] Possessing full power. [R.] Milton.

Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#). [LL. plenipotentiarius: cf. F. plÈnipotentiaire.] A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, with full power to negotiate a treaty, or to transact other business.

Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry, a. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers. Howell.

Plen"ish (?), v. t. [See Replenish.] 1. To replenish. [Obs.] T. Reeve.

2. To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. [Scot.]

Plen"ish*ing, n. Household furniture; stock. [Scot.]

Ple"nist (?), n. [L. plenus full; cf. F. plÈniste.] One who holds that all space is full of matter.

Plen"i*tude (?), n. [L. plenitudo, fr. plenus full; cf. F. plenitude.] 1. The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as, the plenitude of space or power.

2. Animal fullness; repletion; plethora. [Obs.]

Plen`i*tu`di*na"ri*an (?), n. A plenist.

Plen`i*tu"di*na*ry (?), a. Having plenitude; full; complete; thorough. [Obs.]

Plen"te*ous (?), a. [From Plenty.] 1. Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as, a plenteous supply. "Reaping plenteous crop." Milton.

2. Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful. "The seven plenteous years." Gen. xli. 34.

3. Having plenty; abounding; rich.

The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods.

Deut. xxviii. 11.

Syn. -- Plentiful; copious; full. See Ample.

-- Plen"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Plen"te*ous*ness, n.

Plen"te*vous (?), a. Plenteous. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plen"ti*ful (?), a. 1. Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as, a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water.

2. Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful.

If it be a long winter, it is commonly a more plentiful year.

Bacon.

3. Lavish; profuse; prodigal. [Obs.]

He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from

Bacon.

-- Plen"ti*ful*ly, adv. -- Plen"ti*ful*ness, n.

Plen"ty (?), n.; pl. Plenties (#), in Shak. [OE. plentee, plente, OF. plentÈ, fr. L. plenitas, fr. plenus full. See Full, a., and cf. Complete.] Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically, abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance; copiousness. "Plenty of corn and wine." Gen. xxvii. 28. "Promises Britain peace and plenty." Shak.

Houses of office stuffed with plentee.

Chaucer.

The teeming clouds Descend in gladsome plenty o'er the world.

Thomson.

Syn. -- Abundance; exuberance. See Abundance.

Plen"ty, a. Plentiful; abundant. [Obs. or Colloq.]

If reasons were as plenty as blackberries.

Shak. (Folio ed.)

Those countries where shrubs are plenty.

Goldsmith.

||Ple"num (?), n. [L., fr. plenus full.] That state in which every part ||of space is supposed to be full of matter; -- opposed to vacuum. G. ||Francis.

Ple`o*chro"ic (?), a. Having the property of pleochroism.

Ple*och"ro*ism (?), n. [Gr.&?; mor&?; + &?; color.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some crystals, of showing different colors when viewed in the direction of different axes.

Ple*och`ro*mat"ic (?), a. Pleochroic.

Ple`o*chro"ma*tism (?), n. Pleochroism.

Ple*och"ro*ous (?), a. Pleochroic.

Ple`o*mor"phic (?), a. Pertaining to pleomorphism; as, the pleomorphic character of bacteria.

Ple`o*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; more + &?; form.] 1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.

2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.

Ple`o*mor"phous (?), a. Having the property of pleomorphism.

Ple"o*nasm, (&?;), n. [L. pleonasmus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be more than enough, to abound, fr.&?;, neut. of &?;, more, compar. of &?; much. See Full, a., and cf. Poly-, Plus.] (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; as, I saw it with my own eyes.

Ple"o*nast (?), n. One who is addicted to pleonasm. [R.] C. Reade.

Ple"o*naste, n. [Gr.&?; abundant, rich; cf. F. plÈonaste.] (Min.) A black variety of spinel.

{ Ple`o*nas"tic (?), Ple`o*nas"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. plÈonastique.] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant.

Ple`o*nas"tic*al*ly, adv. In a pleonastic manner.

Ple"o*pod (?), n.; pl. E. Pleopods (#), L. Pleopoda (#). [Gr. &?; to swim + -pod.] (Zoˆl.) One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea.

Ple"rome (?), n. [Gr. &?; that which fills up, fr. &?; to fill.] (Bot.) The central column of parenchyma in a growing stem or root.

Ple*roph"o*ry (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; full + &?; to bear.] Fullness; full persuasion. "A plerophory of assurance." Bp. Hall.

Ples"ance (?), n. Pleasance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plesh (?), n. A pool; a plash. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ple`si*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; near + &?; form.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some substances of crystallizing in closely similar forms while unlike in chemical composition.

Ple`si*o*mor"phous (?), a. Nearly alike in form.

Ple"si*o*saur (?), n. (Paleon.) One of the Plesiosauria.

||Ple`si*o*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Plesiosaurus.] (Paleon.) An ||extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera ||Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; -- called also Sauropterygia.

Ple`si*o*sau"ri*an (?), n. (Paleon.) A plesiosaur.

||Ple`si*o*sau"rus (?), n.; pl. Plesiosauri (#). [NL., fr. Gr &?; near ||+ &?; a lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct marine reptiles, ||having a very long neck, a small head, and paddles for swimming. It ||lived in the Mesozoic age.

Ples*sim"e*ter (?), n. See Pleximeter.

Plete (?), v. t. & i. To plead. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

Pleth"o*ra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be or become full. Cf. Pleonasm.] 1. Overfullness; especially, excessive fullness of the blood vessels; repletion; that state of the blood vessels or of the system when the blood exceeds a healthy standard in quantity; hyperÊmia; -- opposed to anÊmia.

2. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.

He labors under a plethora of wit and imagination.

Jeffrey.

Pleth`o*ret"ic (?), a. Plethoric. [Obs.] Johnson.

Ple*thor"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; cf. F. plÈthorique.] Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as, a plethoric constitution; -- used also metaphorically. "Plethoric phrases." Sydney Smith. "Plethoric fullness of thought." De Quincey.

Ple*thor"ic*al (?), a. Plethoric. [R.] -- Ple*thor"ic*al*ly, adv. Burke.

Pleth"o*ry (?), n. Plethora. Jer. Taylor.

{ ||Pleth"ron (?), ||Pleth"rum (?), } n.; pl. Plethra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Gr. Antiq.) A long measure of 100 Greek, or 101 English, feet; also, a square measure of 10,000 Greek feet.

||Pleth"ys*mo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; an enlargement + -graph.] ||(Physiol.) An instrument for determining and registering the ||variations in the size or volume of a limb, as the arm or leg, and ||hence the variations in the amount of blood in the limb.

-- Pleth`ys*mo*graph"ic (#), a.

<! p. 1100 !>

Pleth`ys*mog"ra*phy (?), n. (Physiol.) The study, by means of the plethysmograph, of the variations in size of a limb, and hence of its blood supply.

||Pleu"ra (?), n., pl. of Pleuron.

Pleu"ra, n.; pl. L. PleurÊ (#), E. Pleuras (#). [NL., n. fem., fr. Gr. &?; a rib, the side.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The smooth serous membrane which closely covers the lungs and the adjacent surfaces of the thorax; the pleural membrane. (b) The closed sac formed by the pleural membrane about each lung, or the fold of membrane connecting each lung with the body wall.

2. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pleuron.

Pleu"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura or pleurÊ, or to the sides of the thorax.

||Pleu*ral"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; rib + &?; pain.] (Med.) Pain ||in the side or region of the ribs.

||Pleu`ra*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Pleurapophyses (#). [NL. See Pleura, ||and Apophysis.] (Anat.) One of the ventral processes of a vertebra, ||or the dorsal element in each half of a hemal arch, forming, or ||corresponding to, a vertebral rib. -- Pleu*rap`o*phys"i*al (#), a. ||Owen.

Pleu*ren"chy*ma (?), n. [Gr. &?; side + &?;, as in parenchyma.] (Bot.) A tissue consisting of long and slender tubular cells, of which wood is mainly composed.

Pleu"ric (?), a. (Anat.) Pleural.

Pleu"ri*sy (?), n. [F. pleurÈsie, L. pleurisis, pleuritis, Gr pleyri^tis (sc. no`sos), fr. pleyra` rib, side.] (Med.) An inflammation of the pleura, usually accompanied with fever, pain, difficult respiration, and cough, and with exudation into the pleural cavity.

Pleurisy root. (Bot.) (a) The large tuberous root of a kind of milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which is used as a remedy for pleuritic and other diseases. (b) The plant itself, which has deep orange-colored flowers; -- called also butterfly weed.

Pleu"rite (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pleuron.

{ Pleu*rit"ic (?), Pleu*rit"ic*al (?), } a. [L. pleuriticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pleurÈtique.] (Med.) (a) Of or pertaining to pleurisy; as, pleuritic symptoms. (b) Suffering from pleurisy.

||Pleu*ri"tis (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Pleurisy.

Pleu"ro- (?). [See Pleura.] A combining form denoting relation to a side; specif., connection with, or situation in or near, the pleura; as, pleuroperitoneum.

||Pleu`ro*brach"i*a (?), n. [NL. See Pleuro-, and Brachium.] (Zoˆl.) A ||genus of ctenophores having an ovate body and two long plumose ||tentacles.

Pleu"ro*branch (?), n. [See Pleuro- , and Branchia.] (Zoˆl.) Any one of the gills of a crustacean that is attached to the side of the thorax.

||Pleu`ro*bran"chi*a (?), n.; pl. PleuroeranchiÊ (#). [NL.] (Zoˆl.) ||Same as Pleurobranch.

Pleu"ro*carp (?), n. [Pleuro- + Gr. &?; fruit.] (Bot.) Any pleurocarpic moss.

{ Pleu`ro*car"pic (?), Pleu`ro*car"pous (?), } a. (Bot.) Side-fruited; -- said of those true mosses in which the pedicels or the capsules are from lateral archegonia; -- opposed to acrocarpous.

||Pleu`ro*cen"trum (?), n. [NL. see Pleuro-, and Centrum.] (Anat.) One ||of the lateral elements in the centra of the vertebrÊ in some fossil ||batrachians.

||Pleu*rod"e*res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; the side + &?; the ||neck.] (Zoˆl.) A group of fresh-water turtles in which the neck can ||not be retracted, but is bent to one side, for protection. The ||matamata is an example.

Pleu"ro*dont (?), a. [Pleuro- + Gr. &?;, &?;, a tooth.] (Anat.) Having the teeth consolidated with the inner edge of the jaw, as in some lizards.

Pleu"ro*dont, n. (Zoˆl.) Any lizard having pleurodont teeth.

||Pleu`ro*dyn"i*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; side + &?; pain.] (Med.) A ||painful affection of the side, simulating pleurisy, usually due to ||rheumatism.

||Pleu"ron (?), n.; pl. Pleura (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a rib.] (Zoˆl.) ||(a) One of the sides of an animal. (b) One of the lateral pieces of a ||somite of an insect. (c) One of lateral processes of a somite of a ||crustacean.

Pleu`ro*nec"toid (?), a. [NL. Pleuronectes, name of a genus (fr. Gr. &?; rib + &?; a swimmer) + -oid.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the PleuronectidÊ, or Flounder family.

Pleu`ro*per`i*car"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura and pericardium.

Pleu`ro*per`ip*neu"mo*ny (?), n. [Pleuro- + peripneumony.] (Med.) Pleuropneumonia.

Pleu`ro*per`i*to*ne"al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleural and peritoneal membranes or cavities, or to the pleuroperitoneum.

Pleu`ro*per`i*to*ne"um (?), n. [Pleuro- + peritoneum.] (Anat.) The pleural and peritoneal membranes, or the membrane lining the body cavity and covering the surface of the inclosed viscera; the peritoneum; -- used especially in the case of those animals in which the body cavity is not divided.

Peritoneum is now often used in the sense of pleuroperitoneum, the pleurÊ being regarded as a part of the peritoneum, when the body cavity is undivided.

Pleu`ro*pneu*mo"ni*a (?), n. [Pleuro- + pneumonia.] (Med.) Inflammation of the pleura and lungs; a combination of pleurisy and pneumonia, esp. a kind of contagions and fatal lung plague of cattle.

||Pleu*rop"te*ra (?), n. pl [NL., fr. Gr. &?; side + &?; wing.] (Zoˆl.) ||A group of Isectivora, including the colugo.

||Pleu`ro*sig"ma (?), n. [NL. See Pleuro-, and Sigma.] (Bot.) A genus ||of diatoms of elongated elliptical shape, but having the sides ||slightly curved in the form of a letter S. Pleurosigma angulatum has ||very fine striations, and is a favorite object for testing the high ||powers of microscopes.

||Pleu*ros"te*on (?), n.; pl. L. Pleurostea (#), E. -ons (#). [NL., fr. ||Gr. &?; a rib + &?; a bone.] (Anat.) The antero- lateral piece which ||articulates the sternum of birds.

||Pleu`ro*thot"o*nus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. pleyro`qen from the side + ||to`nos a stretching.] (Med.) A species of tetanus, in which the body ||is curved laterally. Quain. Dunglison.

||Pleu*rot"o*ma (?), n.; pl. L. PleurotomÊ (#), E. Pleurotomas (#). ||[NL., fr. Gr. &?; the side + tomh` a cut.] (Zoˆl.) Any marine ||gastropod belonging to Pleurotoma, and ether allied genera of the ||family PleurotmidÊ. The species are very numerous, especially in ||tropical seas. The outer lip has usually a posterior notch or slit.

Plev"in (?), n. [OF. plevine. See Replevin.] A warrant or assurance. [Obs.]

Plex"i*form (?), a. [Plexus + -form: cf. F. Plexiforme.] Like network; complicated. Quincy.

Plex*im"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; stroke, percussion (from &?; to strike) + -meter.] (Med.) A small, hard, elastic plate, as of ivory, bone, or rubber, placed in contact with body to receive the blow, in examination by mediate percussion. [Written also plexometer.]

Plex"ure (?), n. [See Plexus.] The act or process of weaving together, or interweaving; that which is woven together. H. Brooke.

Plex"us (?), n.; pl. L. Plexus, E. Plexuses (#). [L., a twining, braid, fr. plectere, plexum, to twine, braid.] 1. (Anat.) A network of vessels, nerves, or fibers.

2. (Math.) The system of equations required for the complete expression of the relations which exist between a set of quantities. Brande & C.

Pley (?), v. & n. See Play. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pley (?), a. Full See Plein. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pleyt (?), n. (Naut.) An old term for a river boat.

Pli`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being pliable; flexibility; as, pliability of disposition. "Pliability of movement." Sir W. Scott.

Pli"a*ble (?), a. [F., fr. plier to bend, to fold. See Ply, v.] 1. Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as, willow is a pliable plant.

2. Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; -- sometimes in a bad sense; as, a pliable youth. "Pliable she promised to be." Dr. H. More.

-- Pli"a*ble*ness, n. -- Pli"a*bly, adv.

Pli"an*cy (?), n. The quality or state of being pliant in sense; as, the pliancy of a rod. "Avaunt all specious pliancy of mind." Wordsworth.

Pli"ant (?), a. [F. pliant, p. pr. of plier to bend. See Ply, v.] 1. Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking; flexible; pliable; lithe; limber; plastic; as, a pliant thread; pliant wax. Also used figuratively: Easily influenced for good or evil; tractable; as, a pliant heart.

The will was then ductile and pliant to right reason.

South.

2. Favorable to pliancy. [R.] "A pliant hour." Shak. -- Pli"ant*ly, adv. -- Pli"ant*ness, n.

||Pli"ca (?), n. [LL., a fold, fr. L. plicare to fold. See Ply, v.] 1. ||(Med.) A disease of the hair (Plica polonica), in which it becomes ||twisted and matted together. The disease is of Polish origin, and is ||hence called also Polish plait. Dunglison.

2. (Bot.) A diseased state in plants in which there is an excessive development of small entangled twigs, instead of ordinary branches.

3. (Zoˆl.) The bend of the wing of a bird.

{ Pli"cate (?), Pli"ca*ted (?), } a. [L. plicatus, p. p. of plicare to fold.] Plaited; folded like a fan; as, a plicate leaf. -- Pli"cate*ly (#), adv.

Pli*ca"tion (?), n. A folding or fold; a plait. Richardson.

Plic"a*ture (?), n. [L. plicatura, fr. plicare to fold.] A fold; a doubling; a plication. Dr. H. More.

Plic`i*den"tine (?), n. [LL. plica fold + E. dentine.] (Anat.) A form of dentine which shows sinuous lines of structure in a transverse section of the tooth.

Plied (?), imp. & p. p. of Ply.

Pli"ers (?), n. pl. [From Ply to bend, fold.] A kind of small pinchers with long jaws, -- used for bending or cutting metal rods or wire, for handling small objects such as the parts of a watch, etc.

Pli"form (?), a. [Ply a fold + -form.] In the form of a ply, fold, or doubling. [Obs.] Pennant.

Plight (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge. Chaucer.

Plight, obs. imp. & p. p. of Pluck. Chaucer.

Plight, v. t. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.] To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.[Obs.] "To sew and plight." Chaucer.

A plighted garment of divers colors.

Milton.

Plight (?), n. A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] "Many a folded plight." Spenser.

Plight, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht danger, fr. pleÛn to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G. pflicht, Dan. pligt. &radic;28. Cf. Play.] 1. That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge. "That lord whose hand must take my plight." Shak.

2. [Perh. the same word as plight a pledge, but at least influenced by OF. plite, pliste, ploit, ploi, a condition, state; cf. E. plight to fold, and F. pli a fold, habit, plier to fold, E. ply.] Condition; state; -- risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as, a luckless plight. "Your plight is pitied." Shak.

To bring our craft all in another plight

Chaucer.

Plight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Plighting.] [AS. plihtan to expose to danger, pliht danger;cf. D. verplichten to oblige, engage, impose a duty, G. verpflichten, Sw. fˆrplikta, Dan. forpligte. See Plight, n.] 1. To pledge; to give as a pledge for the performance of some act; as, to plight faith, honor, word; -- never applied to property or goods. " To do them plighte their troth." Piers Plowman.

He plighted his right hand Unto another love, and to another land.

Spenser.

Here my inviolable faith I plight.

Dryden.

2. To promise; to engage; to betroth.

Before its setting hour, divide The bridegroom from the plighted
bride.

Sir W. Scott.

Plight"er (?), n. One who, or that which, plights.

Plim (?), v. i. [Cf. Plump.] To swell, as grain or wood with water. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Plim"soll's mark` (?). (Naut.) A mark conspicuously painted on the port side of all British sea-going merchant vessels, to indicate the limit of submergence allowed by law; -- so called from Samuel Plimsoll, by whose efforts the act of Parliament to prevent overloading was procured.

Plinth (?), n. [L. plinthus, Gr. &?; a brick or tile, a plinth, perh. akin to E. flint: cf. F. plinthe.] (Arch.) In classical architecture, a vertically faced member immediately below the circular base of a column; also, the lowest member of a pedestal; hence, in general, the lowest member of a base; a sub-base; a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom. See Illust. of Column.

Pli"o*cene (?), a. [Written also pleiocene.] [Gr. &?; more + &?; new, recent.] (Geol.) Of, pertaining to, or characterizing, the most recent division of the Tertiary age.

Pli"o*cene, n. (Geol.) The Pliocene period or deposits.

||Pli`o*hip"pus (?), n. [NL., fr. E. pliocene + Gr. &?; horse.] ||(Paleon.) An extinct genus of horses from the Pliocene deposits. Each ||foot had a single toe (or hoof), as in the common horse.

||Pli`o*sau"rus (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; greater + &?; lizard.] ||(Paleon.) An extinct genus of marine reptiles allied to Plesiosaurus, ||but having a much shorter neck.

Plitt (?), n. [Russ. plete.] An instrument of punishment or torture resembling the knout, used in Russia.

Ploc (?), n. [F.] (Naut.) A mixture of hair and tar for covering the bottom of a ship.

||Plo"ce (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; complication, fr. &?; to entwine.] ||(Rhet.) A figure in which a word is separated or repeated by way of ||emphasis, so as not only to signify the individual thing denoted by ||it, but also its peculiar attribute or quality; as, "His wife's a ||wife indeed." Bailey.

Plod (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Plodded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plodding.] [Gf. Gael. plod a clod, a pool; also, to strike or pelt with a clod or clods.] 1. To travel slowly but steadily; to trudge. Shak.

2. To toil; to drudge; especially, to study laboriously and patiently. "Plodding schoolmen." Drayton.

Plod, v. t. To walk on slowly or heavily.

The ploughman homeward plods his weary way.

Gray.

Plod"der (?), n. One who plods; a drudge.

Plod"ding (?), a. Progressing in a slow, toilsome manner; characterized by laborious diligence; as, a plodding peddler; a plodding student; a man of plodding habits. --Plod"ding*ly, adv.

Plonge (?), v. t. [See Plunge.] To cleanse, as open drains which are entered by the tide, by stirring up the sediment when the tide ebbs.

||Plon`gÈe" (?), n. [F. See Plunge.] (Mil.) A slope or sloping toward ||the front; as, the plongÈe of a parapet; the plongÈe of a shell in ||its course. [Sometimes written plonge.]

Plot (?), n. [AS. plot; cf. Goth. plats a patch. Cf. Plat a piece of ground.] 1. A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot. Shak.

2. A plantation laid out. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

3. (Surv.) A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.

Plot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plotted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plotting.] To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.

This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth.

Carew.

Plot, n. [Abbrev. from complot.] 1. Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot.

I have overheard a plot of death.

Shak.

O, think what anxious moments pass between The birth of plots and
their last fatal periods!

Addison.

2. A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy. [Obs.]

And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery,
it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce.

Milton.

3. Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue. [Obs.] "A man of much plot." Denham.

4. A plan; a purpose. "No other plot in their religion but serve God and save their souls." Jer. Taylor.

5. In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.

If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from
the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable
consequence of all that went before.

Pope.

Syn. -- Intrigue; stratagem; conspiracy; cabal; combination; contrivance.

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Plot (plt), v. i. 1. To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire. Shak.

The wicked plotteth against the just.

Ps. xxxvii. 12.

2. To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme.

The prince did plot to be secretly gone.

Sir H. Wotton.

Plot, v. t. To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly. "Plotting an unprofitable crime." Dryden. "Plotting now the fall of others." Milton

Plot"ful (?), a. Abounding with plots.

Plo*tin"i*an (?), a.Of pertaining to the Plotinists or their doctrines.

Plo*ti"nist (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A disciple of Plotinus, a celebrated Platonic philosopher of the third century, who taught that the human soul emanates from the divine Being, to whom it reunited at death.

Plot"-proof` (?), a. Secure against harm by plots. Shak.

Plot"ter (?), n. One who plots or schemes; a contriver; a conspirator; a schemer. Dryden.

Plough (?), n. & v. See Plow.

Plov"er (?), n. [OF. plovier, F. pluvier, prop., the rain bird, fr. LL. (assumed) pluviarius, fr. L. pluvia rain, from pluere to rain; akin to E. float, G. fliessen to flow. See Float.] 1. (Zoˆl.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds belonging to the family CharadridÊ, and especially those belonging to the subfamily CharadrinsÊ. They are prized as game birds.

2. (Zoˆl.) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling, the true plovers, as the crab plover (Dromas ardeola); the American upland, plover (Bartramia longicauda); and other species of sandpipers.

Among the more important species are the blackbellied, or blackbreasted, plover (Charadrius squatarola) of America and Europe; -- called also gray plover, bull-head plover, Swiss plover, sea plover, and oxeye; the golden plover (see under Golden); the ring or ringed plover (∆gialitis hiaticula). See Ringneck. The piping plover (∆gialitis meloda); Wilson's plover (∆. Wilsonia); the mountain plover (∆. montana); and the semipalmated plover (∆. semipalmata), are all small American species.

Bastard plover (Zoˆl.), the lapwing. -- Long-legged, or yellow- legged, plover. See Tattler. -- Plover's page, the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.] -- Rock plover, or Stone plover, the black-bellied plover. [Prov. Eng.] -- Whistling plover. (a) The golden plover. (b) The black-bellied plover.

{ Plow, Plough } (plou), n. [OE. plouh, plou, AS. plh; akin to D. ploeg, G. pflug, OHG. pfluog, pfluoh, Icel. plgr, Sw. plog, Dan. ploug, plov, Russ. plug', Lith. plugas.] 1. A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil for other purposes; as, the subsoil plow; the draining plow.

Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow.

Dryden.

2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry. Johnson.

3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.]

Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five.

Tale of Gamelyn.

4. A joiner's plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.

5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.

6. (Astron.) Same as Charles's Wain.

Ice plow, a plow used for cutting ice on rivers, ponds, etc., into cakes suitable for storing. [U. S.] -- Mackerel plow. See under Mackerel. - - Plow alms, a penny formerly paid by every plowland to the church. Cowell. -- Plow beam, that part of the frame of a plow to which the draught is applied. See Beam, n., 9. -- Plow Monday, the Monday after Twelth Day, or the end of Christmas holidays. -- Plow staff. (a) A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning the plowshare; a paddle staff. (b) A plow handle. -- Snow plow, a structure, usually -shaped, for removing snow from sidewalks, railroads, etc., -- drawn or driven by a horse or a locomotive.

{ Plow, Plough, } v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plowed (ploud) or Ploughed; p. pr. & vb. n. Plowing or Ploughing.] 1. To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till with, or as with, a plow; as, to plow the ground; to plow a field.

2. To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run through, as in sailing.

Let patient Octavia plow thy visage up With her prepared nails.

Shak.

With speed we plow the watery way.

Pope.

3. (Bookbinding) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plow. See Plow, n., 5.

4. (Joinery) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a tongue, etc.

To plow in, to cover by plowing; as, to plow in wheat. -- To plow up, to turn out of the ground by plowing.

{ Plow, Plough } (plou), v. i. To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything. Shak.

Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ?

Isa. xxviii. 24.

{ Plow"a*ble, Plough"a*ble } (?), a. Capable of being plowed; arable.

{ Plow"bote`, Plough"bote` } (?), n. (Eng. Law) Wood or timber allowed to a tenant for the repair of instruments of husbandry. See Bote.

{ Plow"boy`, Plough"boy` }, n. A boy that drives or guides a team in plowing; a young rustic.

{ Plow"er, Plough"er } (?), n. One who plows; a plowman; a cultivator.

{ Plow"foot`, Plough"foot` } (?), n. An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman.

{ Plow"gang`, Plough"gang` } (?), n. Same as Plowgate.

{ Plow"gate`, Plough"gate` } (?), n. The Scotch equivalent of the English word plowland.

Not having one plowgate of land.

Sir W. Scott.

{ Plow"head`, Plough"head` } (?), n. The clevis or draught iron of a plow.

{ Plow"land`, Ploug"land` } (?), n. 1. Land that is plowed, or suitable for tillage.

2. (O. Eng. Law) the quantity of land allotted for the work of one plow; a hide.

{ Plow"man, Plough"man } (?), n.; pl. -men (&?;). 1. One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman. Chaucer. Macaulay.

2. A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer.

Plowman's spikenard (Bot.), a European composite weed (Conyza squarrosa), having fragrant roots. Dr. Prior.

{ Plow"point`, Plough"point` } (?), n. A detachable share at the extreme front end of the plow body.

{ Plow"share`, Plough"share" } (?), n. The share of a plow, or that part which cuts the slice of earth or sod at the bottom of the furrow.

Plowshare bone (Anat.), the pygostyle.

{ Plow"tail`, Plough"tail` } (?), n. The hind part or handle of a plow.

{ Plow"wright`, Plough"wright` } (?), n. One who makes or repairs plows.

Ploy (?), n. Sport; frolic. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Ploy, v. i. [Prob. abbrev. fr. deploy.] (Mil.) To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of deploy. Wilhelm.

Ploy"ment (?), n. (Mil.) The act or movement of forming a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; -- the opposite of deployment.

Pluck (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plucked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plucking.] [AS. pluccian; akin to LG. & D. plukken, G. pfl¸cken, Icel. plokka, plukka, Dan. plukke, Sw. plocka. &?;27.] 1. To pull; to draw.

Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution.

Je&?;. Taylor.

2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off or out from something, with a twitch; to twitch; also, to gather, to pick; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes.

I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.

Milton.

E'en children followed, with endearing wile, And plucked his gown
to share the good man's smile.

Goldsmith.

3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl.

They which pass by the way do pluck her.

Ps. lxxx.&?;2.

4. (Eng. Universities) To reject at an examination for degrees. C. BrontÈ.

To pluck away, to pull away, or to separate by pulling; to tear away. -- To pluck down, to pull down; to demolish; to reduce to a lower state. -- to pluck off, to pull or tear off; as, to pluck off the skin. -- to pluck up. (a) To tear up by the roots or from the foundation; to eradicate; to exterminate; to destroy; as, to pluck up a plant; to pluck up a nation. Jer. xii. 17. (b) To gather up; to summon; as, to pluck up courage.

Pluck, v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at; as, to pluck at one's gown.

Pluck, n. 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch.

2. [Prob. so called as being plucked out after the animal is killed; or cf. Gael. & Ir. pluc a lump, a knot, a bunch.] The heart, liver, and lights of an animal.

3. Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude.

Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck.

Thackeray.

4. The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck, v. t., 4.

5. (Zoˆl.) The lyrie. [Prov. Eng.]

Plucked (?), a. Having courage and spirit. [R.]

Pluck"er, n. 1. One who, or that which, plucks.

Thou setter up and plucker down of kings.

Shak.

2. A machine for straightening and cleaning wool.

Pluck"i*ly (?), adv. In a plucky manner.

Pluck"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being plucky.

Pluck"less, a. Without pluck; timid; faint-hearted.

Pluck"y (?), a. [Compar. Pluckier (?); superl. Pluckiest.] Having pluck or courage; characterized by pluck; displaying pluck; courageous; spirited; as, a plucky race.

If you're plucky, and not over subject to fright.

Barham.

Pluff (?), v. t. [Prob. of imitative origin.] To throw out, as smoke, dust, etc., in puffs. [Scot.]

Pluff, n. 1. A puff, as of smoke from a pipe, or of dust from a puffball; a slight explosion, as of a small quantity of gunpowder. [Scot.]

2. A hairdresser's powder puff; also, the act of using it. [Scot.]

Plug (?), n. [Akin to D. plug, G. pflock, Dan. plˆk, plug, Sw. plugg; cf. W. ploc.] 1. Any piece of wood, metal, or other substance used to stop or fill a hole; a stopple.

2. A flat oblong cake of pressed tobacco. [U. S.]

3. A high, tapering silk hat. [Slang, U.S.]

4. A worthless horse. [Slang, U.S.]

5. (Building) A block of wood let into a wall, to afford a hold for nails.

Fire plug, a street hydrant to which hose may be attached. [U. S.] -- Hawse plug (Naut.), a plug to stop a hawse hole. -- Plug and feather. (Stone Working) See Feather, n., 7. -- Plug centerbit, a centerbit ending in a small cylinder instead of a point, so as to follow and enlarge a hole previously made, or to form a counterbore around it. -- Plug rod (Steam Eng.) , a rod attached to the beam for working the valves, as in the Cornish engine. -- Plug valve (Mech.), a tapering valve, which turns in a case like the plug of a faucet.

Plug (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plugging (?).] To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole.

Plug"ger (?), n. One who, or that which, plugs.

Plug"ging, n. 1. The act of stopping with a plug.

2. The material of which a plug or stopple is made.

Plum (?), n. [AS. plme, fr. L. prunum; akin to Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf. Prune a dried plum.]

1. (Bot.) The edible drupaceous fruit of the Prunus domestica, and of several other species of Prunus; also, the tree itself, usually called plum tree.

The bullace, the damson, and the numerous varieties of plum, of our
gardens, although growing into thornless trees, are believed to be
varieties of the blackthorn, produced by long cultivation.

G. Bentham.

Two or three hundred varieties of plums derived from the Prunus domestica are described; among them the greengage, the Orleans, the purple gage, or Reine Claude Violette, and the German prune, are some of the best known.

Among the true plums are; Beach plum, the Prunus maritima, and its crimson or purple globular drupes, -- Bullace plum. See Bullace. -- Chickasaw plum, the American Prunus Chicasa, and its round red drupes. -- Orleans plum, a dark reddish purple plum of medium size, much grown in England for sale in the markets. -- Wild plum of America, Prunus Americana, with red or yellow fruit, the original of the Iowa plum and several other varieties.

Among plants called plum, but of other genera than Prunus, are; Australian plum, Cargillia arborea and C. australis, of the same family with the persimmon. -- Blood plum, the West African HÊmatostaphes Barteri. -- Cocoa plum, the Spanish nectarine. See under Nectarine. -- Date plum. See under Date. -- Gingerbread plum, the West African Parinarium macrophyllum. -- Gopher plum, the Ogeechee lime. -- Gray plum, Guinea plum. See under Guinea. -- Indian plum, several species of Flacourtia.

2. A grape dried in the sun; a raisin.

3. A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of £100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it.

Plum bird, Plum budder (Zoˆl.), the European bullfinch. -- Plum gouger (Zoˆl.), a weevil, or curculio (Coccotorus scutellaris), which destroys plums. It makes round holes in the pulp, for the reception of its eggs. The larva bores into the stone and eats the kernel. -- Plum weevil (Zoˆl.), an American weevil which is very destructive to plums, nectarines, cherries, and many other stone fruits. It lays its eggs in crescent-shaped incisions made with its jaws. The larva lives upon the pulp around the stone. Called also turk, and plum curculio. See Illust. under Curculio.

||Plu"ma (pl"m), n.; pl. PlumÊ (-m). [L.] (Zoˆl.) A feather.

Plum"age (plm"j), n. [F., from plume a feather.] (Zoˆl.) The entire clothing of a bird.

It consist of the contour feathers, or the ordinary feathers covering the head, neck, and body; the tail feathers, with their upper and lower coverts; the wing feathers, including primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries, with their coverts; and the down which lies beneath the contour feathers. See Illust. under Bird.

Plu*mas"sa*ry (?), n. [Cf. F. plumasseau.] A plume or collection of ornamental feathers.

||Plu`mas`sier" (?), n. [F.] One who prepares or deals in ornamental ||plumes or feathers.

Plumb (plm), n. [F. plomb, L. plumbum lead, a leaden ball or bullet; cf. Gr. mo`lybos, mo`libos, mo`lybdos. Cf. Plummet, Plunge.] A little mass or weight of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See Plumb line, below.

Plumb bob. See Bob, 4. -- Plumb joint, in sheet-metal work, a lap joint, fastened by solder. -- Plumb level. See under Level. -- Plumb line. (a) The cord by which a plumb bob is suspended; a plummet. (b) A line directed to the center of gravity of the earth. -- Plumb rule, a narrow board with a plumb line, used by builders and carpenters.

Plumb, a. Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb.

Plumb, adv. In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. "Plumb down he falls." Milton.

Plumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumbed (plmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Plumbing (plm"ng).] 1. To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall.

2. To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water; hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth, quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test.

He did not attempt to plumb his intellect.

Ld. Lytton.

3. To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe.

4. To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing.

Plumb"age (plm"j; 48), n. Leadwork [R.]

Plum*ba"gin (plm*b"jn), n. [L. plumbago leadwort, fr. plumbum lead; cf. F. plombagin.] (Chem.) A crystalline substance said to be found in the root of a certain plant of the Leadwort (Plumbago) family.

<! p. 1102 !>

Plum`ba*gin"e*ous (plm`b*jn"*s), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to natural order (PlumbagineÊ) of gamopetalous herbs, of which Plumbago is the type. The order includes also the marsh rosemary, the thrift, and a few other genera.

Plum*bag"i*nous (?), a. Resembling plumbago; consisting of, or containing, plumbago; as, a plumbaginous slate.

Plum*ba"go, n. [L., from plumbum lead.] 1. (Min.) Same as Graphite.

2. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants with pretty salver-shaped corollas, usually blue or violet; leadwort.

{ Plum"be*an (?), Plum"be*ous (?), } a. [L. plumbeus, from plumbum the metal lead.] 1. Consisting of, or resembling, lead. J. Ellis.

2. Dull; heavy; stupid. [R.] J. P. Smith.

Plumb"er (?), n. [F. plombier. See Plumb.] One who works in lead; esp., one who furnishes, fits, and repairs lead, iron, or glass pipes, and other apparatus for the conveyance of water, gas, or drainage in buildings.

Plumb"er block` (?). A pillow block.

Plumb"er*y (?), n. [F. plomberie.] 1. The business of a plumber. [Obs.]

2. A place where plumbing is carried on; lead works.

Plum"bic (?), a. [From Plumbum.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, resembling, or containing, lead; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a higher valence as contrasted with plumbous compounds; as, plumbic oxide.

Plum*bif"er*ous (?), a. [Plumbum + -ferous.] Producing or containing lead. Kirwan.

Plumb"ing (?), n. 1. The art of casting and working in lead, and applying it to building purposes; especially, the business of furnishing, fitting, and repairing pipes for conducting water, sewage, etc. Gwilt.

2. The lead or iron pipes, and other apparatus, used in conveying water, sewage, etc., in a building.

Plum"bism (?), n. [From Plumbum.] (Med.) A diseased condition, produced by the absorption of lead, common among workers in this metal or in its compounds, as among painters, typesetters, etc. It is characterized by various symptoms, as lead colic, lead line, and wrist drop. See under Colic, Lead, and Wrist.

Plum"bous (?), a. [From Plumbum.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, lead; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which it has a lower valence as contrasted with plumbic compounds.

||Plum"bum (?), n. [L.] (Chem.) The technical name of lead. See Lead.

Plume (?), n. [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. Fly, v.]

1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather.

Wings . . . of many a colored plume.

Milton.

2. (Zoˆl.) An ornamental tuft of feathers.

3. A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling feathers.

His high plume, that nodded o'er his head.

Dryden.

4. A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward. "Ambitious to win from me some plume." Milton.

5. (Bot.) A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses.

Plume bird (Zoˆl.), any bird that yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of Florida (Ardea candidissima). -- Plume grass. (Bot) (a) A kind of grass (Erianthus saccharoides) with the spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in swamps in the Southern United States. (b) The still finer E. RavennÊ from the Mediterranean region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole genus. -- Plume moth (Zoˆl.), any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family PterophoridÊ. Most of them have the wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the grapevine. -- Plume nutmeg (Bot.), an aromatic Australian tree (Atherosperma moschata), whose numerous carpels are tipped with long plumose persistent styles.

Plume, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pluming.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to cover with feathers.] 1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink.

Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers.

W. Irving.

2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel. [Obs.] Bacon. Dryden.

3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed troop." Shak.

4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill. South.

Plumed adder (Zoˆl.), an African viper (Vipera, or Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman. -- Plumed partridge (Zoˆl.), the California mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under Mountain.

Plume"less (?), a. Without plumes.

Plume"let (?), n. [Plume + - let.] A small plume.

When rosy plumelets tuft the larch.

Tennyson.

Plum"er*y (?), n. Plumes, collectively or in general; plumage. [R.] Southey.

Plu"mi*corn (?), n. [L. pluma feather + cornu horn.] (Zoˆl.) An ear tuft of feathers, as in the horned owls.

Plu*mig"er*ous (?), a. [L. plumiger; pluma a feather + gerere to bear.] Feathered; having feathers. Bailey

Plu*mil"i*form (?), a. [L. plumula, or plumella a little feather (dim. of pluma feather) + -form.] Having the of a plume or feather. [R.]

Plu"mi*ped (?), a. [L. plumipes, -edis; pluma a feather + pes: cf. F. plumipËde.] (Zoˆl.) Having feet covered with feathers. -- n. A plumiped bird.

Plum"met (?), n. [OE. plommet, OF. plommet, fr. plom, plum, lead, F. plomb. See Plumb.] 1. A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water.

I'll sink him deeper than e'er plummet sounded.

Shak.

2. A plumb bob or a plumb line. See under Plumb, n.

3. Hence, any weight.

4. A piece of lead formerly used by school children to rule paper for writing.

Plummet line, a line with a plummet; a sounding line.

Plum"ming (?), n. [See Plumb.] (Min.) The operation of finding, by means of a mine dial, the place where to sink an air shaft, or to bring an adit to the work, or to find which way the lode inclines.

Plum"my (?), a. [From Plum.] Of the nature of a plum; desirable; profitable; advantageous. [Colloq.] "For the sake of getting something plummy." G. Eliot.

{ Plu*mose" (?), Plu"mous (?), } a. [L. plumosus, fr. pluma feather: cf. F. plumeux.]

1. Having feathers or plumes.

2. Having hairs, or other p·rts, arranged along an axis like a feather; feathery; plumelike; as, a plumose leaf; plumose tentacles.

Plu"mo*site (?), n. (Min.) Same as Jamesonite.

Plu*mos"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being plumose.

Plump (plmp), a. [Compar. Plumper (-r); superl. Plumpest.] [OE. plomp rude, clumsy; akin to D. plomp, G., Dan., & Sw. plump; probably of imitative origin. Cf. Plump, adv.] Well rounded or filled out; full; fleshy; fat; as, a plump baby; plump cheeks. Shak.

The god of wine did his plump clusters bring.

T. Carew.

Plump, n. A knot; a cluster; a group; a crowd; a flock; as, a plump of trees, fowls, or spears. [Obs.]

To visit islands and the plumps of men.

Chapman.

Plump, v. i. [Cf. D. plompen, G. plumpen, Sw. plumpa, Dan. plumpe. See Plump, a.] 1. To grow plump; to swell out; as, her cheeks have plumped.

2. To drop or fall suddenly or heavily, all at once."Dulcissa plumps into a chair." Spectator.

3. To give a plumper. See Plumper, 2.

Plump, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plumping.] 1. To make plump; to fill (out) or support; -- often with up.

To plump up the hollowness of their history with improbable
miracles.

Fuller.

2. To cast or let drop all at once, suddenly and heavily; as, to plump a stone into water.

3. To give (a vote), as a plumper. See Plumper, 2.

Plump, adv. [Cf. D. plomp, interj., G. plump, plumps. Cf. Plump, a. & v.] Directly; suddenly; perpendicularly. "Fall plump." Beau. & Fl.

Plump"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, plumps or swells out something else; hence, something carried in the mouth to distend the cheeks.

2. (English Elections) A vote given to one candidate only, when two or more are to be elected, thus giving him the advantage over the others. A person who gives his vote thus is said to plump, or to plump his vote.

3. A voter who plumps his vote. [Eng.]

4. A downright, unqualified lie. [Colloq. or Low]

Plump"ly, adv. Fully; roundly; plainly; without reserve. [Colloq.]

Plump"ness, n. The quality or state of being plump.

Plump"y (?), a. Plump; fat; sleek. "Plumpy Bacchus." Shak.

||Plu"mu*la (?), n.; pl. L. Plumule (#), E.-las (#). [L. See Plumule.] ||1. (Bot.) A plumule.

2. (Zoˆl.) A down feather.

Plu`mu*la"ceous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Downy; bearing down.

Plu"mu*lar (?), a. (Bot.) Relating to a plumule.

||Plu`mu*la"ri*a (?), n.; pl. L. PlumularlÊ (#), E. Plumularias (#). ||[NL.] (Zoˆl.) Any hydroid belonging to Plumularia and other genera of ||the family PlumularidÊ. They generally grow in plumelike forms.

Plu`mu*la"ri*an (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any Plumularia. Also used adjectively.

Plu"mule (?), n. [L. plumula, dim. of pluma a feather; cf. F. plumule.] 1. (Bot.) The first bud, or gemmule, of a young plant; the bud, or growing point, of the embryo, above the cotyledons. See Illust. of Radicle. Gray.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) A down feather. (b) The aftershaft of a feather. See Illust. under Feather. (c) One of the featherlike scales of certain male butterflies.

Plu"mu*lose" (?), a. Having hairs branching out laterally, like the parts of a feather.

Plum"y (?), a. Covered or adorned with plumes, or as with plumes; feathery. "His plumy crest." Addison. "The plumy trees." J. S. Blackie.

Plun"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plundering.] [G. pl¸ndern to plunder, plunder frippery, baggage.] 1. To take the goods of by force, or without right; to pillage; to spoil; to sack; to strip; to rob; as, to plunder travelers.

Nebuchadnezzar plunders the temple of God.

South.

2. To take by pillage; to appropriate forcibly; as, the enemy plundered all the goods they found.

Syn. -- To pillage; despoil; sack; rifle; strip; rob.

Plun"der (?), n. 1. The act of plundering or pillaging; robbery. See Syn. of Pillage.

Inroads and plunders of the Saracens.

Sir T. North.

2. That which is taken by open force from an enemy; pillage; spoil; booty; also, that which is taken by theft or fraud. "He shared in the plunder." Cowper.

3. Personal property and effects; baggage or luggage. [Slang, Southwestern U.S.]

Plun"der*age (?), n. (Mar. Law) The embezzlement of goods on shipboard. Wharton.

Plun"der*er (?), n. One who plunders or pillages.

Plunge (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plunged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Plunging (?).] [OE. ploungen, OF. plongier, F. plonger, fr. (assumed) LL. plumbicare, fr. L. plumbum lead. See Plumb.] 1. To thrust into water, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse; to cause to penetrate or enter quickly and forcibly; to thrust; as, to plunge the body into water; to plunge a dagger into the breast. Also used figuratively; as, to plunge a nation into war. "To plunge the boy in pleasing sleep." Dryden.

Bound and plunged him into a cell.

Tennyson.

We shall be plunged into perpetual errors.

I. Watts.

2. To baptize by immersion.