Chapter LI: Bella (58)

Defn: A female pope; i. e., the fictitious pope Joan. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

PAPETERIE Pa`pe*terie", n. Etym: [F., paper manufacture, fr. papier paper.]

Defn: A case or box containing paper and materials for writing.

PAPHIAN Pa"phi*an, a. Etym: [L. Paphius, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Paphos, an ancient city of Cyprus, having a celebrated temple of Venus; hence, pertaining to Venus, or her rites.

PAPHIAN Pa"phi*an

Defn: , n. A native or inhabitant of Paphos.

PAPIER-MACHE Pa`pier"-ma`ché", n. Etym: [F. papier mâché, lit., chewed or mashed paper.]

Defn: A hard and strong substance made of a pulp from paper, mixed with sise or glue, etc. It is formed into various articles, usually by means of molds.

PAPILIO Pa*pil"i*o, n. Etym: [L., a butterfly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of butterflies.

Note: Formerly it included numerous species which are now placed in other genera. By many writers it is now restricted to the swallow- tailed butterflies, like Papilio polyxenes, or asterias, and related species.

PAPILIONACEOUS Pa*pil`io*na"ceous, a.

1. Resembling the butterfly.

2. (Bot.) (a) Having a winged corolla somewhat resembling a butterfly, as in the blossoms of the bean and pea. (b) Belonging to that suborder of leguminous plants (Papilionaceæ) which includes the bean, pea, vetch, clover, and locust.

PAPILIONES Pa*pil`i*o"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Papilio.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The division of Lepidoptera which includes the butterflies.

PAPILIONIDES Pa*pil`i*on"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The typical butterflies.

PAPILLA Pa*pil"la, n.; pl. Papillæ. Etym: [L., a nipple, pimple.]

Defn: Any minute nipplelike projection; as, the papillæ of the tongue.

PAPILLAR Pap"il*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. papillaire.]

Defn: Same as Papillose.

PAPILLARY Pap"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. papillaire.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a papilla or papillæ; bearing, or covered with, papillæ; papillose.

PAPILLATE Pap"il*late, v. t. & i.

Defn: To cover with papillæ; to take the form of a papilla, or of papillæ.

PAPILLATE Pap"il*late, a.

Defn: Same as Papillose.

PAPILLIFORM Pa*pil"li*form, a. Etym: [Papilla + -form.]

Defn: Shaped like a papilla; mammilliform.

PAPILLOMA Pap`il*lo"ma, n.; pl. Papillomata. Etym: [NL. See Papilla, and -Oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A tumor formed by hypertrophy of the papillæ of the skin or mucous membrane, as a corn or a wart. Quain.

PAPILLOMATOUS Pap`il*lo"ma*tous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or consisting of, papillomata.

PAPILLOSE Pap"il*lose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. papilleux.]

Defn: Covered with, or bearing, papillæ; resembling papillæ; papillate; papillar; papillary.

PAPILLOTE Pap"il*lote, n. Etym: [F., fr. papillon a butterfly.]

Defn: a small piece of paper on which women roll up their hair to make it curl; a curl paper.

PAPILLOUS Pap"il*lous, a.

Defn: Papillary; papillose.

PAPILLULATE Pa*pil"lu*late, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a minute papilla in the center of a larger elevation or depression.

PAPION Pa"pi*on, n. Etym: [Prob. from native name: cf. Sp. papion.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A West African baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx), allied to the chacma. Its color is generally chestnut, varying in tint.

PAPISM Pa"pism, n. Etym: [F. papisme. See Pape, Pope.]

Defn: Popery; -- an offensive term. Milton.

PAPIST Pa"pist, n. Etym: [F. papiste. See Pape, Pope.]

Defn: A Roman catholic; one who adheres to the Church of Rome and the authority of the pope; -- an offensive designation applied to Roman Catholics by their opponents.

PAPISTIC; PAPISTICAL Pa*pis"tic, Pa*pis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. papistique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Church of Rome and its doctrines and ceremonies; pertaining to popery; popish; -- used disparagingly. "The old papistic worship." T. Warton. -- Pa*pis"tic*al*ly, adv.

PAPISTRY Pa"pist*ry, n.

Defn: The doctrine and ceremonies of the Church of Rome; popery. [R.] Whitgift.

PAPIZED Pa"pized, a. Etym: [From Pape.]

Defn: Conformed to popery. [Obs.] "Papized writers." Fuller.

PAPOOSE Pa*poose", n.

Defn: A babe or young child of Indian parentage in North America.

PAPPIFORM Pap"pi*form, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling the pappus of composite plants.

PAPPOOSE Pap*poose", n.

Defn: Same as Papoose. Pappoose root. (Bot.) See Cohosh.

PAPPOSE Pap*pose" a. (Bot.)

Defn: Furnished with a pappus; downy.

PAPPOUS Pap"pous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Pappose.

PAPPUS Pap"pus, n. Etym: [L., an old man or grandfather; hence, a substance resembling gray hairs, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The hairy or feathery appendage of the achenes of thistles, dandelions, and most other plants of the order Compositæ; also, the scales, awns, or bristles which represent the calyx in other plants of the same order.

PAPPY Pap"py, a. Etym: [From Pap soft food.]

Defn: Like pap; soft; succulent; tender. Ray.

PAPRIKA; PAPRICA Pa"pri*ka, n. Also Pa"pri*ca. [Hung. paprika Turkish pepper; prob. through G.]

Defn: The dried ripened fruit of Capsicum annuum or various other species of pepper; also, the mildly pungent condiment prepared from it.

PAPUAN Pap"u*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Papua.

PAPUARS Pap"u*ars, n. pl.; sing. Papuan (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: The native black race of Papua or New Guinea, and the adjacent islands.

PAPULA Pap"u*la, n.; pl. Papulæ. Etym: [L.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A pimple; a small, usually conical, elevation of the cuticle, produced by congestion, accumulated secretion, or hypertrophy of tissue; a papule. Quain.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the numerous small hollow processes of the integument between the plates of starfishes.

PAPULAR Pap"u*lar, a.

1. Covered with papules.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Consisting of papules; characterized by the presence of papules; as, a papular eruption.

PAPULE Pap"ule, n.; pl. Papules (.

Defn: Same as Papula.

PAPULOSE Pap"u*lose`, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Having papulæ; papillose; as, a papulose leaf.

PAPULOUS Pap"u*lous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pap.]

Defn: Covered with, or characterized by, papulæ; papulose.

PAPYRACEOUS Pap`y*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. papyraceus made of papyrus.]

Defn: Made of papyrus; of the consistency of paper; papery.

PAPYREAN Pa*pyr"e*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to papyrus, or to paper; papyraceous.

PAPYRINE Pap"y*rine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. papyrin made of paper. See Paper.]

Defn: Imitation parchment, made by soaking unsized paper in dilute sulphuric acid.

PAPYROGRAPH Pa*pyr"o*graph, n. Etym: [Papyrus + -graph.]

Defn: An apparatus for multiplying writings, drawings, etc., in which a paper stencil, formed by writing or drawing with corrosive ink, is used. The word is also used of other means of multiplying copies of writings, drawings, etc. See Copygraph, Hectograph, Manifold.

PAPYROGRAPHY Pap`y*rog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The process of multiplying copies of writings, etc., by means of the papyrograph. -- Pap`y*ro*graph"ic, a.

PAPYRUS Pa*py"rus, n.; pl. Papyri. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Paper.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A tall rushlike plant (Cyperus Papyrus) of the Sedge family, formerly growing in Egypt, and now found in Abyssinia, Syria, Sicily, etc. The stem is triangular and about an inch thick.

2. The material upon which the ancient Egyptians wrote. It was formed by cutting the stem of the plant into thin longitudinal slices, which were gummed together and pressed.

3. A manuscript written on papyrus; esp., pl., written scrolls made of papyrus; as, the papyri of Egypt or Herculaneum.

PAQUE Pâque, n. Etym: [F. pâque.]

Defn: See Pasch and Easter.

PAR Par, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Parr.

PAR Par, prep. Etym: [F., fr. L. per. See Per.]

Defn: By; with; -- used frequently in Early English in phrases taken from the French, being sometimes written as a part of the word which it governs; as, par amour, or paramour; par cas, or parcase; par fay, or parfay.

PAR Par, n. Etym: [L. par, adj., equal. See Peer an equal.]

1. Equal value; equality of nominal and actual value; the value expressed on the face or in the words of a certificate of value, as a bond or other commercial paper.

2. Equality of condition or circumstances. At par, at the original price; neither at a discount nor at a premium. -- Above par, at a premium. -- Below par, at a discount. -- On a par, on a level; in the same condition, circumstances, position, rank, etc.; as, their pretensions are on a par; his ability is on a par with his ambition. -- Par of exchange. See under Exchange. -- Par value, nominal value; face value.

PARA- Par"a-. Etym: [Gr. for- in forgive. Cf. For-.]

1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.

PARA Pa*ra", n. Etym: [Turk., fr. Per. parah a piece.]

Defn: A piece of Turkish money, usually copper, the fortieth part of a piaster, or about one ninth of a cent.

PARA-ANAESTHESIA; PARA-ANESTHESIA Par`a-an`æs*the"si*a, -an`es*the"si*a, n. [NL.; para- + anæsthesia.] (Med.)

Defn: Anæsthesia of both sides of the lower half of the body.

PARABANIC Par`a*ban"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid which is obtained by the oxidation of uric acid, as a white crystalline substance (C3N2H2O3); -- also called oxalyl urea.

PARABLAST Par"a*blast, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. Para-, and -blast.] (Biol.)

Defn: A portion of the mesoblast (of peripheral origin) of the developing embryo, the cells of which are especially concerned in forming the first blood and blood vessels. C. S. Minot.

PARABLASTIC Par`a*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the parablast; as, the parablastic cells.

PARABLE Par"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. parabilis, fr. parare to provide.]

Defn: Procurable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

PARABLE Par"a*ble, n. Etym: [F. parabole, L. parabola, fr. Gr. gal to drop. Cf. Emblem, Gland, Palaver, Parabola, Parley, Parabole, Symbol.]

Defn: A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Chaucer. Declare unto us the parable of the tares. Matt. xiii. 36.

Syn. -- See Allegory, and Note under Apologue.

PARABLE Par"a*ble, v. t.

Defn: To represent by parable. [R.] Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled. Milton.

PARABOLA Pa*rab"o*la, n.; pl. Parabolas. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Parable, and cf. Parabole.] (Geom.) (a) A kind of curve; one of the conic sections formed by the intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane parallel to one of its sides. It is a curve, any point of which is equally distant from a fixed point, called the focus, and a fixed straight line, called the directrix. See Focus. (b) One of a group of curves defined by the equation y = axn where n is a positive whole number or a positive fraction. For the cubical parabola n = 3; for the semicubical parabola n = Cubical, and Semicubical. The parabolas have infinite branches, but no rectilineal asymptotes.

PARABOLE Pa*rab"o*le, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Parable.] (Rhet.)

Defn: Similitude; comparison.

PARABOLIC; PARABOLICAL Par`a*bol"ic, Par`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. parabolique. See Parable.]

1. Of the nature of a parable; expressed by a parable or figure; allegorical; as, parabolical instruction.

2. Etym: [From Parabola.] (Geom.) (a) Having the form or nature of a parabola; pertaining to, or resembling, a parabola; as, a parabolic curve. (b) Generated by the revolution of a parabola, or by a line that moves on a parabola as a directing curve; as, a parabolic conoid. Parabolic conoid, a paraboloid; a conoid whose directing curve is a parabola. See Conoid. -- Parabolic mirror (Opt.), a mirror having a paraboloidal surface which gives for parallel rays (as those from very distant objects) images free from aberration. It is used in reflecting telescopes. -- Parabolic spindle, the solid generated by revolving the portion of a parabola cut off by a line drawn at right angles to the axis of the curve, about that line as an axis. -- Parabolic spiral, a spiral curve conceived to be formed by the periphery of a semiparabola when its axis is wrapped about a circle; also, any other spiral curve having an analogy to the parabola.

PARABOLICALLY Par`a*bol"ic*al*ly, adv.

1. By way of parable; in a parabolic manner.

2. In the form of a parabola.

PARABOLIFORM Par`a*bol"i*form, a. Etym: [Parabola + -form.]

Defn: Resembling a parabola in form.

PARABOLISM Pa*rab"o*lism, n. Etym: [From Parabola.] (Alg.)

Defn: The division of the terms of an equation by a known quantity that is involved in the first term. [Obs.]

PARABOLIST Pa*rab"o*list, n.

Defn: A narrator of parables.

PARABOLOID Pa*rab"o*loid, n. Etym: [Parabola + -oid: cf. F. paraboloïde.] (Geom.)

Defn: The solid generated by the rotation of a parabola about its axis; any surface of the second order whose sections by planes parallel to a given line are parabolas.

Note: The term paraboloid has sometimes been applied also to the parabolas of the higher orders. Hutton.

PARABOLOIDAL Par`a*bo*loid"al, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a paraboloid.

PARABRONCHIUM Par`a*bron"chi*um, n.; pl. Parabronchia. Etym: [NL. See Para-, Bronchia.] (Anat.)

Defn: One of the branches of an ectobronchium or entobronchium.

PARACELSIAN Par`a*cel"si*an, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in conformity with, the practice of Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the 15th century. Ferrand.

PARACELSIAN Par`a*cel"si*an, n.

Defn: A follower of Paracelsus or his practice or teachings. Hakewill.

PARACELSIST Par`a*cel"sist, n.

Defn: A Paracelsian.

PARACENTESIS Par`a*cen*te"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The perforation of a cavity of the body with a trocar, aspirator, or other suitable instrument, for the evacuation of effused fluid, pus, or gas; tapping.

PARACENTRIC; PARACENTRICAL Par`a*cen"tric, Par`a*cen"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + centric, - ical: cf. F. paracentrique.]

Defn: Deviating from circularity; changing the distance from a center. Paracentric curve (Math.), a curve having the property that, when its plane is placed vertically, a body descending along it, by the force of gravity, will approach to, or recede from, a fixed point or center, by equal distances in equal times; -- called also a paracentric. -- Paracentric motton or velocity, the motion or velocity of a revolving body, as a planet, by which it approaches to, or recedes from, the center, without reference to its motion in space, or to its motion as reckoned in any other direction.

PARACHORDAL Par`a*chor"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + chordal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated on either side of the notochord; -- applied especially to the cartilaginous rudiments of the skull on each side of the anterior part of the notochord. -- n.

Defn: A parachordal cartilage.

PARACHRONISM Pa*rach"ro*nism, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + Gr. parachronisme.]

Defn: An error in chronology, by which the date of an event is set later than the time of its occurrence. [R.]

PARACHROSE Par"a*chrose, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Changing color by exposure Mohs.

PARACHUTE Par"a*chute, n. Etym: [F., fr. paper to ward off, guard + chute a fall. See Parry, and Chute, Chance.]

1. A contrivance somewhat in the form of an umbrella, by means of which a descent may be made from a balloon, or any eminence.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A web or fold of skin which extends between the legs of certain mammals, as the flying squirrels, colugo, and phalangister.

PARACLETE Par"a*clete, n. Etym: [L. paracletus, Gr.

Defn: An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; -- a term applied to the Holy Spirit. From which intercession especially I conceive he hath the name of the Paraclete given him by Christ. Bp. Pearson.

PARACLOSE Par"a*close, n. (Arch.)

Defn: See Parclose.

PARACMASTIC Par`ac*mas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Para-, and Acme.] (Med.)

Defn: Gradually decreasing; past the acme, or crisis, as a distemper. Dunglison.

PARACONIC Par`a*con"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + aconitic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid obtained as a deliquescent white crystalline substance, and isomeric with itaconic, citraconic, and mesaconic acids.

PARACONINE Par`a*co"nine, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + conine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A base resembling and isomeric with conine, and obtained as a colorless liquid from butyric aldehyde and ammonia.

PARACOROLLA Par`a*co*rol"la, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + corolla.] (Bot.)

Defn: A secondary or inner corolla; a corona, as of the Narcissus.

PARA CRESS Pará cress.

Defn: An annual asteraceous herb (Spilances oleracea) grown in tropical countries as a pungent salad, and also used medicinally.

PARACROSTIC Par`a*cros"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + acrostic.]

Defn: A poetical composition, in which the first verse contains, in order, the first letters of all the verses of the poem. Brande & C.

PARACYANOGEN Par`a*cy*an"o*gen, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + cyanogen.] (Chem.)

Defn: A polymeric modification of cyanogen, obtained as a brown or black amorphous residue by heating mercuric cyanide.

PARACYMENE Par`a*cy"mene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + cymene.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Cymene.

PARADACTYLUM Par`a*dac"ty*lum, n.; pl. Paradactyla. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Dactyl.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The side of a toe or finger.

PARADE Pa*rade", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See Pare, v. t.]

1. The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled.

3. Pompous show; formal display or exhibition. Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade. Swift.

4. That which is displayed; a show; a spectacle; an imposing procession; the movement of any body marshaled in military order; as, a parade of firemen. In state returned the grand parade. Swift.

5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.] When they are not in parade, and upon their guard. Locke.

6. A public walk; a promenade. Dress parade, Undress parade. See under Dress, and Undress. -- Parade rest, a position of rest for soldiers, in which, however, they are required to be silent and motionless. Wilhelm.

Syn. -- Ostentation; display; show. -- Parade, Ostentation. Parade is a pompous exhibition of things for the purpose of display; ostentation now generally indicates a parade of virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be honored. "It was not in the mere parade of royalty that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power." Robertson. "We are dazzled with the splendor of titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of victories." Spectator.

PARADE Pa*rade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Parading.] Etym: [Cf. F. parader.]

1. To exhibit in a showy or ostentatious manner; to show off. Parading all her sensibility. Byron.

2. To assemble and form; to marshal; to cause to maneuver or march ceremoniously; as, to parade troops.

PARADE Pa*rade", v. i.

1. To make an exhibition or spectacle of one's self, as by walking in a public place.

2. To assemble in military order for evolutions and inspection; to form or march, as in review.

PARADIGM Par"a*digm, n. Etym: [F. paradigme, L. paradigma, fr. Gr. Para-, and Diction.]

1. An example; a model; a pattern. [R.] "The paradigms and patterns of all things." Cudworth.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: An example of a conjugation or declension, showing a word in all its different forms of inflection.

3. (Rhet.)

Defn: An illustration, as by a parable or fable.

PARADIGMATIC; PARADIGMATICAL Par`a*dig*mat"ic, Par`a*dig*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Exemplary. -- Par`a*dig*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.]

PARADIGMATIC Par`a*dig*mat"ic, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A writer of memoirs of religious persona, as examples of Christian excellence.

PARADIGMATIZE Par`a*dig"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paradigmatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Paradigmatizing.] Etym: [Gr. Paradigm.]

Defn: To set forth as a model or example. [Obs.] Hammond.

PARADISAIC; PARADISAICAL Par`a*di*sa"ic, Par`a*di*sa"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or resembling, paradise; paradisiacal. "Paradisaical pleasures." Gray.

PARADISAL Par"a*di`sal, a.

Defn: Paradisiacal.

PARADISE Par"a*dise, n. Etym: [OE. & F. paradis, L. paradisus, fr. Gr. para`deisos park, paradise, fr. Zend pairidaeza an inclosure; pairi around (akin to Gr. diz to throw up, pile up; cf. Skr. dih to smear, and E. dough. Cf. Parvis.]

1. The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed after their creation.

2. The abode of sanctified souls after death. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke xxiii. 43. It sounds to him like her mother's voice, Singing in Paradise. Longfellow.

3. A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight; hence, a state of happiness. The earth Shall be all paradise. Milton. Wrapt in the very paradise of some creative vision. Beaconsfield.

4. (Arch.)

Defn: An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc.

5. A churchyard or cemetery. [Obs.] Oxf. Gloss. Fool's paradise. See under Fool, and Limbo. -- Grains of paradise. (Bot.) See Melequeta pepper, under Pepper. -- Paradise bird. (Zoöl.) Same as Bird of paradise. Among the most beautiful species are the superb (Lophorina superba); the magnificent (Diphyllodes magnifica); and the six-shafted paradise bird (Parotia sefilata). The long-billed paradise birds (Epimachinæ) also include some highly ornamental species, as the twelve-wired paradise bird (Seleucides alba), which is black, yellow, and white, with six long breast feathers on each side, ending in long, slender filaments. See Bird of paradise in the Vocabulary. -- Paradise fish (Zoöl.), a beautiful fresh-water Asiatic fish (Macropodus viridiauratus) having very large fins. It is often kept alive as an ornamental fish. -- Paradise flycatcher (Zoöl.), any flycatcher of the genus Terpsiphone, having the middle tail feathers extremely elongated. The adult male of T. paradisi is white, with the head glossy dark green, and crested. -- Paradise grackle (Zoöl.), a very beautiful bird of New Guinea, of the genus Astrapia, having dark velvety plumage with brilliant metallic tints. -- Paradise nut (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See Sapucaia nut. [Local, U. S.] -- Paradise whidah bird. (Zoöl.) See Whidah.

PARADISE Par"a*dise, v. t.

Defn: To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch. [R.] Marston.

PARADISEAN Par`a*dis"e*an, a.

Defn: Paradisiacal.

PARADISED Par"a*dised, a.

Defn: Placed in paradise; enjoying delights as of paradise.

PARADISIAC; PARADISIACAL Par`a*dis"i*ac, Par`a*di*si"a*cal, a. Etym: [L. paradisiacus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to paradise; suitable to, or like, paradise. C. Kingsley. T. Burnet. "A paradisiacal scene." Pope. The valley . . . is of quite paradisiac beauty. G. Eliot.

PARADISIAL; PARADISIAN Par`a*dis"i*al, Par`a*dis"i*an, a.

Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.]

PARADISIC Par`a*dis"ic, a.

Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.] Broome.

PARADISICAL Par`a*dis"ic*al, a.

Defn: Paradisiacal. [R.]

PARADOS Par`a*dos, n.; pl. Paradoses. Etym: [F., fr. parer to defend + dos back, L. dorsum.] (Fort.)

Defn: An intercepting mound, erected in any part of a fortification to protect the defenders from a rear or ricochet fire; a traverse. Farrow.

PARADOX Par`a*dox, n.; pl. Paradoxes. Etym: [F. paradoxe, L. paradoxum, fr. Gr. Para-, and Dogma.]

Defn: A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact. A gloss there is to color that paradox, and make it appear in show not to be altogether unreasonable. Hooker. This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. Shak. Hydrostatic paradox. See under Hydrostatic.

PARADOXAL Par"a*dox`al, a.

Defn: Paradoxical. [Obs.]

PARADOXER; PARADOXIST Par"a*dox`er, n., Par"a*dox`ist (, n.

Defn: One who proposes a paradox.

PARADOXICAL Par`a*dox"ic*al, a.

1. Of the nature of a paradox.

2. Inclined to paradoxes, or to tenets or notions contrary to received opinions. Southey. -- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*dox"ic*al*ness, n.

PARADOXIDES Par`a*dox"i*des, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of large trilobites characteristic of the primordial formations.

PARADOXOLOGY Par`a*dox*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Paradox + -logy.]

Defn: The use of paradoxes. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

PARADOXURE Par`a*dox"ure, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Paradoxurus, a genus of Asiatic viverrine mammals allied to the civet, as the musang, and the luwack or palm cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). See Musang.

PARADOXY Par"a*dox`y, n.

1. A paradoxical statement; a paradox.

2. The quality or state of being paradoxical. Coleridge

PARAFFIN; PARAFFINE Par"af*fin, Par"af*fine, n. Etym: [F. paraffine, fr. L. parum too little + affinis akin. So named in allusion to its chemical inactivity.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used as an illuminant and lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins.

Note: In the present chemical usage this word is spelt paraffin, but in commerce it is commonly spelt paraffine. Native paraffin. See Ozocerite. -- Paraffin series. See Methane series, under Methane.

PARAGE Par"age, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. par, adj., equal. Cf. Peerage, Peer an equal.]

1. (Old Eng. Law)

Defn: Equality of condition, blood, or dignity; also, equality in the partition of an inheritance. Spelman.

2. (Feudal Law)

Defn: Equality of condition between persons holding unequal portions of a fee. Burrill.

3. Kindred; family; birth. [Obs.] Ld. Berners. We claim to be of high parage. Chaucer.

PARAGENESIS Par`a*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + genesis.] (Min.)

Defn: The science which treats of minerals with special reference to their origin.

PARAGENIC Par`a*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- the root of (Biol.)

Defn: Originating in the character of the germ, or at the first commencement of an individual; -- said of peculiarities of structure, character, etc.

PARAGLOBULIN Par`a*glob"u*lin, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + globulin.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An albuminous body in blood serum, belonging to the group of globulins. See Fibrinoplastin.

PARAGLOSSA Par`a*glos"sa, n.; pl. Paraglossæ. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a pair of small appendages of the lingua or labium of certain insects. See Illust. under Hymenoptera.

PARAGNATH Par"ag*nath, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Paragnathus.

PARAGNATHOUS Pa*rag"na*thous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having both mandibles of equal length, the tips meeting, as in certain birds.

PARAGNATHUS Pa*rag"na*thus, n.; pl. Paragnathi. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Gnathic.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the two lobes which form the lower lip, or metastome, of Crustacea. (b) One of the small, horny, toothlike jaws of certain annelids.

PARAGOGE Par`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Gram.)

Defn: The addition of a letter or syllable to the end of a word, as withouten for without.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Coaptation. [Obs.] Dunglison.

PARAGOGIC; PARAGOGICAL Par`a*gog"ic, Par`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. paragogique.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or constituting, a paragoge; added to the end of, or serving to lengthen, a word. Paragogic letters, in the Semitic languages, letters which are added to the ordinary forms of words, to express additional emphasis, or some change in the sense.

PARAGON Par"a*gon, n. Etym: [OF. paragon, F. parangon; cf. It. paragone, Sp. paragon, parangon; prob. fr. Gr.

1. A companion; a match; an equal. [Obs.] Spenser. Philoclea, who indeed had no paragon but her sister. Sir P. Sidney.

2. Emulation; rivalry; competition. [Obs.] Full many feats adventurous Performed, in paragon of proudest men. Spenser.

3. A model or pattern; a pattern of excellence or perfection; as, a paragon of beauty or eloquence. Udall. Man, . . . the paragon of animals ! Shak. The riches of sweet Mary's son, Boy-rabbi, Israel's paragon. Emerson.

4. (Print.)

Defn: A size of type between great primer and double pica. See the Note under Type.

PARAGON Par"a*gon, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. paragonner, F. parangonner.]

1. To compare; to parallel; to put in rivalry or emulation with. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

2. To compare with; to equal; to rival. [R.] Spenser. In arms anon to paragon the morn, The morn new rising. Glover.

3. To serve as a model for; to surpass. [Obs.] He hath achieved a maid That paragons description and wild fame. Shak.

PARAGON Par"a*gon, v. i.

Defn: To be equal; to hold comparison. [R.] Few or none could . . . paragon with her. Shelton.

PARAGONITE Pa*rag"o*nite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of mica related to muscovite, but containing soda instead of potash. It is characteristic of the paragonite schist of the Alps.

PARAGRAM Par"a*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. Paragraph.]

Defn: A pun. Puns, which he calls paragrams. Addison.

PARAGRAMMATIST Par`a*gram"ma*tist, n.

Defn: A punster.

PARAGRANDINE Pa`ra*gran"di*ne, n. Etym: [It., from parare to parry + grandine hail.]

Defn: An instrument to avert the occurrence of hailstorms. See Paragr. Knight.

PARAGRAPH Par"a*graph, n. Etym: [F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.]

1. Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character

Note: This character is merely a modification of a capital P (the initial of the word paragraph), the letter being reversed, and the black part made white and the white part black for the sake of distinctiveness.

2. A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark

3. A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.

PARAGRAPH Par"a*graph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paragraphed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paragraphing.]

1. To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character .

2. To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.

3. To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs

PARAGRAPHER Par"a*graph`er, n.

Defn: A writer of paragraphs; a paragraphist.

PARAGRAPHIC; PARAGRAPHICAL Par`a*graph"ic, Par`a*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, a paragraph or paragraphs. -- Par`a*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.

PARAGRAPHIST Par"a*graph`ist, n.

Defn: A paragrapher.

PARAGRAPHISTICAL Par`a*gra*phis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to a paragraphist. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

PARA GRASS Pa*ra" grass`. (Bot.)

Defn: A valuable pasture grass (Panicum barbinode) introduced into the Southern United States from Brazil.

PARAGRELE Pa`ra`grêle", n. Etym: [F., fr. parer to guard + grêle hail.]

Defn: A lightning conductor erected, as in a vineyard, for drawing off the electricity in the atmosphere in order to prevent hailstorms. [France] Knight.

PARAGUAYAN Par`a*guay"an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Paraguay. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Paraguay.

PARAGUAY TEA Pa`ra*guay" tea".

Defn: See Mate, the leaf of the Brazilian holly.

PARAIL Par"ail, n.

Defn: See Apparel. [Obs.] "In the parail of a pilgrim." Piers Plowman.

PARAKEET Par"a*keet`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Parrakeet.

PARAKITE Par"a*kite`, n. [Para- + kite.]

Defn: A train or series of kites on one string and flying tandem, used for attaining great heights and for sending up instruments for meteorological observations or a man for military reconnoissance; also, a kite of such a train.

PARALACTIC Par`a*lac"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + lactic.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: Designating an acid called paralactic acid. See Lactic acid, under Lactic.

PARALBUMIN Par`al*bu"min, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A proteidlike body found in the fluid from ovarian cysts and elsewhere. It is generally associated with a substance related to, if not identical with, glycogen.

PARALDEHYDE Par*al"de*hyde, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + aldehyde.] (Chem.)

Defn: A polymeric modification of aldehyde obtained as a white crystalline substance.

PARALEIPSIS Par`a*leip"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: A pretended or apparent omission; a figure by which a speaker artfully pretends to pass by what he really mentions; as, for example, if an orator should say, "I do not speak of my adversary's scandalous venality and rapacity, his brutal conduct, his treachery and malice." [Written also paralepsis, paralepsy, paralipsis.]

PARALEPSIS Par`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Paraleipsis.

PARALGESIA Par`al*ge"si*a, n. [NL.; para-+ Gr. 'a`lghsis sense of pain.] (Med.)

Defn: Disordered sensibility to pain, including absence of sensibility to pain, excessive sensibility to pain, and abnormal painful results of stimuli. -- Par`al*ge"sic (#), a.

PARALIAN Pa*ra"li*an, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A dweller by the sea. [R.]

PARALIPOMENON Par`a*li*pom"e*non, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. paraleipome`nwn of things omitted, pass. p. pr. (neuter genitive plural) fr.

Defn: A title given in the Douay Bible to the Books of Chronicles.

Note: In the Septuagint these books are called Paraleipome`nwn prw on and dey`teron, which is understood, after Jerome's explanation, as meaning that they are supplementary to the Books of Kings W. Smith.

PARALIPSIS Par`a*lip"sis, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Paraleipsis.

PARALLACTIC; PARALLACTICAL Par`al*lac"tic, Par`al*lac"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. parallactique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a parallax.

PARALLAX Par"al*lax, n. Etym: [Gr. parallaxe. Cf. Parallel.]

1. The apparent displacement, or difference of position, of an object, as seen from two different stations, or points of view.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The apparent difference in position of a body (as the sun, or a star) as seen from some point on the earth's surface, and as seen from some other conventional point, as the earth's center or the sun. Annual parallax, the greatest value of the heliocentric parallax, or the greatest annual apparent change of place of a body as seen from the earth and sun; as, the annual parallax of a fixed star. -- Binocular parallax, the apparent difference in position of an object as seen separately by one eye, and then by the other, the head remaining unmoved. -- Diurnal, or Geocentric, parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the earth's center. This is the kind of parallax that is generally understood when the term is used without qualification. -- Heliocentric parallax, the parallax of a body with reference to the sun, or the angle subtended at the body by lines drawn from it to the earth and sun; as, the heliocentric parallax of a planet. -- Horizontal parallax, the geocentric parallx of a heavenly body when in the horizon, or the angle subtended at the body by the earth's radius. -- Optical parallax, the apparent displacement in position undergone by an object when viewed by either eye singly. Brande & C. -- Parallax of the cross wires (of an optical instrument), their apparent displacement when the eye changes its position, caused by their not being exactly in the focus of the object glass. -- Stellar parallax, the annual parallax of a fixed star.

PARALLEL Par"al*lel, a. Etym: [F. parallèle, L. parallelus, fr. Gr. alius. See Allien.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: Extended in the same direction, and in all parts equally distant; as, parallel lines; parallel planes. Revolutions . . . parallel to the equinoctial. Hakluyt.

Note: Curved lines or curved planes are said to be parallel when they are in all parts equally distant.

2. Having the same direction or tendency; running side by side; being in accordance (with); tending to the same result; -- used with to and with. When honor runs parallel with the laws of God and our country, it can not be too much cherished. Addison.

3. Continuing a resemblance through many particulars; applicable in all essential parts; like; similar; as, a parallel case; a parallel passage. Addison. Parallel bar. (a) (Steam Eng.) A rod in a parallel motion which is parallel with the working beam. (b) One of a pair of bars raised about five feet above the floor or ground, and parallel to each other, -- used for gymnastic exercises. -- Parallel circles of a sphere, those circles of the sphere whose planes are parallel to each other. -- Parallel columns, or Parallels (Printing), two or more passages of reading matter printed side by side, for the purpose of emphasizing the similarity or discrepancy between them. -- Parallel forces (Mech.), forces which act in directions parallel to each other. -- Parallel motion. (a) (Mach.) A jointed system of links, rods, or bars, by which the motion of a reciprocating piece, as a piston rod, may be guided, either approximately or exactly in a straight line. Rankine. (b) (Mus.) The ascending or descending of two or more parts at fixed intervals, as thirds or sixths. -- Parallel rod (Locomotive Eng.), a metal rod that connects the crank pins of two or more driving wheels; -- called also couping rod, in distinction from the connecting rod. See Illust. of Locomotive, in App. -- Parallel ruler, an instrument for drawing parallel lines, so constructed as to have the successive positions of the ruling edge parallel to each other; also, one consisting of two movable parts, the opposite edges of which are always parallel. -- Parallel sailing (Naut.), sailing on a parallel of latitude. -- Parallel sphere (Astron. & Geog.), that position of the sphere in which the circles of daily motion are parallel to the horizon, as to an observer at either pole. -- Parallel vise, a vise having jaws so guided as to remain parallel in all positions.

PARALLEL Par"al*lel, n.

1. A line which, throughout its whole extent, is equidistant from another line; a parallel line, a parallel plane, etc. Who made the spider parallels design, Sure as De Moivre, without rule or line Pope.

2. Direction conformable to that of another line, Lines that from their parallel decline. Garth.

3. Conformity continued through many particulars or in all essential points; resemblance; similarity. Twixt earthly females and the moon All parallels exactly run. Swift.

4. A comparison made; elaborate tracing of similarity; as, Johnson's parallel between Dryden and Pope.

5. Anything equal to, or resembling, another in all essential particulars; a counterpart. None but thyself can be thy parallel. Pope.

6. (Geog.)

Defn: One of the imaginary circles on the surface of the earth, parallel to the equator, marking the latitude; also, the corresponding line on a globe or map.

7. (Mil.)

Defn: One of a series of long trenches constructed before a besieged fortress, by the besieging force, as a cover for troops supporting the attacking batteries. They are roughly parallel to the line of outer defenses of the fortress.

8. (Print.)

Defn: A character consisting of two parallel vertical lines (thus, ) used in the text to direct attention to a similarly marked note in the margin or at the foot of a page. Limiting parallels. See under Limit, v. t. -- Parallel of altitude (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the horizon; an almucantar. -- Parallel of declination (Astron.), one of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the equator. -- Parallel of latitude. (a) (Geog.) See def. 6. above. (b) (Astron.) One of the small circles of the sphere, parallel to the ecliptic.

PARALLEL Par"al*lel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralleled; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralleling.]

1. To place or set so as to be parallel; to place so as to be parallel to, or to conform in direction with, something else. The needle . . . doth parallel and place itself upon the true meridian. Sir T. Browne.

2. Fig.: To make to conform to something else in character, motive, aim, or the like. His life is paralleled Even with the stroke and line of his great justice. Shak.

3. To equal; to match; to correspond to. Shak.

4. To produce or adduce as a parallel. [R.] Locke. My young remembrance can not parallel A fellow to it. Shak.

PARALLEL Par"al*lel, v. i.

Defn: To be parallel; to correspond; to be like. [Obs.] Bacon.

PARALLELABLE Par"al*lel`a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being paralleled, or equaled. [R.] Bp. Hall.

PARALLELISM Par"al*lel*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélisme.]

1. The quality or state of being parallel.

2. Resemblance; correspondence; similarity. A close parallelism of thought and incident. T. Warton.

3. Similarity of construction or meaning of clauses placed side by side, especially clauses expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, as is common in Hebrew poetry; e. g.: -- At her feet he bowed, he fell: Where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Judg. v. 27.

PARALLELISTIC Par`al*lel*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a parallelism; involving parallelism. The antithetic or parallelistic form of Hebrew poetry is entirely lost. Milman.

PARALLELIZE Par"al*lel*ize, v. t.

Defn: To render parallel. [R.]

PARALLELLESS Par"al*lel*less, a.

Defn: Matchless. [R.]

PARALLELLY Par"al*lel*ly, adv.

Defn: In a parallel manner; with parallelism. [R.] Dr. H. More.

PARALLELOGRAM Par`al*lel"o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélogramme. See Parallel, and - gram.] (Geom.)

Defn: A right-lined quadrilateral figure, whose opposite sides are parallel, and consequently equal; -- sometimes restricted in popular usage to a rectangle, or quadrilateral figure which is longer than it is broad, and with right angles. Parallelogram of velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc. (Mech.), a parallelogram the diagonal of which represents the resultant of two velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., both in quantity and direction, when the velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., are represented in quantity and direction by the two adjacent sides of the parallelogram.

PARALLELOGRAMMATIC Par`al*lel`o*gram*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a parallelogram; parallelogrammic.

PARALLELOGRAMMIC; PARALLELOGRAMMICAL Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic, Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic*al, a.

Defn: Having the properties of a parallelogram. [R.]

PARALLELOPIPED Par`al*lel`o*pi"ped, n. Etym: [Gr. parallélopipède.] (Geom.)

Defn: A solid, the faces of which are six parallelograms, the opposite pairs being parallel, and equal to each other; a prism whose base is a parallelogram.

PARALLELOPIPEDON Par`al*lel`o*pip"e*don, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: A parallelopiped. Hutton.

PARALLEL STANDARDS Parallel standards. (Numismatics)

Defn: Two or more metals coined without any attempt by the government to regulate their values.

PARALLEL SULCUS Parallel sulcus. (Anat.)

Defn: A sulcus parallel to, but some distance below, the horizontal limb of the fissure of Sylvius.

PARALLEL TRANSFORMER Parallel transformer. (Elec.)

Defn: A transformer connected in parallel.

PARALLEL VISE Parallel vise.

Defn: A vise with jaws so guided as to remain parallel.

PARALOGICAL Par`a*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Containing paralogism; illogical. "Paralogical doubt." Sir T. Browne.

PARALOGISM Pa*ral"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. paralogisme.] (Logic)

Defn: A reasoning which is false in point of form, that is, which is contrary to logical rules or formulæ; a formal fallacy, or pseudo- syllogism, in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises.

PARALOGIZE Pa*ral"o*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paralogized; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralogizing.] Etym: [Gr.

Defn: To reason falsely; to draw conclusions not warranted by the premises. [R.]

PARALOGY Pa*ral"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: False reasoning; paralogism.

PARALYSE Par"a*lyse, v. t.

Defn: Same as Paralyze.

PARALYSIS Pa*ral"y*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Para-, and Loose, and cf. Palsy.] (Med.)

Defn: Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; esp., the loss of the power of voluntary motion, with or without that of sensation, in any part of the body; palsy. See Hemiplegia, and Paraplegia. Also used figuratively. "Utter paralysis of memory." G. Eliot. Mischievous practices arising out of the paralysis of the powers of ownership. Duke of Argyll (1887).

PARALYTIC Par`a*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [L. paralyticus, Gr. paralytique.]

1. Of or pertaining to paralysis; resembling paralysis.

2. Affected with paralysis, or palsy. The cold, shaking, paralytic hand. Prior.

3. Inclined or tending to paralysis. Paralytic secretion (Physiol.), the fluid, generally thin and watery, secreted from a gland after section or paralysis of its nerves, as the pralytic saliva.

PARALYTIC Par`a*lyt"ic, n.

Defn: A person affected with paralysis.

PARALYTICAL Par`a*lyt"ic*al, a.

Defn: See Paralytic.

PARALYZATION Par`a*ly*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of paralyzing, or the state of being paralyzed.

PARALYZE Par"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paralyzing.] Etym: [F. paralyser. See Paralysis.]

1. To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.

2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency paralyzed his efforts.

PARAM Par"am, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C2H4N4); -- called also dicyandiamide.

PARAMAGNETIC Par`a*mag*net"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + magnetic.]

Defn: Magnetic, as opposed to Ant: diamagnetic. -- n.

Defn: A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. -- Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly, adv.

PARAMAGNETISM Par`a*mag"net*ism, n.

Defn: Magnetism, as opposed to diamagnetism. Faraday.

PARAMALEIC Par`a*ma*le"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + maleic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called fumaric acid. [Obs.]

PARAMALIC Par`a*ma"lic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + malic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.

PARAMASTOID Par`a*mas"toid, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + mastoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Situated beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone; paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.

PARAMATTA Par`a*mat"ta, n. Etym: [So named from Paramatta, in Australia.]

Defn: A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck (Draper's Dict.)

PARAMENT Par"a*ment, n. Etym: [Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare.]

Defn: Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.] Lords in paraments on their coursers. Chaucer. Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.

PARAMENTO Pa`ra*men"to, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl.

PARAMERE Par"a*mere, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + -mere.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish.

PARAMETER Pa*ram"e*ter, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramètre.]

1. (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) Specifically (Conic Sections), in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.

Note: The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.

2. (Crystallog.)

Defn: The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species.

PARAMETRITIS Par`a*me*tri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Metritis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus.

PARAMIOGRAPHER Par`a*mi*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph + -er.]

Defn: A collector or writer of proverbs. [R.]

PARAMITOME Par`a*mi"tome, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + mitome.] (Biol.)

Defn: The fluid portion of the protoplasm of a cell.

PARAMO Pa"ra*mo, n.; pl. Paramos. Etym: [Sp. pæramo.]

Defn: A high, bleak plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere, as in the Andes, in South America.

PARAMORPH Par"a*morph, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite.

PARAMORPHISM Par`a*mor"phism, n. (Min.)

Defn: The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition.

PARAMORPHOUS Par`a*mor"phous, a. (Min.)

Defn: Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting paramorphism.

PARAMOUNT Par"a*mount, a. Etym: [OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) + amont above. See Amount.]

Defn: Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preëminent; as, a paramount duty. "A traitor paramount." Bacon. Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. -- Lord paramount, the king.

Syn. Superior; principal; preëminent; chief.

PARAMOUNT Par"a*mount, n.

Defn: The highest or chief. Milton.

PARAMOUNTLY Par"a*mount`ly, adv.

Defn: In a paramount manner.

PARAMOUR Par"a*mour, n. Etym: [F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour.]

1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman. The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour Macaulay.

2. Love; gallantry. [Obs.] "For paramour and jollity." Chaucer.

PARAMOUR; PARAMOURS Par"a*mour`, Par"a*mours`, adv.

Defn: By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [Obs.] For par amour, I loved her first ere thou. Chaucer.

PARAMYLUM Par*am"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance resembling starch, found in the green frothy scum formed on the surface of stagnant water.

PARANAPHTHALENE Par`a*naph"tha*lene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + naphthalene.] (Chem.)

Defn: Anthracene; -- called also paranaphthaline. [Obs.]

PARANOIA Par`a*noi"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Mental derangement; insanity.

PARANOIAC Par`a*noi"ac, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to paranoia; affected with, or characteristic of, paranoia.

PARANOIAC Par`a*noi"ac, n.

Defn: A person affected with paranoia.

PARANTHRACENE Par*an"thra*cene, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + anthracene.] (Chem.)

Defn: An inert isomeric modification of anthracene.

PARANUCLEUS Par`a*nu"cle*us, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + nucleus.] (Biol.)

Defn: Some as Nucleolus.

PARA NUT Pa*ra" nut`. (Bot.)

Defn: The Brazil nut.

PARANYMPH Par"a*nymph, n. Etym: [L. paranymphus, Gr. paranymphe.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.) (a) A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride. Milton. (b) The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom.

2. Hence: An ally; a supporter or abettor. Jer. Taylor.

PARANYMPHAL Par`a*nym"phal, a.

Defn: Bridal; nuptial. [R.] At some paranymphal feast. Ford.

PARAPECTIN Par`a*pec"tin, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + pectin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A gelatinous modification of pectin.

PARAPEGM Par"a*pegm, n. Etym: [L. parapegma, Gr. parapegme.]

Defn: An engraved tablet, usually of brass, set up in a public place.

Note: Parapegms were used for the publication of laws, proclamations, etc., and the recording of astronomical phenomena or calendar events.

PARAPEPTONE Par`a*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Pref. para- + peptone.] (Phisiol. Chem.)

Defn: An albuminous body formed in small quantity by the peptic digestion of proteids. It can be converted into peptone by pancreatic juice, but not by gastric juice.

PARAPET Par"a*pet, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. parapetto, fr. parare to ward off, guard (L. parare to prepare, provide) + petto the breast, L. pectus. See Parry, and Pectoral.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A low wall, especially one serving to protect the edge of a platform, roof, bridge, or the like.

2. (Fort.)

Defn: A wall, rampart, or elevation of earth, for covering soldiers from an enemy's fire; a breastwork. See Illust. of Casemate.

PARAPETALOUS Par`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + petal.] (Bot.)

Defn: Growing by the side of a petal, as a stamen.

PARAPETED Par"a*pet`ed, a.

Defn: Having a parapet.

PARAPH Par"aph, n. Etym: [F. paraphe, parafe, contr. fr. paragraphe.]

Defn: A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery. Brande & C.

PARAPH Par"aph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphed; p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphing.] Etym: [Cf. F. parapher, parafer.]

Defn: To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.

PARAPHERNA Par`a*pher"na, n. pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)

Defn: The property of a woman which, on her marriage, was not made a part of her dower, but remained her own.

PARAPHERNAL Par`a*pher"nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. paraphernal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to paraphernalia; as, paraphernal property. Kent.

PARAPHERNALIA Par`a*pher*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [LL. paraphernalia bona, fr. L. parapherna, pl., parapherna, Gr. fe`rein to bring. See 1st Bear.]

1. (Law)

Defn: Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree.

2. Appendages; ornaments; finery; equipments.

PARAPHIMOSIS Par`a*phi*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A condition in which the prepuce, after being retracted behind the glans penis, is constricted there, and can not be brought forward into place again.

PARAPHOSPHORIC Par`a*phos*phor"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. para- + phosphoric.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pyrophosphoric. [Obs.]

PARAPHRAGMA Par`a*phrag"ma, n.; pl. Paraphragmata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the outer divisions of an endosternite of Crustacea. -- Par`a*phrag"mal, a.

PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, n. Etym: [L. paraphrasis, Gr. paraphrase. See Para-, and Phrase.]

Defn: A restatement of a text, passage, or work, expressing the meaning of the original in another form, generally for the sake of its clearer and fuller exposition; a setting forth the signification of a text in other and ampler terms; a free translation or rendering; -- opposed to metaphrase. In paraphrase, or translation with latitude, the author's words are not so strictly followed as his sense. Dryden. Excellent paraphrases of the Psalms of David. I. Disraeli. His sermons a living paraphrase upon his practice. Sowth. The Targums are also called the Chaldaic or Aramaic Paraphrases. Shipley.

PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphrased; p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphrasing.]

Defn: To express, interpret, or translate with latitude; to give the meaning of a passage in other language. We are put to construe and paraphrase our own words. Bp. Stillingfleet.

PARAPHRASE Par"a*phrase, v. i.

Defn: To make a paraphrase.

PARAPHRASER Par"a*phra`ser, n.

Defn: One who paraphrases.

PARAPHRASIAN Par`a*phra"sian, n.

Defn: A paraphraser. [R.]

PARAPHRAST Par"a*phrast, n. Etym: [L. paraphrastes, Gr. paraphraste.]

Defn: A paraphraser. T. Warton.

PARAPHRASTIC; PARAPHRASTICAL Par`a*phras"tic, Par`a*phras"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.paraphrastique.]

Defn: Paraphrasing; of the nature of paraphrase; explaining, or translating in words more clear and ample than those of the author; not literal; free. -- Par`a*phras"tic*al*ly, adv.

PARAPHYSIS Pa*raph"y*sis, n.; pl. Paraphyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A minute jointed filament growing among the archegonia and antheridia of mosses, or with the spore cases, etc., of other flowerless plants.

PARAPLEGIA; PARAPLEGY Par`a*ple"gi*a, Par"a*ple`gy, n. Etym: [NL. paraplegia, fr. Gr. paraplégie.] (Med.)

Defn: Palsy of the lower half of the body on both sides, caused usually by disease of the spinal cord. -- Par`a*pleg"ic, a.

PARAPLEURA Par`a*pleu"ra, n.; pl. Parapleuræ. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and 2d Pleura.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chitinous piece between the metasternum and the pleuron of certain insects.

PARAPODIUM Par`a*po"di*um, n.; pl. Parapodia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the lateral appendages of an annelid; -- called also foot tubercle.

Note: They may serve for locomotion, respiration, and sensation, and often contain spines or setæ. When well developed, a dorsal part, or notopodium, and a ventral part, or neuropodium, are distinguished.

PARAPOPHYSIS Par`a*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Parapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.)

Defn: The ventral transverse, or capitular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra. -- Par*ap`o*phys"ic*al, a.

PARAPTERUM Pa*rap"te*rum, n.; pl. Paraptera. Etym: [NL. See Para-, and Pteron.] (Zoöl.)