Chapter LI: Bella (66)

PEREGAL Per*e"gal, a. Etym: [OF. par very (L. per) + egal equal, L. aequalis.]

Defn: Fully equal. [Obs.] Chaucer. "Peregal to the best." Spenser.

PEREGRINATE Per"e*gri*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. peregrinatus, p.p. of peregrinari to travel. See Pilgrim.]

Defn: To travel from place to place, or from one country to another; hence, to sojourn in foreign countries.

PEREGRINATE Per"e*gri*nate, a. Etym: [L. peregrinatus, p.p.]

Defn: Having traveled; foreign. [Obs.] Shak.

PEREGRINATION Per`e*gri*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. peregrinatio: cf. F. pérégrination.]

Defn: A traveling from one country to another; a wandering; sojourn in foreign countries. "His peregrination abroad." Bacon.

PEREGRINATOR Per"e*gri*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who peregrinates; one who travels about.

PEREGRINE Per"e*grine, a. Etym: [L. peregrinus. See Pilgrim.]

Defn: Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic. [Spelt also pelegrine.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat." Bacon. Peregrine falcon (Zoöl.), a courageous and swift falcon (Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks, white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called also peregrine hawk, duck hawk, game hawk, and great-footed hawk.

PEREGRINE Per"e*grine, n.

Defn: The peregrine falcon.

PEREGRINITY Per`e*grin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. peregrinitas: cf. F. pérégrinité.]

1. Foreignness; strangeness. [Obs.] "Somewhat of a peregrinity in their dialect." Johnson.

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

PEREL Per"el, n.

Defn: Apparel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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

Defn: To destroy; to defeat. [R.] Ayliffe.

PEREMPTION Per*emp"tion, n. Etym: [L. peremptio: cf. F. péremption.] (Law)

Defn: A quashing; a defeating. [Obs.]

PEREMPTORILY Per"emp*to*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a peremptory manner; absolutely; positively. Bacon.

PEREMPTORINESS Per"emp*to*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being peremptory; positiveness.

PEREMPTORY Per"emp*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. peremptorius destructive, deadly, decisive, final: cf. F. péremptorie. See Perempt.]

1. Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final. Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to get thither. Jer. Taylor.

2. Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical. Be not too positive and peremptory. Bacon. Briefly, then, for we are peremptory. Shak.

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

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

PERENNIAL Per*en"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through; per through + annus year. See Per-, and Annual.]

1. ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains.

2. Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing. The perennial existence of bodies corporate. Burke.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or root, or plant.

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

PERENNIAL Per*en"ni*al, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.

PERENNIALLY Per*en"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perennial manner.

PERENNIBRANCHIATA Per*en`ni*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Perennial, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Those Batrachia which retain their gills through life, as the menobranchus.

PERENNIBRANCHIATE Per*en`ni*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [See Perennial, and Branchiate.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Having branchæ, or gills, through life; -- said especially of certain Amphibia, like the menobranchus. Opposed to caducibranchiate.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Perennibranchiata.

PERENNITY Per*en"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. perennitas.]

Defn: The quality of being perennial. [R.] Derham.

PERERRATION Per`er*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. pererrare, pererratum, to wander through.]

Defn: A wandering, or rambling, through various places. [R.] Howell.

PERFECT Per"fect, a. Etym: [OE. parfit, OF. parfit, parfet, parfait, F. parfait, L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere to carry to the end, to perform, finish, perfect; per (see Per-) + facere to make, do. See Fact.]

1. Brought to consummation or completeness; completed; not defective nor redundant; having all the properties or qualities requisite to its nature and kind; without flaw, fault, or blemish; without error; mature; whole; pure; sound; right; correct. My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun. Shak. I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Shak. O most entire perfect sacrifice! Keble. God made thee perfect, not immutable. Milton.

2. Well informed; certain; sure. I am perfect that the Pannonains are now in arms. Shak.

3. (Bot.)

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

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

PERFECT Per"fect, n.

Defn: The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.

PERFECT Per"fect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfected; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfecting.] Etym: [L. perfectus, p.p. of perficere. See Perfect, a.]

Defn: To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind. God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. 1 John iv. 12. Inquire into the nature and properties of the things, . . . and thereby perfect our ideas of their distinct species. Locke. Perfecting press (Print.), a press in which the printing on both sides of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.

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

PERFECTER Per"fect*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, makes perfect. "The . . . perfecter of our faith." Barrow.

PERFECTIBILIAN Per*fect`i*bil"i*an, n.

Defn: A perfectionist. [R.] Ed. Rev.

PERFECTIBILIST Per`fec*tib"i*list, n.

Defn: A perfectionist. See also Illuminati, 2. [R.]

PERFECTIBILITY Per*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectibilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being perfectible.

PERFECTIBLE Per*fect"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectible.]

Defn: Capable of becoming, or being made, perfect.

PERFECTION Per*fec"tion, n. Etym: [F. perfection, L. perfectio.]

1. The quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system; perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.

2. A quality, endowment, or acquirement completely excellent; an ideal faultlessness; especially, the divine attribute of complete excellence. Shak. What tongue can her perfections tell Sir P. Sidney. To perfection, in the highest degree of excellence; perfectly; as, to imitate a model to perfection.

PERFECTION Per*fec"tion, v. t.

Defn: To perfect. [Obs.] Foote.

PERFECTIONAL Per*fec"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to perfection; characterized by perfection. [R.] Bp. Pearson.

PERFECTIONATE Per*fec"tion*ate, v. t.

Defn: To perfect. Dryden.

PERFECTIONISM Per*fec"tion*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine of the Perfectionists.

PERFECTIONIST Per*fec"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One pretending to perfection; esp., one pretending to moral perfection; one who believes that persons may and do attain to moral perfection and sinlessness in this life. South.

PERFECTIONMENT Per*fec"tion*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perfectionnement.]

Defn: The act of bringing to perfection, or the state of having attained to perfection. [R.] I. Taylor.

PERFECTIVE Per*fect"ive, a.

Defn: Tending or conducing to make perfect, or to bring to perfection; -- usually followed by of. "A perfective alteration." Fuller. Actions perfective of their natures. Ray.

PERFECTIVELY Per*fec"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perfective manner.

PERFECTLY Per"fect*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; throughly; faultlessly. "Perfectly divine." Milton. As many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matt. xiv. 36.

PERFECTNESS Per"fect*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perfect; perfection. "Charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. iii. 14.

PERFERVID Per*fer"vid, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + fervid.]

Defn: Very fervid; too fervid; glowing; ardent.

PERFICIENT Per*fi"cient, a. Etym: [L. perficiens, p.pr. of perficere to perform. See Perfect.]

Defn: Making or doing throughly; efficient; effectual. [R.] Blackstone.

PERFICIENT Per*fi"cient, n.

Defn: One who performs or perfects a work; especially, one who endows a charity. [R.]

PERFIDIOUS Per*fid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. perfidious.]

1. Guilty of perfidy; violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence reposed; teacherous; faithless; as, a perfidious friend. Shak.

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

PERFIDIOUSLY Per*fid"i*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perfidious manner.

PERFIDIOUSNESS Per*fid"i*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being perfidious; perfidy. Clarendon.

PERFIDY Per"fi*dy, n.; pl. Perfidies. Etym: [L. perfidia, fr. L. perfidus faithless; per (cf. Skr. para away) + fides faith: cf. F. perfidie. See Faith.]

Defn: The act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; teachery. The ambition and perfidy of tyrants. Macaulay. His perfidy to this sacred engagement. DeQuincey.

PERFIT Per"fit, a.

Defn: Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERFIX Per*fix", v. t. Etym: [Pref. per- + fix.]

Defn: To fix surely; to appoint. [Obs.]

PERFLABLE Per"fla*ble, a. Etym: [L. perflabilis. See Perflate.]

Defn: Capable of being blown through. [Obs.]

PERFLATE Per*flate", v. t. Etym: [L. perflatus, p.p. of perflare to blow through.]

Defn: To blow through. [Obs.] Harvey.

PERFLATION Per*fla"tion, n. Etym: [L. perflatio.]

Defn: The act of perflating. [Obs.] Woodward.

PERFOLIATE Per*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + L. folium leaf.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the basal part produced around the stem; -- said of leaves which the stem apparently passes directory through.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounded by a circle of hairs, or projections of any kind.

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

PERFORATE Per"fo*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perforated; p. pr. & vb. n. Perforating.] Etym: [L. perforatus, p.p. of perforare to perforate; per through + forare to bore. See Bore, v.]

Defn: To bore through; to pierce through with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through by boring or piercing; to pierce or penetrate the surface of. Bacon.

PERFORATE; PERFORATED Per"fo*rate, Per"fo*ra`ted, a.

Defn: Pierced with a hole or holes, or with pores; having transparent dots resembling holes.

PERFORATION Per`fo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perforation.]

1. The act of perforating, or of boring or piercing through. Bacon.

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

PERFORATIVE Per"fo*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perforatif.]

Defn: Having power to perforate or pierce.

PERFORATOR Per"fo*ra`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perforateur.]

Defn: One who, or that which, perforates; esp., a cephalotome.

PERFORCE Per*force", adv. Etym: [F. par (L. per) + force.]

Defn: By force; of necessary; at any rate. Shak.

PERFORCE Per*force", v. t.

Defn: To force; to compel. [Obs.]

PERFORM Per*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Performed; p. pr. & vb. n. Performing.] Etym: [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see Par) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by form; cf. L. performare to form thoroughly. See Furnish.]

1. To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me. Ps. lvii. 2. Great force to perform what they did attempt. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow. To perform your father's will. Shak.

3. To represent; to act; to play; as in drama. Perform a part thou hast not done before. Shak.

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

PERFORM Per*form", v. i.

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

PERFORMABLE Per*form"a*ble, a.

Defn: Admitting of being performed, done, or executed; practicable.

PERFORMANCE Per*form"ance, n.

Defn: The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty. Promises are not binding where the performance is impossible. Paley.

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

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

PERFORMER Per*form"er, n.

Defn: One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.

PERFRICATE Per"fri*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. perfricatus, p.p. of perfricare.]

Defn: To rub over. Bailey.

PERFUMATORY Per*fu"ma*to*ry, a.

Defn: Emitting perfume; perfuming. [R.] Sir E. Leigh.

PERFUME Per*fume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfuming.] Etym: [F. parfumer (cf. Sp. perfumar); par (see Par) + fumer to smoke, L. fumare, fr. fumus smoke. See Fume.]

Defn: To fill or impregnate with a perfume; to scent. And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies. Pope.

PERFUME Per"fume, n. Etym: [F. parfum; cf. Sp. perfume. See Perfume, v.]

1. The scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet- smelling substance; a pleasant odor; fragrance; aroma. No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field. Pope.

2. A substance that emits an agreeable odor. And thou shalt make it a perfume. Ex. xxx. 35.

PERFUMER Per*fum"er, n.

1. One who, oe that which, perfumes.

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

PERFUMERY Per*fum"er*y, n.

1. Perfumes, in general.

2. Etym: [Cf. F. parfumerie.]

Defn: The art of preparing perfumes.

PERFUNCTORILY Per*func"to*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. Boyle.

PERFUNCTORINESS Per*func"to*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perfunctory.

PERFUNCTORY Per*func"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. perfunctorius, fr. perfunctus dispatched, p.p. of perfungi to discharge, dispatch; per (see Per) + fungi to perform. See Function.]

1. Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions. Macaulay.

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

PERFUNCTURATE Per*func"tu*rate, v. t.

Defn: To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]

PERFUSE Per*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfused; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfusing.] Etym: [L. perfusus, p.p. of perfundere to pour over; per + fundere to pour.]

Defn: To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. Harvey.

PERFUSION Per*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. perfusio.]

Defn: The act of perfusing.

PERFUSIVE Per*fu"sive, a.

Defn: Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.

PERGAMENOUS; PERGAMENTACEOUS Per`ga*me"no*us, Per`ga*men*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. pergamena parchment. See Parchment.]

Defn: Like parchment.

PERGOLA Per"go*la, n. [It., fr. L. pergula shed, shop, vine arbor.]

Defn: Lit., an arbor or bower; specif.: (Italian art)

Defn: An arbor or trellis treated architecturally, as with stone columns or similar massive structure.

PERGOLO Per"go*lo, n. [It.]

Defn: A continuous colonnade or arcade; -- applied to the decorative groups of windows, as in Venetian palazzi.

PERHAPS Per*haps", adv. Etym: [Per + hap chance.]

Defn: By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be. And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts viii. 22.

PERI- Per"i-. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed; perispherical, quite spherical.

PERI Pe"ri, n.; pl. Peris. Etym: [Per. peri a female genus, a fairy.] (Persian Myth.)

Defn: An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise till penance is accomplished. Moore.

PERIAGUA Per`i*a"gua, n.

Defn: See Pirogue.

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

PERIANTHIUM Per`i*an"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: The perianth.

PERIAPT Per"i*apt, n. Etym: [Gr. périapte.]

Defn: A charm worn as a protection against disease or mischief; an amulet. Coleridge. Now help, ye charming spells and periapts. Shak.

PERIASTRAL Per`i*as"tral, a.

Defn: Among or around the stars. "Comets in periastral passage." R. A. Proctor.

PERIASTRON Per`i*as"tron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: That point, in the real or apparent orbit of one star revolving around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.

PERIAUGER Per"i*au"ger, n.

Defn: See Pirogue. W. Irving.

PERIBLAST Per"i*blast, a. Etym: [Gr. Peri-, and -blast.] (Biol.)

Defn: The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell nucleus, and undergoes segmentation. -- Per`i*blas"tic, a.

PERIBLEM Per"i*blem, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + root of Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Nascent cortex, or immature cellular bark.

PERIBOLOS Pe*rib"o*los, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. peribolus.]

Defn: In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.

PERIBRANCHIAL Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the branchiæ; as, a peribranchial cavity.

PERIBRANCHIAL Per`i*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around the bronchi or bronchial tubes; as, the peribronchial lymphatics.

PERICAMBIUM Per`i*cam"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Cambium.] (Biol.)

Defn: A layer of thin-walled young cells in a growing stem, in which layer certain new vessels originate.

PERICARDIAC; PERICARDIAL Per`i*car"di*ac, Per`i*car"di*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to pericardium; situated around the heart. Pericardial fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid of a pale yellow color contained in the pericardium.

PERICARDIAN Per`i*car"di*an, a.

Defn: Pericardiac.

PERICARDIC Per`i*car"dic, a.

Defn: Pericardiac.

PERICARDITUS Per`i*car*di"tus, n. Etym: [NL. See Pericardium, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the pericardium. Dunglison.

PERICARDIUM Per`i*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.

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

PERICARP Per"i*carp, n. Etym: [Gr. péricarpe.] (Bot.)

Defn: The ripened ovary; the walls of the fruit. See Illusts. of Capsule, Drupe, and Legume.

PERICARPIAL; PERICARPIC Per`i*car"pi*al, Per`i*car"pic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a pericarp.

PERICELLULAR Per`i*cel"lu*lar, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding a cell; as, the pericellular lymph spaces surrounding ganglion cells.

PERICHAETH Per"i*chæth, n. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Bot.)

Defn: The leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk of mosses; perichætium; perichete.

PERICHAETIAL Per`i*chæ"ti*al, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichæth.

PERICHAETIUM Per`i*chæ"ti*um, n.; pl. Perichætia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Perichæth.

PERICHAETOUS Per`i*chæ"tous, a. Etym: [See Perichætium.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounded by setæ; -- said of certain earthworms (genus Perichætus).

PERICHETE Per"i*chete, n.

Defn: Same as Perichæth.

PERICHONDRIAL Per`i*chon"dri*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perichondrium; situated around cartilage.

PERICHONDRITIS Per`i*chon*dri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Perichondrium, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the perichondrium.

PERICHONDRIUM Per`i*chon"dri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests cartilage, except where covering articular surfaces.

PERICHORDAL Per`i*chor"dal, a.

Defn: Around the notochord; as, a perichordal column. See Epichordal.

PERICLASE; PERICLASITE Per"i*clase, Per`i*cla"site, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A grayish or dark green mineral, consisting essentially of magnesia (magnesium oxide), occurring in granular forms or in isometric crystals.

PERICLINIUM Per`i*clin"i*um, n.; pl. Periclinia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The involucre which surrounds the common receptacle in composite flowers.

PERICLITATE Pe*ric"li*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. periclitatus, p.p. of periclitari, fr. periculum.]

Defn: To endanger. [Obs.] Periclitating, pardi! the whole family. Sterne.

PERICLITATION Pe*ric`li*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. periclitatio: cf. F. périclitation.]

1. Trial; experiment. [Obs.]

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

PERICOPE Pe*ric"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., section of a book, Gr.

Defn: A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or used as a text for a sermon.

PERICRANIAL Per`i*cra"ni*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the pericranium.

PERICRANIUM Per`i*cra"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)

Defn: The periosteum which covers the cranium externally; the region around the cranium.

PERICULOUS Pe*ric"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. periculosus. See Perilous.]

Defn: Dangerous; full of peril. [Obs.]

PERICULUM Pe*ric"u*lum, n.; pl. Pericula. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & O.Eng. Law)

1. Danger; risk.

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

PERICYSTITIS Per`i*cys*ti"tis, n. [NL. See Peri-, and Cystitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the tissues surrounding the bladder.

PERIDERM Per"i*derm, n.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The outer layer of bark.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine animals; the perisarc.

PERIDIASTOLE Per`i*di*as"to*le, n. (Physiol.)

Defn: The almost inappreciable time which elapses between the systole and the diastole of the heart.

PERIDIUM Pe*rid"i*um, n.; pl. Peridia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as the puffballs and earthstars.

PERIDOT Per"i*dot, n. Etym: [F. péridot.] (Min.)

Defn: Chrysolite.

PERIDOTITE Per"i*do*tite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. péridotite.] (Min.)

Defn: An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to serpentine.

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

PERIDROME Per"i*drome, n. Etym: [Gr. péridrome.] (Archæol.)

Defn: The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman temple.

PERIECIANS Per`i*e"cians, n. pl.

Defn: See Perioecians.

PERIENTERON Per`i*en"te*ron, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Enteron.] (Anat.)

Defn: The primitive perivisceral cavity.

PERIERGY Per"i*er`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. Excessive care or diligence. [Obs.]

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: A bombastic or labored style. [R.]

PERIGANGLIONIC Per`i*gan`gli*on"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding a ganglion; as, the periganglionic glands of the frog.

PERIGASTRIC Per`i*gas"tric, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounding the stomach; -- applied to the body cavity of Bryozoa and various other Invertebrata.

PERIGEAN Per`i*ge"an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the perigee. Perigean tides, those spring tides which occur soon after the moon passes her perigee.

PERIGEE; PERIGEUM Per"i*gee, Per`i*ge"um, n. Etym: [NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. périgée.] (Astron.)

Defn: That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; -- opposed to Ant: apogee. It is sometimes, but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee, epigeum.

PERIGENESIS Per`i*gen"e*sis, n. (Biol.)

Defn: A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.

PERIGENETIC Per`i*gen"e*tic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to perigenesis.

PERIGONE Per"i*gone, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr.

1. (Bot.) (a) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth. (b) In mosses, the involucral bracts of a male flower.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of a hydroid.

PERIGONIUM Per`i*go"ni*um, n.; pl. Perigonia. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Perigone.

PERIGORD PIE Per"i*gord pie`. Etym: [From Périgord, a former province of France.]

Defn: A pie made of truffles, much esteemed by epicures.

PERIGRAPH Per"i*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A careless or inaccurate delineation of anything. Etym: [R.]

PERIGYNIUM Per`i*gyn"i*um, n.; pl. Perigynia. Etym: [NL. See Perigynous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Some unusual appendage about the pistil, as the bottle-shaped body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera of the Sedge family, or Cyperaceæ.

PERIGYNOUS Pe*rig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the ovary free, but the petals and stamens borne on the calyx; -- said of flower such as that of the cherry or peach.

PERIHELION; PERIHELIUM Per`i*hel"ion, Per`i*he"li*um, n.; pl. Perihelia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)

Defn: That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest to the sun; -- opposed to Ant: aphelion.

PERIL Per"il, n. Etym: [F. péril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare. See Fare, and cf. Experience.]

Defn: Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction. In perils of waters, in perils of robbers. 2 Cor. xi. 26. Adventure hard With peril great achieved. Milton. At, or On, one's peril, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of. "On thy soul's peril." Shak.

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

PERIL Per"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periled or Perilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Periling or Perilling.]

Defn: To expose to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one's life.

PERIL Per"il, v. i.

Defn: To be in danger. [Obs.] Milton.

PERILLA Pe*ril"la, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of labiate herbs, of which one species (Perilla ocimoides, or P. Nankinensis) is often cultivated for its purple or variegated foliage.

PERILOUS Per"il*ous, a. Etym: [OF. perillous, perilleus, F. périlleux, L. periculosus. See Peril.] [Written also perillous.]

1. Full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous; as, a perilous undertaking. Infamous hills, and sandy, perilous wilds. Milton.

2. Daring; reckless; dangerous. [Obs.] Latimer. For I am perilous with knife in hand. Chaucer. -- Per"il*ous*ly, adv. -- Per"il*ous*ness, n.

PERILYMPH Per"i*lymph, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The fluid which surrounds the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear, and separates it from the walls of the chambers in which the labyrinth lies.

PERILYMPHANGIAL Per`i*lym*phan"gi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around, or at the side of, a lymphatic vessel.

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

PERIMETER Per*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. périmètre.]

1. (Geom.)

Defn: The outer boundary of a body or figure, or the sum of all the sides.

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

PERIMETRIC; PERIMETRICAL Per`i*met"ric, Per`i*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perimeter, or to perimetry; as, a perimetric chart of the eye.

PERIMETRY Per*im"e*try, n.

Defn: The art of using the perimeter; measurement of the field of vision.

PERIMORPH Per"i*morph, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A crystal of one species inclosing one of another species. See Endomorph.

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

PERIMYSIUM Per`i*my"si*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a muscle, and sends partitions inwards between the bundles of muscular fibers.

PERINAEUM Per`i*næ"um, n.

Defn: See Perineum.

PERINEAL Per`i*ne"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the perineum.

PERINEOPLASTY Per`i*ne"o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Perineum + -plasty.] (Med.)

Defn: The act or process of restoring an injured perineum.

PERINEORRHAPHY Per`i*ne*or"rha*phy, n. Etym: [Perineum + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of sewing up a ruptured perineum.

PERINEPHRITIS Per`i*ne*phri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Nephritis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the cellular tissue around the kidney. -- Per`i*ne*phrit"ic, a.

PERINEUM Per`i*ne"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The region which is included within the outlet of the pelvis, and is traversed by the urinogenital canal and the rectum.

PERINEURIAL Per`i*neu"ri*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding nerves or nerve fibers; of or pertaining to the perineurium.

PERINEURIUM Per`i*neu"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The connective tissue sheath which surrounds a bundle of nerve fibers. See Epineurium, and Neurilemma.

PERINUCLEAR Per`i*nu"cle*ar, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a nucleus; situated around a nucleus; as, the perinuclear protoplasm.

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, n. Etym: [L. periodus, Gr. période.]

1. A portion of time as limited and determined by some recurring phenomenon, as by the completion of a revolution of one of the heavenly bodies; a division of time, as a series of years, months, or days, in which something is completed, and ready to recommence and go on in the same order; as, the period of the sun, or the earth, or a comet.

2. Hence: A stated and recurring interval of time; more generally, an interval of time specified or left indefinite; a certain series of years, months, days, or the like; a time; a cycle; an age; an epoch; as, the period of the Roman republic. How by art to make plants more lasting than their ordinary period. Bacon.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: One of the great divisions of geological time; as, the Tertiary period; the Glacial period. See the Chart of Geology.

4. The termination or completion of a revolution, cycle, series of events, single event, or act; hence, a limit; a bound; an end; a conclusion. Bacon. So spake the archangel Michael; then paused, As at the world's great period. Milton. Evils which shall never end till eternity hath a period. Jer. Taylor. This is the period of my ambition. Shak.

5. (Rhet.)

Defn: A complete sentence, from one full stop to another; esp., a well-proportioned, harmonious sentence. "Devolved his rounded periods." Tennyson. Periods are beautiful when they are not too long. B. Johnson.

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

6. (Print.)

Defn: The punctuation point [.] that marks the end of a complete sentence, or of an abbreviated word.

7. (Math.)

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

8. (Med.)

Defn: The time of the exacerbation and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and intermission.

9. (Mus.)

Defn: A complete musical sentence. The period, the present or current time, as distinguished from all other times.

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

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, v. t.

Defn: To put an end to. [Obs.] Shak.

PERIOD Pe"ri*od, v. i.

Defn: To come to a period; to conclude. [Obs.] "You may period upon this, that," etc. Felthman.

PERIODATE Per*i"o*date, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of periodic acid.

PERIODIC Per`i*od"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. per- + iodic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HIO

PERIODIC; PERIODICAL Pe`ri*od"ic, Pe`ri*od"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. periodicus, Gr. périodique.]

1. Of or pertaining to a period or periods, or to division by periods. The periodicaltimes of all the satellites. Sir J. Herschel.

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

3. Happening, by revolution, at a stated time; returning regularly, after a certain period of time; acting, happening, or appearing, at fixed intervals; recurring; as, periodical epidemics. The periodic return of a plant's flowering. Henslow. To influence opinion through the periodical press. Courthope.

4. (Rhet.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a period; constituting a complete sentence. Periodic comet (Astron.), a comet that moves about the sun in an elliptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of its approaches to the sun. -- Periodic function (Math.), a function whose values recur at fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. The trigonomertic functions, as sin x, tan x, etc., are periodic functions. Exponential functions are also periodic, having an imaginary period, and the elliptic functions have not only a real but an imaginary period, and are hence called doubly periodic. -- Periodic law (Chem.), the generalization that the properties of the chemical elements are periodic functions of their atomic wieghts. "In other words, if the elements are grouped in the order of their atomic weights, it will be found that nearly the same properties recur periodically throughout the entire series." The following tabular arrangement of the atomic weights shows the regular recurrence of groups (under I., II., III., IV., etc.), each consisting of members of the same natural family. The gaps in the table indicate the probable existence of unknown elements. TABLE OF THE PERIODIC LAW OF THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS (The vertical columns contain the periodic groups) Series1{ 2{ 3{ 4{ 5{ 6{ 7{ 8{ 9{ 10{ 11{ 12{ --------------------------------------------------------- -----|I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. | RH4 RH3 RH3 RH |R2O RO R3O3 RO2 R2O5 RO3 R2O7 RO4 ----------------------------------------------- ---------------H 1 Li 7 Na 23 K 39 (Cu) 63 Rb 85.2 (Ag) (108) Cs 133 (-) (-) (Au) (197) (-) ---------------------------------------------- -------------------

Note: A similar relation had been enunciated in a crude way by Newlands; but the law in its effective form was developed and elaborated by Mendelejeff, whence it is sometimes called Mendelejeff's law. Important extensions of it were also made by L. Meyer. By this means Mendelejeff predicted with remarkable accuracy the hypothetical elements ekaboron, ekaluminium, and ekasilicon, afterwards discovered and named respectively scandium, gallium, and germanium. -- Periodic star (Astron.), a variable star whose changes of brightness recur at fixed periods. -- Periodic time of a heavenly body (Astron.), the time of a complete revolution of the body about the sun, or of a satellite about its primary.

PERIODICAL Pe`ri*od"ic*al, n.

Defn: A magazine or other publication which appears at stated or regular intervals.

PERIODICALIST Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who publishes, or writes for, a periodical.

PERIODICALLY Pe`ri*od"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a periodical manner.

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

Defn: Periodicity.

PERIODICITY Pe`ri*o*dic"i*ty, n.; pl. Periodicities. Etym: [Cf. F. périodicité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being periodical, or regularly recurrent; as, the periodicity in the vital phenomena of plants. Henfrey.

PERIODIDE Per*i"o*dide, n. Etym: [Pref. per- + iodide.]

Defn: An iodide containing a higher proportion of iodine than any other iodide of the same substance or series.

PERIODONTAL Per`i*o*don"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the teeth.

PERIODOSCOPE Pe`ri*od"o*scope, n. Etym: [Period + -scope.] (Med.)

Defn: A table or other means for calculating the periodical functions of women. Dunglison.

PERIOECI; PERIOECIANS Per`i*oe"ci, Per`i*oe"cians, n. pl. Etym: [NL. perioeci, fr. Gr.

Defn: Those who live on the same parallel of latitude but on opposite meridians, so that it is noon in one place when it is midnight in the other. Compare Antoeci.

PERIOPLE Per"i*o*ple, n. Etym: [F. périople, from Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The external smooth horny layer of the hoof of the horse and allied animals.

PERIOPLIC Per`i*op"lic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the periople; connected with the periople.

PERIOSTEAL Per`i*os"te*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Situated around bone; of or pertaining to the periosteum.

PERIOSTEUM Per`i*os"te*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. periosteon.] (Anat.)

Defn: The membrane of fibrous connective tissue which closely invests all bones except at the articular surfaces.

PERIOSTITIS Per`i*os*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Periosteum, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the periosteum.

PERIOSTRACUM Per`i*os"tra*cum, n.; pl. Periostraca. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chitinous membrane covering the exterior of many shells; -- called also epidermis.

PERIOTIC Per`i*o"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding, or pertaining to the region surrounding, the internal ear; as, the periotic capsule. -- n.

Defn: A periotic bone.

PERIPATECIAN Per`i*pa*te"cian, n.

Defn: A peripatetic. [Obs.]

PERIPATETIC Per`i*pa*tet"ic, a. Etym: [L. peripateticus, Gr. péripatétique.]

1. Walking about; itinerant.

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

PERIPATETIC Per`i*pa*tet"ic, n.

1. One who walks about; a pedestrian; an itinerant. Tatler.

2. A disciple of Aristotle; an Aristotelian.

PERIPATETICAL Per`i*pa*tet"ic*al, a.

Defn: Peripatetic. [R.] Hales.

PERIPATETICISM Per`i*pa*tet"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. péripatétisme.]

Defn: The doctrines or philosophical system of the peripatetics. See Peripatetic, n., 2. Lond. Sat. Rev.

PERIPATUS Pe*rip"a*tus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of lowly organized arthropods, found in South Africa, Australia, and tropical America. It constitutes the order Malacopoda.

PERIPETALOUS Per`i*pet"al*ous, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Surrounding, or situated about, the petals.

PERIPHERAL Pe*riph"er*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a periphery; constituting a periphery; peripheric.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: External; away from the center; as, the peripheral portion of the nervous system.

PERIPHERIC; PERIPHERICAL Per`i*pher"ic, Per`i*pher"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périphérique. See Periphery.]

Defn: See Peripheral.

PERIPHERY Pe*riph"er*y, n.; pl. Peripheries. Etym: [L. peripheria, Gr. périphérie.]

1. The outside or superficial portions of a body; the surface.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, n. Etym: [L. periphrasis, Gr. périphrase. See Phrase.] (Rhet.)

Defn: The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. "To describe by enigmatic periphrases." De Quincey.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periphrased; p. pr. & vb. n. Periphrasing.] Etym: [Cf. F. périphraser.]

Defn: To express by periphrase or circumlocution.

PERIPHRASE Per"i*phrase, v. i.

Defn: To use circumlocution.

PERIPHRASIS Pe*riph"ra*sis, n.; pl. Periphrases. Etym: [L.]

Defn: See Periphrase.

PERIPHRASTIC; PERIPHRASTICAL Per`i*phras"tic, Per`i*phras"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. périphrastique.]

Defn: Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory. Periphrastic conjugation (Gram.), a conjugation formed by the use of the simple verb with one or more auxiliaries.

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

Defn: With circumlocution.

PERIPLAST Per"i*plast, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Same as Periblast. -- Per`i*plas"tic, a. Huxley.

PERIPNEUMONIA; PERIPNEUMONY Per`ip*neu*mo"ni*a, Per`ip*neu"mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. peripneumonia, Gr. péripneumonie. See Peri-, Pneumonia.] (Med.)

Defn: Pneumonia. (Obsoles.)

PERIPNEUMONIC Per`ip*neu*mon"ic, a. Etym: [L. peripneumonicus, Gr. péripneumonique.] (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to peripneumonia.

PERIPROCT Per"i*proct, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The region surrounding the anus, particularly of echinoderms.

PERIPROCTITIS Per`i*proc*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Proctitus.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the tissues about the rectum.

PERIPTERAL Pe*rip"ter*al, a. Etym: [Gr., fr. (Arch.)

Defn: Having columns on all sides; -- said of an edifice. See Apteral.

PERIPTEROUS Pe*rip"ter*ous, a.

1. (Arch.)

Defn: Peripteral.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Feathered all around.

PERIPTERY Pe*rip"ter*y, n. [Gr. flying round about.]

Defn: The region surrounding a moving body, such as the wing of a bird or a gliding aëroplane, within which cyclic or vortical motion of the air occur.

PERIQUE Pe*rique", n. [Louisiana F.]

Defn: A kind of tobacco with medium-sized leaf, small stem, tough and gummy fiber, raised in Louisiana, and cured in its own juices, so as to be very dark colored, usually black. It is marketed in tightly wrapped rolls called carottes.

PERISARC Per"i*sarc, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The outer, hardened integument which covers most hydroids.

PERISCIAN Pe*ris"cian, a. Etym: [Gr. périscien.]

Defn: Having the shadow moving all around.

PERISCIANS; PERISCII Pe*ris"cians, Pe*ris"ci*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Periscian.]

Defn: Those who live within a polar circle, whose shadows, during some summer days, will move entirely round, falling toward every point of the compass.

PERISCOPE Per"i*scope, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + -scope.]

Defn: A general or comprehensive view. [R.]

PERISCOPIC Per`i*scop"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périscopique.]

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

PERISH Per"ish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perished; p. pr. & vb. n. Perishing.] Etym: [OE. perissen, perisshen, F. périr, p.pr. périssant, L. perire to go or run through, come to nothing, perish; per through + ire to go. Cf. Issue, and see -ish.]

Defn: To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost; to die; hence, to wither; to waste away. I perish with hunger! Luke xv. 17. Grow up and perish, as the summer fly. Milton. The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking. Locke.

PERISH Per"ish, v. t.

Defn: To cause perish. [Obs.] Bacon.

PERISHABILITY Per`ish*a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Perishableness.

PERISHABLE Per"ish*a*ble, a. Etym: [F. périssable.]

Defn: Liable to perish; subject to decay, destruction, or death; as, perishable goods; our perishable bodies.

PERISHABLENESS Per"ish*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being perishable; liability to decay or destruction. Locke.

PERISHABLY Per"ish*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a perishable degree or manner.

PERISHMENT Per"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. perissement.]

Defn: The act of perishing. [R.] Udall.

PERISOMA Per`i*so"ma, n.; pl. Perisomata. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Perisome.

PERISOME Per"i*some, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + -some body.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The entire covering of an invertebrate animal, as echinoderm or coelenterate; the integument.

PERISPERM Per"i*sperm, n. Etym: [F. périsperme. See Peri-, and Sperm.] (Bot.)

Defn: The albumen of a seed, especially that portion which is formed outside of the embryo sac. -- Per`i*sper"mic, a.

PERISPHERIC; PERISPHERICAL Per`i*spher"ic, Per`i*spher"ic*al, a.

Defn: Exactly spherical; globular.

PERISPOMENON Per`i*spom"e*non, n.; pl. Perispomena. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Gram.)

Defn: A word which has the circumflex accent on the last syllable. Goodwin.

PERISPORE Per"i*spore, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The outer covering of a spore.

PERISSAD Per"is*sad, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Odd; not even; -- said of elementary substances and of radicals whose valence is not divisible by two without a remainder. Contrasted with artiad.

PERISSE Per"isse, v. i.

Defn: To perish. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERISSODACTYL Per`is*so*dac"tyl, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Perissodactyla.

PERISSODACTYLA Per`is*so*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of ungulate mammals, including those that have an odd number of toes, as the horse, tapir, and rhinoceros; -- opposed to Artiodactyla.

PERISSOLOGICAL Per`is*so*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. périssologique.]

Defn: Redundant or excessive in words. [R.]

PERISSOLOGY Per`is*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. perissologia, Gr.

Defn: Superfluity of words. [R.] G. Campbell.

PERISTALSIS Per`i*stal"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Peristaltic contraction or action.

PERISTALTIC Per`i*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. péristaltique.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Applied to the peculiar wormlike wave motion of the intestines and other similar structures, produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. -- Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly, adv.

PERISTERIA Per`is*te"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Peristerion.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of orchidaceous plants. See Dove plant.

PERISTERION Per`is*te"ri*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. peristereon.] (Bot.)

Defn: The herb vervain (Verbena officinalis).

PERISTERITE Pe*ris"ter*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of albite, whitish and slightly iridescent like a pigeon's neck.

PERISTEROMORPHOUS Pe*ris`ter*o*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Gr. -morphous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the pigeons or Columbæ.

PERISTEROPODOUS Pe*ris`ter*op"o*dous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having pigeonlike feet; -- said of those gallinaceous birds that rest on all four toes, as the curassows and megapods.

PERISTOLE Pe*ris"to*le, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. péristole. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Peristaltic action, especially of the intestines.

PERISTOMA Pe*ris"to*ma, n.; pl. Peristomata. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Peristome.

PERISTOME Per"i*stome, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The fringe of teeth around the orifice of the capsule of mosses. It consists of 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 teeth, and may be either single or double.

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

PERISTOMIAL Per`i*sto"mi*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a peristome.

PERISTOMIUM Per`i*sto"mi*um, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: Same as Peristome.

PERISTREPHIC Per`i*streph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Turning around; rotatory; revolving; as, a peristrephic painting (of a panorama).

PERISTYLE Per"i*style, n. Etym: [L. peristylum, Gr. péristyle.] (Arch.)

Defn: A range of columns with their entablature, etc.; specifically, a complete system of columns, whether on all sides of a court, or surrounding a building, such as the cella of a temple. Used in the former sense, it gives name to the larger and inner court of a Roman dwelling, the peristyle. See Colonnade.

PERISYSTOLE Per`i*sys"to*le, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + systole: cf. F. périsystole.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The interval between the diastole and systole of the heart. It is perceptible only in the dying.

PERITE Pe*rite", a. Etym: [L. peritus.]

Defn: Skilled. [Obs.]

PERITHECIUM Per`i*the"ci*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: An organ in certain fungi and lichens, surrounding and enveloping the masses of fructification. Henslow.

PERITOMOUS Pe*rit"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Peri-, and Tome.] (Min.)

Defn: Cleaving in more directions than one, parallel to the axis.

PERITONAEUM Per`i*to*næ"um, n. (Anat.)

Defn: Same as Peritoneum.

PERITONEAL Per`i*to*ne"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. péritonéal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the peritoneum.

PERITONEUM Per`i*to*ne"um, n. Etym: [L. peritoneum, peritonaeum, Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The smooth serous membrane which lines the cavity of the abdomen, or the whole body cavity when there is no diaphragm, and, turning back, surrounds the viscera, forming a closed, or nearly closed, sac. [Written also peritonæum.]

PERITONITIS Per`i*to*ni"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peritoneum, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the peritoneum.

PERITRACHEAL Per`i*tra"che*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Surrounding the tracheæ.

PERITREME Per"i*treme, n. Etym: [Pref. peri- + Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) That part of the integument of an insect which surrounds the spiracles. (b) The edge of the aperture of a univalve shell.

PERITRICHA Pe*rit"ri*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of ciliated Infusoria having a circle of cilia around the oral disk and sometimes another around the body. It includes the vorticellas. See Vorticella.

PERITROCHIUM Per`i*tro"chi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Mech.)

Defn: The wheel which, together with the axle, forms the axis in peritrochio, which see under Axis.

PERITROPAL Per*it"ro*pal, a. Etym: [Gr. péritrope.]

1. Rotatory; circuitous. [R.]

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

PERITROPOUS Per*it"ro*pous, a.

Defn: Peritropal.

PERITYPHLITIS Per`i*typh*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Peri-, and Typhlitis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the connective tissue about the cæcum.

PERIUTERINE Per`i*u"ter*ine, a. (Med.)

Defn: Surrounding the uterus.

PERIVASCULAR Per`i*vas"cu*lar, a.

Defn: Around the blood vessels; as, perivascular lymphatics.

PERIVERTEBRAL Per`i*ver"te*bral, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Surrounding the vertebræ.

PERIVISCERAL Per`i*vis"cer*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Around the viscera; as, the perivisceral cavity.

PERIVITELLINE Per`i*vi*tel"line, a. Etym: [Pref. peri- + vitelline.] (Biol.)

Defn: Situated around the vitellus, or between the vitellus and zona pellucida of an ovum.

PERIWIG Per"i*wig, n. Etym: [OE. perrwige, perwicke, corrupt. fr. F. perruque; cf. OD. peruyk, from French. See Peruke, and cf. Wig.]

Defn: A headdress of false hair, usually covering the whole head, and representing the natural hair; a wig. Shak.

PERIWIG Per"i*wig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perwigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Perwigging.]

Defn: To dress with a periwig, or with false hair. Swift.

PERIWINKLE Per"i*win`kle, n. Etym: [From AS. pinewincla a shellfish, in which pine- is fr. L. pina, pinna, a kind of mussel, akin to Gr. Winkle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any small marine gastropod shell of the genus Littorina. The common European species (Littorina littorea), in Europe extensively used as food, has recently become naturalized abundantly on the American coast. See Littorina.

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

PERIWINKLE Per"i*win`kle, n. Etym: [OE. pervenke, AS. pervince, fr. L. pervinca.] (Bot.)

Defn: A trailing herb of the genus Vinca.

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

PERJENET Per"jen*et, n. Etym: [Cf. Pear, and Jenneting.]

Defn: A kind of pear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

PERJURE Per"jure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perjured; p. pr. & vb. n. Perjuring.] Etym: [F. parjurer, L. perjurare, perjerare; per through, over + jurare to swear. See Jury.]

1. To cause to violate an oath or a vow; to cause to make oath knowingly to what is untrue; to make guilty of perjury; to forswear; to corrupt; -- often used reflexively; as, he perjured himself. Want will perjure The ne'er-touched vestal. Shak.

2. To make a false oath to; to deceive by oaths and protestations. [Obs.] And with a virgin innocence did pray For me, that perjured her. J. Fletcher.

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

PERJURE Per"jure, n. Etym: [L. perjurus: cf. OF. parjur, F. parjure.]

Defn: A perjured person. [Obs.] Shak.

PERJURED Per"jured, a.

Defn: Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely; forsworn. Shak. "Perjured persons." 1 Tim. i. 10. "Their perjured oath." Spenser.

PERJURER Per"jur*er, n.

Defn: One who is guilty of perjury; one who perjures or forswears, in any sense.

PERJURIOUS; PERJUROUS Per*ju"ri*ous, Per"ju*rous, a. Etym: [L. perjuriosus, perjurus.]

Defn: Guilty of perjury; containing perjury. [Obs.] Quarles. B. Johnson.

PERJURY Per"ju*ry, n.; pl. Perjuries. Etym: [L. perjurium. See Perjure, v.]

1. False swearing.

2. (Law)

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

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

PERK Perk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perked; p. pr. & vb. n. Perking.] Etym: [Cf. W. percu to trim, to make smart.]

Defn: To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of; as, to perk the ears; to perk up one's head. Cowper. Sherburne.

PERK Perk, v. i.

Defn: To exalt one's self; to bear one's self loftily. "To perk over them." Barrow. To perk it, to carry one's self proudly or saucily. Pope.

PERK Perk, a.

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

PERK Perk, v. i.

Defn: To peer; to look inquisitively. Dickens.

PERKIN Per"kin, n.

Defn: A kind of weak perry.

PERKINISM Per"kin*ism, n. (Med.)

Defn: A remedial treatment, by drawing the pointed extremities of two rods, each of a different metal, over the affected part; tractoration, -- first employed by Dr. Elisha Perkins of Norwich, Conn. See Metallotherapy.

PERKY Perk"y, a.

Defn: Perk; pert; jaunty; trim. There amid perky larches and pines. Tennyson.

PERLACEOUS Per*la"ceous, a. Etym: [See Pearl.]

Defn: Pearly; resembling pearl.

PERLID Per"lid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any insect of the genus Perla, or family Perlidæ. See Stone fly, under Stone.

PERLITE Per"lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Same as Pearlite.

PERLITIC Per*lit"ic, a. (Min.)

Defn: Relating to or resembling perlite, or pearlstone; as, the perlitic structure of certain rocks. See Pearlite.

PERLOUS Per"lous, a.

Defn: Perilous. [Obs.] Spenser.

PERLUSTRATION Per`lus*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perlustrare to wander all through, to survey. See 3d Luster.]

Defn: The act of viewing all over. [Archaic] Howell.

PERMANABLE Per"ma*na*ble, a.

Defn: Permanent; durable. [Obs.] Lydgate.

PERMANENCE; PERMANENCY Per"ma*nence, Per"ma*nen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. permanence.]

Defn: The quality or state of being permanent; continuance in the same state or place; duration; fixedness; as, the permanence of institutions; the permanence of nature.

PERMANENT Per"ma*nent, a. Etym: [L. permanens, -entis, p.pr. of permanere to stay or remain to the end, to last; per + manere to remain: cf. F. permanent. See Per-, and Mansion.]

Defn: Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression. Eternity stands permanent and fixed. Dryden. Permanent gases (Chem. & Physics), hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; -- also called incondensible or incoercible gases, before their liquefaction in 1877. -- Permanent way, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; -- so called in distinction from the contractor's temporary way. -- Permanent white (Chem.), barium sulphate (heavy spar), used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.

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

PERMANENTLY Per"ma*nent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a permanent manner.

PERMANGANATE Per*man"ga*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of permanganic acid. Potassium permanganate. (Chem.) See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.

PERMANGANIC Per`man*gan"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, one of the higher acids of manganese, HMnO4, which forms salts called permanganates.

PERMANSION Per*man"sion, n. Etym: [L. permansio. See Permanent.]

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

PERMEABILITY Per`me*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perméabilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being permeable. Magnetic permeability (Physics), the specific capacity of a body for magnetic induction, or its conducting power for lines of magnetic force. Sir W. Thomson.

PERMEABLE Per"me*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. permeabilis: cf. F. perméable. See Permeate.]

Defn: Capable of being permeated, or passed through; yielding passage; passable; penetrable; -- used especially of substances which allow the passage of fluids; as, wood is permeable to oil; glass is permeable to light. I. Taylor.

PERMEABLY Per"me*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a permeable manner.

PERMEANCE Per"me*ance, n. [See Permeant.]

Defn: Permeation; specif. (Magnetism),

Defn: the reciprocal of reluctance.

PERMEANT Per"me*ant, a. Etym: [L. permeans, p.pr.]

Defn: Passing through; permeating. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

PERMEATE Per"me*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Permeating.] Etym: [L. permeatus, p.p. of permeare to permeate; per + meare to go, pass.]

1. To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or displacement; -- applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water permeates sand. Woodward.

2. To enter and spread through; to pervade. God was conceived to be diffused throughout the whole world, to permeate and pervade all things. Cudworth.

PERMEATION Per`me*a"tion, n.