Defn: Careful consideration; pondering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PERPENSITYPer*pen"si*ty, n.
Defn: Perpension. [Obs.]
PERPENT STONEPer"pent stone`.
Defn: See Perpender.
PERPESSION Per*pes"sion, n. Etym: [L. perpessio, fr. perpeti, perpessus, to bear steadfastly; per + pati to bear.]
Defn: Suffering; endurance. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
PERPETRABLEPer"pe*tra"ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being perpetrated. R. North.
PERPETRATEPer"pe*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetrated; p. pr. & vb. n.Perpetrating.] Etym: [L. perpetratus, p.p. of perpetrare to effect,perpetrare; per + patrare to perform.]
Defn: To do or perform; to carry through; to execute, commonly in abad sense; to commit (as a crime, an offense); to be guilty of; as,to perpetrate a foul deed.What the worst perpetrate, or best endure. Young.
PERPETRATIONPer`pe*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perpetratio: cf. F. perpétration.]
1. The act of perpetrating; a doing; — commonly used of doing something wrong, as a crime.
2. The thing perpetrated; an evil action.
PERPETRATORPer"pe*tra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who perpetrates; esp., one who commits an offense or crime.
PERPETUABLEPer*pet"u*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being perpetuated or continued.Varieties are perpetuable, like species. Gray.
PERPETUAL Per*pet"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. perpetuel, F. perpétuel, fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout, continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.]
Defn: Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time;unfailing; everlasting; continuous.Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. Shak.Perpetual feast of nectared sweets. Milton.Circle of perpetual apparition, or occultation. See under Circle.— Perpetual calendar, a calendar so devised that it may be adjustedfor any month or year.— Perpetual curacy (Ch. of Eng.), a curacy in which all the tithesare appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed. Blackstone.— Perpetual motion. See under Motion.— Perpetual screw. See Endless screw, under Screw.
Syn. — Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant; constant; eternal. See Constant.
PERPETUAL CALENDARPer*pet"u*al cal"en*dar.
Defn: A calendar that can be used perpetually or over a wide range of years. That of Capt. Herschel covers, as given below, dates from 1750 to 1961 only, but is capable of indefinite extension.
PERPETUAL CALENDAR Day of the monthJan. Oct.Apr. July Jan.Sept. Dec.JuneFeb. Mar. Nov.Aug. Feb.MayDay of the Week 1815 2229 2916 2330 31017 2431 41118 25 51219 26 61320 27 @71421 28 To find the day of the week corresponding to any date, find the small letter directly under the month and opposite the day of the month; the same small letter also appears in the vertical column that contains the number of the year, and if the line in which it stands is followed out to the right, the day of the week is found. Thus, the small letter under March and opposite 18 is b; b appears again directly over 1904, and at its right is the word Friday. March 18 fell on Friday in 1904, and also in 1898, 1892, etc. The calendar has other uses, as for finding the months which begin on Sunday in a particular year, etc. |1753 |1754 |1755 |1750 |1751 |1757 |*1752 |1759 |1765 |*1760 |1761 |*1756 |1763 |1758
PERPETUALLYPer*pet"u*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a perpetual manner; constantly; continually. The Bible and Common Prayer Book in the vulgar tongue, being perpetually read in churches, have proved a kind of standard for language. Swift.
PERPETUALTYPer*pet"u*al*ty, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being perpetual. [Obs.] Testament ofLove.
PERPETUANCEPer*pet"u*ance, n.
Defn: Perpetuity. [Obs.]
PERPETUATEPer*pet"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perpetuated; p. pr. & vb. n.Perpetuating.] Etym: [L. perpetuatus, p.p. of perpetuare toperpetuate. See Perpetual.]
Defn: To make perpetual; to cause to endure, or to be continued, indefinitely; to preserve from extinction or oblivion; to eternize. Addison. Burke.
PERPETUATEPer*pet"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. perpetuatus, p.p.]
Defn: Made perpetual; perpetuated. [R.] Southey.
PERPETUATIONPer*pet`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perpétuation.]
Defn: The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time; continuance. Sir T. Browne.
PERPETUITYPer`pe*tu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perpetuitas: cf. F. perpétuité.]
1. The quality or state of being perpetual; as, the perpetuity oflaws. Bacon.A path to perpetuity of fame. Byron.The perpetuity of single emotion is insanity. I. Taylor.
2. Something that is perpetual. South.
3. Endless time. "And yet we should, for perpetuity, go hence in debt." Shak.
4. (Annuities) (a) The number of years in which the simple interest of any sum becomes equal to the principal. (b) The number of years' purchase to be given for an annuity to continue forever. (c) A perpetual annuity.
5. (Law) (a) Duration without limitations as to time. (b) The quality or condition of an estate by which it becomes inalienable, either perpetually or for a very long period; also, the estate itself so modified or perpetuated.
PERPLEXPer*plex", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perplexed; p. pr. & vb. n.Perplexing.] Etym: [L. perplexari. See Perplex, a.]
1. To involve; to entangle; to make intricate or complicated, and difficult to be unraveled or understood; as, to perplex one with doubts. No artful wildness to perplex the scene. Pope. What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view. Locke.
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to bewilder; to confuse; to trouble with ambiguity, suspense, or anxiety. "Perplexd beyond self- explication." Shak. We are perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Cor. iv. 8. We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind. Locke.
3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. Glanvill.
Syn. — To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.
PERPLEXPer*plex", a. Etym: [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per +plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, andPlait.]
Defn: Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanvill.
PERPLEXEDPer*plexed", a.
Defn: Entangled, involved, or confused; hence, embarrassd; puzzled;doubtful; anxious.— Per*plex"ed*ly, adv.— Per*plex"ed*ness, n.
PERPLEXINGPer*plex"ing, a.
Defn: Embarrassing; puzzling; troublesome. "Perplexing thoughts."Milton.
PERPLEXITY Per*plex"i*ty, n.; pl. Perplexities. Etym: [L. perplexitas: cf. F. perplexité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being perplexed or puzzled; complication; intricacy; entanglement; distraction of mind through doubt or difficulty; embarrassment; bewilderment; doubt. By their own perplexities involved, They ravel more. Milton.
PERPLEXIVENESSPer*plex"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex. [Obs.]Dr. H. More.
PERPLEXLYPer*plex"ly, adv.
Defn: Perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.
PERPOTATIONPer`po*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. perpotatio, fr. perpotate. See Per-, andPotation.]
Defn: The act of drinking excessively; a drinking bout. [Obs.]
PERQUISITE Per"qui*site, n. Etym: [L. perquisitum, fr. perquisitus, p.p. of perquirere to ask for diligently; per + quaerere to seek. See Per-, and Quest.]
1. Something gained from a place or employment over and above the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service. The pillage of a place taken by storm was regarded as the perquisite of the soldiers. Prescott. The best perquisites of a place are the advantages it gaves a man of doing good. Addison.
2. pl. (Law)
Defn: Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.
PERQUISITEDPer"qui*sit*ed, a.
Defn: Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] "Perquisited varlets frequent stand." Savage.
PERQUISITIONPer`qui*si"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perquisition.]
Defn: A thorough inquiry of search. [R.] Berkeley.
PERRADIALPer*ra"di*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Situated around the radii, or radial tubes, of a radiate.
PERRIEPer"rie, n. Etym: [F. pierreries, pl., fr. pierre stone, L. petra.]
Defn: Precious stones; jewels. [Obs.] [Written also perre, perrye, etc.] Chaucer.
PERRIERPer"ri*er, n. Etym: [OF. perriere, perrier, F. perrier. Cf.Pederero.] (Mil.)
Defn: A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.
PERRONPer"ron, n. [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; — usually applied to mediævel or later structures of some architectural pretensions.
PERROQUETPer`ro*quet", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Paroquet, Parakeet.
PERRUQUEPer`ruque", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Peruke.
PERRUQUIERPer*ru"qui*er, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A marker of perukes or wigs.
PERRYPer"ry, n. Etym: [OF. peré, F. poiré, fr. poire a pear, L. pirum. SeePear the fruit.]
Defn: A fermented liquor made from pears; pear cider. Mortimer.
PERRYPer"ry, n.
Defn: A suddent squall. See Pirry. [Obs.]
PERSPers, a. Etym: [F. pers.]
Defn: Light blue; grayish blue; — a term applied to different shades at different periods. — n.
Defn: A cloth of sky-blue color. [Obs.] "A long surcoat of pers."Chaucer.
PERSALTPer"salt`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A term formerly given to the salts supposed to be formed respectively by neutralizing acids with certain peroxides. [Obsoles.]
PERSANTPer"sant, a. Etym: [F. perçant, p.pr. of percer to pierce.]
Defn: Piercing. [Obs.] Spenser.
PERSCRUTATION Per`scru*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. perscrutatio, fr. perscrutari to search through.]
Defn: A thorough searching; a minute inquiry or scrutiny. Carlyle
PERSECOTPer"se*cot, n.
Defn: See Persicot.
PERSECUTEPer"se*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persecuted; p. pr. & vb. n.Persecuting.] Etym: [F. persécueter, L. persequi, persecutus, topursue, prosecute; per + sequi to follow, pursue. See Per-, andSecond.]
1. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matt. v. 44.
2. To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy. Johnson.
Syn.— To oppress; harass; distress; worry; annoy.
PERSECUTIONPer`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. persécution, L. persecutio.]
1. The act or practice of persecuting; especially, the infliction of loss, pain, or death for adherence to a particular creed or mode of worship. Persecution produces no sincere conviction. Paley.
2. The state or condition of being persecuted. Locke.
3. A carrying on; prosecution. [Obs.]
PERSECUTORPer"se*cu`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. persécuteur.]
Defn: One who persecutes, or harasses. Shak.
PERSECUTRIXPer"se*cu`trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A woman who persecutes.
PERSEIDPer"se*id, n. (Astron.)
Defn: One of a group of shooting stars which appear yearly about the 10th of August, and cross the heavens in paths apparently radiating from the constellation Perseus. They are beleived to be fragments once connected with a comet visible in 1862.
PERSEUSPer"se*us, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who slew the Gorgon Medusa.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A consellation of the northern hemisphere, near Taurus and Cassiopea. It contains a star cluster visible to the naked eye as a nebula.
PERSEVERPer*sev"er, v. i.
Defn: To persevere. [Obs.]
PERSEVERANCEPer`se*ver"ance, n. Etym: [F. persévérance, L. perseverantia.]
1. The act of persevering; persistence in anything undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun. "The king-becoming graces . . . perseverance, mercy, lowliness." Shak. Whose constant perseverance overcame Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. Milton.
2. Discrimination. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism.
Syn.— Persistence; steadfastness; constancy; steadiness; pertinacity.
PERSEVERANT Per`se*ver"ant, a. Etym: [L. perseverans, -antis, p.pr.: cf. F. persévérant.]
Defn: Persevering. [R.] "Perseverant faith." Whitby.— Per`se*ver"ant*ly, adv. [R.]
PERSEVEREPer`se*vere", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persevered; p. pr. & vb. n.Persevering.] Etym: [F. persévérer, L. perseverare, fr. perseverusvery strict; per + severus strict, severe. See Per-, and Severe.]
Defn: To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken. Thrice happy, if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright. Milton.
Syn. — To Persevere, Continue, Persist. The idea of not laying aside is common to these words. Continue is the generic term, denoting simply to do as one has done hitherto. To persevere is to continue in a given course in spite of discouragements, etc., from a desire to obtain our end. To persist is to continue from a determination of will not to give up. Persist is frequently used in a bad sense, implying obstinacy in pursuing an unworthy aim.
PERSEVERINGPer`se*ver"ing, a.
Defn: Characterized by perseverance; persistent.— Per`se*ver"ing*ly, adv.
PERSIANPer"sian, a. Etym: [From Persia: cf. It. Persiano. Cf. Parsee, Peach,Persic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Persia, to the Persians, or to theirlanguage. Persian berry, the fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind ofbuckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly fromTrebizond.— Persian cat. (Zoöl.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora.— Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft represents aPersian slave; — called also Persians. See Atlantes.— Persian drill (Mech.), a drill which is turned by pushing a nutback and forth along a spirally grooved drill holder.— Persian fire (Med.), malignant pustule.— Persian powder. See Insect powder, under Insect.— Persian red. See Indian red (a), under Indian.— Persian wheel, a noria; a tympanum. See Noria.
PERSIANPer"sian, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Persia.
2. The language spoken in Persia.
3. A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. Beck.
4. pl. (Arch.)
Defn: See Persian columns, under Persian, a.
PERSICPer"sic, a. Etym: [L. Persicus. Cf. Persian.]
Defn: Of or relating to Persia.— n.
Defn: The Persian language.
PERSICARIAPer`si*ca"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., from LL. persicarius a peach tree. SeePeach.] (Bot.)
Defn: See Lady's thumb.
PERSICOPer"si*co, n.
Defn: = Persicot.
PERSICOTPer"si*cot, n. Etym: [F. See Peach.]
Defn: A cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, etc., with refined spirit.
PERSIENNE Per`si*enne" (per`si*en"; -shi*en"; F. per`syen"), n. [F., fem. of presien Persian.]
Defn: Properly, printed calico, whether Oriental or of fanciful design with flowers, etc., in Western work. Hence, as extended in English, material of a similar character.
PERSIENNESPer`si*ennes" (-enz"; F. per`syen"), n. pl. [F.]
Defn: Window blinds having movable slats, similar to Venetian blinds.
PERSIFLAGE Per`si`flage", n. Etym: [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr. L. per + siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.]
Defn: Frivolous or bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether serious or otherwise; light raillery. Hannah More.
PERSIFLEURPer`si`fleur, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who indulges in persiflage; a banterer; a quiz. Carlyle.
PERSIMMONPer*sim"mon, n. Etym: [Virginia Indian.] (Bot.)
Defn: An American tree (Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes palatable and nutritious. Japanese persimmon, Diospyros Kaki and its red or yellow edible fruit, which outwardly resembles a tomato, but contains a few large seeds.
PERSISPer"sis, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A kind of coloring matter obtained from lichens.
PERSISMPer"sism, n.
Defn: A Persian idiom.
PERSISTPer*sist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persisted; p. pr. & vb. n.Persisting.] Etym: [L. persistere; per + sistere to stand or befixed, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. persister. See Per-, and Stand.]
Defn: To stand firm; to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; — sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy. If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals. Addison. Some positive, persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so. Pope. That face persists. It floats up; it turns over in my mind. Mrs. Browning.
Syn.— See Persevere, and Insist.
PERSISTENCE; PERSISTENCYPer*sist"ence, Per*sist"en*cy, n. Etym: [See Persistent.]
1. The quality or state of being persistent; staying or continuing quality; hence, in an unfavorable sense, doggedness; obstinacy.
2. The continuance of an effect after the cause which first gave rise to it is removed; as: (a) (Physics)
Defn: The persistence of motion. (b) (Physiol.) Visual persistence, or persistence of the visual impression; auditory persistence, etc.
PERSISTENTPer*sist"ent, a. Etym: [L. persistens, -entis, p.pr. of persistere.See Persist.]
1. Inclined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious of position or purpose.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Remaining beyond the period when parts of the same kind sometimes fall off or are absorbed; permanent; as, persistent teeth or gills; a persistent calyx; — opposed to deciduous, and caducous.
PERSISTENTLYPer*sist"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a persistent manner.
PERSISTINGPer*sist"ing, a.
Defn: Inclined to persist; tenacious of purpose; persistent.— Per*sist"ing*ly, adv.
PERSISTIVEPer*sist"ive, a.
Defn: See Persistent. Shak.
PERSOLVEPer*solve", v. t. Etym: [L. persolvere.]
Defn: To pay wholly, or fully. [Obs.] E. Hall.
PERSONPer"son, n. Etym: [OE. persone, persoun, person, parson, OF. persone,F. personne, L. persona a mask (used by actors), a personage, part, aperson, fr. personare to sound through; per + sonare to sound. SeePer-, and cf. Parson.]
1. A character or part, as in a play; a specific kind or manifestation of individual character, whether in real life, or in literary or dramatic representation; an assumed character. [Archaic] His first appearance upon the stage in his new person of a sycophant or juggler. Bacon. No man can long put on a person and act a part. Jer. Taylor. To bear rule, which was thy part And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. Milton. How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the person of a magistrate and that of a friend! South.
2. The bodily form of a human being; body; outward appearance; as, ofcomely person.A fair persone, and strong, and young of age. Chaucer.If it assume my noble father's person. Shak.Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined. Milton.
3. , self-conscious being, as distinct from an animal or a thing; a moral agent; a human being; a man, woman, or child. Consider what person stands for; which, I think, is a thinking, intelligent being, that has reason and reflection. Locke.
4. A human being spoken of indefinitely; one; a man; as, any person present.
5. A parson; the parish priest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. (Theol.)
Defn: Among Trinitarians, one of the three subdivisions of theGodhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost); an hypostasis."Three persons and one God." Bk. of Com. Prayer.
7. (Gram.)
Defn: One of three relations or conditions (that of speaking, that of being spoken to, and that of being spoken of) pertaining to a noun or a pronoun, and thence also to the verb of which it may be the subject.
Note: A noun or pronoun, when representing the speaker, is said to be in the first person; when representing what is spoken to, in the second person; when representing what is spoken of, in the third person.
8. (Biol.)
Defn: A shoot or bud of a plant; a polyp or zooid of the compound Hydrozoa Anthozoa, etc.; also, an individual, in the narrowest sense, among the higher animals. Haeckel. True corms, composed of united personæ . . . usually arise by gemmation, . . . yet in sponges and corals occasionally by fusion of several originally distinct persons. Encyc. Brit. Artificial, or Fictitious, person (Law), a corporation or body politic. blackstone. — Natural person (Law), a man, woman, or child, in distinction from a corporation. — In person, by one's self; with bodily presence; not by representative. "The king himself in person is set forth." Shak. — In the person of, in the place of; acting for. Shak.
PERSONPer"son, v. t.
Defn: To represent as a person; to personify; to impersonate. [Obs.]Milton.
PERSONAPer*so"na, n.; pl. Personæ. Etym: [L.] (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Person, n., 8.
PERSONABLEPer"son*a*ble, a.
1. Having a well-formed body, or person; graceful; comely; of good appearance; presentable; as, a personable man or woman. Wise, warlike, personable, courteous, and kind. Spenser. The king, . . . so visited with sickness, was not personable. E. Hall.
2. (Law) (a) Enabled to maintain pleas in court. Cowell. (b) Having capacity to take anything granted.
PERSONAGEPer"son*age, n. Etym: [F. personnage.]
1. Form, appearance, or belongings of a person; the external appearance, stature, figure, air, and the like, of a person. "In personage stately." Hayward. The damsel well did view his personage. Spenser.
2. Character assumed or represented. "The actors and personages of this fable." Broome. "Disguised in a false personage." Addison.
3. A notable or distinguished person; a conspicious or peculiar character; as, an illustrious personage; a comely personage of stature tall. Spenser.
PERSONALPer"son*al, a. Etym: [L. personalis: cf. F. personnel.]
1. Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things. Every man so termed by way of personal difference. Hooker.
2. Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general; as, personal comfort; personal desire. The words are conditional, — If thou doest well, — and so personal to Cain. Locke.
3. Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal; as, personal charms. Addison.
4. Done in person; without the intervention of another. "Personal communication." Fabyan. The immediate and personal speaking of God. White.
5. Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.
6. (Gram.)
Defn: Denoting person; as, a personal pronoun. Personal action (Law), a suit or action by which a man claims a debt or personal duty, or damages in lieu of it; or wherein he claims satisfaction in damages for an injury to his person or property, or the specific recovery of goods or chattels; — opposed to real action. — Personal equation. (Astron.) See under Equation. — Personal estate or property (Law), movables; chattels; — opposed to real estate or property. It usually consists of things temporary and movable, including all subjects of property not of a freehold nature. — Personal identity (Metaph.), the persistent and continuous unity of the individual person, which is attested by consciousness. — Personal pronoun (Gram.), one of the pronouns I, thou, he, she, it, and their plurals. — Personal representatives (Law), the executors or administrators of a person deceased. — Personal rights, rights appertaining to the person; as, the rights of a personal security, personal liberty, and private property. — Personal tithes. See under Tithe. — Personal verb (Gram.), a verb which is modified or inflected to correspond with the three persons.
PERSONALPer"son*al, n. (Law)
Defn: A movable; a chattel.
PERSONALISMPer"son*al*ism, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being personal; personality. [R.]
PERSONALITYPer`son*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Personalities. Etym: [Cf. F. personnalité.Cf. Personality.]
1. That which constitutes distinction of person; individuality. Personality is individuality existing in itself, but with a nature as a ground. Coleridge.
2. Something said or written which refers to the person, conduct, etc., of some individual, especially something of a disparaging or offensive nature; personal remarks; as, indulgence in personalities. Sharp personalities were exchanged. Macaulay.
3. (Law)
Defn: That quality of a law which concerns the condition, state, and capacity of persons. Burrill.
PERSONALIZEPer"son*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Personalizing.]
Defn: To make personal. "They personalize death." H. Spencer.
PERSONALLYPer"son*al*ly, adv.
1. In a personal manner; by bodily presence; in person; not by representative or substitute; as, to deliver a letter personally. He, being cited, personally came not. Grafton.
2. With respect to an individual; as regards the person; individually; particularly. She bore a mortal hatred to the house of Lancaster, and personally to the king. Bacon.
3. With respect to one's individuality; as regards one's self; as, personally I have no feeling in the matter.
PERSONALTYPer"son*al*ty, n.
1. The state of being a person; personality. [R.]
2. (Law)
Defn: Personal property, as distinguished from realty or real property.
PERSONATEPer"son*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personated; p. pr. & vb. n.Personating.] Etym: [L. personare to cry out, LL., to extol. SeePerson.]
Defn: To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise. [Obs.]In fable, hymn, or song so personating Their gods ridiculous. Milton.
PERSONATE Per"son*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. personatus masked, assumed, fictitious, fr. persona a mask. See Person.]
1. To assume the character of; to represent by a fictitious appearance; to act the part of; hence, to counterfeit; to feign; as, he tried to personate his brother; a personated devotion. Hammond.
2. To set forth in an unreal character; to disguise; to mask. [R.] "A personated mate." Milton.
3. To personify; to typify; to describe. Shak.
PERSONATEPer"son*ate, v. i.
Defn: To play or assume a character.
PERSONATEPer"son*ate, a. Etym: [L. personatus masked.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the throat of a bilabiate corolla nearly closed by a projection of the base of the lower lip; masked, as in the flower of the snapdragon.
PERSONATIONPer`son*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of personating, or conterfeiting the person or character of another.
PERSONATORPer"son*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who personates. "The personators of these actions." B.Jonson.
PERSONEITYPer`son*e"i*ty, n.
Defn: Personality. [R.] Coleridge.
PERSONIFICATIONPer*son`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. personnification.]
1. The act of personifying; impersonation; embodiment. C. Knight.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstract idea is represented as animated, or endowed with personality; prosopopas, the floods clap their hands. "Confusion heards his voice." Milton.
PERSONIFIERPer*son"i*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who personifies.
PERSONIFYPer*son"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personified; p. pr. & vb. n.Personifying.] Etym: [Person + -fy: cf. F. personnifier.]
1. To regard, treat, or represent as a person; to represent as arational being.The poets take the liberty of personifying inanimate things.Chesterfield.
2. To be the embodiment or personification of; to impersonate; as, he personifies the law.
PERSONIZEPer"son*ize, v. t.
Defn: To personify. [R.]Milton has personized them. J. Richardson.
PERSONNELPer`son`nel", n. Etym: [F. See Personal.]
Defn: The body of persons employed in some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; — distinguished from matériel.
PERSPECTIVE Per*spec"tive, a. Etym: [L. perspicere, perspectum, to look through; per + spicere, specere, to look: cf. F. perspectif; or from E. perspective, n. See Spy, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective. Perspective plane, the plane or surface on which the objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of projection; — distinguished from the ground plane, which is that on which the objects are represented as standing. When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the object, the perspective is called oblique perspective; when parallel to that face, parallel perspective. — Perspective shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Solarium and allied genera. See Solarium.
PERSPECTIVE Per*spec"tive, n. Etym: [F. perspective, fr. perspectif: cf. It. perspettiva. See Perspective, a.]
1. A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] "Not a perspective, but a mirror." Sir T. Browne.
2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista. "The perspective of life." Goldsmith.
3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aërial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects. Aërial perspective is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of color, etc. Ruskin.
4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; — called also linear perspective.
5. A drawing in linear perspective. Isometrical perspective, an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube. — Perspective glass, a telescope which shows objects in the right position.
PERSPECTIVELYPer*spec"tive*ly, adv.
1. Optically; as through a glass. [R.] You see them perspectively. Shak.
2. According to the rules of perspective.
PERSPECTOGRAPH Per*spec"to*graph, n. Etym: [L. perspectus (p.p. of perspicere to look through) + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for obtaining, and transferring to a picture, the points and outlines of objects, so as to represent them in their proper geometrical relations as viewed from some one point.
PERSPECTOGRAPHYPer`spec*tog"ra*phy, n.
Defn: The science or art of delineating objects according to the laws of perspective; the theory of perspective.
PERSPICABLEPer"spi*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. perspicabilis, fr. perspicere.]
Defn: Discernible. [Obs.] Herbert.
PERSPICACIOUS Per`spi*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. perspicax, -acis, fr. perspicere to look through: cf. F. perspicace. See Perspective.]
1. Having the power of seeing clearly; quick-sighted; sharp of sight.
2. Fig.: Of acute discernment; keen.— Per`spi*ca"cious*ly, adv.— Per`spi*ca"cious*ness, n.
PERSPICACITYPer`spi*cac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perspicacitas: cf. F. perspicacité.See Perspicacious.]
Defn: The state of being perspicacious; acuteness of sight or of intelligence; acute discernment. Sir T. Browne.
PERSPICACYPer"spi*ca*cy, n.
Defn: Perspicacity. [Obs.]
PERSPICIENCE Per*spi"cience, n. Etym: [L. perspicientia, fr. perspiciens, p.p. of perspicere. See Perspective.]
Defn: The act of looking sharply. [Obs.] Bailey.
PERSPICIL Per"spi*cil, n. Etym: [LL. perspicilla, fr. L. perspicere to look through.]
Defn: An optical glass; a telescope. [Obs.] Crashaw.
PERSPICUITYPer`spi*cu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. perspicuitas: cf. F. perspicuité.]
1. The quality or state of being transparent or translucent. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. The quality of being perspicuous to the understanding; clearness of expression or thought.
3. Sagacity; perspicacity.
Syn. — Clearness; perspicuousness; plainness; distinctness; lucidity; transparency. See Clearness.
PERSPICUOUS Per*spic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. perspicuus, from perspicere to look through. See Perspective.]
1. Capable of being through; transparent; translucent; not opaque. [Obs.] Peacham.
2. Clear to the understanding; capable of being clearly understood; clear in thought or in expression; not obscure or ambiguous; as, a perspicuous writer; perspicuous statements. "The purpose is perspicuous." Shak. — Per*spic"u*ous*ly, adv. — Per*spic"u*ous*ness, n.
PERSPIRABILITYPer*spir`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perspirable.
PERSPIRABLEPer*spir"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. perspirable.]
1. Capable of being perspired. Sir T. Browne.
2. Emitting perspiration; perspiring. [R.] Bacon.
PERSPIRATIONPer`spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. perspiration.]
1. The act or process of perspiring.
2. That which is excreted through the skin; sweat.
Note: A man of average weight throws off through the skin during 24 hours about 18 ounces of water, 300 grains of solid matter, and 400 grains of carbonic acid gas. Ordinarily, this constant exhalation is not apparent, and the excretion is then termed insensible perspiration.
PERSPIRATIVEPer*spir"a*tive, a.
Defn: Performing the act of perspiration; perspiratory.
PERSPIRATORYPer*spir"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or producing, perspiration; as, the perspiratory ducts.
PERSPIREPer*spire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perspired; p. pr. & vb. n.Perspiring.] Etym: [L. perspirare to breathe through; per + spirare.See Per-, and Spirit.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: To excrete matter through the skin; esp., to excrete fluids through the pores of the skin; to sweat.
2. To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin; as, a fluid perspires.
PERSPIREPer*spire", v. t.
Defn: To emit or evacuate through the pores of the skin; to sweat; toexcrete through pores.Firs . . . perspire a fine balsam of turpentine. Smollett.
PERSTREPEROUSPer*strep"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. perstrepere to make a great noise.]
Defn: Noisy; obstreperous. [Obs.] Ford.
PERSTRINGE Per*stringe", v. t. Etym: [L. perstringere; per + stringere to bind up, to touch upon.]
1. To touch; to graze; to glance on. [Obs.]
2. To criticise; to touch upon. [R.] Evelyn.
PERSUADABLEPer*suad"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be persuaded.— Per*suad"a*ble*ness, n.— Per*suad"a*bly, adv.
PERSUADEPer*suade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persuaded; p. pr. & vb. n.Persuading.] Etym: [L. persuadere, persuasum; per + suadere toadvise, persuade: cf. F. persuader. See Per-, and Suasion.]
1. To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28. We will persuade him, be it possible. Shak.
2. To try to influence. [Obsolescent] Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you. 2 Kings xviii. 32.
3. To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe. Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. Heb. vi. 9.
4. To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.— To convince; induce; prevail on; win over; allure; entice. SeeConvince.
PERSUADEPer*suade", v. i.
Defn: To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion. Shak.
PERSUADEPer*suade", n.
Defn: Persuasion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
PERSUADEDPer*suad"ed, p. p. & a.
Defn: Prevailed upon; influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced.— Per*suad"ed*ly, adv.— Per*suad"ed*ness, n.
PERSUADERPer*suad"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, persuades or influences. "Powerful persuaders." Milton.
PERSUASIBILITYPer*sua`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being persuaded. Hawthorne.
PERSUASIBLE Per*sua"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. L. persuasibilis persuasive, F. persuasible persuasible.]
1. Capable of being persuaded; persuadable.
2. Persuasive. [Obs.] Bale.— Per*sua"si*ble*ness, n.— Per*sua"si*bly, adv.
PERSUASIONPer*sua"sion, n. Etym: [L. persuasio; Cf. F. persuasion.]
1. The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination. For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion. Otway.
2. The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced. If the general persuasion of all men does so account it. Hooker. My firm persuasion is, at least sometimes, That Heaven will weigh man's virtues and his crimes With nice attention. Cowper.
3. A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions; as, of the same persuasion; all persuasions are agreed. Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. Jefferson.
4. The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness. Is 't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion Shak.
5. That which persuades; a persuasive. [R.]
Syn.— See Conviction.
PERSUASIVEPer*sua"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. persuasif.]
Defn: Tending to persuade; having the power of persuading; as, persuasive eloquence. "Persuasive words." Milton.
PERSUASIVEPer*sua"sive, n.
Defn: That which persuades; an inducement; an incitement; anexhortation.— Per*sua"sive*ly, adv.— Per*sua"sive*ness, n.
PERSUASORYPer*sua"so*ry, a.
Defn: Persuasive. Sir T. Browne.
PERSULPHATEPer*sul"phate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A sulphate of the peroxide of any base. [R.]
PERSULPHIDEPer*sul"phide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A sulphide containing more sulphur than some other compound of the same elements; as, iron pyrites is a persulphide; — formerly called persulphuret.
PERSULPHOCYANATEPer*sul`pho*cy"a*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of persulphocyanic acid. [R.]
PERSULPHOCYANICPer*sul`pho*cy*an"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a yellow crystalline substance (called also perthiocyanic acid), analogous to sulphocyanic acid, but containing more sulphur.
PERSULPHOCYANOGENPer*sul`pho*cy*an"o*gen, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An orange-yellow substance, produced by the action of chlorine or boiling dilute nitric acid and sulphocyanate of potassium; — called also pseudosulphocyanogen, perthiocyanogen, and formerly sulphocyanogen.
PERSULPHURETPer*sul"phu*ret, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A persulphide. [Obs.]
PERT Pert, a. Etym: [An aphetic form of OE. & OF. apert open, known, true, free, or impudent. See Apert.]
1. Open; evident; apert. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
2. Lively; brisk; sprightly; smart. [Obs.] Shak.
3. Indecorously free, or presuming; saucy; bold; impertinent. "A very pert manner." Addison. The squirrel, flippant, pert, and full of play. Cowper.
PERTPert, v. i.
Defn: To behave with pertness. [Obs.] Gauden.
PERTAIN Per*tain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Pertaining.] Etym: [OE. partenen, OF. partenir, fr. L. pertinere to stretch out, reach, pertain; per + tenere to hold, keep. See Per-, and Tenable, and cf. Appertain, Pertinent.]
1. To belong; to have connection with, or dependence on, something, as an appurtenance, attribute, etc.; to appertain; as, saltness pertains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life. Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them. Hayward.
2. To have relation or reference to something. These words pertain unto us at this time as they pertained to them at their time. Latimer.
PERTEREBRATION Per*ter`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. perterebratus, p.p. of perterebrare to bore through.]
Defn: The act of boring through. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
PERTHIOCYANOGENPer*thi`o*cy*an"o*gen, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Persulphocyanogen.
PERTHITEPerth"ite, n. Etym: [So called from Perth, in canada.] (Min.)
Defn: A kind of feldspar consisting of a laminated intertexture of albite and orthoclase, usually of different colors. — Per*thit"ic, a.
PERTINACIOUSPer`ti*na"cious, a.Etym: [L. pertinax, -acis; per + tenax tenacious.See Per-, and Tenacious.]
1. Holding or adhering to any opinion, purpose, or design, with obstinacy; perversely persistent; obstinate; as, pertinacious plotters; a pertinacious beggar.
2. Resolute; persevering; constant; steady. Diligence is a steady, constant, and pertinacious study. South.
Syn.— Obstinate; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; resolute;determined; firm; constant; steady.— Per`ti*na"cious*ly, adv.— Per`ti*na"cious*ness, n.
PERTINACITYPer`ti*nac"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pertinacité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being pertinacious; obstinacy; perseverance; persistency. Macaulay.
Syn.— See Obstinacy.
PERTINACYPer"ti*na*cy, n. Etym: [L. pertinere to pertain. See Pertinence.]
Defn: The quality or state of being pertinent; pertinence. [Obs.]
PERTINACYPer"ti*na*cy, n. Etym: [L. pertinacia, fr. pertinax. SeePertinacious.]
Defn: Pertinacity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PERTINATEPer"ti*nate, a.
Defn: Pertinacious. [Obs.]
PERTINATELYPer"ti*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: Pertinaciously. [Obs.]
PERTINENCE; PERTINENCYPer"ti*nence, Per"ti*nen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pertinence. SeePertinent.]
Defn: The quality or state of being pertinent; justness of relationto the subject or matter in hand; fitness; appositeness; relevancy;suitableness.The fitness and pertinency of the apostle's discourse. Bentley.
PERTINENTPer"ti*nent, a. Etym: [L. pertinens, -entis, p.pr. of pertinere: cf.F. pertinent. See Pertain.]
1. Belonging or related to the subject or matter in hand; fit or appropriate in any way; adapted to the end proposed; apposite; material; relevant; as, pertinent illustrations or arguments; pertinent evidence.
2. Regarding; concerning; belonging; pertaining. [R.] "Pertinent unto faith." Hooker.
Syn.— Apposite; relevant; suitable; appropriate; fit.— Per"ti*nent*ly, adv.— Per"ti*nent*ness, n.
PERTLYPert"ly, adv.
Defn: In a pert manner.
PERTNESSPert"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pert.
PERTRANSIENTPer*tran"sient, a. Etym: [L. pertransiens, p.pr. of pertransire.]
Defn: Passing through or over. [R.]
PERTURBPer*turb", v. t. Etym: [L. perturbare, perturbatum; per + turbare todisturb, fr. turba a disorder: cf. OF. perturber. See Per-, andTurbid.]
1. To disturb; to agitate; to vex; to trouble; to disquiet. Ye that . . . perturb so my feast with crying. Chaucer.
2. To disorder; to confuse. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
PERTURBABILITYPer*turb`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perturbable.
PERTURBABLEPer*turb"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be perturbed or agitated; liable to be disturbed or disquieted.
PERTURBANCEPer*turb"ance, n.
Defn: Disturbance; perturbation. [R.] "Perturbance of the mind."Sharp.
PERTURBATEPer"tur*bate, v. t. Etym: [From L. perturbatus, p.p.]
Defn: To perturb. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PERTURBATEPer"tur*bate, a.
Defn: Perturbed; agitated. [R.]
PERTURBATIONPer`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. perturbatio: cf. F. perturbation.]
1. The act of perturbing, or the state of being perturbed; esp., agitation of mind.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A disturbance in the regular elliptic or other motion of a heavenly body, produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion; as, the perturbations of the planets are caused by their attraction on each other. Newcomb.
PERTURBATIONALPer`tur*ba"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to perturbation, esp. to the perturbations of the planets. "The perturbational theory." Sir J. Herschel.
PERTURBATIVEPer"tur*ba*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to cause perturbation; disturbing. Sir J. Herschel.
PERTURBATORPer"tur*ba`tor, n.
Defn: A perturber. [R.]
PERTURBEDPer*turbed", a.
Defn: Agitated; disturbed; troubled. Shak.— Per*turb"ed*ly, adv.
PERTURBERPer*turb"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, perturbs, or cause perturbation.
PERTUSATEPer*tus"ate, a. Etym: [See Pertuse.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pierced at the apex.
PERTUSE; PERTUSEDPer*tuse", Per*tused", a. Etym: [L. pertusus, p.p. of pertundere tobeat or thrust through, to bore through; per + tundere to beat: cf.F. pertus. Cf. Pierce.]
Defn: Punched; pierced with, or having, holes.
PERTUSIONPer*tu"sion, n. Etym: [L. pertusio.]
Defn: The act of punching or piercing with a pointed instrument; as, pertusion of a vein. [R.] Arbuthnot.
2. A punched hole; a perforation. Bacon.
PERTUSSISPer*tus"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. per through, very + tussis cough.](Med.)
Defn: The whooping cough.
PERUKE Per"uke, n. Etym: [F. perruque, It. perrucca, parrucca, fr. L. pilus hair. Cf. Periwig, Wig, Peel to strip off, Plush, Pile a hair.]
Defn: A wig; a periwig.
PERUKEPer"uke, v. t.
Defn: To dress with a peruke. [R.]
PERULA Per"u*la, n.; pl. Perulæ. Etym: [L., dim. of pera wallet, Gr. pérule.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the scales of a leaf bud.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A pouchlike portion of the perianth in certain orchides.
PERULEPer"ule, n.
Defn: Same as Perula.
PERUSALPe*rus"al, n. Etym: [From Peruse.]
1. The act of carefully viewing or examining. [R.] Tatler.
2. The act of reading, especially of reading through or with care. Woodward.
PERUSEPe*ruse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perused; p. pr. & vb. n. Perusing.]Etym: [Pref. per- + use.]
1. To observe; to examine with care. [R.] Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed. Milton.
2. To read through; to read carefully. Shak.
PERUSERPe*rus"er, n.
Defn: One who peruses.
PERUVIANPe*ru"vi*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. péruvien, Sp. peruviano.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America.— n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Peru. Peruvian balsam. See Balsam of Peru, under Balsam. — Peruvian bark, the bitter bark of trees of various species of Cinchona. It acts as a powerful tonic, and is a remedy for malarial diseases. This property is due to several alkaloids, as quinine, cinchonine, etc., and their compounds; — called also Jesuit's bark, and cinchona. See Cinchona.
PERVADEPer*vade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pervaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pervading.]Etym: [L. pervadere, pervasum; per + vadere to go, to walk. See Per-,and Wade.]
1. To pass or flow through, as an aperture, pore, or interstice; to permeate. That labyrinth is easily pervaded. Blackstone.
2. To pass or spread through the whole extent of; to be diffused throughout. A spirit of cabal, intrigue, and proselytism pervaded all their thoughts, words, and actions. Burke.
PERVASIONPer*va"sion, n. Etym: [L. pervasio. See Pervade.]
Defn: The act of pervading, passing, or spreading through the whole extent of a thing. Boyle.
PERVASIVEPer*va"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to pervade, or having power to spread throughout; of a pervading quality. "Civilization pervasive and general." M. Arnold.
PERVERSEPer*verse", a. Etym: [L. perversus turned the wrong way, not right,p.p. of pervertereto turn around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers. SeePervert.]
1. Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted. The only righteous in a word perverse. Milton.
2. Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary. To so perverse a sex all grace is vain. Dryden.
Syn. — Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable; intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious. — Perverse, Froward. One who is froward is capricious, and reluctant to obey. One who is perverse has a settled obstinacy of will, and likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to the will of others.
PERVERSEDPer*versed", a.
Defn: Turned aside. [Obs.]
PERVERSEDLYPer*vers"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Perversely. [Obs.]
PERVERSELYPer*verse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a perverse manner.
PERVERSENESSPer*verse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being perverse. "Virtue hath some perverseness." Donne.
PERVERSIONPer*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. perversio: cf. F. perversion. SeePervert.]
Defn: The act of perverting, or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use. "Violations and perversions of the laws." Bacon.
PERVERSITYPer*ver"si*ty, n. Etym: [L. perversitas: cf. F. perversité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being perverse; perverseness.
PERVERSIVEPer*ver"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to pervert.
PERVERTPer*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perverted; p. pr. & vb. n.Perverting.] Etym: [F. pervertir, L. pervertere, perversum; per +vertere to turn. See Per-, and Verse.]
1. To turnanother way; to divert. [Obs.] Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath. Shak.
2. To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt; also, to misapply; to misinterpret designedly; as, to pervert one's words. Dryden. He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve. Milton.
PERVERTPer*vert", v. i.
Defn: To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [R.] Testament of Love.
PERVERTPer"vert, n.
Defn: One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error,especially in religion; — opposed to convert. See the Synonym ofConvert.That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre. Thackeray.
PERVERTERPer*vert"er, n.
Defn: One who perverts (a person or thing). "His own parents his perverters." South. "A perverter of his law." Bp. Stillingfleet.
PERVERTIBLEPer*vert"i*ble, a.