Defn: Capable of being perverted.
PERVESTIGATE Per*ves"ti*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. pervestigatus, p.p. of pervestigare.]
Defn: To investigate thoroughly. [Obs.]
PERVESTIGATIONPer*ves`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. pervestigatio.]
Defn: Thorough investigation. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
PERVIALPer"vi*al, a. Etym: [See Pervious.]
Defn: Pervious. [Obs.] — Per"vi*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] Chapman.
PERVICACIOUSPer`vi*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. pervicax, -acis.]
Defn: Obstinate; willful; refractory. [Obs.] — Per`vi*ca"cious*ly,adv.— Per`vi*ca"cious*ness, n. [Obs.]
PERVICACITYPer`vi*cac"i*ty, n.
Defn: Obstinacy; pervicaciousness. [Obs.] Bentley.
PERVICACYPer"vi*ca*cy, n. Etym: [L. pervicacia.]
Defn: Pervicacity. [Obs.]
PERVIGILATIONPer*vig`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. pervigilatio, fr. pervigilare.]
Defn: Careful watching. [Obs.]
PERVIOUSPer"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. pervis; per + via a way. See Per-, andVoyage.]
1. Admitting passage; capable of being penetrated by another body or substance; permeable; as, a pervious soil. [Doors] . . . pervious to winds, and open every way. Pope.
2. Capable of being penetrated, or seen through, by physical or mental vision. [R.] God, whose secrets are pervious to no eye. Jer. Taylor.
3. Capable of penetrating or pervading. [Obs.] Prior.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Open; — used synonymously with perforate, as applied to the nostrils or birds.
PERVIOUSNESSPer"vi*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pervious; as, the perviousness of glass. Boyle.
PERVISPer"vis, n.
Defn: See Parvis.
PERYPer"y, n.
Defn: A pear tree. See Pirie. [Obs.]
PESPes, n.; pl. Pedes . Etym: [L., the foot.] (Anat.)
Defn: The distal segment of the hind limb of vertebrates, including the tarsus and foot.
PESADEPe*sade", n. Etym: [F.] (Man.)
Defn: The motion of a horse when, raising his fore quarters, he keeps his hind feet on the ground without advancing; rearing.
PESAGEPes"age, n. Etym: [F., fr. peser to weigh.]
Defn: A fee, or toll, paid for the weighing of merchandise.
PESANEPes"ane, n. (Anc. Armor.)
Defn: See Pusane.
PESANTEDPes"ant*ed, a. Etym: [F. pesant heavy.]
Defn: Made heavy or dull; debased. [Obs.] "Pesanted to each lewd thought's control." Marston.
PESCHITOPe*schit"o, n.
Defn: See Peshito.
PESEPese, n. Etym: [See Pea.]
Defn: A pea. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PESETAPe*se"ta, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A Spanish silver coin, and money of account, equal to about nineteen cents, and divided into 100 centesimos.
PESHITO; PESHITTOPe*shit"o, Pe*shit"to, n. Etym: [Syriac peshîtâ simple.]
Defn: The earliest Syriac version of the Old Testament, translated from Hebrew; also, the incomplete Syriac version of the New Testament. [Written also peschito.]
PESKYPes"ky, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Pestering; vexatious; troublesome. Used also as an intensive.[Colloq. & Low, U.S.] Judd.
PESOPe"so, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A Spanish dollar; also, an Argentine, Chilian, Colombian, etc., coin, equal to from 75 cents to a dollar; also, a pound weight.
PESSARY Pes"sa*ry, n.; pl. Pessaries. Etym: [L. pessarium, pessum, pessus, Gr. pessaire.] (Med.) (a) An instrument or device to be introduced into and worn in the vagina, to support the uterus, or remedy a malposition. (b) A medicinal substance in the form of a bolus or mass, designed for introduction into the vagina; a vaginal suppository.
PESSIMISMPes"si*mism, n. Etym: [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf.F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.]
1. (Metaph.)
Defn: The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the world is wholly evil; — opposed to Ant: optimism.
2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.
PESSIMISTPes"si*mist, n. Etym: [L. pessimus worst: cf. F. pessimiste.]
1. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who advocates the doctrine of pessimism; — opposed to Ant: optimist.
2. One who looks on the dark side of things.
PESSIMIST; PESSIMISTICPes"si*mist, Pes`si*mis"tic, a. (Metaph.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to pessimism; characterized by pessimism; gloomy; foreboding. "Giving utterance to pessimistic doubt." Encyc. Brit.
PESSIMISTICALPes`si*mis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pessimistic.
PESSIMIZEPes"si*mize, v. i.
Defn: To hold or advocate the doctrine of pessimism. London Sat. Rev.
PESSULUSPes"su*lus, n.; pl. Pessuli. Etym: [L., a bolt.] (Anat.)
Defn: A delicate bar of cartilage connecting the dorsal and ventral extremities of the first pair of bronchial cartilages in the syrinx of birds.
PESTPest, n. Etym: [L. pestis: cf. F. peste.]
1. A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague. England's sufferings by that scourge, the pest. Cowper.
2. Anything which resembles a pest; one who, or that which, is troublesome, noxious, mischievous, or destructive; a nuisance. "A pest and public enemy." South.
PESTALOZZIANPes`ta*loz"zi*an, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or characteristic of, a system of elementary education which combined manual training with other instruction, advocated and practiced by Jean Henri Pestalozzi (1746-1827), a Swiss teacher. — n.
Defn: An advocate or follower of the system of Pestalozzi.
PESTALOZZIANISMPes`ta*loz"zi*an*ism, n.
Defn: The system of education introduced by Pestalozzi.
PESTER Pes"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pestered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pestering.] Etym: [Abbrev. fr. impester, fr. OF. empaistrier, empestrer, to entangle the feet or legs, to embarrass, F. empêtrer; pref. em-, en- (L. in in) + LL. pastorium, pastoria, a fetter by which horses are prevented from wandering in the pastures, fr. L. pastorius belonging to a herdsman or shepherd, pastor a herdsman. See In, and Pasture, Pastor.]
1. To trouble; to disturb; to annoy; to harass with petty vexations. We are pestered with mice and rats. Dr. H. More. A multitude of scribblers daily pester the world. Dryden.
2. To crowd together in an annoying way; to overcrowd; to infest. [Obs.] Milton. All rivers and pools . . . pestered full with fishes. Holland.
PESTERERPes"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who pesters or harasses.
PESTERMENTPes"ter*ment, n.
Defn: The act of pestering, or the state of being pestered; vexation; worry. "The trouble and pesterment of children." B. Franklin.
PESTEROUSPes"ter*ous, a.
Defn: Inclined to pester. Also, vexatious; encumbering; burdensome.[Obs.] Bacon.
PESTFULPest"ful, a.
Defn: Pestiferous. "After long and pestful calms." Coleridge.
PESTHOUSEPest`house", n.
Defn: A house or hospital for persons who are infected with any pestilential disease.
PESTIDUCT Pes"ti*duct, n. Etym: [L. pestis pest + ductus a leading, fr. ducere to lead.]
Defn: That which conveys contagion or infection. [Obs.] Donne.
PESTIFEROUS Pes*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. pestiferus, pestifer; pestis pest + ferre to bear: cf. F. pestifère.]
1. Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. "Poor, pestiferous creatures begging alms." Evelyn. "Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations." Burke.
2. Noxious to peace, to morals, or to society; vicious; hurtful; destructive; as, a pestiferous demagogue. Pestiferous reports of men very nobly held. Shak.
PESTIFEROUSLYPes*tif"er*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pestiferuos manner.
PESTILENCEPes"ti*lence, n. Etym: [F. pestilence, L. pestilentia. SeePestilent.]
1. Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. The pestilence That walketh in darkness. Ps. xci. 6.
2. Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers. I'll pour this pestilence into his ear. Shak. Pestilence weed (Bot.), the butterbur coltsfoot (Petasites vulgaris), so called because formerly considered a remedy for the plague. Dr. Prior.
PESTILENT Pes"ti*lent, a. Etym: [L. pestilens, -entis, fr. pestis pest: cf. F. pestilent.]
Defn: Pestilential; noxious; pernicious; mischievous. "Corrupt and pestilent." Milton. "What a pestilent knave is this same!" Shak.
PESTILENTIALPes`ti*len"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pestilentiel.]
1. Having the nature or qualities of a pestilence. "Sends the pestilential vapors." Longfellow.
2. Hence: Mischievous; noxious; pernicious; morally destructive. So pestilential, so infectious a thing is sin. Jer. Taylor.
PESTILENTIALLYPes`ti*len"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: Pestilently.
PESTILENTIOUSPes`ti*len"tious, a.
Defn: Pestilential. [Obs.]
PESTILENTLYPes"ti*lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pestilent manner; mischievously; destructively. "Above all measure pestilently noisome." Dr. H. More.
PESTILENTNESSPes"ti*lent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being pestilent.
PESTILLATIONPes`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. pestillum, L. pistillum. See Pestle.]
Defn: The act of pounding and bruising with a pestle in a mortar. SirT. Browne.
PESTLE Pes"tle, n. Etym: [OE. pestel, OF. pestel, LL. pestellum, L. pistillum, pistillus, a pounder, pestle, fr. pisere, pinsere, to pound, crush, akin to Gr. pish. Cf. Pistil.]
1. An implement for pounding and breaking or braying substances in a mortar.
2. A constable's or bailiff's staff; — so called from its shape. [Obs.] Chapman.
3. The leg and leg bone of an animal, especially of a pig; as, a pestle of pork.
PESTLEPes"tle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Pestled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pestling.]
Defn: To pound, pulverize, bray, or mix with a pestle, or as with a pestle; to use a pestle.
PET Pet, n. Etym: [Formerly peat, perhaps from Ir. peat, akin to Gael. peata.]
1. A cade lamb; a lamb brought up by hand.
2. Any person or animal especially cherished and indulged; a fondling; a darling; often, a favorite child. The love of cronies, pets, and favorites. Tatler.
3. Etym: [Prob. fr. Pet a fondling, hence, the behavior or humor of a spoiled child.]
Defn: A slight fit of peevishness or fretfulness. "In a pet she started up." Tennyson.
PETPet, a.
Defn: Petted; indulged; admired; cherished; as, a pet child; a pet lamb; a pet theory. Some young lady's pet curate. F. Harrison. Pet cock. Etym: [Perh. for petty cock.] (Mach.) A little faucet in a water pipe or pump, to let air out, or at the end of a steam cylinder, to drain it.
PETPet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petted; p. pr. & vb. n. Petting.]
Defn: To treat as a pet; to fondle; to indulge; as, she was petted and spoiled.
PETPet, v. i.
Defn: To be a pet. Feltham.
PETALPet"al, n. Etym: [Gr. pétale. See Fathom.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the leaves of the corolla, or the colored leaves of a flower. See Corolla, and Illust. of Flower.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the expanded ambulacra which form a rosette on the black of certain Echini.
PETALEDPet"aled, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having petals; as, a petaled flower; — opposed to Ant: apetalous, and much used in compounds; as, one-petaled, three- petaled, etc.
PETALIFEROUSPet`al*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Petal + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing petals.
PETALIFORMPe*tal"i*form, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a petal; petaloid; petal-shaped.
PETALINEPet"al*ine, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétalin.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to a petal; attached to, or resembling, a petal.
PETALISMPet"al*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. pétalisme.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A form of sentence among the ancient Syracusans by which they banished for five years a citizen suspected of having dangerous influence or ambition. It was similar to the ostracism in Athens; but olive leaves were used instead of shells for ballots.
PETALITEPet"al*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétalite.] (Min.)
Defn: A rare mineral, occurring crystallized and in cleavable masses, usually white, or nearly so, in color. It is a silicate of aluminia and lithia.
PETALODYPe*tal"o*dy, n. Etym: [Petal + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The metamorphosis of various floral organs, usually stamens, into petals.
PETALOIDPet"al*oid, a. Etym: [Petal + -oid: cf. F. pétaloïde.] (Bot.)
Defn: Petaline.
PETALOIDEOUSPet`al*oid"e*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the whole or part of the perianth petaline. Petaloideous division, that division of endogenous plants in which the perianth is wholly or partly petaline, embracing the Liliaceæ, Orchidaceæ, Amaryllideæ, etc.
PETALOSTICHAPet`a*los"ti*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Echini, including the irregular sea urchins, as the spatangoids. See Spatangoid.
PETALOUSPet"al*ous, a.
Defn: Having petals; petaled; — opposed to Ant: apetalous.
PETALUMPet"a*lum, n.; pl. Petala. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A petal.
PETARPe*tar", n.
Defn: See Petard. [Obs.] "Hoist with his own petar." Shak.
PETARD Pe*tard", n. Etym: [F. pétard, fr. péter to break wind, to crack, to explode, L. pedere, peditum.] (Mil.)
Defn: A case containing powder to be exploded, esp. a conical or cylindrical case of metal filled with powder and attached to a plank, to be exploded against and break down gates, barricades, drawbridges, etc. It has been superseded.
PETARDEER; PETARDIERPet`ar*deer", Pet`ar*dier", n. Etym: [F. pétardier.] (Mil.)
Defn: One who managed a petard.
PETASUSPet"a*sus, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: The winged cap of Mercury; also, a broad-brimmed, low-crowned hat worn by Greeks and Romans.
PETAURISTPe*tau"rist, n. Etym: [L. petaurista a ropedancer, Gr. pétauriste.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Any flying marsupial of the genera Petaurus, Phalangista,Acrobata, and allied genera. See Flying mouse, under Flying, andPhalangister.
PETECHIAE Pe*tech"i*æ, n. pl.; sing. Petechia (. Etym: [NL., fr. LL. peteccia; cf. F. pétéchie, It. petecchia, Sp. petequia, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Small crimson, purple, or livid spots, like flea-bites, due to extravasation of blood, which appear on the skin in malignant fevers, etc.
PETECHIALPe*tech"i*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétéchial, LL. petecchialis.] (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by, or pertaining to, petechiæ; spotted. Petechial fever, a malignant fever, accompanied with livid spots on the skin.
PETERPe"ter, n.
Defn: A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the apostles, Peter boat, a fishing boat, sharp at both ends, originally of the Baltic Sea, but now common in certain English rivers. — Peter Funk, the auctioneer in a mock auction. [Cant, U.S.] — Peter pence, or Peter's pence. (a) An annual tax or tribute, formerly paid by the English people to the pope, being a penny for every house, payable on Lammas or St.Peter's day; — called also Rome scot, and hearth money. (b) In modern times, a voluntary contribution made by Roman Catholics to the private purse of the pope. — Peter's fish (Zoöl.), a haddock; — so called because the black spots, one on each side, behind the gills, are traditionally said to have been caused by the fingers of St. Peter, when he caught the fish to pay the tribute. The name is applied, also, to other fishes having similar spots.
PETERPet"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Petered; p. pr. & vb. n. Petering.] Etym:[Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: To become exhausted; to run out; to fail; — used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. [Slang, U.S.]
PETERELPet"er*el, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Petrel.
PETEREROPet`e*re"ro, n. (Mil.)
Defn: See Pederero.
PETERMANPe"ter*man, n.; pl. Petermen (.
Defn: A fisherman; — so called after the apostle Peter. [An obs. local term in Eng.] Chapman.
PETERSHAMPe"ter*sham, n. Etym: [Named after Lord Petersham.]
Defn: A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men's overcoats; also, a coat of that material.
PETERWORTPe"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Saint Peter's-wort, under Saint.
PETIOLAR; PETIOLARYPet"i*o*lar, Pet"i*o*la*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétiolarie.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to petiole, or proceeding from it; as, a petiolar tendril; growing or supported upon a petiole; as, a petiolar gland; a petiolar bud.
PETIOLATE; PETIOLATEDPet"i*o*late, Pet"i*o*la`ted, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a stalk or petiole; as, a petioleate leaf; the petiolated abdomen of certain Hymenoptera.
PETIOLE Pet"i*ole, n. Etym: [F. pétiole, fr. L. petiolus a little foot, a fruit stalk; cf. pes, pedis, a foot.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A leafstalk; the footstalk of a leaf, connecting the blade with the stem. See Illust. of Leaf.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stalk or peduncle.
PETIOLEDPet"i*oled, a.
Defn: Petiolate.
PETIOLULATEPet`i*ol"u*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Supported by its own petiolule. Gray.
PETIOLULEPet"i*o*lule, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétiolule.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small petiole, or the petiole of a leaflet.
PETITPet"it, a. Etym: [F. See Petty.]
Defn: Small; little; insignificant; mean; — Same as Petty. [Obs., except in legal language.] By what small, petit hints does the mind catch hold of and recover a vanishing notion. South. Petit constable, an inferior civil officer, subordinate to the high constable. — Petit jury, a jury of twelve men, impaneled to try causes at the bar of a court; — so called in distinction from the grand jury. — Petit larceny, the stealing of goods of, or under, a certain specified small value; — opposed to grand larceny. The distinction is abolished in England. — Petit maître (. Etym: [F., lit., little master.] A fop; a coxcomb; a ladies' man. Goldsmith. — Petit serjeanty (Eng. Law), the tenure of lands of the crown, by the service of rendering annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, a flag, etc. — Petit treason, formerly, in England, the crime of killing a person to whom the offender owed duty or subjection, as one's husband, master, mistress, etc. The crime is now not distinguished from murder.
PETITEPe*tite", a. [F., fem. of petit.]
Defn: Small, little; of a woman or girl, of small size and trim figure.
PETITION Pe*ti"tion, n. Etym: [F. pétition, L. petitio, fr. petere, petitum, to beg, ask, seek; perh. akin to E. feather, or find.]
1. A prayer; a supplication; an imploration; an entreaty; especially, a request of a solemn or formal kind; a prayer to the Supreme Being, or to a person of superior power, rank, or authority; also, a single clause in such a prayer. A house of prayer and petition for thy people. 1 Macc. vii. 37. This last petition heard of all her prayer. Dryden.
2. A formal written request addressed to an official person, or to an organized body, having power to grant it; specifically (Law), a supplication to government, in either of its branches, for the granting of a particular grace or right; — in distinction from a memorial, which calls certain facts to mind; also, the written document. Petition of right (Law), a petition to obtain possession or restitution of property, either real or personal, from the Crown, which suggests such a title as controverts the title of the Crown, grounded on facts disclosed in the petition itself. Mozley & W. — The Petition of Right (Eng. Hist.), the parliamentary declaration of the rights of the people, assented to by Charles I.
PETITIONPe*ti"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petitioned; p. pr. & vb. n.Petitioning.]
Defn: To make a prayer or request to; to ask from; to solicit; to entreat; especially, to make a formal written supplication, or application to, as to any branch of the government; as, to petition the court; to petition the governor. You have . . . petitioned all the gods for my prosperity. Shak.
PETITIONPe*ti"tion, v. i.
Defn: To make a petition or solicitation.
PETITIONARILYPe*ti"tion*a*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of begging the question; by an assumption. [R.] Sir T.Browne.
PETITIONARYPe*ti"tion*a*ry, a.
1. Supplicatory; making a petition. Pardon Rome, and any petitionary countrymen. Shak.
2. Containing a petition; of the nature of a petition; as, a petitionary epistle. Swift.
PETITIONEEPe*ti`tion*ee", n.
Defn: A person cited to answer, or defend against, a petition.
PETITIONERPe*ti"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who presents a petition.
PETITIONINGPe*ti"tion*ing, n.
Defn: The act of presenting apetition; a supplication.
PETIT MALPe*tit" mal". [F., lit., little sickness.] (Med.)
Defn: The mildest form of epilepsy, with momentary faintness or unconsciousness, but without convulsions; — opposed to grand mal.
PETITORPet"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. petere to seek.]
Defn: One who seeks or asks; a seeker; an applicant. [R.] Fuller.
PETITORY Pet"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. petitorius, fr. petere, petitum, to beg, ask: cf. F. pétitore.]
Defn: Petitioning; soliciting; supplicating. Sir W. Hamilton. Petitory suit or action (Admiralty Law), a suit in which the mere title to property is litigated and sought to be enforced, as distinguished from a possessory suit; also (Scots Law), a suit wherein the plaintiff claims something as due him by the defendant. Burrill.
PETONGPe*tong", n. (Metal.)
Defn: See Packfong.
PETRALOGYPe*tral"o*gy, n.
Defn: See Petrology.
PETRARYPet"ra*ry, n. Etym: [L. petra stone. Cf. Sp. petraria, and E.Pederero.]
Defn: An ancient war engine for hurling stones.
PETREPe"tre, n.
Defn: See Saltpeter.
PETREANPe*tre"an, a. Etym: [L. petraeus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to to rock. G. S. Faber.
PETRELPe"trel, n. Etym: [F. pétrel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus,Gr. John i.42); — probably so called in allusion to St.Peter'swalking on the sea. See Petrify.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging to the family Procellaridæ. The small petrels, or Mother Carey's chickens, belong to Oceanites, Oceanodroma, Procellaria, and several allied genera. Diving petrel, any bird of the genus Pelecanoides. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere. — Fulmar petrel, Giant petrel. See Fulmar. — Pintado petrel, the Cape pigeon. See under Cape. — Pintado petrel, any one of several small petrels, especially Procellaria pelagica, or Mother Carey's chicken, common on both sides of the Atlantic.
PETRESCENCEPe*tres"cence, n.
Defn: The process of changing into stone; petrification.
PETRESCENTPe*tres"cent, a. Etym: [L. petra rock, stone, Gr.
Defn: Petrifying; converting into stone; as, petrescent water. Boyle.
PETRIFACTIONPet`ri*fac"tion, n. Etym: [See Petrify.]
1. The process of petrifying, or changing into stone; conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable) into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.
2. The state or condition of being petrified.
3. That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation.
4. Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy. "Petrifaction of the soul." Cudworth.
PETRIFACTIVEPet`ri*fac"tive, a.
1. Having the quality of converting organic matter into stone; petrifying.
2. Pertaining to, or characterized by, petrifaction. The . . . petrifactive mutations of hard bodies. Sir T. Browne.
PETRIFICPe*trif"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. pétrifique.]
Defn: Petrifying; petrifactive.Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry. Milton.
PETRIFICATEPet"ri*fi*cate, v. t.
Defn: To petrify. [Obs.]Our hearts petrificated were. J. Hall (1646).
PETRIFICATIONPet`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pétrification. See Petrify.]
1. See Petrifaction.
2. Fig.: Obduracy; callousness. Hallywell.
PETRIFYPet"ri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petrified; p. pr. & vb. n.Petrifying.] Etym: [L. petra rock, Gr. -fy: cf. F. pétrifier. Cf.Parrot, Petrel, Pier.]
1. To convert, as any animal or vegetable matter, into stone or stony substance. A river that petrifies any sort of wood or leaves. Kirwan.
2. To make callous or obdurate; to stupefy; to paralyze; totransform; as by petrifaction; as, to petrify the heart. Young."Petrifying accuracy." Sir W. Scott.And petrify a genius to a dunce. Pope.The poor, petrified journeyman, quite unconscious of what he wasdoing. De Quincey.A hideous fatalism, which ought, logically, to petrify your volition.G. Eliot.
PETRIFYPet"ri*fy, v. i.
1. To become stone, or of a stony hardness, as organic matter by calcareous deposits.
2. Fig.: To become stony, callous, or obdurate. Like Niobe we marble grow, And petrify with grief. Dryden.
PETRINEPe"trine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to St.Peter; as, the Petrine Epistles.
PETRO-Pet"ro-.
Defn: A combining form from Gr. rock, stone; as, petrology, petroglyphic.
PETROGALEPe*trog"a*le, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any Australian kangaroo of the genus Petrogale, as the rock wallaby (P. penicillata).
PETROGLYPHICPet`ro*glyph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to petroglyphy.
PETROGLYPHYPe*trog"ly*phy, n. Etym: [Petro + Gr.
Defn: The art or operation of carving figures or inscriptions on rock or stone.
PETROGRAPHIC; PETROGRAPHICALPet`ro*graph"ic, Pet`ro*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to petrography.
PETROGRAPHYPe*trog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Petro + -graphy.]
1. The art of writing on stone.
2. The scientific description of rocks; that department of science which investigates the constitution of rocks; petrology.
PETROHYOIDPet`ro*hy"oid, a. Etym: [Petro + hyoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to petrous, oe periotic, portion of the skull and the hyoid arch; as, the petrohyoid muscles of the frog.
PETROLPe*trol", n.
Defn: Petroleum. [R.]
PETROLATUMPet`ro*la"tum, n. (Chem. & Pharm.)
Defn: A semisolid unctuous substance, neutral, and without taste or odor, derived from petroleum by distilling off the lighter portions and purifying the residue. It is a yellowish, fatlike mass, transparent in thin layers, and somewhat fluorescent. It is used as a bland protective dressing, and as a substitute for fatty materials in ointments. U. S. Pharm.
Note: Petrolatum is the official name for the purified product. Cosmoline and vaseline are commercial names for substances essentially the same, but differing slightly in appearance and consistency or fusibility.
PETROLEUM Pe*tro"le*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. petra a rock + oleum oil: cf. F. pétrole. Cf. Petrify, and Oil.]
Defn: Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc. Petroleum spirit, a volatile liquid obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum at a temperature of 170° Fahr., or below. The term is rather loosely applied to a considerable range of products, including benzine and ligroin. The terms petroleum ether, and naphtha, are sometimes applied to the still more volatile products, including rhigolene, gasoline, cymogene, etc.
PETROLEUR; PETROLEUSEPé`tro`leur", n. m. Pé`tro`leuse", n. f.Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who makes use of petroleum for incendiary purposes.
PETROLINEPet"ro*line, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A paraffin obtained from petroleum from Rangoon in India, and practically identical with ordinary paraffin.
PETROLOGIC; PETROLOGICALPet`ro*log"ic, Pet`ro*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to petrology.
PETROLOGICALLYPet`ro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to petrology.
PETROLOGISTPe*trol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in petrology.
PETROLOGYPe*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Petro + -logy.]
1. The department of science which is concerned with the mineralogical and chemical composition of rocks, and with their classification: lithology.
2. A treatise on petrology.
PETROMASTOIDPet`ro*mas"toid, a. Etym: [Petro + mastoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the petrous and mastoid parts of the temporal bone, periotic.
PETROMYZONTPet`ro*my"zont, n. Etym: [Petro + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lamprey.
PETRONEL Pet`ro*nel, n. Etym: [OF. petrinal, fr. peitrine, petrine, the breast, F. poitrine; so called because it was placed against the breast in order to fire. See Poitrel.]
Defn: A sort of hand cannon, or portable firearm, used in France in the 15th century.
PETROSAL Pe*tro"sal, a. Etym: [See Petrous.] (Anat.) (a) Hard; stony; petrous; as, the petrosal bone; petrosal part of the temporal bone. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the petrous, or petrosal, bone, or the corresponding part of the temporal bone. Petrosal bone (Anat.), a bone corresponding to the petrous portion of the temporal bone of man; or one forming more or less of the periotic capsule.
PETROSAL Pe*tro"sal, n. (Anat.) (a) A petrosal bone. (b) The auditory capsule. Owen.
PETROSILEXPet`ro*si"lex, n. Etym: [Petro + silex.] (Min.)
Defn: Felsite.
PETROSILICIOUSPet`ro*si*li"cious, a.
Defn: Containing, or consisting of, petrosilex.
PETROSTEARINEPet`ro*ste"a*rine, n. Etym: [Petro + stearine.]
Defn: A solid unctuous material, of which candles are made.
PETROUSPe"trous, a. Etym: [L. petrosus, fr. petra a stone.]
1. Like stone; hard; stony; rocky; as, the petrous part of the temporal bone. Hooper.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Petrosal.
PETTICHAPSPet"ti*chaps, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Pettychaps.
PETTICOATPet"ti*coat, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Petty + coat.]
Defn: A loose under-garment worn by women, and covering the body below the waist. Petticoat government, government by women, whether in politics or domestic affairs. [Colloq.] — Petticoat pipe (Locomotives), a short, flaring pipe surrounding the blast nozzle in the smoke box, to equalize the draft.
PETTIFOGPet"ti*fog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pettifogged; p. pr. & vb. n.Pettifogging.] Etym: [Petty + fog to pettifog.]
Defn: To do a petty business as a lawyer; also, to do law business in a petty or tricky way. "He takes no money, but pettifogs gratis." S. Butler.
PETTIFOGPet"ti*fog, v. t.
Defn: To advocate like a pettifogger; to argue trickily; as, to pettifog a claim. [Colloq.]
PETTIFOGGERPet"ti*fog`ger, n.
Defn: A lawyer who deals in petty cases; an attorney whose methods are mean and tricky; an inferior lawyer. A pettifogger was lord chancellor. Macaulay.
PETTIFOGGERYPet"ti*fog`ger*y, n.; pl. -ies (.
Defn: The practice or arts of a pettifogger; disreputable tricks;quibbles.Quirks of law, and pettifoggeries. Barrow.
PETTIFOGGINGPet"ti*fog`ging, a.
Defn: Paltry; quibbling; mean.
PETTIFOGGINGPet"ti*fog`ging, n.
Defn: Pettifoggery.
PETTIFOGULIZEPet`ti*fog"u*lize, v. i.
Defn: To act as a pettifogger; to use contemptible tricks. DeQuincey.
PETTILYPet"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a petty manner; frivolously.
PETTINESSPet"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being petty or paltry; littleness; meanness.
PETTISHPet"tish, a. Etym: [From Pet.]
Defn: Fretful; peevish; moody; capricious; inclined to ill temper. "Apettish kind of humor." Sterne.— Pet"tish*ly, adv.— Pet"tish*ness, n.
PETTITOESPet"ti*toes, n. pl. Etym: [Petty + toes.]
Defn: The toes or feet of a pig, — often used as food; sometimes, in contempt, the human feet. Shak.
PETTOPet"to, n. Etym: [It., fr. L. pectus.]
Defn: The breast. In petto, in the breast; hence, in secrecy; in reserve.
PETTY Pet"ty, a. [Compar. Pettier; superl. Pettiest.] Etym: [OE. petit, F. petit; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E. piece. Cf. Petit.]
Defn: Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince. Denham. Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all. Milton. Petty averages. See under Average. — Petty cash, money expended or received in small items or amounts. — Petty officer, a subofficer in the navy, as a gunner, etc., corresponding to a noncommissionned officer in the army.
Note: For petty constable, petty jury, petty larceny, petty treason,See Petit.
Syn. — Little; diminutive; inconsiderable; inferior; trifling; trivial; unimportant; frivolous.
PETTYCHAPSPet"ty*chaps, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small European singing birds of the subfamily Sylviinæ, as the willow warbler, the chiff-chaff, and the golden warbler (Sylvia hortensis).
PETTYWHINPet"ty*whin, n. Etym: [Petty + whin.] (Bot.)
Defn: The needle furze. See under Needle.
PETULANCE; PETULANCYPet"u*lance, Pet"u*lan*cy, n. Etym: [L. petulania: cf. F. pétulance.See Petulant.]
Defn: The quality or state of being petulant; temporary peevishness;pettishness; capricious ill humor. "The petulancy of our words." B.Jonson.Like pride in some, and like petulance in others. Clarendon.The lowering eye, the petulance, the frown. Cowper.
Syn.— Petulance, Peevishness.— Peevishness implies the permanence of a sour, fretful temper;petulance implies temporary or capricious irritation.
PETULANTPet"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. petulans, -antis, prop., making slightattacks upon, from a lost dim. of petere to fall upon, to attack: cf.F. pétulant. See Petition.]
1. Forward; pert; insolent; wanton. [Obs.] Burton.
2. Capriciously fretful; characterized by ill-natured freakishness; irritable. "Petulant moods." Macaulay.
Syn.— Irritable; ill-humored; peevish; cross; fretful; querulous.
PETULANTLYPet"u*lant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a petulant manner.
PETULCITYPe*tul"ci*ty, n. Etym: [See Petulcous.]
Defn: Wantonness; friskiness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
PETULCOUSPe*tul"cous, a. Etym: [L. petulcus. Cf. Petulant.]
Defn: Wanton; frisky; lustful. [Obs.] J. V. Cane.
PETUNEPe*tune", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Petuned; p. pr. & vb. n. Petuning.][See Petunia.] (Agric.)
Defn: To spray (tobacco) with a liquid intended to produce flavor or aroma.
PETUNIAPe*tu"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Braz. petun tobacco.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of solanaceous herbs with funnelform or salver-shaped corollas. Two species are common in cultivation, Petunia violacera, with reddish purple flowers, and P. nyctaginiflora, with white flowers. There are also many hybrid forms with variegated corollas.
PETUNSE; PETUNTSE; PETUNTZEPe*tunse", Pe*tuntse", Pe*tuntze", n. Etym: [From Chinese.]
Defn: Powdered fledspar, kaolin, or quartz, used in the manufacture of porcelain.
PETWORTH MARBLEPet"worth mar"ble.
Defn: A kind of shell marble occurring in the Wealden clay atPetworth, in Sussex, England; — called also Sussex marble.
PETZITEPetz"ite, n. Etym: [From Petz, who analyzed it.] (Min.)
Defn: A telluride of silver and gold, related to hessite.
PEUCEDANINPeu*ced"a*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A tasteless white crystalline substance, extracted from the roots of the sulphurwort (Peucedanum), masterwort (Imperatoria), and other related plants; — called also imperatorin.
PEUCILPeu"cil, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid resembling camphene, obtained by treating turpentine hydrochloride with lime. [Written also peucyl.]
PEWPew, n. Etym: [OE. pewe, OF. puie parapet, balustrade, balcony, fr.L. podium an elevated place, a jutty, balcony, a parapet or balconyin the circus, where the emperor and other distinguished persons sat,Gr. Foot, and cf. Podium, Poy.]
1. One of the compartments in a church which are separated by low partitions, and have long seats upon which several persons may sit; - - sometimes called slip. Pews were originally made square, but are now usually long and narrow.
2. Any structure shaped like a church pew, as a stall, formerly used by money lenders, etc.; a box in theater; a pen; a sheepfold. [Obs.] Pepys. Milton. Pew opener, an usher in a church. [Eng.] Dickens.
PEWPew, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with pews. [R.] Ash.
PEWEEPe"wee, n. Etym: [So called from its note.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A common American tyrant flycatcher (Sayornis phoebe, or S. fuscus). Called also pewit, and phoebe.
2. The woodcock. [Local, U.S.] Wood pewee (Zoöl.), a bird (Contopus virens) similar to the pewee (See Pewee, 1), but of smaller size.
PEWETPe"wet, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Pewit.
PEWFELLOWPew"fel`low, n.
1. One who occupies the same pew with another.
2. An intimate associate; a companion. Shak.
PEWIT Pe"wit, n. Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. OD. piewit, D. kievit, G. kibitz.] (Zoöl.) (a) The lapwing. (b) The European black-headed, or laughing, gull (Xema ridibundus). See under Laughing. (c) The pewee. [Written also peevit, peewit, pewet.]
PEWTER Pew"ter, n. Etym: [OE. pewtyr, OF. peutre, peautre, piautre: cf. D. peauter, piauter, It. peltro, Sp. & Pg. peltre, LL. peutreum, pestrum. Cf. Spelter.]
1. A hard, tough, but easily fusible, alloy, originally consisting of tin with a little lead, but afterwards modified by the addition of copper, antimony, or bismuth.
2. Utensils or vessels made of pewter, as dishes, porringers, drinking vessels, tankards, pots.
Note: Pewter was formerly much used for domestic utensils. Inferior sorts contain a large proportion of lead.
PEWTERERPew"ter*er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to make utensils of pewter; a pewtersmith. Shak.
PEWTERYPew"ter*y, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, pewter; as, a pewtery taste.
PEXITY Pex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pexitas, fr. pexus woolly, nappy, p.p. of pectere to comb.]
Defn: Nap of cloth. [Obs.]
PEYER'S GLANDS Pey"er's glands`. Etym: [So called from J.K.Peyer, who described them in 1677.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pathches of lymphoid nodules, in the walls of the small intestiness; agminated glands; — called also Peyer's patches. In typhoid fever they become the seat of ulcers which are regarded as the characteristic organic lesion of that disease.
PEYTRELPey"trel, n. Etym: [OF. peitral. See Poitrel.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: The breastplate of a horse's armor or harness. [Spelt also peitrel.] See Poitrel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PEZIZA Pe*zi"za, n. Etym: [NL., corrupt. from L. pezica a sessile mushroom, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of fungi embracing a great number of species, some of which are remarkable for their regular cuplike form and deep colors.
PEZIZOIDPez"i*zoid, a. Etym: [Peziza + -oid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling a fungus of the genus Peziza; having a cuplike form.
PFENNIGPfen"nig, n.; pl. Pfennigs, G. Pfennige. Etym: [G. See Penny.]
Defn: A small copper coin of Germany. It is the hundredth part of a mark, or about a quarter of a cent in United States currency.
PHACELLUSPha*cel"lus, n.; pl. Phacelli. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the filaments on the inner surface of the gastric cavity of certain jellyfishes.
PHACOCHEREPhac"o*chere, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wart hog.
PHACOIDPha"coid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling a lentil; lenticular.
PHACOLITEPhac"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A colorless variety of chabazite; the original was from Leipa, in Bohemia.
PHACOPSPha"cops, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of trilobites found in the Silurian and Devonian formations. Phacops bufo is one of the most common species.
PHAEACIANPhæ*a"cian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Phæacians, a fabulous seafaring people fond of the feast, the lyre, and the dance, mentioned by Homer.
PHAENOGAMPhæ"no*gam, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the class Phænogamia.
PHAENOGAMIAPhæ`no*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Bot.)
Defn: The class of flowering plants including all which have true flowers with distinct floral organs; phanerogamia.
PHAENOGAMIAN; PHAENOGAMICPhæ`no*ga"mi*an, Phæ`no*gam"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Phænogamous.
PHAENOGAMOUSPhæ*nog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having true flowers with with distinct floral organs; flowering.
PHAENOMENONPhæ*nom"e*non, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Phenomenon.
PHAEOSPOREPhæ"o*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: A brownish zoöspore, characteristic of an order (Phæosporeæ) of dark green or olive-colored algæ. — Phæ`o*spor"ic, a.
PHAETHONPha"ë*thon, n. Etym: [L., Phaëthon (in sense 1), fr. Gr. Phantom.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The son of Helios (Phoebus), that is, the son of light, or of the sun. He is fabled to have obtained permission to drive the chariot of the sun, in doing which his want of skill would have set the world on fire, had he not been struck with a thunderbolt by Jupiter, and hurled headlong into the river Po.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of oceanic birds including the tropic birds.
PHAETONPha"ë*ton, n. Etym: [F. phaéton a kind of carriage, fr. PhaéthonPhaëthon, the son of Helios. See Phaëthon.]
1. A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses.
2. See Phaëthon.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsome American butterfly (Euphydryas, or Melitæa, Phaëton). The upper side of the wings is black, with orange-red spots and marginal crescents, and several rows of cream-colored spots; — called also Baltimore.
PHAGEDENA Phag`e*de"na, n. Etym: [L. phagedaena, Gr. (Med.) (a) A canine appetite; bulimia. [Obs.] (b) Spreading, obstinate ulceration.
PHAGEDENIC; PHAGEDENICAL Phag`e*den"ic, Phag`e*den"ic*AL, a. Etym: [L. phagedaenicus, Gr. phagédénique.] (Med.)
Defn: Of, like, or pertaining to, phagedena; used in the treatment of phagedena; as, a phagedenic ulcer or medicine. — n.
Defn: A phagedenic medicine.
PHAGEDENOUSPhag`e*de"nous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Phagedenic.
PHAGOCYTEPhag"o*cyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A leucocyte which plays a part in retrogressive processes by taking up (eating), in the form of fine granules, the parts to be removed.
PHAINOPEPLAPha*i`no*pep"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small crested passerine bird (Phaïnopepla nitens), native of Mexico and the Southern United States. The adult male is of a uniform glossy blue-black; the female is brownish. Called also black flycatcher.
PHAKOSCOPEPhak"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for studying the mechanism of accommodation.
PHALAENAPha*læ"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A linnæan genus which included the moths in general.
PHALAENIDPha*læ"nid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any moth of the family Phalænidæ, of which the cankerworms are examples; a geometrid.
PHALANGEAL; PHALANGALPha*lan"ge*al, Pha*lan"gal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the phalanges. See Phalanx, 2.
PHALANGERPha*lan"ger, n. Etym: [Cf. F. phalanger. See Phalanx.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any marsupial belonging to Phalangista, Cuscus, Petaurus, and other genera of the family Phalangistidæ. They are arboreal, and the species of Petaurus are furnished with lateral parachutes. See Flying phalanger, under Flying.
PHALANGESPha*lan"ges, n.
Defn: , pl. of Phalanx.
PHALANGIAL; PHALANGIANPha*lan"gi*al, Pha*lan"gi*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Phalangeal.
PHALANGIDPha*lan"gid, n.; pl. Phalangides (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Phalangoidea.
PHALANGIOUSPha*lan"gi*ous, a. Etym: [L. phalangium a kind of venomous spider,Gr. Phalanx.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Phalangoidea.
PHALANGISTPha*lan"gist, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any arboreal marsupial of the genus Phalangista. The vulpine phalangist (P. vulpina) is the largest species, the full grown male being about two and a half feet long. It has a large bushy tail.
PHALANGISTER; PHALANGISTINEPhal`an*gis"ter, Phal`an*gis"tine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Phalangist.
PHALANGITEPhal"an*gite, n. Etym: [Gr. phalangite.]
Defn: A soldier belonging to a phalanx. [Obs.]
PHALANGOIDEA Phal`an*goi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Phalangium the daddy longlegs (see Phalangious) + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Arachnoidea, including the daddy longlegs or harvestman (Phalangium) and many similar kinds. They have long, slender, many-jointed legs; usually a rounded, segmented abdomen; and chelate jaws. They breathe by tracheæ. Called also Phalangides, Phalangidea, Phalangiida, and Opilionea.
PHALANSTEREPha`lan`stére", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A phalanstery.
PHALANSTERIANPhal`an*ste"ri*an, a. Etym: [F. phalanstérien, a. & n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to phalansterianism.
PHALANSTERIANPhal`an*ste"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who favors the system of phalansteries proposed by Fourier.
PHALANSTERISM; PHALANSTERIANISMPha*lan"ster*ism, Phal`an*ste"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: A system of phalansteries proposed by Fourier; Fourierism.
PHALANSTERYPhal"an*ster*y, n.; pl. -ies. Etym: [F. phalanstère, fr. Gr.
1. An association or community organized on the plan of Fourier. See Fourierism.
2. The dwelling house of a Fourierite community.
PHALANXPha"lanx, n.; pl. Phalanxes, L. Phalanges. Etym: [L., from Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A body of heavy-armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep. There were several different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from four to twenty-five or more ranks of men. "In cubic phalanx firm advanced." Milton. The Grecian phalanx, moveless as a tower. Pope.
2. Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any combination of people distinguished for firmness and solidity of a union. At present they formed a united phalanx. Macaulay. The sheep recumbent, and the sheep that grazed, All huddling into phalanx, stood and gazed. Cowper.
3. A Fourierite community; a phalanstery.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the digital bones of the hand or foot, beyond the metacarpus or metatarsus; an internode.
5. Etym: [pl. Phalanges.] (Bot.)
Defn: A group or bundle of stamens, as in polyadelphous flowers.
PHALAROPEPhal"a*rope, n. Etym: [Gr. phalarope.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Phalaropus and allied genera of small wading birds (Grallæ), having lobate toes. They are often seen far from land, swimming in large flocks. Called also sea goose.
PHALLICPhal"lic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the phallus, or to phallism.
PHALLICISMPhal"li*cism, n.
Defn: See Phallism.
PHALLISMPhal"lism, n.
Defn: The worship of the generative principle in nature, symbolized by the phallus.
PHALLUSPhal"lus, n.; pl. Phalli (. Etym: [L., a phallus (in sense 1), Gr.
1. The emblem of the generative power in nature, carried in procession in the Bacchic orgies, or worshiped in various ways.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The penis or clitoris, or the embryonic or primitive organ from which either may be derived.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of fungi which have a fetid and disgusting odor; the stinkhorn.
PHANAR Phan"ar, n. [Turk. fanar, fr. NGr. lighthouse, Gr. lantern; — from a lighthouse on a point projecting into the Golden Horn.]
Defn: A quarter of Constantinople which, after the Turkish conquest of the city, became the chief Greek quarter; hence, the Greek officials of Turkey, or phanariots, as a class.
PHANARIOT; PHANARIOTEPha*nar"i*ot, n. Also Pha*nar"i*ote. [NGr., fr. Phanar. See Phanar.]
Defn: One of the Greeks of Constantinople who after the Turkish conquest became powerful in clerical and other offices under Turkish patronage.
PHANEPhane, n.
Defn: See Fane. [Obs.] Joye.
PHANERITEPhan"er*ite, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Evident; visible. Phanerite series (Geol.), the uppermost part of the earth's crust, consisting of deposits produced by causes in obvious operation.
PHANEROCARPAEPhan`er*o*car"pæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Acraspeda.
PHANEROCODONICPhan`er*o*co*don"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an umbrella-shaped or bell-shaped body, with a wide, open cavity beneath; — said of certain jellyfishes.
PHANEROCRYSTALLINEPhan`er*o*crys"tal*line, a. Etym: [Gr. crystalline.] (Geol.)
Defn: Distinctly crystalline; — used of rocks. Opposed to Ant: cryptocrystalline.
PHANERODACTYLAPhan`er*o*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Saururæ.
PHANEROGAMIAPhan`er*o*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: That one of the two primary divisions of the vegetable kingdom which contains the phanerogamic, or flowering, plants.
PHANEROGAMIANPhan`er*o*ga"mi*an, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Phanerogamous.