PURIPur"i, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Euxanthin.
PURIFICATIONPu`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. purification, L. purificatio. SeePurify.]
1. The act of purifying; the act or operation of separating and removing from anything that which is impure or noxious, or heterogeneous or foreign to it; as, the purification of liquors, or of metals.
2. The act or operation of cleansing ceremonially, by removing any pollution or defilement. When the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished. Luke ii. 22.
3. A cleansing from guilt or the pollution of sin; the extinction of sinful desires, appetites, and inclinations.
PURIFICATIVEPu"ri*fi*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. purificatif.]
Defn: Having power to purify; tending to cleanse. [R.]
PURIFICATORPu"ri*fi*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, purifies; a purifier.
PURIFICATORYPu*rif"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. purificatorius.]
Defn: Serving or tending to purify; purificative.
PURIFIERPu"ri*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, purifies or cleanses; a cleanser; a refiner.
PURIFORMPu"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. pus, puris, pus + -form: cf. F. puriforme.](Med.)
Defn: In the form of pus.
PURIFYPu"ri*fy v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purified; p. pr. & vb. n. Purifying.]Etym: [F.purifier, L. purificare; purus pure + -ficare (in comp.) tomake. See Pure, and -fy.]
1. To make pure or clear from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.
2. Hence, in figurative uses: (a) To free from guilt or moral defilement; as, to purify the heart. And fit them so Purified to receive him pure. Milton.
(b) To free from ceremonial or legal defilement. And Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, . . . and purified the altar. Lev. viii. 15. Purify both yourselves and your captives. Num. xxxi. 19.
(c) To free from improprieties or barbarisms; as, to purify a language. Sprat.
PURIFYPu"ri*fy, v. i.
Defn: To grow or become pure or clear.
PURIMPu"rim, n. Etym: [Heb. pur, pl. purim, a lot.]
Defn: A Jewish festival, called also the Feast of Lots, instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the machinations of Haman. Esther ix. 26.
PURISMPur"ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. purisme.]
Defn: Rigid purity; the quality of being affectedly pure or nice, especially in the choice of language; over-solicitude as to purity. "His political purism." De Quincey. The English language, however, . . . had even already become too thoroughly and essentially a mixed tongue for his doctrine of purism to be admitted to the letter. Craik.
PURISTPur"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. puriste.]
1. One who aims at excessive purity or nicety, esp. in the choice of language. He [Fox] . . . purified vocabulary with a scrupulosity unknown to any purist. Macaulay.
2. One who maintains that the New Testament was written in pure Greek. M. Stuart.
PURISTIC; PURISTICALPu*ris"tic, Pu*ris"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to purists or purism.
PURITANPu"ri*tan, n. Etym: [From Purity.]
1. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who, in the time of Queen Elizabeth and the first two Stuarts, opposed traditional and formal usages, and advocated simpler forms of faith and worship than those established by law; — originally, a term of reproach. The Puritans formed the bulk of the early population of New England.
Note: The Puritans were afterward distinguished as PoliticalPuritans, Doctrinal Puritans, and Puritans in Discipline. Hume.
2. One who is scrupulous and strict in his religious life; — often used reproachfully or in contempt; one who has overstrict notions. She would make a puritan of the devil. Shak.
PURITANPu"ri*tan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Puritans; resembling, or characteristic of, the Puritans.
PURITANIC; PURITANICALPu`ri*tan"ic, Pu`ri*tan"ic*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the Puritans, or to their doctrines and practice.
2. Precise in observance of legal or religious requirements; strict; overscrupulous; rigid; — often used by way of reproach or contempt. Paritanical circles, from which plays and novels were strictly excluded. Macaulay. He had all the puritanic traits, both good and evil. Hawthorne.
PURITANICALLYPu`ri*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a puritanical manner.
PURITANISMPu"ri*tan*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines, notions, or practice of Puritans.
PURITANIZEPu"ri*tan*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puritanized; p. pr. & vb. n.Puritanizing.]
Defn: To agree with, or teach, the doctrines of Puritans; to conform to the practice of Puritans. Bp. Montagu.
PURITY Pu"ri*ty, n. Etym: [OE. purete, purte, OF. purté, F. pureté, from L. puritas, fr. purus pure. See Pure.]
Defn: The condition of being pure. Specifically: (a) freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals. (b) Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. "The purity of a linen vesture." Holyday. (c) Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life. (d) Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views. (e) Freedom from foreign idioms, or from barbarous or improper words or phrases; as, purity of style.
PURKINJE'S CELLSPur"kin*je's cells`. Etym: [From J. E. Purkinje, their discoverer.](Anat.)
Defn: Large ganglion cells forming a layer near the surface of the cerebellum.
PURLPurl, v. t. Etym: [Contr. fr. purfile, purfle. See Purfle.]
Defn: To decorate with fringe or embroidery. "Nature's cradle more enchased and purled." B. Jonson.
PURLPurl, n.
1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band. A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched withpurl and pearl. Sir P. Sidney .
2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance. Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2.
PURLPurl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Purled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purling.] Etym:[Cf. Sw. porla, and E. pur to murmur as a cat.]
1. To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions. Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, Louder and louder purl the falling rills. Pope.
2. Etym: [Perh. fr. F. perler to pearl, to bead. See Pearl, v. & n.]
Defn: To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle. thin winding breath which purled up to the sky. Shak.
PURLPurl, n. Etym: [See 3d Purl.]
1. A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple. Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls. Drayton.
2. A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook.
3. Etym: [Perh. from F.perler, v. See Purl to mantle.]
Defn: Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices. "Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite." Addison. "Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes." Dickens.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tern. [Prov. Eng.]
PURLIEU Pur"lieu, n. Etym: [Corrupted (by influence of lieu place) fr. OF. puralée, poralée (equiv. to LL. perambulatio a survey of boundaries, originally, a going through); por (L. pro, confused, however, with L. per through) + alée. See Pro-, and Alley.] [Written also pourlieu.]
1. Originally, the ground near a royal forest, which, having been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the former owners their rights. Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play. Milton.
2. Hence, the outer portion of any place; an adjacent district; environs; neighborhood. "The purlieus of St. James." brokers had been incessantly plying for custom in the purlieus of the court. Macaulay.
PURLIN; PURLINEPur"lin, Pur"line, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Arch.)
Defn: In root construction, a horizontal member supported on the principals and supporting the common rafters.
PURLINGPurl"ing, n. Etym: [See 3d Purl.]
Defn: The motion of a small stream running among obstructions; also, the murmur it makes in so doing.
PURLOINPur*loin", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purloined; p. pr. & vb. n.Purloining.] Etym: [OF. purloignier, porloignier, to retard, delay;pur, por, pour, for (L. pro) + loin far, far off (L. longe). SeeProlong, and cf. Eloign.]
Defn: To take or carry away for one's self; hence, to steal; to takeby theft; to filch.Had from his wakeful custody purloined The guarded gold. Milton.when did the muse from Fletcher scenes purloin Dryden.
PURLOINPur*loin", v. i.
Defn: To practice theft; to steal. Titus ii. 10.
PURLOINERPur*loin"er, n.
Defn: One who purloins. Swift.
PURPARTYPur"par`ty, n. Etym: [OF. pourpartie; pour for + partie a part; cf.OF. purpart a respective part.] (Law)
Defn: A share, part, or portion of an estate allotted to a coparcener. [Written also purpart, and pourparty.] I am forced to eat all the game of your purparties, as well as my own thirds. Walpole.
PURPLEPur"ple, n.; pl. Purples. Etym: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre,porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr.Gr. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]
1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue. Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend. Milton.
Note: The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates, hyacinth.
2. Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple. Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet. Ex. xxvi. 1.
3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. "He was born in the purple." Gibbon.
4. A cardinalate. See Cardinal.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple (B. arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any shell of the genus Purpura.
7. pl.(Med.)
Defn: See Purpura.
8. pl.
Defn: A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.
Note: Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles forming words of obvious signification; as, purple-colored, purple- hued, purple-stained, purple-tinged, purple-tinted, and the like. French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear. — Purple of Cassius. See Cassius. — Purple of mollusca (Zoöl.), a coloring matter derived from certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye. It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura, and Murex. — To be born in the purple, to be of princely birth; to be highborn.
PURPLEPur"ple, a.
1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color; as, a purple robe.
2. Imperial; regal; — so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority. Hide in the dust thy purple pride. Shelley.
3. Blood-red; bloody.May such purple tears be alway shed. Shak.I view a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple blood.Dryden.Purple bird (Zoöl.), the European purple gallinule. See underGallinule.— Purple copper ore. (Min.) See Bornite.— Purple grackle (Zoöl.), the crow blackbird. See under Crow.— Purple martin. See under Martin.— Purple sandpiper. See under Sandpiper.— Purple shell. See Ianthina.
PURPLEPur"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Purpling.]
Defn: To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, handspurpled with blood.When morn Purples the east. Milton.Reclining soft in blissful bowers, Purpled sweet with springingflowers. Fenton.
PURPLEHEARTPur"ple*heart`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A strong, durable, and elastic wood of a purplish color, obtained from several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Copaifera (C. pubiflora, bracteata, and officinalis). Used for decorative veneering. See Copaiba.
PURPLEWOODPur"ple*wood`, n.
Defn: Same as Purpleheart.
PURPLISHPur"plish, a.
Defn: Somewhat purple. Boyle.
PURPORT Pur"port, n. Etym: [OF. purport; pur, pour, for (L. pro) + porter to bear, carry. See Port demeanor.]
1. Design or tendency; meaning; import; tenor. The whole scope and purport of that dialogue. Norris. With a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell. Shak.
2. Disguise; covering. [Obs.] For she her sex under that strange purport Did use to hide. Spenser.
PURPORTPur"port, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purported; p. pr. & vb. n. Purporting.]Etym: [OF. purporter, pourporter. See Purport, n.]
Defn: To intend to show; to intend; to mean; to signify; to import; - - often with an object clause or infinitive. They in most grave and solemn wise unfolded Matter which little purported. Rowe.
PURPORTLESSPur"port*less, a.
Defn: Without purport or meaning.
PURPOSEPur"pose, n. Etym: [OF. purpos, pourpos, propos, L. propositum. SeePropound.]
1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan. He will his firste purpos modify. Chaucer. As my eternal purpose hath decreed. Milton. The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it. Shak.
2. Proposal to another; discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. Instance; example. [Obs.] L'Estrange. In purpose, Of purpose, On purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object; intentionally. On purpose is the form now generally used.
Syn.— design; end; intention; aim. See Design.
PURPOSEPur"pose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Purposing.]Etym: [OF. purposer, proposer. See Propose.]
1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.]
2. To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. Chaucer. Did nothing purpose against the state. Shak. I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living. Macaulay.
PURPOSEPur"pose, v. i.
Defn: To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.
PURPOSEDLYPur"posed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a purposed manner; according to purpose or design;purposely.A poem composed purposedly of the Trojan war. Holland.
PURPOSEFULPur"pose*ful, a.
Defn: Important; material. "Purposeful accounts." Tylor.— Pur"pose*ful*ly, adv.
PURPOSELESSPur"pose*less, a.
Defn: Having no purpose or result; objectless. Bp. Hall.— Pur"pose*less*ness, n.
PURPOSELYPur"pose*ly, adv.
Defn: With purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination; designedly. In composing this discourse, I purposely declined all offensive and displeasing truths. Atterbury. So much they scorn the crowd, that if the throng By chance go right, they purposely go wrong. Pope.
PURPOSERPur"pos*er, n.
1. One who brings forward or proposes anything; a proposer. [Obs.]
2. One who forms a purpose; one who intends.
PURPOSIVEPur"po*sive, a.
Defn: Having or indicating purpose or design. "Purposive characters."Bastian.Purposive modification of structure in a bone. Owen.It is impossible that the frog should perform actions morepurposivethan these. Huxley.
PURPREPur"pre, n. & a.
Defn: Purple. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PURPRESTUREPur*pres"ture, n. Etym: [Probably corrupted (see Prest) fr. OF.pourprisure, fr. pourprendre: cf. LL. purprestura. Cf. Purprise.](Law)
Defn: Wrongful encroachment upon another's property; esp., any encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be common or public, as highways, rivers, harbors, forts, etc. [Written also pourpresture.]
PURPRISE Pur"prise, n. Etym: [OF. pourpris,fr. pourprendre to take away entirely; pour for + prendre to take.]
Defn: A close or inclosure; the compass of a manor. Bacon.
PURPURAPur"pu*ra, n. Etym: [L., purple, purple fish: cf. F. purpura. SeePurple.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A disease characterized by livid spots on the skin from extravasated blood, with loss of muscular strength, pain in the limbs, and mental dejection; the purples. Dunglison.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine gastropods, usually having a rough and thick shell. Some species yield a purple dye.
PURPURATEPur"pu*rate, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to purpura.
PURPURATEPur"pu*rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of purpuric acid.
PURPUREPur"pure, n. Etym: [L. purpura purple. See Purple.] (Her.)
Defn: Purple, — represented in engraving by diagonal lines declining from the right top to the left base of the escutcheon (or from sinister chief to dexter base).
PURPUREALPur*pu"re*al, a.
Defn: Of a purple color; purple.
PURPUREO-Pur*pu"re*o-.
Defn: A combining form signifying of a purple or purple-red color. Specif. (Chem.), used in designating certain brilliant purple-red compounds of cobaltic chloride and ammonia, similar to the roseocobaltic compounds. See Cobaltic.
PURPURICPur*pu"ric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. purpurique.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to purpura. Dunglison.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to or designating, a nitrogenous acid contained in uric acid. It is not known in the pure state, but forms well-known purple-red compounds (as murexide), whence its name.
Note: Purpuric acid was formerly used to designate murexan. SeeMurexan.
PURPURINPur"pu*rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A dyestuff resembling alizarin, found in madder root, and extracted as an orange or red crystalline substance.
PURPURIPAROUSPur`pu*rip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. purpura purple + parere to produce.](Biol.)
Defn: Producing, or connected with, a purple-colored secretion; as, the purpuriparous gland of certain gastropods.
PURPUROGENOUSPur`pu*rog"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. purpura purple + -genous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having the power to produce a purple color; as, the purpurogenous membrane, or choroidal epithelium, of the eye. See Visual purple, under Visual.
PURRPurr, v. i. & t.
Defn: To murmur as a cat. See Pur.
PURRPurr, n.
Defn: The low murmuring sound made by a cat; pur. See Pur.
PURREPurre, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dunlin. [Prov. Eng.]
PURREEPur"ree, n. Etym: [Hind. peori yellow.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow coloring matter. See Euxanthin.
PURROCKPur"rock, n.
Defn: See Puddock, and Parrock.
PURSEPurse, n. Etym: [OE. purs, pors, OF. burse, borse, bourse, F. bourse,LL. bursa, fr. Gr. Bourse, Bursch, Bursar, Buskin.]
1. A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw together closely, used to carry money in; by extension, any receptacle for money carried on the person; a wallet; a pocketbook; a portemonnaie. Chaucer. Who steals my purse steals trash. Shak.
2. Hence, a treasury; finances; as, the public purse.
3. A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse.
4. A specific sum of money; as: (a) In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters. (b) In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans. Light purse, or Empty purse, poverty or want of resources. — Long purse, or Heavy purse, wealth; riches. — Purse crab (Zoöl.), any land crab of the genus Birgus, allied to the hermit crabs. They sometimes weigh twenty pounds or more, and are very strong, being able to crack cocoanuts with the large claw. They chiefly inhabit the tropical islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, living in holes and feeding upon fruit. Called also palm crab. — Purse net, a fishing net, the mouth of which may be closed or drawn together like a purse. Mortimer. Purse pride, pride of money; insolence proceeding from the possession of wealth. Bp. Hall. — Purse rat. (Zoöl.) See Pocket gopher, under Pocket. — Sword and purse, the military power and financial resources of a nation.
PURSEPurse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pursing.]
1. To put into a purse. I will go and purse the ducats straight. Shak.
2. To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles, like the mouth of a purse; to pucker; to knit. Thou . . . didst contract and purse thy brow. Shak.
PURSEPurse, v. i.
Defn: To steal purses; to rob. [Obs. & R.]I'll purse: . . . I'll bet at bowling alleys. Beau. & Fl.
PURSEFULPurse"ful, n.; pl. Pursefuls (.
Defn: All that is, or can be, contained in a purse; enough to fill a purse.
PURSE-PROUDPurse"-proud`, a.
Defn: Affected with purse pride; puffed up with the possession of riches.
PURSERPurs"er, n. Etym: [See Purse, and cf. Bursar.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A commissioned officer in the navy who had charge of the provisions, clothing, and public moneys on shipboard; — now called paymaster.
2. A clerk on steam passenger vessels whose duty it is to keep the accounts of the vessels, such as the receipt of freight, tickets, etc.
3. Colloquially, any paymaster or cashier. Purser's name (Naut.), a false name. [Slang]
PURSERSHIPPurs"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of purser. Totten.
PURSETPurs"et, n.
Defn: A purse or purse net. B. Jonson.
PURSINESSPur"si*ness, n.
Defn: State of being pursy.
PURSIVEPur"sive, a.
Defn: Pursy. [Obs.] Holland.
PURSIVENESSPur"sive*ness, n.
Defn: Pursiness. [Obs. & R.]
PURSLAINPurs"lain, n.
Defn: Same as Purslane.
PURSLANE Purs"lane, n. Etym: [OF. porcelaine, pourcelaine (cf. It. porcellana), corrupted fr. L. porcilaca for portulaca.] (Bot.)
Defn: An annual plant (Portulaca oleracea), with fleshy, succulent, obovate leaves, sometimes used as a pot herb and for salads, garnishing, and pickling. Flowering purslane, or Great flowered purslane, the Portulaca grandiflora. See Portulaca. — Purslane tree, a South African shrub (Portulacaria Afra) with many small opposite fleshy obovate leaves. — Sea purslane, a seashore plant (Arenaria peploides) with crowded opposite fleshy leaves. — Water purslane, an aquatic plant (Ludwiqia palustris) but slightly resembling purslane.
PURSUABLEPur*su"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or fit to be, pursued, followed, or prosecuted. Sherwood.
PURSUALPur*su"al, n.
Defn: The act of pursuit. [R.]
PURSUANCEPur*su"ance, n. Etym: [See Pursuant.]
1. The act of pursuing or prosecuting; a following out or after. Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new nothings, but pursuances of old truths. Jer. Taylor.
2. The state of being pursuant; consequence. In pursuance of, in accordance with; in prosecution or fulfillment of.
PURSUANTPur*su"ant, a. Etym: [From Pursue: cf. OE. poursuiant. Cf.Pursuivant.]
Defn: Acting in consequence or in prosecution (of anything); hence, agreeable; conformable; following; according; — with to or of. The conclusion which I draw from these premises, pursuant to the query laid down, is, etc. Waterland.
PURSUANT; PURSUANTLYPur*su"ant, Pur*su"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: Agreeably; conformably.
PURSUE Pur*sue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursued; p. pr. & vb. n. Pursuing.] Etym: [OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.]
1. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain. Prior. The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing. Longfellow.
2. To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law. The fame of ancient matrons you pursue. Dryden.
3. To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.
4. To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue. " Insatiate to pursue vain war." Milton.
5. To follow as an example; to imitate.
6. To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also. Wyclif (John xv. 20).
Syn.— To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.
PURSUEPur*sue", v. i.
1. To go in pursuit; to follow. The wicked flee when no man pursueth. Prov. xxviii. 1. Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition. Earle.
2. To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.
Note: [A Gallicism]I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider.Boyle.
3. (Law)
Defn: To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Burrill.
PURSUERPur*su"er, n.
1. One who pursues or chases; one who follows in haste, with a view to overtake.
2. (Eccl. & Scots Law)
Defn: A plaintiff; a prosecutor.
PURSUITPur*suit", n. Etym: [F. poursuite, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, v. t.]
1. The act of following or going after; esp., a following with haste, either for sport or in hostility; chase; prosecution; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an enemy. Clarendon. Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit. Shak.
2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.
3. Course of business or occupation; continued employment with a view to same end; as, mercantile pursuits; a literary pursuit.
4. (Law)
Defn: Prosecution. [Obs.] That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court. Fuller. Curve of pursuit (Geom.), a curve described by a point which is at each instant moving towards a second point, which is itself moving according to some specified law.
PURSUIVANT Pur"sui*vant, n. Etym: [F. poursuivant, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, and cf. Pursuant.] [Written also poursuivant.]
1. (Heralds' College)
Defn: A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; — called also pursuivant at arms; an attendant of the heralds. Also used figuratively. The herald Hope, forerunning Fear, And Fear, the pursuivant of Hope. Longfellow.
2. The king's messenger; a state messenger. One pursuivant who attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered. Macaulay.
PURSUIVANTPur"sui*vant, v. t.
Defn: To pursue. [Obs. & R.]Their navy was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest. Fuller.
PURSYPur"sy, a. Etym: [OF. pourcif, poulsif, poussif, fr. pousser to push,thrust, heave, OF. also poulser: cf. F. pousse the heaves, asthma.See Push.]
Defn: Fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering; as, pursy insolence. Shak. Pursy important he sat him down. Sir W. Scot.
PURTENANCEPur"te*nance, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. appurtenance.]
Defn: That which pertains or belongs to something; esp., the heard,liver, and lungs of an animal. [Obs.] " The purtenaunces ofpurgatory." Piers Plowman.Roast [it] with fire, his head with his legs, and with the purtenance[Rev. Ver., inwards] thereof. Ex. xii. 9.
PURULENCE; PURULENCY Pu"ru*lence, Pu"ru*len*cy, n. Etym: [L. purulentia: cf. F. purulence.] (Med.)
Defn: The quality or state of being purulent; the generation of pus; also, the pus itself. Arbuthnot.
PURULENTPu"ru*lent, a. Etym: [L. purulentus, fr. pus, puris, pus, matter: cf.F. purulent. See Pus.] (Med.)
Defn: Consisting of pus, or matter; partaking of the nature of pus; attended with suppuration; as, purulent inflammation.
PURULENTLYPu"ru*lent*ly, v.
Defn: In a purulent manner.
PURVEANCE; PURVEIAUNCEPur"ve*ance, Pur"vei*aunce`, n.
Defn: Purveyance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PURVEYPur*vey", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purveyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Purveying.]Etym: [OE. purveien, porveien, OF. porveeir, porveoir, F. pourvoir,fr. L. providere. See Provide, and cf. Purview.]
1. To furnish or provide, as with a convenience, provisions, or the like. Give no odds to your foes, but do purvey Yourself of sword before that bloody day. Spenser.
2. To procure; to get. I mean to purvey me a wife after the fashion of the children of Benjamin. Sir W. Scot.
PURVEYPur*vey", v. i.
1. To purchase provisions; to provide; to make provision. Chaucer. Milton.
2. To pander; — with to. " Their turpitude purveys to their malice." [R.] Burke.
PURVEYANCEPur*vey"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. pourvoyance.]
1. The act or process of providing or procuring; providence; foresight; preparation; management. Chaucer. The ill purveyance of his page. Spenser.
2. That which is provided; provisions; food.
3. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A providing necessaries for the sovereign by buying them at an appraised value in preference to all others, and oven without the owner's consent. This was formerly a royal prerogative, but has long been abolished. Wharton.
PURVEYORPur*vey"or, n. Etym: [OE. porveour, OF. pourveor, F. pourvoyeur. SeePurvey, and cf. Proveditor.]
1. One who provides victuals, or whose business is to make provision for the table; a victualer; a caterer.
2. An officer who formerly provided, or exacted provision, for the king's household. [Eng.]
3. a procurer; a pimp; a bawd. Addison.
PURVIEW Pur"view, n. Etym: [OF. purveu, pourveu, F. pourvu, provided, p. p. of OF. porveoir, F. pourvoir. See Purvey, View, and cf. Proviso.]
1. (a) (Law) The body of a statute, or that part which begins with " Be it enacted, " as distinguished from the preamble. Cowell. (b) Hence:
Defn: The limit or scope of a statute; the whole extent of its intention or provisions. Marshall. Profanations within the purview of several statutes. Bacon.
2. Limit or sphere of authority; scope; extent. In determining the extent of information required in the exercise of a particular authority, recourse must be had to the objects within the purview of that authority. Madison.
PUSPus, n. Etym: [L., akin to Gr. foul: cf. F. pus. See Foul, a.] (Med.)
Defn: The yellowish white opaque creamy matter produced by the process of suppuration. It consists of innumerable white nucleated cells floating in a clear liquid.
PUSANEPu"sane, n. (Anc. Armor)
Defn: A piece of armor for the breast; often, an addition to, or reënforcement of. the breastplate; — called also pesane.
PUSEYISMPu"sey*ism, n. (Ch. of Eng.)
Defn: The principles of Dr. Pusey and others at Oxford, England, as exhibited in various publications, esp. in a series which appeared from 1833 to 1841, designated " Tracts for the Times;" tractarianism. See Tractarianism.
PUSEYISTIC; PUSEYITEPu"sey*is"tic, Pu"sey*ite, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Puseyism.
PUSEYITEPu"sey*ite, n.
Defn: One who holds the principles of Puseyism; — often used opprobriously.
PUSHPush, n. Etym: [Probably F. poche. See Pouch.]
Defn: A pustule; a pimple. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Bacon.
PUSHPush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pushing.] Etym:[OE. possen, pussen, F. pousser, fr. L. pulsare, v. intens. fr.pellere, pulsum, to beat, knock, push. See Pulse a beating, and cf.Pursy.]
1. To press against with force; to drive or impel by pressure; to endeavor to drive by steady pressure, without striking; — opposed to draw. Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat. Milton.
2. To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore. If the ox shall push a manservant or maidservant, . . . the ox shall be stoned. Ex. xxi. 32.
3. To press or urge forward; to drive; to push an objection too far. " To push his fortune." Dryden. Ambition pushes the soul to such actions as are apt to procure honor to the actor. Spectator. We are pushed for an answer. Swift.
4. To bear hard upon; to perplex; to embarrass.
5. To importune; to press with solicitation; to tease. To push down, to overthrow by pushing or impulse.
PUSHPush, v. i.
1. To make a thrust; to shove; as, to push with the horns or with a sword. Shak.
2. To make an advance, attack, or effort; to be energetic; as, a man must push in order to succeed. At the time of the end shall the kind of the south push at him and the king of the north shall come against him. Dan. xi. 40. War seemed asleep for nine long years; at length Both sides resolved to push, we tried our strength. Dryden.
3. To burst pot, as a bud or shoot. To push on, to drive or urge forward; to hasten. The rider pushed on at a rapid pace. Sir W. Scott.
PUSHPush, n.
1. A thrust with a pointed instrument, or with the end of a thing.
2. Any thrust. pressure, impulse, or force, or force applied; a shove; as, to give the ball the first push.
3. An assault or attack; an effort; an attempt; hence, the time or occasion for action. Exact reformation is not perfected at the first push. Milton. hen it comes to the push, tic no more than talk. L' Estrange.
4. The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push, or he has no push. [Colloq.]
Syn.— See Thrust.
PUSH BUTTONPush button. (Elec.)
Defn: A simple device, resembling a button in form, so arranged that pushing it closes an electric circuit, as of an electric bell.
PUSHERPush"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, pushes.
PUSHINGPush"ing, a.
Defn: Pressing forward in business; enterprising; driving; energetic; also, forward; officious, intrusive. — Push"ing*ly, adv.
PUSHPINPush"pin`, n.
Defn: A child's game played with pins. L. Estrange.
PUSILPu"sil, a. Etym: [L. pusillus very little.]
Defn: Very small; little; petty. [Obs.] Bacon.
PUSILLANIMITY Pu`sil*la*nim"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pusillanimitas: cf. F. pusillanimité.]
Defn: The quality of being pusillanimous; weakness of spirit;cowardliness.The badge of pusillanimity and cowardice. Shak.It is obvious to distinguished between an act of . . . pusillanimityand an act of great modesty or humility. South.
Syn.— Cowardliness; cowardice; fear; timidity.
PUSILLANIMOUS Pu`sil*lan"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. pusillannimis; pusillus very little (dim. of pusus a little boy; cf. puer a boy, E. puerile) + animus the mind: cf. F. pusillanime. See Animosity.]
1. Destitute of a manly or courageous strength and firmness of mind; of weak spirit; mean-spirited; spiritless; cowardly; — said of persons, as, a pussillanimous prince.
2. Evincing, or characterized by, weakness of mind, and want of courage; feeble; as, pusillanimous counsels. "A low and pusillanimous spirit." Burke.
Syn. — Cowardly; dastardly; mean-spirited; fainthearted; timid; weak; feeble.
PUSILLANIMOUSLYPu`sil*lan"i*mous*ly, adv.
Defn: With pusillanimity.
PUSLEYPus"ley, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Purslane. [Colloq. U. S]
PUSSPuss (puss), n. Etym: [Cf. D. poes, Ir. & Gael. pus.]
1. A cat; — a fondling appellation.
2. A hare; — so called by sportsmen. Puss in the corner, a game in which all the players but one occupy corners of a room, or certain goals in the open air, and exchange places, the one without a corner endeavoring to get a corner while it is vacant, leaving some other without one. — Puss moth (Zoöl.), any one of several species of stout bombycid moths belonging to Cerura, Harpyia, and allied genera, esp. Harpyia vinuli, of Europe. The larvæ are humpbacked, and have two caudal appendages.
PUSSYPussy, n. Etym: [Dim. of puss.]
1. A pet name for a cat; also, an endearing name for a girl.
2. A catkin of the pussy willow.
3. The game of tipcat; — also called pussy cat. Pussy willow (Bot.), any kind of willow having large cylindrical catkins clothed with long glossy hairs, especially the American Salix discolor; — called also glaucous willow, and swamp willow.
PUSSYPus"sy, a.
Defn: See Pursy. [Colloq. or Low]
PUSTULANTPus"tu*lant, a. Etym: [L. pustulans, p. pr. See Pustulate, v. t.](Med.)
Defn: Producing pustules.— n.
Defn: A medicine that produces pustules, as croton oil.
PUSTULARPus"tu*lar, a.
Defn: 1. Of or pertaining to pustules; as, pustular prominences; pustular eruptions.
2. Covered with pustulelike prominences; pustulate.
PUSTULATE Pus"tu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. pustulatus, p. p. of pustulare to blister, fr. pustula. See Pustule.]
Defn: To form into pustules, or blisters.
PUSTULATE; PUSTULATEDPus"tu*late, Pus"tu*la`ted, a.
Defn: Covered with pustulelike prominences; pustular; pustulous; as, a pustulate leaf; a pustulate shell or coral.
PUSTULATIONPus*tu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. pustulatio.]
Defn: The act of producing pustules; the state of being pustulated.
PUSTULEPus"tule, n. Etym: [L. pustula, and pusula: cf. F. pustule.] (Med.)
Defn: A vesicle or an elevation of the cuticle with an inflamed base, containing pus. Malignant pustule. See under Malignant.
PUSTULOUS Pus"tu*lous, a. Etym: [L. pustulosus, fr. pustula a pustule: cf. F. pustuleux.]
Defn: Resembling, or covered with, pustules; pustulate; pustular.
PUTPut, n. Etym: [See Pit.]
Defn: A pit. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PUTPut, obs.
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pres. of Put, contracted from putteth. Chaucer.
PUT Put, n. Etym: [Cf. W. pwt any short thing, pwt o ddyn a squab of a person, pwtog a short, thick woman.]
Defn: A rustic; a clown; an awkward or uncouth person.Queer country puts extol Queen Bess's reign. Bramston.What droll puts the citizens seem in it all. F. Harrison.
PUT Put, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Put; p. pr. & vb. n. Putting.] Etym: [AS. potian to thrust: cf. Dan. putte to put, to put into, Fries. putje; perh. akin to W. pwtio to butt, poke, thrust; cf. also Gael. put to push, thrust, and E. potter, v. i.]
1. To move in any direction; to impel; to thrust; to push; — nearly obsolete, except with adverbs, as with by (to put by = to thrust aside; to divert); or with forth (to put forth = to thrust out). His chief designs are . . . to put thee by from thy spiritual employment. Jer. Taylor.
2. To bring to a position or place; to place; to lay; to set; figuratively, to cause to be or exist in a specified relation, condition, or the like; to bring to a stated mental or moral condition; as, to put one in fear; to put a theory in practice; to put an enemy to fight. This present dignity, In which that I have put you. Chaucer. I will put enmity between thee and the woman. Gen. iii. 15. He put no trust in his servants. Job iv. 18. When God into the hands of their deliverer Puts invincible might. Milton. In the mean time other measures were put in operation. Sparks.
3. To attach or attribute; to assign; as, to put a wrong construction on an act or expression.
4. To lay down; to give up; to surrender. [Obs.] No man hath more love than this, that a man put his life for his friends. Wyclif (John xv. 13).
5. To set before one for judgment, acceptance, or rejection; to bring to the attention; to offer; to state; to express; figuratively, to assume; to suppose; — formerly sometimes followed by that introducing a proposition; as, to put a question; to put a case. Let us now put that ye have leave. Chaucer. Put the perception and you put the mind. Berkeley. These verses, originally Greek, were put in Latin. Milton. All this is ingeniously and ably put. Hare.
6. To incite; to entice; to urge; to constrain; to oblige.These wretches put us upon all mischief. Swift.Put me not use the carnal weapon in my own defense. Sir W. Scott.Thank him who puts me, loath, to this revenge. Milton.
7. To throw or cast with a pushing motion "overhand," the hand being raised from the shoulder; a practice in athletics; as, to put the shot or weight.
8. (Mining)
Defn: To convey coal in the mine, as from the working to the tramway. Raymond. Put case, formerly, an elliptical expression for, put or suppose the case to be. Put case that the soul after departure from the body may live. Bp. Hall. — To put about (Naut.), to turn, or change the course of, as a ship. — To put away. (a) To renounce; to discard; to expel. (b) To divorce. — To put back. (a) To push or thrust backwards; hence, to hinder; to delay. (b) To refuse; to deny. Coming from thee, I could not put him back. Shak. (c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to an earlier hour. (d) To restore to the original place; to replace. — To put by. (a) To turn, set, or thrust, aside. "Smiling put the question by." Tennyson. (b) To lay aside; to keep; to sore up; as, to put by money. — To put down. (a) To lay down; to deposit; to set down. (b) To lower; to diminish; as, to put down prices. (c) To deprive of position or power; to put a stop to; to suppress; to abolish; to confute; as, to put down rebellion of traitors. Mark, how a plain tale shall put you down. Shak. Sugar hath put down the use of honey. Bacon. (d) To subscribe; as, to put down one's name. — To put forth. (a) To thrust out; to extend, as the hand; to cause to come or push out; as, a tree puts forth leaves. (b) To make manifest; to develop; also, to bring into action; to exert; as, to put forth strength. (c) To propose, as a question, a riddle, and the like. (d) To publish, as a book. — To put forward. (a) To advance to a position of prominence responsibility; to promote. (b) To cause to make progress; to aid. (c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to a later hour. — To put in. (a) To introduce among others; to insert; sometimes, to introduce with difficulty; as, to put in a word while others are discoursing. (b) (Naut.) To conduct into a harbor, as a ship. (c) (Law) To place in due form before a court; to place among the records of a court. Burrill. (d) (Med.) To restore, as a dislocated part, to its place. — To put off. (a) To lay aside; to discard; as, to put off a robe; to put off mortality. "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet." Ex. iii. 5. (b) To turn aside; to elude; to disappoint; to frustrate; to baffle. I hoped for a demonstration, but Themistius hoped to put me off with an harangue. Boyle. We might put him off with this answer. Bentley. (c) To delay; to defer; to postpone; as, to put off repentance. (d) To get rid of; to dispose of; especially, to pass fraudulently; as, to put off a counterfeit note, or an ingenious theory. (e) To push from land; as, to put off a boat. — To put on or upon. (a) To invest one's self with, as clothes; to assume. "Mercury . . . put on the shape of a man." L'Estrange. (b) To impute (something) to; to charge upon; as, to put blame on or upon another. (c) To advance; to promote. [Obs.] "This came handsomely to put on the peace." Bacon. (d) To impose; to inflict. "That which thou puttest on me, will I bear." 2 Kings xviii. 14. (e) To apply; as, to put on workmen; to put on steam. (f) To deceive; to trick. "The stork found he was put upon." L'Estrange. (g) To place upon, as a means or condition; as, he put him upon bread and water. "This caution will put them upon considering." Locke. (h) (Law) To rest upon; to submit to; as, a defendant puts himself on or upon the country. Burrill. — To put out. (a) To eject; as, to put out and intruder. (b) To put forth; to shoot, as a bud, or sprout. (c) To extinguish; as, to put out a candle, light, or fire. (d) To place at interest; to loan; as, to put out funds. (e) To provoke, as by insult; to displease; to vex; as, he was put out by my reply. [Colloq.] (f) To protrude; to stretch forth; as, to put out the hand. (g) To publish; to make public; as, to put out a pamphlet. (h) To confuse; to disconcert; to interrupt; as, to put one out in reading or speaking. (i) (Law) To open; as, to put out lights, that is, to open or cut windows. Burrill. (j) (Med.) To place out of joint; to dislocate; as, to put out the ankle. (k) To cause to cease playing, or to prevent from playing longer in a certain inning, as in base ball. — To put over. (a) To place (some one) in authority over; as, to put a general over a division of an army. (b) To refer. For the certain knowledge of that knowledge of that truthput you o'er to heaven and to my mother. Shak. (c) To defer; to postpone; as, the court put over the cause to the next term. (d) To transfer (a person or thing) across; as, to put one over the river. — To put the hand to or unto. (a) To take hold of, as of an instrument of labor; as, to put the hand to the plow; hence, to engage in (any task or affair); as, to put one's hand to the work. (b) To take or seize, as in theft. "He hath not put his hand unto his neighbor's goods." Ex. xxii. 11. — To put through, to cause to go through all conditions or stages of a progress; hence, to push to completion; to accomplish; as, he put through a measure of legislation; he put through a railroad enterprise. [U.S.] — To put to. (a) To add; to unite; as, to put one sum to another. (b) To refer to; to expose; as, to put the safety of the state to hazard. "That dares not put it to the touch." Montrose. (c) To attach (something) to; to harness beasts to. Dickens. — To put to a stand, to stop; to arrest by obstacles or difficulties. — To put to bed. (a) To undress and place in bed, as a child. (b) To deliver in, or to make ready for, childbirth. — To put to death, to kill. — To put together, to attach; to aggregate; to unite in one. — To put this and that (or two and two) together, to draw an inference; to form a correct conclusion. — To put to it, to distress; to press hard; to perplex; to give difficulty to. "O gentle lady, do not put me to 't." Shak. — To put to rights, to arrange in proper order; to settle or compose rightly. — To put to the sword, to kill with the sword; to slay. — To put to trial, or on trial, to bring to a test; to try. — To put trust in, to confide in; to repose confidence in. — To put up. (a) To pass unavenged; to overlook; not to punish or resent; to put up with; as, to put up indignities. [Obs.] "Such national injuries are not to be put up." Addison. (b) To send forth or upward; as, to put up goods for sale. (d) To start from a cover, as game. "She has been frightened; she has been put up." C. Kingsley. (e) To hoard. "Himself never put up any of the rent." Spelman. (f) To lay side or preserve; to pack away; to store; to pickle; as, to put up pork, beef, or fish. (g) To place out of sight, or away; to put in its proper place; as, put up that letter. Shak. (h) To incite; to instigate; — followed by to; as, he put the lad up to mischief. (i) To raise; to erect; to build; as, to put up a tent, or a house. (j) To lodge; to entertain; as, to put up travelers. — To put up a job, to arrange a plot. [Slang]
Syn. — To place; set; lay; cause; produce; propose; state. — Put, Lay, Place, Set. These words agree in the idea of fixing the position of some object, and are often used interchangeably. To put is the least definite, denoting merely to move to a place. To place has more particular reference to the precise location, as to put with care in a certain or proper place. To set or to lay may be used when there is special reference to the position of the object.
PUTPut (put; often pût in def. 3), v. i.
1. To go or move; as, when the air first puts up. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To steer; to direct one's course; to go. His fury thus appeased, he puts to land. Dryden.
3. To play a card or a hand in the game called put. To put about (Naut.), to change direction; to tack. — To put back (Naut.), to turn back; to return. "The French . . . had put back to Toulon." Southey. — To put forth. (a) To shoot, bud, or germinate. "Take earth from under walls where nettles put forth." Bacon. (b) To leave a port or haven, as a ship. Shak. — To put in (Naut.), to enter a harbor; to sail into port. — To put in for. (a) To make a request or claim; as, to put in for a share of profits. (b) To go into covert; — said of a bird escaping from a hawk. (c) To offer one's self; to stand as a candidate for. Locke. — To put off, to go away; to depart; esp., to leave land, as a ship; to move from the shore. — To put on, to hasten motion; to drive vehemently. — To put over (Naut.), to sail over or across. — To put to sea (Naut.), to set sail; to begin a voyage; to advance into the ocean. — To put up. (a) To take lodgings; to lodge. (b) To offer one's self as a candidate. L'Estrange. — To put up to, to advance to. [Obs.] "With this he put up to my lord." Swift. — To put up with. (a) To overlook, or suffer without recompense, punishment, or resentment; as, to put up with an injury or affront. (b) To take without opposition or expressed dissatisfaction; to endure; as, to put up with bad fare.
PUTPut, n.
1. The act of putting; an action; a movement; a thrust; a push; as, the put of a ball. "A forced put." L'Estrange.
2. A certain game at cards. Young.
3. A privilege which one party buys of another to "put" (deliver) to him a certain amount of stock, grain, etc., at a certain price and date. [Brokers' Cant] A put and a call may be combined in one instrument, the holder of which may either buy or sell as he chooses at the fixed price. Johnson's Cyc.
PUTPut, n. Etym: [OF. pute.]
Defn: A prostitute. [Obs.]
PUTAGEPu"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [OF. putage.]
Defn: Prostitution or fornication on the part of a woman.
PUTAMENPu*ta"men, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: The shell of a nut; the stone of a drupe fruit. See Endocarp.
PUTANISMPu"tan*ism, n. Etym: [F. putanisme, fr. putain harlot.]
Defn: Habitual lewdness or prostitution of a woman; harlotry.
PUTATIVEPu"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. putativus, fr. putare, putatum, to reckon,suppose, adjust, prune, cleanse. See Pure, and cf. Amputate, Compute,Dispute, Impute.]
Defn: Commonly thought or deemed; supposed; reputed; as, the putative father of a child. "His other putative (I dare not say feigned) friends." E. Hall. Thus things indifferent, being esteemed useful or pious, became customary, and then came for reverence into a putative and usurped authority. Jer. Taylor.
PUTCHUCKPut*chuck", n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Pachak.
PUTEALPu"te*al, n. Etym: [L., fr. puteus well.] (Arch.)
Defn: An inclosure surrounding a well to prevent persons from falling into it; a well curb. Weale.
PUTELIPut"e*li, n.
Defn: Same as Patela.
PUTERYPu"ter*y, n. Etym: [OF. puterie.]
Defn: Putage. [Obs.]
PUTIDPu"tid, a. Etym: [L. putidus: cf. F. putide. Cf. Putrid.]
Defn: Rotten; fetid; stinking; base; worthless. Jer. Taylor. "Thy putid muse." Dr. H. More.
PUTIDITY; PUTIDNESSPu*tid"i*ty, Pu"tid*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being putrid.
PUTLOGPut"log`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: One of the short pieces of timber on which the planks forming the floor of a scaffold are laid, — one end resting on the ledger of the scaffold, and the other in a hole left in the wall temporarily for the purpose. Oxf. Gloss.
PUT-OFFPut"-off`, n.
Defn: A shift for evasion or delay; an evasion; an excuse.L'Estrange.
PUTOURPu"tour, n. Etym: [See Put a prostitute.]
Defn: A keeper of a brothel; a procurer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PUTREDINOUS Pu*tred"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. putredo rottenness, fr. putrere to be rotten. See Putrid.]
Defn: Proceeding from putrefaction, or partaking of the putrefactive process; having an offensive smell; stinking; rotten.
PUTREFACTIONPu`tre*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. putrefactio: cf. F. putréfaction. SeePutrefy.]
1. The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay of albuminous or other matter.
Note: Putrefaction is a complex phenomenon involving a multiplicity of chemical reactions, always accompanied by, and without doubt caused by, bacteria and vibriones; hence, putrefaction is a form of fermentation, and is sometimes called putrefaction fermentative. Putrefaction is not possible under conditions that preclude the development of living organisms. Many of the products of putrefaction are powerful poisons, and are called cadaveric poisons, or ptomaïnes.
2. The condition of being putrefied; also, that which putrefied. "Putrefaction's breath." Shelley.
PUTREFACTIVEPu`tre*fac"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. putréfactif. See Putrefy.]
1. Of or pertaining to putrefaction; as, the putrefactive smell or process. Wiseman.
2. Causing, or tending to promote, putrefaction.— Pu``tre*fac"tive*ness, n.
PUTREFY Pu"tre*fy, v. t. [Written also putrify.] [imp. & p. p. Putrefied (; p. pr. & vb. n. Putrefying (.] Etym: [F. putréfier; L. putrere to be rotten + -ficare (in. comp.) to make; cf. L. putrefacere. See Putrid, and -fy.]
1. To render putrid; to cause to decay offensively; to cause to be decomposed; to cause to rot.
2. To corrupt; to make foul. Private suits do putrefy the public good. Bacon. They would but stink, and putrefy the air. Shak.
3. To make morbid, carious, or gangrenous; as, to putrefy an ulcer or wound.
PUTREFYPu"tre*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become putrid; to decay offensively; to rot. Isa. 1. 6.
PUTRESCEPu*tresce", v. i. [See Putrescent.]
Defn: To become putrescent or putrid; to putrefy.
Ordinarily sewage does not putresce until from twenty-four to sixty hours after its discharge. Nature.
PUTRESCENCEPu*tres"cence, n.
Defn: The state of being putrescent; putrescent matter.
PUTRESCENT Pu*tres"cent, a. Etym: [L. putrescens, p. pr.of putrescere to grow rotten, v. incho. fr. putrere to be rotten. See Putrid.]
1. Becoming putrid or rotten. Externally powerful, although putrescent at the core. Motley.
2. Of or pertaining to the process of putrefaction; as, a putrescent smell.
PUTRESCIBLEPu*tres"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of putrefaction; liable to become putrid; as, putrescible substances.
PUTRESCIBLEPu*tres"ci*ble, n.
Defn: A substance, usually nitrogenous, which is liable to undergo decomposition when in contact with air and moisture at ordinary temperatures.