Part 28
Grafton.
2. With respect to an individual; as regards the person; individually;
## particularly.
She bore a mortal hatred to the house of Lancaster, and personally to the king.
Bacon.
3. With respect to one's individuality; as regards one's self; as, personally I have no feeling in the matter.
Per"son*al*ty (?), n. 1. The state of being a person; personality. [R.]
2. (Law) Personal property, as distinguished from realty or real property.
Per"son*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Personating (?).] [L. personare to cry out, LL., to extol. See Person.] To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise. [Obs.]
In fable, hymn, or song so personating Their gods ridiculous.
Milton.
Per"son*ate, v. t. [L. personatus masked, assumed, fictitious, fr. persona a mask. See Person.] 1. To assume the character of; to represent by a fictitious appearance; to act the part of; hence, to counterfeit; to feign; as, he tried to personate his brother; a personated devotion. Hammond.
2. To set forth in an unreal character; to disguise; to mask. [R.] "A personated mate." Milton.
3. To personify; to typify; to describe. Shak.
Per"son*ate, v. i. To play or assume a character.
Per"son*ate (?), a. [L. personatus masked.] (Bot.) Having the throat of a bilabiate corolla nearly closed by a projection of the base of the lower lip; masked, as in the flower of the snapdragon.
Per`son*a"tion (?), n. The act of personating, or conterfeiting the person or character of another.
Per"son*a`tor (?), n. One who personates. "The personators of these
## actions." B. Jonson.
Per`son*e"i*ty (?), n. Personality. [R.] Coleridge.
Per*son`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. personnification.] 1. The act of personifying; impersonation; embodiment. C. Knight.
2. (Rhet.) A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstract idea is represented as animated, or endowed with personality; prosopop&?;ia; as, the floods clap their hands. "Confusion heards his voice." Milton.
Per*son"i*fi`er (?), n. One who personifies.
Per*son"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Personified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Personifying (?).] [Person + -fy: cf. F. personnifier.] 1. To regard, treat, or represent as a person; to represent as a rational being.
The poets take the liberty of personifying inanimate things.
Chesterfield.
2. To be the embodiment or personification of; to impersonate; as, he personifies the law.
Per"son*ize (?), v. t. To personify. [R.]
Milton has personized them.
J. Richardson.
||Per`son`nel" (?), n. [F. See Personal.] The body of persons employed ||in some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; -- distinguished ||from matÈriel.
Per*spec"tive (?), a. [L. perspicere, perspectum, to look through; per + spicere, specere, to look: cf. F. perspectif; or from E. perspective, n. See Spy, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective.
Perspective plane, the plane or surface on which the objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of projection; -- distinguished from the ground plane, which is that on which the objects are represented as standing. When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the object, the perspective is called oblique perspective; when parallel to that face, parallel perspective. -- Perspective shell (Zoˆl.), any shell of the genus Solarium and allied genera. See Solarium.
Per*spec"tive, n. [F. perspective, fr. perspectif: cf. It. perspettiva. See Perspective, a.] 1. A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] "Not a perspective, but a mirror." Sir T. Browne.
2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista. "The perspective of life." Goldsmith.
3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more or less measurable distance. Hence, aÎrial perspective, the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in distant objects.
AÎrial perspective is the expression of space by any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness of color, etc.
Ruskin.
4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the eye; -- called also linear perspective.
5. A drawing in linear perspective.
Isometrical perspective, an inaccurate term for a mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of the diagonal of a cube. -- Perspective glass, a telescope which shows objects in the right position.
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Per*spec"tive*ly (?), adv. 1. Optically; as through a glass. [R.]
You see them perspectively.
Shak.
2. According to the rules of perspective.
Per*spec"to*graph (?), n. [L. perspectus (p. p. of perspicere to look through) + - graph.] An instrument for obtaining, and transferring to a picture, the points and outlines of objects, so as to represent them in their proper geometrical relations as viewed from some one point.
Per`spec*tog"ra*phy (?), n. The science or art of delineating objects according to the laws of perspective; the theory of perspective.
Per"spi*ca*ble (?), a. [L. perspicabilis, fr. perspicere.] Discernible. [Obs.] Herbert.
Per`spi*ca"cious (?), a. [L. perspicax, -acis, fr. perspicere to look through: cf. F. perspicace. See Perspective.] 1. Having the power of seeing clearly; quick-sighted; sharp of sight.
2. Fig.: Of acute discernment; keen.
-- Per`spi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`spi*ca"cious*ness, n.
Per`spi*cac"i*ty (?), n. [L. perspicacitas: cf. F. perspicacitÈ. See Perspicacious.] The state of being perspicacious; acuteness of sight or of intelligence; acute discernment. Sir T. Browne.
Per"spi*ca*cy (?), n. Perspicacity. [Obs.]
Per*spi"cience (?), n. [L. perspicientia, fr. perspiciens, p. p. of perspicere. See Perspective.] The act of looking sharply. [Obs.] Bailey.
Per"spi*cil (?), n. [LL. perspicilla, fr. L. perspicere to look through.] An optical glass; a telescope. [Obs.] Crashaw.
Per`spi*cu"i*ty (?), n. [L. perspicuitas: cf. F. perspicuitÈ.] 1. The quality or state of being transparent or translucent. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. The quality of being perspicuous to the understanding; clearness of expression or thought.
3. Sagacity; perspicacity.
Syn. -- Clearness; perspicuousness; plainness; distinctness; lucidity; transparency. See Clearness.
Per*spic"u*ous (?), a. [L. perspicuus, from perspicere to look through. See Perspective.] 1. Capable of being through; transparent; translucent; not opaque. [Obs.] Peacham.
2. Clear to the understanding; capable of being clearly understood; clear in thought or in expression; not obscure or ambiguous; as, a perspicuous writer; perspicuous statements. "The purpose is perspicuous." Shak.
-- Per*spic"u*ous*ly, adv. -- Per*spic"u*ous*ness, n.
Per*spir`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being perspirable.
Per*spir"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. perspirable.] 1. Capable of being perspired. Sir T. Browne.
2. Emitting perspiration; perspiring. [R.] Bacon.
Per`spi*ra"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. perspiration.] 1. The act or process of perspiring.
2. That which is excreted through the skin; sweat.
A man of average weight throws off through the skin during 24 hours about 18 ounces of water, 300 grains of solid matter, and 400 grains of carbonic acid gas. Ordinarily, this constant exhalation is not apparent, and the excretion is then termed insensible perspiration.
Per*spir"a*tive (?), a. Performing the act of perspiration; perspiratory.
Per*spir"a*to*ry (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or producing, perspiration; as, the perspiratory ducts.
Per*spire" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perspired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perspiring.] [L. perspirare to breathe through; per + spirare. See Per-, and Spirit.] 1. (Physiol.) To excrete matter through the skin; esp., to excrete fluids through the pores of the skin; to sweat.
2. To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin; as, a fluid perspires.
Per*spire", v. t. To emit or evacuate through the pores of the skin; to sweat; to excrete through pores.
Firs . . . perspire a fine balsam of turpentine.
Smollett.
Per*strep"er*ous (?), a. [L. perstrepere to make a great noise.] Noisy; obstreperous. [Obs.] Ford.
Per*stringe" (?), v. t. [L. perstringere; per + stringere to bind up, to touch upon.] 1. To touch; to graze; to glance on. [Obs.]
2. To criticise; to touch upon. [R.] Evelyn.
Per*suad"a*ble (?), a. That may be persuaded. -- Per*suad"a*ble*ness, n. -- Per*suad"a*bly, adv.
Per*suade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Persuaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Persuading.] [L. persuadere, persuasum; per + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. persuader. See Per- , and Suasion.] 1. To influence or gain over by argument, advice, entreaty, expostulation, etc.; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives.
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts xxvi. 28.
We will persuade him, be it possible.
Shak.
2. To try to influence. [Obsolescent]
Hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you.
2 Kings xviii. 32.
3. To convince by argument, or by reasons offered or suggested from reflection, etc.; to cause to believe.
Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you.
Heb. vi. 9.
4. To inculcate by argument or expostulation; to advise; to recommend. Jer. Taylor.
Syn. -- To convince; induce; prevail on; win over; allure; entice. See Convince.
Per*suade" (?), v. i. To use persuasion; to plead; to prevail by persuasion. Shak.
Per*suade", n. Persuasion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Per*suad"ed, p. p. & a. Prevailed upon; influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced. -- Per*suad"ed*ly, adv. -- Per*suad"ed*ness, n.
Per*suad"er (?), n. One who, or that which, persuades or influences. "Powerful persuaders." Milton.
Per*sua`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of being persuaded. Hawthorne.
Per*sua"si*ble (?), a. [Cf. L. persuasibilis persuasive, F. persuasible persuasible.] 1. Capable of being persuaded; persuadable.
2. Persuasive. [Obs.] Bale.
-- Per*sua"si*ble*ness, n. -- Per*sua"si*bly, adv.
Per*sua"sion (?), n. [L. persuasio; Cf. F. persuasion.] 1. The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, or by anything that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination.
For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion.
Otway.
2. The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction, which has been induced.
If the general persuasion of all men does so account it.
Hooker.
My firm persuasion is, at least sometimes, That Heaven will weigh man's virtues and his crimes With nice attention.
Cowper.
3. A creed or belief; a sect or party adhering to a certain creed or system of opinions; as, of the same persuasion; all persuasions are agreed.
Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.
Jefferson.
4. The power or quality of persuading; persuasiveness.
Is 't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion?
Shak.
5. That which persuades; a persuasive. [R.]
Syn. -- See Conviction.
Per*sua"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. persuasif.] Tending to persuade; having the power of persuading; as, persuasive eloquence. "Persuasive words." Milton.
Per*sua"sive, n. That which persuades; an inducement; an incitement; an exhortation. -- Per*sua"sive*ly, adv. -- Per*sua"sive*ness, n.
Per*sua"so*ry (?), a. Persuasive. Sir T. Browne.
Per*sul"phate (?), n. (Chem.) A sulphate of the peroxide of any base. [R.]
Per*sul"phide (?), n. (Chem.) A sulphide containing more sulphur than some other compound of the same elements; as, iron pyrites is a persulphide; -- formerly called persulphuret.
Per*sul`pho*cy"a*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of persulphocyanic acid. [R.]
Per*sul`pho*cy*an"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a yellow crystalline substance (called also perthiocyanic acid), analogous to sulphocyanic acid, but containing more sulphur.
Per*sul`pho*cy*an"o*gen (?), n. (Chem.) An orange-yellow substance, produced by the action of chlorine or boiling dilute nitric acid and sulphocyanate of potassium; -- called also pseudosulphocyanogen, perthiocyanogen, and formerly sulphocyanogen.
Per*sul"phu*ret (?), n. (Chem.) A persulphide. [Obs.]
Pert (?), a. [An aphetic form of OE. & OF. apert open, known, true, free, or impudent. See Apert.] 1. Open; evident; apert. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
2. Lively; brisk; sprightly; smart. [Obs.] Shak.
3. Indecorously free, or presuming; saucy; bold; impertinent. "A very pert manner." Addison.
The squirrel, flippant, pert, and full of play.
Cowper.
Pert, v. i. To behave with pertness. [Obs.] Gauden.
Per*tain" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pertained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pertaining.] [OE. partenen, OF. partenir, fr. L. pertinere to stretch out, reach, pertain; per + tenere to hold, keep. See Per-, and Tenable, and cf. Appertain, Pertinent.] 1. To belong; to have connection with, or dependence on, something, as an appurtenance, attribute, etc.; to appertain; as, saltness pertains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life.
Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them.
Hayward.
2. To have relation or reference to something.
These words pertain unto us at this time as they pertained to them at their time.
Latimer.
Per*ter`e*bra"tion (?), n. [L. perterebratus, p. p. of perterebrare to bore through.] The act of boring through. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
Per*thi`o*cy*an"o*gen (?), n. (Chem.) Same as Persulphocyanogen.
Perth"ite (?), n. [So called from Perth, in canada.] (Min.) A kind of feldspar consisting of a laminated intertexture of albite and orthoclase, usually of different colors. -- Per*thit"ic (#), a.
Per`ti*na"cious (?), a.[L. pertinax, -acis; per + tenax tenacious. See Per-, and Tenacious.] 1. Holding or adhering to any opinion, purpose, or design, with obstinacy; perversely persistent; obstinate; as, pertinacious plotters; a pertinacious beggar.
2. Resolute; persevering; constant; steady.
Diligence is a steady, constant, and pertinacious study.
South.
Syn. -- Obstinate; stubborn; inflexible; unyielding; resolute; determined; firm; constant; steady.
-- Per`ti*na"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`ti*na"cious*ness, n.
Per`ti*nac"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. pertinacitÈ.] The quality or state of being pertinacious; obstinacy; perseverance; persistency. Macaulay.
Syn. -- See Obstinacy.
Per"ti*na*cy (?), n. [L. pertinere to pertain. See Pertinence.] The quality or state of being pertinent; pertinence. [Obs.]
Per"ti*na*cy, n. [L. pertinacia, fr. pertinax. See Pertinacious.] Pertinacity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Per"ti*nate (?), a. Pertinacious. [Obs.]
Per"ti*nate*ly, adv. Pertinaciously. [Obs.]
{ Per"ti*nence (?), Per"ti*nen*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. pertinence. See Pertinent.] The quality or state of being pertinent; justness of relation to the subject or matter in hand; fitness; appositeness; relevancy; suitableness.
The fitness and pertinency of the apostle's discourse.
Bentley.
Per"ti*nent (?), a. [L. pertinens, -entis, p. pr. of pertinere: cf. F. pertinent. See Pertain.] 1. Belonging or related to the subject or matter in hand; fit or appropriate in any way; adapted to the end proposed; apposite; material; relevant; as, pertinent illustrations or arguments; pertinent evidence.
2. Regarding; concerning; belonging; pertaining. [R.] "Pertinent unto faith." Hooker.
Syn. -- Apposite; relevant; suitable; appropriate; fit.
-- Per"ti*nent*ly, adv. -- Per"ti*nent*ness, n.
Pert"ly (?), adv. In a pert manner.
Pert"ness, n. The quality or state of being pert.
Per*tran"sient (?), a. [L. pertransiens, p. pr. of pertransire.] Passing through or over. [R.]
Per*turb" (?), v. t. [L. perturbare, perturbatum; per + turbare to disturb, fr. turba a disorder: cf. OF. perturber. See Per-, and Turbid.] 1. To disturb; to agitate; to vex; to trouble; to disquiet.
Ye that . . . perturb so my feast with crying.
Chaucer.
2. To disorder; to confuse. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Per*turb`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being perturbable.
Per*turb"a*ble (?), a. Liable to be perturbed or agitated; liable to be disturbed or disquieted.
Per*turb"ance (?), n. Disturbance; perturbation. [R.] "Perturbance of the mind." Sharp.
Per"tur*bate (?), v. t. [From L. perturbatus, p. p.] To perturb. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Per"tur*bate (?), a. Perturbed; agitated. [R.]
Per`tur*ba"tion (?), n. [L. perturbatio: cf. F. perturbation.] 1. The act of perturbing, or the state of being perturbed; esp., agitation of mind.
2. (Astron.) A disturbance in the regular elliptic or other motion of a heavenly body, produced by some force additional to that which causes its regular motion; as, the perturbations of the planets are caused by their attraction on each other. Newcomb.
Per`tur*ba"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to perturbation, esp. to the perturbations of the planets. "The perturbational theory." Sir J. Herschel.
Per"tur*ba*tive (?), a. Tending to cause perturbation; disturbing. Sir J. Herschel.
Per"tur*ba`tor (?), n. A perturber. [R.]
Per*turbed" (?), a. Agitated; disturbed; troubled. Shak. -- Per*turb"ed*ly, adv.
Per*turb"er (?), n. One who, or that which, perturbs, or cause perturbation.
Per*tus"ate (?), a. [See Pertuse.] (Bot.) Pierced at the apex.
{ Per*tuse" (?), Per*tused" (?) }, a. [L. pertusus, p. p. of pertundere to beat or thrust through, to bore through; per + tundere to beat: cf. F. pertus. Cf. Pierce.] Punched; pierced with, or having, holes.
Per*tu"sion (?), n. [L. pertusio.] The act of punching or piercing with a pointed instrument; as, pertusion of a vein. [R.] Arbuthnot.
2. A punched hole; a perforation. Bacon.
||Per*tus"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. L. per through, very + tussis cough.] ||(Med.) The whooping cough.
Per"uke (?), n. [F. perruque, It. perrucca, parrucca, fr. L. pilus hair. Cf. Periwig, Wig, Peel to strip off, Plush, Pile a hair.] A wig; a periwig.
Per"uke, v. t. To dress with a peruke. [R.]
||Per"u*la (?), n.; pl. PerulÊ (#). [L., dim. of pera wallet, Gr. &?;: ||cf. F. pÈrule.] 1. (Bot.) One of the scales of a leaf bud.
2. (Bot.) A pouchlike portion of the perianth in certain orchides.
Per"ule (?), n. Same as Perula.
Pe*rus"al (?), n. [From Peruse.] 1. The act of carefully viewing or examining. [R.] Tatler.
2. The act of reading, especially of reading through or with care. Woodward.
Pe*ruse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perusing.] [Pref. per- + use.] 1. To observe; to examine with care. [R.]
Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed.
Milton.
2. To read through; to read carefully. Shak.
Pe*rus"er (?), n. One who peruses.
Pe*ru"vi*an (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈruvien, Sp. peruviano.] Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America. -- n. A native or an inhabitant of Peru.
Peruvian balsam. See Balsam of Peru, under Balsam. -- Peruvian bark, the bitter bark of trees of various species of Cinchona. It acts as a powerful tonic, and is a remedy for malarial diseases. This property is due to several alkaloids, as quinine, cinchonine, etc., and their compounds; -- called also Jesuit's bark, and cinchona. See Cinchona.
Per*vade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pervaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pervading.] [L. pervadere, pervasum; per + vadere to go, to walk. See Per-, and Wade.] 1. To pass or flow through, as an aperture, pore, or interstice; to permeate.
That labyrinth is easily pervaded.
Blackstone.
2. To pass or spread through the whole extent of; to be diffused throughout.
A spirit of cabal, intrigue, and proselytism pervaded all their thoughts, words, and actions.
Burke.
Per*va"sion (?), n. [L. pervasio. See Pervade.] The act of pervading, passing, or spreading through the whole extent of a thing. Boyle.
Per*va"sive (?), a. Tending to pervade, or having power to spread throughout; of a pervading quality. "Civilization pervasive and general." M. Arnold.
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Per*verse" (?), a. [L. perversus turned the wrong way, not right, p. p. of pervertereto turn around, to overturn: cf. F. pervers. See Pervert.] 1. Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.
The only righteous in a word perverse.
Milton.
2. Obstinate in the wrong; stubborn; intractable; hence, wayward; vexing; contrary.
To so perverse a sex all grace is vain.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Froward; untoward; wayward; stubborn; ungovernable; intractable; cross; petulant; vexatious. -- Perverse, Froward. One who is froward is capricious, and reluctant to obey. One who is perverse has a settled obstinacy of will, and likes or dislikes by the rule of contradiction to the will of others.
Per*versed" (?), a. Turned aside. [Obs.]
Per*vers"ed*ly (?), adv. Perversely. [Obs.]
Per*verse"ly, adv. In a perverse manner.
Per*verse"ness, n. The quality or state of being perverse. "Virtue hath some perverseness." Donne.
Per*ver"sion (?), n. [L. perversio: cf. F. perversion. See Pervert.] The act of perverting, or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use. "Violations and perversions of the laws." Bacon.
Per*ver"si*ty (?), n. [L. perversitas: cf. F. perversitÈ.] The quality or state of being perverse; perverseness.
Per*ver"sive (?), a.Tending to pervert.
Per*vert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Perverting.] [F. pervertir, L. pervertere, perversum; per + vertere to turn. See Per-, and Verse.] 1. To turnanother way; to divert. [Obs.]
Let's follow him, and pervert the present wrath.
Shak.
2. To turn from truth, rectitude, or propriety; to divert from a right use, end, or way; to lead astray; to corrupt; also, to misapply; to misinterpret designedly; as, to pervert one's words. Dryden.
He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve.
Milton.
Per*vert", v. i. To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [R.] Testament of Love.
Per"vert (?), n. One who has been perverted; one who has turned to error, especially in religion; -- opposed to convert. See the Synonym of Convert.
That notorious pervert, Henry of Navarre.
Thackeray.
Per*vert"er (?), n. One who perverts (a person or thing). "His own parents his perverters." South. "A perverter of his law." Bp. Stillingfleet.
Per*vert"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being perverted.
Per*ves"ti*gate (?), v. t. [L. pervestigatus, p. p. of pervestigare.] To investigate thoroughly. [Obs.]
Per*ves`ti*ga"tion (?), n. [L. pervestigatio.] Thorough investigation. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
Per"vi*al (?), a. [See Pervious.] Pervious. [Obs.] -- Per"vi*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] Chapman.
Per`vi*ca"cious (?), a. [L. pervicax, -acis.] Obstinate; willful; refractory. [Obs.] -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ly, adv. -- Per`vi*ca"cious*ness, n. [Obs.]
Per`vi*cac"i*ty (?), n. Obstinacy; pervicaciousness. [Obs.] Bentley.
Per"vi*ca*cy (?), n. [L. pervicacia.] Pervicacity. [Obs.]
Per*vig`i*la"tion (?), n. [L. pervigilatio, fr. pervigilare.] Careful watching. [Obs.]
Per"vi*ous (?), a. [L. pervis; per + via a way. See Per-, and Voyage.] 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. (Zoˆl.) Open; -- used synonymously with perforate, as applied to the nostrils or birds.
Per"vi*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being pervious; as, the perviousness of glass. Boyle.
Per"vis (?), n. See Parvis.
Per"y (?), n. A pear tree. See Pirie. [Obs.]
||Pes (?), n.; pl. Pedes . [L., the foot.] (Anat.) The distal segment ||of the hind limb of vertebrates, including the tarsus and foot.
Pe*sade" (?), n. [F.] (Man.) The motion of a horse when, raising his fore quarters, he keeps his hind feet on the ground without advancing; rearing.
Pes"age (?), n. [F., fr. peser to weigh.] A fee, or toll, paid for the weighing of merchandise.
Pes"ane (?), n. (Anc. Armor.) See Pusane.
Pes"ant*ed (?), a. [F. pesant heavy.] Made heavy or dull; debased. [Obs.] "Pesanted to each lewd thought's control." Marston.
Pe*schit"o (?), n. See Peshito.
Pese (?), n. [See Pea.] A pea. [Obs.] Chaucer.
||Pe*se"ta (?), n. [Sp.] A Spanish silver coin, and money of account, ||equal to about nineteen cents, and divided into 100 centesimos.
{ Pe*shit"o (?), Pe*shit"to (?), } n. [Syriac peshÓt‚ simple.] The earliest Syriac version of the Old Testament, translated from Hebrew; also, the incomplete Syriac version of the New Testament. [Written also peschito.]
Pes"ky (?), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Pestering; vexatious; troublesome. Used also as an intensive. [Colloq. & Low, U.S.] Judd.
||Pe"so (?), n. [Sp.] A Spanish dollar; also, an Argentine, Chilian, ||Colombian, etc., coin, equal to from 75 cents to a dollar; also, a ||pound weight.
Pes"sa*ry (?), n.; pl. Pessaries (#). [L. pessarium, pessum, pessus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. 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.
Pes"si*mism (?), n. [L. pessimus worst, superl. of pejor worse: cf. F. pessimisme. Cf. Impair.] 1. (Metaph.) 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 optimism.
2. A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.
Pes"si*mist (?), n. [L. pessimus worst: cf. F. pessimiste.] 1. (Metaph.) One who advocates the doctrine of pessimism; -- opposed to optimist.