Part 46
Pledge (?), n. [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. √28. Cf. Prebend, Replevin.] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.
Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see Mortgage]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See Hypotheca. Story. Kent.
2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. "I am Grumio's pledge." Shak.
3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.
4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. "That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope." Milton.
5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.
6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.
Dead pledge. [A translation of LL. mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage. -- Living pledge. [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits. -- To hold in pledge, to keep as security. -- To put in pledge, to pawn; to give as security.
Syn. -- See Earnest.
Pledge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pledging.] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See Pledge, n.] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.
2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor.
We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
The Declaration of Independence.
3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.]
To pledge my vow, I give my hand.
Shak.
4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self.
5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.
Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise.
Cowley.
Pledg*ee" (?), n. The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered.
Pledge"less (?), a. Having no pledge.
{ Pledge*or", Pledg*or" } (?), n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; -- opposed to pledgee.
This word analogically requires the e after g, but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner.
Pledg"er (?), n. One who pledges.
Pledg"er*y (?), n. [Cf. OF. pleigerie.] A pledging; suretyship. [Obs.]
Pledg"et (?), n. [Prov. E., a small plug.] 1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]
2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.
3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.
||Ple*gep"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (&?;) a stroke + -poda. In ||allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zoˆl.) Same ||as Infusoria.
Ple"iad (?), n. One of the Pleiades.
Ple"ia*des (?; 277), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. (&?;)] 1. (Myth.) The seven daughters of Atlas and the nymph Pleione, fabled to have been made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.
2. (Astron.) A group of small stars in the neck of the constellation Taurus. Job xxxviii. 31.
Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by M‰dler the central point around which our universe is revolving, but there is no sufficient evidence of such motion. Only six pleiads are distinctly visible to the naked eye, whence the ancients supposed that a sister had concealed herself out of shame for having loved a mortal, Sisyphus.
Plein (?), a. Plan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Plein, v. i. & t. To complain. See Plain. [Obs.]
Plein, a. [OF. & F., fr. L. plenus.] Full; complete. [Obs.] "Plein remission." Chaucer. -- Plein"ly, adv.
Plei"o*cene (?), a. (Geol.) See Pliocene.
Plei*oph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. &?; more + &?; leaf.] (Bot.) Having several leaves; -- used especially when several leaves or leaflets appear where normally there should be only one.
||Plei`o*sau"rus (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as Pliosaurus.
Pleis"to*cene (?), a. [Gr. &?; most + &?; new.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the epoch, or the deposits, following the Tertiary, and immediately preceding man. -- n. The Pleistocene epoch, or deposits.
Ple"nal (?), a. [L. plenus full. Cf. Plenary.] Full; complete; as, a plenal view or act. [Obs.]
Ple"na*ri*ly (?), adv. In a plenary manner.
Ple"na*ri*ness, n. Quality or state of being plenary.
Plen"ar*ty (?), n. The state of a benefice when occupied. Blackstone.
Ple"na*ry (?), a. [LL. plenarius, fr. L. plenus full. See Plenty.] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority.
A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full.
I. Watts.
Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.), an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. -- Plenary inspiration. (Theol.) See under Inspiration.
Ple"na*ry, n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]
Plene (?), Ê. [L. plenus full.] Full; complete; plenary. [Obs.]
Ple"ni*corn (?), n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zoˆl.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer. Brande & C.
Plen`i*lu"na*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to the full moon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Plen"i*lune (?), n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
{ Ple*nip"o*tence (?), Ple*nip"o*ten*cy (?), } n. The quality or state of being plenipotent. [R.]
Ple*nip"o*tent (?), a. [L. plenus full + potens, -entis, potent.] Possessing full power. [R.] Milton.
Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#). [LL. plenipotentiarius: cf. F. plÈnipotentiaire.] A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, with full power to negotiate a treaty, or to transact other business.
Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry, a. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers. Howell.
Plen"ish (?), v. t. [See Replenish.] 1. To replenish. [Obs.] T. Reeve.
2. To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. [Scot.]
Plen"ish*ing, n. Household furniture; stock. [Scot.]
Ple"nist (?), n. [L. plenus full; cf. F. plÈniste.] One who holds that all space is full of matter.
Plen"i*tude (?), n. [L. plenitudo, fr. plenus full; cf. F. plenitude.] 1. The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as, the plenitude of space or power.
2. Animal fullness; repletion; plethora. [Obs.]
Plen`i*tu`di*na"ri*an (?), n. A plenist.
Plen`i*tu"di*na*ry (?), a. Having plenitude; full; complete; thorough. [Obs.]
Plen"te*ous (?), a. [From Plenty.] 1. Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as, a plenteous supply. "Reaping plenteous crop." Milton.
2. Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful. "The seven plenteous years." Gen. xli. 34.
3. Having plenty; abounding; rich.
The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods.
Deut. xxviii. 11.
Syn. -- Plentiful; copious; full. See Ample.
-- Plen"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Plen"te*ous*ness, n.
Plen"te*vous (?), a. Plenteous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Plen"ti*ful (?), a. 1. Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as, a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water.
2. Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful.
If it be a long winter, it is commonly a more plentiful year.
Bacon.
3. Lavish; profuse; prodigal. [Obs.]
He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from
Bacon.
-- Plen"ti*ful*ly, adv. -- Plen"ti*ful*ness, n.
Plen"ty (?), n.; pl. Plenties (#), in Shak. [OE. plentee, plente, OF. plentÈ, fr. L. plenitas, fr. plenus full. See Full, a., and cf. Complete.] Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically, abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance; copiousness. "Plenty of corn and wine." Gen. xxvii. 28. "Promises Britain peace and plenty." Shak.
Houses of office stuffed with plentee.
Chaucer.
The teeming clouds Descend in gladsome plenty o'er the world.
Thomson.
Syn. -- Abundance; exuberance. See Abundance.
Plen"ty, a. Plentiful; abundant. [Obs. or Colloq.]
If reasons were as plenty as blackberries.
Shak. (Folio ed.)
Those countries where shrubs are plenty.
Goldsmith.
||Ple"num (?), n. [L., fr. plenus full.] That state in which every part ||of space is supposed to be full of matter; -- opposed to vacuum. G. ||Francis.
Ple`o*chro"ic (?), a. Having the property of pleochroism.
Ple*och"ro*ism (?), n. [Gr.&?; mor&?; + &?; color.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some crystals, of showing different colors when viewed in the direction of different axes.
Ple*och`ro*mat"ic (?), a. Pleochroic.
Ple`o*chro"ma*tism (?), n. Pleochroism.
Ple*och"ro*ous (?), a. Pleochroic.
Ple`o*mor"phic (?), a. Pertaining to pleomorphism; as, the pleomorphic character of bacteria.
Ple`o*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; more + &?; form.] 1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.
2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.
Ple`o*mor"phous (?), a. Having the property of pleomorphism.
Ple"o*nasm, (&?;), n. [L. pleonasmus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be more than enough, to abound, fr.&?;, neut. of &?;, more, compar. of &?; much. See Full, a., and cf. Poly-, Plus.] (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; as, I saw it with my own eyes.
Ple"o*nast (?), n. One who is addicted to pleonasm. [R.] C. Reade.
Ple"o*naste, n. [Gr.&?; abundant, rich; cf. F. plÈonaste.] (Min.) A black variety of spinel.
{ Ple`o*nas"tic (?), Ple`o*nas"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. plÈonastique.] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant.
Ple`o*nas"tic*al*ly, adv. In a pleonastic manner.
Ple"o*pod (?), n.; pl. E. Pleopods (#), L. Pleopoda (#). [Gr. &?; to swim + -pod.] (Zoˆl.) One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea.
Ple"rome (?), n. [Gr. &?; that which fills up, fr. &?; to fill.] (Bot.) The central column of parenchyma in a growing stem or root.
Ple*roph"o*ry (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; full + &?; to bear.] Fullness; full persuasion. "A plerophory of assurance." Bp. Hall.
Ples"ance (?), n. Pleasance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Plesh (?), n. A pool; a plash. [Obs.] Spenser.
Ple`si*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; near + &?; form.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some substances of crystallizing in closely similar forms while unlike in chemical composition.
Ple`si*o*mor"phous (?), a. Nearly alike in form.
Ple"si*o*saur (?), n. (Paleon.) One of the Plesiosauria.
||Ple`si*o*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Plesiosaurus.] (Paleon.) An ||extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera ||Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; -- called also Sauropterygia.
Ple`si*o*sau"ri*an (?), n. (Paleon.) A plesiosaur.
||Ple`si*o*sau"rus (?), n.; pl. Plesiosauri (#). [NL., fr. Gr &?; near ||+ &?; a lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct marine reptiles, ||having a very long neck, a small head, and paddles for swimming. It ||lived in the Mesozoic age.
Ples*sim"e*ter (?), n. See Pleximeter.
Plete (?), v. t. & i. To plead. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
Pleth"o*ra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be or become full. Cf. Pleonasm.] 1. Overfullness; especially, excessive fullness of the blood vessels; repletion; that state of the blood vessels or of the system when the blood exceeds a healthy standard in quantity; hyperÊmia; -- opposed to anÊmia.
2. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.
He labors under a plethora of wit and imagination.
Jeffrey.
Pleth`o*ret"ic (?), a. Plethoric. [Obs.] Johnson.
Ple*thor"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; cf. F. plÈthorique.] Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as, a plethoric constitution; -- used also metaphorically. "Plethoric phrases." Sydney Smith. "Plethoric fullness of thought." De Quincey.
Ple*thor"ic*al (?), a. Plethoric. [R.] -- Ple*thor"ic*al*ly, adv. Burke.
Pleth"o*ry (?), n. Plethora. Jer. Taylor.
{ ||Pleth"ron (?), ||Pleth"rum (?), } n.; pl. Plethra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Gr. Antiq.) A long measure of 100 Greek, or 101 English, feet; also, a square measure of 10,000 Greek feet.
||Pleth"ys*mo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; an enlargement + -graph.] ||(Physiol.) An instrument for determining and registering the ||variations in the size or volume of a limb, as the arm or leg, and ||hence the variations in the amount of blood in the limb.
-- Pleth`ys*mo*graph"ic (#), a.
<! p. 1100 !>
Pleth`ys*mog"ra*phy (?), n. (Physiol.) The study, by means of the plethysmograph, of the variations in size of a limb, and hence of its blood supply.
||Pleu"ra (?), n., pl. of Pleuron.
Pleu"ra, n.; pl. L. PleurÊ (#), E. Pleuras (#). [NL., n. fem., fr. Gr. &?; a rib, the side.] 1. (Anat.) (a) The smooth serous membrane which closely covers the lungs and the adjacent surfaces of the thorax; the pleural membrane. (b) The closed sac formed by the pleural membrane about each lung, or the fold of membrane connecting each lung with the body wall.
2. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pleuron.
Pleu"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura or pleurÊ, or to the sides of the thorax.
||Pleu*ral"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; rib + &?; pain.] (Med.) Pain ||in the side or region of the ribs.
||Pleu`ra*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Pleurapophyses (#). [NL. See Pleura, ||and Apophysis.] (Anat.) One of the ventral processes of a vertebra, ||or the dorsal element in each half of a hemal arch, forming, or ||corresponding to, a vertebral rib. -- Pleu*rap`o*phys"i*al (#), a. ||Owen.
Pleu*ren"chy*ma (?), n. [Gr. &?; side + &?;, as in parenchyma.] (Bot.) A tissue consisting of long and slender tubular cells, of which wood is mainly composed.
Pleu"ric (?), a. (Anat.) Pleural.
Pleu"ri*sy (?), n. [F. pleurÈsie, L. pleurisis, pleuritis, Gr pleyri^tis (sc. no`sos), fr. pleyra` rib, side.] (Med.) An inflammation of the pleura, usually accompanied with fever, pain, difficult respiration, and cough, and with exudation into the pleural cavity.
Pleurisy root. (Bot.) (a) The large tuberous root of a kind of milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which is used as a remedy for pleuritic and other diseases. (b) The plant itself, which has deep orange-colored flowers; -- called also butterfly weed.
Pleu"rite (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Same as Pleuron.
{ Pleu*rit"ic (?), Pleu*rit"ic*al (?), } a. [L. pleuriticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pleurÈtique.] (Med.) (a) Of or pertaining to pleurisy; as, pleuritic symptoms. (b) Suffering from pleurisy.
||Pleu*ri"tis (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Pleurisy.
Pleu"ro- (?). [See Pleura.] A combining form denoting relation to a side; specif., connection with, or situation in or near, the pleura; as, pleuroperitoneum.
||Pleu`ro*brach"i*a (?), n. [NL. See Pleuro-, and Brachium.] (Zoˆl.) A ||genus of ctenophores having an ovate body and two long plumose ||tentacles.
Pleu"ro*branch (?), n. [See Pleuro- , and Branchia.] (Zoˆl.) Any one of the gills of a crustacean that is attached to the side of the thorax.
||Pleu`ro*bran"chi*a (?), n.; pl. PleuroeranchiÊ (#). [NL.] (Zoˆl.) ||Same as Pleurobranch.
Pleu"ro*carp (?), n. [Pleuro- + Gr. &?; fruit.] (Bot.) Any pleurocarpic moss.
{ Pleu`ro*car"pic (?), Pleu`ro*car"pous (?), } a. (Bot.) Side-fruited; -- said of those true mosses in which the pedicels or the capsules are from lateral archegonia; -- opposed to acrocarpous.
||Pleu`ro*cen"trum (?), n. [NL. see Pleuro-, and Centrum.] (Anat.) One ||of the lateral elements in the centra of the vertebrÊ in some fossil ||batrachians.
||Pleu*rod"e*res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; the side + &?; the ||neck.] (Zoˆl.) A group of fresh-water turtles in which the neck can ||not be retracted, but is bent to one side, for protection. The ||matamata is an example.
Pleu"ro*dont (?), a. [Pleuro- + Gr. &?;, &?;, a tooth.] (Anat.) Having the teeth consolidated with the inner edge of the jaw, as in some lizards.
Pleu"ro*dont, n. (Zoˆl.) Any lizard having pleurodont teeth.
||Pleu`ro*dyn"i*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; side + &?; pain.] (Med.) A ||painful affection of the side, simulating pleurisy, usually due to ||rheumatism.
||Pleu"ron (?), n.; pl. Pleura (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a rib.] (Zoˆl.) ||(a) One of the sides of an animal. (b) One of the lateral pieces of a ||somite of an insect. (c) One of lateral processes of a somite of a ||crustacean.
Pleu`ro*nec"toid (?), a. [NL. Pleuronectes, name of a genus (fr. Gr. &?; rib + &?; a swimmer) + -oid.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the PleuronectidÊ, or Flounder family.
Pleu`ro*per`i*car"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura and pericardium.
Pleu`ro*per`ip*neu"mo*ny (?), n. [Pleuro- + peripneumony.] (Med.) Pleuropneumonia.
Pleu`ro*per`i*to*ne"al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleural and peritoneal membranes or cavities, or to the pleuroperitoneum.
Pleu`ro*per`i*to*ne"um (?), n. [Pleuro- + peritoneum.] (Anat.) The pleural and peritoneal membranes, or the membrane lining the body cavity and covering the surface of the inclosed viscera; the peritoneum; -- used especially in the case of those animals in which the body cavity is not divided.
Peritoneum is now often used in the sense of pleuroperitoneum, the pleurÊ being regarded as a part of the peritoneum, when the body cavity is undivided.
Pleu`ro*pneu*mo"ni*a (?), n. [Pleuro- + pneumonia.] (Med.) Inflammation of the pleura and lungs; a combination of pleurisy and pneumonia, esp. a kind of contagions and fatal lung plague of cattle.
||Pleu*rop"te*ra (?), n. pl [NL., fr. Gr. &?; side + &?; wing.] (Zoˆl.) ||A group of Isectivora, including the colugo.
||Pleu`ro*sig"ma (?), n. [NL. See Pleuro-, and Sigma.] (Bot.) A genus ||of diatoms of elongated elliptical shape, but having the sides ||slightly curved in the form of a letter S. Pleurosigma angulatum has ||very fine striations, and is a favorite object for testing the high ||powers of microscopes.
||Pleu*ros"te*on (?), n.; pl. L. Pleurostea (#), E. -ons (#). [NL., fr. ||Gr. &?; a rib + &?; a bone.] (Anat.) The antero- lateral piece which ||articulates the sternum of birds.
||Pleu`ro*thot"o*nus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. pleyro`qen from the side + ||to`nos a stretching.] (Med.) A species of tetanus, in which the body ||is curved laterally. Quain. Dunglison.
||Pleu*rot"o*ma (?), n.; pl. L. PleurotomÊ (#), E. Pleurotomas (#). ||[NL., fr. Gr. &?; the side + tomh` a cut.] (Zoˆl.) Any marine ||gastropod belonging to Pleurotoma, and ether allied genera of the ||family PleurotmidÊ. The species are very numerous, especially in ||tropical seas. The outer lip has usually a posterior notch or slit.
Plev"in (?), n. [OF. plevine. See Replevin.] A warrant or assurance. [Obs.]
Plex"i*form (?), a. [Plexus + -form: cf. F. Plexiforme.] Like network; complicated. Quincy.
Plex*im"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; stroke, percussion (from &?; to strike) + -meter.] (Med.) A small, hard, elastic plate, as of ivory, bone, or rubber, placed in contact with body to receive the blow, in examination by mediate percussion. [Written also plexometer.]
Plex"ure (?), n. [See Plexus.] The act or process of weaving together, or interweaving; that which is woven together. H. Brooke.
Plex"us (?), n.; pl. L. Plexus, E. Plexuses (#). [L., a twining, braid, fr. plectere, plexum, to twine, braid.] 1. (Anat.) A network of vessels, nerves, or fibers.
2. (Math.) The system of equations required for the complete expression of the relations which exist between a set of quantities. Brande & C.
Pley (?), v. & n. See Play. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Pley (?), a. Full See Plein. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Pleyt (?), n. (Naut.) An old term for a river boat.
Pli`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being pliable; flexibility; as, pliability of disposition. "Pliability of movement." Sir W. Scott.
Pli"a*ble (?), a. [F., fr. plier to bend, to fold. See Ply, v.] 1. Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as, willow is a pliable plant.
2. Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; -- sometimes in a bad sense; as, a pliable youth. "Pliable she promised to be." Dr. H. More.
-- Pli"a*ble*ness, n. -- Pli"a*bly, adv.
Pli"an*cy (?), n. The quality or state of being pliant in sense; as, the pliancy of a rod. "Avaunt all specious pliancy of mind." Wordsworth.
Pli"ant (?), a. [F. pliant, p. pr. of plier to bend. See Ply, v.] 1. Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking; flexible; pliable; lithe; limber; plastic; as, a pliant thread; pliant wax. Also used figuratively: Easily influenced for good or evil; tractable; as, a pliant heart.
The will was then ductile and pliant to right reason.
South.
2. Favorable to pliancy. [R.] "A pliant hour." Shak. -- Pli"ant*ly, adv. -- Pli"ant*ness, n.
||Pli"ca (?), n. [LL., a fold, fr. L. plicare to fold. See Ply, v.] 1. ||(Med.) A disease of the hair (Plica polonica), in which it becomes ||twisted and matted together. The disease is of Polish origin, and is ||hence called also Polish plait. Dunglison.
2. (Bot.) A diseased state in plants in which there is an excessive development of small entangled twigs, instead of ordinary branches.
3. (Zoˆl.) The bend of the wing of a bird.
{ Pli"cate (?), Pli"ca*ted (?), } a. [L. plicatus, p. p. of plicare to fold.] Plaited; folded like a fan; as, a plicate leaf. -- Pli"cate*ly (#), adv.
Pli*ca"tion (?), n. A folding or fold; a plait. Richardson.
Plic"a*ture (?), n. [L. plicatura, fr. plicare to fold.] A fold; a doubling; a plication. Dr. H. More.
Plic`i*den"tine (?), n. [LL. plica fold + E. dentine.] (Anat.) A form of dentine which shows sinuous lines of structure in a transverse section of the tooth.
Plied (?), imp. & p. p. of Ply.
Pli"ers (?), n. pl. [From Ply to bend, fold.] A kind of small pinchers with long jaws, -- used for bending or cutting metal rods or wire, for handling small objects such as the parts of a watch, etc.
Pli"form (?), a. [Ply a fold + -form.] In the form of a ply, fold, or doubling. [Obs.] Pennant.
Plight (?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge. Chaucer.
Plight, obs. imp. & p. p. of Pluck. Chaucer.
Plight, v. t. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.] To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.[Obs.] "To sew and plight." Chaucer.
A plighted garment of divers colors.
Milton.
Plight (?), n. A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] "Many a folded plight." Spenser.
Plight, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht danger, fr. pleÛn to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G. pflicht, Dan. pligt. √28. Cf. Play.] 1. That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge. "That lord whose hand must take my plight." Shak.
2. [Perh. the same word as plight a pledge, but at least influenced by OF. plite, pliste, ploit, ploi, a condition, state; cf. E. plight to fold, and F. pli a fold, habit, plier to fold, E. ply.] Condition; state; -- risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as, a luckless plight. "Your plight is pitied." Shak.
To bring our craft all in another plight
Chaucer.