Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pĕnd'ŭ-lŏŭs-ness, n. p. 965The state or quality of being pendulous; pendulosity.Pĕnd'ŭ-lŭm, n. p. 965A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum; as, the pendulum of a clock. Ballistic pendulum. See BALLISTIC.—Compensation…Pe-nĕl'o-pe, n. p. 965(Ornith.) A genus of gallinaceous birds.Pĕn'e-tra-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 965The quality of being penetrable; susceptibility of being entered or passed through by another body. “There being no mean between penetrability and impenetrability.” Cheyne.Pén'e-tra-ble, a. p. 965Capable of being penetrated, entered, or pierced by another body. Let him try thy dart. And pierce his only penetrable part. Dryden. 2. Susceptible of moral or intellectual impression. I am not made…Pĕn'e-tra-ble-ness, n. p. 965The quality of being penetrable; penetrability.Pĕn'e-tra-bly, adv. p. 965In a penetrable manner; so as to be penetrated.Pēn'a-e-trāil, n. p. 965Inner portion; interior; penetralia. [Obs.] Harvey.Pen'e-trā'li-ă, n. pl. p. 965The recesses or innermost parts of any place, as of a temple, palace, and the like; hence, hidden things or secrets.Pén'e-trance, n. p. 965The quality of being pene-Pēn'e-tran-çy or Pēn'e-trant p. 965power of entering or piercing; as, the penetrancy of subtile effluvia.Pĕn'e-trant, a. p. 965Having power to enter or pierce; sharp; subtle; as, food subtilized and rendered fluid and penetrant. Ray.Pĕn'e-trāte, v. t. p. 965To enter into; to make way into the interior of, especially against difficulties or opposition; to effect an entrance into; to pierce. 2. Hence, to make a way into the mind or sense of; to touch with…Pĕn'e-trāte, v. i. p. 965To pass; to make way; to affect the intellect or the feelings. “Born where Heaven’s influence scarce can penetrate.” Pope.Pĕn'e-trā'ting, a. p. 965Having the power of entering or piercing another body; sharp; subtle; as, oil is a penetrating substance. 2. Acute; discerning; quick to understand; as, a penetrating mind.Pĕn'e-trā'ting-ly, adv. p. 965In a penetrating manner; piercingly; discerningly.Pĕn'e-trā'tion, n. p. 965The act of penetrating, piercing, or entering; physical or mental entrance into the interior of any thing. And to each inward part, With gentle penetration, though unseen, Shoots invisible virtue…Pĕn'e-trā/tive, a. p. 965Tending to penetrate; of penetrative quality; piercing; sharp; subtle; sagacious; discerning; as, penetrative wisdom. Swift. 2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind; as, penetrative shame.…Pĕn'e-trā'tive-ness, n. p. 965The quality of being penetrative.Pēn'fish, n. p. 965A kind of eelpout without a smooth skin.Pĕn'-fōld, n. p. 965A fold or inclosure of hurdles, &c., for cattle. Simmonds.Pēn'guin, n. p. 965(Ornith.) A web-footed marine bird, covered with close-set, short feathers, having short legs set far back, and wings destitute of quills. It is unable to fly, but swims and dives well, in which…Pĕn'-hōld'er, n. p. 965A handle or case for a pen.Pĕn'-house, n. p. 965An out-building; a shed. [Obs.]Pĕn'-i-cĭl, n. p. 965(Med.) A tent or pledget for wounds or ulcers. 2. A species of shell.Pĕn'/i-cil'late, a. p. 965(Nat. Hist.) Having the form of a pencil; tipped or furnished with a pencil of fine hairs, as the stigmas of some grasses.Pĕn'i-cĭl'lus, n. p. 965Same as PENICIL. See PENICIL.Pen-in'su-lā, n. p. 965A portion of land nearly surrounded by water, and connected with the larger body of land by a narrow neck or isthmus.Pen-in’su-lar, a. p. 965In the form or state of a peninsula; pertaining to a peninsula; inhabiting a peninsula.Pen-in'su-lāte, v. t. p. 965To encompass almost with water; to form a peninsula of. South River peninsulates Castle Hill farm, and at high tides surrounds it. Bentley.Pē'nis, n. p. 965The male organ of generation.Pĕn'i-tençe, n. p. 965The condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; repentance; pain; contrition. Syn.—Repentance; contrition; compunction; remorse.Pĕn'i-tĕn'cy, n. p. 965Penitence. [Obs.]Pĕn'i-tĕn'ser, n. p. 965One who hears the confessions of penitents; a penitentiary. [Obs.]Pĕn'i-tent, a. p. 965Suffering pain or sorrow of heart on account of sins, crimes, or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolving on amendment of life. Be penitent, and for thy…Pĕn'i-tent, n. p. 965One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions. 2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance. Stillingfleet. 3. One under the direction of a confessor. ☞ Penitents is…Pĕn'/i-tĕn'/tial, a. p. 965Pertaining to, proceeding from, or expressing penitence or contrition of heart. “Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse.” W. Scott.Pēn'i-tēn'tial, n. p. 965(Rom. Cath. Church.) A book containing the rules which relate to penance and the reconciliation of penitents.Pēn'i-tēn'tial-ly, adv. p. 965In a penitential or contrite manner.Pēn'i-tēn'tia-ry, a. p. 965Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.Pēn'i-tēn'tia-ry, n. p. 965One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance. Bacon. Ayliffe. 2. A penitent; one who does penance. Hammond. 3. (Court of Rome.) An office in which are examined and delivered out the secret…Pĕn'i-tĕn'tia-ry-ship, n. p. 965The office or condition of a penitentiary.Pēn'i-tent-ly, adv. p. 965In a penitent manner; with penitence; with repentance, sorrow, or contrition for sin.Pēnk, n. p. 965A minnow. Walton.Pēn'knīfe, n. p. 965A small knife used for making and mending pens.Pĕn'man, n. p. 965One who uses the pen; a writer; as, (a.) One skilled in the use of the pen; a calligrapher. (b.) An author; a composer. “The penmen of them, not prophets, but evangelists.” South.Pēn'man-shĭp, n. p. 965The use of the pen in writing; the art of writing. 2. Manner of writing; chirography; as, good or bad penmanship.Pēn'nach, n. p. 965A bunch of feathers; a plume. [Obs.] Holland.Pēn'naçhed, a. p. 965Diversified with natural stripes of various colors, as a flower; radiated. [Obs.] Evelyn.Pēn'nage, n. p. 965Feathery covering; plumage. [Obs.] Holland.Pēn'-nāme, n. p. 965A fictitious name assumed by an author who desires to conceal his real name; a nom de plume. [R.] Bp. Taylor.Pĕn'nant, n. p. 965(Naut.) (a.) A small flag; a banner; a long, narrow piece of bunting, worn at the mast-heads of vessels of war. Totten. (b.) A rope or strap to which a purchase is hooked. Dana. Broad pennant, a…Pĕn'nāte or Pĕn'nā-ted, a. p. 965Winged; plume-shaped. 2. (Bot.) The same as PINNATE. See PINNATE.Pēnned, a. p. 965Winged; having plumes.Pĕn'ner, n. p. 965A writer. “The penners of which seem to have imagined, that the books of themselves were evidence at common law.” Blackstone. 2. A pen-case. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Pēn'ni-fōrm, a. p. 965Having the form of a feather or plume.Pen-nĭg'er-ōus, a. p. 965Bearing feathers or quills.Pēn'ni-less, a. p. 965Moneyless; destitute of money; poor.Pēn'ni-less-ness, n. p. 965The state of being penniless or without money; impecuniosity.Pĕn'ni-nĕrved, a. p. 965(Bot.) Having parallel veins or nerves diverging laterally from the midrib like the parts of a feather; pinnately veined or nerved.