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.
Pēp'per-mint, n. p. 967(Bot.) An aromatic and pungent plant of the genus Mentha (M. piperita); also, a liquor distilled from the plant.Pĕp'per-mint-tree, n. p. 967(Bot.) The Eucalyptus piperita, a tree found in New South Wales.Pĕp'per-mŏth, n. p. 967(Entom.) A moth of the genus Biston, having small spots on its wings resembling grains of pepper, whence the name.Pĕp'per-pŏt, n. p. 967A mucilaginous soup or stew of vegetables and cassareep, much esteemed in the West Indies. Simmonds. 2. A table-box or pot with perforations, for holding and discharging ground pepper.Pēp'per-sauce, n. p. 967A condiment for the table made by steeping small red peppers in vinegar.Pēp'per-wort, n. p. 967A plant of the genus Lepidium; pepper-grass. See PEPPER-GRASS.Pĕp'per-y, a. p. 967Relating or pertaining to, or having the qualities of, pepper; hot; pungent. 2. Easily made angry; irritable.Pĕp'sin, n. p. 967A substance secreted by the stomach of animals, and present in the gastric juice. It is prepared artificially from rennet. Graham.Pĕp'tic, a. p. 967Relating to or promoting digestion; capable of being easily digested. Kitchener.Pēp'tic, n. p. 967(Med.) An agent that promotes digestion. Dunglison.Pēp'tics, n. sing. p. 967The doctrine of digestion. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Pēr, prep. p. 967Through; by means of; through the agency of; by; for; as, send the money per bearer; his wages were two dollars per day; they received so much per man; — often used in composition as a prefix…Per-ăct', v. t. p. 967To perform; to practice. [Obs.]Pĕr'/ā-cūte', a. p. 967Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [Rare.] Harvey.Pēr'ad-vĕnt'ūre, adv. p. 967By chance; perhaps; it may be. “If peradventure he speak against me.” Shak. Without peradventure, beyond doubt or question; indubitably; undoubtedly. “Though men's persons ought not to be hated, yet…Pēr'a-grāte, v. i. p. 967To travel over or through; to wander; to ramble. [Obs.]Pĕr'a-grā'tion, n. p. 967The act of passing through any space; as, the peragration of the moon in her monthly revolution. [Obs.] Browne. Holder.Per-ăm'bu-lāte, v. t. p. 967To walk through or over; to traverse for the purpose of surveying or examining something; to visit as overseer, inspector, or the like; hence, to go round or about.Per-ăm'bu-lā'tion, n. p. 967The act of perambulating, or of passing or walking through or over; a traveling survey or inspection. 2. A district within which a person has the right of inspection; jurisdiction. Holiday. 3. An…Per-ăm'bu-lā'tor, n. p. 968One who perambulates. 2. An instrument for measuring distances. It consists of a wheel, with an apparatus of clock-work, and a dial-plate, upon which the distance traveled over is shown by an index.…Pér'bend, n. p. 968See PERPENDER.Pēr'că, n. p. 968(Ichth.) A genus of fishes, including the perch.Pēr-cär'bu-ret-ed, a. p. 968(Chem.) Having a maximum of carbon; combined with the greatest possible proportion of carbon.Per-eāse', adv. p. 968Perhaps; perchance. [Obs.] Bacon.Pèrce'a-ble, a. p. 968Capable of being pierced; penetrable. [Obs.] Spenser.Pèr'ce-ant, a. p. 968Piercing; penetrating. [Obs.] Spenser.Per-cēiv'a-ble, a. p. 968Capable of being perceived; discernible by the mind; cognizable; perceptible.Per-cēiv'a-bly, adv. p. 968In a perceivable manner; so as to be perceived.Per-cēiv'ance, n. p. 968Power of perceiving. [Obs.]Per-cēive', v. t. p. 968To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to cognize the sensible qualities of. When a ship just begins to appear on the utmost verge of…Per-cēiv'er, n. p. 968One who perceives, feels, or observes.Per-cĕnt'a'ge, n. p. 968(Com.) The allowance, duty, or commission on a hundred.Pèr'cept, n. p. 968That which is perceived. Sir W. Hamilton.Per-cĕp′ti-bĭl′i-ty, n. p. 968The state or quality of being perceptible; as, the perceptibility of light or labor. 2. Perception. [Rare.] More.Per-cĕp'ti-ble, a. p. 968Capable of being perceived; of a nature to impress the bodily organs; coming under the cognizance of the senses; discernible; perceivable.Per-cĕp'ti-bly, adv. p. 968In a perceptible manner; so as to be perceived; evidently; notably. The woman decays perceptibly every week. Pope.Per-çēp'tion, n. p. 968The act of perceiving; cognizance by the senses or intellect; apprehension by the bodily organs or by the mind of what is presented to them; discernment; cognition. 2. (Psychology.) The faculty of…Per-cĕp′tive, a. p. 968Having the faculty of perceiving; relating to the act or power of perceiving; used in perception. “His perceptive and reflective faculties [were] naturally of remarkable keenness and depth.” Motley.Pēr'cep-tīv'i-ty, n. p. 968The quality of being perceptive; faculty of perception. Locke.Pĕrch, n. p. 968(Ichth.) An acanthopterygious fish of several species, of the genus Perca, inhabiting both fresh and salt water. They have powerful dorsal fins, with strong and sharp spines. The scales are…Pĕrch, n. p. 968A pole; a long staff; a rod. 2. A measure of length containing five yards and a half; a rod; as, (a.) (Land or Square Measure.) A square rod; the fortieth part of an acre. (b.) (Solid Measure.) A…Pĕrch, v. i. p. 968To light or settle on a fixed body, as a bird; to sit or roost.Pĕrch, v. t. p. 968To place on a fixed object or perch.Per-chançe', adv. p. 968By chance; perhaps; peradventure.Pérch'er, n. p. 968(Ornith.) One of an order of birds which perch or light on trees, &c. These have four toes, three before and one behind. Kirby.Pērch’er, n. p. 968A Paris candle anciently used in England; also, a larger sort of wax candle, which was usually set on the altar. [Obs.] Bailey.Per-chlō'rate, n. p. 968(Chem.) A compound of perchloric acid with a base.Per-chlō'rie, a. p. 968(Chem.) Containing one equivalent of chlorine to seven equivalents of oxygen;— said of a certain acid. Silliman.Pĕrch'-pĕst, n. p. 968A small, crustaceous animal that attaches itself to the mouth of a perch. Kirby.Per-çĭp'i-ençe, n. p. 968The quality or act of being percipient; perception.Per-çĭp'i-ent, a. p. 968Having the faculty of perception; perceiving; as, animals are percipient beings; mere matter is not percipient.Per-çĭp'i-ent, n. p. 968One who perceives, or has the faculty of perception. More.Per-clōse', n. p. 968Conclusion. [Obs.] Raleigh. 2. An inclosure; a railing. Weale. 3. A curved bench-back; a screen.Pēr'coid, a. p. 968(Ichth.) Resembling the perch; of the perch family.Pĕr'co-lāte, v. t. p. 968To strain through; to cause to pass through small interstices, as a liquor; to filter.Pér'co-lāte, v. i. p. 968To pass through small interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through a porous stone.Pĕr'co-lā'tion, n. p. 968The act of percolating, or filtering, or of passing through small interstices, as liquor through felt or a porous stone; filtration; straining. Percolation is intended for the purification of…Pér'co-lā'tor, n. p. 968A filtering machine. Francis.Per-cùr'so-ry, a. p. 968Running over slightly or in haste; cursory.Per-cùss′, v. t. p. 968To strike forcibly; to strike upon; to come into collision with. [Rare.] Bacon.