Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Per-pĕt'ū-ā'ted, p. a. p. 973Made perpetual; continued through eternity, or for an indefinite time.Per-pĕt'ū-ā'tion, n. p. 973The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time.Pĕr'pe-tū'i-ty, n. p. 973The state or quality of being perpetual; endless duration; continued, uninterrupted existence, or duration for an indefinite period of time; as, the perpetuity of laws and institutions; the…Per-plĕx’, v. t. p. 973To make intricate; to involve; to entangle; to make complicated and difficult to be understood or unraveled. What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the…Per-pléx’, a. p. 973Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanville.Per-pléx'ed-ly, adv. p. 973In a perplexed manner; intricately; with involution.Per-plēx'ed-ness, n. p. 973The state of being perplexed; perplexity; embarrassment.Per-plex'i-ty, n. p. 973The state of being perplexed; intricacy; entanglement; embarrassment; doubt. “Into perplexity and new amaze.” Milton. Perplexity not suffering them to be idle, they think and do, as it were, in a…Per-plĕx'ive-ness, n. p. 973The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex or embarrass. [Obs.]Per-plēx'ly, adv. p. 973In a perplexed manner; perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.Per-plēx'tly, adv. p. 973Perplexedly. [Obs.]Pĕr'po-tā'tion, n. p. 973The act of drinking largely. [Obs.]Pēr'qui-site, n. p. 973An allowance paid in money or things, beyond the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service. “The pillage of a place…Pēr'qui-sit-ed, a. p. 973Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] Scroope.Pēr'qui-si'tion, n. p. 973An accurate inquiry or search. [Rare.] Our hero, who had attended Evan Dhu during his perquisitions, was much struck with the ingenuity which he displayed in collecting information. W. Scott.Pēr'ri-er, n. p. 973A kind of short mortar much used for stone-shot. [Obs.] Halliwell.Pēr'rie, n. p. 973A precious stone; a jewel. [Obs.]Pĕr'ron, n. p. 973(Arch.) A staircase outside of a building, or a flight of steps leading into the first story. Gwilt.Pĕr'ro-quĕt', n. p. 973See PARO-QUET. Perroquet auk (Ornith.), a bird of the genus Alca (A. psittacula) of Linnæus, or of the genus Phaleris (P. psittacula) of Temminck; a species of auk. Eng. Cyc.Perruquier, n. p. 973One who makes perukes or wigs.Pĕr'ry, n. p. 973The fermented juice of pears; a liquor prepared from pears in the same manner as cider from apples.Pēr'sant, a. p. 973Piercing. [Obs.] Spenser.Pěr'scru-tā'tion, n. p. 973A searching thoroughly; minute search or inquiry.Pēr'se-cot, n. p. 973A kind of cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, and the like, with refined spirit; persicot.Pēr'se-cūte, v. t. p. 973To pursue in a manner to injure, vex, or afflict; to cause to suffer pain from hatred or malignity; to harass; to beset in an annoying way. 2. Especially, to afflict, harass, or punish, for adherence…Pĕr'se-cū'tion, n. p. 973The act or practice of persecuting, or the state of being persecuted. “Whence heavy persecution shall arise?” Milton.Per-sēe'ū-tive, a. p. 973Following; persecuting.Pēr'se-eū'tor, n. p. 973One who persecutes. “Persecutor I am sure thou art.” Shak. Henry rejected the pope’s supremacy, but retained every corruption beside, and became a cruel persecutor. Swift.Pēr'se-eū'trix, n. p. 973A female who persecutes.Pēr'se-pōl'i-tan, a. p. 973(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Persepolis in Persia.Pēr'se-pōl'i-tan, n. p. 973An inhabitant of Persepolis.Pĕr'se-ūs, n. p. 973(Myth.) A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who slew Medusa. 2. (Astron.) A constellation of the northern hemisphere, near Taurus and Cassiopeia.Per-sĕv'er, v. i. p. 973To persevere. [Obs.] Be lusty, free, persever in thy service, And all is well.Pēr'se-vēr'ance, n. p. 973The act of persevering or persisting in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun. “The king, becoming graces, perseverance, mercy, holiness.” Shak.…Pĕr/se-vĕr'ant, a. p. 973Inclined to persevere; constant in pursuit of an undertaking; persevering. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Pĕr'se-vĕr'ant-ly, adv. p. 973In a perseverant manner; perseveringly. [Obs.]Pĕr·se·vĕre', v. i. p. 973To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to maintain a purpose against counter motives or influences; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what…Pêr'se-vêr'ing-ly, adv. p. 973In a persevering manner; with persistence.Pêr'sian, a. p. 973(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Persia, or the Persians, or their language.Pĕr'sian, n. p. 973(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Persia. 2. The language spoken in Persia. 3. (Anc. Arch.) A male figure employed to support an entablature instead of a column. Wade.Pêr'sian-bêr'ry, n. p. 973A sort of berry used in dyeing yellow, being the fruit of a plant of the genus Rhamnus (R. tinctoria). Ure.Pêr·si-ä'nî, n. pl. p. 973Venetian blinds. E. B. Browning.Pêr'sian-wheel, n. p. 973(Mech.) A contrivance for raising water to some height above the level of a stream, by means of a wheel with pendent buckets on its rim; a noria. [See Illust. of Noria.]Pêr'sie, n. p. 973The Persian language.Pĕr'sic, a. p. 973Of, or relating to, Persia; Persian. 2. Having figures of men instead of columns to support an entablature; — said of an order of architecture.Pêr'si-cōt, n. p. 973A cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, &c. See PERSECOT.Persiflage, n. p. 973Frivolous or bantering talk, or style of treating any subject, whether trifling or serious. Mrs. H. More.Per-sim'mon, n. p. 973(Bot.) A tree and its fruit (the Diospyros Virginiana), found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum, and very harsh and astringent, but after exposure to frost, becomes luscious and…Pêr'sis, n. p. 973A kind of coloring matter obtained from lichens, the mass being of a drier character than archil. Simmonds.Pĕr'sism, n. p. 973An idiom or manner of speech peculiar to the Persians.Per-sīst', v. i. p. 973To continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere. If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.…Per-sist'ence or Per-sist'en-cy, n. p. 974The state of being persistent; steady pursuit of what is undertaken; perseverance in a good or evil course, more generally in that which is evil and injurious to others, or unadvisable; obstinacy…Per-sĭst'ent, a. p. 974Inclined to persist or hold firm; tenacious; fixed; immovable; persistive. “Persistent as they have been.” I. Taylor. Modred’s narrow, foxy face. Heart-hiding smile, and gray, persistent eye.…Per-sist'ent-ly, adv. p. 974In a persistent manner.Per-sĭst’ing, p. a. p. 974Inclined to persist; persistent.Per-sist'ing-ly, adv. p. 974In a persisting manner; perseveringly; steadily.Per-sist'ive, a. p. 974The same as PERSISTENT. Shak.Per-sôlve', v. t. p. 974To pay the whole of; to pay completely. [Obs.]Pêr'son, n. p. 974The exhibition or representation of a character in dialogue, fiction, or on the stage. These tables, Cicero pronounced under the person of Crassus, were of more use and authority than all the books…Pêr'son, v. t. p. 974To represent as a person; to make to resemble; to image. [Obs.] Milton.