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.
Pĕr'ule, n. p. 975(Bot.) The cover of a seed. Henslow.Pe-rū'sal, n. p. 975The act of perusing. This treatise requires application in the perusal. Woodward. 2. Careful view or examination. [Rare.] Tatler.Pe-rūse′, v. t. p. 975To read, or to read with attention. Addison. 2. To observe; to consider; to examine with careful survey. [Obs.] I have perused her well. Shak. Myself I then perused, and limb by limb Surveyed. Milton.Pe-rūs'er, n. p. 975One who peruses.Pe-rū'vi-an, a. p. 975(Geog.) Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America. Peruvian balsam. See BALSAM OF PERU.—Peruvian bark, the bark of trees of various species of Cinchona. It is of a bitter taste, and acts as a…Pe-rū'vi-an, n. p. 975(Geog.) A native or an inhabitant of Peru.Per-vāde', v. t. p. 975To pass through, as an aperture, pore, or interstice; to permeate. “Substances soaked in such liquors as will immediately pervade their little pores.” Newton. 2. To pass or spread through the whole…Per-vā'sion, n. p. 976The act of pervading, or passing through the whole extent of a thing.Per-vā'sive, a. p. 976Tending, or having power, to pervade.Per-vērse', a. p. 976Turned aside; hence, distorted from the right. Best friends might loathe us, if what things perverse We know of our own selves they also know. Trench. 2. Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be…Per-vērsed', a. p. 976Turned. [Obs. and rare.] “With perversed eyes.” Phaer.Per-vĕrs'ed-ly, adv. p. 976In a perverse manner; perversely.Per-vērse'ly, adv. p. 976In a perverse manner.Per-vērse'ness, n. p. 976The state of being perverse. Her whom he wishes most shall seldom gain Through her perverseness. Milton. 2. Perversion. [Obs.] Bacon.Per-vĕr'sion, n. p. 976The act of perverting; a turning from truth or propriety; a diverting from the true intent or object; change to something worse; a turning or applying in an unauthorized manner to a wrong end or use.Per-vēr'si-ty, n. p. 976The state of being perverse; perverseness.Per-vēr'sive, a. p. 976Tending to pervert or corrupt.Per-vĕrt’, v. t. p. 976To turn from truth, propriety, or from its proper purpose; to distort from its true use or end; specifically, to misinterpret through evil motives or bias. The acute and distinct Arminius was…Per-vĕrt’, v. i. p. 976To become perverted; to take the wrong course. [Obs.]Pĕr'vert, n. p. 976One who has turned from a right way to that which is wrong. Conybeare.Per-vĕrt'er, n. p. 976One who perverts, distorts, misinterprets, or misapplies.Per-vĕrt'i-ble, a. p. 976Capable of being perverted.Per-vĕs'ti-gāte, v. t. p. 976To find out by research. [Obs.] Cockeram.Per-vĕs'ti-gā'tion, n. p. 976The act of pervestigating; diligent or thorough research. [Obs.] Chillingworth.Pĕr'vi-al, a. p. 976Pervious. [Obs.]Pĕr'vi-al-ly, adv. p. 976In a pervial or pervious manner; so as to be pervious. [Obs.] Chapman.Pĕr'vi-cā'cioŭs, a. p. 976Very obstinate; willfully contrary or refractory; stubborn. [Obs.] Denham.Pěr'vi-eā'ciōs-ly, adv. p. 976In a pervicacious manner; stubbornly. [Obs.]Pēr'vi-eā'ciōñs-ness or Pēr'vi-eāc'i-ty, n. p. 976The state of being pervicacious. [Obs.]Pēr'vi·ea·cy, n. p. 976Pervicacity. [Obs.]Per-vĭg'ĭ-lā'tion, n. p. 976A careful watching. [Obs.]Për'vi-ous, a. p. 976Admitting passage; capable of being penetrated by another body or substance; permeable; penetrable. A country pervious to the arms and authority of a conqueror. Gibbon. Not less in number were the…Pēr'vi-ōus-ness, n. p. 976The quality of being pervious.Pe-sāde', n. p. 976(Man.) The motion of a horse when he raises his fore quarters, keeping his hind feet on the ground without advancing; rearing.Pĕs'age, n. p. 976A sum paid for the weighing of merchandise. Craig.Pĕs'ane, n. p. 976See PUSANE.Pĕs'ant-ed, a. p. 976Debased; enslaved. [Obs.] “Thus pesanted to each lewd thought's control.” Marston.Pēsh'i-to, a. p. 976Simple; literal; verbal;— a term applied to the earliest Syriac version of the Scriptures, in distinction, probably, from those versions which abounded in allegorical interpretation. Davidson.Pĕsk'i-ly, adv. p. 976Exceedingly; very; mischievously; annoyingly; vexingly. [Colloq. and low. U. S.]Pĕs'ky, a. p. 976Great; exceeding; mischievous; troublesome; vexing. [Colloq. and low. U. S.]Pē'so, n. p. 976The Spanish dollar of exchange; also, the pound weight. Simmonds.Pĕs'sa-ry, n. p. 976An instrument made of wood, caoutchouc, waxed linen, or the like, and introduced into the vagina to support the mouth and neck of the uterus.Pĕs'si-mīst, n. p. 976One who complains of every thing as being for the worst; — opposed to optimist.Pĕs'so-măn'cy, n. p. 976Divination by means of pebbles.Pĕst, n. p. 976A fatal epidemic disease; plague; pestilence. Let fierce Achilles The god propitiate, and the pest assuage. Pope. 2. Hence, any thing which resembles a pest; that which is very noxious, mischievous…Pĕs'ter, v. t. p. 976To trouble; to disturb; to annoy; to harass with little vexations. We are pestered with mice and rats. More. A multitude of scribblers daily pester the world with their insufferable stuff. Dryden. 2.…Pĕs'ter-er, n. p. 976One who pesters or harasses with vexation.Pĕs'ter-ment, n. p. 976The act of pestering, or the state of being pestered or troubled; vexation; annoyance; worry. Thus, sir, I have all the trouble and pesterment of children, without the pleasure of calling them my…Pĕs’ter-oŭs, a. p. 976Inclined to pester; encumbering; burdensome. [Obs.] Bacon.Pĕst'-house, n. p. 976A house or hospital for persons who have the pest, or who are infected with any malignant disease.Pĕst’i-dūct, n. p. 976That which conveys contagion or infection.Pes-tĭf'er-ous, a. p. 976Pest-bearing; pestilential; noxious to health; malignant; infectious; contagious. “The most unwholesome and pestiferous occupations.” Burke. “I was environed with multitudes of poor, pestiferous…Pes·tif'er-oüs-ly, adv. p. 976In a pestiferous manner.Pĕs'ti-lence, n. p. 976That which is pestilent. I'll pour this pestilence into his ear. Shak. 2. Especially, the disease known as the plague; and hence, any contagious or infectious disease that is epidemic. 3. That which…Pĕs'ti-lent, a. p. 976Pestilential; noxious; mischievous. “What a pestilent knave is this!” Shak. “Hot, corrupt, and pestilent.” Milton.Pĕs'ti-lĕn′tial, a. p. 976Producing or tending to produce the pest, the plague, or other infectious disease. 2. Hence, noxious; seriously troublesome; positively mischievous.Pēs'ti-lēn'tial-ly, adv. p. 976Pestilently.Pĕs'ti-lĕn'tiōus, a. p. 976Pestilent; pestilential. [Obs.]Pēs'ti-lent-ly, adv. p. 976In a pestilent manner.Pĕs'til-lā'tion, n. p. 976The act of pounding and bruising in a mortar. [Obs.] Broome.