Emily Dickinson Lexicon

pattern (-s), n. [ME patron < Fr. patron, patron or pattern.] (webplay: afforded, arts, bears, care, cut, exhibited, formed, imitated, moon, name, night, serve, whole, work).

1. Shape; form; outline.
2. Blueprint; guide; model; plan; design.
3. Likeness; imitation; copy.
4. Way; fashion; manner; custom.
5. Specimen; creation; work; [fig.] person; human being; individual.
6. Exemplar; model; archetype; [fig.] Jesus Christ.
7. Wave; undulation; regular fluctuation; rhythmic movement.

Pattie, proper n. [Nickname of Patricia < L. patricius, nobleman.]

Female child; storybook girl; nursery verse character.

Paul, proper n. [OFr < L. Paúlos, 'small,' 'humble'.]

Saul of Tarsus (A.D. 10?-67?); son of a Jewish mother and a Roman father; early first-century Pharisee; persecutor of Christians; man who was converted after seeing a vision of the resurrected Christ (see Acts 9:3-9); Christian apostle who was released from prison by an angel and also by an earthquake (see Acts 16:23-26); preaching companion of Silas; Christian martyr put to death in Rome; (see ED's letters).

pauper, n. [L. 'poor' < the legal phrase in formā pauperis, in the form of a poor person.]

Beggar; indigent person; destitute soul; one who has no money or property; one who must rely on others for support.

pause (-s), n. [Fr. < L. pausa, halt, stop < Gk παὐ-ειυ, to stop.] (webplay: cease, playing, stop, wait).

1. Holiday; brief resting period; temporary enjoyment; cessation of labor.
2. Cessation; interval of silence; musical rest.
3. Setback; temporary obstacle to progress; [fig.] disappointment; difficulty; trial.
4. [Fig.] decline; decay; degeneration; deterioration; cessation of progress.
5. [Fig.] nothingness; void; vacuity; empty space.
6. [Fig.] death; lack of life; loss of ability to progress.
7. [Fig.] stopping place; area for resting.

pause (-d, pausing), v. [see pause, n.] (webplay: begin, cease, closes, doubt, speaking, stop, voice, wait).

1. Stop briefly; cease motion for a short period of time.
2. Rest briefly from strenuous or difficult labor; stop to catch breath.
3. Fall silent for a brief space of time.
4. Slow down; be suspended.
5. Visit; stop in; drop by for a short duration of time.
6. [Fig.] take time to pay respects; stop in order to honor.
7. [Fig.] find final rest; come to the end of a journey.
8. [Fig.] reach a peak; come to a climax.

pauseless, adj. [see pause, n.]

Eternal; endless; infinite; everlasting; immortal; perpetual.

paw (-s), n. [ME < OFr powe.]

Hand; claw; talon; clutch; grasp.

pawn, n. [OFr pan, pledge, security, surety.] (webplay: honor, man, payment).

1. Exchange; trade; pledge; payment.
2. Security; token; guarantee; collateral.

pawn, v. [see pawn, n.]

Trade; give in exchange; sell; pledge.