Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PSAL'TER, n. [L. psalterium; Gr. ψαλτηριον; It. and Sp. salterio; Fr. psautier.]

1. The Book of Psalms; often applied to a book containing the Psalms separately printed.
2. In Romish countries, a large chaplet or rosary, consisting of a hundred and fifty beads, according to the number of the psalms.

PSAL'TER-Y, n. [Gr. ψαλτηριον.]

An instrument of music used by the Hebrews, the form of which is not now known. That which is now used is a flat instrument in form of a trapezium or triangle truncated at the top, strung with thirteen chords of wire, mounted on two bridges at the sides, and struck with a plectrum or crooked stick. – Encyc. Praise the Lord with harp; sing to him with the psaltery, and an instrument of ten strings. – Ps. xxxiii.

PSAM'MITE, n. [Gr. ψαμμος, sand.]

A species of micaceous sandstone. – Brongniart.

PSAM-MIT'IC, a.

Pertaining to psammite.

PSEU-DI-SID'O-MON, n. [Gr. ψευδος, false, ισος, equal, and δομη, a building.]

A mode of building in Greece, in which the highth, length and thickness of the courses differed. – Elmes.

PSEU-DO, a. [Gr. ψευδος, false.]

A prefix signifying false, counterfeit or spurious.

PSEU-DO-A-POS'TLE, n. [Gr. ψευδος, false, and apostle.]

A false apostle; one who falsely pretends to be an apostle.

PSEU-DO-CHI'NA, n. [Gr. ψευδος, and Fr. quina, kina, or china, Peruvian-bark.]

The false China root, a plant of the genus Smilax, found in America. Also a species of Strychnos and a species of Solanum. In the spelling of this name ch and c are used indiscriminately.

PSEU-DO-CLER-GY, n.

Not true clergy. – More.

PSEU-DO-DIP'TER-AL, a. [Gr. ψευδος, false, δις, twice, and πτερον, wing.]

Falsely or imperfectly dipteral, the inner range of columns being omitted. As a noun, an imperfect peripteral in which the columns at the wings were set within the walls. [See Periptery.]

PSEU-DO-DOX, a. [Gr. ψευδος, false, and δοξα, opinion.]

False; not true in opinion.

PSEU-DO-EP-IG'RA-PHY, n. [Gr. ψευδης and επιγραφη.]

The ascription of false names of authors to works.

PSEU-DO-GA-LE'NA, n.

False galena or black jack.

PSEU-DO-GRAPH, or PSEU-DOG'RA-PHY, n. [Gr. ψευδος, false, and γραφη, writing.]

False writing. – Holder.

PSEU-DOL'O-GY, n. [Gr. ψευδος, false, and λογος, discourse.]

Falsehood of speech. – Arbuthnot.

PSEU-DO-ME-TAL'LIC, a.

Pseudo-metallic luster is that which is perceptible only when held toward the light; as in minerals. – Philips.

PSEU-DO-MORPH'OUS, a. [Gr. ψευδος, and μορφη, form.]

Not having the true form. A pseudomorphous mineral is one which has received its form from some extraneous cause, not from natural crystalization.

PSEU-DON'Y-MOUS, a. [Gr. ψευδος, false, and ονομα, name.]

Bearing a false or fictitious name.

PSEU-DO-PHI-LOS'O-PHER, n.

A pretender to philosophy.

PSEU-DO-PHI-LOS'O-PHY, n.

False philosophy.

PSEU-DO-RE-PUB'LIC-AN, n.

Not a true republican. – Jefferson.

PSEU-DO-TI'NE-A, n.

In natural history, the name of a remarkable species of insect or larva, resembling a moth. It feeds on wax, and is a terrible enemy to bees, as it enters the hive and sometimes compels the bees to abandon it, being covered with a coat that is impervious to their stings. – Encyc.

PSEU-DO-VOL-CAN'IC, a.

Pertaining to or produced by a pseudo-volcano. – Cleaveland.

PSEU-DO-VOL-CA'NO, n.

A volcano that emits smoke and sometimes flame, but no lava; also, a burning mine of coal. – Kirwan.

PSHAW, exclam.

An expression of contempt, disdain or dislike.