Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PY-RO'SIS, n. [Gr. πυρωσις, a burning.]

In medicine, a disease of the stomach, attended with a sensation of burning in the epigastrium, accompanied with an eructation of watery fluid, usually insipid, but sometimes acrid. It is commonly called water-brash.

PY-ROS'MA-LITE, n.

A mineral of a liver brown color, or pistachio green, occurring in six-sided prisms, of a lamellar structure, found in Sweden. – Phillip.

PYR-O-TAR'TAR-IC, a. [Gr. πυρ, fire, and tartar.]

An acid obtained by heating tartaric acid in a close vessel. It is distinct from tartaric acid.

PYR-O-TAR'TRATE, n.

A salt formed by the combination of pyrotartaric acid with a base.

PYR-O-TECH'NIC, or PYR-O-TECH'NIC-AL, a. [Gr. πυρ, fire, and τεχνη, art.]

Pertaining to fire-works or the art of forming them.

PYR-O-TECH'NICS, or PYR'O-TECH-NY, n. [supra.]

The art of making fireworks; or the science which teaches the management and application of fire in its various operations, in gunnery, rockets, &c.

PYR-O-TECH'NIST, n.

One skilled in pyrotechny. – Stevens.

PY-ROT'IC, a. [Gr. πυροω, to burn.]

Caustic. [See Caustic.]

PY-ROT'IC, n.

A caustic medicine.

PYR'OX-ENE, n. [Gr. πυρ, fire, and ξενος, a stranger; a guest in fire, unaltered.]

1. A mineral formerly called augite. – Ure.
2. A species of minerals, which has been named volcanic shorl; but it is a family which comprehends many substances of different appearances. It is almost always crystalized, but in complicated forms. – Dict. Nat. Hist.

PYR-OX'EN-IC, a.¹

Pertaining to pyroxene, or partaking of its qualities. – Humboldt.

PYR-OX-EN'IC, a.²

Applied to rocks composed chiefly of pyroxene. – Percival.

PYR-OX'YL-IC, a. [Gr. πυρ, fire, and ξυλον, wood.]

Obtained by the destructive distillation of wood; as pyroxylic spirit.

PYR-OX'YL-INE, n.

A substance detected in pyroxylic or pyroligneous spirit. – Ure.

PYR'RHIC, n. [L. pyrrhichius; Gr. πυρῥιχιος, from πυρῥιχη, a nimble dance.]

1. In poetry, a foot consisting of two short syllables.
2. An ancient military dance.

PYR'RHIN, n. [Gr. πυρινος.]

A vegeto-animal substance, detected in rain water by M. Brandes. – Journ. of Science.

PYR-RHON'IC, a.

Pertaining to Pyrrhonism.

PYR'RHON-ISM, n. [from Pyrrho, the founder of the skeptics.]

Skepticism; universal doubt.

PYR'RHON-IST, n.

A skeptic; one who doubts of every thing.

PYTH-A-GO'RE-AN, or PYTH-A-GOR'IC, a. [or PYTH-A-GOR'IC-AL.]

Belonging to the philosophy of Pythagoras.

PYTH-A-GO'RE-AN, n.

A follower of Pythagoras, the founder of the Italic sect of philosophers.

PY-THAG'O-RISM, n.

The doctrines of Pythagoras. – More.

PY-THAG'O-RIZE, v.i.

To speculate after the manner of Pythagoras.

PYTH'I-AN, a. [from Pythia, the priestess of Apollo.]

Pertaining to the priestess of Apollo, who delivered oracles.

PY'THON, n.

A genus of ophidian reptiles, which are large serpents, nearly allied to the Boa, and found in the East Indies.