Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PEP'PER-MINT, n.

A plant of the genus Menthe. It is aromatic and pungent. Also, a liquor distilled from the plant.

PEP'PER-MINT-TREE, n.

The Eucalyptus piperita, a native of New South Wales. – Encyc.

PEP'PER-POT, n.

A plant of the genus Capsicum.

PEP'PER-TREE, n.

A plant of the genus Vitis.

PEP'PER-WA-TER, n.

A liquor prepared from powdered black pepper; used in microscopical observations. – Encyc.

PEP'PER-WORT, n.

A plant of the genus Lepidium.

PEP'PER-Y, a.

Having the qualities of pepper.

PEP'TIC, a. [Gr. πεπτικος, from πεπτω, to digest.]

Promoting digestion; relating to digestion; as, peptic precept. – Kitchener.

PER, prep.

A Latin preposition, denoting through, passing, or over the whole extent, as in perambulo. Hence it is sometimes equivalent to very in English, as in peracutus, very sharp. As a prefix, in English, it retains these significations, and in chimistry it is used to denote very or fully, to the utmost extent, as in peroxyd, a substance oxydated to the utmost degree. Per is used also for by; as, per bearer, by the bearer.

PE'RA, n.

A small silver coin of Turkey, about the fourth or fifth of a cent. – Brewer.

PER-A-CUTE, a. [L. peracutus; per, through, and acutus, sharp.]

Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [Little used.] – Harvey.

PER-AD-VENT'URE, adv. [Fr. par aventure; par, by, and aventure, from L. venio, to come.]

By chance; perhaps; it may be. – Hooker. It has been used as a noun for doubt or question, but rather improperly. The word is obsolescent and inelegant.

PER'A-GRATE, v.i. [L. peragro; per, through, over, and ager, a field.]

To travel over or through; to wander; to ramble. [Little used.]

PER-A-GRA'TION, n.

The act of passing through any space; as, the peragration of the moon in her monthly revolution. [Little used.] – Brown. Holder.

PER-AM'BU-LATE, v.t. [L. perambulo; per and ambulo, to walk.]

To walk through or over; properly and technically, to past through or over for the purpose of surveying or examining something; to visit as overseers; as, to perambulate a parish. So in New England, the laws require the selectmen of towns to appoint suitable persons annually to perambulate the borders or bounds of the township, and renew the boundaries, or see that the old ones are in a good state.

PER-AM'BU-LA-TED, pp.

Passed over; inspected.

PER-AM'BU-LA-TING, ppr.

Passing over or through for the purpose of inspection.

PER-AM-BU-LA'TION, n.

1. The act of passing or walking through or over. – Bacon.
2. A traveling survey or inspection. – Howell.
3. A district within which a person has the right of inspection; jurisdiction. – Holiday.
4. Annual survey of the bounds of a parish in England, or of a township in America.

PER-AM'BU-LA-TOR, n.

An instrument or wheel for measuring distances, to be used in surveying or traveling called also a pedometer. – Encyc.

PER-ANNUM, adv. [Per annum; L.]

By the year; in each year successively.

PER-CAPITA, adv. [Per capita; L.]

By the head or poll.

PER-CASE, adv. [per and case, by case.]

Perhaps; perchance. [Not used.] – Bacon.

PER'CE-ANT, a. [Fr. perçant.]

Piercing; penetrating. [Not used.] – Spenser.

PER-CEIV-A-BLE, a. [See Perceive.]

1. Perceptible; that may be perceived; that may fall under perception or the cognizance of the senses; that may be felt, seen, heard, smelt or tasted. We say, the roughness of cloth is perceivable; the dawn of the morning is perceivable; the sound of bell is perceivable; the scent of an orange is perceivable; the difference of taste in an apple and an orange is perceivable.
2. That may be known, understood or conceived. [Less proper.]

PER-CEIV-A-BLY, adv.

In such a manner as to be perceived.