Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER-PLEX', v.t. [L. perplexus, perplexor; per and plector, to twist, from the root of Gr. πλεκω, L. plico, to fold.]

1. To make intricate; to involve; to entangle; to make complicated and difficult to be understood or unraveled. What was thought obscure, perplexed and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the understanding in a fair view. – Locke.
2. To embarrass; to puzzle; to distract; to tease with suspense, anxiety or ambiguity. We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind. – Locke. We are perplexed, but not in despair. – 2 Cor. iv.
3. To plague; to vex. – Glanville.

PER-PLEX'ED, pp.

Made intricate; embarrassed; puzzled.

PER-PLEX'ED-LY, adv.

Intricately; with involution.

PER-PLEX'ED-NESS, n.

1. Intricacy; difficulty from want of order or precision.
2. Embarrassment of mind from doubt or uncertainty.

PER-PLEX'I-TY, n.

1. Intricacy; entanglement. The jury were embarrassed by the perplexity of the case.
2. Embarrassment of mind; disturbance from doubt, confusion, difficulty or anxiety. Perplexity not suffering them to be idle, they think and do, as it were, in a phrensy. – Hooker.

PER'QUI-SITE, n. [s as z. L. perquisitus, perquiro; per and quæro, to seek.]

A fee or pecuniary allowance to an officer for services, beyond his ordinary salary or settled wages; or a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service, in lieu of an annual salary. [The latter is the common acceptation of the word in America.]

PER'QUI-SIT-ED, a.

Supplied with perquisites. Savage. [A bad word and not used.]

PER-QUI-SI'TION, n. [s as z. L. perquisites.]

An accurate inquiry or search. – Ainsworth.

PER-RO-QUET', n. [Fr.]

A species of parrot; also, the Alca Psittacula, an aquatic fowl inhabiting the isles of Japan and the western shores of America. – Pennant.

PER'RY, n. [Fr. poiré, from poire, W. pêr, a pear.]

The fermented juice of pears, which being clarified, is a pleasant drink.

PER-SALTUM, adv. [Per saltum; L.]

By a leap.

PER-SCRU-TA'TION, n. [L. perscrutatio, perscrutor.]

A searching thoroughly; minute search or inquiry.

PER-SE, adv. [Per se; L.]

By itself; by himself.

PER'SE-CUTE, v.t. [Fr. persecuter; It. perseguitare; Sp. perseguir; L. persequor; per and sequor, to pursue. See Seek and Essay.]

1. In a general sense, to pursue in a manner to injure, vex or afflict; to harass with unjust punishment or penalties for supposed offenses; to inflict pain from hatred or malignity.
2. Appropriately, to afflict, harass or destroy for adherence to a particular creed or system of religious principles, or to a mode of worship. Thus Nero persecuted the Christians by crucifying some, burning others, and condemning others to be worried by dogs. – See Acts xxii.
3. To harass with solicitations or importunity.

PER'SE-CU-TED, pp.

Harassed by troubles or punishments unjustly inflicted, particularly for religious opinions.

PER'SE-CU-TING, ppr.

Pursuing with enmity or vengeance, particularly for adhering to a particular religion.

PER-SE-CU'TION, n.

1. The act or practice of persecuting; the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles. Historians enumerate ten persecutions suffered by the Christians, beginning with that of Nero, A. D. 31, and ending with that of Diocletian, A. D. 303 to 313.
2. The state of being persecuted. Our necks are under persecution; we labor and have no rest. – Lam v.

PER-SEC'U-TIVE, a.

Following; persecuting.

PER'SE-CU-TOR, n.

One that persecutes; one that pursues another unjustly and vexatiously, particularly on account of religious principles. Henry rejected the Pope's supremacy, but retained every corruption beside, and became a cruel persecutor. – Swift.

PER-SE-VER'ANCE, n. [Fr. from L. perseverantia. See Persevere.]

1. Persistence in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun; applied alike to good and evil. Perseverance keeps honor bright. – Shak. Patience and perseverance overcome the greatest difficulties. – Clarissa.
2. In theology, continuance in a state of grace to a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance. – Hammond.

PER-SE-VER'ANT, a.

Constant in pursuit of an undertaking. [Not used.] – Ainsworth.

PER-SE-VERE', v.i. [L. persevero. The last component part of this word, severo, must be the same as in assevero, with the radical sense of set, fixed or continued. So persist is formed with per and sisto, to stand. Constant and continue have a like primary sense. So we say, to hold on.]

To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any design or course commenced; not to give over or abandon what is undertaken; applied alike to good and evil. Thrice happy, if they know / Their happiness, and persevere upright! – Milton. To persevere in any evil course makes you unhappy in this life. – Wake.

PER-SE-VER'ING, ppr.

1. Persisting in any business or course begun.
2. adj. Constant in the execution of a purpose or enterprise; as, a persevering student.

PER-SE-VER'ING-LY, adv.

With perseverance or continued pursuit of what is undertaken.

PER'SIAN, or PER'SIC, a.

Pertaining to Persia.