Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PET'AL-SHAP-ED, a.

Having the shape of a petal.

PE-TARD', n. [It. and Sp. petardo; Fr. petard.]

An engine of war made of metal, nearly in the shape of a hat, to be loaded with powder and fixed on a madrier or plank, and used to break gates, barricades, draw-bridges and the like by explosion. – Encyc.

PET'A-SUS, n.

The winged cap of Mercury.

PE-TAU'RIST, n. [Gr. πεταω and ουρα.]

One of a genus of marsupial animals, which take short flights in the air by extending the folds between the fore and hind extremities, and by an expanded tail.

PE-TEC'CHI-AE, n. [It. petecchia; Sp. petequia.]

Purple spots which appear on the skin in malignant fevers.

PE-TEC'CHI-AL, a. [Sp.]

Spotted. A petecchial fever is a malignant fever accompanied with purple spots on the skin.

PE'TER, or PE'TRE, n. [See SALTPETER.]

PET'ER-EL, or PE'TREL, n.

An aquatic fowl of the genus Procellaria.

PE'TER-PENCE, n.

A tax or tribute formerly paid by the English people to the pope; being a penny for every house, payable at Lammas-day. It was called also Romescot. – Hall.

PE'TER-WORT, n.

A plant.

PET'I-O-LAR, or PET'I-O-LAR-Y, a.

1. Pertaining to a petiole, or proceeding from it; as, a petiolar tendril.
2. Formed from a petiole; as, a petiolar bud.
3. Growing on a petiole; as, a petiolar gland. – Martyn.

PET'I-O-LATE, or PET'I-O-LED, a.

Having a petiole; as, a petiolate leaf. – Martyn.

PET'I-OLE, n. [L. petiolus, probably a diminutive from pes, pedis.]

In botany, a leaf-stalk; the foot-stalk of a leaf. – Martyn.

PET'IT, a. [pet'ty, Fr. See Petty.]

Small; little; mean. – South. [This word petit is now generally written petty.] Petit constable, an inferior civil officer subordinate to the high constable. Petit jury, a jury of twelve freeholders who are empanneled to try causes at the bar of a court; so called in distinction from the grand jury, which tries the truth of indictments. Petit larceny, the stealing of goods of the value of twelve pence, or under that amount; opposed to grand larceny. Petit sergeantry, in English law, the tenure of lands of the king, by the service of rendering to him annually some implement of war, as a bow, an arrow, a sword, lance, &c. Petit treason, the crime of killing a person, to whom the offender owes duty or subjection. Thus it is petit treason for a wife to kill her husband, or a servant his lord or master. – Blackstone.

PE-TI'TION, n. [L. petitio, from peto, to ask, properly to urge or press, Sax. biddan, Goth. bidyan, G. bitten, D. bidden, Sw. bedia, Dan. beder, Sp. pedir, Arm. pidi, Ir. impidhim, Corn. pidzha. Qu. Ch. פיט, to supplicate. See Class Bd, No. 57, 63, 64.]

1. In a general sense, a request, supplication or prayer; but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication; a prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired, or a branch or particular article of prayer. – Law.
2. A formal request or supplication, verbal or written; particularly, a written supplication from an inferior to a superior, either to a single person clothed with power, or to a legislative or other body, soliciting some favor, grant, right or mercy.
3. The paper containing a supplication or solicitation. Much of the time of our legislative bodies is consumed in attending to private petitions. The speaker's table is often loaded with petitions. Petitions to the king of Great Britain must contain nothing reflecting on the administration. – Encyc.

PE-TI'TION, v.t.

To make a request to; to ask from; to solicit; particularly, to make supplication to a superior for some favor or right; as, to petition the legislature; to petition a court of chancery. The mother petitioned her goddess to bestow on them the greatest gift that could be given. – Addison.

PE-TI'TION-A-RI-LY, adv.

By way of begging the question. – Brown.

PE-TI'TION-A-RY, a.

1. Supplicatory; coming with a petition. Pardon thy petitionary countrymen. – Shak.
2. Containing a petition or request; as, a petitionary prayer; a petitionary epistle. – Hooker. Swift.

PE-TI'TION-ED, pp.

Asked as a favor; solicited.

PE-TI-TION-EE', n.

A person cited to defend against a petition.

PE-TI'TION-ER, n.

One that presents a petition, either verbal or written.

PE-TI'TION-ING, n.

The act of asking or soliciting; solicitation; supplication. Tumultuous petitioning, is made penal by statute.

PE-TI'TION-ING, ppr.

Asking as a favor, grant, right or mercy; supplicating.

PET'IT-MAI-TRE, n. [pet'ty-maitre; Fr. a little master.]

A spruce fellow that dangles about females; a fop; a cox-comb. – Addison.

PET'I-TO-RY, a.

Petitioning; soliciting. [Not used.] – Brewer.