Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER'ISH-A-BLE-NESS, n.

Liableness to decay or destruction. – Locke.

PER'ISH-A-BLY, adv.

In a perishing manner.

PER'ISH-ED, pp.

Decayed; wasted away; destroyed.

PER'ISH-ING, ppr.

Dying; decaying; coming to nothing.

PER'I-SPERM, n. [Gr. περι, around, and σπερμα, seed.]

A thick, farinaceous, fleshy, horny, woody, or bony part of the seed of plants, either entirely or only partially surrounding the embryo, and inclosed within the investing membrane. It is the albumen of Gærtner. – Jussieu. Smith.

PER-I-SPHER'IC, a. [Gr. περι and σφαιρα.]

Globular; having the form of a ball. – Journ. of Science.

PER-IS-SO-LOG'IC-AL, a.

Redundant in words.

PER-IS-SOL'O-GY, n. [Gr. περισσολογια; περισσος, redundant, and λογος, discourse.]

Superfluous words; much talk to little purpose. [Little used.] – Campbell.

PER-I-STAL'TIC, a. [Gr. περισταλτικος, from περιστελλω, to involve.]

Spiral; vermicular or worm-like. The peristaltic motion of the intestines is performed by the contraction of the circular and longitudinal fibres composing their fleshy coats, by; which the chyle is carried downward to the orifices of the lacteals, and the excrements are protruded toward the anus. – Encyc.

PER-IS-TE'RI-ON, n. [Gr.]

The herb vervain. – Dict.

PER'I-STYLE, n. [Gr. περιστυλον; περι, about, and στυλος, a column.]

A circular range of columns, or a building encompassed with a row of columns on the outside. – Johnson. Encyc.

PER-I-SYS'TO-LE, n. [perisys'toly; Gr. περι, about, and συστολη, contraction.]

The pause or interval between the systole or contraction, and the diastole or dilatation of the heart. – Quincy.

PE-RITE', a. [L. peritus.]

Skillful. [Little used.] – Whitaker.

PE-RIT'O-MOUS, a. [Gr. περι, around, and τεμνω, to cleave.]

In mineralogy, cleaving in more directions than one parallel to the axis, the faces being all of one quality. – Shepard.

PER-I-TO'NE-AL, a.

Pertaining to the peritoneum.

PER-I-TO-NE'UM, n. [Gr. περιτοναιον; περι, about, and τονοω, to stretch.]

A thin, smooth, serous membrane investing the whole internal surface of the abdomen, and more or less completely, all the viscera contained in it. – Encyc. Parr.

PER-I-TRO'PAL, a. [Gr. περι and τροπη.]

Rotary; circuitous.

PER'I-WIG, n. [Ir. pereabhic. Qu. D. paruik; G. perrücke; Dan. perryk; Fr. perruque; It. parrucca.]

A small wig; a kind of close cap formed by an intertexture of false hair, worn by men for ornament or to conceal baldness. Periwigs were in fashion in the days of Addison.

PER'I-WIG, v.t.

To dress with a periwig, or with false hair, or with any thing in like form. – Swift.

PER'I-WIN-KLE, n. [Sax: peruince; It. pervinca; Fr. pervenche; L. vinca; Sax. wincle, a shell fish. If n is casual, vinca may be and probably is the W. gwic, for wic, a squeak, whence gwiciad, a periwinkle.]

1. A sea snail, or small shell fish.
2. A plant of the genus Vince.

PER'JURE, n.

A perjured person. [Not used.] – Shak.

PER'JURE, v.t. [per'jur; L. perjuro; per and juro, to swear; that is, to swear aside or beyond.]

Willfully to make a false oath when administered by lawful authority or in a court of justice; to forswear; as, the witness perjured himself.

PER'JUR-ED, pp.

Guilty of perjury; having sworn falsely.

PER'JUR-ER, n.

One that willfully takes a false oath lawfully administered.

PER'JUR-ING, ppr.

Taking a false oath lawfully administered.