Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER-SPIRE', v.t.

To emit or evacuate insensibly through the excretories of the skin. – Smollett.

PER-SPIR'ING, ppr.

Emitting moisture through the pores of the skin.

PER-STRINGE, v.t. [perstrinj'; L. perstringo; per and stringo, to graze or brush.]

To graze; to glance on. – Burton.

PER-SUAD'A-BLE, a. [See Persuade.]

That may be persuaded.

PER-SUAD'A-BLY, adv.

So as to be persuaded.

PER-SUADE', v.t. [L. persuadeo; per and suadeo, to urge or incite.]

1. To influence by argument, advice, intreaty or expostulation; to draw or incline the will to a determination by presenting motives to the mind. I should be glad, if I could persuade him to write such another critic on any thing of mine. – Dryden. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. – Acts xxv.
2. To convince by argument, or reasons offered; or to convince by reasons suggested by reflection or deliberation, or by evidence presented in any manner to the mind. Beloved, we ere persuaded better things of you. – Heb. vi.
3. To inculcate by argument or expostulation. [Little used.] – Taylor.
4. To treat by persuasion. [Not in use.] – Shak.

PER-SUAD'ED, pp.

Influenced or drawn to an opinion or determination by argument, advice or reasons suggested; convinced; induced.

PER-SUAD'ER, n.

1. One that persuades or influences another. – Bacon.
2. That which incites. Hunger and thirst at once, / Powerful persuaders! – Milton.

PER-SUAD'ING, ppr.

Influencing by motives presented.

PER-SUA-SI-BIL'I-TY, n.

Capability of being persuaded. – Hallywell.

PER-SUA'SI-BLE, a. [L. persuasibilis.]

That may be persuaded or influenced by reasons offered.

PER-SUA'SI-BLE-NESS, n.

The quality of being influenced by persuasion.

PER-SUA'SION, n. [s as z. Fr. from L. persuasio.]

1. The act of persuading; the act of influencing the mind by arguments or reasons offered, by any thing that moves the mind or passions, or inclines the will to a determination. For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion. – Otway.
2. The state of being persuaded or convinced; settled opinion or conviction proceeding from arguments and reasons offered by others, or suggested by one's own reflections. When we have no other certainty of being in the right, but our own persuasion that we are so … – Gov. of the Tongue.
3. A creed or belief; or a sect or party adhering to a creed or system of opinions; as, men of the same persuasion; all persuasions concur in the measure.

PER-SUA'SIVE, a.

Having the power of persuading; influencing the mind or passions; as, persuasive eloquence; persuasive evidence. – Hooker. South.

PER-SUA'SIVE-LY, adv.

In such a manner as to persuade or convince. – Milton.

PER-SUA'SIVE-NESS, n.

The quality of having influence on the mind or passions. – Taylor.

PER-SUA'SO-RY, a.

Having power or tendency to persuade. – Brown.

PER-SUL'PHATE, n.

A combination of sulphuric acid with the peroxyd of iron. – Webster's Manual.

PER-SULT-A'TION, n. [L. persulto.]

An eruption of the blood from an artery.

PERT, a. [W. pert, smart, spruce; probably allied to perk, primarily, erect, from shooting up or forward.]

1. Lively; brisk; smart. Awake the pert and nimble spirit of mirth. – Shak. On the lawny sands and shelves, / Trip the pert fairies, and the dapper elves.
2. Forward; saucy; bold; indecorously free. A lady bids me in a very pert manner mind my own affairs. – Addison.

PER-TAIN', v.i. [L. pertineo; per and teneo, to hold; It. pertenere.]

1. To belong; to be the property, right or duty of. Men hate those who affect honor by ambition, which pertaineth not to them. – Hayward. He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah. – 2 Kings xii. It pertains to the governor to open the ports by proclamation. – Anon.
2. To have relation to. – Acts i.

PER-TER-E-BRA'TION, n. [L. per and terebratio.]

The act of boring through. – Ainsworth.

PER-TI-NA'CIOUS, a. [L. pertinax; per and teneo, to hold.]

1. Holding or adhering to any opinion, purpose or design with obstinacy; obstinate; perversely resolute or persistent; as, pertinacious in opinion; a man of pertinacious confidence. – Walton.
2. Resolute; firm; constant; steady. Diligence is a steady, constant, pertinacious study. – South. [This word often implies a censurable degree of firmness or constancy, like obstinacy.]

PER-TI-NA'CIOUS-LY, adv.

Obstinately; with firm or perverse adherence to opinion or purpose. He pertinaciously maintains his first opinions.

PER-TI-NA'CIOUS-NESS, or PER-TI-NAC'I-TY, n. [L. pertinacia.]

1. Firm or unyielding adherence to opinion or purpose; obstinacy. He pursues his scheme with pertinacity.
2. Resolution; constancy.