Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PELT'ATE, or PELT'A-TED, a. [L. pelta, a target.]

In botany, having the shape of a target or round shield, with the style inserted near the middle of the under surface; as, a pellate stigma; having the petiole inserted into the under surface of the lamin not far from the center; as, a pellate leaf. – Martyn.

PELT'ATE-LY, adv.

In the form of a target, &c. – Eaton.

PELT'ED, pp.

Struck with something thrown or driven.

PELT'ER, n.

One that pelts; also, a pinchpenny; a mean sordid person. – Huloet.

PELT'ING, a.

In Shakspeare, mean; paltry. [Improper.]

PELT'ING, n.

An assault with any thing thrown. – Shak.

PELT'ING, ppr.

Striking with something thrown or driven.

PELT'MON-GER, n.

A dealer in pelts or raw hides.

PEL'TRY, n. [from pelt, a skin.]

The skins of animals producing fur; skins in general, with the fur on them; furs in general. – Smollett.

PEL'VIC, a.

Pertaining to the pelvis. – Lawrence. Med. Journ.

PEL-VIM'E-TER, n. [L. pelvis and Gr. μετρον, measure.]

An instrument to measure the dimensions of the female pelvis. – Coxe.

PEL'VIS, n. [L. pelvis, a basin.]

The cavity of the body formed by the os sacrum, os coccygis, and ossa innominata, constituting the lower part of the abdomen.

PEM'MA-CAN, n.

Meat cured, pulverized, and mixed with fat. It contains much nutriment in small compass, and is of great use in long voyages of exploration.

PEN, n.¹ [L. penna; Sax. pinn; D. pen; It. penna, a feather, a pen, and a top; W. pen, top, summit, head; Ir. beann, beinn, written also ben. The Celtic nations called the peak of a mountain, ben or pen. Hence the name Apennine, applied to the mountains of Italy. It may belong to the same root as L. pinna, a fin, that is a shoot or point.]

1. An instrument used for writing, usually made of the quill of some large fowl, but it may be of any other material.
2. A feather; a wing. [Not used.] – Spenser.

PEN, n.² [Sax. pinan, to press, or pyndan, to pound or shut up; both probably from one root.]

A small inclosure for beasts, as for cows or sheep.

PEN, v.t.¹ [pret. and pp. penned.]

To write; to compose and commit to paper. – Addison.

PEN, v.t.² [pret. and pp. penned or pent.]

To shut in a pen; to confine in a small inclosure; to coop; to confine in a narrow place; usually followed by up, which is redundant. – Boyle. Milton.

PE'NAL, a. [Fr. and Sp. id.; It. penale; from L. pœna, Gr. ποινη, pain, punishment. See Pain.]

1. Enacting punishment; denouncing the punishment of offenses; as, a penal law or statute; the penal code. Penal statutes must be construed strictly. – Blackstone.
2. Inflicting punishment. Adamantine chains and penal fire. – Milton.
3. Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penal act or offense.

PE-NAL'I-TY, n.

Liableness or condemnation to punishment. [Not used.] – Brown.

PE'NAL-LY, adv.

In a penal manner.

PEN'AL-TY, n. [It. penalità; Sp. penalidad. See Penal.]

1. The suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense or trespass, as a punishment. A fine is a pecuniary penalty. The usual penalties inflicted on the person, are whipping, cropping, branding, imprisonment, hard labor, transportation or death.
2. The suffering to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of non-fulfillment of his stipulations; the forfeiture or sum to be forfeited for non-payment, or for non-compliance with an agreement; as, the penalty of a bond.

PEN'ANCE, n. [Sp. penante, from penar, It. penare, to suffer pain. See Pain.]

1. The suffering, labor or pain to which a person voluntarily subjects himself, or which is imposed on him by authority as a punishment for his faults, or as an expression of penitence; such as fasting, flagellation, wearing chains, &c. Penance is one of the seven sacraments of the Romish church. – Encyc.
2. Repentance.

PE-NA'TES, n. [plur.]

The household gods of the ancient Italians.

PENCE, n. [pens.]

The plural of Penny, when used of a sum of money or value. When pieces of coin are mentioned, we use Pennies.

PEN'CHANT, n. [paunshaun; Fr.]

Inclination.