Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PER-VAD'ING, ppr.

Passing through or extending to every part of a thing.

PER-VA'SION, n. [s as z.]

The act of pervading or passing through the whole extent of a thing. – Boyle.

PER-VA'SIVE, a.

Tending, or having power to pervade.

PER-VERSE', a. [pervers'; L. perversus. See Pervert.]

1. Literally, turned aside; hence, distorted from the right. – Milton.
2. Obstinate in the wrong; disposed to be contrary; stubborn; untractable. To so perverse a sex all grace is vain. – Dryden.
3. Cross; petulant; peevish; disposed to cross and vex. I'll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay. – Shak.

PER-VERSE'LY, adv. [pervers'ly.]

With intent to vex crossly; peevishly; obstinately in the wrong. – Locke. Swift.

PER-VERSE'NESS, n. [pervers'ness.]

1. Disposition to cross or vex; untractableness; crossness of temper; a disposition uncomplying, unaccommodating or acting in opposition to what is proper or what is desired by others. Her whom he wishes most, shall seldom gain / Through her perverseness. – Milton.
2. Perversion. [Not used.] – Bacon.

PER-VER'SION, n. [Fr. from L. perversus.]

The act of perverting; a turning from truth or propriety; diverting from the true intent or object; change to some thing worse. We speak of the perversion of the laws, when they are misinterpreted or misapplied; a perversion of reason, when it is misemployed; a perversion of Scripture, when it is willfully misinterpreted or misapplied, &c.

PER-VERS'I-TY, n.

Perverseness; crossness; disposition to thwart or cross. – Norris.

PER-VERS'IVE, a.

Tending to pervert or corrupt.

PER-VERT', v.t. [L. perverto; per and verto, to turn.]

1. To turn from truth, propriety, or from its proper purpose; to distort from its true use or end; as, to pervert reason by misdirecting it; to pervert the laws by misinterpreting am misapplying them; to pervert justice; to pervert the meaning of an author; to pervert nature; to pervert truth. – Milton. Dryden.
2. To turn from the right; to corrupt. He in the serpent had perverted Eve. – Milton.

PER-VERT'ED, pp.

Turned from right to wrong; distorted; corrupted; misinterpreted; misemployed.

PER-VERT'ER, n.

One that perverts or turns from right to wrong; one that distorts, misinterprets or misapplies.

PER-VERT'I-BLE, a.

That may be perverted. – Ainsworth.

PER-VERT'ING, ppr.

Turning from right to wrong; distorting; misinterpreting; misapplying; corrupting. [Pervert, when used of persons, usually implies evil design.]

PER-VES'TI-GATE, v.t. [L. pervestigo; per and vestigo, to trace; vestigium, a track.]

To find out by research. – Cockeram.

PER-VES-TI-GA'TION, n.

Diligent inquiry; thorough research. – Chillingworth.

PER-VI-CA'CIOUS, a. [L. pervicax; composed perhaps of per and Teutonic wigan, to strive or contend.]

Very obstinate; stubborn; willfully contrary or refractory. – Denham.

PER-VI-CA'CIOUS-LY, adv.

With willful obstinacy.

PER-VI-CA'CIOUS-NESS, or PER-VI-CAC'I-TY, n.

Stubbornness; willful obstinacy. [Little used.]

PER-VIG-IL-A'TION, n. [L. pervigilatio, pervigilo.]

A careful watching.

PER'VI-OUS, a. [L. pervius; per and via, way, or from the root of that word.]

1. Admitting passage; that may be penetrated by another body or substance; permeable; penetrable. We say, glass is pervious to light; a porous stone is pervious to water; wood is pervious or not pervious to a body of troops. A country pervious to the arms and authority of a conqueror. – Gibbon.
2. That may be penetrated by the mental sight. By darkness they mean God, whose secrets are pervious to no eye. – Taylor.
3. Pervading; permeating; as, pervious fire. [Not proper.] – Prior.

PER'VI-OUS-NESS, n.

The quality of admitting passage or of being penetrated; as, the perviousness of glass to light. – Boyle.

PE-SADE', n. [Fr. passade. See Pass.]

The motion of a horse when he raises his fore quarters, keeping his hind feet on the ground without advancing. – Far. Dict.

PE'SO, n. [supra.]

A Spanish coin weighing an ounce; a piaster; a piece of eight. – Sp. Dict.

PES'SA-RY, n. [Fr. pessaire; It. pessario; L. pessus.]

An instrument that is introduced into the female vagina to support the mouth and neck of the uterus. It is made of wood, caoutchouc, waxed linen, &c. – Hooper. Cooper.