Param Par"am noun (Chemistry) A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C 2 H 4 N 4 ); -- called also dicyandiamide .
Paramagnetic Par`a·mag·net"ic adjective [ Prefix
para- +
magnetic .]
Magnetic, as opposed to diamagnetic . --
noun A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. --
Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly adverb
Paramagnetism Par`a·mag"net·ism noun Magnetism, as opposed to diamagnetism . Faraday.
Paramaleic Par`a·ma·le"ic adjective [ Prefix
para- +
maleic .]
(Chemistry) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called fumaric acid . [ Obsolete]
Paramalic Par`a·ma"lic adjective [ Prefix
para- +
malic .]
(Chemistry) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.
Paramastoid Par`a·mas"toid adjective [ Prefix
para- +
mastoid .]
(Anat.) Situated beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone; paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.
Paramatta Par`a·mat"ta noun [ So named from
Paramatta , in Australia.]
A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck (Draper's Dict.)
Parament Par"a·ment noun [ Spanish
paramento , from
parar to prepare, Latin
parare .]
Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [ Obsolete]
Lords in paraments on their coursers.
Chaucer. Chamber of paraments ,
presence chamber of a monarch.
Paramento Pa`ra·men"to noun [ Spanish ]
Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl.
Paramere Par"a·mere noun [ Prefix
para- +
-mere .]
(Zoology) One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish.
Parameter Pa·ram"e·ter noun [ Prefix
para- +
-meter : confer French
paramètre .]
1. (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) Specifically (Conic Sections) , in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate. » The
parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the
latus rectum .
2. (Crystallog.) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species.
Parametritis Par`a·me·tri"tis noun [ New Latin See
Para- , and
Metritis .]
(Medicine) Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus.
Paramiographer Par`a·mi·og"ra·pher noun [ Greek ... proverb +
-graph + -er .]
A collector or writer of proverbs. [ R.]
Paramitome Par`a·mi"tome noun [ Prefix
para- +
mitome .]
(Biol.) The fluid portion of the protoplasm of a cell.
Paramo Pa"ra·mo noun ;
plural Paramos . [ Spanish
pæramo .]
A high, bleak plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere, as in the Andes, in South America.
Paramorph Par"a·morph noun [ Prefix
para- + Greek ... form.]
(Min.) A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite.
Paramorphism Par`a·mor"phism noun (Min.) The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition.
Paramorphous Par`a·mor"phous adjective (Min.) Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting paramorphism.
Paramount Par"a·mount adjective [ Old French
par amont above;
par through, by (L.
per ) +
amont above. See
Amount .]
Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preëminent; as, a paramount duty. "A traitor
paramount ."
Bacon. Lady paramount (Archery) ,
the lady making the best score. --
Lord paramount ,
the king. Syn. Superior; principal; preëminent; chief.
Paramount Par"a·mount noun The highest or chief. Milton.
Paramountly Par"a·mount`ly adverb In a paramount manner.
Paramour Par"a·mour noun [ French
par amour , lit., by or with love. See 2d
Par , and
Amour .]
1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman. The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour
Macaulay. 2. Love; gallantry. [ Obsolete] "For
paramour and jollity."
Chaucer.
Paramour, Paramours Par"a·mour`, Par"a·mours` adverb By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [ Obsolete]
For par amour , I loved her first ere thou.
Chaucer.
Paramylum Par·am"y·lum noun [ New Latin , from Greek
para` beside + ... starch.]
(Chemistry) A substance resembling starch, found in the green frothy scum formed on the surface of stagnant water.
Paranaphthalene Par`a·naph"tha·lene noun [ Prefix
para- +
naphthalene .]
(Chemistry) Anthracene; -- called also paranaphthaline . [ Obsolete]
Paranoia Par`a·noi"a (păr`ȧ*noi"ȧ)
noun [ New Latin , from Greek
para`noia .]
(Medicine) Mental derangement; insanity.
Paranoia Par`a·noi"a noun (Medicine) A chronic form of insanity characterized by very gradual impairment of the intellect, systematized delusion, and usually by delusious of persecution or mandatory delusions producing homicidal tendency. In its mild form paranoia may consist in the well-marked crotchetiness exhibited in persons commonly called "cranks." Paranoiacs usually show evidences of bodily and nervous degeneration, and many have hallucinations, esp. of sight and hearing.
Paranoiac Par`a·noi"ac adjective (Medicine) Of or pertaining to paranoia; affected with, or characteristic of, paranoia.
Paranoiac Par`a·noi"ac noun A person affected with paranoia.
Paranthracene Par·an"thra·cene noun [ Prefix
par a- +
anthracene .]
(Chemistry) An inert isomeric modification of anthracene.
Paranucleus Par`a·nu"cle·us noun [ Prefix
para- +
nucleus .]
(Biol.) Some as Nucleolus .
Paranymph Par"a·nymph noun [ Latin
paranymphus , Greek ...;
para` beside, near + ... a bride: confer French
paranymphe .]
1. (Gr. Antiq.) (a) A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride. Milton. (b) The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom. 2. Hence:
An ally; a supporter or abettor. Jer. Taylor.
Paranymphal Par`a·nym"phal adjective Bridal; nuptial. [ R.]
At some paranymphal feast.
Ford.
Parapectin Par`a·pec"tin noun [ Prefix
para- +
pectin .]
(Chemistry) A gelatinous modification of pectin.
Parapegm Par"a·pegm noun [ Latin
parapegma , Greek ..., from ... to fix beside;
para` beside + ... to fix: confer French
parapegme .]
An engraved tablet, usually of brass, set up in a public place. »
Parapegms were used for the publication of laws, proclamations, etc., and the recording of astronomical phenomena or calendar events.
Parapeptone Par`a·pep"tone noun [ Prefix
para- +
peptone .]
(Phisiol. Chem.) An albuminous body formed in small quantity by the peptic digestion of proteids. It can be converted into peptone by pancreatic juice, but not by gastric juice.
Parapet Par"a·pet noun [ French, from Italian
parapetto , from
parare to ward off, guard (L.
parare to prepare, provide) +
petto the breast, Latin
pectus . See
Parry , and
Pectoral .]
1. (Architecture) A low wall, especially one serving to protect the edge of a platform, roof, bridge, or the like. 2. (Fort.) A wall, rampart, or elevation of earth, for covering soldiers from an enemy's fire; a breastwork. See Illust. of Casemate .
Parapetalous Par`a·pet"al·ous adjective [ Prefix
para- +
petal .]
(Botany) Growing by the side of a petal, as a stamen.
Parapeted Par"a·pet`ed adjective Having a parapet.
Paraph Par"aph noun [ French
paraphe ,
parafe , contr. from
paragraphe .]
A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery. Brande & C.
Paraph Par"aph transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Paraphed ;
present participle & verbal noun Paraphing .] [ Confer French
parapher ,
parafer .]
To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.
Parapherna Par`a·pher"na noun plural [ Latin ]
(Rom. Law) The property of a woman which, on her marriage, was not made a part of her dower, but remained her own.
Paraphernal Par`a·pher"nal adjective [ Confer French
paraphernal .]
Of or pertaining to paraphernalia; as, paraphernal property. Kent.
Paraphernalia Par`a·pher·na"li·a noun plural [ Late Latin
paraphernalia bona , from Latin
parapherna , plural, parapherna, Greek ...;
para` beside + ... a bride's dowry, from
fe`rein to bring. See 1st
Bear .]
1. (Law) Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree. 2. Appendages; ornaments; finery; equipments.
Paraphimosis Par`a·phi·mo"sis noun [ New Latin , from Greek ...; ... beyond + ... to muzzle.]
(Medicine) A condition in which the prepuce, after being retracted behind the glans penis, is constricted there, and can not be brought forward into place again.
Paraphosphoric Par`a·phos·phor"ic adjective [ Prefix
para- +
phosphoric .]
(Chemistry) Pyrophosphoric. [ Obsolete]
Paraphragma Par`a·phrag"ma (-frăg"mȧ)
noun ;
plural Paraphragmata . [ New Latin , from Greek
para` beside + ..., ..., an inclosure.]
(Zoology) One of the outer divisions of an endosternite of Crustacea. --
Par`a*phrag"mal adjective
Paraphrase Par"a·phrase (păr"ȧ*frāz)
noun [ Latin
paraphrasis , Greek
para`frasis , from
parafra`zein to say the same thing in other words;
para` beside +
fra`zein to speak: confer French
paraphrase . See
Para- , and
Phrase .]
A restatement of a text, passage, or work, expressing the meaning of the original in another form, generally for the sake of its clearer and fuller exposition; a setting forth the signification of a text in other and ampler terms; a free translation or rendering; -- opposed to metaphrase . In paraphrase , or translation with latitude, the author's words are not so strictly followed as his sense.
Dryden. Excellent paraphrases of the Psalms of David.
I. Disraeli. His sermons a living paraphrase upon his practice.
Sowth. The Targums are also called the Chaldaic or Aramaic Paraphrases .
Shipley.
Paraphrase Par"a·phrase transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Paraphrased ;
present participle & verbal noun Paraphrasing .]
To express, interpret, or translate with latitude; to give the meaning of a passage in other language. We are put to construe and paraphrase our own words.
Bp. Stillingfleet.
Paraphrase Par"a·phrase intransitive verb To make a paraphrase.
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