Peace Peace noun [ Middle English pees , pais , Old French pais, paiz, pes, French paix , Latin pax , pacis , akin to pacere , paciscere , pacisci , to make an agreement, and probably also pangere to fasten. Confer Appease , Fair , adjective , Fay , v. , Fang , Pacify , Pact , Pay to requite.] A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose ; specifically: (a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord. "The eternal love and pees ." Chaucer.

» Peace is sometimes used as an exclamation in commanding silence, quiet, or order. " Peace ! foolish woman." Shak.

At peace , in a state of peace. -- Breach of the peace . See under Breach . -- Justice of the peace . See under Justice . -- Peace of God . (Law) (a) A term used in wills, indictments, etc., as denoting a state of peace and good conduct. (b) (Theol.) The peace of heart which is the gift of God. -- Peace offering . (a) (Jewish Antiq.) A voluntary offering to God in token of devout homage and of a sense of friendly communion with Him . (b) A gift or service offered as satisfaction to an offended person. -- Peace officer , a civil officer whose duty it is to preserve the public peace, to prevent riots, etc., as a sheriff or constable. -- To hold one's peace , to be silent; to refrain from speaking. -- To make one's peace with , to reconcile one with, to plead one's cause with, or to become reconciled with, another. "I will make your peace with him." Shak.

Peace Peace transitive verb & i. To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop. [ R.] " Peace your tattlings." Shak.

When the thunder would not peace at my bidding.

Shak.

Peaceable Peace"a·ble adjective [ Middle English peisible , French paisible .] Begin in or at peace; tranquil; quiet; free from, or not disposed to, war, disorder, or excitement; not quarrelsome. -- Peace"a*ble*ness , noun -- Peace"a*bly , adverb

Syn. -- Peaceful; pacific; tranquil; quiet; mild; undisturbed; serene; still. -- Peaceable , Peaceful . Peaceable describes the state of an individual, nation, etc., in reference to external hostility, attack, etc.; peaceful , in respect to internal disturbance. The former denotes "in the spirit of peace;" latter; "in the possession or enjoyment of peace." A peaceable adjustment of difficulties; a peaceful life, scene.

Peacebreaker Peace"break`er noun One who disturbs the public peace. -- Peace"break`ing , noun

Peaceful Peace"ful adjective 1. Possessing or enjoying peace; not disturbed by war, tumult, agitation, anxiety, or commotion; quiet; tranquil; as, a peaceful time; a peaceful country; a peaceful end.

2. Not disposed or tending to war, tumult or agitation; pacific; mild; calm; peaceable; as, peaceful words.

Syn. -- See Peaceable .

-- Peace"ful*ly , adverb . -- Peace"ful*ness , noun

Peaceless Peace"less adjective Without peace; disturbed. Sandys.

Peacemaker Peace"mak`er noun One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance. Matt. v. 9.

-- Peace"mak`ing , noun

Peach Peach transitive verb [ See Appeach , Impeach .] To accuse of crime; to inform against. [ Obsolete] Foxe.

Peach Peach intransitive verb To turn informer; to betray one's accomplice. [ Obsolete or Colloq.]

If I be ta'en, I'll peach for this.

Shak.

Peach Peach noun [ Middle English peche , peshe , Old French pesche , French pêche , from Late Latin persia , Latin Persicum (sc. malum ) a Persian apple, a peach. Confer Persian , and Parsee .] (Botany) A well-known high-flavored juicy fruit, containing one or two seeds in a hard almond-like endocarp or stone; also, the tree which bears it ( Prunus, or Amygdalus Persica ). In the wild stock the fruit is hard and inedible.

Guinea , or Sierra Leone , peach , the large edible berry of the Sarcocephalus esculentus , a rubiaceous climbing shrub of west tropical Africa. -- Palm peach , the fruit of a Venezuelan palm tree ( Bactris speciosa ). -- Peach color , the pale red color of the peach blossom. -- Peach-tree borer (Zoology) , the larva of a clearwing moth ( Ægeria, or Sannina, exitiosa ) of the family Ægeriidæ , which is very destructive to peach trees by boring in the wood, usually near the ground; also, the moth itself. See Illust. under Borer .

Peach-colored Peach"-col`ored adjective Of the color of a peach blossom. " Peach-colored satin." Shak.

Peachblow Peach"blow` adjective (Ceramics) Of the delicate purplish pink color likened to that of peach blooms; -- applied esp. to a Chinese porcelain, small specimens of which bring great prices in the Western countries.

Peacher Peach"er noun One who peaches. [ Low] Foxe.

Peachick Pea"chick` noun (Zoology) The chicken of the peacock.

Peachy Peach"y adjective Resembling a peach or peaches.

Peacock Pea"cock` noun [ Middle English pecok . Pea- in this word is from Anglo-Saxon peá , pāwa , peacock, from Latin pavo , probably of Oriental origin; confer Greek ..., ..., Persian tāus , tāwus , Arabic tāwu...s . See Cock the bird.] 1. (Zoology) The male of any pheasant of the genus Pavo , of which at least two species are known, native of Southern Asia and the East Indies.

» The upper tail coverts, which are long and capable of erection, are each marked with a black spot bordered by concentric bands of brilliant blue, green, and golden colors. The common domesticated species is Pavo cristatus . The Javan peacock ( P. muticus ) is more brilliantly colored than the common species.

2. In common usage, the species in general or collectively; a peafowl.

Peacock butterfly (Zoology) , a handsome European butterfly ( Hamadryas Io ) having ocelli like those of peacock. -- Peacock fish (Zoology) , the European blue-striped wrasse ( Labrus variegatus ); -- so called on account of its brilliant colors. Called also cook wrasse and cook . -- Peacock pheasant (Zoology) , any one of several species of handsome Asiatic pheasants of the genus Polyplectron . They resemble the peacock in color.

Peacock Throne Pea"cock` Throne 1. A famous throne formerly of the kings of Delhi, India, but since 1739, when it was carried off by Nadir Shah, held by the shahs of Persia (later Iran); - - so called from its bearing a fully expanded peacock's tail done in gems.

Peafowl Pea"fowl` noun [ See Peacock .] (Zoology) The peacock or peahen; any species of Pavo.

Peag Peag noun [ Written also peage , peak , peeke .] [ Prob. of North Amer. Indian origin.] A kind of aboriginal shell money, or wampum, of the Atlantic coast of the United States; -- originally applied only to polished white cylindrical beads.

Peage Pe"age noun See Paage .

Peagrit Pea"grit` noun (Min.) A coarse pisolitic limestone. See Pisolite .

Peahen Pea"hen` noun [ See Peacock .] (Zoology) The hen or female peafowl.

Peak Peak noun [ Middle English pek , Anglo-Saxon peac , perh of Celtic origin; confer Ir. peac a sharp- pointed thing. Confer Pike .] 1. A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak , or front, of a cap. "Run your beard into a peak ." Beau. & Fl.

2. The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe.

Silent upon a peak in Darien.

Keats.

3. (Nautical) (a) The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; -- used in many combinations; as, peak -halyards, peak -brails, etc. (b) The narrow part of a vessel's bow, or the hold within it. (c) The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill. [ In the last sense written also pea and pee .]

Fore peak . (Nautical) See under Fore .

Peak Peak intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Peaked ; present participle & verbal noun Peaking .] 1. To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak.

There peaketh up a mighty high mount.

Holand.

2. To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sicky. "Dwindle, peak , and pine." Shak.

3. [ Confer Peek .] To pry; to peep slyly. Shak.

Peak arch (Architecture) , a pointed or Gothic arch.

Peak Peak transitive verb (Nautical) To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular.

Peaked Peaked adjective 1. Pointed; ending in a point; as, a peaked roof.

2. (Oftener ...) Sickly; not robust. [ Colloq.]

Peaking Peak"ing adjective 1. Mean; sneaking. [ Vulgar]

2. Pining; sickly; peakish. [ Colloq.]

Peakish Peak"ish adjective 1. Of or relating to a peak; or to peaks; belonging to a mountainous region. "Her peakish spring." Drayton. "His peakish dialect." Bp. Hall.

2. Having peaks; peaked.

3. Having features thin or sharp, as from sickness; hence, sickly. [ Colloq.]

Peaky Peak"y adjective 1. Having a peak or peaks. Tennyson.

2. Sickly; peaked. [ Colloq.]

Peal Peal noun [ Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoology) A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin. [ Prov. Eng.]

Peal Peal intransitive verb To appeal. [ Obsolete] Spencer.

Peal Peal noun [ An abbrev. of French appel a call, appeal, ruffle of a drum, from appeller to call, Latin appellare . See Appeal .] 1. A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, of a multitude, etc. "A fair peal of artillery." Hayward.

Whether those peals of praise be his or no.

Shak.

And a deep thunder, peal on peal , afar.

Byron.

2. A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale; also, the changes rung on a set of bells.

To ring a peal . See under Ring .

Peal Peal intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Pealed ; present participle & verbal noun Pealing .] 1. To utter or give out loud sounds.

There let the pealing organ blow.

Milton.

2. To resound; to echo.

And the whole air pealed
With the cheers of our men .

Longfellow.

Peal Peal transitive verb 1. To utter or give forth loudly; to cause to give out loud sounds; to noise abroad.

The warrior's name,
Though pealed and chimed on all the tongues of fame.

J. Barlow.

2. To assail with noise or loud sounds.

Nor was his ear less pealed .

Milton.

3. To pour out. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Pean Pean noun [ Old French pene , French panne .] (Her.) One of the furs, the ground being sable , and the spots or tufts or .

Pean Pe"an noun A song of praise and triumph. See Pæan .

Peanism Pe"an·ism noun [ Greek ..., from ... to chant the pæan.] The song or shout of praise, of battle, or of triumph. [ R.]

Peanut Pea"nut noun (Botany) The fruit of a trailing leguminous plant ( Arachis hypogæa ); also, the plant itself, which is widely cultivated for its fruit.

» The fruit is a hard pod, usually containing two or three seeds, sometimes but one, which ripen beneath the soil. Called also earthnut , groundnut , and goober .

Peanut butter Pea"nut but"ter A paste made by mixing ground fresh roasted peanuts with a small quantity of water or oil, and used chiefly as a relish on sandwiches, etc.

Pear Pear (pâr) noun [ Middle English pere , Anglo-Saxon peru , Latin pirum : confer French poire . Confer Perry .] (Botany) The fleshy pome, or fruit, of a rosaceous tree ( Pyrus communis ), cultivated in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family , below.

Pear blight . (a) (Botany) A name of two distinct diseases of pear trees, both causing a destruction of the branches, viz., that caused by a minute insect ( Xyleborus pyri ), and that caused by the freezing of the sap in winter. A. J. Downing. (b) (Zoology) A very small beetle ( Xyleborus pyri ) whose larvæ bore in the twigs of pear trees and cause them to wither. -- Pear family (Botany) , a suborder of rosaceous plants ( Pomeæ ), characterized by the calyx tube becoming fleshy in fruit, and, combined with the ovaries, forming a pome. It includes the apple, pear, quince, service berry, and hawthorn. -- Pear gauge (Physics) , a kind of gauge for measuring the exhaustion of an air-pump receiver; -- so called because consisting in part of a pear-shaped glass vessel. -- Pear shell (Zoology) , any marine gastropod shell of the genus Pyrula , native of tropical seas; -- so called from the shape. -- Pear slug (Zoology) , the larva of a sawfly which is very injurious to the foliage of the pear tree.

Pear-shaped Pear"-shaped` adjective Of the form of a pear.

Pearch Pearch noun [ Obsolete] See Perch .

Pearl Pearl noun A fringe or border. [ Obsolete] -- transitive verb To fringe; to border. [ Obsolete] See Purl .

Pearl stitch . See Purl stitch , under Purl .

Pearl Pearl noun [ Middle English perle , French perle , Late Latin perla , perula , probably from (assumed) Latin pirulo , dim. of Latin pirum a pear. See Pear , and confer Purl to mantle.] 1. (Zoology) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of- pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.

2. Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious.

I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl .

Shak.

And those pearls of dew she wears.

Milton.

3. Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

4. (Zoology) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

5. (Zoology) A light-colored tern.

6. (Zoology) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

7. A whitish speck or film on the eye. [ Obsolete] Milton.

8. A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.

9. (Print.) A size of type, between agate and diamond.

» This line is printed in the type called pearl .

Ground pearl . (Zoology) See under Ground . -- Pearl barley , kernels of barley, ground so as to form small, round grains. -- Pearl diver , one who dives for pearl oysters. -- Pearl edge , an edge of small loops on the side of some kinds of ribbon; also, a narrow kind of thread edging to be sewed on lace. -- Pearl eye , cataract. [ R.] -- Pearl gray , a very pale and delicate blue-gray color. -- Pearl millet , Egyptian millet ( Penicillaria spicata ). -- Pearl moss . See Carrageen . -- Pearl moth (Zoology) , any moth of the genus Margaritia ; -- so called on account of its pearly color. -- Pearl oyster (Zoology) , any one of several species of large tropical marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Meleagrina , or Margaritifera , found in the East Indies (especially at Ceylon), in the Persian Gulf, on the coast of Australia, and on the Pacific coast of America. Called also pearl shell , and pearl mussel . -- Pearl powder . See Pearl white , below. -- Pearl sago , sago in the form of small pearly grains. -- Pearl sinter (Min.) , fiorite. -- Pearl spar (Min.) , a crystallized variety of dolomite, having a pearly luster. -- Pearl white . (a) Basic bismuth nitrate, or bismuth subchloride; -- used chiefly as a cosmetic . (b) A variety of white lead blued with indigo or Berlin blue.

Pearl Pearl adjective Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl.

Pearl Pearl transitive verb 1. To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.

2. To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.

Pearl Pearl intransitive verb 1. To resemble pearl or pearls.

2. To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling .

Pearl-eyed Pearl"-eyed` adjective Having a pearly speck in the eye; afflicted with the cataract.

Pearlaceous Pearl·a"ceous adjective Resembling pearl or mother-of-pearl; pearly in quality or appearance.

Pearlash Pearl"ash` noun (Chemistry) A white amorphous or granular substance which consists principally of potassium carbonate, and has a strong alkaline reaction. It is obtained by lixiviating wood ashes, and evaporating the lye, and has been an important source of potassium compounds. It is used in making soap, glass, etc.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter P > Page 37 of 206.
« Previous ¦29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 ¦ Next »