Parkesine - Parr

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Parkesine (pärksĭn or pärksēn), n. [So called from Mr. Parkes, the inventor.] A compound, originally made from gun cotton and castor oil, but later from different materials, and used as a substitute for vulcanized India rubber and for ivory; -- called also xylotile.
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Parkia prop. n. A genus of tropical Old World trees, including the nitta trees.
Syn. -- genus Parkia.
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parking n. The act of maneuvering a vehicle into a location where it can be left temporarily.
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2. A space or spaces in which a vehicle can be parked; as, there is plenty of parking behind the store.
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Parkinsonia prop. n. A small genus of spiny shrubs or small trees.
Syn. -- genus Parkinsonia.
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parkinsonism n. A degenerative nervous disorder occurring mostly in persons older than 60 years, characterized in advanced stages by rhythmic muscular tremors, especially in the hands, and by rigidity of movement, a drooping posture, slow speech, and a masklike facial expression; the term designates a set of symptoms, and the underlying disease causing these symptoms is most commonly . Parkinsonism results from a deficiency in the neurotransmitter dopamine caused by degeneration of the cells producing that agent. It can be mitigated by chemotherapy with agents such as levodopa (3-hydroxy-L-tyrosine).
Syn. -- paralysis agitans, Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's syndrome, Parkinson's, shaking palsy.
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A Mayo Clinic study finds parkinsonism, a group of ailments that includes Parkinson's disease, is three times more common than previously thought and men are more likely to develop it than women.
The study, published Tuesday in the journal Neurology, found the lifetime risk of developing parkinsonism is 7.5 percent, three times higher than previously thought. UPI (Jan. 2, 1999)
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Parkinson's, Parkinson's disease prop. n. A disease causing , a degenerative nervous disorder; sometimes used loosely as a synonym for parkinsonism. More precisely, parkinson's disease is the term for the underlying physiological disorder and parkinsonism is the term for the set of symptoms associated with the disease. See .
Syn. -- paralysis agitans, Parkinsonism, Parkinson's disease syndrome, shaking palsy.
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Parkinson's disease is the most common form of parkinsonism, a group of disorders that are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Mayo Clinic (Report, 1999)
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According to the National Parkinson's Foundation (NPF), 1 million Americans -- including former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, and television and film star Michael J. Fox -- are affected by Parkinson's disease. Mayo Clinic (Report, 1999)
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parkleaves (pärklēvz), n. (Bot.) A European species of Saint John's-wort; the tutsan. See .
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parkway n. A wide scenic road planted with trees.
Syn. -- drive.
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parky adj. Cold; -- of weather. [British informal]
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Parlance (pärl�ns), n. [OF., fr. F. parler to speak. See .] Conversation; discourse; talk; diction; phrase; as, in legal parlance; in common parlance.
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A hate of gossip parlance and of sway. Tennyson.
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{ Parlando (?), Parlante (?), } a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Speaking; in a speaking or declamatory manner; to be sung or played in the style of a recitative.
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parlay v. t. 1. To wager the winnings plus the initial stake of one bet on a subsequent wager, or to engage in a series of such increased wagers. This is the characteristic act in a common betting system used by gamblers to try to achieve a large win from a small initial stake. Statistically, it is similar to betting a small stake on a game with a large payoff and a proportionately small chance of winning. [PJC]

2. To exploit success in one endeavor so as to achieve greater success in subsequent endeavors.
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3. Fig., to transform a gain into something of greater value.
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parlay n. The act of betting the winnings from a prior bet, plus the original stake, on a subsequent bet; the second or later such bet in a series; also, a series of such bets, with the stakes for later bets coming from the winnings of earlier bets. This is the characteristic act in a common betting system used by gamblers to try to achieve a large win from a small initial stake. Statistically, it is similar to betting a small stake on a game with a large payoff, but with a proportionately small chance of winning.
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Parle (?), v. i. [F. parler. See .] To talk; to converse; to parley. [Obs.] Shak.
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Finding himself too weak, began to parle. Milton.
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Parle, n. Conversation; talk; parley. [Obs.]
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They ended parle, and both addressed for fight. Milton.
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Parley (?), n.; pl. Parleys (#). [F. parler speech, talk, fr. parler to speak, LL. parabolare, fr. L. parabola a comparison, parable, in LL., a word. See , and cf. , .] Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce.
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We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain. Dryden.
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Coloq. To beat a parley (Mil.), to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.
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Parley, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Parleyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Parleying.] To speak with another; to confer on some point of mutual concern; to discuss orally; hence, specifically, to confer orally with an enemy; to treat with him by words, as on an exchange of prisoners, an armistice, or terms of peace.
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They are at hand,
To parley or to fight; therefore prepare. Shak.
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Parliament (?), n. [OE. parlement, F. parlement, fr. parler to speak; cf. LL. parlamentum, parliamentum. See .] 1. A parleying; a discussion; a conference. [Obs.]
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But first they held their parliament. Rom. of R.
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2. A formal conference on public affairs; a general council; esp., an assembly of representatives of a nation or people having authority to make laws.
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They made request that it might be lawful for them to summon a parliament of Gauls. Golding.
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3. The assembly of the three estates of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, viz., the lords spiritual, lords temporal, and the representatives of the commons, sitting in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, constituting the legislature, when summoned by the royal authority to consult on the affairs of the nation, and to enact and repeal laws.
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☞ Thought the sovereign is a constituting branch of Parliament, the word is generally used to denote the three estates named above.
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4. In France, before the Revolution of 1789, one of the several principal judicial courts.
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Coloq. Parliament heel , the inclination of a ship when made to careen by shifting her cargo or ballast. -- Coloq. Parliament hinge (Arch.), a hinge with so great a projection from the wall or frame as to allow a door or shutter to swing back flat against the wall. -- Coloq. Long Parliament , Coloq. Rump Parliament . See under , and .
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Parliamental (?), a. Parliamentary. [Obs.]
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Parliamentarian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Parliament. Wood.
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Parliamentarian, n. 1. (Eng. Hist.) One who adhered to the Parliament, in opposition to King Charles I. Walpole.
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2. One versed in the rules and usages of Parliament or similar deliberative assemblies; as, an accomplished parliamentarian.
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Parliamentarily (?), adv. In a parliamentary manner.
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Parliamentary (?), a. [Cf. F. parlementaire.]
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1. Of or pertaining to Parliament; as, parliamentary authority. Bacon.
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2. Enacted or done by Parliament; as, a parliamentary act. Sir M. Hale.
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3. According to the rules and usages of Parliament or of deliberative bodies; as, a parliamentary motion; parliamentary order; parliamentary procedure.
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Coloq. Parliamentary agent , a person, usually a solicitor, professionally employed by private parties to explain and recommend claims, bills, etc., under consideration of Parliament. [Eng.] -- Coloq. Parliamentary train , one of the trains which, by act of Parliament, railway companies are required to run for the conveyance of third-class passengers at a reduced rate. [Eng.]
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Parlor (?), n. [OE. parlour, parlur, F. parloir, LL. parlatorium. See .] [Written also parlour.] 1. A room for business or social conversation, for the reception of guests, etc. Specifically: (a) The apartment in a monastery or nunnery where the inmates are permitted to meet and converse with each other, or with visitors and friends from without. Piers Plowman. (b) In large private houses, a sitting room for the family and for familiar guests, -- a room for less formal uses than the drawing-room. Esp., in modern times, the dining room of a house having few apartments, as a London house, where the dining parlor is usually on the ground floor. (c) Commonly, in the United States, a drawing-room, or the room where visitors are received and entertained; a room in a private house where people can sit and talk and relax, not usually the same as the dining room.
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☞ “In England people who have a drawing-room no longer call it a parlor, as they called it of old and till recently.” Fitzed. Hall.
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2. A room in an inn or club where visitors can be received.
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Coloq. Parlor car . See Palace car, under .
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Parlor match. A friction match that contains little or no sulphur.
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parlour n. 1. Same as .
Syn. -- living room, sitting room, front room, parlor.
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2. A room in an inn or club where visitors can be received.
Syn. -- parlor.
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Parlous (?), a. [For perlous, a contr. fr. perilous.]
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1. Attended with peril; dangerous; as, a parlous cough. [Archaic] “A parlous snuffing.” Beau. & Fl.
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2. Venturesome; bold; mischievous; keen. [Obs.] “A parlous boy.” Shak. “A parlous wit.” Dryden. -- Parlously, adv. [Obs.] -- Parlousness, n. [Obs.]
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Parmelia prop. n. The type genus of the Parmeliaceae; a large genus of chiefly alpine foliaceous lichens.
Syn. -- genus Parmelia.
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Parmesan (?), a. [F. parmesan, It. parmigiano.] 1. Of or pertaining to Parma in Italy.
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2. Parmesan cheese.
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Coloq. Parmesan cheese , a kind of cheese of a rich flavor, though from skimmed milk, made in Parma, Italy.
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Parnassia (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of herbs growing in wet places, and having white flowers; grass of Parnassus.
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Parnassian (?), a. [L. Parnassius.] Of or pertaining to Parnassus.
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Parnassian, n. [See .] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of butterflies belonging to the genus Parnassius. They inhabit the mountains, both in the Old World and in America.
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Parnassian (?), n. [F. parnassien.] One of a school of French poets of the Second Empire (1852-70) who emphasized metrical form and made little use of emotion as poetic material; -- so called from the name (Parnasse contemporain) of the volume in which their first poems were collected in 1866.
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Parnassien (?), n. [F.] Same as .
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Parnassus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. �.] (Anc. Geog. & Gr. Myth.) A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring.
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Coloq. Grass of Parnassus . (Bot.) See under , and . -- Coloq. To climb Parnassus , to write poetry. [Colloq.]
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Parnellism (?), n. (Eng. Politics) The policy or principles of the Parnellites.
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Parnellite (?), n. (Eng. Politics) One of the adherents of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-91) in his advocacy of home rule for Ireland.
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Paroccipital (?), a. [Pref. para- + occipital.] (Anat.) Situated near or beside the occipital condyle or the occipital bone; paramastoid; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.
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Parochial (?), a. [LL. parochialis, from L. parochia. See .] 1. Of or pertaining to a parish; restricted to a parish; as, parochial duties; parochial schools. “Parochial pastors.” Bp. Atterbury.
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2. Hence: Limited; narrow; having or characterized by narrow interests centered on oneself or one's local community; narrow-minded; provincial; as, parochial views. “The parochial mind.” W. Black.
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Parochialism (?), n. The quality or state of being parochial in form or nature; a system of management peculiar to parishes.
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Parochiality (?), n. The state of being parochial. [R.] Sir J. Marriot.
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Parochialize (?), v. t. To render parochial; to form into parishes.
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Parochially, adv. In a parochial manner; by the parish, or by parishes. Bp. Stillingfleet.
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Parochian (?), a. [See , .] Parochial. [Obs.] “Parochian churches.” Bacon.
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Parochian, n. [LL. parochianus.] A parishioner. [Obs.] Ld. Burleigh.
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{ Parodic (?), Parodical (?), } a. [Gr. �: cf. F. parodique.] Having the character of parody.
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Very paraphrastic, and sometimes parodical. T. Warton.
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parodist (păr�dĭst), n. [Cf. F. parodiste.] One who writes a parody; one who parodies. Coleridge.
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parody (păr�d�), n.; pl. Parodies (păr�dĭz). [L. parodia, Gr. parw,dia; para beside + 'w,dh a song: cf. F. parodie. See , and .]
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1. A writing in which the language or sentiment of an author is mimicked; especially, a kind of literary pleasantry, in which what is written on one subject is altered, and applied to another by way of burlesque; travesty.
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The lively parody which he wrote . . . on Dryden's “Hind and Panther” was received with great applause. Macaulay.
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2. A popular maxim, adage, or proverb. [Obs.]
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parody, v. t. [imp. & p. p. parodied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. parodying.] [Cf. F. parodier.] To write a parody upon; to burlesque.
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I have translated, or rather parodied, a poem of Horace. Pope.
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Paroket (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
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Parol (?), n. [See , the same word.]
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1. A word; an oral utterance. [Obs.]
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2. (Law) Oral declaration; word of mouth; also, a writing not under seal. Blackstone.
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Parol, a. Given or done by word of mouth; oral; also, given by a writing not under seal; as, parol evidence.
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Coloq. Parol arrest (Law), an arrest in pursuance of a verbal order from a magistrate. -- Coloq. Parol contract (Law), any contract not of record or under seal, whether oral or written; a simple contract. Chitty. Story.
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Parole (?), n. [F. parole. See , and cf. .] 1. A word; an oral utterance. [Obs.]
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2. Word of promise; word of honor; plighted faith; especially (Mil.), promise, upon one's faith and honor, to fulfill stated conditions, as not to bear arms against one's captors, to return to custody, or the like.
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This man had forfeited his military parole. Macaulay.
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3. (Mil.) A watchword given only to officers of guards; -- distinguished from countersign, which is given to all guards.
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4. (Law) Oral declaration. See 1st , 2.
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5. The release of a prisoner from confinement prior to the end of the original sentence, conditioned on good behavior and often with other specific conditions, such as not to associate with known criminals. Such early release is common where the sentence provides a minimum and maximum term; as, he was released on parole after three years of his five-year sentence; he is out on parole.
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6. A document authorizing a parole{5}.
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Parole, a. See 2d .
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Parole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paroled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paroling.] (Mil. and Penology) To set at liberty on parole; as, to parole prisoners.
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parole board, n. A group of individuals with authority to determine whether a prisoner will be granted parole{5} from a particular prison.
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Paromology (?), n. [Gr. fr. �, fr. � to grant; � by, near + � to speak together, agree. See .] (Rhet.) A concession to an adversary in order to strengthen one's own argument.
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Paronomasia (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. �, fr. � to form a word by a slight change; para beside + � to name, fr. 'onoma a name.] (Rhet.) A play upon words; a figure by which the same word is used in different senses, or words similar in sound are set in opposition to each other, so as to give antithetical force to the sentence; punning. Dryden.
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{ Paronomastic (?), Paronomastical (?), } a. Of or pertaining to paronomasia; consisting in a play upon words.
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Paronomasy (?), n. [Cf. F. paronomasie.] Paronomasia. [R.] B. Jonson.
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Paronychia (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. parwnychia; para beside + 'onyx, 'onychos, a nail{1}.] (Med.) A whitlow, or felon{3}. Quincy.
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Paronym (?), n. A paronymous word. [Written also paronyme.]
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Paronymous (?), a. [Gr. parwnymos; para beside, near + 'onoma a name.] 1. Having the same derivation; allied radically; conjugate; -- said of certain words, as man, mankind, manhood, etc.
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2. Having a similar sound, but different orthography and different meaning; -- said of certain words, as all and awl; hair and hare, etc.
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Paronymy, n. The quality of being paronymous; also, the use of paronymous words.
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Paroöphoron (?), n. [NL., from Gr. � (see ) + � an egg + ferein to bear.] (Anat.) A small mass of tubules near the ovary in some animals, and corresponding with the parepididymis of the male.
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Paroquet (?), n. [F. perroquet, or Sp. periquito; both prob. orig. meaning, little Peter. See .] (Zoöl.) Same as . [Written also paroket, parroquet, and perroquet.]
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Coloq. Paroquet auk or Coloq. Paroquet auklet (Zoöl.), a small auk (Cyclorrhynchus psittaculus) inhabiting the coast and islands of Alaska. The upper parts are dark slate, under parts white, bill orange red. Called also perroquet auk.
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Parorchis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Anat.) The part of the epididymis, or the corresponding part of the excretory duct of the testicle, which is derived from the Wolffian body.
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Parosteal (?), (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to parostosis; as, parosteal ossification.
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Parostosis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Physiol.) Ossification which takes place in purely fibrous tracts; the formation of bone outside of the periosteum.
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Parostotic (?), a. Pertaining to parostosis.
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Parotic (?), a. [See .] (Anat.) On the side of the auditory capsule; near the external ear.
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Coloq. Parotic region (Zoöl.), the space around the ears.
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Parotid (?), a. [L. parotis, -idis, Gr. �, �; para beside, near + �, �, the ear: cf. F. parotide. ] (Anat.) (a) Situated near the ear; -- applied especially to the salivary gland near the ear. (b) Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the parotid gland.
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Coloq. Parotid gland (Anat.), one of the salivary glands situated just in front of or below the ear. It is the largest of the salivary glands in man, and its duct opens into the interior of the mouth opposite the second molar of the upper jaw.
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Parotid, n. (Anat.) The parotid gland.
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Parotitis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Med.) Inflammation of the parotid glands.
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Coloq. Epidemic parotitis or Coloq. Infectious parotitis , mumps.
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Parotoid (?), a. [Parotid + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling the parotid gland; -- applied especially to cutaneous glandular elevations above the ear in many toads and frogs. -- n. A parotoid gland.
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Parousia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �. See .] (a) The nativity of our Lord. (b) The last day. Shipley.
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Parovarium (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Anat.) A group of tubules, a remnant of the Wolffian body, often found near the ovary or oviduct; the epoöphoron.
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Paroxysm (?), n. [F. paroxysme, Gr. �, fr. � to sharpen, irritate; para beside, beyond + � to sharpen, from � sharp.] 1. (Med.) The fit, attack, or exacerbation, of a disease that occurs at intervals, or has decided remissions or intermissions. Arbuthnot.
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2. Any sudden and violent emotion; spasmodic passion or action; a convulsion; a fit.
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The returning paroxysms of diffidence and despair. South.
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Paroxysmal (?), a. Of the nature of a paroxysm; characterized or accompanied by paroxysms; as, a paroxysmal pain; paroxysmal temper. -- Paroxysmally, adv.
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Paroxytone (?), n. [Gr. �, a. See , and .] (Gr. Gram.) A word having an acute accent on the penultimate syllable.
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Parquet (pärkā or pärkĕt), n. [F. See .]
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1. A body of seats on the floor of a music hall or theater nearest the orchestra; but commonly applied to the whole lower floor of a theater, from the orchestra to the dress circle; the pit.
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2. Same as .
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3. In various European public bourses, the railed-in space within which the “agents de change,” or privileged brokers, conduct business; also, the business conducted by them; -- distinguished from the coulisse, or outside market.
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4. In most European countries, the branch of the administrative government which is charged with the prevention, investigation, and punishment of crime, representing the public and not the individual injured.
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Parquetage (?), n. See .
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Parquet circle. That part of the lower floor of a theater with seats at the rear of the parquet and beneath the galleries; -- called also, esp. in U. S., orchestra circle or parterre.
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Parqueted (pärkād), a. Formed in parquetry; inlaid with wood in small and differently colored figures.
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One room parqueted with yew, which I liked well. Evelyn.
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Parquetry (?), n. [F. parqueterie, fr. parquet inlaid flooring, fr. parquet, dim. of parc an inclosure. See .] A species of joinery or cabinet-work consisting of an inlay of geometric or other patterns, generally of different colors, -- used especially for floors.
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Parquette (?), n. See .
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Parr (pär), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. bradan a salmon.] (Zoöl.) (a) A young salmon in the stage when it has dark transverse bands; -- called also samlet, skegger, and fingerling. (b) A young leveret.
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