Pentafid - Peony

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Pentafid (pĕntȧfĭd), a. [Penta- + root of L. findere to split.] (Bot.) Divided or cleft into five parts.
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Pentaglot (pĕntȧglŏt), n. [Penta- + -glot, as in polyglot.] A work in five different tongues.
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Pentagon (?), n. [Gr. pentagwnon; penta- (see ) + gwnia angle: cf. L. pentagonium, F. pentagone.] (Geom.) A plane figure having five angles, and, consequently, five sides; any figure having five angles.
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Coloq. Regular pentagon , a pentagon in which the angles are all equal, and the sides all equal.
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Pentagonal (?), a. [Cf. F. pentagonal, pentagone, L. pentagonus, pentagonius, Gr. �.] Having five corners or angles.
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Coloq. Pentagonal dodecahedron . See , and .
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Pentagonally, adv. In the form of a pentagon; with five angles. Sir T. Browne.
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Pentagonous (?), a. Pentagonal.
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Pentagram (?), n. [Gr. �, neut. of � having five lines. See , and .] A pentacle or a pentalpha. “Like a wizard pentagram.” Tennyson.
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{ Pentagraphic (?), Pentagraphical (?), } a. [Corrupted fr. pantographic, -ical.] Pantographic. See .
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Pentagynia (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � (see ) + � female.] (Bot.) A Linnæan order of plants, having five styles or pistils.
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{ Pentagynian (?), Pentagynous (?), } a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to plants of the order Pentagyna; having five styles.
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Pentahedral (?), a. Having five sides; as, a pentahedral figure.
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Pentahedrical (?), a. Pentahedral. [R.]
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Pentahedron (?), n. [Penta- + Gr. edra seat, base.] A solid figure having five sides.
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Pentahedrous (?), a. Pentahedral. Woodward.
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Pentail (?), n. (Zoöl.) A peculiar insectivore (Ptilocercus Lowii) of Borneo; -- so called from its very long, quill-shaped tail, which is scaly at the base and plumose at the tip.
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Pentalpha (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �: cf. F. pentalpha. See , and .] A five-pointed star, resembling five alphas joined at their bases; -- used as a symbol.
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Pentamera (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Zoöl.) An extensive division of Coleoptera, including those that normally have five-jointed tarsi. It embraces about half of all the known species of the Coleoptera.
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Pentameran (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Pentamera.
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Pentamerous (?), a. [Penta- + Gr. � part.] 1. (Biol.) Divided into, or consisting of, five parts; also, arranged in sets, with five parts in each set, as a flower with five sepals, five petals, five, or twice five, stamens, and five pistils.
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2. (Zoöl.) Belonging to the Pentamera.
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Pentamerus (?), n. [NL. See .] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct Paleozoic brachiopods, often very abundant in the Upper Silurian.
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Coloq. Pentamerus limestone (Geol.), a Silurian limestone composed largely of the shells of Pentamerus.
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Pentameter (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. �; � (see ) + � measure.] (Gr. & L.Pros.) A verse of five feet.
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☞ The dactylic pentameter consists of two parts separated by a diæresis. Each part consists of two dactyls and a long syllable. The spondee may take the place of the dactyl in the first part, but not in the second. The elegiac distich consists of the hexameter followed by the pentameter. Harkness.
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Pentameter, a. Having five metrical feet.
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Pentamethylene (?), n. [Penta- + methylene.] (Chem.) A hypothetical hydrocarbon, C5H10, metameric with the amylenes, and the nucleus of a large number of derivatives; -- so named because regarded as composed of five methylene residues. Cf. , and .
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Pentandria (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � (see ) + �, �, man, male.] (Bot.) A Linnæan class of plants having five separate stamens.
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{ Pentandrian (?), Pentandrous (?), } a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the class Pentadria; having five stamens.
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Pentane (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) Any one of the three metameric hydrocarbons, C5H12, of the methane or paraffin series. They are colorless, volatile liquids, two of which occur in petroleum. So called because of the five carbon atoms in the molecule.
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Pentangle (?), n. [Penta- + angle.] A pentagon. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
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Pentangular (?), a. [Penta- + angular.] Having five corners or angles. [R.]
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Pentapetalous (?), a. [Penta- + petal.] (Bot.) Having five petals, or flower leaves.
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Pentaphyllous (?), a. [Penta- + Gr. � leaf.] (Bot.) Having five leaves or leaflets.
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Pentapody (?), n. [Penta- + Gr. �, �, foot.] (Pros.) A measure or series consisting of five feet.
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Pentaptote (?), n. [L. (pl.) pentaptota. Gr. � with five cases; � (see ) + � falling.] (Gram.) A noun having five cases.
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Pentaptych (?), n. [Penta- + Gr. �, �, a fold.] (Fine Arts) A picture, or combination of pictures, consisting of a centerpiece and double folding doors or wings, as for an altarpiece.
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Pentarchy (?), n. [Gr. �: cf. F. pentarchie. See , and .] A government in the hands of five persons; five joint rulers. P. Fletcher. “The pentarchy of the senses.” A. Brewer.
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Pentaspast (?), n. [L. pentaspaston, Gr. � (see ) + � to pull: cf. F. pentaspaste.] A purchase with five pulleys. [R.]
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Pentaspermous (?), a. [Penta- + Gr. � seed.] (Bot.) Containing five seeds.
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Pentastich (?), n. [Gr. � of five verses; � (see ) + � line, verse.] A composition consisting of five verses.
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Pentastichous (?), a. [Penta- + Gr. stichos a row.] (Bot.) Having, or arranged in, five vertical ranks, as the leaves of an apple tree or a cherry tree.
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Pentastomida (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. � (see ) + � a mouth.] (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Pentastyle (?), a. [Penta- + Gr. � a pillar.] (Arch.) Having five columns in front; -- said of a temple or portico in classical architecture. -- n. A portico having five columns.
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Pentateuch (?), n. [L. pentateuchus, Gr. �; � (see ) + � a tool, implement, a book, akin to � to prepare, make ready, and perh. to E. text. See , and .] The first five books of the Old Testament, collectively; -- called also the Law of Moses, Book of the Law of Moses, etc.
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Pentateuchal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Pentateuch.
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Pentathionic (?), a. [Penta- + thionic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of sulphur obtained by leading hydrogen sulphide into a solution of sulphur dioxide; -- so called because it contains five atoms of sulphur.
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Pentathlon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �; � five + � a contest.] (Gr. Antiq.) 1. A fivefold athletic performance peculiar to the great national games of the Greeks, including leaping, foot racing, wrestling, throwing the discus, and throwing the spear.
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2. In the modern Olympic Games, a composite contest made up of a running broad jump, throwing the javelin, a 200-meter run, throwing the discus, and a 1500-meter run.
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Pentatomic (?), a. [Penta- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Having five atoms in the molecule. (b) Having five hydrogen atoms capable of substitution.
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Pentavalent (?), a. [Penta- + L. valens, p. pr. See .] (Chem.) Having a valence of five; -- said of certain atoms and radicals.
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Penteconter (?), n. [Gr. � (sc. �), fr. � fifty.] (Gr. Antiq.) A Grecian vessel with fifty oars. [Written also pentaconter.]
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Pentecost (?), n. [L. pentecoste, Gr. � (sc. �) the fiftieth day, Pentecost, fr. � fiftieth, fr. � fifty, fr. � five. See , and cf. .] 1. A solemn festival of the Jews; -- so called because celebrated on the fiftieth day (seven weeks) after the second day of the Passover (which fell on the sixteenth of the Jewish month Nisan); -- hence called, also, the Feast of Weeks. At this festival an offering of the first fruits of the harvest was made. By the Jews it was generally regarded as commemorative of the gift of the law on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt.
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2. A festival of the Roman Catholic and other churches in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; which occurred on the day of Pentecost; -- called also Whitsunday. Shak.
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Pentecostal (?), a. Of or pertaining to Pentecost or to Whitsuntide.
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Pentecostals (?), n. pl. Offerings formerly made to the parish priest, or to the mother church, at Pentecost. Shipley.
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Pentecoster (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �, fr. � fifty.] (Gr. Antiq.) An officer in the Spartan army commanding fifty men. Mitford.
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Pentecosty (?), n.; pl. Pentecosties (#). [Gr. �, fr. � the fiftieth, � fifty.] (Gr. Antiq.) A troop of fifty soldiers in the Spartan army; -- called also pentecostys. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
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{ Pentelic (?), Pentelican (?), } a. Of or pertaining to Mount Pentelicus, near Athens, famous for its fine white marble quarries; obtained from Mount Pentelicus; as, the Pentelic marble of which the Parthenon is built.
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Pentene (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) Same as .
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Penthouse (?), n. [A corruption of pentice.] A shed or roof sloping from the main wall or building, as over a door or window; a lean-to. Also figuratively. “The penthouse of his eyes.” Sir W. Scott.
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Penthouse, a. Leaning; overhanging. “Penthouse lid.” Shak. “My penthouse eyebrows.” Dryden.
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Pentice (?), n. [F. appentis a penthouse. See .] A penthouse. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
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Pentile (?), n. See .
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Pentine (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C5H8, of the acetylene series. Same as .
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Pentoic (?), a. [See .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or desingating, an acid (called also valeric acid) derived from pentane.
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Pentone (?), n. [See .] (Chem.) Same as .
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{ Pentosan (?), n. Also -sane (?) }. [From .] (Chem.) One of a class of substances (complex carbohydrates widely distributed in plants, as in fruits, gums, woods, hay, etc.) which yield pentoses on hydrolysis.
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Pentose (?), n. [Penta- + -ose.] (Chem.) Any of a group of sugars of the formula C5H10O5, such as as arabinose or ribose; -- so called from the five carbon atoms in the molecule. They are not fermented by yeast.
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Pentoxide (?), n. [Penta- + oxide.] (Chem.) An oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in each molecule; as, phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5.
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Pentremite (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of Pentremites.
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Pentremites (?), n. [NL., from Gr. � five + L. remus an oar.] (Zoöl.) A genus of crinoids belonging to the Blastoidea. They have five petal-like ambulacra.
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Pentroof (?), n. [F. pente slope + E. roof, or from penthouse roof.] See .
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Pentrough (?), n. A penstock.
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Pentyl (?), n. [Penta + -yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical, C5H11, of pentane and certain of its derivatives. Same as .
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Pentylic (?), a. Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, pentyl; as, pentylic alcohol
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{ Penuchle (?), Pinocle Pinochle (?) }, n. A game at cards, played with forty-eight cards, being all the cards above the eight spots in two packs.
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Penult (?), n. [Abbreviated fr. penultima.] (Gram. & Pros.) The last syllable but one of a word; the syllable preceding the final one.
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Penultima (?), n. [L. (sc. syllaba), fr. penultimus, paenultimus, the last but one; paene almost + ultimus the last.] Same as .
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Penultimate (?), a. Last but one; as, the penultimate syllable, the last syllable but one of a word.
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Penultimate, n. The penult.
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Penumbra (?), n. [NL., fr. L. paene almost + umbra shade.] 1. An incomplete or partial shadow.
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2. (Astron.) The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the space of partial illumination between the umbra, or perfect shadow, on all sides, and the full light. Sir I. Newton.
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☞ The faint shade surrounding the dark central portion of a solar spot is also called the penumbra, and sometimes umbra.
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3. (Paint.) The part of a picture where the shade imperceptibly blends with the light.
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Penumbrala. Of or pertaining to a penumbra; resembling a penumbra; partially illuminated.
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Penurious (?), a. [From .] 1. Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly. “A penurious niggard of his wealth.” Milton.
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2. Not bountiful or liberal; scanty.
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Here creeps along a poor, penurious stream. C. Pitt.
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3. Destitute of money; suffering extreme want. [Obs.] “My penurious band.” Shak.
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Syn. -- Avaricious; covetous; parsimonious; miserly; niggardly; stingy. See .
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--Penuriously, adv. -- Penuriousness, n.
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Penury (?), n. [L. penuria; cf. Gr. � hunger, � poverty, need, � one who works for his daily bread, a poor man, � to work for one's daily bread, to be poor: cf. F. pénurie.] 1. Absence of resources; want; privation; indigence; extreme poverty; destitution. “A penury of military forces.” Bacon.
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They were exposed to hardship and penury. Sprat.
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It arises in neither from penury of thought. Landor.
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2. Penuriousness; miserliness. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
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Penwiper (?), n. A cloth, or other material, for wiping off or cleaning ink from a pen.
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Penwoman (?), n.; pl. Penwomen (�). A female writer; an authoress. Johnson.
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Peon (?), n. See .
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Peon, n. [Sp. peon, or Pg. pe�o, one who travels on foot, a foot soldier, a pawn in chess. See in chess.] 1. A foot soldier; a policeman; also, an office attendant; a messenger. [India]
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2. A day laborer; a servant; especially, in some of the Spanish American countries, debtor held by his creditor in a form of qualified servitude, to work out a debt.
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3. (Chess) See 2d .
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Peonage (?), n. The condition of a peon.
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Peonism (?), n. Same as . D. Webster.
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Peony (pē�n�), n.; pl. Peonies (pē�nĭz). [OE. pione, pioine, pioni, OF. pione, F. pivoine, L. paeonia, Gr. paiwnia, fr. Paiwn, Paian, the god of healing. Cf. .] (Bot.) A plant, and its flower, of the ranunculaceous genus Pæonia. Of the four or five species, one is a shrub; the rest are perennial herbs with showy flowers, often double in cultivation. [Written also pæony, and piony.]
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