Plectognath - Plethysmograph

Plectognath (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. -- n. One of the Plectognathi.
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Plectognathi (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. � twisted (fr. � to plait, twist) + � jaw.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes generally having the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular united with the dentary.
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☞ The upper jaw is immovably joined to the skull; the ventral fins are rudimentary or wanting; and the body is covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, like shagreen. The order includes the diodons, filefishes, globefishes, and trunkfishes.
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{ Plectognathic (?), Plec-tognathous (?), } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi.
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Plectospondyli (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � plaited + �, �, a vertebra.] (Zoöl.) An extensive suborder of fresh-water physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebræ united and much modified; the Eventognathi.
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Plectospondylous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectospondyli.
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Plectrum (?), n.; pl. L. Plectra (#), E. Plectrums (#). [L., fr. Gr. � anything to strike with, fr.� to strike.] A small instrument of ivory, wood, metal, or quill, used in playing upon the lyre and other stringed instruments.
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Pled (?), imp. & p. p. of [Colloq.] Spenser.
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Pledge (?), n. [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. √28. Cf. , .] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.
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☞ Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see ]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See . Story. Kent.
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2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. “I am Grumio's pledge.” Shak.
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3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.
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4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. “That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope.” Milton.
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5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.
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6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.
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Coloq. Dead pledge . [A translation of . mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See . -- Coloq. Living pledge . [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits. -- Coloq. To hold in pledge , to keep as security. -- Coloq. To put in pledge , to pawn; to give as security.
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Syn. -- See .
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Pledge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pledging.] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See , n.] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.
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2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor.
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We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. The Declaration of Independence.
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3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.]
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To pledge my vow, I give my hand. Shak.
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4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self.
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5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.
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Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. Cowley.
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Pledgee (?), n. The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered.
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Pledgeless (?), a. Having no pledge.
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{ Pledgeor, Pledgor } (?), n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; -- opposed to pledgee.
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☞ This word analogically requires the e after g, but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner.
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Pledger (?), n. One who pledges.
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Pledgery (?), n. [Cf. OF. pleigerie.] A pledging; suretyship. [Obs.]
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Pledget (?), n. [Prov. E., a small plug.] 1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]
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2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.
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3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.
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Plegepoda (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (�) a stroke + -poda. In allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Pleiad (?), n. One of the Pleiades.
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Pleiades (?; 277), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. (�)] 1. (Myth.) The seven daughters of Atlas and the nymph Pleione, fabled to have been made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.
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2. (Astron.) A group of small stars in the neck of the constellation Taurus; -- called also the seven sisters. Job xxxviii. 31.
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☞ Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by Mädler the central point around which our universe is revolving, but such a notion has been thoroughly discounted by modern observations. Only six pleiads are distinctly visible to the naked eye, whence the ancients supposed that a sister had concealed herself out of shame for having loved a mortal, Sisyphus.
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Plein (?), a. Plan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Plein, v. i. & t. To complain. See . [Obs.]
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Plein, a. [OF. & F., fr. L. plenus.] Full; complete. [Obs.] “Plein remission.” Chaucer. -- Pleinly, adv.
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Pleiocene (?), a. (Geol.) See .
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Pleiophyllous (?), a. [Gr. � more + � leaf.] (Bot.) Having several leaves; -- used especially when several leaves or leaflets appear where normally there should be only one.
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Pleiosaurus (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as .
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Pleistocene (?), a. [Gr. � most + � new.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the epoch, or the deposits, following the Tertiary, and immediately preceding man. -- n. The Pleistocene epoch, or deposits.
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Plenal (?), a. [L. plenus full. Cf. .] Full; complete; as, a plenal view or act. [Obs.]
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Plenarily (?), adv. In a plenary manner.
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Plenariness, n. Quality or state of being plenary.
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Plenarty (?), n. The state of a benefice when occupied. Blackstone.
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Plenary (?), a. [LL. plenarius, fr. L. plenus full. See .] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority.
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A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full. I. Watts.
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Coloq. Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.), an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. -- Coloq. Plenary inspiration . (Theol.) See under .
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Plenary, n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]
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Plene (plēn), a. [L. plenus full.] Full; complete; plenary. [Obs.]
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Plenicorn (plēnĭkôrn), n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer. Brande & C.
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Plenilunary (plĕnĭlūnȧr�), a. Of or pertaining to the full moon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Plenilune (plĕnĭlūn), n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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{ Plenipotence (pl�nĭp�t�ns), Plenipotency (pl�nĭp�t�ns�), } n. The quality or state of being plenipotent. [R.]
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Plenipotent (pl�nĭp�t�nt), a. [L. plenus full + potens, -entis, potent.] Possessing full power. [R.] Milton.
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Plenipotentiary (plĕnĭp�tĕnshĭ�r�), n.; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#). [LL. plenipotentiarius: cf. F. plénipotentiaire.] A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, with full power to negotiate a treaty, or to transact other business.
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Plenipotentiary, a. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers. Howell.
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Plenish (?), v. t. [See .] 1. To replenish. [Obs.] T. Reeve.
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2. To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. [Scot.]
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Plenishing, n. Household furniture; stock. [Scot.]
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Plenist (?), n. [L. plenus full; cf. F. pléniste.] One who holds that all space is full of matter.
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Plenitude (?), n. [L. plenitudo, fr. plenus full; cf. F. plenitude.] 1. The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as, the plenitude of space or power.
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2. Animal fullness; repletion; plethora. [Obs.]
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Plenitudinarian (?), n. A plenist.
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Plenitudinary (?), a. Having plenitude; full; complete; thorough. [Obs.]
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Plenteous (?), a. [From .] 1. Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as, a plenteous supply. “Reaping plenteous crop.” Milton.
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2. Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful. “The seven plenteous years.” Gen. xli. 34.
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3. Having plenty; abounding; rich.
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The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods. Deut. xxviii. 11.
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Syn. -- Plentiful; copious; full. .
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-- Plenteously, adv. -- Plenteousness, n.
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Plentevous (?), a. Plenteous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Plentiful (?), a. 1. Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as, a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water.
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2. Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful.
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If it be a long winter, it is commonly a more plentiful year. Bacon.
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3. Lavish; profuse; prodigal. [Obs.]
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He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from Bacon.
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-- Plentifully, adv. -- Plentifulness, n.
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Plenty (?), n.; pl. Plenties (#), in Shak. [OE. plentee, plente, OF. plenté, fr. L. plenitas, fr. plenus full. See , a., and cf. .] Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically, abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance; copiousness. “Plenty of corn and wine.” Gen. xxvii. 28. “Promises Britain peace and plenty.” Shak.
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Houses of office stuffed with plentee. Chaucer.
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The teeming clouds Descend in gladsome plenty o'er the world. Thomson.
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Syn. -- Abundance; exuberance. See .
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Plenty, a. Plentiful; abundant. [Obs. or Colloq.]
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If reasons were as plenty as blackberries. Shak. (Folio ed.)
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Those countries where shrubs are plenty. Goldsmith.
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Plenum (?), n. [L., fr. plenus full.] 1. That state in which every part of space is supposed to be full of matter; -- opposed to vacuum. G. Francis.
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2. (Ventilation) A condition, as in an occupied room, in which the pressure of the air is greater than that of the outside atmosphere; as, a plenum may exist in a hall ventilated by a fan blower.
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Pleochroic (?), a. Having the property of pleochroism.
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Pleochroism (?), n. [Gr.� mor� + � color.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some crystals, of showing different colors when viewed in the direction of different axes.
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Pleochromatic (?), a. Pleochroic.
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Pleochromatism (?), n. Pleochroism.
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Pleochroous (?), a. Pleochroic.
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Pleomorphic (?), a. Pertaining to pleomorphism; as, the pleomorphic character of bacteria.
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Pleomorphism (?), n. [Gr. � more + morfh form.] 1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.
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2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.
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Pleomorphous (?), a. Having the property of pleomorphism.
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Pleonasm, (�), n. [L. pleonasmus, Gr. �, fr. � to be more than enough, to abound, fr.�, neut. of �, more, compar. of � much. See , a., and cf. , .] (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; as, I saw it with my own eyes.
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Pleonast (?), n. One who is addicted to pleonasm. [R.] C. Reade.
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Pleonaste, n. [Gr.� abundant, rich; cf. F. pléonaste.] (Min.) A black variety of spinel.
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{ Pleonastic (?), Pleonastical (?), } a. [Cf. F. pléonastique.] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant.
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Pleonastically, adv. In a pleonastic manner.
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Pleopod (?), n.; pl. E. Pleopods (#), L. Pleopoda (#). [Gr. � to swim + -pod.] (Zoöl.) One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under .
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Plerome (?), n. [Gr. � that which fills up, fr. � to fill.] (Bot.) The central column of parenchyma in a growing stem or root.
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Plerophory (?), n. [Gr. �; � full + ferein to bear.] Fullness; full persuasion. “A plerophory of assurance.” Bp. Hall.
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Plesance (?), n. Pleasance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Plesh (?), n. A pool; a plash. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Plesimorphism (?), n. [Gr. � near + morfh form.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some substances of crystallizing in closely similar forms while unlike in chemical composition.
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Plesiomorphous (?), a. Nearly alike in form.
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Plesiosaur (?), n. (Paleon.) One of the Plesiosauria.
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Plesiosauria (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Paleon.) An extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; -- called also Sauropterygia.
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Plesiosaurian (?), n. (Paleon.) A plesiosaur.
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Plesiosaurus (?), n.; pl. Plesiosauri (#). [NL., fr. Gr � near + � a lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct marine reptiles, having a very long neck, a small head, and paddles for swimming. It lived in the Mesozoic age.
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Plessimeter (?), n. See .
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Plete (?), v. t. & i. To plead. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
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Plethora (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �, fr. � to be or become full. Cf. .] 1. Overfullness; especially, excessive fullness of the blood vessels; repletion; that state of the blood vessels or of the system when the blood exceeds a healthy standard in quantity; hyperæmia; -- opposed to anæmia.
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2. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.
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He labors under a plethora of wit and imagination. Jeffrey.
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Plethoretic (?), a. Plethoric. [Obs.] Johnson.
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Plethoric (?), a. [Gr. �; cf. F. pléthorique.] Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as, a plethoric constitution; -- used also metaphorically. “Plethoric phrases.” Sydney Smith. “Plethoric fullness of thought.” De Quincey.
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Plethorical (?), a. Plethoric. [R.] -- Plethorically, adv. Burke.
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Plethory (?), n. Plethora. Jer. Taylor.
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{ Plethron (?), Plethrum (?), } n.; pl. Plethra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. �.] (Gr. Antiq.) A long measure of 100 Greek, or 101 English, feet; also, a square measure of 10,000 Greek feet.
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Plethysmograph (?), n. [Gr. � an enlargement + -graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument for determining and registering the variations in the size or volume of a limb, as the arm or leg, and hence the variations in the amount of blood in the limb.
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-- Plethysmographic (#), a.
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