parlously 
parlously (par'lus-li), adr. [An obs. form of 
perilously.] Perilously; dangerously; desper- 
ately; amazingly. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
You are so parlmisly in love with learning 
That I'd be glad to know what you understood, brother. 
Fletcher (and another), Elder Brother, ii. 1. 
Thou art parlmuily encompassed. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 140. 
parlousnesst (piir'lus-nes), n. The quality of 
being parlous or perilous; rashness; impetu- 
ousness; quickness; shrewdness. 
Parma blue. See blue. 
Parmacella(piir-ma-sel'a), . [NL.] A genus 
of slug-like pulmoiiate gastropods, typical of 
the family Parmacellidse. They have a limaciform 
body with a long neck, and a large subcentral buckler with 
a nearly free border. The species are chiefly inhabitants 
of the countries bordering the Mediterranean and the 
anary Islands. 
Parmacellidae (par-ma-sel'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Parmacetla + -idae.] A family of pulmonate 
gastropods, typified by the genus Parmacella, 
usually merged in the family Limacidse. 
parmacetyt, " [Also parmacetty, parmacitty, 
permaceti; a corruption of spermaceti, q. v.] 
Spermaceti. 
Telling me the sovereign 'st thing on earth 
Was parmaceti for an inward bruise. 
Skat., 1 Hen. IV., L 8. 68. 
A kinde of Whale, or rather a lubarta, was driven on 
shore in Southampton tribe, from the west, over an infi- 
nite number of rocks, so bruised that the water in the Bay 
where she lay was all oily, and the rocks about it all be- 
dasht with Parmacitty. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's Works, II. 260. 
parmasantt, parmasentt, n. Obsolete forms 
of parmesan. 
parmaynt, n. A Middle English form of pear- 
main. 
Parmelia (par-me'li-a), n. [NL., < L. parma, < 
Or. irappi, a small shield.] A genus of lichens, 
giving name to the family Parmeliei and the 
tribe Parmeliacei. The thallus is imbricate-foliaceous, 
appressed or rarely ascendant, membranaceous, sparingly 
flbrillose beneath. The apothecia are scutelliform, sub- 
pedicellate, with mostly thin disk and colorless hypothe- 
cium. About 50 species are known. See crottlesV, lichen. 
Parmeliacei (par-me-li-a'se-i), n. pi. [NL., < 
Parmelia + -acei.] According to the classifi- 
cation of Tuckerman, a tribe of gymnocarpous 
lichens. It includes the families Usneei, Parmeliei, 
Umbilicariei, Peltigerei, Pannariei, Collemei, and Leea- 
norei. The apothecia are rounded, open, scutelliform, 
and contained in a thalline exciple. 
parmeliaceous (par-me-li-a'shius), a. [< Par- 
melia + -aceous.] In bot., belonging to or hav- 
ing the characters of the genus Parmelia or the 
tribe Parmeliacei. 
Parmeliei (par-me-15'e-I), n. pi. [NL., < Par- 
melia + -ei.~\ A family of foliaceous lichens 
of the tribe Parmeliacei. 
parmelioid (par-me'li-oid), a. [< Parmelia + 
-oi(l.] In bot., resembling or belonging to the 
genus Parmelia. 
Parmenidean (par-men-i-de'an), a. [< Parme- 
nides (see def.) + -an.] Of or relating to Par- 
menides of Elea (fifth century B. c.), a noted 
Greek philosopher, or his system of metaphys- 
ics. The fundamental idea of Parmenides's philosophy 
was to distinguish those facts and qualities which are uni- 
versally true or real from those which are accidental and 
not universally true, or are transient 
Parmentiera (par-men-ti-e'ra), n. [NL. (Al- 
phonse de Candolle, 1845), after A. A. Parmen- 
tier (1737-1813), who did much for economic 
botany.] A genus of trees of the gamopeta- 
lous order Signoniaceee and the tribe Jacarau- 
dese, characterized by the sheath-like calyx and 
few-flowered axillary clusters. There are about 6 
species, natives of Mexico and Central America. Their 
leaves are commonly alternate and of three leaflets, with 
incurved spines between them. The large greenish flow- 
ers are followed by an elongated-fusiform or oblong fruit, 
which is fleshy and edible. See candle-tree. 
Parmesan (par-me-zan'), a. andf. [Formerly, 
as a noun, also permasant, parmasent; < F. Par- 
mesan = Sp. Parmesano = Pg. Parmesao = It. 
Parmigiano, < L. Parma, a town in Italy ; hence, 
as a noun, F. parmesan, etc., a cheese made in 
Parma.] I. a. Of or relating to Parma, a city 
in northern Italy, or its inhabitants, or the 
province or former duchy of Parma Parmesan 
Cheese. Seecteesei. 
II. n. 1. [I. c.] Parmesan cheese. 
There 's no hope of recovery of that Welsh madman 
was undone by a mouse that spoiled him a parmasant; 
lost his wits for 't. Middleton, Changeling, i. 2. 
Forsooth, my master said that he loved her almost as 
well as he loved parmasent. Ford, 'Tis Pity, i. 4. 
2f. An Italian form of drinking. 
The Switzer's stoop of Rhenish, the Italian's Parmisant, 
the Englishman's healths, &c. 
Dekker, Gull's Hornbook, Proem, p. 27. 
4296 
They were drunk according to all the rules of learned 
drunkenness, as Upsy-freeze, crambo, Pannizant. 
Dek/cer, Seven Deadly Sins, p. S. 
Parmese (par-mes' or -mez'), a. [< It. Parmese, 
< L. I'armensis, of Parma, < Parma (Gr. Tliipua), 
a town in Italy. ] Of or pertaining to Parma in 
Italy; Parmesan. 
Examples of Parmese, Cremonese, and Milanese art. 
Nineteenth Century, XXII. 824. 
Pamassia (piir-nas'i-a), n. [NL. (Tournefort, 
1700), < Gr. ttapvaaaof, Tlapvaads, Parnassus : see 
Parnassus.'} A genus of elegant plants of the 
polypetalous order Uaxifragacese and the tribe 
Saxifragese, characterized by the five stami- 
nodes and one-celled ovary with parietal placen- 
ta; opposite the stigmas. The 14 species are natives 
of cold and wet regions, from the mountains of India to the 
arctic circle. They are smooth annuals, with broad leaves 
mostly clustered at the base of the slender stem, which 
bears a single white or yellowish flower, the five petals 
marked with greenish or yellowish lines. The common 
name of these plants is grass of Parnassus. The ordinary 
European species is P. palttgtris, found also in North Amer- 
ica from the Great Lakes to Labrador. P. Caroliniana is 
common both north and south in the United States ; two 
other species are local. 
Parnassian (par-nas'ian), a. and n. [< L. Par- 
nassius, Parnasius, Parnaseus, < Gr. Uapvdautf, 
Parnassian, < Hapvaa6f, later Tlapvaoaos, Parnas- 
sus, a mountain in central Greece.] I. a. 1. 
Pertaining to Mount Parnassus, or to poetry and 
the Muses, to whom, with Apollo, this region 
was sacred. 
Twined with the wreaths Parnassian laurels yield. 
Pope, Essay on Man, iv. 11. 
Let laurels, drench'd in pure Parnassian dews, 
Reward his mem'ry, dear to ev'ry Muse. 
Couper, Table-Talk, 1. 13. 
2. [1. c.] Resembling or related to the genus 
Parnassius; belonging to the Parnassiinx. 
H. n. [I. c.] A member of the genus Par- 
nassius or the subfamily Parnassiinee; an Apollo 
butterfly. 
Parnassii (par-nas'i-i), n. pi. [NL., pi. of Par- 
nassius.] Same as Parnassiinse. 
Parnassimae (par-nas-i-i'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
Parnassius + -inss.] A subfamily of Papilio- 
nid&, typifiedby the genus Parnassius. They have 
very short antennee, stout hairy abdomen, parchment- 
like wings sometimes scaleless, and in the females usually 
a peculiar abdominal pouch ; the larvae are stout, cylin- 
droid, with small tubercles, slightly hairy, and have a fur- 
cate appendage of the first segment ; the chrysalis is in- 
closed in a light silken tissue powdered \vith a glaucous 
bloom and supported by transverse threads. The parnas- 
sians belong to the northern hemisphere, and are all lovers 
of mountains, whence the name. Also Pariiassinx, Par- 
nassii. See cut under nervure. 
Parnassius (pUr-nas'i-us), n. [NL., < L. Par- 
nassius (< Gr. TLapvdowf ), belonging to the moun- 
tain Parnassus, < Ilapvaaof , Parnassus : see Par- 
nassus.] A genus of butterflies, founded by 
Latreille in 1805, type of the subfamily Parnas- 
siinse. The best-known species is the Apollo butterfly, 
P. apollo, inhabiting alpine parts of Europe. P. phcebut is 
another, found in the Alps. P. smintheus is found in the 
Rocky Mountains. These butterflies are usually white, 
sometimes tinted with yellow, or rarely yellow, and orna- 
mented with crimson and black ocelli. 
Parnassus (par-nas'us), n. [= F. Parnasse = 
Sp. Parnaso = Pg. It. Parnaso, Parnasso = D. 
Dan. Parnas = G. Sw. Parnass, < L. Parnas- 
sus, also Parnasus, < Gr. Hapvaaof, later Hapvaa- 
ffrff : seedef.] 1. A mountain in central Greece, 
in mythology sacred to the Muses. The Delphian 
sanctuary of Apollo was on its slope, and from between 
its twin summit peaks flows the fountain Castalia, the wa- 
ters of which were reputed to impart the virtue of poetic 
inspiration. 
Hence, figuratively 2. The abiding-place of 
poetry and home of poets : sometimes used as 
a name for a collection of poems or of elegant 
literature. 
Not with less glory mighty Dulness crown'd 
Shall take through Grub-street her triumphant round, 
And, her Parnassus glancing o'er at once, 
Behold an hundred sons, and each a dunce. 
Pope, Dunciad, iii. 137. 
There is Lowell, who 's striving Parnassus to climb 
With a whole bale of isms tied together with rhyme, . . . 
The top of the hill he will ne'er come nigh reaching 
Till he learns the distinction 'twixt singing and preaching. 
Lowell, Fable for Critics. 
Gradus ad Parnassum. See gradus, 2. Grass of Par- 
nassus. See Parnassia. 
parnelt (par'nel), n. [< ME. pernel, purnele, a 
common woman, a slut; a familiar use, like 
gilV>, Jill?, f/illian, of a frequent fern, name 
Pernel, < OF. Peronelle, < ML. Petronilla, a wo- 
man's name, a saint so named, < L. Petro(n-), a 
man's name, LL. Petrus, a man's name, Peter, < 
-, Peter, lit. 'rock': see peter, pier, etc.] 
Elmts bivittatus t ont. of the 
Parnidu. ( Cross shows natu- 
ral size.) 
Gr. 
A young woman ; often in a bad sense, a slut. 
But these tender pernels must have one gown for the 
day, another for the night. 
parochial 
Panels [read 1 parnelx] march by two and three, 
Saying, Sweetheart, come with me. 
Old Lincolnshire Ballad. (HalliweU..) 
Parnellism (par'nel-izm), . [< Parnell (see 
def.) + -ism.] A movement led by Charles 
Stewart Parnell, in favor of home rule for Ire- 
land. In 1886 and succeeding years it was gen- 
erally supported by the Gladstonian Liberals. 
Parnellite (par'nel -it), n. and a. [< Parnell 
(see def.) + -ife 2 .] I. n. A member of a polit- 
ical group, followers of Charles S. Parnell in 
his policy of home rule for Ireland ; speci Really, 
one of his supporters or adherents in the British 
House of Commons. They are almost exclu- 
sively members for Irish constituencies. 
II. a. Pertaining to orsupporting Parnellism; 
advocating or favoring the movement for home 
rule in Ireland led by Charles S. Parnell. 
Parnid.se (piir'ni-de), n. pi. [NL. (Leach, 
1819), < Parints + -idle.] A family of aquatic 
clavicorn beetles, typi- 
fied by the genus Pa rit us, 
having the dorsal ab- 
dominal segments partly 
membranous, the first to 
third segments connate, 
the last tarsal joint long, 
and the claws large. The 
body is finely pubescent, and a 
fllrn of air adheres when the 
beetles are under water. The 
larvae are of flattened oval 
form, and usually adhere to 
stones under water. The fam- 
ily is wide-spread, with about 
20 genera; most of the species 
are European and North Amer- 
ican. 
Parnus (par'nus), . [NL. (Fabricius, 1792); 
etym. doubtful.] The typical genus of Parni- 
dee. The species are European and North Af- 
rican. 
Paroaria (par-o-a'ri-a), n. [NL. (Bonaparte, 
1832), < F. paroare (Buffon and Vieillot) ; per- 
haps of S. Amer. origin.] A genus of South 
American tanager-like finches, having gray and 
white coloration with a scarlet crest. P. cucul- 
lata is an example. They are sometimes called 
cardinal tanagers. 
paroarium, paroariqn (par-o-a'ri-um, -on), n. 
[NL., < Gr. trapa, beside, + fydpiov, dim. of $6v, 
egg.] Same &s parovarium. 
paroccipital (par-ok-sip'i-tal), a. and . [< Gr. 
xapd, beside, + L. occiput, the back of the head : 
see occipital.] I. a. Situated on the side of 
the hindhead, or in a lateral occipital position. 
Specifically noting a lateral bone or process of bone of 
the occipital or occipitomastoid region of the skull, espe- 
cially the long lateral occipital processes of some mam- 
mals. See II., 2. 
II. n. 1. A bone of the lateral occipital re- 
gion of the skull, distinct from other bones, in 
a fish, for example : by Owen considered as the 
diapophysis of the occipital vertebra, and iden- 
tified with the external, lateral, or superior oc- 
cipital bone of some anatomists, and the mas- 
toid of others. Also > called epiotic. 2. Acer- 
tain lateral projection of the occipital bone 
proper; the paroccipital process of the occipi- 
tal bone, especially when elongated or other- 
wise conspicuous : in some animals also called 
mastoid process. [Now little used.] 
The relation which the base of the paroccipital bears to 
the semicircular canals shows that it must be chiefly formed 
by the opisthotic element not by the exoccipital. 
Nature, XXXVII. 599. 
parochet, >< An obsolete form of parish. 
ParochetUS (pa-rok'e-tus), n. [NL. (Hamilton, 
1825), < Gr. irapa, beside, + oxtroc, a channel.] 
A genus of leguminous plants of the tribe Tri- 
folieee, characterized by the somewhat acute 
keel, two-valved pod, and digitately trifoliate 
leaves. The only species, P. communis, found throughout 
tropical mountain-regions of Asia and in tropical eastern 
Africa, is a prostrate herb, rooting at the joints, with clover- 
like leaves, rather large purple flowers, and linear pods. It 
has been named blue-flowered shamrock and shamrock-pea. 
parochial (pa-ro'ki-al), . [< ME. parochial, 
< OF. parochial (F. paroissial) = Pr. Sp. parro- 
quial = Pg. parochial = It. parrocchiale, < ML. 
parochialis, of a parish, < LL. parochia, for pa- 
rcecia, parish: see parish. The mod. pron. fol- 
lows that of the L.] 1. Of or pertaining to 
a parish : as, a parochial custom. 
And, God wot, I have of thee 
A thosand tyme more pitee 
Than hath thi preest parochial. 
Rom. of the nose, 1. 7685. 
Notwithstanding their general and exemplary devotion 
to parochial duty. 
Gladstone, Gleanings of Past Years, II. 157. 
Pilkington, Works, p. 56. (HalliweU.) 2. Local; provincial; narrow. 
