pentad 
itivTc, five: see ./iVr.] 1. The number five, in 
the abstract: a set of five things considered to- 
(fethi'r: :is. the 1'ythugoreaii /ii-ntHd : corrrlati-d 
with iHiniii'l, ill/ml, ti-iinl, til i-n(l, etc. Speoifi- 
cally 2. A period of five consecutive years. 
The means of tlie last two pentad*, 1868-70 and 1871 - 75, 
were almost exactly the same as the grand mean. 
J. D. Whitney, Climatic Changes, p. 337. 
3. In clinit., an element one atom of which will 
combine with five univalent atoms or radicals ; 
a peiituvulent element. 
pentadactyl, pentadactyle (pen-ta-dak'til), . 
and n. [Of. L. pentada-ftylus, a starfish; < Or. 
mvTafaicTvlMf, with five fingers or toes, five fin- 
gers long, < irtvre, five, + ASimflof, a finger, a 
finger-breadth : see dactyl.] I. a. Having five 
digits, as fingers or toes; quinquedigitate. Also 
/it'll tit/litr/y/ous. 
II. n. A pentadactyl or quiuquedigitate ani- 
mal; any member of the Pi-titndiu'li/ln. 
Pentadactyla, Pentadactyli (pen-ta-dak'ti- 
la, -11), n. j>l. [NL., ueut. or masc. pi. of penta- 
daetylus: see peutatUtctyl.'] A superclass divi- 
sion of gnathostomous vertebrates supposed to 
have been derived from pentadactylous ances- 
tors. See phrases below. Most of the existing spe- 
cies have lost one or more of the digits, and some even a 
pair <>r all of the limbs, such as the snakes, cetaceans, etc. 
Pentadactyla branchlata, a synonym of Amphibia : 
a name tivcn by I:. K. Lankester to the amphibians as a 
"grade " of gnathostomous craniate vertebrates interme- 
diate between the Heterodactyla branchiata (true fishes 
and dipnoans)and the Penladactylalipolnranchia (reptiles, 
birds, and mammals). [Little used.] Pentadactyla 
llpobranchin, a name given by !:. R. Lankeater to the 
highest "grade " of vertebrates, being a series which In- 
cludes reptiles, birds, and mammals, as collectively dis- 
tinguished from sanithibl&ns (Pentadactyla braiKhiata) &nd 
t\ihea(Hetfrodactyla branchiate). [Little used.J 
pentadactyle, a. and . See pen tadactyl. 
Pentadactyli, n.pl. See Pentadactyla. 
pentadactylism (pen-ta-dak'ti-lizm), n. [< 
pentudactyl + -ism.'] T^he state or character 
of being pentadactyl, or of having five digits 
on each extremity. 
pentadactylous (pen-ta-dak'ti-lus), a. [<pen- 
tadactul + -OH*.] Same as pentadactyl. 
pentadelphous (j^ttt-del'fua), a. [< Or. 
ntvre, five, + d<5tvSp^5rother.] In bot., group- 
ed together in five sets : as, pentadelphous sta- 
mens; having stamens united in five sets by 
their filaments, as in the linden. 
Pentadesma (peu-ta-des'nia), n. [NL. (J. Sa- 
bine, 1824), so called witn ref. to the long 
stamens which are united at the base into 
five short columns; < Gr. irtvTe, five, + ita/ia, a 
bond, band, (. octv, bind.] A genus of poly- 
petalous plants of the natural order Guttiferse 
and the tribe Moronobex, characterized by the 
five imbricated sepals similar to the five petals, 
the five-celled ovary, and the five-rayed style. 
The only species is a tall tree of tropical Africa with a 
yellow juice, bearing rigid opposite leaves large red soli- 
tary terminal Howers, and edible pulpy berries. See butter- 
and-lattoif tree, under Imtterl. 
pentadicity (pen-ta-dis'i-ti), . [< pentad + 
-ic + -ity.] In cltem., quintivalence. 
pentaedron (pen-ta-e'dron), n. See pentahe- 
dron. 
pentafid (pen'ta-fid), a. [< Gr. nfvre, five,-!- L. 
findere, pp. fiai, cleave, split, separate.] In 
bot., cleft into five divisions. 
pentageront, . [Appar. an error for 'penta- 
gonon, < Gr. Kevrayuvav, a pentagon : see penta- 
gon.'} Same &a pentaele. 
The great arch-ruler, potentate of hell, 
Trembles when Bacon bids him, or his fiends, 
Bow to the force of his pentageran. 
Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. 
pentaglot (pen'ta-glot), a. and n. [< Gr. irhre, 
five, + jAuotra, Attic j-Hnra, the tongue.] I. a. 
Of five tongues; expressed in five different 
languages. 
II. n. A work in five different languages, 
pentagon (pen'ta-gon), n. [< IAi. pentagonium, 
pentagon, < pentagonius, penta- 
i/iniiifi Gr. TrcvT&yuvof, five-corner- 
ed, quinquangular, neut. mvrdyu- 
vov, a pentagon, < Trtvre. five, + 
yuvia, an angle, a corner.] 1. In 
geom., a figure of five sides and 
flye angles . ; f &1 j the ?ideg an( j all 
the angles are equal it is a regu- 
lar pentagon. 2. In fort., a fort with five 
bastions. 
pentagonal (p< n-tag'o-nal), . [< pentagon + 
-a/.] Having five corners or angles. Also pen- 
tagonoitx Pentagonal dodecahedron. See ordinary 
dodecahedron, under dodecahedron. 
pentagonally (peu-tag'6-nal-i), adv. In the 
form of a pentagon ; with five angles. 
1H79 
pentagonous (pen-tag'o-nuH), . [< LL. iifn- 
lai/niiiis. ]iriitiii/iiniiix.<. (Jr. Tficrijuiw, five-an- 
gled: see i'iiln;iiiii. } Same as jn iitdi/innil. 
pentagram (pen'ta-gram), n. [< Gr. irtvra- 
;/iou/iaf, of five lines or strokes. < jrfvrr, five. + 
a line, a mark: see iiram-.] A five- 
or five-lobed fig- 
ure, as the figure of a five- 
rayed star; specifically, 
the magic sign also called 
pentaele. See pentarli. 
sketching with her slender 
pointed foot 
Home figure like a wizard penla- 
'.I til in 
On garden gravel. 
Tennyson, The Brook. 
Pentagram. 
pentagrammatic (pen'ta- 
gra-mut'ik), a. [< pentagram + -utic^, after 
iinintmatic.] Having the figure of a penta- 
gram. 
pentagraph, pentagraphic, etc. Variants of 
]Hitifo<ti'(ijtli, jiftii/'ttfi'djiliic, etc. 
pentagyn (jien'ta-jin), . [< Gr. irevre, five, + 
) IT!/, a female (in mod. bot. a pistil).] In hot., a 
plant having five styles; one of the Pentayi/iiia. 
Pentagynia (pen-ta-jin'i-a), . pi. [NL., < 
Gr. jrfiTf, five, -f- yvvi;, female (in mod. bot. a 
pistil).] In bot., in the Linnean artificial sys- 
tem of classification, an order of plants charac- 
terized by having five-styled flowers. 
pentagynian (pen-ta-jin'i-an), a. [< pentagyn 
+ -i-an.] Same as peiitagynous. 
pentagynous (pen-taj'i-nus), a. [<pentagyn + 
-ous.] In bot., having five styles. 
pentahedral (pen-ta-he'dral), a. [< pentahe- 
dron + -a/.] Raving five faces. 
pentahedrical (pen-ta-hed'ri-kal),. [< pentti- 
hedron + -ic-al.] Same tutnentaliedral. [Rare.] 
pentahedron (pen-ta-he'dron), n. [Also pen- 
taedron; < Gr. irivrt, five,+ edpa, a seat, a base, 
a side.] A solid figure having five faces. 
pentahedrons (pen-ta-he'drus), a. [< pentahe- 
dron + -ous.] Same AS pentahedral. 
pentail (pen'tal), H. [< peri* + tail.] 1. An in- 
sectivorous animal of the family Tvpaiidx, one 
of the squirrel-shrews of the genus Ptilocercvs 
(which see), P. lowi, an inhabitant of Borneo: 
so called from its long tail, which is two thirds 
naked and ends in a distichous fringe of long 
hairs, like a quill pen. 2. The pintail, a duck. 
pentalemma (pen-ta-lem'a), H.; pi. penta- 
lemmata (-a-ta). [< Gr. irtvrr, five, T fajuua, a 
proposition, assumption : see lemma.'] In logic, 
a dilemma with five members. 
Pentalophodon (pen-ta-lof'o-don), n. [NL. 
(Falconer, 1866): see pentalophodont.] A ge- 
nus of proboscidean mammals of the family 
Klephantidee and subfamily Maxtodontinm, based 
by Falconer upon a Miocene mastodon from the 
Sivalik Hills of India, P. sivalensis. 
pentalophodont (peu-ta-lof 'o-dont), a. [< Gr. 
ntvre, five, + Utpoc,, a crest, 4- oooi? (OOOVT-) = 
E. tooth.'] Having five-ridged molars, as a mas- 
todon of the genus Pentalophodon. 
pentalpha (pen-tal'fa), it. [So called as appar. 
composed of five alphas; < Gr. irivre, five, + 
o?,0a, the letter alpha, A.] A five-pointed star; 
a pentaele. See pentaele, and cut under pcnta- 
(fram. 
Pentamera (pen-tam'e-rS), n. pi. [NL. (Du- 
ineril. 1806), neut. pi. of 'pentamerus : see pen- 
tamerous.] 1. A group of Coleoptera, contain- 
ing those families of 
beetles all the tarsi of 
which are five-jointed 
(with some anomalous 
exceptions). About one 
half of all beetles are pen- 
tnmerous, as the large fami- 
lies Ptinidtr, Cteridjf, Lam- 
ptfridx, Elateridje. Bltpreg- 
Hder. Staphylinida, Sca- 
rabfpidff, Carabida, and 
others. In Latreille's sys- 
tem tlte Pentamera were di- 
vided into 6 families, Carni- 
vora (or Adephaaa), Brache- 
lytra (or Microptcra\ Serri- 
cornes, Clavicornef. Palpi- 
cornet, and Lamfllicorne*. 
The coleopterous groups 
contrasted with Pentamera 
are Heteromera, Tetramera 
(or Crypt<>pentarnera\ and Trimera (or Cryptotetramera). 
2. A prime division of the hymenopterous fam- 
ily Chalcididee, comprising 13 subfamilies, in 
which the tarsi are five-jointed. 
pentameran (peu-tam'e-ran), n. [< Pentamera 
+ -an.~] A pentameroiis beetle; a member of 
the Pentamera. 
Euchrtnrta figantta, one of the 
Pentamtra. 
(One half natural size.) 
pentapetalous 
Pentameridae (pen-ta-mei'l-de). . /</. [NL. 
(MeCciy, Ih44),< Pi-iitiiiiK-rim + -idle.] 
a family of bracbiopod*. typified by the i 
1't iitiiiin fit*. They had ovate and srmiewhat pentago- 
nal shells, with no hinge area, and partially camerate; In 
the interior of the ventral valve were two contiguous ver- 
tical septa of varying length converKitiK i"'" "" median 
plat, and in the interior of the dorftal valve two longitu- 
dinal Hepta of variable dimensions. The species lived dur- 
ing the Paleozoic epoch. 
pentameroid (pen-tam'e-roid), a. and . I. a. 
Of or relating to the Pentumeridte. 
II. H. A brachiopod of the family Pentame- 
ridep. 
pentamerous (pen-tam'e-rus), n. [< NL. pen- 
iinui-rux for 'pentameren, <! Gr. irrvrauf/ii/f, in five 
parts, < irt vre , five, + /ftpof, part.] Five-parted ; 
five-jointed ; composed or consisting of five 
parts or five sets of similar parts. Specifically 
(a) In entnm. : (1) Five-Jointed, as a beetle's tarsus. (2) 
Having pentamerous tarsi, as a Iwetle : of or pertaining to 
the I'eHtatnera. (ft) In bot. and .-"'/.. having five part* or 
membern : tut, a peniamerous calyx or corolla ; a pentame- 
rma starfish. Frequently written l-ineruut. 
Pentamerus (pen-tam'e-rus), u. [NL. (Sower- 
by, 1813), < Gr. ircvrafit/r^, having five parts: 
see pentamerous.'] A genus of brackiopods, typi- 
cal of the family Pentameridte. 
pentameter (pen-tam'e-ter), . and a. [< L. 
liintameter, < Gr. vcvra/iirpof, of five measures, 
< vliTf, five, + /jfrpov, a measure, meter: see 
Differ 2 .] I. n. In anc. pros., a verse differing 
from the dactylic hexameter by suppression of 
the second half of the third and of the sixth 
foot; a dactylic dipenthemimeres or combina- 
tion of two catalectic dactylic tripodies, thus: 
The first half of the line ended almost without exception 
In a complete word and often with a pause in the sense. 
Spondees were excluded from the second half-line. The 
halves of the line often terminated in words of similar 
ending and emphasis, generally a noun and Its attributive. 
This meter received its name from a false analysis of some 
ancient metricians, who explained it as consisting of two 
dactyls, a spondee, and two anapesU. See elegiac, I., 1. 
II. a. Having five metrical feet: as, a pen- 
tameter verse. 
pentametrize (pen-tam'et-riz), v. t. ; pret. and 
pp. pentametrized, ppr. pentametrizing. [< />en- 
tameter + -ize.] To convert into a pentameter. 
Also spelled pentametrise. [Rare.] 
The insertion of an apt word which pentametrizei the 
verse. Southey, The Doctor, Fragment on Mortality. 
pentamyron (peu-tam'i-ron), . [= Gr. KCVTO- 
/jvpov, a kind of ointment, < irevrc, five, + ftiipov, 
an unguent or plant-essence : see myrobalan.] 
In med., an ancient ointment composed of five 
ingredients, said to have been storax, mastic, 
wax, opobalsum, and uard ointment. Dtinglison. 
pentander (pen-tan'der), H. [< Pentandria.'] A 
plant of the class Pentandria. 
Pentandria (pen-ten'dri-a), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
mvrt, five, + avi/p (avip-), male (in mod. bot. a 
stamen).] In bot., in the Linueau artificial sys- 
tem of classification, a class of plants charac- 
terized by having flowers with five stamens. 
pentandrian (pen-tan'dri-an), a. [< Pentan- 
dria + -an.] Same as pentandroug. 
pentandrous (pen-tan'drus), a. [As Pentan- 
dria + -otis.] In bot., of or pertaining to the 
Pentandria; having five stamens with distinct 
filaments not connected with the pistil. 
pentane (peu'tan), . [< Gr. ircvre, five,+ -one.] 
Amyj hydrid, CsHjo, a paraffin hydrocarbon 
existingin three modifications. Normal pentane \? 
obtained from light distillates of cannel-coal and Boghead 
tar, and In large quantities from petroleum. The other 
modifications are of interest to chemists only. Normal 
pentane is used for illumination, in the form either of va- 
por or of a mixture of its vapor with air. 
pentane-lamp (peu'tan-lamp), H. A lamp con- 
structed to burn _pentane vapor mixed with air 
previous to ignition. It Is proposed that a pentane- 
lamp be used as a photometric standard, on account of the 
great accuracy with which it can be adjusted to give a 
unifonn illumination. 
pentangle (pen'tang-gl), n. [< ME. pentangel, 
< ML. "pentangulvm, < Gr. irt vre, five, + L. angv- 
lus, angle: see angle 3 . Cf. pentaele.] A five- 
angled or a five-pointed figure ; a pentagon or a 
pentaele. See pentaele and pentagram. 
Thay schewed hym the echelde, that waa of schyr goulez, 
Wyth the pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwez. 
Sir Gatcayne and the Qrcen Knight (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 620. 
That they are afraid of the pentangle of Solomon, though 
so set forth with the body of man as to touch and point out 
the five places wherein our Saviour was wounded, 1 know 
not how to assent. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., L 10. 
pentangular (pen-tang'gu-lar), a. [< pentangle 
+ -ar 3 ; cf. angular.] Having five angles. 
pentapetalous (pen-ta-pet'a-lus), a. [< Gr. 
TJ iTf , five, + mra/ov, a leaf (petal).] In bot., 
having five petals. Often written 5-]>etatouit. 
