perelle 
to Hiich lichens its arc used to produce cudhciir, 
litmus, archil, rlc. 
peremptt (per-empt'), r. t. [< L. pcrcmptus, 
IK ri-iiitux, pp. of perinicrv (OL. i>in nit ><), t;ikc 
entirely away, annihilate, extinguish, destroy, 
< per, away, T mure, take, buy: sec etnptimi. 
Cf. exempt.] In tow, to kill; crush or destroy ; 
quasi] . 
Nor is it nny objection that the cause of appeal it) per- 
emptett by tilt; desertion of an appeal, lie-cause the office 
of the judge continues after such instance \sjxrempted. 
Ayli/e, Parergon. 
peremptiont (per-emp'shon), . [< OF. pen m/>- 
litui, F. /a rt ni/ilitiit, < LL. perrmi>tii>(u-), a, de- 
stroying, < L. pcrimcre, -pp. percmntus, destroy: 
see pere mpt.] A killing; a quashing; nonsuit. 
This peremption of Instance was introduced In favour 
of the publick, lest suits should be rendered perpetual. 
Ayli/e, Parergon. 
peremptorily (per'emp-to-ri-li), adv. In a per- 
emptory manner ; absolutely ; positively ; de- 
cisively ; so as to preclude further question or 
debate. 
peremptoriness (per'emp-to-ri-nes), . Per- 
emptory, authoritative, or dogmatic character ; 
positiveness; absoluteness; dogmatism: as, the 
/iffi -iiiptorini-Kn of a command or of a creed. 
peremptory (per'omp-to-ri), a. and n. [< F. 
peremptoire = Sp. perentorio = Pg. peremptorio 
= U. perentorio, <.\Aj.pereniptnrius,peremtorins, 
destructive, decisive, < peremptor, a destroyer, 
< L. perimere, pp. peremptus, destroy: eeeper- 
cmpt.~] I. a. 1. That precludes or does not 
admit of debate, question, or expostulation; 
hence, express; authoritative; positive; abso- 
lute : as, a peremptory command or call. 
My customs are as peremptory 
As wrathful planets, death, or destiny. 
Maritime, Tamburlaine, I., v. 2. 
We will suddenly 
Pass our accept and peremptory answer. 
S*o*., Hen. V., v. 2. 82. 
The peremptory tone in which he sent forth his sublime 
commands ! Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, v. 
2. In laic, final; determinate; absolute and 
unconditional : as, a peremptory action or ex- 
ception. 
A peremptory adjustment of the number of saloons to 
the population would be extremely difficult. 
Harper's Weekly, XXXIII. 42. 
3. Fully resolved ; resolute; determined; posi- 
tive in opinion OP judgment ; dogmatic : said of 
persons. 
To-morrow be in readiness to go. 
Excuse It not. for I am peremptory. 
Shak., TT G. of V., 1. 3. 71. 
I was peremptory that unlesse we had 10,000 immedi- 
ately the prisoners would starve. 
Evelyn, Diary, Sept. 26, 1665. 
Say what you like only don't be too peremptory and 
dogmatic ; we know that wiser men than you have been 
notoriously deceived in their predictions. 
0. W. Holmet, Old Vol. of Life, p. 13. 
4. Positively settled upon; that positively must 
be done, etc. 
The duke now goes to sea upon the 7th of June, as I 
am credibly informed ; though others say the peremptory 
day is June the 31st Court and Times of Charles I., 1. 230. 
Peremptory challenge. See chaUenye, 9. Peremp- 
tory day, in /""'. a precise time when a business by rule 
of court ought to be brought on. Peremptory defenses, 
in Scots law, positive allegations which amount to a de- 
nial of the right of the opposite party to take action. 
Peremptory Inference, an inference leading to a cate- 
gorical, not a disjunctive, conclusion. Peremptory 
mandamus. See mandamus. Peremptory pleas, 
pleas which are founded on some matter tending to im- 
peach the right of action itself. Peremptory writ, a 
species of original writ which directs the sheriff to cause 
the defendant to appear in court without any option given 
him, provided the plaintiff gives the sheriff security effec- 
tually to prosecute his claim. = Syn. 1 and 3. Authorita- 
tive, Dogmatic, etc. See magisterial. 3. Express, abso- 
lute, imperative, categorical. 
II. t ". A peremptory order. 
For others they have stood as peremptoriet, but to him 
they cannot serve as dilatories. 
Bacon, Report on Naturalization (1606), Works, X. 327. 
peremptory! (per'emp-to-ri), adv. [< peremp- 
tory, .] Unquestionably; positively. 
I happened to enter into some discourse of a hanger, 
which, I assure you, both for fashion and workmanship, 
was most peremptory beautiful. 
B. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, 1. 4. 
perendure (per-en-dur'), v. i. ; pret. and pp. per- 
eiitli/iT/l, ppr. perenduring. [< L. per, through, 
+ endure, d.perdure.] To last or endure for 
ever, or for a long time. Encyc. Brit. (Imp. 
Dift.) 
perennate (per-en'at), v.; pret. and pp. peren- 
Hiili't/. ppr. /iii-t'inintiiii/. [< L. pcreii>Ki/ii,t, pp. 
of pi'rniiinn-, keep or last long, < prrcunix, last- 
ing the year through, lasting long: see 
4391 
'"'"' 1 I.t trim*. To continue to prolong indefi- 
nitely ; rene . Manny Masters alt Thimjn (1698), 
p. 10. 
II. iiilrmm. In lint., to live perennially. 
Properly to understand perennation the perennatiny 
portions must )>< examined at all periods of the resting 
season as well as when they are starting anew into vegeta- 
tive activity. Nature, XXXIX. 188. 
perennation (per-c-na'shon), n. [< /;/// 
+ -inn.] Perennial or indefinite existence ; spe- 
cifically, in bot., the perennial continuance of 
life. 
In the case of perennials, the mode of perennation is an 
Interesting feature for observation. Xature, XXXIX. 188. 
perennial (pe-ren'i-al), a. and . [= OF. per- 
i inii'l = Sp. Pg. perennal, < L. perennis (> It. 
Sp. Pg. perenne = F. perenne), lasting the year 
through, lasting long, continual, everlasting, < 
per, through, -r annus, year: see annual. Cf. 
biennial, etc.] I. a. 1, Lasting or continuing 
without cessation through the year, or through 
many years : as, a perennial spring or fountain. 
2. Continuing without stop or intermission; 
perpetual; unceasing; never-failing; everlast- 
ing. 
There is t perennial nobleness, and even sacredness, In 
work. Carlyle, Past and Present, ill. 1L 
Thy glad perennial youth would fade. 
if. Arnold, The Scholar Gipsy. 
3. In zool., growing continually : noting teeth 
which have the pulp-cavity open, ana grow 
indefinitely from persistent pulps: as, the per- 
ennial incisors of a rodent. 4. In hot., con- 
tinuing more than two years: as, a ]>erennial 
stem or root. 5. In entom., forming colonies 
which are continued from year to year, as the 
ants, bees, and termites; also, living more than 
one year, as an insect. =Syn, 2. Unfailing, endur- 
ing, permanent, constant, abiding, lasting, undying, im- 
perishable, deathless, immortal. 
II. n. In bot., a plant which lives and blos- 
soms or fructifies year after year, such plants may 
or may not have perennial roots. In trees and shrubs and 
herbs with growth from year to year from a strong tap- 
root the root is naturally perennial ; but in most peren- 
nials with only fibrous roots the roots are produced anew 
from time to time or from year to year. The division of 
plants into annuals, biennials, and perennials, according 
to the duration of their roots, is liable to vary under the 
influence of different circumstances. An annual plant in 
a northern climate may become a biennial or even a per- 
ennial in a warm climate, while, on the other hand, the 
perennials of warm climates often become annuals when 
transplanted to northern climates. 
perennially (pe-ren'i-al-i), adv. So as to be 
perennial ; continually ; without ceasing. 
perennial-stemmed (pe-ren'i-al-stemd), a. In 
bot., having stems which are perennial, or which 
live and fructify from year to year. 
perennibranch (pe-ren'i-brangk), a. and n. 
L. perennis, perennial, -I- branchix, gills.] _. 
a. Having perennial branchiee ; retaining gills 
permanently ; of or pertaining to the Perenni- 
branchiata. 
H. n. A member of the Perennibranchiata. 
Also perennibranchiate. 
Perennibranchia (pe-ren-i-brang'ki-a), n. pi. 
[NL.. < L. perennis, perennial, + branchiee, 
gills.] Same as Perennibranchiata. 
Perennibranchiata (pe-ren-i-brang-ki-a'ta), n. 
pi. [NL., neut. pi. of perennibranchiatus : see 
perennibranchiate.] A division of urodele am- 
phibians, comprising those whose gills are per- 
manently retained. It embraces the sirenids, proteids, 
and amphinmids, and is opposed to CadwUbranchiata, 
which includes almost all the other urodeles, such as the 
salamanders, newts, etc. Also called Manentibranchia. 
perennibranchiate (pe-ren-i-brang'ki-at), a. 
and . [< NL. perennibranchiatus, <L. perennis, 
perennial, + branchiae, gills.] Same as peren- 
nibranch. 
perennityt (pe-ren'i-ti), n. [< F. perennite, OF. 
perennite = Sp.pcrennidad = Pg.perennidade = 
It. perennM, < L. perennita(t-)s, perennial du- 
ration, <.perennis, perennial: see perennial.] An 
enduring or continuing through the whole year 
without ceasing. 
That springs have their origine from the sea and not 
from rains and vapours, among many other strong reasons 
I conclude from the perennity of divers springs, which 
always afford the same quantity of water. 
Derham, Physico-Theology, 1U. 6. 
pererration (per-e-ra'shqn), . [< L. pererrare, 
pp. pererratus, wander through, (per, through, 
+ errare, wander: see err.] A wandering or 
rambling through various places. 
After a long pererration to and fro, to n't urn as wise as 
they went. Htncell, Forreine Travell, p. 67. 
Pereskia (pe-res'ki-a),n. [NL. (Plumier, 1703), 
after N. C. F. de Peiresc (1580-1637) of Aix in 
Provence, author of numerous scientific and 
per 
OF. 
perfect 
historical works.] A genus of raeti of the tribe 
O/iinilt/'ti', characterized by the numerous large 
spreading petals in many rows, and the stigma 
with very many clustered or spiral rays. TI..T>- 
are IS species, all natives of the West Indies. They arc 
shrubs or trees, with round branches, large solitary or pan- 
icled flowers, and scaly or spiny pear-shaped or vk'->h;i|> <! 
b'-i i ics. The distinct fleshy and veiny leaves bear spines 
in their axils, and are In some sprc-ifs thick uml rylimli i 
cal, in others broad and membranaceous, unlike those of 
other cacti. /. Bleo is the bleo of the I'nlted State* of 
(Colombia, with handsome rose-colored flowers, and leaves 
which are eaten as a salad. See Barbuda* ytxmberry, under 
gooseberry. 
pereyet, A Middle Kuglinh form of perry'*. 
perf. An abbreviation of perfect. 
perfect (per'fekt), a. and . [Early mod. B. 
also perjit ; now conformed to the one. L. (per- 
fit, parfit remain in dial, use) ; < ME. perfet, 
erjit, parfit, parfyte, parfit/ht, parfyth, etc., < 
F. parfit, parfeit, parjite, ptirfaict, perfect, F. 
parfait= Pr. pcrfeit, per fait, perjieg, perfaig = 
Sp. perfecto = Pg. perfeito = It. perj'etto = D. G. 
Dan. 8w.perfekt,< L. perfecting, finished, com- 
plete, perfect, pp. of perficere, finish, complete, 
(per, through, -rfacere, do: see per- and fact.] 
1. a. 1 . Brought to a consummation ; fully fin- 
ished ; carried through to completion in every 
detail; finished in every part; completed. 
Take noble courage, and make perfect what 
Is happily begun. Fletcher, Double Marriage, v. 3. 
Nature finishes everything, and that makes a large part 
of her charm. Every little flower Is perfect and complete, 
from root to seed. J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 349. 
2. Full ; whole ; entire ; complete ; existing in 
the widest extent or highest degree. 
She allwais loued me with hert parflyht, 
And the dede thereof shewid she to ryght. 
Rom. of Partenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3994. 
It cannot be without some great worke of God, thus in 
the old and decrepit Age of the World, to let it haue more 
perfect knowledge of it selfe. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 48. 
There is no such thing as perfect transparency or perfect 
opacity. Tyndall, Light and Elect., p. 13. 
3. In hot., having both stamens and pistils; 
hermaphrodite : said of a flower, also of a whole 
plant, as opposed to monoecious, dioecious, etc. 
4. Without blemish or defect; lacking in no- 
thing; of the best, highest, or most complete 
type ; exact or unquestionable in every particu- 
lar: as, a perfect likeness; one perfect but many 
imperfect specimens; a perfect face; specifi- 
cally, complete in moral excellence ; entirely 
good. 
The secuude Day next aftre Men funden a Brld quyk 
and perfyt. Mandeoille, Travels, p. 48. 
Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun. 
Shalr., 3 Hen. VL, II. 1. 26. 
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in 
heaven is perfect. Mat. v. 48. 
The perfect historian is he in whose work the character 
and spirit of an age is exhibited in miniature. 
Macaulay, History. 
St. Sound; of sound mind; sane. 
What faces and what postures he puts on ! 
I do not think he is perfect. 
Fletcher, Mad Lover, i. 2. 
6. Completely skilled; thoroughly trained or 
efficient: as, perfect in discipline. Compare let- 
ter-perfect. 
Our battle Is more full of names than yours, 
Our men more perfect in the use of arms. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., ty. 1. 185. 
7. Completely effective ; satisfactory in every 
respect. 
Distress is a perfect antidote to love. 
Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, II. 
8f. Quite certain ; assured. 
Thou art perfect, then, our ship hath touch' d upon 
The deserts of Bohemia? Shot., W. T., III. S. 1. 
9. Entire ; out and out ; utter ; very great : as, 
a perfect horror of serpents ; a perfect shower 
of brickbats met them; ^perfect stranger. [Col- 
loq.] 
The queen tore her biggonets for perfect anger. 
.*, Heart of Mid-Lothian, xxiv. 
St. Martin, however, was one of the most active in de- 
stroying the pagan temples, and used in that employment 
to range over his diocese at the bead of a perfect army of 
monks. Lecky, Rationalism, II. 33. 
Of this habit [bucking] I have a j*r.fect dread, and, if I 
can help it, never get on a confirmed t nicker. 
T. Roosevelt, Hunting Trips, p. 5. 
10. In music: (a) Of an interval, melodic or 
harmonic, belonging to the first and simplest 
group of consonances, that in which inversion 
does not change the character of the interval : 
as, a perfect unison, octave, fifth, or fourth: 
opposed to imperfect, diminished, aiii/iiientfd. 
These intervals are now often also called major. 
