periphrasis 
around, + <t>pd$eiv, declare, express : seej)/u - we.] 
A roundabout way of speaking; a roundabout 
phrase or expression; the use of more words 
than are necessary to express the idea ; a phrase 
employed to avoid a common and trite manner 
of expression; circumlocution. 
Then haue ye the figure Periphrasis, holding somewhat 
of the dissembler, by reason of a secret intent not appear- 
ing by the words, as when we go about the bush. 
Puttenhatn, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 161. 
They speak a volume in themselves, saving a world of 
periphrasis and argument. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., II. 26, note. 
= Syn. Cirmmlocutian, etc. See pleonasm. 
periphrastic (per-i-fras'tik), a. [= F. pfri- 
phrustique = Pg. periphrastico, < MGr. irepu/ipa- 
ariKdf, < Gr. 7rep<0pafK, express in a roundabout 
manner (> irepiijipaaif, circumlocution): see pe- 
riphrasis.] Having the character of or char- 
acterized by periphrasis; circumlocutory; ex- 
pressing or expressed in more words than are 
necessary. 
4402 
united at the base, and commonly with awl- 
shaped appendages. The 12 species are natives of 
southern Europe, Asia, and tropical Africa. They are 
smooth and leafy twiners, or sometimes rigidly erect 
shrubs. They bear loose cymes of rather small flowers, 
greenish without and livid or dark within, followed by 
smooth cylindrical follicles. The opposite leaves are in 
some species entirely lacking. P. Gneca is the milk-vine, 
silk-vine, or climbing dog's-bane, valued for covering walls, 
and for its handsome leaves and purplish flowers. It is 
the common vine of the hedge-rows of southern Europe, 
and its acrid juice is used in the East as a wolf-poison. 
See Hemidesmug, formerly included in this genus. 
Periploceae (per-i-plo'se-e), n. pi. [NL. (It. 
Brown, 1808), < Periploca + -ex.] A tribe of 
gamopetalous plants belonging to the order 
Asclepiadex,t\ie milkweed family, distinguished 
by the filaments being distinct or partly so, by 
the granular pollen, and acuminate or appen- 
daged anthers. It includes 26 genera, of which Peri- 
ploca is the type. They are all natives of the Old World, 
chiefly in tropical climates, many of them twining vines. 
periplus (per'i-plus), . [= P. periple^ = Sp. 
Pg. It. periplo, < L. periplus, < Gr. irepMovf, ire- 
piirtoof, a sailing round, < ireptirfaiv, sail round, 
< irepi, round, + irfaiv, sail ( > ir^.6of, r?ioif , a voy- 
age).] A voyage around a sea, or around a 
land ; circumnavigation. 
Separated from Hanno's fleet during his periplus. 
Je/erson, Correspondence, II. 339. 
A long, periphrastic, unsatisfactory explanation. 
T. Hoot, Gilbert Ourney. 
There is nothing to shock the most sensitive mind in the 
periphrastic statement that "Persons prejudicial to the periportal (per-i-por'tal), a. [< Gr. nepi, around, 
public peace maybe assigned by administrative process * , f , nn rtri a wato- SPB nnrtnJ 1 S.vr-rrmTirl -,,, 
to definite places of residence." ^ P<>rta, a gate . see portal.} burrounding 
G. Kennan, The Century, XXXVII. 381. 
periphrastical (per-i-fras'ti-kal), a. [< peri- 
phrastic 4- -al.] Same as periphrastic. 
periphrastically (per-i-fras'ti-kal-i), adv. In 
a periphrastic manner ; with circumlocution. 
periphrazy (per'i-frak-si), n [< Gr. irepi^pa^tf, 
a fencing around, < irepujipdaaeiv, fence around, 
inclose: seeperiphractic.] The number of times 
a surface or region must be cut through before 
it ceases to be periphractic. 
periphyllum (per-i-fil'um), n. [NL., < Gr. irepi, 
around, 4- QuMov, a leaf.] Same as lodicule. 
periphyse (per'i-fiz), re. [< NL.periphysis.] In 
l>ot., same fa periphygis. 
periphysis(pe-rif'i-sis), n. ; f}\.periphyscs(-8ez). 
[NL., < Gr. weptyvaie, a growing around, over- 
growth, < mpKfveodai, grow around or upon, < 
irepi, around, 4- <j>iiea6ai, grow.] In hot., a sterile 
filament or hair which arises from the hyme- 
nium of fungi at various points outside of the 
asci Compare paraphysis. 
Periplaneta (per"i-pla-ne'ta), re. [NL. (Bur- 
meister, 1838), < Gr. irepi, around, 4- ir/iavi/rift, a 
wanderer: see planet. Cf. Gr. irepiir'fjavijf, wan- 
dering about.] A leading genus of cockroaches 
of the family Blaltidee, having the seventh ab- 
dominal sternite divided in the female, and long 
subanal styles in the male. The principal roaches 
of this genus are P. orientalis, the common black-beetle of 
the English, and the related P. americana. Both are now 
cosmopolitan ; the former originated in tropical Asia and 
the latter in subtropical or temperate America. See cut 
under cockroach. 
periplasm (per'i-plazm), re. [< NL. perinlasma 
(cf . Gr. ireptir^aa/ia, a plaster put around), < Gr. 
irepi, around, 4- irhda/ta, anything formed: see 
plasm.] In the Peronosporese, a delicate hya- 
line peripheral layer of protoplasm, which in 
the pollinodium and oogonium becomes differ- 
entiated from the granular central mass, or 
gonoplasm. It does not share in the conjuga- 
tion. See gonoplasm. 
periplast (per'i-plast), re. [< Gr. irepi, around, 
4- TrAaorof, verbal adj. of irlt&metv, mold, form.] 
The intercellular substance, matrix, or stroma 
of an organ or tissue of the body, containing 
and supporting the cells or other formations 
which are peculiar to such organ or tissue. 
periplastic (per-i-plas'tik), a. [< periplast + 
-ic.] 1. Having the character or quality of 
periplast ; of or pertaining to the matrix of a 
part or organ. 2. Surrounding the nucleus or 
endoplast of a cell : applied to cell-substance. 
His [Mr. Huxley's] "endoplast" and "periplastic sub- 
stance " of 1853 together constitute his " protoplasm " of 
Bead, Protoplasm, p. 13. 
peripleuritis (per'i-plo-n'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. 
mpi, around, 4- irhevpa, the side, 4- -itis. Cf. 
pleuritis.] Inflammation of the connective 
tissue between the costal pleura and the ribs, 
usually ending in suppuration. 
Pe_riploca (pe-rip'lo-ka), . [NL. (Tournefort, 
1700), < Gr. irepnrioKf/,"ii twining round, < irept- 
irheneiv, twine around, < irepi, around, 4- irMxeiv, 
plait, twine : see plait.] A genus of gamopeta- 
lous twining vines of the order Asclepiadese, 
type of the tribe Periplocese, and distinguished 
by a corona consisting of short broad scales, 
perish 
cartilages (those entering into the formation of 
the olfactory capsule). 
perisalpingitis (per-i-sal-pin-ji'tis), . [NL., < 
Gr. nipt, around, + ad/tmyj, trumpet (> NL. sal- 
/iinj:,q.\.),+-itis. Cf. salpingitis.] Inflamma- 
tion of the tissue around the Fallopian tube, or, 
more strictly, of the peritoneum covering it. 
perisarc (per'i-siirk), n. [< Gr. irepiaapKof, sur- 
rounded with flesh, \ieepi, around, + aap^(aapK-), 
flesh.] The hard, horny, or chitinous ectoder- 
mal case or covering with which the soft parts 
of hydrozoaus are often protected. 
perisarcous (pei'-i-siir'kus), a. [< perisarc + 
-ous.] Having the character or function of 
perisarc ; forming or consisting of perisarc. 
perisaturnium (per'^-sa-ter'ni-um), n. [NL., 
< Gr. irepi, around, near, + L. Saturnus, Saturn.] 
The point in the orbit of any one of Saturn's 
satellites where it comes nearest to Saturn. 
Perisciau (pe-rish'i-an), . and re. [< Gr. -jrepi- 
amof (see Periscii) + -are.] I. a. Of or pertain- 
ing to the Periscii. 
In every clime we are in a periscian state, and with our 
light our shadow and darkness walk about us. 
Sir T. Browne, Christ. Mm-., iii. >. 
II. n. One of the Periscii. 
Periscii (pe-rish'i-i), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. irepi- 
, throwing a shadow all round (said of the 
the portal vein of the liver : as, periportal fibrous 
tissue. 
periproct (per'i-prokt), n. [< Gr. mpi, around, 
+ irpuKTUf, the anus.] The circumanal body- 
wall of an echinoderm ; the aboral part of the 
perisome immediately about the anus: the op- 
posite of peristome. 
periproctitis (per"i-prok-ti'tis), n. [NL., < Gr. 
nepi, around, T KPUKTOC, the anus, + -itis.] In- 
flammation in the connective tissue about the 
rectum. 
periproctOUS (per-i-prok'tus), a. [< Gr. irepi, 
around, + irpw/crof, the anus.] Surrounding 
the anus ; circumanal ; perirectal ; specifically, 
in echinoderms, of or pertaining to the peri- 
proct. 
periprostatic (per"i-pros-tat'ik), a. [< Gr. irepi, 
around, + E. prostate + -ic. Cf. prostatic.] Sit- 
uated or occurring around the prostate gland. 
peripteral (pe-rip'te-ral), a. [< peripter-y + 
-al.] In arch., surrounded by a single range of 
columns : said especially of a temple in which 
the cella is surrounded by columns. See cut 
under opistJwdomos. 
peripteros (pe-rip'te-ros), n. ; pi. peripteroi 
(-roi). [L.,< Gr. irepmrepof, having a single row 
of columns all around, < irepi, around, 4- irrep6v, 
a wing, a row of columns.] A peripteral edi- 
fice ; a building having a peristyle of a single 
range of columns. See cut under opistliodomos. 
per ipterous (pe-rip 'te-rus) , a. [< Gr. mpiwrepof, 
having a single row of columns all around, lit. 
having wings or feathers all around : see perip- 
teros.] 1. Feathered on all sides. Wright. 
2. In arch., same as peripteral. 3. In hot., sur- 
rounded by a wing or thin border. 
periptery (pe-rip'te-ri), n. ; pi. peripteries (-riz). 
[= F. peripterc = Pg. periptero, peripterio = It. 
perittero,<."L. peripteros : seeperipteros.] Same 
as peripteros. 
Peripylaea (per"i-pl-le'a), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
irepi, around, + irv'Xij, a gate, door.] An order 
of silicoskeletal Badiolaria. The typical form is 
spherical, sometimes discoid, rhabdoid, or irregular. The 
peripyteans are usually unicapsular or monocyttarian.in 
some cases pluricapsular or polycyttarian. 
peripylaean (per*i-pl-le'an), a. and n. [< Pcri- 
pylsea + -are.] I. a. Having a finely foramin- 
ulate silicious skeleton, as a radiolarian ; of or 
pertaining to the Peripylsea. 
II. n. A member of the Peripylsea. 
peripylephlebitis (per-i-pi-'le-fle-bi'tis), n. 
[NL., < Gr. irepi, around, + irWJ?, gate, + <t>Acijj 
(0te/3-), a vein, + -itis. Cf. phlebitis.] Inflam- 
mation of the connective tissue about the por- 
tal vein. 
peripyrist (per-i-pi'rist), re. [< Gr. Trepi, around, 
+ Tri'p, fire, + -ist.] A sort of cooking appara- 
tus. Imp. Diet. 
perirectal (per-i-rek'tal), a. [< Gr. Kepi, around, 
-I- NL. rectum : see rectal.] Situated or occur- 
ring around the rectum. 
perirenal (per-i-re'nal), a. [< Gr. irepi, around, 
4- L. renes, the kidneys: see renal.] Situated 
about the kidney ; perinephric. 
perirhinal (per-i-ri'nal), a. [< Gr. irepi, around, 
+ 'p'u; (piv-), nose : see rhinal.] Situated about 
the nose or nasal fossa? : as, perirhinal bones or 
inhabitants of the polar circles), < irepi, around, 
+ amd, shadow.] The inhabitants of the polar 
circles : so called because in their summer-time 
their shadows describe an oval. 
periscope (per'i-skpp), n. [< Gr. irepiaKmeiv, 
look around, < irepi, around, -f- anoxelv, look.] 
1. A general view or comprehensive summary. 
[Rare.] 2. An instrument by which objects in 
a horizontal view may be seen through a verti- 
cal tube. It is used in piloting submarine boats, and 
consists substantially of a vertical tube with a lenticular 
total-reflection prism at the top, by which horizontal rays 
are projected downward through the tube, and brought to 
a focus, after which they are received by a lens the princi- 
pal focus of which coincides with that point. The vertical 
cylindrical beam thus formed is converted into a horizon- 
tal one again by amirror inclined at 45 from the vertical 
axis of the tube, and Is thus conveyed to an eyepiece, 
through which, by turning the tube on its vertical axis 
with its attached prism, a view of all the supernatant ob- 
jects around the vessel may be obtained. A screen or 
diaphragm operated by a tangent-screw is used to cut off 
the view of the vertical plane in which the sun is. 
periscopic (per-i-skop'ik), a. [= F. perisco- 
pique; asperiscope + -ic.] Viewing on all sides 
that is, giving distinct vision obliquely as 
well as axially. Specifically (o) Noting spectacles or 
eye-glasses having meniscus or concavo-convex lenses, and 
thus giving a wide field of vision, also other wide-angled 
lenses. (6) Noting a peculiar form of microscope-lens, 
, 
composed of two deep plano-convex lenses ground to the 
same radius, and having between their plane surfaces a 
thin plate of metal pierced with a circular aperture of a 
diameter equal to one fifth of the focal length of the com- 
bination. 
periscopical (per-i-skop'i-kal), a. [< periscopic 
+ -al.] Same &s periscopic. 
periscopism (per'i-sko-pizm), re. [< periscope 
+ -ism.] The faculty of periscopic vision. See 
the extract. 
It is probable that the peculiar structure of the crystal- 
line lens . . . confers on the eye the capacity of seeing 
distinctly over a wide field, without changing the position 
of the point of sight. This capacity he [Dr. Hermann] 
calls periscopism. Le Conte, Sight, p. 37. 
perish 1 (per'ish), v. [< ME. perishen,perysshen, 
perisshen, perischen, perschen, perchen, < OF. 
periss-, stem of certain parts of perir, F. perir 
(cf. Sp. Pg. perecer) = It. perire, < L. perire, 
pass away, perish, < per, through, -f- ire, go : see 
iter 1 .] I. intrans. 1. To pass away; come to 
naught; waste away; decay and disappear. 
As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish 
at the presence of God. Ps. Ixviii. 2. 
2. To cease to live ; die. 
They are living yet ; such goodness cannot perish. 
Fletcher (and another), Sea Voyage, i. 2. 
How often have the Eastern Sultans perished by the 
sabres of their own janissaries, or the bow-strings of their 
own mutes ! 
Macavlay, Conversation between Cowley and Milton. 
= Syn. Expire, Decease, etc. See dtel. 
Il.t trans. To bring to naught; injure; de- 
stroy; kill. 
And zif a schipp passed be tho Marches, that hadde 
outher Iren Bondes or Iren Nayles, anon he scholde ben 
perisscht. Mandemlle, Travels, p. 164. 
The Orekes . . . 
Made myche murmur and menit horn sore, 
As folis, that folily hade faren fro home 
To put horn in perell to perysshe there lyues. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), 1. 7614. 
You are an innocent, 
A soul as white as Heaven ; let not my sins 
Perish your noble youth. 
Beau, and Ft., JIaid's Tragedy, iv. 1. 
