perish 
perish-t, ''. An olisolele t'onn of /ni-i'n . 
perishability (per i.-h-a-bil'i-ti), . [< . 
n/ili- + -it i/ (see -iniiti/).} Periahableneog. 
perishable (per'ish-a-bl), a. [< OF. / rixsiilili, 
F. jx'-rissii I/It-; MS /n i-isl/i + -iilili . \ Liable to 
perish; subject to decay or destruction; mortal. 
Courtesies should be no jxrithaHc commodity. 
Hourll, Letters, I. i. S3. 
Perishable monition, the public notice by a court for the 
Bale of anything in n pcrishnM.- cunilition. Perishable 
property, property which from iU nature decays in a 
brief ti , notwithstanding the care it may receive, as 
fish, fruit, and the like. 
perishableness (per'ish-a-bl-nes), . The char- 
acter of being perishable; liability to spt-r<l\ 
decay in- tlrst niction; lack of keeping or last- 
ing qualities. 
perishmentt (per'ish-mpnt). n. [< F. pi'-rinfi- 
n/i'iil; as perish + -ment.'] The act of perish- 
ing; also, injury. [Rare.] 
So to bestowe life is no perishmenl, but atiauntage : and 
this Is not to loose the life, but to kepe It. 
J. UdaU, On John ill. 
perisoma (per-i-so'ma), n. ; pi. perisomata (-ma- 
tii). [NL., < Gr. Kepi, around, + ni>/ia, body.] 
The body-wall of an echinoderm ; the parietes 
of the perivisceral cavity (the modified entero- 
ccale of the larva) in tho l^-liiiiniliriiinlti. The 
mesoderm presents a more or less radially disposed set of 
antimeres, while the ectoderm may develop a coriaceous or 
calcareous exoskeleton. See cuts under llolothuraidea and 
Same as perisomatic. Eiicyc. Brit. 
perisomatic (perl-so-mat'ik), a. [< perisoma 
(-somat-) + -ic.] Of or pertaining to a peri- 
soma ; parietal, with reference to the body-wall 
of an echinoderm : correlated with perivisceral 
emA peristomatic, and opposed to visceral. 
Portions of the perimmatic skeleton. 
Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 609. 
Perisomatic plates, in crinoids, the basal, oral, anal, and 
other i liscul or interradial plates : distinguished from ra- 
dial plates. Sir C. M'yville Thomson. 
perisome (per'i-som), n. [< NL. perisoma, q. v.] 
8ame as perisoma. 
perisoiuial (per-i-so'mi-al), a. [< perixome + 
-in I.] Same as perisomatic. 
Perisoreus (per-i-so're-us), n. [NL. (C. L. 
Bonaparte, 1831), irreg. < Gr. irepiauptAieiv, heap 
up around, < Kept, around, + aupeiieiv, heap up, < 
ai>pof, a heap.] A genus of boreal and alpine 
birds, of the family Corvidx and subfamily Gar- 
ruHme, having plain-colored or somber plumage 
and no crest; the gray jays. p. ir\faustu Inhabits 
northerly parts of Europe and Asia. P. canadensis is 
Canada Jay, or Whisky-jack (Perisoreus canadensis}. 
4403 
perlspherical (per-i-sfer'i-kal), a. [< i" r^/ilii r- 
ir + -ill.] Same as /n ns/iln i'ii-. 
perisplenitis (per i-sple-ni'tis), n. [NL.,lr. 
- .'pi, arounil, T nir'/ i/i; spleen, + -itis. Cf. s/ili - 
iiili*.] Inflammation of the serous covering of 
the spleen. 
perispome (per'i-spom), . and a. [Abbr. of 
/irriximntrnoH.] I. n. In (!r. gram., & WOP I 
which has the circumflex accent on the final 
syllable. 
II. a. In fir. gram., having or characterized 
by the circumflex accent on the final syllable. 
perispome (per'i-spom), v. t. ; pret. and pp. uer- 
txiHinuil, ppr. jH'rixftfiwiHf/. [X i>< T/X/WW, n. \ In 
l,i'. i/ram., to write or pronounce with the cir- 
cumflex accent on the final syllable. 
perispomenon (per-i-spom'e-non), n. [< Gr. 
irt/iiaTrijfifvuv, neut. of 7r?/MoTrw//vof, ppr. pass, 
of irepunrav, mark with a circumflex, lit. draw 
around, < nepi, around, + oirav, draw: see 
spasm.] In Gr. gram., same as perispoim: 
perispore (per'i-spor), n. [< Gr. irepi, around, 
+ <nrd)jof, seed : see spore.] In hot., the outer 
membrane or covering of a spore. 
Perisporiaceae (per-i-spo-ri-a se-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Fries, 1846), < Gr. irept, around', + on-dpof, seed, 
-T- -i- + -aces.] A family of pyrenomycetous 
fungi. They are saprophytlc or parasitic, simple, and 
with the perlthecla membranaceous, coriaceous, or sub- 
carbonaceous. It is divided into two subfamilies, Ery- 
tipheet and I'erisporiea. 
>l. [NL. 
-ex.] A 
subfamily or group of pyrenomycetous fungi, 
of the family Perisiioriacese, having globose, 
pyriform, or lenticular astomatous perithecia. 
This group embraces many forms parasitic upon the leaves 
and stems of plants, but none are so widely destructive as 
those of the Erysiphex. 
perissad (pe-ris'ad), a. and n. [< Gr. irfpioodf, 
beyond the regular number or size, superfluous, 
excessive, also odd, not even (< mpi, beyond), 
+ -ad 1 .] I. a. In chem.. having a valency rep- 
resented by an odd number; noting an element 
which combines with odd numbers of atoms 
only. 
II. n. 1. An atom whose valence is desig- 
nated by an odd number, as hydrogen, whose 
valence is 1, or nitrogen, whose valence is 
1, 3, or 5: so called in contradistinction to 
artiads, whose valence is represented by an 
even number, as sulphur, whose valence is 2, 
4, or 6. 
As Prof. Odllng termed atoms with such valencies, pe- 
rismdf and artiads. Philoe. Mag., 5th ser., XXV. 229. 
2. In zoiil., an odd-toed ungulate quadruped; 
a solidungulate animal ; one of the perissodac- 
tyls : opposed to artiad. 
perisset, r. A Middle English form of perish^. 
perissodactyl, perissodactyle (pe-ris-o-dak'- 
til), a. and . [< NL. perissodactylus, < MGr. 
mpiooodaKTvto<; , with more than the regular num- 
ber of fingers or toes, < Gr. irtptcc6s , beyond the 
regular number or size, + da/crvAof, finger: see 
dactyl.] I. a. Odd-toed, as a hoofed quadru- 
ped ; of or pertaining to, or characteristic of, 
the Perissodaetyla. Mso perissodactylate, j>eriii- 
sodactylic, perissodactylous. 
The dentition ... of the kangaroos is perisaodactyle. 
E. D. Cope, Origin of the Fittest, p. 847. 
II. n. A member of the Perissodaetyla; a pe- 
rissad. 
Perissodaetyla (pe-ris-o-dak'ti-la), n.pl. [NL.. 
neut. pi. of perissodactylus: see perissodactyl.] 
A suborder of Ungulata containing the odd-toed 
peristaltic 
hoofed ipiadrupeils : distinguished from .Irtio- 
iliii'ti//ii. The digits are unpaired or unequal, the third 
beliiK thelargestand some- 
times tin only functional 
one ; and there are corre- 
>[>"iniing modifications of 
th< MHt.t'iiipal and meta- 
tarsal and of the carpal and 
tarsal bones and their ar- 
ticulations. The hind feet 
are always odd-toed, and 
t hoi ifh tne fore feet may 
have 4 digits, as in the tapir, 
these are uneven. The as- 
tragalus has two very un- 
equal facets or articular 
surfaces on the underside. 
Hie femur has a third tro- 
chanter. The dorsolum- 
bar vertebra; are no fewer 
than 22 In number. The 
intermaxillary bone* are 
tectlform alxiveand united 
toward the symphysis, and 
their incisors, when pres- 
ent, are implanted nearly 
vertically and are nearly 
parallel to their roots. The 
stomach is simple and non- 
ruminant; there is a capa- 
cloussacculatedcsecum. In 
all the living forms horns, 
when present, are single 
and median, or two.one be- 
hind the other. Theonlyllv- 
ing representatives of the 
suborder are the tapirs, rhi- 
noceroses, and horses, in- 
cluding aases, zebras, etc., 
of the three families Tapi- 
rider, Ithinocerotider., and 
Eguidee. The fossil fami- 
lies are more numerous, In- 
cluding \\iti Anchithtriiiljf. 
Palxotheriidx, and Lnphi- 
odontidje. Also Perisnodac- 
tyli. See also cut under 
tolidungvlate. 
perissodactylate 
fr\tt t-i n rlalf'ti ln^ dle metatarsal, or cannon-hone 
(pe-ns-o -aaK ti -iat;, |^ arin? g , ourtn orouter metatai 
sal, or splint-bone , 9, first phu 
I.ITIX, great pastern, or fetter-bone 
IP, sesamoia behind metatarsopha 
laiieeal joint, orfetter-joint ; n,sec- 
ona phalanx, small pastern, or 
coronary bone ; 12, third phalanx, 
orcoffin-bone; 13, interphalanjreal 
articulation; 14, sesatnoid, called 
Perissodactyl Foot (left hind foot 
of horse). 
i, tower end of tibia ; 2. calca- 
netim or protuberance of the hock, 
corresponding to human heel j 3. 
astragalus ; 4, cuboid ; 5, navicu- 
lar of anatomists, or scaphoid I 6, 
outer cuneiform ; 7, third or mid- 
Same as Perisso- 
Same 
the Canada jay, the well-known whisky-jack or moose- 
bird, of which there are several varieties in the Rocky 
Jl oiintains and northwestern partsof America, Also called 
I>i/orm'Mta. 
perisperm (per'i-sperm), n. [= F. pensprrme 
= Sp. perispermo = Pg. It. perisperma, < Gr. 
irfpi, around, + axtpfta, seed : see sperm.] In 
bot., a name originally proposed by Jussieu for 
the albumen or nutritive matter stored up in 
the seeds of plants ; by later authors restricted 
to the albumen which is stored up outside the 
embryo-sac. Compare endosperm. 
perispermic (per-i-sper'mik), a. [< perisperm 
+ -.] In bot., provided with or characterized 
by perisperm. 
perispheric (per-i-sfer'ik), n. [= F. perisphc- 
rique= Pg. pt'ri.tpherieo, < Gr. irtpi, around, + 
atjiaipa, sphere : see sphere.] Having the form 
of a ball ; globular. 
Perissodactyt ffkrt of (A) horse. () rhinoceros, and (O tapir 
left fore foot in each c.ise ; //, ///, // ', y, second to fifth metacarpals : 
t. scaphoid I /, lunar ; c, Cuneiform I /, pisiform : tm, trapezium I t. 
trapez'.iil ; "t. majjmitn I H, tincifonii ; I, a, 3. first, second, and third 
phalanges of third digit in each foot. 
a. [< perissodactyl + 
-ate 1 .] Same aspm's- 
SOdaCtyl. Nature, XLI. 
84. 
Perissodactyli (pe- 
ris-6-dak'ti-ll), n. pi. navicular by Veterinarians ; 15, 
[Nt., pi. of perisso- 
dactylus: see perissodacti/l.] 
dactyla. 
perissodactylic (pe-ris"o-dak-tirik), a. 
as perissodactyl. 
perissodactylous (pe-ris-o-dak'ti-lus), a. [< pe- 
rixHodactyl + -otis.] Same as perissodactyl. 
perissological (pe-ris-9-loj'i-kal), a. [< *pe- 
rissologic (= F. perissologique = Pg. perissolo- 
ffico; as perissofog-y + -ic) + -al.] Redundant 
in words. [Rare.] 
perissology (per-i-sol'o-ji), n. [= F. perissolo- 
gie = Sp. perisologia = Pg. It. perissologia, < 
L. perissologia, < Gr. mpiaaotoyia. wordiness, < 
mptoooMyof, talking too much, \ ircptao6f, su- 
perfluous (see perissad), + M-yciv, speak: see 
-ology.] Needless amplification in writing or 
speaking ; use of more words than are neces- 
sary or desirable ; verbiage ; verbosity. 
perissosyllabic (pe-ris'o-si-lab'ik), a. [< Gr. 
iTf/wfjuof, superfluous, + avtoa[ir/, syllable.] Hav- 
ing superfluous syllables. PerissoByllabic hex- 
ameter. See hexameter. 
peristalitb-^pe-ris'ta-lith), M. [Irreg. < Gr. irtyw, 
around, + urravat, stand (cf. ireplaraais, a stand- 
ing around), + /l/flbf, stone.] In archeeol., a se- 
ries of standing stones or members surround- 
ing an object, as a barrow or burial-mound. 
The monument consists of a ruined chamber, of some 
remains of a gallery, and of a second chamber to complete 
the cruciform plan, which were all at one time buried In 
the earth, and surrounded by a ring of stones, or ferula- 
lilh. of an oblong form. 
C. Elton, Origins of Eng. Hist, p. 131. 
peristalsis (per-i-stal'sis), . [NL., < Gr. mpi, 
around, + irrdtoif, compression, constriction, < 
artUetv, set, place, bring together, bind, com- 
press. Cf. peristaltic.] The peculiar involun- 
tary muscular movements of various hollow 
organs of the body, especially of the alimen- 
tary canal, whereby their contents are pro- 
pelled onward. As best seen in the small intestines, 
it consists of rhythmic circular contractions, traveling, 
wave-like, downward, due to successive contractions of 
the circular and longitudinal muscular fibers. Peristal- 
sis, simple or modified, is characteristic of the whole ali- 
mentary canal, from the beginning of the esophagus to 
the anus, but it also occurs in other tubes or cavities, as 
the ureters, Fallopian tubes, etc. 
peristaltic (per-i-stal'tik), a. [= F. peristal- 
tit/in- = S]>. i>< ristiiltieo = Pg. It. neristaltico, < 
Gr. TrepioTa).TtK6f, compressive, < irepiorOAtw, 
wrap around (compress), < irepl, around, + 
