placentalian 
placentalian (plas-cn-ta'li-aii), a. ami . I. a. 
< 'I or pertaining t<i tin- rinrrntitliii ; placcntal. 
II. ". A member of the Plaeentalui; a pla- 
MntaL 
Placentaria (plas-en-ta'ri-ii), n.pl. [NL., neut. 
|>l. of iiliici-Hliirin.*: sec placciitnry.] Same as 
I'Uict'Htttlin. 
placentary (plas'en-ta-ri), a. and n. [= F. j>/- 
cuitairr, < NL. 'pluceutariun, < placenta, placen- 
ta: see placenta.] I. . 1. Of or pertaining to 
the placenta; placenta!; pertaining to the Pla- 
centaria. 2. Made or done with reference to 
the placenta or to placentation : as, a placen- 
iin'ii classification. 
n. n.; pi. placentarien (-riz). 1. A member 
of the Plncriitalia; a placenta!. 2. In hot., a 
placenta bearing numerous ovules. 
Placentata (plas-en-ta'ta), n. pi. Same as I'la- 
<> utiilia. 
placentate(pla-sen'tat),a. [<JTlj."placentatiui, 
<, l>lnri 'iitu, placenta: see placenta.] Having a 
placenta; placentiferous; placenta!. 
placentation (plas-en-ta'shon), n. [= P. pla- 
1. In ,:iV/. : (a) The attachment of the embryo 
or fetus to the uterus by means of a placenta ; 
uterogestation. (6) The mode in which this at- 
tachment is effected ; the manner of the dispo- 
sition or construction of the placenta: as, de- 
ciduateordiscoidalj'fcwFHteWon. 2. In /</.. the 
disposition or arrangement of the placentas. 
placentia ( pla-sen 'shi-a), a. A word found only 
in the phrase-name placen tia falcon, apparent- 
ly noting the large dark area on the belly of 
that hawk, likened to a placenta. See falcon. 
T. Pennant. 
placentiferous (plas-en-tif'e-rus), a. [< NL. 
placenta + ii.ferre = E. bear*.] 1. Provided 
with a placenta ; gestating in the womb, as a 
mammal. 2. In hot., bearing or producing a 
placenta; having a placenta. 
Also placentigcrous. 
placentiform (pla-sen'ti-form), a. [= F. pla- 
centiforme, < NL. placenta, placenta, + L. for- 
ma, form.] 1. In :ni>l., having the form, struc- 
ture, or character of a placenta. 2. In bot., 
shaped like a placenta; having a thick circular 
disk, concave in the middle on both upper and 
lower sides. The root, of Cyclamen is an exam- 
ple. 
placentigerous (plas-en-tij'e-rus), a. [< NL. 
placenta, placenta, + L. i/erere, carry.] Same 
as placcntifermu. 
placentioust (pla-sen 'shiis),rt. [<L. pUieeii(t-)x, 
pleasing (see plnixant), + -iux.] Pleasant; 
amiable. 
John Walbye, . . . n plactiMiu* \tennn, gaining the 
guod-wlH of all with whom he conversed. 
Fuller, Worthies, York, III. 467. 
placentitis (plas-en-ti'tis), . [NL., < placenta, 
placenta, + -ills.] Inflammation of the pla- 
centa. 
placentoid (pla-sen'toid), a. [< NL. placenta, 
placenta, + (jr. elAw,, form.] Like a placenta; 
placentiform. 
place-proud (plas'prond), a. Prinid of position 
or rank. Fletcher, Wit without Money, iii. 1. 
placer 1 (pla'ser), n. [< place + -er 1 .] One who 
places, locates, or sets. 
Ix>rd of creatures all, 
Thou flatrr of plants tioth humble and tall. 
Spenncr, Shep. Cal., Kebruary. 
placer 2 (plas'er; Anjer. Sp. pron. pla-sar'), n. 
[< 8p. placer, a place near a river where gold- 
dust is found (cf. placet, a sand-bank), < plaza, 
a place: see place.] In mining, a place where 
the superficial detritus is washed for gold or 
other valuable minerals: a word formerly in 
common use in California, but now nearly ob- 
solete. I'laoer-mlnliiK hai hardly any other meaning 
In English than that of gold-wanning, but It l> not 
!!- ! In speaking of washing for gold by the hydraulic 
method. Wuhlng for tin a kind of mining not car- 
ried on In the United States in called streaming. - 
Placer-Claim, a mining claim to a placer depoiilt; an- 
ilT tin I 'nited stab-* mining law a tract of mineral land 
upon which the owner of the claim ! entitled to tin m 
dlnary surface rlghU and all forms of deposit, excepting 
vi ln of <]uartz or other rock In place, under the same it 
cumsUncfs and conditions as In the case of vein- or lode- 
< lnlms(se<- /./d, and minimi etaim. under tnining), except 
that no location can Include more than 20 acres for each 
individual claimant, and that, where the lands located 
iinili-r such a claim have been previously surveyed by the 
lulled States, the exterior limits of the entry must con- 
form to the legal divisions of the public lands and rectan- 
gular snlxllrlnlons thereof. A patent for a placer-claim 
Includes a vein or lode not at tin- linn- known to Mist with- 
in Its limits: bat it does not Include a known v, in ,,i !,,.!,, 
unless so expressed. 
placet ipiu'soi), H. [L., it pleases; :i,l per*. 
sing. pres. ind. of ptacere : -... y</< </..] 1. An 
1.V22 
expressed sanction ; permission given by one 
in authority; specifically, sanction granted to 
the promulgation and execution of an ecclesi- 
astical ordinance, and particularly such sanc- 
tion granted by a sovereign to papal bulls, 
briefs, and other edicts. 
sui-h therefore Is that secondary reason which hath 
place In divinity, which is grounded upon the placet! of 
(iod. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, 11. 364. 
2. A vote of assent in a council ; a vote of the 
governing body in a university, 
placid (plas'id), a. [< F. placate = Sp. pldcido 
= Pg. It. placido, < L. placidity, gentle, mild, < 
placere, please: see pleane,] Gentle; quiet; 
undisturbed; equable; serene; calm; unruf- 
fled; peaceful; mild. 
It conduceth unto long life and to the more placid mo- 
tion of the spirits, that men's actions be free. Bacon. 
That placid Intercourse [with the great minds of former 
ages) is disturbed by no jealousies or resentments. 
Macaulay, Bacon. 
That placid aspect and meek regard. 
Hilton, P. R., III. 217. 
= 8yn. Tranquil, Serene, , etc. Seeorfmi. 
placidioust (pla-sid'i-us), a. [< placid + -iotu.] 
Gentle; placid. 
Most easie, peaceable, and placidioiu. 
Topsell, Four-Kooted Beasts, p. 158. (Halliirell.) 
placidity (pla-sid'i-ti), n. [= V.placidite = It. 
placidita, < L. pliicidita(t-)s, < placidus, placid: 
see placid.] The state or character of being 
placid; tranquillity; peacefulness ; quietness; 
calmness. 
That habitual placidity of temper which results from 
the extinction of vicious and perturbing impulses. 
1.1-,-kii, European Morals, I. 188. 
placidly (plas'id-li), adr. In a placid manner; 
calmly; quietly; without disturbance or pas- 
sion. 
placidaess (plas'id-nes), . The state or char- 
acter of being placid. 
placitt, . [= Pg. It. plticito, < L. placitum, 
that which is pleasing, a maxim, an order, < 
placitus, pp. of placere, please: see pleane. Cf. 
plea, plead.] Same as placet. 
Sextus Emplricus was but a diligent collector of the 
placitt and opinions of other philosophers. 
Krrltm, To Mr. E. Tlmi l.unl. 
placita, . Plural of plaeilum. 
placitory (plas'i-to-ri), a. [< ML. placitum, 
plea (see plticit, plea), + -ory.] Of or relating 
to pleas or pleading in courts of law. 
placitum (plas'i-tum), .; pi. placita (-ta). 
[ML.: see placit, plea.] In the middle ages" a 
]>ublic assembly of all degrees of men, where 
the sovereign presided, usually summoned to 
consult npon great affairs of state; hence, a 
resolution taken by such an assembly; also, a 
penalty or fine, or a plea or suit. 
plack (plak), n. [< OF. plaque, placque, plfcque, 
placlte, a coin so called (also plaquettc), F. 
plaijnc, a plate, slab, patch, veneer, etc., < MI). 
plackc, plfcke (= Flem. jilncke = MLG. plackc, 
in ML. placa, placca), a coin so called, D. plak, 
a thin slice, a ferrule; cf. M I), placte, plcclce, 
a spot, a place, village, town, also a patch ; 
mixed, in the form Mecke, etc., with MI), blcck, 
Mick, a plate, as of tin or lead, D. blik, white 
iron, tin, = OHG. bleh, plrh, plech, blech, MHO. 
birch, a plate, thin leaf of metal, etc., = Sw. 
blrck = Dan. lililc, white iron, sheet-metal. Cf. 
placard, plaque.] A Scotch billon coin current 
in the fifteenth century (from 1468), and also in 
Plack >( Mary. Queen of Scots. British Museum. 
(Sue of the original.) 
the sixteenth century. It was worth 4 pence 
Scotch (nboiit two thirds of the United States 
cent), and under James VI. 8 pence Scotch. 
Plack and baWbM, to the last farthing; fully. 
(Scotch.) 
placket (plak'et), n. [< OF. placquette, a thin 
plate (a placket being appar. a patch scw-il 
on), dim. of plaque, plate: see pluck. Cf. /'la 
I/mill-. /</</./(/.] If. A pocket, especially a 
pocket in a woman's dress. 
When she comes Into a great prease of people, for fear 
nf Hi.' cutpune, on a sudden she'll nwap tin . int.> Im 
plackml. Urrntr, Kriar Bacon and Friar ISungay. i. 1. 
placoid 
Just like a plow-boy tir'd in a browne jacket, 
And breeches round, long leathern point, no placket. 
Onyton, Notes on Don Cjuliote, p. 170. (Naret.) 
2. The opening or slit in a petticoat or skirt ; 
a fent. 
That a cod-piece were far fitter here than a pinned 
placket. Fletcher (and another), Love's Cure, L >. 
3. A petticoat ; hence, figuratively, a woman. 
Was that brave heart made to pant for a pladtetf 
fletcher, Humorous Lieutenant, Iv. 4. 
If the maides a spinning goe, 
Burne the flax, ami flre their toe. 
Scorch their plackeU. 
UcrrieJc, Saint Distaff's I>ay. 
4. Same as phiccate. 
placket-hole (plak'et-hol).n. Same as placket, 2. 
plackless (pla(t'les),fl. [< plack + -lexx.] Pen- 
niless; without money. 
Poor, ptacMem devils like mysel' ! Hume. Scotch Drink. 
plack-pie (plak'pi), . A pie formerly sold for 
a plack. Scott. [Scotch.] 
Placobranchia (plak-o-brang'ki-ft), n. pi. [NL. 
( J. E. Gray, 1857), < Gr. ir)Ji (wXaii-), something 
flat, a tablet, plate, + ,f/m; ii. gills.] A sub- 
order of nudibranchiate gastropods, established 
for the family Elysiidx, characterized by hav- 
ing lamellar or venose gills on the upper sur- 
face of the mantle. 
placoderm (plak'6-derm), a. and n. [< Gr. 
nv*<if (ir?vox-), a tablet, plat*, + ifi>/ta, skin, < 
iipecv, flay.] I. a. Having the skin covered 
with broad flat plates, as a fish ; belonging to 
the Placodermi. 
II. n. A ganoid fish of the group riacixlcrmi. 
placodermal (plak-6-der'mal), a. [<placnderi>i 
+ -al.] Same &n placoderm. 
Placodermata(l>lak-o-der'ma-ta), n.pl. [NL. : 
see placoderm.] Same as Ptacodrrmi. 
placodermatous (plak-o-der'ma-tus), a. Same 
as placodi'nn. 
Placodermi (plak-o-der'mi), n. pi. [NL. : see 
placoderm.] An order of fishes, constituted for 
some remarkable Paleozoic forms of doubtful 
relationships. It has been variously defined. As usu- 
ally limited, it Includes fishes which had a persistent noto- 
chord, neural and henial spines and interspinals connect- 
ing with a dorsal and an anal fin, a jointed pectoral ap- 
pendage inclosed In a bony covering, the head and front 
of the body inclosed by bony dorsal and ventral shields, 
no ventrals, and a distinct lower jaw. Thus limited, It has 
been made to Include the families Coccostfidte and Dinicli- 
thyidir. Also Placodmnata, I'lacoganoidei. 
placodont (plak'6-dont), n. [< 1'lacodus 
(-odont-).] A member of the group Placodontia 
or family Placodontidte. 
Placodontia (plak-o-don'shi-a), n. pi. [NL., < 
Gr. jr?.<Sf (K'/MK-), a tablet, plate, -I ofoi'i; (OOOVT-) 
= E. tooth.] A group of extinct reptiles, which 
had double nares (the posterior nares opening 
directly into the roof of the mouth by horizon- 
tal apertures, as in the sauropterygians), no floor 
to the narial passage, and maxillary as well as 
palatal teeth, it has been referred to the fishes, and 
among the reptiles to the Sawupteryyia; but late system- 
uttsta regard It as a suborder of the order Theromora. 
Placodontidae (plak-6-doii'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Placodun (-odont-) 4- -idee.] A family of ex- 
tinct reptiles, represented by the genus Placo- 
dS. They are the only known members of the group 
Flacodtmtia. The general fonn is unknown. The skull 
was broad behind, with an apparently compound tempo- 
ral arcade and a postorbltal bar ; the teeth around the 
palate were like paving-stonea. The species lived In the 
Triassic period. 
Placodus (plak'o-dus), n. [NL.. < Gr. irXdf 
(ir^ax-), a tablet, plate ? 4- ofJoi'f = E. tooth.] A 
genus of reptiles having pavement-like teeth. 
/'. giga* is a species of the Trias. 
placoganoid (plak-o-gan'oid), a. and n. [< Gr. 
it'/M% (ir/ax-), a tablet, plate, + E. ganoid.] I. 
'. Having a placoid exoskeleton, as a ganoid 
fish; belonging to the Placogaiioidei . 
II. H. A member of the Placoqanaidei, 
placoganoidean(plak'o-ga-noi 'de-an), n. ami . 
[< pliiriiiiniiniil + -fini.] Same as pliii-oi/iiiiinil. 
Placogaiioidei (plak*o-ga-noi'de-i), . pi. [NL.: 
see pTiictM/iiiioid. ] Same as Placoilrrmi. 
placoid (jilnk'oid), 11. and n. [<Gr.*n-/aw/o.;, , 
contr. KtMKi^faK, flat, < TT?M( (n-J^x-), a tablet, 
plate, + fldof, form.] I. a. 1. Plate-like: not- 
ing the dermal invest! its of sharks, which 
take the iilace of true seales and are the ossi- 
fied papilla* of the cut is. In combination they fonn 
the shagreen nf tin- sharks. Tin- name Is also extended 
to the tubercular or thorn-like armature of the skin In 
rays. 
2. Having plaeoiil M-nlc-, as a fish; belonging 
to the I'liii'iiiili i. See cut under sr/ili. Placoid 
eXDBkeleton, tbc sh:uin-< n. ii'lilbyoilMnilito. or other 
forms of the ili-rmal defenses of the clasmohranchiate 
tlshi's. 
II. II. A member nf the I'lilfiilllii. 
