rare 
forms, of high specific gravity, It was 
Platonist i :, 1 1 
Platonist ( pin 'to-nist ). //. | < Gr. IlX.dr.ji', Plato. 
+ -int."] One who adhrivs In the philosophy 
of Plato ; a follower of Plato. 
Or, self-conceited, play the humorous Plaloiiut, 
Which boldly dares attlrm that Spirits themselve supply 
With bodies, to commix with frail mortality. 
Drayton, Polyolblon, v. 180. 
Platonistic (pla-to-nis'tik), a. [< Platonist + 
-if.'} Of or pertaining to Plato or his followers, 
or the Platonic doctrines ; characteristic of the 
Platonists. 
Platonize (pla'to-niz), v. ; pret. and pp. PUittt- 
ni;td, ppr. Plattmtfing. [< Gr. WMTUV, Plato, 
+ -/-t.J I. iittraiw. To follow the opinions or Platurous (pla-tu'rus), a. [Prop, 'platy 
philosophy of Plato; reason like Plato; emulate * ^ r - !r '-"' ol 'P o r>_broad-tailed, < T^ri?, 1 
Plato. 
Platycrinoidea 
mineralogist.] Native lead dioxid (PbO 2 ), a platycephaly (pint -i -scf a-li). . [< /,//.,- 
mmeral occurring in iron-black massive cephttl-ous + -y.~} Th 
jdatycephalic skull. 
The condition of having a 
er'si-de), H. pi. [NL., < 
lead-mines of northera Idaho ' riaiycercus -r -laa.j The broad-tailed parra- 
Plattner 's process. See proces*. _ k . ee tf separate family of parrot*. 
platty (plat'i), a. [< plat* + -i.] Having Platycercina (plat'i-ser-si'ne), . pi. [NL., < 
plats or bare spots, as grain-fields sometimes Platycercun + -<.] A subfamily of Psittaci- 
have. Hallitcell. [Prov. Eng.] 
. 
plature (pla'tur), . [< NL. Platitru*, q. v.] A 
broad-taued hummiug-bird of the genus Pla- 
tiiriiK. 
Hitherto Philo; wherein, after his usual wont, he pla 
tonizcs; the same being In effect to lie found in Plato's 
TlmttUB. llai:.'ititl. Apology, II. vL J 2. 
The imagination Instinctively Platonizen, and it is the 
essence of poetry that it should be unconventional, that 
the soul of it should subordinate the outward parts, 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 402. 
II. trails. To explain on the principles of 
the Platonic school, or to accommodate to those 
principles. 
Also spelled Pliitonine. 
Platonizer (pla'to-ni-zer), w. One who Plato- 
nizes ; a Platonist. Also spelled Platotiiser. 
Philo the Jew. who was a great platonizer, calls the stars 
divine images, and Incorruptible and immortal souls. 
Dr. A. Young, Idolatrous Corruptions In Religion, 1. 109. 
platoon (pla-toV), H. [< F.peloton (pron. plo- 
tdn'), a platoon, lit. a 'ball,' i. e. cluster, a par- 
ticular use otpetotoii, a ball, tennis-ball, dim. of 
pelote, a ball, pellet: see pellet.'} If. A small 
body of soldiers or musketeers, drawn out of a 
battalion of foot to form a hollow square to 
strengthen the angles of some military forma- 
tion or position ; or, a small body acting toge- 
ther, but separate from the main body. 2. A 
number of soldiers, as large as is convenient for 
drill, etc., drawn up in two ranks, usually from 
15 to 25 in each rank ; hence (since a company 
of infantry is habitually divided into two pla- 
toons), half of a company considered as a sepa- 
rate body.- platoon firing, firing by platoons, or sub- 
divisions of companies. 
platopic (pla-top'ik), a. Same as plutyopic. 
Jour. ofAntnrop. Inst,, p. li)6. 
platted, r. t. A Middle English form of plat*. 
platte 2 t, . A Middle English form of plat*. 
platte 3 (plat), ;/. [OF. : see plate.'} Same as 
vlaccate (c). 
platt6 (pla-ta'), a. [OF., < platte, a plate: see 
plate."} In her., sem6 with plates that is, 
with roundels argent. 
platted (plat'ed), o. Same asphiitfd. 
platten (plat'en), v. t. [< plat* + -#ii.] In 
glass-manuf., to open out and flatten into a 
plate or sheet: said of a blown cylinder of 
glass. The hot cylinder Is first cracked on one side In 
a straight line longitudinally by the application of a cold 
iron rod ; then it is laid in the Hattening-oven (which has 
a smooth stone bottom), and kept there in a soft state 
till it opens out ; and lastly it is smoothed out with an im- 
plement called a flntttner. Sometimes the cylinders are 
cut longitudinally with a diamond, and then placed in the 
furnaceorfiattening arch for opening and smoothing. The 
flattening of crown-glass is called Jlashiny. 
plattening (plat'en-ing), . [Verbal n. of plat- 
ten, r.] In glass-manuf., the process of forming 
glass into plates or sheets. See platten. 
platter 1 (plat'er), . [< ME. plater, platere, 
appar. orig. "platel, < OF. platel, dim. of plat, a 
plate : see plate, and cf. plateau."} A plate ; a 
large shallow dish for holding eatables ; espe- 
cially, a flat dish in which a fowl, a joint, or the 
like is placed to be carved. 
In the Lond of Prestre John ben many dyverse thinges, 
and many precious Stones so grete and so large that men 
maken of hem Vesselle ; as Platrrt*, Dissches, and Cuppes. 
Matuiemlle, Travels, p. 272. 
Earthen Platter* held their homely Food. 
Congrtve, tr. of Juvenal's satires, xi. 
The attendants bustled to and fro, and speedily brought 
in several large smoking platters, filled with huge pieces 
of beef, boiled and roasted. Scott, Monastery, xxiv. 
platter- (plat'er), . [< plat* + -erl.] One 
who plats, braids, or interweaves. 
platting (plat'ing), n. [Verbal n. of plat*, F.] 
1. The process of making interwoven or platted 
work. 2. A fabric made of fibers, bundles of 
fibers, or thin slips of any pliable material, such 
as cane or straw. 
Bermuda hats are worn by our ladles ; they are made of 
a sort of mat or (as they call it) platting made of the pal- 
metto leaf. 
Bp. Berkeley, Proposals lor Better Supplying of Churches. 
plattnerite (plat'uer-it), . [Named after 
K. F. Plattner (1800-58). a German chemist and 
uroiitt, 
, broad, 
flat, + oiipA, tail.] Having a broad tail. 
Platurus (pla-tu'rus), n. [NL. (Latreille),prop. 
'Plutyurus, t. Gr. jrAariwt'pof, broad-tailed: see 
platuroim.} 1. A 
genus of venomous 
marine serpents of 
the family Hydru- 
phidif, having wide 
and flat gastroste- 
ges and two pairs 
of frontal shields. 
2. A genus of 
broad-tailed Tro- 
chilitlx, named by 
Lesson in 1829 ; the 
platures. 
platy (pla'ti), a. 
[Also platfij; < 
plate + -i/l.] Like 
a plate ; consisting 
of plates. 
platybasic (i>lat-i- 
ba'sik), a. f< Gr. 
Tr/arrf, broad, flat, 
die, typified by the genus Platycerws, to which" 
varying limits have been ascribed; the broad- 
tailed parrakeets. It is properly restricted to those 
parrots which have no ambiens and no furculuiu. In a 
common acceptation, It contains parrakeets with a abort 
beak of greater height than length, a small cere (frequent- 
ly teatluTi-d i. and a long tall, usually exceeding the wlng> 
in length, and in some cases with broad feathers. All the 
Platycercinjf belong to the Old World, and they are most 
numerous In species and Individuals In the Australian 
region. About 70 species are described, among them the 
grass-, ground-, and zebra parrnkeetv. See <jrat* parrakee I, 
Kuphema, MelopnUaaa, and Platyeenut. 
platycerdne (plat-i-ser'sin), a. Broad-tailed ; 
belonging to the Platycerciiix. 
Platycercus (plat-i-ser'kus), n. [NL. (Vigors 
and Horsfield, 1825), < Gr. n)anicepiiof, broad- 
tailed, < ir^irrf, broad, + ntpia>f, tail.] The 
leading genus of Platycercinx, containing more 
than half the species of this subfamily, having 
the tail long and ample, with its feathers broad 
to their ends, and tne four middle ones longer 
than the rest. They are beautifully and variously 
colored, and range from the Malay archipelago to the Isl- 
ands of the Pacific ocean. Several are favorite cage-birds, 
as the rosella or rose-parrakeet^ P. eximiut, and the king- 
parrakect, /'. ncajntlatu*. See cut under rotrUa. 
Platycerium (plat-i-se'ri-um), H. [NL., < Gr. 
T/an'-f, broad, + nr/piov, a honeycomb, < uipAf. 
wax : see cere .] A very distinct and remark- 
able genus of ferns, commonly associated with 
the Acrostichete. It has been proposed to place It In 
a separate section, from its producing Its sort in large 
amorphous patches, not, as in the true Acrottichfjf, uni- 
versal over the fertile portions. The species are few in 
number, chiefly Eastern or Aus- 
tralian, and for the moat part 
tropical. 
foot, base: see bnwic.] Having the 
occipital bone about the foramen magnum 
pressed upward ; having the negative angle of 
Daubenton more than 80. See craniometry. 
platybrachycephalic (plat-i-brak-i-se-fal'ik or Platycerus (plft-tis'g-rus), 
-sera-lik), . [< platy(ccphalic) + brachyceplui- [NL. (Geoffrey, 1762) 
tie."} Flat and broad; both platycephalic and (*' ,L. platyoeros, < (ir. 
brachycephalic: said of a skull. 
platybregmete (plat -i-breg' met), . [< Gr. 
ir/tarrf, broad, + /Iptyfia, the front part of the 
head: see frrej/mo.] A wide bregma, as seen 
in Mongolian skulls. 
'lat-i-ktir'pus), a. [< Gr. a 
platycarpous (pl 
broad, + napirff, fruit.] In but., having broatl 
fruit. 
platycephalic (plat*i-se-fal'ik or -sef'a-lik), a. 
[< platycephal-oug + -/<.] Same as platycepha- 
having broad 
horns), < Gr. it'larvf, broad, 
+ nfpaf, horn.] A genus of 
stag-beetles of rather small 
size, chiefly characterized by 
the distinctness of the sixth 
ventral abdominal segment. 
Ill- few species known are found 
in Asia, Europe, and North Ameri- 
ca. Four inhabit the I'nlted States, 
as P. qutrcul, found In oak-stumps throughout North 
America, 1 inch long and brownish-black. 
Platyttrm 
Line shows natural size.) 
Platycephalidae(plat'i-se-fal'i-de), a. pi. [NL., platycnemia (plat-ik-ne'mi-ii), H. [NL. : see 
< Platycfphalus + -ulu.\ A family of acan- platycnemit.'} The condition of being platyc- 
- 
thoptei-ygian fishes, typified by the genus Platy- nemic ; platycnemism. 
rephalus; the flatheads. They have an elongated platycnemic(plat-ik-ne'mik), a. [< Gr. 
body depressed In front, a wide depressed head, Imbri- broad, + nvfi/tr/, the lower leg: see t 'nemix.] 
Broad and flat, as a tibia ; having such tibiae, 
as a person. 
cated scales, two dorsals (the anterior snorter than the 
a long anal, and perfect ventrals behind the 
Nearly so species are known as inhabitants of 
posterior), a lon 
pectorals. Near 
the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans. 
platycnemism (plat-ik-ne'mizm),. [<platyc- 
Platycephalina(plat-i-sef-a-li'ne), n.pl. [NL., tiem-ic + -inm.'} The state of being platycne- 
< Pliitycepltalui + -i;i.] "the Platycephalidx mic; breadth and flatness of the tibia, 
as a subfamily of scorpeeuoid fishes. Platycoelia (plat-i-se'li-tt), n. [NL. (Dejean, 
platycephalous (plaW-sef'a-lus), a. [< Gr. 1833), < Gr. Tr/Ujrif, flat, 4- /coiAof, hollow.] A 
irtjiTVKeibatof , broad-headed, { irfari'c, broad, flat genus of lamellicorn beetles of the family S ute- 
(see plat 3 ), + w^a/y, head.] Having the vault lida, or typical of a family Platycaelidte. Theyare 
of the skull flattened ; having a vertical index la rg <! handsome South American' insects, with a very 
of less than 70. convex head of a beautiful green color. Also 1'latycalvi. 
Platycephalus (plat-i-sef'a-lus), H. [NL.: see platycCBlian(plat-i-se'li-an), a. [< platy ca-l-ttun 
platyeeplialouK."] 1 . The typical genus of Platy- + -'<"'] Same as platyra-lomt. 
cejihalidee: so called from' the broad depressed Platycoelidae (plat-i-se'li-de), n.pl. [NL., < 
Platyra-lia + -id*."} A family of coleopterous 
insects, named from the genus Platycalia. Bur- 
meister, 1844. 
platycoeloUS (plat-i-se'lus), a. [< Gr. nvUmV. 
flat, + Koi'/or, hollow.] Plano-concave, as a 
vertebra ; plane or flat in front and cupped be- 
hind, as the bodies of the vertebrae of the cetio- 
saurians: now usually called opiythocalian. 
platycoria(plat-i-ko'ri-a),n. [NL.,<Gr. vta-riif, 
broad, + n6pii, the pupil of the eye.] In med., 
an undue dilatation of the pupil ; mydriasis. 
Platycrinid (plat-i-krin'i-de), H. pi. [NL., < 
Pla tycrin ug + -tdte. ] A family of Paleozoic cri- 
noids or encrinites, typified by the genus Pliity- 
crinus. 
platycrinite (plat'i-kri-nlt). . An encrinite of 
the genus Platycrinus or Platycrinites. 
platycrinoid (plat'i-kri-noid), . [< NL. Platy- 
+. q. v.. + Gr. ciSof, form.] A platycrinite. 
head. Block and Schneider, 1801. 2. [/.<-.] A Platycrinoidea (plat'i-kri-noi 'de-8), n.pl. 
broad flat skull, deformed from synosti-osis of [NL.,< Plati/i-riim.-. + -oidea.] Same 'as Pluiii- 
frontal and parietal bonr. criniilie. 
FUtheatj \Plalytr 
t ttntacttlatuft. 
