pliant 
Whatsoever creates fear ... Is apt to entender the 
spirit, and make it devout and plitiiit to any part of duty. 
Jer. Taylor, Holy Living iv. 7. 
His pliant soul gave way to all things base, 
He knew no shame, he dreaded no disgrace. 
Cratbe, Works, I. 63. 
In a pliant manner; 
The quality of be- 
pliantly (pli'ant-li), 
flexibly; yieldingly, 
pliantness (pli'ant-nes), . 
iiitf pliant; flexibility. 
plica (pH'kft), . ; pi. plica (-se). [NL., < L. pli- 
care, fold: see ply.] 1. In pathol., a matted, 
filthy condition of the hair, from disease. Also 
called plica potonica, helosis, and trichogin. 2. 
In bot., a diseased state in plants in which the 
buds, instead of developing true branches, be- 
come short twigs, and these in their turn pro- 
duce others of the same sort, the whole form- 
ing an entangled mass. 3. Inzool. and anat., 
a fold or folding of a part. 4. In entom., a 
prominent ridge or carina, often turned over 
or inclined to one side, so that it appears like 
a fold ; specifically, a longitudinal ridge on the 
internal surface of each elytron, near the outer 
edge ; an elytral ridge, found in certain Cole- 
optera. 5. In herjiet.: (a) [cop.] A genus of 
American iguanoid lizards: named from the 
folds of skin on the sides. J. E. Gray. (6) A 
lizard of this genus: as, the dotted plica, P. 
punctata. 6. In mensural music: (a) A kind 
of grace-note. (6) A kind of ligature, (c) The 
stem or tail of a note Elytral plica. See def. 4, 
and elytral. flics, alaris, in orntih.: (a) The feathered 
fold of skin on the fore bonier of the wing which occupies 
the reentrant angle made by the bones of the upper arm 
and forearm, stretching from the shoulder to the wrist, 
(6) The bend or flexure of the wing at the carpal joint. 
|K:nv. | piicse adiposse. Same as alar ligaments (which 
see, under alar). Plica rectoveslcales. Same utvlicx 
semilunarex Douglasii. Plicae semilunares Douglasii, 
two folds of the peritoneum between the rectum and the 
bladder. See cut under peritoneum. Plica guberna- 
trix, that peritoneal fold which is in relation with the 
gubernaculum testis. Plica interdigitalia, in arnith., 
the webbing or palmntlon of the toes; the palama. 
Plica primitiya, in emliryol., the primitive fold ; either 
lip of the primitive furrow of the early embryo of a ver- 
tebrate. Plica semilunaris, in human anat , a fold of 
conjunctival mucous membrane at the inner corner of 
the eye : the rudiment of a nictitating membrane or third 
eyelid. See cut under eye 1 - 
Plicacea (pli-ka'se-a), n.pl, [Nlu.,<j)licn, a fold, 
+ -acea,] In conch., a family of trachelipod 
gastropods, having the columella plaited, and 
containing the genera Tornatella and 1'yrami- 
de/la. Latreillc, 1825. 
plical (pli'kal), a. [(plica, + -al.~] In hot., of 
or pertaining to plica. 
Plicaria (pli-ka'ri-ii), . [NL., < plica, ,a fold, 
+ -aria.'] In conch'., same as Cancellaria. Fa- 
bricius, 1823. 
plicata (pli-ka'ta),)).; pi. plicatx (-te). [ML., 
fern, of L. plicatus, pp. ot plicare, fold: see pli- 
cate.] In the Rom. Cath. Cli., the folded chasu- 
ble worn at certain penitential seasons by the 
deacon and subdeacon, or by a priest when 
officiating as deacon. McClintorlc and Strong. 
plicate (pli'kat), a. [< L. plicatus, pp. of pli- 
care, fold, bend, lay or wind together, double 
up: see ply."] 1. In bo t., folded like a fan; 
plaited: as, a plicate leaf. 
2. In zool. and atiat., plaited, 
plexed, or folded ; formed into 
a plication. 3. In entom., 
having parallel raised lines 
which are sharply cut on one 
side, but on the other descend 
gradually to the next line, as 
a surface; plaited or folded. 
Also punitive, plicated. 
Plicate elytra, elytra having two or 
three conspicuous longitudinal folds or furrows, as in the 
coleopterous family Pselaphidse. Plicate wings, in en- 
torn., same s& folded wings (which see, under folalf. 
plicated (pli'ka-ted), a. [< plicate + -erf 2 .] 
Same as plicate. 
plicately (pH'kat-li), adr. In a plicate or folded 
manner; so as to be or make a plication, 
plicatile (plik'a-til), a. [< i,. plicatilis, that may 
be folded together, < plicare, fold: see plicate.] 
If. Capable of being folded or interwoven; 
pliable. 
Motion of the plieatile fibers or subtil threds of which 
the brain consists. 
Dr. H. More, Antidote against Atheism, App., X. 
2. In entom., folding lengthwise in repose, as 
the wings of a wasp. 
plication (pli-ka'shon), . [< ML. *plicatio(n-), 
a folding, < Jj. plicare, fold: see ply.] 1. The 
act or process of folding, or the state of being 
put in folds; a folding or putting in folds, as 
duplication or triplication. Also plicature. 
4559 
The peculiar surface-marking . . . consists In a strongly 
marked rldge-and-furrow plieation of the shelly wall. 
W. U. Carpenter, Micros., | 487. 
2. That which is plicated; a plica or fold. 
Also plicature. 
Why the deuce should you not be sitting precisely oppo- 
site to me at this moment, . . . thy juridical brow expand- 
ing its plicatiojw, aa a pun row in your fancy? 
SaM, Kedgauntlet, letter I. 
3. In geol., a bending of the strata; a fold or 
folding. 
In Western Europe the prevalent llne along which ter- 
restrial plications took place during Paltvozoic time were 
certainly from 8. W. or S.S.W. to Jf.E. or N.N.E. 
tiriMr, Text-Book of GeoL (2d ed.), p. 270. 
plicative (plik'a-tiv), a. [< plicate + -ire.] 
Same as plicate" 
plicatopapillose (pli-ka-to-pap'i-los), a. [< L. 
plicatitu, plicate, 4- NL. papillosus, papillose.] 
In entom., plicate and papillose; forming a 
series of elevations and depressions resembling 
folds, as the papillose surfaces of certain larva?. 
plicator (pli-ka'tor), . [< L. as if 'plicator 
(of. L. fern, plicairix), a folder (ML. plicator, a 
collector of taxes), < L. plicare, fold: see ply. ~\ 
A device for forming a fold or plait : an attach- 
ment to some forms of sewing-machine, etc. 
Plicatula (pli-kat'u-lii), H. [NL. 
(Lamarck, 1801), <! L. plicatus, 
pp. of plicare, fold: see plicate, i 
"" In conch., a genus of bi- ft 
^ftmilv ^ I 
Plicate Leaf of Alche- 
milla rmlfarii. 
ply.-} 
valve mollusks of the family 
Spondylidif, having the shell ir- 
regular, attached by the umbo 
of the right valve, which is pli- 
cate, the cartilage internal, and 
the hinge-teeth two in each 
valve. 
plicatulate (pll-kat'u-lAt). . [< 
NL. "plifatulun, dim. of L. pli- 
catu.i, folded: see plicate.'] In . 
bot., minutely plicate. 
plicature (plik'a-tur), n. [< L. plicatura, a 
folding, <plicare,''pp.plieatu8, fold: seejilicatc.] 
Same as plication, 1, 2. 
The many plieaturet so closely prat. 
Dr. U. More, Psychozoia, 1. 18. 
plicidentine (plis-i-den'tin), w. [< NL. plica, 
a fold, + E. dentine.'] Plicated or folded den- 
tine ; a kind of dentine which is folded on a se- 
ries of vertical plates, causing the surface of 
the tooth to be fluted. Brande and Cox. 
pliciferous (pli-sif'e-rus), n. [< NL. plica, a 
fold, + L. ferre = "E. iwr'.] Provided with 
folds or plica; : specifically, in entomology, said 
of those elytra which have an internal plica or 
ridge Pliciferous Coleoptera, those CoUoptera which 
have pliciferous elytra. 
pliciform (plis'i-fOrm), a. [< NL. plica, a fold, 
+ L. forma, form.] In bot. and soijl., plait-like ; 
having the form of a plait or fold. 
Plicipennes(plis-i-pen'ez), n.pl. [NL., (plica, 
a fold, -t- L. penna, a feather.] In Latreille's 
classification, the third family of neuropterous 
insects ; the caddis-flies. It corresponds to the 
Phryganeidfe in a broad sense, or the Trichop- 
tera of Leach. Also Plicipennia. 
plicipennine (plis-i-pen'in;, a. Belonging to the 
I'lictpennrs. 
Plictolophinae (plik-tol-o-fi'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
Plictolophus + -i.] Cockatoos as a subfam- 
ily of Psittacidse: same as Cacatuinx. 
Plictolophus (plik-tol'o-fus), w. [NL., orig. 
Plyetolophus (Vieillot, 1816), later 1'lectolophus 
(Bourjot St. Hilaire, 1837-8), Pluctolophus 
(Nitzsch, 1840), Plissolophus (C. W. L. Gloger, 
1842), and Plictolophus (Otto Finsch, 1867), < 
Gr. *r^cT<5f, assumed verbal adj. of irl.iaaeiv, 
cross one's leg in walking, stride, + Ao^of, a 
crest.] A genus of cockatoos: same as Caca- 
ttia. 
pliet, f. An obsolete spelling of jily. 
pli6 (ple-a' ), a. [F.plie, bent, pp. otplier, bend : 
see ply. plicate.'] In her., same as close'': said 
of a bird. 
plier (pli'er), w. [Also, lessprop.,p/yer(cf. crier, 
flier, trier); < ply + -eri.] 1. One who or that 
which plies. 2. pi. Info>-t., a kind of balance 
used in raising and letting down a drawbridge, 
consisting of timbers joined in the form of a St. 
Andrew's cross. 3. pi. Small pincers with long 
jaws, adapted for handling small articles, and 
also for bending and shaping wire. See cut un- 
der H ipj>er. Saw-set pliers, a form of adjustable pliers 
sometimes used in place of the saw-set for bending the 
teeth of saws. 
plif (plif), >' A dialectal form of plotr. Hulli- 
trcll. [Yorkshire, Eng.] 
plight 
pllformt (pll'fdrm), (I. [Prop. 'plyfiirm ; < ply + 
form."] In the form of a fold or doubling. Pen- 
nant. 
plight 1 (plit), n. [< ME. plight, plyght, pli^t, 
pKht, danger, pledge, < AS. pliht, danger, dam- 
age, = OFries.plicnt, danger; cf. OFries. plicht, 
care, concern, = MD. plicht, pltcht, duty, debt, 
V.pligt, duty, =MLG. LQ.plicht = OHQ.phlilit. 
fliht, MHG. pfliht, phliht, friendly care, con- 
cern, service, duty, G. pflicht, duty, = Sw. Dan. 
pligt (< LG. f), duty; with abstract formative 
-t, from the verb found in the rare AS. *plt : on, 
plion (a strong verb, pret.pleah, pleh), expose to 
danger, risk( whence also pleoh, plioh,conir.ple6, 
pli6 = OFries. pie. pit, danger), or in the re- 
lated weak verb, OS. plegan, promise, pledge. 
= OFries. plegia, pligia, be wont, = M D. jileghen, 
be wont, practise.take care ot.D.plegen, pledge, 
be wont, = MLG. plegen =OH<j.pflegan,phlega, 
phlekan, plegan, &l&Q.plilegen,pJlegen, Q.pjte- 
!!' a. promise or engage to do, take care of, keep, 
be accustomed (etc.), = Sv.plaga = D&n.pleje, 
be wont, = AS. plegan, plegian, play, orig. be 
in active motion: see play'. The Of.plerir, 
pledge, cannot be from the Teut. (OS. plegan, 
etc.), but is to be referred, with the OF. pleige, 
ML. plcgium, etc. (whence E. pledge), to the L. 
prxberc, proffer, give : see plecin, pledge. The 
word plight^ has been confused with plight*, 
state, condition : see plight-.] If. Peru; dan- 
ger; harm; damage. 
He lhath] ml lond with mikel onrith, 
With michel wrong, with mlkel /Jit/i, 
For 1 no misdede him nevere nouth, 
And havede me to sorwe brouth. 
Uavtluk (1S70X (IlalliirM.) 
2. A solemn promise orengagement concerning 
a matter of serious personal moment ; solemn 
assurance or pledge. 
That lord whose hand must take my pliyht shall carry 
Half my love with him. Shak., Lear, i. 1. 10.1. 
So these young hearts, not knowing that they loved, 
Not she at least, nor conscious of a bar 
Between them, nor by pliyht or broken ring 
Bound . . . Tennyton, Aylmer's Field. 
In plight* , under promise or pledge. 
Thus they justtyd tylle hyt was nyght, 
Then they departyd in plyght, 
They had nede to reste. 
MS. Cantab. If. 11. 38, f. 76. (HaUiavll.) 
plight 1 (plit), f. /. [< ME. plighteti, plygMen, 
jiugten, plygten, plihten, pledge, < AK.plihtan, 
imperil, bring danger upon ; = D. rer-pligten, 
ver-plichten = MLG. pitch ten = MHG. pflihten. 
phlihten, G. bei-pflichten, rer-pflichten = Sw. bc- 
pligta, fiir-plinta = Dan. for-pliijte, til-pligtt, 
pledge, engage, bind; from the noun.] To 
engage by solemn promise ; pledge ; engage or 
bind one s self by pledging: as, to plight one's 
hand, word, honor, faith, truth, vows, etc. 
Ye wool right wel what ye hlhlghten me, 
And in myn hand your trouthe ply/Men ye 
To love me best. Chaucer, Franklin's Tale, 1. 000. 
Pylgrimi* and palmers ply, T htm hem to-gederes, 
To seche seint lame ana seyntys of rome. 
fien Plowman (C), I. 47. 
And for to put hlr out of fere, 
He swore, and hath his trouth pliyht 
To be for ever his owne knight. 
OOKW, Conl. Aniiint., iv. 
Dearer Is love then life, and fame then gold ; 
But dearer then them both your faith once plighted hold. 
Spenter, f. Q., V. jd. 63. 
By this fair fount hath many a shepherd sworn, 
And given away his freedom, many a troth 
Been pliyht. Fletcher, Faithful shepherdess, i. 2. 
Have we not plighted each our holy oath, 
That one should be the common good of both? 
Dryden, 1'al. and Are., I. 291. 
= Syn. Pledge, Plight. Pledge l> applied to property as 
well as to word, faith, truth, honor, etc. Might Is now 
chiefly poetic or rhetorical ; to plight honor is, as It were, 
to deposit it In pledge for the performance of an act 
not often for the truth of a statement to be forfeited If 
the act U not performed. 
plight 2 (plit), . [An erroneous spelling, due 
to confusion with plight*, of plitel, < ME. plite. 
plyte, plit, state, condition, < OF. plite, pli.-t'. 
condition/ ML. "plicita, prop. fern, of L. ;>7/ri- 
tus, pp. of plicare, fold: see ply. Cf. plight 3 .} 
Condition ; position ; state; situation ; predica- 
ment. 
Certes I not how, 
Ne when, alias, I shal the tyme Be, 
That In thispttC I may ben eft with yow. 
Chaucer, Trollus, ill. 1480. 
When Paris persayult the plit of his brother, 
How he was dolfully ded. and drawen in the ost. 
Dettruction of Troy (E. E. T. a), 1. 1036S. 
Never knight I saw in such mlMeeming plight. 
Spenter, V. Q., I. Ix. 23. 
