porphyritic 
Containing or resembling porphyry; 
composed 1. 1 :i compact homogeneous rock ill 
which distinct crys- 
tals or grains of feld- 
spar or some oilier 
minerals are embed- 
ded : as. porpliyritie 
granite. Also por- 
pHi/rnreoux.ni\t\ some- 
times, incorrectly. 
porphyritical (por-fl- 
rit'i-kal), a. [< por- 
iilnin 'lie + -ill. 1 Same 
, ... porMiynnc Structure. 
as porphyrinc. 
porphyritically ipor-li-rit'i-kal-i), ailr. In a 
porphyritic manner; as in porphyry. 
They [crystals of black hornblende) are porphifritically 
scattered through the gray ground-mass. 
Amer. Jour. Sri., 3d ser., XXXI. 40. 
porphyrization (por'n-ri-za'shgu), . [= F. 
porpnyrixation = Pg. porphyrixa^So ; as por- 
phyrize + -atioii.] 1. Theactof porphyrizing, 
or the state of being porphyri/.ed. 2. The 
process of grinding a substance with a nmller 
on a slab of porphyry or other hard stone. 
It is much used In the preparation of colors, and takes 
its name from the especial suitability of porphyry, from 
its hardness, as a bed for grinding upon. 
Also spelled porphyrixalioit. 
porphyrize (por'fi-riz), v. t.; pret. and pp. por- 
pkyriscd, ppr. porpkyrifing. [= F. porpliyri- 
ner = Pg. porphyrisar ; < porphyr-y + -ize. Cf. 
Gr. iropfvpifnv, be purplish.] 1. To cause to 
resemble porphyry. 2. To grind with a inuller 
upon a slab of porphyry, as painters' colors. 
Also spelled porpliyrixe. 
porphyrogeniti, . Plural of porpltyrogenitas, 
porphyrogenetlC (por ti-ro-je-net 'ik ), n. [< por- 
filiyi'-i/ + Gr. yevvyrutif, productive: see genet- 
ic.} Producing or generating porphyry. 
porphyrogenitism(p6r*n-ro-jen'i-tizm), n. [< 
/Mirpliyroyeiiitux + -I.V/H.] That principle of 
succession in roval families, especially in the 
families of the Byzantine emperors, in accor- 
dance with which a younger son. if born in the 
purple that is, after the succession of his pa- 
rents to the throne was preferred to an older 
son who was not. 
Henry the porphyrogenitus, though a younger son rela- 
tively to Otho, who was the eldest son of royal blood, tlri*t- 
Ixmi after the accession of Duke Henry to" the throne of 
Charlemagne, the flrst-l>orn of Henry, King of <*ermanv. 
. . . The doctrine of porphyroyciutiinn, congenial to pop- 
ular sentiment, and not without some foundation in prin- 
ciple, prevailed infltientially and widely in many countries 
and through many ages. 
fiirt'. Palffrarr.HM. Eng. and Normandy, II. 210. 
pOrphyrogenitUS (p6r'fi-ro-jen'i-tun), .; pi. 
l>orjiliyroi/eniti (-ti). [ML. (> It. porfiroijeiiilo 
Pg. jMirphyroijenito = F. porpliyrogenete, a.); 
adapted (with L. geiiititx) < LGr. vop^npa-j in'r/rof, 
born in the purple, < Gr. -npjirpa, purple (see 
purple). + /fw^rrif. begotten, < jrwi/r, beget: 
see genetic.] A title given, especially in the 
Byzantine empire, to those sons of a sovereign 
wno are bom after his accession to the throne. 
!See norphyrmjenitimH, 
porphyroid (p6r'fl-roid), . (< Gr. m/jpr/N/, 
purple, -t- fiAnf, form.] A sedimentary rock, 
originally (in some cases at least) a clay slate, 
or quart zite, which has been altered by dynamic 
metamorphism or by some other metamorphic 
agency so as to take on a slaty and more or less 
perfectly developed porphyritic structure. The 
occurrence of this slaty structure Is accompanied by the 
development of some micaceous mineral, usually sericlte 
or paragonlte. Rocks to which the name porjihyroiit has 
been applied, nnd in regard to the exact nature and origin 
of which lithologists arc not entirely In agreement, have 
been described from Saxony, the Ardennes. Westphalia, 
Nevada, etc. 
Porphyrophora (pAr-fl-rofo-rft), . f NL., < Gr. 
Top^iyxi, purple, 4- tyipetv = E. bcfir* .] A genus 
of COCCiaX or BCale-insects. p. polmtiea, formerly 
Cocftu pnloniewi, the Polish berry, Is a scale long known 
as yielding a kind of red dye. Compare Marr/aroda. 
porphyry (por'fl-ri), ii. [Formerly also porphi- 
rie (and porphirr, porphyre); < ME. ptirplnirii , 
)Hn-fiirie= u. porfier, porphier = G. porphyr = 
8w. Dan. porfyr.< OF. porphyre. V. porphi/i-i 
= Pr. jmrtire = Hp. porfiro, porjifto = Pg. por- 
/ilii/ro, iinrfiiio = It. por tin i, pm-fulo. porphy- 
ry; in fonn as if < Gr. ir&wpor. purple, but in 
~ense depending on L. porphiiriti:*, < Gr. mptv- 
T>W(SC. Mlnr), por[)hyry, prop. adj.. like purple. 
462R 
this rock, which was quarried in Egypt, was used cxtcn- 
SIM-I.V for architectural and ornamental |>ni-jiosets and es- 
pecially for the base or lower part of busts of which the 
upper part was made of bronze or marble. Later on, a 
similar stone appears to have been procured from nearer 
localities, as from the Island of Sardinia. To the Italians 
it became known aa porjido roeso antico. Other rocks hav- 
ing a similar structure, commonly called porphyriHe, were 
used In Italy, and designated, in accordance with the pre- 
dominating color, as porfldo nero, por/ido verde, etc. In 
modern times the term porphyry has come to be used as 
the name of any rock consisting of a very flue-grained or 
inicrocrystaHine ground-mass through which are dissemi- 
nated distinctly recognizable crystals of some mineral : 
hut the popular use of the word is frequently extended so 
as to include rocks which are dark-colored, nue-graineil, 
and very hard, and which do not appear to belong either 
to the marbles or granites, and this Is done even when the 
porphyritic structure is not at all or only very indistinct 
ly marked. The varieties of porphyry are numerous, and 
their nomenclature by no means definitely established. 
The most generally accepted are the following : quartz- 
porphjfry, of which the ground-mass consists of an Inti- 
mate or cryptocrystalline admixture of orthoclase and 
quartz, in which distinct crystals or large grains of quartz 
are developed ; feldspar, Jtlstiic orfebttonepirrphyry, hav- 
ing a similar base with porphyritically inclosed crystals of 
feldspar, which is commonly orthoclase : hut similar crys- 
tals of this mineral are not infrequently found occurring 
with the quartz in quartz porphyry, so that no very dis- 
tinct line can be drawn separating the two varieties men- 
tioned. These porphyries are of most frequent occurrence 
in the Paleozoic rocks, but they are also found in abun- 
dance in other Pre-tertiary formations, presenting the 
characters of a truly eruptive material. See porphyrite, 
and cut under porphyritic. 
Now, far from noise, he creepeth covertly 
Into a Cane of kindly Porphyry. 
Sylrexter, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., Eden. 
Within the which |labyrinth| a number of columns and 
statues there be, all of porphyrit or red marble. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, xvi. IX 
And pedestals with antique imagery 
Kmboss'd, and pillars huge of porphyry. 
Wtut, Abuse of Travelling. 
2f. A slab of porphyry, used in alchemy. 
Ourgrounden lltarge eek on the porphurie. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 'J-.'-.'. 
3. Iii -O7.. a porphyry-moth. Augitlc porphy- 
ry. See auijitic. Bed porphyry. See peblAeimre. 
porphyry-moth (por'fi-ri-moth). . A pyralid 
moth, Botyg'porphyralis, found throughout Eu- 
rope: an English collectors' name. 
porphyry-shell (por'fi-ri-shel), . A shell of 
the genus \lnrei. From members of this genus 
was fonnerly obtained a liquor that produced 
the Tynan purple. 
porpicet, An obsolete fonn of porpoixi . 
porpin (por'pin), a. [See porcupine.] It. An 
obsolete form of porcupine. 2. A hedgehog. 
Hatliiretl. [Prov. Eng.] 
porpintt, porpointt, . < )bsolete forms of por- 
1'iiphie. 
porpoise (por'pus), ;/. [Formerly also porpexs, 
piirpux, poi'poxx, pftrpnxx, IHH'PIIK, porfiexxe, por- 
/>i'ne, porjutisn, porpice, purpose, piirpcxxe. pore- 
pixec ; < ME. porpeyx, purpeyx, < AF. por/ieix, jiur- 
l>ein, OF. porpcix, por/>eys. pi>rpiiix,pormii:, por- 
ptiijc. porpoin, ponrpaix, pourpoia, F. dial, poiir- 
]>eix (ML. porperio) (= Pg. peijce norm = Olt. 
pence porm, in transposed order), lit. 'hog-fish,' 
< Ij. pnrcMX. a hog, T pinrix = E. fixli : see pork 
and.rf.v/1 1 . Cf. It. ISp. piierco lunrinos: It. poren 
mnriiio. porjioise, lit. 'sea-hog': see pork and 
marine.] A small toothed cetacean of tne family 
Itelphiniilif and subfamily /telpkiniiue, and espe- 
cially of the genus I'hoeteiui , of which there are 
several species, the best-known being P. com- 
porridge 
mined, occurs on the New England coast. Skunk-por- 
poise, a porpoUe streaked with white, as Ijiytnrrrhynchti* 
iMiguident of the Pacific coast of North America, //. leu. 
coplfunu (or acutu*), or L. penpidttatux of the eastern 
coast. .See cut under Ijagenarhynctnu. Sperm-whale 
porpoise, a species of Uitpcroodon. |CapeCod-] 
porpoise-oil (p&r'pus-oil), . A tine oil ob- 
tained from the porpoise and other small ce- 
taceans, especially from the head, used as a 
lubricant for watches, sewing-machines, etc. 
Also called <-ln<-l;-<nl. 
porporino (p6r-p6-re'uo), n. fit., purple color, 
< pttrpora, purple: see purple.] An alloy of 
quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, constituting a 
yellow powder, used by artists in the middle 
ages in place of gold. 
porpus (por'pus), n. Ait obsolete or dialectal 
spelling of porpoise. 
porraceous (po-ra'shius), a. [= F. pormer. //- 
rar,4= Sp. Pg. poraeeo = It. porraeceo, < L.por- 
rareus, like leeks, leek-green, < porrttm, a leek : 
see porrt't.] Resembling the leek in color; 
greenish. 
If the lesser intestines be woundeil, he will be troubled 
with purtti-iimx vomitings. Wiseman, Surgery, vi. 7. 
porraget, >i. An obsolete form of porridge. 
porrayt, . See norrey. 
porrect (po-rekt 7 ), r. /. [< L. porrectu*, pp. 
of porrit/ere, stretch out before oneself, reach 
out, extend, < pnr-, forth, + regere, stretch, di- 
rect: see regent, rector.] To thrust out horizon- 
tally. 
An elongated prolxjscis capable of being porrected in 
front of the head. H'oCtrood. 
porrect (po-rekt').- [< ! porrectHS, pp.: see 
the verb.] Extended forward ; stretched forth 
horizontally ; aiitrorse ; prorsal. 
porrectate (po-rek'tat), <i. Same as porrect. 
porrection (po-rek'shon), . [= F. porrectiou ; 
< L. porrectio(n-), a stretching, < porriqere, pp. 
jMirrectng, stretch out : see porrect. ] The act of 
holding in outstretched hands to deliver; de- 
livery. 
Varied groups of bowing and saluting figures, appearing 
and retiring, falling and rising, before the altars, . . . car- 
ried gradually forward the expression of forms and the jr- 
rfction of symttols, in devices so intricate aa to require the 
frequent consultation of the directing volumes of the Pon* 
titlcals, lest anything should be omitted or performed 
amiss. It. W. IHxon, Hist. Church of Eng., xrii. 
porrett (por'et). . [(. ME. iMiret, iiorette, < 
Common Hurpofoe {PHocmma fomm 
< ropoi'po, purple: tu>v purple.] 1. The Knglish 
form of the i.nlin woril jnn-pliiirili.1. used liy 
the K'oMKin- tn designate a certain rock having 
a dark-crimson ground through which are >cat- 
tere.l small crystals of feldspar, in Pliny's time 
unmix, which attains u length of about 5 feet and 
has a blunt head not produced into a long beak, 
ami a thick body tapering toward the tail. It Is 
common in the North Atlantic, and usually goes In herds 
or shoals. It feeds almost entirely on tli.fi. A Hue oil Is 
prepared from Its blubber, and the skin Is made Into leather ; 
the Mesh is eatable. Several genera nnd numerous species 
of small cetaceans share the name pnrpnine, among them the 
dolphin. See DrlpHniu, Laymorhynelna, and Tvrnopt. 
Wallowing porpier sport and lord It In the flood. 
l>rayl<in. 
Then I drag a blixatrd corpus, 
swell'd with a dropsy like a porpux. 
StrVt, From a Physician to his Mlstres*. 
With sileli ;iei-initrements. with such a fonn, 
\lin h like a porptruf just before a storm. 
Chvrrtntt, Indepenilenee. 
Porpoise sperm-whale. See upmnirhals. Right- 
whale porpoise, Isntriirhamphnt MTMKl of the Pacific 
coast of North America. A similar specie*, not deter- 
, . >or ,. tff , pm - e , e , y. p,, r - 
.^ { (= ^ 1>orr ' et(l J u 
fiorretta), a leek; cf. OF.porreaii, F. porrewi, 
l>oire<ru, a leek ; dim. of OF. "porre (f) = Sp. 
/inerro = Pg. It. pnrro, a leek. < L.pOITWM, also 
imrriix, a leek, orig. ^porxuni = Gr. irpamv, a 
leek. From the same source are porridge, por- 
ringer, purer, etc.] A leek or small onion; a 
scallion. 
Ac I haue |K 1 1 ii in. I j, ,,.n,. and many koleplant, 
And eke a cow and a kalf. 1'irrn Plrwman (B), vt. as. 
porreyt, [MK., also porray, porree, porrr, 
lntrre, porer, also perrey, perrnye, < OF. pore, 
porra//, jiorrey, in., leek, a pottage of leeks, also 
OF. poree, porree, puree, leek, also pot-herbs, 
pulse, etc.. pottage, pottage made of beets or of 
other herbs. F. puree, soup of peas, beans, etc., 
= It. iiori'iito, leek-pottage (Florio), < ML. poi~- 
rutti, also corruptly porreta, porrecta, broth 
made with leeks, < L. porrum, jmrrux, a leak: 
see parrel. Hence porridge, porringer.] Por- 
ridge: pottage. 
porridge (por'ij), . [Formerly also porriilijr. 
porrage; 8c. pnrritch, etc. ; with accora. suffix 
-iilije, -aye (due to confusion with pottngi), < 
ME. porrey, porrtiy. etc., porridge, pottage: see 
imrrey.] 1. A food made by boiling vegeta- 
bles in water, with or without meat; broth: 
soup; pottage. 
King. You shall fast a week with bran and water. 
Coat. I had rather pray a month with mutton und jior- 
ridyr. Shall., L. U I-, I. 1. :>:>. 
A very extraordinary miscellaneous sermon, in which 
there are some good moral and religion* sentiments, mid 
not ill mixed up with a sort of pttrridrtr of various |Mi)itical 
opinions and reflections. /;/,(.. liev. in France. 
2. A food made bv slowly stirring a meal or 
flour of oats, dried pease, or wheat-flour, or 
ntlier grain, into water or milk while boiling 
till a thickened mass is formed. The singular 
form porridge (like frrnfA, Mr, map, etc.) is often used 
especially In Scotland, as a plural. 
The halesome imrrilrh, chief o Sitla' food. 
Kuril*, CotUr's Saturday Mglit. 
"They're glide parrilch enough, " said Mrs. Wilson, " If 
ye wad but lak time to sup them. I made them mysi-ll." 
Seott, Old Mortality, vi. 
Nettle porridge, s 
