Pythagorlc 
Pythagoric (pith-a-gor'ik), a. [< L. Pythago- 
riciix, < Gr. LuOajopuctf, pertaining to Pythago- 
ras, < llvOayopas, Pythagoras: xw 1'ythiit/orean.] 
Pythagorean. Imp. IHct. 
Pythagorical (i>ith-a-gor'i-kal), a. [< Pythn- 
i/iii-ii- + -al.] Same as Pythdgoric. 
That Pythayorical rascal ! in a gentleman's suit to-day, 
in a knight's to-murru\v. 
Middleton, Your Five Gallants, v. 1. 
Breeches Pythtigorical, by reason of their transmigration 
into several shapes. B. Jmuon, Cynthia's Bevels, iv. 1. 
Pythagorism (pi-thag'o-rizm), n. [< Gr. Hv6a- 
yopio/ii'if, adherence to the principles laid down 
by Pythagoras, < \lv6ay6pac,, Pythagoras: see 
Pythagorean.] The doctrines or philosophy of 
Pythagoras or of the Pythagoreans. Also Py- 
thai/oreaitism. 
Pytnagorize (pi-thag'6-riz), v. i. ; pret. and pp. 
Pythagorizcd, ppr. Pythagorizing. [< Gr. UvOa- 
yop/ffic, be a disciple of Pythagoras, < IluSajo- 
paf, Pythagoras : see Pythagorean.'] To specu- 
late after the manner of Pythagoras or his fol- 
lowers; tend toward or become imbued with 
Pythagorism. 
Pythia (pith'i-a), . [< Gr. IlMa (sc. icpeia, a 
priestess), the"Pythia, priestess of Apollo at 
Delphi: see Pythian.'] 
1. In Gr. antiq., the 
priestess who held 
communion with 
Apollo and received 
his oracles in the in- 
ner sanctuary of the 
great temple at Del- 
phi, throughout his- 
toric antiquity. 8ee 
oracle. 2. [NL.] In 
conch. : (a) A genus 
of gastropods of the 
family Auriculidx, 
generally called Scar- 
abus. Bolton, 1798. 
( 6) A genus of bulimi- 
form shells, compris- 
ing species of Aehn- 
1 1 n n, i in i n n us, a in ii- 
dina. etc. Olcen. 1815. 
pythiad (pith'i-ad), 
n. [< Gr. 7Tt$if (-<') 
a period of four years 
between two con- 
secutive celebrations 
of the Pythian games, < IlMa (sc. lepd), the 
Pythian games: see Pythian.'] The period of 
four years intervening between one celebration 
of the Pythian games and the succeeding. 
Pythiambic (pith-I-am'bik), a. [As Pythian + 
iambic.] In anc.pros., constituting an episyn- 
thetic meter consisting of a dactylic hexameter 
(Pythian rerse) followed by an iambic colon. 
Thejirgf Pythiambic system (stanza or strophe) subjoins an 
iambic dimeter and tbe second Pythiammc system (stanza 
or strophe) an iambic trimeter to the hexameter. 
Pythian (pith'i-an), . [< L. Pythius, < Gr. 
ftititof, pertaining to Delphi, or to the Delphic 
Apollo, < TlvBu, also TUvduv, the older name of 
Delphi and the surrounding region.] Pertain- 
ing to Delphi, or to the priestess of Apollo at 
Delphi, who there delivered oracles Pythian 
Apollo. See Apollo. Pythian games, one of the four 
great national festivals of Greece, celebrated once in four 
years in honor of Apollo at Delphi. Pythian meter, 
Pythian verse, the dactylic hexameter : probably so 
called from its use in the oracles delivered by the Pythin, 
or, according to ancient writers, from the first song of tri- 
umph to Apollo for his victory over the Python, a triple i>j 
,,;, (__|__|__|__|__|__x 
Pythidae (pith'i-dS). n. pi [NL., < Pytho + 
-idee.] A small family of neteromerous coleop- 
terous insects, typified bv the genus Pt/tho. 
They have the anterior coxa! cavities open behind, the an- 
tennffi free, the thorax not margined at the sides, and its 
disk not impressed at the base. Ten genera are known, 
distributed in Europe and North America, a single species 
only occurring elsewhere. They are found under bark and 
stones. 
Pytho (pi'tho), . [NL. (Latreille, 1796): see 
Pythian.'] A genus of coleopterous insects, typ- 
ical of the family Pythidx, comprising forms 
with very depressed body, striate elytra, aud 
one-toothed mandibles. A half-dozen species are 
known, 3 from North America, and the others from Eu- 
rope. They live under the bark of trees. 
pythogenesis (pi-tho-jen'e-sis), n. [ < Gr. mfcn; 
rot, become putrid, + yeveaif, origin: see gen- 
esis.] Production by means of filth. Seepy- 
tlioijenic. 
pythogenic (pl-tho-jen'ik), a. [< Gr. jrWfew. rot, 
+ -fev>K, producing: see -genous.~\ Produced 
by filth : specifically applied to a class of dis- 
eases, as typhoid, the occurrence of which is 
4879 
favored by filth, especially by a vitiated atmo- 
sphere. 
Cause and effect were for the first time connected in the 
public mind, which was thus enlightened for the first time 
as to the nature of what wo now call puUuigenie or tilth- 
born maladies. fait Malt Gazette. 
Pythogenic fever. See/ewri. 
. . 
pythometric (pi-tho-met'rik), a. [Improp. for 
*pithometric, < Gr. wiflof, a wine-jar, + (urpov, 
measure : see metric.] Pertaining to the gaging 
of casks. 
Python (pi'thon), M. [< L. Python, < Gr. Tivduv, 
Python (see def. 1). Cf. Ilufti, HtAuv, the earlier 
name of Delphi, and see Pythian.] 1. In clas- 
sical antiquities and in the New Testament, a 
soothsaying spirit or demon ; hence, also, a per- 
son possessed by such a spirit; especially, a 
ventriloquist. Some ancient writers speak of the ser- 
pent Python as having delivered oracles at Delphi before 
the coming of Apollo, and during the Roman imperial 
period we nnd the name often given to soothsayers. The 
spirit was supposed to speak from the belly of the sooth- 
sayer, who was accordingly called <yya<rrpt>v0o{, a veii- 
triloquist, a word nsed in the Septnaglnt to represent the 
Hebrew 'obh (see 06' X often rendered python In the Vul- 
gate. In Acts xvl. 18 the usual reading Is 'a spirit of Py- 
thon,' while some manuscripts read 'a spirit, a Python. 
A certain maid having a spirit of divination (margin : 
Or. a spirit, a Pythim) met us. 
Acts xvi. 16 (revised version). 
Like thee (the Sun], the Hero does his Arms employ 
The raging Python to destroy. 
Prior, Hymn to the Sun, st 3. 
2. [/. <-.] Any very large serpent, as a rock- 
snake : loosely used, like boa and anaconda, but 
properly applicable only to the large Old World 
noil-venomous serpents of the family Python- 
idx.3. [NL.] The typical genus of Pythoit- 
itlse: formerly conterminous with the family, 
now restricted to species having premaxillary 
pyx 
I got from the cretaceous deposit of my neighborhood 
enough fossil material to diagnose a new species of rr|>til< . 
which, although with powerful paddles, was almost /"/ 
thonie In structure. Science, VII. i4i 
Pythonidse (pi-thon'i-de), . pi. [XL.. < /'//- 
than (see Python. 3) + -lit*.] An Old World 
family of peropodous colubriforui Ophidia, hav- 
Put* 
PnacVo 
PI 
Skull of a Python, left side and in longitudinal section. 
The Pythia Seated on the Oracu- 
lar Tripod. ( From a Ureek red* 
figured vase.) 
Python (Pythim motMr*s\ 
teeth, labial plates of both jaws fossate, and 
scuta extending to between the orbits. These 
are the rock-snakes proper, as P. molurut and P. reticu- 
latus. See cut under Pythonida, also cuts under Ophidia. 
zyyantrum, and zygosphene. 
pythoness (pith'o-nes), n. [Also, as ML., Py- 
thonisxa ; < ME. Phitonesse, Phitonisse, etc., < 
OF. Pythonesse, etc., < ML. Pythmissa, < MGr. 
mtiwvtaaa, fern, of Gr. iriOuv, a ventriloquist, 
also prob. a diviner (cf. Trvtiym m'tiuvof, a spirit 
of divination), < Tlv66, ttifluv, the older name 
of Delphi: see Pythian.] The Pythia or es- 
pecial priestess of Apollo at his temple at 
Delphi, who was supposed to be inspired to 
give his oracular answers; hence, any woman 
supposed to have a spirit of divination; a 
witch. 
Magiciens and tregetours, 
Ana phitonuia, charm cresses, 
Olde wyches. sorceresses. 
Chmucr, House of Fame, 1. 1261. 
Saith the PyUumuaa to Saul, " To-morrow them and thy 
sons shall be with me." Bacon, Prophecies <1. 1887). 
She stood a moment as a Pythoness 
Stands on her tripod. 
Byron, Don Juan, vi 107. 
pythonic 1 (pi- then 'ik), a. [< Gr. Tli#uviKo$, 
pertaining to Pytho, < Tlv6u, TlvQav, the older 
name of Delphi : see Pythian.] Oracular; per- 
taining to the prediction of future events ; pro- 
phetic. 
pythonic 2 (pi-thon'ik), a. [< python + -ir.] 
Of or pertaining to a python or the pythons; 
resembling a python. 
SO. ba&ioccipital; SS, ba&isphenoid ; Cm, columella of ear.or stance 
tnot the columella of the --kull ; / ( ', exoccipital : / /< '. epiotic ; fr, 
frontal ; f-'O. fenestra ovalis : I., lacrymal ; .V.i. nasal : OfO, opis- 
thotic ; Pa. parietal : PI, palatine ; PIHX, premaxilla : fro, proolic : 
PS, presphenoid -, Pt, pterygoid ; Plf, postfruntal; Qu, quadrate ; A*'. 
supraoccipital : SOr, supraorbital ; .s</. &quamosal ; / /. turbinal ; / ' 
transverse hone ; V, rtf. VIII. exits of fifth, seventh, and eighth 
nerves; / V. vutner. The teeth show the aglyphodont dentition. 
ing nidiments of posterior extremities, a coro- 
noid bone, supraorbital and postorbital bones, 
and premaxillary teeth, with or without maxil- 
lary teeth ; the rock-snakes. There are several 
genera, as Python, Mnrelia, l.ian*. Xardoa, Aspidiote*, 
Loxaeemus, Chondropython, and Atpidopython. 
pythoniform (pi'thon-i-f6rm), n. [< XL. Py- 
thon, q.v., -I- L. forma, form.] Resembling or 
related to a python, boa, or rock-snake ; pytho- 
noid; peropodous, as a serpent. 
Pythoninse (pi-tho-ni'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Py- 
thon + -inx.] A subfamily of pytlionoid ser- 
pents, typified by the genus Python, having pre- 
maxillury teeth. They chiefly Inhabit the tropics of 
Africa and Asia, and some of them are among the largest 
of snakes. 
pythonine (pi'tho-nin), . and n. I. a. Of or 
pertaining to the Pythoninir or Pythonidte ; py- 
thoniform. 
II. . A python or member of the Pi/thoiiida>. 
pythonism (liith'o-nizm), n. [< Gr. Ili'Wu, 
Pytho, the older name of Delphi (see Pythian. 
Python), + -ixm.] The art of foretelling future 
events after the manner of the Delphic oracle. 
pythonistt (pith'o-nist), . [Also pithonint ; < 
Gr. Ili'ttj, ilitiuv, Pytho, the older name of Delphi 
(see Pythian, Python), + -int. Cf. pythoness.] 
A conjurer. 
See the conjuring, proud, remorceless West 
Rend in full rage (too like a furious ttend) 
The pompons vestures of this Pithonist, 
When Christ doth (vrg'd) aright His cause defend. 
Danes, lloly Koode, p. 7. (Danes.) 
pythonoid (pi'tho-noid), a. and u. [< L. Py- 
thon, q. v., + Gr. fidof, form.] I. a. Kcsembling 
or related to a python ; belonging to the Pytho- 
noidca; pythoniform. 
II. n. A member of the Pythonoidea. 
Pythonoidea (pi-tho-noi'de-'a), n.pl. fXL.: see 
pythonoid.] A suborder of (ipliidia; the perop- 
odous ophidians, having no trace of a pelvis, 
but almost invariably rudiments of hind limbs 
in the form of anal spurs. They are not poisonous, 
but are for the most part of great size, and often have 
great powers of constriction. They are the rock-snakes, 
pythons, boas, and anacondas, of the families Pythonida, 
Boidx, and Charinidx. 
pythonomorph (pl'tho-no-m6rf ), n. Any mem- 
ber of the Pythonomorpha. 
Pythonomorpha (pi'tho-no-mdr'fa), w. pi. 
[NL., < Python, <j. v., + Gr. <"</*.:'/. form.] In 
Cope's classification (1871), an order of fossil 
streptostylic reptiles: same as Mostixmtria. 
i'tho-no-mor'fik), a. t . 
. ] Same as pythonomor- 
pythonomorphlC (pi*tho-no-m6r'fik), a. [< 
jiythonomorph + -ic.] 
phoiig. 
pythonomorphons (pi'tho-no-mdr'fus), a. [< 
Python + Gr. fop^i/, form.] Pertaining to the 
Pythonomorpha, or having their characters; 
mosa saurian. 
The two orders of Ophidians and Lacertilians are nearly 
allied ; the former is probably merely a specialized de- 
scendant i >f the latter or of the pythowmorphov* reptiles, 
or perhaps of both. Giinther, Encyc. Brit., XXII. 189. 
pyuria (pi-u'ri-a), . [NL., < Gr. ffi'v, pus, 
f oipov, urine.] The presence of pus in th<> 
urine. 
pyx (piks), H. [Formerly also;u>; < L. ]>yxi#, 
/nij-i.-i. < (Jr. -ifi'f (-/<!-), a box, orig. one of 
boxwood, < m'^oc, the box-tree, boxwood: see 
