Chapter 1166

3. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. "He will do his pleasure on Babylon."

Isa. xlviii. 14.

Use your pleasure ; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter. Shak.

4. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification.

Shak.

Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure Acts xxv. 9.

At pleasure , by arbitrary will or choice. Dryden . -- To take pleasure in , to have enjoyment in. Ps. cxlvii. 11 .

&hand; Pleasure is used adjectively, or in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, pleasure boat, pleasure ground; pleasure house, etc.

Syn. -- Enjoyment; gratification; satisfaction; comfort; solace; joy; gladness; delight; will; choice; preference; purpose; command; favor; kindness.

Pleasure <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ure , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pleasured (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasuring .] To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify.

Shak.

[Rolled] his hoop to pleasure Edith. Tennyson.

Pleasure <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ure , v. i. To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as, to go pleasuring .

Pleasureful <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ure*ful (?) , a. Affording pleasure. [R.]

Pleasureless <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ure*less , a. Devoid of pleasure.

G. Eliot.

Pleasurer <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ur*er (?) , n. A pleasure seeker.

Dickens.

Pleasurist <Xpage=1098>

Pleas"ur*ist , n. A person devoted to worldly pleasure. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Pleat <Xpage=1098>

Pleat (?) , n. & v. t. See Plait .

Plebe <Xpage=1098>

Plebe (?) , n. [F. pl\'8abe , fr. L. plebs .] 1. The common people; the mob. [Obs.]

The plebe with thirst and fury prest. Sylvester.

2. [Cf. Plebeian .] A member of the lowest class in the military academy at West Point. [Cant, U.S.]

Plebeian <Xpage=1098>

Ple*be"ian (?) , a. [L. plebeius , from plebs , plebis , the common people: cf. F. pl\'82b\'82ien .] 1. Of or pertaining to the Roman plebs , or common people.

2. Of or pertaining to the common people; vulgar; common; as, plebeian sports; a plebeian throng.

Plebeian <Xpage=1098>

Ple*be"ian , n. 1. One of the plebs , or common people of ancient Rome, in distinction from patrician .

2. One of the common people, or lower rank of men.

Plebeiance <Xpage=1098>

Ple*be"iance (?) , n. 1. Plebeianism. [Obs.]

2. Plebeians, collectively. [Obs.]

Plebeianism <Xpage=1098>

Ple*be"ian*ism (?) , n. [Cf. F. pl\'82b\'82ianisme .] 1. The quality or state of being plebeian.

2. The conduct or manners of plebeians; vulgarity.

Plebeianize <Xpage=1098>

Ple*be"ian*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plebeianized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Plebeianizing .] To render plebeian, common, or vulgar.

Plebicolist <Xpage=1098>

Ple*bic"o*list (?) , n. [L. plebs the common people + colere to cultivate.] One who flatters, or courts the favor of, the common people; a demagogue. [R.]

Plebification <Xpage=1098>

Pleb`i*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. plebs the common people + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy .] A rendering plebeian; the act of vulgarizing. [R.]

You begin with the attempt to popularize learning . . . but you will end in the plebification of knowledge. Coleridge.

Plebiscitary <Xpage=1098>

Ple*bis"ci*ta*ry (?) , a. Of or pertaining to plebiscite.

The Century.

Plebiscite <Xpage=1098>

Pleb"i*scite (?) , n. [F. pl\'82biscite , fr. L. plebiscitum .] A vote by universal male suffrage; especially, in France, a popular vote, as first sanctioned by the National Constitution of 1791. [Written also plebiscit .]

Plebiscite we have lately taken, in popular use, from the French. Fitzed. Hall.

Plebiscitum <Xpage=1098>

Ple`bis*ci"tum (?) , n. [L., fr. plebs , plebis , common people + scitum decree.] (Rom. Antiq.) A law enacted by the common people, under the superintendence of a tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, without the intervention of the senate.

Plectile <Xpage=1098>

Plec"tile (?) , a. [L. plectilis .] Woven; plaited. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

<page="1099"> Page 1099

Plectognath <Xpage=1099>

Plec"tog*nath (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. -- n. One of the Plectognathi.

Plectognathi <Xpage=1099>

Plec*to"gna*thi (?) , n. pl. [NL., from Gr. <?/ twisted (fr. <?/ to plait, twist) + <?/ jaw.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of fishes generally having the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular united with the dentary.

&hand; The upper jaw is immovably joined to the skull; the ventral fins are rudimentary or wanting; and the body is covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, like shagreen. The order includes the diodons, filefishes, globefishes, and trunkfishes.

Plectognathic, Plec-tognathous <Xpage=1099>

Plec`tog*nath"ic (?) , Plec-tog"na*thous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi.

Plectospondyli <Xpage=1099>

Plec`to*spon"dy*li (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ plaited + <?/, <?/, a vertebra.] (Zo\'94l.) An extensive suborder of fresh-water physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebr\'91 united and much modified; the Eventognathi.

Plectospondylous <Xpage=1099>

Plec`to*spon"dy*lous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Plectospondyli.

Plectrum <Xpage=1099>

Plec"trum (?) , n. ; pl. L. Plectra (#) , E. Plectrums (#) . [L., fr. Gr. <?/ anything to strike with, fr.<?/ to strike.] A small instrument of ivory, wood, metal, or quill, used in playing upon the lyre and other stringed instruments.

Pled <Xpage=1099>

Pled (?) , imp. & p. p. of Plead [Colloq.]

Spenser.

Pledge <Xpage=1099>

Pledge (?) , n. [OF. plege , pleige , pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium , plivium ; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer ( sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play . &root;28. Cf. Prebend , Replevin .] 1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.

&hand; Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see Mortgage ]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See Hypotheca .

Story. Kent.

2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. "I am Grumio's pledge ."

Shak.

3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.

4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties . "That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope."

Milton.

5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge ; the mayor had made no pledges .

<-- esp. in "take the pledge" -->

6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.

Dead pledge . [A translation of LL . mortuum vadium .] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage . -- Living pledge . [A translation of LL. vivum vadium .] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits. -- To hold in pledge , to keep as security. -- To put in pledge , to pawn; to give as security.

Syn. -- See Earnest .

Pledge <Xpage=1099>

Pledge , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pledged (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pledging .] [Cf. OF. pleiger to give security. See Pledge , n. ] 1. To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch .

2. To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage; to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor .

We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. The Declaration of Independence.

3. To secure performance of, as by a pledge. [Obs.]

To pledge my vow, I give my hand. Shak.

4. To bind or engage by promise or declaration; to engage solemnly; as, to pledge one's self .

5. To invite another to drink, by drinking of the cup first, and then handing it to him, as a pledge of good will; hence, to drink the health of; to toast.

Pledge me, my friend, and drink till thou be'st wise. Cowley.

Pledgee <Xpage=1099>

Pledg*ee" (?) , n. The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered.

Pledgeless <Xpage=1099>

Pledge"less (?) , a. Having no pledge.

Pledgeor, Pledgor <Xpage=1099>

Pledge*or" , Pledg*or" (?) , n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; -- opposed to pledgee .

&hand; This word analogically requires the e after g , but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner.

Pledger <Xpage=1099>

Pledg"er (?) , n. One who pledges.

Pledgery <Xpage=1099>

Pledg"er*y (?) , n. [Cf. OF. pleigerie .] A pledging; suretyship. [Obs.]

Pledget <Xpage=1099>

Pledg"et (?) , n. [Prov. E., a small plug.] 1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]

2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.

3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.

Plegepoda <Xpage=1099>

Ple*gep"o*da (?) , n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (<?/) a stroke + -poda . In allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Infusoria .

Plelad <Xpage=1099>

Ple"lad (?) , n. One of the Pleiades.

Pleiades <Xpage=1099>

Ple"ia*des (?; 277) , n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. (<?/)] 1. (Myth.) The seven daughters of Atlas and the nymph Pleione, fabled to have been made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.

2. (Astron.) A group of small stars in the neck of the constellation Taurus.

Job xxxviii. 31.

&hand; Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by M\'84dler the central point around which our universe is revolving, but there is no sufficient evidence of such motion. Only six pleiads are distinctly visible to the naked eye, whence the ancients supposed that a sister had concealed herself out of shame for having loved a mortal, Sisyphus.

Plein <Xpage=1099>

Plein (?) , a. Plan. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Plein <Xpage=1099>

Plein , v. i. & t. To complain. See Plain . [Obs.]

Plein <Xpage=1099>

Plein , a. [OF. & F., fr. L. plenus .] Full; complete. [Obs.] " Plein remission." Chaucer . -- Plein"ly , adv.

Pleiocene <Xpage=1099>

Plei"o*cene (?) , a. (Geol.) See Pliocene .

Pleiophyllous <Xpage=1099>

Plei*oph"yl*lous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ more + <?/ leaf.] (Bot.) Having several leaves; -- used especially when several leaves or leaflets appear where normally there should be only one.

Pleiosaurus <Xpage=1099>

Plei`o*sau"rus (?) , n. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as Pliosaurus .

Pleistocene <Xpage=1099>

Pleis"to*cene (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ most + <?/ new.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the epoch, or the deposits, following the Tertiary, and immediately preceding man. -- n. The Pleistocene epoch, or deposits.

Plenal <Xpage=1099>

Ple"nal (?) , a. [L. plenus full. Cf. Plenary .] Full; complete; as, a plenal view or act . [Obs.]

Plenarily <Xpage=1099>

Ple"na*ri*ly (?) , adv. In a plenary manner.

Plenariness <Xpage=1099>

Ple"na*ri*ness , n. Quality or state of being plenary.

Plenarty <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ar*ty (?) , n. The state of a benefice when occupied.

Blackstone.

Plenary <Xpage=1099>

Ple"na*ry (?) , a. [LL. plenarius , fr. L. plenus full. See Plenty .] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as, a plenary license; plenary authority.

A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full. I. Watts.

Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.) , an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. -- Plenary inspiration . (Theol.) See under Inspiration .

Plenary <Xpage=1099>

Ple"na*ry , n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]

Plene <Xpage=1099>

Plene (?) , \'91. [L. plenus full.] Full; complete; plenary. [Obs.]

Plenicorn <Xpage=1099>

Ple"ni*corn (?) , n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zo\'94l.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer.

Brande & C.

Plenilunary <Xpage=1099>

Plen`i*lu"na*ry (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the full moon. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Plenilune <Xpage=1099>

Plen"i*lune (?) , n. [L. plenilunium ; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Plenipotence, Plenipotency <Xpage=1099>

Ple*nip"o*tence (?) , Ple*nip"o*ten*cy (?) , n. The quality or state of being plenipotent. [R.]

Plenipotent <Xpage=1099>

Ple*nip"o*tent (?) , a. [L. plenus full + potens , -entis , potent.] Possessing full power. [R.]

Milton.

Plenipotentiary <Xpage=1099>

Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#) . [LL. plenipotentiarius : cf. F. pl\'82nipotentiaire .] A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, with full power to negotiate a treaty, or to transact other business.

Plenipotentiary <Xpage=1099>

Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry , a. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as, plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers.

Howell.

Plenish <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ish (?) , v. t. [See Replenish .] 1. To replenish. [Obs.]

T. Reeve.

2. To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. [Scot.]

Plenishing <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ish*ing , n. Household furniture; stock. [Scot.]

Plenist <Xpage=1099>

Ple"nist (?) , n. [L. plenus full; cf. F. pl\'82niste .] One who holds that all space is full of matter.

Plenitude <Xpage=1099>

Plen"i*tude (?) , n. [L. plenitudo , fr. plenus full; cf. F. plenitude .] 1. The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as, the plenitude of space or power .

2. Animal fullness; repletion; plethora. [Obs.]

Plenitudinarian <Xpage=1099>

Plen`i*tu`di*na"ri*an (?) , n. A plenist.

Plenitudinary <Xpage=1099>

Plen`i*tu"di*na*ry (?) , a. Having plenitude; full; complete; thorough. [Obs.]

Plenteous <Xpage=1099>

Plen"te*ous (?) , a. [From Plenty .] 1. Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as, a plenteous supply . "Reaping plenteous crop."

Milton.

2. Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful. "The seven plenteous years."

Gen. xli. 34.

3. Having plenty; abounding; rich.

The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods. Deut. xxviii. 11.

Syn. -- Plentiful; copious; full. See Ample .

-- Plen"te*ous*ly , adv. -- Plen"te*ous*ness , n.

Plentevous <Xpage=1099>

Plen"te*vous (?) , a. Plenteous. [Obs.] Chaucer .

Plentiful <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ti*ful (?) , a. 1. Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as, a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water.

2. Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful.

If it be a long winter, it is commonly a more plentiful year. Bacon.

3. Lavish; profuse; prodigal. [Obs.]

He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from Bacon.

-- Plen"ti*ful*ly , adv. -- Plen"ti*ful*ness , n.

Plenty <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ty (?) , n. ; pl. Plenties (#) , in Shak . [OE. plentee , plente , OF. plent\'82 , fr. L. plenitas , fr. plenus full. See Full , a. , and cf. Complete .] Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically, abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance; copiousness. " Plenty of corn and wine." Gen. xxvii. 28 . "Promises Britain peace and plenty ." Shak.

Houses of office stuffed with plentee . Chaucer.

The teeming clouds Descend in gladsome plenty o'er the world. Thomson.

Syn. -- Abundance; exuberance. See Abundance .

Plenty <Xpage=1099>

Plen"ty , a. Plentiful; abundant. [Obs. or Colloq.]

If reasons were as plenty as blackberries. Shak. (Folio ed.)

Those countries where shrubs are plenty . Goldsmith.

Plenum <Xpage=1099>

Ple"num (?) , n. [L., fr. plenus full.] That state in which every part of space is supposed to be full of matter; -- opposed to vacuum .

G. Francis.

Pleochroic <Xpage=1099>

Ple`o*chro"ic (?) , a. Having the property of pleochroism.

Pleochroism <Xpage=1099>