Chapter 46

3. To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vendication; to offer in excuse; as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors. Spenser.

I will neither plead my age nor sickness, in excuse of faults.

Dryden.

Plead"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law. Dryden.

Plead"er (?), n. [F. plaideur.] 1. One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate.

So fair a pleader any cause may gain.

Dryden.

2. (Law) One who draws up or forms pleas; the draughtsman of pleas or pleadings in the widest sense; as, a special pleader.

Plead"ing, n. The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

Plead"ing*ly, adv. In a pleading manner.

Plead"ings (?), n. pl. (Law) The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

Pleas"ance (?), n. [F. plaisance. See Please.] 1. Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness. [Archaic] Shak. "Full great pleasance." Chaucer. "A realm of pleasance." Tennyson.

2. A secluded part of a garden. [Archaic]

The pleasances of old Elizabethan houses.

Ruskin.

Pleas"ant (?), a. [F. plaisant. See Please.] 1. Pleasing; grateful to the mind or to the senses; agreeable; as, a pleasant journey; pleasant weather.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ps. cxxxiii. 1.

2. Cheerful; enlivening; gay; sprightly; humorous; sportive; as, pleasant company; a pleasant fellow.

From grave to light, from pleasant to serve.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Pleasing; gratifying; agreeable; cheerful; good- humored; enlivening; gay; lively; merry; sportive; humorous; jocose; amusing; witty. -- Pleasant, Pleasing, Agreeable. Agreeable is applied to that which agrees with, or is in harmony with, one's tastes, character, etc. Pleasant and pleasing denote a stronger degree of the agreeable. Pleasant refers rather to the state or condition; pleasing, to the act or effect. Where they are applied to the same object, pleasing is more energetic than pleasant; as, she is always pleasant and always pleasing. The distinction, however, is not radical and not rightly observed.

Pleas"ant, n. A wit; a humorist; a buffoon. [Obs.]

Pleas"ant*ly, adv. In a pleasant manner.

Pleas"ant*ness, n. The state or quality of being pleasant.

Pleas"ant*ry (?), n.; pl. Pleasantries (#). [F. plaisanterie. See Pleasant.] That which denotes or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage.

The grave abound in pleasantries, the dull in repartees and points of wit.

Addison.

The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finished man of the world.

Macaulay.

Pleas"ant-tongued` (?), a. Of pleasing speech.

Please (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pleased; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasing.] [OE. plesen, OF. plaisir, fr. L. placere, akin to placare to reconcile. Cf. Complacent, Placable, Placid, Plea, Plead, Pleasure.] 1. To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to satisfy.

I pray to God that it may plesen you.

Chaucer.

What next I bring shall please thee, be assured.

Milton.

2. To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to will.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he.

Ps. cxxxv. 6.

A man doing as he wills, and doing as he pleases, are the same things in common speech.

J. Edwards.

3. To be the will or pleasure of; to seem good to; -- used impersonally. "It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." Col. i. 19.

To-morrow, may it please you.

Shak.

To be pleased in or with, to have complacency in; to take pleasure in. -- To be pleased to do a thing, to take pleasure in doing it; to have the will to do it; to think proper to do it. Dryden.

Please (?), v. i. 1. To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions.

What pleasing scemed, for her now pleases more.

Milton.

For we that live to please, must please to live.

Johnson.

2. To have pleasure; to be willing, as a matter of affording pleasure or showing favor; to vouchsafe; to consent.

Heavenly stranger, please to taste These bounties.

Milton.

That he would please 8give me my liberty.

Swift.

Pleased (?), a. Experiencing pleasure. -- Pleas"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Pleas"ed*ness, n.

Please"man (?), n. An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank. [Obs.] Shak.

Pleas"er (?), n. One who pleases or gratifies.

Pleas"ing, a. Giving pleasure or satisfaction; causing agreeable emotion; agreeable; delightful; as, a pleasing prospect; pleasing manners. "Pleasing harmony." Shak. "Pleasing features." Macaulay. -- Pleas"ing*ly, adv. -- Pleas"ing*ness, n.

Syn. -- Gratifying; delightful; agreeable. See Pleasant.

Pleas"ing, n. An object of pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pleas"ur*a*ble (?), a. Capable of affording pleasure or satisfaction; gratifying; abounding in pleasantness or pleasantry.

Planting of orchards is very . . . pleasurable.

Bacon.

O, sir, you are very pleasurable.

B. Jonson.

-- Pleas"ur*a*ble*ness, n. -- Pleas"ur*a*bly, adv.

Pleas"ure (?), n. [F. plaisir, originally an infinitive. See Please.] 1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by the expectation or the enjoyment of something good, delightful, or satisfying; -- opposed to pain, sorrow, etc.

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Ps. xvi. 11.

2. Amusement; sport; diversion; self- indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." Milton.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.

Prov. xxi. 17.

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

2 Tim. iii. 4.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plebe (plb), n. [F. plËbe, 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.]

Ple*be"ian (pl*b"yan), a. [L. plebeius, from plebs, plebis, the common people: cf. F. plÈbÈien.] 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.

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.

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

2. Plebeians, collectively. [Obs.]

Ple*be"ian*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. plÈbÈianisme.] 1. The quality or state of being plebeian.

2. The conduct or manners of plebeians; vulgarity.

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

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.]

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.

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

Pleb"i*scite (?), n. [F. plÈbiscite, 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.

||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.

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

<! p. 1099 !>

Plec"tog*nath (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. - - n. One of the Plectognathi.

||Plec*to"gna*thi (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; twisted (fr. &?; to ||plait, twist) + &?; jaw.] (Zoˆl.) An order of fishes generally having ||the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular ||united with the dentary.

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.

{ Plec`tog*nath"ic (?), Plec-tog"na*thous (?), } a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi.

||Plec`to*spon"dy*li (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; plaited + &?;, &?;, ||a vertebra.] (Zoˆl.) An extensive suborder of fresh-water ||physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebrÊ united and much ||modified; the Eventognathi.

Plec`to*spon"dy*lous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectospondyli.

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

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. &radic;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.

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.

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, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

||Ple*gep"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. (&?;) a stroke + -poda. In ||allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zoˆl.) Same ||as Infusoria.

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

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.

Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by M‰dler 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 (?), a. Plan. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Ple"ni*corn (?), n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zoˆl.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer. Brande & C.

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

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

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

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

Plen`i*po*ten"ti*a*ry (?), n.; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#). [LL. plenipotentiarius: cf. F. plÈnipotentiaire.] 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.]

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

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

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.

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

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.

Plen"ty (?), n.; pl. Plenties (#), in Shak. [OE. plentee, plente, OF. plentÈ, 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.

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.

||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.

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

Ple*och"ro*ism (?), n. [Gr.&?; mor&?; + &?; color.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some crystals, of showing different colors when viewed in the direction of different axes.

Ple*och`ro*mat"ic (?), a. Pleochroic.

Ple`o*chro"ma*tism (?), n. Pleochroism.

Ple*och"ro*ous (?), a. Pleochroic.

Ple`o*mor"phic (?), a. Pertaining to pleomorphism; as, the pleomorphic character of bacteria.

Ple`o*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; more + &?; form.] 1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.

2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.

Ple`o*mor"phous (?), a. Having the property of pleomorphism.

Ple"o*nasm, (&?;), n. [L. pleonasmus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be more than enough, to abound, fr.&?;, neut. of &?;, more, compar. of &?; much. See Full, a., and cf. Poly-, Plus.] (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; as, I saw it with my own eyes.

Ple"o*nast (?), n. One who is addicted to pleonasm. [R.] C. Reade.

Ple"o*naste, n. [Gr.&?; abundant, rich; cf. F. plÈonaste.] (Min.) A black variety of spinel.

{ Ple`o*nas"tic (?), Ple`o*nas"tic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. plÈonastique.] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant.

Ple`o*nas"tic*al*ly, adv. In a pleonastic manner.

Ple"o*pod (?), n.; pl. E. Pleopods (#), L. Pleopoda (#). [Gr. &?; to swim + -pod.] (Zoˆl.) One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea.

Ple"rome (?), n. [Gr. &?; that which fills up, fr. &?; to fill.] (Bot.) The central column of parenchyma in a growing stem or root.

Ple*roph"o*ry (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; full + &?; to bear.] Fullness; full persuasion. "A plerophory of assurance." Bp. Hall.

Ples"ance (?), n. Pleasance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plesh (?), n. A pool; a plash. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ple`si*mor"phism (?), n. [Gr. &?; near + &?; form.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some substances of crystallizing in closely similar forms while unlike in chemical composition.

Ple`si*o*mor"phous (?), a. Nearly alike in form.

Ple"si*o*saur (?), n. (Paleon.) One of the Plesiosauria.

||Ple`si*o*sau"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Plesiosaurus.] (Paleon.) An ||extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera ||Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; -- called also Sauropterygia.

Ple`si*o*sau"ri*an (?), n. (Paleon.) A plesiosaur.

||Ple`si*o*sau"rus (?), n.; pl. Plesiosauri (#). [NL., fr. Gr &?; near ||+ &?; a lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct marine reptiles, ||having a very long neck, a small head, and paddles for swimming. It ||lived in the Mesozoic age.

Ples*sim"e*ter (?), n. See Pleximeter.

Plete (?), v. t. & i. To plead. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

Pleth"o*ra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be or become full. Cf. Pleonasm.] 1. Overfullness; especially, excessive fullness of the blood vessels; repletion; that state of the blood vessels or of the system when the blood exceeds a healthy standard in quantity; hyperÊmia; -- opposed to anÊmia.

2. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.

He labors under a plethora of wit and imagination.

Jeffrey.

Pleth`o*ret"ic (?), a. Plethoric. [Obs.] Johnson.

Ple*thor"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; cf. F. plÈthorique.] Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as, a plethoric constitution; -- used also metaphorically. "Plethoric phrases." Sydney Smith. "Plethoric fullness of thought." De Quincey.

Ple*thor"ic*al (?), a. Plethoric. [R.] -- Ple*thor"ic*al*ly, adv. Burke.