Chapter 9

Parallelogram of velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc. (Mech.), a parallelogram the diagonal of which represents the resultant of two velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., both in quantity and direction, when the velocities, forces, accelerations, momenta, etc., are represented in quantity and direction by the two adjacent sides of the parallelogram.

Par`al*lel`o*gram*mat"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a parallelogram; parallelogrammic.

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{ Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic (?), Par`al*lel`o*gram"mic*al (?), } a. Having the properties of a parallelogram. [R.]

Par`al*lel`o*pi"ped (?), n. [Gr. &?; a body with parallel surfaces; &?; parallel + &?; a plane surface, &?; on the ground, or level with it, level, flat; &?; on + &?; the ground: cf. F. parallÈlopipËde.] (Geom.) A solid, the faces of which are six parallelograms, the opposite pairs being parallel, and equal to each other; a prism whose base is a parallelogram.

Par`al*lel`o*pip"e*don (?), n. [NL.] A parallelopiped. Hutton.

Par`a*log"ic*al (?), a. Containing paralogism; illogical. "Paralogical doubt." Sir T. Browne.

Pa*ral"o*gism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to reason falsely; para` beside + &?; to reason, &?; discourse, reason: cf. F. paralogisme.] (Logic) A reasoning which is false in point of form, that is, which is contrary to logical rules or formulÊ; a formal fallacy, or pseudo- syllogism, in which the conclusion does not follow from the premises.

Pa*ral"o*gize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Paralogized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paralogizing (?).] [Gr. &?;.] To reason falsely; to draw conclusions not warranted by the premises. [R.]

Pa*ral"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;; para` beside, beyond + &?; reason.] False reasoning; paralogism.

Par"a*lyse (?), v. t. Same as Paralyze.

Pa*ral"y*sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to loosen, dissolve, or disable at the side; para` beside + &?; to loosen. See Para-, and Loose, and cf. Palsy.] (Med.) Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; esp., the loss of the power of voluntary motion, with or without that of sensation, in any part of the body; palsy. See Hemiplegia, and Paraplegia. Also used figuratively. "Utter paralysis of memory." G. Eliot.

Mischievous practices arising out of the paralysis of the powers of ownership.

Duke of Argyll (1887).

Par`a*lyt"ic (?), a. [L. paralyticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. paralytique.] 1. Of or pertaining to paralysis; resembling paralysis.

2. Affected with paralysis, or palsy.

The cold, shaking, paralytic hand.

Prior.

3. Inclined or tending to paralysis.

Paralytic secretion (Physiol.), the fluid, generally thin and watery, secreted from a gland after section or paralysis of its nerves, as the pralytic saliva.

Par`a*lyt"ic, n. A person affected with paralysis.

Par`a*lyt"ic*al (?), a. See Paralytic.

Par`a*ly*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of paralyzing, or the state of being paralyzed.

Par"a*lyze (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralyzed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paralyzing (?).] [F. paralyser. See Paralysis.]

1. To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.

2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency paralyzed his efforts.

Par"am (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C2H4N4); -- called also dicyandiamide.

Par`a*mag*net"ic (?), a. [Pref. para- + magnetic.] Magnetic, as opposed to diamagnetic. -- n. A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. -- Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly (#), adv.

Par`a*mag"net*ism (?), n. Magnetism, as opposed to diamagnetism. Faraday.

Par`a*ma*le"ic (?), a. [Pref. para- + maleic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called fumaric acid. [Obs.]

Par`a*ma"lic (?), a. [Pref. para- + malic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.

Par`a*mas"toid (?), a. [Pref. para- + mastoid.] (Anat.) Situated beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone; paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some animals.

Par`a*mat"ta (?), n. [So named from Paramatta, in Australia.] A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck (Draper's Dict.)

Par"a*ment (?), n. [Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare.] Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.]

Lords in paraments on their coursers.

Chaucer.

Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.

||Pa`ra*men"to (?), n. [Sp.] Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl.

Par"a*mere (?), n. [Pref. para- + -mere.] (Zoˆl.) One of the symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a radiate animal, as a starfish.

Pa*ram"e*ter (?), n. [Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramËtre.] 1. (a) (Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b) Specifically (Conic Sections), in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.

The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the latus rectum.

2. (Crystallog.) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species.

||Par`a*me*tri"tis (?), n. [NL. See Para-, and Metritis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus.

Par`a*mi*og"ra*pher (?), n. [Gr. &?; proverb + -graph + -er.] A collector or writer of proverbs. [R.]

Par`a*mi"tome (?), n. [Pref. para- + mitome.] (Biol.) The fluid portion of the protoplasm of a cell.

||Pa"ra*mo (?), n.; pl. Paramos (#). [Sp. pÊramo.] A high, bleak ||plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere, ||as in the Andes, in South America.

Par"a*morph (?), n. [Pref. para- + Gr. &?; form.] (Min.) A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite.

Par`a*mor"phism (?), n. (Min.) The change of one mineral species to another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without alteration of chemical composition.

Par`a*mor"phous (?), a. (Min.) Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting paramorphism.

Par"a*mount (?), a. [OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) + amont above. See Amount.] Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preÎminent; as, a paramount duty. "A traitor paramount." Bacon.

Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. -- Lord paramount, the king.

Syn. Superior; principal; preÎminent; chief.

Par"a*mount, n. The highest or chief. Milton.

Par"a*mount`ly, adv. In a paramount manner.

Par"a*mour (?), n. [F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour.] 1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman.

The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour

Macaulay.

2. Love; gallantry. [Obs.] "For paramour and jollity." Chaucer.

{ Par"a*mour`, Par"a*mours` (?) }, adv. By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [Obs.]

For par amour, I loved her first ere thou.

Chaucer.

Par*am"y*lum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. para` beside + &?; starch.] (Chem.) A substance resembling starch, found in the green frothy scum formed on the surface of stagnant water.

Par`a*naph"tha*lene (?), n. [Pref. para- + naphthalene.] (Chem.) Anthracene; -- called also paranaphthaline. [Obs.]

||Par`a*noi"a (pr`*noi"), n. [NL., fr. Gr. para`noia.] (Med.) Mental ||derangement; insanity.

Par*an"thra*cene (?), n. [Pref. para- + anthracene.] (Chem.) An inert isomeric modification of anthracene.

Par`a*nu"cle*us (?), n. [Pref. para- + nucleus.] (Biol.) Some as Nucleolus.

Pa*ra" nut` (p*r‰" nt`). (Bot.) The Brazil nut.

Par"a*nymph (?), n. [L. paranymphus, Gr. &?;; para` beside, near + &?; a bride: cf. F. paranymphe.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) (a) A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride. Milton. (b) The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom.

2. Hence: An ally; a supporter or abettor. Jer. Taylor.

Par`a*nym"phal (?), a. Bridal; nuptial. [R.]

At some paranymphal feast.

Ford.

Par`a*pec"tin (?), n. [Pref. para- + pectin.] (Chem.) A gelatinous modification of pectin.

Par"a*pegm (?), n. [L. parapegma, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to fix beside; para` beside + &?; to fix: cf. F. parapegme.] An engraved tablet, usually of brass, set up in a public place.

Parapegms were used for the publication of laws, proclamations, etc., and the recording of astronomical phenomena or calendar events.

Par`a*pep"tone (?), n. [Pref. para- + peptone.] (Phisiol. Chem.) An albuminous body formed in small quantity by the peptic digestion of proteids. It can be converted into peptone by pancreatic juice, but not by gastric juice.

Par"a*pet (?), n. [F., fr. It. parapetto, fr. parare to ward off, guard (L. parare to prepare, provide) + petto the breast, L. pectus. See Parry, and Pectoral.]

1. (Arch.) A low wall, especially one serving to protect the edge of a platform, roof, bridge, or the like.

2. (Fort.) A wall, rampart, or elevation of earth, for covering soldiers from an enemy's fire; a breastwork. See Illust. of Casemate.

Par`a*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. para- + petal.] (Bot.) Growing by the side of a petal, as a stamen.

Par"a*pet`ed, a. Having a parapet.

Par"aph (?), n. [F. paraphe, parafe, contr. fr. paragraphe.] A flourish made with the pen at the end of a signature. In the Middle Ages, this formed a sort of rude safeguard against forgery. Brande & C.

Par"aph, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphing.] [Cf. F. parapher, parafer.] To add a paraph to; to sign, esp. with the initials.

||Par`a*pher"na (?), n. pl. [L.] (Rom. Law) The property of a woman ||which, on her marriage, was not made a part of her dower, but ||remained her own.

Par`a*pher"nal (?), a. [Cf. F. paraphernal.] Of or pertaining to paraphernalia; as, paraphernal property. Kent.

Par`a*pher*na"li*a (?), n. pl. [LL. paraphernalia bona, fr. L. parapherna, pl., parapherna, Gr. &?;; para` beside + &?; a bride's dowry, fr. fe`rein to bring. See 1st Bear.]

1. (Law) Something reserved to a wife, over and above her dower, being chiefly apparel and ornaments suited to her degree.

2. Appendages; ornaments; finery; equipments.

||Par`a*phi*mo"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; beyond + &?; to ||muzzle.] (Med.) A condition in which the prepuce, after being ||retracted behind the glans penis, is constricted there, and can not ||be brought forward into place again.

Par`a*phos*phor"ic (?), a. [Pref. para- + phosphoric.] (Chem.) Pyrophosphoric. [Obs.]

||Par`a*phrag"ma (-frg"m), n.; pl. Paraphragmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. ||para` beside + &?;, &?;, an inclosure.] (Zoˆl.) One of the outer ||divisions of an endosternite of Crustacea. -- Par`a*phrag"mal (#), a.

Par"a*phrase (pr"*frz), n. [L. paraphrasis, Gr. para`frasis, from parafra`zein to say the same thing in other words; para` beside + fra`zein to speak: cf. F. paraphrase. See Para-, and Phrase.] A restatement of a text, passage, or work, expressing the meaning of the original in another form, generally for the sake of its clearer and fuller exposition; a setting forth the signification of a text in other and ampler terms; a free translation or rendering; -- opposed to metaphrase.

In paraphrase, or translation with latitude, the author's words are not so strictly followed as his sense.

Dryden.

Excellent paraphrases of the Psalms of David.

I. Disraeli.

His sermons a living paraphrase upon his practice.

Sowth.

The Targums are also called the Chaldaic or Aramaic Paraphrases.

Shipley.

Par"a*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paraphrased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Paraphrasing (?).] To express, interpret, or translate with latitude; to give the meaning of a passage in other language.

We are put to construe and paraphrase our own words.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

Par"a*phrase, v. i. To make a paraphrase.

Par"a*phra`ser (?), n. One who paraphrases.

Par`a*phra"sian (?), n. A paraphraser. [R.]

Par"a*phrast (?), n. [L. paraphrastes, Gr. &?;: cf. F. paraphraste.] A paraphraser. T. Warton.

{ Par`a*phras"tic (?), Par`a*phras"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr.&?;: cf. F. paraphrastique.] Paraphrasing; of the nature of paraphrase; explaining, or translating in words more clear and ample than those of the author; not literal; free. -- Par`a*phras"tic*al*ly, adv.

||Pa*raph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Paraphyses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. para` beside ||+ &?; growth.] (Bot.) A minute jointed filament growing among the ||archegonia and antheridia of mosses, or with the spore cases, etc., ||of other flowerless plants.

{ ||Par`a*ple"gi*a (?), Par"a*ple`gy (?), } n. [NL. paraplegia, fr. Gr. &?; hemiplegia, fr. &?; to strike at the side; para` beside + &?; to strike: cf. F. paraplÈgie.] (Med.) Palsy of the lower half of the body on both sides, caused usually by disease of the spinal cord. -- Par`a*pleg"ic (#), a.

||Par`a*pleu"ra (?), n.; pl. ParapleurÊ (#). [NL. See Para-, and 2d ||Pleura.] (Zoˆl.) A chitinous piece between the metasternum and the ||pleuron of certain insects.

||Par`a*po"di*um (?), n.; pl. Parapodia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. para` beside ||+ &?;, dim. of &?; foot.] (Zoˆl.) One of the lateral appendages of an ||annelid; -- called also foot tubercle.

They may serve for locomotion, respiration, and sensation, and often contain spines or setÊ. When well developed, a dorsal part, or notopodium, and a ventral part, or neuropodium, are distinguished.

Par`a*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Parapophyses (#). [NL. See Para-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) The ventral transverse, or capitular, process of a vertebra. See Vertebra. -- Par*ap`o*phys"ic*al (#), a.

||Pa*rap"te*rum (?), n.; pl. Paraptera (#). [NL. See Para-, and ||Pteron.] (Zoˆl.) A special plate situated on the sides of the ||mesothorax and metathorax of certain insects.

{ Par`a*quet" (?), Par`a*qui"to (?), } n. [See Paroquet.] (Zoˆl.) See Parrakeet.

Par"a*sang (?), n. [L. parasanga, Gr. &?;, from Old Persian; cf. Per. farsang.] A Persian measure of length, which, according to Herodotus and Xenophon, was thirty stadia, or somewhat more than three and a half miles. The measure varied in different times and places, and, as now used, is estimated at from three and a half to four English miles.

||Par`a*sce"ni*um (?), n.; pl. Parascenia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; para` ||beside + &?; stage.] (Greek & Rom. Antiq.) One of two apartments ||adjoining the stage, probably used as robing rooms.

||Par`a*sce"ve (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?;, lit., preparation.] 1. Among ||the Jews, the evening before the Sabbath. [Obs.] Mark xv. 42 (Douay ||ver.)

2. A preparation. [R.] Donne.

Par`a*sche*mat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to change from the true form.] Of or pertaining to a change from the right form, as in the formation of a word from another by a change of termination, gender, etc. Max M¸ller.

||Par`a*se*le"ne (?), n.; pl. ParaselenÊ (#). [NL., from Gr. para` ||beside + &?; the moon: cf. F. parasÈlËne.] (Meteor.) A mock moon; an ||image of the moon which sometimes appears at the point of ||intersection of two lunar halos. Cf. Parhelion.

||Par`a*si"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) (a) An artificial group ||formerly made for parasitic insects, as lice, ticks, mites, etc. (b) ||A division of copepod Crustacea, having a sucking mouth, as the ||lerneans. They are mostly parasites on fishes. Called also ||Siphonostomata.

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Par"a*si`tal (?), a. (Bot. & Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to parasites; parasitic.

Par"a*site (?), n. [F., fr. L. parasitus, Gr. &?;, lit., eating beside, or at the table of, another; para` beside + &?; to feed, from &?; wheat, grain, food.]

1. One who frequents the tables of the rich, or who lives at another's expense, and earns his welcome by flattery; a hanger-on; a toady; a sycophant.

Thou, with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st.

Milton.

Parasites were called such smell-feasts as would seek to be free guests at rich men's tables.

Udall.

2. (Bot.) (a) A plant obtaining nourishment immediately from other plants to which it attaches itself, and whose juices it absorbs; -- sometimes, but erroneously, called epiphyte. (b) A plant living on or within an animal, and supported at its expense, as many species of fungi of the genus Torrubia.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) An animal which lives during the whole or part of its existence on or in the body of some other animal, feeding upon its food, blood, or tissues, as lice, tapeworms, etc. (b) An animal which steals the food of another, as the parasitic jager. (c) An animal which habitually uses the nest of another, as the cowbird and the European cuckoo.

{ Par`a*sit"ic (?), Par`a*sit"ic*al (?), } a. [L. parasiticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. parasitique.]

1. Of the nature of a parasite; fawning for food or favors; sycophantic. "Parasitic preachers." Milton.

2. (Bot. & Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to parasites; living on, or deriving nourishment from, some other living animal or plant. See Parasite, 2 & 3.

Parasitic gull, Parasitic jager. (Zoˆl.) See Jager.

-- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Par`a*sit"ic*al*ness, n.

Par`a*sit"i*cide (?), n. [Parasite + L. caedere to kill.] Anything used to destroy parasites. Quain.

Par"a*si`tism (?), n. [Cf. F. parasitisme.]

1. The state or behavior of a parasite; the act of a parasite. "Court parasitism." Milton.

2. (Bot. & Zoˆl.)The state of being parasitic.

Par"a*sol` (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. or Pg. parasol, or It. parasole; It. parare to ward off, Sp. & Pg. parar (L. parare to prepare) + It. sole sun, Sp. & Pg. sol (L. sol). See Parry, Solar.] A kind of small umbrella used by women as a protection from the sun.

Par"a*sol`, v. t. To shade as with a parasol. [R.]

Par`a*sol*ette" (?), n. A small parasol.

Par`a*sphe"noid (?), a. [Pref. para- + sphenoid.] (Anat.) Near the sphenoid bone; - - applied especially to a bone situated immediately beneath the sphenoid in the base of the skull in many animals. -- n. The parasphenoid bone.

Pa*ras"ti*chy (?), n. [Pref. para- + Gr. &?; a row.] (Bot.) A secondary spiral in phyllotaxy, as one of the evident spirals in a pine cone.

||Par`a*syn*ax"is (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to assemble ||illegally or secretly.] (Civil Law) An unlawful meeting.

Par`a*syn*thet"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;. See Para-, and Synthetic.] Formed from a compound word. "Parasynthetic derivatives." Dr. Murray.

Par`a*tac"tic (?), a. (Gram.) Of pertaining to, or characterized by, parataxis.

||Par`a*tax"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a placing beside, fr. &?; to ||place beside.] (Gram.) The mere ranging of propositions one after ||another, without indicating their connection or interdependence; -- ||opposed to syntax. Brande & C.

||Pa*rath"e*sis (?), n.; pl. Paratheses (#). [NL., from Gr. &?; a ||putting beside, from &?; to put beside.]

1. (Gram.) The placing of two or more nouns in the same case; apposition.

2. (Rhet.) A parenthetical notice, usually of matter to be afterward expanded. Smart.

3. (Print.) The matter contained within brackets.

4. (Eccl.) A commendatory prayer. Shipley.

Par`a*thet"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to parathesis.

||Pa`ra`ton`nerre" (?), n. [F., fr. parer to parry + tonnerre ||thunderbolt.] A conductor of lightning; a lightning rod.

Par*aun"ter (?), adv. [Par + aunter.] Peradventure. See Paraventure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||Pa*rauque" (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A bird (Nyctidromus albicollis) ranging ||from Texas to South America. It is allied to the night hawk and ||goatsucker.

Par`a*vail" (?), a. [OF. par aval below; par through (L. per) + aval down; a- (L. ad) + val (L. vallis) a valley. Cf. Paramount.] (Eng. Law) At the bottom; lowest. Cowell.

In feudal law, the tenant paravail is the lowest tenant of the fee, or he who is immediate tenant to one who holds over of another. Wharton.

{ Par"a*vant` (?), Par"a*vant` (?), } adv. [OF. par avant. See Par, and lst Avaunt.]

1. In front; publicly. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Beforehand; first. [Obs.] Spenser.

Par`a*ven"ture (?), adv. [Par + aventure.] Peradventure; perchance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Par`a*xan"thin (?), n. [Pref. Para- + xanthin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A crystalline substance closely related to xanthin, present in small quantity in urine.

Par*ax"i*al (?), a. [Pref. para- + axial.] (Anat.) On either side of the axis of the skeleton.

Par`a*xy"lene (?), n. (Chem.) A hydrocarbon of the aromatic series obtained as a colorless liquid by the distillation of camphor with zinc chloride. It is one of the three metamers of xylene. Cf. Metamer, and Xylene.

Par"boil` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parboiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Parboiling.] [OE. parboilen, OF. parbouillir to cook well; par through (see Par) + bouillir to boil, L. bullire. The sense has been influenced by E. part. See lst Boil.] 1. To boil or cook thoroughly. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

2. To boil in part; to cook partially by boiling.

Par"break` (?), v. i. & t. [Par + break.] To throw out; to vomit. [Obs.] Skelton.

Par"break`, n. Vomit. [Obs.] Spenser.

Par"buc`kle (?), n. (a) A kind of purchase for hoisting or lowering a cylindrical burden, as a cask. The middle of a long rope is made fast aloft, and both parts are looped around the object, which rests in the loops, and rolls in them as the ends are hauled up or payed out. (b) A double sling made of a single rope, for slinging a cask, gun, etc.

Par"buc`kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parbuckled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Parbuckling (?).] To hoist or lower by means of a parbuckle. Totten.

Par"cÊ (?), n. pl. [L.] The Fates. See Fate, 4.

Par*case" (?), adv. [Par + case.] Perchance; by chance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Par"cel (?), n. [F. parcelle a small part, fr. (assumed) LL. particella, dim. of L. pars. See Part, n., and cf. Particle.] 1. A portion of anything taken separately; a fragment of a whole; a part. [Archaic] "A parcel of her woe." Chaucer.

Two parcels of the white of an egg.

Arbuthnot.

The parcels of the nation adopted different forms of self-government.

J. A. Symonds.

2. (Law) A part; a portion; a piece; as, a certain piece of land is part and parcel of another piece.

3. An indiscriminate or indefinite number, measure, or quantity; a collection; a group.

This youthful parcel Of noble bachelors stand at my disposing.

Shak.

4. A number or quantity of things put up together; a bundle; a package; a packet.

'Tis like a parcel sent you by the stage.

Cowper.

Bill of parcels. See under 6th Bill. -- Parcel office, an office where parcels are received for keeping or forwarding and delivery. -- Parcel post, that department of the post office concerned with the collection and transmission of parcels. -- Part and parcel. See under Part.

Par"cel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parceled (?) or Parcelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Parceling or Parcelling.]

1. To divide and distribute by parts or portions; -- often with out or into. "Their woes are parceled, mine are general." Shak.

These ghostly kings would parcel out my power.

Dryden.

The broad woodland parceled into farms.

Tennyson.

2. To add a parcel or item to; to itemize. [R.]

That mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy.

Shak.

3. To make up into a parcel; as, to parcel a customer's purchases; the machine parcels yarn, wool, etc.

To parcel a rope (Naut.), to wind strips of tarred canvas tightly arround it. Totten. -- To parcel a seam (Naut.), to cover it with a strip of tarred canvas.

Par"cel, a. & adv. Part or half; in part; partially. Shak. [Sometimes hyphened with the word following.]