Chapter 90

Pu"ri*ty (?), n. [OE. purete, purte, OF. purtÈ, F. puretÈ, from L. puritas, fr. purus pure. See Pure.] The condition of being pure. Specifically: (a) freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals. (b) Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. "The purity of a linen vesture." Holyday. (c) Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life. (d) Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views. (e) Freedom from foreign idioms, or from barbarous or improper words or phrases; as, purity of style.

Pur"kin*je's cells` (?). [From J. E. Purkinje, their discoverer.] (Anat.) Large ganglion cells forming a layer near the surface of the cerebellum.

Purl (?), v. t. [Contr. fr. purfile, purfle. See Purfle.] To decorate with fringe or embroidery. "Nature's cradle more enchased and purled." B. Jonson.

Purl, n. 1. An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band.

A triumphant chariot made of carnation velvet, enriched withpurl and pearl.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance.

Purl stitch. Same as Purl, n., 2.

Purl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Purled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purling.] [Cf. Sw. porla, and E. pur to murmur as a cat.] 1. To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions.

Swift o'er the rolling pebbles, down the hills, Louder and louder purl the falling rills.

Pope.

2. [Perh. fr. F. perler to pearl, to bead. See Pearl, v. & n.] To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle.

thin winding breath which purled up to the sky.

Shak.

Purl, n. [See 3d Purl.] 1. A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple.

Whose stream an easy breath doth seem to blow, Which on the sparkling gravel runs in purles, As though the waves had been of silver curls.

Drayton.

2. A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook.

3. [Perh. from F. perler, v. See Purl to mantle.] Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices. "Drank a glass of purl to recover appetite." Addison. "Drinking hot purl, and smoking pipes." Dickens.

4. (Zoˆl.) A tern. [Prov. Eng.]

Pur"lieu (?), n. [Corrupted (by influence of lieu place) fr. OF. puralÈe, poralÈe (equiv. to LL. perambulatio a survey of boundaries, originally, a going through); por (L. pro, confused, however, with L. per through) + alÈe. See Pro-, and Alley.] [Written also pourlieu.] 1. Originally, the ground near a royal forest, which, having been unlawfully added to the forest, was afterwards severed from it, and disafforested so as to remit to the former owners their rights.

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play.

Milton.

2. Hence, the outer portion of any place; an adjacent district; environs; neighborhood. "The purlieus of St. James."

brokers had been incessantly plying for custom in the purlieus of the court.

Macaulay.

{ Pur"lin, Pur"line } (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Arch.) In root construction, a horizontal member supported on the principals and supporting the common rafters.

Purl"ing (?), n. [See 3d Purl.] The motion of a small stream running among obstructions; also, the murmur it makes in so doing.

Pur*loin" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purloined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purloining.] [OF. purloignier, porloignier, to retard, delay; pur, por, pour, for (L. pro) + loin far, far off (L. longe). See Prolong, and cf. Eloign.] To take or carry away for one's self; hence, to steal; to take by theft; to filch.

Had from his wakeful custody purloined The guarded gold.

Milton.

when did the muse from Fletcher scenes purloin ?

Dryden.

Pur*loin", v. i. To practice theft; to steal. Titus ii. 10.

Pur*loin"er (?), n. One who purloins. Swift.

Pur"par`ty (?), n. [OF. pourpartie; pour for + partie a part; cf. OF. purpart a respective part.] (Law) A share, part, or portion of an estate allotted to a coparcener. [Written also purpart, and pourparty.]

I am forced to eat all the game of your purparties, as well as my own thirds.

Walpole.

Pur"ple (?), n.; pl. Purples (#). [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. &?; the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. &?; dark (said of the sea), purple, &?; to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.] 1. A color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue.

Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend.

Milton.

The ancient words which are translated purple are supposed to have been used for the color we call crimson. In the gradations of color as defined in art, purple is a mixture of red and blue. When red predominates it is called violet, and when blue predominates, hyacinth.

2. Cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple.

Thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and purple, and scarlet.

Ex. xxvi. 1.

3. Hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth. "He was born in the purple." Gibbon.

4. A cardinalate. See Cardinal.

5. (Zoˆl.) Any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple (B. arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula.

6. (Zoˆl.) Any shell of the genus Purpura.

7. pl.(Med.) See Purpura.

8. pl. A disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle.

Purple is sometimes used in composition, esp. with participles forming words of obvious signification; as, purple- colored, purple-hued, purple-stained, purple- tinged, purple-tinted, and the like.

French purple. (Chem.) Same as Cudbear. -- Purple of Cassius. See Cassius. -- Purple of mollusca (Zoˆl.), a coloring matter derived from certain mollusks, which dyes wool, etc., of a purple or crimson color, and is supposed to be the substance of the famous Tyrian dye. It is obtained from Ianthina, and from several species of Purpura, and Murex. -- To be born in the purple, to be of princely birth; to be highborn.

Pur"ple, a. 1. Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color; as, a purple robe.

2. Imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority.

Hide in the dust thy purple pride.

Shelley.

3. Blood-red; bloody.

May such purple tears be alway shed.

Shak.

I view a field of blood, And Tiber rolling with a purple blood.

Dryden.

Purple bird (Zoˆl.), the European purple gallinule. See under Gallinule. -- Purple copper ore. (Min.) See Bornite. -- Purple grackle (Zoˆl.), the crow blackbird. See under Crow. -- Purple martin. See under Martin. -- Purple sandpiper. See under Sandpiper. -- Purple shell. See Ianthina.

Pur"ple (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purpled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purpling.] To make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands purpled with blood.

When morn Purples the east.

Milton.

Reclining soft in blissful bowers, Purpled sweet with springing flowers.

Fenton.

Pur"ple*heart` (?), n. (Bot.) A strong, durable, and elastic wood of a purplish color, obtained from several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Copaifera (Copaifera pubiflora, Copaifera bracteata, and Copaifera officinalis). Used for decorative veneering. See Copaiba.

Pur"ple*wood` (?), n. Same as Purpleheart.

Pur"plish (?), a. Somewhat purple. Boyle.

Pur"port (?), n. [OF. purport; pur, pour, for (L. pro) + porter to bear, carry. See Port demeanor.]

1. Design or tendency; meaning; import; tenor.

The whole scope and purport of that dialogue. Norris. With a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell.

Shak.

2. Disguise; covering. [Obs.]

For she her sex under that strange purport Did use to hide.

Spenser.

Pur"port, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purported; p. pr. & vb. n. Purporting.] [OF. purporter, pourporter. See Purport, n.] To intend to show; to intend; to mean; to signify; to import; -- often with an object clause or infinitive.

They in most grave and solemn wise unfolded Matter which little purported.

Rowe.

Pur"port*less, a. Without purport or meaning.

Pur"pose (?), n. [OF. purpos, pourpos, propos, L. propositum. See Propound.] 1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan.

He will his firste purpos modify.

Chaucer.

As my eternal purpose hath decreed.

Milton.

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook Unless the deed go with it.

Shak.

2. Proposal to another; discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Instance; example. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

In purpose, Of purpose, On purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object; intentionally. On purpose is the form now generally used.

Syn. -- design; end; intention; aim. See Design.

Pur"pose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purposing.] [OF. purposer, proposer. See Propose.] 1. To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.]

2. To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; -- often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause. Chaucer.

Did nothing purpose against the state.

Shak.

I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living.

Macaulay.

Pur"pose, v. i. To have a purpose or intention; to discourse. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pur"posed*ly (?), adv. In a purposed manner; according to purpose or design; purposely.

A poem composed purposedly of the Trojan war. Holland.

Pur"pose*ful (?), a. Important; material. "Purposeful accounts." Tylor. -- Pur"pose*ful*ly, adv.

Pur"pose*less, a. Having no purpose or result; objectless. Bp. Hall. -- Pur"pose*less*ness, n.

Pur"pose*ly, adv. With purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination; designedly.

In composing this discourse, I purposely declined all offensive and displeasing truths.

Atterbury.

So much they scorn the crowd, that if the throng By chance go right, they purposely go wrong.

Pope.

Pur"pos*er (?), n. 1. One who brings forward or proposes anything; a proposer. [Obs.]

2. One who forms a purpose; one who intends.

Pur"po*sive (?), a. Having or indicating purpose or design. "Purposive characters." Bastian.

Purposive modification of structure in a bone.

Owen.

It is impossible that the frog should perform actions morepurposive than these.

Huxley.

Pur"pre (?), n. & a. Purple. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pur*pres"ture (?), n. [Probably corrupted (see Prest) fr. OF. pourprisure, fr. pourprendre: cf. LL. purprestura. Cf. Purprise.] (Law) Wrongful encroachment upon another's property; esp., any encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be common or public, as highways, rivers, harbors, forts, etc. [Written also pourpresture.]

Pur"prise (?), n. [OF. pourpris,fr. pourprendre to take away entirely; pour for + prendre to take.] A close or inclosure; the compass of a manor. Bacon.

||Pur"pu*ra (?), n. [L., purple, purple fish: cf. F. purpura. See ||Purple.] 1. (Med.) A disease characterized by livid spots on the skin ||from extravasated blood, with loss of muscular strength, pain in the ||limbs, and mental dejection; the purples. Dunglison.

2. (Zoˆl.) A genus of marine gastropods, usually having a rough and thick shell. Some species yield a purple dye.

Pur"pu*rate (?), a. Of or pertaining to purpura.

Pur"pu*rate, n. (Chem.) A salt of purpuric acid.

Pur"pure (?), n. [L. purpura purple. See Purple.] (Her.) Purple, -- represented in engraving by diagonal lines declining from the right top to the left base of the escutcheon (or from sinister chief to dexter base).

Pur*pu"re*al (?), a. Of a purple color; purple.

Pur*pu"re*o- (?). A combining form signifying of a purple or purple-red color. Specif. (Chem.), used in designating certain brilliant purple-red compounds of cobaltic chloride and ammonia, similar to the roseocobaltic compounds. See Cobaltic.

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Pur*pu"ric (?), a. [Cf. F. purpurique.]

1. (Med.) Of or pertaining to purpura. Dunglison.

2. (Chem.) Pertaining to or designating, a nitrogenous acid contained in uric acid. It is not known in the pure state, but forms well-known purple-red compounds (as murexide), whence its name.

Purpuric acid was formerly used to designate murexan. See Murexan.

Pur"pu*rin (?), n. (Chem.) A dyestuff resembling alizarin, found in madder root, and extracted as an orange or red crystalline substance.

Pur`pu*rip"a*rous (?), a. [L. purpura purple + parere to produce.] (Biol.) Producing, or connected with, a purple-colored secretion; as, the purpuriparous gland of certain gastropods.

Pur`pu*rog"e*nous (?), a. [L. purpura purple + -genous.] (Biol.) Having the power to produce a purple color; as, the purpurogenous membrane, or choroidal epithelium, of the eye. See Visual purple, under Visual.

Purr (?), v. i. & t. To murmur as a cat. See Pur.

Purr, n. The low murmuring sound made by a cat; pur. See Pur.

Purre (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The dunlin. [Prov. Eng.]

Pur"ree (?), n. [Hind. peori yellow.] (Chem.) A yellow coloring matter. See Euxanthin.

Pur"rock (?), n. See Puddock, and Parrock.

Purse (?), n. [OE. purs, pors, OF. burse, borse, bourse, F. bourse, LL. bursa, fr. Gr. &?; hide, skin, leather. Cf. Bourse, Bursch, Bursar, Buskin.] 1. A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw together closely, used to carry money in; by extension, any receptacle for money carried on the person; a wallet; a pocketbook; a portemonnaie. Chaucer.

Who steals my purse steals trash.

Shak.

2. Hence, a treasury; finances; as, the public purse.

3. A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse.

4. A specific sum of money; as: (a) In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters. (b) In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans.

Light purse, or Empty purse, poverty or want of resources. -- Long purse, or Heavy purse, wealth; riches. -- Purse crab (Zoˆl.), any land crab of the genus Birgus, allied to the hermit crabs. They sometimes weigh twenty pounds or more, and are very strong, being able to crack cocoanuts with the large claw. They chiefly inhabit the tropical islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, living in holes and feeding upon fruit. Called also palm crab. -- Purse net, a fishing net, the mouth of which may be closed or drawn together like a purse. Mortimer. -- Purse pride, pride of money; insolence proceeding from the possession of wealth. Bp. Hall. -- Purse rat. (Zoˆl.) See Pocket gopher, under Pocket. -- Sword and purse, the military power and financial resources of a nation.

Purse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pursing.] 1. To put into a purse.

I will go and purse the ducats straight.

Shak.

2. To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles, like the mouth of a purse; to pucker; to knit.

Thou . . . didst contract and purse thy brow.

Shak.

Purse, v. i. To steal purses; to rob. [Obs. & R.]

I'll purse: . . . I'll bet at bowling alleys.

Beau. & Fl.

Purse"ful (?), n.; pl. Pursefuls (&?;). All that is, or can be, contained in a purse; enough to fill a purse.

Purse"-proud` (?), a. Affected with purse pride; puffed up with the possession of riches.

Purs"er (?), n. [See Purse, and cf. Bursar.]

1. (Naut.) A commissioned officer in the navy who had charge of the provisions, clothing, and public moneys on shipboard; -- now called paymaster.

2. A clerk on steam passenger vessels whose duty it is to keep the accounts of the vessels, such as the receipt of freight, tickets, etc.

3. Colloquially, any paymaster or cashier.

Purser's name (Naut.), a false name. [Slang]

Purs"er*ship, n. The office of purser. Totten.

Purs"et (?), n. A purse or purse net. B. Jonson.

Pur"si*ness (?), n. State of being pursy.

Pur"sive (?), a. Pursy. [Obs.] Holland.

Pur"sive*ness, n. Pursiness. [Obs. & R.]

Purs"lain (?), n. Same as Purslane.

Purs"lane (?), n. [OF. porcelaine, pourcelaine (cf. It. porcellana), corrupted fr. L. porcilaca for portulaca.] (Bot.) An annual plant (Portulaca oleracea), with fleshy, succulent, obovate leaves, sometimes used as a pot herb and for salads, garnishing, and pickling.

Flowering purslane, or Great flowered purslane, the Portulaca grandiflora. See Portulaca. -- Purslane tree, a South African shrub (Portulacaria Afra) with many small opposite fleshy obovate leaves. -- Sea purslane, a seashore plant (Arenaria peploides) with crowded opposite fleshy leaves. -- Water purslane, an aquatic plant (Ludwiqia palustris) but slightly resembling purslane.

Pur*su"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being, or fit to be, pursued, followed, or prosecuted. Sherwood.

Pur*su"al (?), n. The act of pursuit. [R.]

Pur*su"ance (?), n. [See Pursuant.] 1. The act of pursuing or prosecuting; a following out or after.

Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new nothings, but pursuances of old truths.

Jer. Taylor.

2. The state of being pursuant; consequence.

In pursuance of, in accordance with; in prosecution or fulfillment of.

Pur*su"ant (?), a. [From Pursue: cf. OE. poursuiant. Cf. Pursuivant.] Acting in consequence or in prosecution (of anything); hence, agreeable; conformable; following; according; -- with to or of.

The conclusion which I draw from these premises, pursuant to the query laid down, is, etc.

Waterland.

{ Pur*su"ant, Pur*su"ant*ly, } adv. Agreeably; conformably.

Pur*sue" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pursued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pursuing.] [OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.] 1. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.

We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.

Prior.

The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing.

Longfellow.

2. To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.

The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.

Dryden.

3. To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.

4. To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue. " Insatiate to pursue vain war." Milton.

5. To follow as an example; to imitate.

6. To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.

The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.

Wyclif (John xv. 20).

Syn. -- To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.

Pur*sue", v. i. 1. To go in pursuit; to follow.

The wicked flee when no man pursueth.

Prov. xxviii. 1.

Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition.

Earle.

2. To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.

[A Gallicism]

I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider.

Boyle.

3. (Law) To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Burrill.

Pur*su"er (?), n. 1. One who pursues or chases; one who follows in haste, with a view to overtake.

2. (Eccl. & Scots Law) A plaintiff; a prosecutor.

Pur*suit" (?), n. [F. poursuite, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, v. t.] 1. The act of following or going after; esp., a following with haste, either for sport or in hostility; chase; prosecution; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an enemy. Clarendon.

Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit.

Shak.

2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure.

3. Course of business or occupation; continued employment with a view to same end; as, mercantile pursuits; a literary pursuit.

4. (Law) Prosecution. [Obs.]

That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court.

Fuller.

Curve of pursuit (Geom.), a curve described by a point which is at each instant moving towards a second point, which is itself moving according to some specified law.

Pur"sui*vant (?), n. [F. poursuivant, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, and cf. Pursuant.] [Written also poursuivant.] 1. (Heralds' College) A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; -- called also pursuivant at arms; an attendant of the heralds. Also used figuratively.

The herald Hope, forerunning Fear, And Fear, the pursuivant of Hope.

Longfellow.

2. The king's messenger; a state messenger.

One pursuivant who attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered.

Macaulay.

Pur"sui*vant, v. t. To pursue. [Obs. & R.]

Their navy was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest.

Fuller.

Pur"sy (?), a. [OF. pourcif, poulsif, poussif, fr. pousser to push, thrust, heave, OF. also poulser: cf. F. pousse the heaves, asthma. See Push.] Fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering; as, pursy insolence. Shak.

Pursy important he sat him down.

Sir W. Scot.

Pur"te*nance (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. appurtenance.] That which pertains or belongs to something; esp., the heard, liver, and lungs of an animal. [Obs.] " The purtenaunces of purgatory." Piers Plowman.

Roast [it] with fire, his head with his legs, and with the purtenance [Rev. Ver., inwards] thereof.

Ex. xii. 9.

{ Pu"ru*lence (?), Pu"ru*len*cy (?), } n. [L. purulentia: cf. F. purulence.] (Med.) The quality or state of being purulent; the generation of pus; also, the pus itself. Arbuthnot.

Pu"ru*lent (?), a. [L. purulentus, fr. pus, puris, pus, matter: cf. F. purulent. See Pus.] (Med.) Consisting of pus, or matter; partaking of the nature of pus; attended with suppuration; as, purulent inflammation.

Pu"ru*lent*ly, v. In a purulent manner.

{ Pur"ve*ance (?), Pur"vei*aunce` (?) }, n. Purveyance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pur*vey" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Purveyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Purveying.] [OE. purveien, porveien, OF. porveeir, porveoir, F. pourvoir, fr. L. providere. See Provide, and cf. Purview.] 1. To furnish or provide, as with a convenience, provisions, or the like.

Give no odds to your foes, but do purvey Yourself of sword before that bloody day.

Spenser.

2. To procure; to get.

I mean to purvey me a wife after the fashion of the children of Benjamin.

Sir W. Scot.

Pur*vey", v. i. 1. To purchase provisions; to provide; to make provision. Chaucer. Milton.

2. To pander; -- with to. " Their turpitude purveys to their malice." [R.] Burke.

Pur*vey"ance (?), n. [Cf. F. pourvoyance.] 1. The act or process of providing or procuring; providence; foresight; preparation; management. Chaucer.

The ill purveyance of his page.

Spenser.

2. That which is provided; provisions; food.

3. (Eng. Law) A providing necessaries for the sovereign by buying them at an appraised value in preference to all others, and oven without the owner's consent. This was formerly a royal prerogative, but has long been abolished. Wharton.