Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter P - Page 13

Parabola (n.) A kind of curve; one of the conic sections formed by the intersection of the surface of a cone with a plane parallel to one of its sides. It is a curve, any point of which is equally distant from a fixed point, called the focus, and a fixed straight line, called the directrix. See Focus.

Parabola (n.) One of a group of curves defined by the equation y = axn where n is a positive whole number or a positive fraction. For the cubical parabola n = 3; for the semicubical parabola n = /. See under Cubical, and Semicubical. The parabolas have infinite branches, but no rectilineal asymptotes.

Parabole (n.) Similitude; comparison.

Parabolic (a.) Alt. of Parabolical

Parabolical (a.) Of the nature of a parable; expressed by a parable or figure; allegorical; as, parabolical instruction.

Parabolical (a.) Having the form or nature of a parabola; pertaining to, or resembling, a parabola; as, a parabolic curve.

Parabolical (a.) Generated by the revolution of a parabola, or by a line that moves on a parabola as a directing curve; as, a parabolic conoid.

Parabolically (adv.) By way of parable; in a parabolic manner.

Parabolically (adv.) In the form of a parabola.

Paraboliform (a.) Resembling a parabola in form.

Parabolism (n.) The division of the terms of an equation by a known quantity that is involved in the first term.

Parabolist (n.) A narrator of parables.

Paraboloid (n.) The solid generated by the rotation of a parabola about its axis; any surface of the second order whose sections by planes parallel to a given line are parabolas.

Paraboloidal (a.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a paraboloid.

Parabronchia (pl. ) of Parabronchium

Parabronchium (n.) One of the branches of an ectobronchium or entobronchium.

Paracelsian (a.) Of, pertaining to, or in conformity with, the practice of Paracelsus, a Swiss physician of the 15th century.

Paracelsian (n.) A follower of Paracelsus or his practice or teachings.

Paracelsist (n.) A Paracelsian.

Paracentesis (n.) The perforation of a cavity of the body with a trocar, aspirator, or other suitable instrument, for the evacuation of effused fluid, pus, or gas; tapping.

Paracentric (a.) Alt. of Paracentrical

Paracentrical (a.) Deviating from circularity; changing the distance from a center.

Parachordal (a.) Situated on either side of the notochord; -- applied especially to the cartilaginous rudiments of the skull on each side of the anterior part of the notochord.

Parachordal (n.) A parachordal cartilage.

Parachronism (n.) An error in chronology, by which the date of an event is set later than the time of its occurrence.

Parachrose (a.) Changing color by exposure

Parachute (n.) A contrivance somewhat in the form of an umbrella, by means of which a descent may be made from a balloon, or any eminence.

Parachute (n.) A web or fold of skin which extends between the legs of certain mammals, as the flying squirrels, colugo, and phalangister.

Paraclete (n.) An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; -- a term applied to the Holy Spirit.

Paraclose (n.) See Parclose.

Paracmastic (a.) Gradually decreasing; past the acme, or crisis, as a distemper.

Paraconic (a.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid obtained as a deliquescent white crystalline substance, and isomeric with itaconic, citraconic, and mesaconic acids.

Paraconine (n.) A base resembling and isomeric with conine, and obtained as a colorless liquid from butyric aldehyde and ammonia.

Paracorolla (n.) A secondary or inner corolla; a corona, as of the Narcissus.

Paracrostic (n.) A poetical composition, in which the first verse contains, in order, the first letters of all the verses of the poem.

Paracyanogen (n.) A polymeric modification of cyanogen, obtained as a brown or black amorphous residue by heating mercuric cyanide.

Paracymene (n.) Same as Cymene.

Paradactyla (pl. ) of Paradactylum

Paradactylum (n.) The side of a toe or finger.

Parade (v. t.) The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled.

Parade (v. t.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled.

Parade (v. t.) Pompous show; formal display or exhibition.

Parade (v. t.) That which is displayed; a show; a spectacle; an imposing procession; the movement of any body marshaled in military order; as, a parade of firemen.

Parade (v. t.) Posture of defense; guard.

Parade (v. t.) A public walk; a promenade.

Paraded (imp. & p. p.) of Parade

Parading (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Parade

Parade (v. t.) To exhibit in a showy or ostentatious manner; to show off.

Parade (v. t.) To assemble and form; to marshal; to cause to maneuver or march ceremoniously; as, to parade troops.

Parade (v. i.) To make an exhibition or spectacle of one's self, as by walking in a public place.

Parade (v. i.) To assemble in military order for evolutions and inspection; to form or march, as in review.

Paradigm (n.) An example; a model; a pattern.

Paradigm (n.) An example of a conjugation or declension, showing a word in all its different forms of inflection.

Paradigm (n.) An illustration, as by a parable or fable.

Paradigmatic (a.) Alt. of Paradigmatical

Paradigmatical (a.) Exemplary.

Paradigmatic (n.) A writer of memoirs of religious persons, as examples of Christian excellence.

Paradigmatized (imp. & p. p.) of Paradigmatize

Paradigmatizing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Paradigmatize

Paradigmatize (v. t.) To set forth as a model or example.

Paradisaic (a.) Alt. of Paradisaical

Paradisaical (a.) Of or pertaining to, or resembling, paradise; paradisiacal.

Paradisal (a.) Paradisiacal.

Paradise (n.) The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed after their creation.

Paradise (n.) The abode of sanctified souls after death.

Paradise (n.) A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight; hence, a state of happiness.

Paradise (n.) An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc.

Paradise (n.) A churchyard or cemetery.

Paradise (v. t.) To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch.

Paradisean (a.) Paradisiacal.

Paradised (a.) Placed in paradise; enjoying delights as of paradise.

Paradisiac (a.) Alt. of Paradisiacal

Paradisiacal (a.) Of or pertaining to paradise; suitable to, or like, paradise.

Paradisial (a.) Alt. of Paradisian

Paradisian (a.) Paradisiacal.

Paradisic (a.) Paradisiacal.

Paradisical (a.) Paradisiacal.

Paradoses (pl. ) of Parados

Parados (n.) An intercepting mound, erected in any part of a fortification to protect the defenders from a rear or ricochet fire; a traverse.

Paradoxes (pl. ) of Paradox

Paradox (n.) A tenet or proposition contrary to received opinion; an assertion or sentiment seemingly contradictory, or opposed to common sense; that which in appearance or terms is absurd, but yet may be true in fact.

Paradoxal (a.) Paradoxical.

Paradoxical (a.) Of the nature of a paradox.

Paradoxical (a.) Inclined to paradoxes, or to tenets or notions contrary to received opinions.

Paradoxer (n.) Alt. of Paradoxist

Paradoxist (n.) One who proposes a paradox.

Paradoxides (n.) A genus of large trilobites characteristic of the primordial formations.

Paradoxology (n.) The use of paradoxes.

Paradoxure (n.) Any species of Paradoxurus, a genus of Asiatic viverrine mammals allied to the civet, as the musang, and the luwack or palm cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). See Musang.

Paradoxy (n.) A paradoxical statement; a paradox.

Paradoxy (n.) The quality or state of being paradoxical.

Paraffin (n.) Alt. of Paraffine

Paraffine (n.) A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used as an illuminant and lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins.

Parage (n.) Equality of condition, blood, or dignity; also, equality in the partition of an inheritance.

Parage (n.) Equality of condition between persons holding unequal portions of a fee.

Parage (n.) Kindred; family; birth.

Paragenesis (n.) The science which treats of minerals with special reference to their origin.

Paragenic (a.) Originating in the character of the germ, or at the first commencement of an individual; -- said of peculiarities of structure, character, etc.

Paraglobulin (n.) An albuminous body in blood serum, belonging to the group of globulins. See Fibrinoplastin.

Paraglossae (pl. ) of Paraglossa

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