Part 159

Pend"ence (?), n. [See Pendent.] Slope; inclination. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Pend"en*cy (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being pendent or suspended.

2. The quality or state of being undecided, or in continuance; suspense; as, the pendency of a suit. Ayliffe.

Pend"ent (?), a. [L. pendens, -entis, p. pr. of pendere to hang, to be suspended. Cf. Pendant.] 1. Supported from above; suspended; depending; pendulous; hanging; as, a pendent leaf. "The pendent world." Shak.

Often their tresses, when shaken, with pendent icicles tinkle.

Longfellow.

2. Jutting over; projecting; overhanging. "A vapor sometime like a . . . pendent rock." Shak.

Pen*den"tive (?), n. [F. pendentif, fr. L. pendere to hang.] (Arch.) (a) The portion of a vault by means of which the square space in the middle of a building is brought to an octagon or circle to receive a cupola. (b) The part of a groined vault which is supported by, and springs from, one pier or corbel.

Pend"ent*ly, adv. In a pendent manner.

Pen"dice (?), n. [Cf. Pentice.] A sloping roof; a lean-to; a penthouse. [Obs.] Fairfax.

Pen"di*cle (?), n. [Cf. Appendicle.] An appendage; something dependent on another; an appurtenance; a pendant. Sir W. Scott.

Pen*di*cler (?), n. An inferior tenant; one who rents a pendicle or croft. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Pend"ing (?), a. [L. pendere to hang, to be suspended. Cf. Pendent.] Not yet decided; in continuance; in suspense; as, a pending suit.

Pend"ing, prep. During; as, pending the trail.

Pen"drag*on (?), n. A chief leader or a king; a head; a dictator; -- a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs.

The dread Pendragon, Britain's king of kings.

Tennyson.

Pen"du*lar (?), a. Pendulous.

Pen"du*late (?), v. i. To swing as a pendulum. [R.]

Pen"dule (?), n. [F.] A pendulum. [R.] Evelyn.

||Pen"du`line (?), n. [F. See Pendulum.] (Zoˆl.) A European titmouse ||(Parus, or ∆githalus, pendulinus). It is noted for its elegant ||pendulous purselike nest, made of the down of willow trees and lined ||with feathers.

Pen`du*los"i*ty (?), n. [See Pendulous.] The state or quality of being pendulous. Sir T. Browne.

Pen"du*lous (?), a. [L. pendulus, fr. pendere to hang. Cf. Pendant, and cf. Pendulum.] 1. Depending; pendent loosely; hanging; swinging. Shak. "The pendulous round earth." Milton.

2. Wavering; unstable; doubtful. [R.] "A pendulous state of mind." Atterbury.

3. (Bot.) Inclined or hanging downwards, as a flower on a recurved stalk, or an ovule which hangs from the upper part of the ovary.

Pen"du*lous*ly, adv. In a pendulous manner.

Pen"du*lous*ness, n. The quality or state of being pendulous; the state of hanging loosely; pendulosity.

Pen"du*lum (?), n.; pl. Pendulums (#). [NL., fr. L. pendulus hanging, swinging. See Pendulous.] A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum. It is used to regulate the movements of clockwork and other machinery.