Part 181

<! p. 1065 !>

Per"el (?), n. Apparel. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Per*empt" (?), v. t. [L. peremptus, p. p. of perimere to take away entirely, to destroy; per (see Per-) + OL. emere to take. See Redeem.] (Law) To destroy; to defeat. [R.] Ayliffe.

Per*emp"tion (?), n. [L. peremptio: cf. F. pÈremption.] (Law) A quashing; a defeating. [Obs.]

Per"emp*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a peremptory manner; absolutely; positively. Bacon.

Per"emp*to*ri*ness, n. The quality of being peremptory; positiveness.

Per"emp*to*ry (?), a. [L. peremptorius destructive, deadly, decisive, final: cf. F. pÈremptorie. See Perempt.] 1. Precluding debate or expostulation; not admitting of question or appeal; positive; absolute; decisive; conclusive; final.

Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to get thither.

Jer. Taylor.

2. Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatical.

Be not too positive and peremptory.

Bacon.

Briefly, then, for we are peremptory.

Shak.

3. Firmly determined; unawed. [Poetic] Shak.

Peremptory challenge (Law) See under Challenge. -- Peremptory mandamus, a final and absolute mandamus. -- Peremptory plea, a plea by a defendant tending to impeach the plaintiff's right of action; a plea in bar.

Syn. -- Decisive; positive; absolute; authoritative; express; arbitrary; dogmatical.

Per*en"ni*al (?), a. [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through; per through + annus year. See Per-, and Annual.] 1. ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains.

2. Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing.

The perennial existence of bodies corporate.

Burke.

3. (Bot.) Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or root, or plant.

Syn. -- Perpetual; unceasing; never failing; enduring; continual; permanent; uninterrupted.

Per*en"ni*al, n. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.

Per*en"ni*al*ly, adv. In a perennial manner.

||Per*en`ni*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Perennial, and ||Branchia.] (Zoˆl.) Those Batrachia which retain their gills through ||life, as the menobranchus.

Per*en`ni*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [See Perennial, and Branchiate.] 1. (Anat.) Having branchÊ, or gills, through life; -- said especially of certain Amphibia, like the menobranchus. Opposed to caducibranchiate.

2. (Zoˆl.) Belonging to the Perennibranchiata.