2. (Geom.) The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.
Per"i*phrase (?), n. [L. periphrasis, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to think about, to be expressed periphrastically; &?; + &?; to speak: cf. F. pÈriphrase. See Phrase.] (Rhet.) The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. "To describe by enigmatic periphrases." De Quincey.
Per"i*phrase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periphrased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Periphrasing.] [Cf. F. pÈriphraser.] To express by periphrase or circumlocution.
Per"i*phrase, v. i. To use circumlocution.
||Pe*riph"ra*sis (?), n.; pl. Periphrases (#). [L.] See Periphrase.
{ Per`i*phras"tic (?), Per`i*phras"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈriphrastique.] Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory.
Periphrastic conjugation (Gram.), a conjugation formed by the use of the simple verb with one or more auxiliaries.
Per`i*phras"tic*al*ly, adv. With circumlocution.
Per"i*plast (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; to mold, form.] (Biol.) Same as Periblast. -- Per`i*plas"tic (#), a. Huxley.
{ ||Per`ip*neu*mo"ni*a (?), Per`ip*neu"mo*ny (?), } n. [L. peripneumonia, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈripneumonie. See Peri-, Pneumonia.] (Med.) Pneumonia. (Obsoles.)
Per`ip*neu*mon"ic (?), a. [L. peripneumonicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pÈripneumonique.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to peripneumonia.
Per"i*proct (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?; the anus.] (Zoˆl.) The region surrounding the anus, particularly of echinoderms.
||Per`i*proc*ti"tis (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Proctitus.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the tissues about the rectum.
Pe*rip"ter*al (?), a. [Gr., fr. &?; + &?; feather, wing, row of columns.] (Arch.) Having columns on all sides; -- said of an edifice. See Apteral.
Pe*rip"ter*ous (?), a. 1. (Arch.) Peripteral.
2. (Zoˆl.) Feathered all around.
Per"i*sarc (?), n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. &?;, &?;, flesh.] (Zoˆl.) The outer, hardened integument which covers most hydroids.
Pe*ris"cian (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?; shadow: cf. F. pÈriscien.] Having the shadow moving all around.
{ Pe*ris"cians (?), ||Pe*ris"ci*i (?), } n. pl. [NL. See Periscian.] Those who live within a polar circle, whose shadows, during some summer days, will move entirely round, falling toward every point of the compass.
Per"i*scope (?), n. [Pref. peri- + -scope.] A general or comprehensive view. [R.]
Per`i*scop"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. pÈriscopique.] Viewing all around, or on all sides.
Periscopic spectacles (Opt.), spectacles having concavo-convex or convexo-concave lenses with a considerable curvature corresponding to that of the eye, to increase the distinctness of objects viewed obliquely.
Per"ish (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Perished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Perishing.] [OE. perissen, perisshen, F. pÈrir, p. pr. pÈrissant, L. perire to go or run through, come to nothing, perish; per through + ire to go. Cf. Issue, and see -ish.] To be destroyed; to pass away; to become nothing; to be lost; to die; hence, to wither; to waste away.
I perish with hunger!
Luke xv. 17.
Grow up and perish, as the summer fly.
Milton.
The thoughts of a soul that perish in thinking.
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