Part 203

We can distinguish no general truths, or at least shall be apt to perplex the mind.

Locke.

3. To plague; to vex; to tormen. Glanvill.

Syn. -- To entangle; involve; complicate; embarrass; puzzle; bewilder; confuse; distract. See Embarrass.

Per*plex", a. [L. perplexus entangled, intricate; per + plectere, plexum, to plait, braid: cf. F. perplexe. See Per-, and Plait.] Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanvill.

Per*plexed" (?), a. Entangled, involved, or confused; hence, embarrassd; puzzled; doubtful; anxious. -- Per*plex"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Per*plex"ed*ness, n.

Per*plex"ing (?), a. Embarrassing; puzzling; troublesome. "Perplexing thoughts." Milton.

Per*plex"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Perplexities (#). [L. perplexitas: cf. F. perplexitÈ.] The quality or state of being perplexed or puzzled; complication; intricacy; entanglement; distraction of mind through doubt or difficulty; embarrassment; bewilderment; doubt.

By their own perplexities involved, They ravel more.

Milton.

Per*plex"ive*ness (?), n. The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Per*plex"ly, adv. Perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.

Per`po*ta"tion (?), n. [L. perpotatio, fr. perpotate. See Per-, and Potation.] The act of drinking excessively; a drinking bout. [Obs.]

Per"qui*site (?), n. [L. perquisitum, fr. perquisitus, p. p. of perquirere to ask for diligently; per + quaerere to seek. See Per-, and Quest.] 1. Something gained from a place or employment over and above the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service.

The pillage of a place taken by storm was regarded as the perquisite of the soldiers.

Prescott.

The best perquisites of a place are the advantages it gaves a man of doing good.

Addison.

2. pl. (Law) Things gotten by a man's own industry, or purchased with his own money, as opposed to things which come to him by descent. Mozley & W.

Per"qui*sit*ed, a. Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] "Perquisited varlets frequent stand." Savage.

Per`qui*si"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. perquisition.] A thorough inquiry of search. [R.] Berkeley.

Per*ra"di*al (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Situated around the radii, or radial tubes, of a radiate.

Per"rie (?), n. [F. pierreries, pl., fr. pierre stone, L. petra.] Precious stones; jewels. [Obs.] [Written also perre, perrye, etc.] Chaucer.

Per"ri*er (?), n. [OF. perriere, perrier, F. perrier. Cf. Pederero.] (Mil.) A short mortar used formerly for throwing stone shot. Hakluyt.

Per`ro*quet" (?), n. [F.] (Zoˆl.) See Paroquet, Parakeet.

||Per`ruque" (?), n. [F.] See Peruke.

Per*ru"qui*er (?), n. [F.] A marker of perukes or wigs.

Per"ry (?), n. [OF. perÈ, F. poirÈ, fr. poire a pear, L. pirum. See Pear the fruit.] A fermented liquor made from pears; pear cider. Mortimer.