Part 71

Pa*ren"the*sis (?), n.; pl. Parentheses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to put in beside, insert; para` beside + &?; in + &?; to put, place. See Para-, En-, 2, and Thesis.]

1. A word, phrase, or sentence, by way of comment or explanation, inserted in, or attached to, a sentence which would be grammatically complete without it. It is usually inclosed within curved lines (see def. 2 below), or dashes. "Seldom mentioned without a derogatory parenthesis." Sir T. Browne.

Don't suffer every occasional thought to carry you away into a long parenthesis.

Watts.

2. (Print.) One of the curved lines () which inclose a parenthetic word or phrase.

Parenthesis, in technical grammar, is that part of a sentence which is inclosed within the recognized sign; but many phrases and sentences which are punctuated by commas are logically parenthetical. In def. 1, the phrase "by way of comment or explanation" is inserted for explanation, and the sentence would be grammatically complete without it. The present tendency is to avoid using the distinctive marks, except when confusion would arise from a less conspicuous separation.

Pa*ren"the*size (?), v. t. To make a parenthesis of; to include within parenthetical marks. Lowell.

{ Par`en*thet"ic (?), Par`en*thet"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. Gr. &?;.] 1. Of the nature of a parenthesis; pertaining to, or expressed in, or as in, a parenthesis; as, a parenthetical clause; a parenthetic remark.

A parenthetical observation of Moses himself.

Hales.

2. Using or containing parentheses.

Par`en*thet"ic*al*ly, adv. In a parenthetical manner; by way of parenthesis; by parentheses.

Par"ent*hood (?), n. The state of a parent; the office or character of a parent.

Pa*ren"ti*cide (?), n. [L. parenticida a parricide; parens parent + caedere to kill.]

1. The act of one who kills one's own parent. [R.]

2. One who kills one's own parent; a parricide. [R.]

Par"ent*less (?), a. Deprived of parents.

Par*ep`i*did"y*mis (?), n. [NL. See Para-, and Epididymis.] (Anat.) A small body containing convoluted tubules, situated near the epididymis in man and some other animals, and supposed to be a remnant of the anterior part of the Wolffian body.

Par"er (?), n. [From Pare, v. t.] One who, or that which, pares; an instrument for paring.

||Pa*rer"gon (?), n. [L.] See Parergy.

Par"er*gy (?), n. [L. parergon, Gr. &?;; para` beside + &?; work.] Something unimportant, incidental, or superfluous. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

||Par"e*sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to let go; &?; from + ||&?; to send.] (Med.) Incomplete paralysis, affecting motion but not ||sensation.

Par*eth"moid (?), a. [Pref. para- + ethmoid.] (Anat.) Near or beside the ethmoid bone or cartilage; -- applied especially to a pair of bones in the nasal region of some fishes, and to the ethmoturbinals in some higher animals. -- n. A parethmoid bone.

Pa*ret"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to paresis; affected with paresis.

Par*fay" (?), interj. [Par + fay.] By my faith; verily. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Par"fit (?), a. Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Par"fit*ly, adv. Perfectly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

{ Par*forn" (?), Par*fourn" (?) }, v. t. To perform. [Obs.] Chaucer. Piers Plowman.