Placable
Pla´ca•ble, a. [L. placabilis, fr. placare to quiet, pacify: cf. F. placable. See Placate.] Capable of being appeased or pacified; ready or willing to be pacified; willing to forgive or condone.
"Methought I saw him placable and mild." Milton.

Placard
Pla•card´, n. [F., fr. plaquer to lay or clap on, plaque plate, tablet; probably from Dutch, cf. D. plakken to paste, post up, plak a flat piece of wood.]
1. A public proclamation; a manifesto or edict issued by authority. [Obs.]
"All placards or edicts are published in his name." Howell.
2. Permission given by authority; a license; as to give a placard to do something. [Obs.] ller.
3. A written or printed paper, as an advertisement or a declaration, posted, or to be posted, in a public place; a poster.
4. (Anc. Armor) An extra plate on the lower part of the breastplate or backplate. Planche.
5. [Cf. Placket.] A kind of stomacher, often adorned with jewels, worn in the fifteenth century and later.

Placard
Pla•card´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Placarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Placarding.]
1. To post placards upon or within; as to placard a wall, to placard the city.
2. To announce by placards; as to placard a sale.

Place, n. [F., fr. L. platea a street, an area, a courtyard, from Gr. platei^a a street, properly fem. of platy•s, flat, broad; akin to Skr. prthu, Lith. platus. Cf. Flawn, Piazza, Plate, Plaza.]
1. Any portion of space regarded as measured off or distinct from all other space, or appropriated to some definite object or use; position; ground; site; spot; rarely, unbounded space.
"Here is the place appointed." Shak.
"What place can be for us Within heaven’s bound?" Milton.
"The word place has sometimes a more confused sense, and stands for that space which any body takes up; and so the universe is a place." Locke.
2. A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court or short part of a street open only at one end. "Hangman boys in the market place." Shak.
3. A position which is occupied and held; a dwelling; a mansion; a village, town, or city; a fortified town or post; a stronghold; a region or country.
"Are you native of this place?" Shak.
4. Rank; degree; grade; order of priority, advancement, dignity, or importance; especially, social rank or position; condition; also official station; occupation; calling. "The enervating magic of place." Hawthorne.
"Men in great place are thrice servants." Bacon.
"I know my place as I would they should do theirs." Shak.
5. Vacated or relinquished space; room; stead (the departure or removal of another being or thing being implied). "In place of Lord Bassanio." Shak.
6. A definite position or passage of a document.
"The place of the scripture which he read was this." Acts viii. 32.
7. Ordinal relation; position in the order of proceeding; as he said in the first place.
8. Reception; effect; — implying the making room for.
"My word hath no place in you." John viii. 37.
9. (Astron.) Position in the heavens, as of a heavenly body; — usually defined by its right ascension and declination, or by its latitude and longitude. Place of arms (Mil.), a place calculated for the rendezvous of men in arms, etc., as a fort which affords a safe retreat for hospitals, magazines, etc. Wilhelm. — High place (Script.), a mount on which sacrifices were offered. "Him that offereth in the high place." Jer. xlviii. 35. — In place, in proper position; timely. — Out of place, inappropriate; ill-timed; as his remarks were out of place. — Place kick (Football), the act of kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground. — Place name, the name of a place or locality. London Academy. — To give place, to make room; to yield; to give way; to give advantage. "Neither give place to the devil." Eph. iv. 27. "Let all the rest give place." Shak. — To have place, to have a station, room, or seat; as such desires can have no place in a good heart. — To take place. (a) To come to pass; to occur; as the ceremony will not take place. (b) To take precedence or priority. Addison. (c) To take effect; to prevail. "If your doctrine takes place." Berkeley. "But none of these excuses would take place." Spenser. - - To take the place of, to be substituted for.
Syn. — Situation; seat; abode; position; locality; location; site; spot; office; employment; charge; function; trust; ground; room; stead.

Place, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Placed p. pr. & vb. n. Placing ] [Cf. F. placer. See Place, n. ]
1. To assign a place to; to put in a particular spot or place, or in a certain relative position; to direct to a particular place; to fix; to settle; to locate; as to place a book on a shelf; to place balls in tennis.
"Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown." Shak.
2. To put or set in a particular rank, office, or position; to surround with particular circumstances or relations in life; to appoint to certain station or condition of life; as in whatever sphere one is placed.
"Place such over them to be rulers." Ex. xviii. 21.
3. To put out at interest; to invest; to loan; as to place money in a bank.
4. To set; to fix; to repose; as to place confidence in a friend. "My resolution ’s placed." Shak.
5. To attribute; to ascribe; to set down.
"Place it for her chief virtue." Shak. To place (a person), to identify him. [Colloq. U.S.]
Syn. — See Put.

Place, n. (Racing) The position of first, second, or third at the finish, esp. the second position. In betting, to win a bet on a horse for place it must, in the United States, finish first or second, in England, usually, first, second, or third.

Place, v. t.
1. (Racing) To determine or announce the place of at the finish. Usually, in horse racing only the first three horses are placed officially.
2. (Rugby Football) To place-kick ( a goal).

Placebo
Pla•ce´bo, n. [L., I shall please, fut. of placere to please.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) The first antiphon of the vespers for the dead.
2. (Med.) A prescription intended to humor or satisfy. To sing placebo, to agree with one in his opinion; to be complaisant to. Chaucer.

Placeful
Place´ful, a. In the appointed place. [Obs.]

Place-kick
Place´-kick, v. t. & i. To make a place kick; to make (a goal) by a place kick. — Place"- kick•er, n.

Placeless
Place´less, a. Having no place or office.

Placeman
Place´man, n. ; pl. Placemen . One who holds or occupies a place; one who has office under government. Sir W. Scott.Place´ment, n. [Cf. F. placement.]
1. The act of placing, or the state of being placed.
2. Position; place.

Placenta
Pla•cen´ta, n. ; pl. L. Placentae (#), E. Placentas (#). [L., a cake, Gr. a flat cake, from flat, fr.,, anything flat and broad.]
1. (Anat.) The vascular appendage which connects the fetus with the parent, and is cast off in parturition with the afterbirth. In most mammals the placenta is principally developed from the allantois and chorion, and tufts of vascular villi on its surface penetrate the blood vessels of the parental uterus, and thus establish a nutritive and excretory connection between the blood of the fetus and that of the parent, though the blood itself does not flow from one to the other.
2. (Bot.) The part of a pistil or fruit to which the ovules or seeds are attached.

Placental
Pla•cen´tal, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the placenta; having, or characterized by having, a placenta; as a placental mammal.
2. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Placentalia.

Placental
Pla•cen´tal, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Placentalia.

Placentalia
Plac•en•ta´li•a, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of Mammalia including those that have a placenta, or all the orders above the marsupials.

Placentary
Pla•cen´ta•ry, a. Having reference to the placenta; as the placentary system of classification.

Placentation
Plac•en•ta´tion, n.
1. (Anat.) The mode of formation of the placenta in different animals; as the placentation of mammals.
2. (Bot.) The mode in which the placenta is arranged or composed; as axile placentation; parietal placentation.

Placentiferous
Plac•en•tif´er•ous, a. [ Placenta + -ferous.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Having or producing a placenta.

Placentiform
Pla•cen´ti•form, a. [ Placenta + -form.] (Bot.) Having the shape of a placenta, or circular thickened disk somewhat thinner about the middle.

Placentious
Pla•cen´tious, a. [See Please.] Pleasing; amiable. [Obs.] "A placentious person." Fuller.

Placer
Pla´cer, n. One who places or sets. Spenser.

Placer
Plac´er, n. [Sp.] A deposit of earth, sand, or gravel, containing valuable mineral in particles, especially by the side of a river, or in the bed of a mountain torrent. [U.S.]

Placet
Pla´cet, n. [L. placet it pleases.]
1. A vote of assent, as of the governing body of a university, of an ecclesiastical council, etc.
2. The assent of the civil power to the promulgation of an ecclesiastical ordinance. Shipley.
"The king … annulled the royal placet." J. P. Peters.

Placid
Plac´id, a. [L. placidus, originally, pleasing, mild, from placere to please: cf. F. placide. See Please.] Pleased; contented; unruffied; undisturbed; serene; peaceful; tranquil; quiet; gentle. "That placid aspect and meek regard." Milton. "Sleeping … the placid sleep of infancy." Macaulay.

Placidly
Plac´id•ly, adv. In a placid manner.

Placidness
Plac´id•ness, n. The quality or state of being placid.

Placit
Plac´it, n. [L. placitum. See Plea.] A decree or determination; a dictum. [Obs.] "The placits and opinions of other philosophers." Evelyn.

Placodermal
Plac•o•der´mal, a. (Paleon.) Of or pertaining to the placoderms; like the placoderms.

Placodermata
Plac•o•der´ma•ta, n. pl. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as Placodermi.

Placoganoidei
Plac•o•ga•noi´de•i, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.,, a tablet + NL. ganoidei. See Ganoidei.] (Zoöl.) A division of ganoid fishes including those that have large external bony plates and a cartilaginous skeleton.

Placoides
Pla•coi´des, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of fishes including the sharks and rays; the Elasmobranchii; — called also Placoidei.

Placoidian
Pla•coid´i•an, n. (Zoöl.) One of the placoids.

Placophora
Pla•coph´o•ra, n. pl. [NL., from Gr.,, tablet + to bear.] (Zoöl.) A division of gastropod Mollusca, including the chitons. The back is covered by eight shelly plates. Called also Polyplacophora. See Illust. under Chiton, and Isopleura.

Plagal
Pla´gal, a. [F., from Gr. sidewise, slanting.] (Mus.) Having a scale running from the dominant to its octave; — said of certain old church modes or tunes, as opposed to those called authentic, which ran from the tonic to its octave. Plagal cadence, a cadence in which the final chord on the tonic is preceded by the chord on the subdominant.

Plagate
Pla´gate, a. (Zoöl.) Having plagae, or irregular enlongated color spots.

Plage, n. [F., fr. L. plaga.] A region; country. [Obs.] "The plages of the north." Chaucer.

Plagiarism
Pla´gia•rism, n. [Cf. F. plagiarisme.]
1. The act or practice of plagiarizing.
2. That which plagiarized.

Plagiarist
Pla´gia•rist, n. One who plagiarizes; or purloins the words, writings, or ideas of another, and passes them off as his own; a literary thief; a plagiary.

Plagiarize
Pla´gia•rize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plagiarized p. pr. & vb. n. Plagiarizing.] To steal or purloin from the writings of another; to appropriate without due acknowledgement (the ideas or expressions of another).

Plagihedral
Pla•gi•he´dral, a. [Gr. oblique + base, seat.] (Crystallog.) Having an oblique spiral arrangement of planes, as levogyrate and dextrogyrate crystals.

Plagiocephalic
Pla•gi•o•ce•phal´ic, a. [Gr. oblique + the head.] (Anat.) Having an oblique lateral deformity of the skull.

Plagiocephaly
Pla•gi•o•ceph´a•ly, n. (Anat.) Oblique lateral deformity of the skull.

Plagioclase
Pla´gi•o•clase, n. [Gr. oblique + to break.] (Min.) A general term used of any triclinic feldspar. See the Note under Feldspar.

Plagiostomatous
Pla•gi•o•stom´a•tous, a. (Zoöl.) Same as Plagiostomous.

Plagiostomi
Pla•gi•os´to•mi, n. pl. [NL., from Gr. slanting +,, mouth.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes including the sharks and rays; — called also Plagiostomata.

Plagiostomous
Pla•gi•os´to•mous, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plagiostomi.

Plagiotremata
Pla•gi•o•trem´a•ta, n. pl.; [NL., fr. Gr. slanting +,, a hole.] (Zoöl.) Same as Lepidosauria.

Plagium
Pla´gi•um, n. [L.] (Civil Law) Manstealing; kidnaping.

Plagose
Pla•gose´, a. [L. plagosus. See Plague.] Fond of flogging; as a plagose master. [R.]

Plagueless
Plague´less, a. Free from plagues or the plague.

Plaguer
Pla´guer, n. One who plagues or annoys.

Plaguily
Pla´gui•ly, adv. In a plaguing manner; vexatiously; extremely. [Colloq.] "Ronsard is so plaguily stiff and stately." Landor.

Plaguy
Pla´guy, a. Vexatious; troublesome; tormenting; as a plaguy horse. [Colloq.] Also used adverbially; as "He is so plaguy proud." Shak.

Plaice, n. [F. plaise, plais, prob. fr. L. platessa flatish, plaice. See Place.] (Zoöl.) (a) A European food fish ( Pleuronectes platessa), allied to the flounder, and growing to the weight of eight or ten pounds or more. (b) A large American flounder ( Paralichthys dentatus; called also brail, puckermouth, and summer flounder. The name is sometimes applied to other allied species. [Written also plaise.] Plaice mouth, a mouth like that of a plaice; a small or wry mouth. [R.] B. Jonson.

Plaided
Plaid´ed, a.
1. Of the material of which plaids are made; tartan. "In plaided vest." Wordsworth.
2. Wearing a plaid. Campbell.

Plaiding
Plaid´ing, n. Plaid cloth.

Plain, v. i. [OE. playne, pleyne, fr. F. plaindre. See Plaint.] To lament; to bewail; to complain. [Archaic & Poetic] Milton.
"We with piteous heart unto you pleyne." Chaucer.

Plain, v. t. To lament; to mourn over; as to plain a loss. [Archaic & Poetic] Sir J. Harrington.

Plain, a. [ Compar. Plainer superl. Plainest.] [F., level, flat, fr. L. planus, perhaps akin to E. floor. Cf. Llano, Piano, Plan, Plane level, a level surface.]
1. Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth; even. See Plane.
"The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." Isa. xl. 4.
2. Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
"Our troops beat an army in plain fight." Felton.
3. Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable. "’T is a plain case." Shak.
4. (a) Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple. (b) Not highly cultivated; unsophisticated; free from show or pretension; simple; natural; homely; common. "Plain yet pious Christians." Hammond. "The plain people." A. Lincoln. (c) Free from affectation or disguise; candid; sincere; artless; honest; frank. "An honest mind, and plain." Shak. (d) Not luxurious; not highly seasoned; simple; as plain food. (e) Without beauty; not handsome; homely; as a plain woman. (f) Not variegated, dyed, or figured; as plain muslin. (g) Not much varied by modulations; as a plain tune. Plain battle, open battle; pitched battle. [Obs.] Chaucer. — Plain chant (Mus.) Same as Plain song, below. — Plain chart (Naut.), a chart laid down on Mercator’s projection. — Plain dealer. (a) One who practices plain dealing. (b) A simpleton. [Obs.] Shak. — Plain dealing. See under Dealing. — Plain molding (Join.), molding of which the surfaces are plain figures. — Plain sewing, sewing of seams by simple and common stitches, in distinct from fancy work, embroidery, etc.; — distinguished also from designing and fitting garments. — Plain song. (a) The Gregorian chant, or canto fermo; the prescribed melody of the Roman Catholic service, sung in unison, in tones of equal length, and rarely extending beyond the compass of an octave. (b) A simple melody. — Plain speaking, plainness or bluntness of speech.
Syn. — Level; flat; smooth; open; artless; unaffected; undisguised; frank; sincere; honest; candid; ingenuous; unembellished; downright; blunt; clear; simple; distinct; manifest; obvious; apparent. See Manifest.

Plain, adv. In a plain manner; plainly. "To speak short and pleyn." Chaucer. "To tell you plain." Shak.

Plain, n. [Cf. OF. plaigne, F. plaine. See Plain, a. ]
1. Level land; usually, an open field or a broad stretch of land with an even surface, or a surface little varied by inequalities; as the plain of Jordan; the American plains, or prairies.
"Descending fro the mountain into playn." Chaucer.
"Him the Ammonite Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain." Milton.
2. A field of battle. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
"Lead forth my soldiers to the plain." Shak.

Plain, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plained ; p. pr. & vb. n. Plaining.] [Cf. Plane, v. ]
1. To plane or level; to make plain or even on the surface. [R.]
"We would rake Europe rather, plain the East." Wither.
2. To make plain or manifest; to explain.
"What’s dumb in show, I’ll plain in speech." Shak.

Plaining
Plain´ing, n. Complaint. [Poetic] Shak.

Plaining
Plain´ing, a. Complaining. [Poetic] Bryant.

Plain-laid
Plain´-laid, a. (Naut.) Consisting of strands twisted together in the ordinary way; as a plain-laid rope. See Illust. of Cordage.

Plainness
Plain´ness, n. The quality or state of being plain.

Plainsman
Plains´man, n. ; pl. - men . One who lives in the plains.

Plain-spoken
Plain´-spo•ken, a. Speaking with plain, unreserved sincerity; also spoken sincerely; as plain-spoken words. Dryden.

Plaint, n. [OE. plainte, pleynte, F. plainte, fr. L. plangere, planctum ( plancta, fem. p. p.), to beat, beat the breast, lament. Cf. Complain, Plague, Plangent.]
1. Audible expression of sorrow; lamentation; complaint; hence, a mournful song; a lament. Chaucer. "The Psalmist’s mournful plaint." Wordsworth.
2. An accusation or protest on account of an injury.
"There are three just grounds of war with Spain: one of plaint, two upon defense." Bacon.
3. (Law) A private memorial tendered to a court, in which a person sets forth his cause of action; the exhibiting of an action in writing. Blackstone.

Plaintiff
Plain´tiff, n. [F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See Plaint, and cf. Plaintive.] (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; — opposed to defendant.

Plaintiff
Plain´tiff, a. See Plaintive. [Obs.] Prior.

Plaisance
Plai•sance´, n. [F.] See Pleasance.

Plaiter
Plait´er, n. One who, or that which, plaits.

Plan, n. [F., fr. L. planus flat, level. See Plain, a. ]
1. A draught or form; properly, a representation drawn on a plane, as a map or a chart; especially, a top view, as of a machine, or the representation or delineation of a horizontal section of anything, as of a building; a graphic representation; a diagram.
2. A scheme devised; a method of action or procedure expressed or described in language; a project; as the plan of a constitution; the plan of an expedition.
"God’s plans like lines pure and white unfold." M. R. Smith.
3. A method; a way of procedure; a custom.
"The simple plan, That they should take who have the power, And they should keep who can." Wordsworth. Body plan, Floor plan, etc. See under Body, Floor, etc.
Syn. — Scheme; draught; delineation; plot; sketch; project; design; contrivance; device. See Scheme.

Plan, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Planned p. pr. & vb. n. Planning.]
1. To form a delineation of; to draught; to represent, as by a diagram.
2. To scheme; to devise; to contrive; to form in design; as to plan the conquest of a country.
"Even in penance, planning sins anew." Goldsmith.

Planarida
Pla•nar´i•da, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of Turbellaria; the Dendrocœla.

Planarioid
Pla•na´ri•oid, a. [ Planaria + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like the planarians.

Planary
Pla´na•ry, a. [L. planarius level. See Plane, a. ] Of or pertaining to a plane. [R.]

Planchet
Planch´et, n. [F. planchette a small board, dim. of planche. See Planch.] A flat piece of metal; especially, a disk of metal ready to be stamped as a coin.

Plane, n. [F., fr. L. platanus, Gr., fr. broad; — so called on account of its broad leaves and spreading form. See Place, and cf. Platane, Plantain the tree.] (Bot.) Any tree of the genus Platanus. The Oriental plane ( Platanus orientalis) is a native of Asia. It rises with a straight, smooth, branching stem to a great height, with palmated leaves, and long pendulous peduncles, sustaining several heads of small close-sitting flowers. The seeds are downy, and collected into round, rough, hard balls. The Occidental plane ( Platanus occidentalis), which grows to a great height, is a native of North America, where it is popularly called sycamore, buttonwood, and buttonball, names also applied to the California species ( Platanus racemosa).

Plane, a. [L. planus: cf. F. plan. See Plan, a. ] Without elevations or depressions; even; level; flat; lying in, or constituting, a plane; as a plane surface. In science, this word (instead of plain) is almost exclusively used to designate a flat or level surface. Plane angle, the angle included between two straight lines in a plane. — Plane chart, Plane curve. See under Chart and Curve. — Plane figure, a figure all points of which lie in the same plane. If bounded by straight lines it is a rectilinear plane figure, if by curved lines it is a curvilinear plane figure. — Plane geometry, that part of geometry which treats of the relations and properties of plane figures. — Plane problem, a problem which can be solved geometrically by the aid of the right line and circle only. — Plane sailing (Naut.), the method of computing a ship’s place and course on the supposition that the earth’s surface is a plane. — Plane scale (Naut.), a scale for the use of navigators, on which are graduated chords, sines, tangents, secants, rhumbs, geographical miles, etc. — Plane surveying, surveying in which the curvature of the earth is disregarded; ordinary field and topographical surveying of tracts of moderate extent. — Plane table, an instrument used for plotting the lines of a survey on paper in the field. — Plane trigonometry, the branch of trigonometry in which its principles are applied to plane triangles.

Plane, n. [F. plane, L. plana. See Plane, v. & a. ]
1. (Geom.) A surface, real or imaginary, in which, if any two points are taken, the straight line which joins them lies wholly in that surface; or a surface, any section of which by a like surface is a straight line; a surface without curvature.
2. (Astron.) An ideal surface, conceived as coinciding with, or containing, some designated astronomical line, circle, or other curve; as the plane of an orbit; the plane of the ecliptic, or of the equator.
3. (Mech.) A block or plate having a perfectly flat surface, used as a standard of flatness; a surface plate.
4. (Joinery) A tool for smoothing boards or other surfaces of wood, for forming moldings, etc. It consists of a smooth-soled stock, usually of wood, from the under side or face of which projects slightly the steel cutting edge of a chisel, called the iron, which inclines backward, with an apperture in front for the escape of shavings; as the jack plane; the smoothing plane; the molding plane, etc. Objective plane (Surv.), the horizontal plane upon which the object which is to be delineated, or whose place is to be determined, is supposed to stand. — Perspective plane. See Perspective. — Plane at infinity (Geom.), a plane in which points infinitely distant are conceived as situated. — Plane iron, the cutting chisel of a joiner’s plane. — Plane of polarization. (Opt.) See Polarization. — Plane of projection. (a) The plane on which the projection is made, corresponding to the perspective plane in perspective; — called also principal plane. (b) (Descriptive Geom.) One of the planes to which points are referred for the purpose of determining their relative position in space. — Plane of refraction or reflection (Opt.), the plane in which lie both the incident ray and the refracted or reflected ray.

Plane, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Planed p. pr. & vb. n. Planing.] [Cf. F. planer, L. planare, fr. planus. See Plane, a. , Plain, a. , and cf. Planish.]
1. To make smooth; to level; to pare off the inequalities of the surface of, as of a board or other piece of wood, by the use of a plane; as to plane a plank.
2. To efface or remove.
"He planed away the names … written on his tables." Chaucer.
3. Figuratively, to make plain or smooth. [R.]
"What student came but that you planed her path." Tennyson.

Plane, v. i. Of a boat, to lift more or less out of the water while in motion, after the manner of a hydroplane; to hydroplane.

Plane table
Plane" ta•ble See under Plane, a.

Planer
Plan´er, n.
1. One who, or that which, planes; a planing machine; esp., a machine for planing wood or metals.
2. (Print.) A wooden block used for forcing down the type in a form, and making the surface even. Hansard. Planer centers. See under Center.

Planet
Plan´et, n. [OE. planete, F. planète, L. planeta, fr. Gr., and a planet; prop. wandering, fr. to wander, fr. a wandering.]
1. (Astron.) A celestial body which revolves about the sun in an orbit of a moderate degree of eccentricity. It is distinguished from a comet by the absence of a coma, and by having a less eccentric orbit. See Solar system. The term planet was first used to distinguish those stars which have an apparent motion through the constellations from the fixed stars, which retain their relative places unchanged. The inferior planets are Mercury and Venus, which are nearer to the sun than is the earth; the superior planets are Mars, the asteroids, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which are farther from the sun than is the earth. Primary planets are those which revolve about the sun; secondary planets, or moons, are those which revolve around the primary planets as satellites, and at the same time revolve with them about the sun.
2. A star, as influencing the fate of a men.
"There’s some ill planet reigns." Shak. Planet gear. (Mach.) See Epicyclic train, under Epicyclic. — Planet wheel, a gear wheel which revolves around the wheel with which it meshes, in an epicyclic train.

Planetoid
Plan´et•oid, n. [ Planet + -oid.] (Astron.) A body resembling a planet; an asteroid.

Planetoidal
Plan´et•oid•al, a. Pertaining to a planetoid.

Planetule
Plan´et•ule, n. A little planet. [R.] Conybeare.

Plangency
Plan´gen•cy, n. The quality or state of being plangent; a beating sound. [R.]

Plangent
Plan´gent, a. [L. plangens, -entis, fr. plangere to beat. See Plaint.] Beating; dashing, as a wave. [R.] "The plangent wave." H. Taylor. { Plan´i-, Plan´o- }. [L. planus. See Plane, a. ] Combining forms signifying flat, level, plane; as planifolious, planimetry, plano- concave.

Planiform
Plan´i•form, a. (Anat.) Having a plane surface; as a planiform, gliding, or arthrodial articulation.

Planimeter
Pla•nim´e•ter, n. [ Plani- + -meter. Cf. Planometer.] An instrument for measuring the area of any plane figure, however irregular, by passing a tracer around the bounding line; a platometer. { Plan•i•met´ric ( 277), Plan•i•met´ric•al, } a. [Cf. F. planimetrique.] Of or pertaining to planimetry.

Planing
Plan´ing, a. & vb. n. fr. Plane, v. t.Planing machine. (a) See Planer. (b) A complex machine for planing wood, especially boards, containing usually a rapidly revolving cutter, which chips off the surface in small shavings as the piece to be planed is passed under it by feeding apparatus.

Planipennia
Pla•ni•pen´ni•a, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. planus plane + penna wing.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of Neuroptera, including those that have broad, flat wings, as the ant-lion, lacewing, etc. Called also Planipennes.

Planipetalous
Plan•i•pet´al•ous, a. [ Plani- + petal.] (Bot.) Having flat petals.

Planish
Plan´ish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Planished p. pr. & vb. n. Planishing.] [OF. planir, F. planer. See Plane, v. , and -ish.] To make smooth or plane, as a metallic surface; to condense, toughen, and polish by light blows with a hammer.

Planishing
Plan´ish•ing, a. & vb. n. from Planish, v. t.Planishing rolls (Coining), rolls between which metal strips are passed while cold, to bring them to exactly the required thickness.

Plank, n. [OE. planke, OF. planque, planche, F. planche, fr. L. planca; cf. Gr.,, anything flat and broad. Cf. Planch.]
1. A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only in being thicker. See Board.
2. Fig.: That which supports or upholds, as a board does a swimmer.
"His charity is a better plank than the faith of an intolerant and bitter-minded bigot." Southey.
3. One of the separate articles in a declaration of the principles of a party or cause; as a plank in the national platform. [Cant] Plank road, or Plank way, a road surface formed of planks. [U.S.] — To walk the plank, to walk along a plank laid across the bulwark of a ship, until one overbalances it and falls into the sea; — a method of disposing of captives practiced by pirates.

Plank, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Planked p. pr. & vb. n. Planking.]
1. To cover or lay with planks; as to plank a floor or a ship. "Planked with pine." Dryden.
2. To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash; as to plank money in a wager. [Colloq. U.S.]
3. To harden, as hat bodies, by felting.
4. (Wooden Manuf.) To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing. Planked shad, shad split open, fastened to a plank, and roasted before a wood fire.

Plankton
Plank´ton (plank"ton), n. [NL., fr. Gr. plagto•n, neut. of plagto•s wandering, pla•zesqai to wander.] (Biol.) All the animals and plants, taken collectively, which live at or near the surface of salt or fresh waters. — Plank•ton´ic (#), a.

Planless
Plan´less, a. Having no plan.

Planner
Plan´ner, n. One who plans; a projector.

Plano-
Pla´no- See Plani-.

Plano-concave
Pla´no-con´cave, a. [ Plano- + concave.] Plane or flat on one side, and concave on the other; as a plano-concave lens. See Lens.

Plano-convex
Pla´no-con´vex, a. [ Plano- + convex.] Plane or flat on one side, and convex on the other; as a plano-convex lens. See Convex, and Lens.

Plano-horizontal
Pla´no-hor•i•zon´tal, a. [ Plano- + horizontal.] Having a level horizontal surface or position. Lee.

Planometer
Pla•nom´e•ter, n. [ Plano- + -meter. Cf. Planimeter.] An instrument for gauging or testing a plane surface. See Surface gauge, under Surface.

Plano-orbicular
Pla´no-or•bic´u•lar, a. [ Plano- + orbicular.] Plane or flat on one side, and spherical on the other.

Planorbis
Pla•nor´bis, n. [NL., fr. L. planus flat + orbis a circle.] (Zoöl.) Any fresh-water air-breathing mollusk belonging to Planorbis and other allied genera, having shells of a discoidal form.

Plano-subulate
Pla´no-su´bu•late, a. [ Plano- + subulate.] Smooth and awl-shaped. See Subulate.

Plantable
Plant´a•ble, a. Capable of being planted; fit to be planted. B. Edwards.

Plantage
Plant´age, n. A word used once by Shakespeare to designate plants in general, or anything that is planted.
"As true as steel, as plantage to the moon." Shak. (Troil. iii. sc. 2).

Plantain
Plan´tain, n. [Cf. F. plantain- arbre, plantanier, Sp. plántano, plátano; prob. same word as plane tree.]
1. (Bot.) A treelike perennial herb ( Musa paradisiaca) of tropical regions, bearing immense leaves and large clusters of the fruits called plantains. See Musa.
2. The fruit of this plant. It is long and somewhat cylindrical, slightly curved, and, when ripe, soft, fleshy, and covered with a thick but tender yellowish skin. The plantain is a staple article of food in most tropical countries, especially when cooked. Plantain cutter, or Plantain eater (Zoöl.), any one of several large African birds of the genus Musophaga, or family Musophagidae, especially Musophaga violacea. See Turaco. They are allied to the cuckoos. — Plantain squirrel (Zoöl.), a Java squirrel ( Sciurus plantani) which feeds upon plantains. — Plantain tree (Bot.), the treelike herb Musa paradisiaca. See def. 1 (above).

Plantain
Plan´tain, n. [F., fr. L. plantago. Cf. Plant.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Plantago, but especially the P. major, a low herb with broad spreading radical leaves, and slender spikes of minute flowers. It is a native of Europe, but now found near the abode of civilized man in nearly all parts of the world. Indian plantain. (Bot.) See under Indian. — Mud plantain, a homely North American aquatic plant ( Heteranthera reniformis), having broad, reniform leaves. — Rattlesnake plantain, an orchidaceous plant ( Goodyera pubescens), with the leaves blotched and spotted with white. — Ribwort plantain. See Ribwort. — Robin’s plantain, the Erigeron bellidifolium, a common daisylike plant of North America. — Water plantain, a plant of the genus Alisma, having acrid leaves, and formerly regarded as a specific against hydrophobia. Loudon.

Plantar
Plan´tar, a. [L. plantaris, fr. planta the sole of the foot.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the sole of the foot; as the plantar arteries.

Plantation
Plan•ta´tion, n. [L. plantatio: cf. F. plantation.]
1. The act or practice of planting, or setting in the earth for growth. [R.]
2. The place planted; land brought under cultivation; a piece of ground planted with trees or useful plants; esp., in the United States and West Indies, a large estate appropriated to the production of the more important crops, and cultivated by laborers who live on the estate; as a cotton plantation; a coffee plantation.
3. An original settlement in a new country; a colony.
"While these plantations were forming in Connecticut." B. Trumbull.

Plant-cane
Plant´-cane, n. A stalk or shoot of sugar cane of the first growth from the cutting. The growth of the second and following years is of inferior quality, and is called rattoon.

Plant-eating
Plant´-eat•ing, a. Eating, or subsisting on, plants; as a plant-eating beetle.

Planted
Plant´ed, a. (Joinery) Fixed in place, as a projecting member wrought on a separate piece of stuff; as a planted molding.

Planter
Plant´er, n.
1. One who, or that which, plants or sows; as a planterof corn; a machine planter.
2. One who owns or cultivates a plantation; as a sugar planter; a coffee planter.
3. A colonist in a new or uncultivated territory; as the first planters in Virginia.

Plantership
Plant´er•ship, n. The occupation or position of a planter, or the management of a plantation, as in the United States or the West Indies.

Planticle
Plant´i•cle, n. [Dim. of Plant.] A young plant, or plant in embryo. E. Darwin.

Plantigrade
Plan´ti•grade, a. [L. planta sole of the foot + gradi to walk: cf. F. plantigrade.] (Zoöl.) (a) Walking on the sole of the foot; pertaining to the plantigrades. (b) Having the foot so formed that the heel touches the ground when the leg is upright.

Plantigrade
Plan´ti•grade, n. (Zoöl.) A plantigrade animal, or one that walks or steps on the sole of the foot, as man, and the bears.

Planting
Plant´ing, n.
1. The act or operation of setting in the ground for propagation, as seeds, trees, shrubs, etc.; the forming of plantations, as of trees; the carrying on of plantations, as of sugar, coffee, etc.
2. That which is planted; a plantation.
"Trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord." Isa. lxi. 3.
3. (Arch.) The laying of the first courses of stone in a foundation. [Eng.]

Plantless
Plant´less, a. Without plants; barren of vegetation.

Plantlet
Plant´let, n. A little plant.

Plantocracy
Plan•toc´ra•cy, n. [ Planter + -cracy, as in democracy.] Government by planters; planters, collectively. [R.]

Plantule
Plant´ule, n. [F., dim. of plante a plant, L. planta.] (Bot.) The embryo which has begun its development in the act of germination.

Planula
Plan´u•la, n. ; pl. Planulae (#). [L., a little plane.]
1. (Biol.) In embryonic development, a vesicle filled with fluid, formed from the morula by the divergence of its cells in such a manner as to give rise to a central space, around which the cells arrange themselves as an envelope; an embryonic form intermediate between the morula and gastrula. Sometimes used as synonymous with gastrula.
2. (Zoöl.) The very young, free- swimming larva of the cœlenterates. It usually has a flattened oval or oblong form, and is entirely covered with cilia.

Planxty
Planx´ty, n. [Cf. L. plangere to mourn aloud.] (Mus.) An Irish or Welsh melody for the harp, sometimes of a mournful character.

Plaque, n. [F. Cf. Plack, and see Placard.] Any flat, thin piece of metal, clay, ivory, or the like, used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a slab, plate, dish, or the like, hung upon a wall; also a smaller decoration worn on the person, as a brooch.

Plashet
Plash´et, n. [ Plash + - et.] A small pond or pool; a puddle.

Plashing
Plash´ing, n.
1. The cutting or bending and intertwining the branches of small trees, as in hedges.
2. The dashing or sprinkling of coloring matter on the walls of buildings, to imitate granite, etc.

Plashoot
Plash´oot, n. A hedge or fence formed of branches of trees interlaced, or plashed. [Obs.] Carew.

Plashy
Plash´y, a. [From 1st Plash.]
1. Watery; abounding with puddles; splashy. "Plashy fens." Milton. "The plashy earth." Wordsworth.
2. Specked, as if plashed with color. Keats.

Plasmator
Plas•ma´tor, n. [L.] A former; a fashioner. [R.] "The sovereign plasmator, God Almighty." Urquhart.

Plasmature
Plas´ma•ture, n. Form; mold. [R.]

Plasmic
Plas´mic, a. Of, pertaining to, or connected with, plasma; plasmatic.

Plasmin
Plas´min, n. (Physiol. Chem.) A proteid body, separated by some physiologists from blood plasma. It is probably identical with fibrinogen.

Plasmodial
Plas•mo´di•al, a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to, or like, a plasmodium; as the plasmodial form of a life cycle.

Plasmodium
Plas•mo´di•um, n. ; pl. Plasmodia (#). [NL. See Plasma.]
1. (Biol.) A jellylike mass of free protoplasm, without any union of amœboid cells, and endowed with life and power of motion.
2. (Zoöl.) A naked mobile mass of protoplasm, formed by the union of several amœbalike young, and constituting one of the stages in the life cycle of Mycetozoa and other low organisms.

Plasmon
Plas´mon, n. [Cf. Plasma.] A flourlike food preparation made from skim milk and consisting essentially of the unaltered proteid of milk. It is also used in making biscuits and crackers for mixing with cocoa, etc. A mixture of this with butter water and salt is called Plasmon butter and resembles clotted cream in appearance.

Plaster
Plas´ter, n. [AS., a plaster (in sense 1), fr. L. emplastrum, Gr.,, fr. to daub on, stuff in; in + to mold: cf. OF. plastre a plaster (in sense 2), F. plâtre. Cf. Plastic, Emplaster, Piaster.] [Formerly written also plaister.]
1. (Med.) An external application of a consistency harder than ointment, prepared for use by spreading it on linen, leather, silk, or other material. It is adhesive at the ordinary temperature of the body, and is used, according to its composition, to produce a medicinal effect, to bind parts together, etc.; as a porous plaster; sticking plaster.
2. A composition of lime, water, and sand, with or without hair as a bond, for coating walls, ceilings, and partitions of houses. See Mortar.
3. Calcined gypsum, or plaster of Paris, especially when ground, as used for making ornaments, figures, moldings, etc.; or calcined gypsum used as a fertilizer. Plaster cast, a copy of an object obtained by pouring plaster of Paris mixed with water into a mold. — Plaster of Paris. [So called because originally brought from a suburb of Paris.] (Chem.) Anhydrous calcium sulphate, or calcined gypsum, which forms with water a paste which soon sets or hardens, and is used for casts, moldings, etc. The term is loosely applied to any plaster stone or species of gypsum. — Plaster of Paris bandage (Surg.), a bandage saturated with a paste of plaster of Paris, which on drying forms a perfectly fitting splint. — Plaster stone, any species of gypsum. See Gypsum.

Plaster
Plas´ter, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plastered p. pr. & vb. n. Plastering.] [Cf. OF. plastrer to plaster (in sense 2), F. plâtrer.]
1. To cover with a plaster, as a wound or sore.
2. To overlay or cover with plaster, as the ceilings and walls of a house.
3. Fig.: To smooth over; to cover or conceal the defects of; to hide, as with a covering of plaster. Bale.

Plastering
Plas´ter•ing, n.
1. Same as Plaster, n. , 2.
2. The act or process of overlaying with plaster.
3. A covering of plaster; plasterwork.

Plasterwork
Plas´ter•work, n. Plastering used to finish architectural constructions, exterior or interior, especially that used for the lining of rooms. Ordinarly, mortar is used for the greater part of the work, and pure plaster of Paris for the moldings and ornaments.

Plastery
Plas´ter•y, a. Of the nature of plaster.
"The stone … is a poor plastery material." Clough.

Plastic
Plas´tic (plas"tik), a. [L. plasticus, Gr., fr. to form, mold: cf. F. plastique.]
1. Having the power to give form or fashion to a mass of matter; as the plastic hand of the Creator. Prior.
"See plastic Nature working to his end." Pope.
2. Capable of being molded, formed, or modeled, as clay or plaster; — used also figuratively; as the plastic mind of a child.
3. Pertaining or appropriate to, or characteristic of, molding or modeling; produced by, or appearing as if produced by, molding or modeling; — said of sculpture and the kindred arts, in distinction from painting and the graphic arts.
"Medallions … fraught with the plastic beauty and grace of the palmy days of Italian art." J. S. Harford.Plastic clay (Geol.), one of the beds of the Eocene period; — so called because used in making pottery. Lyell. — Plastic element (Physiol.), one that bears within the germs of a higher form. — Plastic exudation (Med.), an exudation thrown out upon a wounded surface and constituting the material of repair by which the process of healing is effected. — Plastic foods. (Physiol.) See the second Note under Food. — Plastic force. (Physiol.) See under Force. — Plastic operation, an operation in plastic surgery. — Plastic surgery, that branch of surgery which is concerned with the repair or restoration of lost, injured, or deformed parts of the body.

Plasticity
Plas•tic´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. plasticite.]
1. The quality or state of being plastic.
2. (Physiol.) Plastic force. Dunglison. { Plas´tid, Plas´tide } n. [Gr.,, a creator.]
1. (Biol.) A formative particle of albuminous matter; a monad; a cytode. See the Note under Morphon. Haeckel.
2. (Bot.) One of the many minute granules found in the protoplasm of vegetable cells. They are divided by their colors into three classes, chloroplastids, chromoplastids, and leucoplastids.

Plastography
Plas•tog´ra•phy, n. [Gr. ; fored, molded + to write.]
1. The art of forming figures in any plastic material.
2. Imitation of handwriting; forgery.

Plastron
Plas´tron, n. [F. plastron breastplate, plastron, LL. plastra a thin plate of metal. See Plaster.]
1. A piece of leather stuffed or padded, worn by fencers to protect the breast. Dryden.
3. (Anc. Armor) An iron breastplate, worn under the hauberk.
3. (Anat.) The ventral shield or shell of tortoises and turtles. See Testudinata.
4. A trimming for the front of a woman’s dress, made of a different material, and narrowing from the shoulders to the waist.

Platan
Plat´an, n. [L. platanus. See Plane the tree.] [Written also platane.] The plane tree. Tennyson.

Platanus
Plat´a•nus, n. [See Plane the tree.] (Bot.) A genus of trees; the plane tree.

Plate, n. [OF. plate a plate of metal, a cuirsas F. plat a plate, a shallow vessel of silver, other metal, or earth, fr. plat flat, Gr. . See Place, n. ]
1. A flat, or nearly flat, piece of metal, the thickness of which is small in comparison with the other dimensions; a thick sheet of metal; as a steel plate.
2. Metallic armor composed of broad pieces.
"Mangled … through plate and mail." Milton.
3. Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver.
4. Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold.
5. A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table.
6. [Cf. Sp. plata silver.] A piece of money, usually silver money. [Obs.] "Realms and islands were as plates dropp’d from his pocket." Shak.
7. A piece of metal on which anything is engraved for the purpose of being printed; hence, an impression from the engraved metal; as a book illustrated with plates; a fashion plate.
8. A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as publisher’s plates.
9. That part of an artificial set of teeth which fits to the mouth, and holds the teeth in place. It may be of gold, platinum, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc.
10. (Arch.) A horizontal timber laid upon a wall, or upon corbels projecting from a wall, and supporting the ends of other timbers; also used specifically of the roof plate which supports the ends of the roof trusses or, in simple work, the feet of the rafters.
11. (Her.) A roundel of silver or tinctured argent.
12. (Photog.) A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with a coating that is sensitive to light.
13. A prize giving to the winner in a contest. Plate is sometimes used in an adjectival sense or in combination, the phrase or compound being in most cases of obvious signification; as plate basket or plate-basket, plate rack or plate-rack. Home plate. (Baseball) See Home base, under Home. — Plate armor. (a) See Plate, n. , 2. (b) Strong metal plates for protecting war vessels, fortifications, and the like. — Plate bone, the shoulder blade, or scapula. — Plate girder, a girder, the web of which is formed of a single vertical plate, or of a series of such plates riveted together. — Plate glass. See under Glass. — Plate iron, wrought iron plates. — Plate layer, a workman who lays down the rails of a railway and fixes them to the sleepers or ties. — Plate mark, a special mark or emblematic figure stamped upon gold or silver plate, to indicate the place of manufacture, the degree of purity, and the like; thus, the local mark for London is a lion. — Plate paper, a heavy spongy paper, for printing from engraved plates. Fairholt. — Plate press, a press with a flat carriage and a roller, — used for printing from engraved steel or copper plates. — Plate printer, one who prints from engraved plates. — Plate printing, the act or process of printing from an engraved plate or plates. — Plate tracery. (Arch.) See under Tracery. - - Plate wheel (Mech.), a wheel, the rim and hub of which are connected by a continuous plate of metal, instead of by arms or spokes.

Plate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plated; p. pr. & vb. n. Plating.]
1. To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals, either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a chemical process, as electrotyping.
2. To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with metal for defense.
"Thus plated in habiliments of war." Shak.
3. To adorn with plated metal; as a plated harness.
4. To beat into thin, flat pieces, or laminae.
5. To calender; as to plate paper.

Plate, n.
1. (Baseball) A small five-sided area (enveloping a diamond- shaped area one foot square) beside which the batter stands and which must be touched by some part of a player on completing a run; — called also home base, or home plate.
2. One of the thin parts of the bricket of an animal.
3. A very light steel racing horsehoe.
4. Loosely, a sporting contest for a prize; specif., in horse racing, a race for a prize, the contestants not making a stake.
5. Skins for fur linings of garments, sewed together and roughly shaped, but not finally cut or fitted. [Furrier’s Cant]
6. (Hat Making) The fine nap (as of beaver, hare’s wool, musquash, nutria, or English black wool) on a hat the body of which is of an inferior substance.

Plateau
Pla•teau´, n. ; pl. F. Plateaux (F. ; E. ), E. Plateaus (#). [F., fr. OF. platel, properly a little plate. See Plate.]
1. A flat surface; especially, a broad, level, elevated area of land; a table- land.
2. An ornamental dish for the table; a tray or salver.

Plate-gilled
Plate´-gilled, a. (Zoöl.) Having flat, or leaflike, gills, as the bivalve mollusks.

Platel
Pla´tel, n. [OF. See Plateau.] A small dish.

Plateresque
Plat•er•esque´, a. [Sp. resco, from plata silver.] (Arch.) Resembling silver plate; — said of certain architectural ornaments.

Platetrope
Plat´e•trope, n. [Gr. breadth + to turn.] (Anat.) One of a pair of a paired organs.

Platform
Plat´form, n. [ Plat, a. + -form: cf. F. plateforme.]
1. A plat; a plan; a sketch; a model; a pattern. Used also figuratively. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A place laid out after a model. [Obs.]
"lf the platform just reflects the order." Pope.
3. Any flat or horizontal surface; especially, one that is raised above some particular level, as a framework of timber or boards horizontally joined so as to form a roof, or a raised floor, or portion of a floor; a landing; a dais; a stage, for speakers, performers, or workmen; a standing place.
4. A declaration of the principles upon which a person, a sect, or a party proposes to stand; a declared policy or system; as the Saybrook platform; a political platform. "The platform of Geneva." Hooker.
5. (Naut.) A light deck, usually placed in a section of the hold or over the floor of the magazine. See Orlop. Platform car, a railway car without permanent raised sides or covering; a fat. — Platform scale, a weighing machine, with a flat platform on which objects are weighed.

Platform
Plat´form, v. t.
1. To place on a platform. [R.]
2. To form a plan of; to model; to lay out. [Obs.]
"Church discipline is platformed in the Bible." Milton.

Plathelminth
Plat•hel´minth, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Platyelminthes.

Plathelminthes
Plat•hel•min´thes, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Platyelminthes.

Platinic
Pla•tin´ic, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, platinum; — used specifically to designate those compounds in which the element has a higher valence, as contrasted with the platinous compounds; as platinic chloride (PtCl₄).

Platinichloric
Plat•i•ni•chlo´ric, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid consisting of platinic chloride and hydrochloric acid, and obtained as a brownish red crystalline substance, called platinichloric, or chloroplatinic, acid.

Platiniferous
Plat•i•nif´er•ous, a. [ Platinum + -ferous.] Yielding platinum; as platiniferous sand.

Platiniridium
Plat•i•ni•rid´i•um, n. (Chem. & Min.) A natural alloy of platinum and iridium occurring in grayish metallic rounded or cubical grains with platinum.

Platinize
Plat´i•nize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Platinized p. pr. & vb. n. Platinizing ] To cover or combine with platinum.

Platinochloride
Plat•i•no•chlo´ride, n. (Chem.) A double chloride of platinum and some other metal or radical; a salt of platinochloric acid.

Platinocyanic
Plat•i•no•cy•an´ic, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an acid compound of platinous cyanide and hydrocyanic acid. It is obtained as a cinnaber-red crystalline substance.

Platinocyanide
Plat•i•no•cy´a•nide, n. (Chem.) A double cyanide of platinum and some other metal or radical; a salt of platinocyanic acid.

Platinode
Plat´i•node, n. [ Platinum + Gr. a way.] (Physics) A cathode. [R.]

Platinoid
Plat´i•noid, a. [ Platinum + -oid.] Resembling platinum.

Platinoid
Plat´i•noid, n. (Chem.) An alloy of German silver containing tungsten; — used for forming electrical resistance coils and standards.

Platinotype
Plat´i•no•type, n. [ Platinum + -type.] (Photog.)
1. A permanent photographic picture or print in platinum black.
2. The process by which such pictures are produced.

Platinous
Plat´i•nous, a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing, platinum; — used specifically to designate those compounds in which the element has a lower valence, as contrasted with the platinic compounds; as platinous chloride (PtCl₂).

Platinum
Plat´i•num, n. [NL., fr. Sp. platina, from plata silver, LL. plata a thin plate of metal. See Plate, and cf. Platina.] (Chem.) A metallic element, intermediate in value between silver and gold, occurring native or alloyed with other metals, also as the platinum arsenide (sperrylite). It is heavy tin-white metal which is ductile and malleable, but very infusible, and characterized by its resistance to strong chemical reagents. It is used for crucibles, for stills for sulphuric acid, rarely for coin, and in the form of foil and wire for many purposes. Specific gravity 21.5. Atomic weight 194.3. Symbol Pt. Formerly called platina. Platinum black (Chem.), a soft, dull black powder, consisting of finely divided metallic platinum obtained by reduction and precipitation from its solutions. It absorbs oxygen to a high degree, and is employed as an oxidizer. — Platinum lamp (Elec.), a kind of incandescent lamp of which the luminous medium is platinum. See under Incandescent. — Platinum metals (Chem.), the group of metallic elements which in their chemical and physical properties resemble platinum. These consist of the light platinum group, viz., rhodium, ruthenium, and palladium, whose specific gravities are about 12; and the heavy platinum group, viz., osmium, iridium, and platinum, whose specific gravities are over 21. — Platinum sponge (Chem.), metallic platinum in a gray, porous, spongy form, obtained by reducing the double chloride of platinum and ammonium. It absorbs oxygen, hydrogen, and certain other gases, to a high degree, and is employed as an agent in oxidizing.

Platitudinize
Plat•i•tu´di•nize, v. i. To utter platitudes or truisms.

Platitudinous
Plat•i•tu´di•nous, a. Abounding in platitudes; of the nature of platitudes; uttering platitudes. — Plat•i•tu´di•nous•ness, n.

Platly
Plat´ly, a. Flatly. See Plat, a. [Obs.]

Platometer
Pla•tom´e•ter, n. [Gr. flat + -meter.] See Planimeter. { Pla•ton´ic, Pla•ton´ic•al } a. [L. Platonicus, Gr. : cf. F. platonique.]
1. Of or pertaining to Plato, or his philosophy, school, or opinions.
2. Pure, passionless; nonsexual; philosophical. Platonic bodies, the five regular geometrical solids; namely, the tetrahedron, hexahedron or cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron. — Platonic love, a pure, spiritual affection, subsisting between persons of opposite sex, unmixed with carnal desires, and regarding the mind only and its excellences; — a species of love for which Plato was a warm advocate. — Platonic year (Astron.), a period of time determined by the revolution of the equinoxes, or the space of time in which the stars and constellations return to their former places in respect to the equinoxes; — called also great year. This revolution, which is caused by the precession of the equinoxes, is accomplished in about 26,000 years. Barlow.

Platonically
Pla•ton´ic•al•ly, adv. In a Platonic manner.

Platonism
Pla´to•nism, n. [Cf. F. Platonisme.]
1. The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers. Plato believed God to be an infinitely wise, just, and powerful Spirit; and also that he formed the visible universe out of preëxistent amorphous matter, according to perfect patterns of ideas eternally existent in his own mind. Philosophy he considered as being a knowledge of the true nature of things, as discoverable in those eternal ideas after which all things were fashioned. In other words, it is the knowledge of what is eternal, exists necessarily, and is unchangeable; not of the temporary, the dependent, and changeable; and of course it is not obtained through the senses; neither is it the product of the understanding, which concerns itself only with the variable and transitory; nor is it the result of experience and observation; but it is the product of our reason, which, as partaking of the divine nature, has innate ideas resembling the eternal ideas of God. By contemplating these innate ideas reasoning about them, and comparing them with their copies in the visible universe, reason can attain that true knowledge of things which is called philosophy. Plato’s professed followers, the Academics, and the New Platonists, differed considerably from him, yet are called Platonists. Murdock.
2. An elevated rational and ethical conception of the laws and forces of the universe; sometimes, imaginative or fantastic philosophical notions.

Platonist
Pla´to•nist, n. One who adheres to the philosophy of Plato; a follower of Plato. Hammond.

Platonize
Pla´to•nize, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Platonized p. pr. & vb. n. Platonizing.] To adopt the opinion of Plato or his followers. Milner.

Platonize
Pla´to•nize, v. t. To explain by, or accomodate to, the Platonic philosophy. Enfield.

Platonizer
Pla´to•ni•zer, n. One who Platonizes.

Platoon
Pla•toon´, n. [F. peloton a ball of thread, a knot or group of men, a platoon, from pelote a ball formed of things wound round. See Pellet.] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square. (b) Now, in the United States service, half of a company.

Platting
Plat´ting, n. Plaited strips or bark, cane, straw, etc., used for making hats or the like.

Platy
Plat´y, a. Like a plate; consisting of plates.

Platy-
Plat´y- A combining form from Gr. platy•s broad, wide, flat; as platypus, platycephalous. { Plat•y•ce•phal´ic, Plat•y•ceph´a•lous, } a. [ Platy + Gr. head.] (Anat.) Broad-headed.

Platycnemic
Plat•yc•ne´mic, a. [ Platy + Gr. leg: cf. F. platycnemique.] (Anat.) Of, relating to, or characterized by, platycnemism.

Platycnemism
Pla•tyc´ne•mism, n. (Anat.) Lateral flattening of the tibia.

Platycœlian
Plat•y•cœ"li•an, a. [ Platy + Gr. hollow.] (Anat.) Flat at the anterior and concave at the posterior end; — said of the centra of the vertebrae of some extinct dinouaurs.

Platyelminthes
Plat•y•el•min´thes, n. pl. [NL. See Platy-, and Helminthes.] (Zoöl.) A class of helminthes including the cestodes, or tapeworms, the trematodes, and the turbellarians. Called also flatworms.

Platypod
Plat´y•pod, n. [ Platy + - pod.] (Zoöl.) An animal having broad feet, or a broad foot.

Platypoda
Pla•typ´o•da, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Prosobranchiata.

Platypus
Plat´y•pus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. + foot.] (Zoöl.) The duck mole. See under Duck.

Platyrhini
Plat•y•rhi´ni, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. broad +,, nose.] (Zoöl.) A division of monkeys, including the American species, which have a broad nasal septum, thirty-six teeth, and usually a prehensile tail. See Monkey. [Written also Platyrrhini.]

Plaudit
Plau´dit, n. [From L. plaudite do ye praise (which was said by players at the end of a performance), 2d pers. pl. imperative of plaudere. Cf. Plausible.] A mark or expression of applause; praise bestowed.
"Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng." Longfellow.
Syn. — Acclamation; applause; encomium; commendation; approbation; approval.

Plausibility
Plau•si•bil´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. plausibilite.]
1. Something worthy of praise. [Obs.]
"Integrity, fidelity, and other gracious plausibilities." E. Vaughan.
2. The quality of being plausible; speciousness.
"To give any plausibility to a scheme." De Quincey.
3. Anything plausible or specious. R. Browning.

Plausible
Plau´si•ble, a. [L. plausibilis praiseworthy, from plaudere, plausum, to applaud, clap the hands, strike, beat.]
1. Worthy of being applauded; praiseworthy; commendable; ready. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.
2. Obtaining approbation; specifically pleasing; apparently right; specious; as a plausible pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion. "Plausible and popular arguments." Clarendon.
3. Using specious arguments or discourse; as a plausible speaker.
Syn. — Plausible, Specious. Plausible denotes that which seems reasonable, yet leaves distrust in the judgment. Specious describes that which presents a fair appearance to the view and yet covers something false. Specious refers more definitely to the act or purpose of false representation; plausible has more reference to the effect on the beholder or hearer. An argument may by specious when it is not plausible because its sophistry is so easily discovered.

Plausibleness
Plau´si•ble•ness, n. Quality of being plausible.

Plausibly
Plau´si•bly, adv.
1. In a plausible manner.
2. Contentedly, readily. [Obs.]
"The Romans plausibly did give consent." Shak.

Plausive
Plau´sive, a. [L. plaudere, plausum, to applaud.]
1. Applauding; manifesting praise. Young.
2. Plausible, specious. [Obs.] Shak.

Play, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Played p. pr. & vb. n. Playing.] [OE. pleien, AS. plegian, plegan, to play, akin to plega play, game, quick motion, and probably to OS. plegan to promise, pledge, D. plegen to care for, attend to, be wont, G. pflegen; of unknown origin. rad.28. Cf. Plight, n. ]
1. To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
"As Cannace was playing in her walk." Chaucer.
"The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play!" Pope.
"And some, the darlings of their Lord, Play smiling with the flame and sword." Keble.
2. To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
""Nay," quod this monk, "I have no lust to pleye."" Chaucer.
"Men are apt to play with their healths." Sir W. Temple.
3. To contend, or take part, in a game; as to play ball; hence, to gamble; as he played for heavy stakes.
4. To perform on an instrument of music; as to play on a flute.
"One that … can play well on an instrument." Ezek. xxxiii. 32.
"Play, my friend, and charm the charmer." Granville.
5. To act; to behave; to practice deception.
"His mother played false with a smith." Shak.
6. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as the fountain plays.
"The heart beats, the blood circulates, the lungs play." Cheyne.
7. To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
"Even as the waving sedges play with wind." Shak.
"The setting sun Plays on their shining arms and burnished helmets." Addison.
"All fame is foreign but of true desert, Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart." Pope.
8. To act on the stage; to personate a character.
"A lord will hear your play to- night." Shak.
"Courts are theaters where some men play." Donne. To play into a person’s hands, to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit. — To play off, to affect; to feign; to practice artifice. — To play upon. (a) To make sport of; to deceive.
"Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight." Shak. (b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as to play upon words.

Play, v. t.
1. To put in action or motion; as to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.
"First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul." Herbert.
2. To perform music upon; as to play the flute or the organ.
3. To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as to play a waltz on the violin.
4. To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as to play tricks.
"Nature here Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will Her virgin fancies." Milton.
5. To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as to play a comedy; also to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as to play King Lear; to play the woman.
"Thou canst play the rational if thou wilt." Sir W. Scott.
6. To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as to play a game at baseball.
7. To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it. To play off, to display; to show; to put in exercise; as to play off tricks. — To play one’s cards, to manage one’s means or opportunities; to contrive. — Played out, tired out; exhausted; at the end of one’s resources. [Colloq.]

Play, n.
1. Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
2. Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
"John naturally loved rough play." Arbuthnot.
3. The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as to lose a fortune in play.
4. Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as fair play; sword play; a play of wit. "The next who comes in play." Dryden.
5. A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.
"A play ought to be a just image of human nature." Dryden.
6. The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as he attends ever play.
7. Performance on an instrument of music.
8. Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also room for motion; free and easy action. "To give them play, front and rear." Milton.
"The joints are let exactly into one another, that they have no play between them." Moxon.
9. Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as to give full play to mirth. Play actor, an actor of dramas. Prynne. — Play debt, a gambling debt. Arbuthnot. — Play pleasure, idle amusement. [Obs.] Bacon. — A play upon words, the use of a word in such a way as to be capable of double meaning; punning. — Play of colors, prismatic variation of colors. — To bring into play, To come into play, to bring or come into use or exercise. — To hold in play, to keep occupied or employed.
"I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe in play." Macaulay.

Play, v. t. — To play hob, to play the part of a mischievous spirit; to work mischief.

Playa
Pla´ya, n. [Sp.] A beach; a strand; in the plains and deserts of Texas New Mexico, and Arizona, a broad, level spot, on which subsequently becomes dry by evaporation. Bartlett.

Playbill
Play´bill, n. A printed programme of a play, with the parts assigned to the actors.

Playbook
Play´book, n. A book of dramatic compositions; a book of the play. Swift.

Playday
Play´day, n. A day given to play or diversion; a holiday. Swift.

Player
Play´er, n.
1. One who plays, or amuses himself; one without serious aims; an idler; a trifler. Shak.
2. One who plays any game.
3. A dramatic actor. Shak.
4. One who plays on an instrument of music. "A cunning player on a harp." 1 Sam. xvi. 16.
5. A gamester; a gambler.

Playfellow
Play´fel•low, n. A companion in amusements or sports; a playmate. Shak.

Playfere
Play´fere, n. [ Play + 1st fere.] A playfellow. [Obs.] [also playfeer, playphere.] Holinsheld.

Playful
Play´ful, a. Sportive; gamboling; frolicsome; indulging a sportive fancy; humorous; merry; as a playful child; a playful writer. — Play´ful•ly, adv. — Play´ful•ness, n.

Playgame
Play´game, n. Play of children. Locke.

Playgoer
Play´go•er, n. One who frequents playhouses, or attends dramatic performances.

Playgoing
Play´go•ing, a. Frequenting playhouses; as the playgoing public. — n. The practice of going to plays.

Playground
Play´ground, n. A piece of ground used for recreation; as the playground of a school.

Playhouse
Play´house, n. [AS. pleghus.]
1. A building used for dramatic exhibitions; a theater. Shak.
2. A house for children to play in; a toyhouse.

Playing
Play´ing, a. & vb. n. of Play. Playing cards. See under Card.

Playmate
Play´mate, n. A companion in diversions; a playfellow.

Playsome
Play´some, a. Playful; wanton; sportive. [R.] R. Browning. — Play´some•ness, n. [R.]

Playte, n. (Naut.) See Pleyt.

Playtime
Play´time, n. Time for play or diversion.

Playwright
Play´wright, n. A maker or adapter of plays.

Playwriter
Play´writ•er, n. A writer of plays; a dramatist; a playwright. Lecky.

Plaza
Pla´za, n. [Sp. See Place.] A public square in a city or town.

Pleadable
Plead´a•ble, a. Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as a right or privilege pleadable at law. Dryden.

Pleader
Plead´er, n. [F. plaideur.]
1. One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate.
"So fair a pleader any cause may gain." Dryden.
2. (Law) One who draws up or forms pleas; the draughtsman of pleas or pleadings in the widest sense; as a special pleader.

Pleading
Plead´ing, n. The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

Pleadingly
Plead´ing•ly, adv. In a pleading manner.

Pleadings
Plead´ings, n. pl. (Law) The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

Pleasance
Pleas´ance, n. [F. plaisance. See Please.]
1. Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness. [Archaic] Shak. "Full great pleasance." Chaucer. "A realm of pleasance." Tennyson.
2. A secluded part of a garden. [Archaic]
"The pleasances of old Elizabethan houses." Ruskin.

Pleasantly
Pleas´ant•ly, adv. In a pleasant manner.

Pleasantness
Pleas´ant•ness, n. The state or quality of being pleasant.

Pleasantry
Pleas´ant•ry, n. ; pl. Pleasantries (#). [F. plaisanterie. See Pleasant.] That which denotes or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage.
"The grave abound in pleasantries, the dull in repartees and points of wit." Addison.
"The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finished man of the world." Macaulay.

Please, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pleased; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasing.] [OE. plesen, OF. plaisir, fr. L. placere, akin to placare to reconcile. Cf. Complacent, Placable, Placid, Plea, Plead, Pleasure.]
1. To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to satisfy.
"I pray to God that it may plesen you." Chaucer.
"What next I bring shall please thee, be assured." Milton.
2. To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to will.
"Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he." Ps. cxxxv. 6.
"A man doing as he wills, and doing as he pleases, are the same things in common speech." J. Edwards.
3. To be the will or pleasure of; to seem good to; — used impersonally. "It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." Col. i. 19.
"To-morrow, may it please you." Shak. To be pleased in or with, to have complacency in; to take pleasure in. — To be pleased to do a thing, to take pleasure in doing it; to have the will to do it; to think proper to do it. Dryden.

Please, v. i.
1. To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions.
"What pleasing scemed, for her now pleases more." Milton.
"For we that live to please, must please to live." Johnson.
2. To have pleasure; to be willing, as a matter of affording pleasure or showing favor; to vouchsafe; to consent.
"Heavenly stranger, please to taste These bounties." Milton.
"That he would please 8give me my liberty." Swift.

Pleased, a. Experiencing pleasure. — Pleas´ed•ly (#), adv. — Pleas´ed•ness, n.

Pleaseman
Please´man, n. An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank. [Obs.] Shak.

Pleaser
Pleas´er, n. One who pleases or gratifies.

Pleasing
Pleas´ing, a. Giving pleasure or satisfaction; causing agreeable emotion; agreeable; delightful; as a pleasing prospect; pleasing manners. "Pleasing harmony." Shak. "Pleasing features." Macaulay. — Pleas´ing•ly, adv. — Pleas´ing•ness, n.
Syn. — Gratifying; delightful; agreeable. See Pleasant.

Pleasing
Pleas´ing, n. An object of pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pleasurable
Pleas´ur•a•ble, a. Capable of affording pleasure or satisfaction; gratifying; abounding in pleasantness or pleasantry.
"Planting of orchards is very … pleasurable." Bacon.
"O, sir, you are very pleasurable." B. Jonson. — Pleas´ur•a•ble•ness, n. — Pleas´ur•a•bly, adv.

Pleasure
Pleas´ure, n. [F. plaisir, originally an infinitive. See Please.]
1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by the expectation or the enjoyment of something good, delightful, or satisfying; — opposed to pain, sorrow, etc.
"At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Ps. xvi. 11.
2. Amusement; sport; diversion; self- indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; — opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." Milton.
"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man." Prov. xxi. 17.
"Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. iii. 4.
3. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. "He will do his pleasure on Babylon." Isa. xlviii. 14.
"Use your pleasure; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter." Shak.
4. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification. Shak.
"Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure" Acts xxv. 9.At pleasure, by arbitrary will or choice. Dryden. — To take pleasure in, to have enjoyment in. Ps. cxlvii. 11. Pleasure is used adjectively, or in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as pleasure boat, pleasure ground; pleasure house, etc.
Syn. — Enjoyment; gratification; satisfaction; comfort; solace; joy; gladness; delight; will; choice; preference; purpose; command; favor; kindness.

Pleasure
Pleas´ure, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pleasured p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasuring.] To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify. Shak.
"[Rolled] his hoop to pleasure Edith." Tennyson.

Pleasure
Pleas´ure, v. i. To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as to go pleasuring.

Pleasureful
Pleas´ure•ful, a. Affording pleasure. [R.]

Pleasureless
Pleas´ure•less, a. Devoid of pleasure. G. Eliot.

Pleasurer
Pleas´ur•er, n. A pleasure seeker. Dickens.

Pleasurist
Pleas´ur•ist, n. A person devoted to worldly pleasure. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pleat (plet), n. & v. t. See Plait.

Plebeiance
Ple•be´iance, n.
1. Plebeianism. [Obs.]
2. Plebeians, collectively. [Obs.]

Plebeianism
Ple•be´ian•ism, n. [Cf. F. plebeianisme.]
1. The quality or state of being plebeian.
2. The conduct or manners of plebeians; vulgarity.

Plebeianize
Ple•be´ian•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plebeianized p. pr. & vb. n. Plebeianizing.] To render plebeian, common, or vulgar.

Plebification
Pleb•i•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. plebs the common people + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] A rendering plebeian; the act of vulgarizing. [R.]
"You begin with the attempt to popularize learning … but you will end in the plebification of knowledge." Coleridge.

Plebiscite
Pleb´i•scite, n. [F. plebiscite, fr. L. plebiscitum.] A vote by universal male suffrage; especially, in France, a popular vote, as first sanctioned by the National Constitution of 1791. [Written also plebiscit.]
"Plebiscite we have lately taken, in popular use, from the French." Fitzed. Hall.

Plebiscitum
Ple•bis•ci´tum, n. [L., fr. plebs, plebis, common people + scitum decree.] (Rom. Antiq.) A law enacted by the common people, under the superintendence of a tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, without the intervention of the senate.

Plebs (plebz), n. [L. Cf. Plebe.]
1. The commonalty of ancient Rome who were citizens without the usual political rights; the plebeians; - - distinguished from the patricians.
2. Hence, the common people; the populace; — construed as a pl.

Plectognath
Plec´tog•nath, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. - - n. One of the Plectognathi.

Plectognathi
Plec•to´gna•thi, n. pl. [NL., from Gr. twisted (fr. to plait, twist) + jaw.] (Zoöl.) An order of fishes generally having the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular united with the dentary. The upper jaw is immovably joined to the skull; the ventral fins are rudimentary or wanting; and the body is covered with bony plates, spines, or small rough ossicles, like shagreen. The order includes the diodons, filefishes, globefishes, and trunkfishes. { Plec•tog•nath´ic, Plec-tog´na•thous } a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi.

Plectospondyli
Plec•to•spon´dy•li, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. plaited +,, a vertebra.] (Zoöl.) An extensive suborder of fresh-water physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebrae united and much modified; the Eventognathi.

Plectospondylous
Plec•to•spon´dy•lous, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Plectospondyli.

Plectrum
Plec´trum, n. ; pl. L. Plectra (#), E. Plectrums (#). [L., fr. Gr. anything to strike with, fr. to strike.] A small instrument of ivory, wood, metal, or quill, used in playing upon the lyre and other stringed instruments.

Pled, imp. & p. p. of Plead [Colloq.] Spenser.

Pledgeless
Pledge´less, a. Having no pledge. { Pledge•or´, Pledg•or´ }, n. (Law) One who pledges, or delivers anything in pledge; a pledger; — opposed to pledgee. This word analogically requires the e after g, but the spelling pledgor is perhaps commoner.

Pledger
Pledg´er, n. One who pledges.

Pledgery
Pledg´er•y, n. [Cf. OF. pleigerie.] A pledging; suretyship. [Obs.]

Pledget
Pledg´et, n. [Prov. E., a small plug.]
1. A small plug. [Prov. End.]
2. (Naut.) A string of oakum used in calking.
3. (Med.) A compress, or small flat tent of lint, laid over a wound, ulcer, or the like, to exclude air, retain dressings, or absorb the matter discharged.

Plegepoda
Ple•gep´o•da, n. pl. [NL., from Gr. a stroke + -poda. In allusion to the rapid strokes of the vibrating cilia.] (Zoöl.) Same as Infusoria.

Pleiades
Ple´ia•des ( 277), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. ]
1. (Myth.) The seven daughters of Atlas and the nymph Pleione, fabled to have been made by Jupiter a constellation in the sky.
2. (Astron.) A group of small stars in the neck of the constellation Taurus. Job xxxviii. 31. Alcyone, the brightest of these, a star of the third magnitude, was considered by Mädler the central point around which our universe is revolving, but there is no sufficient evidence of such motion. Only six pleiads are distinctly visible to the naked eye, whence the ancients supposed that a sister had concealed herself out of shame for having loved a mortal, Sisyphus.

Plein, a. Plan. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plein, v. i. & t. To complain. See Plain. [Obs.]

Plein, a. [OF. & F., fr. L. plenus.] Full; complete. [Obs.] "Plein remission." Chaucer. — Plein´ly, adv.

Pleiocene
Plei´o•cene, a. (Geol.) See Pliocene.

Pleiosaurus
Plei•o•sau´rus, n. [NL.] (Paleon.) Same as Pliosaurus.

Plenal
Ple´nal, a. [L. plenus full. Cf. Plenary.] Full; complete; as a plenal view or act. [Obs.]

Plenariness
Ple´na•ri•ness, n. Quality or state of being plenary.

Plenarty
Plen´ar•ty, n. The state of a benefice when occupied. Blackstone.

Plenary
Ple´na•ry, a. [LL. plenarius, fr. L. plenus full. See Plenty.] Full; entire; complete; absolute; as a plenary license; plenary authority.
"A treatise on a subject should be plenary or full." I. Watts.Plenary indulgence (R. C. Ch.), an entire remission of temporal punishment due to, or canonical penance for, all sins. — Plenary inspiration. (Theol.) See under Inspiration.

Plenary
Ple´na•ry, n. (Law) Decisive procedure. [Obs.]

Plene, ae. [L. plenus full.] Full; complete; plenary. [Obs.]

Plenicorn
Ple´ni•corn, n. [L. plenus full + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.) A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer. Brande & C.

Plenilunary
Plen•i•lu´na•ry, a. Of or pertaining to the full moon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Plenilune
Plen´i•lune, n. [L. plenilunium; plenus full + luna the moon.] The full moon. [Obs.] B. Jonson. { Ple•nip´o•tence, Ple•nip´o•ten•cy } n. The quality or state of being plenipotent. [R.]

Plenipotent
Ple•nip´o•tent, a. [L. plenus full + potens, -entis, potent.] Possessing full power. [R.] Milton.

Plenipotentiary
Plen•i•po•ten´ti•a•ry, n. ; pl. Plenipotentiaries (#). [LL. plenipotentiarius: cf. F. plenipotentiaire.] A person invested with full power to transact any business; especially, an ambassador or envoy to a foreign court, with full power to negotiate a treaty, or to transact other business.

Plenipotentiary
Plen•i•po•ten´ti•a•ry, a. Containing or conferring full power; invested with full power; as plenipotentiary license; plenipotentiary ministers. Howell.

Plenish
Plen´ish, v. t. [See Replenish.]
1. To replenish. [Obs.] T. Reeve.
2. To furnish; to stock, as a house or farm. [Scot.]

Plenist
Ple´nist, n. [L. plenus full; cf. F. pleniste.] One who holds that all space is full of matter.

Plenitude
Plen´i•tude, n. [L. plenitudo, fr. plenus full; cf. F. plenitude.]
1. The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as the plenitude of space or power.
2. Animal fullness; repletion; plethora. [Obs.]

Plenitudinarian
Plen•i•tu•di•na´ri•an, n. A plenist.

Plenitudinary
Plen•i•tu´di•na•ry, a. Having plenitude; full; complete; thorough. [Obs.]

Plenteous
Plen´te•ous, a. [From Plenty.]
1. Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as a plenteous supply. "Reaping plenteous crop." Milton.
2. Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful. "The seven plenteous years." Gen. xli. 34.
3. Having plenty; abounding; rich.
"The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods." Deut. xxviii. 11.
Syn. — Plentiful; copious; full. See Ample. — Plen´te•ous•ly, adv. — Plen´te•ous•ness, n.

Plentiful
Plen´ti•ful, a.
1. Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water.
2. Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful.
"If it be a long winter, it is commonly a more plentiful year." Bacon.
3. Lavish; profuse; prodigal. [Obs.]
"He that is plentiful in expenses will hardly be preserved from" Bacon. — Plen´ti•ful•ly, adv. — Plen´ti•ful•ness, n.

Plenty
Plen´ty, n. ; pl. Plenties (#), in Shak. [OE. plentee, plente, OF. plente, fr. L. plenitas, fr. plenus full. See Full, a. , and cf. Complete.] Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically, abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance; copiousness. "Plenty of corn and wine." Gen. xxvii. 28. "Promises Britain peace and plenty." Shak.
"Houses of office stuffed with plentee." Chaucer.
"The teeming clouds Descend in gladsome plenty o’er the world." Thomson.
Syn. — Abundance; exuberance. See Abundance.

Plenty
Plen´ty, a. Plentiful; abundant. [Obs. or Colloq.]
"If reasons were as plenty as blackberries." Shak. (Folio ed.)
"Those countries where shrubs are plenty." Goldsmith.

Plenum
Ple´num, n. [L., fr. plenus full.] That state in which every part of space is supposed to be full of matter; — opposed to vacuum. G. Francis.

Plenum
Ple´num, n. (Ventilation) A condition, as in an occupied room, in which the pressure of the air is greater than that of the outside atmosphere; as a plenum may exist in a hall ventilated by a fan blower.

Pleochroic
Ple•o•chro´ic, a. Having the property of pleochroism.

Pleochroism
Ple•och´ro•ism, n. [Gr. mor + color.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some crystals, of showing different colors when viewed in the direction of different axes.

Pleochromatic
Ple•och•ro•mat´ic, a. Pleochroic.

Pleochromatism
Ple•o•chro´ma•tism, n. Pleochroism.

Pleochroous
Ple•och´ro•ous, a. Pleochroic.

Pleomorphic
Ple•o•mor´phic, a. Pertaining to pleomorphism; as the pleomorphic character of bacteria.

Pleomorphism
Ple•o•mor´phism, n. [Gr. more + form.]
1. (Crystallog.) The property of crystallizing under two or more distinct fundamental forms, including dimorphism and trimorphism.
2. (Biol.) The theory that the various genera of bacteria are phases or variations of growth of a number of Protean species, each of which may exhibit, according to undetermined conditions, all or some of the forms characteristic of the different genera and species.

Pleomorphous
Ple•o•mor´phous, a. Having the property of pleomorphism.

Pleonasm
Ple´o•nasm,, n. [L. pleonasmus, Gr., fr. to be more than enough, to abound, fr., neut. of, more, compar. of much. See Full, a., and cf. Poly-, Plus.] (Rhet.) Redundancy of language in speaking or writing; the use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; as I saw it with my own eyes.

Pleonaste
Ple´o•naste, n. [Gr. abundant, rich; cf. F. ple onaste.] (Min.) A black variety of spinel. { Ple•o•nas´tic, Ple•o•nas´tic•al } a. [Cf. F. pleonastique.] Of or pertaining to pleonasm; of the nature of pleonasm; redundant.

Pleonastically
Ple•o•nas´tic•al•ly, adv. In a pleonastic manner.

Pleopod
Ple´o•pod, n. ; pl. E. Pleopods (#), L. Pleopoda (#). [Gr. to swim + -pod.] (Zoöl.) One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean. See Illust. under Crustacea.

Plerophory
Ple•roph´o•ry, n. [Gr. ; full + to bear.] Fullness; full persuasion. "A plerophory of assurance." Bp. Hall.

Plesance
Ples´ance, n. Pleasance. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Plesh, n. A pool; a plash. [Obs.] Spenser.

Plesimorphism
Ple•si•mor´phism, n. [Gr. near + form.] (Crystallog.) The property possessed by some substances of crystallizing in closely similar forms while unlike in chemical composition.

Plesiomorphous
Ple•si•o•mor´phous, a. Nearly alike in form.

Plesiosaur
Ple´si•o•saur, n. (Paleon.) One of the Plesiosauria.

Plesiosauria
Ple•si•o•sau´ri•a, n. pl. [NL. See Plesiosaurus.] (Paleon.) An extinct order of Mesozoic marine reptiles including the genera Plesiosaurus, and allied forms; — called also Sauropterygia.

Plesiosaurus
Ple•si•o•sau´rus, n. ; pl. Plesiosauri (#). [NL., fr. Gr near + a lizard.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct marine reptiles, having a very long neck, a small head, and paddles for swimming. It lived in the Mesozoic age.

Plessimeter
Ples•sim´e•ter, n. See Pleximeter.

Plethora
Pleth´o•ra, n. [NL., fr. Gr., fr. to be or become full. Cf. Pleonasm.]
1. Overfullness; especially, excessive fullness of the blood vessels; repletion; that state of the blood vessels or of the system when the blood exceeds a healthy standard in quantity; hyperaemia; — opposed to anaemia.
2. State of being overfull; excess; superabundance.
"He labors under a plethora of wit and imagination." Jeffrey.

Plethoric
Ple•thor´ic, a. [Gr. ; cf. F. plethorique.] Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as a plethoric constitution; — used also metaphorically. "Plethoric phrases." Sydney Smith. "Plethoric fullness of thought." De Quincey.

Plethorical
Ple•thor´ic•al, a. Plethoric. [R.] — Ple•thor´ic•al•ly, adv. Burke.

Plethory
Pleth´o•ry, n. Plethora. Jer. Taylor. { Pleth´ron, Pleth´rum } n. ; pl. Plethra (#). [NL., fr. Gr. .] (Gr. Antiq.) A long measure of 100 Greek, or 101 English, feet; also a square measure of 10,000 Greek feet.

Plethysmograph
Pleth´ys•mo•graph, n. [Gr. an enlargement + -graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument for determining and registering the variations in the size or volume of a limb, as the arm or leg, and hence the variations in the amount of blood in the limb. — Pleth•ys•mo•graph´ic (#), a.

Plethysmography
Pleth•ys•mog´ra•phy, n. (Physiol.) The study, by means of the plethysmograph, of the variations in size of a limb, and hence of its blood supply.

Pleura
Pleu´ra, n. , pl. of Pleuron.

Pleura
Pleu´ra, n. ; pl. L. Pleurae (#), E. Pleuras (#). [NL., n. fem., fr. Gr. a rib, the side.]
1. (Anat.) (a) The smooth serous membrane which closely covers the lungs and the adjacent surfaces of the thorax; the pleural membrane. (b) The closed sac formed by the pleural membrane about each lung, or the fold of membrane connecting each lung with the body wall.
2. (Zoöl.) Same as Pleuron.

Pleuralgia
Pleu•ral´gi•a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. rib + pain.] (Med.) Pain in the side or region of the ribs.

Pleurapophysis
Pleu•ra•poph´y•sis, n. ; pl. Pleurapophyses (#). [NL. See Pleura, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) One of the ventral processes of a vertebra, or the dorsal element in each half of a hemal arch, forming, or corresponding to, a vertebral rib. — Pleu•rap•o•phys´i•al (#), a. Owen.

Pleuric
Pleu´ric, a. (Anat.) Pleural.

Pleurisy
Pleu´ri•sy, n. [F. pleuresie, L. pleurisis, pleuritis, Gr pleyri^tis (sc. no•sos), fr. pleyra• rib, side.] (Med.) An inflammation of the pleura, usually accompanied with fever, pain, difficult respiration, and cough, and with exudation into the pleural cavity. Pleurisy root. (Bot.) (a) The large tuberous root of a kind of milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa) which is used as a remedy for pleuritic and other diseases. (b) The plant itself, which has deep orange-colored flowers; — called also butterfly weed.

Pleurite
Pleu´rite, n. (Zoöl.) Same as Pleuron. { Pleu•rit´ic, Pleu•rit´ic•al } a. [L. pleuriticus, Gr. : cf. F. pleuretique.] (Med.) (a) Of or pertaining to pleurisy; as pleuritic symptoms. (b) Suffering from pleurisy.

Pleuro-
Pleu´ro- [See Pleura.] A combining form denoting relation to a side; specif., connection with, or situation in or near, the pleura; as pleuroperitoneum.

Pleurocentrum
Pleu•ro•cen´trum, n. [NL. see Pleuro-, and Centrum.] (Anat.) One of the lateral elements in the centra of the vertebrae in some fossil batrachians.

Pleurodont
Pleu´ro•dont, a. [ Pleuro- + Gr.,, a tooth.] (Anat.) Having the teeth consolidated with the inner edge of the jaw, as in some lizards.

Pleurodont
Pleu´ro•dont, n. (Zoöl.) Any lizard having pleurodont teeth.

Pleurodynia
Pleu•ro•dyn´i•a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. side + pain.] (Med.) A painful affection of the side, simulating pleurisy, usually due to rheumatism.

Pleuron
Pleu´ron, n. ; pl. Pleura (#). [NL., fr. Gr. a rib.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the sides of an animal. (b) One of the lateral pieces of a somite of an insect. (c) One of lateral processes of a somite of a crustacean.

Pleuronectoid
Pleu•ro•nec´toid, a. [NL. Pleuronectes, name of a genus (fr. Gr. rib + a swimmer) + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Pleuronectidae, or Flounder family.

Pleuropericardial
Pleu•ro•per•i•car´di•al, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura and pericardium.

Pleuroperipneumony
Pleu•ro•per•ip•neu´mo•ny, n. [ Pleuro- + peripneumony.] (Med.) Pleuropneumonia.

Pleuroperitoneal
Pleu•ro•per•i•to•ne´al, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleural and peritoneal membranes or cavities, or to the pleuroperitoneum.

Pleuroperitoneum
Pleu•ro•per•i•to•ne´um, n. [ Pleuro- + peritoneum.] (Anat.) The pleural and peritoneal membranes, or the membrane lining the body cavity and covering the surface of the inclosed viscera; the peritoneum; — used especially in the case of those animals in which the body cavity is not divided. Peritoneum is now often used in the sense of pleuroperitoneum, the pleurae being regarded as a part of the peritoneum, when the body cavity is undivided.

Pleuropneumonia
Pleu•ro•pneu•mo´ni•a, n. [ Pleuro- + pneumonia.] (Med.) Inflammation of the pleura and lungs; a combination of pleurisy and pneumonia, esp. a kind of contagions and fatal lung plague of cattle.

Pleuroptera
Pleu•rop´te•ra, n. pl [NL., fr. Gr. side + wing.] (Zoöl.) A group of Isectivora, including the colugo.

Pleurosigma
Pleu•ro•sig´ma, n. [NL. See Pleuro-, and Sigma.] (Bot.) A genus of diatoms of elongated elliptical shape, but having the sides slightly curved in the form of a letter S. Pleurosigma angulatum has very fine striations, and is a favorite object for testing the high powers of microscopes.

Pleurothotonus
Pleu•ro•thot´o•nus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. pleyro•qen from the side + to•nos a stretching.] (Med.) A species of tetanus, in which the body is curved laterally. Quain. Dunglison.

Pleurotoma
Pleu•rot´o•ma, n. ; pl. L. Pleurotomae (#), E. Pleurotomas (#). [NL., fr. Gr. the side + tomh• a cut.] (Zoöl.) Any marine gastropod belonging to Pleurotoma, and ether allied genera of the family Pleurotmidae. The species are very numerous, especially in tropical seas. The outer lip has usually a posterior notch or slit.

Plevin
Plev´in, n. [OF. plevine. See Replevin.] A warrant or assurance. [Obs.]

Pleximeter
Plex•im´e•ter, n. [Gr. stroke, percussion (from to strike) + -meter.] (Med.) A small, hard, elastic plate, as of ivory, bone, or rubber, placed in contact with body to receive the blow, in examination by mediate percussion. [Written also plexometer.]

Plexure
Plex´ure, n. [See Plexus.] The act or process of weaving together, or interweaving; that which is woven together. H. Brooke.

Pley, v. & n. See Play. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pley, a. Full See Plein. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pliability
Pli•a•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being pliable; flexibility; as pliability of disposition. "Pliability of movement." Sir W. Scott.

Pliable
Pli´a•ble, a. [F., fr. plier to bend, to fold. See Ply, v. ]
1. Capable of being plied, turned, or bent; easy to be bent; flexible; pliant; supple; limber; yielding; as willow is a pliable plant.
2. Flexible in disposition; readily yielding to influence, arguments, persuasion, or discipline; easy to be persuaded; — sometimes in a bad sense; as a pliable youth. "Pliable she promised to be." Dr. H. More. — Pli´a•ble•ness, n. — Pli´a•bly, adv.

Pliant
Pli´ant, a. [F. pliant, p. pr. of plier to bend. See Ply, v. ]
1. Capable of plying or bending; readily yielding to force or pressure without breaking; flexible; pliable; lithe; limber; plastic; as a pliant thread; pliant wax. Also used figuratively: Easily influenced for good or evil; tractable; as a pliant heart.
"The will was then ductile and pliant to right reason." South.
2. Favorable to pliancy. [R.] "A pliant hour." Shak. — Pli´ant•ly, adv. — Pli´ant•ness, n.

Plicature
Plic´a•ture, n. [L. plicatura, fr. plicare to fold.] A fold; a doubling; a plication. Dr. H. More.

Plicidentine
Plic•i•den´tine, n. [LL. plica fold + E. dentine.] (Anat.) A form of dentine which shows sinuous lines of structure in a transverse section of the tooth.

Plied, imp. & p. p. of Ply.

Plight, obs. imp. & p. p. of Plight, to pledge. Chaucer.

Plight, obs. imp. & p. p. of Pluck. Chaucer.

Plight, v. t. [OE. pliten; probably through Old French, fr. LL. plectare, L. plectere. See Plait, Ply.] To weave; to braid; to fold; to plait.[Obs.] "To sew and plight." Chaucer.
"A plighted garment of divers colors." Milton.

Plight, n. A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. [Obs.] "Many a folded plight." Spenser.

Plight, n. [OE. pliht danger, engagement, AS. pliht danger, fr. pleón to risk; akin to D. plicht duty, G. pflicht, Dan. pligt. rad.28. Cf. Play.]
1. That which is exposed to risk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge. "That lord whose hand must take my plight." Shak.
2. [Perh. the same word as plight a pledge, but at least influenced by OF. plite, pliste, ploit, ploi, a condition, state; cf. E. plight to fold, and F. pl. a fold, habit, plier to fold, E. pl. .] Condition; state; — risk, or exposure to danger, often being implied; as a luckless plight. "Your plight is pitied." Shak.
"To bring our craft all in another plight" Chaucer.

Plight, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Plighting.] [AS. plihtan to expose to danger, pliht danger;cf. D. ver plichten to oblige, engage, impose a duty, G. ver pflichten, Sw. för plikta, Dan. for pligte. See Plight, n. ]
1. To pledge; to give as a pledge for the performance of some act; as to plight faith, honor, word; — never applied to property or goods. " To do them plighte their troth." Piers Plowman.
"He plighted his right hand Unto another love, and to another land." Spenser.
"Here my inviolable faith I plight." Dryden.
2. To promise; to engage; to betroth.
"Before its setting hour, divide The bridegroom from the plighted bride." Sir W. Scott.

Plim, v. i. [Cf. Plump.] To swell, as grain or wood with water. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Plinth, n. [L. plinthus, Gr. a brick or tile, a plinth, perh. akin to E. flint: cf. F. plinthe.] (Arch.) In classical architecture, a vertically faced member immediately below the circular base of a column; also the lowest member of a pedestal; hence, in general, the lowest member of a base; a sub-base; a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom. See Illust. of Column.

Pliohippus
Pli•o•hip´pus, n. [NL., fr. E. pliocene + Gr. horse.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of horses from the Pliocene deposits. Each foot had a single toe (or hoof), as in the common horse.

Pliosaurus
Pli•o•sau´rus, n. [NL., from Gr. greater + lizard.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of marine reptiles allied to Plesiosaurus, but having a much shorter neck.

Plitt, n. [Russ. plete.] An instrument of punishment or torture resembling the knout, used in Russia.

Ploc, n. [F.] (Naut.) A mixture of hair and tar for covering the bottom of a ship.

Ploce
Plo´ce, n. [L., fr. Gr. complication, fr. to entwine.] (Rhet.) A figure in which a word is separated or repeated by way of emphasis, so as not only to signify the individual thing denoted by it, but also its peculiar attribute or quality; as "His wife’s a wife indeed." Bailey.

Plod, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Plodded p. pr. & vb. n. Plodding.] [Gf. Gael. plod a clod, a pool; also to strike or pelt with a clod or clods.]
1. To travel slowly but steadily; to trudge. Shak.
2. To toil; to drudge; especially, to study laboriously and patiently. "Plodding schoolmen." Drayton.

Plod, v. t. To walk on slowly or heavily.
"The ploughman homeward plods his weary way." Gray.

Plodder
Plod´der, n. One who plods; a drudge.

Plodding
Plod´ding, a. Progressing in a slow, toilsome manner; characterized by laborious diligence; as a plodding peddler; a plodding student; a man of plodding habits. —Plod´ding•ly, adv.

Plonge, v. t. [See Plunge.] To cleanse, as open drains which are entered by the tide, by stirring up the sediment when the tide ebbs.

Plot, n. [AS. plot; cf. Goth. plats a patch. Cf. Plat a piece of ground.]
1. A small extent of ground; a plat; as a garden plot. Shak.
2. A plantation laid out. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
3. (Surv.) A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.

Plot, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plotted p. pr. & vb. n. Plotting.] To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.
" This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth." Carew.

Plot, n. [Abbrev. from complot.]
1. Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as the Rye-house Plot.
"I have overheard a plot of death." Shak.
"O, think what anxious moments pass between The birth of plots and their last fatal periods!" Addison.
2. A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy. [Obs.]
"And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce." Milton.
3. Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue. [Obs.] "A man of much plot." Denham.
4. A plan; a purpose. "No other plot in their religion but serve God and save their souls." Jer. Taylor.
5. In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
"If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before." Pope.
Syn. — Intrigue; stratagem; conspiracy; cabal; combination; contrivance.

Plot (plot), v. i.
1. To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire. Shak.
"The wicked plotteth against the just." Ps. xxxvii. 12.
2. To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme.
"The prince did plot to be secretly gone." Sir H. Wotton.

Plot, v. t. To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly. "Plotting an unprofitable crime." Dryden. "Plotting now the fall of others." Milton

Plotful
Plot´ful, a. Abounding with plots.

Plotinian
Plo•tin´i•an, a. Of pertaining to the Plotinists or their doctrines.

Plotinist
Plo•ti´nist, n. (Eccl. Hist.) A disciple of Plotinus, a celebrated Platonic philosopher of the third century, who taught that the human soul emanates from the divine Being, to whom it reunited at death.

Plot-proof
Plot´-proof, a. Secure against harm by plots. Shak.

Plotter
Plot´ter, n. One who plots or schemes; a contriver; a conspirator; a schemer. Dryden.

Plough, n. & v. See Plow.

Plover
Plov´er, n. [OF. plovier, F. pluvier, prop., the rain bird, fr. LL. (assumed) pluviarius, fr. L. pluvia rain, from pluere to rain; akin to E. float, G. fliessen to flow. See Float.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds belonging to the family Charadridae, and especially those belonging to the subfamily Charadrinsae. They are prized as game birds.
2. (Zoöl.) Any grallatorial bird allied to, or resembling, the true plovers, as the crab plover ( Dromas ardeola); the American upland, plover ( Bartramia longicauda); and other species of sandpipers. Among the more important species are the blackbellied, or blackbreasted, plover ( Charadrius squatarola) of America and Europe; — called also gray plover, bull-head plover, Swiss plover, sea plover, and oxeye; the golden plover (see under Golden); the ring or ringed plover ( AEgialitis hiaticula). See Ringneck. The piping plover ( AEgialitis meloda); Wilson’s plover ( AE. Wilsonia); the mountain plover ( AE. montana); and the semipalmated plover ( AE. semipalmata), are all small American species. Bastard plover (Zoöl.), the lapwing. — Long-legged, or yellow- legged, plover. See Tattler. — Plover’s page, the dunlin. [Prov. Eng.] — Rock plover, or Stone plover, the black-bellied plover. [Prov. Eng.] — Whistling plover. (a) The golden plover. (b) The black-bellied plover. { Plow, Plough } (plou), n. [OE. plouh, plou, AS. ploh; akin to D. ploeg, G. pflug, OHG. pfluog, pfluoh, Icel. plogr, Sw. plog, Dan. ploug, plov, Russ. plug’, Lith. plugas.]
1. A well-known implement, drawn by horses, mules, oxen, or other power, for turning up the soil to prepare it for bearing crops; also used to furrow or break up the soil for other purposes; as the subsoil plow; the draining plow.
"Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow." Dryden.
2. Fig.: Agriculture; husbandry. Johnson.
3. A carucate of land; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.]
"Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five." Tale of Gamelyn.
4. A joiner’s plane for making grooves; a grooving plane.
5. (Bookbinding) An implement for trimming or shaving off the edges of books.
6. (Astron.) Same as Charles’s Wain. Ice plow, a plow used for cutting ice on rivers, ponds, etc., into cakes suitable for storing. [U. S.] — Mackerel plow. See under Mackerel. - - Plow alms, a penny formerly paid by every plowland to the church. Cowell. — Plow beam, that part of the frame of a plow to which the draught is applied. See Beam, n. , 9. — Plow Monday, the Monday after Twelth Day, or the end of Christmas holidays. — Plow staff. (a) A kind of long-handled spade or paddle for cleaning the plowshare; a paddle staff. (b) A plow handle. — Snow plow, a structure, usually Λ-shaped, for removing snow from sidewalks, railroads, etc., — drawn or driven by a horse or a locomotive. { Plow, Plough } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Plowed (ploud) or Ploughed; p. pr. & vb. n. Plowing or Ploughing.]
1. To turn up, break up, or trench, with a plow; to till with, or as with, a plow; as to plow the ground; to plow a field.
2. To furrow; to make furrows, grooves, or ridges in; to run through, as in sailing.
"Let patient Octavia plow thy visage up With her prepared nails." Shak.
"With speed we plow the watery way." Pope.
3. (Bookbinding) To trim, or shave off the edges of, as a book or paper, with a plow. See Plow, n. , 5.
4. (Joinery) To cut a groove in, as in a plank, or the edge of a board; especially, a rectangular groove to receive the end of a shelf or tread, the edge of a panel, a tongue, etc. To plow in, to cover by plowing; as to plow in wheat. — To plow up, to turn out of the ground by plowing. { Plow, Plough } (plou), v. i. To labor with, or as with, a plow; to till or turn up the soil with a plow; to prepare the soil or bed for anything. Shak.
"Doth the plowman plow all day to sow ?" Isa. xxviii. 24. { Plow´a•ble, Plough´a•ble }, a. Capable of being plowed; arable. { Plow´bote•, Plough´bote• }, n. (Eng. Law) Wood or timber allowed to a tenant for the repair of instruments of husbandry. See Bote. { Plow´boy•, Plough´boy• }, n. A boy that drives or guides a team in plowing; a young rustic. { Plow´er, Plough´er }, n. One who plows; a plowman; a cultivator. { Plow´foot•, Plough´foot• }, n. An adjustable staff formerly attached to the plow beam to determine the depth of the furrow. Piers Plowman. { Plow´gang•, Plough´gang• }, n. Same as Plowgate. { Plow´gate•, Plough´gate• }, n. The Scotch equivalent of the English word plowland.
"Not having one plowgate of land." Sir W. Scott. { Plow´head•, Plough´head• }, n. The clevis or draught iron of a plow. { Plow´land•, Ploug´land• }, n.
1. Land that is plowed, or suitable for tillage.
2. (O. Eng. Law) the quantity of land allotted for the work of one plow; a hide. { Plow´man, Plough´man }, n. ; pl. -men.
1. One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman. Chaucer. Macaulay.
2. A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer. Plowman’s spikenard (Bot.), a European composite weed ( Conyza squarrosa), having fragrant roots. Dr. Prior. { Plow´point•, Plough´point• }, n. A detachable share at the extreme front end of the plow body. { Plow´share•, Plough´share´ }, n. The share of a plow, or that part which cuts the slice of earth or sod at the bottom of the furrow. Plowshare bone (Anat.), the pygostyle. { Plow´tail•, Plough´tail• }, n. The hind part or handle of a plow. { Plow´wright•, Plough´wright• }, n. One who makes or repairs plows.