Paratonic, par-a-ton′ik, adj. retarding a plant's growth. [Gr. para, beside, teinein, to stretch.]
Paravail, par′a-vāl, adj. inferior: lowest, said of a feudal tenant: of least account—opp. to Paramount. [O. Fr. par aval, below—L. per, through, ad, to, vallem, a valley.]
Paravant, Paravaunt, par′a-vänt, adv. (Spens.) in front, first, beforehand. [O. Fr. paravant—par, through, avant, before—L. ab, from, ante, before.]
Parbake, pär′bāk, v.t. to bake partially. [Formed on analogy of parboil.]
Parboil, pär′boil, v.t. to boil slightly or in part—as if from part and boil.
Parbreak, pär′brāk, v.t. or v.i. (Spens.) to throw out, to vomit.—n. (Spens.) vomit. [Fr. par—L. per, through, and break.]
Parbuckle, pär′buk'l, n. a purchase made by looping a rope in the middle to aid in rolling casks up or down an incline, or in furling a sail by rolling the yards: a sling made by passing both ends of a rope through its bight.—v.t. to hoist or lower by a parbuckle:—pr.p. par′buckling; pa.p. par′buckled. [Prob. L. par, equal, and buckle.]
Parcæ, pär′sē, n.pl. the Fates.
Parcel, pär′sel, n. a little part: a portion: a quantity, as of single articles: a number forming a group or a lot: a package.—v.t. to divide into portions:—pr.p. par′celling; pa.t. and pa.p. par′celled.—n. Par′cel-bawd (Shak.), one partly a bawd.—adjs. Par′cel-beard′ed (Tenn.), partially bearded; Par′cel-gilt, partially gilded.—n. Par′cel-off′ice, a place where parcels are received for despatch and delivery.—Parcels post, that department of the post-office which takes charge of the forwarding and delivery of small parcels. [Fr. parcelle (It. particella)—L. particula, dim. of pars, partis, a part.]