Perpend, per-pend′, v.t. to weigh in the mind, to consider carefully. [L. perpendĕre—per, inten., pendĕre, to weigh.]
Perpend, per′pend, n. in building, a bond-stone or bonder.—Also Per′pend-stone, Per′pent-stone. [O. Fr. parpaigne, Fr. parpaing.]
Perpendicular, pėr-pen-dik′ū-lar, adj. exactly upright: extending in a straight line toward the centre of the earth: (geom.) at right angles to a given line or surface.—n. a perpendicular line or plane.—n. Perpendicular′ity, state of being perpendicular.—adv. Perpendic′ularly.—Perpendicular style, a style of Gothic architecture in England which succeeded the Decorated style, prevailing from the end of the 14th to the middle of the 16th century, contemporary with the Flamboyant style in France, marked by stiff and rectilinear lines, mostly vertical window-tracery, depressed or four-centre arch, fan-tracery vaulting, and panelled walls. [Fr.,—L. perpendicularis—perpendiculum, a plumb-line—per, through, pendĕre, to weigh.]
Perpetrate, pėr′pē-trāt, v.t. to perform or commit (usually in a bad sense): to produce (as a poor pun).—adj. Per′petrable.—ns. Perpetrā′tion, act of committing a crime: the thing perpetrated: an evil action; Per′petrātor. [L. perpetrāre, -ātum—per, thoroughly, patrāre, to perform.]
Perpetual, per-pet′ū-al, adj. never ceasing: everlasting: not temporary.—adv. Perpet′ually.—Perpetual curate, a curate of a parish where there was neither rector nor vicar, the tithes being in the hands of a layman—abolished in 1868, every incumbent not a rector now being a vicar; Perpetual motion, motion of a machine arising from forces within itself, constantly kept up without any force from without; Perpetual screw, an endless screw. [Fr. perpétuel—L. perpetuus, continuous.]
Perpetuate, per-pet′ū-āt, v.t. to make perpetual: to cause to last for ever or for a very long time: to preserve from extinction or oblivion.—adj. Perpet′ūable, capable of being perpetuated.—n. Perpet′uance, the act of making perpetual.—adjs. Perpet′uāte, -d, made perpetual: continued for an indefinite time.—n. Perpetuā′tion, act of perpetuating or preserving from oblivion: preservation for ever, or for a very long time; Perpetū′ity, state of being perpetual: endless time: duration for an indefinite period: something lasting for ever: the sum paid for a perpetual annuity: the annuity itself.
Perplex, per-pleks′, v.t. to make difficult to be understood: to embarrass: to puzzle: to tease with suspense or doubt.—n. (obs.) a difficulty.—adv. Perplex′edly.—n. Perplex′edness.—adj. Perplex′ing.—adv. Perplex′ingly.—n. Perplex′ity, state of being perplexed: confusion of mind arising from doubt, &c.: intricacy: embarrassment: doubt. [Fr.,—L. perplexus, entangled—per, completely, plexus, involved, pa.p. of plectĕre.]
Perquisite, pėr′kwi-zit, n. an allowance granted over and above the settled wages: a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service.—ns. Perquisi′tion, a strict search: diligent inquiry; Perquis′itor, the first purchaser of an estate. [L. perquisitum, from perquirĕre—per, thoroughly, quærĕre, to ask.]
Perradial, pėr-rā′di-al, adj. fundamentally radial.—n. Perrā′dius.
Perrier, per′i-ėr, n. a machine for hurling stones.