Pervious, pėr′vi-us, adj. permeable, penetrable: open, perforate.—adv. Per′viously.—n. Per′viousness. [L. pervius—per, through, via, a way.]
Pesade, pe-zād′, n. the act or position of a saddle-horse in rearing. [Fr.]
Peseta, pe-sā′ta, n. a silver coin of Spain worth 9½d. [Sp., dim. of pesa, weight.]
Peshito, pe-shē′to, n. a translation of the Bible into Syriac, made in the second century.—Also Peshit′to. [Syriac, pĕshittá, the simple.]
Peshwa, pesh′wa, n. a chief or prince of the Mahrattas.—Also Peish′wah.
Pesky, pes′ki, adj. annoying.—adv. Pes′kily.
Peso, pā′so, n. a Spanish dollar. [Sp.,—L. pensum, pendĕre, to weigh.]
Pessary, pes′a-ri, n. an instrument worn in the vagina to remedy displacement of the womb. [Fr. pessaire—Low L. pessarium—Gr. pessos, a pebble.]
Pessimism, pes′i-mizm, n. the doctrine that on the whole the world is bad rather than good: a temper of mind that looks too much on the dark side of things: a depressing view of life.—v.i. Pess′imise.—n. Pess′imist, one who believes that everything is tending to the worst: one who looks too much on the dark side of things—opp. to Optimist.—adjs. Pessimis′tic, -al. [L. pessimus, worst.]
Pest, pest, n. a deadly disease: a plague: anything destructive: a troublesome person.—n. Pest′house, a hospital for persons afflicted with any contagious disease.—adj. Pestif′erous, contagious: pestilent: annoying.—adv. Pestif′erously.—n. Pest′ilence, any contagious deadly disease: anything that is hurtful to the morals.—adjs. Pest′ilent, producing pestilence: hurtful to health and life: mischievous: corrupt: troublesome; Pestilen′tial, of the nature of pestilence: producing pestilence: destructive.—advs. Pestilen′tially, Pest′ilently. [Fr. peste—L. pestis, a contagious disease.]