Postscript, pōst′skript, n. a part added to a letter after the signature: an addition to a book after it is finished.—adj. Post′scriptal. [L., from post, after, scriptum, written, pa.p. of scribĕre, to write.]
Postulate, pos′tū-lāt, v.t. to assume without proof: to take for granted or without positive consent: (eccles.) to ask legitimate authority to admit a nominee by dispensation, when a canonical impediment is supposed to exist.—v.i. to make demands.—n. a position assumed as self-evident: (geom.) a self-evident problem: a petition: a condition for the accomplishment of anything.—ns. Pos′tulant, a candidate; Postulā′tion, the act of postulating: solicitation.—adjs. Pos′tulātory, supplicatory: assuming or assumed without proof as a postulate; Pos′tural. [L. postulāre, -ātum, to demand—poscĕre, to ask urgently.]
Posture, pos′tūr, n. the placing or position of the body, esp. of the parts of it with reference to each other: attitude: state or condition: disposition of mind.—v.t. to place in a particular manner.—v.i. to assume an affected manner.—ns. Pos′ture-mā′ker, Pos′ture-mas′ter, one who teaches or practises artificial postures of the body: an acrobat; Pos′turer, Pos′turist, an acrobat. [Fr.,—L. positura—ponĕre, positum, to place.]
Posy, pō′zi, n. a verse of poetry, esp. a motto or an inscription on a ring: a motto sent with a bouquet: a bouquet. [Poesy.]
Pot, pot, n. a metallic vessel for various purposes, esp. for cooking: a drinking vessel: an earthen vessel for plants: the quantity in a pot: (slang) a large sum of money, a prize.—v.t. to preserve in pots: to put in pots: to cook in a pot: to plant in a pot: to drain, as sugar, in a perforated cask: to shoot an enemy.—v.i. (Shak.) to tipple:—pr.p. pot′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. pot′ted.—n. Pot′-ale, refuse from a grain distillery.—adj. Pot′-bell′ied, having a prominent belly.—ns. Pot′-bell′y, a protuberant belly; Pot′-boil′er, a work in art or literature produced merely to secure the necessaries of life; Pot′-boy, a boy in a public-house who carries pots of ale to customers; Pot′-compan′ion, a comrade in drinking; Pot′-hang′er, a hook on which to hang a pot; Pot′-hat, a high-crowned felt hat, worn by men; Pot′-head, a stupid person; Pot′herb, any vegetable which is boiled and used as food.—n.pl. Pot′-holes, holes in the beds of rapid streams, made by an eddying current of water, which gives the stones a gyratory motion.—ns. Pot′-hook, a hook hung in a chimney for supporting a pot: a letter shaped like a pot-hook; Pot′-house, an ale-house; Pot′-hunt′er, one who hunts or fishes for profit; Pot′-lid, the cover of a pot; Pot′-liq′uor, a thin broth in which meat has been boiled; Pot′-luck, what may happen to be in the pot for a meal without special preparation; Pot′-man, a pot-companion: a pot-boy; Pot′-met′al, an alloy of copper and lead; Pot′-shop, a small public-house; Pot′-stick, a stick for stirring what is being cooked in a pot; Pot′stone, a massive variety of talc-schist, composed of a finely felted aggregate of talc, mica, and chlorite.—adj. Pot′-val′iant, brave owing to drink.—Potted meats, meats cooked, seasoned, and hermetically sealed in tins or jars.—Go to pot, to go to ruin, originally said of old metal, to go into the melting-pot; Keep the pot boiling, to procure the necessaries of life; Take pot-luck, to accept an invitation to a meal where no preparation for guests has been made. [M. E. pot, from the Celt., as Ir. pota, Gael. poit, W. pot.]
Potable, pō′ta-bl, adj. that may be drunk: liquid.—n. something drinkable.—n. Pō′tableness. [Fr.,—L. potabilis—pōtāre, to drink.]
Potamology, pot-a-mol′ō-ji, n. the scientific study of rivers.—n. Potamog′raphy.—adj. Potamolog′ical.
Potash, pot′ash, n. a powerful alkali, obtained from the ashes of plants—also Potass′.—n. Pot′ash-wa′ter, a kind of aerated water, which, when of full medicinal strength, contains fifteen grains of the bicarbonate of potash in each bottle—usually much less is put in. [Pot ashes.]
Potassa, pō-tas′a, n. [Latinised form of potash.]
Potassium, pō-tas′i-um, n. the metallic base of the alkali potash—it is of a bluish colour, and presents a strong metallic lustre. [Potassa.]