2. [Cf. F. parfumerie.] The art of preparing perfumes.
Perfunctorily
(Per*func"to*ri*ly) adv. In a perfunctory manner; formally; carelessly. Boyle.
Perfunctoriness
(Per*func"to*ri*ness), n. The quality or state of being perfunctory.
Perfunctory
(Per*func"to*ry) a. [L. perfunctorius, fr. perfunctus dispatched, p. p. of perfungi to discharge,
dispatch; per (see Per) + fungi to perform. See Function.]
1. Done merely to get rid of a duty; performed mechanically and as a thing of rote; done in a careless
and superficial manner; characterized by indifference; as, perfunctory admonitions. Macaulay.
2. Hence: Mechanical; indifferent; listless; careless. "Perfunctory in his devotions." Sharp.
Perfuncturate
(Per*func"tu*rate) v. t. To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently. [R.]
Perfuse
(Per*fuse") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Perfused ; p. pr. & vb. n. Perfusing.] [L. perfusus, p. p. of
perfundere to pour over; per + fundere to pour.] To suffuse; to fill full or to excess. Harvey.
Perfusion
(Per*fu"sion) n. [L. perfusio.] The act of perfusing.
Perfusive
(Per*fu"sive) a. Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.
Pergamenous
(Per`ga*me"no*us Per`ga*men*ta"ceous) a. [L. pergamena parchment. See Parchment.]
Like parchment.
Perhaps
(Per*haps") adv. [Per + hap chance.] By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be.
And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts viii. 22. Peri-
(Per"i-) A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as,
perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed;
perispherical, quite spherical.
Peri
(Pe"ri) n.; pl. Peris [Per. peri a female genus, a fairy.] (Persian Myth.) An imaginary being,
male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise
till penance is accomplished. Moore.
Periagua
(Per`i*a"gua) n. See Pirogue.
Perianth
(Per"i*anth) n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. flower: cf. F. périanthe.] (Bot.) (a) The leaves of a flower
generally, especially when the calyx and corolla are not readily distinguished. (b) A saclike involucre
which incloses the young fruit in most hepatic mosses. See Illust. of Hepatica.
Perianthium
(||Per`i*an"thi*um) n. [NL.] (Bot.) The perianth.
Periapt
(Per"i*apt) n. [Gr. fr. hung about, to hang about; about + to tie: cf. F. périapte.] A charm worn
as a protection against disease or mischief; an amulet. Coleridge.
Now help, ye charming spells and periapts.
Shak. Periastral
(Per`i*as"tral) a. Among or around the stars. "Comets in periastral passage." R. A. Proctor.
Periastron
(Per`i*as"tron) n. [NL., fr. Gr. about + a star.] (Astron.) That point, in the real or apparent
orbit of one star revolving around another, at which the former is nearest to the latter.
Periauger
(Per"i*au"ger) n. See Pirogue. W. Irving.
