Perigee
(Per"i*gee Per`i*ge"um) n. [NL. perigeum, fr. Gr. about, near + the earth: cf. F. périgée.] (Astron.)
That point in the orbit of the moon which is nearest to the earth; — opposed to apogee. It is sometimes,
but rarely, used of the nearest points of other orbits, as of a comet, a planet, etc. Called also epigee,
epigeum.
Perigenesis
(Per`i*gen"e*sis) n. (Biol.) A theory which explains inheritance by the transmission of the
type of growth force possessed by one generation to another.
Perigenetic
(Per`i*gen"e*tic) a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to perigenesis.
Perigone
(Per"i*gone) n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. productive organs.]
1. (Bot.) (a) Any organ inclosing the essential organs of a flower; a perianth. (b) In mosses, the involucral
bracts of a male flower.
2. (Zoöl.) A sac which surrounds the generative bodies in the gonophore of a hydroid.
Perigonium
(||Per`i*go"ni*um) n.; pl. Perigonia [NL.] Same as Perigone.
Perigord pie
(Per"i*gord pie`) [From Périgord, a former province of France.] A pie made of truffles, much
esteemed by epicures.
Perigraph
(Per"i*graph) n. [Gr. outline; round, about + to write.] A careless or inaccurate delineation of
anything. [R.]
Perigynium
(||Per`i*gyn"i*um) n.; pl. Perigynia [NL. See Perigynous.] (Bot.) Some unusual appendage
about the pistil, as the bottle-shaped body in the sedges, and the bristles or scales in some other genera
of the Sedge family, or Cyperaceæ.
Perigynous
(Pe*rig"y*nous) a. [Pref. peri- + Gr. woman.] (Bot.) Having the ovary free, but the petals
and stamens borne on the calyx; — said of flower such as that of the cherry or peach.
Perihelion
(Per`i*hel"ion Per`i*he"li*um) n.; pl. Perihelia [NL., fr. Gr. about, near + the sun.] (Astron.)
That point of the orbit of a planet or comet which is nearest to the sun; — opposed to aphelion.
Peril
(Per"il) n. [F. péril, fr. L. periculum, periclum, akin to peritus experienced, skilled, and E. fare.
See Fare, and cf. Experience.] Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury,
loss, or destruction.
In perils of waters, in perils of robbers.
2 Cor. xi. 26.
Adventure hard
With peril great achieved.
Milton. At, or On, one's peril, with risk or danger to one; at the hazard of. "On thy soul's peril." Shak.
Syn. — Hazard; risk; jeopardy. See Danger.
Peril
(Per"il), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Periled or Perilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Periling or Perilling.] To expose
to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one's life.
Peril
(Per"il) v. i. To be in danger. [Obs.] Milton.
Perilla
(||Pe*ril"la) n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.) A genus of labiate herbs, of which one species (Perilla
ocimoides, or P. Nankinensis) is often cultivated for its purple or variegated foliage.
Perilous
(Per"il*ous) a. [OF. perillous, perilleus, F. périlleux, L. periculosus. See Peril.] [Written also
perillous.]
