Perissology
(Per`is*sol"o*gy) n. [L. perissologia, Gr. odd, superfluous + discourse.] Superfluity of
words. [R.] G. Campbell.
Peristalsis
(||Per`i*stal"sis) n. [NL. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.) Peristaltic contraction or action.
Peristaltic
(Per`i*stal"tic) a. [Gr. clasping and compressing, fr. to surround, wrap up; round + to place,
arrange: cf. F. péristaltique.] (Physiol.) Applied to the peculiar wormlike wave motion of the intestines
and other similar structures, produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls,
forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. — Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly adv.
Peristeria
(||Per`is*te"ri*a) n. [NL. See Peristerion.] (Bot.) A genus of orchidaceous plants. See Dove
plant.
Peristerion
(||Per`is*te"ri*on) n. [NL., fr. Gr. a dovecote, a kind of verbena, fr. a dove, pigeon; cf. L.
peristereon.] (Bot.) The herb vervain (Verbena officinalis).
Peristerite
(Pe*ris"ter*ite) n. [Gr. a pigeon.] (Min.) A variety of albite, whitish and slightly iridescent
like a pigeon's neck.
Peristeromorphous
(Pe*ris`ter*o*mor"phous) a. [Gr. a pigeon + -morphous.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining
to the pigeons or Columbæ.
Peristeropodous
(Pe*ris`ter*op"o*dous) a. [Gr. a pigeon + foot.] (Zoöl.) Having pigeonlike feet; — said
of those gallinaceous birds that rest on all four toes, as the curassows and megapods.
Peristole
(Pe*ris"to*le) n. [NL.: cf. F. péristole. See Peristaltic.] (Physiol.) Peristaltic action, especially
of the intestines.
Peristoma
(||Pe*ris"to*ma) n.; pl. Peristomata [NL.] Same as Peristome.
Peristome
(Per"i*stome) n. [Pref. peri- + Gr. mouth.]
1. (Bot.) The fringe of teeth around the orifice of the capsule of mosses. It consists of 4, 8, 16, 32, or
64 teeth, and may be either single or double.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The lip, or edge of the aperture, of a spiral shell. (b) The membrane surrounding the
mouth of an invertebrate animal.
Peristomial
(Per`i*sto"mi*al) a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a peristome.
Peristomium
(||Per`i*sto"mi*um) n. [NL.] Same as Peristome.
Peristrephic
(Per`i*streph"ic) a. [Gr. to turn round.] Turning around; rotatory; revolving; as, a peristrephic
painting
Peristyle
(Per"i*style) n. [L. peristylum, Gr. about + a column: cf. F. péristyle.] (Arch.) A range of columns
with their entablature, etc.; specifically, a complete system of columns, whether on all sides of a court, or
surrounding a building, such as the cella of a temple. Used in the former sense, it gives name to the
larger and inner court of a Roman dwelling, the peristyle. See Colonnade.
Perisystole
(Per`i*sys"to*le) n. [Pref. peri- + systole: cf. F. périsystole.] (Physiol.) The interval between
the diastole and systole of the heart. It is perceptible only in the dying.
Perite
(Pe*rite") a. [L. peritus.] Skilled. [Obs.]
