Chapter Psychics to Public of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Pubes
(Pu"bes) n. [L., the hair which appears on the body at puberty, from pubes adult.]

1. (Anat.) (a) The hair which appears upon the lower part of the hypogastric region at the age of puberty. (b) Hence (as more commonly used), the lower part of the hypogastric region; the pubic region.

2. (Bot.) The down of plants; a downy or villous substance which grows on plants; pubescence.

Pubescence
(Pu*bes"cence) n. [Cf. F. pubescence.]

1. The quality or state of being pubescent, or of having arrived at puberty. Sir T. Browne.

2. A covering of soft short hairs, or down, as one some plants and insects; also, the state of being so covered.

Pubescency
(Pu*bes"cen*cy) n. Pubescence.

Pubescent
(Pu*bes"cent) a. [L. pubescens, -entis, p. pr. of pubescere to reach puberty, to grow hairy or mossy, fr. pubes pubes: cf. F. pubescent.]

1. Arrived at puberty.

That . . . the men (are) pubescent at the age of twice seven, is accounted a punctual truth.

Sir T. Browne.

2. Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.

Pubic
(Pu"bic) a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pubes; in the region of the pubes; as, the pubic bone; the pubic region, or the lower part of the hypogastric region. See Pubes. (b) Of or pertaining to the pubis.

Pubis
(||Pu"bis) n. [NL. See Pubes.] (Anat.) The ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis; sharebone; pubic bone.

Public
(Pub"lic) a. [L. publicus, poblicus, fr. populus people: cf. F. public. See People.]

1. Of or pertaining to the people; belonging to the people; relating to, or affecting, a nation, state, or community; — opposed to private; as, the public treasury.

To the public good
Private respects must yield.

Milton.

He [Alexander Hamilton] touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet.

D. Webster.

2. Open to the knowledge or view of all; general; common; notorious; as, public report; public scandal.

Joseph, . . . not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Matt. i. 19.

3. Open to common or general use; as, a public road; a public house. "The public street." Shak.

Public actor statute (Law), an act or statute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the courts take judicial notice. — Public credit. See under Credit. — Public funds. See Fund, 3. — Public house, an inn, or house of entertainment. — Public law. (a) See International law, under International. (b) A public act or statute. — Public nuisance. (Law) See under Nuisance. — Public orator. (Eng. Universities) See Orator, 3. — Public stores, military and naval stores, equipments, etc. — Public works, all fixed works built by civil engineers for public use, as railways, docks, canals, etc.; but strictly, military and civil engineering works constructed at the public cost.

Public
(Pub"lic), n.