Pyrrol
(Pyr"rol) n. [Gr. flame-colored (from fire) + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) A nitrogenous base found
in coal tar, bone oil, and other distillates of organic substances, and also produced synthetically as a
colorless liquid, C4H5N, having on odor like that of chloroform. It is the nucleus and origin of a large
number of derivatives. So called because it colors a splinter of wood moistened with hydrochloric acid a
deep red.
Pyrroline
(Pyr"ro*line) n. (Chem.) A nitrogenous base, C4H7N, obtained as a colorless liquid by the
reduction of pyrrol.
Pyrula
(||Pyr"u*la) n. [NL., fr. L. pyrus a pear.] (Zoöl.) A genus of large marine gastropods. having a
pear-shaped shell. It includes the fig-shells. See Illust. in Appendix.
Pyruric
(Py*ru"ric) a. Same as Pyroüric.
Pyrus
(||Py"rus) n. [L. pyrus, or better pirus, pear tree.] (Bot.) A genus of rosaceous trees and shrubs
having pomes for fruit. It includes the apple, crab apple, pear, chokeberry, sorb, and mountain ash.
Pyruvic
(Py*ru"vic) a. [Pyro- + L. uva a grape.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid (called
also pyroracemic acid) obtained, as a liquid having a pungent odor, by the distillation of racemic acid.
Pyruvil
(Py*ru"vil) n. (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous compound obtained by heating together pyruvic
acid and urea.
Pythagorean
(Pyth`a*go"re*an) a. [L. Pythagoreus, Gr. .] Of or pertaining to Pythagoras (a Greek
philosopher, born about 582 b. c.), or his philosophy.
The central thought of the Pythagorean philosophy is the idea of number, the recognition of the numerical
and mathematical relations of things.
Encyc. Brit. Pythagorean proposition (Geom.), the theorem that the square described upon the hypothenuse of
a plane right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares described upon the other two sides. —
Pythagorean system (Astron.), the commonly received system of astronomy, first taught by Pythagoras,
and afterward revived by Copernicus, whence it is also called the Copernican system. — Pythagorean
letter. See Y.
Pythagorean
(Pyth`a*go"re*an) n. A follower of Pythagoras; one of the school of philosophers founded
by Pythagoras.
Pythagoreanism
(Pyth`a*go"re*an*ism) n. The doctrines of Pythagoras or the Pythagoreans.
As a philosophic school Pythagoreanism became extinct in Greece about the middle of the 4th century
[B. C.].
Encyc. Brit. Pythagoric
(Pyth`a*gor"ic Pyth`a*gor"ic*al) a.[L. Pythagoricus, Gr. : cf. F. pythagorique.] See Pythagorean,
a.
Pythagorism
(Py*thag"o*rism) n. The doctrines taught by Pythagoras.
Pythagoras made numbers the basis of his philosophical system, as well physical as metaphysical. The
doctrine of the transmigration of souls (metempsychosis) is associated closely with name of Pythagoras.
Pythagorize
(Py*thag"o*rize) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pythagorized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Pythagorizing ] To
speculate after the manner of Pythagoras.
Pythiad
(Pyth"i*ad) n. [See Pythian.] (Gr. Antiq.) The period intervening between one celebration of
the Pythian games and the next.
