Permanence
(Per"ma*nence Per"ma*nen*cy) n. [Cf. F. permanence.] The quality or state of being
permanent; continuance in the same state or place; duration; fixedness; as, the permanence of institutions; the
permanence of nature.
Permanent
(Per"ma*nent) a. [L. permanens, -entis, p. pr. of permanere to stay or remain to the end,
to last; per + manere to remain: cf. F. permanent. See Per-, and Mansion.] Continuing in the same
state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as,
a permanent impression.
Eternity stands permanent and fixed.
Dryden. Permanent gases (Chem. & Physics),
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; — also
called incondensible or incoercible gases, before their liquefaction in 1877. — Permanent way, the
roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; — so called in distinction from the contractor's temporary
way. — Permanent white (Chem.), barium sulphate (heavy spar), used as a white pigment or paint,
in distinction from white lead, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.
Syn. — Lasting; durable; constant. See Lasting.
Permanently
(Per"ma*nent*ly), adv. In a permanent manner.
Permanganate
(Per*man"ga*nate) n. (Chem.) A salt of permanganic acid.
Potassium permanganate.
(Chem.) See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.
Permanganic
(Per`man*gan"ic) a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, one of the higher acids of
manganese, HMnO4, which forms salts called permanganates.
Permansion
(Per*man"sion) n. [L. permansio. See Permanent.] Continuance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Permeability
(Per`me*a*bil"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. perméabilité.] The quality or state of being permeable.
Magnetic permeability (Physics),
the specific capacity of a body for magnetic induction, or its conducting
power for lines of magnetic force. Sir W. Thomson.
Permeable
(Per"me*a*ble) a. [L. permeabilis: cf. F. perméable. See Permeate.] Capable of being
permeated, or passed through; yielding passage; passable; penetrable; — used especially of substances
which allow the passage of fluids; as, wood is permeable to oil; glass is permeable to light. I. Taylor.
Permeably
(Per"me*a*bly), adv. In a permeable manner.
Permeant
(Per"me*ant) a. [L. permeans, p. pr.] Passing through; permeating. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Permeate
(Per"me*ate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Permeated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Permeating.] [L. permeatus,
p. p. of permeare to permeate; per + meare to go, pass.]
1. To pass through the pores or interstices of; to penetrate and pass through without causing rupture or
displacement; — applied especially to fluids which pass through substances of loose texture; as, water
permeates sand. Woodward.
2. To enter and spread through; to pervade.
God was conceived to be diffused throughout the whole world, to permeate and pervade all things.
Cudworth.