1. (Bot.) The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees, especially
those of the dicotyledonous or exogenous classes. It consists of cellular tissue.
2. (a) (Zoöl.) The spongy interior substance of a feather. (b) (Anat.) The spinal cord; the marrow.
3. Hence: The which contains the strength of life; the vital or essential part; concentrated force; vigor; strength; importance; as,
the speech lacked pith.
Enterprises of great pith and moment.
Shak. Pith paper.
Same as Rice paper, under Rice.
Pith
(Pith), v. t. (Physiol.) To destroy the central nervous system of as by passing a stout wire or needle
up and down the vertebral canal.
Pitheci
(||Pi*the"ci) n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. an ape.] (Zoöl.) A division of mammals including the apes and
monkeys. Sometimes used in the sense of Primates.
Pithecoid
(Pith"e*coid) a. [Gr. an ape + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
1. Of or pertaining to the genus Pithecia, or subfamily Pithecinæ, which includes the saki, ouakari, and
other allied South American monkeys.
2. Of or pertaining to the anthropoid apes in particular, or to the higher apes of the Old World, collectively.
Pithful
(Pith"ful) a. Full of pith. [R.] W. Browne.
Pithily
(Pith"i*ly) adv. In a pithy manner.
Pithiness
(Pith"i*ness), n. The quality or state of being pithy.
Pithless
(Pith"less), a. Destitute of pith, or of strength; feeble. Dryden. "Pithless argumentation." Glandstone.
Pit-hole
(Pit"-hole`) n. A pit; a pockmark.
Pithsome
(Pith"some) a. Pithy; robust. [R.] "Pithsome health and vigor." R. D. Blackmore.
Pithy
(Pith"y) a. [Compar. Pithier ; superl. Pithiest.]
1. Consisting wholly, or in part, of pith; abounding in pith; as, a pithy stem; a pithy fruit.
2. Having nervous energy; forceful; cogent.
This pithy speech prevailed, and all agreed.
Dryden.
In all these Goodman Fact was very short, but pithy.
Addison. Pithy gall (Zoöl.),
a large, rough, furrowed, oblong gall, formed on blackberry canes by a small gallfly
Pitiable
(Pit"i*a*ble) a. [Cf. OF. pitiable, F. pitoyable.] Deserving pity; wworthy of, or exciting, compassion; miserable; lamentable; piteous; as,
pitiable persons; a pitiable condition; pitiable wretchedness.
Syn. — Sorrowful; woeful; sad. See Piteous.
— Pit"i*a*ble*ness, n. — Pit"i*a*bly, adv.
Pitier
(Pit"i*er) n. One who pities. Gauden.