PORCUPINE, por'k[=u]-p[=i]n, _n._ one of the largest of rodent quadrupeds, covered with spines or quills. [O. Fr. _porc espin_--L. _porcus_, a pig, _spina_, a spine.]
PORE, p[=o]r, _n._ a minute passage in the skin for the perspiration: an opening between the molecules of a body.--_adjs._ P[=O]'RAL, of or pertaining to pores; P[=O]'RIFORM, in the form of a pore.--_ns._ P[=O]'RINESS, POROS'ITY, P[=O]'ROUSNESS, quality of being porous--opp. to _Density_.--_adjs._ P[=O]'ROSE, containing pores; P[=O]'ROUS, P[=O]'RY, having pores: that can be penetrated by fluid.--_adv._ P[=O]'ROUSLY.
[Fr.,--L. _porus_--Gr. _poros_, a passage.]
PORE, p[=o]r, _v.i._ to look with steady attention on: to study closely.--_n._ P[=O]'RER. [_Peer_, to peep.]
PORGY, PORGIE, por'ji, _n._ a fish of the genus _Pagrus_.
PORIFERA, p[=o]-rif'e-ra, _n.pl._ sponges:--_sing._ POR'IFER.--_adjs._ PORIF'ERAL, PORIF'EROUS. [L. _porus_, a pore, _ferre_, to bear.]
PORISM, por'ism, _n._ a proposition affirming the possibility of finding such conditions as will render a certain problem capable of innumerable solutions.--_adjs._ PORISMAT'IC, -AL; PORIS'TIC, -AL, reducing a determinate problem to an indeterminate. [Gr. _porizein_, to procure--_poros_, a way.]
PORK, p[=o]rk, _n._ the flesh of swine: (_Milt._) a stupid fellow.--_ns._ PORK'-BUTCH'ER, one who kills pigs; PORK'-CHOP, a slice from a pig's rib; PORK'ER, a young hog: a pig fed for pork; PORK'LING, a young pig; PORK'-PIE, a pie made of pastry and minced pork.--_adj._ PORK'Y, fat.--PORK-PIE HAT, a hat somewhat like a pie in shape worn by men and women about the middle of the 19th century. [Fr. _porc_--L. _porcus_, a hog.]
PORNOCRACY, p[=o]r-nok'r[=a]-si, _n._ the influence of courtezans--applied esp. to the dominant influence of certain profligate women over the Papal court in the earlier half of the 10th century.--_ns._ POR'NOGRAPH, an obscene picture or writing; PORNOG'RAPHER, a writer of such.--_adj._ PORNOGRAPH'IC.--_n._ PORNOG'RAPHY, the discussion of prostitution: obscene writing. [Gr. _porn[=e]_, a whore, _kratein_, to rule.]
POROSIS, p[=o]-r[=o]'sis, _n._ formation of callus, the knitting together of broken bones.
POROTYPE, p[=o]'r[=o]-t[=i]p, _n._ a copy of an engraved print made by placing it on chemically prepared paper and subjecting to the action of a gas. [Gr. _poros_, a pore, _typos_, an impression.]
PORPENTINE, por'pen-t[=i]n, _n._ (_Shak._) a porcupine.
PORPESS, PORPESSE, por'pes, _n._ Same as PORPOISE.
PORPHYRIO, por-fir'i-[=o], _n._ a genus of _Rallidae_, the hyacinthine gallinules.
PORPHYROGENITUS, por-fir-[=o]-jen'i-tus, _n._ a title given to the Byzantine emperor, Constantine VII. (912-959), meaning 'born in the purple.'--_n._ PORPHYROGEN'ITISM, the Byzantine principle of the first son born after his father's accession succeeding to the throne. [Gr.
_porphyra_, purple, _gennain_, to beget.]
PORPHYRY, por'fir-i, _n._ a very hard, variegated rock, of a purple and white colour, used in sculpture (_porfido rosso antico_): an igneous rock having a ground-mass enclosing crystals of feldspar or quartz.--_v.t._ POR'PHYRISE, to cause to resemble porphyry: to make of a spotted appearance.--_n._ POR'PHYRITE, one of the crystalline igneous rocks, which consists principally of plagioclase.--_adjs._ PORPHYRIT'IC, PORPHYR[=A]'CEOUS, resembling or consisting of porphyry.--_n._ POR'PHYROID, a crystalline and schistose rock containing porphyritic crystals of feldspar. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr. _porphyrites_--_porphyra_, purple.]
PORPOISE, por'pus, _n._ a genus of Cetecea in the family _Delphinidae_, 4 to 8 feet long, gregarious, affording oil and leather--anciently POR'PESS. [O.
Fr. _porpeis_--L. _porcus_, a hog, _piscis_, a fish.]
PORPORINO, por-p[=o]-r[=e]'n[=o], _n._ an old alloy of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, used in place of gold. [It.]
PORRACEOUS, po-r[=a]'shus, _adj._ greenish like the leek. [L. _porrum_, a leek.]
PORRECTION, po-rek'shun, _n._ the action of delivering as by outstretched hands.--_adj._ PORRECT', extended forward. [L., _porrig[)e]re_, to stretch out.]
PORRIDGE, por'ij, _n._ a kind of pudding usually made by slowly stirring oatmeal amongst boiling water: a kind of broth, made by boiling vegetables in water. [Through O. Fr., from Low L. _porrata_--L. _porrum_, a leek. The affix _-idge_ (= _-age_) arose through confusion with _pottage_.]
PORRIGO, po-r[=i]'g[=o], _n._ a general name for various skin diseases.--_adj._ PORRIG'INOUS. [L.]
PORRINGER, por'in-j[.e]r, _n._ a small dish for porridge: (_Shak._) a head-dress shaped like such a dish.--Also PORR'ENGER. [From _porrige_=_porridge_, with inserted _n_ as in _passenger_.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ the larboard or left side of a ship.--_v.t._ to turn to the left, as the helm.--_v.i._ to turn to larboard or left. [Ety. dub.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ martial music on the bagpipes. [Gael.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ bearing: demeanour: carriage of the body.--_v.t._ to hold, as a musket, in a slanting direction upward across the body.--_ns._ PORTABIL'ITY, PORT'ABLENESS, the state of being portable.--_adj._ PORT'ABLE, that may be carried: not bulky or heavy.--_ns._ PORT'AGE, act of carrying: carriage: price of carriage: a space between two rivers, canals, &c., over which goods and boats have to be carried; PORT'ANCE (_Spens._), carriage, bearing.--_adjs._ POR'T[=A]TE (_her._), in a position as if being carried; POR'TATILE, portable; POR'TATIVE, easily carried.--_ns._ PORT'-CRAY'ON, a metallic handle for holding a crayon; PORTE'-BONHEUR', a charm carried for luck; PORTE'-COCHeRE, a carriage entrance leading from the street into a building; PORTE'-MON'NAIE, a small clasped pocket-book for holding money; PORT'-FIRE, a slow-match or match-cord. [Fr.,--L.
_port[=a]re_, to carry.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ a harbour: a haven or safe station for vessels: a place from which vessels start, and at which they finish their voyages.--_n._ PORT'-AD'MIRAL, the admiral commanding at a naval port.--_n.pl._ PORT'-CHARG'ES, payments which a ship has to pay while in harbour.--_n._ PORT'-WARD'EN, the officer in charge of a port: a harbour-master.--PORT OF CALL, a port where vessels can call for stores or repairs; PORT OF ENTRY, a port where merchandise is allowed by law to enter.--_Free port_, a port where no duty has to be paid on landing goods. [A.S. _port_--L. _portus_; akin to L. _porta_, a gate.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ a gate or entrance, esp. of a walled town: an opening in the side of a ship for light or air: an opening through which guns can be fired: the lid of a porthole: a passage in a machine for oil, steam, &c.--_n._ PORT'AGE (_Shak._), an opening. [Fr. _porte_--L. _porta_, gate.]
PORT, p[=o]rt, _n._ a dark-red wine from _Oporto_, Portugal.
PORTA, p[=o]r'ta, _n._ the part of an organ where its vessels and ducts enter, esp. the transverse fissure of the liver: the foramen of Monro.
PORTAL, p[=o]rt'al, _n._ a small gate: any entrance: (_archit._) the arch over a gate: the lesser of two gates.--PORTAL CIRCULATION, the capillary transmission of venous blood from one organ to another in its passage to the heart; PORTAL SYSTEM, the portal vein with its tributaries, &c.; PORTAL VEIN, the vein which conveys to the liver the venous blood from intestines, spleen, and stomach. [O. Fr. (Fr. _portail_)--Low L. _portale_--L. _porta_, a gate.]
PORTCULLIS, p[=o]rt-kul'is, _n._ a sliding door of cross timbers pointed with iron, hung over a gateway, so as to be let down in a moment to keep out an enemy: (_her._) a lattice: one of the pursuivants of the English College of Heralds: an Elizabethan coin bearing a portcullis on the reverse.--_v.t._ to obstruct, as with a portcullis. [O. Fr.
_portecoulisse_--_porte_, a gate, _coulisse_, a groove--L. _col[=a]re_, to strain.]
PORTE, p[=o]rt, _n._ the Turkish government, so called from the 'High Gate,' or 'Sublime Porte,' the chief office of the Ottoman government.
PORTEND, por-tend', _v.t._ to indicate the future by signs: to betoken: presage.--_n._ POR'TENT, that which portends or foreshows: an evil omen.--_adj._ PORTENT'OUS, serving to portend: foreshadowing ill: wonderful, dreadful, prodigious.--_adv._ PORTENT'OUSLY. [L.
_portend[)e]re_, _portentum_--_pro_, forth, _tend[)e]re_, to stretch.]
PORTER, p[=o]rt'[.e]r, _n._ a door-keeper or gate-keeper: one who waits at the door to receive messages:--_fem._ PORT'ERESS, PORT'RESS.--_n._ PORT'ERAGE, the office or duty of a porter.--PORTER'S LODGE, a house or an apartment near a gate for the use of the porter. [O. Fr. _portier_--Low L.
_portarius_--L. _porta_, a gate.]
PORTER, p[=o]rt'[.e]r, _n._ one who carries burdens for hire: a dark-brown malt liquor, prob. because a favourite drink with London porters.--_ns._ PORT'ERAGE, carriage: charge made by a porter for carrying goods; PORT'ER-HOUSE, a restaurant; PORT'ERHOUSE-STEAK (_U.S._), a choice cut of beef-steak next to the sirloin.--_adv._ PORT'ERLY, like a porter: coarse.
[O. Fr. _porteur_--L. _port[=a]re_, to carry.]
PORTFOLIO, p[=o]rt-f[=o]'li-[=o], _n._ a portable case for loose papers, drawings, &c.: a collection of such papers: the office of a minister of state. [Sp. _portafolio_--L. _port[=a]re_, to carry, _folium_, a leaf.]
PORTHOLE, p[=o]rt'h[=o]l, _n._ a hole or opening in a ship's side for light and air, or for pointing a gun through. [_Port_, a gate, and _hole_.]
PORTICO, p[=o]r'ti-k[=o], _n._ (_archit._) a range of columns in the front of a building: a colonnade: a porch before the entrance to a building: the Stoic philosophy:--_pl._ POR'TICOES, POR'TICOS.--_adj._ POR'TICOED, furnished with a portico. [It.,--L. _porticus_, a porch.]
PORTIeRE, por-ty[=a]r', _n._ a curtain hung over the door or doorway of a room. [Fr.]
PORTIFORIUM, p[=o]r-ti-f[=o]'ri-um, _n._ a breviary:--_pl._ PORTIF[=O]'RIA.--Also PORT'FORY, PORT'OUS, PORT'UARY.
PORTIFY, p[=o]r'ti-f[=i], _v.t._ (_hum._) to give one's self undue importance. [_Port_, the wine of that name, _-fy_, from L. _fac[)e]re_, to make, from the saying, 'Claret would be port if it could.']
PORTION, p[=o]r'shun, _n._ a part: an allotment: fate: destiny: dividend: the part of an estate descending to an heir: a wife's fortune.--_v.t._ to divide into portions: to allot a share: to furnish with a portion.--_adj._ POR'TIONED, having a portion or endowment.--_ns._ POR'TIONER, one who portions or assigns shares: (_Scots law_) the occupier of a small feu or portion of land: one of two or more incumbents on a benefice at one time; POR'TIONIST, one who has an academical allowance: the incumbent of a benefice which has more than one rector or vicar.--_adj._ POR'TIONLESS, having no portion, dowry, or property.--MARRIAGE PORTION, a gift given by a parent or guardian to a bride on her marriage. [O. Fr.,--L. _portio_, _portionis_, akin to _pars_, a part.]
PORTLAND VASE. See VASE.
PORTLY, p[=o]rt'li, _adj._ having a dignified port or mien: corpulent: (_Shak._) swelling.--_n._ PORT'LINESS, state of being portly. [_Port_, bearing.]
PORTMAN, p[=o]rt'man, _n._ an inhabitant of a port-town, or one of the Cinque Ports.--_n._ PORT'-MOTE, a mote composed of such citizens.
PORTMANTEAU, port-man't[=o], _n._ a bag for carrying apparel, &c., on journeys: a hook on which to hang clothing.--Also PORTMAN'TUA (_obs._).
[Fr.,--_porter_, to carry, _manteau_, a cloak.]