penumbra (penumbra)

[ IMG:content-2654.jpg:[graphic] IMG:content-2655.png:[blocks in formation] Fig. 1. Lunar eclipse. Fig. 2. Solar eclipse. S, sun; E, earth; M, moon; P, penumbra; U, umbra. of the luminous body. The figures represent the so called Hipparch an diagrams of a lunar and a solar eclipse. Any portion of the moon in penumbra appears slightly dimmed, the more so the nearer it is to the umbra. At a station of the earth in the moon's penumbra, the disk of the sun is partially hidden, forming a partial (or, po ibly, an annular) eclipse. IMG:content-2656.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2657.png:[blocks in formation] 3. Exce ively saving or sparing in the use of money; parsimonious to a fault; sordid: as, a penurious man. We should serve him as a grudging master, As a penurious niggard of his wealth. Good lord! what can my lady mean, Conversing with that rusty dean! She's grown so nice, and so penurious , With So crates and Epicurius. ing or cleaning pens after use. Pen-wipers are often made up into ornaments more or le elaborate. penwoman (pen'wum"an), n.; pl. penwomen (-wim"en). A woman who writes with a pen; a female writer; an authore . Hard work is not fit for a penwoman . Why, love, you have not written already! You have, I protest! O what a ready penwoman ! Richardson, Clari a Harlowe, I. 329. ( Davies .) peon (pē'on), n. [ peon =Pg. peão , a foot- soldier, a day-laborer, a pedestrian, = OF. peon , paon, pion , a foot-soldier, F. pion , a pawn (in che ), pedo (n-), a foot-soldier, pes ( ped- ) = E. foot : see pedal , etc. Cf. pawn2 , a doublet of peon .] 1. A day-laborer; specifical- ly, in Spanish America, a species of serf, com- pelled to work for his creditor until his debts are paid.-2. In India: (a) A foot-soldier. ( b ) A me enger; an attendant or orderly. (c) A native constable or policeman.-3. In che , a piece representing a footman; a pawn. peonage (pē'on-āj), n. [ peon + -age.] A form of servitude existing in Spanish America. It prevailed especially in Mexico. peonia (pē-ō'ni-a), n . [Sp., peon , a foot-sol- dier: see peon .] In Spanish America, a land- measure, not now used and not well defined in extent. Originally it comprised the land given to a foot- soldier in a conquered country - supposed to be as much as could be cultivated by one man. as, the king and the people ; one of the people; the darling of the people . With glosynges and with gabbyngs he gylede the peuple . Piers Plowman (C), xxiii. 125. In other things the knowing artist may Judge better than the people , but a play Made for delight, Waller , Prol. to Maid's Tragedy. The popular leaders (who in all ages have called them- selves the people ) began to grow insolent. Black stone, Com., IV. xxxiii. verely would be to suppre the only safeguard of the pub- lic liberty. Jefferson, Correspondence, II. 85. 3. Those who are closely connected with a per- son as subjects, domestics, attendants, follow- ers, etc.; also, one's family, relatives, etc.: as, a pastor and his people . Where-thurgh the kynges lege peopell scholde be dis- ceuyd. English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 332 And what peopyll they brought among them three, Mynne Auctour seith it is a wonder to see. 4. Persons; any persons indefinitely; men: a collective noun taking a verb in the plural, and admitting in colloquial use a numeral adjective: as, people may say what they please; a number of country people were there; people of fashion; there were not ten people present. Might neuer men doo better on a day ther, Thanne they dede ther, so fewe pepill as the i were. Generydes (E. E. T. S.), L. 2800. Milton , Comus, 1. 726. peonism (pē'on-izm), n. [ peon +-ism.] state or condition of a peon; peonage. peony (pē'ō-ni), n .; pl. peonies (-niz). [Former- ly also pæony , after L.; also piony , early mod. E. pionee , dial. piny , pione , pioine , pianie , pi- ane, peone , pioine , F. pivoine = Sp. peonía = Pg . It. peonia = AS. peonia (after L.), pæ- onia, ML. also peonia , παιωνία , the peony, so called because regarded as medicinal, Παιάν , the physician of the gods, also an epi- thet of Apollo: see pæon .] Any plant of the ge- nus Pæonia , which comprises strong-growing King Arthur , I. 119, quoted in Wright's Bible Word-Book. How could she sit the live-long day, Yet never ask us once to play? when the place is most penuriously emptie of all other good outsides. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, ii. 2. No age is unduly favored, none penuriously depre ed. De Quincey, E enes, i.. penuriousne (pē-nū'ri-us-nes), n. The state or character of being penurious in any sense; especially, parsimony; a sordid disposition to He [Sesostris) caused many trenches to be cut thorow the land, and some of them navigable. Whereby unpro- fitable marishes were drained, the countrey strengthened, and such places relieved as laboured with the penury of waters. Sandys , Travailes, p. 83. 2. Extreme poverty; want; indigence. Age, ache, penury , and imprisonment. Shak., M. for M., iii. 1. 130. Clive saw clearly that it was absurd to give men power and to require them to live in penury . Macaulay , Lord Clive. 3t. Parsimonious ne ; miserline . Jer. Tay- lor . Syn. 2. Indigence, Want, etc. See poverty . pen-wiper (pen'wiper), п. A piece of rag, chamois leather, or other material used for wip- showy perennials, familiar in gardens. The com- mon peony is P. officinal is , an herb with large, commonly red flowers, one on a stalk, a native of southern Europe and central Asia. A kindred species, P. tenuifolia , of Siberia and parts of Europe, has the leaves finely cut, and hence is called slender - leafed , fennel - leafed , fern - leafed , or fringed peony . A second typical species is the tree-peony, P. Moutan , a taller shrubby species from China, where it is a favorite, with large rose-colored or nearly white flow- ers, several on a stalk. These and one or two other species furnish the numerous hybrid and other varieties of the gardens, which vary greatly in color and are often double. The root of the common peony was an ancient charm and medicine, and still has some repute as a nervine. people (pē'pl), n . [Early mod. E. also peple ; peple , pepill , people , peopell , peopyll , poe- 6t. A set or crowd; company. And Edom came out against him with much people , and with a strong hand. Num. xx. Like one of two contending in a prize, That thinks he hath done well in people's eyes. Shak ., M. of V., iii. 2. 143 People were tempted to lend by great premiums and large interest. Swift , Misc. ple, peuple , puple (the spelling with oe or eo being intended to render the OF. diphthong), people, = MHG. povel , pövel , bovel , G. pöbel = Dan. Sw. pöbel , the populace, mob, rabble, pueple , pople , F. peuple = Pr. pobol , poble = Sp. pueblo (> E. pueblo ) = Pg. povo = It. po- polo , L. populus , the people, the populace; appar. a redupl. of * pul , * ple in plebs , the peo- ple, plenus = E. full1 , Gr. πολύς , many, = E. (obs.) feel2, many, fulll, etc. Hence popular , etc.] 1. The whole body of persons who compose a community, tribe, race, or nation: as, the peo- ple of England; the people of Israel. [In this sense the word takes the indefinite article, and admits of the plural form peoples .] There made the peple of Ebron Sacrifice to oure Lord: and ther the i zolden up here Avowes. A blisful lyf, a paisible and a swete, Ledden the peples in the former age. that so litill a peple withstode so grete a power as the i Whan the kynge Riolent and the kynge Placiens saugh were, the i hadde ther-of grete merveile and grete dispyte, Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 208. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their Prov. xxx. 25. By heaven and earth, I were much better be a king of beasts Than such a people ! Beau , and Fl ., King and No King, i. 1. The French character is now, as it was centuries ago, con- trasted in sundry respects with the characters of neigh- bouring peoples . H. Spencer , Prin, of Biol., § 80. 2. The ma of persons inhabiting a place; subjects or citizens, as distinguished from their rulers or from men of rank or men of authority in any profe ion; ion; the commonalty; the popu- lace: usually preceded by the definite article: Thei be no peple as other be, but it be fendes of helle. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 534. people (pe'pl), v . t .; pret. and pp. peopled , ppr. peopling . [F. peupler = Pr. Sp. poblar = Pg. povoar = It. popolare , people, populate, populare , inhabit, populate; from the noun: see people , n., and cf. populate .] To stock with people or inhabitants; populate. Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else This isle with Calibans, Shak . , Tempest, 1. 2. 350. O'er many States and peopled Towns we pa 'd. Congreve, Hymn to Venus. Many a legend, peopling the dark woods, Nourished Imagination in her growth. peoplish peoplisht (pē ́plish), a. [ME. peplish, poepli h; Ye hadde, as me thought, in despite Every thynge that souned into badde, As rudene e, and poepli h appetite. Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 1677.