At par, at the original price; neither at a discount nor at a premium.
-- Above par, at a premium. -- Below par, at a discount. -- On a par,
on a level; in the same condition, circumstances, position, rank, etc.;
as, their pretensions are on a par; his ability is on a par with his
ambition. -- Par of exchange. See under Exchange. -- Par value, nominal
value; face value.
Par"a- (?). [Gr. para` beside; prob. akin to E. for- in forgive. Cf.
For-.] 1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against,
amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is
contrary to opinion; parachronism.
2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection,
or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name
of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an
isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups
or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the
respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene;
paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.
||Pa*ra" (?), n. [Turk., fr. Per. prah a piece.] A piece of Turkish
||money, usually copper, the fortieth part of a piaster, or about one
||ninth of a cent.
Par`a*ban"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to pass over.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, a nitrogenous acid which is obtained by the oxidation of
uric acid, as a white crystalline substance (C3N2H2O3); -- also called
oxalyl urea.
Par"a*blast (?), n. [Cf. Gr. &?; to grow beside. See Para-, and
-blast.] (Biol.) A portion of the mesoblast (of peripheral origin) of
the developing embryo, the cells of which are especially concerned in
forming the first blood and blood vessels. C. S. Minot.
Par`a*blas"tic (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the parablast; as,
the parablastic cells.
Par"a*ble (?), a. [L. parabilis, fr. parare to provide.] Procurable.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Par"a*ble, n. [F. parabole, L. parabola, fr. Gr. &?; a placing beside
or together, a comparing, comparison, a parable, fr. &?; to throw
beside, compare; para` beside + &?; to throw; cf. Skr. gal to drop. Cf.
Emblem, Gland, Palaver, Parabola, Parley, Parabole, Symbol.] A
comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of
something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which
a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Chaucer.
Declare unto us the parable of the tares.
Matt. xiii. 36.
Syn. -- See Allegory, and Note under Apologue.