2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render
ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency
paralyzed his efforts.
Par"am (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline nitrogenous substance
(C2H4N4); -- called also dicyandiamide.
Par`a*mag*net"ic (?), a. [Pref. para- + magnetic.] Magnetic, as
opposed to diamagnetic. -- n. A paramagnetic substance. Faraday. --
Par`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly (#), adv.
Par`a*mag"net*ism (?), n. Magnetism, as opposed to diamagnetism.
Faraday.
Par`a*ma*le"ic (?), a. [Pref. para- + maleic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
or designating, an acid obtained from malic acid, and now called
fumaric acid. [Obs.]
Par`a*ma"lic (?), a. [Pref. para- + malic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.
Par`a*mas"toid (?), a. [Pref. para- + mastoid.] (Anat.) Situated
beside, or near, the mastoid portion of the temporal bone;
paroccipital; -- applied especially to a process of the skull in some
animals.
Par`a*mat"ta (?), n. [So named from Paramatta, in Australia.] A light
fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino. Beck
(Draper's Dict.)
Par"a*ment (?), n. [Sp. paramento, from parar to prepare, L. parare.]
Ornamental hangings, furniture, etc., as of a state apartment; rich and
elegant robes worn by men of rank; -- chiefly in the plural. [Obs.]
Lords in paraments on their coursers.
Chaucer.
Chamber of paraments, presence chamber of a monarch.
||Pa`ra*men"to (?), n. [Sp.] Ornament; decoration. Beau. & Fl.
Par"a*mere (?), n. [Pref. para- + -mere.] (Zoˆl.) One of the
symmetrical halves of any one of the radii, or spheromeres, of a
radiate animal, as a starfish.
Pa*ram"e*ter (?), n. [Pref. para- + -meter: cf. F. paramËtre.] 1. (a)
(Math.) A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value,
invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc.,
is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface,
etc., from others of the same kind or family. Brande & C. (b)
Specifically (Conic Sections), in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third
proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to
any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate.
The parameter of the principal axis of a conic section is called the
latus rectum.
2. (Crystallog.) The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which
determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio
for a given species.
||Par`a*me*tri"tis (?), n. [NL. See Para-, and Metritis.] (Med.)
||Inflammation of the cellular tissue in the vicinity of the uterus.
Par`a*mi*og"ra*pher (?), n. [Gr. &?; proverb + -graph + -er.] A
collector or writer of proverbs. [R.]
Par`a*mi"tome (?), n. [Pref. para- + mitome.] (Biol.) The fluid
portion of the protoplasm of a cell.
||Pa"ra*mo (?), n.; pl. Paramos (#). [Sp. pÊramo.] A high, bleak
||plateau or district, with stunted trees, and cold, damp atmosphere,
||as in the Andes, in South America.
Par"a*morph (?), n. [Pref. para- + Gr. &?; form.] (Min.) A kind of
pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters
without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite
to calcite.
Par`a*mor"phism (?), n. (Min.) The change of one mineral species to
another, so as to involve a change in physical characters without
alteration of chemical composition.
Par`a*mor"phous (?), a. (Min.) Relating to paramorphism; exhibiting
paramorphism.
Par"a*mount (?), a. [OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) +
amont above. See Amount.] Having the highest rank or jurisdiction;
superior to all others; chief; supreme; preÎminent; as, a paramount
duty. "A traitor paramount." Bacon.
Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. -- Lord
paramount, the king.
Syn. Superior; principal; preÎminent; chief.
Par"a*mount, n. The highest or chief. Milton.
Par"a*mount`ly, adv. In a paramount manner.
Par"a*mour (?), n. [F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par,
and Amour.] 1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly
in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place,
without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man
or a woman.
The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his
paramour
Macaulay.