Peremptory challenge (Law) See under Challenge. -- Peremptory mandamus,
a final and absolute mandamus. -- Peremptory plea, a plea by a
defendant tending to impeach the plaintiff's right of action; a plea in
bar.
Syn. -- Decisive; positive; absolute; authoritative; express;
arbitrary; dogmatical.
Per*en"ni*al (?), a. [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through;
per through + annus year. See Per-, and Annual.] 1. ing or continuing
through the year; as, perennial fountains.
2. Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing;
never failing.
The perennial existence of bodies corporate.
Burke.
3. (Bot.) Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or
root, or plant.
Syn. -- Perpetual; unceasing; never failing; enduring; continual;
permanent; uninterrupted.
Per*en"ni*al, n. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a plant which lives or
continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter
or not.
Per*en"ni*al*ly, adv. In a perennial manner.
||Per*en`ni*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Perennial, and
||Branchia.] (Zoˆl.) Those Batrachia which retain their gills through
||life, as the menobranchus.
Per*en`ni*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [See Perennial, and Branchiate.] 1.
(Anat.) Having branchÊ, or gills, through life; -- said especially of
certain Amphibia, like the menobranchus. Opposed to caducibranchiate.