||Pe*ric"o*pe (?), n. [L., section of a book, Gr. &?;; &?; around + &?;
||to cut.] A selection or extract from a book; especially (Theol.), a
||selection from the Bible, appointed to be read in the churches or
||used as a text for a sermon.
Per`i*cra"ni*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pericranium.
Per`i*cra"ni*um (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The periosteum which covers the
cranium externally; the region around the cranium.
Pe*ric"u*lous (?), a. [L. periculosus. See Perilous.] Dangerous; full
of peril. [Obs.]
||Pe*ric"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Pericula (#). [L.] (Rom. & O.Eng. Law) 1.
||Danger; risk.
2. In a narrower, judicial sense: Accident or casus, as distinguished
from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving one from the duty of
performing an obligation.
Per"i*derm (?), n. 1. (Bot.) The outer layer of bark.
2. (Zoˆl.) The hard outer covering of hydroids and other marine
animals; the perisarc.
||Per`i*di*as"to*le (?), n. (Physiol.) The almost inappreciable time
||which elapses between the systole and the diastole of the heart.
||Pe*rid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Peridia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; about + &?;,
||a dim. ending.] (Bot.) The envelope or coat of certain fungi, such as
||the puffballs and earthstars.
Per"i*dot (?), n. [F. pÈridot.] (Min.) Chrysolite.
Per"i*do*tite (?), n. [Cf. F. pÈridotite.] (Min.) An eruptive rock
characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually
contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to
serpentine.
The chief diamond deposits in South Africa occur in a more or less
altered peridotite.
Per"i*drome (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; running around, fr. &?; to run
round; &?; round + &?; to run: cf. F. pÈridrome.] (ArchÊol.) The space
between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman
temple.
Per`i*e"cians (?), n. pl. See Periúcians.
||Per`i*en"te*ron (?), n. [NL. See Peri-, and Enteron.] (Anat.) The
||primitive perivisceral cavity.
Per"i*er`gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; overcareful; &?; about, beyond +
&?; work.] 1. Excessive care or diligence. [Obs.]