Per"sic (?), a. [L. Persicus. Cf. Persian.] Of or relating to Persia.
-- n. The Persian language.
||Per`si*ca"ri*a (?), n. [NL., from LL. persicarius a peach tree. See
||Peach.] (Bot.) See Lady's thumb.
Per"si*cot (?), n. [F. See Peach.] A cordial made of the kernels of
apricots, nectarines, etc., with refined spirit.
||Per`si`flage" (?), n. [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr. L. per +
||siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.] Frivolous or
||bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether
||serious or otherwise; light raillery. Hannah More.
||Per`si`fleur (?), n. [F.] One who indulges in persiflage; a banterer;
||a quiz. Carlyle.
Per*sim"mon (?), n. [Virginia Indian.] (Bot.) An American tree
(Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward.
The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and
astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes
palatable and nutritious.
Japanese persimmon, Diospyros Kaki and its red or yellow edible fruit,
which outwardly resembles a tomato, but contains a few large seeds.
Per"sis (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of coloring matter obtained
from lichens.
Per"sism (?), n. A Persian idiom.
Per*sist" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persisted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Persisting.] [L. persistere; per + sistere to stand or be fixed, fr.
stare to stand: cf. F. persister. See Per-, and Stand.] To stand firm;
to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially,
to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to
persevere; - - sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of
doggedness or obstinacy.
If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular
persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.
Addison.
Some positive, persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong, will
needs be always so.
Pope.
That face persists. It floats up; it turns over in my mind.
Mrs. Browning.
Syn. -- See Persevere, and Insist.
{ Per*sist"ence (?), Per*sist"en*cy (?), } n. [See Persistent.] 1. The
quality or state of being persistent; staying or continuing quality;
hence, in an unfavorable sense, doggedness; obstinacy.
2. The continuance of an effect after the cause which first gave rise
to it is removed; as: (a) (Physics) The persistence of motion. (b)
(Physiol.) Visual persistence, or persistence of the visual impression;
auditory persistence, etc.
Per*sist"ent (?), a. [L. persistens, -entis, p. pr. of persistere. See
Persist.] 1. Inclined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious
of position or purpose.
2. (Biol.) Remaining beyond the period when parts of the same kind
sometimes fall off or are absorbed; permanent; as, persistent teeth or
gills; a persistent calyx; -- opposed to deciduous, and caducous.
Per*sist"ent*ly, adv. In a persistent manner.
Per*sist"ing, a. Inclined to persist; tenacious of purpose; persistent.
-- Per*sist"ing*ly, adv.
Per*sist"ive (?), a. See Persistent. Shak.
Per*solve" (?), v. t. [L. persolvere.] To pay wholly, or fully. [Obs.]
E. Hall.
Per"son (?), n. [OE. persone, persoun, person, parson, OF. persone, F.
personne, L. persona a mask (used by actors), a personage, part, a
person, fr. personare to sound through; per + sonare to sound. See
Per-, and cf. Parson.] 1. A character or part, as in a play; a specific
kind or manifestation of individual character, whether in real life, or
in literary or dramatic representation; an assumed character. [Archaic]
His first appearance upon the stage in his new person of a
sycophant or juggler.
Bacon.
No man can long put on a person and act a part.
Jer. Taylor.
To bear rule, which was thy part And person, hadst thou known
thyself aright.
Milton.
How different is the same man from himself, as he sustains the
person of a magistrate and that of a friend!
South.
2. The bodily form of a human being; body; outward appearance; as, of
comely person.
A fair persone, and strong, and young of age.
Chaucer.
If it assume my noble father's person.
Shak.
Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined.
Milton.
3. A living, self-conscious being, as distinct from an animal or a
thing; a moral agent; a human being; a man, woman, or child.
Consider what person stands for; which, I think, is a thinking,
intelligent being, that has reason and reflection.
Locke.
4. A human being spoken of indefinitely; one; a man; as, any person
present.