Pyr`ox*yl"ic (?), a. [Pyro- + Gr. &?; wood.] (Old Chem.) Derived from
wood by distillation; -- formerly used in designating crude wood
spirit.
Py*rox"y*lin (?), n. (Chem.) A substance resembling gun cotton in
composition and properties, but distinct in that it is more highly
nitrified and is soluble in alcohol, ether, etc.; -- called also
pyroxyle.
Pyr"rhic (?), a. [L. pyrrhichius, Gr. &?; belonging to the &?; (sc.
&?;) a kind of war dance.] 1. Of or pertaining to an ancient Greek
martial dance. " ye have the pyrrhic dance as yet." Byron.
2. (Pros.) Of or pertaining to a pyrrhic, or to pyrrhics; containing
pyrrhic; as, a pyrrhic verse.
Pyr"rhic, n. 1. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. pyrrhique, fem.] An ancient Greek
martial dance, to the accompaniment of the flute, its time being very
quick.
2. [L. pyrrhichius (sc. pes), Gr. &?; (sc. &?;): cf. F. pyrrhique,
masc.] (Pros.) A foot consisting of two short syllables.
Pyr"rhi*cist (?), n. (Gr. Antiq.) One two danced the pyrrhic.
{ Pyr*rho"ne*an (?), Pyr*rhon"ic (?), } a. [L. PyrrhonÍus: cf. F.
pyrrhonien.] Of or pertaining to pyrrhonism.
Pyr"rho*nism (?), n. [From Pyrrho, the founder of a school of skeptics
in Greece (about 300 b. c.): cf. F. pyrrhonisme.] Skepticism; universal
doubt.
Pyr"rho*nist (?), n. A follower of Pyrrho; a skeptic.
{ Pyr"rho*tine (?), Pyr"rho*tite (?), } n. [Gr. &?; flame-colored, fr.
&?; fire.] (Min.) A bronze-colored mineral, of metallic luster. It is a
sulphide of iron, and is remarkable for being attracted by the magnet.
Called also magnetic pyrites.
Pyr"rol (?), n. [Gr. &?; flame-colored (from &?; fire) + L. oleum oil.]
(Chem.) A nitrogenous base found in coal tar, bone oil, and other
distillates of organic substances, and also produced synthetically as a
colorless liquid, C4H5N, having on odor like that of chloroform. It is
the nucleus and origin of a large number of derivatives. So called
because it colors a splinter of wood moistened with hydrochloric acid a
deep red.
Pyr"ro*line (?), n. (Chem.) A nitrogenous base, C4H7N, obtained as a
colorless liquid by the reduction of pyrrol.
||Pyr"u*la (?), n. [NL., fr. L. pyrus a pear.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of large
||marine gastropods. having a pear-shaped shell. It includes the
||fig-shells. See Illust. in Appendix.
Py*ru"ric (?), a. Same as Pyro¸ric.
||Py"rus (?), n. [L. pyrus, or better pirus, pear tree.] (Bot.) A genus
||of rosaceous trees and shrubs having pomes for fruit. It includes the
||apple, crab apple, pear, chokeberry, sorb, and mountain ash.
Py*ru"vic (?), a. [Pyro- + L. uva a grape.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, an acid (called also pyroracemic acid) obtained, as a
liquid having a pungent odor, by the distillation of racemic acid.
Py*ru"vil (?), n. (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous compound obtained by
heating together pyruvic acid and urea.
Pyth`a*go"re*an (?), a. [L. Pythagoreus, Gr. &?;.] Of or pertaining to
Pythagoras (a Greek philosopher, born about 582 b. c.), or his
philosophy.
The central thought of the Pythagorean philosophy is the idea of
number, the recognition of the numerical and mathematical relations
of things.
Encyc. Brit.
Pythagorean proposition (Geom.), the theorem that the square described
upon the hypothenuse of a plane right-angled triangle is equal to the
sum of the squares described upon the other two sides. -- Pythagorean
system (Astron.), the commonly received system of astronomy, first
taught by Pythagoras, and afterward revived by Copernicus, whence it is
also called the Copernican system. -- Pythagorean letter. See Y.
Pyth`a*go"re*an (?), n. A follower of Pythagoras; one of the school of
philosophers founded by Pythagoras.
Pyth`a*go"re*an*ism (?), n. The doctrines of Pythagoras or the
Pythagoreans.
As a philosophic school Pythagoreanism became extinct in Greece
about the middle of the 4th century [B. C.].
Encyc. Brit.
{ Pyth`a*gor"ic (?), Pyth`a*gor"ic*al (?), } a.[L. Pythagoricus, Gr.
&?;: cf. F. pythagorique.] See Pythagorean, a.
Py*thag"o*rism (?), n. [Gr. &?;.] The doctrines taught by Pythagoras.
Pythagoras made numbers the basis of his philosophical system, as well
physical as metaphysical. The doctrine of the transmigration of souls
(metempsychosis) is associated closely with name of Pythagoras.
Py*thag"o*rize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pythagorized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Pythagorizing (?).] [Gr. &?;.] To speculate after the manner of
Pythagoras.
Pyth"i*ad (?), n. [See Pythian.] (Gr. Antiq.) The period intervening
between one celebration of the Pythian games and the next.
Pyth"i*an (?), a. [L. Pythius, Gr. &?; belonging to Pytho, the older
name of Delphi and its environs: cf. F. pythien.] Of or pertaining to
Delphi, to the temple of Apollo, or to the priestess of Apollo, who
delivered oracles at Delphi.
Pythian games (Gr. Antiq.), one of the four great national festivals of
ancient Greece, celebrated near Delphi, in honor of Apollo, the
conqueror of the dragon Python, at first once in eight years, afterward
once in four.
Pyth`o*cen"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to rot + &?; origin.] Producing
decomposition, as diseases which are supposed to be accompanied or
caused by decomposition.
Py"thon (?), n. [NL., fr. L. Python the serpent slain near Delphi by
Apollo, Gr. &?;.] 1. (Zoˆl.) Any species of very large snakes of the
genus Python, and allied genera, of the family PythonidÊ. They are
nearly allied to the boas. Called also rock snake.
The pythons have small pelvic bones, or anal spurs, two rows of
subcaudal scales, and pitted labials. They are found in Africa, Asia,
and the East Indies.
2. A diviner by spirits. "[Manasses] observed omens, and appointed
pythons." 4 Kings xxi. 6 (Douay version).
Pyth"o*ness (?), n. [L. pythonissa: cf. F. pythonisse. See Pythian.] 1.
(Gr. Antiq.) The priestess who gave oracular answers at Delphi in
Greece.
2. Any woman supposed to have a spirit of divination; a sort of witch.
Bp. Hall.
Py*thon"ic (?), a. [L. pythonicus, Gr. &?;. See Pythian.] Prophetic;
oracular; pretending to foretell events.
Pyth"o*nism (?), n. The art of predicting events after the manner of
the priestess of Apollo at Delphi; equivocal prophesying.
Pyth"o*nist (?), n. A conjurer; a diviner.
||Pyth`o*no*mor"pha (?), n. pl. [NL. See Python, and -morphous.]
||(Paleon.) Same as Mosasauria.
||Py*u"ri*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; pus + &?; urine.] (Med.) A morbid
||condition in which pus is discharged in the urine.
Pyx (?), n. [L. pyxis a box, Gr. pyxi`s a box, especially of boxwood,
fr. py`xos the box tree or boxwood. See Box a receptacle.] [Written
also pix.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) The box, case, vase, or tabernacle, in which
the host is reserved.
2. A box used in the British mint as a place of deposit for certain
sample coins taken for a trial of the weight and fineness of metal
before it is sent from the mint. Mushet.
3. (Naut.) The box in which the compass is suspended; the binnacle.
Weale.