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Platinotype

A permanent photographic picture or print in platinum black.

Platinous

Of, pertaining to, or containing, platinum; -- used specifically to designate those compounds in which the element has a lower valence, as contrasted with the platinic compounds; as, platinous chloride (PtCl2).

Platinum

A metallic element of atomic number 78, one of the noble metals, classed with silver and gold as a precious metal, occurring native or alloyed with other metals and also as the platinum arsenide (sperrylite). It is a heavy tin-white metal which is ductile and malleable, but very infusible (melting point 1772/ C), and characterized by its resistance to strong chemical reagents. It is used for crucibles in laboratory operations, as a catalyst, in jewelry, for stills for sulphuric acid, rarely for coin, and in the form of foil and wire for many purposes. Specific gravity 21.5. Atomic weight 195.1. Symbol Pt. Formerly called platina.

Platitude

The quality or state of being flat, thin, or insipid; flat commonness; triteness; staleness of ideas of language.

Platitudinarian

One addicted to uttering platitudes, or stale and insipid truisms.

Platitudinous

Abounding in platitudes; of the nature of platitudes; uttering platitudes.

Platonic

A follower of Plato; a Platonist.

Platonism

The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers.

Platonist

One who adheres to the philosophy of Plato; a follower of Plato.

Platonize

To explain by, or accomodate to, the Platonic philosophy.

Platoon

Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also, a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square. Now, in the United States service, half of a company.

Plattdeutsch

The modern dialects spoken in the north of Germany, taken collectively; modern Low German. See Low German, under German.

Platten

To flatten and make into sheets or plates; as, to platten cylinder glass.

Platter

A large plate or shallow dish on which meat or other food is brought to the table.

Platting

Plaited strips or bark, cane, straw, etc., used for making hats or the like.

Platy

Like a plate; consisting of plates.

Platycnemic

Of, relating to, or characterized by, platycnemism.

Platycoelian

Flat at the anterior and concave at the posterior end; -- said of the centra of the vertebr/ of some extinct dinouaurs.

Platyelminthes

A class of helminthes including the cestodes, or tapeworms, the trematodes, and the turbellarians. Called also flatworms.

Platymeter

An apparatus for measuring the capacity of condensers, or the inductive capacity of dielectrics.

Platypod

An animal having broad feet, or a broad foot.

Platyptera

A division of Pseudoneuroptera including the species which have four broad, flat wings, as the termites, or white-ants, and the stone flies (Perla).

Platyrhine

Having the nose broad; -- opposed to leptorhine. One of the Platyrhini.

Platyrhini

A division of monkeys, including the American species, which have a broad nasal septum, thirty-six teeth, and usually a prehensile tail. See Monkey.

Plaudit

A mark or expression of applause; praise bestowed.

Plausible

Worthy of being applauded; praiseworthy; commendable; ready.

Play

Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.

Playa

A beach; a strand; in the plains and deserts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, a broad, level spot, on which subsequently becomes dry by evaporation.

playact

To perform on a stage or theater.

Playbill

A printed programme of a play, with the parts assigned to the actors.

Playbook

A book of dramatic compositions; a book of the play.

Playday

A day given to play or diversion; a holiday.

Player

One who plays, or amuses himself; one without serious aims; an idler; a trifler.

player piano

A mechanically operated piano that uses a roll of perforated paper to activate the keys.

Playfellow

A companion in amusements or sports; a playmate.

Playful

Sportive; gamboling; frolicsome; indulging a sportive fancy; humorous; merry; as, a playful child; a playful writer.

Playgoer

One who frequents playhouses, or attends dramatic performances.

Playgoing

Frequenting playhouses; as, the playgoing public. The practice of going to plays.

Playground

A piece of ground used for recreation; as, the playground of a school.

Playhouse

A building used for dramatic exhibitions; a theater.

Playmate

A companion in diversions; a playfellow.

Plaything

A thing to play with; a toy; anything that serves to amuse.

Playwriter

A writer of plays; a dramatist; a playwright.

Plaza

A public square in a city or town.

Plea

That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him.

Pleach

To unite by interweaving, as branches of trees; to plash; to interlock.

Plead

To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury.

Pleadable

Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law.

Pleader

One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate.

Pleading

The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

Pleadings

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point.

Pleasance

Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness.

Pleasantry

That which denotes or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage.

Please

To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions.

Pleaseman

An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank.

Pleaser

One who pleases or gratifies.

Pleasurable

Capable of affording pleasure or satisfaction; gratifying; abounding in pleasantness or pleasantry.

Pleasure

To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as, to go pleasuring.

Plebe

The common people; the mob.

Plebeian

One of the plebs, or common people of ancient Rome, in distinction from patrician.

Plebicolist

One who flatters, or courts the favor of, the common people; a demagogue.

Plebiscite

A vote by universal male suffrage; especially, in France, a popular vote, as first sanctioned by the National Constitution of 1791.

Plebiscitum

A law enacted by the common people, under the superintendence of a tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, without the intervention of the senate.

Plebs

The commonalty of ancient Rome who were citizens without the usual political rights; the plebeians; -- distinguished from the patricians.

Plectognath

Of or pertaining to the Plectognathi. One of the Plectognathi.

Plectognathi

An order of fishes generally having the maxillary bone united with the premaxillary, and the articular united with the dentary.

Plectospondyli

An extensive suborder of fresh-water physostomous fishes having the anterior vertebr/ united and much modified; the Eventognathi.

Plectrum

A small instrument of ivory, wood, metal, or quill, used in playing upon the lyre and other stringed instruments.

Pled

imp. p. p. of Plead

Pledge

To deposit, as a chattel, in pledge or pawn; to leave in possession of another as security; as, to pledge one's watch.

Pledgee

The one to whom a pledge is given, or to whom property pledged is delivered.

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