*para*

n. pl. (Geom.) Straight lines or planes which make angles in some respect opposite in character to those made by parallel lines or planes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Good against paralysis. -- n. A medicine for paralysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Antiparalytic. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖/mhw>, n. [ Native name apara. ] (Zool.) See Mataco. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Apparel, n. & v. ] Preparation. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Apparatus, also rarely Apparatuses [ L., from apparare, apparatum, to prepare; ad + prepare to make ready. ] 1. Things provided as means to some end. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A full collection or set of implements, or utensils, for a given duty, experimental or operative; any complex instrument or appliance, mechanical or chemical, for a specific action or operation; machinery; mechanism. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physiol.) A collection of organs all of which unite in a common function; as, the respiratory apparatus. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 one of many families or subfamilies into which some classification systems subdivide the Liliaceae: includes genera Asparagus and sometimes Ruscus.
Syn. -- family Asparagaceae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. asparagine. ] (Chem.) A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O, found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout the plant; -- called also altheine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. 'aspa`ragos, 'asfa`ragos; cf. sparga^n to swell with sap or juice, and Zend çparegha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The young and tender shoots of Asparagus officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. [ 1913 Webster ]

Asparagus beetle (Zool.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable tail feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Great emerald (Paradisea apoda) and the Lesser emerald (Paradisea minor) furnish many of the plumes used as ornaments by ladies; the Red bird of paradise is Paradisea rubra or Paradisea sanguinea; the Golden bird of paradise is Parotia aurea or Parotia sexsetacea; the King bird of paradise is Cincinnurus regius. The name is also applied to the longer-billed birds of another related group (Epimachinæ) from the same region. The Twelve-wired bird of paradise (Seleucides alba) is one of these. See Paradise bird, and Note under Apod. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Buffer, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ Mex. Sp. ] Overalls of sheepskin or leather, usually open at the back, worn, esp. by cowboys, to protect the legs from thorny bushes, as in the chaparral; -- called also chapareras or colloq. chaps. [ Sp. Amer. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a similarity allowing comparison; an approximate equivalence.
Syn. -- comparison, compare, equivalence. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. comparabilis: cf. F. comparable. ] Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend. Addison.

-- Com"pa*ra*ble*ness, n. -- Com"pa*ra*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comparatum, fr. comparatus, p. p. of comparare. See 1st Compare. ] (Logic) One of two things compared together. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comparatio. See Compare to get. ] A making ready; provision. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. comparativus: cf. F. comparatif. ] 1. Of or pertaining to comparison. “The comparative faculty.” Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state. [ 1913 Webster ]

The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright. [ 1913 Webster ]

Comparative sciences, those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them; as, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, comparative philology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gram.) The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many. Angus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Gerard ever was
His full comparative. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [ Obs. ] “Every beardless vain comparative.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. According to estimate made by comparison; relatively; not positively or absolutely. [ 1913 Webster ]

With but comparatively few exceptions. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a comparer. ] (Physics) An instrument or machine for comparing anything to be measured with a standard measure; -- applied especially to a machine for comparing standards of length. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Removed from paradise. [ R. ] Cockeram. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dissuaded her from such a disparage. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disparaged p. pr. & vb. n. Disparaging ] [ OF. desparagier, F. déparager, to marry unequally; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. parage extraction, lineage, from L. par equal, peer. See Peer. ] 1. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor by an unequal marriage. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Alas! that any of my nation
Should ever so foul disparaged be. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to depreciate; to undervalue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those forbidding appearances which sometimes disparage the actions of men sincerely pious. Bp. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms. Milton.

Syn. -- To decry; depreciate; undervalue; underrate; cheapen; vilify; reproach; detract from; derogate from; degrade; debase. See Decry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. desparagement. ] 1. Matching any one in marriage under his or her degree; injurious union with something of inferior excellence; a lowering in rank or estimation. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And thought that match a foul disparagement. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Injurious comparison with an inferior; a depreciating or dishonoring opinion or insinuation; diminution of value; dishonor; indignity; reproach; disgrace; detraction; -- commonly with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

It ought to be no disparagement to a star that it is not the sun. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Imitation is a disparagement and a degradation in a Christian minister. I. Taylor.

Syn. -- Indignity; derogation; detraction; reproach; dishonor; debasement; degradation; disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disparages or dishonors; one who vilifies or disgraces. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. expressing a low opinion of; same as derogatory; as, disparaging remarks about the new house.
Syn. -- belittling, depreciative, deprecatory, depreciatory, derogative, derogatory, detractive, detracting, slighting, pejorative, denigratory. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a manner to disparage or dishonor; slightingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. disparatus, p. p. of disparare to part, separate; dis- + parare to make ready, prepare. ] 1. Unequal; dissimilar; separate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Connecting disparate thoughts, purely by means of resemblances in the words expressing them. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) Pertaining to two coordinate species or divisions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. Things so unequal or unlike that they can not be compared with each other. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) Any parasite which lives on the exterior of animals; -- opposed to endoparasite. -- Ec`to*par`a*sit"ic a. [1913 Webster]

v. t. Same as Imparadise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Endo- + parasite. ] (Zoöl.) Any parasite which lives in the internal organs of an animal, as the tapeworms, Trichina, etc.; -- opposed to ectoparasite. See Entozoön. -- En`do*par`a*sit"ic a. [1913 Webster]

pos>a. [ L. aequiparabilis. ] Comparable. [ Obs. or R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>v. t. [ L. aequiparatus, p. p. of aequiparare. ] To compare. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Fissiparous. ] (Zool.) Animals which reproduce by fission. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖Verbar; n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. gemma bud + parere to produce. ] (Zool.) Animals which increase by budding, as hydroids. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imparadised p. pr. & vb. n. Imparadising ] [ Pref. im- + paradise: cf. F. emparadiser. ] To put in a state like paradise; to make supremely happy. “Imparadised in one another's arms.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unparalleled. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of preparation. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. incomparabilis: cf. F. incomparable. See In- not, and Comparable. ] Not comparable; admitting of no comparison with others; unapproachably eminent; without a peer or equal; matchless; peerless; transcendent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A merchant of incomparable wealth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A new hypothesis . . . which hath the incomparable Sir Isaac Newton for a patron. Bp. Warburton.

-- In*com"pa*ra*ble*ness, n. -- In*com"pa*ra*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

Delights incomparably all those corporeal things. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Med.) An acute viral disease, affecting almost exclusively infants and young adults, characterized by inflammation of the anterior horns of the gray substance of the spinal cord. It is attended with febrile symptoms, motor paralysis, and muscular atrophy, often producing permanent deformities. Called also acute anterior poliomyelitis, poliomyelitis and polio. It is caused by any one of three polioviruses, and by the end of the twentieth century had been almost completely eradicated in developed countries by a widespread campaign of immunization. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. [ L. inseparabilitas: cf. F. inséparabilité. ] The quality or state of being inseparable; inseparableness. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inseparabilis: cf. F. inséparable. See In-, and Separable. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not separable; incapable of being separated or disjoined. [ 1913 Webster ]

The history of every language is inseparable from that of the people by whom it is spoken. Mure. [ 1913 Webster ]

Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) Invariably attached to some word, stem, or root; as, the inseparable particle un-. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being inseparable; inseparability. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inseparable manner or condition; so as not to be separable. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

And cleaves through life inseparably close. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. inseparatus. See In- not, and Separate. ] Not separate; together; united. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Inseparably. [ Obs. ] Cranmer. [ 1913 Webster ]