| ped- | Foot, feet. Origin: L. Pes, foot (05 Mar 2000) |
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| pedagogue | 1. A slave who led his master's children to school, and had the charge of them generally. 2. A teacher of children; one whose occupation is to teach the young; a schoolmaster. 3. One who by teaching has become formal, positive, or pedantic in his ways; one who has the manner of a schoolmaster; a pedant. Origin: F. Pedagogue, L. Paedagogus, Gr., a boy + to lead, guide; cf. Leading. See Page a servant, Agent. To play the pedagogue toward. Origin: Cf. L. Paedagogare to instruct. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedal | 1. <marine biology, zoology> Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or figuratively; specifically, pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion. 2. Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals. <geometry> Pedal curve or surface, an organ which has pedals or a range of keys moved by the feet; that portion of a full organ which is played with the feet. Origin: L. Pedalis, fr. Pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf. Pew. 1. <mechanics> A lever or key acted on by the foot, as in the pianoforte to raise the dampers, or in the organ to open and close certain pipes; a treadle, as in a lathe or a bicycle. 2. <geometry> A pedal curve or surface. Origin: Cf. F. Pedale, It. Pedale. See Pedal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedal system | Efferent fibres connecting the forebrain with more caudal structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pedantical | Of or pertaining to a pedant; characteristic of, or resembling, a pedant; ostentatious of learning; as, a pedantic writer; a pedantic description; a pedantical affectation. "Figures pedantical." Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedantry | The act, character, or manners of a pedant; vain ostentation of learning. "This pedantry of quotation." "'T is a practice that savors much of pedantry." (Sir T. Browne) Origin: Cf. F. Pedanterie. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedata | <zoology> An order of holothurians, including those that have ambulacral suckers, or feet, and an internal gill. Origin: NL. See Pedate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedate | Of a palmate or palmately-lobed leaf, having the lateral segments divided again. (09 Oct 1997) |
| pedatifid | Cleft in a pedate manner, but having the lobes distinctly connected at the base; said of a leaf. Origin: Pedate + root of L. Findere to split. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pedatrophia | Synonym: marasmus. Origin: G. Pais (paid-), child, + atrophy (05 Mar 2000) |
| pederast | One who practices pederasty. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pederasty | Homosexual anal intercourse, especially when practiced on boys. Origin: G. Paiderastia; fr. Pais (paid-), boy, + erao, to long for (05 Mar 2000) |
| Pedersen's speculum | A narrow flat speculum used in vaginas with a narrow introitus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pedesis | Synonym: brownian movement. Origin: G. Pedesis, a leaping (05 Mar 2000) |
| pedestal | 1. The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, lamp, or the like; the part on which an upright work stands. It consists of three parts, the base, the die or dado, and the cornice or surbase molding. 2. An iron socket, or support, for the foot of a brace at the end of a truss where it rests on a pier. Pedestal coil, a group of connected straight pipes arranged side by side and one above another, used in a radiator. Origin: Sp. Pedestal; cf. F. Piedestal, It. Piedestallo; fr. L. Es, pedis, foot + OHG. Stal standing place, station, place, akin to E. Stall. See Foot, and Stall, and Footstall. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |