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Purification – Pustule

Purification

a Jewish rite. It was mainly the one through the performance of which an Israelite was readmitted to the privilege of religious communion, lost through uncleanness.

Purim

the Festival of Lots, which was instituted by Mordecai (Esther ix: 27, x: 3), and is celebrated to this day by the Jews on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar (March), in commemoration of their wonderful deliverance from the destruction with which they were threatened by Haman.

Purple Black

a preparation of madder, of a deep purple hue, approach ing to black; its tints, with white-lead, are of a purple color.

Purple Heron

in ornithology, the Adrea purpurea, about the same size as the common heron.

Purslane

a plant of the genus Portulaca (P. oleracea), with fleshy succulent leaves, naturalized throughout the warmer parts of the world.

Pursuivant

in heraldry, an attendant on the heralds; one of the third and lowest order of heraldic officers.

There are four pursuivants attached to the English College of Arms, styled Rouge Croix, Blue Mantle, Rouge Dragon, and Portcullis.

Puru

or PURUS, a river of South America, which rising in the E. of Peru enters Brazil, and flowing N. E. after a course of 400 miles joins the Amazon about 100 miles above the confluence of the Madeira with the latter.

Purveyance

formerly in England the exercise by officials called purveyors of the royal prerogative, involving a right of pre-emption, by which the king was authorized to buy provisions and necessaries for the use of his household at an appraised value, in preference to all his subjects.

Pus

in physiology and pathology, the product of suppuration, a thick, viscid, yellow fluid.

Pushkin

ALEXANDER. See POUSHKIN.

Pushtu

or PUKHTU, the language of the Afghans proper (see AFGHANIS- TAN).

Pustule

a pimple, a little blister.

Also a vesicle containing pus.