The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: P (100)

Each of these 18 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Putty-powder

The peroxide of tin, made by skimming the oxidized surface from melting tin, which when cold is reduced to a fine white powder. The particles being very hard, it is used as a polishing material, and also as a coloring for enamels and glass. See POLISHING SUBSTANCES.

Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding

Putumayo

a province of Colombia, in the S. E., bordering on Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, watered by the rivers of the same name, which is a tributary of the Amazon. The district is rich in rubber, exploited by British syndicates, driven out of existence in 1912 consequent on exposures of cruelty to the natives. Part of the province is claimed by Ecuador. The Putumayo river crosses the equator and flows 1150 miles before being received into the Amazon in Brazil. Pop. about 35,000.

or ICA, a tributary of the Amazon, rising in Colombia, and flowing S. E. for 950 miles.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Puvis De Chavannes

PIERRE, French painter; born in Lyons, a France, Dec. 14, 1824. He studied under Couture and Henri Scheffer; painted mural decorations for libraries, etc., in France, especially "Ste. Geneviève" at the Pantheon, Paris; "The Sacred Grove"; a mural painting for the Boston, Mass., Public Library (1894); etc. He died in Paris, Oct. 25, 1898.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Puy

LE, or LE PUY-EN-VELAY, a town of France (department Haute- Loire). It consists of the new town in a valley and the old town, this latter one of the most picturesque in France. The town of Le Puy stands on the steep slopes of Mount Anis (2,050 feet), from the summit of which starts up precipitously the basaltic mass called Mont Corneille, crowned by a colossal figure (53 feet) of the Virgin, made of Russian cannon bling operations. The theory of "priv- brought from Sebastopol. The most ileges" is that they are a species of in- notable building is the Romanesque cathedral (6th-12th century). Lace and thread work are manufactured. Pop. about 22,500.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Puya

in botany, a synonym of Pouretia, a genus of Bromeliaceæ (Lindley). P. chinensis yields an extract used in healing broken bones, and the spike of P. lanuginosa is a transparent gum. PYÆMIA, or PYEMIA, a diseased condition in which the blood is poisoned by pus or by some of its constituents; blood poisoning; septicemia. PUY-DE-DÔME, a central department of France, containing an area of 3,090 square miles and a pop. of about 525,000 The W. side of the department is an ele vated volcanic region. (See FRANCE). The highest cones are Puy-de-Sancy (6,188 feet) and Puy-de-Dôme (4,806); on the E. side the Forez Mountains (5,380) march with the frontier. Agriculture and cattle breeding are the chief occupations. The principal minerals are coal and lead. Hot and cold mineral springs are abundant.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pycnogonum

a genus of Arachnida, the sea spiders. Some species are parasitic upon fishes and other marine animals.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pylades

in Greek mythology, son of Strophius, King of Phocis, and Anaxibia, the sister of Agamemnon, after whose murder by Clytemnestra, their son Orestes, being carried secretly to the court of Strophius, formed the friendship with Pylades which has become proverbial. He assisted Orestes in murdering Cl dering Clytemnestra, and eventually married his sister Electra.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pylae

A general name for any narrow pass, such as Thermopylae , Pylae Albaniae, Caspiae, etc. Pyrene or Pyrenaei Montes (Pyrenees). A range of mountains extending from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and forming the boundary between Gaul and Spain.

Only in 1000 Classical Characters

Pyle

HOWARD, an American illustrator and author; born in Wilmington, Del., March 5, 1853. He was an illustrator for periodicals, and became popular also as a writer, chiefly of juvenile literature. His works include: "Within the Capes" (1885), a novel; "Pepper and Salt" (1887); ); "Otto of the Silver Hand" (1888); "Buccaneers and Marooners of America" (1891); "Jack Ballister's Fortunes"; "The Garden Behind the Moon" (1895); "Story of Launcelot" (1907); "Story of the Grail" (1910). Died 1911.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyle, Howard

Howard (1853-), an American artist and author. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware. His chief successes are in the line of original productions, illustrated by himself. Titles of his best works include The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood , The Wonder Clock, The Rose of Paradise, and Twilight Land.

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia

Pylons

in Egyptian architecture, the name given to towers or masses of masonry, somewhat resembling truncated pyramids, placed one on each side at the entrance of temples.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pylorus

the small and contracted end of the stomach leading into the small intestines.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pynchon

WILLIAM, an American colonist; born in Springfield, England, England, about 1590. He emigrated grated to New England and founded the town of Springfield, Mass. In 1650 he published "The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption," opposing the Calvinistic view of atonement. The book was denounced as heretical, and the author was compelled to return to England to avoid persecution. His other works are: "The Jewes Synagogue" (1652); "How the First Sabbath was Ordained" (1654). He died in Wraysbury, England, Oct. 29, 1662.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyorrhea Alveolaris

a disease of the sockets of the teeth, also called Rigg's Disease. The symptoms are pains in chewing, and redness of the gums combined with a tendency to recede, so that the teeth eventually loosen and fall out. The treatment consists in the removal of deposits and the working out of the pus sockets. The disease in a chronic state deleteriously affects the digestion.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyrenees-Orientales

a S. department of France; bounded on the E. by the Mediterranean and on the S. by the Pyrenees; area, 1,598 square miles; pop. about 213,000. It is divided into the three arrondissements of Perpignan, Prades, and Céret. The chief town is Perpignan. Agriculture is extensively prosecuted, but wines constitute the wealth of the district, and include the red wines of Roussillon, the white muscatel of Rivesaltes, and others. This department takes the front rank as a producer of iron ore; granite, slate, and limestone are quarried. There are mineral springs at Amélie-des-Bains, and elsewhere.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyrethrum

in botany, a genus of Chrysanthemex.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyrheliometer

an instrument invented by Pouillet for measuring the amount of heat radiated from the sun.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Pyridine

C₂H₂N, a liquid, colorless when pure, possessing a characteristic and unpleasant odor. Boiling point, 115° C. Obtained in the distillation of coal tar. Being strongly basic, pyridine combines with the sulphuric acid used in the process of purifying coal tar products. On addition of soda to the acid solution, pyridine is liberated, and is distillation. Pyriisolated by fractional dine is used as a denaturant for alcohol, and as a solvent in rubber, paint and other industries.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia