Postmaster-General
the chief of the postoffice department.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: P (96)
These 20 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Postulant, Postulate, Pot Pourri.
Postulant
one who asks, demands, or requests; a candidate; specifically, in the Roman Church, one seeking admission to a religious order or congregation. The postulant is bound by the rules of the order to which he or she is seeking admission, but does not wear its dis.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Postulate
a position, supposition, or proposition assumed without proof, as being self-evident or too plain to require proof or illustration; a thing assumed for the purpose of future reasoning; an assumption. In geometry, the enunciation of a self-evident problem.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pot Pourri
a dish of various kinds of meat and vegetables cooked together. Also: 1. A mixture of rose leaves and various spices, kept in jars or other vessels as a scent. 2. A vase or bouquet of flowers used to perfume a room. 3. In music, a medley; a collection of various tunes linked together; together; a capriccio or fantasia on popular melodies. 4. A literrary composition made up of several parts put together without any unity of plot or plan.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Pot Stone
the name given in Norfolk, England, to certain large flints with large a nucleus of chalk, found in the Upper Chalk. Also, an impure variety of soapstone or compact talc, formerly used for making utensils of various kinds. tribe of
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potash Lime
a mixture of dry hydrate of potassium and quicklime employed in estimating the nitrogen cona high tained in organic substances. At temperature, it liberates the nitrogen in the form of ammonia.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potash Water
an artificial aërated water containing a minute quantity of potassic bicarbonate.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potato Disease
a disease or murrain produced by a fungus, Peronospora first attacks the infestans. It generally leaves and stems of the plant, forming brown spots on them in July and August. By this time the fungus, which first penetrated the tissue of the leaf, has thrust forth through the stomates its conidia-bearing filaments. The leaves soon afterward die. Next the tubers are attacked and decay, either in a moist manner, attended by a disagreeable odor, or by a drying up of the tissue. The potato disease first appeared in the United States. In 1845-1847 it caused the failure of the potato crop in Ireland, producing famine. It has never since completely disappeared. When it is prevalent, the potatoes should be powdered with flowers of sulphur before be ing planted.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potato Fly
a dipterous insect of the same genus with the radish fly, cabbage fly, turnip fly. In its perfect state it is very like the house fly. The potato-frog fly (Euteryx solani, Curtis) and the caterpillar of the death's-head moth (Acherontia atropos, Linn.) feed on the leaves and stems of potatoes, but rarely do serious damage.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potato-flux
If a raw potato is fastened on the end of a bar and thrust into a ladle of cast iron and held there, the escaping steam will cause a violent ebullition, which thoroughly mixes and cleanses the mass. The dirt rises to the surface, and may be removed with the skimmer. See POLLING.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Potemkin
GREGORY ALEXAN- DROVITCH, a Russian general, a favorite of the Empress Catharine II.; born in September, 1736; descended from an ancient Polish family, and early trained to the military profession. From 1776 till his death, he exercised a boundless sway over the destinies of the empire. In 1783 he suppressed the khanate of the Crimea, and annexed it to Russia. In 1787, being desirous of expelling the Turks from Europe, he stirred up a new war, in the course of which he took Oczakoff (1788). In the following year he took Bender, but as the finances of Russia were now exhausted Catharine was desirous of peace. Potemkin, however, resolved on conquering Constantinople, and went to St. Petersburg to win over the empress to his side (March, 1791); but during his absence Catharine sent plenary powers to Prince Repnin, who signed a treaty of peace. Potemkin died in Nicolaieff, Oct. 16, 1791.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potence
A bracket used for supporting the lower end of the balance staff in full plate watches.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Potential
in electricity, a term that level does to gravity. The potential of the earth is taken at zero. Potential in physics is the sum of each mass-element of the attracting body divided by the distance of that element from the attracted point. Also, capable of being exerted, though not acting at the particular moment.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potential Energy
Ability to develop power. A weight or spring when wound possesses potential energy or power to do work. The force multiplied by the distance through which it can pass is the amount of potential energy possessed.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Potential Mood
that form of a verb which is used to express power, possibility, liberty, or necessity of an action or of being; as, he may go, you should write.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potentilla
cinquefoil, the typical genus of Potentillidæ. Flowers white or yellow, rarely red; calyx, five, rarely four lobed, with as many small bracts; petals, five, rarely four; style, short,
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potenza
a town of southern Italy; in a valley of the Apennines; 103 miles E. by S. of Naples. It is surrounded by a wall, has a fine cathedral, and disused fortifications. Potenza was shaken by earthquakes in 1273, 1694, 1812, and 1857. Pop. (1917) 17,938. 1
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Poti
a seaport of Russian Caucasus; at the mouth of the Rion river, on the E. shore of the Black Sea, 200 miles W. of Tiflis. Here maize and manganese are shipped. Poti was seized by Russia in 1828.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potocki
an ancient Polish family, taking its name from the castle of Potok, and still holding possessions in Galicia and the Ukraine. Among its most distinguished members was Count Ignatius, Grand Marshal of Lithuania before the downfall of Poland, and a fellow-patriot of Kosciusko, born in 1751. In 1791 he took refuge in Saxony, returning, however, to share in the last struggle for independence. He was some time in the depende prisons of St. Petersburg and Warsaw, pris and died in Vienna in 1809.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Potomac
an important river of the Chesapeake region. It forms the boundary between Maryland and the Virginias. The total length is about 400 miles. The chief branches are the Shenandoah from the south and the Monocacy from the north. The upper course of the river is much interrupted by rapids. At Harper's Ferry it has cut one of those famous passages known as a water gap. Between Harper's Ferry and the city of Washington there are numerous rapids and falls. The Great Fall, a cataract about thirty-five feet high, is situated a dozen miles or so above Washington. The river is navigable for sea-going vessels as far as Washington. It was at one time a river of commercial importance; the early settlers of Virginia and Maryland packed their tobacco in hogsheads, rolled them down woodland roads to the Potomac or its branches, and shipped them to England. The upper valley was one of the earliest thoroughfares to the interior. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built along its banks. The river is rich in historical associations. Its broad expanse was the delight of George Washington. See Mount Vernon ; Arlington; Washington , etc.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia