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r a constant, ratio; as, proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter. Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic. -- Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale. -- Proportional scale…

The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it. Leaves of proposition (Jewish Antiq.), the showbread. Wyclif (Luke vi. 4).

The digestion or dissolving of proteid matter by proteolytic ferments.

Converting proteid or albuminous matter into soluble and diffusible products, as peptones. " The proteolytic ferment of the pancreas." Foster.

An instrument formerly used in extracting foreign or offensive matter from a wound.

ss of animal bases or alkaloids formed in the putrefaction of various kinds of albuminous matter, and closely related to the vegetable alkaloids; a cadaveric poison. The ptomaines, as a class, have their origin in dead matter, by which they are to be distinguished from the leucomaines.

ouse. "The public street." Shak. Public act or statute (Law), an act or statute affecting matters of public concern. Of such statutes the courts take judicial notice. -- Public credit. See under Credit. -- Public funds. See Fund, 3. -- Public house, an inn, or house of entertainment. -- Public law. (a) See Internat…

Swelled with air, or any soft matter; tumid with a soft substance; bloated; fleshy; as, a puffy tumor. " A very stout, puffy man." Thackeray.

A moist, slightly cohering mass, consisting of soft, undissolved animal or vegetable matter. Specifically:

Separate from all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; free from mixture or combination; clean; mere; simple; unmixed; as, pure water; pure clay; pure air; pure compassion. The pure fetters on his shins great. Chaucer. A guinea is pure gold if it has in it no alloy. I. Watts.

the spiritual court was, that the person suspected take his oath that he was clear of the matter objected against him, and bring his honest neighbors with him to make oath that they believes he swore truly; or vulgar, which was by fire or water ordeal, or by combat. See Ordeal. Wharton. Let him put me to my purgation.…

from material defilement, admixture, or imperfection; to free from extraneous or noxious matter; as, to purify liquors or metals; to purify the blood; to purify the air.

freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals.

- often with an object clause or infinitive. They in most grave and solemn wise unfolded Matter which little purported. Rowe.

A yellow coloring matter. See Euxanthin.

To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Burrill.

Consisting of pus, or matter; partaking of the nature of pus; attended with suppuration; as, purulent inflammation.

The yellowish white opaque creamy matter produced by the process of suppuration. It consists of innumerable white nucleated cells floating in a clear liquid.

The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay of albuminous or other matter.

The state of being putrescent; putrescent matter.