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oduced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of their walls, forcing their contents onwards; as, peristaltic movement. -- Per`i*stal"tic*al*ly, adv.

Figuratively: The quality of being heavy with important contents, issue, significance, etc.; unusual consequence or capacity; fertility. Fuller.

Heavy with important contents, significance, or issue; full of consequence or results; weighty; as, pregnant replies. " A pregnant argument." Prynne. " A pregnant brevity." E. Everett.

To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something. From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams. Milton. And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. Gen. xl. 11.

or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure. Thou hast proved mine heart. Ps. xvii. 3.

the reversal of the natural direction in which the current or contents flow through a tube or cavity of the body. Quain.

ill decomposition sets in. It is due to the formation of myosin by the coagulation of the contents of the individual muscle fibers.

The contents of a scrip, or wallet. [Obs.] Shak.

to sink; to lower; to depress; hence, also, to render close or compact; as, to settle the contents of a barrel or bag by shaking it.

The contents of a sewer or drain; refuse liquids or matter carried off by sewers

To take the husks or pods off from; to shell; to empty of its contents, as a husk or a pod. [Obs. or Prov.Eng. & Scot.] Jamieson. That's a shealed peascod. Shak.

The solid contents of a body; volume; amount of inclosed space.

n produces other larvæ by internal budding, or by the subdivision of a part or all of its contents into a number of minute germs. See Redia.

ntempt or dislike. Sir W. Scott. -- To square the circle (Math.), to determine the exact contents of a circle in square measure. The solution of this famous problem is now generally admitted to be impossible.

An instrument for measuring the solid contents of a body, or the capacity of a vessel; a volumenometer.

The art of measuring and computing the cubical contents of bodies and figures; -- distinguished from planimetry.

as of the throat; especially, such as causes a suspension of breathing, of the passage of contents, or of the circulation, as in cases of hernia.

hallow; not deep; as, a superficial color; a superficial covering; superficial measure or contents; superficial tillage.

A dish covered with a crust of raised paste, but with no other contents. [Obs.] King. Surprise party, a party of persons who assemble by mutual agreement, and without invitation, at the house of a common friend. [U.S.] Bartlett.

An officer who ascertains the contents of casks, and the quantity of liquors subject to duty; a gauger.