pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
PLURAL, in Grammar, an epithet applied to that number of nouns and verbs which is used when we speak of more than one thing.
PLUS, in Algebra, a character marked thus, +, used for the sign of addition. See Algebra.
PLUSH, in commerce, a kind of stuff having a sort of velvet knap or shag on one side, composed regularly of a woof of a single woollen thread and a double warp; the one wool, of two threads twisted, the other goat’s or camel’s hair; though there are some plushes entirely of worsted, and others composed wholly of hair.
PLUTO, in Pagan worship, the king of the infernal regions, was the son of Saturn and Ops, and the brother of Jupiter and Neptune. This deity, finding himself childless and unmarried, mounted his chariot to visit the world; and, arriving in Sicily, fell in love with Proserpine, whom he saw gathering flowers with her companions in the valley of Enna, near Mount Aetna; when, forcing her into his chariot, he drove her to the river Chemarus, through which he opened for himself a passage back to the realms of night.

Pluto is usually represented in an ebony chariot drawn by four black horses, sometimes holding a sceptre, to denote his power; at others, a wand,∙with which he drives away the ghosts; and at others, some keys, to signify that he had the keys of death. Homer observes, that his helmet had the qualitv of rendering the wearer invisible, and that Minerva borrowed it in order to remain concealed from Mars when she fought against the Trojans. Pluto was greatly revered both by the Greeks and Romans, who erected to him both temples and altars. To this god sacrifices were offered in the night, and it was net lawful to offer them by day.
PLUTUS, in Pagan worship, the god of riches, is frequently confounded with Pluto. He was represented as appearing lam e when he approached, but provided with wings at his departure, to show the difficulty of amassing wealth and the uncertainty of its enjoyment. He was also represented blind, to show that he often bestowed his favours on tlte most unworthy, and left in necessity those who had the greatest merit.
PLUVIUS, a surname of Jupiter. He was invoked by that name amongst the Romans whenever the earth was parched by continual heat, and in want of refreshing rains. He had an altar in the temple on the Capitol.
PLYERS, in fortification, denotes a kind of balance used in raising or letting down a drawbridge. They consist of two timber levers, twice as long as the bridge they lift, joined together by other timbers, framed in the form of a St Andrew’s cross, to counterpoise them. They are supported by two upright jambs, on which they swing; and the bridge is raised or let down by means of chains joining the ends of the plyers and bridge.
PLYING, in nautical language, the act of making, or endeavouring to make, a progress against the direction of the wind. Hence a ship that advances well in her course in this manner of sailing, is said to be a good plyer.
PLYMPTON EARLS, or Plympton Maurice, a borough and market-town of the county of Devon, in the hundred of the same name, 217 miles from London and five from Plymouth. It is one of the stannary towns for stamping tin. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, and seven aldermen, and returned two members to parliament till 1832, when it was disfranchised. The population amounted in 1801 to 604, in 1811 to 715, in 1821 to 762, and in 1831 to 804.
PLYNTERIA, a Grecian festival in honour of Aglauros, or rather of Minerva, who received from the daughter of Cecrops the name of Aglauros. The word is derived from πλυνί/r, lavare, because during the solemnity they undressed the statue of the goddess and washed it. The day on which it was observed the people looked upon as unfortunate and inauspicious; and therefore no person was permitted to appear in the temples, which were purposely surrounded with ropes. The arrival of Alcibiades in Athens on that day was thought very unfortunate, but the success which ever afterwards attended him proved it to be otherwise. It was customary at this festival to bear in procession a cluster of figs, thus intimating the progress of civilization amongst the primitive inhabitants of the earth, as figs served them for food after they had contracted a dislike for acorns.
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PO, Padus, Eridanus, one of the great rivers of Europe, which traverses the north of Italy from west to east. It has its source in Monte Viso, one of the Cottian Alps, flows north-east to Turin, passes that capital, holds an easterly course throughout the whole length of Lombardy, separating Austrian Italy from Parma, Modena, and the Ecclesiastical States, and discharges itself by a number of mouths into the Adriatic, about thirty miles to the south of λ τ enice. In its course, which, including its windings, is upwards of 500 miles, it receives a great number of rivers, flowing in full current from the Alps on the north, and in less copious but equally rapid streams from the Apennines on the south. Of these tributary waters the principal are, the Dora Riparia, the Dora Baltea, the Stura, the Oreo, the Sesia, the Tanaro, the Ticino, the Adda, the O1ona, the Oglio, the Mincio, the Crostolo, and the Panaro. The Po, rising in a very mountainous country, soon becomes a large river, and is sufficiently deep to float boats and barges at thirty miles from its source; but its current is often so rapid that the navigation is at all seasons difficult, and not unfrequently hazardous. Hence, though it passes in its progress more than fifty towns, little advantage comparatively is derived from it for the conveyance of merchandise. Its volume of water is subject to sudden increase from the melting of the snows, and from heavy falls of rain, the rivers that flow into it being almost all mountain streams; and in the flat country, in the lower part of its course, this would have been attended with very destructive effects, if great dykes had not been constructed to confine it within its channel. The gravel rolled down from the mountains has progressively raised the bed of the river, and the protecting mounds have also been correspondingly elevated; so that the Po, in the lower part of its course, presents the singular spectacle of a vast body of water, the level of which is higher than that of the adjoining country. Its borders, interspersed with trees and villages, display great luxuriance of vegetation, and are extremely pleasant, though by no means picturesque. This river, like the Rhine, is crossed by flying bridges. A post is fixed in the middle of the stream, and a rope conveyed from it to the passage raft, by means of a number of small boats which form the connecting links; and these boats being pressed on by the current, guide the raft to the opposite side, with no other assistance than that of an oar. The raft usually consists of two barges boarded over, and encompassed with a rail. Lastly, the basin of the Po has been the theatre of some of the most remarkable military operations of modern times; more particularly of the campaigns of Eugene, Napoleon, and Suwarof, who, each in his turn, decided, for the time, the fate of Italy.
POBASSOO’S Island, a small island on the north coast of New Holland; forming, with Cotton’s Island, a secure shelter for shipping, which Captain Flinders called Malay Road. Long, of this road 136. 27. E. Lat. 11. 53. S.
POCKLINGTON, a market-town of Yorkshire, in the east riding, and the wapentake of Harthill, 193 miles from London. It is situated on a small stream that falls into the river Derwent, and has a market, which is held on Saturday. The population amounted in 1801 to 1502, in 1811 to 1539, in 1821 to 1962, and in 1831 to 2048; but the whole parish, w4ιich comprehends three other townships, had at the last census 2265 inhabitants.
POCOCK’S Island is situated in the Eastern Seas. Long. 118. 12. E. Lat. 6.2. S.
POCOCK’S Point, on the east coast of New Zealand, was formerly the north-west point of the Bay of Islands. It is four miles west of Cape Brett.
PODALIRIUS, son of Aesculapius and Epione, was one of the pupils of the centaur Chiron, under whom he made himself such a master of medicine, that during the Trojan war the Greeks invited him to their camp to check a pestilence which had baffled the skill of all their physicians. On his return Podalirius was shipwrecked upon the coast of Caria, where he cured of epilepsy a daughter of the king of the place. He fixed his habitation there; and built two towns, one of which he called after his wife Syrna. On his death, the Carians built him a temple, and paid him divine honours.
PODGORODKOI, a fortress of Asiatic Russia, in the government of Oufa, on the Oural. It is ninety-two miles east of Orenburg.
PODEM, a village of Asiatic Turkey, in Trebisond, thirty miles east of Trebisond.
PODEMNO, a village of Tobolsk, in Asiatic Russia, forty-four miles east of Kemskoi.
PODENDA, a village of Asia Minor, at the junction of the Sihoun with the Adana, thirty-three miles north of Adana.
PODOL, a town of Russia, in the province of Moskau, the capital of a circle of the same name, which extends over 590 square miles, and contains 58,800 inhabitants. The town is situated on the river Pochra, 508 miles from St Petersburg, and contains only 1100 inhabitants, who carry on some silk manufactures. Long. 37. 25. E. Lat. 55. 25. N.
PODOLIA, a province or government of the Russian empire, formerly a part of Poland, acquired by Russia at the first dismemberment of that unfortunate kingdom. It extends in north latitude from 47. 23. to 49. 44., and in east longitude from 26.16. to 30. 4L; and it is bounded on the north .by Volhynia, on the north-east by Kiew, on the east and south-east by Cherson, on the south by Bessarabia, and on the west by the Austrian kingdom of Gallicia. It is 20,796 miles in extent, is divided into twelve circles, and contains 121 towns, 2429 villages, with 1,450,000 inhabitants, a great part of whom are Poles, but many are Russians; and the Jews arc numerous. The majority are of the Greek church, but the nobility and higher classes commonly adhere to the Roman Catholic worship.

The province is situated on the northern slope of the Carpathian Mountains, several of the spurs of which project into it, but none arc more than 500 feet in height. It is a well-watered district, part of the streams of which fall into the Dniester, and part into the Bug; the former of which is at all seasons navigable, but the latter only one portion of the year. The climate is pure and healthy, but it is not productive of wine, which is supposed to arise from the want of calcareous earth. Mulberry-trees have been lately planted, and seem hitherto to have succeeded. The soil is generally fertile, yielding always a great surplus of grain, especially of wheat, some of which finds a vent at Odessa, and some at Dantzig. It is peculiarly adapted to pasture, and feeds numerous horses, and a breed of cows, which are highly prized, and supply a large extent of country with young cattle and fat oxen, even as far as a part of Germany. The sheep are abundant, but their wool is coarse; and few merinos have hitherto been introduced to improve the breed. Flax and hemp are raised to an extent equal to the consumption of the inhabitants. The manufactures are chiefly for domestic use i but some potash, pitch, and tar, arc made for exportation. Though possessing a fruitful soil, and means of communication with both the north and the south, there is little trade, except occasionally that of corn.
PODSTEPNOI, a fortress of Asiatic Russia, in the government of Kolivan, on the Irtisch, two hundred miles south-east of Omsk.
PODSPUSKNOI, a fortress of Asiatic Russia, in the government of Kolivan, 220 miles south-west of Kolivan.
POECILE was a famous porticoat Athens, which received its name from the variety(πo∕κ∕λog) of paintings which it contained. Zeno kept his school there; and there also the Stoics received their lessons; whence their name, from στοα, a porch. Amongst other things, the Poecile was adorned with a picture of the siege and sacking of Troy, another .of the battle of Theseus with the Amazons, and a third of the fight between the Lacedaemonians and Athenians at Oenoe in Argolis. It was also accounted a great distinction to have one’s portrait placed in this national gallery. In fact, the only reward which Miltiades obtained after the battle of Marathon, was to have his picture drawn more conspicuously than those of the rest of the officers who fought [7:18:139]with him on that occasion, in the representation which was made of the engagement, and to have it hung up in the Poecile in commemoration of that celebrated victory. This was accounted glory enough for so great and memorable an achievement.
POGGIO Bracciolini, a man of great parts and learning, who contributed much to the revival of letters in Europe, was born at the little town of Terranova, near Florence, in 1380. His first public employment was that of writer of the apostolic letters, which he held for ten years, after which he was made apostolic secretary, and in that capacity he officiated, under seven popes, for a period of forty years. In 1453, when he had attained the age of seventy-two, he accepted the employment of secretary to the republic of Florence, and he died in 1459. Poggio visited several countries, and searched many monasteries to recover ancient authors, numbers of which he brought to light. His own works consist of moral pieces, orations, letters, and a history of Florence from 1350 to 1455, which is the most considerable of them all. In 1802, the Rev. Dr Shepherd published, in one volume quarto, a Life of Poggio, containing much curious information in literary history.
POGGY Islands. See Nassau Isles.
POGROMNAIA RECA, a small river of Asiatic Russia, in the district of Nertschinsk. It has on its banks a spring of mineral water, which is successfully employed in the cure of several diseases.
POICTIERS. See Poitiers.
POINT, a term used in various arts.

Point, in Grammar, is a character used to mark the divisions of discourse. A point proper is what is otherwise called a period or full stop. See Punctuation. Point, in Geometry, according to Euclid, is that which has neither parts nor magnitude.

Point, in Music, a mark or note anciently used to distinguish the tones or sounds. Hence we still call it simple counterpoint, when a note of the lower part answers exactly to that of the upper; and figurative counterpoint when any note is syncopated, so that one of the parts makes several notes or inflections of the voice, whilst the other holds on one.

A point is still used to raise the value of a note, and prolong its time by one half. Thus a point added to a semibreve, instead of two minims, makes it equal to three; and so of the other notes.

Point, in Astronomy, a term applied to certain points or places marked in the heavens, and which are distinguished by proper epithets.

The four grand points or divisions of the horizon, namely, the east, west, north, and south, are denominated the cardinal points.

The zenith and nadir are the vertical points ; the points in which the orbits of the planets cut the plane of the ecliptic are called the nodes ; the points in which the equator and ecliptic intersect are called the equinoctial points ; that whence the sun ascends towards the north pole being called the vernal point ; and that by which he descends to the south pole the autumnal point. The points of the ecliptic, where the sun’s ascent above the equator, and descent below it, terminate, are called the solstitial points ; the former being the estival or summer point, and the latter the brumal or winter point. Point is also used to signify a cape or headland jutting out into the sea. Thus seamen say two points of land are in one another when they are in a right line against each other, so that the innermost is prevented from being seen by the outermost.

Point, in Perspective, is used for various poles or places, with regard to the perspective plane.

Point, in Poetry, denotes a lively brisk turn or conceit, usually found or expected at the close of an epigram.

PoiNT∙Blank, in Gunnery, denotes the shot of a gun levelled horizontally, without either elevating or depressing the muzzle of the piece.
POINT DE GALLE, a seaport and fortified town on the south-western point of Ceylon, reckoned the third in consequence in the island, whilst in point of trade it ranks next to Columbo. The petlah or native town is extensive, and enclosed with a wall, and the houses are superior to those at Trincomalee. It has a good and spacious harbour, especially the outer road; whilst the inner harbour is secure during a great part of the year, but the egress is not so easy, as it requires the wind from a particular quarter to carry the vessels out. During the season when the roadstead from Columbo is unsafe, ships frequently wait at Point de Galle till their cargoes are ready. The fortress stands very high, but is much out of repair; and not above six families reside in it constantly, except when the homeward-bound fleet is assembled there, when a much greater number is collected. There is no regular rainy season at Point de Galle; but being open to both monsoons, it has more rain than the continent of India. The shore, both to the westward and in the vicinity of the port, is lined with rocks; and it is therefore advisable to keep in twenty-five fathoms till near the entrance into the harbour. The exports are cinnamon, cardamums, arrack, oil, salt fish, and cotton. Fisheries are carried on to a considerable extent. Cinnamon is also grown, but not to such an extent as about Columbo. Near the fort is a colony of Chinese, established by government as gardeners for the purpose of raising vegetables, in which they have at length succeeded, and have also thriving plantations of sugar-cane. At Billegam, about twenty miles south-east from Point de Galle, is a celebrated Buddhist temple, in which is a recumbent figure of Buddha. There is also a gigantic four-handed figure of Vishnu, of a dark colour; and the walls are covered with painted figures of Buddha. In a corner is another figure seated on a cobra de capella snake coiled up, the hood of which forms a canopy over his head. Point de Galle was occupied by the Portuguese in 1517, and taken from them by the Dutch in 1640. It came into the possession of the British in 1796. It is sixty miles south from Columbo. Long. 80.15. E. Lat. 6. N.
POINT GORDWAR, a low point of land which projects into the Bay of Bengal, at the mouth of the Godavery River. The sea breaks heavily over it. Long. 82. 17. E. Lat. 16. 48. N.
POINT PEDRO, a town on the northern extremity of the island of Ceylon. Long. 80. 25. E. Lat. 9. 52. N.
POINTING, in Grammar, the art of dividing a discourse by points into periods and members of periods, in order to show the proper pauses to be made in reading, and to facilitate the pronouncing and understanding thereof.
POINTS, in Heraldry, are the several parts of an escutcheon, denoting the local positions of any figure.

Points, in Electricity, are those acute terminations of bodies which facilitate the passage of the electrical fluid to or from such bodies.
POINTY, a town of Bengal, in the district of Mongier, delightfully situated on the south bank of the Ganges, in the view of the Rajemahl Hills, in a country abounding in game. Long. 87. 26. E. Lat. 25. 20. N.
POITIERS, an arrondissement of the department of the Vienne, in France. It extends over 792 square miles, and comprehends ten cantons, divided into 101 communes, and containing 88,600 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, the seat of the departmental government and of the courts of law. It is an elevated spot, almost surrounded by lofty rocks, at the foot of which run the river Elain on the east side, and the river Boivre on the west; both of which streams unite to the north of the city. It is surrounded with ancient walls, and is built in an antique style and irregular manner. It is the see of a bishop, and has an old cathedral and several other churches, three hospitals, an academy, a lyceum, a public library, 4160 houses, and about 19,500 inhabitants. It is a place of little commerce, chiefly confined to making a few woollen cloths, some hosiery, leather, and distilling brandy. Near to it are some Celtic and some Roman antiquities. It is celebrated for the battle which bears the name of the city, though fought at Beauvoir, between Edward the Black Prince of England, and King John of France, in the year 1356, when the latter was made prisoner. Long. 0. 15. 43. E. Lat. 46. 34. 50. N.
POLA, or Otewhei, one of the Navigators’ Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean. Long. 172. 20. W. Lat. 13. 52. S.
POLACRE, a ship with three masts, usually navigated in the Levant and other parts of the Mediterranean.
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POL DE LEON, a city of France, in the department of Finisterre, and arrondissement of Morlaix. It is situated on a hill near the sea, about a mile from its haven Pen-pont, which is accessible to small vessels. It is the see of a bishop, and has a cathedral and other churches, 1005 houses, and 6150 inhabitants, who make linen goods, and some pottery ware. Long. 3. 53. 26. W. Lat. 48. 40. 55. N.
POLEIN, in English antiquity, is a sort of shoe, sharp or piked at the point. This fashion took its rise in the time of William Rufus; and the pikes were so long that they were tied up to the knees with silver or golden chains. But they were forbidden by statute 4, Edward IV. cap. 7.
POLEMARCHUS, a magistrate at Athens, who had under his care all the strangers and sojourners in the city, over whom he had the same authority as the archon had over the citizens.
POLEMICAL, in matters of literature or theology, an appellation given to books of controversy.
POLEMO, who succeeded Xenocrates in the direction of the academy, was an Athenian of distinguished birth, but in the earlier part of his life a man of loose morals. The manner in which he was reclaimed from the pursuit of infamous pleasures, and brought under the discipline of philosophy, affords a memorable example of the power of eloquence employed in the cause of virtue. As he was, one morning about sunrise, returning home from the revels of the night, he passed by the school of Xenocrates, and saw him surrounded with his disciples. Unable to resist so fortunate an opportunity of indulging his sportive humour, he rushed without ceremony into the school, and took his place amongst the philosophers. The whole assembly was astonished at this intrusion, and all but Xenocrates discovered signs of resentment. Xenocrates, however, preserved perfect command of his temper, and turning his discourse from the subject on which he was treating to the topics of temperance and modesty, he recommended them with such strength of argument and energy of language, that Pôlemo was constrained to yield to the force of conviction. Instead of turning the philosopher and his doctrine to ridicule, as he at first intended, he became sensible of the folly of his former conduct; was heartily ashamed of the contemptible figure which he had made in so respectable an assembly; assumed a sedate and thoughtful aspect; and resolved from that hour to relinquish his licentious pleasures, and devote himself to the pursuit of wisdom.
POLESINA, a delegation of Austrian Italy, in the province of Milan. It is bounded on the north by Padua, on the east by Venice, on the south by the papal states, and on the west by Mantua and Verona. It is 434 square miles in extent, and contains 135,200 inhabitants. It is a level district, without woods; but abounding in lakes and morasses, which render it unhealthy. The district is enclosed by the rivers Po and Etsch; and the interior is drained by the Adigetto, Tartaro, Castognaro, and many canals. The soil is very fruitful, and yields abundantly of maize, oats, wheat, and rice; and also much fruit, hemp, flax, wine, and good silk. The soil likewise furnishes abundance of nitre, the preparation of which affords much employment. The only other manufactures are those of leather, bricks, and tiles. The capital is Rovigio. In the time of the Romans this district was a marsh, known as Paludes Padusae. It is now divided into seven districts, which are subdivided into fifty-six communes.