pnugues/EB7 huggingface dataset:
PURIFICATION, in matters of religion, a ceremony which consists in cleansing any thing from a supposed pollution or defilement.

The Pagans, before they sacrificed, usually bathed or washed themselves in water; and they were particularly careful to wash their hands, because with these they were to touch the victims consecrated to the gods. It was also customary to wash the vessel with which they made their libations. Previously to the duty of prayer the Mahommedans also use purifications, which are of two kinds; namely, either bathing, or only washing the face, hands, and feet. The first is required only in extraordinary cases, as after having lain with a woman, touched a dead body, or the like. But lest so necessary a preparation for their devotions should be omitted, either where water cannot be had, or when it may be of prejudice to a person’s health, they are allowed in such cases to make use of fine sand or dust instead of it; and then they perform this duty by clapping their open hands on the sand, and passing them over the parts, in the same manner as if they were dipped in water.

There were also many legal purifications amongst the Hebrews. When a woman was delivered of a male child, she was esteemed impure for forty days, and when of a female, for sixty; at the end of which time she usually carried a lamb to the door of the temple to be offered for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or turtle for a sin-offering, and by this ceremony she was cleansed or purified.
PURIM, or the Feast of Lots, a solemn festival of the Jews, instituted in memory of the deliverance they received, by means of Mordecai and Esther, from Haman’s wicked attempt to destroy them.
PURITAN, a name formerly given in derision to the dissenters from the Church of England, on account of their profession to follow the pure word of God, in opposition to all traditions and human constitutions. It was likewise given in the primitive church to the Novatian schismatics, because they would never admit to communion any one whom dread of death had led to apostatize from the faith.
PURLINS, in building, those pieces of timber which lie across the rafters on the inside, to keep them from sinking in the middle of their length.
PURNEAH, an extensive district of Bengal, forming the north-western division of that province, and situated about the twenty-sixth degree of north latitude. Its boundaries are, to the north the Morung Hills, in the Nepaul territories; on the south Monghir and Rajemahl; on the east Dinagepoor; and on the west Tirhoot and Baglipoor. It is a fertile, compact, and well-watered flat, comprehending 5119 square miles, intersected by various streams, is extremely fertile, and abounds in luxuriant pastures, on which are fed remarkably fine cattle, which are employed in the work done by horses in Europe. These bullocks are of fine proportions, and of a large size, and very superior to the draught cattle in Calcutta. It produces also rice, oil, pulse, wheat, besides other vegetables; opium and saltpetre for foreign commerce; and valuable timber from the Morung forests, which is cut in hot weather, and floated dowr the rivers in the rainy season. It is also celebrated for it» sugar and indigo, the latter being one of its staple commodities; and it exports a considerable quantity of ghee, or butter of buffaloes, clarified. About 1796, from an official inquiry into the population of Purneah, it was found to contain 89,914 husbandmen holding leases, 22,324 artificers paying ground-rent, in 2784 villages, and on 2531 square miles. From official inquiries in Ĭ801, it was found to contain 1,450,000 inhabitants, in the proportion of seven Mahommedans to ten Hindus. The chief rivers are the Cosah and Muhanada. In 1722 Sief Khan was appointed governor of Purneah, with absolute power over that district, and with permission to conquer from the independent rajahs near him all the territory that he could. He accordingly made considerable additions to the territory during the twenty-seven years which he ruled over it; and whilst other parts were overrun by the Mahrattas, his dominions continued to increase in prosperity and in population. In 1749 the son-in-law of Aliverdy Cawn suc cceded, and he handed down the inheritance to his son. After various revolutions, the government devolved on an officer, Khadcm Hussein, who engaged in a war with the British, but was finally obliged to retire to Oude. The principal towns are Purneah and Tajepore. The former is pleasantly situated on the eastern bank of the Seraw River, and carries on a considerable trade. Long. 88. 23. E. Lat. 25. 45. N.
PURPURE, in Heraldry. The colour so called, which signifies purple, is an engraving represented by diagonal lines from the left to the right.

It may serve to denote an administrator of justice, a lawgiver, or a governor equal to a sovereign; and, according to Leigh, if it is compounded with
[table]
[7:18:742]
PURRAH, a town of Hindustan, in the province of Bengal, and district of Rajemahl. In 1353 it was a royal residence, the capital of Hyas, the second independent sovereign of Bengal, when it was taken by the Emperor Ferose. The city was much extended during the reign of Rajah Causa, the Hindu monarch of Bengal, who died in 1392. His son removed the seat of government back to Gour. Some of the ruins of this city still remain. It is ten miles northeast from Maulda. Long. 89. 9. E. Lat. 25. 9. N.
PURSER, an officer on board a ship of war, who receives the victuals from the victualler, sees that they be well stowed, and keeps an account of what he every day delivers to the steward. He also keeps a list of the ship’s company, and sets down exactly the day of each man’s admission, in order to regulate the quantity of provisions to be delivered out, and that the paymaster or treasurer of the navy may issue out the debasements, and pay off the men, according to his book.
PURVIEW, a term used by some lawyers for the body of an act of parliament, or that part which begins with the words “Be it enacted,” as contradistinguished from the preamble.
PURULENT, in Medicine, something mixed with, or partaking of, pus or matter.
PUS, in Medicine, a white or yellowish matter, designed by nature for the healing and cementing of wounds and sores.
PUSTULE, a pimple, or small eruption on the skin, full of pus, such as the eruptions of the small-pox.
PUTEOLI, a town of Campania, so called either from its wells, there being many hot and cold springs thereabouts, or from the stench caused by sulphureous exhalations. It is now called Puzzuoli, and is pleasantly and advantageously situated for trade. In a very remote age the Cumeans made it their arsenal and dock-yard, and to this naval establishment they gave the sublime appellation of I)icearchia. The Romans were well aware of the utility of this port, and took great pains to improve its natural advantages. Nothing remains of their works but a line of piers, built to break the force of a rolling sea, and which are vulgarly called the bridge of Caligula, because that madman is said to have marched in triumph from Puzzuoli to Baiae on a bridge, which however was a bridge of boats.
PUTIWL, a city of Russia, in the government of Kursk, the capital of a circle of the same name. It stands at the junction of the Putiwl with'the Gem, and is a very ancient place, surrounded with pallisades. It contains nineteen churches, 1276 houses, and 10,500 inhabitants, who are occupied in refining saltpetre, making vitriol, and in other branches of internal trade. It is 890 miles from St Petersburg. Long. 33. 55. E. Lat. 52. 21. N.
PUTNEY, a parish of the hundred of Brixton, in the county of Surrey. It is four miles from London, on the south bank of the Thames, over which there is a bridge that unites it to Fulham. It is situated on a gentle elevation, many of the houses in it commanding pleasant views on the river. It contains many houses of noblemen and gentlemen within it, some of the first order, and with highly ornamented gardens. It was the birthplace of Thomas Lord Cromwell, of West, Bishop Ely his contemporary, and, at a later period, of Gibbon the historian of Rome. It was also the head-quarters of Oliver Cromwell’s army. The population amounted in 1801 to 2428, in 1811 to 2881, in 1821 to 3394, and in 1831 to 3811.
PUTTAN Somnant, a town of Hindustan, on the southwest coast of the Gujerat peninsula, and district of Puttan. Long. 70. 23. E. Lat. 20. 57. N.
PUTTY, in its popular sense, is a kind of paste compounded of whiting and linseed oil, beaten together to the consistence of a thick dough. It is used by glaziers for fastening in the squares of glass in sash-windows, and by painters for stopping up the crevices and clefts in timber and wainscots.

Putty sometimes also denotes the powder of calcined tin, used in polishing and giving the last gloss to works of iron and steel.
PUY, Le, an arrondissement of the department of the Upper Loire, in France, extending over 779 square miles. It has fourteen cantons, 117 communes, and 122,450 inhabitants. The capital is the city of the same name, distinguished by the addition en Belay, which is situated on the river Borne. It is the seat of the departmental boards of government, and the see of a bishop. It contains 2950 houses, with 13,100 inhabitants, whose chief employment is lace-making, and the manufacture of cotton goods, especially muslins. It has also some manufactures of copper and iron wares, and of pottery. Long. 3. 47.40. E. Lat. 45. 2. 4L N.
PUY de Dôme, a department in the south of France, formed out of the ancient province Lower Auvergne. It extends in north latitude from 45. 26. to 46.11. and in east longitude from 2. 17. to 3. 54. In extent it is 3389 square miles, and is divided into five arrondissements, and these into fifty cantons and 438 communes, containing by the last census 573,100 persons. It is bounded on the north by the department of Allier, on the east by that of the Loire, on the south by the Upper Loire and the Cantal, and on the west by the Corrèze and by the Creuse. It is an elevated district, covered with hills and mountains, with few or no plains, but some beautiful valleys, not very wide, through which the streams flow. One of the most picturesque of these vales is that of Limagne, which extends along both banks of the Allier, from the entrance of that river into the department, to its passage out of it. It is remarkable for its fertility. The roads are planted with large walnut and elm trees, the sides of the hills arê covered with vines, and on the tops are ornamented with towns, villages, and castles. Some of the mountains in the northern part, the highest of which reach to about 4000 feet, have marks of volcanic origin, and are composed of basalt or of lava. In the south the elevations are greater, and that called the Mont d’Or is about 6300 feet. The chief river is the Allier, which comes out of the department of the Upper Loire, is navigable in its course through Puy de Dôme, and receives the waters of various streams. There are several lakes in some of the districts, but none of them of any great extent. The climate is raw and variable on the mountains, but in the valleys it is mild, intensely hot in summer, and severely cold in winter; and occasionally most violent storms, accompanied with hail, are experienced in the most fertile of the valleys. The chief products, besides corn, of which there is a surplus for the supply of the neighbouring departments, are hemp, flax, wax, honey, fruit, especially cherries, walnuts, and wine. The last is abundant, but in general not highly estimated. The best is in the valley of Limagne; but even there the greater part of the produce of the vines is distilled into brandy. The nuts arc so abundant that a great quantity of oil is made from them; and as fuel is scarce, many of the walnut trees are made use of for that purpose. There are mines both of iron and of coal, but they are not extensively worked. The manufactures are linen cloths, blond lace, silk stockings, some cotton, and thin woollens, ribbons, jewellery, leather, and paper. The population is so much beyond the means of employment, that a great number of labourers yearly go to the neighbouring department to procure work in summer, and return in winter with the wages which they have earned. The department elects four deputies to the legislature. It is in the diocese of Clermont, and under the judicial power of the courts of law at Riom.
PUZZULANA or Pozzolana Terra, is a grayish kind of earth employed in Italy for building under· water. The best is found about Puteoli, Baiae, and Cumae, in the kingdom of Naples, from the first of which places it derives its name. It is a volcanic product, composed of heterogeneous substances, thrown out from the burning mouths of volcanoes in the form of ashes; sometimes in such large quantities, and v∕ith so great violence, that whole provinces have been covered with it at a considerable distance. In the year 79 of the common era, the cities of Herculanum, Pompeii, and Stabia, although at the distance of many miles from Vesuvius, were nevertheless buried under the matter thrown out during these dreadful eruptions. This volcanic earth is of gray, brown, or blackish colour, and of a loose glanular, or dusty and rough, porous or spongy texture, resembling a clay hardened by fire, and then reduced to a gross powder. It contains various heterogeneous substances mixed with it. Its specific gravity is from 2500 to 2800, and it is in some degree magnetic; but it scarcely effervesces with acids, although partially soluble in them. It easily melts per se ; but its most distinguishing property is, that it hardens very suddenly when mixed with one third of its weight of lime and water; and forms a cement which is more durable in water than any other. According to Bergman’s analysis, a hundred parts of Terra Pozzolana contain from fifty-five to sixty of siliceous earth, twenty of argillaceous, five or six of calcareous, and from fifteen to twenty of iron. Its effects, however, in cement may perhaps depend only on the iron it contains. It is evidently a martial argillaceous marl that has suffered a moderate heat. Its hardening power arises from the dry state of the half-baked argillaceous particles, which makes them imbibe water rapidly, and thus accelerates the desiccation of the calcareous part; and also from the quantity and peculiar state of the iron and manganese which it contains, on which metals its properties chiefly depend. It is found not only in Italy, but also in France, in England, and elsewhere.
PYANEPSIA, in Antiquity, an Athenian festival celebrated on the seventh day of the month Pyanepsion, which, according to the generality of critics, was the same with our September.
[7:18:745]

Plutarch refers the institution of this feast to Theseus, who, after the funeral of his father, which happened on this day, paid his vows to Apollo, because the youths who returned with him safe from Crete then made their entry into the city. On this occasion these young men, putting all that was left of their provisions into one kettle, feasted together on it, and made great rejoicing. Hence was derived the custom of boiling pulse on the occasion of this festival. The Athenians likewise carried about an olive branch, bound with wood, and crowned with all sorts of first-fruits, to signify that scarcity and barrenness had ceased, and singing in procession a song. WTιen the solemnity ended, it was usual to erect the olive branch before their doors, as a preservative against scarcity and want.
PYCNOSTYLE, in the ancient architecture, is a building where the columns stand very close to each other, only one diameter and a half of the column being allowed for the intercolumniations. According to Mr Evelyn, the pyenostyle chiefly belonged to the composite order, and was used in the most magnificent buildings; as at present in the peristyle at St Peter’s at Rome, which consists of near three hundred columns, and in such as yet remain of the ancients amongst the ruins of Palmyra.
PYGMALION, in fabulous history, a king of Cyprus, who, being disgusted at the dissolute lives of the women of his island, resolved to live in perpetual celibacy; and making a statue of ivory, he fell so passionately in love with it, that, the high festival of Venus being come, he fell down before the altar of that goddess, and besought her to give hip a wife like the statue he loved. At his return home, he embraced, as usual, his ivory form, when he perceived that it became sensible by degrees, and was at last a living maid, who found herself in her lover’s arms the moment she saw the light. Venus blessed their union; and, at the end of nine months, she was delivered of a boy, who was named Paphos.
PYGMY, a person not exceeding a cubit in height. This appellation was given by the ancients to a fabulous nation inhabiting Thrace, who brought forth young at five years of age, and were old at eight. They were celebrated for the bloody war which they waged with the cranes.
PYKAR, a broker in India, inferior to those called dallais, who transacts the business at first hand with the manufacturer, and sometimes carries goods about for sale.
PYKE, a watchman in India, employed as a guard at night. Pyke is likewise a footman or runner on business. They are generally armed with a spear.
PYLADES, was a son of Strophius, king of Phocis, by one of the sisters of Agamemnon. He was educated together with his cousin Orestes, with whom he formed the most inviolable friendship, and whom he assisted to revenge the murder of Agamemnon, by assassinating Clytemnestra and Aegysthus. He also accompanied him into Taurica Chersonesus; and for his services Orestes rewarded him, by giving him his sister Electra in marriage. Pylades had by her two sons, Medon and Strophius. The friendship of Orestes and Pylades became proverbial.

Pylades, an actor of pantomime, who was the first to bring that species of histrionics to a high degree of perfection at Rome. He was a native of Cilicia, and had been the slave of Augustus, who gave him his freedom. He was the rival of Bathyllus, but their mode of dancing was perfectly distinct; that of Pylades was full of dignity and of passion, whilst that of Bathyllus was of a more joyous character. Pylades even wrote a book on the principles of his art. For some reason or other he was banished from Rome, and his recall by Augustus was so palatable to the people that in their joy they'forgot some severe measures which the emperor had passed. According to Suetonius, his banishment was caused by his having pointed with his finger to some one who had hissed his performance.
PYLOS, a city on the coast of MeSsenia, fifteen miles south of Cyparissia, is usually considered as the residence of Nestor, where he was visited by Telemachus. There were two other places of the same name, one in Elis, and another in Triphylia, which claimed this honour; but all the circumstances which the poet states suit best the city in Messenia. The quickness of the voyage between Ithaca and this southern Pylos is one of the principal objections; but it must be recollected that Athene’ directed the vessel. Strabo, however, believed that the city in Triphylia, which seems to have been unknown to Pausanias, was the residence of Nestor; and he satisfied himself by the following reasoning. The description of Homer shows that the dominions of Nestor stretched on both sides of the river Alpheins; but this suits neither with Messenia nor with Elis. It was not upon the coast, for a messenger was sent to the ships to invite the companions of Telemachus to supper; and when Telemachus returned from Sparta he caused Pisistratus to drive his chariot directly to the harbour, so that the road to the harbour and city could not have been the same. The return of Telemachus to Ithaca is also brought forward as a proof, for he is made to pass Cruni, Chalcis, Pheia, and the coast of Elis, which, according to Strabo, he could only have done if he started from the Triphylian Pylos. Again, in the war of the Pylians against the Eleians, the time required to drive the booty, which consisted amongst other things of swine, was so short that they could not have reached the Messenian Pylos.

Pylos, a city of Triphylia, was thirty stadia from Sarai-cum, on the coast, and near a river once called Amathus and Pamisus, but subsequently Mamaus and Arcadicus. It was considered by Strabo as the residence of Nestor.

Pylos, a city of Elis, eighty stadia from the city of Elis, was founded by Pylus of Megara, destroyed by Hercules, and rebuilt by the Eleians. It was situated between the sources of the rivers Pencius and Sellecis, and under Mount Scollis.
PYLSTART, an island in the Southern Pacific Ocean, about six miles in circumference, discovered by Tasman in 1643. Long. 175. 59. W. Lat. 22. 22. S.
PYRAMIDOID, a term which is occasionally employed to denote the parabolic spindle, or the solid formed by the rotation of a semiparabola about its base or greatest ordinate.
PYRENEAN Mountains, or Pyrenees, are the mountains which divide France from Spain, and are the most celebrated in Europe, excepting the Alps. They reach from the Mediterranean as far as the Atlantic Ocean, and are about 212 miles in length. They have different names, according to the different places where they stand. Mont Perdu, the highest of the Pyrenees, has an elevation of 11,283 English feet.
PYRITES, a metallic substance, combined with sulphur; as iron pyrites, composed of sulphur and iron, and copper pyrites, of sulphur and copper. See Mineralogy.
PYRMONT, a city of the principality of Waldech, in Germany, and the capital of the district of the same name. It is a well-built place, containing 320 houses, and 2400 resident inhabitants. It is chiefly remarkable for its mineral springs, which are much frequented in'the summer months by invalids. It is situated at the northern extremity of a pic turesque valley on the river Emmer. It is surrounded with pleasing groves and other public walks, as well as with all the accommodations which can contribute to the gratification of those who resort to its waters. The principal spring, called the holy well, has an intoxicating quality and a vinous spirited taste, and has long been the most celebrated of the steel waters. From this well more than 400,000 jugs are annually filled, and despatched to other parts of the world; and it is said to lose none of its qualities by the longest journey. There are other springs, of various component parts; and one from which a large quantity of culinary salt is made. The Prince of Waldech has a palace near the city, which was formerly occupied by Frederick the Great, who frequently had recourse to these springs in his latter years. Lat. 51. 59. 28. N.
PYROMANCY, a kind of divination by means of fire.
PYROPHORUS, formed of ττυξ,fire, and <pε%ω, I bear, the name usually given to a chemical preparation which possesses the singular property of kindling spontaneously when exposed to the open air, or when breathed upon. There are various kinds of ρyrophorus.
PYROTICS, in Medicine, caustics or remedies either actually or potentially hot, and which accordingly will bum the. flesh, and raise an eschar.
PYRRHICA, in Antiquity, a kind of exercise on horseback, or a feigned combat, for the exercise of the cavalry. It was so called from its inventor Pyrrhichus or Pyrrhus of Cydonia, who first taught the Cretans to march in measure and cadence to battle, and to observe the Pyrrhic pace. Others derive the name from Pyrrhus the son of Achilles, who instituted this exercise at the obsequies of his father; but Aristotle says that it was Achilles himself who invented it. The Romans called it ludus Trojanus, the Trojan games; and Aulus Gellius, decursus. It is doubtless this exercise which we see represented on medals by two cavaliers in front running with lances, and the word decursio on the exergue.
PYRRHICIIIUS, in Greek and Latin poetry, a foot consisting of two syllables, both short, as Deus. Amongst the ancients this foot was also called periambus, and by some hegemona.