*peni*

a. Causing one suddenly to learn or understand what was not previously known; as, an eye-opening look into the private machinations of the governor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. something that happens; an occurrence; an event.
Syn. -- occurrence, natural event. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Specifically: An event that is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or important. [ PJC ]

3. An artistic or entertainment event that is unconventional, sometimes discontinuous, designed to evoke strong emotions, and sometimes involving participation by the audience. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. impenitentia: cf. F. impénitence. ] The condition of being impenitent; failure or refusal to repent; hardness of heart. [ 1913 Webster ]

He will advance from one degree of wickedness and impenitence to another. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Impenitence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. impaenitens; pref. im- not + paenitens penitens: cf. F. impénitent. See Penitent. ] Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; of a hard heart. “They . . . died impenitent.” Milton. “A careless and impenitent heart.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is not penitent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without repentance. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. a peninsula in Southeastern Asia occupied by parts of Malaysia and Thailand and Burma. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement; first appearance; as, the opening of a speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

The opening of your glory was like that of light. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap; cleft, or hole. [ 1913 Webster ]

We saw him at the opening of his tent. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: An opportunity; as, an opening for business. [ Colloq. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence: A vacant place; a job which does not have a current occupant; as, they are now interviewing candidates for the two openings in the department. [ PJC ]

5. A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst of a forest; a clearing; as, oak openings. [ U.S. ] Cooper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. penible. Cf. Painable. ] Painstaking; assidous. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. penicillum, penicillus, a painter's brush, a roil of lint, a tent for wounds. ] (mented.) A tent or pledget for wounds or ulcers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem., Med.) A substance (C5H11NO2S) which is a degradation product of the penicillins. Chemically it is 3-mercapto-D-valine. It has chelating properties and is used in medicine as an antirheumatic and to chelate copper in cases of hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease). [ PJC ]

a. [ Cf. F. pénicillé. See Penicil. ] (Biol.) Having the form of a pencil; furnished with a pencil of fine hairs; ending in a tuft of hairs like a camel's-hair brush, as the stigmas of some grasses. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Penicillate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Penicillium, the fungus genus from which it was first isolated. ] (Chem.) Any of a variety of substances having a structure containing a beta-lactam ring fused to a thiirane ring, to which a carboxyl group is attached, but most commonly interpreted as benzyl penicillin. They are notable as powerful antibacterial agents of relatively low toxicity which have found extensive use in medicine for treating bacterial infections. They are categorized as one of the classes of beta-lactam antibiotic. They are produced naturally by some fungi and bacteria, and industrial production processes almost invariably start from some form of the penicillin nucleus produced by fermentation of microorganisms. The fermentation products are then chemically modified to produce derivatives of enhanced potency, safety, or antibacterial spectrum. The first penicillin to see extensive use clinically (during World War II) was penicillin G, also called benzypenicillin, and commonly simply “penicillin”. [ PJC ]

☞The characteristic portion of the structure characterizing a penicillin is the bicyclic structure 3, 3-Dimethyl-7-oxo-4-thia-1-azabicylo[ 3.2.0 ]heptane-2-carboxylic acid. The different penicillins have varying acyl groups forming an amide bond with a nitrogen attached to the 6-carbon of this nucleus. This distinguishes it from the other classes of beta-lactam antibiotic, the cephalosporins, thienamycins and sulfazecin. [ PJC ]

n. (Bioch.) An enzyme which destroys the antibacterial activity of penicillin by hydrolyzing the amide bond in the beta-lactam ring. Many penicillinases are known, and are produced by a wide variety of bacteria. The production of penicillinase is one of the mechanisms by which bacteria may become resistant to penicillins. Penicillinase production in various bacterial species may be induced, i.e., it may occur only when stimulated by the presence of penicillin in the culture medium, or it may be constitutive, i.e., it may occur whenever the cells are producing protein. Molecular weights of the various penicillinases tend to cluster near 50, 000. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. peninsula or paeninsula; paene almost + insula an island. See Isle. ] A portion of land nearly surrounded by water, and connected with a larger body by a neck, or isthmus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. péninsulaire. ] Of or pertaining to a peninsula; as, a peninsular form; peninsular people; the peninsular war. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Florida; -- a nickname. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Peninsulated p. pr. & vb. n. Peninsulating. ] To form into a peninsula. [ 1913 Webster ]

South River . . . peninsulates Castle Hill farm. W. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] (Anat.) The erectile external sexual organ of males, used in copulation, and in mammals, also for urination. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ F. pénitence, L. paenitentia. See Penitent, and cf. Penance. ] The quality or condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; sorrow for sins or faults; repentance; contrition. “Penitence of his old guilt.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Death is deferred, and penitenance has room
To mitigate, if not reverse, the doom. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Repentance; contrition; compunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. pénitencier. ] A priest who heard confession and enjoined penance in extraordinary cases. [ Written also penitenser. ] [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Penitence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. pénitent, L. paenitens, -entis, poenitens, p. pr. of paenitere, poenitere, to cause to repent, to repent; prob. akin to poena punishment. See Pain. ] 1. Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Doing penance. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One under the direction of a confessor. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Penitents is an appellation given to certain fraternities in Roman Catholic countries, distinguished by their habit, and employed in charitable acts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. pénitentiel. ] Of or pertaining to penitence, or to penance; expressing penitence; of the nature of penance; as, the penitential book; penitential tears. “Penitential stripes.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (R. C. Ch.) A book formerly used by priests hearing confessions, containing rules for the imposition of penances; -- called also penitential book. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a penitential manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. pénitentiaire. ] 1. Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance. “A penitentiary tax.” Abp. Bramhall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressive of penitence; as, a penitentiary letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Used for punishment, discipline, and reformation. “Penitentiary houses.” Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Penitentiaries [ Cf. F. pénitencier. See Penitent. ] 1. One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who does penance. [ Obs. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A small building in a monastery where penitents confessed. Shpiley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That part of a church to which penitents were admitted. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) An office of the papal court which examines cases of conscience, confession, absolution from vows, etc., and delivers decisions, dispensations, etc. Its chief is a cardinal, called the Grand Penitentiary, appointed by the pope. (b) An officer in some dioceses since A. D. 1215, vested with power from the bishop to absolve in cases reserved to him. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A house of correction, in which offenders are confined for punishment, discipline, and reformation, and in which they are generally compelled to labor; a prison; a jail. Colloquially often shortened to pen. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or condition of a penitentiary of the papal court. [ R. ] Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a penitent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Impenitent. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]