Chapter Primrose to Privy Seal of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Printer's Marks
   ? is - that is, the first and last letters of quæstio (question).
   ! is . Io in Latin is the interjection of joy.
   § is a Greek p (p), the initial letter of paragraph.
   * is used by the Greek grammarians to arrest attention to something striking (asterisk or star).
   † is used by the Greek grammarians to indicate something objectionable (obelisk or dagger).
   (See Marks In Grammar.)

Printing (See Em .)
   Father of English printing. William Caxton (1412-1491).
    It is a mistake to suppose that Caxton (1471) was the first printer in England. A book has been accidentally discovered with the date 1478 (Oxford). The Rev. T. Wilson says, “The press at Oxford existed ten years before there was any press in Europe, except those at Haarlem and Mentz. The person who set up the Oxford press was Corsellis.”

Priori An argument a priori is one from cause to effect. To prove the existence of God a priori, you must show that every other hypothesis is more unlikely, and therefore this hypothesis is the most likely. All mathematical proofs are of this kind. (See Posteriori .)

Priscian's Head To break Priscian's head (in Latin, “Diminuere Prisciani caput”). To violate the rules of grammar. Priscian was a great grammarian of the fifth century, whose name is almost synonymous with grammar.

“Priscian's head is often bruised without remorse.”- P. Thompson.

“And held no sin so deeply red
As that of breaking Priscian's head.”
Butler: Hudibras, Pt. ii. 2.

Priscillanists Followers of Priscillian, a Spaniard; an heretical sect which sprang up in Spain in the fourth century. They were a branch of the Manichæans.

Prisoner at the Bar The prisoner in the dock, who is on his trial; so called because anciently he stood at the bar which separated the barristers from the common pleaders.

Prisoner of Chillon: Francois de Bonnivard, a Frenchman confined for six years in the dungeon of the Chateau de Chillon, by Charles III, of Savoy. Lord Byron, in his poem so called, has welded together this incident with Dante's Count Ugolino. (See Chillon .)

Prithu The favourite hero of the Indian Purânas. Vena having been slain for his wickedness, and leaving no offspring, the saints rubbed his right arm, and the friction brought forth Prithu. Being told that the earth had suspended for a time its fertility, Prithu went forth to punish it, and the Earth, under the form of a cow, fled at his approach; but being unable to escape, promised that in future “seed-time and harvest should never fail.”

Priuli Senator of Venice, noted for his unbending pride, and his unnatural harshness to his daughter Belvidera. (Otway: Venice Preserved.)

Privolvans' The antagonists of the Subvolvans, in S. Butler's satirical poem called The Elephant in the Moon.

“These silly ranting Privolyans
Have every summer their campaigns,
And muster like the warlike sons
Of Rawhead and of Bloodybones.”
v. 85. etc.

Privy Council The council chosen by the sovereign to administer public affairs. It consists of the Royal Family, the two Primates, the Bishop of London, the great officers of State, the Lord Chancellor and Judges of the Courts of Equity, the Chief Justices of the Courts of Common Law, the Judge Advocate, some of the Puisne Judges, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Ambassadors, Governors of Colonies, Commander-in-Chief, Master-General of the Ordnance, First Lord of the Admiralty, Vice-President of the Board of Trade, Paymaster of the Forces, President of the Poor-law Board, etc. etc.; a committee of which forms the Cabinet or Ministry. The number of neither the Privy Council nor Cabinet is fixed, but the latter generally includes about fifteen or sixteen gentlemen specially qualified to advise on different departments of state business. Much of the business of the