Chapter Pyrogenous to Pyx of P by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Pythian
(Pyth"i*an) a. [L. Pythius, Gr. belonging to Pytho, the older name of Delphi and its environs: cf. F. pythien.] Of or pertaining to Delphi, to the temple of Apollo, or to the priestess of Apollo, who delivered oracles at Delphi.

Pythian games (Gr. Antiq.), one of the four great national festivals of ancient Greece, celebrated near Delphi, in honor of Apollo, the conqueror of the dragon Python, at first once in eight years, afterward once in four.

Pythocenic
(Pyth`o*cen"ic) a. [Gr. to rot + origin.] Producing decomposition, as diseases which are supposed to be accompanied or caused by decomposition.

Python
(Py"thon) n. [NL., fr. L. Python the serpent slain near Delphi by Apollo, Gr. .]

1. (Zoöl.) Any species of very large snakes of the genus Python, and allied genera, of the family Pythonidæ. They are nearly allied to the boas. Called also rock snake.

The pythons have small pelvic bones, or anal spurs, two rows of subcaudal scales, and pitted labials. They are found in Africa, Asia, and the East Indies.

2. A diviner by spirits. "[Manasses] observed omens, and appointed pythons." 4 Kings xxi. 6

Pythoness
(Pyth"o*ness) n. [L. pythonissa: cf. F. pythonisse. See Pythian.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.) The priestess who gave oracular answers at Delphi in Greece.

2. Any woman supposed to have a spirit of divination; a sort of witch. Bp. Hall.

Pythonic
(Py*thon"ic) a. [L. pythonicus, Gr. . See Pythian.] Prophetic; oracular; pretending to foretell events.

Pythonism
(Pyth"o*nism) n. The art of predicting events after the manner of the priestess of Apollo at Delphi; equivocal prophesying.

Pythonist
(Pyth"o*nist) n. A conjurer; a diviner.

Pythonomorpha
(||Pyth`o*no*mor"pha) n. pl. [NL. See Python, and -morphous.] (Paleon.) Same as Mosasauria.

Pyuria
(||Py*u"ri*a) n. [NL., fr. Gr. pus + urine.] (Med.) A morbid condition in which pus is discharged in the urine.

Pyx
(Pyx) n. [L. pyxis a box, Gr. pyxi`s a box, especially of boxwood, fr. py`xos the box tree or boxwood. See Box a receptacle.] [Written also pix.]

1. (R. C. Ch.) The box, case, vase, or tabernacle, in which the host is reserved.

2. A box used in the British mint as a place of deposit for certain sample coins taken for a trial of the weight and fineness of metal before it is sent from the mint. Mushet.

3. (Naut.) The box in which the compass is suspended; the binnacle. Weale.

4. (Anat.) Same as Pyxis.

Pyx cloth (R. C. Ch.), a veil of silk or lace covering the pyx. — Trial of the pyx, the annual testing, in the English mint, of the standard of gold and silver coins. Encyc. Brit.

Pyx
(Pyx), v. t. To test as to weight and fineness, as the coins deposited in the pyx. [Eng.] Mushet.