A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

pet (2) --- peevishness, offense at feeling slighted, 1590, in phrase take the pet "take offense." Perhaps from pet (1) on a similar notion to that in Amer.Eng. that gets my goat, but the underlying notion is obscure, and the form of the original expression makes this doubtful. This word seems to have been originally a southern Eng. term, while pet (1) was Scottish.

petal --- 1726, from Mod.L. petalum "petal" (1649), from Gk. petalon "leaf, thin plate," originally neut. of adj. petalos "outspread, broad, flat," from PIE base *pet- "to spread out."

petard --- 1598, "small bomb used to blow in doors and breach walls," from Fr. pétard (1580), from M.Fr. péter "break wind," from O.Fr. pet "a fart," from L. peditum, properly neut. pp. of pedere "to break wind" (in M.L. pettus). Surviving in phrase hoist with one's own petard (or some variant) "blown up with one's own bomb," which is ult. from Shakespeare (1605):

Peter --- masc. proper name, from L. Petrus, from Gk. Petros, lit. "stone, rock," translation of Syriac kefa "stone" (Cephas), nickname Jesus gave to apostle Simon Bar-Jona (Matt. xvi:17), historically known as St. Peter, and consequently a popular name among Christians (e.g. It. Pietro, Sp. Pedro, O.Fr. Pierres, Fr. Pierre, etc.). The common form of this very common name in medieval England was Peres (Anglo-Fr. Piers), hence surnames Pierce, Pearson, etc. Among the dim. forms were Parkin and Perkin. Petronilla, fem. dim. of L. Petronius, "was the name of a saint much-invoked against fevers and regarded as a daughter of St. Peter. The name was accordingly regarded to be a derivative of Peter and became one of the most popular of girls' names, the vernacular Parnell being still used as a proper name as late as the 18th century in Cornwall" [Reaney]. Slang for "penis" is attested from 1902, probably from identity of first syllable. For Pete's sake is attested from 1924, probably a euphemistic use of the disciple's name in place of Christ; as an exclamation or quasi-oath, Peter! was in use 14c., but this likely is not connected to the modern use. To rob Peter to pay Paul (1515, also in early 17c. Fr. as descouvrir S. Pierre pour couvrir S. Pol) may be a ref. to the many churches dedicated to those two saints, and have sprung from the fairly common practice of building or enriching one church with the ruins or revenues of another.

peter (v.) --- cease, stop, 1812, of uncertain origin. To peter out "become exhausted," is 1846 as miners' slang.

Peter Pan --- name of boy-hero in J.M. Barrie's play "Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn't grow up" (1904). Used allusively for an immature adult man from 1914 (first by G.B. Shaw, in ref. to the Kaiser).

Peter Principle --- 1968, "in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence," named for (and by) Laurence Johnston Peter (1919-1990) Canadian-born U.S. educationalist and author, who described it in his book of the same name (1969).

petiole --- footstalk of a leaf, 1753, from Fr. pétiole, from Mod.L. petiolus, misspelling of peciolus "stalk, stem," lit. "little foot," dim. of pediculus "foot stalk," itself a dim. of pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot).

petit --- c.1362, "trifling," from O.Fr. petit "small" (11c.), probably from stem of L.L. pitinnus "small," of uncertain origin, perhaps ultimately from Celtic root *pett- "part, piece, bit" (see piece). Attested as a surname from 1086. Replaced by petty (q.v.) in most usages, except in established forms such as petit bourgeois "conventional middle-class" (1853, used by Charlotte Brontë earlier than by Marx or Engels; petty bourgeois, however, is attested from 1850), petit mal (1842, "little evil," mild form of epilepsy), and petit four (1884), which in Fr. means "little oven," from O.Fr. four "oven," from L. furnus.

petite --- 1712, "little," in Fr. phrases taken into Eng., from Fr. petite, fem. of petit "little," from O.Fr. (see petit). As a size in women's clothing, attested from 1929.

petition (n.) --- c.1330, "a supplication or prayer, especially to a deity," from O.Fr. peticiun (12c.), from L. petitionem (nom. petitio) "a request, solicitation," noun of action from petere "to require, seek, go forward," also "to rush at, attack," ult. from PIE base *pet-/*pte- "to rush, to fly" (cf. Skt. patram "wing, feather, leaf," patara- "flying, fleeting;" Hittite pittar "wing;" Gk. piptein "to fall," potamos "rushing water," pteryx "wing;" O.E. feðer "feather;" L. penna "feather, wing;" O.C.S. pero "feather;" O.Welsh eterin "bird"). Meaning "formal written request to a superior (earthly)" is attested from 1414. The verb is 1607, from the noun.

petrel --- 1676, pitteral, modern spelling first recorded 1703 by Dampier, who says the bird was so called from its way of flying with its feet just skimming the surface of the water, which recalls the apostle's walk on the sea of Galilee (Matt. xiv:28); if so, it likely was formed in Eng. as a dim. of Peter (L.L. Petrus). If this is folk-etymology, the true source of the name is undiscovered. Fr. pétrel (1760) probably is from Eng.

petri dish --- 1892, named for Ger. bacteriologist Julius Petri (1852-1922), who first devised it c.1887.

petrify --- 1594, from M.Fr. pétrifier "to make or become stone," from L. petra "rock" + -ficare, from facere "to make, do" (see factitious). Metaphoric sense of "paralyze with fear or shock" first recorded 1771.

petrochemical --- 1913, formed in Eng. from Gk. petro-, comb. form of petra "rock" + chemical (q.v.).

petrodollar --- 1974, "surplus of petroleum exports over imports of all other goods," as a notational unit of currency (in ref. to OPEC nations), formed in Eng. from petro-, comb. form of petroleum (q.v.) + dollar.

petroglyph --- 1870, from Fr. pétroglyphe, from Gk. petra "rock" + glyphe "carving."

petrol --- 1895, "gasoline," from Fr. pétrol (1892); earlier used (1585) in ref. to the unrefined substance, from M.Fr. petrole "petroleum," from O.Fr. (13c.), from M.L. petroleum (see petroleum).

petroleum --- 1348, from M.L. petroleum, from L. petra "rock" + oleum "oil."

petticoat --- 1412, pety coote, lit. "a small coat," from petty + coat. Originally a padded coat worn by men under armor, applied 1464 to a garment worn by women and young children. By 1593, the typical feminine garment, hence a symbol of female sex or character.

pettifogger --- 1564, from petty (q.v.), the second element possibly from obs. Du. focker, from Flem. focken "to cheat," or from cognate M.E. fugger, from Fugger the renowned family of merchants and financiers of 15c.-16c. Augsburg. In Ger., Flem. and Du., the name became a word for "monopolist, rich man, usurer."

petty --- 1393, "small," from O.Fr. petit "small" (see petit). In Eng., not originally disparaging (cf. petty cash, 1834, petty officer, 1577). Meaning "of small importance" is recorded from 1523; that of "small-minded" is from 1581. An old name for "Northern Lights" was petty dancers.

petulant --- 1599, "immodest, wanton, saucy," from M.Fr. petulant (1350), from L. petulantem (nom. petulans) "wanton, froward, insolent," from the root of petere "rush at, seek" (see petition). Meaning "peevish, irritable" first recorded 1775, probably by influence of pet (2).

petunia --- 1825, from Mod.L. Petunia (1789), from Fr. petun, an obs. word for "tobacco plant," from Port. petum, from Guarani (Paraguay) pety. It has a botanical affinity to the tobacco plant. Pety first recorded (in Ger.) as bittin; it survives as the regular word for tobacco only in Breton butun, but it was in use in Eng. in 17c.

pew --- 1393, "raised, enclosed seat for certain worshippers" (ladies, important men, etc.), from O.Fr. puie, puy "balcony, elevation," from L. podia, pl. of podium "elevated place," also "balcony in a Roman theater" (see podium). Meaning "fixed bench with a back, for a number of worshippers" is attested from 1631.

pewee --- flycatcher, lapwing, 1810, variant of pewit (q.v.). See also peewee.

pewit --- lapwing (still the usual name for it in Scotland), 1529, imitative of its cry (cf. Flem. piewit-voghel, M.L.G. kivit, Ger. kiwitz, see kibitz).

pewter --- 1348 (implied in pewterer), "any of various alloys having tin as their main constituent" (the usual form is one part lead to four parts tin), from O.Fr. peautre (12c.), from V.L. *peltrum "pewter" (cf. Sp. peltre, It. peltro), of uncertain origin.

peyote --- mescal cactus, 1849, from Mex.Sp. peyote, from Nahuatl peyotl, said to mean "caterpillar," the cactus so called in allusion to the downy button on top.

pH --- 1909, from Ger. PH, introduced by S.P.L. Sörensen, from P, for Ger. Potenz "potency, power" + H, symbol for the hydrogen ion that determines acidity or alkalinity.

-ph- --- consonantal digraph, now usually representing "f," originally the combination used by Romans to represent Gk. letter phi (cognate with Skt. -bh-, Gmc. -b-), which at first was an aspirated "p," later the same sound as Ger. -pf-, but by 2c. B.C.E. had become a simple sound made by blowing through the lips (bilabial spirant). Roman "f," like modern Eng. "f," was dentilabial; by c.400, however, the sounds had become identical and in some Romanic languages (It., Sp.), -ph- regularly was replaced by -f-. This tendency took hold in O.Fr. and M.E., but with the revival of classical learning the words subsequently were altered back to -ph- (except fancy and fantastic), and due to zealousness in this some non-Gk. words in -f- began to appear in -ph-, though these forms generally have not survived.

Ph.D --- attested from 1869.

phaeton --- type of light four-wheeled carriage, 1742, from Fr. (1735), from Gk. Phaethon name of the son of Helios and Clymene, who tried to drive his father's sun-chariot but crashed after almost setting fire to the whole earth. His name is lit. "shining," from phaein "to shine, gleam," from phaos "light." Earlier as a name for a rash or adventurous driver (1593).

-phagous --- comb. form meaning "eating, feeding on," from Gk. -phagos "eater of," from phagein "to eat," lit. "to have a share of food," from PIE base *bhag- "to share out, apportion, distribute," also "to get a share" (cf. Skt. bhajati "assigns, allots, apportions, enjoys, loves," bhagah "allotter, distributor, master, lord," bhaksati "eats, drinks, enjoys;" Pers. bakhshidan "to give;" O.C.S. bogatu "rich").

phalanstery --- 1846, name for one of the socialistic communities of c.1,800 people, living together as family, proposed as the basic unit of society in the system of Fr. social scientist François-Marie-Charles Fourier (1772-1837), from Fr. phalanstère, coined by Fourier from phalange, properly "phalanx" + ending after monastère "monastery."

phalanx --- 1553, from Gk. phalanx (gen. phalangos) "line of battle, battle array," also "finger or toe bone," originally "round piece of wood, trunk, log," of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE base *bhelg- "plank, beam" (cf. O.E. balca "balk;" see balk). In anatomy, originally the whole row of finger joints, which fit together like infantry in close order. Fig. sense of "number of persons banded together in a common cause" is attested from 1600 (cf. Sp. Falangist, member of a fascist organization founded in 1933).

phallus --- 1613, "an image of the penis," from L. phallus, from Gk. phallos "penis," also "carving or image of an erect penis (symbolizing the generative power in nature) used in the cult of Dionysus," from PIE *bhel-no-, from base *bhel- "to inflate, swell" (cf. O.N. boli "bull," O.E. bulluc "little bull," and Gk. phalle "whale," see bole). Used of the penis itself (often in symbolic context) from 1924, originally in jargon of psychoanalysis. Phallic "pertaining to the phallus" (1789) is from Gk. phallikos, from phallos. First record of phallic symbol is from 1907.

-phane --- comb. form meaning "having the appearance of," from Gk. -phanes, from phainein "to show," phainesthai "to appear" (see phantasm).

phantasm --- c.1225, fantesme, from O.Fr. fantasme, from L. phantasma "an apparition, specter," from Gk. phantasma "image, phantom," from phantazein "to make visible, display," from stem of phainein "to show," from PIE base *bha- "to shine" (cf. Skt. bhati "shines, glitters," O.Ir. ban "white, light, ray of light"). Spelling conformed to L. from 16c.

phantasmagoria --- 1802, name of a "magic lantern" exhibition brought to London in 1802 by Philipstal, the name an alteration of Fr. phantasmagorie, said to have been coined 1801 by Fr. dramatist Louis-Sébastien Mercier, from Gk. phantasma "image" + second element probably a Fr. form of Gk. agora "assembly" (but this may have been chosen more for the dramatic sound than any literal sense). Transf. meaning "shifting scene of many elements" is attested from 1822.

phantom --- c.1300, fantum "illusion, unreality," from O.Fr. fantesme (12c.), from V.L. *fantauma, from L. phantasma (see phantasm). The ph- restored in Eng. c.1590. Meaning "specter, spirit, ghost" is attested from 1382; that of "something having the form, but not the substance, of a real thing" is from 1707.

pharaoh --- title of the kings of ancient Egypt, O.E. Pharon, from L. Pharaonem, from Gk. Pharao, from Heb. Par'oh, from Egyptian Pero', lit. "great house."

Pharisee --- O.E. Fariseos, O.Fr. pharise (13c.), both from L.L. Pharisæus, from Gk. Pharisaios, from Aramaic p'rishayya, emphatic plural of p'rish "separated, separatist," corresponding to Heb. parush, from parash "he separated." Ancient Jewish sect (2c. B.C.E.-1c. C.E.) distinguished by strict observance but regarded as pretentious and self-righteous, at least by Jesus (Matt. xxiii:27). Meaning "self-righteous person, formalist, hypocrite" is attested from 1589.

pharmaceutical --- 1648 (pharmaceutic in the same sense is from 1541), from L. pharmaceuticus "of drugs," from Gk. pharmakeutikos, from pharmakeus "preparer of drugs, poisoner," from pharmakon "medicine, poison." Pharmacology is attested from 1721, formed in Mod.L. (1683) with Gk. -logia "dealing with the topic of."

pharmacopeia --- official book listing drugs and containing directions for their preparation, 1621, from medical L., from Gk. pharmakopoiia preparation of drugs," from pharmakon "drug" + poiein "to make." First used as a book title by Anutius Foesius (1528-95) of Basel.

pharmacy --- c.1386, "a medicine," from O.Fr. farmacie, from M.L. pharmacia, from Gk. pharmakeia "use of drugs or medicines," from pharmakeus "preparer of drugs," from pharmakon "drug, poison, philter, charm, spell, enchantment." Meaning "use or administration of drugs" is attested from c.1400; that of "place where drugs are prepared and dispensed" is first recorded 1833. Pharmacist coined in Eng. 1834.

pharynx --- 1693, from Gk. pharynx (gen. pharyngos) "windpipe, throat," related to pharanx "cleft, chasm."

phase --- 1812, "phase of the moon," back-formed as a sing. from Mod.L. phases, pl. of phasis, from Gk. phasis "appearance" (of a star), "phase" (of the moon), from stem of phainein "to show, to make appear" (see phantasm). L. sing. phasis was used in Eng. from 1660. Non-lunar application is first attested 1841. Meaning "temporary difficult period" (especially of adolescents) is attested from 1913. The verb meaning "to synchronize" is from 1938, from the noun.

phat --- hip-hop slang, "great, excellent," 1992, originating perhaps in the late 1980s and meaning at first "sexiness in a woman." The word itself is presumably a variant of fat (q.v.) in one of its slang senses, with the kind of off-beat spelling preferred in street slang (cf. boyz). The spelling is attested as far back as 1678, as an erroneous form of fat (a classical over-correction; see -ph-). This spelling is said by some to be an acronym, but various versions are given: "pretty hot and tasty," or "pretty hips and thighs" among them. These, too may have been innovations given as explanations to women who felt insulted by the word.

pheasant --- 1299, from Anglo-Fr. fesaunt, O.Fr. faisan (13c.), from L. phasianus, from Gk. phasianos "a pheasant," lit. "Phasian bird," from Phasis, river flowing into the Black Sea in Colchis, where the birds were said to have been numerous. The ph- was restored in Eng. late 14c. The excrescent -t is due to confusion with -ant suffix of nouns formed from prp. of verbs in first L. conjugation (peasant, tyrant, etc.).

pheme --- words as grammatical units in a language, 1906, coined by U.S. philosopher C.S. Pierce (1839-1914), from Gk. pheme (see fame).

-phemia --- comb. form meaning "speech," from Gk. -phemia, from pheme "speech," from stem of phemi "I speak," cognate with L. fari "to speak," fama "report, reputation" (see fame).

phenomenology --- 1797, from Ger. Phänomenologie, used as the title of the fourth part of the "Neues Organon" of Ger. physicist Johann Heinrich Lambert (1728-77), coined from Gk. phainomenon (see phenomenon) + -logia, from -logos "one who deals with certain topics." Psychological sense, esp. in Gestalt theory, is from 1930.

phenomenon --- 1576, "fact, occurrence," from L.L. phænomenon, from Gk. phainomenon "that which appears or is seen," noun use of neut. prp. of phainesthai "to appear," passive of phainein (see phantasm). Meaning "extraordinary occurrence" first recorded 1771. Plural is phenomena. Phenomenal "of the nature of a phenomenon" is a hybrid coined 1825 by Coleridge, with suffix from L. -alis; meaning "extraordinary" is first attested 1850. Shortened form phenom is baseball slang, first recorded 1890.

pheromone --- substance released in minute amounts by an animal that causes a specific response when detected by another animal, 1959, coined (by Karlson & Lüscher) from Gk. pherein "to carry" (see infer) + (hor)mone (q.v.).

phew --- vocalic gesture expressing weariness, etc., attested from 1604.

Phi Beta Kappa --- undergraduate honorary society, 1776, from initials of Gk. philosophia biou kybernetes "philosophy, guide of life."

phial --- c.1300, from O.Fr. fiole (12c.), from M.L. phiola, from L. phiala, from Gk. phiale "broad, flat drinking vessel," of unknown origin.

Philadelphia --- city in Pennsylvania, U.S., from Gk., taken by William Penn to mean lit. "brotherly love," from philos "loving" + adelphos "brother" (see Adelphi). Also the name recalls that of the ancient city in Lydia, mentioned in the N.T., which was so called in honor of Attalos II Philadelphos, 2c B.C.E. king of Pergamon, who founded it. His title is said to have meant "loving the brethren." Slang shortening Philly first attested 1891; Philadelphia lawyer "clever, shrewd attorney" attested from 1788 in London, said originally to have been applied to Andrew Hamilton, who obtained the famous acquittal of J.P. Zenger on libel charges in 1735.

philander --- 1737, from Philander, popular name for a lover in stories, drama, and poetry, from Gk. adj. philandros "with love for people," perhaps mistaken as meaning "a loving man," from phil- "loving" + andr-, stem of aner "man." Philanderer "male flirt" is from 1841.

philanthropy --- 1608, from L.L. philanthropia, from Gk. philanthropia "humanity, benevolence," from philanthropos (adj.) "loving mankind," from phil- "loving" + anthropos "mankind" (see anthropo-). Originally in L.L. form; modern spelling attested from 1623. Philanthropist is first recorded 1730.

philately (n.) --- stamp-collecting, 1865, coined by Fr. stamp collector Georges Herpin (in "Le Collectionneur de Timbres-poste," Nov. 15, 1864), from Gk. phil- "loving" + ateleia "exemption from tax," the closest word he could find in ancient Gk. to the concept of "postage stamp" (from a- "without" + telos "tax"). A reminder of the original function of postage stamps, now often forgotten: the cost of letter-carrying formerly was paid by the recipient; stamps indicated it had been pre-paid by the sender, thus the letters were "carriage-free."

-phile --- via Fr. and L. from Gk. -philos, common suffix in personal names, from philos "loving, dear," from philein "to love."

Philemon --- masc. proper name, in Gk. mythology, a pious man, husband of Baucis, from Gk. philemon, lit. "loving, affectionate," from philein "to love."

philharmonic --- 1813 (name of a society founded in London for the promotion of instrumental music), from Fr. philharmonique (1739), from It. filarmonico, lit. "loving harmony," from Gk. philos "loving" + ta harmonika "theory of harmony, music," from neut. pl. of harmonikos (see harmonic).

Philhellene --- c.1825, "loving the Greeks," from Gk., from philos "loving" + Hellen "Hellene." Originally in Eng. in ref. to the cause of Gk. independence.

-philia --- comb. form meaning "friendship, fondness," from Gk. philia "affection," from philos "loving."

Philip --- masc. proper name, from L. Philippus, from Gk. Philippos "fond of horses," from philos "beloved, loving" + hippos "horse."

philippic --- 1592, "bitter invective discourse," from M.Fr. philippique, from L. orationes Philippicæ, translation of Gk. Philippikoi logoi. The L. phrase was used of the speeches made by Cicero against Marc Antony in 44 and 43 B.C.E.; originally of speeches made in Athens by Demosthenes in 351-341 B.C.E. urging Greeks to unite and fight the rising power of Philip II of Macedon.

Philippine --- 1812, from Sp. Islas Filipinas, lit. "the islands of Philip," named for Philip II, king of Spain.

Philistine --- O.T. people of coastal Palestine, who made war on the Israelites, c.1340, from O.Fr. Philistin, from L.L. Philistinus, from Late Gk. Philistinoi, from Heb. P'lishtim, "people of P'lesheth" ("Philistia"); cf. Akkad. Palastu, Egyptian Palusata; the word probably is the people's name for itself.

philistine --- person deficient in liberal culture, 1827, originally in Carlyle, popularized by him and Matthew Arnold, from Ger. Philister "enemy of God's word," lit. "Philistine," inhabitants of a Biblical land, neighbors (and enemies) of Israel (see Philistine). Popularized in Ger. student slang (supposedly first in Jena, late 17c.) as a contemptuous term for "townies," and hence, by extension, "any uncultured person." Philistine had been used in a humorous fig. sense of "the enemy" in Eng. from c.1600.

Phillips --- proper name of a cross-slot screw and corresponding screwdriver, 1935, named for its inventor, U.S. businessman Henry F. Phillips (1890-1958) of Portland, Ore. It was designed for car makers, hence the handyman's complaint that they are difficult to un-screw. Phillips lost the patent in 1949.

philo- --- Gk. philo-, comb. form of philos "dear" (adj.), "friend" (n.), from philein "to love," of unknown origin. Productive of a great many compounds in ancient Gk.

philodendron --- 1877, from the Mod.L. genus name (1830), from Gk. philodendron, neut. of philodendros "loving trees," from philo- "loving" + dendron "tree;" the plant so called because it clings to trees.

philology --- c.1386, "love of learning," from O.Fr. philologie, from L. philologia "love of learning, love of letters," from Gk. philologia "love of discussion, learning, and literature," from philo- "loving" + logos "word, speech." Meaning "science of language" is first attested 1716; this confusing secondary sense has never been popular in the U.S., where linguistics (q.v.) is preferred.

philomel --- c.1385, from Gk. Philomela, poetic name of the nightingale, probably "lover of song," from philos "loving" + melos "song;" but perhaps "lover of apples" (Gk. mela). In the myth, proper name of Pandion's daughter, who was turned into a nightingale (Ovid).

philosophe --- Enlightenment rationalist and skeptic, esp. in ref. to any of the Fr. Encyclopædists, often disparaging (when used by believers), 1774, from Fr. philosophe, lit. "philosopher" (see philosopher). Usually italicized in Eng., but nativized by Peter Gay ("The Enlightenment," 1966) and others. Also philosophist (1798).

philosopher --- O.E. philosophe, from L. philosophus, from Gk. philosophos "philosopher," lit. "lover of wisdom," from philos "loving" + sophos "wise, a sage."