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

pastoral (adj.) --- of or pertaining to shepherds, 1432, from O.Fr. pastoral, from L. pastoralis, from pastor (see pastor (n.)). The noun sense of "poem dealing with country life generally" is from 1584. Pastorale (in the It. form) "musical composition representing pastoral scenes" is attested from 1724.

pastrami --- 1940, from Yiddish pastrame, from Rumanian pastrama, probably from Turk. pastrima, variant of basdirma "dried meat," from root *bas- "to press." The other possible origin of the Rumanian word is Mod.Gk. pastono "I salt," from classical Gk. pastos "sprinkled with salt, salted." Spelling in Eng. with -mi probably from influence of salami.

pastry --- 1442, "food made with paste," not originally limited to sweets, from M.E. paste (see paste (n.)), probably influenced by O.Fr. pastaierie "pastry," from pastoier "pastry cook," from paste (see paste (n.)); also borrowed from M.L. pasteria "pastry," from L. pasta. Specific sense of "small confection made of pastry" is from 1906.

pasture --- c.1300, from O.Fr. pasture "grass eaten by cattle," from L.L. pastura "a feeding, grazing," from L. pastus, pp. of pascere "to feed, graze" (see pastor).

pat (adv.) --- apt, suitably, 1578, perhaps a special use of pat (n.) in sense of "hitting" the mark. The adj. is 1638, from the adverb.

pat (n.) --- c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. The verb "to tap or strike lightly" is attested from 1601, and the noun "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. The noun sense "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. The nursery rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1874.

patch (1) --- piece of cloth used to mend another material, 1382, of obscure origin, perhaps a variant of pece, pieche, from O.N.Fr. pieche (see piece), or from an unrecorded O.E. word. The verb is 1447, from the noun; electronics sense of "to connect temporarily" is attested from 1923. Patchwork is from 1692. Phrase not a patch on "nowhere near as good as" is from 1860.

patch (2) --- fool, clown, 1549, perhaps from It. pazzo "fool," which is possibly from O.H.G. barzjan "to rave." Form perhaps infl. by folk-etymology from patch (1), on notion of a fool's patched garb.

patchouli --- perfume made from an Indian plant of the mint family, 1845, from the native name for the plant in Madras, said to be from Tamil pachchai "green" + ilai "leaf." The form of the word appears Fr., but this has not been explained and the record of it in Eng. predates that in Fr.

pate (1) --- top of the head, 1197, perhaps a shortened form of O.Fr. patene or M.L. patena, both from L. patina "pan, dish."

pate (2) --- paste, 1706, from Fr. pâté, from O.Fr. paste, earlier pastée, from paste (see paste (n.)). Pâté de foie gras (1827) is lit. "pie of fat liver;" originally served in a pastry (as still in Alsace), the phrase now chiefly in Eng. with ref. to the filling.

patella --- knee cap, 1693, from L. patella "pan, kneecap," dim. of patina "pan" (see paten). So called from its shape.

paten --- plate for bread at Eucharist, c.1300, from O.Fr. patene, from M.L. patena, from L. patina "pan, dish," from Gk. patane "flat dish," from petannynai "to spread out."

patent (n.) --- 1376, "open letter or document from some authority," shortened form of Anglo-Fr. lettre patent (also in M.L. (litteræ) patentes), lit. "open letter" (1292), from O.Fr. patente (adj.), from L. patentum (nom. patens) "open, lying open," prp. of patere "lie open, be open," from PIE *pet- "to spread" (cf. Gk. petannynai "to spread out," petalon "leaf," O.N. faðmr "embrace, bosom," O.E. fæðm "embrace, fathom").

paterfamilias --- c.1430, from L., lit. "master of a house, head of a family," from pater "father" + familias, old gen. of familia "family."

paternal --- c.1433, from O.Fr. paternal "of a father" (12c.), from M.L. paternalis, from L. paternus "of a father," from pater (see father). Paternalism "government as by a father over his children" is first recorded 1881; paternalistic was in use by 1890.

paternity --- 1449, "condition of being a father," from M.Fr. paternité (12c.), from L.L. paternitatem (nom. paternitas) "fatherly care, fatherhood," from L. paternus "of a father," from pater (see father). Originally in the ecclesiastical sense; literal sense first recorded 1582.

paternoster --- the Lord's Prayer, O.E. Pater Noster, from L. pater noster "our father," first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin. Meaning "set of rosary beads" first recorded c.1250. Paternoster Row, near St. Paul's in London (similarly named streets are found in other cathedral cities), reflects the once-important industry of rosary bead-making.

-path --- suffix used in modern formations to mean "one suffering from" (a disease or condition), also "one versed in" (a certain type of treatment), from Gk. -pathes, from pathos "suffering" (see pathos).

path --- O.E. paþ, pæþ, from W.Gmc. *patha- (cf. O.Fris. path, M.Du. pat, Du. pad, O.H.G. pfad, Ger. Pfad "path"), of unknown origin. In Scotland and Northern England, commonly a steep ascent of a hill or in a road.

Pathet Lao --- communist guerrilla movement and political party in Laos, 1954, from Laotian Thai, lit. "Land of the Lao."

pathetic --- 1598, "affecting the emotions, exciting the passions," from M.Fr. pathétique "moving, stirring, affecting" (16c.), from L.L. patheticus, from Gk. pathetikos "sensitive, capable of emotion," from pathetos "liable to suffer," verbal adj. of pathein "to suffer" (see pathos). Meaning "arousing pity, pitiful" is first recorded 1737. Colloquial sense of "so miserable as to be ridiculous" is attested from 1937. Pathetic fallacy (1856, first used by Ruskin) is the attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects.

pathogenic --- producing disease, 1852, from Fr. pathogénique, from Gk. pathos "disease" (see pathos) + Fr. génique "producing." Earlier pathogenetic (1838). Pathogen "a bacteria that produces disease" is an 1880 back-formation.

pathology --- science of diseases, 1611, from Fr. pathologie, from Mod.L. pathologia, from Gk. pathologikos "treating of disease," from pathos "suffering" (see pathos) + -logia "study," from logos "word." Pathologist first recorded 1650. Pathological "pertaining to disease" formed in Eng. 1688; sense of "worthy to be a subject of pathology, morbid, excessive" (e.g. pathological liar) is attested from 1845.

pathos --- quality that arouses pity or sorrow, 1668, from Gk. pathos "suffering, feeling, emotion," lit. "what befalls one," related to paskhein "to suffer," and penthos "grief, sorrow;" from PIE base *kwenth- "to suffer, endure" (cf. O.Ir. cessaim, Lith. kenciu "suffer").

patience --- c.1225, "quality of being patient in suffering," from O.Fr. pacience, from L. patientia "patience, endurance," from patientem (nom. patiens), prp. of pati "to suffer, endure," from PIE base *pei- "to damage, injure, hurt" (see passion).

patient (adj.) --- c.1320, "bearing or enduring without complaint," from L. patientem (see patience). Noun sense of "suffering or sick person" is from 1393, from O.Fr. pacient (n.), from the adj., from L. patientem.

patina --- greenish film on old bronze, 1748, from Fr. patine (18c.), from It. patina, perhaps from L. patina "dish, pan," on the notion of encrustation on ancient bronze dishes. Sense of "refinement, cultural sophistication" first recorded 1933.

patio --- 1828, "inner court open to the sky," from Sp. patio probably from O.Prov. patu, pati "untilled land, communal pasture," from L. pactum "agreement" (see pact). Another theory traces the Sp. word to L. patere "to lie open." Meaning "paved and enclosed terrace beside a building" first recorded 1941. Patio furniture is attested from 1969.

patois --- a provincial dialect, 1643, from Fr. patois "native or local speech," from O.Fr. patoier "handle clumsily, to paw," from pate "a paw," from V.L. *patta, perhaps imitative of the sound made by a paw. The language sense is probably from notion of clumsy manner of speaking. Especially in ref. to Jamaican English from 1934.

patootie --- sweetheart, pretty girl, colloquial Amer.Eng., 1921, perhaps a corruption of potato (esp. sweet potato).

patriarch --- c.1175, from O.Fr. patriarche "one of the Old Testament fathers" (11c.), from L.L. patriarcha (Tertullian), from Gk. patriarches "chief or head of a family," from patria "family, clan," from pater "father" + archein "to rule." Also used as an honorific title of certain bishops in the early Church, notably those of Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome.

patriarchy --- 1561, in ecclesiastical sense, from Gk. patriarchia, from patriarches (see patriarch). Meaning "system of society or government by fathers or elder males of the community" first recorded 1632.

Patricia --- fem. proper name, from L., fem. of patricius "patrician, noble" (see Patrick).

patrician (n.) --- 1432, "member of the ancient Roman noble order," from M.Fr. patricien, from L. patricius "of the rank of the nobles, of the senators," from patres conscripti "Roman senators," lit. "fathers," pl. of pater "father." Contrasted, in ancient Rome, with plebeius. Applied to noble citizens and higher orders of free folk in medieval It. and Ger. cities (sense attested in Eng. from 1611); hence "nobleman, aristocrat" in a modern sense (1631). As an adj., attested from 1620, from the noun.

patricide --- 1. "person who kills his father" (1593), 2. "act of killing one's father" (1625), from M.Fr. patricide, in both senses, from 1. L. patricida, 2. L. patricidium, from pater "father" + 1. cida "killer," 2. cidium "killing."

patricide --- 1593, from M.Fr. patricide, 1. "person who kills his father," 2. "act of killing one's father," from 1. L. patricida, 2. L. patricidium, from pater "father" + 1. cida "killer," 2. cidium "killing."

Patrick --- masc. proper name, from O.Ir. Patraicc, from L. Patricius, lit. "a patrician" (see patrician). As a given name, chiefly in northern England and Scotland, in Ireland only a popular name after 1600, due probably to the Scots settlers in Ulster. [Reaney]

patrimony --- 1340, "property of the Church," also "spiritual legacy of Christ," from O.Fr. patrimonie (12c.), from L. patrimonium "a paternal estate, inheritance," from pater (gen. patris) "father" + -monium, suffix signifying action, state, condition. Meaning "property inherited from a father or ancestors" is attested from 1377. Fig. sense of "immaterial things handed down from the past" is from 1581. A curious sense contrast to matrimony.

patriot --- 1596, "compatriot," from M.Fr. patriote (15c.), from L.L. patriota "fellow-countryman" (6c.), from Gk. patriotes "fellow countryman," from patrios "of one's fathers," patris "fatherland," from pater (gen. patros) "father," with -otes, suffix expressing state or condition. Meaning "loyal and disinterested supporter of one's country" is attested from 1605, but became an ironic term of ridicule or abuse from mid-18c. in England, so that Johnson, who at first defined it as "one whose ruling passion is the love of his country," in his fourth edition added, "It is sometimes used for a factious disturber of the government."

patrol (n.) --- 1664, "action of going the rounds" (of a military camp, etc.), from Fr. patrouille "a night watch" (1539), from patrouiller "go the rounds to watch or guard," originally "tramp through the mud," probably soldiers' slang, from O.Fr. patouiller "paddle in water," probably from pate "paw, foot" (see patois). Compare paddlefoot, World War II U.S. Army slang for "infantry soldier." Meaning "those who go on a patrol" is from 1670. Sense of "detachment of soldiers sent out to scout the countryside, the enemy, etc." is attested from 1702. The verb first recorded 1691. Patrolman "police constable on a particular beat" is first recorded 1879, Amer.Eng.

patron --- a lord-master, a protector, c.1300, from O.Fr. patrun (12c.), from M.L. patronus "patron saint, bestower of a benefice, lord, master, model, pattern," from L. patronus "defender, protector, advocate," from pater (gen. patris) "father." Meaning "one who advances the cause" (of an artist, institution, etc.), usually by the person's wealth and power, is attested from 1377; "commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is paid with flattery" [Johnson]. Commercial sense of "regular customer" first recorded 1605.

patronage --- 1412, "right of presenting a qualified person to a church benefice," from M.L. patronizare (1382) or O.Fr. patroniser (1456); see patron. General sense of "power to give jobs or favors" is from 1769; meaning "regular business of customers" is 1804.

patronize --- 1589, "to act as a patron towards," from patron (q.v.). Meaning "treat in a condescending way" is first attested 1797; sense of "give regular business to" is 1801.

patronymic (n.) --- 1612, from L.L. patronymicum, from neut. of patronymicus "derived from a father's name," from patronymos "named from the father," from pater (gen. patros) "father" + onyma "name."

patroon --- 1662, variant of patron used in foreign contexts, from Du. patroon or Fr. patron "master, patron," from O.Fr. (see patron); used from 1758 in parts of N.Y. and N.J. colonies for "landholder," especially one with certain manorial privileges (abolished c.1850) under the old Dutch governments by the charter of 1629.

patsy --- fall guy, victim of a deception, 1903, of unknown origin, possibly an alteration of It. pazzo "madman" (see patch (2)), or south It. dial. paccio "fool." Another theory traces it to Patsy Bolivar, character in an 1880s minstrel skit who was blamed whenever anything went wrong.

patten --- 1390, from O.Fr. patin "clog" (13c.), probably from pate "paw, foot," from P.Celt. *patta, of imitative origin.

patter (1) --- make quick taps, 1611, freq. of pat (n.).

patter (2) --- talk rapidly, c.1400, from pater "mumble prayers rapidly" (c.1300), shortened form of paternoster (q.v.). Perhaps influenced by patter (1). The noun is first recorded 1758, originally "cant language of thieves and beggars."

pattern (n.) --- 1324, "the original proposed to imitation; the archetype; that which is to be copied; an exemplar" [Johnson], from O.Fr. patron, from M.L. patronus (see patron). Extended sense of "decorative design" first recorded 1582, from earlier sense of a "patron" as a model to be imitated. The difference in form and sense between patron and pattern wasn't firm till 1700s. Meaning "model or design in dressmaking" (especially one of paper) is first recorded 1792, in Jane Austen. Verb phrase pattern after "take as a model" is from 1878.

patty --- 1694, in patti-pan "something baked in a small pan," from Fr. pâté, from O.Fr. paste (see paste (n.)).

paucity --- c.1425, from O.Fr. paucité (14c.), from L. paucitatem (nom. paucitas) "fewness, scarcity," from paucus "few, little," from PIE base *pau- "few, little" (cf. L. paullus "little," parvus "little, small," pauper "poor;" O.E. feawe "few," fola "young horse;" O.N. fylja "young female horse").

Paul --- masc. proper name, from L. Paulum (nom. Paulus), Roman surname of the Aemilian gens, lit. "small" (see paucity). Cf. O.Fr. Pol, It. Paolo, Sp. Pablo, Rus. Pavel.

paunch --- 1186, from O.Fr. pance (O.N.Fr. panche) "belly," from L. panticem (nom. pantex) "belly, bowels" (cf. Sp. panza, It. pancia), possibly related to panus "swelling."

pauper --- 1516, "person destitute of property or means of livelihood," from L. pauper "poor," from pre-L. *pavo-pars "getting little," from pau-, root of paucus "little" + parere "get, produce" (see pare). Originally in Eng. a legal word, from L. phrase in forma pauperis (1495) "in the character of a poor person."

pause (n.) --- 1426, from M.Fr. pause (14c.), from L. pausa "a halt, stop, cessation," from Gk. pausis "stopping, ceasing," from pauein "to stop, to cause to cease." The verb is from 1526.

pavan --- slow, stately dance, 1535, from Fr. pavane (1524), probably from Sp. pavana, from pavo "peacock" (from L. pavo), in ref. to the bird's courting movements. But some see an It. origin and trace the name to Padovana "Paduan." Possibly there was a merger of two distinct dance words.

pave --- c.1310, "to cover with a pavement," from O.Fr. paver (12c.), from V.L. *pavare, from L. pavire "to beat, ram, tread down," from PIE *pau- "to cut, strike, stamp" (cf. L. putare "to prune"). The fig. sense of to pave the way is attested from 1585.

pavement --- c.1290, from O.Fr. paviment, from L. pavimentum "beaten floor," from pavire (see pave).

pavilion --- 1297, "large, stately tent," from O.Fr. paveillun (12c.), from L. papilionem (nom. papilio) "tent," lit. "butterfly," on resemblance of wings. Of unknown origin. Meaning "open building in a park, etc., used for shelter or entertainment" is attested from 1687.

Pavlovian --- 1931, from the theories, experiments, and methods of Rus. physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936), especially in connection with the salivary reflexes of dogs to mental stimulus of the sound of a bell (attested from 1911, in Pavloff [sic] method).

paw (n.) --- c.1300, from O.Fr. powe, poe, of unknown origin. Evidence points to a root form *pauta, which probably is related to Prov. pauta, Catalan pote, M.Du. poot, Ger. Pfote "paw"). Celtic and Old Low Ger. have been proposed as the ultimate source, but evidence is wanting. The verb is 1604, from the noun.

pawn (1) --- something left as security, 1496 (c.1145 as Anglo-L. pandum), from O.Fr. pan, pant "pledge, security," also "booty, plunder," perhaps from Frank. (cf. O.H.G. pfant, Ger. Pfand, M.Du. pant, O.Fris. pand "pledge"), from W.Gmc. *panda, of unknown origin. The O.Fr. word is identical to pan "cloth, piece of cloth," from L. pannem (nom. pannus) "piece of cloth," and some feel this is the source of both the O.Fr. and W.Gmc. words (perhaps on the notion of cloth used as a medium of exchange). The verb is first attested 1567, from the noun. Pawnbroker is from 1687; pawn-shop is from 1849.

pawn (2) --- lowly chess piece, 1369, from Anglo-Fr. poun, O.Fr. peon, earlier pehon, from M.L. pedonem "foot soldier," from L.L. pedonem (nom. pedo) "one going on foot," from L. pes (gen. pedis) "foot" (see foot). The chess sense was in O.Fr. by 13c. Fig. use, of persons, is from 1589.

Pawnee --- Indian tribes of Nebraska, 1778, from Canadian Fr. pani, from Ioway-Oto panyi.

pawpaw --- see papaw.

pax --- c.1440, "kiss of peace," from L. pax (gen. pacis) "peace," in Ecclesiastical L., "kiss of peace" (see peace). Capitalized, Pax was the name of the Roman goddess of peace. Used by 1933 with adjs. from national names, on model of Pax Romana (e.g. Pax Americana, 1967).

pay (n.) --- money given for labor or services, c.1330, from pay (v.). Payment is first attested c.1375, from O.Fr. paiement, from paiier.

pay (v.) --- c.1200, "to appease, pacify, satisfy," from O.Fr. paiier (12c.), from L. pacare "to please, pacify, satisfy" (especially a creditor), from pax (gen. pacis) "peace." Meaning "to give what is due for goods or services" arose in M.L., was attested in Eng. by c.1225; sense of "please, pacify" died out in Eng. by 1500. Sense of "suffer, endure" (a punishment, etc.) is first recorded 1387. Payday first attested 1529. Payphone first attested 1936.

payback --- 1959, "net return on profits from an investment," from pay (v.) + back. Meaning "revenge" is attested from 1970.

paydirt --- profit, success, 1873, from pay + dirt; a word from mining, where it was used in a literal sense from 1856.

payload --- 1930, from pay (n. or v.) + load (n.). Originally the part of an aircraft's load from which revenue is derived (passengers, cargo, mail); fig. sense of "bombs, etc. carried by a plane or missile" is from 1936.

paynim --- c.1250, "heathen lands," from O.Fr. paienime, from L.L. paganismus "heathendom" (Augustine), from paganus "heathen" (see pagan); mistaken meaning "a heathen person" (1382) is via phrases such as paynim lands.

pay-off --- 1905, "winnings from gambling," from pay (v.) + off. Meaning "graft, bribes" first attested 1930. Phrase to pay off "be profitable" is first recorded 1951.

payola --- graft (especially to disc jockeys from record companies to play their music), 1938 [in a "Variety" headline, "Plug payolas perplexed"], from pay off "bribery" (underworld slang from 1930) + ending from Victrola, etc. (see pianola).

payroll (n.) --- 1740, from pay (v.) + roll (n.); "total amount paid to employees over a period," hence, via records-keeping, "list of employees receiving pay."

pea --- 17c., false singular from M.E. pease (pl. pesen), which was both single and collective (e.g. wheat, corn) but was mistaken for a plural, from O.E. pise (W.Saxon), piose (Mercian) "pea," from L.L. pisa, variant of L. pisum "pea," from Gk. pison, perhaps of Thracian or Phrygian origin. Pea soup is first recorded 1711 (pease-soup); applied to London fogs since at least 1849. In Breton, piz, lit. "peas," also means "stingy," perhaps as a semantic borrowing of Fr. chiche "stingy," lit. "small," which also happens to be a homonym of chiche "peas." The Fr. word for small ultimately may be from L. ciccum, the same root as the word for "peas."

pea jacket --- 1721, loan-translation of N.Fris. pijekkat, from Du. pijjekker, from pij "coarse woolen cloth" + jekker "jacket."

peace --- 1140, "freedom from civil disorder," from Anglo-Norm. pes, from O.Fr. pais (11c., Fr. paix), from L. pacem (nom. pax) "treaty of peace, tranquility, absence of war" (cf. Prov. patz, Sp. paz, It. pace), from PIE *pak- "fasten," related to pacisci "to covenant or agree" (see pact). Replaced O.E. frið, also sibb, which also meant "happiness." Modern spelling is 1500s, reflecting vowel shift. Sense in peace of mind is from c.1200. Used in various greetings from c.1300, from Biblical L. pax, Gk. eirene, which were used by translators to render Heb. shalom, properly "safety, welfare, prosperity." Sense of "quiet" is attested by 1300; meaning "absence or cessation of war or hostility" is attested from 1297. As a type of hybrid tea rose (developed 1939 in France by Francois Meilland), so called from 1944. Native American peace pipe is first recorded 1760. Peacemaker is from 1436. Phrase peace with honor first recorded 1607 (in "Coriolanus"). The Peace Corps was set up March 1, 1962. Peacenik is from 1965 (for suffix, see beatnik); an earlier equivalent was peacemonger (1808).

peaceful --- c.1300, "inclined to peace, friendly," from peace (q.v.). Meaning "tranquil, calm" is from c.1340. In ref. to nonviolent methods of effecting social change, it is attested from 1876. Peaceful coexistence (1920) originally was in regard to Soviet policy toward the capitalist West.

peach (n.) --- 1184, from O.Fr. pesche (O.N.Fr. peske, Fr. pêche), from M.L. pesca, from L.L. pessica, variant of persica "peach, peach tree," from L. malum Persicum "Persian apple," from Gk. Persikon malon, from Persis "Persia." The tree is native to China, but reached Europe via Persia. By 1663 William Penn observed peaches in cultivation on American plantations. Meaning "attractive woman" is attested from 1754; that of "good person" is from 1904. Slang peachy "excellent" is from 1900. Peaches and cream in ref. to a type of complexion is from 1901. Georgia has been the Peach State since 1939.

peach (v.) --- to inform against, 1570 (earlier "to accuse, indict, bring to trial," c.1460), aphetic of appeach, an obs. variant of impeach (q.v.).

peacock --- c.1300, poucock, from M.E. po "peacock" + coc (see cock (n.)). Po is from O.E. pawa "peafowl," from L. pavo (gen. pavonis), which, with Gk. taos said to be ultimately from Tamil tokei (but perhaps is imitative; L. represented the peacock's sound as paupulo). The L. word also is the source of O.H.G. pfawo, Ger. Pfau, Du. pauw, O.C.S. pavu. Used as the type of a vainglorious person from c.1374. Its flesh superstitiously believed to be incorruptible (even St. Augustine credits this). "When he sees his feet, he screams wildly, thinking that they are not in keeping with the rest of his body." [Epiphanus]