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pith |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pith \Pith\, n. [AS. pi?a; akin to D. pit pith, kernel, LG peddik Cf {Pit} a kernel.] 1. (Bot.) The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees, especially those of the dicotyledonous or exogenous classes. It consists of cellular tissue. 2. a (Zo["o]l.) The spongy interior substance of a feather. b (Anat.) The spinal cord; the marrow. 3. Hence: The which contains the strength of life; the vital or essential part concentrated force; vigor; strength; importance; as the speech lacked pith. Enterprises of great pith and moment. --Shak. {Pith paper}. Same as {Rice paper}, under {Rice}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pith \Pith\, v. t. (Physiol.) To destroy the central nervous system of (an animal, as a frog), as by passing a stout wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: pith n 1: soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants 2: the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience: "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the nub of the story" [syn: {kernel}, {substance}, {core}, {center}, {essence}, {gist}, {heart}, {inwardness}, {marrow}, {meat}, {nub}, {sum}, {nitty-gritty}]
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