sur·prise also sur·prize ( s…r-prºz") v. tr. sur·prised also sur·prized sur·pris·ing sur·priz·ing sur·pris·es sur·priz·es 1. To encounter suddenly or unexpectedly; take or catch unawares. 2. To attack or capture suddenly and without warning. 3. To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated. 4. a. To cause (someone) to do or say something unintended. b. To elicit or detect through surprise. n. 1. The act of surprising or the condition of being surprised. 2. Something, such as an unexpected encounter, event, or gift, that surprises. [Middle English surprisen to overcome from Old French surprise, feminine past participle of surprendre to surprise sur- sur- prendre to take( from Latin prehendere, prendere to seize) ;See ghend- in Indo-European Roots.] sur·pris "er n. sur·pris "ing adj. sur·pris "ing·ly adv.

Synonyms: surprise astonish amaze astound dumbfound flabbergast These verbs mean to affect a person strongly as being unexpected or unusual. To surprise is to fill with often sudden wonder or disbelief as being unanticipated or out of the ordinary: " Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity " (George S. Patton). Astonish suggests overwhelming surprise: The sight of such an enormous crowd astonished us. Amaze implies astonishment and often bewilderment: The violinist's virtuosity has amazed audiences all over the world. Astound connotes shock, as from something unprecedented in one's experience: We were astounded at the high cost of traveling in Japan. Dumbfound adds to astound the suggestion of perplexity and often wordlessness: His denial that he had witnessed the accident dumbfounded me. Flabbergast is used as a more colorful equivalent of astound, astonish, or amaze : " The aldermen . . . were . . . flabbergasted; they were speechless from bewilderment " (Benjamin Disraeli).

ghend- . Important derivatives are: get forget guess prison apprehend comprehend surprise prey Also ghed- To seize, take. I. 1. a. GET , from Old Norse geta , to get; b. BEGET , from Old English beg(i)etan , to get, beget, from Germanic compound *bigetan , to acquire ( *bi- , intensive prefix; see ambhi ); c. FORGET , from Old English forg(i)etan , to forget, from Germanic compound *fer-getan , " to lose one's hold, " forget ( *fer- , prefix denoting rejection; see per 1 ). a, b, and c all from Germanic *getan . 2. GUESS , from Middle English gessen , to guess, from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Swedish gissa , to guess, from Germanic *getis ½n, " to try to get, " aim at. 3. Basic form *ghend- . PREHENSILE , PREHENSION , PRISON , PRIZE 2 , ( PRIZE 3 ), ( PRY 2 ); APPREHEND , ( APPRENTICE ), ( APPRISE ), COMPREHEND , ( COMPRISE ), EMPRISE , ENTERPRISE , ( ENTREPRENEUR ), MISPRISION 1 , PREGNABLE , REPREHEND , ( REPRISAL ), ( REPRISE ), SURPRISE , from Latin prendere , prehendere , to get hold of, seize, grasp ( pre- , prae- , before; see per 1 ). 4. Form *ghed- . PREDATORY , PREY , SPREE ; DEPREDATE , OSPREY , from Latin praeda , booty ( < *prai-heda , " something seized before "; prai- , prae- , before; see per 1 ). [ Pokorny ghend- 437. ]

wa·ter ( wô"t…r, w ¼t"…r) n. 1. A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H 2 O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0 °C (32 °F); boiling point 100 °C (212 °F); specific gravity (4 °C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15 °C) 8.337 pounds (3.772 kilograms). 2. a. Any of various forms of water: waste water. b. Often waters Naturally occurring mineral water, as at a spa. 3. a. A body of water such as a sea, lake, river, or stream. b. waters A particular stretch of sea or ocean, especially that of a state or country: escorted out of British waters. 4. a. A supply of water: had to turn off the water while repairing the broken drain. b. A water supply system. 5. a. Any of the liquids present in or passed out of the body, such as urine, perspiration, tears, or saliva. b. The fluid surrounding a fetus in the uterus; amniotic fluid. 6. An aqueous solution of a substance, especially a gas: ammonia water. 7. A wavy finish or sheen, as of a fabric or metal. 8. a. The valuation of the assets of a business firm beyond their real value. b. Stock issued in excess of paid-in capital. 9. a. The transparency and luster of a gem. b. A level of excellence. v. wa·tered wa·ter·ing wa·ters v. tr. 1. To pour or sprinkle water on; make wet: watered the garden. 2. a. To give drinking water to. b. To lead (an animal) to drinking water. 3. To dilute or weaken by adding water: a bar serving whiskey that had been watered. 4. To give a sheen to the surface of (silk, linen, or metal). 5. To increase (the number of shares of stock) without increasing the value of the assets represented. 6. To irrigate (land). v. intr. 1. To produce or discharge fluid, as from the eyes. 2. To salivate in anticipation of food: The wonderful aroma from the kitchen makes my mouth water. 3. To take on a supply of water, as a ship. 4. To drink water, as an animal.

Phrasal Verbs: water down 1. To reduce the strength or effectiveness of: " It seemed clear by late autumn that the ban would be significantly watered down or removed altogether before the trade bill became law " George R. Packard

Idioms: above water 1. Out of difficulty or trouble. water under the bridge 1. A past occurrence, especially something unfortunate, that cannot be undone or rectified: All that is now just water under the bridge. [Middle English from Old English wæter;See wed- 1 in Indo-European Roots.] wa "ter·er n.

wed- 1 . Important derivatives are: water wet wash winter hydrant hydro- undulate abound inundate redundant surround otter Hydra whiskey vodka Water; wet. I. 1. Suffixed o-grade form *wod- ½r. a. WATER , from Old English wæter , water; b. KIRSCHWASSER , from Old High German wassar , water. Both a and b from Germanic *watar . 2. Suffixed lengthened-grade form *w ¶d-o-. WET , from Old English w Æt, w ¶t, wet, from Germanic *w ¶d-. 3. O-grade form *wod- . WASH , from Old English wæscan , wacsan , to wash, from Germanic suffixed form *wat-skan , to wash. 4. Nasalized form *we-n-d- . WINTER , from Old English winter , winter, from Germanic *wintruz , winter, " wet season. " 5. Suffixed zero-grade form *ud- ½r. ( HYDRANT ), HYDRO- , ( HYDROUS ), UTRICLE ; ANHYDROUS , CLEPSYDRA , DROPSY , HYDATHODE , HYDATID , from Greek hud ½r, water. 6. Suffixed nasalized zero-grade form *u-n-d- ³-. UNDINE , UNDULATE ; ABOUND , INUNDATE , ( REDOUND ), REDUNDANT , SURROUND , from Latin unda , wave. 7. Suffixed zero-grade form *ud-ro- , *ud-r ³-, water animal. a. OTTER , from Old English otor , otter, from Germanic *otraz , otter; b. NUTRIA , from Latin lutra , otter (with obscure l- ); c. HYDRUS , from Greek hudros , a water snake; d. HYDRA , from Greek hudra , a water serpent, Hydra. 8. Suffixed zero-grade form *ud-skio- . USQUEBAUGH , ( WHISKEY ), from Old Irish uisce , water. 9. Suffixed o-grade form *wod- ³-. VODKA , from Russian voda , water. [ Pokorny 9. a ø(e)- 78. ]

pail ( p³l) n. 1. A watertight cylindrical vessel, open at the top and fitted with a handle; a bucket. 2. The amount that a pail can hold. [Middle English paile probably from Old French paele warming pan perhaps from Latin patella small pan; See paella ] pail "ful" n.

pall 1 ( pôl) n. 1. A cover for a coffin, bier, or tomb, often made of black, purple, or white velvet. 2. A coffin, especially one being carried to a grave or tomb. 3. a. A covering that darkens or obscures: a pall of smoke over the city. b. A gloomy effect or atmosphere: " A pall of depressed indifference hung over Petrograd during February and March 1916 " W. Bruce Lincoln 4. Ecclesiastical a. A linen cloth or a square of cardboard faced with cloth used to cover the chalice. b. See pallium . v. tr. palled pall·ing palls 1. To cover with or as if with a pall. [Middle English pal from Old English pæll cloak, covering from Latin pallium]

pall 2 ( pôl) v. palled pall·ing palls v. intr. 1. To become insipid, boring, or wearisome. 2. To have a dulling, wearisome, or boring effect. 3. To become cloyed or satiated. v. tr. 1. To cloy; satiate. 2. To make vapid or wearisome. [Middle English pallen to grow feeble probably short for appallen; See appall ]

pawl ( pôl) n. 1. A hinged or pivoted device adapted to fit into a notch of a ratchet wheel to impart forward motion or prevent backward motion. [Probably from Dutch pal from Latin p³lus stake; See pag- in Indo-European Roots.]

pag- . Important derivatives are: fang compact 1 impinge pay 1 peace appease pacific pacify pact pale 1 palisade pole 2 impale travail travel palette pagan peasant page 1 pageant propagate pectin Also pak- To fasten. I. 1. Lengthened-grade form *p ³k-. FAY 1 , from Old English f ¶gan, to fit closely, from Germanic *f ½gjan, to join, fit. 2. Nasalized form *pa-n-g- , also *pa-n-k- . a. (i) FANG , from Old English fang , feng , plunder, booty, from Germanic *fangam , *fangiz ; (ii) VANG , from Dutch vangen , to catch, from remade Germanic verb *fangan ; (iii) NEWFANGLED , from Middle English *-fangel , taken, akin to Old High German -fangolon , to close, from Germanic *fangl ½n, to grasp. (i), (ii) , and (iii) all derivatives of Germanic *fanhan , to seize; b. COMPACT 1 , IMPINGE , from Latin pangere , to fasten. 3. Root form *p ák-. a. PACE 2 , PAY 1 , PEACE ; APPEASE , PACIFIC , PACIFY , from Latin p ³x, peace ( < " a binding together by treaty or agreement "); b. PACT , from Latin pac ºscº, to agree. 4. Suffixed form *pak-slo- . a. PALE 1 , PALISADE , PAWL , PEEL 3 , POLE 2 ; IMPALE , TRAVAIL , ( TRAVEL ), from Latin p ³lus, stake (fixed in the ground); b. PALETTE , PEEL 2 , from Latin p ³la, spade, probably from pag- . 5. Lengthened-grade form *p ³g-. a. PAGAN , PEASANT , from Latin p ³gus, " boundary staked out on the ground, " district, village, country; b. PAGE 1 , PAGEANT , from Latin p ³gina, " trellis to which a row of vines is fixed, " hence (by metaphor) column of writing, page; c. PROPAGATE , from Latin pr ½p³g³re, to propagate ( < " to fix before "; pr ½-, before, in front; see per 1 ); d. PECTIN , PEGMATITE ; AREOPAGUS , from Greek p ¶gnunai, to fasten, coagulate, with derivative pagos ( < *pag-o- ), mass, hill. [ Pokorny p áç- 787. ]

peal ( p¶l) n. 1. A ringing of a set of bells, especially a change or set of changes rung on bells. 2. A set of bells tuned to each other; a chime. 3. A loud burst of noise: peals of laughter. v. pealed peal·ing peals v. intr. 1. To sound in a peal; ring. v. tr. 1. To sound loudly and sonorously. [Middle English pele a bell peal, especially as a summons to church short for apel appeal; See appeal ]

peel 1 ( p¶l) n. 1. The skin or rind of certain fruits and vegetables. v. peeled peel·ing peels v. tr. 1. To strip or cut away the skin, rind, or bark from; pare. 2. To strip away; pull off: peeled the label from the jar. v. intr. 1. To lose or shed skin, bark, or other covering. 2. To come off in thin strips or pieces, as bark, skin, or paint: Her sunburned skin began to peel. 3. Slang To remove one's clothes; undress.

Phrasal Verbs: peel off 1. To leave flight formation in order to land or make a dive. Used of an aircraft. 2. To leave or depart. [From Middle English pilen, pelen to peel from Old French peler, Old English pilian ( both from Latin pil³re to deprive of hair) (from pilus hair) and from Old French pillier to tug, pull, plunder( from Latin pilleum felt cap) ]

peel 2 ( p¶l) n. 1. A long-handled, shovellike tool used by bakers to move bread or pastries into and out of an oven. 2. Printing A T-shaped pole used for hanging up freshly printed sheets of paper to dry. [Middle English from Old French pele from Latin p³la spade, peel; See pag- in Indo-European Roots.]

peel 3 ( p¶l) n. 1. A fortified house or tower of a kind constructed in the borderland of Scotland and England in the 16th century. [Middle English pel stake, small castle from Anglo-Norman stockade variant of Old French stake from Latin p³lus;See pag- in Indo-European Roots.]

Peel ( p¶l), Sir Robert . 1788-1850 1. British politician. As home secretary (1822-1827 and 1828-1830) he established the London police force (1829) and helped pass the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829). He later served as prime minister (1834-1835 and 1841-1846).

pag- . Important derivatives are: fang compact 1 impinge pay 1 peace appease pacific pacify pact pale 1 palisade pole 2 impale travail travel palette pagan peasant page 1 pageant propagate pectin Also pak- To fasten. I. 1. Lengthened-grade form *p ³k-. FAY 1 , from Old English f ¶gan, to fit closely, from Germanic *f ½gjan, to join, fit. 2. Nasalized form *pa-n-g- , also *pa-n-k- . a. (i) FANG , from Old English fang , feng , plunder, booty, from Germanic *fangam , *fangiz ; (ii) VANG , from Dutch vangen , to catch, from remade Germanic verb *fangan ; (iii) NEWFANGLED , from Middle English *-fangel , taken, akin to Old High German -fangolon , to close, from Germanic *fangl ½n, to grasp. (i), (ii) , and (iii) all derivatives of Germanic *fanhan , to seize; b. COMPACT 1 , IMPINGE , from Latin pangere , to fasten. 3. Root form *p ák-. a. PACE 2 , PAY 1 , PEACE ; APPEASE , PACIFIC , PACIFY , from Latin p ³x, peace ( < " a binding together by treaty or agreement "); b. PACT , from Latin pac ºscº, to agree. 4. Suffixed form *pak-slo- . a. PALE 1 , PALISADE , PAWL , PEEL 3 , POLE 2 ; IMPALE , TRAVAIL , ( TRAVEL ), from Latin p ³lus, stake (fixed in the ground); b. PALETTE , PEEL 2 , from Latin p ³la, spade, probably from pag- . 5. Lengthened-grade form *p ³g-. a. PAGAN , PEASANT , from Latin p ³gus, " boundary staked out on the ground, " district, village, country; b. PAGE 1 , PAGEANT , from Latin p ³gina, " trellis to which a row of vines is fixed, " hence (by metaphor) column of writing, page; c. PROPAGATE , from Latin pr ½p³g³re, to propagate ( < " to fix before "; pr ½-, before, in front; see per 1 ); d. PECTIN , PEGMATITE ; AREOPAGUS , from Greek p ¶gnunai, to fasten, coagulate, with derivative pagos ( < *pag-o- ), mass, hill. [ Pokorny p áç- 787. ]

pi·a ( pº"…, p ¶"…) n. 1. The pia mater. pi "al adj.

pill 1 ( p¹l) n. 1. A small pellet or tablet of medicine, often coated, taken by swallowing whole or by chewing. 2. Informal An oral contraceptive. Used with the. 3. Slang Something, such as a baseball, that resembles a pellet of medicine. 4. Something both distasteful and necessary. 5. Slang An insipid or ill-natured person. v. pilled pil·ling pills v. tr. 1. To dose with pills. 2. To make into pills. 3. Slang To blackball. v. intr. 1. To form small balls resembling pills: a sweater that pills. [Middle English pille from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German pille Old French pile all from Latin pilula, diminutive of pila ball]

pill 2 ( p¹l) v. pilled pil·ling pills v. intr. Chiefly British 1. To come off, as in flakes or scales. v. tr. Archaic 1. To subject to extortion. [Middle English pillen to plunder, peel from Old English pilian; See peel 1 and from Old French piller to plunder; See pillage ]

poll ( p½l) n. 1. The casting and registering of votes in an election. 2. The number of votes cast or recorded. 3. Often polls The place where votes are cast and registered. Used with the. 4. A survey of the public or of a sample of public opinion to acquire information. 5. The head, especially the top of the head where hair grows. 6. The blunt or broad end of a tool such as a hammer or an ax. v. polled poll·ing polls v. tr. 1. To receive (a given number of votes). 2. To receive or record the votes of: polling a jury. 3. To cast (a vote or ballot). 4. To question in a survey; canvass. 5. To cut off or trim (hair, horns, or wool, for example); clip. 6. To trim or cut off the hair, wool, branches, or horns of: polled the sheep; polled the trees. v. intr. 1. To vote at the polls in an election. [Middle English pol head from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch] poll "er n.

pool 1 ( p›l) n. 1. A small body of still water. 2. An accumulation of standing liquid; a puddle: a pool of blood. 3. A deep or still place in a stream. 4. A swimming pool. 5. An underground accumulation of petroleum or gas in porous sedimentary rock. v. intr. pooled pool·ing pools 1. To form pools or a pool: The receding tide pooled in hollows along the shore. 2. To accumulate in a body part: preventing blood from pooling in the limbs. [Middle English from Old English p½l]

pool 2 ( p›l) n. 1. Games a. A game of chance, resembling a lottery, in which the contestants put staked money into a common fund that is later paid to the winner. b. A fund containing all the money bet in a game of chance or on the outcome of an event. 2. A grouping of resources for the common advantage of the participants: a pool of implements for the use of all the workers on the estate; forming a pool of our talents. 3. An available supply, the use of which is shared by a group. 4. A group of journalists who cover an event and then by agreement share their reports with participating news media: the White House press pool. 5. a. A mutual fund established by a group of stockholders for speculating in or manipulating prices of securities. b. The persons or parties participating in such a fund. 6. An agreement between competing business concerns to establish controls over production, market, and prices for common profit. 7. Any of several games played on a six-pocket billiard table usually with 15 object balls and a cue ball. In this sense, also called pocket billiards . v. pooled pool·ing pools v. tr. 1. To put into a fund for use by all: Let's pool our resources to finish the project quickly. v. intr. 1. To join or form a pool. [French poule hen, stakes, booty from Old French hen, young chicken from Latin pullus young of an animal; See pau- in Indo-European Roots.] pool "er n.

pau- . Important derivatives are: few paucity paraffin pauper poor poverty foal filly pony pullet puerile encyclopedia orthopedics Few, little. I. Adjectival form *pau- , few, little. 1. FEW , from Old English f ¶awe, few, from Germanic *fawaz . 2. Suffixed form *pau-ko- . PAUCITY , POCO , from Latin paucus , little, few. 3. Suffixed form *pau-ro- in metathetical form *par-wo- . PARAFFIN , PARVOVIRUS , from Latin parvus , little, small, neuter parvum , becoming parum , little, rarely. 4. Compound *pau-paros , producing little, poor ( *par-os , producing; see per …- 1 ). PAUPER , POOR , POVERTY , from Latin pauper , poor. II. Suffixed reduced variant form *pu-lo- , young of an animal. 1. FOAL , from Old English fola , young horse, colt, from Germanic *ful ½n-. 2. FILLY , from Old Norse fylja , young female horse, from Germanic derivative *fulj ½. III. Basic form *pau- and variant form *p ü-, boy, child. 1. Suffixed form *pu-ero- . PUERILE , PUERPERAL , from Latin puer , child. 2. Extended form *put- . a. POLTROON , PONY , POOL 2 , POULARD , PULLET ; CATCHPOLE , from Latin pullus ( < *putslo- ), young of an animal, chicken; b. PUSILLANIMOUS , from Latin pusillus ( < *putslo-lo ), old diminutive of pullus . 3. Suffixed form *paw-id- . PEDO- 2 ; ENCYCLOPEDIA , ORTHOPEDICS , from Greek pais (stem paid- ), child ( > paideia , education). [ Pokorny p ½u- 842. ]

pull ( p‹l) v. pulled pull·ing pulls v. tr. 1. To apply force to so as to cause or tend to cause motion toward the source of the force. 2. To remove from a fixed position; extract: The dentist pulled the tooth. 3. To tug at; jerk or tweak. 4. To rip or tear; rend. 5. To stretch (taffy, for example) repeatedly. 6. To strain (a muscle, for example) injuriously. 7. Informal To attract; draw: a performer who pulls large crowds. 8. Slang To draw out (a weapon) in readiness for use: pull a gun; pulled a knife on me. 9. Informal To remove: pulled the engine; pulled the tainted meat product from the stores. 10. Baseball To hit (a ball) in the direction one is facing when the swing is carried through. 11. Nautical a. To operate (an oar) in rowing. b. To transport or propel by rowing. c. To be rowed by: That boat pulls six oars. 12. To rein in (a horse) to keep it from winning a race. 13. Printing To produce (a print or an impression) from type. v. intr. 1. To exert force in moving something toward that force. 2. To drink or inhale deeply: pulled on the cold beer with gusto; pull on a cigarette. 3. Nautical To row a boat. 4. Informal To express or feel great sympathy or empathy: We're pulling for our new President. n. 1. The act or process of pulling. 2. Force exerted in pulling or required to overcome resistance in pulling. 3. A sustained effort: a long pull across the mountains. 4. Something, such as a knob on a drawer, that is used for pulling. 5. A deep inhalation or draft, as on a cigarette or of a beverage. 6. Slang A means of gaining special advantage; influence: The lobbyist has pull with the senator. 7. Informal Ability to draw or attract; appeal: a star with pull at the box office.

Phrasal Verbs: pull away 1. To move away or backward; withdraw: The limousine pulled away from the curb. 2. To move ahead: The horse pulled away and took the lead in the race. pull back 1. To execute an orderly withdrawal, especially of troops. pull down 1. To demolish; destroy: pull down an old office building. 2. To reduce to a lower level. 3. To depress, as in spirits or health. 4. Informal To draw (money) as wages: pulls down a hefty salary. pull in 1. To arrive at a destination: We pulled in at midnight. 2. To rein in; restrain. 3. To arrest (a criminal suspect, for example). pull off Informal 1. To perform in spite of difficulties or obstacles; bring off: pulled off a last-minute victory. pull out 1. To leave or depart: The train pulls out at noon. 2. To withdraw, as from a situation or commitment: After the crash, many Wall Street investors pulled out. pull over 1. To bring a vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: We pulled over to watch the sunset. 2. To instruct or force (a motorist) to bring his or her vehicle to a stop at a curb or at the side of a road: The state trooper pulled the speeding motorist over. pull round 1. To restore or be restored to sound health. pull through 1. To come or bring successfully through trouble or illness. pull up 1. To bring or come to a halt. 2. To move to a position or place ahead, as in a race.

Idioms: pull a fast one Informal 1. To play a trick or perpetrate a fraud. pull (oneself) together 1. To regain one's composure. pull (one's) punch or pull (one's) punches 1. To refrain from deploying all the resources or force at one's disposal: didn't pull any punches during the negotiations. pull (one's) weight 1. To do one's own share, as of work. pull out all the stops Informal 1. To deploy all the resources or force at one's disposal: The Inaugural Committee pulled out all the stops when arranging the ceremonies. pull (someone's) leg 1. To play a joke on; tease. pull strings or pull wires Informal 1. To exert secret control or influence in order to gain an end. pull the plug on Slang 1. To remove all restraints on: " The federal government pulled the plug on deficit spending " Christian Science Monitor pull the rug (out) from under Informal 1. To remove all support and assistance from, usually suddenly. pull the wool over (someone's) eyes 1. To deceive; hoodwink. pull together 1. To make a joint effort. pull up stakes 1. To clear out; leave: She pulled up stakes in New England and moved to the desert. [Middle English pullen from Old English pullian] pull "er n.

Synonyms: pull drag draw haul tow tug The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to cause something to move toward the source of an applied force ": pull a sled up a hill; drag furniture across the floor; draw up a chair; hauling wood from the forest; a car towing a trailer; tugging at the oars.

purl 1 ( pûrl) v. intr. purled purl·ing purls 1. To flow or ripple with a murmuring sound. n. 1. The sound made by rippling water. [Probably of Scandinavian origin]

purl 2 also pearl ( pûrl) v. purled also pearled purl·ing pearl·ing purls pearls Abbr. p. v. tr. 1. To knit (yarn) with a purl stitch. 2. To edge or finish (a handkerchief, for example) with lace or embroidery. v. intr. 1. To do knitting with a purl stitch. 2. To edge or finish with lace or embroidery. n. Abbr. p. 1. Inversion of a knit stitch; purl stitch. 2. A decorative edging of lace or embroidery. 3. Gold or silver wire used in embroidery. [Origin unknown]