Pronunciations (3)
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/ˈpɜː.vɪ.əs/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈpɜɹ.vi.əs/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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ˈpɜː.vi.əs
Pronunciation notes
- GB
Adjective
Often followed by to: capable of being penetrated by another body or substance, such as air or water; admitting passage.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Near-synonym: porous
a pervious soil
More examples (8)
If looking up to God, or dovvne to us, / Thou finde that any vvay is pervious, / Tvvixt heav'n and earth, […]
[N]otvvithſtanding the exſuction of the Air, our Receiver may not be deſtitute of all Bodies, ſince any thing placed in it, may be ſeen there; vvhich vvould not be, if it vvere not pervious to thoſe Beams of Light vvhich rebounding from the ſeen Object to our eyes, affect us vvith the ſenſe of it: […]
Every Country is pervious to a vviſe man; for the vvhole vvorld is the Country of a vviſe ſoul.
Not leſs in Number vvere the ſpacious Doors, / Than Leaves on Trees, or Sands upon the Shores; / VVhich ſtill unfolded ſtand, by Night, by Day, / Pervious to VVinds, and open ev'ry vvay.
Svvift on the regal dome deſcending right, / The bolted Valves are pervious to her flight.
The pine apples in triple rovv, / VVere baking hot and all in blovv, / A bee of moſt diſcerning taſte / Perceiv'd the fragrance as he paſs'd, / On eager vving the ſpoiler came, / And ſearch'd for crannies in the frame, / […] / But ſtill in vain, the frame vvas tight / And only pervious to the light.
The marſhy lands vvhich lay betvveen thoſe rivers [the Danube and the Timiș], and vvere often covered by their inundations, formed an intricate vvilderneſs, pervious only to these inhabitants, vvho vvere acquainted vvith its ſecret paths and inacceſſible fortreſſes.
The solid, solid universe / Is pervious to Love; / With bandaged eyes he never errs, / Around, below, above.
Capable of being seen through; open to being examined; patent, unconcealed.
Usage- Figurative
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
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More examples (1)
[I]n their [i.e., the Egyptians'] ceremonies they uſually made three acclamations to the unknovvn Darkneſs; that is, to God, vvhoſe ſecrets are pervious to no eye, vvhoſe dvvelling is in a light that is not to be diſcerned, vvhoſe myſteries are not to be underſtood by us, and vvhoſe Sacraments are objects of faith and vvonder, but not to be diſordered by the miſtaking, undiſcerning eye of people that are curious to ask after vvhat they ſhall never underſtand.
Capable of being penetrated mentally; intelligible, understandable.
Usage- Figurative
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
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More examples (1)
[…] Saint Auguſtine for ſharpe inſight, and concluſive judgement, in expoſition of places of Scripture, vvhich he alvvaies makes ſo liquid, and pervious, […] hath ſcarce been equalled therein, by any of the VVriters in the Church of God, […]
From being ſpies, or to ſpies pervious, / From thirſt, or ſcorne of flame, deliver us.
Of a person, etc.: susceptible to being influenced by arguments, ideas, etc.; impressionable, tractable.
Usage- Figurative
Capable of penetrating or permeating.
Usage- Obsolete
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The bodies of the Saints, […] have an agility to move from place to place vvith ſpeed and ſubtility like light; to have their vvay free and pervious through all places, and can penetrate vvhereſoever they pleaſe.
VVhat is this little, agile, pervious Fire, / This flutt'ring Motion, vvhich VVe call the Mind? / Hovv does She act? and vvhere is She confin'd?
More examples (1)
He walk'd with God, and like the breath of prayer, / His earthly substance melted all away: / So much he loved the Lord, his mortal clay / Abolish'd quite, or blent with pervious air, / Soft as a rainbow, mix'd with things that were / And are not.
Of a body structure (especially the nostril of a bird): having a hole, perforate; also, wide open.
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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The noſtrils are very large, and pervious: the vvhole plumage is duſky, daſhed vvith purple and green: legs of a dirty fleſh-color: clavvs black.
Adjective
admitting of passage or entrance
- Antonyms
- Examples
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pervious soil
a metal pervious to heat