Nearby Words
verb (used without object) peter out,
1.
to diminish gradually and stop; dwindle to nothing: The hot water always peters out in the middle of my shower.
2.
to tire; exhaust (usually used as a past participle): I'm petered out after that walk.
Origin:
1805–15, in sense “put an end to”; 1860–65 for def. 1; origin uncertain
1805–15, in sense “put an end to”; 1860–65 for def. 1; origin uncertain
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Peters
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
Also called Simon Peter. died a.d. 67?, one of the 12 apostles and the reputed author of two of the Epistles.
2.
either of these two Epistles in the new testament, I Peter or II Peter.
3.
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter P.
4.
a male given name.
Origin:
Middle English; Old English Petrus < Latin < Greek Pétros stone, translation of Syriac kēfā
Middle English; Old English Petrus < Latin < Greek Pétros stone, translation of Syriac kēfā
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Peters
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
peter
"cease, stop," 1812, of uncertain origin. To peter out "become exhausted," is 1846 as miners' slang.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
Peter definition
Chief among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, he was a fisherman, originally named Simon (and often called Simon Peter). Jesus gave him the name Rock, of which “Peter” is a translation. Peter showed great faith but also exhibited great failings (see Get thee behind me, Satan). In the frightening hours before the Crucifixion, Peter three times denied being a follower of Jesus, just as Jesus had predicted he would. Nevertheless, Peter went on to become the leader of the early Christians (see Pentecost), thus fulfilling another prophecy of Jesus, who had said of Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church&ellipsis4; And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
Note: Peter is often depicted holding keys. Roman Catholics maintain a number of traditions about Peter: that he was the first of the popes, for example, and that he was martyred at Rome by being crucified upside down, because he refused to be crucified as Jesus had been.
Note: The great church of the Vatican, Saint Peter's Basilica, was later built on what was believed to be the site of his burial.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
peter definition
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Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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