everlasting pea

everlasting pea
    n 1: any of several perennial vines of the genus Lathyrus
    

Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. {Peas} (p[=e]z) or {Pease} (p[=e]z). [OE.
   pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum;
   cf. Gr. pi`sos, pi`son. The final s was misunderstood in
   English as a plural ending. Cf. {Pease}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus {Pisum}, of
      many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a
      papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume,
      popularly called a pod.
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   Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of,
         the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained
         nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease
         is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at
         dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the
         form peas being used in both senses.
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   2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the
      seed of several leguminous plants (species of {Dolichos},
      {Cicer}, {Abrus}, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum)
      of a different color from the rest of the seed.
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   Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or
         less closely related to the common pea. See the
         Phrases, below.
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   {Beach pea} (Bot.), a seashore plant, {Lathyrus maritimus}.
      

   {Black-eyed pea}, a West Indian name for {Dolichos
      sph[ae]rospermus} and its seed.

   {Butterfly pea}, the American plant {Clitoria Mariana},
      having showy blossoms.

   {Chick pea}. See {Chick-pea}.

   {Egyptian pea}. Same as {Chick-pea}.

   {Everlasting pea}. See under {Everlasting}.

   {Glory pea}. See under {Glory}, n.

   {Hoary pea}, any plant of the genus {Tephrosia}; goat's rue.
      

   {Issue pea}, {Orris pea}. (Med.) See under {Issue}, and
      {Orris}.

   {Milk pea}. (Bot.) See under {Milk}.

   {Pea berry}, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows
      single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used
      adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee.

   {Pea bug}. (Zool.) Same as {Pea weevil}.

   {Pea coal}, a size of coal smaller than nut coal.

   {Pea crab} (Zool.), any small crab of the genus
      {Pinnotheres}, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp.,
      the European species ({Pinnotheres pisum}) which lives in
      the common mussel and the cockle.

   {Pea dove} (Zool.), the American ground dove.

   {Pea-flower tribe} (Bot.), a suborder ({Papilionace[ae]}) of
      leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of
      the pea. --G. Bentham.

   {Pea maggot} (Zool.), the larva of a European moth ({Tortrix
      pisi}), which is very destructive to peas.

   {Pea ore} (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in
      round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore.

   {Pea starch}, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is
      sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc.
      

   {Pea tree} (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of
      the genus {Caragana}, natives of Siberia and China.

   {Pea vine}. (Bot.)
      (a) Any plant which bears peas.
      (b) A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States
          ({Lathyrus Americana}, and other similar species).

   {Pea weevil} (Zool.), a small weevil ({Bruchus pisi}) which
      destroys peas by eating out the interior.

   {Pigeon pea}. (Bot.) See {Pigeon pea}.

   {Sweet pea} (Bot.), the annual plant {Lathyrus odoratus};
      also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.
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Everlasting \Ever*last"ing\a.
   1. Lasting or enduring forever; exsisting or continuing
      without end; immortal; eternal. "The Everlasting God."
      --Gen. xx1. 33.
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   2. Continuing indefinitely, or during a long period;
      perpetual; sometimes used, colloquially, as a strong
      intensive; as, this everlasting nonsence.
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            I will give to thee, and to thy seed after thee . .
            . the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.
                                                  --Gen xvii. 8.
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            And heard thy everlasting yawn confess
            The pains and penalties of idleness.  --Pope.

   Syn: Eternal; immortal, interminable; endless; never-ending;
        infinite; unceasing; uninterrupted; continual;
        unintermitted; incessant.

   Usage: -- {Everlasting}, {Eternal}. Eternal denotes (when
          taken strictly) without beginning or end of duration;
          everlasting is sometimes used in our version of the
          Scriptures in the sense of eternal, but in modern
          usage is confined to the future, and implies no
          intermission as well as no end.
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                Whether we shall meet again I know not;
                Therefore our everlasting farewell take;
                Forever, and forever farewell, Cassius. --Shak.
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   {Everlasting flower}. Sane as {Everlasting}, n., 3.

   {Everlasting pea}, an ornamental plant ({Lathyrus
      latifolius}) related to the pea; -- so called because it
      is perennial.
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