n.
Pronunciation: ' per- ə -f ə n, ' pa-r ə -
Function: noun
Etymology: German, from Latin parum too little (akin to Greek pauros little, paid-, pais child) + affinis bordering on ― more at FEW , AFFINITY
Date: 1838
1 a : a waxy crystalline flammable substance obtained especially from distillates of wood, coal, petroleum, or shale oil that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and is used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, in rubber compounding, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics b : any of various mixtures of similar hydrocarbons including mixtures that are semisolid or oily
2 : ALKANE
3 chiefly British : KEROSENE
– par · af · fin · ic \ ˌ per- ə - ' fi-nik, pa-r ə - \ adjective