adj.
Pronunciation: ' p ə -s ē , ' p ə r-s ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: pur · si · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English pursi, pursif, from Anglo-French porsif, alteration of *polsif, from Old French pousser to exert pressure, breathe heavily ― more at PUSH
Date: 15th century
1 : short-winded especially because of corpulence
2 : FAT
– pur · si · ness noun