View source for Pith

==English==
{{was wotd|2023|October|9}}

===Etymology 1===
{{multiple images
|direction = vertical
|image1 = Elder pith.jpg
|caption1 = A [[cross section]] through a [[shoot#Noun|shoot]] of [[elderberry]] (''[[Sambucus nigra]]'') showing the [[whitish]] pith ''(noun {{senseno|en|plant}})'' in the [[center#Noun|centre]].
|image2 = Stem-histology-cross-section-tag.svg
|caption2 = A [[magnified#Adjective|magnified]] cross section through the [[stalk#Noun|stalk]] of a [[flax]] [[plant#Noun|plant]] (''[[Linum usitatissimum]]'') showing its pith ''(noun {{senseno|en|plant}}; number 1)''.
|image3 = Albedo or pith of orange peel.jpg
|caption3 = The [[inner#Adjective|inner]] [[portion#Noun|portion]] of an [[orange peel]] showing its white pith ''(noun {{senseno|en|albedo}})'' or [[albedo]].
}}

The {{glossary|noun}} is derived from {{inh|en|enm|pith}}, {{m|enm|pithe|t=central tissue of a plant’s stem or a tree’s trunk and branches; other spongy inner tissue in a plant; flesh of a fruit, pulp; inner tissue in a body; inner part of an object; essential part, essence, quintessence; importance, value; energy, force, strength, vigour; severity}}{{nb...|peth, peþe, pight, piþ, piþe, piþþe, pyght, pyth, pythe, pytthe, pyþe, (Early Middle English) piþa|otherforms=1}},<ref>{{R:MED Online|entry=pith(e|pos=n|id=MED33530}}</ref> from {{inh|en|ang|piþa}}{{nb...|peoþa, piða|otherforms=1}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*piþô}}, from earlier {{m|gem-pro|*piþō}} ({{glossary|oblique}} {{m|gem-pro|*pittan}}); further etymology unknown.<ref>Compare {{R:OED Online|pos=n|id=9569662928|date=September 2023|nodot=1}}; {{R:Lexico|pos=n|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807191326/https://www.lexico.com/definition/pith}}</ref> {{doublet|en|pit|t1=seed or stone inside a fruit}}.

The {{glossary|verb}} is derived from the noun<ref>{{R:OED Online|pos=v|id=5396138641|date=July 2023|nodot=1}}; {{R:Lexico|pos=v|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807191326/https://www.lexico.com/definition/pith}}</ref> ({{cog|enm|pethen|t=to give courage or strength}}, from {{m|enm|pith|pos=noun}},<ref>{{R:MED Online|entry=pethen|pos=v|id=MED33199}}</ref> did not survive into modern English).

{{col-top|2|cog}}
* {{cog|nl|peen|t=carrot}}
* {{cog|gml|peddek}}, {{m|gml|peddik}}, {{m|gml|piddek|t=bone marrow; medulla; spinal cord; inner part of a horn or quill; (''figurative'') core, essence}} {{qualifier|the last spelling rare}} ({{cog|nds|Peddik|t=core; pulp}})
* {{cog|fy|piid|t=pulp, kernel}}
{{col-bottom}}

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|en|/pɪθ/|a=RP,GA}}
* {{audio|en|LL-Q1860 (eng)-AcpoKrane-pith.wav|a=Southern England}}
* {{rhymes|en|ɪθ|s=1}}

====Noun====
{{en-noun|-|s}}

# {{lb|en|botany}}
## {{senseid|en|plant}} The [[soft#Adjective|soft]], [[spongy]] [[substance#Noun|substance]] inside [[plant#Noun|plant]] [[part#Noun|parts]]; specifically, the [[parenchyma]] in the [[center#Noun|centre]] of the [[root#Noun|roots]] and [[stem#Noun|stems]] of many plants and [[tree#Noun|trees]].
##: {{synonyms|en|q1=archaic|marrow|medulla}}
##* {{RQ:Gerard Herball|chapter=Of Aromaticall Reedes|page=56|passage=This ſvveete ſmelling Reede is of a darke dun colour, full of ioints and knees eaſie to be broken into ſmall ſplinters, hollovv and full of a certaine vvhite '''pith''', cobvveb vviſe, ſomevvhat gummie in eating, and hanging in the teeth, and of a ſharpe bitter taſte.}}
##* {{RQ:Pliny Holland Historie of the World|tome=1|book=XIV|chapter=Foureteene Sorts of Sweet Wines|page=417|passage=Some make inciſion into the very Vine braunch, as farre as to the '''pith''' and marrovv vvithin (to divert the moiſture that feedeth the grape:) others lay the cluſters a drying upon tile-houſes: and all this is done vvith the grapes of the Vine Helvenaca.}}
##* {{RQ:Herbert Travaile|chapter=Mohelia, Its Description|page=24|passage=Atop the [Palmito] tree is a '''pith''', in taſte better then Cabbage; and eating it takes avvay the future benefit of grovvth or fructifying, theſe and the Date-tree thriue not, except the male and female be vnited, and haue copulation: the ſhe is only fruitfull.}}
##* {{RQ:Grew Plants|chapter=III|chaptername=Of the Trunk|page=25|passage=VVhy are the Annual ''Grovvths'' of all both ''Herbs'' and ''Trees'', vvith great '''''Piths''''', the quickeſt and longeſt? But hovv are the ''Pores'' and ''Bladders'' of the '''''Pith''''' permeable? That they are ſo, both from their being capable of a repletion vvith ''Sap'', and of being again vvholly emptied of it, and again, inſtead thereof fill'd vvith ''Aer'', is as certain as that they are ''Pores''.}}
##* {{RQ:Spectator|author=Addison|issue=69|date=19 May 1711|page=278|passage=The food often grows in one country, and the sauce in another. The fruits of Portugal are corrected by the products of Barbadoes, and the infusion of a China plant is sweetened by the '''pith''' of an Indian cane.}}
## {{senseid|en|albedo}} The {{l|en|albedo|t=[[whitish]] [[inner#Adjective|inner]] [[portion#Noun|portion]] of the [[rind#Noun|rind]]}} of a [[citrus#Adjective|citrus]] [[fruit#Noun|fruit]].
# {{lb|en|by extension}}
## {{non-gloss|Senses relating to [[human#Noun|humans]] and [[animal]]s.}}
### The soft [[tissue#Noun|tissue]] inside a [[human#Adjective|human]] or animal [[body#Noun|body]] or one of their [[organ]]s; specifically, the spongy [[interior#Adjective|interior]] substance of a [[horn#Noun|horn]] or the [[shaft#Noun|shaft]] of a [[feather#Noun|feather]].
###: {{sense|feather}} {{synonyms|en|medulla}}
### ''Chiefly of animals'': the soft tissue inside a [[spinal cord]]; the [[spinal marrow]]; also, the spinal cord itself.
###: {{synonyms|en|medulla}}
###* {{RQ:Topsell Foure-footed Beastes|chapter=Of the Horsse. [Of the Mourning of the Chine.]|page=371|passage=Becauſe many do hold this opinion that this diſeaſe doth conſume the marrovv of the backe: {{...}} [s]ome againe, do tvvine out the '''pith''' of the backe vvith a long vvire thruſt vp into the horſſes head, and ſo into his necke and backe, vvith vvhat reaſon I knovv not.}}
### {{lb|en|obsolete}} {{synonym of|en|diploe|t=the [[thin#Adjective|thin]] [[layer#Noun|layer]] of soft, spongy, or [[cancellate]] tissue between the [[bone#Noun|bone]] [[plate#Noun|plates]] which [[constitute#Verb|constitute]] the [[skull#Noun|skull]]}}
### {{lb|en|obsolete|rare}} The soft tissue of the [[brain#Noun|brain]].
###* {{RQ:More Antidote|chapter=Of the Nature of the Soul of Man, whether She be a Meere Modification of the Body, or a Substance Really Distinct, and then whether Corporeall or Incorporeall|page=37|passage=Verily if vvee take a right vievv of this laxe '''pith''' or marrovv in Mans head, neither our ſenſe nor underſtanding can diſcover any thing more in this ſubſtance that can pretend to ſuch noble operations as free Imagination and ſagacious collections of Reaſon, then vve can diſcern in a Cake of [[suet|Sevvet]] or a bovvle of Curds.}}
## {{lb|en|Ireland|Southern England|West Country}} The soft inner portion of a [[loaf#Noun|loaf]] of [[bread#Noun|bread]].
##* {{RQ:Pliny Holland Historie of the World|tome=2|book=XXVII|chapter=Of the Berrie Called Coccum Gnidium.{{nb...|Of the Tazill, and Okeferne. Of Dryophonon, and Elatine. Of Empetrum, otherwise Named Calcifraga. Of Epipactis, or Elleborine. Of Epimedium, Enneaphyllon, and Ferne. Of the Hearbe Named Oxe-thigh. Of Galeopsis, otherwise Galeobdolon. Of Glaux or Eugalactum.}}|page=280|passage=The berrie Coccum Gnidium, in colour reſembleth the Scarlet graine; in quantitie a pepper corne, but that it is bigger: of an ardent and cauſticke qualitie it is, and therefore they uſe to lap it in the ſoft crum or '''pith''' of a loafe of bread, and ſo ſvvallovv it, for feare it ſhould burne the throat as it paſſeth dovvn.}}
##* {{RQ:Joyce Ulysses|page=239|passage=Buck Mulligan slit a steaming scone in two and plastered butter over its smoking '''pith'''. He bit off a soft piece hungrily.}}
# {{lb|en|figurative}}
## The [[central#Adjective|central]] or [[innermost#Adjective|innermost]] part of something; the [[core#Noun|core]], the [[heart#Noun|heart]].
##: {{synonyms|en|kernel|marrow}}
##* {{RQ:Stevenson Kidnapped|chapter=I Come to My Journey's End|pages=11–12|pageref=12|passage=In these days folk still believed in witches and trembled at a curse; and this one, falling so pat, like a wayside omen, to arrest me ere I carried out my purpose, took the '''pith''' out of my legs.}}
## The [[essential#Adjective|essential]] or [[vital#Adjective|vital]] part of something; the [[essence]].
##: {{synonyms|en|crux|gist|heart|heart and soul|inwardness|kernel|marrow|meat|q9=obsolete|medulla|nitty-gritty|nub|quintessence|soul|spirit|substance|Thesaurus:gist}}
##: {{ux|en|The '''pith''' of my idea is that people should choose their own work hours.}}
##* {{RQ:Tyndale NT|book=Hebrews|chapter=8|verse=1|folio=cccvij|passage=Of the thyng&#42861; [thyngs] which we have ſpoken&#11805; this is the '''pyth''': {{...}}}}
##* {{RQ:Shakespeare Taming of the Shrew|act=I|scene=i|page=211|column=1|passage=Maſter, you look'd ſo longly on the maide, / Perhaps you mark'd not vvhat's the '''pith''' of all. {{...}} Mark'd you not hovv hir ſiſter / Began to ſcold, and raiſe vp ſuch a ſtorme, / That mortal eares might hardly indure the din.}}
##* {{RQ:Galsworthy Plays|volume=II|play=The Eldest Son|act=III|page=77|passage=Oh! [''With slow, puzzled anger''] I want time to get the '''pith''' o' this.}}
##* {{RQ:Bellow Humboldt's Gift|page=149|passage=The clothesline was old and dark gray. It had burst open and was giving up its white '''pith'''. {{...}} The clothesline surrendered the '''pith''' of its soul, and Kathleen's stockings, hung at the wide end, now suggested lust.}}
## [[physical#Adjective|Physical]] [[power#Noun|power]] or [[strength#Noun|strength]]; [[force#Noun|force]], [[might#Noun|might]].
##* {{RQ:Ascham Toxophilus|page=132|passage=Iron bovves, and ſtele bovves, have bene of longe time, and alſo novv are uſed among the ''Turkes'', but yet they muſt nedes be unprofitable. For if braſſe, iron, or ſtele, have their ovvne ſtrengthe and '''pithe''' in them, they be farrre{{sic}} above mans ſtrengthe: if they be made meete for mans ſtrengthe, theyr '''pithe''' is nothinge vvorth to ſhoote any ſhoote vvithall.}}
##* {{RQ:Burns Poems|edition=2nd|volume=I|poem=Maggie|page=199|passage=But thy auld tail thou vvad hae vvhiſkit, / An' ſpread abreed thy vveel-fill'd briſket, / VVi' '''pith''' an' povv'r, {{...}}|brackets=on}}
## A [[quality#Noun|quality]] of [[courage#Noun|courage]] and [[endurance]]; [[backbone]], [[mettle#Noun|mettle]], [[spine]].
## The [[energy]], force, or power of [[speech#Noun|speech]] or [[writing#Noun|writing]]; specifically, such force or power due to [[conciseness]]; [[punch#Noun|punch]], [[punchiness]].
##* {{RQ:Erasmus Newe Testamente|tome=1|book=Luke|subtitle=Erasmus Luke Preface|folio=xii|verso=1|passage=I founde in myne owneſelfe, that litle fruite there commeth of the goſpell, if a man reade it but ſluggiſhely, and ſuperficially renne it ouer. But in caſe a mã [man] do with diligent and exquiſite meditacion kepe hymſelf occupied therin, he ſhal fele a certaine vertue and '''pith''' ſuche as he ſhall not fele the lyke in any other bookes.}}
## ''Chiefly in'' '''of ''(''[[great#Adjective|great]]'')'' pith and [[moment]]''': [[gravity]], [[importance]], substance, [[weight#Noun|weight]].
##* {{RQ:Skelton Poetical Works|volume=I|poem=Colyn Cloute|lines=53–58|page=313|passage=For though my ryme be ragged, / Tattered and iagged, / Rudely rayne beaten, / Rusty and moughte eaten, / If ye take well therwith, / It hath in it some '''pyth'''.}}
##* {{RQ:Shakespeare Hamlet|act=III|scene=i|line=88|page=265|column=2|passage=Thus Conſcience does make Covvards of vs all, / And thus the Natiue hevv of Reſolution / Is ſicklied o're, vvith the pale caſt of Thought, / And enterprizes of great '''pith''' and moment, / VVith this regard their Currants turne avvay, / And looſe the name of Action.}}

=====Derived terms=====
{{col3|en
|pith and marrow
|pith and substance
|pith helmet
|pith paper
|pithy
}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|soft, spongy substance inside plant parts}}
* Arabic: {{t|ar|نُخَاع}}
* Basque: {{t+|eu|bihotz}}
* Bulgarian: {{t+|bg|сърцевина|f}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|medul·la|f}}, {{t|ca|medul·la vegetal|f}}
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|髓}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|dřeň|f}}
* Danish: {{t+|da|marv|c}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|merg|n}}
* Esperanto: {{t|eo|medolo}}
* Estonian: {{t|et|säsi}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|ydin}}
* French: {{t+|fr|moelle}}
* Galician: {{t|gl|arro|m}}, {{t+|gl|medula|f}}, {{t|gl|sámago|m}}, {{t|gl|samo|m}}, {{t+|gl|miolo}}
* German: {{t+|de|Mark|n}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|ψίχα|f}}
* Hindi: {{t+|hi|मज्जा|m}}
* Indonesian: {{t+|id|empulur}}
* Irish: {{t|ga|garr|m}}, {{t|ga|laíon}}, {{t|ga|meideall}}
* Italian: {{t|it|midollino|m}}, {{t+|it|midollo|m}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|髄|tr=ずい, zui}}
* Kashubian: {{t|csb|dërżéń pnia}}
* Korean: {{t|ko|귤락}}
* Lingala: {{t|ln|libúbú}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|срце́вина|f}}
* Malay: {{t|ms|ruyung}}
* Middle English: {{t|enm|pith}}
* Norwegian: {{t+|no|marg|m}}
* Polish: {{t|pl|miękisz|m}}, {{t+|pl|medula}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|medula|f}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|măduvă|f}}, {{t+|ro|miez|m|n}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|сердцеви́на|f}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{t|gd|brìgh|f}}
* Slovene: {{t|sl|osrednji stržen|m}}, {{t|sl|stržen|m}}
* Spanish: {{t|es|medula}}, {{t+|es|médula}}, {{t+|es|pulpa}}
* Swedish: {{t|sv|flädermärg|c}}, {{t+|sv|märg|c}}
* Tagalog: {{t|tl|halyas}}, {{t|tl|ubod}}
* Telugu: {{t+|te|దవ్వ}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|parenchyma in the centre of the roots and stems of many plants and trees|parenchyma}}
{{trans-see|albedo of a citrus fruit|albedo}}

{{trans-top|soft tissue inside a human or animal body or one of their organs}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|ydin}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|spongy interior substance of a horn or the shaft of a feather}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|ydin}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
* Middle English: {{t|enm|pith}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|soft tissue inside a spinal cord|spinal marrow}}
{{trans-see|spinal cord}}

{{trans-top|soft inner portion of a loaf of bread}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|sisus}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|miolo}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|miolo|m}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|мякиш|m}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|central or innermost part of something|core}}

{{trans-top-also|essential or vital part of something|essence}}
* Czech: {{t|cs|jádro věci}}, {{t+|cs|podstata|f}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|kern|m}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|ydin}}
* French: {{t+|fr|cœur}}, {{t+|fr|moelle}}
* Galician: {{t|gl|ámago|m}}, {{t+|gl|cerne|m}}, {{t+|gl|miolo|m}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|καρδιά|f}}, {{t+|el|μεδούλι|n}}, {{t+|el|πυρήνας|m}}
* Hebrew: {{t+|he|מהות|tr=mahut}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|су́штина|f}}, {{t|mk|срж|f}}
* Middle English: {{t|enm|pith}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|esență|f}}, {{t+|ro|miez|m|n}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|суть|f}}
* Scottish Gaelic: {{t|gd|brìgh|f}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|médula}}, {{t|es|medula}}, {{t+|es|meollo}}, {{t+|es|núcleo|m}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|kärna|c}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|physical power or strength|power|strength}}
{{trans-see|quality of courage and endurance|mettle}}

{{trans-top-also|energy, force, or power of speech or writing; such force or power due to conciseness|punch}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|isku}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-see|gravity, importance, substance, weight|importance}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Woiwurrung: {{t-check|wyi|brong-gi}}
{{trans-bottom}}

====Verb====
{{en-verb}} {{lb|en|transitive}}

# To [[render#Verb|render]] [[insensate#Adjective|insensate]] or [[kill#Verb|kill]] (an [[animal]], especially [[cattle]] or a [[laboratory]] animal) by [[cut#Verb|cutting]], [[pierce#Verb|piercing]], or otherwise [[destroy]]ing the [[spinal cord]]. {{defdate|from early 19th c.}}
# To [[extract#Verb|extract]] the [[pith#Noun|pith]] from (something or {{lb|en|figurative}} someone).
#* {{RQ:Shaw Man and Superman|chapter=Epistle Dedicatory|page=xxxiv|passage=And yet, instead of exclaiming "Send this inconceivable Satanist to the stake," the respectable newspapers '''pith''' me by announcing "another book by this brilliant and thoughtful writer."}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|to render insensate or kill (an animal) by cutting, piercing, or otherwise destroying the spinal cord}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[katkoa]] [[selkäydin]]}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|to extract the pith from (something or (''figurative'') someone)}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[poistaa]] [[ydin]]}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Etymology 2===
From {{suffix|en|pi|t1=constant representing the ratio of the circumference of a Euclidean circle to its diameter|th|pos2={{glossary|suffix}} forming ordinal numerals}}.

====Alternative forms====
* {{alter|en|pi-th}}

====Pronunciation====
* {{IPA|en|/paɪθ/|a=RP,GA}}
* {{rhymes|en|aɪθ|s=1}}

====Adjective====
{{en-adj|-}}

# {{lb|en|mathematics}} The [[ordinal#Adjective|ordinal]] [[form#Noun|form]] of the [[number#Noun|number]] [[pi#Noun|pi]] ([[π]]; approximately 3.14159…).
#: {{ux|en|The '''pith''' root of pi is approximately 1.439…}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=Hbr…@my-dejanews.com|title=For what x is x^x real?|newsgroup=alt.algebra.help|url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.algebra.help/c/6NUSRWVviHs/m/sZcIl21GQyAJ|id=6mhv6n$13l$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com|date=21 June 1998|passage=(e^pi*i*i/2), or e^(-pi/2), which is the reciprocal of the square root of e to the '''pith''' power.}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=alice|title=IMEI Changer T-10|newsgroup=aus.comms.mobile|url=https://groups.google.com/g/aus.comms.mobile/c/r8GYCYe4Rkg/m/cxF_caD6NHUJ|id=B5B6F806.53B5%alice@alice-didit.com|date=9 August 2000|passage=That's nothing. I have an IMEI changer that will do all of the above and beat you off at the same time, while whistling the adaggio from Spartacus in Armenian and calculating pi to the '''pith''' power in swahili.}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=abu.ku…@gmail.com|title=The non existence of p’th root of any prime number, for (p>2) prime|newsgroup=sci.math|url=https://groups.google.com/g/sci.math/c/n3qyIZ_y_Qc/m/FkrV0b1UBAAJ|id=cabe6746-8a13-44f0-9e95-30eec727654a@googlegroups.com|date=5 Mar 2017|passage=already, we know what is minus one from Euler: it is the I*'''pith''' power of e, such that ln(-1) = i*pi}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|ordinal form of the number pi}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[pii]][[-s|:s]]}}
* French: {{t+|fr|piième}}, {{t|fr|pi-ième}}, {{t|fr|πième}}, {{t|fr|π-ième}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# {{lb|en|mathematics}} [[one#Numeral|One]] [[divide#Verb|divided]] by [[pi#Noun|pi]], that is, <math>\frac{1}{\pi}</math> (approximately 0.31831…).
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=Brian Hutchings|title=Trigonometric Functions|url=https://groups.google.com/g/sci.math/c/5LPqtR5KcDU/m/YtvLiC43lMwJ|newsgroup=sci.math|id=1997Apr26.204554.24471@lafn.org|date=26 April 1997|passage=not only that, but your "radian" axis can be labelled as *being* in units of pis, as opposed to the redundancy of 0pi, pi/2, pi etc.; conversely, your circumferential measure can be rational (or units) and your radius can be transcendental (or '''piths''' .-)}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=abu.ku…@gmail.com|title=pi^2/6 and 6/pi^2|url=https://groups.google.com/g/sci.math/c/rlguoGirC2E/m/wM4rkuW_AQAJ|newsgroup=sci.math|id=d1d13d13-c4c0-43c3-b4cb-7911dcb24cc7@googlegroups.com|date=2 April 2016|passage=thought it was the two-sixths power of pi, and teh{{sic}} secondpower of six '''piths'''}}
#* {{quote-newsgroup|en|author=thugst…@gmail.com|title=Electron-positron annihilation|url=https://groups.google.com/g/sci.physics/c/Mb3nCxXZ7nQ/m/EmNYxYVeCAAJ|newsgroup=sci.physics|id=89a35ff8-1df1-4ab5-baf5-fdc605207710@googlegroups.com|date=13 January 2017|passage=of course, although a '''pith''' is less than a third, hence pi is more than three, say, thirty-one tenths, but 22/7 is still less than pi, and that's a rather small gore}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top|one divided by pi}}
* Finnish: {{t|fi|[[pii]]n [[vastaluku]]}}
* French: {{t+|fr|piième}}, {{t|fr|pi-ième}}, {{t|fr|πième}}, {{t|fr|π-ième}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===References===
<references/>

===Further reading===
* {{pedia}}
* {{pedia|pithing}}

===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=hipt|phit}}

{{cln|en|heteronyms|ordinal numbers}}

{{C|en|Plant anatomy}}

==Middle English==

===Alternative forms===
* {{alter|enm|pithe|piþ|piþþe|pyþe|peþe|pyth|pythe}}

===Etymology===
From {{inh|enm|ang|piþa}}, from {{inh|enm|gem-pro|*piþô}}.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|enm|/ˈpiθ(ə)/|/ˈpið(ə)/|/ˈpeːθ(ə)/}}

===Noun===
{{enm-noun|-}}

# The soft [[interior]] portion of something, especially:
## {{lb|enm|botany}} {{l|en|pith}} {{gloss|soft substance in the center of a plant's [[stem]]}}
## The [[pulp]] {{gloss|soft innards}} of a [[fruit]].
# {{lb|enm|figuratively}} The [[essential]] or [[vital]] part; [[importance]].
# {{lb|enm|figuratively}} Power, [[strength]], [[might]].

====Descendants====
* {{desc|en|pith}}
* {{desc|sco|pith}}

====References====
* {{R:MED Online|entry=pith(e|pos=n|id=MED33530}}