The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q (part 4 of 5)

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q (part 4 of 5)

I . . . have poured out my soul before the Lord.

1 Sam. i. 15.

Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee.

Ezek. vii. 8.

London doth pour out her citizens !

Shak.

Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth With such a full and unwithdrawing hand ?

Milton.

3. To send forth from, as in a stream; to discharge uninterruptedly.

Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat ?

Pope.

Pour, v. i. To flow, pass, or issue in a stream, or as a stream; to fall continuously and abundantly; as, the rain pours; the people poured out of the theater.

In the rude throng pour on with furious pace.

Gay.

Pour, n. A stream, or something like a stream; a flood. [Colloq.] "A pour of rain." Miss Ferrier.

Poure"liche` (?), adv. Poorly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pour"er (?), n. One who pours.

Pour"lieu (?), n. See Purlieu.

||Pour`par`ler" (?), n. [F.] (Diplomacy) A consultation preliminary to ||a treaty.

Pour`par"ty (?), n.; pl. Pourparties (#). [See Purparty.] (Law) A division; a divided share.

To make pourparty, to divide and apportion lands previously held in common.

Pour"point (?), n. [F.] A quilted military doublet or gambeson worn in the 14th and 15th centuries; also, a name for the doublet of the 16th and 17th centuries worn by civilians.

Pour*pres"ture (?; 135), n. (Law) See Purpresture.

Pour"sui*vant (?), n. See Pursuivant.

Pour*tray" (?), v. t. See Portray.

Pour*vey"ance (?), n. See Purveyance.

Pousse (ps), n. Pulse; pease. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pous*sette" (p*st"), n. [F., pushpin, fr. pousser to push. See Push.] A movement, or part of a figure, in the contradance. Dickens.

Pous*sette", v. i. To perform a certain movement in a dance. [R.] Tennyson.

Down the middle, up again, poussette, and cross.

J. & H. Smith.

Pout (pt), n. [F. poulet. See Poult.] The young of some birds, as grouse; a young fowl. Carew.

Pout (pt), v. i. To shoot pouts. [Scot.]

Pout (pout), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouting.] [OE. pouten, of uncertain origin; cf. Prov. pot lip, Prov. F. potte, faire la potte to pout, W. pwdu to pout, be sullen, poten, potten, a paunch, belly.] 1. To thrust out the lips, as in sullenness or displeasure; hence, to look sullen.

Thou poutest upon thy fortune and thy love.

Shak.

2. To protrude. "Pouting lips." Dryden.

Pout, n. A sullen protrusion of the lips; a fit of sullenness. "Jack's in the pouts." J. & H. Smith.

Pout, n. [Cf. Eelpout.] (Zoˆl.) The European whiting pout or bib.

Eel pout. (Zoˆl.) See Eelpout. -- Horn pout, or Horned pout. (Zoˆl.) See Bullhead (b).

Pout"er (-r), n. 1. One who, or that which, pouts.

2. [Cf. E. pout, and G. puter turkey.] (Zoˆl.) A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for the extent to which it is able to dilate its throat and breast.

Pout"ing, n. Childish sullenness.

Pout"ing*ly, adv. In a pouting, or a sullen, manner.

Pov"ert (pv"rt), n. Poverty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pov"er*ty (pv"r*t), n. [OE. poverte, OF. povertÈ, F. pauvretÈ, fr. L. paupertas, fr. pauper poor. See Poor.] 1. The quality or state of being poor or indigent; want or scarcity of means of subsistence; indigence; need. "Swathed in numblest poverty." Keble.

The drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.

Prov. xxiii. 21.

2. Any deficiency of elements or resources that are needed or desired, or that constitute richness; as, poverty of soil; poverty of the blood; poverty of ideas.

Poverty grass (Bot.), a name given to several slender grasses (as Aristida dichotoma, and Danthonia spicata) which often spring up on old and worn-out fields.

Syn. -- Indigence; penury; beggary; need; lack; want; scantiness; sparingness; meagerness; jejuneness. Poverty, Indigence, Pauperism. Poverty is a relative term; what is poverty to a monarch, would be competence for a day laborer. Indigence implies extreme distress, and almost absolute destitution. Pauperism denotes entire dependence upon public charity, and, therefore, often a hopeless and degraded state.

{ Pow"an (?), Pow"en (?) }, n. (Zoˆl.) A small British lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeoides, or C. ferus); -- called also gwyniad and lake herring.

Pow"der (?), n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. Polverine, Pulverize.] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.

Grind their bones to powder small.

Shak.

2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See Gunpowder.

Atlas powder, Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas, Baking, etc. -- Powder down (Zoˆl.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers. -- Powder- down feather (Zoˆl.), one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation. - - Powder-down patch (Zoˆl.), a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers. -- Powder hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines. Farrow. -- Powder hoy (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag. -- Powder magazine, or Powder room. See Magazine, 2. -- Powder mine, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See Mine. -- Powder monkey (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy. -- Powder post. See Dry rot, under Dry. -- Powder puff. See Puff, n.

Pow"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Powdered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Powdering.] [F. poudrer.] 1. To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate.

2. To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle; as, to powder the hair.

A circling zone thou seest Powdered with stars.

Milton.

3. To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. [Obs.]

Pow"der, v. i. 1. To be reduced to powder; to become like powder; as, some salts powder easily.

2. To use powder on the hair or skin; as, she paints and powders.

Pow"dered (?), a. 1. Reduced to a powder; sprinkled with, or as with, powder.

2. Sprinkled with salt; salted; corned. [Obs.]

Powdered beef, pickled meats.

Harvey.

3. (Her.) Same as SemÈ. Walpole.

Pow"der*flask` (?), n. A flask in which gunpowder is carried, having a charging tube at the end.

Pow"der*horn` (?), n. A horn in which gunpowder is carried.

Pow"der*ing, a. & n. from Powder, v. t.

Powdering tub. (a) A tub or vessel in which meat is corned or salted. (b) A heated tub in which an infected lecher was placed for cure. [Obs.] Shak.

Pow"der*mill` (?), n. A mill in which gunpowder is made.

Pow"der-post`ed (?), a. Affected with dry rot; reduced to dust by rot. See Dry rot, under Dry. [U.S.]

Pow"der*y (?), a. 1. Easily crumbling to pieces; friable; loose; as, a powdery spar.

2. Sprinkled or covered with powder; dusty; as, the powdery bloom on plums.

3. Resembling powder; consisting of powder. "The powdery snow." Wordsworth.

Pow"dike (?), n. [Scot. pow, pou, a pool, a watery or marshy place, fr. E. pool.] A dike a marsh or fen. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Pow"dry (?), a. See Powdery.

Pow"er (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Same as Poor, the fish.

Pow"er, n. [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.] 1. Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power. "One next himself in power, and next in crime." Milton.

2. Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm. "The power of fancy." Shak.

3. Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; -- called also passive power; as, great power of endurance.

Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power.

Sir W. Hamilton.

4. The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government.

Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent.

Swift.

5. The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity. "The powers of darkness." Milton.

And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Matt. xxiv. 29.

6. A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host. Spenser.

Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land.

Shak.

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7. A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o&?; good things. [Colloq.] Richardson.

8. (Mech.) (a) The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.

The English unit of power used most commonly is the horse power. See Horse power.

(b) A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc. (c) Applied force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end.

This use in mechanics, of power as a synonym for force, is improper and is becoming obsolete.

(d) A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power.

Power is used adjectively, denoting, driven, or adapted to be driven, by machinery, and not actuated directly by the hand or foot; as, a power lathe; a power loom; a power press.

9. (Math.) The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number.

10. (Metaph.) Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc. I. Watts.

The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief.

Shak.

11. (Optics) The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface.

12. (Law) An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment. Wharton.

13. Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power.

Power may be predicated of inanimate agents, like the winds and waves, electricity and magnetism, gravitation, etc., or of animal and intelligent beings; and when predicated of these beings, it may indicate physical, mental, or moral ability or capacity.

Mechanical powers. See under Mechanical. -- Power loom, or Power press. See Def. 8 (d), note. -- Power of attorney. See under Attorney. -- Power of a point (relative to a given curve) (Geom.), the result of substituting the coˆrdinates of any point in that expression which being put equal to zero forms the equation of the curve; as, x2 + y2 - 100 is the power of the point x, y, relative to the circle x2 + y2 - 100 = 0.

Pow"er*a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being effected or accomplished by the application of power; possible. [R.] J. Young.

2. Capable of exerting power; powerful. Camden.

Pow"er*ful (?), a. 1. Full of power; capable of producing great effects of any kind; potent; mighty; efficacious; intense; as, a powerful man or beast; a powerful engine; a powerful argument; a powerful light; a powerful vessel.

The powerful grace that lies In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities.

Shak.

2. (Mining) Large; capacious; -- said of veins of ore.

Syn. -- Mighty; strong; potent; forcible; efficacious; energetic; intense.

-- Pow"er*ful*ly, adv. -- Pow"er*ful*ness, n.

Pow"er*less, a. Destitute of power, force, or energy; weak; impotent; not able to produce any effect. -- Pow"er*less*ly, adv. -- Pow"er*less*ness, n.

Powl"dron (?), n. [OF. espauleron, from espaule shoulder, F. Èpaule.] Same as Pauldron.

Powp (?), v. i. See Poop, v. i. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pow"ter (pou"tr), n. (Zoˆl.) See Pouter.

Pow"wow` (?), n. 1. A priest, or conjurer, among the North American Indians.

Be it sagamore, sachem, or powwow.

Longfellow.

2. Conjuration attended with great noise and confusion, and often with feasting, dancing, etc., performed by Indians for the cure of diseases, to procure success in hunting or in war, and for other purposes.

3. Hence: Any assembly characterized by noise and confusion; a noisy frolic or gathering. [Colloq. U. S.]

Pow"wow`, v. i. 1. To use conjuration, with noise and confusion, for the cure of disease, etc., as among the North American Indians.

2. Hence: To hold a noisy, disorderly meeting. [Colloq. U. S.]

Pox (?), n. [For pocks, OE. pokkes. See Pock. It is plural in form but is used as a singular.] (Med.) Strictly, a disease by pustules or eruptions of any kind, but chiefly or wholly restricted to three or four diseases, -- the smallpox, the chicken pox, and the vaccine and the venereal diseases.

Pox, when used without an epithet, as in imprecations, formerly signified smallpox; but it now signifies syphilis.

Pox, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poxed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Poxing.] To infect with the pox, or syphilis.

Poy (?), n. [OF. apui, apoi, a support, prop., staff, F. appui, fr. OF. apuier, apoier, to support, F. appuyer, fr. ‡ to (L. ad) + OF. pui, poi, a rising ground, hill, L. podium. See Podium, Pew.] 1. A support; -- used in composition; as, teapoy.

2. A ropedancer's balancing pole. Johnson.

3. A long boat hook by which barges are propelled against the stream. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Poy*na"do (?), n. A poniard. [Obs.] Lyly.

Poynd (?), v., Poynd"er (&?;), n. See Poind, Poinder.

Poy nette" (?), n. [Cf. Point.] A bodkin. [Obs.]

Poyn"tel (?), n. [See Pointal.] (Arch.) Paving or flooring made of small squares or lozenges set diagonally. [Formerly written pointal.]

Poy"ou (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A South American armadillo (Dasypus sexcinctus). Called also sixbanded armadillo.

Poze (?), v. t. See 5th Pose.

{ Poz`zu*o*la"na (?), Poz`zo*la"*na (?) }, n. [It.] Volcanic ashes from Pozzuoli, in Italy, used in the manufacture of a kind of mortar which hardens under water.

Praam (?), n. [D. praam; cf. G. prahm, F. prame; all of Slavonic origin, from a word akin to E. fare. See Fare.] (Naut.) A flat- bottomed boat or lighter, -- used in Holland and the Baltic, and sometimes armed in case of war. [Written also pram, and prame.]

Prac"tic (?), a. [See Practical.] 1. Practical.

2. Artful; deceitful; skillful. [Obs.] "Cunning sleights and practick knavery." Spenser.

Prac"ti*ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being practicable; practicableness; feasibility. "The practicability of such a project." Stewart.

Prac"ti*ca*ble (?), a. [LL. practicare to act, transact, fr. L. practicus active, Gr. &?;: cf. F. practicable, pratiquer to practice. See Practical.] 1. That may be practiced or performed; capable of being done or accomplished with available means or resources; feasible; as, a practicable method; a practicable aim; a practicable good.

2. Capable of being used; passable; as, a practicable weapon; a practicable road.

Practicable breach (Mil.), a breach which admits of approach and entrance by an assailing party.

Syn. -- Possible; feasible. -- Practicable, Possible. A thing may be possible, i. e., not forbidden by any law of nature, and yet may not now be practicable for want of the means requisite to its performance.

-- Prac"ti*ca*ble*ness, n. -- Prac"ti*ca*bly, adv.

Prac"ti*cal (?), a. [L. practicus active, Gr. &?; fit for doing or performing, practical, active, fr. &?; to do, work, effect: cf. F. pratique, formerly also practique. Cf. Pragmatic, Practice.] 1. Of or pertaining to practice or action.

2. Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from ideal or theoretical; as, practical chemistry. "Man's practical understanding." South. "For all practical purposes." Macaulay.

3. Evincing practice or skill; capable of applying knowledge to some useful end; as, a practical man; a practical mind.

4. Derived from practice; as, practical skill.

Practical joke, a joke put in practice; a joke the fun of which consists in something done, in distinction from something said; esp., a trick played upon a person.

Prac`ti*cal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being practical; practicalness.

Prac"ti*cal*ly (?), adv. 1. In a practical way; not theoretically; really; as, to look at things practically; practically worthless.

2. By means of practice or use; by experience or experiment; as, practically wise or skillful; practically acquainted with a subject.

3. In practice or use; as, a medicine practically safe; theoretically wrong, but practically right.

Prac"ti*cal*ness, n. Same as Practicality.

Prac"ti*cal*ize (?), v. t. To render practical. [R.] "Practicalizing influences." J. S. Mill.

Prac"tice (?), n. [OE. praktike, practique, F. pratique, formerly also, practique, LL. practica, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; practical. See Practical, and cf. Pratique, Pretty.] 1. Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.

A heart . . . exercised with covetous practices.

2 Pet. ii. 14.

2. Customary or constant use; state of being used.

Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice.

Dryden.

3. Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak.

4. Actual performance; application of knowledge; -- opposed to theory.

There are two functions of the soul, -- contemplation and practice.

South.

There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory.

Sir W. Hamilton.

5. Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.

6. Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as, the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice.

Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art.

Sir W. Hamilton.

7. Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; -- usually in a bad sense. [Obs.] Bacon.

He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.

Sir P. Sidney.

8. (Math.) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.

9. (Law) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. Bouvier.

Syn. -- Custom; usage; habit; manner.

Prac"tice (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Practiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Practicing (?).] [Often written practise, practised, practising.] 1. To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming. "Incline not my heart . . . practice wicked works." Ps. cxli. 4.

2. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine.

2. To exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music.

4. To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do. "Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practice your severity." Shak.

As this advice ye practice or neglect.

Pope.

5. To make use of; to employ. [Obs.]

In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her.

Massinger.

6. To teach or accustom by practice; to train.

In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor.

Landor.

Prac"tice, v. i. [Often written practise.] 1. To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano.

2. To learn by practice; to form a habit.

They shall practice how to live secure.

Milton.

Practice first over yourself to reign.

Waller.

3. To try artifices or stratagems.

He will practice against thee by poison.

Shak.

4. To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law.

[I am] little inclined to practice on others, and as little that others should practice on me.

Sir W. Temple.

Prac"ticed (?), a. [Often written practised.] 1. Experienced; expert; skilled; as, a practiced marksman. "A practiced picklock." Ld. Lytton.

2. Used habitually; learned by practice.

Prac"ti*cer (?), n. [Often written practiser.] 1. One who practices, or puts in practice; one who customarily performs certain acts. South.

2. One who exercises a profession; a practitioner.

3. One who uses art or stratagem. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Prac*ti"cian (?), n. [F. praticien, OF. also practicien.] One who is acquainted with, or skilled in, anything by practice; a practitioner.

Prac"tick (?), n. Practice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Prac"ti*sant (?), n. An agent or confederate in treachery. [Obs.] Shak.

Prac"tise (?), v. t. & i. See Practice.

The analogy of the English language requires that the noun and verb which are pronounced alike should agree in spelling. Thus we have notice (n. & v.), noticed, noticing, noticer; poultice (n. & v.); apprentice (n. & v.); office (n. & v.), officer (n.); lattice (n.), latticed (a.); benefice (n.), beneficed (a.), etc. Cf. sacrifice (&?;; n. & v.), surmise (&?;; n. & v.), promise (&?;; n. & v.); compromise (&?;; n. & v.), etc. Contrast advice (&?;; n.), and advise (&?;); device (&?;), and devise (&?;), etc.

Prac"ti*sour (?), n. A practitioner. [Obs.]

Prac*ti"tion*er (?), n. [From Practician.] 1. One who is engaged in the actual use or exercise of any art or profession, particularly that of law or medicine. Crabbe.

2. One who does anything customarily or habitually.

3. A sly or artful person. Whitgift.

General practitioner. See under General, 2.

Prac"tive (?), a. Doing; active. [Obs.] Sylvester. -- Prac"tive*ly, adv. [Obs.]

The preacher and the people both, Then practively did thrive.

Warner.

Prad (?), n. [Cf. D. paard.] A horse. [Colloq. Eng.]

PrÊ- (?). A prefix. See Pre-.

||PrÊ"ca`va (?), n. [NL. See Pre-, and 1st Cave.] (Anat.) The superior ||vena cava. -- PrÊ"ca`val (#), a. B. G. Wilder.

PrÊc"i*pe (?), n. [L., imperative of praecipere to give rules or precepts. See Precept.] (Law) (a) A writ commanding something to be done, or requiring a reason for neglecting it. (b) A paper containing the particulars of a writ, lodged in the office out of which the writ is to be issued. Wharton.

||PrÊ"co*ces (?), n. pl. [NL. See Precocious.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||birds including those whose young are able to run about when first ||hatched.

PrÊ*co"cial (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the PrÊcoces.

||PrÊ*cog"ni*ta (?), n. pl. [L. praecognitus, p. p. of praecognoscere ||to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.] This previously known, or ||which should be known in order to understand something else.

PrÊ*com"mis*sure (?), n. [Pref. prÊ + commissure.] (Anat.) A transverse commissure in the anterior part of the third ventricle of the brain; the anterior cerebral commissure.

PrÊ*cor"a*coid (?), n. (Anat.) See Precoracoid.

||PrÊ*cor"di*a (?), n. [L., fr. prae before + cor, cordis, the heart.] ||(Anat.) The front part of the thoracic region; the epigastrium.

PrÊ*cor"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Same as Precordial.

||PrÊ*cor"nu (?), n.; pl. PrÊcornua (#). [NL. See Pre-, and Cornu.] ||(Anat.) The anterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. ||G. Wilder.

PrÊ"di*al (?), a. See Predial.

PrÊ`flo*ra"tion (?), n. Same as Prefloration. Gray.

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PrÊ*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. Same as Prefoliation. Gray.

PrÊ`max*il"la (?), n. See Premaxilla.

PrÊ*mo"lar (?), a. See Premolar.

PrÊ*morse" (?), a. Same as Premorse.

||PrÊm`u*ni"re (?), n. [Corrupted from L. praemonere to forewarn, cite. ||See Admonish.] (Eng. Law) (a) The offense of introducing foreign ||authority into England, the penalties for which were originally ||intended to depress the civil power of the pope in the kingdom. (b) ||The writ grounded on that offense. Wharton. (c) The penalty ascribed ||for the offense of prÊmunire.

Wolsey incurred a prÊmunire, and forfeited his honor, estate, and life.

South.

The penalties of prÊmunire were subsequently applied to many other offenses; but prosecutions upon a prÊmunire are at this day unheard of in the English courts. Blackstone.

PrÊm`u*ni"re, v. t. 1. To subject to the penalties of prÊmunire. [Obs.] T. Ward.

PrÊ*mu"ni*to*ry (?), a. See Premunitory.

||PrÊ*na"res (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pre-, Nares.] (Anat.) The anterior ||nares. See Nares. B. G. Wilder.

PrÊ*na"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Same as Prenasal.

PrÊ*no"men (?), n.; pl. PrÊnomina (#). [L., fr. prae before + nomen name.] (Rom. Antiq.) The first name of a person, by which individuals of the same family were distinguished, answering to our Christian name, as Caius, Lucius, Marcus, etc.

PrÊ`no*min"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prÊnomen. [Obs.] M. A. Lower.

PrÊ`o*per"cu*lum, n. [NL.] (Anat.) Same as Preoperculum. -- PrÊ`o*per"cu*lar, a.

PrÊ*o"ral, n., PrÊ*pu"bis, n., PrÊ*scap"u*la, n., PrÊ*scu"tum, n., PrÊ*ster"num, n. Same as Preoral, Prepubis, Prescapula, etc.

PrÊ"ter- (?). A prefix. See Preter- .

PrÊt"er*ist (?), n. (Theol.) See Preterist.

PrÊ`ter*mit" (?), v. t. See Pretermit.

PrÊ*tex"ta (?), n.; pl. PrÊtextÊ (#), E. PrÊtextas (#). [L. (sc. toga), fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, to fringe, border; prae before + texere to weave.] (Rom. Antiq.) A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the toga virilis, or until about the completion of his fourteenth year, and by girls until their marriage. It was also worn by magistrates and priests.

PrÊ"tor (?), n. See Pretor.

||PrÊ*to"res (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pretor.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||butterflies including the satyrs.

PrÊ*to"ri*an (?), a. See Pretorian.

PrÊ*to"ri*um (?), n. See Pretorium.

||PrÊ*zyg`a*poph"y*sis (?), n. (Anat.) Same as Prezygapophysis.

{ Prag*mat"ic (?), Prag*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a thing done, business, fr. &?; to do: cf. F. pragmatique. See Practical.] 1. Of or pertaining to business or to affairs; of the nature of business; practical; material; businesslike in habit or manner.

The next day . . . I began to be very pragmatical.

Evelyn.

We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical, abroad; but have need of some delightful intermissions.

Milton.

Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel.

Hare.

2. Busy; specifically, busy in an objectionable way; officious; fussy and positive; meddlesome. "Pragmatical officers of justice." Sir W. Scott.

The fellow grew so pragmatical that he took upon him the government of my whole family.

Arbuthnot.

3. Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; -- said of literature. "Pragmatic history." Sir W. Hamilton. "Pragmatic poetry." M. Arnold.

Pragmatic sanction, a solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head or legislature of a state upon weighty matters; -- a term derived from the Byzantine empire. In European history, two decrees under this name are particularly celebrated. One of these, issued by Charles VII. of France, A. D. 1438, was the foundation of the liberties of the Gallican church; the other, issued by Charles VI. of Germany, A. D. 1724, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the Archduchess Maria Theresa.

Prag*mat"ic, n. 1. One skilled in affairs.

My attorney and solicitor too; a fine pragmatic.

B. Jonson.

2. A solemn public ordinance or decree.

A royal pragmatic was accordingly passed.

Prescott.

Prag*mat"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a pragmatical manner.

Prag*mat"ic*al*ness, n. The quality or state of being pragmatical.

Prag"ma*tism (?), n. The quality or state of being pragmatic; in literature, the pragmatic, or philosophical, method.

The narration of this apparently trifling circumstance belongs to the pragmatism of the history.

A. Murphy.

Prag"ma*tist (?), n. One who is pragmatic.

Prag"ma*tize (?), v. t. To consider, represent, or embody (something unreal) as fact; to materialize. [R.] "A pragmatized metaphor." Tylor.

||Prai`ri`al" (?), n. [F., fr. prairie meadow.] The ninth month of the ||French Republican calendar, which dated from September 22, 1792. It ||began May, 20, and ended June 18. See Vendemiaire.

Prai"rie (?), n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie, LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.] 1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains.

From the forests and the prairies, From the great lakes of the northland.

Longfellow.

2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow.

Prairie chicken (Zoˆl.), any American grouse of the genus Tympanuchus, especially T. Americanus (formerly T. cupido), which inhabits the prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the sharp- tailed grouse. -- Prairie clover (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus Petalostemon, having small rosy or white flowers in dense terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in the prairies of the United States. -- Prairie dock (Bot.), a coarse composite plant (Silphium terebinthaceum) with large rough leaves and yellow flowers, found in the Western prairies. -- Prairie dog (Zoˆl.), a small American rodent (Cynomys Ludovicianus) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like that of a dog. Called also prairie marmot. -- Prairie grouse. Same as Prairie chicken, above. -- Prairie hare (Zoˆl.), a large long-eared Western hare (Lepus campestris). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. -- Prairie hawk, Prairie falcon (Zoˆl.), a falcon of Western North America (Falco Mexicanus). The upper parts are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown. -- Prairie hen. (Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie chicken, above. -- Prairie itch (Med.), an affection of the skin attended with intense itching, which is observed in the Northern and Western United States; -- also called swamp itch, winter itch. -- Prairie marmot. (Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie dog, above. -- Prairie mole (Zoˆl.), a large American mole (Scalops argentatus), native of the Western prairies. -- Prairie pigeon, plover, or snipe (Zoˆl.), the upland plover. See Plover, n., 2. -- Prairie rattlesnake (Zoˆl.), the massasauga. -- Prairie snake (Zoˆl.), a large harmless American snake (Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged with brown above. -- Prairie squirrel (Zoˆl.), any American ground squirrel of the genus Spermophilus, inhabiting prairies; -- called also gopher. -- Prairie turnip (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta) of the Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also pomme blanche, and pomme de prairie. -- Prairie warbler (Zoˆl.), a bright-colored American warbler (Dendroica discolor). The back is olive yellow, with a group of reddish spots in the middle; the under parts and the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the sides of the throat and spots along the sides, black; three outer tail feathers partly white. -- Prairie wolf. (Zoˆl.) See Coyote.

Prais"a*ble (?), a. Fit to be praised; praise-worthy; laudable; commendable. Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 15).

Prais"a*bly, adv. In a praisable manner.

Praise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Praised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Praising.] [OE. preisen, OF. preisier, prisier, F. priser, L. pretiare to prize, fr. pretium price. See Price, n., and cf. Appreciate, Praise, n., Prize, v.] 1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to laud; -- applied to a person or his acts. "I praise well thy wit." Chaucer.

Let her own works praise her in the gates.

Prov. xxxi. 31.

We praise not Hector, though his name, we know, Is great in arms; 't is hard to praise a foe.

Dryden.

2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the excellence of; -- applied especially to the Divine Being.

Praise ye him, all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts!

Ps. cxlviii. 2.

3. To value; to appraise. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Syn. -- To commend; laud; eulogize; celebrate; glorify; magnify. -- To Praise, Applaud, Extol. To praise is to set at high price; to applaud is to greet with clapping; to extol is to bear aloft, to exalt. We may praise in the exercise of calm judgment; we usually applaud from impulse, and on account of some specific act; we extol under the influence of high admiration, and usually in strong, if not extravagant, language.

Praise, n. [OE. preis, OF. preis price, worth, value, estimation. See Praise, v., Price.] 1. Commendation for worth; approval expressed; honor rendered because of excellence or worth; laudation; approbation.

There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice.

Rambler.

Praise may be expressed by an individual, and thus differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are always the expression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation.

2. Especially, the joyful tribute of gratitude or homage rendered to the Divine Being; the act of glorifying or extolling the Creator; worship, particularly worship by song, distinction from prayer and other acts of worship; as, a service of praise.

3. The object, ground, or reason of praise.

He is thy praise, and he is thy God.

Deut. x.&?;&?;.

Syn. -- Encomium; honor; eulogy; panegyric; plaudit; applause; acclaim; eclat; commendation; laudation.

Praise"ful (?), a. Praiseworthy. [Obs.]

Praise"ful (?), a. Praiseworthy. [Obs.]

Praise"less, a. Without praise or approbation.

Praise"-meet`*ing (?), n. A religious service mainly in song. [Local, U. S.]

Praise"ment (?), n. Appraisement. [Obs.]

Prais"er (?), n. 1. One who praises. "Praisers of men." Sir P. Sidney.

2. An appraiser; a valuator. [Obs.] Sir T. North.

Praise"wor`thi*ly (?), adv. In a praiseworthy manner. Spenser.

Praise"wor`thi*ness, n. The quality or state of being praiseworthy.

Praise"wor`thy (?), a. Worthy of praise or applause; commendable; as, praiseworthy action; he was praiseworthy. Arbuthnot.

Pra"krit (?), n. [Skr. prkta original, natural, usual, common, vulgar.] Any one of the popular dialects descended from, or akin to, Sanskrit; -- in distinction from the Sanskrit, which was used as a literary and learned language when no longer spoken by the people. Pali is one of the Prakrit dialects.

Pra*krit"ic (?), a. Pertaining to Prakrit.

{ Pram (?), Prame (?) }, n. (Naut.) See Praam.

Prance (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pranced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prancing (?).] [OE. prauncen; probably akin to prank, v. t. See Prank.] 1. To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle.

Now rule thy prancing steed.

Gay.

2. To ride on a prancing horse; to ride in an ostentatious manner.

The insulting tyrant prancing o'er the field.

Addison.

3. To walk or strut about in a pompous, showy manner, or with warlike parade. Swift.

Pran"cer (?), n. A horse which prances.

Then came the captain . . . upon a brave prancer.

Evelyn.

Pran"di*al (?), a. [L. prandium a repast.] Of or pertaining to a repast, especially to dinner.

||Pran"gos (?), n. [From the native name in Afghanistan.] (Bot.) A ||genus of umbelliferous plants, one species of which (P. pabularia), ||found in Thibet, Cashmere, Afghanistan, etc., has been used as fodder ||for cattle. It has decompound leaves with very long narrow divisions, ||and a highly fragrant smell resembling that of new clover hay.

Prank (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pranked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pranking.] [Cf. E. prink, also G. prangen, prunken, to shine, to make a show, Dan. prange, prunke, Sw. prunka, D. pronken.] To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously; -- often followed by up; as, to prank up the body. See Prink.

In sumptuous tire she joyed herself to prank.

Spenser.

Prank, v. i. To make ostentatious show.

White houses prank where once were huts.

M. Arnold.

Prank, n. A gay or sportive action; a ludicrous, merry, or mischievous trick; a caper; a frolic. Spenser.

The harpies . . . played their accustomed pranks.

Sir W. Raleigh.

His pranks have been too broad to bear with.

Shak.

Prank, a. Full of gambols or tricks. [Obs.]

Prank"er (?), n. One who dresses showily; a prinker. "A pranker or a dancer." Burton.

Prank"ish, a. Full of pranks; frolicsome.

Prase (?), n. [L. prasius, fr. Gr. &?; of a leek-green, fr. Gr. &?; a leek: cf. F. prase.] (Min.) A variety of cryptocrystalline of a leek-green color.

Pra"se*o- (?). [Gr. &?; leek-green, green, fr. &?; a leek.] A combining form signifying green; as, praseocobalt, a green variety of cobalt.

Pra`se*o*dym"i*um (?), n. [Praseo- + didymium.] (Chem.) An elementary substance, one of the constituents of didymium; -- so called from the green color of its salts. Symbol Ps. Atomic weight 143.6.

Pra"se*o*lite (?), n. [Praseo- + -lite.] (Min.) A variety of altered iolite of a green color and greasy luster.

Pras"i*nous (?), a. [L. prasinus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a leek.] Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture. Lindley.

Pra"soid (?), a. [Gr. &?; leek + - oid.] (Min.) Resembling prase.

Prate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating.] [Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel. prata.] To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble.

To prate and talk for life and honor.

Shak.

And make a fool presume to prate of love.

Dryden.

Prate, v. t. To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble.

What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate, When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate !

Dryden.

Prate, n. [Akin to LG. & D. praat, Sw. prat.] Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity.

Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate.

Pope.

Prate"ful (?), a. Talkative. [R.] W. Taylor.

Prat"er (?), n. One who prates. Shak.

Prat"ic (?), n. See Pratique.

Pra"tin*cole (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any bird of the Old World genus Glareola, or family GlareolidÊ, allied to the plovers. They have long, pointed wings and a forked tail.

Prat"ing*ly (?), adv. With idle talk; with loquacity.

Prat"ique (?), n. [F.; cf. It. pratica, Sp. practica. See Practice.] 1. (Com.) Primarily, liberty of converse; intercourse; hence, a certificate, given after compliance with quarantine regulations, permitting a ship to land passengers and crew; -- a term used particularly in the south of Europe.

<! p. 1125 !>

2. Practice; habits. [Obs.] "One of English education and pratique." R. North.

Prat"tle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prattled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prattling (?).] [Freq. of prate.] To talk much and idly; to prate; hence, to talk lightly and artlessly, like a child; to utter child's talk.

Prat"tle, v. t. To utter as prattle; to babble; as, to prattle treason. Addison.

Prat"tle, n. Trifling or childish tattle; empty talk; loquacity on trivial subjects; prate; babble.

Mere prattle, without practice.

Shak.

Prat"tle*ment (?), n. Prattle. [R.] Jeffrey.

Prat"tler (?), n. One who prattles. Herbert.

Prav"i*ty (?), n. [L. pravitas, from pravus crooked, perverse.] Deterioration; degeneracy; corruption; especially, moral crookedness; moral perversion; perverseness; depravity; as, the pravity of human nature. "The pravity of the will." South.

Prawn (?), n. [OE. prane, of unknown origin; cf. L. perna a sea mussel.] (Zoˆl.) Any one of numerous species of large shrimplike Crustacea having slender legs and long antennÊ. They mostly belong to the genera Pandalus, PalÊmon, PalÊmonetes, and Peneus, and are much used as food. The common English prawn is PalÊmon serratus.

The name is often applied to any large shrimp.

Prax*in"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; action + -scope.] (Opt.) An instrument, similar to the phenakistoscope, for presenting to view, or projecting upon a screen, images the natural motions of real objects.

Prax"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to do. See Practice.] 1. Use; practice; especially, exercise or discipline for a specific purpose or object. "The praxis and theory of music." Wood.

2. An example or form of exercise, or a collection of such examples, for practice.

Pray (?), n. & v. See Pry. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pray (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Praying.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frnan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraÌhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.] To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.

And to his goddess pitously he preyde.

Chaucer.

When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matt. vi. 6.

I pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go.

I pray, sir. why am I beaten?

Shak.

Syn. -- To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.

Pray, v. t. 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.

And as this earl was preyed, so did he.

Chaucer.

We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God.

2 Cor. v. 20.

2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

I know not how to pray your patience.

Shak.

3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. Milman.

To pray in aid. (Law) (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause. Bacon. (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid. Mozley & W.

Pray"er (?), n. One who prays; a supplicant.

Prayer (&?;; 277), n. [OE. preiere, OF. preiere, F. priËre, fr. L. precarius obtained by prayer, fr. precari to pray. See Pray, v. i.] 1. The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body. "Their meek preyere." Chaucer

2. The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer.

As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer.

Shak.

3. The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers.

He made those excellent prayers which were published immediately after his death.

Bp. Fell.

Prayer book, a book containing devotional prayers. -- Prayer meeting, a meeting or gathering for prayer to God.

Syn. -- Petition; orison; supplication; entreaty; suit.

Prayer"ful (?), a. Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional. "The prayerful man." J. S. Blackie. -- Prayer"ful*ly, adv. -- Prayer"ful*ness, n.

Prayer"less (?; 277), a. Not using prayer; habitually neglecting prayer to God; without prayer. "The next time you go prayerless to bed." Baxter.

-- Prayer"less*ly, adv. -- Prayer"less*ness, n.

Pray"ing (?), a. & n. from Pray, v.

Praying insect, locust, or mantis (Zoˆl.), a mantis, especially Mantis religiosa. See Mantis. -- Praying machine, or Praying wheel, a wheel on which prayers are pasted by Buddhist priests, who then put the wheel in rapid revolution. Each turn in supposed to have the efficacy of an oral repetition of all the prayers on the wheel. Sometimes it is moved by a stream.

Pray"ing*ly, adv. With supplication to God.

Pre- (?). [L. prae, adv. & prep., before, akin to pro, and to E. for, prep.: cf. F. prÈ-. See Pro-, and cf. Prior.] A prefix denoting priority (of time, place, or rank); as, precede, to go before; precursor, a forerunner; prefix, to fix or place before; preÎminent eminent before or above others. Pre- is sometimes used intensively, as in prepotent, very potent. [Written also prÊ-.]

Pre*ac`cu*sa"tion (?), n. Previous accusation.

Preace (?), v. & n. Press. [Obs.] Spenser.

Preach (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preaching.] [OE. prechen, OF. preechier, F. prÍcher, fr. L. praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim; prae before + dicare to make known, dicere to say; or perhaps from (assumed) LL. praedictare. See Diction, and cf. Predicate, Predict.] 1. To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.

How shall they preach, except they be sent?

Rom. x. 15.

From that time Jesus began to preach.

Matt. iv. 17.

2. To give serious advice on morals or religion; to discourse in the manner of a preacher.

Preach, v. t. 1. To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.

That Cristes gospel truly wolde preche.

Chaucer.

The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.

Isa. lxi. 1.

2. To inculcate in public discourse; to urge with earnestness by public teaching. "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation." Ps. xl. 9.

3. To deliver or pronounce; as, to preach a sermon.

4. To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching. [R.] "As ye are preached." Southey.

5. To advise or recommend earnestly.

My master preaches patience to him.

Shak.

To preach down, to oppress, or humiliate by preaching. Tennyson. -- To preach up, to exalt by preaching; to preach in support of; as, to preach up equality.

Preach, n. [Cf. F. prÍche, fr. prÍcher. See Preach, v.] A religious discourse. [Obs.] Hooker.

Preach"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. preeschierre, prescheur, F. prÍcheur, L. praedicator.] 1. One who preaches; one who discourses publicly on religious subjects.

How shall they hear without a preacher?

Rom. x. 14.

2. One who inculcates anything with earnestness.

No preacher is listened to but Time.

Swift.

Preacher bird (Zoˆl.), a toucan.

Preach"er*ship, n. The office of a preacher. "The preachership of the Rolls." Macaulay.

Preach"i*fy (?), v. i. [Preach + -fy.] To discourse in the manner of a preacher. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Preach"ing, n. The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of sermonizing; also, a sermon; a public religious discourse; serious, earnest advice. Milner.

Preaching cross, a cross, sometimes surmounting a pulpit, erected out of doors to designate a preaching place. -- Preaching friars. See Dominican.

Preach"man (?), n.; pl. Preachmen (&?;). A preacher; -- so called in contempt. [Obs.] Howell.

Preach"ment (?), n. A religious harangue; a sermon; -- used derogatively. Shak.

Pre`ac*quaint" (?), v. t. To acquaint previously or beforehand. Fielding.

Pre`ac*quaint"ance (?), n. Previous acquaintance or knowledge. Harris.

Pre*act" (?), v. t. To act beforehand; to perform previously.

Pre*ac"tion (?), n. Previous action.

Pre`a*dam"ic (?), a. Prior to Adam.

Pre*ad"am*ite (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈadamite.] 1. An inhabitant of the earth before Adam.

2. One who holds that men existed before Adam.

Pre*ad`am*it"ic (?), a. Existing or occurring before Adam; preadamic; as, preadamitic periods.

Pre`ad*just"ment (?), n. Previous adjustment.

Pre`ad*min`is*tra"tion (?), n. Previous administration. Bp. Pearson.

Pre`ad*mon"ish, v. t. To admonish previously.

Pre*ad`mo*ni"tion (?), n. Previous warning or admonition; forewarning.

Pre*ad`ver*tise" (?), v. t. To advertise beforehand; to preannounce publicly.

Pre"am`ble (?), n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. prÈambule. See Amble.] A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.

Pre"am`ble, v. t. & i. To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble. [R.] Feltham. Milton.

Pre*am"bu*la*ry (?), a. [Cf. OF. preambulaire.] Of or pertaining to a preamble; introductory; contained or provided for in a preamble. "A preambulary tax." [R.] Burke.

Pre*am"bu*late (?), v. i. [L. praeambulare. See Preamble.] To walk before. [R.] Jordan.

Pre*am`bu*la"tion (?), n. 1. A walking or going before; precedence. [R.]

2. A preamble. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre*am"bu*la*to*ry (?), a. Preceding; going before; introductory. [R.]

Simon Magus had preambulatory impieties.

Jer. Taylor.

Pre*am"bu*lous (?), a. [See Preamble, n.] See Perambulatory. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre`an*nounce" (?), v. t. To announce beforehand. Coleridge.

Pre*an`te*nul"ti*mate (?), a. Being or indicating the fourth syllable from the end of a word, or that before the antepenult.

Pre`a*or"tic (?), a. (Anat.) In front, or on the ventral side, of the aorta.

Pre`ap*point" (?), v. t. To appoint previously, or beforehand. Carlyle.

Pre`ap*point"ment (?), n. Previous appointment.

Pre*ap`pre*hen"sion (?), n. An apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre*arm" (?), v. t. To forearm. [R.]

Pre`ar*range" (?), v. t. To arrange beforehand.

Prease (?), v. t. & i. To press; to crowd. [Obs.] -- n. A press; a crowd. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pre`as*sur"ance (?), n. Previous assurance. Coleridge.

Pre`a*tax"ic (?), a. (Med.) Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; -- applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

Pre*au"di*ence (?), n. (Eng. Law) Precedence of rank at the bar among lawyers. Blackstone.

Pre*ax"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of any transverse axis in the body of an animal; anterior; cephalic; esp., in front, or on the anterior, or cephalic (that is, radial or tibial) side of the axis of a limb.

Preb"end (prb"nd), n. [F. prÈbende (cf. It. & Sp. prebenda), from L. praebenda, from L. praebere to hold forth, afford, contr. fr. praehibere; prae before + habere to have, hold. See Habit, and cf. Provender.] 1. A payment or stipend; esp., the stipend or maintenance granted to a prebendary out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church with which he is connected. See Note under Benefice.

2. A prebendary. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dignitary prebend, one having jurisdiction annexed to it. -- Simple prebend, one without jurisdiction.

Pre*ben"dal (pr*bn"dal), a. Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield.

Preb"en*da*ry (prb"n*d*r), n. [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prÈbendaire. See Prebend.] 1. A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. See Note under Benefice, n., 3. Hook.

2. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Bailey.

Preb"en*da*ry*ship, n. The office of a prebendary.

Preb"en*date (?), v. t. [LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari.] To invest with the office of prebendary; to present to a prebend. [Obs.] Grafton.

Preb"end*ship (?), n. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Foxe.

Pre*bron"chi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the bronchus; -- applied especially to an air sac on either side of the esophagus of birds.

Pre*cal"cu*late (?), v. t. To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.

Pre"cant (?), n. [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.] One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*ca"ri*ous (?), a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.] 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison.

2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. "Intervals of partial and precarious liberty." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. -- Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties.

-- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n.

Pre*ca"tion (?), n. [L. precatio.] The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.

{ Prec"a*tive (?), Prec"a*to*ry (?), } a. [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.] Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins.

Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; -- in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.

Pre*cau"tion (?), n. [F. prÈcation, L. praecautio, fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against beforehand; prae before + cavere be on one's guard. See Pre-, and Caution.] 1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.

They [ancient philosophers] treasured up their supposed discoveries with miserable precaution.

J. H. Newman.

2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions against accident.

Pre*cau"tion, v. t. [Cf. F. prÈcautionner.] 1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke.

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2. To take precaution against. [R.] Dryden.

Pre*cau"tion*al (?), a. Precautionary.

Pre*cau"tion*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to precaution, or precautions; as, precautionary signals.

Pre*cau"tious (?), a. Taking or using precaution; precautionary. -- Pre*cau"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*cau"*tious*ness, n.

Pre`ce*da"ne*ous (?), a. Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.] Hammond.

Pre*cede" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding.] [L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. prÈceder. See Pre-, and Cede.] 1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin." Milton.

2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.

3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object. [R.]

It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.

Kent.

{ Pre*ced"ence (?), Pre*ced"en*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcÈdence. See Precede.] 1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority; as, one event has precedence of another.

2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank; as, barons have precedence of commoners.

Which of them [the different desires] has the precedency in determining the will to the next action?

Locke.

Syn. -- Antecedence; priority; preÎminence; preference; superiority.

Pre*ced"ent (?), a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. prÈcÈdent. See Precede.] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon.

Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.

Prec"e*dent (?), n. 1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example.

Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

Hooker.

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.] Shak.

4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases. Wharton.

Syn. -- Example; antecedent. -- Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law.

Prec"e*dent*ed, a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind. Walpole.

Prec`e*den"tial (?), a. Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions.

All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity.

Fuller.

Pre*ced"ent*ly (?), adv. Beforehand; antecedently.

Pre*ced"ing, a. 1. Going before; -- opposed to following.

2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.

Pre*cel" (?), v. t. & i. [See Precellence.] To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.] Howell.

{ Pre*cel"lence (?), Pre*cel"len*cy (?), } n. [L. praecellentia, from praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence.] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.

Pre*cel"lent (?), a. [L. praecellens, p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.

Pre*cen"tor (?), n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; -- called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b) The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.

Pre*cen"tor*ship, n. The office of a precentor.

Pre"cept (?), n. [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. prÈcepte. See Pre-, and Capacious.] 1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.

For precept must be upon precept.

Isa. xxviii. 10.

No arts are without their precepts.

Dryden.

2. (Law) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.

Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine.

Pre"cept, v. t. To teach by precepts. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pre*cep"tial (?), a. Preceptive. [Obs.]

[Passion] would give preceptial medicine to rage.

Shak.

Pre*cep"tion (?), n. [L. praeceptio.] A precept. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Pre*cep"tive (?), a. [L. praeceptivus.] Containing or giving precepts; of the nature of precepts; didactic; as, the preceptive parts of the Scriptures.

The lesson given us here is preceptive to us.

L'Estrange.

Pre*cep"tor (?), n. [L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. prÈcepteur. See Precept.] 1. One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor.

2. The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars. Sir W. Scott.

Pre`cep*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a preceptor.

Pre*cep"to*ry (?; 277), a. Preceptive. "A law preceptory." Anderson (1573).

Pre*cep"to*ry, n.; pl. Preceptories (#). [LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor.] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2.

Pre*cep"tress (?), n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.

Pre*ces"sion (?), n. [L. praecedere, praecessum, to go before: cf. F. prÈcession. See Precede.] The act of going before, or forward.

Lunisolar precession. (Astron.) See under Lunisolar. -- Planetary precession, that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. -- Precession of the equinoxes (Astron.), the slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2&Prime; annually, caused by the action of the sun, moon, and planets, upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator, in connection with its diurnal rotation; -- so called because either equinox, owing to its westerly motion, comes to the meridian sooner each day than the point it would have occupied without the motion of precession, and thus precedes that point continually with reference to the time of transit and motion.

Pre*ces"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes.

Pre*ces"sor (?), n. [L. praecessor.] A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre"cinct (?; 277), n. [LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture.] 1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state. "The precincts of light." Milton.

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct.

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]

The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice.

Laws of Massachusetts.

Pre`ci*os"i*ty (?), n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre"cious (?), a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. prÈcieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.

She is more precious than rules.

Prov. iii. 15.

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid.

Hooker.

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.

Chaucer.

Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. -- Precious stones, gems; jewels.

Pre"cious*ly, adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.

Pre"cious*ness, n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.

Prec"i*pe (?), n. (Law) See PrÊcipe, and Precept.

Prec"i*pice (?), n. [F. prÈcipice, L. praecipitium, fr. praeceps, -cipitis, headlong; prae before + caput, capitis, the head. See Pre-, and Chief.] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. [Obs.] Fuller.

2. A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; an abrupt declivity; a cliff.

Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew.

Dryden.

Pre*cip"i*ent (?), a. [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.] Commanding; directing.

Pre*cip`i*ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being precipitable.

Pre*cip"i*ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate, n. (Chem.)

{ Pre*cip"i*tance (?), Pre*cip"i*tan*cy (?), } n. [From Precipitant.] The quality or state of being precipitant, or precipitate; headlong hurry; excessive or rash haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or executing a purpose; precipitation; as, the precipitancy of youth. "Precipitance of judgment." I. Watts.

Pre*cip"i*tant (?), a. [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of praecipitare: cf. F. prÈcipitant. See Precipitate.] 1. Falling or rushing headlong; rushing swiftly, violently, or recklessly; moving precipitately.

They leave their little lives Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.

J. Philips.

Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold, Precipitant in fear would wing their flight.

Pope.

2. Unexpectedly or foolishly brought on or hastened; rashly hurried; hasty; sudden; reckless. Jer. Taylor. "Precipitant rebellion." Eikon Basilike.

Pre*cip"i*tant, n. (Chem.) Any force or reagent which causes the formation of a precipitate.

Pre*cip"i*tant*ly, adv. With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner. Milton.

Pre*cip"i*tant*ness, n. The quality or state of being precipitant; precipitation.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.] 1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.

2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as, a precipitate measure. "The rapidity of our too precipitate course." Landor.

3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong.

Precipitate the furious torrent flows.

Prior.

4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), n. [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F. prÈcipitÈ.] 1. (Chem.) An insoluble substance separated from a solution in a concrete state by the action of some reagent added to the solution, or of some force, such as heat or cold. The precipitate may fall to the bottom (whence the name), may be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near the surface.

Red precipitate (Old. Chem), mercuric oxide (HgO) a heavy red crystalline powder obtained by heating mercuric nitrate, or by heating mercury in the air. Prepared in the latter manner, it was the precipitate per se of the alchemists. -- White precipitate (Old Chem.) (a) A heavy white amorphous powder (NH2.HgCl) obtained by adding ammonia to a solution of mercuric chloride or corrosive sublimate; -- formerly called also infusible white precipitate, and now amido-mercuric chloride. (b) A white crystalline substance obtained by adding a solution of corrosive sublimate to a solution of sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride); -- formerly called also fusible white precipitate.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precipitated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Precipitating.] 1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height.

She and her horse had been precipitated to the pebbled region of the river.

W. Irving.

2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as, precipitate a journey, or a conflict.

Back to his sight precipitates her steps.

Glover.

If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous.

Bacon.

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor when in solution with alcohol.

The light vapor of the preceding evening had been precipitated by the cold.

W. Irving.

Pre*cip"i*tate, v. i. 1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]

So many fathom down precipitating.

Shak.

2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.

Pre*cip"i*tate*ly (?), adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift.

Pre*cip`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praecipitatio: cf. F. prÈcipitation.] 1. The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong.

In peril of precipitation From off rock Tarpeian.

Shak.

2. A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity.

The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, returning . . . towards the sea.

Woodward.

3. Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity. "The precipitation of inexperience." Rambler.

4. (Chem.) The act or process of precipitating from a solution.

Pre*cip"i*ta`tor (?), n. [L. praecipitator an overthrower.] One who precipitates, or urges on with vehemence or rashness. Hammond.

Prec`i*pi"tious (?), a. Precipitous. [Obs.] -- Prec`i*pi"tious*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pre*cip"i*tous (?), a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.] 1. Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain.

2. Headlong; as, precipitous fall.

3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous ëHush!'" Mrs. Browning.

-- Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n.

||PrÈ`cis" (pr`s"), n. [F. See Precise.] A concise or abridged ||statement or view; an abstract; a summary.

Pre*cise" (?), a. [L. praecisus cut off, brief, concise, p. p. of praecidere to cut off in front, to cut off; prae before + caedere to cut: cf. F. prÈcis. Cf. Concise.] 1. Having determinate limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality.

The law in this point is not precise.

Bacon.

For the hour precise Exacts our parting hence.

Milton.

2. Strictly adhering or conforming to rule; very nice or exact; punctilious in conduct or ceremony; formal; ceremonious. Addison.

He was ever precise in promise- keeping.

Shak.

Syn. -- Accurate; exact; definite; correct; scrupulous; punctilious; particular; nice; formal. See Accurate.

-- Pre*cise"ly, adv. -- Pre*cise"ness, n.

Pre*ci"sian (?), n. 1. One who limits, or restrains. [Obs.]

2. An overprecise person; one rigidly or ceremoniously exact in the observance of rules; a formalist; -- formerly applied to the English Puritans.

The most dissolute cavaliers stood aghast at the dissoluteness of the emancipated precisian.

Macaulay.

Pre*ci"sian*ism (?), n. The quality or state of being a precisian; the practice of a precisian. Milton.

Pre*ci"sian*ist, n. A precisian.

Pre*ci"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈcision, L. praecisio a cutting off. See Precise.] The quality or state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness.

I have left out the utmost precisions of fractions.

Locke.

Syn. -- Preciseness; exactness; accuracy; nicety. -- Precision, Preciseness. Precision is always used in a good sense; as, precision of thought or language; precision in military evolutions. Preciseness is sometimes applied to persons or their conduct in a disparaging sense, and precise is often used in the same way.

Pre*ci"sive (?), a. Cutting off; (Logic) exactly limiting by cutting off all that is not absolutely relative to the purpose; as, precisive censure; precisive abstraction. I. Watts.

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Pre*clude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Precluding.] [L. praecludere, praeclusum; prae before + claudere to shut. See Close, v.] 1. To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede.

The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins.

E. Darwin.

2. To shut out by anticipative action; to prevent or hinder by necessary consequence or implication; to deter action of, access to, employment of, etc.; to render ineffectual; to obviate by anticipation.

This much will obviate and preclude the objections.

Bentley.

Pre*clu"sion (?), n. [L. praeclusio. See Preclude.] The act of precluding, or the state of being precluded; a shutting out.

Pre*clu"sive (?), a. Shutting out; precluding, or tending to preclude; hindering. -- Pre*clu"sive*ly, adv.

Pre*coce" (?), a. [F. prÈcoce.] Precocious. [Obs.]

||Pre"co*ces, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as PrÊcoces.

Pre*co"cious (?), a. [L. praecox, -ocis, and praecoquus, fr. praecoquere to cook or ripen beforehand; prae before + coquere to cook. See 3d Cook, and cf. Apricot.] 1. Ripe or mature before the proper or natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed; as, precocious trees. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding what is to be expected of one's years; too forward; -- used especially of mental forwardness; as, a precocious child; precocious talents.

Pre*co"cious*ly, adv. In a precocious manner.

{ Pre*co"cious*ness, Pre*coc"i*ty (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcocitÈ.] The quality or state of being precocious; untimely ripeness; premature development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness.

Saucy precociousness in learning.

Bp. Mannyngham.

That precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius.

Wirt.

Pre*co`e*ta"ne*an (?), n. One contemporary with, but older than, another. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre*cog"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. praecogitatus, p. p. of praecogitare. See Pre-, and Cogitate.] To cogitate beforehand. [R.] Sherwood.

Pre*cog`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praecogitatio.] Previous cogitation. [R.] Bailey.

Pre`cog*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praecognitio, fr. praecognoscere to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.] 1. Previous cognition. Fotherby.

2. (Scots Law) A preliminary examination of a criminal case with reference to a prosecution. Erskine.

Pre*cog"ni*za*ble (?), a. Cognizable beforehand.

Pre*cog"nosce (?), v. t. [L. praecognoscere to foreknow.] (Scots Law) To examine beforehand, as witnesses or evidence.

A committee of nine precognoscing the chances.

Masson.

Pre`col*lec"tion (?), n. A collection previously made. [R.]

Pre`com*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precomposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Precomposing.] To compose beforehand. Johnson.

Pre`con*ceit" (?), n. An opinion or notion formed beforehand; a preconception. Hooker.

Pre`con*ceive" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconceived (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preconceiving.] To conceive, or form an opinion of, beforehand; to form a previous notion or idea of.

In a dead plain the way seemeth the longer, because the eye hath preconceived it shorter than the truth.

Bacon.

Pre`con*cep"tion (?), n. The act of preconceiving; conception or opinion previously formed.

Pre`con*cert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preconcerting.] To concert or arrange beforehand; to settle by previous agreement.

Pre*con"cert (?), n. Something concerted or arranged beforehand; a previous agreement.

Pre`con*cert"ed (?), a. Previously arranged; agreed upon beforehand. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ly, adv. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ness, n.

Pre`con*cer"tion (?), n. The act of preconcerting; preconcert. Dr. T. Dwight.

Pre`con*demn` (?), v. t. To condemn beforehand. -- Pre*con`dem*na"tion (#), n.

Pre`con*di"tion (?), n. A previous or antecedent condition; a preliminary condition.

Pre`con*form" (?), v. t. & i. To conform by way anticipation. De Quincey.

Pre`con*form"i*ty (?), n. Anticipative or antecedent conformity. Coleridge.

Pre*con"i*zate (?), v. t. [Cf. F. prÈconiser.] To proclaim; to publish; also, to summon; to call. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Pre*con`i*za"tion (?), n. [L. praeconium a crying out in public, fr. praeco, - onis, a crier, a herald: cf. F. prÈconisation.] 1. A publishing by proclamation; a public proclamation. Bp. Hall.

2. (Eccl.) A formal approbation by the pope of a person nominated to an ecclesiastical dignity. Addis & Arnold.

Pre"con*ize (?), v. t. (Eccl.) To approve by preconization.

Pre*con"quer (?), v. t. To conquer in anticipation. [R.] Fuller.

Pre*con""scious (?), a. Of or pertaining to a state before consciousness.

Pre`con*sent" (?), n. A previous consent.

Pre`con*sign" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconsigned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preconsigning.] To consign beforehand; to make a previous consignment of.

Pre`con*sol"i*da`ted (?), a. Consolidated beforehand.

Pre*con"sti*tute (?), v. t. To constitute or establish beforehand.

Pre`con*tract" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precontracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Precontracting.] To contract, engage, or stipulate previously.

Pre`con*tract" (?), v. i. To make a previous contract or agreement. Ayliffe.

Pre*con"tract (?), n. A contract preceding another; especially (Law), a contract of marriage which, according to the ancient law, rendered void a subsequent marriage solemnized in violation of it. Abbott.

Pre`con*trive" (?), v. t. & i. To contrive or plan beforehand.

Pre*cor"a*coid (?), n. (Anat.) The anterior part of the coracoid (often closely united with the clavicle) in the shoulder girdle of many reptiles and amphibians.

Pre*cor"di*al (?), a. [Pref. pre- + L. cor, cordis, heart: cf. F. prÈcordial.] (Anat.) Situated in front of the heart; of or pertaining to the prÊcordia.

Pre*cru"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the leg or thigh; as, the precrural glands of the horse.

Pre*cur"rer (?), n. A precursor. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*curse" (?), n. [L. praecursus.] A forerunning. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*cur"sive (?), a. Preceding; introductory; precursory. "A deep precursive sound." Coleridge.

Pre*cur"sor (?), n. [L. praecursor, fr. praecurrere to run before; prae before + currere to run. See Course.] One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger.

Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul.

Buckminster.

Syn. -- Predecessor; forerunner; harbinger; messenger; omen; sign.

Pre*cur"sor*ship, n. The position or condition of a precursor. Ruskin.

Pre*cur"so*ry (?), a. [L. praecursorius.] Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.

Pre*cur"so*ry, n. An introduction. [Obs.]

Pre*da"cean (?), n. [L. praeda prey.] (Zoˆl.) A carnivorous animal. Kirby.

Pre*da"ceous (?), a. [L. praeda prey. See Prey.] Living by prey; predatory. Derham.

Pre"dal (?), a. [L. praeda prey.] Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] Boyse.

Pre*date" (?), v. t. To date anticipation; to affix to (a document) an earlier than the actual date; to antedate; as, a predated deed or letter.

Pre*da"tion (?), n. [L. praedatio, fr. praedari to plunder.] The act of pillaging. E. Hall.

Pred"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a predatory manner.

Pred"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.] 1. Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." Macaulay.

2. Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits. [Obs.]

Exercise . . . maketh the spirits more hot and predatory.

Bacon.

3. (Zoˆl.) Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.

Prede (?), v. i. [L. praedari. See Prey.] To prey; to plunder. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Prede, n. Prey; plunder; booty. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Pre"de*cay` (?), n. Premature decay.

Pre`de*cease (?), v. t. To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." Shak.

Pre"de*cease` (?), n. The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] Brougham.

Pred`e*ces"sive (?), a. Going before; preceding. "Our predecessive students." Massinger.

Pred`e*ces"sor (?; 277), n. [L. praedecessor; prae before + decessor one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr. decedere: cf. F. prÈdÈcesseur. See Decease.] One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.

A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state.

Prescott.

Pre`de*clare" (?), v. t. To declare or announce beforehand; to preannounce. Milman.

Pre*ded`i*ca"tion (?), n. A dedication made previously or beforehand.

Pre`de*fine (?), v. t. To define beforehand.

Pre`de*lib`er*a"tion, n. Previous deliberation.

Pre`de*lin`e*a"tion, n. Previous delineation.

||Pre*del"la (?), n. [It.] The step, or raised secondary part, of an ||altar; a superaltar; hence, in Italian painting, a band or frieze of ||several pictures running along the front of a superaltar, or forming ||a border or frame at the foot of an altarpiece.

Pre`de*sign" (?), v. t. To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Mitford.

Pre*des"ig*nate (?), a. (Logic) A term used by Sir William Hamilton to define propositions having their quantity indicated by a verbal sign; as, all, none, etc.; -- contrasted with preindesignate, defining propositions of which the quantity is not so indicated.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to predestination; as, the predestinarian controversy. Waterland.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an, n. One who believes in or supports the doctrine of predestination. Dr. H. More.

Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an*ism (?), n. The system or doctrine of the predestinarians.

Pre*des"ti*na*ry (?), a. Predestinarian. [Obs.] Heylin.

Pre*des"ti*nate (?), a. [L. praedestinatus, p. p. of praedestinare to predestine; prae before + destinare to determine. See Destine.] Predestinated; foreordained; fated. "A predestinate scratched face." Shak.

Pre*des"ti*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predestinating.] [Cf. Predestine.] To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose or decree; to preÎlect.

Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.

Rom. viii. 29.

Syn. -- To predetermine; foreordain; preordain; decree; predestine; foredoom.

Pre*des`ti*na"tion (?), n. [L. praedestinatio: cf. F. prÈdestination.] 1. The act of predestinating.

Predestination had overruled their will.

Milton.

2. (Theol.) The purpose of Good from eternity respecting all events; especially, the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery. See Calvinism.

Pre*des"ti*na*tive (?), a. Determining beforehand; predestinating. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*des"ti*na`tor (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdestinateur.] 1. One who predestinates, or foreordains.

2. One who holds to the doctrine of predestination; a predestinarian. Cowley.

Pre*des"tine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predestining.] [Cf. F. prÈdestiner. See Predestinate.] To decree beforehand; to foreordain; to predestinate. Young.

Pre*des"ti*ny (?), n. Predestination. [Obs.]

Pre`de*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being determined beforehand. Coleridge.

Pre`de*ter"mi*nate (?), a. Determined beforehand; as, the predeterminate counsel of God.

Pre`de*ter`mi*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdÈtermination.] The act of previous determination; a purpose formed beforehand; as, the predetermination of God's will. Hammond.

Pre`de*ter"mine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predetermined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predermining.] [Pref. pre- + determine: cf. F. prÈdÈterminer.] 1. To determine (something) beforehand. Sir M. Hale.

2. To doom by previous decree; to foredoom.

Pre`de*ter"mine, v. i. To determine beforehand.

Pre"di*al (?), a. [L. praedium a farm, estate: cf. F. prÈdial.] 1. Consisting of land or farms; landed; as, predial estate; that is, real estate. Ayliffe.

2. Attached to land or farms; as, predial slaves.

3. Issuing or derived from land; as, predial tithes.

Pre*di`as*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Preceding the diastole of the heart; as, a prediastolic friction sound.

Pred`i*ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being predicable, or affirmable of something, or attributed to something. Reid.

Pred"i*ca*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈdicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See Predicate.] Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable.

Pred"i*ca*ble, n. 1. Anything affirmable of another; especially, a general attribute or notion as affirmable of, or applicable to, many individuals.

2. (Logic) One of the five most general relations of attributes involved in logical arrangements, namely, genus, species, difference, property, and accident.

Pre*dic"a*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdicament, L. praedicamentum. See Predicate.] 1. A class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, an unfortunate or trying position or condition. "O woeful sympathy; piteous predicament!" Shak.

2. (Logic) See Category.

Syn. -- Category; condition; state; plight.

Pre*dic`a*men"tal (?), a. Of or pertaining to a predicament. John Hall (1646).

Pred"i*cant (?), a. [L. praedicans, -antis, p. pr. of praedicare. See Predicate.] Predicating; affirming; declaring; proclaiming; hence; preaching. "The Roman predicant orders." N. Brit. Rev.

Pred"i*cant, n. One who predicates, affirms, or proclaims; specifically, a preaching friar; a Dominican.

Pred"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predicating.] [L. praedicatus, p. p. of praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim. See Preach.] 1. To assert to belong to something; to affirm (one thing of another); as, to predicate whiteness of snow.

2. To found; to base. [U.S.]

Predicate is sometimes used in the United States for found or base; as, to predicate an argument on certain principles; to predicate a statement on information received. Predicate is a term in logic, and used only in a single case, namely, when we affirm one thing of another. "Similitude is not predicated of essences or substances, but of figures and qualities only." Cudworth.

Pred"i*cate, v. i. To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M. Hale.

Pred"i*cate (?), n. [L. praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p. praedicare: cf. F. prÈdicat. See Predicate, v. t.] 1. (Logic) That which is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, "Paper is white," "Ink is not white," whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink.

2. (Gram.) The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.

Syn. -- Affirmation; declaration.

Pred"i*cate, a. [L. praedicatus, p. p.] Predicated.

Pred`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. praedicatio: cf. F. prÈdication.] 1. The act of predicating, or of affirming one thing of another; affirmation; assertion. Locke.

2. Preaching. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.

Pred"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. praedicativus.] Expressing affirmation or predication; affirming; predicating, as, a predicative term. -- Pred"i*ca*tive*ly, adv.

Pred"i*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. L. praedicatorius praising.] Affirmative; positive. Bp. Hall.

<! p. 1128 !>

Pre`di*crot"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) A term applied to the pulse wave sometimes seen in a pulse curve or sphygmogram, between the apex of the curve and the dicrotic wave.

The predicrotic or tidal wave is best marked in a hard pulse, i. e., where the blood pressure is high.

Landois & Stirling.

Pre*dict" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicting.] [L. praedictus, p. p. of praedicere to predict; prae before + dicere to say, tell. See Diction, and cf. Preach.] To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

Syn. -- To foretell; prophesy; prognosticate; presage; forebode; foreshow; bode.

Pre*dict", n. A prediction. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*dict"a*ble (?), a. That may be predicted.

Pre*dic"tion (?), n. [L. praedictio: cf. F. prÈdiction.] The act of foretelling; also, that which is foretold; prophecy.

The predictions of cold and long winters.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Prophecy; prognostication; foreboding; augury; divination; soothsaying; vaticination.

Pre*dic"tion*al (?), a. Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]

Pre*dict"ive (?), a. [L. praedictivus.] Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. - - Pre*dict"ive*ly, adv.

Pre*dict"or (?), n. One who predicts; a foreteller.

Pre*dict"o*ry (?), a. Predictive. [R.] Fuller.

Pre`di*gest" (?), v. t. (Med.) To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.

Pre`di*ges"tion (?), n. 1. Digestion too soon performed; hasty digestion. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. (Med.) Artificial digestion of food for use in illness or impaired digestion.

Pre`di*lect" (?), v. t. To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.

Pre`di*lec"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. dilectus, p. p. diligere to prefer: cf. F. prÈdilection. See Diligent.] A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality. Burke.

Pre`dis*cov"er (?), v. t. To discover beforehand.

Pre`dis*cov"er*y (?), n. A previous discovery.

Pre`dis*po"nen*cy (?), n. The state of being predisposed; predisposition. [R.]

Pre`dis*po"nent (?), a. Disposing beforehand; predisposing. -- n. That which predisposes.

Predisponent causes. (Med.) See Predisposing causes, under Predispose. Dunglison.

Pre`dis*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predisposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing.] [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. prÈdisposer.] 1. To dispose or incline beforehand; to give a predisposition or bias to; as, to predispose the mind to friendship.

2. To make fit or susceptible beforehand; to give a tendency to; as, debility predisposes the body to disease.

Predisposing causes (Med.), causes which render the body liable to disease; predisponent causes.

Pre*dis`po*si"tion (?), n.[Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prÈdisposition.] 1. The act of predisposing, or the state of being predisposed; previous inclination, tendency, or propensity; predilection; -- applied to the mind; as, a predisposition to anger.

2. Previous fitness or adaptation to any change, impression, or purpose; susceptibility; -- applied to material things; as, the predisposition of the body to disease.

Pre*dom"i*nance (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdominance.] 1. The quality or state of being predominant; superiority; ascendency; prevalence; predomination.

The predominance of conscience over interest.

South.

2. (Astrol.) The superior influence of a planet. Shak.

Pre*dom"i*nan*cy (?), n. Predominance. Bacon.

Pre*dom"i*nant (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈdominant. See Predominante.] Having the ascendency over others; superior in strength, influence, or authority; prevailing; as, a predominant color; predominant excellence.

Those help . . . were predominant in the king's mind.

Bacon.

Foul subordination is predominant.

Shak.

Syn. -- Prevalent; superior; prevailing; ascendant; ruling; reigning; controlling; overruling.

Pre*dom"i*nant*ly, adv. In a predominant manner.

Pre*dom"i*nate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Predominated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Predominating.] [Pref. pre- + dominate: cf. F. prÈdominer.] To be superior in number, strength, influence, or authority; to have controlling power or influence; to prevail; to rule; to have the mastery; as, love predominated in her heart.

[Certain] rays may predominate over the rest.

Sir. I. Newton.

Pre*dom"i*nate, v. t. To rule over; to overpower. [R.]

Pre*dom`i*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈdomination.] The act or state of predominating; ascendency; predominance. W. Browne.

Pre*doom" (?), v. t. To foredoom.

Pre*dor"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the back; immediately in front, or on the ventral side the dorsal part of the vertebral column.

Pre"dy (?), a. [Cf. F. prÍt ready.] Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.

Preed"y (?), adv. With ease. [Prov. Eng.]

Preef (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre`Î*lect" (?), v. t. To elect beforehand.

Pre`Î*lec"tion (?), n. Election beforehand.

Pre*Îm"i*nence (?), n. [F. prÈÈminence, L. praeeminentia. See PreÎminent.] The quality or state of being preÎminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preÎminence in honor.

The preÎminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme.

Addison.

Painful preÎminence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too.

Pope.

Beneath the forehead's walled preÎminence.

Lowell.

Pre*Îm"i*nent (?), a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. prÈÈminent. See Pre-, and Eminent.] Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preÎminent in guilt.

In goodness and in power preÎminent.

Milton.

Pre*Îm"i*nent*ly, adv. In a preÎminent degree.

Pre`Îm*ploy (?), v. t. To employ beforehand. "PreÎmployed by him." Shak.

Pre*Împt" (?; 215), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. PreÎmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎmpting.] [See PreÎmption.] To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preÎmption.

Pre*Împ"tion (?; 215), n. [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. prÈemption. See Redeem.] The act or right of purchasing before others. Specifically: (a) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others. [Eng.] (b) The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in preference to all other applicants. Abbott.

Pre*Împ"tion*er (?), n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. Abbott.

Pre*Împ"tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to preÎmption; having power to preÎmpt; preÎmpting.

Pre*Împt"or (?; 215), n. [Cf. L. praeemptor.] One who preÎmpts; esp., one who preÎmpts public land.

Pre*Împt"o*ry (?), a. Pertaining to preÎmption.

Preen (?), n. [AS. preÛn a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjnn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.] A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.

Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See Preen, n.; or cf. Prune.] 1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham.

2. To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Pre`În*gage" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PreÎngaged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎngaging (?).] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.

But he was preÎngaged by former ties.

Dryden.

Pre`În*gage"ment (?), n. Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection.

My preÎngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write.

Boyle.

Pre`Î*rect" (?), v. t. To erect beforehand.

Prees (?), n. Press; throng. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre`Îs*tab"lish, v. t. To establish beforehand.

Pre`Îs*tab"lish*ment, n. Settlement beforehand.

Pre`Î*ter"ni*ty (?), n. Infinite previous duration. [R.] "The world's preÎternity." Cudworth.

Pre`Îx*am`i*na"tion (?), n. Previous examination.

Pre`Îx*am"ine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. PreÎxamined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎxamining.] To examine beforehand.

Pre`Îx*ist" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. PreÎxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. PreÎxisting.] To exist previously; to exist before something else.

Pre`Îx*ist"ence (?), n. 1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else.

Wisdom declares her antiquity and preÎxistence to all the works of this earth.

T. Burnet.

2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers. Addison.

Pre`Îx*ist"en*cy (?), n. PreÎxistence. [Obs.]

Pre`Îx*ist"ent (?), a. Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preÎxistent state. Pope.

Pre`Îx*ist"ent*ism (?), n. (Philos.) The theory of a preÎxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson.

Pre`Îx*is`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre*Îx`pec*ta"tion (?), n. Previous expectation.

Pref"ace (?; 48), n. [F. prÈface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate.] 1. Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.

This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

Shak.

Heaven's high behest no preface needs.

Milton.

2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold.

Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.

Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.

Pref"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefaced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefacing.] To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.

Pref"ace, v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.

Pref"a*cer (?), n. The writer of a preface.

Pref`a*to"ri*al (?), a. Prefatory.

Pref"a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.

Pref"a*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse; as, prefatory remarks.

That prefatory addition to the Creed.

Dryden.

Pre"fect (?), n. [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. prÈfet.] 1. A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person.

2. A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation. [France] Brande & C.

3. In the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, a title of certain dignitaries below the rank of bishop.

Apostolic prefect (R. C. Ch.), the head of a mission, not of episcopal rank. Shipley.

Pre`fec*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prefect.

Pre"fect*ship (?), n. The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.

Pre"fec*ture (?; 277), n. [L. praefectura: cf. F. prÈfecture.] The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.

Pre*fec`un*da"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.

Pre`fe*cun"da*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to prefecundation.

Pre*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. prÈfÈrer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st Bear.] 1. To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc.

He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl.

Pope.

Presently prefer his suit to CÊsar.

Shak.

Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high.

Byron.

2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy." Chaucer.

3. To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general.

I would prefer him to a better place.

Shak.

4. To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above.

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Ps. cxxxvii. 6.

Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war.

Knolles.

Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock.

Syn. -- To choose; elect. See Choose.

Pref`er*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.

Pref"er*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrable.] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.

Pref"er*a*ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being preferable.

Pref"er*a*bly, adv. In preference; by choice.

To choose Plautus preferably to Terence.

Dennis.

Pref"er*ence (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈfÈrence.] 1. The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference.

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry.

Dryden.

Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's.

Locke.

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?

Pref`er*en"tial (?), a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.

Pre*fer"ment (?), n. 1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]

Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other.

Sir T. Browne.

2. The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; the state of being advanced; promotion.

Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared.

Macaulay.

3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.

Pre*fer"rer (?), n. One who prefers.

Pref"i*dence (?), n. The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pref"i*dent (?), a. [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See Pre-, and Confident.] Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.

Pre*fig"u*rate (?), v. t. [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure.] To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.

Pre*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. [L. praefiguratio.] The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured.

A variety of prophecies and prefigurations.

Norris.

Pre*fig"ur*a*tive (?), a. Showing by prefiguration. "The prefigurative atonement." Bp. Horne.

Pre*fig"ure (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefigured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefiguring.] [F. prÈfigurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See Figure, and cf. Prefigurate.] To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. "Whom all the various types prefigured." South.

Pre*fig"ure*ment (?), n. The act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.

Pre*fine" (?), v. t. [L. praefinire; prae before + finire to limit, determine: cf. F. prÈfiner.] To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.

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Pre*fi"nite (?), a. [L. praefinitus, p. p.] Prearranged. [Obs.] " Set and prefinite time." Holland.

Pref`i*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praefinitio.] Previous limitation. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Pre*fix" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefixed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prefixing.] [L. praefixus, p. p. of praefigere to fix or fasten before; prae before + figere to fix: cf. F. prÈfix fixed beforehand, determined, prÈfixer to prefix. See Fix.]

1. To put or fix before, or at the beginning of, another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word, or a condition to an agreement.

2. To set or appoint beforehand; to settle or establish antecedently. [Obs.] " Prefixed bounds. " Locke.

And now he hath to her prefixt a day.

Spenser.

Pre"fix (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈfixe.] That which is prefixed; esp., one or more letters or syllables combined or united with the beginning of a word to modify its signification; as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure.

Pre*fix"ion (?), n. [Cf. OF. prefixion.] The act of prefixing. [R.] Bailey.

Pre`flo*ra"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.) ∆stivation.

Pre*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + L. folium leaf.] (Bot.) Vernation.

Pre*form" (&?;), v. t. [L. praeformare. See Pre-, and Form.] To form beforehand, or for special ends. "Their natures and preformed faculties. " Shak.

Pre`for*ma"tion (?), n. (Biol.) An old theory of the preÎxistence of germs. Cf. EmboÓtement.

Pre*form"a*tive (?), n. A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.

Pre*fron"tal (?), a. (Anat. & Zoˆl.) Situated in front of the frontal bone, or the frontal region of the skull; ectethmoid, as a certain bone in the nasal capsule of many animals, and certain scales of reptiles and fishes. -- n. A prefrontal bone or scale.

Pre*ful"gen*cy (?), n. [L. praefulgens, p. pr. of praefulgere to shine forth. See Pre-, and Fulgent.] Superior brightness or effulgency. [R.] Barrow.

Pre*gage" (&?;), v. t. To preÎngage. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre*gla"cial (?), a. (Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period.

Preg"na*ble (?), a., [F. prenable. See Impregnable.] Capable of being entered, taken, or captured; expugnable; as, a pregnable fort. [R.] Cotgrave.

Preg"nance (?), n. Pregnancy. [Obs.] Milton.

Preg"nan*cy (?), n. 1. The condition of being pregnant; the state of being with young.

2. Figuratively: The quality of being heavy with important contents, issue, significance, etc.; unusual consequence or capacity; fertility. Fuller.

Preg"nant (?), a. [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before + genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. prÈgnant. See Gender, 2d Kin.]

1. Being with young, as a female; having conceived; great with young; breeding; teeming; gravid; preparing to bring forth.

2. Heavy with important contents, significance, or issue; full of consequence or results; weighty; as, pregnant replies. " A pregnant argument." Prynne. " A pregnant brevity." E. Everett.

3. Full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.; as, a pregnant youth. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.

Shak.

Pregnant construction (Rhet.), one in which more is implied than is said; as, the beasts trembled forth from their dens, that is, came forth trembling with fright.

Preg"nant, n. A pregnant woman. [R.] Dunglison.

Preg"nant, a. [F. prenant taking. Cf. Pregnable.] Affording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt. [Obs.] " Pregnant to good pity." Shak.

Preg"nant*ly, adv. In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.

Preg"nant*ly, adv. Unresistingly; openly; hence, clearly; evidently. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre"gra*vate (?), v. t. [L. praegravatus, p. p. of praegravare to be heavy upon, fr. praegravis very heavy.] To bear down; to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pre*grav"i*tate (?), v. i. To descend by gravity; to sink. [R.] Boyle.

Pre*gus"tant (?), a. [L. praegustans, p. pr. of praegustare to taste beforehand; prae before + gustare to taste.] Tasting beforehand; having a foretaste. [R.] Ed. Rev.

Pre`gus*ta"tion (?), n. The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste. [R.] Dr. Walker (1678).

||Pre*hal"lux (?), n. [NL. See Pre- , and Hallux.] (Anat.) An extra ||first toe, or rudiment of a toe, on the preaxial side of the hallux.

Pre*hend" (&?;), v. t. [L. prehendere. See Prehensile.] To lay hold of; to seize. [Obs.] Middleton.

Pre*hen"si-ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈhensible.] Capable of being seized.

Pre*hen"sile (?), a. [L. prehensus, p. p. of prehendere to lay hold of, seize; pre- (equiv. to prae before) + hendere (in comp.), akin to E. get: cf. F. prÈhensile. See Get, and cf. Prison, Prize, n.] Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as, the prehensile tail of a monkey.

Pre*hen"sion (?), n. [L. prehensio; cf. F. prÈhension. See Prehensile.] The act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, as with the hand or other member.

Pre*hen"so*ry (?), a. Adapted to seize or grasp; prehensile.

Pre`his*tor"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a period before written history begins; as, the prehistoric ages; prehistoric man.

Prehn"ite (?), n. [So called from the German Colonel Prehn, who first found it.] (Min.) A pale green mineral occurring in crystalline aggregates having a botryoidal or mammillary structure, and rarely in distinct crystals. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.

Prehn*it"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a tetrabasic acid of benzene obtained as a white crystalline substance; -- probably so called from the resemblance of the wartlike crystals to the mammillÊ on the surface of prehnite.

Pre`in*des"ig*nate (?), a. (Logic.) Having no sign expressive of quantity; indefinite. See Predesignate.

Pre*in`dis*pose" (&?;), v. t. To render indisposed beforehand. Milman.

Pre`in*struct" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preinstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preinstructing.] To instruct previously or beforehand. Dr. H. More.

Pre*in`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.

Pre*judge" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudging.] [Pref. pre + judge: cf. F. prÈjuger. Cf. Prejudicate, Prejudice.] To judge before hearing, or before full and sufficient examination; to decide or sentence by anticipation; to condemn beforehand.

The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case, by calling the united sense of both houses of Parliament" a universal clamor."

Swift.

Pre*judg"ment (?), n. The act of prejudging; decision before sufficient examination.

Pre*ju"di*ca*cy (?), n. Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Sir. H. Blount.

Pre*ju"di*cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudical inquiry or action at law.

Pre*ju"di*cant (?), a. [L. praejudicans, p. pr.] Influenced by prejudice; biased. [R.] " With not too hasty and prejudicant ears." Milton.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), a. [L. praejudicatus, p. p. of praejudicare to prejudge; prae before + judicare to judge. See Judge.] 1. Formed before due examination. "Ignorance and prejudicate opinions." Jer. Taylor.

2. Biased by opinions formed prematurely; prejudiced. "Prejudicate readers." Sir T. Browne.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicating.] [Cf. Prejudge.] To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge.

Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business.

Shak.

Pre*ju"di*cate, v. i. To prejudge. Sir P. Sidney.

Pre*ju"di*cate*ly (?), adv. With prejudice.

Pre*ju`di*ca"tion (?), n. 1. The act of prejudicating, or of judging without due examination of facts and evidence; prejudgment.

2. (Rom. Law) (a) A preliminary inquiry and determination about something which belongs to a matter in dispute. (b) A previous treatment and decision of a point; a precedent.

Pre*ju"di*ca*tive (?), a. Forming a judgment without due examination; prejudging. Dr. H. More.

Prej"u*dice (?), n. [F. prÈjudice, L. praejudicium; prae before + judicium judgment. See Prejudicate, Judicial.] 1. Foresight. [Obs.]

Naught might hinder his quick prejudize.

Spenser.

2. An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge.

Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man.

Macaulay.

3. (Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.

4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. Locke.

England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice.

Shak.

Syn. -- Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.

Prej"u*dice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicing (?).] [Cf. F. prÈjudicier. See Prejudice, n.] 1. To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman.

Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning.

I. Watts

2. To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause.

Seek how may prejudice the foe.

Shak

Prej`u*di"cial (?), a. [L. praejudicialis belonging to a preceding judgment: cf. F. prÈjudiciel.]

1. Biased, possessed, or blinded by prejudices; as, to look with a prejudicial eye. [Obs.] Holyday.

2. Tending to obstruct or impair; hurtful; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental. Hooker.

His going away . . . was most prejudicial and most ruinous to the king's affairs.

Clarendon.

-- Prej`u*di"cial*ly, adv. -- Prej`u*di"cial*ness, n.

Pre*knowl"edge (?), n. Prior knowledge.

Prel"a*cy (?), n.; pl. Prelacies (#). [LL. praelatia. See Prelate; cf. Prelaty.] 1. The office or dignity of a prelate; church government by prelates.

Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices.

Ayliffe.

2. The order of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. "Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men." Hooker.

Pre"lal (?), a. [L. prelum a press.] Of or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs.] Fuller.

Prel"ate (?; 48), n. [F. prÈlat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See Elate.] A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary of the church.

This word and the words derived from it are often used invidiously, in English ecclesiastical history, by dissenters, respecting the Established Church system.

Hear him but reason in divinity, . . . You would desire the king were made a prelate.

Shak.

Prel"ate (?), v. i. To act as a prelate. [Obs.]

Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording.

Latimer.

Prel`a*te"i*ty (?), n. Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.

Prel"ate*ship, n. The office of a prelate. Harmar.

Prel"a*tess (?), n. A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate. Milton.

Pre*la"tial (?), a. Prelatical. Beaconsfield.

{ Pre*lat"ic (?), Pre*lat"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as, prelatical authority. Macaulay.

Pre*lat"ic*al*ly, adv. In a prelatical manner; with reference to prelates. Milton.

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the ∆neis.

Pre*la"tion (?), n. [L. praelatio: cf. F. prÈlation. See Prelate, and cf. Prefer.] The setting of one above another; preference. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Prel"a*tism (?), n. Prelacy; episcopacy.

Prel"a*tist (?), n. One who supports of advocates prelacy, or the government of the church by prelates; hence, a high-churchman. Hume.

I am an Episcopalian, but not a prelatist.

T. Scott.

Prel"a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prelatizing (?).] To bring under the influence of prelacy. Palfrey.

Prel"a*tize, v. i. To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions.

An episcopacy that began then to prelatize.

Milton.

Prel"a*try (?), n. Prelaty; prelacy. [Obs.]

{ Prel"a*ture (?; 135), Prel"a*ture*ship }, n. [F. prÈlature, or LL. praelatura.] The state or dignity of a prelate; prelacy. Milman.

Prel"a*ty (?), n. Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.

Pre*lect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelecting.] [L. praelectus, p. p. of praelegere to read before. See Pre-, and Lection.] To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.

Pre*lect", v. i. To discourse publicly; to lecture.

Spitting . . . was publicly prelected upon.

De. Quincey.

To prelect upon the military art.

Bp. Horsley.

Pre*lec"tion (?), n. [L. praelectio.] A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. "The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.

Pre*lec"tor (?), n. [L. praelector.] A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.

Pre`li*ba"tion (?), n. [L. praelibatio, fr. praelibare to taste beforehand: cf. F. prelibation.] 1. A tasting beforehand, or by anticipation; a foretaste; as, a prelibation of heavenly bliss.

2. A pouring out, or libation, before tasting.

Pre*lim"i*na*ri*ly (?), adv. In a preliminary manner.

Pre*lim"i*na*ry (?), a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. prÈliminaire. Cf. Limit.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.

Syn. -- Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent.

Pre*lim"i*na*ry, n.; pl. Preliminaries (&?;). That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one's preliminaries the year before entering college.

Syn. -- Introduction; preface; prelude.

Pre*lim"it (?), v. t. To limit previously. [R.]

Pre*look", v. i. To look forward. [Obs.] Surrey.

Pre"lude (?), n. [F. prÈlude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.] An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture.

The last Georgic was a good prelude to the ∆nis

Addison.

The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact.

Whewell.

Syn. -- Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.

Pre*lude" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. prÈluder. See Ludicrous.] To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.

The musicians preluded on their instruments.

Sir. W. Scott.

We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point.

Jeffrey.

Pre*lude", v. t. 1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.

2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

[Music] preluding some great tragedy.

Longfellow

Pre*lud"er (?), n. One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a prelude. Mason.

Pre*lud"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a prelude; introductory. [R.]

Pre*lud"i*ous (?), a. Preludial. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Pre*lum"bar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front of the loins; -- applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.

Pre*lu"sive (?), a. [See Prelude.] Of the nature of a prelude; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow. "Prelusive drops." Thomson. --Pre*lu"sive*ly, adv.

Pre*lu"so*ri*ly (?), adv. In a prelusory way.

Pre*lu"so*ry (?), a. Introductory; prelusive. Bacon.

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Pre`ma*ture" (?), a. [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature.] 1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed.

2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.

3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report.

-- Pre`ma*ture"ly, adv. -- Pre`ma*ture"ness, n.

Pre`ma*tu"ri*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈmaturitÈ.] The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.

||Pre"max*il"la (?), n.; pl. PremaxillÊ (#). [NL. See Pre-, and ||Maxilla.] (Anat.) A bone on either side of the middle line between ||the nose and mouth, forming the anterior part of each half of the ||upper jawbone; the intermaxilla. In man the premaxillÊ become united ||and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.

Pre*max"il*la*ry (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the maxillary bones; pertaining to the premaxillÊ; intermaxillary. -- n. A premaxilla.

Pre*me"di*ate (?), v. t. To advocate. [R.]

Pre*med"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-t`t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.] To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate robbery.

With words premeditated thus he said.

Dryden.

Pre*med"i*tate, v. i. To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.

Pre*med"i*tate (?), a. [L. praemeditatus, p. p.] Premeditated; deliberate. [Archaic] Bp. Burnet.

Pre*med"i*tate*ly, adv. With premeditation. Burke.

Pre*med`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praemeditatio: cf. F. prÈmÈditation.] The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.

Pre*mer"it (?), v. t. To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi&?;&?;ke.

{ Pre"mi*al (?), Pre"mi*ant (?), } a. [L. praemialis. See Premium.] Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.

Prem"i*ces (?), n. pl. [F. prÈmices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.] First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.

Pre"mi*er (?), a. [F. premier, fr. L. primarius of the first rank, principal, fr. primus the first. See Primary, Prime, a.] 1. First; chief; principal; as, the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift.

2. Most ancient; -- said of the peer bearing the oldest title of his degree.

Pre"mi*er (?), n. The first minister of state; the prime minister.

Pre"mi*er*ship, n. The office of the premier.

Pre`mil*len"ni*al (?), a. Previous to the millennium.

Pre"mi*ous (?), a. [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.] Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.

Prem"ise (?), n.; pl. Premises (&?;). [Written also, less properly, premiss.] [F. prÈmisse, fr. L. praemissus, p. p. of praemittere to send before; prae before + mittere to send. See Mission.] 1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition.

The premises observed, Thy will by my performance shall be served.

Shak.

2. (Logic) Either of the first two propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.

"All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner."

These propositions, which are the premises, being true or admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves punishment.

While the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shake the conclusion.

Dr. H. More.

3. pl. (Law) Matters previously stated or set forth; esp., that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum; the thing demised or granted.

4. pl. A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts; as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.

Pre*mise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Premising.] [From L. praemissus, p. p., or E. premise, n. See Premise, n.] 1. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously. [Obs.]

The premised flames of the last day.

Shak.

If venesection and a cathartic be premised.

E. Darwin.

2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down premises or first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings.

I premise these particulars that the reader may know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task.

Addison.

Pre*mise" (?), v. i. To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise. Swift.

Prem"iss (?), n. Premise. Whately. I. Watts

Pre*mit" (?), v. t. To premise. [Obs.] Donne.

Pre"mi*um (?), n.; pl. Premiums (#). [L. praemium, originally, what one has got before or better than others; prae before + emere to take, buy. See Redeem.] 1. A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by being before another, or others, in a competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as, a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, etc.

To think it not the necessity, but the premium and privilege of life, to eat and sleep without any regard to glory.

Burke.

The law that obliges parishes to support the poor offers a premium for the encouragement of idleness.

Franklin.

2. Something offered or given for the loan of money; bonus; -- sometimes synonymous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital.

People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest.

Swift.

3. A sum of money paid to underwriters for insurance, or for undertaking to indemnify for losses of any kind.

4. A sum in advance of, or in addition to, the nominal or par value of anything; as, gold was at a premium; he sold his stock at a premium.

Pre*mo"lar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the molar teeth. -- n. An anterior molar tooth which has replaced a deciduous molar. See Tooth.

Pre*mon"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premonished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Premonishing.] [Pref. pre- + monish: cf. L. praemonere.] To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. [R.] Herrick.

To teach, and to premonish.

Bk. of Com. Prayer.

Pre*mon"ish*ment (?), n. Previous warning or admonition; forewarning. Sir H. Wotton.

Pre`mo*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praemonitio. See Premonish.] Previous warning, notice, or information; forewarning; as, a premonition of danger.

Pre*mon"i*tor (?), n. [L. praemonitor.] One who, or that which, gives premonition.

Pre*mon"i*to*ry (?), a. [L. praemonitorius.] Giving previous warning or notice; as, premonitory symptoms of disease. -- Pre*mon"i*to*ri*ly (#), adv.

Pre*mon"strant (?), n. A Premonstratensian.

Pre*mon"strate (?), v. t. [L. praemonstratus, p. p. of praemonstrare; prae before + monstrate to show.] To show beforehand; to foreshow. [R.] Herbert.

Pre*mon`stra*ten"sian (?), n. [F. prÈmontrÈ, fr. PrÈmontrÈ, fr. L. pratum monstratum.] (R. C. Ch.) One of a religious order of regular canons founded by St. Norbert at PrÈmontrÈ, in France, in 1119. The members of the order are called also White Canons, Norbertines, and Premonstrants.

Pre`mon*stra"tion (?), n. [L. praemonstratio.] A showing beforehand; foreshowing.

Pre*mon"stra*tor (?), n. [L. praemonstrator.] One who, or that which, premonstrates. [R.]

Pre*morse" (?), a. [L. praemorsus, p. p. of praemordere to bite off; prae before + mordere to bite.] Terminated abruptly, or as it bitten off.

Premorse root or leaves (Bot.), such as have an abrupt, ragged, and irregular termination, as if bitten off short.

Pre`mo*sa"ic (?), a. Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history.

Pre*mo"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + motion.] Previous motion or excitement to action.

Prem`u*ni"re (?), n. (Law) See PrÊmunire.

Prem`u*nite" (?), v. t. [L. praemunitus, p. p. of praemunire to fortify in front; prae before + munire to fortify.] To fortify beforehand; to guard against objection. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Pre`mu*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praemunitio: cf. F. prÈmunition.] The act of fortifying or guarding against objections. [Obs.]

Pre*mu"ni*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to a premunire; as, a premunitory process.

Pre*na"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the nose, or in front of the nasal chambers.

Pre*na"tal (?), a. Being or happening before birth.

Pren"der (?), n. [F. prendre to take, fr. L. prehendere to take.] (Law) The power or right of taking a thing before it is offered. Burrill.

Pre*no"men (?), n. See PrÊnomen.

Pre*nom"i*nal (?), a. Serving as a prefix in a compound name. Sir T. Browne.

Pre*nom"i*nate (?), a. [L. praenominatus, p. p. of praenominare to give the prenomen to, to prenominate, fr. praenomen prenomen.] Forenamed; named beforehand. [R.] "Prenominate crimes." Shak.

Pre*nom"i*nate (?), v. t. To forename; to name beforehand; to tell by name beforehand. Shak.

Pre*nom`i*na*tion (?), n. The act of prenominating; privilege of being named first. Sir T. Browne.

Pre*nos"tic (?), n. [L. praenoscere to foreknow; prae before + noscere, notum, to know.] A prognostic; an omen. [Obs.] Gower.

Pre*note" (?), v. t. [L. praenotare; prae before + notare to note.] To note or designate beforehand. Foxe.

Pre*no"tion (?), n. [L. praenotio: cf. F. prÈnotion. See Prenostic.] A notice or notion which precedes something else in time; previous notion or thought; foreknowledge. Bacon.

Pren*sa"tion (?), n. [L. prensatio, from prensare, prehensare, v. freq. from prehendere to seize.] The act of seizing with violence. [Obs.] Barrow .

Pren"tice (?), n. [Aphetic form of apprentice.] An apprentice. [Obs. or Colloq.] Piers Plowman. "My accuser is my prentice." Shak.

Pren"tice*hood (&?;), n. Apprenticehood. [Obs.]

This jolly prentice with his master bode Till he was out nigh of his prenticehood.

Chaucer.

Pren"tice*ship, n. Apprenticeship. [Obs. or Colloq.]

He served a prenticeship who sets up shop.

Pope.

Pre*nun`ci*a"tion (?), n. [L. praenunciatio, fr. praenunciare to announce beforehand. See Pre-, and Announce.] The act of announcing or proclaiming beforehand. [Obs.]

Pre*nun"cious (?), a. [L. praenuncius.] Announcing beforehand; presaging. [Obs.] Blount.

||Pre*ob`lon*ga"ta (?), n. [NL. See Pre-, and Oblongata.] (Anat.) The ||anterior part of the medulla oblongata. B. G. Wilder.

Pre`ob*tain" (?), v. t. To obtain beforehand.

Pre*oc"cu*pan*cy (?), n. [See Preoccupate.] The act or right of taking possession before another; as, the preoccupancy of wild land.

Pre*oc"cu*pate (?), v. t. [L. praeoccupatus, p. p. of praeoccupare to preoccupy. See Preoccupy.]

1. To anticipate; to take before. [Obs.] "Fear preoccupateth it [death]." Bacon.

2. To prepossess; to prejudice. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*oc`cu*pa"tion (?), n. [L. praeoccupatio: cf. F. prÈoccupation.] 1. The act of preoccupying, or taking possession of beforehand; the state of being preoccupied; prepossession.

2. Anticipation of objections. [R.] South.

Pre*oc"cu*py (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (-pd); p. pr. & vb. n. Preoccupying (?).] [Cf. F. prÈoccuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.] 1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.

2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.

I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections than to preoccupy his judgment.

Arbuthnot.

Pre*oc"u*lar (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Placed just in front of the eyes, as the antennÊ of certain insects. -- n. One of the scales just in front of the eye of a reptile or fish.

Pre*om"i*nate (?), v. t. To ominate beforehand; to portend. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre`o*per"cu*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the operculum; pertaining to the preoperculum. -- n. The preoperculum.

||Pre`o*per"cu*lum (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior opercular bone in ||fishes.

Pre`o*pin"ion (?), n. Opinion previously formed; prepossession; prejudice. Sir T. Browne.

Pre*op"tion (?), n. Right of first choice.

Pre*o"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the mouth; as, preoral bands.

Pre*or"bit*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front or the orbit.

Pre`or*dain" (?), v. t. [Pref. pre + ordain: cf. L. praeordinare.] To ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain. Milton.

Pre*or"der (?), v. t. To order to arrange beforehand; to foreordain. Sir W. Hamilton.

Pre*or"di*nance (?), n. Antecedent decree or determination. Shak.

Pre*or"di*nate (?), a. [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.] Preordained. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.

Pre*or`di*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈordination.] The act of foreordaining: previous determination. "The preordination of God." Bale.

Pre*par"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prepared. "Medicine preparable by art." Boyle.

Prep`a*ra"tion (?), n. [F. prÈparation, L. praeparatio. See Prepare.]

1. The act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign.

2. The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as, a nation in good preparation for war.

3. That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure.

I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution.

T. Burnet.

4. That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular purpose; a combination. Specifically: (a) Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b) Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c) Something prepared for use in cookery.

I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their preparations.

Sir T. Browne.

In the preparations of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed.

Arbuthnot.

5. An army or fleet. [Obs.] Shak.

6. (Mus.) The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.

7. Accomplishment; qualification. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*par"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈparatif.] Tending to prepare or make ready; having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting; preparatory.

Laborious quest of knowledge preparative to this work.

South.

Pre*par"a*tive, n.

1. That which has the power of preparing, or previously fitting for a purpose; that which prepares. "A preparative unto sermons." Hooker.

2. That which is done in the way of preparation. "Necessary preparatives for our voyage." Dryden.

Pre*par"a*tive*ly, adv. By way of preparation.

Pre*par"a*tor (?), n. [L. praeparator.] One who prepares beforehand, as subjects for dissection, specimens for preservation in collections, etc. Agassiz.

Pre*par"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. praeparatorius: cf. F. prÈparatoire.] Preparing the way for anything by previous measures of adaptation; antecedent and adapted to what follows; introductory; preparative; as, a preparatory school; a preparatory condition.

Pre*pare" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepare&?; (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preparing.] [F. prÈparer, L. praeparare; prae before + parare to make ready. See Pare.]

1. To fit, adapt, or qualify for a particular purpose or condition; to make ready; to put into a state for use or application; as, to prepare ground for seed; to prepare a lesson.

Our souls, not yet prepared for upper light.

Dryden.

2. To procure as suitable or necessary; to get ready; to provide; as, to prepare ammunition and provisions for troops; to prepare ships for defence; to prepare an entertainment. Milton.

That they may prepare a city for habitation.

Ps. cvii. 36

Syn. -- To fit; adjust; adapt; qualify; equip; provide; form; make; make; ready.

<! p. 1131 !>

Pre*pare" (&?;), v. i. 1. To make all things ready; to put things in order; as, to prepare for a hostile invasion. "Bid them prepare for dinner." Shak.

2. To make one's self ready; to get ready; to take the necessary previous measures; as, to prepare for death.

Pre*pare", n. Preparation. [Obs.] Shak.

Pre*pared" (?), a. Made fit or suitable; adapted; ready; as, prepared food; prepared questions. -- Pre*par"ed*ly (#), adv. Shak. -- Pre*par"ed*ness, n.

Pre*par"er (?), n. One who, or that which, prepares, fits, or makes ready. Wood.

Pre*pay" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepaid (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prepaying.] To pay in advance, or beforehand; as, to prepay postage.

Pre*pay"ment (?), n. Payment in advance.

Pre*pe"ni*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis.

Pre*pense" (?), v. t. [Pref. pre + F. penser to think. See Pansy.] To weigh or consider beforehand; to premeditate. [Obs.] Spenser. Sir T. Elyot.

Pre*pense", v. i. To deliberate beforehand. [Obs.]

Pre*pense", a. [See Pansy, and cf. Prepense, v. t.] Devised, contrived, or planned beforehand; preconceived; premeditated; aforethought; -- usually placed after the word it qualifies; as, malice prepense.

This has not arisen from any misrepresentation or error prepense.

Southey.

Pre*pense"ly, adv. In a premeditated manner.

{ Pre*pol"lence (?), Pre*pol"len*cy (?), } n. [L. praepollentia.] The quality or state of being prepollent; superiority of power; predominance; prevalence. [R.] Coventry.

Pre*pol"lent (?), a. [L. praepollens, p. p. of praepollere to surpass in power; prae before + pollere to be powerful.] Having superior influence or power; prevailing; predominant. [R.] Boyle.

||Pre*pol"lent (?), n.; pl. Prepollices (#). [NL. See Pre-, Pollex.] ||(Anat.) An extra first digit, or rudiment of a digit, on the preaxial ||side of the pollex.

Pre*pon"der (?) v. t. To preponderate. [Obs.]

{ Pre*pon"der*ance (?), Pre*pon"der*an*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈpondÈrance.] 1. The quality or state of being preponderant; superiority or excess of weight, influence, or power, etc.; an outweighing.

The mind should . . . reject or receive proportionably to the preponderancy of the greater grounds of probability.

Locke.

In a few weeks he had changed the relative position of all the states in Europe, and had restored the equilibrium which the preponderance of one power had destroyed.

Macaulay.

2. (Gun.) The excess of weight of that part of a canon behind the trunnions over that in front of them.

Pre*pon"der*ant (?), a. [L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. prÈpondÈrant. See Preponderate.] Preponderating; outweighing; overbalancing; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a preponderant weight; of preponderant importance. -- Pre*pon"der*ant*ly, adv.

Pre*pon"der*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preponderated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preponderating.] [L. praeponderatus, p. p. of praeponderare; prae before + ponderare to weigh, fr., pondus, ponderis, a weight. See Ponder.] 1. To outweigh; to overpower by weight; to exceed in weight; to overbalance.

An inconsiderable weight, by distance from the center of the balance, will preponderate greater magnitudes.

Glanvill.

2. To overpower by stronger or moral power.

3. To cause to prefer; to incline; to decide. [Obs.]

The desire to spare Christian blood preponderates him for peace.

Fuller.

Pre*pon"der*ate, v. i. To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated.

That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate.

Bp. Wilkins.

Pre*pon"der*a`ting*ly (?), adv. In a preponderating manner; preponderantly.

Pre*pon`der*a"tion (?), n. [L. praeponderatio.] The act or state of preponderating; preponderance; as, a preponderation of reasons. I. Watts.

Pre*pose" (?), v. t. [F. prÈposer; pref. prÈ- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose.] To place or set before; to prefix. [Obs.] Fuller.

Prep`o*si"tion (?), n. [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. prÈposition. See Position, and cf. Provost.]

1. (Gram.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running.

2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [Obs.]

He made a long preposition and oration.

Fabyan.

Prep`o*si"tion*al (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈpositionnel.] Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of a preposition. Early. -- Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv.

Pre*pos"i*tive (?), a. [L. praepositivus: cf. F. prÈpositif.] (Gram.) Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle. -- n. A prepositive word. Tooke.

||Pre*pos"i*tor (?), n. [NL.] A scholar appointed to inspect other ||scholars; a monitor. Todd.

Pre*pos"i*ture (?), n. [L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost.] The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth.

Pre`pos*sess" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepossessed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prepossessing.]

1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. Dryden.

2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.

It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general.

Evelyn.

Pre`pos*sess"ing (?), a. Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. -- Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv.

Pre`pos*ses"sion (?), n.

1. Preoccupation; prior possession. Hammond.

2. Preoccupation of the mind by an opinion, or impression, already formed; preconceived opinion; previous impression; bias; -- generally, but not always, used in a favorable sense; as, the prepossessions of childhood. "The prejudices and prepossessions of the country." Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Bent; bias; inclination; preoccupancy; prejudgment. See Bent.

Pre`*pos*sess"or (?), n. One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady.

Pre*pos"ter*ous (?), a.[L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior.]

1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [Obs.]

The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature.

Woodward.

2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. "Most preposterous conclusions." Shak.

Preposterous ass, that never read so far!

Shak.

Syn. -- Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. See Absurd.

-- Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly, adv. - Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness, n.

Pre*pos"tor (?), n. See Prepositor.

Pre*po"ten*cy (?), n. [L. praepotentia: cf. F. prÈpotence.]

1. The quality or condition of being prepotent; predominance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. (Biol.) The capacity, on the part of one of the parents, as compared with the other, to transmit more than his or her own share of characteristics to their offspring.

Pre*po"tent (?), a. [L. praepotens. See Pre-, and Potent.]

1. Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant. Plaifere.

2. (Biol.) Characterized by prepotency. Darwin.

Pre`pro*vide" (?), v. t. To provide beforehand. "The materials preprovided." Fuller.

Pre*pu"bic (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the pubis; pertaining to the prepubis.

||Pre*pu"bis (?), n. [NL. See Pre- , and Pubis.] (Anat.)A bone or ||cartilage, of some animals, situated in the middle line in front of ||the pubic bones.

Pre"puce (?), n. [F. prÈpuce, L. praeputium.] (Anat.) The foreskin.

Pre*pu"tial (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prepuce.

{ Pre*raph"a*el*ism (?), Pre*raph"a*el*i`tism (?), } n. (Fine Arts) The doctrine or practice of a school of modern painters who profess to be followers of the painters before Raphael. Its adherents advocate careful study from nature, delicacy and minuteness of workmanship, and an exalted and delicate conception of the subject.

Pre*raph"a*el*ite (?), a. Of or pertaining to the style called preraphaelitism; as, a preraphaelite figure; a preraphaelite landscape. Ruskin.

Pre*raph"a*el*ite, n. One who favors or practices art as it was before Raphael; one who favors or advocates preraphaelitism.

Pre*reg"nant (?), n. One who reigns before another; a sovereign predecessor. [R.] Warner.

Pre`re*mote (?), a. More remote in previous time or prior order.

In some cases two more links of causation may be introduced; one of them may be termed the preremote cause, the other the postremote effect.

E. Darwin.

Pre`re*quire" (?), v. t. To require beforehand.

Some things are prerequired of us.

Bp. Hall.

Pre*req"ui*site (?), a. Previously required; necessary as a preliminary to any proposed effect or end; as, prerequisite conditions of success.

Pre*req"ui*site, n. Something previously required, or necessary to an end or effect proposed.

The necessary prerequisites of freedom.

Goldsmith.

Pre`re*solve" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Preresolved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preresolving.] To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering.

Pre*rog"a*tive (?), n. [F. prÈrogative, from L. praerogativa precedence in voting, preference, privilege, fr. praerogativus that is asked before others for his opinion, that votes before or first, fr. praerogare to ask before another; prae before + rogare to ask. See Rogation.]

1. An exclusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasible right; fundamental and essential possession; -- used generally of an official and hereditary right which may be asserted without question, and for the exercise of which there is no responsibility or accountability as to the fact and the manner of its exercise.

The two faculties that are the prerogative of man -- the powers of abstraction and imagination.

I. Taylor.

An unconstitutional exercise of his prerogative.

Macaulay.

2. Precedence; preÎminence; first rank. [Obs.]

Then give me leave to have prerogative.

Shak.

The term came into general use in the conflicts between the Crown and Parliaments of Great Britain, especially in the time of the Stuarts.

Prerogative Court (Eng. Law), a court which formerly had authority in the matter of wills and administrations, where the deceased left bona notabilia, or effects of the value of five pounds, in two or more different dioceses. Blackstone. -- Prerogative office, the office in which wills proved in the Prerogative Court were registered.

Syn. -- Privilege; right. See Privilege.

Pre*rog"a*tived (?), a. Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [R.] Shak.

Pre*rog"a*tive*ly (?), adv. By prerogative.

Pre"sage (?), n. [F. prÈsage, L. praesagium, from praesagire. See Presage, v. t. ]

1. Something which foreshows or portends a future event; a prognostic; an omen; an augury. "Joy and shout - - presage of victory." Milton.

2. Power to look the future, or the exercise of that power; foreknowledge; presentiment.

If there be aught of presage in the mind.

Milton.

Syn. -- Prognostic; omen; token; sign; presentiment.

Pre*sage" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presaged (-sjd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Presaging. ] [F. prÈsager, L. praesagire: prae before + sagire to perceive acutely or sharply. See Sagacious.]

1. To have a presentiment of; to feel beforehand; to foreknow.

2. To foretell; to predict; to foreshow; to indicate.

My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.

Shak.

Pre*sage", v. i. To form or utter a prediction; -- sometimes used with of. Dryden.

Pre*sage"ful (?), a. Full of presages; ominous.

Dark in the glass of some presageful mood.

Tennyson.

Pre*sage"ment (?), n.

1. The act or art of presaging; a foreboding. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

2. That which is presaged, or foretold. [R.] "Ominous presagement before his end. " Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*sa"ger (?), n. One who, or that which, presages; a foreteller; a foreboder. Shak.

Pre*sa"gious (?), a. Foreboding; ominous. [Obs.]

Pres"by*ope (?), n. (Med.) One who has presbyopia; a farsighted person.

||Pres`by*o"pi*a (?) [NL., from Gr. &?; old, n., an old man + &?;, &?;, ||the eye.] (Med.) A defect of vision consequent upon advancing age. It ||is due to rigidity of the crystalline lens, which produces difficulty ||of accommodation and recession of the near point of vision, so that ||objects very near the eyes can not be seen distinctly without the use ||of convex glasses. Called also presbytia.

Pres`by*op"ic (?), a. Affected by presbyopia; also, remedying presbyopia; farsighted.

Pres"by*o`py (?), n. [Cf. F. presbyopie.] See Presbyopia.

Pres"byte (?), n. [Gr. &?; an old man.] Same as Presbyope.

Pres"by*ter (?), n. [L. an elder, fr. Gr. &?;. See Priest.]

1. An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1.

2. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) One ordained to the second order in the ministry; -- called also priest.

I rather term the one sort presbyter than priest.

Hooker.

New presbyter is but old priest writ large.

Milton.

3. (Presbyterian Ch.) A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical.

4. A Presbyterian. [Obs.] Hudibras.

Pres*byt"er*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a presbyter or presbytery; presbyterial.

Pres*byt"er*ate (?), n. [L. presbyteratus: cf. F. presbytÈrat.] A presbytery; also, presbytership. Heber.

Pres"by*ter*ess, n. A female presbyter. Bale.

Pres`by*te"ri*al (?), a. [Cf. F. presbytÈral.] Presbyterian. "Presbyterial government." Milton.

Pres`by*te"ri*an (?), a. [Cf. F. presbytÈrien.] Of or pertaining to a presbyter, or to ecclesiastical government by presbyters; relating to those who uphold church government by presbyters; also, to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of a communion so governed.

Pres`by*te"ri*an, n. [Cf. F. presbytÈrien.] One who maintains the validity of ordination and government by presbyters; a member of the Presbyterian church.

Reformed Presbyterians. See Cameronian.

Pres`by*te"ri*an*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. presbytÈrianisme.] That form of church government which invests presbyters with all spiritual power, and admits no prelates over them; also, the faith and polity of the Presbyterian churches, taken collectively.

||Pres`by*te"ri*um (?), n. [L.] (Arch.) Same as Presbytery, 4.

Pres"by*ter*ship (?), n. The office or station of a presbyter; presbyterate.

Pres"by*ter*y (?), n.; pl. Presbyteries (#). [L. presbyterium, Gr. &?;. See Presbyter, and cf. Presbyterium.]

1. A body of elders in the early Christian church.

2. (Presbyterian Ch.) A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district, and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned to represent the church in conjunction with the pastor. This body has a general jurisdiction over the churches under its care, and next below the provincial synod in authority.

3. The Presbyterian religion of polity. [R.] Tatler.

4. (a) (Arch.) That part of the church reserved for the officiating priest. (b) The residence of a priest or clergyman. Gwilt.

||Pres*byt"i*a (?), n. [NL. See Presbyte.] (Med.) Presbyopia.

Pres*byt"ic (?), a. (Med.) Same as Presbyopic.

Pres"byt*ism (?), n. Presbyopia.

||Pre*scap"u*la (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The part of the scapula in front ||of, or above, the spine, or mesoscapula.

Pre*scap"u*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prescapula; supraspinous.

Pre"sci*ence (pr"sh*ens or - shens; 277), n. [F. prescience, L. praescientia. See Prescient.] Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight.

God's certain prescience of the volitions of moral agents.

J. Edwards.

<! p. 1132 !>

Pre"sci*ent (pr"sh*ent or - shent), a. [L. praesciens, - entis, p. pr. of praescire to foreknow; prae before + scire to know: cf. F. prescient. See Science.] Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; conscious beforehand. Pope.

Henry . . . had shown himself sensible, and almost prescient, of this event.

Bacon.

Pre"sci*ent*ly, adv. With prescience or foresight.

Pre*scind" (pr*snd"), v. t. [L. praescindere to cut off in front; prae before + scindere to cut asunder: cf. F. prescinder.]

1. To cut off; to abstract. [Obs.] Norris.

2. (Metaph.) To consider by a separate act of attention or analysis. Sir W. Hamilton.

Pre*scind"ent (?), a. [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.] Cutting off; abstracting. [R.] Cheyne.

Pre"scious (pr"shs), a. [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.] Foreknowing; having foreknowledge; as, prescious of ills. [R.] Dryden.

Pre*scribe" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prescribed (?); p. pr & vb. n. Prescribing.] [L. praescribere, praescriptum; prae before + scriebe to write. See Scribe.]

1. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct.

Prescribe not us our duties.

Shak.

Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run.

Dryden.

2. (Med.) To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine.

Syn. -- To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish.

Pre*scribe", v. i. 1. To give directions; to dictate.

A forwardness to prescribe to their opinions.

Locke.

2. To influence by long use [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

3. (Med.) To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.

4. (Law) To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law.

Pre*scrib"er (?), n. One who prescribes.

Pre"script (?), a. [L. praescriptus, p. p. of praescribere: cf. F. prescrit. See Prescribe.] Directed; prescribed. " A prescript from of words." Jer. Taylor.

Pre"script, n. [L. praescriptum: cf. OF. prescript.]

1. Direction; precept; model prescribed. Milton.

2. A medical prescription. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.

Pre*scrip`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being prescriptible. Story.

Pre*scrip"ti*ble (pr*skrp"t*b'l), a. [Cf. F. prescriptible.] Depending on, or derived from, prescription; proper to be prescribed. Grafton.

Pre*scrip"tion (-shn), n. [F. prescription, L. praescriptio, an inscription, preface, precept, demurrer, prescription (in sense 3), fr. praescribere. See Prescribe.]

1. The act of prescribing, directing, or dictating; direction; precept; also, that which is prescribed.

2. (Med.) A direction of a remedy or of remedies for a disease, and the manner of using them; a medical recipe; also, a prescribed remedy.

3. (Law) A prescribing for title; the claim of title to a thing by virtue of immemorial use and enjoyment; the right or title acquired by possession had during the time and in the manner fixed by law. Bacon.

That profound reverence for law and prescription which has long been characteristic of Englishmen.

Macaulay.

Prescription differs from custom, which is a local usage, while prescription is personal, annexed to the person only. Prescription only extends to incorporeal rights, such as aright of way, or of common. What the law gives of common rights is not the subject of prescription. Blackstone. Cruise. Kent. In Scotch law, prescription is employed in the sense in which limitation is used in England and America, namely, to express that operation of the lapse of time by which obligations are extinguished or title protected. Sir T. Craig. Erskine.

Pre*scrip"tive (?), a. [L. praescriptivus of a demurrer or legal exception.] (Law) Consisting in, or acquired by, immemorial or long-continued use and enjoyment; as, a prescriptive right of title; pleading the continuance and authority of long custom.

The right to be drowsy in protracted toil has become prescriptive.

J. M. Mason.

Pre*scrip"tive*ly, adv. By prescription.

||Pre*scu"tum (?), n.; pl. Prescuta (&?;). [NL. See PrÊ-, and Scutum.] ||(Zoˆl.) The first of the four pieces composing the dorsal part, or ||tergum, of a thoracic segment of an insect. It is usually small and ||inconspicuous.

Pre"se*ance (?), n. [F. prÈsÈance. See Preside.] Priority of place in sitting.[Obs.] Carew.

Pre`se*lect" (?), v. t. To select beforehand.

Pres"ence (?), n. [F. prÈsence, L. praesentia. See Present.] 1. The state of being present, or of being within sight or call, or at hand; -- opposed to absence.

2. The place in which one is present; the part of space within one's ken, call, influence, etc.; neighborhood without the intervention of anything that forbids intercourse.

Wrath shell be no more Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire.

Milton.

3. Specifically, neighborhood to the person of one of superior of exalted rank; also, presence chamber.

In such a presence here to plead my thoughts.

Shak.

An't please your grace, the two great cardinals. Wait in the presence.

Shak.

4. The whole of the personal qualities of an individual; person; personality; especially, the person of a superior, as a sovereign.

The Sovran Presence thus replied.

Milton.

5. An assembly, especially of person of rank or nobility; noble company.

Odmar, of all this presence does contain, Give her your wreath whom you esteem most fair.

Dryden.

6. Port, mien; air; personal appearence. "Rather dignity of presence than beauty of aspect." Bacon.

A graceful presence bespeaks acceptance.

Collier.

Presence chamber, or Presence room, the room in which a great personage receives company. Addison. " Chambers of presence." Bacon. -- Presence of mind, that state of the mind in which all its faculties are alert, prompt, and acting harmoniously in obedience to the will, enabling one to reach, as it were spontaneously or by intuition, just conclusions in sudden emergencies.

Pre`sen*sa"tion (?), n. Previous sensation, notion, or idea. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pre*sen"sion (?), n. [L. praesensio, fr. praesentire to perceive beforehand. See Presentient.] Previous perception. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pres"ent (?), a. [F. prÈsent, L. praesens,-entis, that is before one, in sight or at hand, p. p. of praeesse to be before; prae before + esse to be. See Essence.]

1. Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits; -- opposed to absent.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

John xiv. 25.

2. Now existing, or in process; begun but not ended; now in view, or under consideration; being at this time; not past or future; as, the present session of Congress; the present state of affairs; the present instance.

I'll bring thee to the present business

Shak.

3. Not delayed; immediate; instant; coincident. "A present recompense." "A present pardon." Shak.

An ambassador . . . desires a present audience.

Massinger.

4. Ready; quick in emergency; as a present wit. [R.]

5. Favorably attentive; propitious. [Archaic]

To find a god so present to my prayer.

Dryden.

Present tense (Gram.), the tense or form of a verb which expresses action or being in the present time; as, I am writing, I write, or I do write.

Pres"ent, n. [Cf. F. prÈsent. See Present, a.] 1. Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as, at this present.

Past and present, wound in one.

Tennyson.

2. pl. (Law) Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " -- in this sense, rarely used in the singular.

3. (Gram.) A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense.

At present, at the present time; now. -- For the present, for the tine being; temporarily. -- In present, at once, without delay. [Obs.] "With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death." Milton.

Pre*sent" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. & vb. n. Presenting.] [F. prÈsenter, L. praesentare, fr. praesens, a. See Present, a.] 1. To bring or introduce into the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to introduce formally; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the king; (with the reciprocal pronoun) to come into the presence of a superior.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.

Job i. 6

2. To exhibit or offer to view or notice; to lay before one's perception or cognizance; to set forth; to present a fine appearance.

Lectorides's memory is ever . . . presenting him with the thoughts of other persons.

I. Watts.

3. To pass over, esp. in a ceremonious manner; to give in charge or possession; to deliver; to make over.

So ladies in romance assist their knight, Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.

Pope.

4. To make a gift of; to bestow; to give, generally in a formal or ceremonious manner; to grant; to confer.

My last, least offering, I present thee now.

Cowper.

5. Hence: To endow; to bestow a gift upon; to favor, as with a donation; also, to court by gifts.

Octavia presented the poet for him admirable elegy on her son Marcellus.

Dryden.

6. To present; to personate. [Obs.] Shak.

7. In specific uses; (a) To nominate to an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.

The patron of a church may present his clerk to a parsonage or vicarage; that is, may offer him to the bishop of the diocese to be instituted.

Blackstone.

(b) To nominate for support at a public school or other institution . Lamb. (c) To lay before a public body, or an official, for consideration, as before a legislature, a court of judicature, a corporation, etc.; as, to present a memorial, petition, remonstrance, or indictment. (d) To lay before a court as an object of inquiry; to give notice officially of, as a crime of offence; to find or represent judicially; as, a grand jury present certain offenses or nuisances, or whatever they think to be public injuries. (e) To bring an indictment against . [U.S] (f) To aim, point, or direct, as a weapon; as, to present a pistol or the point of a sword to the breast of another.

Pesent arms (Mil.), the command in response to which the gun is carried perpendicularly in front of the center of the body, and held there with the left hand grasping it at the lower band, and the right hand grasping the small of the stock, in token of respect, as in saluting a superior officer; also, the position taken at such a command.

Pre*sent", v. i. (Med.) To appear at the mouth of the uterus so as to be perceptible to the finger in vaginal examination; -- said of a part of an infant during labor.

Pres"ent (?), n. [F. prÈsent .] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.

Syn. -- Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift.

Pre*sent" (?), n. (Mil.) The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.

Pre*sent"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsentable.] 1. Capable or admitting of being presented; suitable to be exhibited, represented, or offered; fit to be brought forward or set forth; hence, fitted to be introduced to another, or to go into society; as, ideas that are presentable in simple language; she is not presentable in such a gown.

2. Admitting of the presentation of a clergiman; as, a church presentable. [R.] Ayliffe.

Pres`en*ta"ne*ous (?), a. [L. praesentaneus. See Present, a.] Ready; quick; immediate in effect; as, presentaneous poison. [Obs.] Harvey.

Pres`en*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praesentatio a showing, representation: cf. F. prÈsentation.] 1. The act of presenting, or the state of being presented; a setting forth; an offering; bestowal.

Prayers are sometimes a presentation of mere desires.

Hooker.

2. Hence, exhibition; representation; display; appearance; semblance; show.

Under the presentation of the shoots his wit.

Shak.

3. That which is presented or given; a present; a gift, as, the picture was a presentation. [R.]

4. (Eccl.) The act of offering a clergyman to the bishop or ordinary for institution in a benefice; the right of presenting a clergyman.

If the bishop admits the patron's presentation, the clerk so admitted is next to be instituted by him.

Blackstone.

5. (Med.) The particular position of the child during labor relatively to the passage though which it is to be brought forth; -- specifically designated by the part which first appears at the mouth of the uterus; as, a breech presentation.

Presentation copy, a copy of a book, engraving, etc., presented to some one by the author or artist, as a token of regard.

Pre*sent"a*tive (?), a. 1. (Eccl.) Having the right of presentation, or offering a clergyman to the bishop for institution; as, advowsons are presentative, collative, or donative. Blackstone.

2. Admitting the presentation of a clergyman; as, a presentative parsonage. Spelman.

3. (Metaph.) Capable of being directly known by, or presented to, the mind; intuitive; directly apprehensible, as objects; capable of apprehending, as faculties.

The latter term, presentative faculty, I use . . . in contrast and correlation to a "representative faculty."

Sir W. Hamilton.

Pres`en*tee" (?), n. [F. prÈsentÈ, p. p. See Present, v. t. ] One to whom something is presented; also, one who is presented; specifically (Eccl.), one presented to benefice. Ayliffe.

Pre*sent"er (?), n. One who presents.

Pre*sen"tial (?), a. [LL. praesentialis.] Implying actual presence; present, immediate. [Obs.]

God's mercy is made presential to us.

Jer. Taylor.

-- Pre*sen"tial*ly, adv. [Obs.]

Pre*sen`ti*al"i*ty (?), n. State of being actually present. [Obs.] South.

Pre*sen"ti*ate (?), v. t. To make present. [Obs.]

Pre*sen"tient (?), a. [L. praesentiens, p. pr. of praesentire to perceive beforehand; prae before + sentire to feel.] Feeling or perceiving beforehand.

Pres`en*tif"ic (?), a. [L. praesens, -entis, present + facere to make.] Making present. [Obs.]

-- Pres`en*tif"ic*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres`en*tif"ic*al (?), a. Presentific. [Obs.]

Pre*sen"ti*ment (?), n. [Pref. pre- + sentiment: cf. F. pressentiment. See Presentient.] Previous sentiment, conception, or opinion; previous apprehension; especially, an antecedent impression or conviction of something unpleasant, distressing, or calamitous, about to happen; anticipation of evil; foreboding.

Pre*sen`ti*men"tal (?), a. Of nature of a presentiment; foreboding. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*sen"tion (?), n. See Presension. [Obs.]

Pre*sent"ive (?), a. (Philol.) Bringing a conception or notion directly before the mind; presenting an object to the memory of imagination; -- distinguished from symbolic.

How greatly the word "will" is felt to have lost presentive power in the last three centuries.

Earle.

-- Pre*sent"ive*ly, adv. -- Pre*sent"ive*ness, n.

Pres"ent*ly (?), adv. 1. At present; at this time; now. [Obs.]

The towns and forts you presently have.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. At once; without delay; forthwith; also, less definitely, soon; shortly; before long; after a little while; by and by. Shak.

And presently the fig tree withered away.

Matt. xxi. 19.

3. With actual presence; actually . [Obs.]

His precious body and blood presently three.

Bp. Gardiner.

Pre*sent"ment (?), n. 1. The act of presenting, or the state of being presented; presentation. " Upon the heels of my presentment." Shak.

2. Setting forth to view; delineation; appearance; representation; exhibition.

Power to cheat the eye with blear illusion, And give it false presentment.

Milton.

3. (Law) (a) The notice taken by a grand jury of any offence from their own knowledge or observation, without any bill of indictment laid before them, as, the presentment of a nuisance, a libel, or the like; also, an inquisition of office and indictment by a grand jury; an official accusation presented to a tribunal by the grand jury in an indictment, or the act of offering an indictment; also, the indictment itself. (b) The official notice (formerly required to be given in court) of the surrender of a copyhold estate. Blackstone.

Presentment of a bill of exchange, the offering of a bill to the drawee for acceptance, or to the acceptor for payment. See Bill of exchange, under Bill.

<! p. 1133 !> Mozley & W.

Pres"ent*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being present; presence. [Obs.] "Presentness of mind in danger." Clarendon.

Pres`en*toir" (?), n. [Formed after analogy of French.] An ornamental tray, dish, or the like, used as a salver.

Pre*serv"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being preserved; admitting of preservation.

Pres`er*va"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈservation.] The act or process of preserving, or keeping safe; the state of being preserved, or kept from injury, destruction, or decay; security; safety; as, preservation of life, fruit, game, etc.; a picture in good preservation.

Give us particulars of thy preservation.

Shak.

Pre*serv"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈservatif.] Having the power or quality of preserving; tending to preserve, or to keep from injury, decay, etc.

Pre*serv"a*tive, n. That which preserves, or has the power of preserving; a presevative agent.

To wear tablets as preservatives against the plague.

Bacon.

Pre*serv"a*to*ry (?), a. Preservative. Bp. Hall.

Pre*serv"a*to*ry, n.; pl. Preservatories (&?;). 1. A preservative. [Obs.] Whitlock.

2. A room, or apparatus, in which perishable things, as fruit, vegetables, etc., can be preserved without decay.

Pre*serve" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preserved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preserving.] [F. prÈserver, from L. prae before + servare to save, preserve; cf. L. praeservare to observe beforehand. See Serve.] 1. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.

O Lord, thou preserved man and beast.

Ps. xxxvi. 6.

Now, good angels preserve the king.

Shak.

2. To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.

You can not preserve it from tainting.

Shak.

3. To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.

To preserve game, to protect it from extermination.

Syn. -- To keep; save; secure; uphold; sustain; defend; spare; protect; guard; shield. See Keep.

Pre*serve", v. i. 1. To make preserves. Shak.

2. To protect game for purposes of sport.

Pre*serve", n. 1. That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; -- commonly in the plural.

2. A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.

Pre*serv"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, preserves, saves, or defends, from destruction, injury, or decay; esp., one who saves the life or character of another. Shak.

2. One who makes preserves of fruit.

Game preserver. See under Game.

Pre*show" (?), v. t. To foreshow.

Pre*side" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Presided; p. pr. & vb. n. Presiding.] [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: cf. F. prÈsider. See Sit.] 1. To be set, or to sit, in the place of authority; to occupy the place of president, chairman, moderator, director, etc.; to direct, control, and regulate, as chief officer; as, to preside at a public meeting; to preside over the senate.

2. To exercise superintendence; to watch over.

Some o'er the public magazines preside.

Dryden.

Pres"i*dence (?), n. See Presidency. [Obs.]

Pres"i*den*cy (?), n.; pl. Presidencies (#). [Cf. F. prÈsidence.] 1. The function or condition of one who presides; superintendence; control and care.

2. The office of president; as, Washington was elected to the presidency.

3. The term during which a president holds his office; as, during the presidency of Madison.

4. One of the three great divisions of British India, the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Presidencies, each of which had a council of which its governor was president.

Pres"i*dent (?), n. Precedent. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pres"i*dent, a. Occupying the first rank or chief place; having the highest authority; presiding. [R.]

His angels president In every province.

Milton.

Pres"i*dent, n. [F. prÈsident, L. praesidens, -entis, p. pr. of praesidere. See Preside.] 1. One who is elected or appointed to preside; a presiding officer, as of a legislative body. Specifically: (a) The chief officer of a corporation, company, institution, society, or the like. (b) The chief executive officer of the government in certain republics; as, the president of the United States.

2. A protector; a guardian; a presiding genius. [Obs.]

Just Apollo, president of verse.

Waller.

Pres`i*den"tial (?), a. 1. Presiding or watching over. "Presidential angels." Glanvill.

2. Of or pertaining to a president; as, the presidential chair; a presidential election.

Pres"i*dent*ship (?), n. The office and dignity of president; presidency. Hooker.

Pre*sid"er (?), n. One who presides.

{ Pre*sid"i*al (?), Pre*sid"i*a*ry (?), } a. [L. praesidialis and praesidiarius, fr. praesidium a presiding over, defense, guard. See Preside.] Of or pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison.

There are three presidial castles in this city.

Howell.

Pre*sid"i*a*ry, n. [L. praesidiarium.] A guard. [Obs.] "Heavenly presidiaries." Bp. Hall.

Pre*sid"ing (?), a. & n. from Preside.

Presiding elder. See under 2d Elder.

||Pre*si"di*o (?), n. [Sp.] A place of defense; a fortress; a garrison; ||a fortress; a garrison or guardhouse.

Pre*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [&?;. praesignificatio. See Presignify.] The act of signifying or showing beforehand.

Pre*sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presignified (?); imp. & p. p. Presignifying.] [L. praesignificare; prae before + significare to signify.] To intimate or signify beforehand; to presage.

Pre*sphe"noid (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the sphenoid bone; of or pertaining to the anterior part of the sphenoid bone (i. e., the presphenoid bone).

Presphenoid bone (Anat.), the anterior part of the body of the sphenoid bone in front of the basisphenoid. It is usually a separate bone in the young or fetus, but becomes a part of the sphenoid in the adult.

Pre*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.) The presphenoid bone.

Pre`sphe*noid"al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the presphenoid bone; presphenoid.

Pre*spi"nal (?), a. (Anat.) Prevertebral.

Press (?), n. (Zoˆl.) An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black.

Press, v. t. [Corrupt. fr. prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. See Prest, n.] To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.

To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed.

Dryden.

Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.

I have misused the king's press.

Shak.

Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. -- Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.

Press, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] [F. presser, fr. L. pressare to press, fr. premere, pressum, to press. Cf. Print, v.] 1. To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd.

Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together.

Luke vi. 38.

2. To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something.

From sweet kernels pressed, She tempers dulcet creams.

Milton.

And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Gen. xl. 11.

3. To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes.

4. To embrace closely; to hug.

Leucothoe shook at these alarms, And pressed Palemon closer in her arms.

Pope.

5. To oppress; to bear hard upon.

Press not a falling man too far.

Shak.

6. To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger.

7. To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel.

Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Acts xviii. 5.

8. To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience.

He pressed a letter upon me within this hour.

Dryden.

Be sure to press upon him every motive.

Addison.

9. To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race.

The posts . . . went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king's commandment.

Esther viii. 14.

Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force.

Pressed brick. See under Brick.

Press, v. i. 1. To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force.

2. To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach.

They pressed upon him for to touch him.

Mark iii. 10.

3. To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment.

Press, n. [F. presse. See 4th Press.] 1. An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses.

Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the arts, their specific uses being commonly designated; as, a cotton press, a wine press, a cider press, a copying press, etc. See Drill press.

2. Specifically, a printing press.

3. The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.

4. An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press. Shak.

5. The act of pressing or thronging forward.

In their throng and press to that last hold.

Shak.

6. Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements.

7. A multitude of individuals crowded together; &?; crowd of single things; a throng.

They could not come nigh unto him for the press.

Mark ii. 4.

Cylinder press, a printing press in which the impression is produced by a revolving cylinder under which the form passes; also, one in which the form of type or plates is curved around a cylinder, instead of resting on a flat bed. -- Hydrostatic press. See under Hydrostatic. -- Liberty of the press, the free right of publishing books, pamphlets, or papers, without previous restraint or censorship, subject only to punishment for libelous, seditious, or morally pernicious matters. -- Press bed, a bed that may be folded, and inclosed, in a press or closet. Boswell. -- Press of sail, (Naut.), as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.

Press"er (?), n. One who, or that which, presses.

Presser bar, or Presser wheel (Knitting machine), a bar or wheel which closes the barbs of the needles to enable the loops of the yarn to pass over them. -- Presser foot, the part of a sewing machine which rests on the cloth and presses it down upon the table of the machine.

Press"gang` (?), n. See Press gang, under Press.

Press"ing, a. Urgent; exacting; importunate; as, a pressing necessity. -- Press"ing*ly, adv.

Pres"sion (?), n. [L. pressio: cf. F. pression. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing; pressure. Sir I. Newton.

2. (Cartesian Philos.) An endeavor to move.

Pres`si*ros"ter (?), n. [L. presssus pressed (p. p. of premere) + rostrum beak: cf. F. pressirostre. See 4th Press.] (Zoˆl.) One of a tribe of wading birds (Pressirostres) including those which have a compressed beak, as the plovers.

Pres`si*ros"tral (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the pressirosters.

Pres"si*tant (?), a. [See 4th Press.] Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres"sive (?), a. Pressing; urgent; also, oppressive; as, pressive taxation. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Press"ly (?), adv. Closely; concisely. [Obs.]

Press"man (?), n.; pl. Pressmen (&?;). 1. One who manages, or attends to, a press, esp. a printing press.

2. One who presses clothes; as, a tailor's pressman.

Press"man, n. [See 2d Press.] One of a press gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service; also, one forced into the service.

Press"or (?), a. (Physiol.) Causing, or giving rise to, pressure or to an increase of pressure; as, pressor nerve fibers, stimulation of which excites the vasomotor center, thus causing a stronger contraction of the arteries and consequently an increase of the arterial blood pressure; -- opposed to depressor. Landois & Stirling.

Press"pack` (?), v. t. To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.

Pres"sur*age (?), n. [F.] 1. Pressure.

2. The juice of the grape extracted by the press; also, a fee paid for the use of a wine press.

Pres"sure (?; 138), n. [OF., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.

2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.

Where the pressure of danger was not felt.

Macaulay.

3. Affliction; distress; grievance.

My people's pressures are grievous.

Eikon Basilike.

In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.

Atterbury.

4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

5. Impression; stamp; character impressed.

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.

Shak.

6. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area.

Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See under Atmospheric, Center, etc. -- Back pressure (Steam engine), pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. -- Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. Rankine. -- Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer.

Press"work` (?), n. The art of printing from the surface of type, plates, or engravings in relief, by means of a press; the work so done. MacKellar.

Prest (prst), imp. & p. p. of Press.

Prest, a. [OF. prest, F. prÍt, fr. L. praestus ready. Cf. Presto.] 1. Ready; prompt; prepared. [Obs.]

All prest to such battle he was.

R. of Gloucester.

2. Neat; tidy; proper. [Obs.] Tusser.

Prest money, money formerly paid to men when they enlisted into the British service; -- so called because it bound those that received it to be ready for service when called upon.

Prest, n. [OF. prest, F. prÍt, fr. OF. prester to lend, F. prÍter, fr. L. praestare to stand before, to become surety for, to fulfill, offer, supply; prae before + stare to stand. See Pre-, and Stand, and cf. Press to force into service.] 1. Ready money; a loan of money. [Obs.]

Requiring of the city a prest of six thousand marks.

Bacon.

2. (Law) A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands. Cowell.

Prest, v. t. To give as a loan; to lend. [Obs.]

Sums of money . . . prested out in loan.

E. Hall.

Prest"a*ble (?), a. Payable. [Scot.]

Pres*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praestatio a performing, paying, fr. praestare: cf. F. prestation.] (O. Eng. Law) A payment of money; a toll or duty; also, the rendering of a service. Burrill.

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Prestation money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop.

Pres"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to kindle or burn, and &?; to blow up, swell out by blowing.] 1. A meteor or exhalation formerly supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by collision it is set on fire. [Obs.]

2. pl. One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other excitement. [Obs.]

Pres"ter, n. [OF. prestre. See Priest.] A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [Obs.]

Pre*ster"num (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior segment of the sternum; the manubrium. -- Pre*ster"nal (#), a.

Pres`ti*dig"i*tal (?), a. Nimble- fingered; having fingers fit for prestidigitation, or juggling. [R.] "His prestidigital hand." Charles Reade.

Pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion (?), n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.

Pres`ti*dig"i*ta`tor (?), n. [L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F. prestidigitateur.] One skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a juggler.

Pres"tige (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers' tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v.] 1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]

The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture.

Bp. Warburton.

2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige of his name must go for something." Sir G. C. Lewis.

Pres*tig`i*a"tion (?), n. [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige.] Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [Obs.]

Pres*tig"i*a`tor (?), n. [L. praestigiator.] A juggler; prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres*tig"i*a*to*ry (?), a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.] Barrow.

Pres*tig"i*ous (?), a. [L. praestigiosus.] Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.] Cotton Mather.

Pres"ti*mo*ny (?), n. [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n.] (Canon Law) A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the collator.

||Pres*tis"si*mo (?), adv. [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.) Very ||quickly; with great rapidity.

Pres"to (?), adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.] 1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.

Presto! begone! 'tis here again.

Swift.

2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo.

Pre*stric"tion (?), n. [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.] Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.

Pre*sul"tor (?), n. [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.] A leader in the dance. [R.]

Pre*sum"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsumable.] Such as may be presumed or supposed to be true; that seems entitled to belief without direct evidence.

Pre*sum"a*bly, adv. In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.

Pre*sume" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presumed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Presuming.] [F. prÈsumer, L. praesumere, praesumptum; prae before + sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.] 1. To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained.

Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?

Shak.

Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve.

Milton.

2. To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without examination or proof, or on the strength of probability; to take for granted; to infer; to suppose.

Every man is to be presumed innocent till he is proved to be guilty.

Blackstone.

What rests but that the mortal sentence pass, . . . Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted?

Milton.

Pre*sume", v. i. 1. To suppose or assume something to be, or to be true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting to proof; to believe by anticipation; to infer; as, we may presume too far.

2. To venture, go, or act, by an assumption of leave or authority not granted; to go beyond what is warranted by the circumstances of the case; to venture beyond license; to take liberties; -- often with on or upon before the ground of confidence.

Do not presume too much upon my love.

Shak.

This man presumes upon his parts.

Locke.

Pre*sum"ed*ly, adv. By presumption.

Pre*sum"er (?), n. One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*sum"ing*ly, adv. Confidently; arrogantly.

Pre*sump"tion (?; 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. prÈsomption, OF. also presumpcion. See Presume.] 1. The act of presuming, or believing upon probable evidence; the act of assuming or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof.

2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not conclusive; strong probability; reasonable supposition; as, the presumption is that an event has taken place.

3. That which is presumed or assumed; that which is supposed or believed to be real or true, on evidence that is probable but not conclusive. "In contradiction to these very plausible presumptions." De Quincey.

4. The act of venturing beyond due beyond due bounds; an overstepping of the bounds of reverence, respect, or courtesy; forward, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct; presumptuousness; arrogance; effrontery.

Thy son I killed for his presumption.

Shak.

I had the presumption to dedicate to you a very unfinished piece.

Dryden.

Conclusive presumption. See under Conclusive. -- Presumption of fact (Law), an argument of a fact from a fact; an inference as to the existence of one fact not certainly known, from the existence of some other fact known or proved, founded on a previous experience of their connection; supposition of the truth or real existence of something, without direct or positive proof of the fact, but grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which entitles it to belief. Burrill. Best. Wharton. -- Presumption of law (Law), a postulate applied in advance to all cases of a particular class; e. g., the presumption of innocence and of regularity of records. Such a presumption is rebuttable or irrebuttable.

Pre*sump"tive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈsomptif.] 1. Based on presumption or probability; grounded on probable evidence; probable; as, presumptive proof.

2. Presumptuous; arrogant. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Presumptive evidence (Law), that which is derived from circumstances which necessarily or usually attend a fact, as distinct from direct evidence or positive proof; indirect or circumstantial evidence. "Presumptive evidence of felony should be cautiously admitted." Blackstone. The distinction, however, between direct and presumptive (or circumstantial) evidence is now generally abandoned; all evidence being now more or less direct and more or less presumptive. -- Presumptive heir. See Heir presumptive, under Heir.

Pre*sump"tive*ly, adv. By presumption, or supposition grounded or probability; presumably.

Pre*sump"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [L. praesumptuosus: cf. F. prÈsomptueux, OF. also presumptuous. See Presumption.] 1. Full of presumption; presuming; overconfident or venturesome; audacious; rash; taking liberties unduly; arrogant; insolent; as, a presumptuous commander; presumptuous conduct.

A class of presumptuous men, whom age has not made cautious, nor adversity wise.

Buckminster.

2. Founded on presumption; as, a presumptuous idea. "False, presumptuous hope." Milton.

3. Done with hold design, rash confidence, or in violation of known duty; willful. "Keep back the servant also from presumptuous sins." Ps. xix. 13.

Syn. -- Overconfident; foolhardy; rash; presuming; forward; arrogant; insolent.

Pre*sump"tu*ous*ly, adv. In a presumptuous manner; arrogantly.

Pre*sump"tu*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being presumptuous.

Pre`sup*pos"al (?), n. Presupposition. [R.] "Presupposal of knowledge." Hooker.

Pre`sup*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presupposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Presupposing.] [Pref. pre- + suppose: cf. F. prÈsupposer.] To suppose beforehand; to imply as antecedent; to take for granted; to assume; as, creation presupposes a creator.

Each [kind of knowledge] presupposes many necessary things learned in other sciences, and known beforehand.

Hooker.

Pre*sup`po*si"tion (?), n. [Pref. pre- + supposition: cf. F. prÈsupposition.] 1. The act of presupposing; an antecedent implication; presumption.

2. That which is presupposed; a previous supposition or surmise.

Pre`sur*mise" (?), n. A surmise previously formed. Shak.

Pre`sys*tol"ic (?), a. (Physiol.) Preceding the systole or contraction of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.

Pre*tem"po*ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the temporal bone.

Pre*tence" (?), n., Pre*tence"ful, a., Pre*tence"*less, a. See Pretense, Pretenseful, Pretenseless.

Pre*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. prÈtendre, L. praetendere, praetentum, to stretch forward, pretend, simulate, assert; prae before + tendere to stretch. See Tend, v. t. ] 1. To lay a claim to; to allege a title to; to claim.

Chiefs shall be grudged the part which they pretend.

Dryden.

2. To hold before, or put forward, as a cloak or disguise for something else; to exhibit as a veil for something hidden. [R.]

Lest that too heavenly form, pretended To hellish falsehood, snare them.

Milton.

3. To hold out, or represent, falsely; to put forward, or offer, as true or real (something untrue or unreal); to show hypocritically, or for the purpose of deceiving; to simulate; to feign; as, to pretend friendship.

This let him know, Lest, willfully transgressing, he pretend Surprisal.

Milton.

4. To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.]

Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state.

Shak.

5. To hold before one; to extend. [Obs.] "His target always over her pretended." Spenser.

Pre*tend", v. i. 1. To put in, or make, a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim to, or strive after, something; -- usually with to. "Countries that pretend to freedom." Swift.

For to what fine he would anon pretend, That know I well.

Chaucer.

2. To hold out the appearance of being, possessing, or performing; to profess; to make believe; to feign; to sham; as, to pretend to be asleep. "[He] pretended to drink the waters." Macaulay.

Pre*tend"ant (?), n. A pretender; a claimant.

Pre*tend"ed, a. Making a false appearance; unreal; false; as, pretended friend. -- Pre*tend"ed*ly, adv.

Pre*tend"ence (?), n. The act of pretending; pretense. [Obs.] Daniel.

Pre*tend"er (?), n. 1. One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant. Specifically, The pretender (Eng. Hist.), the son or the grandson of James II., the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who laid claim to the throne of Great Britain, from which the house was excluded by law.

It is the shallow, unimproved intellects that are the confident pretenders to certainty.

Glanvill.

2. One who pretends, simulates, or feigns.

Pre*tend"er*ship, n. The character, right, or claim of a pretender. Swift.

Pre*tend"ing*ly, adv. As by right or title; arrogantly; presumptuously. Collier.

{ Pre*tense", Pre*tence } (?), n. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.] 1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. Spenser.

Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power.

Locke.

I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford.

Evelyn.

2. The act of holding out, or offering, to others something false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as, pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on pretense of revenging CÊsar's death.

3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint.

Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince.

Dryden.

4. Intention; design. [Obs.]

A very pretense and purpose of unkindness.

Shak.

See the Note under Offense.

Syn. -- Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse. -- Pretense, Pretext. A pretense is something held out as real when it is not so, thus falsifying the truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to cover or conceal one's true motives, feelings, or reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a bad sense.

Pre*tensed" (?), a. Pretended; feigned. [Obs.] -- Pre*tens"ed*ly (#), adv. [Obs.]

Pre*tense"ful (?), a. Abounding in pretenses.

Pre*tense"less, a. Not having or making pretenses.

Pre*ten"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈtention. See Pretend, Tension.] 1. The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of asserting right or title.

The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed to protract the discussion.

Macaulay.

2. A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.

This was but an invention and pretension given out by the Spaniards.

Bacon.

Men indulge those opinions and practices that favor their pretensions.

L'Estrange.

Pre*ten"ta*tive (?), a. [Pref. pre- + tentative: cf. L. praetentare to try beforehand.] Fitted for trial beforehand; experimental. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Pre*ten"tious (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈtentieux. See Pretend.] Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming. -- Pre*ten"tious*ly, adv. - - Pre*ten"tious*ness, n.

Pre"ter- (?). [L. praeter past, beyond, originally a compar. of prae before. See For, prep.] A prefix signifying past, by, beyond, more than; as, preter- mission, a permitting to go by; preternatural, beyond or more than is natural. [Written also prÊter.]

Pre`ter*hu"man (?), a. [Pref. preter- + human.] More than human.

Pre*te"ri*ent (?), a. [L. praeteriens, p. pr. See Preterit.] Passed through; antecedent; previous; as, preterient states. [R.]

Pre`ter*im*per"fect (?), a. & n. [Pref. preter- + imperfect.] (Gram.) Old name of the tense also called imperfect.

Pret"er*ist (?), n. [Pref. preter- + -ist.] 1. One whose chief interest is in the past; one who regards the past with most pleasure or favor.

2. (Theol.) One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have been already fulfilled. Farrar.

Pret"er*it (?; 277), a. [L. praeteritus, p. p. of praeterire to go or pass by; praeter beyond, by + ire to go: cf. F. prÈtÈrit. See Issue.] [Written also preterite and prÊterite.] 1. (Gram.) Past; -- applied to a tense which expresses an action or state as past.

2. Belonging wholly to the past; passed by. [R.]

Things and persons as thoroughly preterite as Romulus or Numa.

Lowell.

Pret"er*it, n. (Gram.) The preterit; also, a word in the preterit tense.

Pret"er*ite (?), a. & n. Same as Preterit.

Pret"er*ite*ness, n. Same as Preteritness.

Pre`ter*i"tion (?; 277), n. [L. praeteritio: cf. F. prÈtÈrition.] 1. The act of passing, or going past; the state of being past. Bp. Hall.

2. (Rhet.) A figure by which, in pretending to pass over anything, a summary mention of it is made; as, "I will not say, he is valiant, he is learned, he is just." Called also paraleipsis.

3. (Law) The omission by a testator of some one of his heirs who is entitled to a portion. Bouvier.

Pre*ter"i*tive (?), a. (Gram.) Used only or chiefly in the preterit or past tenses, as certain verbs.

Pret"er*it*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being past. Bentley. Lowell.

Pre`ter*lapsed" (?), a. [L. praeterlapsus, p. p. of praeterlabi to glide by. See Preter-, Lapse.] Past; as, preterlapsed ages. [R.] Glanvill.

Pre`ter*le"gal (?), a. [Pref. preter- + legal.] Exceeding the limits of law. [R.]

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Pre`ter*mis"sion (?), n. [L. praetermissio. See Pretermit.] 1. The act of passing by or omitting; omission. Milton.

2. (Rhet.) See Preterition.

Pre`ter*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretermitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretermitting.] [L. praetermittere, praetermissum; praeter beyond + mittere to send. See Mission.] To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral (?; 135), a. [Pref. preter + natural.] Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as, a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor.

This vile and preternatural temper of mind.

South.

Syn. -- See Supernatural.

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ism (?), n. The state of being preternatural; a preternatural condition.

Pre`ter*nat`u*ral"i*ty (?), n. Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ly (?; 135), adv. In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.

Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ness, n. The quality or state of being preternatural.

Pre`ter*per"fect (?), a. & n. [Pref. preter- + perfect.] (Gram.) Old name of the tense also called preterit.

Pre`ter*plu"per`fect (?), a. & n. [Pref. preter- + pluperfect.] (Gram.) Old name of the tense also called pluperfect.

Pre*ter"ti*a*ry (?), a. (Geol.) Earlier than Tertiary.

Pre`ter*vec"tion (?), n. [L. praetervectio, fr. praetervehere to carry beyond. See Invection.] The act of carrying past or beyond. [R.] Abp. Potter.

Pre*tex" (?), v. t. [L. praetexere. See Pretext.] To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs.]

Pre"text (?; 277), n. [F. prÈtexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.] Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.

They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness.

L'Estrange.

With how much or how little pretext of reason.

Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.

Pre*tex"ture (?; 135), n. A pretext. [Obs.]

Pre*tib"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the tibia.

Pre"tor (?), n. [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans.

Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (praetor urbanus) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other (praetor peregrinus) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased.

2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [R.] Dryden.

Pre*to"ri*al (?), a. Pretorian. Burke.

Pre*to"ri*an (?), a. [L. praetorians: cf. F. prÈtorien.] Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority.

Pretorian bands or guards, or Pretorians (Rom. Hist.), the emperor's bodyguards, instituted by the Emperor Augustus in nine cohorts of 1,000 men each. -- Pretorian gate (Rom. Antiq.), that one of the four gates in a camp which lay next the enemy. Brande & C.

Pre*to"ri*an, n. A soldier of the pretorian guard.

||Pre*to"ri*um (?), n. [L. praetorium, fr. praetor.] 1. The general's ||tent in a Roman camp; hence, a council of war, because held in the ||general's tent.

2. The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat.

Pre"tor*ship (?), n. The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton

Pre*tor"ture (?; 135), v. t. To torture beforehand. Fuller.

Pret"ti*ly (?), adv. In a pretty manner.

Pret"ti*ness, n. The quality or state of being pretty; -- used sometimes in a disparaging sense.

A style . . . without sententious pretension or antithetical prettiness.

Jeffrey.

Pret"ty (?), a. [Compar. Prettier (?); superl. Prettiest.] [OE. prati, AS. prÊttig, prÊtig, crafty, sly, akin to prÊt, prÊtt, deceit, trickery, Icel. prettugr tricky, prettr a trick; probably fr. Latin, perhaps through Celtic; cf. W. praith act, deed, practice, LL. practica execution, practice, plot. See Practice.] 1. Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; of a pleasing and attractive form a color; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without elevation or grandeur; pleasingly, but not grandly, conceived or expressed; as, a pretty face; a pretty flower; a pretty poem.

This is the prettiest lowborn lass that ever Ran on the greensward.

Shak.

2. Moderately large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "Wavering a pretty while." Evelyn.

3. Affectedly nice; foppish; -- used in an ill sense.

The pretty gentleman is the most complaisant in the world.

Spectator.

4. Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.

5. Stout; strong and brave; intrepid; valiant. [Scot.]

[He] observed they were pretty men, meaning not handsome.

Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- Elegant; neat; fine. See Handsome.

Pret"ty (?), adv. In some degree; moderately; considerably; rather; almost; -- less emphatic than very; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; pretty cold weather.

Pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian.

Atterbury.

Pret"ty*ish, a. Somewhat pretty. Walpole.

Pret"ty*ism (?), n. Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [R.] Ed. Rev.

Pret"ty-spo`ken (?), a. Spoken or speaking prettily. [Colloq.]

Pre*typ"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretypified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pretypifying.] To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Bp. Pearson.

Pret"zel (?), n. [G. pretzel, bretzel. Cf. Bretzel.] A kind of German biscuit or cake in the form of a twisted ring, salted on the outside.

Pre*vail" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] [F. prÈvaloir, OF. prevaleir, L. praevalere; prae before + valere to be strong, able, or worth. See Valiant.] 1. To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to have the upper hand, or the mastery; to succeed; -- sometimes with over or against.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Ex. xvii. 11.

So David prevailed over the Philistine.

1 Sam. xvii. 50.

This kingdom could never prevail against the united power of England.

Swift.

2. To be in force; to have effect, power, or influence; to be predominant; to have currency or prevalence; to obtain; as, the practice prevails this day.

This custom makes the short-sighted bigots, and the warier skeptics, as far as it prevails.

Locke.

3. To persuade or induce; -- with on, upon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait.

He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl.

Clarendon.

Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom.

Swift.

Pre*vail"ing, a. 1. Having superior force or influence; efficacious; persuasive. Shak.

Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers.

Rowe.

2. Predominant; prevalent; most general; as, the prevailing disease of a climate; a prevailing opinion.

Syn. See Prevalent.

Pre*vail"ing*ly, adv. So as to prevail.

Pre*vail"ment (?), n. Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [Obs.] Shak.

Prev"a*lence (?), n. [L. praevalentia: cf. F. prÈvalence. See Prevail.] The quality or condition of being prevalent; superior strength, force, or influence; general existence, reception, or practice; wide extension; as, the prevalence of virtue, of a fashion, or of a disease; the prevalence of a rumor.

The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him.

Clarendon.

Prev"a*len*cy (?), n. See Prevalence.

Prev"a*lent (?), a. [L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail.] 1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious.

Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title.

Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.

This was the most received and prevalent opinion.

Woodward.

Syn. -- Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful. -- Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as, a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as, the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing.

Prev"a*lent"ly, adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior.

Pre*var"i*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevaricated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prevaricating.] [L. praevaricatus, p. p. of praevaricari to walk crookedly, to collude; prae before + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, varus bent. See Varicose.] 1. To shift or turn from one side to the other, from the direct course, or from truth; to speak with equivocation; to shuffle; to quibble; as, he prevaricates in his statement.

He prevaricates with his own understanding.

South.

2. (Civil Law) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.

3. (Eng. Law) To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.

Syn. -- To evade; equivocate; quibble; shuffle. -- Prevaricate, Evade, Equivocate. One who evades a question ostensibly answers it, but really turns aside to some other point. He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it. He who prevaricates talks all round the question, hoping to "dodge" it, and disclose nothing.

Pre*var"i*cate, v. t. To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Pre*var`i*ca"tion (?), n. [L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prÈvarication.] 1. The act of prevaricating, shuffling, or quibbling, to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the truth and fair dealing.

The august tribunal of the skies, where no prevarication shall avail.

Cowper.

2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.

3. (Law) (a) (Roman Law) The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution. (b) (Common Law) A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it. Cowell.

Pre*var"i*ca`tor (?), n. [L. praevaricator: cf. F. prÈvaricateur.] 1. One who prevaricates.

2. (Roman Law) A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution.

3. One who betrays or abuses a trust. Prynne.

Preve (?), v. i. & i. To prove. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Preve, n. Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Prev"e*nance (?), n. [F. prÈvenance.] (Metaph.) A going before; anticipation in sequence or order. "The law of prevenance is simply the well-known law of phenomenal sequence." Ward.

Prev"e*nan*cy (?), n. The act of anticipating another's wishes, desires, etc., in the way of favor or courtesy; hence, civility; obligingness. [Obs.] Sterne.

Pre*vene" (?), v. t. & i. [F. prÈvenir, L. praevenire. See Prevent.] To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [Obs.] Philips.

Pre*ven"i*ence (?; 106), n. The act of going before; anticipation. [R.]

Pre*ven"i*ent (?), a. [L. praeveniens, p. pr.] Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. "Prevenient grace descending." Milton.

Pre*vent" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.] 1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [Obs.]

We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1 Thess. iv. 15.

We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us.

Bk. of Common Prayer.

Then had I come, preventing Sheba's queen.

Prior.

2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.]

Their ready guilt preventing thy commands.

Pope.

3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak.

Perhaps forestalling night prevented them.

Milton.

Pre*vent", v. i. To come before the usual time. [Obs.]

Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early.

Bacon.

Pre*vent`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being preventable.

Pre*vent"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases.

Pre*vent"a*tive (?), n. That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive.

Pre*vent"er (?), n. 1. One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease.

3. (Naut.) An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast.

Preventer bolts, or Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reÎnforce other rigging. -- Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3.

Pre*vent"ing*ly, adv. So as to prevent or hinder.

Pre*ven"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈvention.] 1. The act of going, or state of being, before. [Obs.]

The greater the distance, the greater the prevention.

Bacon.

2. Anticipation; esp., anticipation of needs or wishes; hence, precaution; forethought. [Obs.] Hammond. Shak.

3. The act of preventing or hindering; obstruction of action, access, or approach; thwarting. South.

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.

Shak.

4. Prejudice; prepossession. [A Gallicism] Dryden.

Pre*ven"tion*al (?), a. Tending to prevent. [Obs.]

Pre*vent"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. prÈventif.] 1. Going before; preceding. [Obs.]

Any previous counsel or preventive understanding.

Cudworth.

2. Tending to defeat or hinder; obviating; preventing the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease.

Physic is either curative or preventive.

Sir T. Browne.

Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [Eng]

Pre*vent"ive, n. That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic.

Pre*vent"ive*ly, adv. In a preventive manner.

Pre*ver"te*bral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated immediately in front, or on the ventral side, of the vertebral column; prespinal.

Pre"vi*ous (?), a. [L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage.] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, previous arrangements; a previous illness.

The dull sound . . . previous to the storm, Rolls o'er the muttering earth.

Thomson.

Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. -- Previous to, before; -- often used adverbially for previously. "Previous to publication." M. Arnold. "A policy . . . his friends had advised previous to 1710." J. H. Newman.

Syn. -- Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former.

Pre"vi*ous*ly, adv. Beforehand; antecedently; as, a plan previously formed.

Pre"vi*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being previous; priority or antecedence in time.

Pre*vise" (?), v. t. [L. praevisus, p. p. of praevidere to foresee; prae before + videre to see. See Vision.] 1. To foresee. [R.]

2. To inform beforehand; to warn. Ld. Lytton.

Pre*vi"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈvision.] Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. H. Spencer.

Pre*voy"ant (?), a. [F. prÈvoyant.] Foreseeing; prescient. [R.] Mrs. Oliphant.

Pre*warn" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Prewarned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prewarning.] To warn beforehand; to forewarn. [R.]

<! p. 1136 !>

Prey (?), n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See Prehensile, and cf. Depredate, Predatory.] Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder.

And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest.

Num. xxxi. 12.

2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey.

Job iv. ii.

Already sees herself the monster's prey.

Dryden.

3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.

Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, . . . lion in prey.

Shak.

Beast of prey, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the flesh of other animals.

Prey (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.] To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence.

More pity that the eagle should be mewed, While kites and buzzards prey at liberty.

Shak.

To prey on or upon. (a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob. Shak. (b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize and devour. Shak. (c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away; as, the trouble preyed upon his mind. Addison.

Prey"er (?), n. One who, or that which, preys; a plunderer; a waster; a devourer. Hooker.

Prey"ful (?), a. 1. Disposed to take prey. [Obs.]

The preyful brood of savage beasts.

Chapman.

2. Rich in prey. [Obs.] Shak.

||Pre*zyg`a*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Prezygapophyses (#). [NL. See Pre- ||, and Zygapophysis.] (Anat.) An anterior zygapophysis.

Pri"al (?), n. A corruption of pair royal. See under Pair, n.

Pri"an (?), n. [Cornish, clayey ground, from pri clay.] (Mining) A fine, white, somewhat friable clay; also, the ore contained in a mixture of clay and pebbles. [Written also pryan.]

Pri`a*pe"an (?), n. [Cf. L. Priapeius pertaining to Priapus.] (Lat. Pros.) A species of hexameter verse so constructed as to be divisible into two portions of three feet each, having generally a trochee in the first and the fourth foot, and an amphimacer in the third; -- applied also to a regular hexameter verse when so constructed as to be divisible into two portions of three feet each. Andrews.

Pri"a*pism, n. [L. priapismus, Gr. &?;, from Priapus the god of procreation, the penis, Gr. &?;: cf. F. priapisme.] (Med.) More or less permanent erection and rigidity of the penis, with or without sexual desire.

||Pri*ap`u*la"ce*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Priapism.] (Zoˆl.) A suborder ||of GephyrÊa, having a cylindrical body with a terminal anal opening, ||and usually with one or two caudal gills.

Pric"a*sour (?), n. A hard rider. [Obs.]

Price (?), n. [OE. pris, OF. pris, F. prix, L. pretium; cf. Gr. &?; I sell &?; to buy, Skr. pa&?; to buy, OI. renim I sell. Cf. Appreciate, Depreciate, Interpret, Praise, n. & v., Precious, Prize.] 1. The sum or amount of money at which a thing is valued, or the value which a seller sets on his goods in market; that for which something is bought or sold, or offered for sale; equivalent in money or other means of exchange; current value or rate paid or demanded in market or in barter; cost. "Buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isa. lv. 1.

We can afford no more at such a price.

Shak.

2. Value; estimation; excellence; worth.

Her price is far above rubies.

Prov. xxxi. 10.

New treasures still, of countless price.

Keble.

3. Reward; recompense; as, the price of industry.

'T is the price of toil, The knave deserves it when he tills the soil.

Pope.

Price current, or Price list, a statement or list of the prevailing prices of merchandise, stocks, specie, bills of exchange, etc., published statedly or occasionally.

Price, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Priced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pricing.] 1. To pay the price of. [Obs.]

With thine own blood to price his blood.

Spenser.

2. To set a price on; to value. See Prize.

3. To ask the price of; as, to price eggs. [Colloq.]

Priced (?), a. Rated in price; valued; as, high-priced goods; low-priced labor.

Price"ite (?), n. [From Thomas Price of San Francisco.] (Min.) A hydrous borate of lime, from Oregon.

Price"less, a. 1. Too valuable to admit of being appraised; of inestimable worth; invaluable.

2. Of no value; worthless. [R.] J. Barlow.

Prick (?), n. [AS. prica, pricca, pricu; akin to LG. prick, pricke, D. prik, Dan. prik, prikke, Sw. prick. Cf. Prick, v.] 1. That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing; a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer.

Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary.

Shak.

It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts ix. 5.

2. The act of pricking, or the sensation of being pricked; a sharp, stinging pain; figuratively, remorse. "The pricks of conscience." A. Tucker.

3. A mark made by a pointed instrument; a puncture; a point. Hence: (a) A point or mark on the dial, noting the hour. [Obs.] "The prick of noon." Shak. (b) The point on a target at which an archer aims; the mark; the pin. "They that shooten nearest the prick." Spenser. (c) A mark denoting degree; degree; pitch. [Obs.] "To prick of highest praise forth to advance." Spenser. (d) A mathematical point; -- regularly used in old English translations of Euclid. (e) The footprint of a hare. [Obs.]

4. (Naut.) A small roll; as, a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco.

Prick (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pricked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pricking.] [AS. prician; akin to LG. pricken, D. prikken, Dan. prikke, Sw. pricka. See Prick, n., and cf. Prink, Prig.] 1. To pierce slightly with a sharp- pointed instrument or substance; to make a puncture in, or to make by puncturing; to drive a fine point into; as, to prick one with a pin, needle, etc.; to prick a card; to prick holes in paper.

2. To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing; as, to prick a knife into a board. Sir I. Newton.

The cooks prick it [a slice] on a prong of iron.

Sandys.

3. To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark; -- sometimes with off.

Some who are pricked for sheriffs.

Bacon.

Let the soldiers for duty be carefully pricked off.

Sir W. Scott.

Those many, then, shall die: their names are pricked.

Shak.

4. To mark the outline of by puncturing; to trace or form by pricking; to mark by punctured dots; as, to prick a pattern for embroidery; to prick the notes of a musical composition. Cowper.

5. To ride or guide with spurs; to spur; to goad; to incite; to urge on; -- sometimes with on, or off.

Who pricketh his blind horse over the fallows.

Chaucer.

The season pricketh every gentle heart.

Chaucer.

My duty pricks me on to utter that.

Shak.

6. To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse. "I was pricked with some reproof." Tennyson.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart.

Acts ii. 37.

7. To make sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; -- said especially of the ears of an animal, as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up; -- hence, to prick up the ears, to listen sharply; to have the attention and interest strongly engaged. "The courser . . . pricks up his ears." Dryden.

8. To render acid or pungent. [Obs.] Hudibras.

9. To dress; to prink; -- usually with up. [Obs.]

10. (Naut) (a) To run a middle seam through, as the cloth of a sail. (b) To trace on a chart, as a ship's course.

11. (Far.) (a) To drive a nail into (a horse's foot), so as to cause lameness. (b) To nick.

Prick, v. i. 1. To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture; as, a sore finger pricks.

2. To spur onward; to ride on horseback. Milton.

A gentle knight was pricking on the plain.

Spenser.

3. To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine.

4. To aim at a point or mark. Hawkins.

Prick"-eared` (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Having erect, pointed ears; -- said of certain dogs.

Thou prick-eared cur of Iceland.

Shak.

Prick"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, pricks; a pointed instrument; a sharp point; a prickle.

2. One who spurs forward; a light horseman.

The prickers, who rode foremost, . . . halted.

Sir W. Scott.

3. A priming wire; a priming needle, -- used in blasting and gunnery. Knight.

4. (Naut.) A small marline spike having generally a wooden handle, -- used in sailmaking. R. H. Dana, Ir.

Prick"et (?), n. [Perhaps so called from the state of his horns. See Prick, and cf. Brocket.] (Zoˆl.) A buck in his second year. See Note under 3d Buck. Shak.

Prick"ing, n. 1. The act of piercing or puncturing with a sharp point. "There is that speaketh like the prickings of a sword." Prov. xii. 18 [1583].

2. (Far.) (a) The driving of a nail into a horse's foot so as to produce lameness. (b) Same as Nicking.

3. A sensation of being pricked. Shak.

4. The mark or trace left by a hare's foot; a prick; also, the act of tracing a hare by its footmarks. [Obs.]

5. Dressing one's self for show; prinking. [Obs.]

Prick"ing-up (?), n. (Arch.) The first coating of plaster in work of three coats upon laths. Its surface is scratched once to form a better key for the next coat. In the United States called scratch coat. Brande & C.

Pric"kle (?), n. [AS. pricele, pricle; akin to LG. prickel, D. prikkel. See Prick, n.] 1. A little prick; a small, sharp point; a fine, sharp process or projection, as from the skin of an animal, the bark of a plant, etc.; a spine. Bacon.

2. A kind of willow basket; -- a term still used in some branches of trade. B. Jonson.

3. A sieve of filberts, -- about fifty pounds. [Eng.]

Pric"kle, v. t. To prick slightly, as with prickles, or fine, sharp points.

Felt a horror over me creep, Prickle skin, and catch my breath.

Tennyson.

{ Pric"kle*back` (?), Pric"kle*fish` (?), } n. (Zoˆl.) The stickleback.

Prick"li*ness (?), n. [From Prickly.] The quality of being prickly, or of having many prickles.

Prick"ling (?), a. Prickly. [Obs.] Spenser.

Prick"louse` (?), n. A tailor; -- so called in contempt. [Old slang] L'Estrange.

Prick"ly, a. Full of sharp points or prickles; armed or covered with prickles; as, a prickly shrub.

Prickly ash (Bot.), a prickly shrub (Xanthoxylum Americanum) with yellowish flowers appearing with the leaves. All parts of the plant are pungent and aromatic. The southern species is X. Carolinianum. Gray. -- Prickly heat (Med.), a noncontagious cutaneous eruption of red pimples, attended with intense itching and tingling of the parts affected. It is due to inflammation of the sweat glands, and is often brought on by overheating the skin in hot weather. -- Prickly pear (Bot.), a name given to several plants of the cactaceous genus Opuntia, American plants consisting of fleshy, leafless, usually flattened, and often prickly joints inserted upon each other. The sessile flowers have many petals and numerous stamens. The edible fruit is a large pear-shaped berry containing many flattish seeds. The common species of the Northern Atlantic States is Opuntia vulgaris. In the South and West are many others, and in tropical America more than a hundred more. O. vulgaris, O. Ficus-Indica, and O. Tuna are abundantly introduced in the Mediterranean region, and O. Dillenii has become common in India. -- Prickly pole (Bot.), a West Indian palm (Bactris Plumierana), the slender trunk of which bears many rings of long black prickles. -- Prickly withe (Bot.), a West Indian cactaceous plant (Cereus triangularis) having prickly, slender, climbing, triangular stems. -- Prickly rat (Zoˆl.), any one of several species of South American burrowing rodents belonging to Ctenomys and allied genera. The hair is usually intermingled with sharp spines.

Prick"mad`am (?), n. [F. trique- madame. Cf. Tripmadam.] (Bot.) A name given to several species of stonecrop, used as ingredients of vermifuge medicines. See Stonecrop.

Prick"punch` (?), n. A pointed steel punch, to prick a mark on metal.

Prick"shaft` (?), n. An arrow. [Obs.]

Prick"song` (?; 115), n. [See Prick, v. t., 4.] Music written, or noted, with dots or points; -- so called from the points or dots with which it is noted down. [Obs.]

He fights as you sing pricksong.

Shak.

Prick"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A shrub (Euonymus EuropÊus); -- so named from the use of its wood for goads, skewers, and shoe pegs. Called also spindle tree.

Prick"y (?), a. Stiff and sharp; prickly. Holland.

Pride (?), n. [Cf. AS. lamprede, LL. lampreda, E. lamprey.] (Zoˆl.) A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); -- called also prid, and sandpiper.

Pride, n. [AS. prte; akin to Icel. pri honor, ornament, pr&?;&?;a to adorn, Dan. pryde, Sw. pryda; cf. W. prydus comely. See Proud.] 1. The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Dan. iv. 37.

Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.

Franklin.

2. A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self- esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; -- in a good sense.

Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride.

Goldsmith.

A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.

Macaulay.

3. Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain.

Let not the foot of pride come against me.

Ps. xxxvi. 11.

That hardly we escaped the pride of France.

Shak.

4. That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self- esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.

Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride.

Spenser.

I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Zech. ix. 6.

A bold peasantry, their country's pride.

Goldsmith.

5. Show; ostentation; glory.

Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.

Shak.

6. Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one's life.

A falcon, towering in her pride of place.

Shak.

7. Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness; hence, lust; sexual desire; esp., an excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast. [Obs.]

Pride of India, or Pride of China. (Bot.) See Margosa. -- Pride of the desert (Zoˆl.), the camel.

Syn. -- Self-exaltation; conceit; hauteur; haughtiness; lordliness; loftiness. -- Pride, Vanity. Pride is a high or an excessive esteem of one's self for some real or imagined superiority, as rank, wealth, talents, character, etc. Vanity is the love of being admired, praised, exalted, etc., by others. Vanity is an ostentation of pride; but one may have great pride without displaying it. Vanity, which is etymologically "emptiness," is applied especially to the exhibition of pride in superficialities, as beauty, dress, wealth, etc.

Pride, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prided; p. pr. & vb. n. Priding.] To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; -- used reflexively. Bp. Hall.

Pluming and priding himself in all his services.

South.

Pride, v. i. To be proud; to glory. [R.]

Pride"ful (?), a. Full of pride; haughty. Tennyson.

-- Pride"ful*ly, adv. -- Pride"ful- ness, n.

Pride"less, a. Without pride. Chaucer.

Prid"i*an (?), a. [L. pridianus.] Of or pertaining to the day before, or yesterday. [R.] Thackeray.

Prid"ing*ly (?), adv. Proudly. [Obs.]

Prie (?), n. (Bot.) The plant privet. [Obs.] Tusser.

Prie, v. i. To pry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pried (?), imp. & p. p. of Pry.

Prie`dieu" (?), n. [F., literally, pray God.] A kneeling desk for prayers.

Prief (?), n. Proof. [Obs.] Spenser. Lydgate.

Pri"er (?), n. [From Pry.] One who pries; one who inquires narrowly and searches, or is inquisitive.

So pragmatical a prier he is into divine secrets.

Fuller.

Priest (?), n. [OE. prest, preost, AS. preÛst, fr. L. presbyter, Gr. &?; elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of &?; an old man, the first syllable of which is probably akin to L. pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.]

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1. (Christian Church) A presbyter elder; a minister; specifically: (a) (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) One who is authorized to consecrate the host and to say Mass; but especially, one of the lowest order possessing this power. Murdock. (b) (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) A presbyter; one who belongs to the intermediate order between bishop and deacon. He is authorized to perform all ministerial services except those of ordination and confirmation.

2. One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as, Buddhist priests. "The priests of Dagon." 1 Sam. v. 5.

Then the priest of Jupiter . . . brought oxen and garlands . . . and would have done sacrifice with the people.

Acts xiv. 13.

Every priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Heb. v. 1.

In the New Testament presbyters are not called priests; but Christ is designated as a priest, and as a high priest, and all Christians are designated priests.

Priest (?), v. t. To ordain as priest.

Priest"cap` (?), n. (Fort.) A form of redan, so named from its shape; -- called also swallowtail.

Priest"craft` (?), n. Priestly policy; the policy of a priesthood; esp., in an ill sense, fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management by priests to gain wealth and power by working upon the religious motives or credulity of others.

It is better that men should be governed by priestcraft than by violence.

Macaulay.

Priest"er*y (?), n. Priests, collectively; the priesthood; -- so called in contempt. [R.] Milton.

Priest"ess, n. A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans. Abp. Potter.

Priest"hood (?), n. 1. The office or character of a priest; the priestly function. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

2. Priests, taken collectively; the order of men set apart for sacred offices; the order of priests.

Priest"ing, n. The office of a priest. [Obs.] Milton.

Priest"ism (?), n. The influence, doctrines, principles, etc., of priests or the priesthood. [R.]

Priest"less, a. Without a priest. Pope.

Priest"like` (?), a. Priestly. B. Jonson.

Priest"li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being priestly. R. Browning.

Priest"ly, a. Of or pertaining to a priest or the priesthood; sacerdotal; befitting or becoming a priest; as, the priestly office; a priestly farewell. Shak.

Priest"-rid`den (?), a. Controlled or oppressed by priests; as, a priest-ridden people. Swift.

Prieve (?), v. t. To prove. [Obs. or Scot.]

Prig (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prigging (?).] [A modification of prick.] To haggle about the price of a commodity; to bargain hard. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Prig, v. t. 1. To cheapen. [Scot.]

2. [Perhaps orig., to ride off with. See Prick, v. t.] To filch or steal; as, to prig a handkerchief. [Cant]

Prig, n. 1. A pert, conceited, pragmatical fellow.

The queer prig of a doctor.

Macaulay.

2. A thief; a filcher. [Cant] Shak.

Prig"ger*y (?), n. Priggism.

Prig"gish (?), a. Like a prig; conceited; pragmatical. -- Prig"gish*ly, adv. -- Prig"gish-ness, n.

Prig"gism (?), n. 1. The quality or state of being priggish; the manners of a prig. Ed. Rev.

2. Roguery; thievery. [Obs.] Fielding.

Prigh"te (?), obs. imp. of Prick. Chaucer.

Prill (?), n. [Cf. Brill.] (Zoˆl.) The brill.

Prill, v. i. To flow. [Obs.] Stow.

Prill, n. A stream. [Obs.] Davies (Microcosmos).

Prill, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] 1. (Mining) (a) A nugget of virgin metal. (b) Ore selected for excellence.

2. The button of metal from an assay.

Pril"lion (?), n. Tin extracted from the slag.

Prim (?), n. [See Privet.] (Bot) The privet.

Prim, a. [OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp, thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See Prime, a.] Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person. Swift.

Prim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Primmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Primming.] To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink.

Prim, v. i. To dress or act smartly. [R.]

Pri"ma*cy (?), n. [LL. primatia, fr. L. primas, -atis, one of the first or principal, chief, fr. primus first: cf. F. primatie. See Prime, a.] 1. The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc., hence, excellency; supremacy. [R.] De Quincey.

2. The office, rank, or character of a primate; the chief ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church; the office or dignity of an archbishop; as, the primacy of England.

||Pri"ma don"na (?); pl. E. Prima donnas (#), It. Prime (#) Donne (#). ||[It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See Prime, ||a., and Donna.] The first or chief female singer in an opera.

||Pri"ma fa"ci*e (?). [L., from abl. of primus first + abl. of facies ||appearance.] At first view; on the first appearance.

Prima facie evidence (of a fact) (Law), evidence which is sufficient to establish the fact unless rebutted. Bouvier.

Pri"mage (?; 48), n. [F.] (Com.) A charge in addition to the freight; originally, a gratuity to the captain for his particular care of the goods (sometimes called hat money), but now belonging to the owners or freighters of the vessel, unless by special agreement the whole or part is assigned to the captain. Homans.

Pri"mal (?), a. [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a.] First; primary; original; chief.

It hath the primal eldest curse upon it.

Shak.

The primal duties shine aloft like stars.

Wordsworth.

Pri*mal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being primal. [Obs.]

Pri"ma*ri*ly (?), adv. In a primary manner; in the first place; in the first place; in the first intention; originally.

Pri"ma*ri*ness, n. The quality or state of being primary, or first in time, in act, or in intention. Norris.

Pri"ma*ry (?), a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a., and cf. Premier, Primero.] 1. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original.

The church of Christ, in its primary institution.

Bp. Pearson.

These I call original, or primary, qualities of body.

Locke.

2. First in order, as being preparatory to something higher; as, primary assemblies; primary schools.

3. First in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as, primary planets; a matter of primary importance.

4. (Geol.) Earliest formed; fundamental.

5. (Chem.) Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement.

Primary alcohol (Organic Chem.), any alcohol which possess the group CH2.OH, and can be oxidized so as to form a corresponding aldehyde and acid having the same number of carbon atoms; -- distinguished from secondary &and; tertiary alcohols. -- Primary amine (Chem.), an amine containing the amido group, or a derivative of ammonia in which only one atom of hydrogen has been replaced by a basic radical; -- distinguished from secondary &and; tertiary amines. -- Primary amputation (Surg.), an amputation for injury performed as soon as the shock due to the injury has passed away, and before symptoms of inflammation supervene. -- Primary axis (Bot.), the main stalk which bears a whole cluster of flowers. -- Primary colors. See under Color. -- Primary meeting, a meeting of citizens at which the first steps are taken towards the nomination of candidates, etc. See Caucus. -- Primary pinna (Bot.), one of those portions of a compound leaf or frond which branch off directly from the main rhachis or stem, whether simple or compounded. -- Primary planets. (Astron.) See the Note under Planet. -- Primary qualities of bodies, such are essential to and inseparable from them. -- Primary quills (Zoˆl.), the largest feathers of the wing of a bird; primaries. -- Primary rocks (Geol.), a term early used for rocks supposed to have been first formed, being crystalline and containing no organic remains, as granite, gneiss, etc.; -- called also primitive rocks. The terms Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary rocks have also been used in like manner, but of these the last two only are now in use. -- Primary salt (Chem.), a salt derived from a polybasic acid in which only one acid hydrogen atom has been replaced by a base or basic radical. -- Primary syphilis (Med.), the initial stage of syphilis, including the period from the development of the original lesion or chancre to the first manifestation of symptoms indicative of general constitutional infection. -- Primary union (Surg.), union without suppuration; union by the first intention.

Pri"ma*ry, n.; pl. Primaries (&?;). 1. That which stands first in order, rank, or importance; a chief matter.

2. A primary meeting; a caucus.

3. (Zoˆl.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing. See Plumage, and Illust. of Bird.

4. (Astron.) A primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under Planet.

Pri"mate (?), n. [OE. primat, F. primat, L. primas, -atis one of the first, chief, fr. primus the first. See Prime, a.] 1. The chief ecclesiastic in a national church; one who presides over other bishops in a province; an archbishop.

2. (Zoˆl.) One of the Primates.

||Pri*ma"tes (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) The highest order of mammals. It ||includes man, together with the apes and monkeys. Cf. Pitheci.

Pri"mate*ship (?), n. The office, dignity, or position of a primate; primacy.

Pri*ma"tial (?), a. [Cf. F. primatial.] Primatical. [R.] D'Anville (Trans. ).

Pri*mat"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a primate. Barrow.

Prime (?), a. [F., fr. L. primus first, a superl. corresponding to the compar. prior former. See Prior, a., Foremost, Former, and cf. Prim, a., Primary, Prince.] 1. First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. "Prime forests." Tennyson.

She was not the prime cause, but I myself.

Milton.

In this sense the word is nearly superseded by primitive, except in the phrase prime cost.

2. First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister. "Prime virtues." Dryden.

3. First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.

4. Early; blooming; being in the first stage. [Poetic]

His starry helm, unbuckled, showed him prime In manhood where youth ended.

Milton.

5. Lecherous; lustful; lewd. [Obs.] Shak.

6. Marked or distinguished by a mark (&prime;) called a prime mark.

Prime and ultimate ratio. (Math.). See Ultimate. -- Prime conductor. (Elec.) See under Conductor. -- Prime factor (Arith.), a factor which is a prime number. -- Prime figure (Geom.), a figure which can not be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc. -- Prime meridian (Astron.), the meridian from which longitude is reckoned, as the meridian of Greenwich or Washington. -- Prime minister, the responsible head of a ministry or executive government; applied particularly to that of England. -- Prime mover. (Mech.) (a) A natural agency applied by man to the production of power. Especially: Muscular force; the weight and motion of fluids, as water and air; heat obtained by chemical combination, and applied to produce changes in the volume and pressure of steam, air, or other fluids; and electricity, obtained by chemical action, and applied to produce alternation of magnetic force. (b) An engine, or machine, the object of which is to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source, and apply them to drive other machines; as a water wheel, a water-pressure engine, a steam engine, a hot-air engine, etc. (c) Fig.: The original or the most effective force in any undertaking or work; as, Clarkson was the prime mover in English antislavery agitation. -- Prime number (Arith.), a number which is exactly divisible by no number except itself or unity, as 5, 7, 11. -- Prime vertical (Astron.), the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the horizon. -- Prime-vertical dial, a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime vertical. -- Prime-vertical transit instrument, a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves in the plane of the prime vertical, -- used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.

Prime (?), n. 1. The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring. Chaucer.

In the very prime of the world.

Hooker.

Hope waits upon the flowery prime.

Waller.

2. The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. "Cut off in their prime." Eustace. "The prime of youth." Dryden.

3. That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.

Give him always of the prime.

Swift.

4. [F. prime, LL. prima (sc. hora). See Prime, a.] The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.

Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime.

Spenser.

Originally, prime denoted the first quarter of the artificial day, reckoned from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. Afterwards, it denoted the end of the first quarter, that is, 9 a. m. Specifically, it denoted the first canonical hour, as now. Chaucer uses it in all these senses, and also in the sense of def. 1, above.

They sleep till that it was pryme large.

Chaucer.

5. (Fencing) The first of the chief guards.

6. (Chem.) Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; -- so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1. [Obs. or Archaic]

7. (Arith.) A prime number. See under Prime, a.

8. An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; -- denoted by [&prime;]. See 2d Inch, n., 1.

Prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.

Prime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Primed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Priming.] [From Prime, a.] 1. To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.

2. To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall.

3. To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

4. To trim or prune, as trees. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

5. (Math.) To mark with a prime mark.

To prime a pump, to charge a pump with water, in order to put it in working condition.

Prime, v. i. 1. To be renewed, or as at first. [Obs.]

Night's bashful empress, though she often wane, As oft repeats her darkness, primes again.

Quarles.

2. To serve as priming for the charge of a gun.

3. To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; -- said of a steam boiler.

Prime"ly, adv. 1. At first; primarily. [Obs.] South.

2. In a prime manner; excellently.

Prime"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being first.

2. The quality or state of being prime, or excellent.

Prim"er (?), n. One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other compound for igniting a charge of gunpowder.

Prim"er, a. [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.] First; original; primary. [Obs.] "The primer English kings." Drayton.

Primer fine (O. Eng. Law), a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine. Blackstone. -- Primer seizin (Feudal Law), the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight's fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year's profits of the land if in possession, and half a year's profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; -- now abolished. Blackstone.

Prim"er (?), n. [Originally, the book read at prime, the first canonical hour. LL. primae liber. See Prime, n., 4.] 1. Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also, a work of elementary religious instruction.

The primer, or office of the Blessed Virgin.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

2. A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner.

As he sat in the school at his prymer.

Chaucer.

3. (Print.) A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica.

Great primer type.

Pri*me"ro (?), n. [Sp. primera, fr. primero first, from L. primarius. See Premier.] A game at cards, now unknown. Shak.

Prim"er*ole (?), n. (Bot.) See Primrose. [Obs.] "She was a primerole." Chaucer.

Pri*me"val (?), a. [L. primaevus; primus first + aevum age. See Prime, a., and Age.] Belonging to the first ages; pristine; original; primitive; primary; as, the primeval innocence of man. "This is the forest primeval." Longfellow.

From chaos, and primeval darkness, came Light.

Keats.

Pri*me"val*ly, adv. In a primeval manner; in or from the earliest times; originally. Darwin.

Pri*me"vous, a. Primeval. [Obs.]

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Pri`mi*ge"ni*al (?), a. First born, or first of all; original; primary. See Primogenial.

{ Pri`mi*ge"ni*ous (?), Pri*mig"e*nous (?), } a. [L. primigenus, primigenius. See Primogeniture.] First formed or generated; original; primigenial. Bp. Hall.

Pri"mine (?), n. [L. primus first: cf. F. primine.] (Bot.) The outermost of the two integuments of an ovule.

This word has been used by some writers to denote the inner integument, which is formed earlier than the outer. Cf. Secundine.

Prim"ing (?), n. 1. The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.

2. (Paint.) The first coating of color, size, or the like, laid on canvas, or on a building, or other surface.

3. (Steam Eng.) The carrying over of water, with the steam, from the boiler, as into the cylinder.

Priming of the tide. See Lag of the tide, under 2d Lag. -- Priming tube, a small pipe, filled with a combustible composition for firing cannon. -- Priming valve (Steam Eng.), a spring safety valve applied to the cylinder of a steam engine for discharging water carried into the cylinder by priming. -- Priming wire, a pointed wire used to penetrate the vent of a piece, for piercing the cartridge before priming.

||Pri*mip"a*ra (?), n. [L., fr. primus first + parere to bring forth.] ||(Med.) A woman who bears a child for the first time.

Pri*mip"a*rous (?), a. [See Primipara.] Belonging to a first birth; bearing young for the first time.

Pri*mip"i*lar (?), a. [L. primipilaris, fr. primipilus the centurion of the first cohort of a Roman legion, fr. primus pilus the division made up of the triarii in the Roman army.] Of or pertaining to the captain of the vanguard of a Roman army. Barrow.

||Pri*mi"ti*a (?), n.; pl. PrimitiÊ (#) (Primitias (#), obs.). [L. ||primitiae, pl., fr. primus first. Cf. Premices.] (Eng. Law) The first ||fruit; the first year's whole profit of an ecclesiastical preferment.

The primitias of your parsonage.

Spenser.

Pri*mi"tial (?), a. Being of the first production; primitive; original. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

Prim"i*tive (?), a. [L. primitivus, fr. primus the first: cf. F. primitif. See Prime, a.] 1. Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first; as, primitive innocence; the primitive church. "Our primitive great sire." Milton.

2. Of or pertaining to a former time; old- fashioned; characterized by simplicity; as, a primitive style of dress.

3. Original; primary; radical; not derived; as, primitive verb in grammar.

Primitive axes of coˆrdinate (Geom.), that system of axes to which the points of a magnitude are first referred, with reference to a second set or system, to which they are afterward referred. -- Primitive chord (Mus.), that chord, the lowest note of which is of the same literal denomination as the fundamental base of the harmony; -- opposed to derivative. Moore (Encyc. of Music). -- Primitive circle (Spherical Projection), the circle cut from the sphere to be projected, by the primitive plane. -- Primitive colors (Paint.), primary colors. See under Color. -- Primitive Fathers (Eccl.), the acknowledged Christian writers who flourished before the Council of Nice, A. D. 325. Shipley. -- Primitive groove (Anat.), a depression or groove in the epiblast of the primitive streak. It is not connected with the medullary groove, which appears later and in front of it. -- Primitive plane (Spherical Projection), the plane upon which the projections are made, generally coinciding with some principal circle of the sphere, as the equator or a meridian. -- Primitive rocks (Geol.), primary rocks. See under Primary. -- Primitive sheath. (Anat.) See Neurilemma. -- Primitive streak or trace (Anat.), an opaque and thickened band where the mesoblast first appears in the vertebrate blastoderm.

Syn. -- First; original; radical; pristine; ancient; primeval; antiquated; old-fashioned.

Prim"i*tive, n. An original or primary word; a word not derived from another; -- opposed to derivative.

Prim"i*tive*ly, adv. 1. Originally; at first.

2. Primarily; not derivatively.

3. According to the original rule or ancient practice; in the ancient style. South.

Prim"i*tive*ness, n. The quality or state of being primitive; conformity to primitive style or practice.

Prim"i*ty (?), n. Quality of being first; primitiveness. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

Prim"ly, adv. In a prim or precise manner.

Prim"ness, n. The quality or state of being prim; affected formality or niceness; preciseness; stiffness.

||Pri"mo (?), a. [It.] (Mus.) First; chief.

Pri`mo*ge"ni*al (?), a. [See Primigenial.] First born, made, or generated; original; primary; elemental; as, primogenial light. Glanvill.

Pri`mo*gen"i*tive (?), a. [See Primogeniture.] Of or pertaining to primogeniture. [R.]

Pri`mo*gen"i*tive, n. Primogeniture. [Obs.]

The primogenitive and due of birth.

Shak.

Pri`mo*gen"i*tor (?), n. [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitor a begetter.] The first ancestor; a forefather.

Pri`mo*gen"i*ture (?; 135), n. [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitura a begetting, birth, generation, fr. genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. primogÈniture, L. primogenitus firstborn. See Prime, a., and Genus, Kin.] 1. The state of being the firstborn of the same parents; seniority by birth among children of the same family.

2. (Eng. Law) The exclusive right of inheritance which belongs to the eldest son. Thus in England the right of inheriting the estate of the father belongs to the eldest son, and in the royal family the eldest son of the sovereign is entitled to the throne by primogeniture. In exceptional cases, among the female children, the crown descends by right of primogeniture to the eldest daughter only and her issue. Blackstone.

Pri`mo*gen"i*ture*ship (?), n. The state or privileges of the firstborn. Burke.

Pri*mor"di*al (?), a. [L. primordialis, from primordium the first beginning; primus first + ordiri to begin a web, to begin: cf. F. primordial.] 1. First in order; primary; original; of earliest origin; as, primordial condition. "The primordial facts of our intelligent nature." Sir W. Hamilton.

2. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lowest beds of the Silurian age, corresponding to the Acadian and Potsdam periods in American geology. It is called also Cambrian, and by many geologists is separated from the Silurian.

3. (Biol.) Originally or earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ; as, a primordial leaf; a primordial cell.

Primordial utricle (Bot.), the interior lining of a young vegetable cell.

Pri*mor"di*al, n. A first principle or element.

Pri*mor"di*al*ism (?), n. Devotion to, or persistence in, conditions of the primordial state. H. Spencer.

Pri*mor"di*al*ly, adv. At the beginning; under the first order of things; originally.

Pri*mor"di*an (?), n. [L. primordius first of all, fr. primordium.] (Bot.) A name given to several kinds of plums; as, red primordian, amber primordian, etc.

Pri*mor"di*ate (?), a. Primordial. [R.] Boyle.

Primp (?), v. i. & t. [Cf. Prim, a.] To be formal or affected in dress or manners; -- often with up. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.

Prim"rose` (?), n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See Prime, a.] (Bot.) (a) An early flowering plant of the genus Primula (P. vulgaris) closely allied to the cowslip. There are several varieties, as the white-, the red-, the yellow-flowered, etc. Formerly called also primerole, primerolles. (b) Any plant of the genus Primula.

Evening primrose, an erect biennial herb (Enothera biennis), with yellow vespertine flowers, common in the United States. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus. -- Primrose peerless, the two-flowered Narcissus (N. biflorus). [Obs.]

Prim"rose`, a. Of or pertaining to the primrose; of the color of a primrose; -- hence, flowery; gay. "The primrose path of dalliance." Shak.

||Prim"u*la (?), n. [LL. See Primrose.] (Bot.) The genus of plants ||including the primrose (Primula vera).

Prim`u*la"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to an order of herbaceous plants (PrimulaceÊ), of which the primrose is the type, and the pimpernel, the cyclamen, and the water violet are other examples.

||Pri"mum mob"i*le (?). [L., first cause of motion.] (Astron.) In the ||Ptolemaic system, the outermost of the revolving concentric spheres ||constituting the universe, the motion of which was supposed to carry ||with it all the inclosed spheres with their planets in a daily ||revolution from east to west. See Crystalline heavens, under ||Crystalline.

The motions of the greatest persons in a government ought to be, as the motions of the planets, under primum mobile.

Bacon.

||Pri"mus (?), n. [L., the first.] One of the bishops of the Episcopal ||Church of Scotland, who presides at the meetings of the bishops, and ||has certain privileges but no metropolitan authority. Internat. Cyc.

Prim"y (?), a. [From Prime, a.] Being in its prime. [Obs.] "The youth of primy nature." Shak.

Prince (?), n. [F., from L. princeps, -cipis, the first, chief; primus first + capere to take. See Prime, a., and Capacious.] 1. The one of highest rank; one holding the highest place and authority; a sovereign; a monarch; - - originally applied to either sex, but now rarely applied to a female. Wyclif (Rev. i. 5).

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince.

Milton.

Queen Elizabeth, a prince admirable above her sex.

Camden.

2. The son of a king or emperor, or the issue of a royal family; as, princes of the blood. Shak.

3. A title belonging to persons of high rank, differing in different countries. In England it belongs to dukes, marquises, and earls, but is given to members of the royal family only. In Italy a prince is inferior to a duke as a member of a particular order of nobility; in Spain he is always one of the royal family.

4. The chief of any body of men; one at the head of a class or profession; one who is preÎminent; as, a merchant prince; a prince of players. "The prince of learning." Peacham.

Prince-Albert coat, a long double-breasted frock coat for men. -- Prince of the blood, Prince consort, Prince of darkness. See under Blood, Consort, and Darkness. -- Prince of Wales, the oldest son of the English sovereign. -- Prince's feather (Bot.), a name given to two annual herbs (Amarantus caudatus and Polygonum orientale), with apetalous reddish flowers arranged in long recurved panicled spikes. -- Prince's metal, Prince Rupert's metal. See under Metal. Prince's pine. (Bot.) See Pipsissewa.

Prince, v. i. To play the prince. [R.] Shak.

Prince"dom (?), n. The jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate of a prince.

Thrones, princedoms, powers, dominions, I reduce.

Milton.

Prince"hood (?), n. Princeliness. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Prince"kin (?), n. A petty prince; a princeling.

The princekins of private life.

Thackeray.

Prince"less, a. Without a prince. Fuller.

Prince"let (?), n. A petty prince. [R.]

Prince"like` (?), a. Princely. Shak.

Prince"li*ness (?), n. The quality of being princely; the state, manner, or dignity of a prince.

Prince"ling (?), n. A petty prince; a young prince.

Prince"ly, a. 1. Of or relating to a prince; regal; royal; of highest rank or authority; as, princely birth, character, fortune, etc.

2. Suitable for, or becoming to, a prince; grand; august; munificent; magnificent; as, princely virtues; a princely fortune. "Most princely gifts." Shak.

Prince"ly (?), adv. In a princely manner.

My appetite was not princely got.

Shak.

Prin"cess (?), n. [F. princesse. See Prince, and cf. Princesse.] 1. A female prince; a woman having sovereign power, or the rank of a prince. Dryden.

So excellent a princess as the present queen.

Swift.

2. The daughter of a sovereign; a female member of a royal family. Shak.

3. The consort of a prince; as, the princess of Wales.

Princess royal, the eldest daughter of a sovereign.

Prin*cesse" (?), a. [F., a princess.] A term applied to a lady's long, close-fitting dress made with waist and skirt in one.

Prin"cess*like` (?), a. Like a princess.

Prince"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) The wood of two small tropical American trees (Hamelia ventricosa, and Cordia gerascanthoides). It is brownish, veined with lighter color.

Prin"ci*fied (?), a. [Prince + L. -ficare (in comp.).] Imitative of a prince. [R. & Colloq.] Thackeray.

Prin"ci*pal (?), a. [F., from L. principalis. See Prince.] 1. Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.

Wisdom is the principal thing.

Prov. iv. 7.

2. Of or pertaining to a prince; princely. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Spenser.

Principal axis. See Axis of a curve, under Axis. -- Principal axes of a quadric (Geom.), three lines in which the principal planes of the solid intersect two and two, as in an ellipsoid. -- Principal challenge. (Law) See under Challenge. -- Principal plane. See Plane of projection (a), under Plane. -- Principal of a quadric (Geom.), three planes each of which is at right angles to the other two, and bisects all chords of the quadric perpendicular to the plane, as in an ellipsoid. -- Principal point (Persp.), the projection of the point of sight upon the plane of projection. -- Principal ray (Persp.), the line drawn through the point of sight perpendicular to the perspective plane. -- Principal section (Crystallog.), a plane passing through the optical axis of a crystal.

Prin"ci*pal, n. 1. A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; -- distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant.

2. Hence: (Law) (a) The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, -- as distinguished from an accessory. (b) A chief obligor, promisor, or debtor, -- as distinguished from a surety. (c) One who employs another to act for him, -- as distinguished from an agent. Wharton. Bouvier. Burrill.

3. A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous. Specifically: (a) (Com.) A capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; -- so called in distinction from interest or profit. (b) (Arch. & Engin.) The construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, -- generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing. (c) (Mus.) In English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason. (d) (O. Eng. Law) A heirloom; a mortuary. Cowell. (e) pl. The first two long feathers of a hawk's wing. Spenser. J. H. Walsh. (f) One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned. Oxf. Gloss. (g) A principal or essential point or rule; a principle. [Obs.]

Prin`ci*pal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Principalities (#). [L. principalitas preÎminence, excellence: cf. F. principalitÈ, principautÈ. See Principal.] 1. Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station. Sir P. Sidney.

Your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

Jer. xiii. 18.

The prerogative and principality above everything else.

Jer. Taylor.

2. A prince; one invested with sovereignty. "Next upstood Nisroch, of principalities the prime." Milton.

3. The territory or jurisdiction of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as, the principality of Wales.

Prin"ci*pal*ly (?), adv. In a principal manner; primarily; above all; chiefly; mainly.

Prin"ci*pal*ness, n. The quality of being principal.

Prin"ci*pate (?), n. [L. principatus: cf. F. principat.] Principality; supreme rule. [Obs.] Barrow.

||Prin*cip"i*a (?), n. pl. [L. principium. See Principle.] First ||principles; fundamental beginnings; elements; as. Newton's Principia.

Prin*cip"i*al (?), a. Elementary. [Obs.] Bacon.

Prin*cip"i*ant (?), a. [L. principians, p. pr. of principiare to begin, fr. principium. See Principle.] Relating to principles or beginnings. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Prin*cip"i*ate (?), v. t. [See Principiant.] To begin; to initiate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

Prin*cip`i*a"tion (?), n. Analysis into primary or elemental parts. [Archaic] Bacon.

Prin"ci*ple (?), n. [F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, - cipis. See Prince.] 1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.]

Doubting sad end of principle unsound.

Spenser.

2. A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.

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The soul of man is an active principle.

Tillotson.

3. An original faculty or endowment.

Nature in your principles hath set [benignity].

Chaucer.

Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering.

Stewart.

4. A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.

Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.

Heb. vi. 1.

A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad.

Milton.

5. A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.

All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind.

Law.

6. (Chem.) Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; -- applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.

Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna.

Gregory.

Bitter principle, Principle of contradiction, etc. See under Bitter, Contradiction, etc.

Prin"ci*ple (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Principled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Principling (?).] To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.

Governors should be well principled.

L'Estrange.

Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired.

Locke.

{ Prin"cock (?), Prin"cox (?), } n. [Prim + cock.] A coxcomb; a pert boy. [Obs.]

Prink (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prinked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prinking.] [Probably a nasalized form of prick. See Prick, v. t., and cf. Prig, Prank.] To dress or adjust one's self for show; to prank.

Prink, v. t. To prank or dress up; to deck fantastically. "And prink their hair with daisies." Cowper.

Prink"er (?), n. One who prinks.

Prin"prid`dle (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The long-tailed titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]

Print (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Printed; p. pr. & vb. n. Printing.] [Abbrev. fr. imprint. See Imprint, and Press to squeeze.] 1. To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something.

A look will print a thought that never may remove.

Surrey.

Upon his breastplate he beholds a dint, Which in that field young Edward's sword did print.

Sir John Beaumont.

Perhaps some footsteps printed in the clay.

Roscommon.

2. To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.

Forth on his fiery steed betimes he rode, That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod.

Dryden.

3. Specifically: To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book.

4. To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as, to print calico.

5. (Photog.) To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface.

Printed goods, textile fabrics printed in patterns, especially cotton cloths, or calicoes.

Print, v. i. 1. To use or practice the art of typography; to take impressions of letters, figures, or electrotypes, engraved plates, or the like.

2. To publish a book or an article.

From the moment he prints, he must except to hear no more truth.

Pope.

Print, n. [See Print, v., Imprint, n.] 1. A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as, the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow.

Where print of human feet was never seen.

Dryden.

2. A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as, a butter print.

3. That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as, a print of butter.

4. Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as, small print; large print; this line is in print.

5. That which is produced by printing. Specifically: (a) An impression taken from anything, as from an engraved plate. "The prints which we see of antiquities." Dryden. (b) A printed publication, more especially a newspaper or other periodical. Addison. (c) A printed cloth; a fabric figured by stamping, especially calico or cotton cloth. (d) A photographic copy, or positive picture, on prepared paper, as from a negative, or from a drawing on transparent paper.

6. (Founding) A core print. See under Core.

Blue print, a copy in white lines on a blue ground, of a drawing, plan, tracing, etc., or a positive picture in blue and white, from a negative, produced by photographic printing on peculiarly prepared paper. -- In print. (a) In a printed form; issued from the press; published. Shak. (b) To the letter; with accurateness. "All this I speak in print." Shak. -- Out of print. See under Out. -- Print works, a factory where cloth, as calico, is printed.

Print"a-ble (?), a. Worthy to be published. [R.]

Print"er (?), n. One who prints; especially, one who prints books, newspapers, engravings, etc., a compositor; a typesetter; a pressman.

Printer's devil, Printer's gauge. See under Devil, and Gauge. -- Printer's ink. See Printing ink, below.

Print"er*y (?), n. A place where cloth is printed; print works; also, a printing office. [R.]

Print"ing, n. The act, art, or practice of impressing letters, characters, or figures on paper, cloth, or other material; the business of a printer, including typesetting and presswork, with their adjuncts; typography; also, the act of producing photographic prints.

Block printing. See under Block. -- Printing frame (Photog.), a shallow box, usually having a glass front, in which prints are made by exposure to light. -- Printing house, a printing office. -- Printing ink, ink used in printing books, newspapers, etc. It is composed of lampblack or ivory black mingled with linseed or nut oil, made thick by boiling and burning. Other ingredients are employed for the finer qualities. Ure. -- Printing office, a place where books, pamphlets, or newspapers, etc., are printed. -- Printing paper, paper used in the printing of books, pamphlets, newspapers, and the like, as distinguished from writing paper, wrapping paper, etc. -- Printing press, a press for printing, books, newspaper, handbills, etc. -- Printing wheel, a wheel with letters or figures on its periphery, used in machines for paging or numbering, or in ticket-printing machines, typewriters, etc.; a type wheel.

Print"less, a. Making no imprint. Milton.

Print"less, a. Making no imprint. Milton.

Print"shop`, n. A shop where prints are sold.

Pri"or (?), a. [L. prior former, previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime, a., and Pre-, Pro-.] Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.

Pri"or, n. [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.] (Eccl.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

Conventical, or Conventual, prior, a prior who is at the head of his own house. See the Note under Priory. -- Claustral prior, an official next in rank to the abbot in a monastery; prior of the cloisters.

Pri"or*ate (?), n. [LL. prioratus: cf. F. priorat.] The dignity, office, or government, of a prior. T. Warton.

Pri"or*ess, n. [OF. prioresse.] A lady superior of a priory of nuns, and next in dignity to an abbess.

Pri*or"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. prioritÈ. See Prior, a.] 1. The quality or state of being prior or antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as, priority of application.

2. Precedence; superior rank. Shak.

Priority of debts, a superior claim to payment, or a claim to payment before others.

Syn. -- Antecedence; precedence; preÎminence.

Pri"or*ly (?), adv. Previously. [R.] Geddes.

Pri"or*ship, n. The state or office of prior; priorate.

Pri"o*ry (?), n.; pl. Priories (#). [Cf. LL. prioria. See Prior, n.] A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; -- sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also cell, and obedience. See Cell, 2.

Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot.

Alien priory, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country.

Syn. -- See Cloister.

Pris (?), n. See Price, and 1st Prize. [Obs.]

Pris"age (?; 48), n. [OF. prisage a praising, valuing, taxing; cf. LL. prisagium prisage; or from F. prise a taking, capture, prize. See Prize.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more, -- one before and one behind the mast. By charter of Edward I. butlerage was substituted for this. Blackstone. (b) The share of merchandise taken as lawful prize at sea which belongs to the king or admiral.

Pris*cil"lian*ist (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Priscillian, bishop of Avila in Spain, in the fourth century, who mixed various elements of Gnosticism and Manicheism with Christianity.

Prise (?), n. An enterprise. [Obs.] Spenser.

Prise, n. & v. See Prize, n., 5. Also Prize, v. t.

Pris"er (?), n. See 1st Prizer. [Obs.]

Prism (prz'm), n. [L. prisma, Gr. pri`sma, fr. pri`zein, pri`ein, to saw: cf. F. prisme.] 1. (Geom.) A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

Prisms of different forms are often named from the figure of their bases; as, a triangular prism, a quadrangular prism, a rhombic prism, etc.

2. (Opt.) A transparent body, with usually three rectangular plane faces or sides, and two equal and parallel triangular ends or bases; -- used in experiments on refraction, dispersion, etc.

3. (Crystallog.) A form the planes of which are parallel to the vertical axis. See Form, n., 13.

Achromatic prism (Opt.), a prism composed usually of two prisms of different transparent substances which have unequal dispersive powers, as two different kinds of glass, especially flint glass and crown glass, the difference of dispersive power being compensated by giving them different refracting angles, so that, when placed together so as to have opposite relative positions, a ray of light passed through them is refracted or bent into a new position, but is free from color. -- Nicol's prism, Nicol prism. [So called from Wm. Nicol, of Edinburgh, who first proposed it.] (Opt.) An instrument for experiments in polarization, consisting of a rhomb of Iceland spar, which has been bisected obliquely at a certain angle, and the two parts again joined with transparent cement, so that the ordinary image produced by double refraction is thrown out of the field by total reflection from the internal cemented surface, and the extraordinary, or polarized, image alone is transmitted.

{ Pris*mat"ic (?), Pris*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. prismatique.] 1. Resembling, or pertaining to, a prism; as, a prismatic form or cleavage.

2. Separated or distributed by a prism; formed by a prism; as, prismatic colors.

3. (Crystallog.) Same as Orthorhombic.

Prismatic borax (Chem.), borax crystallized in the form of oblique prisms, with ten molecules of water; -- distinguished from octahedral borax. -- Prismatic colors (Opt.), the seven colors into which light is resolved when passed through a prism; primary colors. See Primary colors, under Color. -- Prismatic compass (Surv.), a compass having a prism for viewing a distant object and the compass card at the same time. -- Prismatic spectrum (Opt.), the spectrum produced by the passage of light through a prism.

Pris*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. In the form or manner of a prism; by means of a prism.

Pris`ma*toid"al (?), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, prism + -oid: F. prismatoÔde.] Having a prismlike form. Ure.

Pris"moid (prz"moid), n. [Cf. F. prismtoÔde.] A body that approaches to the form of a prism.

Pris*moid"al (?), a. Having the form of a prismoid; as, prismoidal solids.

Pris"my (?), a. Pertaining to a prism. [R.]

Pris"on (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n., Misprision.] 1. A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o&?; confinement, restraint, or safe custody.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name.

Ps. cxlii. 7.

The tyrant ∆olus, . . . With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds.

Dryden.

2. Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority.

Prison bars, or Prison base. See Base, n., 24. -- Prison breach. (Law) See Note under 3d Escape, n., 4. -- Prison house, a prison. Shak. -- Prison ship (Naut.), a ship fitted up for the confinement of prisoners. -- Prison van, a carriage in which prisoners are conveyed to and from prison.

Pris"on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prisoned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prisoning.] 1. To imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty.

The prisoned eagle dies for rage.

Sir W. Scott.

His true respect will prison false desire.

Shak.

2. To bind (together); to enchain. [Obs.]

Sir William Crispyn with the duke was led Together prisoned.

Robert of Brunne.

Pris"on*er (?), n. [F. prisonnier.] 1. One who is confined in a prison. Piers Plowman.

2. A person under arrest, or in custody, whether in prison or not; a person held in involuntary restraint; a captive; as, a prisoner at the bar of a court. Bouvier.

Prisoner of Hope thou art, -- look up and sing.

Keble.

Prisoner's base. See Base, n., 24.

Pris"on*ment (?), n. Imprisonment. [Obs.] Shak.

Pris"tin*ate (?), a. Pristine; primitive. [Obs.] "Pristinate idolatry." Holinshed.

Pris"tine (?), a. [L. pristinus, akin to prior: cf. F. pristin. See Prior, a.] Belonging to the earliest period or state; original; primitive; primeval; as, the pristine state of innocence; the pristine manners of a people; pristine vigor.

Pritch (?), n. [See Prick.] 1. A sharp-pointed instrument; also, an eelspear. [Prov. Eng.]

2. Pique; offense. [Obs.] D. Rogers.

Pritch"el (?), n. A tool employed by blacksmiths for punching or enlarging the nail holes in a horseshoe.

Prith"ee (?), interj. A corruption of pray thee; as, I prithee; generally used without I. Shak.

What was that scream for, I prithee?

L'Estrange.

Prithee, tell me, Dimple-chin.

E. C. Stedman.

Prit"tle-prat`tle (?), n. [See Prattle.] Empty talk; trifling loquacity; prattle; -- used in contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.] Abp. Bramhall.

Pri"va*cy (?), n.; pl. Privacies (#). [See Private.] 1. The state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; seclusion.

2. A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement.

Her sacred privacies all open lie.

Rowe.

3. Concealment of what is said or done. Shak.

4. A private matter; a secret. Fuller.

5. See Privity, 2. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.

Pri*va"do (?), n. [Sp., fr. L. privatus. See Private.] A private friend; a confidential friend; a confidant. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pri"vate (?; 48), a. [L. privatus apart from the state, peculiar to an individual, private, properly p. p. of privare to bereave, deprive, originally, to separate, fr. privus single, private, perhaps originally, put forward (hence, alone, single) and akin to prae before. See Prior, a., and cf. Deprive, Privy, a.] 1. Belonging to, or concerning, an individual person, company, or interest; peculiar to one's self; unconnected with others; personal; one's own; not public; not general; separate; as, a man's private opinion; private property; a private purse; private expenses or interests; a private secretary.

2. Sequestered from company or observation; appropriated to an individual; secret; secluded; lonely; solitary; as, a private room or apartment; private prayer.

Reason . . . then retires Into her private cell when nature rests.

Milton.

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3. Not invested with, or engaged in, public office or employment; as, a private citizen; private life. Shak.

A private person may arrest a felon.

Blackstone.

4. Not publicly known; not open; secret; as, a private negotiation; a private understanding.

5. Having secret or private knowledge; privy. [Obs.]

Private act or statute, a statute exclusively for the settlement of private and personal interests, of which courts do not take judicial notice; -- opposed to a general law, which operates on the whole community. -- Private nuisance or wrong. See Nuisance. -- Private soldier. See Private, n., 5. -- Private way, a right of private passage over another man's ground. Kent.

Pri"vate (pr"vt), n.

1. A secret message; a personal unofficial communication. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Personal interest; particular business.[Obs.]

Nor must I be unmindful of my private.

B. Jonson.

3. Privacy; retirement. [Archaic] "Go off; I discard you; let me enjoy my private." Shak.

4. One not invested with a public office. [Archaic]

What have kings, that privates have not too?

Shak.

5. (Mil.) A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer. Macaulay.

6. pl. The private parts; the genitals.

In private, secretly; not openly or publicly.

Pri`va*teer" (pr`v*tr"), n. [From Private.] 1. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque.

2. The commander of a privateer.

Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate.

Macaulay.

Pri`va*teer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Privateered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Privateering.] To cruise in a privateer.

Pri`va*teer"ing, n. Cruising in a privateer.

Pri`va*teers"man (?), n.; pl. Privateersmen (&?;). An officer or seaman of a privateer.

Pri"vate*ly (pr"vt*l), adv.

1. In a private manner; not openly; without the presence of others.

2. In a manner affecting an individual; personally; not officially; as, he is not privately benefited.

Pri"vate*ness, n.

1. Seclusion from company or society; retirement; privacy; secrecy. Bacon.

2. The state of one not invested with public office.

Pri*va"tion (pr*v"shn), n. [L. privatio: cf. F. privation. See Private.] 1. The act of depriving, or taking away; hence, the depriving of rank or office; degradation in rank; deprivation. Bacon.

2. The state of being deprived or destitute of something, especially of something required or desired; destitution; need; as, to undergo severe privations.

3. The condition of being absent; absence; negation.

Evil will be known by consequence, as being only a privation, or absence, of good.

South.

Privation mere of light and absent day.

Milton.

Priv"a*tive (?), a. [L. privativus: cf. F. privatif. See Private.] 1. Causing privation; depriving.

2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative.

Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity.

Jer. Taylor.

3. (Gram.) Implying privation or negation; giving a negative force to a word; as, alpha privative; privative particles; -- applied to such prefixes and suffixes as a- (Gr. &?;), un-, non-, -less.

Priv"a*tive, n.

1. That of which the essence is the absence of something.

Blackness and darkness are indeed but privatives.

Bacon.

2. (Logic) A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; -- called also privative term.

3. (Gram.) A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.

Priv"a*tive*ly, adv. In a privative manner; by the absence of something; negatively. [R.] Hammond.

Priv"a*tive*ness, n. The state of being privative.

Priv"et (?), n. [Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print, primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut and trimmed. See, Prim, a., and cf. Prime to prune, Prim, n., Prie, n.] (Bot.) An ornamental European shrub (Ligustrum vulgare), much used in hedges; -- called also prim.

Egyptian privet. See Lawsonia. -- Evergreen privet, a plant of the genus Rhamnus. See Alatern. -- Mock privet, any one of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Phillyrea. They are from the Mediterranean region, and have been much cultivated for hedges and for fancifully clipped shrubberies.

Priv"i*lege (?), n. [F. privilËge, L. privilegium an ordinance or law against or in favor of an individual; privus private + lex, legis, law. See Private, and Legal.]

1. A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise.

He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman.

Kettlewell.

The privilege birthright was a double portion.

Locke.

A people inheriting privileges, franchises, and liberties.

Burke.

2. (Stockbroker's Cant) See Call, Put, Spread, etc.

Breach of privilege. See under Breach. -- Question of privilege (Parliamentary practice), a question which concerns the security of a member of a legislative body in his special privileges as such. -- Water privilege, the advantage of having machinery driven by a stream, or a place affording such advantage. [ U. S.] -- Writ of privilege (Law), a writ to deliver a privileged person from custody when arrested in a civil suit. Blackstone.

Syn. -- Prerogative; immunity; franchise; right; claim; liberty. -- Privilege, Prerogative. Privilege, among the Romans, was something conferred upon an individual by a private law; and hence, it denotes some peculiar benefit or advantage, some right or immunity, not enjoyed by the world at large. Prerogative, among the Romans, was the right of voting first; and, hence, it denotes a right of precedence, or of doing certain acts, or enjoying certain privileges, to the exclusion of others. It is the privilege of a member of Congress not to be called in question elsewhere for words uttered in debate. It is the prerogative of the president to nominate judges and executive officers. It is the privilege of a Christian child to be instructed in the true religion. It is the prerogative of a parent to govern and direct his children.

Priv"i*lege (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Privileged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Privileging.] [Cf. F. privilÈgier.]

1. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest.

To privilege dishonor in thy name.

Shak.

2. To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.

He took this place for sanctuary, And it shall privilege him from your hands.

Shak.

Priv"i*leged (?), a. Invested with a privilege; enjoying a peculiar right, advantage, or immunity.

Privileged communication. (Law) (a) A communication which can not be disclosed without the consent of the party making it, -- such as those made by a client to his legal adviser, or by persons to their religious or medical advisers. (b) A communication which does not expose the party making it to indictment for libel, -- such as those made by persons communicating confidentially with a government, persons consulted confidentially as to the character of servants, etc. -- Privileged debts (Law), those to which a preference in payment is given out of the estate of a deceased person, or out of the estate of an insolvent. Wharton. Burrill. -- Privileged witnesses (Law) witnesses who are not obliged to testify as to certain things, as lawyers in relation to their dealings with their clients, and officers of state as to state secrets; also, by statute, clergymen and physicans are placed in the same category, so far as concerns information received by them professionally.

Priv"i*ly, adv. In a privy manner; privately; secretly. Chaucer. 2 Pet. ii. 1.

Priv"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Privities (-tz). [From Privy, a.: cf. F. privautÈ extreme familiarity.]

1. Privacy; secrecy; confidence. Chaucer.

I will unto you, in privity, discover . . . my purpose.

Spenser.

2. Private knowledge; joint knowledge with another of a private concern; cognizance implying consent or concurrence.

All the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the Prince of Orange.

Swift.

3. A private matter or business; a secret. Chaucer.

4. pl. The genitals; the privates.

5. (Law) A connection, or bond of union, between parties, as to some particular transaction; mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property.

Priv"y (?), a. [F. privÈ, fr. L. privatus. See Private.]

1. Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse. " Privee knights and squires." Chaucer.

2. Secret; clandestine. " A privee thief." Chaucer.

3. Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public. " Privy chambers." Ezek. xxi. 14.

4. Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing.

His wife also being privy to it.

Acts v. 2.

Myself am one made privy to the plot.

Shak.

Privy chamber, a private apartment in a royal residence. [Eng.] -- Privy council (Eng. Law), the principal council of the sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other persons chosen by the king or queen. Burrill. -- Privy councilor, a member of the privy council. -- Privy purse, moneys set apart for the personal use of the monarch; also, the title of the person having charge of these moneys. [Eng.] Macaulay. -- Privy seal or signet, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which he uses in matters of subordinate consequence which do not require the great seal; also, elliptically, the principal secretary of state, or person intrusted with the privy seal. [Eng.] -- Privy verdict, a verdict given privily to the judge out of court; -- now disused. Burrill.

Priv"y, n.; pl. Privies (&?;).

1. (Law) A partaker; a person having an interest in any action or thing; one who has an interest in an estate created by another; a person having an interest derived from a contract or conveyance to which he is not himself a party. The term, in its proper sense, is distinguished from party. Burrill. Wharton.

2. A necessary house or place; a backhouse.

Priz"a*ble (?), a. Valuable. H. Taylor.

Prize (prz), n. [F. prise a seizing, hold, grasp, fr. pris, p. p. of prendre to take, L. prendere, prehendere; in some senses, as 2 (b), either from, or influenced by, F. prix price. See Prison, Prehensile, and cf. Pry, and also Price.]

1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.

I will depart my pris, or my prey, by deliberation.

Chaucer.

His own prize, Whom formerly he had in battle won.

Spenser.

2. Hence, specifically; (a) (Law) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; esp., property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel. Kent. Brande & C. (b) An honor or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.

I'll never wrestle for prize more.

Shak.

I fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize.

Dryden.

(c) That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.

3. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil. iii. 14.

4. A contest for a reward; competition. [Obs.] Shak.

5. A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. [Written also prise.]

Prize court, a court having jurisdiction of all captures made in war on the high seas. Bouvier. -- Prize fight, an exhibition contest, esp. one of pugilists, for a stake or wager. -- Prize fighter, one who fights publicly for a reward; -- applied esp. to a professional boxer or pugilist. Pope. -- Prize fighting, fighting, especially boxing, in public for a reward or wager. -- Prize master, an officer put in charge or command of a captured vessel. -- Prize medal, a medal given as a prize. -- Prize money, a dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors. -- Prize ring, the ring or inclosure for a prize fight; the system and practice of prize fighting. -- To make prize of, to capture. Hawthorne.

Prize (?), v. t. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written also prise.]

Prize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prizing.] [F. priser, OF. prisier, preisier, fr. L. pretiare, fr. pretium worth, value, price. See Price, and cf. Praise.] [Formerly written also prise. ]

1. To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.

A goodly price that I was prized at.

Zech. xi. 13.

I prize it [life] not a straw, but for mine honor.

Shak.

2. To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem. "[I] do love, prize, honor you. " Shak.

I prized your person, but your crown disdain.

Dryden.

Prize, n. [F. prix price. See 3d Prize. ] Estimation; valuation. [Obs.] Shak.

Prize"man (?), n.; pl. Prizemen (&?;). The winner of a prize.

Priz"er (?), n. [See 3d Prize.] One who estimates or sets the value of a thing; an appraiser. Shak.

Priz"er, n. [See 1st Prize.] One who contends for a prize; a prize fighter; a challenger. [Obs.] Shak.

Appeareth no man yet to answer the prizer.

B. Jonson.

Priz"ing, n. [See 2d Prize.] The application of a lever to move any weighty body, as a cask, anchor, cannon, car, etc. See Prize, n., 5.

Pro- (?). [L. pro, or Gr. &?;. See Pro.] A prefix signifying before, in front, forth, for, in behalf of, in place of, according to; as, propose, to place before; proceed, to go before or forward; project, to throw forward; prologue, part spoken before (the main piece); propel, prognathous; provide, to look out for; pronoun, a word instead of a noun; proconsul, a person acting in place of a consul; proportion, arrangement according to parts.

||Pro, prep. [L.; akin to prae before, Gr. &?;, and E. for. See For, ||prep., and cf. Prior, a.] A Latin preposition signifying for, before, ||forth.

Pro confesso [L.] (Law), taken as confessed. The action of a court of equity on that portion of the pleading in a particular case which the pleading on the other side does not deny. -- Pro rata. [L. See Prorate.] In proportion; proportion. -- Pro re nata [L.] (Law), for the existing occasion; as matters are.

Pro, adv. For, on, or in behalf of, the affirmative side; -- in contrast with con.

Pro and con, for and against, on the affirmative and on the negative side; as, they debated the question pro and con; -- formerly used also as a verb. -- Pros and cons, the arguments or reasons on either side.

Pro"a (?), n. [Malay pr&?;, prh&?;.] (Naut.) A sailing canoe of the Ladrone Islands and Malay Archipelago, having its lee side flat and its weather side like that of an ordinary boat. The ends are alike. The canoe is long and narrow, and is kept from overturning by a cigar-shaped log attached to a frame extending several feet to windward. It has been called the flying proa, and is the swiftest sailing craft known.

Proach (?), v. i. See Approach. [Obs.]

Pro*at"las (?), n. [Pref. pro- + atlas.] (Anat.) A vertebral rudiment in front of the atlas in some reptiles.

Prob`a*bil"i*o*rism (?), n. The doctrine of the probabiliorists.

Prob`a*bil"i*o*rist (?), n. [From L. probabilior, compar. of probabilis probable.] (Casuistry) One who holds, in opposition to the probabilists, that a man is bound to do that which is most probably right.

Prob"a*bil*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. probabilisme.] The doctrine of the probabilists.

Prob"a*bil*ist, n. [Cf. F. probabiliste.]

1. One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern our faith and actions.

2. (Casuistry) One who maintains that a man may do that which has a probability of being right, or which is inculcated by teachers of authority, although other opinions may seem to him still more probable.

Prob`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Probabilities (#). [L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilitÈ.]

1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood.

Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas, by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so.

Locke.

2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth.

The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities.

Buckminster.

We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail.

J. H. Newman.

3. (Math.) Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st Chance, n., 5.

Syn. -- Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance.

Prob"a*ble (?), a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable.]

1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.]

2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely.

That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it.

South.

I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain.

Bp. Wilkins.

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3. Rendering probable; supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating; as, probable evidence; probable presumption. Blackstone.

Probable cause (Law), a reasonable ground of presumption that a charge is, or my be, well founded. - - Probable error (of an observation, or of the mean of a number), that within which, taken positively and negatively, there is an even chance that the real error shall lie. Thus, if 3&Prime; is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3&Prime; are equal to the chances that it is less. The probable error is computed from the observations made, and is used to express their degree of accuracy. -- The probable, that which is within the bounds of probability; that which is not unnatural or preternatural; -- opposed to the marvelous.

Prob"a*bly (?), adv. In a probable manner; in likelihood.

Distinguish between what may possibly and what will probably be done.

L'Estrange.

Pro"ba*cy (?), n. [See Probate.] Proof; trial. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pro"bal (?), a. Approved; probable. [Obs.] Shak.

Pro*bal"i*ty (?), n. Probability. [Obs.] "With as great probality." Holland.

Pro"bang (?), n. [See Probe.] A slender elastic rod, as of whalebone, with a sponge on the end, for removing obstructions from the esophagus, etc.

Pro"bate (?), n. [From L. probatus, p. p. of probare to prove. See Prove.]

1. Proof. [Obs.] Skelton.

2. (Law) (a) Official proof; especially, the proof before a competent officer or tribunal that an instrument offered, purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act; the copy of a will proved, under the seal of the Court of Probate, delivered to the executors with a certificate of its having been proved. Bouvier. Burrill. (b) The right or jurisdiction of proving wills.

Pro"bate, a. Of or belonging to a probate, or court of probate; as, a probate record.

Probate Court, or Court of Probate, a court for the probate of wills. -- Probate duty, a government tax on property passing by will. [Eng.]

Pro"bate (?), v. t. To obtain the official approval of, as of an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament; as, the executor has probated the will.

Pro*ba"tion (?), n. [L. probatio, fr. probare to try, examine, prove: cf. F. probation. See Prove.]

1. The act of proving; also, that which proves anything; proof. [Obs.]

When by miracle God dispensed great gifts to the laity, . . . he gave probation that he intended that all should prophesy and preach.

Jer. Taylor.

2. Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation. Hence, specifically: (a) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule. (b) The trial of a ministerial candidate's qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor. (c) Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state.

No [view of human life] seems so reasonable as that which regards it as a state of probation.

Paley.

Pro*ba"tion*al (?), a. Probationary.

Pro*ba"tion*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to probation; serving for trial.

To consider this life . . . as a probationary state.

Paley.

Pro*ba"tion*er (?), n.

1. One who is undergoing probation; one who is on trial; a novice.

While yet a young probationer, And candidate of heaven.

Dryden.

2. A student in divinity, who, having received certificates of good morals and qualifications from his university, is admitted to several trials by a presbytery, and, on acquitting himself well, is licensed to preach. [Scot.]

Pro*ba"tion*er*ship, n. The state of being a probationer; novitiate. Locke.

Pro*ba"tion*ship, n. A state of probation.

Pro"ba*tive (?), a. [L. probativus: cf. F. probatif.] Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence. South.

Pro*ba"tor (?), n. [L.] 1. An examiner; an approver. Maydman.

2. (O. Eng. Law) One who, when indicted for crime, confessed it, and accused others, his accomplices, in order to obtain pardon; a state's evidence.

Pro"ba*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. probatoire.] 1. Serving for trial; probationary. Abp. Bramhall.

2. Pertaining to, or serving for, proof. Jer. Taylor.

Probatory term (Law), a time for taking testimony.

Probe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Probed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Probing.] [L. probare to try, examine. See Prove.]

1. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe.

2. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly. Dryden.

The growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts, of the crown.

Hallam.

Probe, n. (Surg.) An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc. Parr.

Probe, or Probe-pointed, scissors (Surg.), scissors used to open wounds, the blade of which, to be thrust into the orifice, has a button at the end. Wiseman.

Pro"bea`gle (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Porbeagle.

Probe"-point`ed (?), a. (Surg.) Having a blunt or button-shaped extremity; -- said of cutting instruments.

Prob"i*ty (?), n. [F. probitÈ, fr. L. probitas, fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove.] Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness. "Probity of mind." Pope.

Syn. -- Probity, Integrity. Probity denotes unimpeachable honesty and virtue, shown especially by the performance of those obligations, called imperfect, which the laws of the state do not reach, and can not enforce. Integrity denotes a whole-hearted honesty, and especially that which excludes all injustice that might favor one's self. It has a peculiar reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfer of property, and the execution of trusts for others.

Prob"lem (?), n. [F. problËme, L. problema, fr. Gr. &?; anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution, fr. &?; to throw or lay before; &?; before, forward + &?; to throw. Cf. Parable. ]

1. A question proposed for solution; a matter stated for examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question involving doubt. Bacon.

2. (Math.) Anything which is required to be done; as, in geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or, in algebra, to find an unknown quantity.

Problem differs from theorem in this, that a problem is something to be done, as to bisect a triangle, to describe a circle, etc.; a theorem is something to be proved, as that all the angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles.

Plane problem (Geom.), a problem that can be solved by the use of the rule and compass. -- Solid problem (Geom.), a problem requiring in its geometric solution the use of a conic section or higher curve.

{ Prob`lem*at"ic (?), Prob`lem*at"ic*al (?), } a. [L. problematicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. problÈmatique.] Having the nature of a problem; not shown in fact; questionable; uncertain; unsettled; doubtful. -- Prob`lem*at"ic*al*ly, adv.

Diligent inquiries into remote and problematical guilt leave a gate wide open to . . . informers.

Swift.

Prob"lem*a*tist (?), n. One who proposes problems. [R.] Evelyn.

Prob"lem*a*tize (?), v. t. To propose problems. [R.] "Hear him problematize." B. Jonson.

Pro*bos"ci*date (?), a. [See Proboscis.] (Zoˆl.) Having a proboscis; proboscidial.

||Pro`bos*cid"e*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis.] (Zoˆl.) An order of ||large mammals including the elephants and mastodons.

Pro`bos*cid"e*an (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Proboscidian.

Pro`bos*cid"i*al (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Proboscidate.

Pro`bos*cid"i*an (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the Proboscidea. -- n. One of the Proboscidea.

||Pro*bos`ci*dif"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis, and -ferous.]

1. (Zoˆl.) An extensive division of pectinibranchiate gastropods, including those that have a long retractile proboscis, with the mouth at the end, as the cones, whelks, tritons, and cowries. See Illust. of Gastropoda, and of Winkle.

2. (Zoˆl.) A subdivision of the tÊnioglossate gastropods, including the fig-shells (Pyrula), the helmet shells (Cassis), the tritons, and allied genera.

Pro`bos*cid"i*form (?), a. Having the form or uses of a proboscis; as, a proboscidiform mouth.

Pro*bos"cis (?), n.; pl. Proboscides (#). [L. fr. Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; to feed, graze.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk.

The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube formed by the modified maxillÊ, or by the labium. See Illusts. of Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.

2. (Zoˆl.) By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded.

The proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in the head. See Illust. in Appendix.

3. The nose. [Jocose]

Proboscis monkey. (Zoˆl.) See Kahau.

Pro*ca"cious (?), a. [L. procax, -acis, fr. procare to ask, demand.] Pert; petulant; forward; saucy. [R.] Barrow.

Pro*cac"i*ty (?), n. [L. procacitas.] Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [R.] Burton.

||Pro*cam"bi*um (?), n. [NL. See Pro- , and Cambium.] (Bot.) The young ||tissue of a fibrovascular bundle before its component cells have ||begun to be differentiated. Sachs.

Pro`cat*arc"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; beginning beforehand. fr. &?; to begin first; &?; before + &?; to begin; &?; intens. + &?; to begin: cf. F. procatarctique. ] (Med.) Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial. [Obs.]

The words procatarctic causes have been used with different significations. Thus they have been employed synonymously with prime causes, exciting causes, and predisposing or remote causes.

The physician inquires into the procatarctic causes.

Harvey.

||Pro`cat*arx"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; first beginning.] (Med.) The ||kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause. ||Quincy.

||Pro`ce*den"do (?), n. [Abl. of the gerundive of L. procedere. see ||Proceed.] (Law) (a) A writ by which a cause which has been removed on ||insufficient grounds from an inferior to a superior court by ||certiorari, or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be ||proceeded in there. (b) In English practice, a writ issuing out of ||chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving ||judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment. (c) A writ by which ||the commission of the justice of the peace is revived, after having ||been suspended. Tomlins. Burrill.

Pro*ce"dure (?), n. [F. procÈdure. See Proceed.] 1. The act or manner of proceeding or moving forward; progress; process; operation; conduct. "The true procedure of conscience." South.

2. A step taken; an act performed; a proceeding; the steps taken in an action or other legal proceeding. "Gracious procedures." I. Taylor.

3. That which results; issue; product. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pro*ceed" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Proceeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Proceeding.] [F. procÈder. fr. L. procedere, processum, to go before, to proceed; pro forward + cedere to move. See Cede.] 1. To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun; as, to proceed on a journey.

If thou proceed in this thy insolence.

Shak.

2. To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another; as, to proceed with a story or argument.

3. To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come from; as, light proceeds from the sun.

I proceeded forth and came from God.

John viii. 42.

It proceeds from policy, not love.

Shak.

4. To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design.

He that proceeds upon other principles in his inquiry.

Locke.

5. To be transacted; to take place; to occur. [Obs.]

He will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Shak.

6. To have application or effect; to operate.

This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence.

Ayliffe.

7. (Law) To begin and carry on a legal process.

Syn. -- To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise; emanate.

Pro"ceed (?), n. See Proceeds. [Obs.] Howell.

Pro*ceed"er (?), n. One who proceeds.

Pro*ceed"ing, n. 1. The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or transaction; progress or movement from one thing to another; a measure or step taken in a course of business; a transaction; as, an illegal proceeding; a cautious or a violent proceeding.

The proceedings of the high commission.

Macaulay.

2. pl. (Law) The course of procedure in the prosecution of an action at law. Blackstone.

Proceedings of a society, the published record of its action, or of things done at its meetings.

Syn. -- Procedure; measure; step, See Transaction.

Pro"ceeds (?), n. pl. That which comes forth or results; effect; yield; issue; product; sum accruing from a sale, etc.

Proc`e*leus*mat"ic (?), a. [L. proceleusmaticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to rouse to action beforehand; &?; + &?; to incite; cf. F. procÈleusmatique.]

1. Inciting; animating; encouraging. [R.] Johnson.

2. (Pros.) Consisting of four short syllables; composed of feet of four short syllables each.

Proc`e*leus*mat"ic (?), n. (Pros.) A foot consisting of four short syllables.

Pro`cel*la"ri*an (?), n. [L. procella a storm.] (Zoˆl.) One of a family of oceanic birds (ProcellaridÊ) including the petrels, fulmars, and shearwaters. They are often seen in great abundance in stormy weather.

Pro*cel"lous (?), a. [L. procellosus, fr. procella a storm.] Stormy. [Obs.] Bailey.

Pro`ce*phal"ic (?), a. [Pref. pro- + cephalic.] (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to, or forming, the front of the head.

Procephalic lobe (Zoˆl.), that part of the head of an invertebrate animal which is in front of the mouth.

Pro*cep"tion (?), n. [Pref. pro- + L. capere to take.] Preoccupation. [Obs.] Eikon Basilik&?;.

Pro*cere" (?), a. [L. procerus tall.] Of high stature; tall. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Pro*cer"e*brum (?), n. [Pref. pro- + cerebrum.] (Anat.) The prosencephalon.

||Proc"e*res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. procer &?; chief.] (Zoˆl.) An ||order of large birds; the RatitÊ; -- called also Proceri.

Proc"er*ite (?), n. [Pref. pro- + Gr. &?; &?; horn.] (Zoˆl.) The segment next to the flagellum of the antennÊ of Crustacea.

Pro*cer"i*ty (?), n. [L. proceritas.] Height of stature; tallness. [R.] Johnson.

Proc"ess, n. [F. procËs, L. processus. See Proceed.]

1. The act of proceeding; continued forward movement; procedure; progress; advance. "Long process of time." Milton.

The thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns.

Tennyson.

2. A series of actions, motions, or occurrences; progressive act or transaction; continuous operation; normal or actual course or procedure; regular proceeding; as, the process of vegetation or decomposition; a chemical process; processes of nature.

Tell her the process of Antonio's end.

Shak.

3. A statement of events; a narrative. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. (Anat. & Zoˆl.) Any marked prominence or projecting part, especially of a bone; anapophysis.

5. (Law) The whole course of proceedings in a cause real or personal, civil or criminal, from the beginning to the end of the suit; strictly, the means used for bringing the defendant into court to answer to the action; -- a generic term for writs of the class called judicial.

Deacon's process [from H. Deacon, who introduced it] (Chem.), a method of obtaining chlorine gas by passing hydrochloric acid gas over heated slag which has been previously saturated with a solution of some metallic salt, as sulphate of copper. -- Final process (Practice), a writ of execution in an action at law. Burrill. -- In process, in the condition of advance, accomplishment, transaction, or the like; begun, and not completed. -- Jury process (Law), the process by which a jury is summoned in a cause, and by which their attendance is enforced. Burrill. -- Leblanc's process (Chem.), the process of manufacturing soda by treating salt with sulphuric acid, reducing the sodium sulphate so formed to sodium sulphide by roasting with charcoal, and converting the sodium sulphide to sodium carbonate by roasting with lime. -- Mesne process. See under Mesne. -- Process milling, the process of high milling for grinding flour. See under Milling. -- Reversible process (Thermodynamics), any process consisting of a cycle of operations such that the different operations of the cycle can be performed in reverse order with a reversal of their effects.

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Pro*ces"sion (?), n. [F., fr. L. processio. See Proceed.]

1. The act of proceeding, moving on, advancing, or issuing; regular, orderly, or ceremonious progress; continuous course. Bp. Pearson.

That the procession of their life might be

More equable, majestic, pure, and free.

Trench.

2. That which is moving onward in an orderly, stately, or solemn manner; a train of persons advancing in order; a ceremonious train; a retinue; as, a procession of mourners; the Lord Mayor's procession.

Here comes the townsmen on procession.

Shak.

3. (Eccl.) An orderly and ceremonial progress of persons, either from the sacristy to the choir, or from the choir around the church, within or without. Shipley.

4. pl. (Eccl.) An old term for litanies which were said in procession and not kneeling. Shipley.

Procession of the Holy Ghost, a theological term applied to the relation of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son, the Eastern Church affirming that the Spirit proceeds from the Father only, and the Western Church that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Shipley. -- Procession week, a name for Rogation week, when processions were made; Cross-week. Shipley.

Pro*ces"sion, v. t. (Law) To ascertain, mark, and establish the boundary lines of, as lands. [Local, U. S. (North Carolina and Tennessee).] "To procession the lands of such persons as desire it." Burrill.

Pro*ces"sion, v. i. To march in procession. [R.]

Pro*ces"sion, v. i. To honor with a procession. [R.]

Pro*ces"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a procession; consisting in a procession.

The processional services became more frequent.

Milman.

Pro*ces"sion*al, n. [F. processionnal, LL. processionale.]

1. (R. C. Ch.) A service book relating to ecclesiastical processions. J. Gregory.

2. A hymn, or other selection, sung during a church procession; as, the processional was the 202d hymn.

Pro*ces"sion*al*ist, n. One who goes or marches in a procession. [R.]

Pro*ces"sion*a*ry (?), a. [Cf. LL. processionarius, F. processionnaire.] Pertaining to a procession; consisting in processions; as, processionary service.

Processionary moth (Zoˆl.), any moth of the genus Cnethocampa, especially C. processionea of Europe, whose larvÊ make large webs on oak trees, and go out to feed in regular order. They are covered with stinging hairs.

Pro*ces"sion*er (?), n.

1. One who takes part in a procession.

2. A manual of processions; a processional. Fuller.

3. An officer appointed to procession lands. [Local, U. S. (North Carolina and Tennessee).] Burrill.

Pro*ces"sion*ing, n. A proceeding prescribed by statute for ascertaining and fixing the boundaries of land. See 2d Procession. [ Local, U. S.] Bouvier.

Pro*ces"sive (?), a. Proceeding; advancing.

Because it is language, -- ergo, processive.

Coleridge.

||Pro`cËs" ver`bal" (?). [ F.] (French Law) An authentic minute of an ||official act, or statement of facts.

Pro"chein (?), a. [F. prochain, fr. L. (assumed) proximanus, fr. proximus.] Next; nearest.

Prochein ami or amy (&?;) (Law), the next friend. See under Next.

Pro*chor"dal (?), a. [Pref. pro + chordal.] (Anat.) Situated in front of the notochord; -- applied especially to parts of the cartilaginous rudiments in the base of the skull.

Pro"chro*nism (?), n. [Gr. &?; preceding in time; &?; before + &?; time: cf. F. prochronisme.] The dating of an event before the time it happened; an antedating; -- opposed to metachronism.

Pro"chro*nize (?), v. t. To antedate. Fitzed. Hall.

{ Proc"i*dence, ||Proc*i*den"ti*a (?), }, n. [L. procidentia, fr. procidens, p. pr. of procidere to fall down forward.] (Med.) A falling down; a prolapsus. [R.] Parr.

Pro*cid"u*ous (&?;), a. [ L. prociduus.] Falling from its proper place.

Pro*cinct" (?), n. [L. procinctus, fr. procingere, procinctum, to gird up.] A state of complete readiness for action. [Obs.] "War in procinct." Milton.

Pro*claim" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proclaimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proclaiming.] [OE. proclamen, L. proclamare; pro before, forward + clamare to call or cry out: cf. F. proclamer. See Claim.]

1. To make known by public announcement; to give wide publicity to; to publish abroad; to promulgate; to declare; as, to proclaim war or peace.

To proclaim liberty to the captives.

Isa. lxi. 1.

For the apparel oft proclaims the man.

Shak.

Throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held.

Milton.

2. To outlaw by public proclamation.

I heard myself proclaimed.

Shak.

Syn. -- To publish; promulgate; declare; announce. See Announce.

Pro*claim"er (?), n. One who proclaims.

Proc`la*ma"tion (?), n. [F. proclamation, L. proclamatio. See Proclaim.]

1. The act of proclaiming; official or general notice; publication.

King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted.

1 Kings xv. 22.

2. That which is proclaimed, publicly announced, or officially declared; a published ordinance; as, the proclamation of a king; a Thanksgiving proclamation.

Pro*clit"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; to lean forward; &?; forward + &?; to lean or incline. Cf. Enclitic.] (Gr. Gram.) Leaning forward; -- said of certain monosyllabic words which are so closely attached to the following word as not to have a separate accent.

Pro*clive" (?), a. [L. proclivis sloping, inclined; pro forward + clivus hill: cf. F. proclive. See Declivity, and cf. Proclivous.] Having a tendency by nature; prone; proclivous. [R.] Mrs. Browning.

Pro*cliv"i*ty (?), n. [L. proclivitas: cf. F. proclivitÈ.]

1. Inclination; propensity; proneness; tendency. "A proclivity to steal." Abp. Bramhall.

2. Readiness; facility; aptitude.

He had such a dexterous proclivity as his teachers were fain to restrain his forwardness.

Sir H. Wotton.

Pro*cli"vous (?), a. [L. proclivus. See Proclive.]

1. Inclined; tending by nature. [R.]

2. (Zoˆl.) Having the incisor teeth directed forward.

Pro*cúle" (?), n. [Pref. pro + Gr. &?; hollow.] (Anat.) A lateral cavity of the prosencephalon; a lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.

||Pro*cú"li*a (?), n.; pl. ProcúliÊ (&?;). [ NL.] (Anat.) Same as ||Procúle.

||Pro*cú"li*a, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) A division of Crocodilia, including ||the true crocodiles and alligators, in which the dorsal vertebrÊ are ||concave in front.

Pro*cú"li*an (?), a. [See Procúle.] (Anat & Zoˆl.) Concave in front; as, procúlian vertebrÊ, which have the anterior end of the centra concave and the posterior convex.

Pro*cú"li*an, n. (Zoˆl.) A reptile having procúlian vertebrÊ; one of the Procúlia.

Pro*cú"lous (?), a.Same as Procúlian.

Pro*con"sul (?), n. [L., fr. pro for + consul consul.] (Rom. Antiq.) An officer who discharged the duties of a consul without being himself consul; a governor of, or a military commander in, a province. He was usually one who had previously been consul.

{ Pro*con"su*lar (?), Pro*con"su*la*ry (?), } a. [L. proconsularis: cf. F. proconsulaire.]

1. Of or pertaining of a proconsul; as, proconsular powers.

2. Under the government of a proconsul; as, a proconsular province.

Pro*con"su*late (?), n. [L. proconsulatus: cf. F. proconsulat.] The office jurisdiction of a proconsul, or the term of his office.

Pro*con"sul*ship (?), n. Proconsulate.

Pro*cras"ti*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procrastinated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Procrastinating.] [L. procrastinatus, p. p. of procrastinare to procrastinate; pro forward + crastinus of to-morrow, fr. cras to-morrow.] To put off till to-morrow, or from day to day; to defer; to postpone; to delay; as, to procrastinate repentance. Dr. H. More.

Hopeless and helpless ∆geon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end.

Shak.

Syn. -- To postpone; adjourn; defer; delay; retard; protract; prolong.

Pro*cras"ti*nate, v. i. To delay; to be dilatory.

I procrastinate more than I did twenty years ago.

Swift.

Pro*cras`ti*na"tion (?), n. [L. procrastinatio: cf. F. procrastination.] The act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off to a future time; delay; dilatoriness.

Procrastination is the thief of time.

Young.

Pro*cras"ti*na`tor (?), n. One who procrastinates, or defers the performance of anything.

Pro*cras"ti*na*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to procrastination; dilatory.

Pro*cras"tine (?), v. t. To procrastinate. [Obs.]

Pro"cre*ant (?), a. [L. procreans, p. pr. of procreare. See Procreate.] Generating; producing; productive; fruitful; assisting in procreation. [R.] "His pendent bed and procreant cradle." Shak.

Pro"cre*ant, n. One who, or that which, procreates.

Pro"cre*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procreated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Procreating.] [L. procreatus, p. p. of procreare; pro forward, forth + create to create.] To generate and produce; to beget; to engender.

Pro`cre*a"tion (?), n. [F. procrÈation, L, procreatio.] The act of begetting; generation and production of young. South.

Pro"cre*a`tive (?), a. Having the power to beget; generative. Sir M. Hale.

Pro"cre*a`tive*ness, n. The power of generating.

Pro"cre*a`tor (?), n. [L.] One who begets; a father or sire; a generator.

||Pro"cris (?), n. [L., the wife of Cephalus, Gr. &?;.] (Zoˆl.) Any ||species of small moths of the genus Procris. The larvÊ of some ||species injure the grapevine by feeding in groups upon the leaves.

Pro*crus"te*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Procrustes, or the mode of torture practiced by him; producing conformity by violent means; as, the Procrustean treatment; a Procrustean limit. See Procrustes.

Pro*crus"te*an*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procrusteanized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Procrusteanizing (?).] To stretch or contract according to some rule or standard.

Pro*crus"tes (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to beat out, to stretch; &?; forward + &?; to strike.] (Gr. Antiq.) A celebrated legendary highwayman of Attica, who tied his victims upon an iron bed, and, as the case required, either stretched or cut of their legs to adapt them to its length; -- whence the metaphorical phrase, the bed of Procrustes.

Pro`crus*te"si*an (?), a. See Procrustean.

||Proc*ti"tis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; anus + -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the rectum.

Proc"to*cele (?), n. [Gr. &?; anus + &?; tumor.] (Med.) Inversion and prolapse of the mucous coat of the rectum, from relaxation of the sphincter, with more or less swelling; prolapsus ani. Dunglison.

||Proc`to*dÊ"um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; the anus + &?; to divide.] ||(Anat.) See Mesenteron.

Proc"tor (?), n. [OE. proketour, contr. fr. procurator. See Procurator.] One who is employed to manage to affairs of another. Specifically: (a) A person appointed to collect alms for those who could not go out to beg for themselves, as lepers, the bedridden, etc.; hence a beggar. [Obs.] Nares. (b) (Eng. Law) An officer employed in admiralty and ecclesiastical causes. He answers to an attorney at common law, or to a solicitor in equity. Wharton. (c) (Ch. of Eng.) A representative of the clergy in convocation. (d) An officer in a university or college whose duty it is to enforce obedience to the laws of the institution.

Proc"tor, v. t. To act as a proctor toward; to manage as an attorney or agent. Bp. Warburton.

Proc"tor*age (?), n. Management by a proctor, or as by a proctor; hence, control; superintendence; -- in contempt. "The fogging proctorage of money." Milton.

Proc*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a proctor, esp. an academic proctor; magisterial.

Proc*tor"ic*al (?), a. Proctorial. [R.]

Proc"tor*ship (?), n. The office or dignity of a proctor; also, the term of his office. Clarendon.

Proc*tot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; anus + &?; to cut.] (Surg.) An incision into the rectum, as for the division of a stricture.

||Proc"tu*cha (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. &?; anus + &?; to have.] ||(Zoˆl.) (a) A division of Turbellaria including those that have an ||intestine terminating posteriorly. (b) The Nemertina.

Pro*cum"bent (?), a. [L. procumbens, -entis, p. pr. of procumbere to fall, bend, or lean forward; pro forward + cumbere (in comp.), akin to cubare to lie down: cf. F. procombant. Cf. Incumbent.]

1. Lying down, or on the face; prone. " Procumbent each obeyed." Cowper.

2. (Bot.) Lying on the ground, but without putting forth roots; trailing; prostrate; as, a procumbent stem.

Pro*cur"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being procured; obtainable. Boyle.

Proc"u*ra*cy (?), n.; pl. Procuracies (#). [LL. procuratia: cf. F. procuratie. See Procuration, and cf,. Proxy.]

1. The office or act of a proctor or procurator; management for another.

2. Authority to act for another; a proxy. [Obs.]

Proc`u*ra"tion (?), n. [L. procuratio: cf. F. procuration. See Procure.]

1. The act of procuring; procurement.

2. The management of another's affairs.

3. The instrument by which a person is empowered to transact the affairs of another; a proxy.

4. (Ch. of Eng.) A sum of money paid formerly to the bishop or archdeacon, now to the ecclesiastical commissioners, by an incumbent, as a commutation for entertainment at the time of visitation; -- called also proxy.

Procuration money (Law), money paid for procuring a loan. Blackstone.

Proc"u*ra`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. procurateur. See Procure, and cf. Proctor. ]

1. (Law) One who manages another's affairs, either generally or in a special matter; an agent; a proctor. Chaucer. Shak.

2. (Rom. Antiq.) A governor of a province under the emperors; also, one who had charge of the imperial revenues in a province; as, the procurator of Judea.

Procurator fiscal (Scots Law), public prosecutor, or district attorney.

Proc`u*ra*to"ri*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to a procurator, or proctor; made by a proctor. Ayliffe.

Proc"u*ra`tor*ship (?), n. The office or term of a procurator. Bp. Pearson.

Pro*cu"ra*to*ry (?), a. [L. procuratorius.] Tending to, or authorizing, procuration.

Pro*cure" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Procuring.] [F. procurer, L. procurare, procuratum, to take care of; pro for + curare to take care, fr. cura care. See Cure, and cf. Proctor, Proxy.]

1. To bring into possession; to cause to accrue to, or to come into possession of; to acquire or provide for one's self or for another; to gain; to get; to obtain by any means, as by purchase or loan.

If we procure not to ourselves more woe.

Milton.

2. To contrive; to bring about; to effect; to cause.

By all means possible they procure to have gold and silver among them in reproach.

Robynson (More's Utopia) .

Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall.

Shak.

3. To solicit; to entreat. [Obs.]

The famous Briton prince and faery knight, . . . Of the fair Alma greatly were procured To make there longer sojourn and abode.

Spenser.

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4. To cause to come; to bring; to attract. [Obs.]

What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?

Shak.

5. To obtain for illicit intercourse or prostitution.

Syn. -- See Attain.

Pro*cure" (?), v. i.

1. To pimp. Shak.

2. To manage business for another in court. [Scot.]

Pro*cure"ment (?), n.

1. The act of procuring or obtaining; obtainment; attainment.

2. Efficient contrivance; management; agency.

They think it done By her procurement.

Dryden.

Pro*cur"er (?), n. [Cf. F. procureur.]

1. One who procures, or obtains; one who, or that which, brings on, or causes to be done, esp. by corrupt means.

2. One who procures the gratification of lust for another; a pimp; a pander. South.

Pro*cur"ess, n. A female procurer, or pander.

Pro"cy*on (?), n. [L., a constellation which rises before the Dog Star, Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; a dog. ]

1. (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.

2. (Zoˆl.) A genus of mammals including the raccoon.

Prod (?), n. [Cf. Gael. & Ir. brod goad, prickle, sting, and E. brad, also W. procio to poke, thrust.]

1. A pointed instrument for pricking or puncturing, as a goad, an awl, a skewer, etc.

2. A prick or stab which a pointed instrument.

3. A light kind of crossbow; -- in the sense, often spelled prodd. Fairholt.

Prod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prodded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prodding.] To thrust some pointed instrument into; to prick with something sharp; as, to prod a soldier with a bayonet; to prod oxen; hence, to goad, to incite, to worry; as, to prod a student. H. Taylor.

Prodd (?), n. A crossbow. See Prod, 3.

Prod"i*gal (?), a. [L. prodigus, from prodigere to drive forth, to squander away; pro forward, forth + agere to drive; cf. F. prodigue. See Agent. ] Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as, a prodigal man; the prodigal son; prodigal giving; prodigal expenses.

In fighting fields [patriots] were prodigal of blood.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Profuse; lavish; extravagant; squandering; wasteful. See Profuse.

Prod"i*gal, n. One who expends money extravagantly, viciously, or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish in any expenditure; a waster; a spendthrift. "Noble prodigals of life." Trench.

Prod`i*gal"i*ty (?), n. [F. prodigalitÈ, L. prodigalitas. See Prodigal.] Extravagance in expenditure, particularly of money; excessive liberality; profusion; waste; -- opposed to frugality, economy, and parsimony."The prodigality of his wit." Dryden.

Prod"i*gal*ize (?), v. i. To act as a prodigal; to spend liberally. Sherwood.

Prod"i*gal*ize, v. t. To expend lavishly. Ld. Lytton.

Prod"i*gal*ly, adv. In a prodigal manner; with profusion of expense; extravagantly; wasteful; profusely; lavishly; as, an estate prodigally dissipated.

Nature not bounteous now, but lavish grows; Our paths with flowers she prodigally strows.

Dryden.

Prod"i*gate (?), v. t. To squander. Thackeray.

Prod"i*gence (?), n. [L. prodigentia, fr. prodigens, p. pr. of prodigere. See Prodigal. ] Waste; profusion; prodigality. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Pro*di"gious (?), a. [L. prodigiosus, fr. prodigium a prodigy; cf. F. prodigieux. See Prodigy.]

1. Of the nature of a prodigy; marvelous; wonderful; portentous. [Obs. or R.] Spenser.

It is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky.

Sir T. Browne.

2. Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great; vast; huge; immense; as, a prodigious mountain; a prodigious creature; a prodigious blunder. "Prodigious might." Milton.

Syn. -- Huge; enormous; monstrous; portentous; marvelous; amazing; astonishing; extraordinary.

Pro*di"gious*ly, adv.

1. Enormously; wonderfully; astonishingly; as, prodigiously great.

2. Very much; extremely; as, he was prodigiously pleased. [Colloq.] Pope.

Pro*di"gious*ness, n. The quality or state of being prodigious; the state of having qualities that excite wonder or astonishment; enormousness; vastness.

Prod"i*gy (?), n.; pl. Prodigies (#). [ L. prodigium; pro before + (perh.) a word appearing in adagium adage: cf. F. prodige. Cf. Adage. ]

1. Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a portent; as, eclipses and meteors were anciently deemed prodigies.

So many terrors, voices, prodigies, May warn thee, as a sure foregoing sign.

Milton.

2. Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as, a prodigy of learning.

3. A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster. B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Wonder; miracle; portent; marvel; monster.

Pro*di"tion (?), n. [L. proditio, from prodere to give forth, betray: cf. OF. prodition.] Disclosure; treachery; treason. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

Prod"i*tor (?), n. [L.] A traitor. [Obs.]

Prod`i*to"ri*ous (?), a. [Cf. OF. proditoire.]

1. Treacherous; perfidious; traitorous. [Obs.] Daniel.

2. Apt to make unexpected revelations. [Obs.] "Nature is proditorious." Sir H. Wotton.

Prod"i*to*ry (?), a. Treacherous. [Obs.]

Prod"ro*mal (?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to prodromes; as, the prodromal stage of a disease.

Pro"drome (?), n. [Gr. &?; running before; &?; before + &?; to run: cf. F. prodrome.] A forerunner; a precursor.

Prod"ro*mous (?), a. Precursory. [R.]

Prod"ro*mus (?), n. [NL.]

1. A prodrome.

2. A preliminary course or publication; -- used esp. in the titles of elementary works.

Pro*duce" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Produced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Producing (?).] [L. producere, productum, to bring forward, beget, produce; pro forward, forth + ducere to lead. See Duke.]

1. To bring forward; to lead forth; to offer to view or notice; to exhibit; to show; as, to produce a witness or evidence in court.

Produce your cause, saith the Lord.

Isa. xli. 21.

Your parents did not produce you much into the world.

Swift.

2. To bring forth, as young, or as a natural product or growth; to give birth to; to bear; to generate; to propagate; to yield; to furnish; as, the earth produces grass; trees produce fruit; the clouds produce rain.

This soil produces all sorts of palm trees.

Sandys.

[They] produce prodigious births of body or mind.

Milton.

The greatest jurist his country had produced.

Macaulay.

3. To cause to be or to happen; to originate, as an effect or result; to bring about; as, disease produces pain; vice produces misery.

4. To give being or form to; to manufacture; to make; as, a manufacturer produces excellent wares.

5. To yield or furnish; to gain; as, money at interest produces an income; capital produces profit.

6. To draw out; to extend; to lengthen; to prolong; as, to produce a man's life to threescore. Sir T. Browne.

7. (Geom.) To extend; -- applied to a line, surface, or solid; as, to produce a side of a triangle.

Pro*duce", v. i. To yield or furnish appropriate offspring, crops, effects, consequences, or results.

Prod"uce (?; 277), n. That which is produced, brought forth, or yielded; product; yield; proceeds; result of labor, especially of agricultural labors; hence, specifically, agricultural products.

Pro*duce"ment (?), n. Production. [Obs.]

Pro*du"cent (?), n. [L. producens, p. pr.] One who produces, or offers to notice. [Obs.] Ayliffe.

Pro*du"cer (?), n.

1. One who produces, brings forth, or generates.

2. One who grows agricultural products, or manufactures crude materials into articles of use.

3. (Iron & Steel Manuf.) A furnace for producing combustible gas which is used for fuel.

Pro*du`ci*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being producible. Barrow.

Pro*du"ci*ble (?), a. Capable of being produced, brought forward, brought forth, generated, made, or extended. -- Pro*du"ci*ble*ness, n.

Prod"uct (?), n. [L. productus, p. pr. of producere. See Produce.]

1. Anything that is produced, whether as the result of generation, growth, labor, or thought, or by the operation of involuntary causes; as, the products of the season, or of the farm; the products of manufactures; the products of the brain.

There are the product Of those ill-mated marriages.

Milton.

These institutions are the products of enthusiasm.

Burke.

2. (Math.) The number or sum obtained by adding one number or quantity to itself as many times as there are units in another number; the number resulting from the multiplication of two or more numbers; as, the product of the multiplication of 7 by 5 is 35. In general, the result of any kind of multiplication. See the Note under Multiplication.

Syn. -- Produce; production; fruit; result; effect; consequence; outcome; work; performance.

Pro*duct" (?), v. t.

1. To produce; to bring forward. "Producted to . . . examination." [Obs.] Foxe.

2. To lengthen out; to extend. [Obs.]

He that doth much . . . products his mortality.

Hackett.

3. To produce; to make. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Pro*duct`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. The state of being productible; producibility. Ruskin.

Pro*duct"i*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. productible.] Capable of being produced; producible.

Pro*duc"tile (?), a. [L. productilis, fr. producere to stretch out.] Capable of being extended or prolonged; extensible; ductile.

Pro*duc"tion (?), n. [L. productio a lengthening, prolonging: cf. F. production. See Produce. ]

1. The act or process or producing, bringing forth, or exhibiting to view; as, the production of commodities, of a witness.

2. That which is produced, yielded, or made, whether naturally, or by the application of intelligence and labor; as, the productions of the earth; the productions of handicraft; the productions of intellect or genius.

3. The act of lengthening out or prolonging.

Syn. -- Product; produce; fruit; work; performance; composition.

Pro*duc"tive (?), a. [F. productif, L. productivus fit for prolongation.]

1. Having the quality or power of producing; yielding or furnishing results; as, productive soil; productive enterprises; productive labor, that which increases the number or amount of products.

2. Bringing into being; causing to exist; producing; originative; as, an age productive of great men; a spirit productive of heroic achievements.

And kindle with thy own productive fire.

Dryden.

This is turning nobility into a principle of virtue, and making it productive of merit.

Spectator.

3. Producing, or able to produce, in large measure; fertile; profitable.

-- Pro*duc"tive*ly, adv. -- Pro*duc"tive*ness, n.

Pro`duc*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being productive; productiveness. Emerson.

Not indeed as the product, but as the producing power, the productivity.

Coleridge.

Pro*duc"tress (?), n. A female producer.

||Pro*duc"tus (?), n. [NL. See Product.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of ||brachiopods, very characteristic of the Carboniferous rocks.

Pro`e*gu"mi*nal (?), a. [Gr. &?;, p. pr. of &?; to lead the way: cf. F. proÈgumËne.] (Med.) Serving to predispose; predisposing; as, a proeguminal cause of disease.

Pro"em (?), n. [L. prooemium, Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; way, course or strain of a song: cf. F. proËme.] Preface; introduction; preliminary observations; prelude.

Thus much may serve by way of proem.

Swift.

Pro"em, v. t. To preface. [Obs.] South.

Pro*em"bry*o (?), n. [Pref. pro- + embryo. ] (Bot.) (a) The series of cells formed in the ovule of a flowering plant after fertilization, but before the formation of the embryo. (b) The primary growth from the spore in certain cryptogamous plants; as, the proembryo, or protonema, of mosses.

Pro*e"mi*al (?), a. Introductory; prefatory; preliminary. [R.] Hammond.

Pro`emp*to"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; to fall in before; &?; before + &?; in + &?; to fall.] (Chron.) The addition of a day to the lunar calendar. [R.] See Metemptosis.

Pro"face (?), interj. [OF. prou face, prou fasse; prou profit + faire to make, do.] Much good may it do you! -- a familiar salutation or welcome. [Obs.]

Master page, good master page, sit. Proface!

Shak.

Prof"a*nate (?), v. t. To profane. [Obs.]

Prof`a*na"tion (?), n. [L. profanatio: cf. F. profanation. See Profane, v. t.] 1. The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred; desecration; as, the profanation of the Sabbath; the profanation of a sanctuary; the profanation of the name of God.

2. The act of treating with abuse or disrespect, or with undue publicity, or lack of delicacy.

'T were profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.

Donne.

Pro*fane" (?), a. [F., fr. L. profanus, properly, before the temple, i. e., without the temple, unholy; pro before + fanum temple. See 1st Fane.]

1. Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; -- opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as, a profane place. "Profane authors." I. Disraeli.

The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine.

Gibbon.

2. Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy.

Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things.

Sir W. Raleigh.

3. Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i. 9.

Syn. -- Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious. See Impious.

Pro*fane", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Profaning.] [L. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See Profane, a.]

1. To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.

The priests in the temple profane the sabbath.

Matt. xii. 5.

2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.

So idly to profane the precious time.

Shak.

Pro*fane"ly, adv. In a profane manner.

The character of God profanely impeached.

Dr. T. Dwight.

Pro*fane"ness, n. The quality or state of being profane; especially, the use of profane language.

Pro*fan"er (?), n. One who treats sacred things with irreverence, or defiles what is holy; one who uses profane language. Hooker.

Pro*fan"i*ty (?), n. [L. profanitas.]

1. The quality or state of being profane; profaneness; irreverence; esp., the use of profane language; blasphemy.

2. That which is profane; profane language or acts.

The brisk interchange of profanity and folly.

Buckminster.

Pro*fec"tion (?), n. [See Proficient.] A setting out; a going forward; advance; progression. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pro`fec*ti"tious (?), a. [L. profectitius, fr. proficisci to set out, proceed.] Proceeding from, as from a parent; derived, as from an ancestor. [R.]

The threefold distinction of profectitious, adventitious, and professional was ascertained.

Gibbon.

Pro"fert (?), n. [L., he brings forward, 3d pers. pr. of proferre. See Proffer. ] (Law) The exhibition or production of a record or paper in open court, or an allegation that it is in court.

Pro*fess" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Professed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Professing.] [F. profËs, masc., professe, fem., professed (monk or nun), L. professus, p. p. of profiteri to profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See Confess.]

1. To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely. "Hear me profess sincerely." Shak.

The best and wisest of them all professed To know this only, that he nothing knew.

Milton.

<! p. 1144 !>

2. To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of.

I do profess to be no less than I seem.

Shak.

3. To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician.

Pro*fess" (?), v. i. 1. To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess. Drayton.

2. To declare friendship. [Obs.] Shak.

Pro*fessed" (?), a. Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian.

The professed (R. C. Ch.) , a certain class among the Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under Jesuit.

Pro*fess"ed*ly (?), adv. By profession.

Pro*fes"sion (?), n. [F., fr. L. professio. See Profess, v.] 1. The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith.

A solemn vow, promise, and profession.

Bk. of Com. Prayer.

2. That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere.

The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct.

J. Morse.

3. That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.

Hi tried five or six professions in turn.

Macaulay.

The three professions, or learned professions, are, especially, theology, law, and medicine.

4. The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him.

5. (Eccl. Law.) The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.

Pro*fes"sion*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct. "Pride, not personal, but professional." Macaulay. "A professional sneerer." De Quincey.

2. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur.

Pro*fes"sion*al, n. A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.

Pro*fes"sion*al*ism (?), n. The following of a profession, sport, etc., as an occupation; -- opposed to amateurism.

Pro*fes"sion*al*ist, n. professional person. [R.]

Pro*fes"sion*al*ly, adv. In a professional manner or capacity; by profession or calling; in the exercise of one's profession; one employed professionally.

Pro*fess"or (?), n. [L., a teacher, a public teacher: cf. F. professeur. See Profess.] 1. One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church. "Professors of religion." Bacon.

2. One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.

Pro`fes*so"ri*al (?), a. [L. professorius: cf. F. professorial.] Of or pertaining to a professor; as, the professional chair; professional interest.

Pro`fes*so"ri*al*ism (?), n. The character, manners, or habits of a professor. [R.]

Pro`fes*so"ri*at (?), n. See Professoriate.

Pro`fes*so"ri*ate (?), n. 1. The body of professors, or the professorial staff, in a university or college.

2. A professorship.

Pro*fess"or*ship (?), n. The office or position of a professor, or public teacher. Walton.

Pro*fes"so*ry (?), a. [L. professorius.] Of or pertaining to a professor; professorial. [R.] Bacon.

Prof"fer (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proffered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proffering.] [OE. profren, proferen, F. profÈrer, fr. L. proferre to bring forth or forward, to offer; pro forward + ferre to bring. See Bear to produce.] 1. To offer for acceptance; to propose to give; to make a tender of; as, to proffer a gift; to proffer services; to proffer friendship. Shak.

I reck not what wrong that thou me profre.

Chaucer.

2. To essay or attempt of one's own accord; to undertake, or propose to undertake. [R.] Milton.

Prof"fer, n. 1. An offer made; something proposed for acceptance by another; a tender; as, proffers of peace or friendship.

He made a proffer to lay down his commission.

Clarendon.

2. Essay; attempt. [R.] Bacon.

Prof"fer*er (?), n. One who proffers something.

{ Pro*fi"cience (?), Pro*fi"cien*cy (?) }, n. The quality of state of being proficient; advance in the acquisition of any art, science, or knowledge; progression in knowledge; improvement; adeptness; as, to acquire proficiency in music.

Pro*fi"cient (?), n. [L. proficiens, -entis, p. pr. of proficere to go forward, make progress; pro forward + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Profit, (&?;)] One who has made considerable advances in any business, art, science, or branch of learning; an expert; an adept; as, proficient in a trade; a proficient in mathematics, music, etc.

Pro*fi"cient (?), a. Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed; adept,

Pro*fi"cient*ly, adv. In a proficient manner.

Pro*fic"u*ous (?), a. [L. proficuus.] Profitable; advantageous; useful. [Obs.] Harvey.

Pro"file (?), n. [It. profilo, fr. L. pro before + filum a thread, an outline, shape: cf. F. profil. See File arow, and cf. Purfle, Purl, a fringe.] 1. An outline, or contour; as, the profile of an apple.

2. (Paint & Sculp.) A human head represented sidewise, or in a side view; the side face or half face.

3. (a) (Arch.) A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like. (b) (Civil Engin.) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions, grades, etc.

Profile paper (Civil Engin.), paper ruled with vertical and horizontal lines forming small oblong rectangles, adapted for drawing profiles.

Pro"file, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Profiling] [Cf. F. profiler, It. profilare. See Profile, n.] 1. to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member.

2. (Mech.) To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it.

Profiling machine, a jigging machine.

Pro"fil*ing, n. (Fort.) In the construction of fieldworks, the erection at proper intervals of wooden profiles, to show to the workmen the sectional form of the parapets at those points.

Pro"fil*ist, n. One who takes profiles.

Pro"fit (?), n. [F., fr. L. profectus advance, progress, profit, fr. profectum. See Proficient.] 1. Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as, a profit on the sale of goods.

Let no man anticipate uncertain profits.

Rambler.

2. Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as, an office of profit,

This I speak for your own profit.

1 Cor. vii. 35.

If you dare do yourself a profit and a right.

Shak.

Syn. -- Benefit; avail; service; improvement; advancement; gain; emolument.

Prof"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profited; p. pr. & vb. n. Profiting.] [F. profiter. See Profit, n.] To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as, truth profits all men.

The word preached did not profit them.

Heb. iv. 2.

It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.

Dryden.

Prof"it, v. i. 1. To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance.

I profit not by thy talk.

Shak.

2. To be of use or advantage; to do or bring good.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath.

Prov. xi. 4.

Prof"it*a*ble (?), a. [F. profitable.] Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; useful; helpful; advantageous; beneficial; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession.

What was so profitable to the empire became fatal to the emperor.

Arbuthnot.

-- Prof"it*a*ble*ness, n. -- Prof"it*a*bly, adv.

Prof"it*ing, n. Gain; advantage; profit.

That thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Tim. iv. 15.

Prof"it*less, a. Without profit; unprofitable. Shak.

Prof"li*ga*cy (?), n. [See Profligate, a.] The quality of state of being profligate; a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice; dissoluteness.

Prof"li*gate (?), a. [L. profligatus, p. p. of profligare to strike or dash to the ground, to destroy; pro before + a word akin to fligere to strike. See Afflict.]

1. Overthrown; beaten; conquered. [Obs.]

The foe is profligate, and run.

Hudibras.

2. Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute; as, profligate man or wretch.

A race more profligate than we.

Roscommon.

Made prostitute and profligate muse.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Abandoned; corrupt; dissolute; vitiated; depraved; vicious; wicked. See Abandoned.

Prof"li*gate, n. An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person. "Such a profligate as Antony." Swift.

Prof"li*gate (?), v. t. To drive away; to overcome. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Harvey.

Prof"li*gate*ly (?), adv. In a profligate manner.

Prof"li*gate*ness, n. The quality of being profligate; an abandoned course of life; profligacy.

Prof`li*ga"tion (?), n. [L. profligatio.] Defeat; rout; overthrow. [Obs.] Bacon.

Prof"lu*ence (?), n. [L. profluentia.] Quality of being profluent; course. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Prof"lu*ent (?), a. [L. profluens, p. pr. of profluere; pro forward + fluere to flow.] Flowing forward, [R.] "In the profluent stream." Milton.

Pro*found", a. [F. profond, L. profundus; pro before, forward + fundus the bottom. See Found to establish, Bottom lowest part.] 1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.

2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.

3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep. "Profound sciatica." Shak.

Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.

Milman.

4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.

What humble gestures! What profound reverence!

Duppa.

Pro*found" (?), n. 1. The deep; the sea; the ocean.

God in the fathomless profound Hath all this choice commanders drowned.

Sandys.

2. An abyss. Milton.

Pro*found", v. t. To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pro*found", v. i. To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]

Pro*found"ly, adv. In a profound manner.

Why sigh you so profoundly?

Shak.

Pro*found"ness, n. The quality or state of being profound; profundity; depth. Hooker.

Pro*ful"gent (?), a. [Pref. pro- + L. fulgere to shine.] Shining forth; brilliant; effulgent. [Obs.] "Profulgent in preciousness." Chaucer.

Pro*fun"di*ty (?), n.; pl. -ties (#). [L. profunditas: cf. F. profondite. See Profound.] The quality or state of being profound; depth of place, knowledge, feeling, etc. "The vast profundity obscure." Milton.

Pro*fuse" (?), a. [L. profusus, p. p. of profundere to pour forth or out; pro forward, forth + fundere to pour: cf. F. profus. See Fuse to melt.] 1. Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal; giving without stint; as, a profuse government; profuse hospitality.

A green, shady bank, profuse of flowers.

Milton.

2. Superabundant; excessive; prodigal; lavish; as, profuse expenditure. "Profuse ornament." Kames.

Syn. -- Lavish; exuberant; bountiful; prodigal; extravagant. -- Profuse, Lavish, Prodigal. Profuse denotes pouring out (as money, etc.) with great fullness or freeness; as, profuse in his expenditures, thanks, promises, etc. Lavish is stronger, implying unnecessary or wasteful excess; as, lavish of his bounties, favors, praises, etc. Prodigal is stronger still, denoting unmeasured or reckless profusion; as, prodigal of one's strength, life, or blood, to secure some object. Dryden.

Pro*fuse" (?), v. t. To pour out; to give or spend liberally; to lavish; to squander. [Obs.] Chapman.

Pro*fuse"ly (?), adv. In a profuse manner.

Pro*fuse"ness, n. Extravagance; profusion.

Hospitality sometimes degenerates into profuseness.

Atterbury.

Pro*fu"sion (?), n. [L. profusio: cf. F. profusion.]

1. The act of one who is profuse; a lavishing or pouring out without sting.

Thy vast profusion to the factious nobles?

Rowe.

2. Abundance; exuberant plenty; lavish supply; as, a profusion of commodities. Addison.

Pro*fu"sive (?), a. Profuse; lavish; prodigal.[Obs.]

Prog (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Progged (&?;). p. pr. & vb. n. Progging.] [Cf. D. prachen, G. prachern, Dan. prakke, Sw. pracka, to beg, L. procare, procari, to ask, demand, and E. prowl.] 1. To wander about and beg; to seek food or other supplies by low arts; to seek for advantage by mean shift or tricks. [Low]

A perfect artist in progging for money.

Fuller.

I have been endeavoring to prog for you.

Burke.

2. To steal; to rob; to filch. [Low] Johnson.

3. To prick; to goad; to progue. [Scot.]

Prog, n. 1. Victuals got by begging, or vagrancy; victuals of any kind; food; supplies. [Slang] Swift.

So long as he picked from the filth his prog.

R. Browning.

2. A vagrant beggar; a tramp. [Slang]

3. A goal; progue. [Scot.]

Pro*gen"er*ate (?), v. t. [L. progeneratus, p. p. of progenerare to beget; pro forth, forward + generare to generate.] To beget; to generate; to produce; to procreate; as, to progenerate a race. [R.] Landor.

Pro*gen`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. progeneratio.] The act of begetting; propagation. [R.]

Pro*gen"i*tor (?), n. [OF. progeniteur, L. progenitor, fr. progignere, progenitum, to bring forth, to beget; pro forth + gignere to beget. See Gender kind.] An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather.

And reverence thee their great progenitor.

Milton.

Pro*gen"i*tor*ship, n. The state of being a progenitor.

Pro*gen"i*tress (?), n. A female progenitor.

Pro*gen"i*ture (?), n. [F. progÈniture.] A begetting, or birth. [R.]

Prog"e*ny (?), n. [OE. progenie, F. progÈnie, fr. L. progenies, fr. progignere. See Progenitor.] Descendants of the human kind, or offspring of other animals; children; offspring; race, lineage. " Issued from the progeny of kings." Shak.

Pro*glot"tid (?), n. (Zoˆl) Proglottis.

||Pro*glot"tis (?), n.; pl. Proglottides (#). [NL. fr. Gr. &?; the tip ||of the tongue; &?; forward + &?; the tongue.] (Zoˆl) One of the free, ||or nearly free, segments of a tapeworm. It contains both male and ||female reproductive organs, and is capable of a brief independent ||existence.

||Prog"na*thi (?), n. pl. [NL. See Prognathous.] (Zoˆl) A comprehensive ||group of mankind, including those that have prognathous jaws.

Prog*nath"ic, a. (Anat.) Prognathous.

Prog"na*thism (?), n. (Anat.) Projection of the jaws. -- Prog"na*thy (#), n.

Prog"na*thous (?), a. [Gr. &?; before + &?; the jaw] (Anat.) Having the jaws projecting beyond the upper part of the face; -- opposed to orthognathous. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.

Their countenances had the true prognathous character.

Kane.

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Prog"ne (?), n. [L., a swallow, traditionally said to be fr. Progne (The sister of Philomela), who was changed into a swallow, Gr. &?;.] (Zoˆl.) (a) A swallow. (b) A genus of swallows including the purple martin. See Martin. (c) An American butterfly (Polygonia, or Vanessa, Progne). It is orange and black above, grayish beneath, with an L-shaped silver mark on the hind wings. Called also gray comma.

Prog*no"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to know beforehand; &?; before + &?; to know. See Know.] (Med.) The act or art of foretelling the course and termination of a disease; also, the outlook afforded by this act of judgment; as, the prognosis of hydrophobia is bad.

Prog*nos"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;. See Prognosis.] Indicating something future by signs or symptoms; foreshowing; aiding in prognosis; as, the prognostic symptoms of a disease; prognostic signs.

Prog*nos"tic, n. [L. prognosticum, Gr. &?;: cf. F. pronostic, prognostic. See Prognostic, a.]

1. That which prognosticates; a sign by which a future event may be known or foretold; an indication; a sign or omen; hence, a foretelling; a prediction.

That choice would inevitably be considered by the country as a prognostic of the highest import.

Macaulay.

2. (Med.) A sign or symptom indicating the course and termination of a disease. Parr.

Syn. -- Sign; omen; presage; token; indication.

Prog*nos"tic, v. t. To prognosticate. [Obs.]

Prog*nos"tic*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prognosticated or foretold. Sir T. Browne.

Prog*nos"ti*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prognosticated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prognosticating.] [See Prognostic.] To indicate as future; to foretell from signs or symptoms; to prophesy; to foreshow; to predict; as, to prognosticate evil. Burke.

I neither will nor can prognosticate To the young gaping heir his father's fate.

Dryden.

Syn. -- To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; presage; predict; prophesy.

Prog*nos`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prognostication.]

1. The act of foreshowing or foretelling something future by present signs; prediction.

2. That which foreshows; a foretoken. Shak.

Prog*nos"ti*ca`tor (?), n. One who prognosticates; a foreknower or foreteller of a future course or event by present signs. Isa. xlvii. 13.

Pro"gram (?), n. Same as Programme.

||Pro*gram"ma (?), n.; pl. Programmata (#). [ L. See Programme.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.) Any law, which, after it had passed the Athenian senate, was fixed on a tablet for public inspection previously to its being proposed to the general assembly of the people.

2. An edict published for public information; an official bulletin; a public proclamation.

3. See Programme.

4. A preface. [Obs.] T. Warton.

Pro"gramme (?), n. [L. programma a public proclamation, manifesto, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to write before or in public; &?; before, forth + &?; to write; cf. F. programme. See Graphic.] That which is written or printed as a public notice or advertisement; a scheme; a prospectus; especially, a brief outline or explanation of the order to be pursued, or the subjects embraced, in any public exercise, performance, or entertainment; a preliminary sketch.

Programme music (Mus.), descriptive instrumental music which requires an argument or programme to explain the meaning of its several movements.

Prog"ress (?; 277), n. [L. progressus, from progredi, p. p. progressus, to go forth or forward; pro forward + gradi to step, go: cf. F. progrËs. See Grade.]

1. A moving or going forward; a proceeding onward; an advance; specifically: (a) In actual space, as the progress of a ship, carriage, etc. (b) In the growth of an animal or plant; increase. (c) In business of any kind; as, the progress of a negotiation; the progress of art. (d) In knowledge; in proficiency; as, the progress of a child at school. (e) Toward ideal completeness or perfection in respect of quality or condition; -- applied to individuals, communities, or the race; as, social, moral, religious, or political progress.

2. A journey of state; a circuit; especially, one made by a sovereign through parts of his own dominions.

The king being returned from his progresse.

Evelyn.

Pro*gress" (?; formerly pronounced like Progress, n.), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Progressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Progressing.]

1. To make progress; to move forward in space; to continue onward in course; to proceed; to advance; to go on; as, railroads are progressing. "As his recovery progressed." Thackeray.

Let me wipe off this honorable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy checks.

Shak.

They progress in that style in proportion as their pieces are treated with contempt.

Washington.

The war had progressed for some time.

Marshall.

2. To make improvement; to advance. Bayard.

If man progresses, art must progress too.

Caird.

Prog"ress (?; see Progress, v. i.), v. t. To make progress in; to pass through. [Obs.] Milton.

Pro*gres"sion (?), n. [L. progressio: cf. F. progression.]

1. The act of moving forward; a proceeding in a course; motion onward.

2. Course; passage; lapse or process of time.

I hope, in a short progression, you will be wholly immerged in the delices and joys of religion.

Evelyn.

3. (Math.) Regular or proportional advance in increase or decrease of numbers; continued proportion, arithmetical, geometrical, or harmonic.

4. (Mus.) A regular succession of tones or chords; the movement of the parts in harmony; the order of the modulations in a piece from key to key.

Arithmetical progression, a progression in which the terms increase or decrease by equal differences, as the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, 1010, 8, 6, 4, 2 by the difference 2.

-- Geometrical progression, a progression in which the terms increase or decrease by equal ratios, as the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 6464, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 by a continual multiplication or division by 2.

-- Harmonic progression, a progression in which the terms are the reciprocals of quantities in arithmetical progression, as Ω, º, , , .

Pro*gres"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to progression; tending to, or capable of, progress.

Pro*gres"sion*ist, n.

1. One who holds to a belief in the progression of society toward perfection.

2. One who maintains the doctrine of progression in organic forms; -- opposed to uniformitarian. H. Spencer.

Prog"ress*ist (?), n. One who makes, or holds to, progress; a progressionist.

Pro*gress"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. progressif.]

1. Moving forward; proceeding onward; advancing; evincing progress; increasing; as, progressive motion or course; -- opposed to retrograde.

2. Improving; as, art is in a progressive state.

Progressive euchre or whist, a way of playing at card parties, by which after every game, the losers at the first table go to the last table, and the winners at all the tables, except the first, move up to the next table. -- Progressive muscular atrophy (Med.), a nervous disorder characterized by continuous atrophy of the muscles.

-- Pro*gress"ive*ly, adv. -- Pro*gress"ive*ness, n.

Progue (?), v. i. To prog. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.

Progue, n. A sharp point; a goad. [Scot. & Local, U. S.] -- v. t. To prick; to goad. [ Scot. & Local, U. S.].

Pro"heme (?), n. Proem. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pro*hib"it (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prohibited; p. pr. & vb. n. Prohibiting.] [L. prohibitus, p. p. of prohibere to prohibit; pro before, forth + habere to have, hold. See Habit.]

1. To forbid by authority; to interdict; as, God prohibited Adam from eating of the fruit of a certain tree; we prohibit a person from doing a thing, and also the doing of the thing; as, the law prohibits men from stealing, or it prohibits stealing.

Prohibit was formerly followed by to with the infinitive, but is now commonly followed by from with the verbal noun in -ing.

2. To hinder; to debar; to prevent; to preclude.

Gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress.

Milton.

Syn. -- To forbid; interdict; debar; prevent; hinder. -- Prohibit, Forbid. To forbid is Anglo-Saxon, and is more familiar; to prohibit is Latin, and is more formal or official. A parent forbids his child to be out late at night; he prohibits his intercourse with the profane and vicious.

Pro*hib"it*er (?), n. One who prohibits or forbids; a forbidder; an interdicter.

Pro`hi*bi"tion (?), n. [L. prohibitio: cf. F. prohibition.]

1. The act of prohibiting; a declaration or injunction forbidding some action; interdict.

The law of God, in the ten commandments, consists mostly of prohibitions.

Tillotson.

2. Specifically, the forbidding by law of the sale of alcoholic liquors as beverages.

Writ of prohibition (Law), a writ issued by a superior tribunal, directed to an inferior court, commanding the latter to cease from the prosecution of a suit depending before it. Blackstone.

By ellipsis, prohibition is used for the writ itself.

Pro`hi*bi"tion*ist, n.

1. One who favors prohibitory duties on foreign goods in commerce; a protectionist.

2. One who favors the prohibition of the sale (or of the sale and manufacture) of alcoholic liquors as beverages.

Pro*hib"it*ive, a. [Cf. F. prohibitif.] That prohibits; prohibitory; as, a tax whose effect is prohibitive.

Pro*hib"it*o*ry (?), a. [L. prohibitorius.] Tending to prohibit, forbid, or exclude; implying prohibition; forbidding; as, a prohibitory law; a prohibitory price.

Prohibitory index. (R. C. Ch.) See under Index.

Proin (proin), v. t. [See Prune to trim.] To lop; to trim; to prune; to adorn. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The sprigs that did about it grow He proined from the leafy arms.

Chapman.

Proin, v. i. To employed in pruning. [Obs.]

Proj"ect (?; 277), n. [OF. project, F. projet, fr. L. projectus, p. p. of projicere to project; pro forward + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth, and cf. Projet.]

1. The place from which a thing projects, or starts forth. [Obs.] Holland.

2. That which is projected or designed; something intended or devised; a scheme; a design; a plan.

Vented much policy, and projects deep.

Milton.

Projects of happiness devised by human reason.

Rogers.

He entered into the project with his customary ardor.

Prescott.

3. An idle scheme; an impracticable design; as, a man given to projects.

Syn. -- Design; scheme; plan; purpose. -- Project, Design. A project is something of a practical nature thrown out for consideration as to its being done. A design is a project when matured and settled, as a thing to be accomplished. An ingenious man has many projects, but, if governed by sound sense, will be slow in forming them into designs. See also Scheme.

Pro*ject" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Projected; p. pr. & vb. n. Projecting.] [Cf. OF. projecter, F. projeter.]

1. To throw or cast forward; to shoot forth.

Before his feet herself she did project.

Spenser.

Behold! th' ascending villas on my side Project long shadows o'er the crystal tide.

Pope.

2. To cast forward or revolve in the mind; to contrive; to devise; to scheme; as, to project a plan.

What sit then projecting peace and war?

Milton.

3. (Persp.) To draw or exhibit, as the form of anything; to delineate; as, to project a sphere, a map, an ellipse, and the like; -- sometimes with on, upon, into, etc.; as, to project a line or point upon a plane. See Projection, 4.

Pro*ject" (?), v. i.

1. To shoot forward; to extend beyond something else; to be prominent; to jut; as, the cornice projects; branches project from the tree.

2. To form a project; to scheme. [R.] Fuller.

Pro*ject"ile (?), a. [Cf. F. projectile.]

1. Projecting or impelling forward; as, a projectile force.

2. Caused or imparted by impulse or projection; impelled forward; as, projectile motion. Arbuthnot.

Pro*ject"ile, n. [Cf. F. projectile.]

1. A body projected, or impelled forward, by force; especially, a missile adapted to be shot from a firearm.

2. pl. (Mech.) A part of mechanics which treats of the motion, range, time of flight, etc., of bodies thrown or driven through the air by an impelling force.

Pro*jec"tion (?), n. [L. projectio: cf. F. projection.]

1. The act of throwing or shooting forward.

2. A jutting out; also, a part jutting out, as of a building; an extension beyond something else.

3. The act of scheming or planning; also, that which is planned; contrivance; design; plan. Davenant.

4. (Persp.) The representation of something; delineation; plan; especially, the representation of any object on a perspective plane, or such a delineation as would result were the chief points of the object thrown forward upon the plane, each in the direction of a line drawn through it from a given point of sight, or central point; as, the projection of a sphere. The several kinds of projection differ according to the assumed point of sight and plane of projection in each.

5. (Geog.) Any method of representing the surface of the earth upon a plane.

Conical projection, a mode of representing the sphere, the spherical surface being projected upon the surface of a cone tangent to the sphere, the point of sight being at the center of the sphere. -- Cylindric projection, a mode of representing the sphere, the spherical surface being projected upon the surface of a cylinder touching the sphere, the point of sight being at the center of the sphere. -- Globular, Gnomonic, Orthographic, projection,etc. See under Globular, Gnomonic, etc. -- Mercator's projection, a mode of representing the sphere in which the meridians are drawn parallel to each other, and the parallels of latitude are straight lines whose distance from each other increases with their distance from the equator, so that at all places the degrees of latitude and longitude have to each other the same ratio as on the sphere itself. -- Oblique projection, a projection made by parallel lines drawn from every point of a figure and meeting the plane of projection obliquely. -- Polar projection, a projection of the sphere in which the point of sight is at the center, and the plane of projection passes through one of the polar circles. -- Powder of projection (Alchemy.), a certain powder cast into a crucible or other vessel containing prepared metal or other matter which is to be thereby transmuted into gold. -- Projection of a point on a plane (Descriptive Geom.), the foot of a perpendicular to the plane drawn through the point. -- Projection of a straight line of a plane, the straight line of the plane connecting the feet of the perpendiculars let fall from the extremities of the given line.

Syn. -- See Protuberance.

Pro*ject"ment (?), n. Design; contrivance; projection. [Obs.] Clarendon.

Pro*ject"or (?), n. [Cf. F. projeteur.] One who projects a scheme or design; hence, one who forms fanciful or chimerical schemes. L'Estrange.

Pro*jec"ture (?), n. [L. projectura: cf. F. projecture.] A jutting out beyond a surface.

||Pro`jet" (?), n. [F. See Project, n.] A plan proposed; a draft of a ||proposed measure; a project.

Proke (?), v. i. To poke; to thrust. [Obs.] Holland.

Pro*lapse" (?), n. [L. prolapsus, fr. prolapsus, p. p. of prolabi to fall forward; pro forward + labi to glide, fall.] (Med.) The falling down of a part through the orifice with which it is naturally connected, especially of the uterus or the rectum. Dunglison.

Pro*lapse", v. i. To fall down or out; to protrude.

Pro*lap"sion (?), n. [L. prolapsio.] (Med.) Prolapse. [ Written also prolaption.] [Obs.]

Pro*lap"sus (?), n. [L.] (Med.) Prolapse.

Pro"late (?), a. [L. prolatus, used as p. p. of proferre to bring forth, to extend; pro + latus, p. p. See Pro-, and Tolerate. ] Stretched out; extended; especially, elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles; as, a prolate spheroid; -- opposed to oblate.

Prolate cycloid. See the Note under Cycloid. -- Prolate ellipsoid or spheroid (Geom.), a figure generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its major axis. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.

Pro*late" (?), v. t. To utter; to pronounce. [Obs.] "Foun-der-ed; prolate it right." B. Jonson.

Pro*la"tion (?), n. [L. prolatio: cf. F. prolation.]

1. The act of prolating or pronouncing; utterance; pronunciation. [Obs.] Ray.

2. The act of deferring; delay. [Obs.] Ainsworth.

3. (Mus.) A mediÊval method of determining of the proportionate duration of semibreves and minims. Busby.

||Pro*la"tum (?), n.; pl. Prolata (#). [ NL. See Prolate.] (Geom.) A ||prolate spheroid. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.

Pro"leg (?), n. [Pref. pro- for, in place of + leg.] (Zoˆl.) One of the fleshy legs found on the abdominal segments of the larvÊ of Lepidoptera, sawflies, and some other insects. Those of Lepidoptera have a circle of hooks. Called also proped, propleg, and falseleg.

Pro"leg`ate (?; 48), n. [L. prolegatus; pro for + legatus legate.] (Rom. Hist.) The deputy or substitute for a legate.

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Prol`e*gom"e*na*ry (?), a. Of the nature of a prolegomenon; preliminary; introductory; prefatory.

||Prol`e*gom"e*non (?), n.; pl. Prolegomena (#). [ NL., fr. Gr. &?;, ||properly neut. pass. p. pr. of &?; to say beforehand; &?; before + ||&?; to say.] A preliminary remark or observation; an introductory ||discourse prefixed to a book or treatise. D. Stokes (1659). Sir W. ||Scott.

||Pro*lep"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to take beforehand; ||&?; before + &?; to take.]

1. (Rhet.) (a) A figure by which objections are anticipated or prevented. Abp. Bramhall. (b) A necessary truth or assumption; a first or assumed principle.

2. (Chron.) An error in chronology, consisting in an event being dated before the actual time.

3. (Gram.) The application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb; as, to strike one dumb.

{ Pro*lep"tic (?), Pro*lep"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. proleptique.]

1. Of or pertaining to prolepsis; anticipative. "A far-seeing or proleptic wisdom." De Quincey.

2. Previous; antecedent. Glanvill.

3. (Med.) Anticipating the usual time; -- applied to a periodical disease whose paroxysms return at an earlier hour at every repetition.

Pro*lep"tic*al*ly, adv. In a proleptical manner.

Pro*lep"tics (?), n. (Med.) The art and science of predicting in medicine. Laycock.

||Pro`lÈ`taire" (?), n. [F. See Proletary.] One of the common people; a ||low person; also, the common people as a class or estate in a ||country.

Prol`e*ta"ne*ous (?), a. [L. proletaneus.] Having a numerous offspring. [R.]

Prol`e*ta"ri*an (?), a. [L. proletarius. See Proletary.] Of or pertaining to the proletaries; belonging to the commonalty; hence, mean; vile; vulgar. "Every citizen, if he were not a proletarian animal kept at the public cost." De Quincey. -- n. A proletary.

Prol`e*ta"ri*at (?), n. [F.] The indigent class in the State; the body of proletarians.

Prol`e*ta"ri*ate (?), n. The lower classes; beggars. "The Italian proletariate." J. A. Symonds.

Prol"e*ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Proletaries (#). [ L. proletarius, fr. proles offspring. Cf. ProlÈtaire.] (Rom. Antiq.) A citizen of the lowest class, who served the state, not with property, but only by having children; hence, a common person.

Prol"i*cide (?), n. [L. proles offspring + caedere to kill.] The crime of destroying one's offspring, either in the womb or after birth. Bouvier.

Pro*lif"er*ate (?), v. t. [L. proles offspring + ferre to bear.]

1. (Biol.) To produce or form cells; especially, to produce cells rapidly.

2. (Zoˆl.) To produce zooids by budding.

Pro*lif`er*a"tion (?), n.

1. (Biol.) The continuous development of cells in tissue formation; cell formation. Virchow.

2. (Zoˆl.) The production of numerous zooids by budding, especially when buds arise from other buds in succession.

Pro*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L. proles offspring + -ferous.]

1. (Bot.) Bearing offspring; -- applied to a flower from within which another is produced, or to a branch or frond from which another rises, or to a plant which is reproduced by buds or gemmÊ.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) Producing young by budding. (b) Producing sexual zooids by budding; -- said of the blastostyle of a hydroid. (c) Producing a cluster of branchlets from a larger branch; -- said of corals.

Proliferous cyst (Med.), a cyst that produces highly-organized or even vascular structures. Paget.

-- Pro*lif"er*ous*ly, adv.

Pro*lif"ic (?), a. [F. prolifique, fr. L. proles offspring (from pro for, forward + the root of alere to nourish) + facere to make. See Adult, Old, and Fact.]

1. Having the quality of generating; producing young or fruit; generative; fruitful; productive; -- applied to plants producing fruit, animals producing young, etc.; -- usually with the implied idea of frequent or numerous production; as, a prolific tree, female, and the like.

2. Serving to produce; fruitful of results; active; as, a prolific brain; a controversy prolific of evil.

3. (Bot.) Proliferous.

Pro*lif"ic*a*cy (?), n. Prolificness. [R.]

Pro*lif"ic*al (?), a. Producing young or fruit abundantly; fruitful; prolific. -- Pro*lif"ic*al*ly, adv.

Pro*lif"ic*ate (?), v. t. [See Prolific.] To make prolific; to fertilize; to impregnate. Sir T. Browne.

Pro*lif`i*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prolification, LL. prolificatio.]

1. The generation of young.

2. (Bot.) Reproduction by the growth of a plant, or part of a plant, directly from an older one, or by gemmÊ.

Pro*lif"ic*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being prolific; fruitfulness; prolificacy.

Pro*lix" (?; 277), a. [L. prolixus extended, long, prolix, probably fr. pro before, forward + liqui to flow, akin to liquidus liquid; cf. OL. lixa water: cf. F. prolixe. See Liquid.]

1. Extending to a great length; unnecessarily long; minute in narration or argument; excessively particular in detail; -- rarely used except with reference to discourse written or spoken; as, a prolix oration; a prolix poem; a prolix sermon.

With wig prolix, down flowing to his waist.

Cowper.

2. Indulging in protracted discourse; tedious; wearisome; -- applied to a speaker or writer.

Syn. -- Long; diffuse; prolonged; protracted; tedious; tiresome; wearisome. -- Prolix, Diffuse. A prolix writer delights in circumlocution, extended detail, and trifling particulars. A diffuse writer is fond of amplifying, and abounds in epithets, figures, and illustrations. Diffuseness often arises from an exuberance of imagination; prolixity is generally connected with a want of it.

Pro*lix"ious (?), a. Dilatory; tedious; superfluous. [Obs.] "Lay by all nicety, and prolixious blushes." Shak.

Pro*lix"i*ty (?), n. [L. prolixitas: cf. F. prolixitÈ.] The quality or state of being prolix; great length; minute detail; as, prolixity in discourses and writings. "For fulsomeness of his prolixitee." Chaucer.

Idly running on with vain prolixity.

Drayton.

Pro*lix"ly, adv. In a prolix manner. Dryden.

Pro*lix"ness, n. Prolixity. Adam Smith.

Proll (?), v. t. [See Prowl.] [imp. & p. p. Prolled (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Prolling.] To search or prowl after; to rob; to plunder. [Obs.] Barrow.

Proll, v. i. To prowl about; to rob. [Obs.] South.

Though ye prolle aye, ye shall it never find.

Chaucer.

Proll"er (?), n. Prowler; thief. [Obs.] Chapman.

Prol`o*cu"tor (?), n. [L., from proloqui, p. p. prolocutus, to speak out; pro for + loqui to speak.]

1. One who speaks for another. Jeffrey.

2. The presiding officer of a convocation. Macaulay.

Prol`o*cu"tor*ship, n. The office of a prolocutor.

Pro"log (?), n. & v. Prologue.

Pro"lo*gize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?;. See Prologue.] To deliver a Prologue. [R.] Whewell.

Pro"lo*gi`zer (?), n. One who prologizes. [R.]

Pro"logue (?), n. [F., fr. L. prologus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to say beforehand; &?; before + &?; to say. See Logic.]

1. The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; as, the prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales;" esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance

2. One who delivers a prologue. [R.] Shak.

Pro"logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prologued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prologuing.] To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue. [R.] Shak.

Pro*long" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prolonged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prolonging.] [F. prolonger, L. prolongare; pro before, forth + longus long. See Long, a., and cf. Prolongate, Purloin. ]

1. To extend in space or length; as, to prolong a line.

2. To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of; to draw out; to continue; as, to prolong one's days.

Prolong awhile the traitor's life.

Shak.

The unhappy queen with talk prolonged the night.

Dryden.

3. To put off to a distant time; to postpone. Shak.

Pro*long"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prolonged; as, life is prolongable by care.

Each syllable being a prolongable quantity.

Rush.

Pro*lon"gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prolongated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prolongating.] [L. prolongatus, p. p. of prolongare. See Prolong.] To prolong; to extend in space or in time. [R.]

Pro`lon*ga"tion (?), n. [F. prolongation.]

1. The act of lengthening in space or in time; extension; protraction. Bacon.

2. That which forms an additional length.

Pro*longe" (?), n. [F. See Prolong.] (Field Artillery) A rope with a hook and a toggle, sometimes used to drag a gun carriage or to lash it to the limber, and for various other purposes.

Pro*long"er (?), n. One who, or that which, causes an extension in time or space.

Pro*long"ment (?), n. Prolongation.

Pro*lu"sion (?), n. [L. prolusio, fr. proludere to prelude; pro before + ludere to play: cf. F. prolusion, It. prolusione.] A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, an introductory essay or exercise. "Domestic prolusions." Thackeray.

Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted.

Sir W. Scott.

Prom`a*na"tion (?), n. [Pref. pro- + L. manatio a flowing, fr. manare to flow.] The act of flowing forth; emanation; efflux. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Prom`e*nade" (?), n. [F. (with a foreign suffix), from promener to lead, take for a walk, se promener to walk, from L. prominare to drive forward or along; pro forward + minare to drive animals. See Amenable, Menace.]

1. A walk for pleasure, display, or exercise. Burke.

2. A place for walking; a public walk. Bp. Montagu.

Prom`e*nade", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Promenaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Promenading.] To walk for pleasure, display, or exercise.

Prom`e*nad"er (?), n. One who promenades.

Pro*mer"it (?), v. t. [L. promeritus, p. p. of promerere to deserve; pro before + merere to merit.]

1. To oblige; to confer a favor on. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

2. To deserve; to procure by merit. [Obs.] Davenant.

||Prom"e*rops (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before + &?; bee-eater.] ||(Zoˆl.) Any one of several species of very brilliant birds belonging ||to Promerops, Epimarchus, and allied genera, closely related to the ||paradise birds, and mostly native of New Guinea. They have a long ||curved beak and a long graduated tail.

||Pro*me"the*a (?), n. [NL. See Prometheus.] (Zoˆl.) A large American ||bombycid moth (Callosamia promethea). Its larva feeds on the ||sassafras, wild cherry, and other trees, and suspends its cocoon from ||a branch by a silken band.

Pro*me"the*an (?), a. [L. Prometh&?;us: cf. F. promÈthÈen.]

1. Of or pertaining to Prometheus. See Prometheus. "Promethean fire." Shak.

2. Having a life-giving quality; inspiring.

Pro*me"the*an (?), n. (Old Chem.) (a) An apparatus for automatic ignition. (b) A kind of lucifer match.

Pro*me"the*us (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?; to have forethought for.] (Class. Myth.) The son of Iapetus (one of the Titans) and Clymene, fabled by the poets to have surpassed all mankind in knowledge, and to have formed men of clay to whom he gave life by means of fire stolen from heaven. Jupiter, being angry at this, sent Mercury to bind Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, where a vulture preyed upon his liver.

{ Prom"i*nence (?), Prom"i*nen*cy (?), } n. [L. prominentia: cf. F. prominence. See Prominent. ]

1. The quality or state of being prominent; a standing out from something; conspicuousness.

2. That which is prominent; a protuberance.

Solar prominences. (Astron.) See Solar Protuberances, under Protuberance.

Prom"i*nent (?), a. [L. prominens, -entis, p. pr. of prominere to jut out, to project; pro before, forward + minere (in comp.) to jut, project: cf. F. prominent. See Imminent, Eminent.]

1. Standing out, or projecting, beyond the line surface of something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as, a prominent figure on a vase.

2. Hence; Distinctly manifest; likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous; as, a prominent feature of the face; a prominent building.

3. Eminent; distinguished above others; as, a prominent character.

Prominent' moth (Zoˆl.), any moth of the family NotodontidÊ; a notodontian; -- so called because the larva has a hump or prominence on its back. Several of the species are injurious to fruit trees.

Prom"i*nent*ly, adv. In a prominent manner.

Pro`mis*cu"i*ty (?), n. Promiscuousness; confusion. H. Spencer.

Pro*mis"cu*ous (?), a. [L. promiscuus; pro before, in place of, for + miscere to mix. See Mix. ]

1. Consisting of individuals united in a body or mass without order; mingled; confused; undistinguished; as, a promiscuous crowd or mass.

A wild, where weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot.

Pope.

2. Distributed or applied without order or discrimination; not restricted to an individual; common; indiscriminate; as, promiscuous love or intercourse.

Pro*mis"cu*ous*ly, adv. In a promiscuous manner.

Pro*mis"cu*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being promiscuous.

Prom"ise (?), a. [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]

1. In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Gal. iii. 18.

2. (Law) An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made. Chitty. Parsons. Burrill.

3. That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as, a youth of great promise. Shak.

My native country was full of youthful promise.

W. Irving.

4. Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised.

He . . . commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.

Acts i. 4.

Prom"ise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Promising.]

1. To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise the payment of money. "To promise aid." Shak.

2. To afford reason to expect; to cause hope or assurance of; as, the clouds promise rain. Milton.

3. To make declaration of or give assurance of, as some benefit to be conferred; to pledge or engage to bestow; as, the proprietors promised large tracts of land; the city promised a reward.

Promised land. See Land of promise, under Land. -- To promise one's self. (a) To resolve; to determine; to vow. (b) To be assured; to have strong confidence.

I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced.

Rambler.

Prom"ise, v. i.

1. To give assurance by a promise, or binding declaration.

2. To afford hopes or expectation; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil.

Will not the ladies be afeard of the lion? I fear it, I promise you.

Shak.

Prom`is*ee" (?), n. (Law) The person to whom a promise is made.

Prom"is*er (?), n. One who promises.

Prom"is*ing, a. Making a promise or promises; affording hope or assurance; as, promising person; a promising day. -- Prom"is*ing*ly, adv.

Prom"is*or (?), n. (Law) One who engages or undertakes; a promiser. Burrill.

Pro*mis"sive (?), a. Making a promise; implying a promise; promising. [R.]

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Prom"is*so*ri*ly (?), adv. In a promissory manner. Sir T. Browne.

Prom"is*so*ry (?), a. Containing a promise or binding declaration of something to be done or forborne.

Promissory note (Law), a written promise to pay to some person named, and at a time specified therein, or on demand, or at sight, a certain sum of money, absolutely and at all events; -- frequently called a note of hand. Kent. Byles. Story.

Prom"ont (?), n. Promontory. [R.] Drayton.

Prom"on*to*ry (?), n.; pl. Promontories (#). [ L. promonturium, promunturium; pro before + mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. promontoire. See Mount, n.]

1. (Phys. Geog.) A high point of land or rock projecting into the sea beyond the line of coast; a headland; a high cape.

Like one that stands upon a promontory.

Shak.

2. (Anat.) A projecting part. Especially: (a) The projecting angle of the ventral side of the sacrum where it joins the last lumbar vertebra. (b) A prominence on the inner wall of the tympanum of the ear.

Pro*mor`pho*log"ic*al (?), a. (Biol.) Relating to promorphology; as, a promorphological conception.

Pro`mor*phol"o*gist (?), n. (Biol.) One versed in the science of promorphology.

Pro`mor*phol"o*gy (?), n. [Pref. pro- + morphology.] (Biol.) Crystallography of organic forms; -- a division of morphology created by Haeckel. It is essentially stereometric, and relates to a mathematical conception of organic forms. See Tectology.

Pro*mote" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Promoting.] [L. promotus, p. p. of promovere to move forward, to promote; pro forward + movere to move. See Move.]

1. To contribute to the growth, enlargement, or prosperity of (any process or thing that is in course); to forward; to further; to encourage; to advance; to excite; as, to promote learning; to promote disorder; to promote a business venture. "Born to promote all truth." Milton.

2. To exalt in station, rank, or honor; to elevate; to raise; to prefer; to advance; as, to promote an officer.

I will promote thee unto very great honor.

Num. xxii. 17.

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee.

Prov. iv. 18.

Syn. -- To forward; advance; further; patronize; help; exalt; prefer; elevate; dignify.

Pro*mote", v. i. To urge on or incite another, as to strife; also, to inform against a person. [Obs.]

Pro*mot"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, forwards, advances, or promotes; an encourager; as, a promoter of charity or philosophy. Boyle.

2. Specifically, one who sets on foot, and takes the preliminary steps in, a scheme for the organization of a corporation, a joint-stock company, or the like.

3. One who excites; as, a promoter of sedition.

4. An informer; a makebate. [Obs.] Tusser.

Pro*mo"tion (-m"shn), n. [L. promotio: cf. F. promotion.] The act of promoting, advancing, or encouraging; the act of exalting in rank or honor; also, the condition of being advanced, encouraged, or exalted in honor; preferment. Milton.

Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Ps. lxxv. 6.

Pro*mo"tive (?), a. Tending to advance, promote, or encourage. Hume.

Pro*move" (?), v. t. [See Promote.] To move forward; to advance; to promote. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.

Pro*mov"er (?), n. A promoter. [Obs.]

Prompt (prmt; 215), a. [Compar. Prompter (?); superl. Promptest.] [F. prompt, L. promptus, properly, brought forth (to light or view), hence, visible, evident, at hand, ready, quick, -- p. p. of promere to take or bring forth; pro forth + emere to take. See Redeem. ]

1. Ready and quick to act as occasion demands; meeting requirements readily; not slow, dilatory, or hesitating in decision or action; responding on the instant; immediate; as, prompt in obedience or compliance; -- said of persons.

Very discerning and prompt in giving orders.

Clarendon.

Tell him I am prompt To lay my crown at's feet.

Shak.

And you, perhaps, too prompt in your replies.

Dryden.

2. Done or rendered quickly, readily, or immediately; given without delay or hesitation; -- said of conduct; as, prompt assistance.

When Washington heard the voice of his country in distress, his obedience was prompt.

Ames.

3. Easy; unobstructed. [Obs.]

The reception of the light into the body of the building was very prompt.

Sir H. Wotton.

Syn. -- Ready; expeditious; quick; agile; alert; brisk; nimble. -- Prompt, Ready, Expeditious. One who is ready is prepared to act at the moment. One who is prompt acts at the moment. One who is expeditious carries through an undertaking with constant promptness.

Prompt, n. (Com.) A limit of time given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods. See Prompt-note.

To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months.

J. S. Mill.

Prompt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prompted; p. pr. & vb. n. Prompting.]

1. To assist or induce the action of; to move to action; to instigate; to incite.

God first . . . prompted on the infirmities of the infant world by temporal prosperity.

Jer. Taylor.

2. To suggest; to dictate.

And whispering angles prompt her golden dreams.

Pope.

3. To remind, as an actor or an orator, of words or topics forgotten.

Prompt"-book` (&?;), n. The book used by a prompter of a theater.

Prompt"er (?), n.

1. One who, or that which, prompts; one who admonishes or incites to action.

2. One who reminds another, as an actor or an orator, of the words to be spoken next; specifically, one employed for this purpose in a theater.

Prompt"i*tude (?), n. [F., fr. L. promptitudo. See Prompt, a.] The quality of being prompt; quickness of decision and action when occasion demands; alacrity; as, promptitude in obedience.

Men of action, of promptitude, and of courage.

I. Taylor.

Prompt"ly, adv. In a prompt manner.

Prompt"ness, n.

1. Promptitude; readiness; quickness of decision or action.

2. Cheerful willingness; alacrity.

Prompt"-note` (?), n. (Com.) A memorandum of a sale, and time when payment is due, given to the purchaser at a sale of goods.

Promp"tu*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to preparation. [R.] Bacon.

Promp"tu*a*ry, n. [L. promptuarium, fr. promptuarius belonging to distribution, distributing: cf, F. promptuaire. See Prompt, a.] That from which supplies are drawn; a storehouse; a magazine; a repository. Woodward.

Promp"ture (?; 135), n. [See Prompt, a.] Suggestion; incitement; prompting. [R.] Shak. Coleridge.

Pro*mul"gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promulgated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Promulgating.] [L. promulgatus, p. p. of promulgare to promulgate; of unknown origin. Cf. Promulge.] To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; to publish; as, to promulgate the secrets of a council.

Syn. -- To publish; declare; proclaim. See Announce.

Pro`mul*ga"tion (?), n. [L. promulgatio: cf. F. promulgation.] The act of promulgating; publication; open declaration; as, the promulgation of the gospel. South.

Pro"mul*ga`tor (?), n. [L.] One who promulgates or publishes. Dr. H. More.

Pro*mulge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promulged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Promulging (?).] [Cf. F. promulguer. See Promulgate.] To promulgate; to publish or teach. Blackstone.

Extraordinary doctrines these for the age in which they were promulged.

Prescott.

Pro*mul"ger (?), n. One who promulges or publishes what was before unknown. Atterbury.

||Pro*mus"cis (?), n. [L., corruption of proboscis.] (Zoˆl.) The ||proboscis of hemipterous insects. See Illust. under Hemiptera.

||Pro*na"os (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; temple.] (Arch.) ||The porch or vestibule of a temple.

Pro"nate (?), a. [L. pronatus, p. p. of pronare to bend forward. See Prone.] Somewhat prone; inclined; as, pronate trees. Kane.

Pro*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. pronation.] (Physiol.) (a) The act of turning the palm or palmar surface of the forefoot downward. (b) That motion of the forearm whereby the palm or palmar, surface is turned downward. (c) The position of the limb resulting from the act of pronation. Opposed to supination.

Pro*na"tor (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) A muscle which produces pronation.

Prone (?), a. [L. pronus, akin to Gr. &?;, &?;, Skr. pravana sloping, inclined, and also to L. pro forward, for. See Pro-.]

1. Bending forward; inclined; not erect.

Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone.

Milton.

2. Prostrate; flat; esp., lying with the face down; -- opposed to supine.

Which, as the wind, Blew where it listed, laying all things prone.

Byron.

3. Headlong; running downward or headlong. "Down thither prone in flight." Milton.

4. Sloping, with reference to a line or surface; declivous; inclined; not level.

Since the floods demand, For their descent, a prone and sinking land.

Blackmore.

5. Inclined; propense; disposed; -- applied to the mind or affections, usually in an ill sense. Followed by to. "Prone to mischief." Shak.

Poets are nearly all prone to melancholy.

Landor.

Prone"ly, adv. In a prone manner or position.

Prone"ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being prone, or of bending downward; as, the proneness of beasts is opposed to the erectness of man.

2. The state of lying with the face down; -- opposed to supineness.

3. Descent; declivity; as, the proneness of a hill.

4. Inclination of mind, heart, or temper; propension; disposition; as, proneness to self- gratification.

Pro*neph"ric (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pronephros.

||Pro*neph"ros (?), ||Pro*neph"ron (&?;), n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &?; before ||+ &?; a kidney.] (Anat.) The head kidney. See under Head.

Prong (?), n. [Cf. D. prangen to pinch, press, LG. prange a stick, or W. procio to thrust, E. prowl, pang.]

1. A sharp-pointed instrument.

Prick it on a prong of iron.

Sandys.

2. The tine of a fork, or of a similar instrument; as, a fork of two or three prongs.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A sharp projection, as of an antler. (b) The fang of a tooth.

Prong"buck` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) The springbuck. (b) The pronghorn.

Pronged (?), a. Having prongs or projections like the tines of a fork; as, a three-pronged fork.

Prong"-hoe` (?), n. A hoe with prongs to break the earth.

Prong"horn` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) An American antelope (Antilocapra Americana), native of the plain near the Rocky Mountains. The upper parts are mostly yellowish brown; the under parts, the sides of the head and throat, and the buttocks, are white. The horny sheath of the horns is shed annually. Called also cabrÈe, cabut, prongbuck, and pronghorned antelope.

Pro"ni*ty (?), n. [L. pronitas.] Proneness; propensity. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Pro*nom"i*nal (?), a. [L. pronominalis: cf. F. pronominal. See Pronoun.] Belonging to, or partaking of the nature of, a pronoun.

Pro*nom"i*nal*ize (?), v. t. To give the effect of a pronoun to; as, to pronominalize the substantives person, people, etc. Early.

Pro*nom"i*nal*ly, adv. In a pronominal manner&?; with the nature or office of a pronoun; as a pronoun.

||Pro`non`cÈ" (?), a. [F. See Pronounce.] Strongly marked; decided, as ||in manners, etc.

Pro*no"ta*ry (?), n. See Prothonotary.

||Pro*no"tum (?), n.; pl. Pronota (#). [NL. See Pro-, and Notum.] ||(Zoˆl.) The dorsal plate of the prothorax in insects. See Illust. of ||Coleoptera.

Pro"noun (?), n. [Pref. pro- + noun: cf. F. pronom, L. pronomen. See Noun.] (Gram.) A word used instead of a noun or name, to avoid the repetition of it. The personal pronouns in English are I, thou or you, he, she, it, we, ye, and they.

Pro*nounce" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pronounced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pronounging (?).] [F. prononcer, L. pronunciare; pro before, forth + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce. See Announce.]

1. To utter articulately; to speak out or distinctly; to utter, as words or syllables; to speak with the proper sound and accent as, adults rarely learn to pronounce a foreign language correctly.

2. To utter officially or solemnly; to deliver, as a decree or sentence; as, to pronounce sentence of death.

Sternly he pronounced The rigid interdiction.

Milton.

3. To speak or utter rhetorically; to deliver; to recite; as, to pronounce an oration.

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you.

Shak.

4. To declare or affirm; as, he pronounced the book to be a libel; he pronounced the act to be a fraud.

The God who hallowed thee and blessed, Pronouncing thee all good.

Keble.

Syn. -- To deliver; utter; speak. See Deliver.

Pro*nounce", v. i.

1. To give a pronunciation; to articulate; as, to pronounce faultlessly. Earle.

2. To make declaration; to utter on opinion; to speak with confidence. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Pro*nounce", n. Pronouncement; declaration; pronunciation. [Obs.] Milton.

Pro*nounce"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. L. pronunciabilis declarative.] Capable of being pronounced.

Pro*nounced" (?), a. [F. prononcÈ.] Strongly marked; unequivocal; decided. [A Gallicism]

[His] views became every day more pronounced.

Thackeray.

Pro*nounce"ment (?), n. The act of pronouncing; a declaration; a formal announcement.

Pro*noun"cer (?), n. One who pronounces, utters, or declares; also, a pronouncing book.

Pro*noun"cing (?), a. Pertaining to, or indicating, pronunciation; as, a pronouncing dictionary.

Pro*nu"bi*al (?), a. [L. pronuba bridesmaid; pro before + nubere to marry.] Presiding over marriage. [R.]

Pro*nu"cle*us (?), n.; pl. Pronuclei (-). [NL. See Pro-, and Nucleus.] (Biol.) One of the two bodies or nuclei (called male and female pronuclei) which unite to form the first segmentation nucleus of an impregnated ovum.

In the maturing of the ovum preparatory to impregnation, a part of the germinal vesicle (see Polar body, under Polar) becomes converted into a number of small vesicles, which aggregate themselves into a single clear nucleus. which travels towards the center of the egg and is called the female pronucleus. In impregnation, the spermatozoˆn which enters the egg soon loses its tail, while the head forms a nucleus, called the male pronucleus, which gradually travels towards the female pronucleus and eventually fuses with it, forming the first segmentation nucleus.

Pro*nun"cial (?), a. Of or pertaining to pronunciation; pronunciative.

Pro*nun`ci*a*men"to (?), n. A proclamation or manifesto; a formal announcement or declaration.

||Pro*nun`ci*a`mi"en"to (?), n. [Sp. See Pronounce.] See ||Pronunciamento.

Pro*nun`ci*a"tion (?; 277), n. [F. pronunciation, L. pronunciatio. See Pronounce.]

1. The act of uttering with articulation; the act of giving the proper sound and accent; utterance; as, the pronunciation of syllables of words; distinct or indistinct pronunciation.

2. The mode of uttering words or sentences.

3. (Rhet.) The art of manner of uttering a discourse publicly with propriety and gracefulness; -- now called delivery. J. Q. Adams.

Pro*nun"ci*a*tive (?), a. [L. pronunciativus.]

1. Of or pertaining to pronunciation.

2. Uttering confidently; dogmatical. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pro*nun"ci*a`tor (?), n. [L., a reciter.] One who pronounces; a pronouncer.

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Pro*nun"ci*a*to*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to pronunciation; that pronounces.

Proof (?), n. [OF. prove, proeve, F. preuve, fr. L. proba, fr. probare to prove. See Prove.]

1. Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.

For whatsoever mother wit or art Could work, he put in proof.

Spenser.

You shall have many proofs to show your skill.

Ford.

Formerly, a very rude mode of ascertaining the strength of spirits was practiced, called the proof.

Ure.

2. That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.

I'll have some proof.

Shak.

It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pleases.

Emerson.

Properly speaking, proof is the effect or result of evidence, evidence is the medium of proof. Cf. Demonstration, 1.

3. The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.

4. Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.

5. (Print.) A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; -- called also proof sheet.

6. (Math.) A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5.

7. Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof. [Obs.] Shak.

Artist's proof, a very early proof impression of an engraving, or the like; -- often distinguished by the artist's signature. -- Proof reader, one who reads, and marks correction in, proofs. See def. 5, above.

Syn. -- Testimony; evidence; reason; argument; trial; demonstration. See Testimony.

Proof, a.

1. Used in proving or testing; as, a proof load, or proof charge.

2. Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof.

I . . . have found thee Proof against all temptation.

Milton.

This was a good, stout proof article of faith.

Burke.

3. Being of a certain standard as to strength; -- said of alcoholic liquors.

Proof charge (Firearms), a charge of powder and ball, greater than the service charge, fired in an arm, as a gun or cannon, to test its strength. -- Proof impression. See under Impression. -- Proof load (Engin.), the greatest load than can be applied to a piece, as a beam, column, etc., without straining the piece beyond the elastic limit. -- Proof sheet. See Proof, n., 5. - - Proof spirit (Chem.), a strong distilled liquor, or mixture of alcohol and water, containing not less than a standard amount of alcohol. In the United States "proof spirit is defined by law to be that mixture of alcohol and water which contains one half of its volume of alcohol, the alcohol when at a temperature of 60∞ Fahrenheit being of specific gravity 0.7939 referred to water at its maximum density as unity. Proof spirit has at 60∞ Fahrenheit a specific gravity of 0.93353, 100 parts by volume of the same consisting of 50 parts of absolute alcohol and 53.71 parts of water," the apparent excess of water being due to contraction of the liquids on mixture. In England proof spirit is defined by Act 58, George III., to be such as shall at a temperature of 51∞ Fahrenheit weigh exactly the part of an equal measure of distilled water. This contains 49.3 per cent by weight, or 57.09 by volume, of alcohol. Stronger spirits, as those of about 60, 70, and 80 per cent of alcohol, are sometimes called second, third, and fourth proof spirits respectively. -- Proof staff, a straight-edge used by millers to test the flatness of a stone. -- Proof stick (Sugar Manuf.), a rod in the side of a vacuum pan, for testing the consistency of the sirup. -- Proof text, a passage of Scripture used to prove a doctrine.

Proof`-arm" (?), v. t. To arm with proof armor; to arm securely; as, to proof-arm herself. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

Proof"less, a. Wanting sufficient evidence to induce belief; not proved. Boyle. -- Proof"less*ly, adv.

Proof"-proof`, a. Proof against proofs; obstinate in the wrong. "That might have shown to any one who was not proof-proof." Whateley.

||Pro*ˆs"tra*cum (?), n.; pl. Proˆstraca (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before ||+ &?; shell of a testacean.] (Zoˆl.) The anterior prolongation of the ||guard of the phragmocone of belemnites and allied fossil cephalopods, ||whether horny or calcareous. See Illust. of Phragmocone.

Pro*ˆ"tic (?), a. [Pref. pro- + Gr. &?;, &?;, an ear.] (Anat.) In front of the auditory capsule; -- applied especially to a bone, or center of ossification, in the periotic capsule. -- n. A proˆtic bone.

Prop (?), n. A shell, used as a die. See Props.

Prop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propping.] [Akin to LG. & D. proppen to cram, stuff, thrust into, stop, G. pfropfen, Dan. proppe, Sw. proppa; of uncertain origin, cf. G. pfropfen to graft, fr. L. propago set, layer of a plant, slip, shoot. Cf. 3d. Prop, Propagate.] To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something under or against; as, to prop up a fence or an old building; (Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as, to prop a declining state. Shak.

Till the bright mountains prop the incumbent sky.

Pope.

For being not propp'd by ancestry.

Shak.

I prop myself upon those few supports that are left me.

Pope.

Prop, n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. prop stopple, stopper, cork, Sw. propp, G. pfropf. See Prop, v.] That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which anything rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for a building. "Two props of virtue." Shak.

{ Pro`pÊ*deu"tic (?), Pro`pÊ*deu"tic*al (?) }, a. [Gr. &?; to teach beforehand; &?; before + &?; to bring up a child, to educate, teach, fr. &?;, &?;, a child.] Of, pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction; introductory to any art or science; instructing beforehand.

Pro`pÊ*deu"tics (?), n. The preliminary learning connected with any art or science; preparatory instruction.

Prop"a*ga*ble (?), a. [See Propagate.]

1. Capable of being propagated, or of being continued or multiplied by natural generation or production.

2. Capable of being spread or extended by any means; -- said of tenets, doctrines, or principles.

Prop`a*gan"da (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate.]

1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions. (b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world.

2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.

Prop`a*gan"dism (?), n. [Cf. F. propagandisme.] The art or practice of propagating tenets or principles; zeal in propagating one's opinions.

Prop`a*gan"dist (?), n. [Cf. F. propagandiste.] A person who devotes himself to the spread of any system of principles. "Political propagandists." Walsh.

Prop"a*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propagated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propagating.] [L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t.]

1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; -- applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.

2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light.

3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.

The infection was propagated insensibly.

De Foe.

4. To multiply; to increase. [Obs.]

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, Which thou wilt propagate.

Shak.

5. To generate; to produce.

Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life.

De Quincey.

Syn. -- To multiply; continue; increase; spread; diffuse; disseminate; promote.

Prop"a*gate, v. i. To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly.

No need that thou Should'st propagate, already infinite.

Milton.

Prop`a*ga"tion (?), n. [L. propagatio: cf. F. propagation.]

1. The act of propagating; continuance or multiplication of the kind by generation or successive production; as, the propagation of animals or plants.

There is not in nature any spontaneous generation, but all come by propagation.

Ray.

2. The spreading abroad, or extension, of anything; diffusion; dissemination; as, the propagation of sound; the propagation of the gospel. Bacon.

Prop"a*ga*tive (?), a. Producing by propagation, or by a process of growth.

Prop"a*ga`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. propagateur.] One who propagates; one who continues or multiplies.

||Pro*pag"u*lum (?), n.; pl. Propagula (#). [NL. See Propagate.] (Bot.) ||A runner terminated by a germinating bud.

Pro"pane (?), n. [Propyl + methane.] (Chem.) A heavy gaseous hydrocarbon, C3H8, of the paraffin series, occurring naturally dissolved in crude petroleum, and also made artificially; -- called also propyl hydride.

Pro*par"gyl (?), n. [Propinyl + Gr. &?; silver + -yl. So called because one hydrogen atom may be replaced by silver.] (Chem.) Same as Propinyl.

Pro`par*ox"y*tone (?), n. [Gr. &?;. See Pro-, and Paroxytone.] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the acute accent on the antepenult.

Pro"ped (?), n. [Pref. pro- + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoˆl.) Same as Proleg.

Pro*pel" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propelled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propelling.] [L. propellere, propulsum; pro forward + pellere to drive. See Pulse a beating.] To drive forward; to urge or press onward by force; to move, or cause to move; as, the wind or steam propels ships; balls are propelled by gunpowder.

Pro*pel"ler (?), n.

1. One who, or that which, propels.

2. A contrivance for propelling a steam vessel, usually consisting of a screw placed in the stern under water, and made to revolve by an engine; a propeller wheel.

3. A steamboat thus propelled; a screw steamer.

Propeller wheel,the screw, usually having two or more blades, used in propelling a vessel.

Pro*pend" (?), v. i. [L. propendere, propensum; pro forward, forth + pendere to hang. See Pendent.] To lean toward a thing; to be favorably inclined or disposed; to incline; to tend. [R.] Shak.

We shall propend to it, as a stone falleth down.

Barrow.

Pro*pend"en*cy (?), n. 1. Propensity. [R.]

2. Attentive deliberation. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

Pro*pend"ent (?), a. [L. propendens, p. pr.] Inclining forward or toward. South.

Pro"pene (?), n. [Propyl + ethylene.] (Chem.) Same as Propylene.

Pro*pense" (?), a. [L. propensus, p. p. See Propend.] Leaning toward, in a moral sense; inclined; disposed; prone; as, women propense to holiness. Hooker. -- Pro*pense"ly, adv. -- Pro*pense"ness, n.

Pro*pen"sion (?), n. [L. propensio: cf. F. propension. See Propend, Propense.] The quality or state of being propense; propensity. M. Arnold.

Your full consent Gave wings to my propension.

Shak.

Pro*pen"si*ty (?), n.; pl. Propensities (&?;). The quality or state of being propense; natural inclination; disposition to do good or evil; bias; bent; tendency. "A propensity to utter blasphemy." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Disposition; bias; inclination; proclivity; proneness; bent; tendency.

Pro"pe*nyl (?), n. [Propene + -yl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical hydrocarbon radical, C3H5, isomeric with allyl and glyceryl, and regarded as the essential residue of glycerin. Cf. Allyl, and Glyceryl.

Pro*pep"sin (?), n. [Pref. pro- + pepsin.] (Physiol. Chem.) See Persinogen.

Pro*pep"tone (?), n. [Pref. pro- + peptone.] (Physiol. Chem.) A product of gastric digestion intermediate between albumin and peptone, identical with hemialbumose.

Prop"er (?), a. [OE. propre, F. propre, fr. L. proprius. Cf. Appropriate.]

1. Belonging to one; one's own; individual. "His proper good" [i. e., his own possessions]. Chaucer. "My proper son." Shak.

Now learn the difference, at your proper cost, Betwixt true valor and an empty boast.

Dryden.

2. Belonging to the natural or essential constitution; peculiar; not common; particular; as, every animal has his proper instincts and appetites.

Those high and peculiar attributes . . . which constitute our proper humanity.

Coleridge.

3. Befitting one's nature, qualities, etc.; suitable in all respect; appropriate; right; fit; decent; as, water is the proper element for fish; a proper dress.

The proper study of mankind is man.

Pope.

In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play, All proper to the spring, and sprightly May.

Dryden.

4. Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome. [Archaic] "Thou art a proper man." Chaucer.

Moses . . . was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child.

Heb. xi. 23.

5. Pertaining to one of a species, but not common to the whole; not appellative; -- opposed to common; as, a proper name; Dublin is the proper name of a city.

6. Rightly so called; strictly considered; as, Greece proper; the garden proper.

7. (Her.) Represented in its natural color; -- said of any object used as a charge.

In proper, individually; privately. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor. -- Proper flower or corolla (Bot.), one of the single florets, or corollets, in an aggregate or compound flower. -- Proper fraction (Arith.) a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator. -- Proper nectary (Bot.), a nectary separate from the petals and other parts of the flower. -- Proper noun (Gram.), a name belonging to an individual, by which it is distinguished from others of the same class; -- opposed to common noun; as, John, Boston, America. -- Proper perianth or involucre (Bot.), that which incloses only a single flower. -- Proper receptacle (Bot.), a receptacle which supports only a single flower or fructification.

Prop"er, adv. Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good. [Colloq & Vulgar]

Prop"er*ate (?), v. t. & i. [L. properatus, p. p. of properare to hasten.] To hasten, or press forward. [Obs.]

Prop`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. properatio.] The act of hastening; haste. [Obs.] T. Adams.

Pro*per"i*spome (?), n. (Gr. Gram.) Properispomenon.

||Pro*per`i*spom"e*non (?), n.; pl. Properispomena (#). [NL., fr. Gr. ||&?;, fr. &?; to circumflex on the penult; &?; before + &?; to ||circumflex. See Perispomenon.] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the ||circumflex accent on the penult.

Prop"er*ly (?), adv.

1. In a proper manner; suitably; fitly; strictly; rightly; as, a word properly applied; a dress properly adjusted. Milton.

2. Individually; after one's own manner. [Obs.]

Now, harkeneth, how I bare me properly.

Chaucer.

Prop"er*ness, n.

1. The quality of being proper.

2. Tallness; comeliness. [Obs.] Udall.

Prop"er*tied (?), a. Possessing property; holding real estate, or other investments of money. "The propertied and satisfied classes." M. Arnold.

Prop"er*ty (?), n.; pl. Properties (#). [OE. proprete, OF. propretÈ property, F. propretÈ neatness, cleanliness, propriÈtÈ property, fr. L. proprietas. See Proper, a., and cf. Propriety.]

1. That which is proper to anything; a peculiar quality of a thing; that which is inherent in a subject, or naturally essential to it; an attribute; as, sweetness is a property of sugar.

Property is correctly a synonym for peculiar quality; but it is frequently used as coextensive with quality in general.

Sir W. Hamilton.

In physical science, the properties of matter are distinguished to the three following classes: 1. Physical properties, or those which result from the relations of bodies to the physical agents, light, heat, electricity, gravitation, cohesion, adhesion, etc., and which are exhibited without a change in the composition or kind of matter acted on. They are color, luster, opacity, transparency, hardness, sonorousness, density, crystalline form, solubility, capability of osmotic diffusion, vaporization, boiling, fusion, etc. 2. Chemical properties, or those which are conditioned by affinity and composition; thus, combustion, explosion, and certain solutions are reactions occasioned by chemical properties. Chemical properties are identical when there is identity of composition and structure, and change according as the composition changes. 3. Organoleptic properties, or those forming a class which can not be included in either of the other two divisions. They manifest themselves in the contact of substances with the organs of taste, touch, and smell, or otherwise affect the living organism, as in the manner of medicines and poisons.

2. An acquired or artificial quality; that which is given by art, or bestowed by man; as, the poem has the properties which constitute excellence.

3. The exclusive right of possessing, enjoying, and disposing of a thing; ownership; title.

Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood.

Shak.

Shall man assume a property in man?

Wordsworth.

<! p. 1149 !>

4. That to which a person has a legal title, whether in his possession or not; thing owned; an estate, whether in lands, goods, or money; as, a man of large property, or small property.

5. pl. All the adjuncts of a play except the scenery and the dresses of the actors; stage requisites.

I will draw a bill of properties.

Shak.

6. Propriety; correctness. [Obs.] Camden.

Literary property. (Law) See under Literary. -- Property man, one who has charge of the "properties" of a theater.

Prop"er*ty (?), v. t.

1. To invest which properties, or qualities. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To make a property of; to appropriate. [Obs.]

They have here propertied me.

Shak.

Pro*phane" (?), a. & v. t. See Profane. [Obs.]

||Proph"a*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; to show beforehand. See Pro-, ||and Phasis.] (Med.) Foreknowledge of a disease; prognosis.

Proph"e*cy (?), n.; pl. Prophecies (#), [OE. prophecie, OF. profecie, F. prophÈtie, L. prophetia, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be an interpreter of the gods, to prophesy, fr. &?; prophet. See Prophet.] 1. A declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; esp., an inspired foretelling.

He hearkens after prophecies and dreams.

Shak.

Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man.

2. Pet. i. 21.

2. (Script.) A book of prophecies; a history; as, the prophecy of Ahijah. 2 Chron. ix. 29.

3. Public interpretation of Scripture; preaching; exhortation or instruction.

Proph"e*si`er (?), n. A prophet. Shak.

Proph"e*sy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prophesied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prophesying (?).] [See Prophecy.] 1. To foretell; to predict; to prognosticate.

He doth not prophesy good concerning me.

1 Kings xxii. 8.

Then I perceive that will be verified Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy.

Shak.

2. To foreshow; to herald; to prefigure.

Methought thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness; I must embrace thee.

Shak.

Proph"e*sy, v. i.

1. To utter predictions; to make declaration of events to come. Matt. xv. 7.

2. To give instruction in religious matters; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to preach; to exhort; to expound. Ezek. xxxvii. 7.

Proph"et (?), n. [F. prophËte, L. propheta, fr. Gr. &?;, literally, one who speaks for another, especially, one who speaks for a god an interprets his will to man, fr. &?; to say beforehand; &?; for, before + &?; to say or speak. See Fame. ]

1. One who prophesies, or foretells events; a predicter; a foreteller.

2. One inspired or instructed by God to speak in his name, or announce future events, as, Moses, Elijah, etc.

3. An interpreter; a spokesman. [R.] Ex. vii. 1.

4. (Zoˆl.) A mantis.

School of the prophets (Anc. Jewish Hist.), a school or college in which young men were educated and trained for public teachers or members of the prophetic order. These students were called sons of the prophets.

Proph"et*ess, n. [Cf. F. prophÈtesse, L. prophetissa.] A female prophet.

{ Pro*phet"ic (?), Pro*phet"ic*al (?) }, a. [L. propheticus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. prophÈtique.] Containing, or pertaining to, prophecy; foretelling events; as, prophetic writings; prophetic dreams; -- used with of before the thing foretold.

And fears are oft prophetic of the event.

Dryden.

Pro*phet`ic*al"i*ty (?), n. Propheticalness.

Pro*phet"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a prophetical manner; by way of prediction.

Pro*phet"ic*al*ness, n. The quality or state of being prophetical; power or capacity to foretell.

Proph"et*ize (?), v. i. [L. prophetizare, Gr. &?;: cf. F. prophÈtiser. Cf. Prophesy.] To give predictions; to foreshow events; to prophesy. [R.] "Prophetizing dreams." Daniel.

Pro*phor"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; utterance.] Enunciative. [R.]

||Pro*phrag"ma (?), n.; pl. Prophragmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before ||+ &?;, &?;, fence, screen. ] (Zoˆl.) An internal dorsal chitinous ||process between the first two divisions of the thorax of insects.

Proph`y*lac"tic (?), n. [Cf. F. prophylactique.] (Med.) A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

{ Proph`y*lac"tic (?), Proph`y*lac"tic*al (?) }, a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to guard against; &?; before + &?; to guard: cf. F. prophylactique.] (Med.) Defending or preserving from disease; preventive. Coxe.

||Proph`y*lax"is (?), n. [NL. See Prophylactic.] (Med.) The art of ||preserving from, or of preventing, disease; the observance of the ||rules necessary for the preservation of health; preservative or ||preventive treatment.

Pro*pice" (?), a. [OE., fr. F. propice, See Propitious.] Fit; propitious. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Pro"pi*dene (?), n. [Propyl + ethylidene.] (Chem.) The unsymmetrical hypothetical hydrocarbon radical, CH3.CH2.CH, analogous to ethylidene, and regarded as the type of certain derivatives of propane; -- called also propylidene.

Prop`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. propinatio. See Propine.] The act of pledging, or drinking first, and then offering the cup to another. [Obs.] Abp. Potter.

Pro*pine" (?), v. t. [L. propinare, Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; to drink.]

1. To pledge; to offer as a toast or a health in the manner of drinking, that is, by drinking first and passing the cup. [Obs.]

The lovely sorceress mixed, and to the prince Health, peace, and joy propined.

C. Smart.

2. Hence, to give in token of friendship. [Obs.]

3. To give, or deliver; to subject. [Obs.] Fotherby.

Pro*pine" (?), n.

1. A pledge. [Obs. or Scot.]

2. A gift; esp., drink money. [Obs or Scot.]

Pro"pine (?), n. [Propyl + ethine.] (Chem.) Same as Allylene.

Pro*pin"qui*ty (?), n. [L. propinquitas, from propinquus near, neighboring, from prope near.]

1. Nearness in place; neighborhood; proximity.

2. Nearness in time. Sir T. Browne.

3. Nearness of blood; kindred; affinity. Shak.

Pro"pi*nyl (?), n. [Propine + -yl.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical regarded as an essential residue of propine and allied compounds.

Pro"pi*o*late (?), n. A salt of propiolic acid.

Pro`pi*ol"ic (?), a. [Propionic + tetrolic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid (called also propargylic acid) of the acetylene or tetrolic series, analogous to propionic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance.

Pro"pi*o*nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of propionic acid.

Pro"pi*one (?), n. (Chem.) The ketone of propionic acid, obtained as a colorless fragrant liquid.

Pro`pi*on"ic (?), a. [Proto- + Gr. pi`wn fat.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an organic acid which is produced in the distillation of wood, in the fermentation of various organic substances, as glycerin, calcium lactate, etc., and is obtained as a colorless liquid having a sharp, pungent odor. Propionic acid is so called because it is the first or lowest member of the fatty acid series whose salts have a fatty feel.

Pro"pi*o*nyl (?), n. (Chem.) The hypothetical radical C3H5O, regarded as the essential residue of propionic acid and certain related compounds.

||Prop`i*the"cus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before, for + &?; ape.] ||(Zoˆl.) A genus including the long-tailed, or diadem, indris. See ||Indris.

Pro*pi"ti*a*ble (?), a. [L. propitiabilis.] Capable of being propitiated.

Pro*pi"ti*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propitiated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propitiating.] [L. propitiatus, p. p. of propitiare to propitiate, fr. propitius favorable. See Propitious.] To appease to render favorable; to make propitious; to conciliate.

Let fierce Achilles, dreadful in his rage, The god propitiate, and the pest assuage.

Pope.

Pro*pi"ti*ate, v. i. To make propitiation; to atone.

Pro*pi`ti*a"tion (?), n. [L. propitiatio: cf. F. propitiation.]

1. The act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.

2. (Theol.) That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor.

He [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins.

1 John ii. 2.

Pro*pi"ti*a`tor (?), n. [L.] One who propitiates or appeases.

Pro*pi"ti*a*to*ri*ly (?), adv. By way of propitiation.

Pro*pi"ti*a*to*ry (?), a. [L. propitiatorius: cf. F. propitiatoire.] Having the power to make propitious; pertaining to, or employed in, propitiation; expiatory; as, a propitiatory sacrifice. Sharp.

Pro*pi"ti*a*to*ry, n. [L. propitiatorium.] (Jewish Antiq.) The mercy seat; -- so called because a symbol of the propitiated Jehovah. Bp. Pearson.

Pro*pi"tious (?), a. [L. propitius, perhaps originally a term of augury meaning, flying forward (pro) or well; cf. Skr. pat to fly, E. petition, feather.]

1. Convenient; auspicious; favorable; kind; as, a propitious season; a propitious breeze.

2. Hence, kind; gracious; merciful; helpful; - - said of a person or a divinity. Milton.

And now t' assuage the force of this new flame, And make thee [Love] more propitious in my need.

Spenser.

Syn. -- Auspicious; favorable; kind. -- Propitious, Auspicious. Auspicious (from the ancient idea of auspices, or omens) denotes "indicative of success," or "favored by incidental occurrences;" as, an auspicious opening; an auspicious event. Propitious denotes that which efficaciously protect us in some undertaking, speeds our exertions, and decides our success; as, propitious gales; propitious influences.

-- Pro*pi"tious*ly, adv. -- Pro*pi"tious*ness, n.

Pro"plasm (?), n. [L. proplasma, Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; a thing formed, fr. &?; to mold.] A mold; a matrix. [R.] Woodward.

Pro*plas"tic (?), a. Forming a mold.

Pro*plas"tics (?), n. The art of making molds for castings. [R.]

Prop"leg` (?), n. [So called because it props up or supports the body.] (Zoˆl.) Same as Proleg.

Pro*po"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the propodialia, or the parts of the limbs to which they belong.

||Pro*po`di*a"le (?), n.; pl. Propodialia. (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; ||before + &?;, dim. of &?;, &?;, foot.] (Anat.) The bone of either the ||upper arm or the thing, the propodialia being the humerus and femur.

Prop"o*dite (?), n. [Pref. pro- + Gr. &?;, &?;, foot.] (Zoˆl.) The sixth joint of a typical leg of a crustacean; usually, the penultimate joint.

||Pro*po"di*um (?), n.; pl. Propodia (#). [NL. See Propodiale.] (Zoˆl.) ||(a) The anterior portion of the foot of a mollusk. (b) The segment ||which forms the posterior part of the thorax of a hymenopterous ||insect. [Written also propodeum.]

Pro"po*lis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; city.] Same as Bee glue, under Bee.

Pro*pone" (?), v. t. [L. proponere to propose. See Propound.] To propose; to bring forward.

Pro*po"nent (?), a. [L. proponens, p. pr.] Making proposals; proposing.

Pro*po"nent, n.

1. One who makes a proposal, or lays down a proposition. Dryden.

2. (Law) The propounder of a thing.

Pro*por"tion (?), n. [F., fr. L. proportio; pro before + portio part or share. See Portion.]

1. The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.

The image of Christ, made after his own proportion.

Ridley.

Formed in the best proportions of her sex.

Sir W. Scott.

Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory.

Macaulay.

2. Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as, to be out of proportion. "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." Rom. xii. 6.

3. The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.

Let the women . . . do the same things in their proportions and capacities.

Jer. Taylor.

4. A part considered comparatively; a share.

5. (Math.) (a) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; -- called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth.

Proportion in the mathematical sense differs from ratio. Ratio is the relation of two quantities of the same kind, as the ratio of 5 to 10, or the ratio of 8 to 16. Proportion is the sameness or likeness of two such relations. Thus, 5 to 10 as 8 to 16; that is, 5 bears the same relation to 10 as 8 does to 16. Hence, such numbers are said to be in proportion. Proportion is expressed by symbols thus:

a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d.

(b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional.

Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc. -- Harmonical, or Musical, proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3. -- In proportion, according as; to the degree that. "In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false." Burke.

Pro*por"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportioned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner. Cf. Proportionate, v.] 1. To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.

In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value . . . but to the value our fancies set upon it.

Addison.

2. To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.

Nature had proportioned her without any fault.

Sir P. Sidney.

3. To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.

Pro*por"tion*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being proportioned, or made proportional; also, proportional; proportionate. -- Pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n.

But eloquence may exist without a proportionable degree of wisdom.

Burke.

Proportionable, which is no longer much favored, was of our [i. e., English writers'] own coining.

Fitzed. Hall.

Pro*por"tion*a*bly, adv. Proportionally. Locke.

Pro*por"tion*al (?), a. [L. proportionalis: cf. F. proportionnel.] 1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.

2. Relating to, or securing, proportion. Hutton.

3. (Math.) Constituting a proportion; having the same, or a constant, ratio; as, proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter.

Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic. -- Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale. -- Proportional scales, compasses, dividers, etc. (Draughting), instruments used in making copies of drawings, or drawings of objects, on an enlarged or reduced scale.

Pro*por"tion*al, n. 1. (Math.) Any number or quantity in a proportion; as, a mean proportional.

2. (Chem.) The combining weight or equivalent of an element. [Obs.]

Pro*por`tion*al"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. proportionnalitÈ.] The state of being in proportion. Coleridge.

Pro*por"tion*al*ly (?), adv. In proportion; in due degree; adapted relatively; as, all parts of the building are proportionally large. Sir I. Newton.

Pro*por"tion*ate (?), a. [L. proportionatus. See Proportion.] Adjusted to something else according to a proportion; proportional. Longfellow.

What is proportionate to his transgression.

Locke.

Pro*por"tion*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proportionated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proportionating.] [Cf. Proportion, v.] To make proportional; to adjust according to a settled rate, or to due comparative relation; to proportion; as, to proportionate punishment to crimes.

Pro*por"tion*ate*ly (&?;), adv. In a proportionate manner; with due proportion; proportionally.

Pro*por"tion*ate*ness, n. The quality or state of being proportionate. Sir M. Hale.

<! p. 1150 !>

Pro*por"tion*less (?), a. Without proportion; unsymmetrical.

Pro*por"tion*ment (?), n. The act or process of dividing out proportionally.

Pro*pos"al (?), n. [From Propose.] 1. That which is proposed, or propounded for consideration or acceptance; a scheme or design; terms or conditions proposed; offer; as, to make proposals for a treaty of peace; to offer proposals for erecting a building; to make proposals of marriage. "To put forth proposals for a book." Macaulay.

2. (Law) The offer by a party of what he has in view as to an intended business transaction, which, with acceptance, constitutes a contract.

Syn. -- Proffer; tender; overture. See Proposition.

Pro*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proposing.] [F. proposer; pref. pro- (L. pro for, forward) + poser to place. See Pose, v.] 1. To set forth. [Obs.]

That being proposed brimfull of wine, one scarce could lift it up.

Chapman.

2. To offer for consideration, discussion, acceptance, or adoption; as, to propose terms of peace; to propose a question for discussion; to propose an alliance; to propose a person for office.

3. To set before one's self or others as a purpose formed; hence, to purpose; to intend.

I propose to relate, in several volumes, the history of the people of New England.

Palfrey.

To propose to one's self, to intend; to design.

Pro*pose", v. i. 1. To speak; to converse. [Obs.]

There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice, Proposing with the prince and Claudio.

Shak.

2. To form or declare a purpose or intention; to lay a scheme; to design; as, man proposes, but God disposes.

3. To offer one's self in marriage.

Pro*pose", n. [F. propos, L. propositum. See Propound, Purpose, n.] Talk; discourse. [Obs.] Shak.

Pro*pos"er (?), n. 1. One who proposes or offers anything for consideration or adoption.

2. A speaker; an orator. [Obs.] Shak.

Prop`o*si"tion (?), n. [L. propositio: cf. F. proposition. See Propound.] 1. The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering. "Oblations for the altar of proposition." Jer. Taylor.

2. That which is proposed; that which is offered, as for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; a proposal; as, the enemy made propositions of peace; his proposition was not accepted.

3. A statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; creed; as, the propositions of Wyclif and Huss.

Some persons . . . change their propositions according as their temporal necessities or advantages do turn.

Jer. Taylor.

4. (Gram. & Logic) A complete sentence, or part of a sentence consisting of a subject and predicate united by a copula; a thought expressed or propounded in language; a from of speech in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject; as, snow is white.

5. (Math.) A statement in terms of a truth to be demonstrated, or of an operation to be performed.

It is called a theorem when it is something to be proved, and a problem when it is something to be done.

6. (Rhet.) That which is offered or affirmed as the subject of the discourse; anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.

7. (Poetry) The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it.

Leaves of proposition (Jewish Antiq.), the showbread. Wyclif (Luke vi. 4).

Syn. -- Proposal; offer; statement; declaration. -- Proposition, Proposal. These words are both from the Latin verb proponere, to set forth, and as here compared they mark different forms or stages of a negotiation. A proposition is something presented for discussion or consideration; as, propositions of peace. A proposal is some definite thing offered by one party to be accepted or rejected by the other. If the proposition is favorably received, it is usually followed by proposals which complete the arrangement.

Prop`o*si"tion*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or in the nature of, a proposition; considered as a proposition; as, a propositional sense. I. Watts.

Pro*pound" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Propounding.] [From earlier propone, L. proponere, propositum, to set forth, propose, propound; pro for, before + ponere to put. See Position, and cf. Provost.] 1. To offer for consideration; to exhibit; to propose; as, to propound a question; to propound an argument. Shak.

And darest thou to the Son of God propound To worship thee, accursed?

Milton.

It is strange folly to set ourselves no mark, to propound no end, in the hearing of the gospel.

Coleridge.

2. (Eccl.) To propose or name as a candidate for admission to communion with a church.

Pro*pound"er (?), n. One who propounds, proposes, or offers for consideration. Chillingworth.

Pro*pre"tor (?), n. [L. propraetor; pro for, before + praetor a pretor.] (Rom. Antiq.) A magistrate who, having been pretor at home, was appointed to the government of a province. [Written also proprÊtor.]

Pro*pri"e*ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Proprietaries (#). [L. proprietarius: cf. F. propriÈtaire. See Propriety, and cf. Proprietor.] 1. A proprietor or owner; one who has exclusive title to a thing; one who possesses, or holds the title to, a thing in his own right. Fuller.

2. A body proprietors, taken collectively.

3. (Eccl.) A monk who had reserved goods and effects to himself, notwithstanding his renunciation of all at the time of profession.

Pro*pri"e*ta*ry, a. [L. proprietarius.] Belonging, or pertaining, to a proprietor; considered as property; owned; as, proprietary medicine.

Proprietary articles, manufactured articles which some person or persons have exclusive right to make and sell. U. S. Statutes.

Pro*pri"e*tor (?), n. [For older proprietary: cf. F. propriÈtarie.] One who has the legal right or exclusive title to anything, whether in possession or not; an owner; as, the proprietor of farm or of a mill.

Pro*pri`e*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to ownership; proprietary; as, proprietorial rights.

Pro*pri"e*tor*ship (?), n. The state of being proprietor; ownership.

Pro*pri"e*tress (?), n. A female proprietor.

Pro*pri"e*ty (?), n.; pl. Proprieties (#). [F. propriÈtÈ, L. proprietas, fr. proprius one's own, proper. See Property, Proper.] 1. Individual right to hold property; ownership by personal title; property. [Obs.] "Onles this propriety be exiled." Robynson (More's Utopia).

So are the proprieties of a wife to be disposed of by her lord, and yet all are for her provisions, it being a part of his need to refresh and supply hers.

Jer. Taylor.

2. That which is proper or peculiar; an inherent property or quality; peculiarity. [Obs.] Bacon.

We find no mention hereof in ancient zoˆgraphers, . . . who seldom forget proprieties of such a nature.

Sir T. Browne.

3. The quality or state of being proper; suitableness to an acknowledged or correct standard or rule; consonance with established principles, rules, or customs; fitness; appropriateness; as, propriety of behavior, language, manners, etc. "The rule of propriety," Locke.

Pro*proc"tor (?), n. [Pref. pro- + proctor.] [Eng. Univ.] A assistant proctor. Hook.

Props (?), n. pl. A game of chance, in which four sea shells, each called a prop, are used instead of dice.

||Prop`te*ryg"i*um (?), n.; pl. Propterygia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; ||before + &?; a fin.] (Anat.) The anterior of three principal ||cartilages in the fins of some fishes. -- Prop`ter*yg"i*al (#), a.

Pro*pugn" (?), v. t. [L. propugnare; pro for + pugnare to fight.] To contend for; to defend; to vindicate. [Obs.] Hammond.

Pro*pug"na*cle (?), n. [L. propugnaculum.] A fortress. [Obs.] Howell.

Pro`pug*na"tion (?), n. [L. propugnatio.] Means of defense; defense. [Obs.] Shak.

Pro*pugn"er (?), n. A defender; a vindicator. "Zealous propugners." Gov. of Tongue.

Pro`pul*sa"tion (?), n. [L. propulsatio. See Propulse.] The act of driving away or repelling; a keeping at a distance. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Pro*pulse" (?), v. t. [L. propulsare, v. intens. from propellere to propel. See Propel.] To repel; to drive off or away. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Pro*pul"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. propulsion. See Propel.] 1. The act driving forward or away; the act or process of propelling; as, steam propulsion.

2. An impelling act or movement.

God works in all things; all obey His first propulsion.

Whittier.

Pro*pul"sive (?), a. Tending, or having power, to propel; driving on; urging. "[The] propulsive movement of the verse." Coleridge.

Pro*pul"so*ry (?), a. Propulsive.

Pro"pyl (?), n. [Propionic + - yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical radical C3H7, regarded as the essential residue of propane and related compounds.

||Prop`y*lÊ"um (?), n.; pl. PropylÊa (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; before ||+ &?; a gate.] (Anc. Classical Arch.) Any court or vestibule before a ||building or leading into any inclosure.

Pro"pyl*ene (?), n. [Cf. F. propylËne.] (Chem.) A colorless gaseous hydrocarbon (C3H6) of the ethylene series, having a garlic odor. It occurs in coal gas, and is produced artificially in various ways. Called also propene.

Pro*pyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, propyl; as, propylic alcohol.

Pro*pyl"i*dene (?), n. (Chem.) See Propidene.

||Prop"y*lon, n.; pl. Propyla (#). [NL., from Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; ||a gate.] (Anc. Arch.) The porch, vestibule, or entrance of an ||edifice.

||Pro` ra"ta (?). [L.] In proportion; proportionately; according to the ||share, interest, or liability of each.

Pro*rat"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prorated, or divided proportionately. [U.S.]

Pro*rate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prorating.] [From L. pro rata (sc. parte) according to a certain part, in proportion.] To divide or distribute proportionally; to assess pro rata. [U.S.]

Prore (?), n. [L. prora, Gr. &?;: cf. It. & Sp. prora. See Prow, n.] The prow or fore part of a ship. [Poetic] "Galleys with vermilion prores." Pope.

Pro*rec"tor (?), n. [NL. See Pro- , and Rector.] An officer who presides over the academic senate of a German university. Heyse.

Pro*rec"tor*ate (?), n. The office of prorector.

Pro*re"nal (?), a. [Pref. pro- + renal.] (Anat.) Pronephric.

Pro*rep"tion (?), n. [L. prorepere, proreptum, to creep forth; pro + repere.] A creeping on.

Pro*rhi"nal (?), a. [Pref. pro- + rhinal.] (Anat.) Situated in front of the nasal chambers.

Pro"ro*gate (?), v. t. To prorogue. [R.]

Pro`ro*ga"tion (?), n. [L. prorogatio: cf. F. prorogation.] 1. The act of counting in duration; prolongation. [Obs.] South.

2. The act of proroguing; the ending of the session of Parliament, and postponing of its business, by the command of the sovereign. [Eng.]

After an adjournment all things continue as they were at the adjournment; whereas, after a prorogation, bill introduced and nut passed are as if they had never been begun at all. Mozley & W.

Pro*rogue" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prorogued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proroguing (?).] [F. proroger, L. prorogare, prorogatum; pro forward + rogare to ask, to ask one for his opinion or vote, or about a law. See Rogation.] 1. To protract; to prolong; to extend. [Obs.]

He prorogued his government.

Dryden.

2. To defer; to delay; to postpone; as, to proroguedeath; to prorogue a marriage. Shak.

3. To end the session of a parliament by an order of the sovereign, thus deferring its business.

Parliament was prorogued to [meet at] Westminster.

Bp. Hall.

The Parliament was again prorogued to a distant day.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- To adjourn; postpone; defer. See Adjourn.

Pro*rup"tion (?), n. [L. proruptio, fr. prorumpere, proruptum, to break forth; pro forth + rumpere to break.] The act or state of bursting forth; a bursting out. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

{ Pro*sa"ic (?), Pro*sa"ic*al (?), } a. [L. prosaius, from prosa prose: cf. F,. prosaÔque. See Prose.] 1. Of or pertaining to prose; resembling prose; in the form of prose; unpoetical; writing or using prose; as, a prosaic composition. Cudworth.

2. Dull; uninteresting; commonplace; unimaginative; prosy; as, a prosaic person. Ed. Rev.

-- Pro*sa"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Pro*sa"ic*al*ness, n.

Pro*sa"i*cism (?), n. The quality or state of being prosaic; a prosaic manner or style. [R.] Poe.

Pro"sa*ism (?), n. That which is in the form of prose writing; a prosaic manner. Coleridge.

Pro"sa*ist (?; 277), n. A writer of prose; an unpoetical writer. "An estimable prosaist." I. Taylor.

Pro"sal (?), a. Of or pertaining to prose; prosaic. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pro*sce"ni*um (?), n.; pl. Proscenia (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; before + &?; a tent, a wooden stage, the stage. See Scene.] 1. (Anc. Theater) The part where the actors performed; the stage.

2. (Modern Theater) The part of the stage in front of the curtain; sometimes, the curtain and its framework.

||Pro*sco"lex (?), n.; pl. Proscolices (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before + ||&?;, &?;, a worm.] (Zoˆl.) An early larval form of a trematode worm; ||a redia. See Redia.

Pro*scribe" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proscribed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proscribing.] [L. proscribere, proscriptum, to write before, to publish, proscribe; pro before + scribere to write. See Scribe. The sense of this word originated in the Roman practice of writing the names of persons doomed to death, and posting the list in public.] 1. To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; to outlaw; to exile; as, Sylla and Marius proscribed each other's adherents.

Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, . . . was banished the realm, and proscribed.

Spenser.

2. To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit; as, the Puritans proscribed theaters.

The Arian doctrines were proscribed and anathematized in the famous Council of Nice.

Waterland.

Pro*scrib"er (?), n. One who, or that which, proscribes, denounces, or prohibits.

Pro"script (?), n. [See Proscribe.] 1. A proscription; a prohibition; an interdict. [R.]

2. One who is proscribed. [R.]

Pro*scrip"tion (?), n. [L. proscriptio: cf. F. proscription.] 1. The act of proscribing; a dooming to death or exile; outlawry; specifically, among the ancient Romans, the public offer of a reward for the head of a political enemy; as, under the triumvirate, many of the best Roman citizens fell by proscription.

Every victory by either party had been followed by a sanguinary proscription.

Macaulay.

2. The state of being proscribed; denunciation; interdiction; prohibition. Macaulay.

Pro*scrip"tion*al (?), a. Proscriptive.

Pro*scrip"tion*ist, n. One who proscribes.

Pro*scrip"tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to proscription; consisting in, or of the nature of, proscription; proscribing. Burke. -- Pro*scrip"tive*ly, adv.

Prose (?), n. [F. prose, L. prosa, fr. prorsus, prosus, straight forward, straight on, for proversus; pro forward + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.] 1. The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; -- contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition.

I speak in prose, and let him rymes make.

Chaucer.

Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.

Milton.

I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry, that is; prose -- words in their best order; poetry -- the best order.

Coleridge.

2. Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence.

Prose, a. 1. Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition.

2. Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life.

Prose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prosing.] 1. To write in prose.

2. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way.

Prose, v. i. 1. To write prose.

Prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter.

Milton.

Pro*sec"tor (?), n. [L., an anatomist, from prosecare to cut up; pro before + secare to cut.] One who makes dissections for anatomical illustration; usually, the assistant of a professional anatomist.

Pros"e*cu`ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being prosecuted; liable to prosecution.

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Pros"e*cute (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prosecuted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prosecuting.] [L. prosecutus, p. p. of prosequi to follow, pursue. See Pursue.]

1. To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to carry on; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim.

I am beloved Hermia; Why should not I, then, prosecute my right ?

Shak.

2. To seek to obtain by legal process; as, to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law.

3. (Law) To pursue with the intention of punishing; to accuse of some crime or breach of law, or to pursue for redress or punishment, before a legal tribunal; to proceed against judicially; as, to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot.

To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes.

Milton.

Pros"e*cute, v. i. 1. To follow after. [Obs.] Latimer.

2. (Law) To institute and carry on a legal prosecution; as, to prosecute for public offenses. Blackstone.

Pros`e*cu"tion (?), n. [L. prosecutio a following.] 1. The act or process of prosecuting, or of endeavoring to gain or accomplish something; pursuit by efforts of body or mind; as, the prosecution of a scheme, plan, design, or undertaking; the prosecution of war.

Keeping a sharp eye on her domestics . . . in prosecution of their various duties.

Sir W. Scott.

2. (Law) (a) The institution and carrying on of a suit in a court of law or equity, to obtain some right, or to redress and punish some wrong; the carrying on of a judicial proceeding in behalf of a complaining party, as distinguished from defense. (b) The institution, or commencement, and continuance of a criminal suit; the process of exhibiting formal charges against an offender before a legal tribunal, and pursuing them to final judgment on behalf of the state or government, as by indictment or information. (c) The party by whom criminal proceedings are instituted. Blackstone. Burrill. Mozley & W.

Pros"e*cu`tor (?), n. [Cf. L. prosecutor an attendant.] 1. One who prosecutes or carries on any purpose, plan, or business.

2. (Law) The person who institutes and carries on a criminal suit against another in the name of the government. Blackstone.

Pros"e*cu`trix (?), n. [NL.] A female prosecutor.

Pros"e*lyte (?), n. [OE. proselite, OF. proselite, F. proselytus, Gr. &?;, adj., that has come, n., a new comer, especially, one who has come over from heathenism to the Jewish religion; &?; toward, to + (prob.) the root of &?; to come.] A new convert especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party; thus, a Gentile converted to Judaism, or a pagan converted to Christianity, is a proselyte.

Ye [Scribes and Pharisees] compass sea and land to make one proselyte.

Matt. xxiii. 15.

Fresh confidence the speculatist takes From every harebrained proselyte he makes.

Cowper.

Syn. -- See Convert.

Pros"e*lyte, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proselyted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proselyting.] To convert to some religion, opinion, or system; to bring over. Dr. H. More.

Pros"e*ly*tism (?), n. [Cf. F. prosÈlytisme.] 1. The act or practice of proselyting; the making of converts to a religion or a religious sect, or to any opinion, system, or party.

They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree.

Burke.

2. Conversion to a religion, system, or party.

Pros"e*ly*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. proselytized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Proselytizing (?).] To convert to some religion, system, opinion, or the like; to bring, or cause to come, over; to proselyte.

One of those whom they endeavor to proselytize.

Burke.

Pros"e*ly*tize, v. i. To make converts or proselytes.

Pros"e*ly*ti`zer, n. One who proselytes.

Prose"man (?), n. A writer of prose. [R.]

Pro*sem"i*na*ry (?), n. A seminary which prepares pupils for a higher institution. T. Warton.

Pro*sem`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. proseminare, proseminatum, to disseminate.] Propagation by seed. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

Pros*en`ce*phal"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prosencephalon.

Pros`en*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; toward, near to + E. encephalon.] [Sometimes abbreviated to proen.] (Anat.) (a) The anterior segment of the brain, including the cerebrum and olfactory lobes; the forebrain. (b) The cerebrum. Huxley.

Pros*en"chy*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; near + -enchyma, as in parenchyma.] (Bot.) A general term applied to the tissues formed of elongated cells, especially those with pointed or oblique extremities, as the principal cells of ordinary wood.

Pros"er (?), n. 1. A writer of prose. [Obs.]

2. One who talks or writes tediously. Sir W. Scott.

Pro*sil"i*en*cy (?), n. [L. prosilere to leap forth.] The act of leaping forth or forward; projection. "Such prosiliency of relief." Coleridge.

Pros"i*ly (?), adv. In a prosy manner.

Pros`i*met"ric*al (?), a. [Prose + metrical.] Consisting both of prose and verse. Clarke.

||Pro*sim"i*Ê (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pro-. and Simia.] (Zoˆl.) Same as ||Lemuroidea.

Pros"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being prosy; tediousness; tiresomeness.

Pros"ing, n. Writing prose; speaking or writing in a tedious or prosy manner. Sir W. Scott.

Pros"ing*ly, adv. Prosily.

Pro*si"phon (?), n. [Pref. pro- for + siphon.] (Zoˆl.) A minute tube found in the protoconch of ammonites, and not connected with the true siphon.

Pro*slav"er*y (?), a. [Pref. pro- + slavery.] Favoring slavery. -- n. Advocacy of slavery.

Pros"o*branch (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Prosobranchiata.

||Pros`o*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; forward, further + ||&?; a gill.] (Zoˆl.) The highest division, or subclass, of gastropod ||mollusks, including those that have the gills situated anteriorly, or ||forward of the heart, and the sexes separate.

Pros"o*cúle (?), n. [Gr. &?; forward + &?; hollow.] (Anat.) The entire cavity of the prosencephalon. B. G. Wilder.

||Pros`o*cú"li*a (?), n.; pl. Prosocúlle (#), [NL.] (Anat.) Same as ||Prosocúle.

Pros`o*di"a*cal (?), a. Prosodical.

Pros`o*di"a*cal*ly, adv. Prosodically.

Pro*so"di*al (?), a. Prosodical.

Pro*so"di*an (?), n. A prosodist. Rush.

Pro*sod"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. prosodique, L. prosodiacus.] Of or pertaining to prosody; according to the rules of prosody. -- Pro*sod"ic*al*ly, adv.

Pros"o*dist (?), n. One skilled in prosody.

Pros"o*dy (?), n. [L. prosodia the tone or accent of a syllable, Gr. &?; a song sung to, or with, an accompanying song, the accent accompanying the pronunciation; &?; to + &?; song, ode: cf. F. prosodie. See Ode.] That part of grammar which treats of the quantity of syllables, of accent, and of the laws of versification or metrical composition.

||Pro*so"ma (?), n.; pl. Prosomata. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before + &?;, ||&?;, body.] (Zoˆl.) The anterior of the body of an animal, as of a ||cephalopod; the thorax of an arthropod.

||Pros`o*pal"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; face + &?; pain.] (Med.) ||Facial neuralgia.

||Pros`o*po*ceph`a*la (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. pro`swpon face, ||appearance + &?; head.] (Zoˆl.) Same as Scaphopoda.

Pros`o*po*lep"sy (?), n. [Gr. &?;; pro`swpon a face, a person + &?; a taking, receiving, &?; to take.] Respect of persons; especially, a premature opinion or prejudice against a person, formed from his external appearance. [R.] Addison.

||Pros`o*po*pú"ia (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;; pro`swpon a face, a person ||+ &?; to make.] (Rhet.) A figure by which things are represented as ||persons, or by which things inanimate are spoken of as animated ||beings; also, a figure by which an absent person is introduced as ||speaking, or a deceased person is represented as alive and present. ||It includes personification, but is more extensive in its ||signification.

||Pros`o*pul`mo*na"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; forward + L. pulmo ||a lung.] (Zoˆl.) A division of pulmonate mollusks having the ||breathing organ situated on the neck, as in the common snail.

Pros"pect (?), n. [L. prospectus, fr. prospicere, prospectum, to look forward; pro before, forward + specere, spicere, look, to see: cf. OF. prospect. See Spy, v., and cf. Prospectus.] 1. That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.

His eye discovers unaware The goodly prospect of some foreign land.

Milton.

2. Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.

I went to Putney . . . to take prospects in crayon.

Evelyn.

3. A position affording a fine view; a lookout. [R.]

Him God beholding from his prospect high.

Milton.

4. Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.

And their prospect was toward the south.

Ezek. xl. 44.

5. The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state. Locke.

Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life ?

Tillotson.

6. That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success. "To brighter prospects born." Cowper.

These swell their prospectsd exalt their pride, When offers are disdain'd, and love deny'd.

Pope.

Pros"pect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prospected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prospecting.] To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.

Pros"pect, v. i. To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.

Pro*spec"tion (?), n. The act of looking forward, or of providing for future wants; foresight.

Pro*spec"tive (?), a. [L. prospectivus: cf. F. prospectif. See Prospect, n.] 1. Of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective. [Obs.]

Time's long and dark prospective glass.

Milton.

2. Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; -- opposed to retrospective.

The French king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.

Sir J. Child.

3. Being within view or consideration, as a future event or contingency; relating to the future: expected; as, a prospective benefit.

Points on which the promises, at the time of ordination, had no prospective bearing.

W. Jay.

Pro*spec"tive (?), n. 1. The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect. Sir H. Wotton.

2. A perspective glass. [Obs.] Chaucer. Beau. & Fl.

Pro*spec"tive*ly, adv. In a prospective manner.

Pro*spec"tive*ness, n. Quality of being prospective.

Pros"pect*less (?), a. Having no prospect.

Pros"pect*or (?), n. [L., one who looks out.] One who prospects; especially, one who explores a region for minerals and precious metals.

Pro*spec"tus (?), n. [L., a prospect, sight, view: cf. F. prospectus. See Prospect.] A summary, plan, or scheme of something proposed, affording a prospect of its nature; especially, an exposition of the scheme of an unpublished literary work.

Pros"per (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prospered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prospering.] [F. prospÈrer v. i., or L. prosperare, v. i., or L. prosperare, v. t., fr. prosper or prosperus. See Prosperous.] To favor; to render successful. "Prosper thou our handiwork." Bk. of Common Prayer.

All things concur toprosper our design.

Dryden.

Pros"per, v. i. 1. To be successful; to succeed; to be fortunate or prosperous; to thrive; to make gain.

They, in their earthly Canaan placed, Long time shall dwell and prosper.

Milton.

2. To grow; to increase. [Obs.]

Black cherry trees prosper even to considerable timber.

Evelyn.

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