Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 41 of 60)
2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential hero." Carlyle. Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is. Sir W. Hamilton. Potential cautery. See under Cautery. -- Potential energy. (Mech.) See the Note under Energy. -- Potential mood, or mode (Gram.), that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty, power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can, must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go; he can write.
POTENTIAL Po*ten"tial, n.
1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially. Bacon.
2. (Math.)
Defn: In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; -- also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center.
3. (Elec.)
Defn: The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.
POTENTIALITY Po*ten`ti*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being potential; possibility, not actuality; inherent capability or disposition, not actually exhibited.
POTENTIALLY Po*ten"tial*ly, adv.
1. With power; potently. [Obs.]
2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively. The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bentley.
POTENTIATE Po*ten"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentiating.]
Defn: To render active or potent. Coleridge.
POTENTIOMETER Po*ten`ti*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Potential + -meter.] (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring or comparing electrial potentials or electro-motive forces.
POTENTIZE Po"ten*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentized; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentizing.]
Defn: To render the latent power of (anything) available. Dunglison.
POTENTLY Po"tent*ly, adv.
Defn: With great force or energy; powerfully; efficaciously. "You are potently opposed." Shak.
POTENTNESS Po"tent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being potent; powerfulness; potency; efficacy.
POTESTATE Po"tes*tate, n.
Defn: A chief ruler; a potentate. [Obs.] Wyclif. "An irous potestate." Chaucer.
POTESTATIVE Po*tes"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. potestativus, fr. potestas power: cf. F. potestatif. See Potent.]
Defn: Authoritative. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
POTGUN Pot"gun`, n.
1. A pot-shaped cannon; a mortar. [Obs.] "Twelve potguns of brass." Hakluyt.
2. A popgun. [Obs.] Swift.
POTHECARY Poth"e*ca*ry, n.
Defn: An apothecary. [Obs.]
POTHEEN Po*theen", n.
Defn: See Poteen.
POTHER Poth"er, n. Etym: [Cf. D. peuteren to rummage, poke. Cf. Potter, Pudder.]
Defn: Bustle; confusion; tumult; flutter; bother. [Written also potter, and pudder.] "What a pother and stir!" Oldham. "Coming on with a terrible pother." Wordsworth.
POTHER Poth"er, v. i.
Defn: To make a bustle or stir; to be fussy.
POTHER Poth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pothered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pothering.]
Defn: To harass and perplex; to worry. "Pothers and wearies himself." Locke.
POTHOLE Pot"hole`, n.
Defn: A circular hole formed in the rocky beds of rivers by the grinding action of stones or gravel whirled round by the water in what was at first a natural depression of the rock.
POTHOOK Pot"hook`, n.
1. An
2. A written character curved like a pothook; (pl.) a scrawled writing. "I long to be spelling her Arabic scrawls and pothooks." Dryden.
POTHOUSE Pot"house`, n.
Defn: An alehouse. T. Warton.
POTICHE Po`tiche", n.; pl. -tiches (#). [F., fr. pot a pot.] (Ceramics)
Defn: A vase with a separate cover, the body usually rounded or polygonal in plan with nearly vertical sides, a neck of smaller size, and a rounded shoulder.
POTICHOMANIA; POTICHOMANIE Po`ti*cho*ma"ni*a, Po`ti*cho*ma"nie, n. Etym: [F. potichomanie; potiche a porcelain vase + manie mania.]
Defn: The art or process of coating the inside of glass vessels with engravings or paintings, so as to give them the appearance of painted ware.
POTION Po"tion, n. Etym: [L. potio, from potare to drink: cf. F. potion. See Poison.]
Defn: A draught; a dose; usually, a draught or dose of a liquid medicine. Shak.
POTION Po"tion, v. t.
Defn: To drug. [Obs.] Speed.
POT LACE Pot lace.
Defn: Lace whose pattern includes one or more representations of baskets or bowls from which flowers spring.
POTLATCH Pot"latch`, n. [Chinook potlatch, pahtlatch, fr. Nootka pahchilt, pachalt, a gift.]
1. Among the Kwakiutl, Chimmesyan, and other Indians of the northwestern coast of North America, a ceremonial distribution by a man of gifts to his own and neighboring tribesmen, often, formerly, to his own impoverishment. Feasting, dancing, and public ceremonies accompany it.
2. Hence, a feast given to a large number of persons, often accompanied by gifts. [Colloq., Northwestern America]
POT LEAD Pot lead.
Defn: Graphite, or black lead, often used on the bottoms of racing vessels to diminish friction.
POTLID Pot"lid`, n.
Defn: The lid or cover of a pot. Potlid valve, a valve covering a round hole or the end of a pipe or pump barrel, resembling a potlid in form.
POTLUCK Pot"luck`, n.
Defn: Whatever may chance to be in the pot, or may be provided for a meal. A woman whose potluck was always to be relied on. G. Eliot. To take potluck, to take what food may chance to be provided.
POTMAN Pot"man, n.; pl. Potmen (.
1. A pot companion. [Obs.] Life of A. Wood (1663).
2. A servant in a public house; a potboy.
POTOO Po*too", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American goatsucker (Nyctibius grandis).
POTOROO Po`to*roo", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any small kangaroo belonging to Hypsiprymnus, Bettongia, and allied genera, native of Australia and Tasmania. Called also kangaroo rat.
POTPIE Pot"pie`, n.
Defn: A meat pie which is boiled instead of being baked.
POTPOURRI Pot`pour`ri", n. Etym: [F., fr. pot pot + pourri, p. p. of pourrir to rot, L. putrere. Cf. Olla-podrida.]
Defn: A medley or mixture. Specifically: (a) A ragout composed of different sorts of meats, vegetables, etc., cooked together. (b) A jar or packet of flower leaves, perfumes, and spices, used to scent a room. (c) A piece of music made up of different airs strung together; a medley. (d) A literary production composed of parts brought together without order or bond of connection.
POTSDAM GROUP Pots"dam group` (. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the Primordial or Cambrian period in American geology; -- so named from the sandstone of Potsdam, New York. See Chart of Geology.
POTSHARD; POTSHARE Pot"shard`, Pot"share`, n.
Defn: A potsherd. [Obs.] Spenser.
POTSHERD Pot"sherd`, n. Etym: [Pot + sherd or shard.]
Defn: A piece or fragment of a broken pot. Job ii. 8.
POT SHOT Pot shot.
Defn: Lit., a shot fired simply to fill the pot; hence, a shot fired at an animal or person when at rest or within easy range, or fired simply to kill, without reference to the rules of sport; a shot needling no special skill.
POTSTONE Pot"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of steatite sometimes manufactured into culinary vessels.
POTSURE Pot"*sure`, a.
Defn: Made confident by drink. [Obs.]
POT-SURE Pot"-sure` (-shur), a.
Defn: Made confident by drink. [Obs.]
POTT Pott, n.
Defn: A size of paper. See under Paper.
POTTAGE Pot"tage (; 48), n. Etym: [F. potage, fr. pot pot. See Pot, and cf. Porridge, Porringer.]
Defn: A kind of food made by boiling vegetables or meat, or both together, in water, until soft; a thick soup or porridge. [Written also potage.] Chaucer. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. Gen. xxv. 34.
POTTAIN Pot"tain, n.
Defn: Old pot metal. [Obs.] Holland.
POTTEEN Pot*teen", n.
Defn: See Poteen.
POTTER Pot"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. potier.]
1. One whose occupation is to make earthen vessels. Ps. ii. 9. The potter heard, and stopped his wheel. Longfellow.
2. One who hawks crockery or earthenware. [Prov. Eng.] De Quincey.
3. One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-bellied terrapin. See Terrapin. Potter's asthma (Med.), emphysema of the lungs; -- so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. -- Potter's clay. See under Clay. -- Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; -- so named from the field south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Matt. xxvii. 7. -- Potter's ore. See Alquifou. -- Potter's wheel, a horizontal revolving disk on which the clay is molded into form with the hands or tools. "My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel." Shak. Potter wasp (Zoöl.), a small solitary wasp (Eumenes fraternal) which constructs a globular nest of mud and sand in which it deposits insect larvæ, such as cankerworms, as food for its young.
POTTER Pot"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pottered; p. pr. & vb. n. Pottering.] Etym: [Cf. W. pwtio to poke, or OD. poteren to search one thoroughly, Sw. påta, peta, to pick, E. pother, put.]
1. To busy one's self with trifles; to labor with little purpose, energy, of effect; to trifle; to pother. Pottering about the Mile End cottages. Mrs. Humphry Ward.
2. To walk lazily or idly; to saunter.
POTTER Pot"ter, v. t.
Defn: To poke; to push; also, to disturb; to confuse; to bother. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
POTTERN Pot"tern, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to potters. Pottern ore, a species of ore which, from its aptness to vitrify like the glazing of potter's wares, the miners call by this name. Boyle.
POTTERY Pot"ter*y, n.; pl. Potteries. Etym: [F. poterie, fr. pot. See Pot.]
1. The vessels or ware made by potters; earthenware, glazed and baked.
2. The place where earthen vessels are made.
POTTING Pot"ting, n.
1. Tippling. [Obs.] Shak.
2. The act of placing in a pot; as, the potting of plants; the potting of meats for preservation.
3. The process of putting sugar in casks for cleansing and draining. [West Indies] B. Edwards.
POTTLE Pot"tle, n. Etym: [OE. potel, OF. potel, dim. of pot. See Pot.]
1. A liquid measure of four pints.
2. A pot or tankard. Shak. A dry pottle of sack before him. Sir W. Scott.
3. A vessel or small basket for holding fruit. He had a . . . pottle of strawberries in one hand. Dickens. Pottle draught, taking a pottle of liquor at one draught. [ Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
POTTO Pot"to, n. (Zoöl.) (a) A nocturnal mammal (Perodictius potto) of the Lemur family, found in West Africa. It has rudimentary forefingers. Called also aposoro, and bush dog. (b) The kinkajou.
POTT'S DISEASE Pott's" dis*ease". (Med.)
Defn: Caries of the vertebræ, frequently resulting in curvature of the spine and paralysis of the lower extremities; -- so named from Percival Pott, an English surgeon. Pott's fracture, a fracture of the lower end of the fibula, with displacement of the tibia. Dunglison.
POTULENT Pot"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. potulentus, fr. potus a drinking, drink, fr. potare to drink.]
1. Fit to drink; potable. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. Nearly drunk; tipsy. [Obs.]
POT-VALIANT Pot"-val`iant, a.
Defn: Having the courage given by drink. Smollett.
POT-WALLOPER Pot"-wal`lop*er, n.
1. A voter in certain boroughs of England, where, before the passage of the reform bill of 1832, the qualification for suffrage was to have boiled (walloped) his own pot in the parish for six months.
2. One who cleans pots; a scullion. [Slang, U. S.]
POUCH Pouch, n. Etym: [F. poche a pocket, pouch, bag; probably of Teutonic origin. See Poke a bag, and cf. Poach to cook eggs, to plunder.]
1. A small bag; usually, a leathern bag; as, a pouch for money; a shot pouch; a mail pouch, etc.
2. That which is shaped like, or used as, a pouch; as: (a) A protuberant belly; a paunch; -- so called in ridicule. (b) (Zoöl.) A sac or bag for carrying food or young; as, the cheek pouches of certain rodents, and the pouch of marsupials. (c) (Med.) A cyst or sac containing fluid. S. Sharp. (d) (Bot.) A silicle, or short pod, as of the shepherd's purse. (e) A bulkhead in the hold of a vessel, to prevent grain, etc., from shifting. Pouch mouth, a mouth with blubbered or swollen lips.
POUCH Pouch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pouched; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouching.]
1. To put or take into a pouch.
2. To swallow; -- said of fowls. Derham.
3. To pout. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
4. To pocket; to put up with. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
POUCHED Pouched, a. (Zoöl.) (a) Having a marsupial pouch; as, the pouched badger, or the wombat. (b) Having external cheek pouches; as, the pouched gopher. (c) Having internal cheek pouches; as, the pouched squirrels. Pouched dog. (Zoöl.) See Zebra wolf, under Zebra. -- Pouched frog (Zoöl.), the nototrema, the female of which has a dorsal pouch in which the eggs are hatched, and in which the young pass through their brief tadpole stage. -- Pouched gopher, or Pouched rat. (Zoöl.) See Pocket gopher, under Pocket. -- Pouched mouse. (Zoöl.) See Pocket mouse, under Pocket.
POUCHET BOX Pou"chet box`.
Defn: See Pouncet box.
POUCH-MOUTHED Pouch"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Having a pouch mouth; blobber-lipped.
POUCHONG Pou*chong", n.
Defn: A superior kind of souchong tea. De Colange.
POUCH-SHELL Pouch"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small British and American pond snail (Bulinus hypnorum).
POUDRE Pou"dre, n. Etym: [See Powder.]
Defn: Dust; powder. [Obs.] Chaucer. Poudre marchant Etym: [see Merchant], a kind of flavoring powder used in the Middle Ages. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POUDRETTE Pou*drette", n. Etym: [F., dim. of poudre dust, powder. See Powder.]
Defn: A manure made from night soil, dried and mixed with charcoal, gypsum, etc.
POUF; POUFFE Pouf Pouffe (poof), n. [Written also pouff.] [F. pouf. Cf. Puff, n.] Lit., a puff; specif.: (a) A soft cushion, esp. one circular in shape and not, like a pilow, of bag form, or thin at the edges. (b) A piece of furniture like an ottoman, generally circular and affording cushion seats on all sides.
POULAINE Pou*laine", n. Etym: [F. soulier à la poulaine.]
Defn: A long pointed shoe. See Cracowes.
POULARD Pou*lard" (poo*lärd"), n. [F. poularde pullet, fr. poule hen. See Pullet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A pullet from which the ovaries have been removed to produce fattening; hence, a fat pullet.
POULDAVIS Poul"da`vis, n.
Defn: Same as Poledavy. [Obs.]
POULDER Poul"der, n. & v.
Defn: Powder. [Obs.]
POULDRON Poul"dron, n.
Defn: See Pauldron.
POULP; POULPE Poulp, Poulpe, n. Etym: [F. poulpe, fr. L. polypus. See Polyp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Octopus. Musk poulp (Zoöl.), a Mediterranean octopod (Eledone moschata) which emits a strong odor of musk.
POULT Poult, n. Etym: [OF. pulte, F. poulet, dim. of poule fowl. See Pullet.]
Defn: A young chicken, partridge, grouse, or the like. King. Chapman. Starling the heath poults or black game. R. Jefferise.
POULTER Poul"ter, n. Etym: [OE. pulter. See Poult.]
Defn: A poulterer. [Obs.] Shak.
POULTERER Poul"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who deals in poultry.
POULTICE Poul"tice, n. Etym: [L. puls, pl. pultes, a thick pap; akin to Gr. po`ltos. Cf. Pulse seeds.]
Defn: A soft composition, as of bread, bran, or a mucilaginous substance, to be applied to sores, inflamed parts of the body, etc.; a cataplasm. "Poultice relaxeth the pores." Bacon.
POULTICE Poul"tice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poulticed; p. pr. & vb. n. Poulticing.]
Defn: To apply a poultice to; to dress with a poultice.
POULTIVE Poul"tive, n.
Defn: A poultice. [Obs.] W. Temple.
POULTRY Poul"try, n. Etym: [From Poult.]
Defn: Domestic fowls reared for the table, or for their eggs or feathers, such as cocks and hens, capons, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
POUNCE Pounce, n. Etym: [F. ponce pumice, pounce, fr. L. pumex, -icis, pumice. See Pumice.]
1. A fine powder, as of sandarac, or cuttlefish bone, -- formerly used to prevent ink from spreading on manuscript.
2. Charcoal dust, or some other colored powder for making patterns through perforated designs, -- used by embroiderers, lace makers, etc. Pounce box, a box for sprinkling pounce. -- Pounce paper, a transparent paper for tracing.
POUNCE Pounce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouncing.]
Defn: To sprinkle or rub with pounce; as, to pounce paper, or a pattern.
POUNCE Pounce, n. Etym: [Prob. through French, from an assumed LL. punctiare to prick, L. pungere, punctum. See Puncheon, Punch, v. t.]
1. The claw or talon of a bird of prey. Spenser. Burke.
2. A punch or stamp. [Obs.] "A pounce to print money with." Withals.
3. Cloth worked in eyelet holes. [Obs.] Homilies.
POUNCE Pounce, v. t.
1. To strike or seize with the talons; to pierce, as with the talons. [Archaic] Stooped from his highest pitch to pounce a wren. Cowper. Now pounce him lightly, And as he roars and rages, let's go deeper. J. Fletcher.
2. To punch; to perforate; to stamp holes in, or dots on, by way of ornament. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
POUNCE Pounce, v. i.
Defn: To fall suddenly and seize with the claws; -- with on or upon; as, a hawk pounces upon a chicken. Also used figuratively. Derision is never so agonizing as when it pounces on the wanderings of misguided sensibility. Jeffrey.
POUNCED Pounced, a.
1. Furnished with claws or talons; as, the pounced young of the eagle. Thomson.
2. Ornamented with perforations or dots. [Obs.] "Gilt bowls pounced and pierced." Holinshed.
POUNCET BOX Poun"cet box`. Etym: [Cf. F. poncette, fr. ponce pounce. See Pounce a powder.]
Defn: A box with a perforated lid, for sprinkling pounce, or for holding perfumes. Shak.
POUNCING Poun"cing, n.
1. The art or practice of transferring a design by means of pounce.
2. Decorative perforation of cloth. [Obs.]
POUND Pound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Pounding.] Etym: [OE. pounen, AS. punian to bruise. Cf. Pun a play on words.]
1. To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat. With cruel blows she pounds her blubbered cheeks. Dryden.
2. To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt.
POUND Pound, v. i.
1. To strike heavy blows; to beat.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: To make a jarring noise, as in running; as, the engine pounds.
POUND Pound, n. Etym: [AS. pund an inclosure: cf. forpyndan to turn away, or to repress, also Icel. pynda to extort, torment, Ir. pont, pond, pound. Cf. Pinder, Pinfold, Pin to inclose, Pond.]
1. An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold. Shak.
2. A level stretch in a canal between locks.
3. (Fishing)
Defn: A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward. Pound covert, a pound that is close or covered over, as a shed. -- Pound overt, a pound that is open overhead.
POUND Pound, v. t.
Defn: To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound. Milton.
POUND Pound, n; pl. Pounds, collectively Pound pr Pounds. Etym: [AS. pund, fr. L. pondo, akin to pondus a weight, pendere top weigh. See Pendant.]
1. A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.
Note: The pound in general use in the United States and in England is the pound avoirdupois, which is divided into sixteen ounces, and contains 7,000 grains. The pound troy is divided into twelve ounces, and contains 5,760 grains. 144 pounds avoirdupois are equal to 175 pounds troy weight. See Avoirdupois, and Troy.
2. A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.
Note: The pound sterling was in Saxon times, about A. D. 671, a pound troy of silver, and a shilling was its twentieth part; consequently the latter was three times as large as it is at present. Peacham.
POUNDAGE Pound"age, n.
1. A sum deducted from a pound, or a certain sum paid for each pound; a commission.
2. A subsidy of twelve pence in the pound, formerly granted to the crown on all goods exported or imported, and if by aliens, more. [Eng.] Blackstone.
3. (Law)
Defn: The sum allowed to a sheriff or other officer upon the amount realized by an execution; -- estimated in England, and formerly in the United States, at so much of the pound. Burrill. Bouvier.
POUNDAGE Pound"age, v. t.
Defn: To collect, as poundage; to assess, or rate, by poundage. [R.]
POUNDAGE Pound"age, n. Etym: [See 3d Pound.]
1. Confinement of cattle, or other animals, in a public pound.
2. A charge paid for the release of impounded cattle.
POUNDAL Pound"al, n. Etym: [From 5th Pound.] (Physics & Mech.)
Defn: A unit of force based upon the pound, foot, and second, being the force which, acting on a pound avoirdupois for one second, causes it to acquire by the of that time a velocity of one foot per second. It is about equal to the weight of half an ounce, and is 13,825 dynes.
POUND-BREACH Pound"-breach`, n.
Defn: The breaking of a public pound for releasing impounded animals. Blackstone.
POUNDCAKE Pound"cake`, n.
Defn: A kind of rich, sweet cake; -- so called from the ingredients being used by pounds, or in equal quantities.
POUNDER Pound"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, pounds, as a stamp in an ore mill.
2. An instrument used for pounding; a pestle.
3. A person or thing, so called with reference to a certain number of pounds in value, weight, capacity, etc.; as, a cannon carrying a twelve-pound ball is called a twelve pounder.
Note: Before the English reform act of 1867, one who was an elector by virtue of paying ten pounds rent was called a ten pounder.
POUNDING Pound"ing, n.
1. The act of beating, bruising, or breaking up; a beating.
2. A pounded or pulverized substance. [R.] "Covered with the poundings of these rocks." J. S. Blackie.
POUNDKEEPER; POUND-KEEPER Pound"keep`er, n.
Defn: The keeper of a pound.
POUNDRATE Pound"*rate`, n.
Defn: A rate or proportion estimated at a certain amount for each pound; poundage.
POUP Poup, v. i.
Defn: See Powp. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POUPART'S LIGAMENT Pou*part's" lig"a*ment. (Anat.)
Defn: A ligament, of fascia, extending, in most mammals, from the ventral side of the ilium to near the symphysis of the pubic bones.
POUPETON Pou"pe*ton, n. Etym: [See Puppet.]
Defn: A puppet, or little baby. [Obs.] Palsgrave.
POUR Pour, a.
Defn: Poor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POUR Pour, v. i.
Defn: To pore. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POUR Pour, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poured; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouring.] Etym: [OE. pouren, of uncertain origin; cf. W. bwrw to cast, throw, shed, bwrw gwlaw to rain.]
1. To cause to flow in a stream, as a liquid or anything flowing like a liquid, either out of a vessel or into it; as, to pour water from a pail; to pour wine into a decanter; to pour oil upon the waters; to pour out sand or dust.
2. To send forth as in a stream or a flood; to emit; to let escape freely or wholly. 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 Pour, v. i.
Defn: 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 Pour, n.
Defn: A stream, or something like a stream; a flood. [Colloq.] "A pour of rain." Miss Ferrier.
POURELICHE Poure"liche`, adv.
Defn: Poorly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POURER Pour"er, n.
Defn: One who pours.
POURLIEU Pour"lieu, n.
Defn: See Purlieu.
POURPARLER Pour`par`ler", n. Etym: [F.] (Diplomacy)
Defn: A consultation preliminary to a treaty.
POURPARTY Pour`par"ty, n.; pl. Pourparties. Etym: [See Purparty.] (Law)
Defn: A division; a divided share. To make pourparty, to divide and apportion lands previously held in common.
POURPOINT Pour"point, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: 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.
POURPRESTURE Pour*pres"ture, n. (Law)
Defn: See Purpresture.
POURSUIVANT Pour"sui*vant, n.
Defn: See Pursuivant.
POURTRAY Pour*tray", v. t.
Defn: See Portray.
POURVEYANCE Pour*vey"ance, n.
Defn: See Purveyance.
POUSSE Pousse, n.
Defn: Pulse; pease. [Obs.] Spenser.
POUSSE-CAFE Pousse"-ca`fé", n. [F., fr. pousser to push + café coffee.]
Defn: A drink served after coffee at dinner, usually one of several liqueurs, or cordials, of different specific gravities poured so as to remain separate in layers; hence, such a drink of cordials served at any time.
POUSSETTE Pous*sette", n. Etym: [F., pushpin, fr. pousser to push. See Push.]
Defn: A movement, or part of a figure, in the contradance. Dickens.
POUSSETTE Pous*sette", v. i.
Defn: To perform a certain movement in a dance. [R.] Tennyson. Down the middle, up again, poussette, and cross. J. & H. Smith.
POU STO Pou sto (poo sto; pou sto). [Gr. poy^ stw^ where I may stand; -- from the reputed saying of Archimedes, "Give me where I may stand and I will move the whole world with my steelyard."]
Defn: A place to stand upon; a locus standi; hence, a foundation or basis for operations.
POUT Pout, n. Etym: [F. poulet. See Poult.]
Defn: The young of some birds, as grouse; a young fowl. Carew.
POUT Pout, v. i.
Defn: To shoot pouts. [Scot.]
POUT Pout, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pouting.] Etym: [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 2
Defn: To protrude. "Pouting lips." Dryden.
POUT Pout, n.
Defn: A sullen protrusion of the lips; a fit of sullenness. "Jack's in the pouts." J. & H. Smith.
POUT Pout, n. Etym: [Cf. Eelpout.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European whiting pout or bib. Eel pout. (Zoöl.) See Eelpout. -- Horn pout, or Horned pout. (Zoöl.) See Bullhead (b).
POUTER Pout"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, pouts.
2. Etym: [Cf. E. pout, and G. puter turkey.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A variety of the domestic pigeon remarkable for the extent to which it is able to dilate its throat and breast.
POUTING Pout"ing, n.
Defn: Childish sullenness.
POUTINGLY Pout"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pouting, or a sullen, manner.
POVERT Pov"ert, n.
Defn: Poverty. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POVERTY Pov"er*ty, n. Etym: [OE. poverte, OF. poverté, F. pauvreté, 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.
POWAN; POWEN Pow"an, Pow"en, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small British lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeoides, or C. ferus); -- called also gwyniad and lake herring.
POWDER Pow"der, n. Etym: [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 (Zoöl.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers. -- Powder-down feather (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
POWDER Pow"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Powdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Powdering.] Etym: [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.]
POWDER 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.
POWDERED 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.)
Defn: Same as Semé. Walpole.
POWDERFLASK Pow"der*flask`, n.
Defn: A flask in which gunpowder is carried, having a charging tube at the end.
POWDERHORN Pow"der*horn`, n.
Defn: A horn in which gunpowder is carried.
POWDERING Pow"der*ing,
Defn: 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.
POWDERMILL Pow"der*mill`, n.
Defn: A mill in which gunpowder is made.
POWDER-POSTED Pow"der-post`ed, a.
Defn: Affected with dry rot; reduced to dust by rot. See Dry rot, under Dry. [U.S.]
POWDERY 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.
POWDIKE Pow"dike, n. Etym: [Scot. pow, pou, a pool, a watery or marshy place, fr. E. pool.]
Defn: A dike a marsh or fen. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
POWDRY Pow"dry, a.
Defn: See Powdery.
POWER Pow"er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Poor, the fish.
POWER Pow"er, n. Etym: [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.
7. A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o. [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.
Note: 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.
Note: 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.
Note: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: 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)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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 coördinates 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.
POWERABLE 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.
POWERFUL 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)
Defn: 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.
POWERLESS Pow"er*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of power, force, or energy; weak; impotent; not able to produce any effect. -- Pow"er*less*ly, adv. -- Pow"er*less*ness, n.
POWLDRON Powl"dron, n. Etym: [OF. espauleron, from espaule shoulder, F. épaule.]
Defn: Same as Pauldron.
POWP Powp, v. i.
Defn: See Poop, v. i. [Obs.] Chaucer.
POWTER Pow"ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Pouter.
POWWOW 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.]
POWWOW 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 Pox, n. Etym: [For pocks, OE. pokkes. See Pock. It is plural in form but is used as a singular.] (Med.)
Defn: 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.
Note: Pox, when used without an epithet, as in imprecations, formerly signified smallpox; but it now signifies syphilis.
POX Pox, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Poxing.]
Defn: To infect with the pox, or syphilis.
POY Poy, n. Etym: [OF. apui, apoi, a support, prop., staff, F. appui, fr. OF. apuier, apoier, to support, F. appuyer, fr. à 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.
POYNADO Poy*na"do, n.
Defn: A poniard. [Obs.] Lyly.
POYND; POYNDER Poynd, v., Poynd"er (, n.
Defn: See Poind, Poinder.
POY NETTE Poy nette", n. Etym: [Cf. Point.]
Defn: A bodkin. [Obs.]
POYNTEL Poyn"tel, n. Etym: [See Pointal.] (Arch.)
Defn: Paving or flooring made of small squares or lozenges set diagonally. [Formerly written pointal.]
POYOU Poy"ou, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American armadillo (Dasypus sexcinctus). Called also sixbanded armadillo.
POZE Poze, v. t.
Defn: See 5th Pose.
POZZUOLANA; POZZOLANA Poz`zu*o*la"na, Poz`zo*la"*na, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Volcanic ashes from Pozzuoli, in Italy, used in the manufacture of a kind of mortar which hardens under water.
PRAAM Praam, n. Etym: [D. praam; cf. G. prahm, F. prame; all of Slavonic origin, from a word akin to E. fare. See Fare.] (Naut.)
Defn: A flat-bottomed boat or lighter, -- used in Holland and the Baltic, and sometimes armed in case of war. [Written also pram, and prame.]
PRACTIC Prac"tic, a. Etym: [See Practical.]
1. Practical.
2. Artful; deceitful; skillful. [Obs.] "Cunning sleights and practick knavery." Spenser.
PRACTICABILITY Prac"ti*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being practicable; practicableness; feasibility. "The practicability of such a project." Stewart.
PRACTICABLE Prac"ti*ca*ble, a. Etym: [LL. practicare to act, transact, fr. L. practicus active, Gr. 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.
PRACTICAL Prac"ti*cal, a. Etym: [L. practicus active, Gr. 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.
PRACTICALITY Prac`ti*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being practical; practicalness.
PRACTICALIZE Prac"ti*cal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render practical. [R.] "Practicalizing influences." J. S. Mill.
PRACTICALLY Prac"ti*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: 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. 4. Almost.
PRACTICALNESS Prac"ti*cal*ness, n.
Defn: Same as Practicality.
PRACTICE Prac"tice, n. Etym: [OE. praktike, practique, F. pratique, formerly also, practique, LL. practica, fr. Gr. 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.)
Defn: A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
9. (Law)
Defn: 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.
PRACTICE Prac"tice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Practiced; p. pr. & vb. n. Practicing.] Etym: [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.
PRACTICE Prac"tice, v. i. Etym: [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. practise
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.
PRACTICED Prac"ticed, a. Etym: [Often written practised.]
1. Experienced; expert; skilled; as, a practiced marksman. "A practiced picklock." Ld. Lytton.
2. Used habitually; learned by practice.
PRACTICER Prac"ti*cer, n. Etym: [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.
PRACTICIAN Prac*ti"cian, n. Etym: [F. praticien, OF. also practicien.]
Defn: One who is acquainted with, or skilled in, anything by practice; a practitioner.
PRACTICK Prac"tick, n.
Defn: Practice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PRACTICO Prac"ti*co, n.; pl. Practicos (#). [Sp., lit., experienced, skilled. Cf. Practical.]
Defn: A guide. [Cuba & Phil. Islands] D. C. Worcester.
PRACTISANT Prac"ti*sant, n.
Defn: An agent or confederate in treachery. [Obs.] Shak.
PRACTISE Prac"tise, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Practice.
Note: 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 (surmise (promise (compromise (advice (advise (device (devise (
PRACTISOUR Prac"ti*sour, n.
Defn: A practitioner. [Obs.]
PRACTITIONER Prac*ti"tion*er, n. Etym: [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.
PRACTIVE Prac"tive, a.
Defn: Doing; active. [Obs.] Sylvester. -- Prac"tive*ly, adv. [Obs.] The preacher and the people both, Then practively did thrive. Warner.
PRAD Prad, n. Etym: [Cf. D. paard.]
Defn: A horse. [Colloq. Eng.]
PRAE- Præ-.
Defn: A prefix. See Pre-.
PRAECAVA Præ"ca`va, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and 1st Cave.] (Anat.)
Defn: The superior vena cava. -- Præ"ca`val, a. B. G. Wilder.
PRAECIPE Præc"i*pe, n. Etym: [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.
PRAECOCES Præ"co*ces, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Precocious.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of birds including those whose young are able to run about when first hatched.
PRAECOCIAL Præ*co"cial, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Præcoces.
PRAECOGNITA Præ*cog"ni*ta, n. pl. Etym: [L. praecognitus, p. p. of praecognoscere to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.]
Defn: This previously known, or which should be known in order to understand something else.
PRAECOMMISSURE Præ*com"mis*sure, n. Etym: [Pref. præ + commissure.] (Anat.)
Defn: A transverse commissure in the anterior part of the third ventricle of the brain; the anterior cerebral commissure.
PRAECORACOID Præ*cor"a*coid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: See Precoracoid.
PRAECORDIA Præ*cor"di*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. prae before + cor, cordis, the heart.] (Anat.)
Defn: The front part of the thoracic region; the epigastrium.
PRAECORDIAL Præ*cor"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Precordial.
PRAECORNU Præ*cor"nu, n.; pl. Præcornua. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Cornu.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.
PRAEDIAL Præ"di*al, a.
Defn: See Predial.
PRAEFLORATION Præ`flo*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Prefloration. Gray.
PRAEFOLIATION Præ*fo`li*a"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Prefoliation. Gray.
PRAEMAXILLA Præ`max*il"la, n.
Defn: See Premaxilla.
PRAEMOLAR Præ*mo"lar, a.
Defn: See Premolar.
PRAEMORSE Præ*morse", a.
Defn: Same as Premorse.
PRAEMUNIRE Præm`u*ni"re, n. Etym: [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 præmunire. Wolsey incurred a præmunire, and forfeited his honor, estate, and life. South.
Note: The penalties of præmunire were subsequently applied to many other offenses; but prosecutions upon a præmunire are at this day unheard of in the English courts. Blackstone.
PRAEMUNIRE Præm`u*ni"re, v. t.
1. The subject to the penalties of præmunire. [Obs.] T. Ward.
PRAEMUNITORY Præ*mu"ni*to*ry, a.
Defn: See Premunitory.
PRAENARES Præ*na"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, Nares.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior nares. See Nares. B. G. Wilder.
PRAENASAL Præ*na"sal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Prenasal.
PRAENOMEN Præ*no"men, n.; pl. Prænomina. Etym: [L., fr. prae before + nomen name.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PRAENOMINICAL Præ`no*min"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a prænomen. [Obs.] M. A. Lower.
PRAEOPERCULUM Præ`o*per"cu*lum, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Preoperculum. -- Præ`o*per"cu*lar, a.
PRAEORAL; PRAEPUBIS; PRAESCAPULA; PRAESCUTUM; PRAESTERNUM Præ*o"ral, n., Præ*pu"bis, n., Præ*scap"u*la, n., Præ*scu"tum, n., Præ*ster"num, n.
Defn: Same as Preoral, Prepubis, Prescapula, etc.
PRAETER- Præ"ter-.
Defn: A prefix. See Preter-.
PRAETERIST Præt"er*ist, n. (Theol.)
Defn: See Preterist.
PRAETERMIT Præ`ter*mit", v. t.
Defn: See Pretermit.
PRAETEXTA Præ*tex"ta, n.; pl. Prætextæ, E. Prætextas. Etym: [L. (sc. toga), fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, to fringe, border; prae before + texere to weave.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PRAETOR Præ"tor, n.
Defn: See Pretor.
PRAETORES Præ*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pretor.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of butterflies including the satyrs.
PRAETORIAN Præ*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: See Pretorian.
PRAETORIUM Præ*to"ri*um, n.
Defn: See Pretorium.
PRAEZYGAPOPHYSIS Præ*zyg`a*poph"y*sis, n. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Prezygapophysis.
PRAGMATIC; PRAGMATICAL Prag*mat"ic, Prag*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr. 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.
PRAGMATIC 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.
PRAGMATICALLY Prag*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pragmatical manner.
PRAGMATICALNESS Prag*mat"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pragmatical.
PRAGMATISM Prag"ma*tism, n.
Defn: 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.
PRAGMATIST Prag"ma*tist, n.
Defn: One who is pragmatic.
PRAGMATIZE Prag"ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To consider, represent, or embody (something unreal) as fact; to materialize. [R.] "A pragmatized metaphor." Tylor.
PRAIRIAL Prai`ri`al", n. Etym: [F., fr. prairie meadow.]
Defn: The ninth month of the French Republican calendar, which dated from September 22, 1792. It began May, 20, and ended June 18. See Vendemiaire.
PRAIRIE Prai"rie, n. Etym: [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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), a large long-eared Western hare (Lepus campestris). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. -- Prairie hawk, Prairie falcon (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) 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. (Zoöl.) Same as Prairie dog, above. -- Prairie mole (Zoöl.), a large American mole (Scalops argentatus), native of the Western prairies. -- Prairie pigeon, plover, or snipe (Zoöl.), the upland plover. See Plover, n., 2. -- Prairie rattlesnake (Zoöl.), the massasauga. -- Prairie snake (Zoöl.), a large harmless American snake (Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged with brown above. -- Prairie squirrel (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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. (Zoöl.) See Coyote.
PRAIRIE STATE Prai"rie State.
Defn: Illinois; -- a nickname.
PRAISABLE Prais"a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be praised; praise-worthy; laudable; commendable. Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 15).
PRAISABLY Prais"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a praisable manner.
PRAISE Praise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Praised; p. pr. & vb. n. Praising.] Etym: [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 Praise, n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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.
PRAISEFUL Praise"ful, a.
Defn: Praiseworthy. [Obs.]
PRAISEFUL Praise"ful, a.
Defn: Praiseworthy. [Obs.]
PRAISELESS Praise"less, a.
Defn: Without praise or approbation.
PRAISE-MEETING Praise"-meet`*ing, n.
Defn: A religious service mainly in song. [Local, U. S.]
PRAISEMENT Praise"ment, n.
Defn: Appraisement. [Obs.]
PRAISER Prais"er, n.
1. One who praises. "Praisers of men." Sir P. Sidney.
2. An appraiser; a valuator. [Obs.] Sir T. North.
PRAISEWORTHILY Praise"wor`thi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a praiseworthy manner. Spenser.
PRAISEWORTHINESS Praise"wor`thi*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being praiseworthy.
PRAISEWORTHY Praise"wor`thy, a.
Defn: Worthy of praise or applause; commendable; as, praiseworthy action; he was praiseworthy. Arbuthnot.
PRAKRIT Pra"krit, n. Etym: [Skr. prakrsta original, natural, usual, common, vulgar.]
Defn: 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.
PRAKRITIC Pra*krit"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Prakrit.
PRALINE Pra"line (prä"len), n. [F.]
Defn: A confection made of nut kernels, usually of almonds, roasted in boiling sugar until brown and crisp.
Bonbons, pralines, . . . saccharine, crystalline substances of all kinds and colors. Du Maurier.
PRALLTRILLER Prall"tril`ler, n.; G. pl. -triller. [G.] (Music)
Defn: A melodic embellishment consisting of the quick alternation of a principal tone with an auxiliary tone above it, usually the next of the scale; --called also the inverted mordente.
PRAM; PRAME Pram, Prame, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Praam.
PRANCE Prance, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pranced; p. pr. & vb. n. Prancing.] Etym: [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.
PRANCER Pran"cer, n.
Defn: A horse which prances. Then came the captain . . . upon a brave prancer. Evelyn.
PRANDIAL Pran"di*al, a. Etym: [L. prandium a repast.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a repast, especially to dinner.
PRANGOS Pran"gos, n. Etym: [From the native name in Afghanistan.] (Bot.)
Defn: 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 Prank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pranked; p. pr. & vb. n. Pranking.] Etym: [Cf. E. prink, also G. prangen, prunken, to shine, to make a show, Dan. prange, prunke, Sw. prunka, D. pronken.]
Defn: 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 Prank, v. i.
Defn: To make ostentatious show. White houses prank where once were huts. M. Arnold.
PRANK Prank, n.
Defn: 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 Prank, a.
Defn: Full of gambols or tricks. [Obs.]
PRANKER Prank"er, n.
Defn: One who dresses showily; a prinker. "A pranker or a dancer." Burton.
PRANKISH Prank"ish, a.
Defn: Full of pranks; frolicsome.
PRASE Prase, n. Etym: [L. prasius, fr. Gr. prase.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of cryptocrystalline of a leek-green color.
PRASEO- Pra"se*o-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form signifying green; as, praseocobalt, a green variety of cobalt.
PRASEODYMIUM Pra`se*o*dym"i*um, n. Etym: [Praseo- + didymium.] (Chem.)
Defn: An elementary substance, one of the constituents of didymium; - - so called from the green color of its salts. Symbol Ps. Atomic weight 143.6.
PRASEOLITE Pra"se*o*lite, n. Etym: [Praseo- + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of altered iolite of a green color and greasy luster.
PRASINOUS Pras"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. prasinus, Gr.
Defn: Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture. Lindley.
PRASOID Pra"soid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Min.)
Defn: Resembling prase.
PRATE Prate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating.] Etym: [Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel. prata.]
Defn: 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 Prate, v. t.
Defn: 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 Prate, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. & D. praat, Sw. prat.]
Defn: Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate. Pope.
PRATEFUL Prate"ful, a.
Defn: Talkative. [R.] W. Taylor.
PRATER Prat"er, n.
Defn: One who prates. Shak.
PRATIC Prat"ic, n.
Defn: See Pratique.
PRATINCOLE Pra"tin*cole, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the Old World genus Glareola, or family Glareolidæ, allied to the plovers. They have long, pointed wings and a forked tail.
PRATINGLY Prat"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With idle talk; with loquacity.
PRATIQUE Prat"ique, n. Etym: [F.; cf. It. pratica, Sp. practica. See Practice.]
1. (Com.)
Defn: 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.
2. Practice; habits. [Obs.] "One of English education and pratique." R. North.
PRATTLE Prat"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prattled; p. pr. & vb. n. Prattling.] Etym: [Freq. of prate.]
Defn: To talk much and idly; to prate; hence, to talk lightly and artlessly, like a child; to utter child's talk.
PRATTLE Prat"tle, v. t.
Defn: To utter as prattle; to babble; as, to prattle treason. Addison.
PRATTLE Prat"tle, n.
Defn: Trifling or childish tattle; empty talk; loquacity on trivial subjects; prate; babble. Mere prattle, without practice. Shak.
PRATTLEMENT Prat"tle*ment, n.
Defn: Prattle. [R.] Jeffrey.
PRATTLER Prat"tler, n.
Defn: One who prattles. Herbert.
PRAVITY Prav"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. pravitas, from pravus crooked, perverse.]
Defn: Deterioration; degeneracy; corruption; especially, moral crookedness; moral perversion; perverseness; depravity; as, the pravity of human nature. "The pravity of the will." South.
PRAWN Prawn, n. Etym: [OE. prane, of unknown origin; cf. L. perna a sea mussel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of large shrimplike Crustacea having slender legs and long antennæ. They mostly belong to the genera Pandalus, Palæmon, Palæmonetes, and Peneus, and are much used as food. The common English prawn in Palæmon serratus.
Note: The name is often applied to any large shrimp.
PRAXINOSCOPE Prax*in"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Opt.)
Defn: An instrument, similar to the phenakistoscope, for presenting to view, or projecting upon a screen, images the natural motions of real objects.
PRAXIS Prax"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 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 Pray, n. & v.
Defn: See Pry. [Obs.] Spenser.
PRAY Pray, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Praying.] Etym: [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frinan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraíhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.]
Defn: 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 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.
PRAYER Pray"er, n.
Defn: One who prays; a supplicant.
PRAYER Prayer (, n. Etym: [OE. preiere, OF. preiere, F. prière, 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.
PRAYERFUL Prayer"ful, a.
Defn: Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional. "The prayerful man." J. S. Blackie. -- Prayer"ful*ly, adv. -- Prayer"ful*ness, n.
PRAYERLESS Prayer"less, a.
Defn: 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.
PRAYING Pray"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Pray, v. Praying insect, locust, or mantis (Zoöl.), 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.
PRAYINGLY Pray"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With supplication to God.
PRE- Pre-. Etym: [L. prae, adv. & prep., before, akin to pro, and to E. for, prep.: cf. F. pré-. See Pro-, and cf. Prior.]
Defn: A prefix denoting priority (of time, place, or rank); as, precede, to go before; precursor, a forerunner; prefix, to fix or place before; preëminent eminent before or above others. Pre- is sometimes used intensively, as in prepotent, very potent. [Written also præ-.]
PREACCUSATION Pre*ac`cu*sa"tion, n.
Defn: Previous accusation.
PREACE Preace, v. & n.
Defn: Press. [Obs.] Spenser.
PREACH Preach, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preached; p. pr. & vb. n. Preaching.] Etym: [OE. prechen, OF. preechier, F. prêcher, 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 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 Preach, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prêche, fr. prêcher. See Preach, v.]
Defn: A religious discourse. [Obs.] Hooker.
PREACHER Preach"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. preeschierre, prescheur, F. prêcheur, 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 (Zoöl.), a toucan.
PREACHERSHIP Preach"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a preacher. "The preachership of the Rolls." Macaulay.
PREACHIFY Preach"i*fy, v. i. Etym: [Preach + -fy.]
Defn: To discourse in the manner of a preacher. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
PREACHING Preach"ing, n.
Defn: 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.
PREACHMAN Preach"man, n.; pl. Preachmen (.
Defn: A preacher; -- so called in contempt. [Obs.] Howell.
PREACHMENT Preach"ment, n.
Defn: A religious harangue; a sermon; -- used derogatively. Shak.
PREACQUAINT Pre`ac*quaint", v. t.
Defn: To acquaint previously or beforehand. Fielding.
PREACQUAINTANCE Pre`ac*quaint"ance, n.
Defn: Previous acquaintance or knowledge. Harris.
PREACT Pre*act", v. t.
Defn: To act beforehand; to perform previously.
PREACTION Pre*ac"tion, n.
Defn: Previous action.
PREADAMIC Pre`a*dam"ic, a.
Defn: Prior to Adam.
PREADAMITE Pre*ad"am*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préadamite.]
1. An inhabitant of the earth before Adam.
2. One who holds that men existed before Adam.
PREADAMITIC Pre*ad`am*it"ic, a.
Defn: Existing or occurring before Adam; preadamic; as, preadamitic periods.
PREADJUSTMENT Pre`ad*just"ment, n.
Defn: Previous adjustment.
PREADMINISTRATION Pre`ad*min`is*tra"tion, n.
Defn: Previous administration. Bp. Pearson.
PREADMISSION Pre`ad*mis"sion, n.
Defn: Lit., previous admission; specif. (Engin.),
Defn: admission, as of steam, to the engine cylinder before the back stroke is completed, thus increasing the cushioning.
PREADMONISH Pre`ad*mon"ish, v. t.
Defn: To admonish previously.
PREADMONITION Pre*ad`mo*ni"tion, n.
Defn: Previous warning or admonition; forewarning.
PREADVERTISE Pre*ad`ver*tise", v. t.
Defn: To advertise beforehand; to preannounce publicly.
PREAMBLE Pre"am`ble, n. Etym: [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. préambule. See Amble.]
Defn: 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.
PREAMBLE Pre"am`ble, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble. [R.] Feltham. Milton.
PREAMBULARY Pre*am"bu*la*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. preambulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a preamble; introductory; contained or provided for in a preamble. "A preambulary tax." [R.] Burke.
PREAMBULATE Pre*am"bu*late, v. i. Etym: [L. praeambulare. See Preamble.]
Defn: To walk before. [R.] Jordan.
PREAMBULATION Pre*am`bu*la"tion, n.
1. A walking or going before; precedence. [R.]
2. A preamble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PREAMBULATORY Pre*am"bu*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Preceding; going before; introductory. [R.] Simon Magus had preambulatory impieties. Jer. Taylor.
PREAMBULOUS Pre*am"bu*lous, a. Etym: [See Preamble, n.]
Defn: See Perambulatory. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
PREANNOUNCE Pre`an*nounce", v. t.
Defn: To announce beforehand. Coleridge.
PREANTENULTIMATE Pre*an`te*nul"ti*mate, a.
Defn: Being or indicating the fourth syllable from the end of a word, or that before the antepenult.
PREAORTIC Pre`a*or"tic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: In front, or on the ventral side, of the aorta.
PREAPPOINT Pre`ap*point", v. t.
Defn: To appoint previously, or beforehand. Carlyle.
PREAPPOINTMENT Pre`ap*point"ment, n.
Defn: Previous appointment.
PREAPPREHENSION Pre*ap`pre*hen"sion, n.
Defn: An apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
PREARM Pre*arm", v. t.
Defn: To forearm. [R.]
PREARRANGE Pre`ar*range", v. t.
Defn: To arrange beforehand.
PREASE Prease, v. t. & i.
Defn: To press; to crowd. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: A press; a crowd. [Obs.] Spenser.
PREASSURANCE Pre`as*sur"ance, n.
Defn: Previous assurance. Coleridge.
PREATAXIC Pre`a*tax"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; -- applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia.
PREAUDIENCE Pre*au"di*ence, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Precedence of rank at the bar among lawyers. Blackstone.
PREAXIAL Pre*ax"i*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.
PREBEND Pre"bend, n. Etym: [F. prébende (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.
PREBENDAL Pre*ben"dal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield.
PREBENDARY Preb"en*da*ry, n. Etym: [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prébendaire. 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.
PREBENDARYSHIP Preb"en*da*ry*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a prebendary.
PREBENDATE Preb"en*date, v. t. Etym: [LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari.]
Defn: To invest with the office of prebendary; to present to a prebend. [Obs.] Grafton.
PREBENDSHIP Preb"end*ship, n.
Defn: A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Foxe.
PREBRONCHIAL Pre*bron"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the bronchus; -- applied especially to an air sac on either side of the esophagus of birds.
PRECALCULATE Pre*cal"cu*late, v. t.
Defn: To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.
PRECANT Pre"cant, n. Etym: [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.]
Defn: One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.
PRECARIOUS Pre*ca"ri*ous, a. Etym: [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.
PRECATION Pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. precatio.]
Defn: The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.
PRECATIVE; PRECATORY Pre"ca*tive, Pre"ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.]
Defn: 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.
PRECAUTION Pre*cau"tion, n. Etym: [F. précation, 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.
PRECAUTION Pre*cau"tion, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. précautionner.]
1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke.
2. To take precaution against. [R.] Dryden.
PRECAUTIONAL Pre*cau"tion*al, a.
Defn: Precautionary.
PRECAUTIONARY Pre*cau"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to precaution, or precautions; as, precautionary signals.
PRECAUTIOUS Pre*cau"tious, a.
Defn: Taking or using precaution; precautionary. -- Pre*cau"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*cau"*tious*ness, n.
PRECEDANEOUS Pre`ce*da"ne*ous, a.
Defn: Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.] Hammond.
PRECEDE Pre*cede", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding.] Etym: [L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. préceder. 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.
PRECEDENCE; PRECEDENCY Pre*ced"ence, Pre*ced"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. précédence. 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; preëminence; preference; superiority.
PRECEDENT Pre*ced"ent, a. Etym: [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. précédent. See Precede.]
Defn: 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.
PRECEDENT 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)
Defn: 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.
PRECEDENTED Prec"e*dent*ed, a.
Defn: Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind. Walpole.
PRECEDENTIAL Prec`e*den"tial, a.
Defn: 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.
PRECEDENTLY Pre*ced"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: Beforehand; antecedently.
PRECEDING Pre*ced"ing, a.
1. Going before; -- opposed to following.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.
PRECEL Pre*cel", v. t. & i. Etym: [See Precellence.]
Defn: To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.] Howell.
PRECELLENCE; PRECELLENCY Pre*cel"lence, Pre*cel"len*cy, n. Etym: [L. praecellentia, from praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence.]
Defn: Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.
PRECELLENT Pre*cel"lent, a. Etym: [L. praecellens, p. pr.]
Defn: Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.
PRECENTOR Pre*cen"tor, n. Etym: [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant.]
Defn: 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.
PRECENTORSHIP Pre*cen"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a precentor.
PRECEPT Pre"cept, n. Etym: [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. précepte. 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)
Defn: A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.
Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine.
PRECEPT Pre"cept, v. t.
Defn: To teach by precepts. [Obs.] Bacon.
PRECEPTIAL Pre*cep"tial, a.
Defn: Preceptive. [Obs.] [Passion] would give preceptial medicine to rage. Shak.
PRECEPTION Pre*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeceptio.]
Defn: A precept. [R.] Bp. Hall.
PRECEPTIVE Pre*cep"tive, a. Etym: [L. praeceptivus.]
Defn: 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.
PRECEPTOR Pre*cep"tor, n. Etym: [L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. précepteur. 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.
PRECEPTORIAL Pre`cep*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a preceptor.
PRECEPTORY Pre*cep"to*ry, a.
Defn: Preceptive. "A law preceptory." Anderson (1573).
PRECEPTORY Pre*cep"to*ry, n.; pl. Preceptories. Etym: [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.]
Defn: A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2.
PRECEPTRESS Pre*cep"tress, n.
Defn: A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.
PRECESSION Pre*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. praecedere, praecessum, to go before: cf. F. précession. See Precede.]
Defn: 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" 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.
PRECESSIONAL Pre*ces"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes.
PRECESSOR Pre*ces"sor, n. Etym: [L. praecessor.]
Defn: A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.
PRECIEUSE Pré`cieuse", n.
Defn: An affected woman of polite society, esp. one of the literary women of the French salons of the 17th century.
PRECINCT Pre"cinct, n. Etym: [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.
PRECIOSITY Pre`ci*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PRECIOUS Pre"cious, a. Etym: [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. précieux, 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.
Note: 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.
PRECIOUSLY Pre"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.
PRECIOUSNESS Pre"cious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.
PRECIPE Prec"i*pe, n. (Law)
Defn: See Præcipe, and Precept.
PRECIPICE Prec"i*pice, n. Etym: [F. précipice, 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.
PRECIPIENT Pre*cip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.]
Defn: Commanding; directing.
PRECIPITABILITY Pre*cip`i*ta*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being precipitable.
PRECIPITABLE Pre*cip"i*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate, n. (Chem.)
PRECIPITANCE; PRECIPITANCY Pre*cip"i*tance, Pre*cip"i*tan*cy, n. Etym: [From Precipitant.]
Defn: 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.
PRECIPITANT Pre*cip"i*tant, a. Etym: [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of praecipitare: cf. F. précipitant. 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.
PRECIPITANT Pre*cip"i*tant, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Any force or reagent which causes the formation of a precipitate.
PRECIPITANTLY Pre*cip"i*tant*ly, adv.
Defn: With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner. Milton.
PRECIPITANTNESS Pre*cip"i*tant*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being precipitant; precipitation.
PRECIPITATE Pre*cip"i*tate, a. Etym: [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.
PRECIPITATE Pre*cip"i*tate, n. Etym: [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F. précipité.] (Chem.)
Defn: 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.
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.)
Defn: 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.
PRECIPITATE 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.)
Defn: To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.
PRECIPITATELY Pre*cip"i*tate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift.
PRECIPITATION Pre*cip`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. praecipitatio: cf. F. précipitation.]
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.)
Defn: The act or process from a solution.
PRECIPITATOR Pre*cip"i*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L. praecipitator an overthrower.]
Defn: One who precipitates, or urges on with vehemence or rashness. Hammond.
PRECIPITIOUS Prec`i*pi"tious, a.
Defn: Precipitous. [Obs.] -- Prec`i*pi"tious*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PRECIPITOUS Pre*cip"i*tous, a. Etym: [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 `Hush!'" Mrs. Browning. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n.
PRECIS Pre`cis", n. Etym: [F. See Precise.]
Defn: A concise or abridged statement or view; an abstract; a summary.
PRECISE Pre*cise", a. Etym: [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. précis. 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.
PRECISIAN 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.
PRECISIANISM Pre*ci"sian*ism, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being a precisian; the practice of a precisian. Milton.
PRECISIANIST Pre*ci"sian*ist, n.
Defn: A precisian.
PRECISION Pre*ci"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. précision, L. praecisio a cutting off. See Precise.]
Defn: 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.
PRECISIVE Pre*ci"sive, a.
Defn: Cutting off; (Logic) exactly limiting by cutting off all that is not absolutely relative to the purpose; as, precisive censure; precisive abstraction. I. Watts.
PRECLUDE Pre*clude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Precluding.] Etym: [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.
PRECLUSION Pre*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. praeclusio. See Preclude.]
Defn: The act of precluding, or the state of being precluded; a shutting out.
PRECLUSIVE Pre*clu"sive, a.
Defn: Shutting out; precluding, or tending to preclude; hindering. -- Pre*clu"sive*ly, adv.
PRECOCE Pre*coce", a. Etym: [F. précoce.]
Defn: Precocious. [Obs.]
PRECOCES Pre"co*ces, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Præcoces.
PRECOCIOUS Pre*co"cious, a. Etym: [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.
PRECOCIOUSLY Pre*co"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a precocious manner.
PRECOCIOUSNESS; PRECOCITY Pre*co"cious*ness, Pre*coc"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. précocité.]
Defn: 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.
PRECOETANEAN Pre*co`e*ta"ne*an, n.
Defn: One contemporary with, but older than, another. [Obs.] Fuller.
PRECOGITATE Pre*cog"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. praecogitatus, p. p. of praecogitare. See Pre-, and Cogitate.]
Defn: To cogitate beforehand. [R.] Sherwood.
PRECOGITATION Pre*cog`i*tation, n. Etym: [L. praecogitatio.]
Defn: Previous cogitation. [R.] Bailey.
PRECOGNITION Pre`cog*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praecognitio, fr. praecognoscere to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.]
1. Previous cognition. Fotherby.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: A preliminary examination of a criminal case with reference to a prosecution. Erskine.
PRECOGNIZABLE Pre*cog"ni*za*ble, a.
Defn: Cognizable beforehand.
PRECOGNOSCE Pre*cog"nosce, v. t. Etym: [L. praecognoscere to foreknow.] (Scots Law)
Defn: To examine beforehand, as witnesses or evidence. A committee of nine precognoscing the chances. Masson.
PRECOLLECTION Pre`col*lec"tion, n.
Defn: A collection previously made. [R.]
PRECOMPOSE Pre`com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precomposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Precomposing.]
Defn: To compose beforehand. Johnson.
PRECONCEIT Pre`con*ceit", n.
Defn: An opinion or notion formed beforehand; a preconception. Hooker.
PRECONCEIVE Pre`con*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Preconceiving.]
Defn: 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.
PRECONCEPTION Pre`con*cep"tion, n.
Defn: The act of preconceiving; conception or opinion previously formed.
PRECONCERT Pre`con*cert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preconcerting.]
Defn: To concert or arrange beforehand; to settle by previous agreement.
PRECONCERT Pre*con"cert, n.
Defn: Something concerted or arranged beforehand; a previous agreement.
PRECONCERTED Pre`con*cert"ed, a.
Defn: Previously arranged; agreed upon beforehand. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ly, adv. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ness, n.
PRECONCERTION Pre`con*cer"tion, n.
Defn: The act of preconcerting; preconcert. Dr. T. Dwight.
PRECONDEMN Pre`con*demn`, v. t.
Defn: To condemn beforehand. -- Pre*con`dem*na"tion, n.
PRECONDITION Pre`con*di"tion, n.
Defn: A previous or antecedent condition; a preliminary condition.
PRECONFORM Pre`con*form", v. t. & i.
Defn: To conform by way anticipation. De Quincey.
PRECONFORMITY Pre`con*form"i*ty, n.
Defn: Anticipative or antecedent conformity. Coleridge.
PRECONIZATE Pre*con"i*zate, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. préconiser.]
Defn: To proclaim; to publish; also, to summon; to call. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
PRECONIZATION Pre*con`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeconium a crying out in public, fr. praeco, -onis, a crier, a herald: cf. F. préconisation.]
1. A publishing by proclamation; a public proclamation. Bp. Hall.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A formal approbation by the pope of a person nominated to an ecclesiastical dignity. Addis & Arnold.
PRECONIZE Pre"con*ize, v. t. (Eccl.)
Defn: To approve by preconization.
PRECONQUER Pre*con"quer, v. t.
Defn: To conquer in anticipation. [R.] Fuller.
PRECONSCIOUS Pre*con""scious, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a state before consciousness.
PRECONSENT Pre`con*sent", n.
Defn: A previous consent.
PRECONSIGN Pre`con*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preconsigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Preconsigning.]
Defn: To consign beforehand; to make a previous consignment of.
PRECONSOLIDATED Pre`con*sol"i*da`ted, a.
Defn: Consolidated beforehand.
PRECONSTITUTE Pre*con"sti*tute, v. t.
Defn: To constitute or establish beforehand.
PRECONTRACT Pre`con*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precontracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Precontracting.]
Defn: To contract, engage, or stipulate previously.
PRECONTRACT Pre`con*tract", v. i.
Defn: To make a previous contract or agreement. Ayliffe.
PRECONTRACT Pre*con"tract, n.
Defn: A contract preceding another; especially (Law),
Defn: a contract of marriage which, according to the ancient law, rendered void a subsequent marriage solemnized in violation of it. Abbott.
PRECONTRIVE Pre`con*trive", v. t. & i.
Defn: To contrive or plan beforehand.
PRECORACOID Pre*cor"a*coid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior part of the coracoid (often closely united with the clavicle) in the shoulder girdle of many reptiles and amphibians.
PRECORDIAL Pre*cor"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. pre- + L. cor, cordis, heart: cf. F. précordial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the heart; of or pertaining to the præcordia.
PRECRURAL Pre*cru"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the leg or thigh; as, the precrural glands of the horse.
PRECURRER Pre*cur"rer, n.
Defn: A precursor. [Obs.] Shak.
PRECURSE Pre*curse", n. Etym: [L. praecursus.]
Defn: A forerunning. [Obs.] Shak.
PRECURSIVE Pre*cur"sive, a.
Defn: Preceding; introductory; precursory. "A deep precursive sound." Coleridge.
PRECURSOR Pre*cur"sor, n. Etym: [L. praecursor, fr. praecurrere to run before; prae before + currere to run. See Course.]
Defn: 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.
PRECURSORSHIP Pre*cur"sor*ship, n.
Defn: The position or condition of a precursor. Ruskin.
PRECURSORY Pre*cur"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. praecursorius.]
Defn: Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.
PRECURSORY Pre*cur"so*ry, n.
Defn: An introduction. [Obs.]
PREDACEAN Pre*da"cean, n. Etym: [L. praeda prey.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous animal. Kirby.
PREDACEOUS Pre*da"ceous, a. Etym: [L. praeda prey. See Prey.]
Defn: Living by prey; predatory. Derham.
PREDAL Pre"dal, a. Etym: [L. praeda prey.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] Boyse.
PREDATE Pre*date", v. t.
Defn: To date anticipation; to affix to (a document) an earlier than the actual date; to antedate; as, a predated deed or letter.
PREDATION Pre*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. praedatio, fr. praedari to plunder.]
Defn: The act of pillaging. E. Hall.
PREDATORILY Pred"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a predatory manner.
PREDATORY Pred"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.
PREDE Prede, v. i. Etym: [L. praedari. See Prey.]
Defn: To prey; to plunder. [Obs.] Holinshed.
PREDE Prede, n.
Defn: Prey; plunder; booty. [Obs.] Holinshed.
PREDECAY Pre"de*cay`, n.
Defn: Premature decay.
PREDECEASE Pre`de*cease, v. t.
Defn: To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." Shak.
PREDECEASE Pre"de*cease`, n.
Defn: The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] Brougham.
PREDECESSIVE Pred`e*ces"sive, a.
Defn: Going before; preceding. "Our predecessive students." Massinger.
PREDECESSOR Pred`e*ces"sor, n. Etym: [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. prédécesseur. See Decease.]
Defn: 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.
PREDECLARE Pre`de*clare", v. t.
Defn: To declare or announce beforehand; to preannounce. Milman.
PREDEDICATION Pre*ded`i*ca"tion, n.
Defn: A dedication made previously or beforehand.
PREDEFINE Pre`de*fine, v. t.
Defn: To define beforehand.
PREDELIBERATION Pre`de*lib`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: Previous deliberation.
PREDELINEATION Pre`de*lin`e*a"tion, n.
Defn: Previous delineation.
PREDELLA Pre*del"la, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: 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.
PREDESIGN Pre`de*sign", v. t.
Defn: To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Mitford.
PREDESIGNATE Pre*des"ig*nate, a. (Logic)
Defn: 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.
PREDESTINARIAN Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to predestination; as, the predestinarian controversy. Waterland.
PREDESTINARIAN Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who believes in or supports the doctrine of predestination. Dr. H. More.
PREDESTINARIANISM Pre*des`ti*na"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The system or doctrine of the predestinarians.
PREDESTINARY Pre*des"ti*na*ry, a.
Defn: Predestinarian. [Obs.] Heylin.
PREDESTINATE Pre*des"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. praedestinatus, p. p. of praedestinare to predestine; prae before + destinare to determine. See Destine.]
Defn: Predestinated; foreordained; fated. "A predestinate scratched face." Shak.
PREDESTINATE Pre*des"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Predestinating.] Etym: [Cf. Predestine.]
Defn: To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose or decree; to preëlect. 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.
PREDESTINATION Pre*des`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. praedestinatio: cf. F. prédestination.]
1. The act of predestinating. Predestination had overruled their will. Milton.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: The purpose of Good from eternity respecting all events; especially, the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery. See Calvinism.
PREDESTINATIVE Pre*des"ti*na*tive, a.
Defn: Determining beforehand; predestinating. [R.] Coleridge.
PREDESTINATOR Pre*des"ti*na`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prédestinateur.]
1. One who predestinates, or foreordains.
2. One who holds to the doctrine of predestination; a predestinarian. Cowley.
PREDESTINE Pre*des"tine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predestined; p. pr. & vb. n. Predestining.] Etym: [Cf. F. prédestiner. See Predestinate.]
Defn: To decree beforehand; to foreordain; to predestinate. Young.
PREDESTINY Pre*des"ti*ny, n.
Defn: Predestination. [Obs.]
PREDETERMINABLE Pre`de*ter"mi*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being determined beforehand. Coleridge.
PREDETERMINATE Pre`de*ter"mi*nate, a.
Defn: Determined beforehand; as, the predeterminate counsel of God.
PREDETERMINATION Pre`de*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prédétermination.]
Defn: The act of previous determination; a purpose formed beforehand; as, the predetermination of God's will. Hammond.
PREDETERMINE Pre`de*ter"mine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predetermined; p. pr. & vb. n. Predermining.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + determine: cf. F. prédéterminer.]
1. To determine (something) beforehand. Sir M. Hale.
2. To doom by previous decree; to foredoom.
PREDETERMINE Pre`de*ter"mine, v. i.
Defn: To determine beforehand.
PREDIAL Pre"di*al, a. Etym: [L. praedium a farm, estate: cf. F. prédial.]
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.
PREDIASTOLIC Pre*di`as*tol"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Preceding the diastole of the heart; as, a prediastolic friction sound.
PREDICABILITY Pred`i*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being predicable, or affirmable of something, or attributed to something. Reid.
PREDICABLE Pred"i*ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prédicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See Predicate.]
Defn: Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable.
PREDICABLE 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)
Defn: One of the five most general relations of attributes involved in logical arrangements, namely, genus, species, difference, property, and accident.
PREDICAMENT Pre*dic"a*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prédicament, 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)
Defn: See Category.
Syn. -- Category; condition; state; plight.
PREDICAMENTAL Pre*dic`a*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a predicament. John Hall (1646).
PREDICANT Pred"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. praedicans, -antis, p. pr. of praedicare. See Predicate.]
Defn: Predicating; affirming; declaring; proclaiming; hence; preaching. "The Roman predicant orders." N. Brit. Rev.
PREDICANT Pred"i*cant, n.
Defn: One who predicates, affirms, or proclaims; specifically, a preaching friar; a Dominican.
PREDICATE Pred"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicating.] Etym: [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.]
Note: 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.
PREDICATE Pred"i*cate, v. i.
Defn: To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M. Hale.
PREDICATE Pred"i*cate, n. Etym: [L. praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p. praedicare: cf. F. prédicat. See Predicate, v. t.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.
Syn. -- Affirmation; declaration.
PREDICATE Pred"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. praedicatus, p. p.]
Defn: Predicated.
PREDICATION Pred`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. praedicatio: cf. F. prédication.]
1. The act of predicating, or of affirming one thing of another; affirmation; assertion. Locke.
2. Preaching. [Obs. or Scot.] Chaucer.
PREDICATIVE Pred"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. praedicativus.]
Defn: Expressing affirmation or predication; affirming; predicating, as, a predicative term. -- Pred"i*ca*tive*ly, adv.
PREDICATORY Pred"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. L. praedicatorius praising.]
Defn: Affirmative; positive. Bp. Hall.
PREDICROTIC Pre`di*crot"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: 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.
PREDICT Pre*dict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicting.] Etym: [L. praedictus, p. p. of praedicere to predict; prae before + dicere to say, tell. See Diction, and cf. Preach.]
Defn: 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.
PREDICT Pre*dict", n.
Defn: A prediction. [Obs.] Shak.
PREDICTABLE Pre*dict"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be predicted.
PREDICTION Pre*dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. praedictio: cf. F. prédiction.]
Defn: 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.
PREDICTIONAL Pre*dic"tion*al, a.
Defn: Prophetic; prognostic. [R.]
PREDICTIVE Pre*dict"ive, a. Etym: [L. praedictivus.]
Defn: Foretelling; prophetic; foreboding. -- Pre*dict"ive*ly, adv.
PREDICTOR Pre*dict"or, n.
Defn: One who predicts; a foreteller.
PREDICTORY Pre*dict"o*ry, a.
Defn: Predictive. [R.] Fuller.
PREDIGEST Pre`di*gest", v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.
PREDIGESTION Pre`di*ges"tion, n.
1. Digestion too soon performed; hasty digestion. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Artificial digestion of food for use in illness or impaired digestion.
PREDILECT Pre`di*lect", v. t.
Defn: To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.
PREDILECTION Pre`di*lec"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + L. dilectus, p. p. diligere to prefer: cf. F. prédilection. See Diligent.]
Defn: A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality. Burke.
PREDISCOVER Pre`dis*cov"er, v. t.
Defn: To discover beforehand.
PREDISCOVERY Pre`dis*cov"er*y, n.
Defn: A previous discovery.
PREDISPONENCY Pre`dis*po"nen*cy, n.
Defn: The state of being predisposed; predisposition. [R.]
PREDISPONENT Pre`dis*po"nent, a.
Defn: Disposing beforehand; predisposing. -- n.
Defn: That which predisposes. Predisponent causes. (Med.) See Predisposing causes, under Predispose. Dunglison.
PREDISPOSE Pre`dis*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Predisposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Predisposing.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. prédisposer.]
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.
PREDISPOSITION Pre*dis`po*si"tion, n.Etym: [Pref. pre- + disposition: cf. F. prédisposition.]
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.
PREDOMINANCE Pre*dom"i*nance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prédominance.]
1. The quality or state of being predominant; superiority; ascendency; prevalence; predomination. The predominance of conscience over interest. South.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The superior influence of a planet. Shak.
PREDOMINANCY Pre*dom"i*nan*cy, n.
Defn: Predominance. Bacon.
PREDOMINANT Pre*dom"i*nant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prédominant. See Predominante.]
Defn: 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.
PREDOMINANTLY Pre*dom"i*nant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a predominant manner.
PREDOMINATE Pre*dom"i*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Predominated; p. pr. & vb. n. Predominating.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + dominate: cf. F. prédominer.]
Defn: 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.
PREDOMINATE Pre*dom"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To rule over; to overpower. [R.]
PREDOMINATION Pre*dom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prédomination.]
Defn: The act or state of predominating; ascendency; predominance. W. Browne.
PREDOOM Pre*doom", v. t.
Defn: To foredoom.
PREDORSAL Pre*dor"sal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the back; immediately in front, or on the ventral side the dorsal part of the vertebral column.
PREDY Pre"dy, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prêt ready.]
Defn: Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.
PREEDY Preed"y, adv.
Defn: With ease. [Prov. Eng.]
PREEF Preef, n.
Defn: Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PREELECT Pre`ë*lect", v. t.
Defn: To elect beforehand.
PREELECTION Pre`ë*lec"tion, n.
Defn: Election beforehand.
PREEMINENCE Pre*ëm"i*nence, n. Etym: [F. pré\'82minence, L. praeeminentia. See Preëminent.]
Defn: The quality or state of being preëminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preëminence in honor. The preëminence of Christianity to any other religious scheme. Addison. Painful preëminence! yourself to view Above life's weakness, and its comforts too. Pope. Beneath the forehead's walled preëminence. Lowell.
PREEMINENT Pre*ëm"i*nent, a. Etym: [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. pré\'82minent. See Pre-, and Eminent.]
Defn: 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, preëminent in guilt. In goodness and in power preëminent. Milton.
PREEMINENTLY Pre*ëm"i*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preëminent degree.
PREEMPLOY Pre`ëm*ploy, v. t.
Defn: To employ beforehand. "Preëmployed by him." Shak.
PREEMPT Pre*ëmpt", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Preëmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëmpting.] Etym: [See Preëmption.]
Defn: To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preëmption.
PREEMPTION Pre*ëmp"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. préemption. See Redeem.]
Defn: 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.
PREEMPTIONER Pre*ëmp"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who holds a prior to purchase certain public land. Abbott.
PREEMPTIVE Pre*ëmp"tive, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to preëmption; having power to preëmpt; preëmpting.
PREEMPTOR Pre*ëmpt"or, n. Etym: [Cf. L. praeemptor.]
Defn: One who preëmpts; esp., one who preëmpts public land.
PREEMPTORY Pre*ëmpt"o*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to preëmption.
PREEN Preen, n. Etym: [AS. preón a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prjonn a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.]
Defn: A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.
PREEN Preen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preened; p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] Etym: [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.
PREENGAGE Pre`ën*gage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preëngaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëngaging.]
Defn: To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy. But he was preëngaged by former ties. Dryden.
PREENGAGEMENT Pre`ën*gage"ment, n.
Defn: Prior engagement, obligation, or attachment, as by contract, promise, or affection. My preëngagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle.
PREERECT Pre`ë*rect", v. t.
Defn: To erect beforehand.
PREES Prees, n.
Defn: Press; throng. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PREESTABLISH Pre`ës*tab"lish, v. t.
Defn: To establish beforehand.
PREESTABLISHMENT Pre`ës*tab"lish*ment, n.
Defn: Settlement beforehand.
PREETERNITY Pre`ë*ter"ni*ty, n.
Defn: Infinite previous duration. [R.] "The world's preëternity." Cudworth.
PREEXAMINATION Pre`ëx*am`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: Previous examination.
PREEXAMINE Pre`ëx*am"ine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preëxamined; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxamining.]
Defn: To examine beforehand.
PREEXIST Pre`ëx*ist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preëxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxisting.]
Defn: To exist previously; to exist before something else.
PREEXISTENCE Pre`ëx*ist"ence, n.
1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else. Wisdom declares her antiquity and preëxistence 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.
PREEXISTENCY Pre`ëx*ist"en*cy, n.
Defn: Preëxistence. [Obs.]
PREEXISTENT Pre`ëx*ist"ent, a.
Defn: Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preëxistent state. Pope.
PREEXISTENTISM Pre`ëx*ist"ent*ism, n. (Philos.)
Defn: The theory of a preëxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson.
PREEXISTIMATION Pre`ëx*is`ti*ma"tion, n.
Defn: Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PREEXPECTATION Pre*ëx`pec*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Previous expectation.
PREFACE Pref"ace (; 48), n. Etym: [F. préface; 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.)
Defn: 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.
PREFACE Pref"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Prefacing.]
Defn: To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.
PREFACE Pref"ace, v. i.
Defn: To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.
PREFACER Pref"a*cer, n.
Defn: The writer of a preface.
PREFATORIAL Pref`a*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Prefatory.
PREFATORILY Pref"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.
PREFATORY Pref"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: 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.
PREFECT Pre"fect, n. Etym: [L. praefectus, fr. praefectus, p. p. of praeficere to set over; prae before + facere to make: cf. F. préfet.]
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.
PREFECTORIAL Pre`fec*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a prefect.
PREFECTSHIP Pre"fect*ship, n.
Defn: The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.
PREFECTURE Pre"fec*ture, n. Etym: [L. praefectura: cf. F. préfecture.]
Defn: The office, position, or jurisdiction of a prefect; also, his official residence.
PREFECUNDATION Pre*fec`un*da"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term collectively applied to the changes or conditions preceding fecundation, especially to the changes which the ovum undergoes before fecundation.
PREFECUNDATORY Pre`fe*cun"da*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to prefecundation.
PREFER Pre*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] Etym: [F. préférer, 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 Cæsar. 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.
PREFERABILITY Pref`er*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.
PREFERABLE Pref"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préférable.]
Defn: Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.
PREFERABLENESS Pref"er*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being preferable.
PREFERABLY Pref"er*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In preference; by choice. To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. Dennis.
PREFERENCE Pref"er*ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préférence.]
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
PREFERENTIAL Pref`er*en"tial, a.
Defn: Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares.
PREFERENTIAL VOTING Preferential voting. (Political Science)
Defn: A system of voting, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together in nominated or elected.
PREFERMENT 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.
PREFERRER Pre*fer"rer, n.
Defn: One who prefers.
PREFIDENCE Pref"i*dence, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.
PREFIDENT Pref"i*dent, a. Etym: [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See Pre-, and Confident.]
Defn: Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.
PREFIGURATE Pre*fig"u*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure.]
Defn: To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.
PREFIGURATION Pre*fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. praefiguratio.]
Defn: The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured. A variety of prophecies and prefigurations. Norris.
PREFIGURATIVE Pre*fig"ur*a*tive, a.
Defn: Showing by prefiguration. "The prefigurative atonement." Bp. Horne.
PREFIGURE Pre*fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefigured; p. pr. & vb. n. Prefiguring.] Etym: [F. préfigurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See Figure, and cf. Prefigurate.]
Defn: To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. "Whom all the various types prefigured." South.
PREFIGUREMENT Pre*fig"ure*ment, n.
Defn: The act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.
PREFINE Pre*fine", v. t. Etym: [L. praefinire; prae before + finire to limit, determine: cf. F. préfiner.]
Defn: To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.
PREFINITE Pre*fi"nite, a. Etym: [L. praefinitus, p. p.]
Defn: Prearranged. [Obs.] " Set and prefinite time." Holland.
PREFINITION Pref`i*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praefinitio.]
Defn: Previous limitation. [Obs.] Fotherby.
PREFIX Pre*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Prefixing.] Etym: [L. praefixus, p. p. of praefigere to fix or fasten before; prae before + figere to fix: cf. F. préfix fixed beforehand, determined, préfixer 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.
PREFIX Pre"fix, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préfixe.]
Defn: 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.
PREFIXION Pre*fix"ion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. prefixion.]
Defn: The act of prefixing. [R.] Bailey.
PREFLORATION Pre`flo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Æstivation.
PREFOLIATION Pre*fo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + L. folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Vernation.
PREFORM Pre*form" (, v. t. Etym: [L. praeformare. See Pre-, and Form.]
Defn: To form beforehand, or for special ends. "Their natures and preformed faculties. " Shak.
PREFORMATION Pre`for*ma"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: An old theory of the preëxistence of germs. Cf. Emboîtement.
PREFORMATIVE Pre*form"a*tive, n.
Defn: A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.
PREFRONTAL Pre*fron"tal, a. (Anat. & Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
Defn: A prefrontal bone or scale.
PREFULGENCY Pre*ful"gen*cy, n. Etym: [L. praefulgens, p. pr. of praefulgere to shine forth. See Pre-, and Fulgent.]
Defn: Superior brightness or effulgency. [R.] Barrow.
PREGAGE Pre*gage" (, v. t.
Defn: To preëngage. [Obs.] Fuller.
PREGLACIAL Pre*gla"cial, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Prior to the glacial or drift period.
PREGNABLE Preg"na*ble, a, Etym: [F. prenable. See Impregnable.]
Defn: Capable of being entered, taken, or captured; expugnable; as, a pregnable fort. [R.] Cotgrave.
PREGNANCE Preg"nance, n.
Defn: Pregnancy. [Obs.] Milton.
PREGNANCY 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.
PREGNANT Preg"nant, a. Etym: [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before + genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. prégnant. 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.
PREGNANT Preg"nant, n.
Defn: A pregnant woman. [R.] Dunglison.
PREGNANT Preg"nant, a. Etym: [F. prenant taking. Cf. Pregnable.]
Defn: Affording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt. [Obs.] " Pregnant to good pity." Shak.
PREGNANTLY Preg"nant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.
PREGNANTLY Preg"nant*ly, adv.
Defn: Unresistingly; openly; hence, clearly; evidently. [Obs.] Shak.
PREGRAVATE Pre"gra*vate, v. t. Etym: [L. praegravatus, p. p. of praegravare to be heavy upon, fr. praegravis very heavy.]
Defn: To bear down; to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
PREGRAVITATE Pre*grav"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To descend by gravity; to sink. [R.] Boyle.
PREGUSTANT Pre*gus"tant, a. Etym: [L. praegustans, p. pr. of praegustare to taste beforehand; prae before + gustare to taste.]
Defn: Tasting beforehand; having a foretaste. [R.] Ed. Rev.
PREGUSTATION Pre`gus*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste. [R.] Dr. Walker (1678).
PREHALLUX Pre*hal"lux, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Hallux.] (Anat.)
Defn: An extra first toe, or rudiment of a toe, on the preaxial side of the hallux.
PREHEND Pre*hend" (, v. t. Etym: [L. prehendere. See Prehensile.]
Defn: To lay hold of; to seize. [Obs.] Middleton.
PREHENSI-BLE Pre*hen"si-ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préhensible.]
Defn: Capable of being seized.
PREHENSILE Pre*hen"sile, a. Etym: [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. préhensile. See Get, and cf. Prison, Prize, n.]
Defn: Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as, the prehensile tail of a monkey.
PREHENSION Pre*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. prehensio; cf. F. préhension. See Prehensile.]
Defn: The act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, as with the hand or other member.
PREHENSORY Pre*hen"so*ry, a.
Defn: Adapted to seize or grasp; prehensile.
PREHISTORIC Pre`his*tor"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a period before written history begins; as, the prehistoric ages; prehistoric man.
PREHNITE Prehn"ite, n. Etym: [So called from the German Colonel Prehn, who first found it.] (Min.)
Defn: 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.
PREHNITIC Prehn*it"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: 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 mammillæ on the surface of prehnite.
PREIGNITION Pre`ig*ni"tion, n. (Engin.)
Defn: Ignition in an internal-combustion engine while the inlet valve is open or before compression is completed.
PREINDESIGNATE Pre`in*des"ig*nate, a. (Logic.)
Defn: Having no sign expressive of quantity; indefinite. See Predesignate.
PREINDISPOSE Pre*in`dis*pose" ( v. t.
Defn: To render indisposed beforehand. Milman.
PREINSTRUCT Pre`in*struct" ( v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preinstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preinstructing.]
Defn: To instruct previously or beforehand. Dr. H. More.
PREINTIMATION Pre*in`ti*ma"tion n.
Defn: Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.
PREJUDGE Pre*judge" ( v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudging.] Etym: [Pref. pre + judge: cf. F. préjuger. Cf. Prejudicate, Prejudice.]
Defn: 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.
PREJUDGMENT Pre*judg"ment, n.
Defn: The act of prejudging; decision before sufficient examination.
PREJUDICACY Pre*ju"di*ca*cy, n.
Defn: Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Sir. H. Blount.
PREJUDICAL Pre*ju"di*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudical inquiry or action at law.
PREJUDICANT Pre*ju"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. praejudicans, p. pr.]
Defn: Influenced by prejudice; biased. [R.] " With not too hasty and prejudicant ears." Milton.
PREJUDICATE Pre*ju"di*cate, a. Etym: [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.
PREJUDICATE Pre*ju"di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicating.] Etym: [Cf. Prejudge.]
Defn: To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge. Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business. Shak.
PREJUDICATE Pre*ju"di*cate, v. i.
Defn: To prejudge. Sir P. Sidney.
PREJUDICATELY Pre*ju"di*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: With prejudice.
PREJUDICATION 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.
PREJUDICATIVE Pre*ju"di*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Forming a judgment without due examination; prejudging. Dr. H. More.
PREJUDICE Prej"u*dice n. Etym: [F. préjudice, 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)
Defn: 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.
PREJUDICE Prej"u*dice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudiced; p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicing.] Etym: [Cf. F. préjudicier. 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
PREJUDICIAL Prej`u*di"cial a. Etym: [L. praejudicialis belonging to a preceding judgment: cf. F. préjudiciel.]
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.
PREKNOWLEDGE Pre*knowl"edge, n.
Defn: Prior knowledge.
PRELACY Prel"a*cy n.; pl. Prelacies. Etym: [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.
PRELAL Pre"lal, a. Etym: [L. prelum a press.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs.] Fuller.
PRELATE Prel"ate (; 48), n. Etym: [F. prélat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See Elate.]
Defn: A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary of the church.
Note: 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.
PRELATE Prel"ate, v. i.
Defn: To act as a prelate. [Obs.] Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording. Latimer.
PRELATEITY Prel`a*te"i*ty, n.
Defn: Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.
PRELATESHIP Prel"ate*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a prelate. Harmar.
PRELATESS Prel"a*tess, n.
Defn: A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate. Milton.
PRELATIAL Pre*la"tial, a.
Defn: Prelatical. Beaconsfield.
PRELATIC; PRELATICAL Pre*lat"ic, Pre*lat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as, prelatical authority. Macaulay.
PRELATICALLY Pre*lat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prelatical manner; with reference to prelates. Milton. The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Æneis.
PRELATION Pre*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. praelatio: cf. F. prélation. See Prelate, and cf. Prefer.]
Defn: The setting of one above another; preference. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
PRELATISM Prel"a*tism, n.
Defn: Prelacy; episcopacy.
PRELATIST Prel"a*tist n.
Defn: 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.
PRELATIZE Prel"a*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelatized; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelatizing.]
Defn: To bring under the influence of prelacy. Palfrey.
PRELATIZE Prel"a*tize, v. i.
Defn: To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions. An episcopacy that began then to prelatize. Milton.
PRELATRY Prel"a*try, n.
Defn: Prelaty; prelacy. [Obs.]
PRELATURE; PRELATURESHIP Prel"a*ture, Prel"a*ture*ship, n. Etym: [F. prélature, or LL. praelatura.]
Defn: The state or dignity of a prelate; prelacy. Milman.
PRELATY Prel"a*ty, n.
Defn: Prelacy. [Obs.] Milton.
PRELECT Pre*lect" v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prelected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelecting.] Etym: [L. praelectus, p. p. of praelegere to read before. See Pre-, and Lection.]
Defn: To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.
PRELECT Pre*lect", v. i.
Defn: To discourse publicly; to lecture. Spitting . . . was publicly prelected upon. De. Quincey. To prelect upon the military art. Bp. Horsley.
PRELECTION Pre*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. praelectio.]
Defn: A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. "The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.
PRELECTOR Pre*lec"tor, n. Etym: [L. praelector.]
Defn: A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.
PRELIBATION Pre`li*ba"tion, n. Etym: [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.
PRELIMINARILY Pre*lim"i*na*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preliminary manner.
PRELIMINARY Pre*lim"i*na*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. préliminaire. Cf. Limit.]
Defn: 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.
PRELIMINARY Pre*lim"i*na*ry, n.; pl. Preliminaries (.
Defn: 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.
PRELIMIT Pre*lim"it, v. t.
Defn: To limit previously. [R.]
PRELOOK Pre*look", v. i.
Defn: To look forward. [Obs.] Surrey.
PRELUDE Pre"lude, n. Etym: [F. prélude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]
Defn: 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 Ænis 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.
PRELUDE Pre*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] Etym: [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. préluder. See Ludicrous.]
Defn: 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.
PRELUDE 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
PRELUDER Pre*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a prelude. Mason.
PRELUDIAL Pre*lud"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a prelude; introductory. [R.]
PRELUDIOUS Pre*lud"i*ous a.
Defn: Preludial. [R.] Dr. H. More.
PRELUMBAR Pre*lum"bar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated immediately in front of the loins;- applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.
PRELUSIVE Pre*lu"sive, a. Etym: [See Prelude.]
Defn: 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.
PRELUSORILY Pre*lu"so*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prelusory way.
PRELUSORY Pre*lu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Introductory; prelusive. Bacon.
PREMATURE Pre`ma*ture", a. Etym: [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.
PREMATURITY Pre`ma*tu"ri*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prématurité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.
PREMAXILLA Pre"max*il"la n.; pl. Premaxillæ. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Maxilla.] (Anat.)
Defn: 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 premaxillæ become united and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.
PREMAXILLARY Pre*max"il*la*ry, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the maxillary bones; pertaining to the premaxillæ; intermaxillary. -- n.
Defn: A premaxilla.
PREMEDIATE Pre*me"di*ate, v. t.
Defn: To advocate. [R.]
PREMEDITATE Pre*med"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-ta`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] Etym: [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.]
Defn: 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.
PREMEDITATE Pre*med"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.
PREMEDITATE Pre*med"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. praemeditatus, p. p.]
Defn: Premeditated; deliberate. [Archaic] Bp. Burnet.
PREMEDITATELY Pre*med"i*tate*ly, adv.
Defn: With premeditation. Burke.
PREMEDITATION Pre*med`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemeditatio: cf. F. préméditation.]
Defn: The act of meditating or contriving beforehand; previous deliberation; forethought.
PREMERIT Pre*mer"it, v. t.
Defn: To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi
PREMIAL; PREMIANT Pre"mi*al, Pre"mi*ant, a. Etym: [L. praemialis. See Premium.]
Defn: Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.
PREMICES Prem"i*ces, n. pl. Etym: [F. prémices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.]
Defn: First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.
PREMIER Pre"mi*er, a. Etym: [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.
PREMIER Pre"mi*er, n.
Defn: The first minister of state; the prime minister.
PREMIERE Pre*mière", a. fem. [F., prop. fem. of premier first. See Premier, a.]
Defn: First; chief; as, a première danseuse. -- n. fem.; pl. -mières (F. pre*myâr"). (a) The leading woman of a group, esp. in a theatrical cast. (b) A first performance, as of a play; a first night.
PREMIERSHIP Pre"mi*er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of the premier.
PREMILLENNIAL Pre`mil*len"ni*al, a
Defn: , Previous to the millennium.
PREMIOUS Pre"mi*ous, a. Etym: [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.]
Defn: Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.
PREMISE Prem"ise, n.; pl. Premises (. [Written also, less properly, premiss.] Etym: [F. prémisse, 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)
Defn: Either of the first two propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.
Note: "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)
Defn: 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.
Defn: A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts; as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.
PREMISE Pre*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premised; p. pr. & vb. n. Premising.] Etym: [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.
PREMISE Pre*mise", v. i.
Defn: To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise. Swift.
PREMISS Prem"iss, n.
Defn: Premise. Whately. I. Watts
PREMIT Pre*mit", v. t.
Defn: To premise. [Obs.] Donne.
PREMIUM Pre"mi*um, n.; pl. Premiums. Etym: [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.
PREMOLAR Pre*mo"lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the molar teeth. --n.
Defn: An anterior molar tooth which has replaced a deciduous molar. See Tooth.
PREMONISH Pre*mon"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Premonished; p. pr. & vb. n. Premonishing.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + monish: cf. L. praemonere.]
Defn: To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. [R.] Herrick. To teach, and to premonish. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
PREMONISHMENT Pre*mon"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Previous warning or admonition; forewarning. Sir H. Wotton.
PREMONITION Pre`mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemonitio. See Premonish.]
Defn: Previous warning, notice, or information; forewarning; as, a premonition of danger.
PREMONITOR Pre*mon"i*tor, n. Etym: [L. praemonitor.]
Defn: One who, or that which, gives premonition.
PREMONITORY Pre*mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. praemonitorius.]
Defn: Giving previous warning or notice; as, premonitory symptoms of disease. -- Pre*mon"i*to*ri*ly, adv.
PREMONSTRANT Pre*mon"strant, n.
Defn: A Premonstratensian.
PREMONSTRATE Pre*mon"strate, v. t. Etym: [L. praemonstratus, p. p. of praemonstrare; prae before + monstrate to show.]
Defn: To show beforehand; to foreshow. [R.] Herbert.
PREMONSTRATENSIAN Pre*mon`stra*ten"sian, n. Etym: [F.prémontré, fr. Prémontré, fr. L. pratum monstratum.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: One of a religious order of regular canons founded by St. Norbert at Prémontré, in France, in 1119. The members of the order are called also White Canons, Norbertines, and Premonstrants.
PREMONSTRATION Pre`mon*stra"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemonstratio.]
Defn: A showing beforehand; foreshowing.
PREMONSTRATOR Pre*mon"stra*tor, n. Etym: [L. praemonstrator.]
Defn: One who, or that which, premonstrates. [R.]
PREMORSE Pre*morse", a. Etym: [L. praemorsus, p. p. of praemordere to bite off; prae before + mordere to bite.]
Defn: 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.
PREMOSAIC Pre`mo*sa"ic a.
Defn: Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history.
PREMOTION Pre*mo"tion n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + motion.]
Defn: Previous motion or excitement to action.
PREMUNIRE Prem`u*ni"re, n. (Law)
Defn: See Præmunire.
PREMUNITE Prem`u*nite", v. t. Etym: [L. praemunitus, p. p. of praemunire to fortify in front; prae before + munire to fortify.]
Defn: To fortify beforehand; to guard against objection. [Obs.] Fotherby.
PREMUNITION Pre`mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. praemunitio: cf. F. prémunition.]
Defn: The act of fortifying or guarding against objections. [Obs.]
PREMUNITORY Pre*mu"ni*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a premunire; as, a premunitory process.
PRENASAL Pre*na"sal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the nose, or in front of the nasal chambers.
PRENATAL Pre*na"tal, a.
Defn: Being or happening before birth.
PRENDER Pren"der, n. Etym: [F. prendre to take, fr. L. prehendere to take.] (Law)
Defn: The power or right of taking a thing before it is offered. Burrill.
PRENOMEN Pre*no"men, n.
Defn: See Prænomen.
PRENOMINAL Pre*nom"i*nal, a.
Defn: Serving as a prefix in a compound name. Sir T. Browne.
PRENOMINATE Pre*nom"i*nate a. Etym: [L. praenominatus, p. p. of praenominare to give the prenomen to, to prenominate, fr. praenomen prenomen.]
Defn: Forenamed; named beforehand. [R.] "Prenominate crimes." Shak.
PRENOMINATE Pre*nom"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To forename; to name beforehand; to tell by name beforehand. Shak.
PRENOMINATION Pre*nom`i*na*tion, n.
Defn: The act of prenominating; privilege of being named first. Sir T. Browne.
PRENOSTIC Pre*nos"tic, n. Etym: [L. praenoscere to foreknow; prae before + noscere, notum, to know.]
Defn: A prognostic; an omen. [Obs.] Gower.
PRENOTE Pre*note", v. t. Etym: [L. praenotare; prae before + notare to note.]
Defn: To note or designate beforehand. Foxe.
PRENOTION Pre*no"tion n. Etym: [L. praenotio: cf. F. prénotion. See Prenostic.]
Defn: A notice or notion which precedes something else in time; previous notion or thought; foreknowledge. Bacon.
PRENSATION Pren*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. prensatio, from prensare, prehensare, v. freq. from prehendere to seize.]
Defn: The act of seizing with violence. [Obs.] Barrow .
PRENTICE Pren"tice, n. Etym: [Aphetic form of apprentice.]
Defn: An apprentice. [Obs. or Colloq.] Piers Plowman. "My accuser is my prentice." Shak.
PRENTICEHOOD Pren"tice*hood (, n.
Defn: Apprenticehood. [Obs.] This jolly prentice with his master bode Till he was out nigh of his prenticehood. Chaucer.
PRENTICESHIP Pren"tice*ship, n.
Defn: Apprenticeship. [Obs. or Colloq.] He served a prenticeship who sets up shop. Pope.
PRENUNCIATION Pre*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. praenunciatio, fr. praenunciare to announce beforehand. See Pre-, and Announce.]
Defn: The act of announcing or proclaiming beforehand. [Obs.]
PRENUNCIOUS Pre*nun"cious, a. Etym: [L. praenuncius.]
Defn: Announcing beforehand; presaging. [Obs.] Blount.
PREOBLONGATA Pre*ob`lon*ga"ta, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Oblongata.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior part of the medulla oblongata. B. G. Wilder.
PREOBTAIN Pre`ob*tain", v. t.
Defn: To obtain beforehand.
PREOCCUPANCY Pre*oc"cu*pan*cy, n. Etym: [See Preoccupate.]
Defn: The act or right of taking possession before another; as, the preoccupancy of wild land.
PREOCCUPATE Pre*oc"cu*pate, v. t. Etym: [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.
PREOCCUPATION Pre*oc`cu*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeoccupatio: cf. F. préoccupation.]
1. The act of preoccupying, or taking possession of beforehand; the state of being preoccupied; prepossession.
2. Anticipation of objections. [R.] South.
PREOCCUPY Pre*oc"cu*py, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (-pid); p. pr. & vb. n. Preoccupying.] Etym: [Cf. F. préoccuper. 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.
PREOCULAR Pre*oc"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Placed just in front of the eyes, as the antennæ of certain insects. -- n.
Defn: One of the scales just in front of the eye of a reptile or fish.
PREOMINATE Pre*om"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To ominate beforehand; to portend. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PREOPERCULAR Pre`o*per"cu*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the operculum; pertaining to the preoperculum. -- n.
Defn: The preoperculum.
PREOPERCULUM Pre`o*per"cu*lum, n Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior opercular bone in fishes.
PREOPINION Pre`o*pin"ion, n.
Defn: Opinion previously formed; prepossession; prejudice. Sir T. Browne.
PREOPTION Pre*op"tion, n.
Defn: Right of first choice.
PREORAL Pre*o"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the mouth; as, preoral bands.
PREORBITAL Pre*or"bit*al
Defn: a. (Anat.) Situated in front or the orbit.
PREORDAIN Pre`or*dain", v. t. Etym: [Pref. pre + ordain: cf. L. praeordinare.]
Defn: To ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain. Milton.
PREORDER Pre*or"der, v. t.
Defn: To order to arrange beforehand; to foreordain. Sir W. Hamilton.
PREORDINANCE Pre*or"di*nance, n.
Defn: Antecedent decree or determination. Shak.
PREORDINATE Pre*or"di*nate, a. Etym: [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.]
Defn: Preordained. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
PREORDINATION Pre*or`di*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préordination.]
Defn: The act of foreordaining: previous determination. "The preordination of God." Bale.
PREPARABLE Pre*par"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being prepared. "Medicine preparable by art." Boyle.
PREPARATION Prep`a*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. préparation, 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.)
Defn: 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.
PREPARATIVE Pre*par"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préparatif.]
Defn: Tending to prepare or make ready; having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting; preparatory. Laborious quest of knowledge preparative to this work. South.
PREPARATIVE 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.
PREPARATIVELY Pre*par"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of preparation.
PREPARATOR Pre*par"a*tor, n. Etym: [L. praeparator.]
Defn: One who prepares beforehand, as subjects for dissection, specimens for preservation in collections, etc. Agassiz.
PREPARATORY Pre*par"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. praeparatorius: cf. F. préparatoire.]
Defn: 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.
PREPARE Pre*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepare; p. pr. & vb. n. Preparing.] Etym: [F. préparer, 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.
PREPARE 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.
PREPARE Pre*pare", n.
Defn: Preparation. [Obs.] Shak.
PREPARED Pre*pared", a.
Defn: Made fit or suitable; adapted; ready; as, prepared food; prepared questions. -- Pre*par"ed*ly, adv. Shak. -- Pre*par"ed*ness, n.
PREPARER Pre*par"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, prepares, fits, or makes ready. Wood.
PREPAY Pre*pay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepaid; p. pr. & vb. n. Prepaying.]
Defn: To pay in advance, or beforehand; as, to prepay postage.
PREPAYMENT Pre*pay"ment, n.
Defn: Payment in advance.
PREPENIAL Pre*pe"ni*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis.
PREPENSE Pre*pense", v. t. Etym: [Pref. pre + F. penser to think. See Pansy.]
Defn: To weigh or consider beforehand; to premeditate. [Obs.] Spenser. Sir T. Elyot.
PREPENSE Pre*pense", v. i.
Defn: To deliberate beforehand. [Obs.]
PREPENSE Pre*pense", a. Etym: [See Pansy, and cf. Prepense, v. t.]
Defn: 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.
PREPENSELY Pre*pense"ly, adv.
Defn: In a premeditated manner.
PREPOLLENCE; PREPOLLENCY Pre*pol"lence, Pre*pol"len*cy, n. Etym: [L. praepollentia.]
Defn: The quality or state of being prepollent; superiority of power; predominance; prevalence. [R.] Coventry.
PREPOLLENT Pre*pol"lent, a. Etym: [L. praepollens, p. p. of praepollere to surpass in power; prae before + pollere to be powerful.]
Defn: Having superior influence or power; prevailing; predominant. [R.] Boyle.
PREPOLLENT Pre*pol"lent, n.; pl. Prepollices Etym: [NL. See Pre-, Pollex.] (Anat.)
Defn: An extra first digit, or rudiment of a digit, on the preaxial side of the pollex.
PREPONDER Pre*pon"der v. t.
Defn: To preponderate [Obs.]
PREPONDERANCE; PREPONDERANCY Pre*pon"der*ance, Pre*pon"der*an*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prépondérance.]
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.)
Defn: The excess of weight of that part of a canon behind the trunnions over that in front of them.
PREPONDERANT Pre*pon"der*ant a. Etym: [L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. prépondérant. See Preponderate.]
Defn: Preponderating; outweighing; overbalancing; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a preponderant weight; of preponderant importance. -- Pre*pon"der*ant*ly, adv.
PREPONDERATE Pre*pon"der*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preponderated; p. pr. & vb. n. Preponderating.] Etym: [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.
PREPONDERATE Pre*pon"der*ate, v. i.
Defn: 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.
PREPONDERATINGLY Pre*pon"der*a`ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preponderating manner; preponderantly.
PREPONDERATION Pre*pon`der*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeponderatio.]
Defn: The act or state of preponderating; preponderance; as, a preponderation of reasons. I. Watts.
PREPOSE Pre*pose", v. t. Etym: [F. préposer; pref. pré- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose.]
Defn: To place or set before; to prefix. [Obs.] Fuller.
PREPOSITION Prep`o*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
PREPOSITIONAL Prep`o*si"tion*al a. Etym: [Cf. F. prépositionnel.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of a preposition. Early. -- Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv.
PREPOSITIVE Pre*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. praepositivus: cf. F. prépositif.] (Gram.)
Defn: Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle. -- n.
Defn: A prepositive word. Tooke.
PREPOSITOR Pre*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd.
PREPOSITURE Pre*pos"i*ture, n. Etym: [L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost.]
Defn: The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth.
PREPOSSESS 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.
PREPOSSESSING Pre`pos*sess"ing, a.
Defn: Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. -- Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv.
PREPOSSESSION 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.
PREPOSSESSOR Pre`*pos*sess"or, n.
Defn: One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady.
PREPOSTEROUS Pre*pos"ter*ous a.Etym: [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.
PREPOSTOR Pre*pos"tor n.
Defn: See Prepositor.
PREPOTENCY Pre*po"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. praepotentia: cf. F. prépotence.]
1. The quality or condition of being prepotent; predominance. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: 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.
PREPOTENT Pre*po"tent a. Etym: [L. praepotens. See Pre-, and Potent.]
1. Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant. Plaifere.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Characterized by prepotency. Darwin.
PREPROVIDE Pre`pro*vide", v. t.
Defn: To provide beforehand. "The materials preprovided." Fuller.
PREPUBIC Pre*pu"bic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of, or anterior to, the pubis; pertaining to the prepubis.
PREPUBIS Pre*pu"bis, n. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Pubis.] (Anat.)
Defn: A bone or cartilage, of some animals, situated in the middle line in front of the pubic bones.
PREPUCE Pre"puce, n. Etym: [F. prépuce, L. praeputium.] (Anat.)
Defn: The foreskin.
PREPUTIAL Pre*pu"tial, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the prepuce.
PRERAPHAELISM; PRERAPHAELITISM Pre*raph"a*el*ism, Pre*raph"a*el*i`tism, n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: 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.
PRERAPHAELITE Pre*raph"a*el*ite, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the style called preraphaelitism; as, a preraphaelite figure; a preraphaelite landscape. Ruskin.
PRERAPHAELITE Pre*raph"a*el*ite, n.
Defn: One who favors or practices art as it was before Raphael; one who favors or advocates preraphaelitism.
PRE-RAPHAELITE Pre-Raph"a*el*ite, n.
Defn: Popularly, any modern artist thought to be a would-be restorer of early ideas or methods, as one of the German painters often called Nazarenes, or one who paints and draws with extreme minuteness of detail.
PREREGNANT Pre*reg"nant, n.
Defn: One who reigns before another; a sovereign predecessor. [R.] Warner.
PREREMOTE Pre`re*mote a.
Defn: 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.
PREREQUIRE Pre`re*quire", v. t.
Defn: To require beforehand. Some things are prerequired of us. Bp. Hall.
PREREQUISITE Pre*req"ui*site, a.
Defn: Previously required; necessary as a preliminary to any proposed effect or end; as, prerequisite conditions of success.
PREREQUISITE Pre*req"ui*site, n.
Defn: Something previously required, or necessary to an end or effect proposed. The necessary prerequisites of freedom. Goldsmith.
PRERESOLVE Pre`re*solve", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Preresolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Preresolving.]
Defn: To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering.
PREROGATIVE Pre*rog"a*tive, n. Etym: [F. prérogative, 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; preëminence; first rank. [Obs.] Then give me leave to have prerogative. Shak.
Note: 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.
PREROGATIVED Pre*rog"a*tived, a.
Defn: Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [R.] Shak.
PREROGATIVELY Pre*rog"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By prerogative.
PRESAGE Pre"sage, n. Etym: [F. présage, 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.
PRESAGE Pre*sage" v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presaged (-sajd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Presaging. ] Etym: [F. présager, 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.
PRESAGE Pre*sage", v. i.
Defn: To form or utter a prediction; -- sometimes used with of. Dryden.
PRESAGEFUL Pre*sage"ful a.
Defn: Full of presages; ominous. Dark in the glass of some presageful mood. Tennyson.
PRESAGEMENT 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.
PRESAGER Pre*sa"ger n.
Defn: One who, or that which, presages; a foreteller; a foreboder. Shak.
PRESAGIOUS Pre*sa"gious, a.
Defn: Foreboding; ominous. [Obs.]
PRESBYOPE Pres"by*ope, n. (Med.)
Defn: One who has presbyopia; a farsighted person.
PRESBYOPIA Pres`by*o"pi*a Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A defect of vision consequent upon advancing age. It is due to rigidity of the crystalline lens, which producepresbytia.
PRESBYOPIC Pres`by*op"ic a.
Defn: Affected by presbyopia; also, remedying presbyopia; farsighted.
PRESBYOPY Pres"by*o`py n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbyopie.]
Defn: See Presbyopia.
PRESBYTE Pres"byte, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Same as Presbyope.
PRESBYTER Pres"by*ter, n. Etym: [L. an elder, fr. Gr. Priest.]
1. An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1.
2. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical.
4. A Presbyterian. [Obs.] Hudibras.
PRESBYTERAL Pres*byt"er*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a presbyter or presbytery; presbyterial.
PRESBYTERATE Pres*byt"er*ate n. Etym: [L. presbyteratus: cf. F. presbytérat.]
Defn: A presbytery; also, presbytership. Heber.
PRESBYTERESS Pres"by*ter*ess, n.
Defn: A female presbyter. Bale.
PRESBYTERIAL Pres`by*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytéral.]
Defn: Presbyterian. "Presbyterial government." Milton.
PRESBYTERIAN Pres`by*te"ri*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérien.]
Defn: 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.
PRESBYTERIAN Pres`by*te"ri*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérien.]
Defn: One who maintains the validity of ordination and government by presbyters; a member of the Presbyterian church. Reformed Presbyterians. See Cameronian.
PRESBYTERIANISM Pres`by*te"ri*an*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. presbytérianisme.]
Defn: 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.
PRESBYTERIUM Pres`by*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Presbytery, 4.
PRESBYTERSHIP Pres"by*ter*ship, n.
Defn: The office or station of a presbyter; presbyterate.
PRESBYTERY Pres"by*ter*y, n.; pl. Presbyteries. Etym: [L. presbyterium, Gr. Presbyter, and cf. Presbyterium.]
1. A body of elders in the early Christian church.
2. (Presbyterian Ch.)
Defn: 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.
PRESBYTIA Pres*byt"i*a n. Etym: [NL. See Presbyte.] (Med.)
Defn: Presbyopia.
PRESBYTIC Pres*byt"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Presbyopic.
PRESBYTISM Pres"byt*ism, n.
Defn: Presbyopia.
PRESCAPULA Pre*scap"u*la, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The part of the scapula in front of, or above, the spine, or mesoscapula.
PRESCAPULAR Pre*scap"u*lar, a.
Defn: (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prescapula; supraspinous.
PRESCIENCE Pre"sci*ence n. Etym: [F. prescience, L. praescientia. See Prescient.]
Defn: Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight. God's certain prescience of the volitions of moral agents. J. Edwards.
PRESCIENT Presci*ent, a. Etym: [L. praesciens, -entis, p. pr. of praescire to foreknow; prae before + scire to know: cf. F. prescient. See Science.]
Defn: Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; conscious beforehand. Pope. Henry . . . had shown himself sensible, and almost prescient, of this event. Bacon.
PRESCIENTLY Pre"sci*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: With presciense or foresight.
PRESCIND Pre*scind", v. t. Etym: [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.)
Defn: To consider by a separate act of attention or analysis. Sir W. Hamilton.
PRESCINDENT Pre*scind"ent, a. Etym: [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]
Defn: Cutting off; abstracting. [R.] Cheyne.
PRESCIOUS Pre"scious (pre"shus), a. [L. praescius; prae before + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]
Defn: Foreknowing; having foreknowledge; as, prescious of ills. [R.] Dryden.
PRESCRIBE Pre*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prescribed; p. pr & vb. n. Prescribing.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PRESCRIBE 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.)
Defn: To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever.
4. (Law)
Defn: 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.
PRESCRIBER Pre*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who prescribes.
PRESCRIPT Pre"script, a. Etym: [L. praescriptus, p. p. of praescribere: cf. F. prescrit. See Prescribe.]
Defn: Directed; prescribed. " A prescript from of words." Jer. Taylor.
PRESCRIPT Pre"script, n. Etym: [L. praescriptum: cf. OF. prescript.]
1. Direction; precept; model prescribed. Milton.
2. A medical prescription. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
PRESCRIPTIBILITY Pre*scrip`ti*bil"i*ty, n
Defn: , The quality or state of being prescriptible. Story.
PRESCRIPTIBLE Pre*scrip"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prescriptible. ]
Defn: Depending on, or derived from, prescription; proper to be prescribed. Grafton.
PRESCRIPTION Pre*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: A prescribing for title; the claim of title to a thing by virtue 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.
Note: 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.
PRESCRIPTIVE Pre*scrip"tive, a. Etym: [L. praescriptivus of a demurrer or legal exception.] (Law)
Defn: 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.
PRESCRIPTIVELY Pre*scrip"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By prescription.
PRESCUTUM Pre*scu"tum, n.; pl. Prescuta (. Etym: [NL. See Præ-, and Scutum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
PRESEANCE Pre"se*ance, n. Etym: [F. préséance. See Preside.]
Defn: Priority of place in sitting.[Obs.] Carew.
PRESELECT Pre`se*lect", v. t.
Defn: To select beforehand.
PRESENCE Pres"ence, n. Etym: [F. présence, 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.
PRESENSATION Pre`sen*sa"tion, n.
Defn: Previous sensation, notion, or idea. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PRESENSION Pre*sen"sion, n. Etym: [L. praesensio, fr. praesentire to perceive beforehand. See Presentient.]
Defn: Previous perception. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PRESENT Pres"ent, a. Etym: [F. présent, 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.
PRESENT Pres"ent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. présent. 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)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PRESENT Pre*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. & vb. n. Presenting.] Etym: [F. présenter, 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.
PRESENT Pre*sent", v. i. (Med.)
Defn: 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.
PRESENT Pres"ent, n. Etym: [F. présent .]
Defn: Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as, a Christmas present.
Syn. -- Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift.
PRESENT Pre*sent", n. (Mil.)
Defn: The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as, to stand at present.
PRESENTABLE Pre*sent"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. présentable.]
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.
PRESENTANEOUS Pres`en*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. praesentaneus. See Present, a.]
Defn: Ready; quick; immediate in effect; as, presentaneous poison. [Obs.] Harvey.
PRESENTATION Pres`en*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. praesentatio a showing, representation: cf. F. présentation.]
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,
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PRESENTATIVE Pre*sent"a*tive, a.
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PRESENTEE Pres`en*tee", n. Etym: [F. présenté, p. p. See Present, v. t. ]
Defn: One to whom something is presented; also, one who is presented; specifically (Eccl.), one presented to benefice. Ayliffe.
PRESENTER Pre*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who presents.
PRESENTIAL Pre*sen"tial, a. Etym: [LL. praesentialis.]
Defn: Implying actual presence; present, immediate. [Obs.] God's mercy is made presential to us. Jer. Taylor. -- Pre*sen"tial*ly, adv. [Obs.]
PRESENTIALITY Pre*sen`ti*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being actually present. [Obs.] South.
PRESENTIATE Pre*sen"ti*ate, v. t.
Defn: To make present. [Obs.]
PRESENTIENT Pre*sen"tient, a. Etym: [L. praesentiens, p. pr. of praesentire to perceive beforehand; prae before + sentire to feel.]
Defn: Feeling or perceiving beforehand.
PRESENTIFIC Pres`en*tif"ic, a. Etym: [L. praesens, -entis, present + facere to make.]
Defn: Making present. [Obs.] -- Pres`en*tif"ic*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PRESENTIFICAL Pres`en*tif"ic*al, a.
Defn: Presentific. [Obs.]
PRESENTIMENT Pre*sen"ti*ment, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + sentiment: cf. F. pressentiment. See Presentient.]
Defn: 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.
PRESENTIMENTAL Pre*sen`ti*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of nature of a presentiment; foreboding. [R.] Coleridge.
PRESENTION Pre*sen"tion, n.
Defn: See Presension. [Obs.]
PRESENTIVE Pre*sent"ive, a. (Philol.)
Defn: 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.
PRESENTLY 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.
PRESENTMENT 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.
Mozley & W.
PRESENTNESS Pres"ent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being present; presence. [Obs.] "Presentness of mind in danger." Clarendon.
PRESENTOIR Pres`en*toir", n. Etym: [Formed after analogy of French.]
Defn: An ornamental tray, dish, or the like, used as a salver.
PRESENT VALUE; PRESENT WORTH Pres"ent value or worth (of money payable at a future date).
Defn: The principal which, drawing interest at a given rate, will amount to the given sum at the date on which this is to be paid; thus, interest being at 6%, the present value of $106 due one year hence is $100.
PRESERVABLE Pre*serv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being preserved; admitting of preservation.
PRESERVATION Pres`er*va"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. préservation.]
Defn: 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.
PRESERVATIVE Pre*serv"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préservatif.]
Defn: Having the power or quality of preserving; tending to preserve, or to keep from injury, decay, etc.
PRESERVATIVE Pre*serv"a*tive, n.
Defn: That which preserves, or has the power of preserving; a presevative agent. To wear tablets as preservatives against the plague. Bacon.
PRESERVATORY Pre*serv"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Preservative. Bp. Hall.
PRESERVATORY 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.
PRESERVE Pre*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Preserving.] Etym: [F. préserver, 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.
PRESERVE Pre*serve", v. i.
1. To make preserves. Shak.
2. To protect game for purposes of sport.
PRESERVE 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.
PRESERVER 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.
PRESHOW Pre*show", v. t.
Defn: To foreshow.
PRESIDE Pre*side", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Presided; p. pr. & vb. n. Presiding.] Etym: [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: cf. F. présider. 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.
PRESIDENCE Pres"i*dence, n.
Defn: See Presidency. [Obs.]
PRESIDENCY Pres"i*den*cy, n.; pl. Presidencies. Etym: [Cf. F. présidence.]
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.
PRESIDENT Pres"i*dent, n.
Defn: Precedent. [Obs.] Bacon.
PRESIDENT Pres"i*dent, a.
Defn: Occupying the first rank or chief place; having the highest authority; presiding. [R.] His angels president In every province. Milton.
PRESIDENT Pres"i*dent, n. Etym: [F. président, 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.
PRESIDENTIAL 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.
PRESIDENTSHIP Pres"i*dent*ship, n.
Defn: The office and dignity of president; presidency. Hooker.
PRESIDER Pre*sid"er, n.
Defn: One who presides.
PRESIDIAL; PRESIDIARY Pre*sid"i*al, Pre*sid"i*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. praesidialis and praesidiarius, fr. praesidium a presiding over, defense, guard. See Preside.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison. There are three presidial castles in this city. Howell.
PRESIDIARY Pre*sid"i*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. praesidiarium.]
Defn: A guard. [Obs.] "Heavenly presidiaries." Bp. Hall.
PRESIDING Pre*sid"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Preside. Presiding elder. See under 2d Elder.
PRESIDIO Pre*si"di*o, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A place of defense; a fortress; a garrison; a fortress; a garrison or guardhouse.
PRESIGNIFICATION Pre*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. [praesignificatio. See Presignify.]
Defn: The act of signifying or showing beforehand.
PRESIGNIFY Pre*sig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presignified; imp. & p. p. Presignifying.] Etym: [L. praesignificare; prae before + significare to signify.]
Defn: To intimate or signify beforehand; to presage.
PRESPHENOID Pre*sphe"noid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.
PRESPHENOID Pre*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The presphenoid bone.
PRESPHENOIDAL Pre`sphe*noid"al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the presphenoid bone; presphenoid.
PRESPINAL Pre*spi"nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Prevertebral.
PRESS Press, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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 Press, v. t. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. See Prest, n.]
Defn: To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress. To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed. Dryden.
PRESS Press, n. Etym: [For prest, confused with press.]
Defn: 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 Press, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] Etym: [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.
Note: 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 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 Press, n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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; 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.
PRESSBOARD Press"board`, n.
Defn: A kind of highly sized rag paper or board, sometimes containing a small admixture of wood pulp; -- so called because used originally, as now, in presses for pressing and finishing knit underwear.
PRESS CAKE Press cake.
Defn: A cake of compressed substance, as: in gunpowder manufacture, the cake resulting from compressing the meal powder; in the treatment of coal tar, the pressed product at various stages of the process; or, in beet-sugar manufacture, the vegetable residue after the sugar juice has been expressed.
PRESSER Press"er, n.
Defn: 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.
PRESSGANG Press"gang`, n.
Defn: See Press gang, under Press.
PRESSING Press"ing, a.
Defn: Urgent; exacting; importunate; as, a pressing necessity. -- Press"ing*ly, adv.
PRESSION Pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. pressio: cf. F. pression. See 4th Press.]
1. The act of pressing; pressure. Sir I. Newton.
2. (Cartesian Philos.)
Defn: An endeavor to move.
PRESSIROSTER Pres`si*ros"ter, n. Etym: [L. presssus pressed (p. p. of premere) + rostrum beak: cf. F. pressirostre. See 4th Press.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of wading birds (Pressirostres) including those which have a compressed beak, as the plovers.
PRESSIROSTRAL Pres`si*ros"tral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pressirosters.
PRESSITANT Pres"si*tant, a. Etym: [See 4th Press.]
Defn: Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PRESSIVE Pres"sive, a.
Defn: Pressing; urgent; also, oppressive; as, pressive taxation. [R.] Bp. Hall.
PRESSLY Press"ly, adv.
Defn: Closely; concisely. [Obs.]
PRESSMAN 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.
PRESSMAN Press"man, n. Etym: [See 2d Press.]
Defn: One of a press gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service; also, one forced into the service.
PRESSOR Press"or, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: 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.
PRESSPACK Press"pack`, v. t.
Defn: To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.
PRESS PROOF Press proof. (Print.) (a) The last proof for correction before sending to press. (b) A proof taken on a press, esp. to show impression, margins, color, etc.
PRESS REVISE Press revise. (Print.)
Defn: A proof for final revision.
PRESSURAGE Pres"sur*age, n. Etym: [F.]
1. Pressure.
2. The juice of the grape extracted by the press; also, a fee paid for the use of a wine press.
PRESSURE Pres"sure (; 138), n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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 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.
PRESSURE WIRES Pressure wires. (Elec.)
Defn: Wires leading from various points of an electric system to a central station, where a voltmeter indicates the potential of the system at those points.
PRESSWORK Press"work`, n.
Defn: The art of printing from the surface of type, plates, or engravings in relief, by means of a press; the work so done. MacKellar.
PRESS WORK 5. Usually Press work. The work of a press agent. [Chiefly Theat. Cant]
PREST Prest,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Press.
PREST Prest, a. Etym: [OF. prest, F. prêt, 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 Prest, n. Etym: [OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. OF. prester to lend, F. prêter, 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)
Defn: 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 Prest, v. t.
Defn: To give as a loan; to lend. [Obs.] Sums of money . . . prested out in loan. E. Hall.
PRESTABLE Prest"a*ble, a.
Defn: Payable. [Scot.]
PRESTATION Pres*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. praestatio a performing, paying, fr. praestare: cf. F. prestation.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A payment of money; a toll or duty; also, the rendering of a service. Burrill.
Prestation money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop.
PRESTER Pres"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
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.
Defn: One of the veins of the neck when swollen with anger or other excitement. [Obs.]
PRESTER Pres"ter, n. Etym: [OF. prestre. See Priest.]
Defn: A priest or presbyter; as, Prester John. [Obs.]
PRESTERNUM Pre*ster"num, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior segment of the sternum; the manubrium. -- Pre*ster"nal, a.
PRESTIDIGITAL Pres`ti*dig"i*tal, a.
Defn: Nimble-fingered; having fingers fit for prestidigitation, or juggling. [R.] "His prestidigital hand." Charles Reade.
PRESTIDIGITATION Pres`ti*dig`i*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.
PRESTIDIGITATOR Pres`ti*dig"i*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L. praesto ready + digitus finger: cf. F. prestidigitateur.]
Defn: One skilled in legerdemain or sleight of hand; a juggler.
PRESTIGE Pres"tige, n. Etym: [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.
PRESTIGIATION Pres*tig`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige.]
Defn: Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [Obs.]
PRESTIGIATOR Pres*tig"i*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. praestigiator.]
Defn: A juggler; prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PRESTIGIATORY Pres*tig"i*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.] Barrow.
PRESTIGIOUS Pres*tig"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. praestigiosus.]
Defn: Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.] Cotton Mather.
PRESTIMONY Pres"ti*mo*ny, n. Etym: [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n.] (Canon Law)
Defn: A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the collator.
PRESTISSIMO Pres*tis"si*mo, adv. Etym: [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.)
Defn: Very quickly; with great rapidity.
PRESTO Pres"to, adv. Etym: [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.]
1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly. Presto! begone! 'tis here again. Swift.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo.
PRESTRICTION Pre*stric"tion, n. Etym: [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.]
Defn: Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.
PRESULTOR Pre*sul"tor, n. Etym: [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.]
Defn: A leader in the dance. [R.]
PRESUMABLE Pre*sum"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. présumable.]
Defn: Such as may be presumed or supposed to be true; that seems entitled to belief without direct evidence.
PRESUMABLY Pre*sum"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.
PRESUME Pre*sume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Presuming.] Etym: [F. présumer, 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.
PRESUME 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.
PRESUMEDLY Pre*sum"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By presumption.
PRESUMER Pre*sum"er, n.
Defn: One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Sir H. Wotton.
PRESUMINGLY Pre*sum"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Confidently; arrogantly.
PRESUMPTION Pre*sump"tion, n. Etym: [L. praesumptio: cf. F. présomption, 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.
PRESUMPTIVE Pre*sump"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. présomptif.]
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.
PRESUMPTIVELY Pre*sump"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By presumption, or supposition grounded or probability; presumably.
PRESUMPTUOUS Pre*sump"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. praesumptuosus: cf. F. présomptueux, 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.
PRESUMPTUOUSLY Pre*sump"tu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a presumptuous manner; arrogantly.
PRESUMPTUOUSNESS Pre*sump"tu*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being presumptuous.
PRESUPPOSAL Pre`sup*pos"al, n.
Defn: Presupposition. [R.] "Presupposal of knowledge." Hooker.
PRESUPPOSE Pre`sup*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presupposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Presupposing.] Etym: [Pref. pre- + suppose: cf. F. présupposer.]
Defn: 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.
PRESUPPOSITION Pre*sup`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pre- + supposition: cf. F. présupposition.]
1. The act of presupposing; an antecedent implication; presumption.
2. That which is presupposed; a previous supposition or surmise.
PRESURMISE Pre`sur*mise", n.
Defn: A surmise previously formed. Shak.
PRESYSTOLIC Pre`sys*tol"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Preceding the systole or contraction of the heart; as, the presystolic friction sound.
PRETEMPORAL Pre*tem"po*ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the temporal bone.
PRETENCE; PRETENCEFUL; PRETENCELESS Pre*tence", n., Pre*tence"ful, a., Pre*tence"*less, a.
Defn: See Pretense, Pretenseful, Pretenseless.
PRETEND Pre*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] Etym: [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. prétendre, 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.
PRETEND 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.
PRETENDANT Pre*tend"ant, n.
Defn: A pretender; a claimant.
PRETENDED Pre*tend"ed, a.
Defn: Making a false appearance; unreal; false; as, pretended friend. -- Pre*tend"ed*ly, adv.
PRETENDENCE Pre*tend"ence, n.
Defn: The act of pretending; pretense. [Obs.] Daniel.
PRETENDER Pre*tend"er, n.
1. One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant. Specifically,
Defn: 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.
PRETENDERSHIP Pre*tend"er*ship, n.
Defn: The character, right, or claim of a pretender. Swift.
PRETENDINGLY Pre*tend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: As by right or title; arrogantly; presumptuously. Collier.
PRETENSE; PRETENCE Pre*tense", Pre*tence, n. Etym: [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 Cæsar'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.
Note: 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.
PRETENSED Pre*tensed", a.
Defn: Pretended; feigned. [Obs.] -- Pre*tens"ed*ly, adv. [Obs.]
PRETENSEFUL Pre*tense"ful, a.
Defn: Abounding in pretenses.
PRETENSELESS Pre*tense"less, a.
Defn: Not having or making pretenses.
PRETENSION Pre*ten"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prétention. 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.
PRETENTATIVE Pre*ten"ta*tive, a. Etym: [Pref. pre- + tentative: cf. L. praetentare to try beforehand.]
Defn: Fitted for trial beforehand; experimental. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
PRETENTIOUS Pre*ten"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prétentieux. See Pretend.]
Defn: 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.
PRETER- Pre"ter-. Etym: [L. praeter past, beyond, originally a compar. of prae before. See For, prep.]
Defn: 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 præter.]
PRETERHUMAN Pre`ter*hu"man, a. Etym: [Pref. preter- + human.]
Defn: More than human.
PRETERIENT Pre*te"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. praeteriens, p. pr. See Preterit.]
Defn: Passed through; antecedent; previous; as, preterient states. [R.]
PRETERIMPERFECT Pre`ter*im*per"fect, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + imperfect.] (Gram.)
Defn: Old name of the tense also called imperfect.
PRETERIST Pret"er*ist, n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + -ist.]
1. One whose chief interest is in the past; one who regards the past with most pleasure or favor.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have been already fulfilled. Farrar.
PRETERIT Pret"er*it, a. Etym: [L. praeteritus, p. p. of praeterire to go or pass by; praeter beyond, by + ire to go: cf. F. prétérit. See Issue.] [Written also preterite and præterite.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
PRETERIT Pret"er*it, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The preterit; also, a word in the preterit tense.
PRETERITE Pret"er*ite, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Preterit.
PRETERITENESS Pret"er*ite*ness, n.
Defn: Same as Preteritness.
PRETERITION Pre`ter*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. praeteritio: cf. F. prétérition.]
1. The act of passing, or going past; the state of being past. Bp. Hall.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: The omission by a testator of some one of his heirs who is entitled to a portion. Bouvier.
PRETERITIVE Pre*ter"i*tive, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Used only or chiefly in the preterit or past tenses, as certain verbs.
PRETERITNESS Pret"er*it*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being past. Bentley. Lowell.
PRETERLAPSED Pre`ter*lapsed", a. Etym: [L. praeterlapsus, p. p. of praeterlabi to glide by. See Preter-, Lapse.]
Defn: Past; as, preterlapsed ages. [R.] Glanvill.
PRETERLEGAL Pre`ter*le"gal, a. Etym: [Pref. preter- + legal.]
Defn: Exceeding the limits of law. [R.]
PRETERMISSION Pre`ter*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. praetermissio. See Pretermit.]
1. The act of passing by or omitting; omission. Milton.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: See Preterition.
PRETERMIT Pre`ter*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretermitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretermitting.] Etym: [L. praetermittere, praetermissum; praeter beyond + mittere to send. See Mission.]
Defn: To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.
PRETERNATURAL Pre`ter*nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. preter + natural.]
Defn: 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.
PRETERNATURALISM Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being preternatural; a preternatural condition.
PRETERNATURALITY Pre`ter*nat`u*ral"i*ty, n.
Defn: Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.
PRETERNATURALLY Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.
PRETERNATURALNESS Pre`ter*nat"u*ral*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being preternatural.
PRETERPERFECT Pre`ter*per"fect, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + perfect.] (Gram.)
Defn: Old name of the tense also called preterit.
PRETERPLUPERFECT Pre`ter*plu"per`fect, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. preter- + pluperfect.] (Gram.)
Defn: Old name of the tense also called pluperfect.
PRETERTIARY Pre*ter"ti*a*ry, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Earlier than Tertiary.
PRETERVECTION Pre`ter*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. praetervectio, fr. praetervehere to carry beyond. See Invection.]
Defn: The act of carrying past or beyond. [R.] Abp. Potter.
PRETEX Pre*tex", v. t. Etym: [L. praetexere. See Pretext.]
Defn: To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs.]
PRETEXT Pre"text, n. Etym: [F. prétexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]
Defn: 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.
PRETEXTURE Pre*tex"ture, n.
Defn: A pretext. [Obs.]
PRETIBIAL Pre*tib"i*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the tibia.
PRETOR Pre"tor, n. Etym: [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans.
Note: 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.
PRETORIAL Pre*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Pretorian. Burke.
PRETORIAN Pre*to"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. praetorians: cf. F. prétorien.]
Defn: 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.
PRETORIAN Pre*to"ri*an, n.
Defn: A soldier of the pretorian guard.
PRETORIUM Pre*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [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.
PRETORSHIP Pre"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton
PRETORTURE Pre*tor"ture, v. t.
Defn: To torture beforehand. Fuller.
PRETTILY Pret"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pretty manner.
PRETTINESS Pret"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being pretty; -- used sometimes in a disparaging sense. A style . . . without sententious pretension or antithetical prettiness. Jeffrey.
PRETTY Pret"ty, a. [Compar. Prettier; superl. Prettiest.] Etym: [OE. prati, AS. prættig, prætig, crafty, sly, akin to præt, prætt, 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.
PRETTY Pret"ty, adv.
Defn: 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.
PRETTYISH Pret"ty*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat pretty. Walpole.
PRETTYISM Pret"ty*ism, n.
Defn: Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [R.] Ed. Rev.
PRETTY-SPOKEN Pret"ty-spo`ken, a.
Defn: Spoken or speaking prettily. [Colloq.]
PRETYPIFY Pre*typ"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pretypified; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretypifying.]
Defn: To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Bp. Pearson.
PRETZEL Pret"zel, n. Etym: [G. pretzel, bretzel. Cf. Bretzel.]
Defn: A kind of German biscuit or cake in the form of a twisted ring, salted on the outside.
PREVAIL Pre*vail", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] Etym: [F. prévaloir, 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.
PREVAILING 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.
PREVAILINGLY Pre*vail"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to prevail.
PREVAILMENT Pre*vail"ment, n.
Defn: Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [Obs.] Shak.
PREVALENCE Prev"a*lence, n. Etym: [L. praevalentia: cf. F. prévalence. See Prevail.]
Defn: 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.
PREVALENCY Prev"a*len*cy, n.
Defn: See Prevalence.
PREVALENT Prev"a*lent, a. Etym: [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.
PREVALENTLY Prev"a*lent"ly, adv.
Defn: In a prevalent manner. Prior.
PREVARICATE Pre*var"i*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prevaricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prevaricating.] Etym: [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)
Defn: To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
3. (Eng. Law)
Defn: 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.
PREVARICATE Pre*var"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To evade by a quibble; to transgress; to pervert. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
PREVARICATION Pre*var`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. praevaricatio: cf. F. prévarication.]
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.
PREVARICATOR Pre*var"i*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L. praevaricator: cf. F. prévaricateur.]
1. One who prevaricates.
2. (Roman Law)
Defn: A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution.
3. One who betrays or abuses a trust. Prynne.
PREVE Preve, v. i. & i.
Defn: To prove. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PREVE Preve, n.
Defn: Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PREVENANCE Prev"e*nance, n. Etym: [F. prévenance.] (Metaph.)
Defn: A going before; anticipation in sequence or order. "The law of prevenance is simply the well-known law of phenomenal sequence." Ward.
PREVENANCY Prev"e*nan*cy, n.
Defn: The act of anticipating another's wishes, desires, etc., in the way of favor or courtesy; hence, civility; obligingness. [Obs.] Sterne.
PREVENE Pre*vene", v. t. & i. Etym: [F. prévenir, L. praevenire. See Prevent.]
Defn: To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [Obs.] Philips.
PREVENIENCE Pre*ven"i*ence, n.
Defn: The act of going before; anticipation. [R.]
PREVENIENT Pre*ven"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. praeveniens, p. pr.]
Defn: Going before; preceding; hence, preventive. "Prevenient grace descending." Milton.
PREVENT Pre*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] Etym: [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.
PREVENT Pre*vent", v. i.
Defn: To come before the usual time. [Obs.] Strawberries . . . will prevent and come early. Bacon.
PREVENTABILITY Pre*vent`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being preventable.
PREVENTABLE Pre*vent"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being prevented or hindered; as, preventable diseases.
PREVENTATIVE Pre*vent"a*tive, n.
Defn: That which prevents; -- incorrectly used instead of preventive.
PREVENTER 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.)
Defn: An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast. Preventer bolts, or Preventer plates (Naut.), fixtures connected with preventers to reënforce other rigging. -- Preventer stay. (Naut.) Same as Preventer, 3.
PREVENTINGLY Pre*vent"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to prevent or hinder.
PREVENTION Pre*ven"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prévention.]
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.
PREVENTIONAL Pre*ven"tion*al, a.
Defn: Tending to prevent. [Obs.]
PREVENTIVE Pre*vent"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. préventif.]
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]
PREVENTIVE Pre*vent"ive, n.
Defn: That which prevents, hinders, or obstructs; that which intercepts access; in medicine, something to prevent disease; a prophylactic.
PREVENTIVELY Pre*vent"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a preventive manner.
PREVERTEBRAL Pre*ver"te*bral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated immediately in front, or on the ventral side, of the vertebral column; prespinal.
PREVIOUS Pre"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage.]
Defn: 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.
PREVIOUSLY Pre"vi*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Beforehand; antecedently; as, a plan previously formed.
PREVIOUSNESS Pre"vi*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being previous; priority or antecedence in time.
PREVISE Pre*vise", v. t. Etym: [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.
PREVISION Pre*vi"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prévision.]
Defn: Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. H. Spencer.
PREVOYANT Pre*voy"ant, a. Etym: [F. prévoyant.]
Defn: Foreseeing; prescient. [R.] Mrs. Oliphant.
PREWARN Pre*warn", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Prewarned; p. pr. & vb. n. Prewarning.]
Defn: To warn beforehand; to forewarn. [R.]
PREY Prey, n. Etym: [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See Prehensile, and cf. Depredate, Predatory.]
Defn: 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 Prey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.] Etym: [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n.]
Defn: 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.
PREYER Prey"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, preys; a plunderer; a waster; a devourer. Hooker.
PREYFUL Prey"ful, a.
1. Disposed to take prey. [Obs.] The preyful brood of savage beasts. Chapman.
2. Rich in prey. [Obs.] Shak.
PREZYGAPOPHYSIS Pre*zyg`a*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Prezygapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Pre-, and Zygapophysis.] (Anat.)
Defn: An anterior zygapophysis.
PRIAL Pri"al, n.
Defn: A corruption of pair royal. See under Pair, n.
PRIAN Pri"an, n. Etym: [Cornish, clayey ground, from pri clay.] (Mining)
Defn: A fine, white, somewhat friable clay; also, the ore contained in a mixture of clay and pebbles. [Written also pryan.]
PRIAPEAN Pri`a*pe"an, n. Etym: [Cf. L. Priapeius pertaining to Priapus.] (Lat. Pros.)
Defn: 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.
PRIAPISM Pri"a*pism, n. Etym: [L. priapismus, Gr. Priapus the god of procreation, the penis, Gr. priapisme.] (Med.)
Defn: More or less permanent erection and rigidity of the penis, with or without sexual desire.
PRIAPULACEA Pri*ap`u*la"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Priapism.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of Gephyræa, having a cylindrical body with a terminal anal opening, and usually with one or two caudal gills.
PRICASOUR Pric"a*sour, n.
Defn: A hard rider. [Obs.]
PRICE Price, n. Etym: [OE. pris, OF. pris, F. prix, L. pretium; cf. Gr. 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 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 Priced, a.
Defn: Rated in price; valued; as, high-priced goods; low-priced labor.
PRICEITE Price"ite, n. Etym: [From Thomas Price of San Francisco.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous borate of lime, from Oregon.
PRICELESS Price"less, a.
1. Too valuable to admit of being appraised; of inestimable worth; invaluable.
2. Of no value; worthless. [R.] J. Barlow.
PRICK Prick, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A small roll; as, a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco.
PRICK Prick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Pricking.] Etym: [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 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 Prick"-eared`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having erect, pointed ears; -- said of certain dogs. Thou prick-eared cur of Iceland. Shak.
PRICKER 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.)
Defn: A small marline spike having generally a wooden handle, -- used in sailmaking. R. H. Dana, Ir.
PRICKET Prick"et, n. Etym: [Perhaps so called from the state of his horns. See Prick, and cf. Brocket.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A buck in his second year. See Note under 3d Buck. Shak.
PRICKING 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.]
PRICKING-UP Prick"ing-up, n. (Arch.)
Defn: 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.
PRICKLE Pric"kle, n. Etym: [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.]
PRICKLE Pric"kle, v. t.
Defn: To prick slightly, as with prickles, or fine, sharp points. Felt a horror over me creep, Prickle skin, and catch my breath. Tennyson.
PRICKLEBACK; PRICKLEFISH Pric"kle*back`, Pric"kle*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The stickleback.
PRICKLINESS Prick"li*ness, n. Etym: [From Prickly.]
Defn: The quality of being prickly, or of having many prickles.
PRICKLING Prick"ling, a.
Defn: Prickly. [Obs.] Spenser.
PRICKLOUSE Prick"louse`, n.
Defn: A tailor; -- so called in contempt. [Old slang] L'Estrange.
PRICKLY Prick"ly, a.
Defn: 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 (Zoöl.), any one of several species of South American burrowing rodents belonging to Ctenomys and allied genera. The hair is usually intermingled with sharp spines.
PRICKMADAM Prick"mad`am, n. Etym: [F. trique-madame. Cf. Tripmadam.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several species of stonecrop, used as ingredients of vermifuge medicines. See Stonecrop.
PRICKPUNCH Prick"punch`, n.
Defn: A pointed steel punch, to prick a mark on metal.
PRICKSHAFT Prick"shaft`, n.
Defn: An arrow. [Obs.]
PRICKSONG Prick"song`, n. Etym: [See Prick, v. t., 4.]
Defn: 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.
PRICKWOOD Prick"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (Euonymus Europæus); -- so named from the use of its wood for goads, skewers, and shoe pegs. Called also spindle tree.
PRICKY Prick"y, a.
Defn: Stiff and sharp; prickly. Holland.
PRIDE Pride, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. lamprede, LL. lampreda, E. lamprey.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); -- called also prid, and sandpiper.
PRIDE Pride, n. Etym: [AS. pryte; akin to Icel. pryedhi honor, ornament, pr 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 (Zoöl.), 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 Pride, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prided; p. pr. & vb. n. Priding.]
Defn: 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 Pride, v. i.
Defn: To be proud; to glory. [R.]
PRIDEFUL Pride"ful, a.
Defn: Full of pride; haughty. Tennyson. -- Pride"ful*ly, adv. -- Pride"ful-ness, n.
PRIDELESS Pride"less, a.
Defn: Without pride. Chaucer.
PRIDIAN Prid"i*an, a. Etym: [L. pridianus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the day before, or yesterday. [R.] Thackeray.
PRIDINGLY Prid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Proudly. [Obs.]
PRIE Prie, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The plant privet. [Obs.] Tusser.
PRIE Prie, v. i.
Defn: To pry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PRIED Pried,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Pry.
PRIEDIEU Prie`dieu", n. Etym: [F., literally, pray God.]
Defn: A kneeling desk for prayers.
PRIEF Prief, n.
Defn: Proof. [Obs.] Spenser. Lydgate.
PRIER Pri"er, n. Etym: [From Pry.]
Defn: One who pries; one who inquires narrowly and searches, or is inquisitive. So pragmatical a prier he is into divine secrets. Fuller.
PRIEST Priest, n. Etym: [OE. prest, preost, AS. preóst, fr. L. presbyter, Gr. pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.]
1. (Christian Church)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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 Priest, v. t.
Defn: To ordain as priest.
PRIESTCAP Priest"cap`, n. (Fort.)
Defn: A form of redan, so named from its shape; -- called also swallowtail.
PRIESTCRAFT Priest"craft`, n.
Defn: 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.
PRIESTERY Priest"er*y, n.
Defn: Priests, collectively; the priesthood; -- so called in contempt. [R.] Milton.
PRIESTESS Priest"ess, n.
Defn: A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans. Abp. Potter.
PRIESTHOOD 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.
PRIESTING Priest"ing, n.
Defn: The office of a priest. [Obs.] Milton.
PRIESTISM Priest"ism, n.
Defn: The influence, doctrines, principles, etc., of priests or the priesthood. [R.]
PRIESTLESS Priest"less, a.
Defn: Without a priest. Pope.
PRIESTLIKE Priest"like`, a.
Defn: Priestly. B. Jonson.
PRIESTLINESS Priest"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being priestly. R. Browning.
PRIESTLY Priest"ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a priest or the priesthood; sacerdotal; befitting or becoming a priest; as, the priestly office; a priestly farewell. Shak.
PRIEST-RIDDEN Priest"-rid`den, a.
Defn: Controlled or oppressed by priests; as, a priest-ridden people. Swift.
PRIEVE Prieve, v. t.
Defn: To prove. [Obs. or Scot.]
PRIG Prig, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Prigging.] Etym: [A modification of prick.]
Defn: To haggle about the price of a commodity; to bargain hard. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
PRIG Prig, v. t.
1. To cheapen. [Scot.]
2. Etym: [Perhaps orig., to ride off with. See Prick, v. t.]
Defn: To filch or steal; as, to prig a handkerchief. [Cant]
PRIG Prig, n.
1. A pert, conceited, pragmatical fellow. The queer prig of a doctor. Macaulay.
2. A thief; a filcher. [Cant] Shak.
PRIGGERY Prig"ger*y, n.
Defn: Priggism.
PRIGGISH Prig"gish, a.
Defn: Like a prig; conceited; pragmatical. -- Prig"gish*ly, adv. -- Prig"gish-ness, n.
PRIGGISM Prig"gism, n.
1. The quality or state of being priggish; the manners of a prig. Ed. Rev.
2. Roguery; thievery. [Obs.] Fielding.
PRIGHTE Prigh"te, obs.
Defn: imp. of Prick. Chaucer.
PRILL Prill, n. Etym: [Cf. Brill.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The brill.
PRILL Prill, v. i.
Defn: To flow. [Obs.] Stow.
PRILL Prill, n.
Defn: A stream. [Obs.] Davies (Microcosmos).
PRILL Prill, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
1. (Mining) (a) A nugget of virgin metal. (b) Ore selected for excellence.
2. The button of metal from an assay.
PRILLION Pril"lion, n.
Defn: Tin extracted from the slag.
PRIM Prim, n. Etym: [See Privet.] (Bot)
Defn: The privet.
PRIM Prim, a. Etym: [OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp, thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See Prime, a.]
Defn: Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person. Swift.
PRIM Prim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Primmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Primming.]
Defn: To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink.
PRIM Prim, v. i.
Defn: To dress or act smartly. [R.]
PRIMACY Pri"ma*cy, n. Etym: [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.
PRIMA DONNA Pri"ma don"na; pl. E. Prima donnas, It. Prime Donne. Etym: [It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See Prime, a., and Donna.]
Defn: The first or chief female singer in an opera.
PRIMA FACIE Pri"ma fa"ci*e. Etym: [L., from abl. of primus first + abl. of facies appearance.]
Defn: 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.
PRIMAGE Pri"mage (; 48), n. Etym: [F.] (Com.)
Defn: 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.
PRIMAL Pri"mal, a. Etym: [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a.]
Defn: First; primary; original; chief. It hath the primal eldest curse upon it. Shak. The primal duties shine aloft like stars. Wordsworth.
PRIMALITY Pri*mal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being primal. [Obs.]
PRIMARILY Pri"ma*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a primary manner; in the first place; in the first place; in the first intention; originally.
PRIMARINESS Pri"ma*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being primary, or first in time, in act, or in intention. Norris.
PRIMARY Pri"ma*ry, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: Earliest formed; fundamental.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: 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 (Zoöl.), 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.
PRIMARY 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. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing. See Plumage, and Illust. of Bird.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: A primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under Planet.
PRIMATE Pri"mate, n. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Primates.
PRIMATES Pri*ma"tes, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The highest order of mammals. It includes man, together with the apes and monkeys. Cf. Pitheci.
PRIMATESHIP Pri"mate*ship, n.
Defn: The office, dignity, or position of a primate; primacy.
PRIMATIAL Pri*ma"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. primatial.]
Defn: Primatical. [R.] D'Anville (Trans. ).
PRIMATICAL Pri*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a primate. Barrow.
PRIME Prime, a. Etym: [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.
Note: 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 (') 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 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. Etym: [F. prime, LL. prima (sc. hora). See Prime, a.]
Defn: The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds. Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime. Spenser.
Note: 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. a. 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)
Defn: The first of the chief guards.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: A prime number. See under Prime, a.
8. An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; - - denoted by [']. See 2d Inch, n., 1. Prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.
PRIME Prime, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Primed; p. pr. & vb. n. Priming.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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 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.
PRIMELY Prime"ly, adv.
1. At first; primarily. [Obs.] South.
2. In a prime manner; excellently.
PRIMENESS Prime"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being first.
2. The quality or state of being prime, or excellent.
PRIMER Prim"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, primes; specifically, an instrument or device for priming; esp., a cap, tube, or water containing percussion powder or other capable for igniting a charge of gunpowder.
PRIMER Prim"er, a. Etym: [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.]
Defn: 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.
PRIMER Prim"er, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: Great primer type.
PRIMERO Pri*me"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. primera, fr. primero first, from L. primarius. See Premier.]
Defn: A game at cards, now unknown. Shak.
PRIMEROLE Prim"er*ole, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Primrose. [Obs.] "She was a primerole." Chaucer.
PRIMEVAL Pri*me"val, a. Etym: [L. primaevus; primus first + aevum age. See Prime, a., and Age.]
Defn: 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.
PRIMEVALLY Pri*me"val*ly, adv.
Defn: In a primeval manner; in or from the earliest times; originally. Darwin.
PRIMEVOUS Pri*me"vous, a.
Defn: Primeval. [Obs.]
PRIMIGENIAL Pri`mi*ge"ni*al, a.
Defn: First born, or first of all; original; primary. See Primogenial.
PRIMIGENIOUS; PRIMIGENOUS Pri`mi*ge"ni*ous, Pri*mig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. primigenus, primigenius. See Primogeniture.]
Defn: First formed or generated; original; primigenial. Bp. Hall.
PRIMINE Pri"mine, n. Etym: [L. primus first: cf. F. primine.] (Bot.)
Defn: The outermost of the two integuments of an ovule.
Note: This word has been used by some writers to denote the inner integument, which is formed earlier than the outer. Cf. Secundine.
PRIMING Prim"ing, n.
1. The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: The first coating of color, size, or the like, laid on canvas, or on a building, or other surface.
3. (Steam Eng.)
Defn: 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.
PRIMIPARA Pri*mip"a*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. primus first + parere to bring forth.] (Med.)
Defn: A woman who bears a child for the first time.
PRIMIPAROUS Pri*mip"a*rous, a. Etym: [See Primipara.]
Defn: Belonging to a first birth; bearing young for the first time.
PRIMIPILAR Pri*mip"i*lar, a. Etym: [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.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the captain of the vanguard of a Roman army. Barrow.
PRIMITIA Pri*mi"ti*a, n.; pl. Primitiæ (Primitias, obs.). Etym: [L. primitiae, pl., fr. primus first. Cf. Premices.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: The first fruit; the first year's whole profit of an ecclesiastical preferment. The primitias of your parsonage. Spenser.
PRIMITIAL Pri*mi"tial, a.
Defn: Being of the first production; primitive; original. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
PRIMITIVE Prim"i*tive, a. Etym: [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 coördinate (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.
PRIMITIVE Prim"i*tive, n.
Defn: An original or primary word; a word not derived from another; - - opposed to derivative.
PRIMITIVELY 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.
PRIMITIVENESS Prim"i*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being primitive; conformity to primitive style or practice.
PRIMITY Prim"i*ty, n.
Defn: Quality of being first; primitiveness. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
PRIMLY Prim"ly, adv.
Defn: In a prim or precise manner.
PRIMNESS Prim"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being prim; affected formality or niceness; preciseness; stiffness.
PRIMO Pri"mo, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: First; chief.
PRIMOGENIAL Pri`mo*ge"ni*al, a. Etym: [See Primigenial.]
Defn: First born, made, or generated; original; primary; elemental; as, primogenial light. Glanvill.
PRIMOGENITIVE Pri`mo*gen"i*tive, a. Etym: [See Primogeniture.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to primogeniture. [R.]
PRIMOGENITIVE Pri`mo*gen"i*tive, n.
Defn: Primogeniture. [Obs.] The primogenitive and due of birth. Shak.
PRIMOGENITOR Pri`mo*gen"i*tor, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitor a begetter.]
Defn: The first ancestor; a forefather.
PRIMOGENITURE Pri`mo*gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitura a begetting, birth, generation, fr. genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. primogéniture, 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)
Defn: 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.
PRIMOGENITURESHIP Pri`mo*gen"i*ture*ship, n.
Defn: The state or privileges of the firstborn. Burke.
PRIMORDIAL Pri*mor"di*al, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PRIMORDIAL Pri*mor"di*al, n.
Defn: A first principle or element.
PRIMORDIALISM Pri*mor"di*al*ism, n.
Defn: Devotion to, or persistence in, conditions of the primordial state. H. Spencer.
PRIMORDIALLY Pri*mor"di*al*ly, adv.
Defn: At the beginning; under the first order of things; originally.
PRIMORDIAN Pri*mor"di*an, n. Etym: [L. primordius first of all, fr. primordium.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several kinds of plums; as, red primordian, amber primordian, etc.
PRIMORDIATE Pri*mor"di*ate, a.
Defn: Primordial. [R.] Boyle.
PRIMP Primp, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Prim, a.]
Defn: To be formal or affected in dress or manners; -- often with up. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.
PRIMROSE Prim"rose`, n. Etym: [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.]
PRIMROSE Prim"rose`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the primrose; of the color of a primrose; - - hence, flowery; gay. "The primrose path of dalliance." Shak.
PRIMROSE LEAGUE Prim"rose` League. (Eng. Politics)
Defn: A league of both sexes among the Conservatives, founded in 1883. So called because primrose was (erroneously, it is said) taken to be the favorite flower of the Conservative statesman Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield.
PRIMULA Prim"u*la, n. Etym: [LL. See Primrose.] (Bot.)
Defn: The genus of plants including the primrose (Primula vera).
PRIMULACEOUS Prim`u*la"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an order of herbaceous plants (Primulaceæ), of which the primrose is the type, and the pimpernel, the cyclamen, and the water violet are other examples.
PRIMUM MOBILE Pri"mum mob"i*le. Etym: [L., first cause of motion.] (Astron.)
Defn: 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.
PRIMUS Pri"mus, n. Etym: [L., the first.]
Defn: 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.
PRIMY Prim"y, a. Etym: [From Prime, a.]
Defn: Being in its prime. [Obs.] "The youth of primy nature." Shak.
PRINCE Prince, n. Etym: [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 preëminent; 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 Prince, v. i.
Defn: To play the prince. [R.] Shak.
PRINCEDOM Prince"dom, n.
Defn: The jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate of a prince. Thrones, princedoms, powers, dominions, I reduce. Milton.
PRINCEHOOD Prince"hood, n.
Defn: Princeliness. [Obs.] E. Hall.
PRINCEKIN Prince"kin, n.
Defn: A petty prince; a princeling. The princekins of private life. Thackeray.
PRINCELESS Prince"less, a.
Defn: Without a prince. Fuller.
PRINCELET Prince"let, n.
Defn: A petty prince. [R.]
PRINCELIKE Prince"like`, a.
Defn: Princely. Shak.
PRINCELINESS Prince"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being princely; the state, manner, or dignity of a prince.
PRINCELING Prince"ling, n.
Defn: A petty prince; a young prince.
PRINCELY 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.
PRINCELY Prince"ly, adv.
Defn: In a princely manner. My appetite was not princely got. Shak.
PRINCESS Prin"cess, n. Etym: [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.
PRINCESSE Prin*cesse", a. Etym: [F., a princess.]
Defn: A term applied to a lady's long, close-fitting dress made with waist and skirt in one.
PRINCESSLIKE Prin"cess*like`, a.
Defn: Like a princess.
PRINCEWOOD Prince"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The wood of two small tropical American trees (Hamelia ventricosa, and Cordia gerascanthoides). It is brownish, veined with lighter color.
PRINCIFIED Prin"ci*fied, a. Etym: [Prince + L. -ficare (in comp.).]
Defn: Imitative of a prince. [R. & Colloq.] Thackeray.
PRINCIPAL Prin"ci*pal, a. Etym: [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.
PRINCIPAL 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.
Defn: 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.]
PRINCIPALITY Prin`ci*pal"i*ty, n.; pl. Principalities. Etym: [L. principalitas preëminence, excellence: cf. F. principalité, principauté. 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.
PRINCIPALLY Prin"ci*pal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a principal manner; primarily; above all; chiefly; mainly.
PRINCIPALNESS Prin"ci*pal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being principal.
PRINCIPATE Prin"ci*pate, n. Etym: [L. principatus: cf. F. principat.]
Defn: Principality; supreme rule. [Obs.] Barrow.
PRINCIPIA Prin*cip"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. principium. See Principle.]
Defn: First principles; fundamental beginnings; elements; as. Newton's Principia.
PRINCIPIAL Prin*cip"i*al, a.
Defn: Elementary. [Obs.] Bacon.
PRINCIPIANT Prin*cip"i*ant, a. Etym: [L. principians, p. pr. of principiare to begin, fr. principium. See Principle.]
Defn: Relating to principles or beginnings. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
PRINCIPIATE Prin*cip"i*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Principiant.]
Defn: To begin; to initiate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
PRINCIPIATION Prin*cip`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: Analysis into primary or elemental parts. [Archaic] Bacon.
PRINCIPLE Prin"ci*ple, n. Etym: [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.
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.)
Defn: 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.
PRINCIPLE Prin"ci*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Principled; p. pr. & vb. n. Principling.]
Defn: 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.
PRINCOCK; PRINCOX Prin"cock, Prin"cox, n. Etym: [Prim + cock.]
Defn: A coxcomb; a pert boy. [Obs.]
PRINK Prink, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Prinking.] Etym: [Probably a nasalized form of prick. See Prick, v. t., and cf. Prig, Prank.]
Defn: To dress or adjust one's self for show; to prank.
PRINK Prink, v. t.
Defn: To prank or dress up; to deck fantastically. "And prink their hair with daisies." Cowper.
PRINKER Prink"er, n.
Defn: One who prinks.
PRINPRIDDLE Prin"prid`dle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The longtailed titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
PRINT Print, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Printed; p. pr. & vb. n. Printing.] Etym: [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:
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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 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 Print, n. Etym: [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)
Defn: 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.blueprint for action -- 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.
PRINTA-BLE Print"a-ble, a.
Defn: Worthy to be published. [R.]
PRINTER Print"er, n.
Defn: 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.
PRINTERY Print"er*y, n.
Defn: A place where cloth is printed; print works; also, a printing office. [R.]
PRINTING Print"ing, n.
Defn: 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.
PRINTING IN Print"ing in. (Photog.)
Defn: A process by which cloud effects or other features not in the original negative are introduced into a photograph. Portions, such as the sky, are covered while printing and the blank space thus reserved is filled in by printing from another negative.
PRINTING OUT Printing out. (Photog.)
Defn: A method of printing, in which the image is fully brought out by the direct actinic action of light without subsequent development by means of chemicals.
PRINTLESS Print"less, a.
Defn: Making no imprint. Milton.
PRINTLESS Print"less, a.
Defn: Making no imprint. Milton.
PRINTSHOP Print"shop`, n.
Defn: A shop where prints are sold.
PRIOR Pri"or, a. Etym: [L. prior former, previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime, a., and Pre-, Pro-.]
Defn: 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.
PRIOR Pri"or, n. Etym: [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a.] (Eccl.)
Defn: 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.
PRIORATE Pri"or*ate, n. Etym: [LL. prioratus: cf. F. priorat.]
Defn: The dignity, office, or government, of a prior. T. Warton.
PRIORESS Pri"or*ess, n. Etym: [OF. prioresse.]
Defn: A lady superior of a priory of nuns, and next in dignity to an abbess.
PRIORITY Pri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. priorité. 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; preëminence.
PRIORLY Pri"or*ly, adv.
Defn: Previously. [R.] Geddes.
PRIORSHIP Pri"or*ship, n.
Defn: The state or office of prior; priorate.
PRIORY Pri"o*ry, n.; pl. Priories. Etym: [Cf. LL. prioria. See Prior, n.]
Defn: 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.
Note: 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 Pris, n.
Defn: See Price, and 1st Prize. [Obs.]
PRISAGE Pris"age (; 48), n. Etym: [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.
PRISCILLIANIST Pris*cil"lian*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Priscillian, bishop of Avila in Spain, in the fourth century, who mixed various elements of Gnosticism and Manicheism with Christianity.
PRISE Prise, n.
Defn: An enterprise. [Obs.] Spenser.
PRISE Prise, n. & v.
Defn: See Prize, n., 5. Also Prize, v. t.
PRISER Pris"er, n.
Defn: See 1st Prizer. [Obs.]
PRISM Prism, n. Etym: [L. prisma, Gr. prisme.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.
Note: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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. Etym: [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.
PRISMATIC; PRISMATICAL Pris*mat"ic, Pris*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PRISMATICALLY Pris*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form on manner of a prism; by means of a prism.
PRISMATOIDAL Pris`ma*toid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: F. prismatoïde.]
Defn: Having a prismlike form. Ure.
PRISM GLASS Prism glass.
Defn: Glass with one side smooth and the other side formed into sharp-edged ridges so as to reflect the light that passes through, used at windows to throw the light into the interior.
PRISMOID Pris"moid, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prismtoïde.]
Defn: A body that approaches to the form of a prism.
PRISMOIDAL Pris*moid"al, a.
Defn: Having the form of a prismoid; as, prismoidal solids.
PRISMY Pris"my, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a prism. [R.]
PRISON Pris"on, n. Etym: [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 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. Ps. cxlii. 7. The tyrant Æolus, . . . 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.
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.
PRISONER Pris"on*er, n. Etym: [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.
PRISONMENT Pris"on*ment, n.
Defn: Imprisonment. [Obs.] Shak.
PRISTINATE Pris"tin*ate, a.
Defn: Pristine; primitive. [Obs.] "Pristinate idolatry." Holinshed.
PRISTINE Pris"tine, a. Etym: [L. pristinus, akin to prior: cf. F. pristin. See Prior, a.]
Defn: 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 Pritch, n. Etym: [See Prick.]
1. A sharp-pointed instrument; also, an eelspear. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Pique; offense. [Obs.] D. Rogers.
PRITCHEL Pritch"el, n.
Defn: A tool employed by blacksmiths for punching or enlarging the nail holes in a horseshoe.
PRITHEE Prith"ee, interj.
Defn: 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.
PRITTLE-PRATTLE Prit"tle-prat`tle, n. Etym: [See Prattle.]
Defn: Empty talk; trifling loquacity; prattle; -- used in contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.] Abp. Bramhall.
PRIVACY Pri"va*cy, n.; pl. Privacies. Etym: [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.
PRIVADO Pri*va"do, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. L. privatus. See Private.]
Defn: A private friend; a confidential friend; a confidant. [Obs.] Fuller.
PRIVATDOCENT Pri*vat"do*cent`, n.; G. pl. -docenten (#). [Also Privatdozent.] [G.; privat private + docent teacher. See Docent.]
Defn: In the universities of Germany and some other European countries, a licensed teacher or lecturer having no share in the university government and dependent upon fees for remuneration.
PRIVATE Pri"vate (; 48), a. Etym: [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.
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.
PRIVATE Pri"vate, 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.)
Defn: A common soldier; a soldier below the grade of a noncommissioned officer. Macaulay.
6. pl.
Defn: The private parts; the genitals. In private, secretly; not openly or publicly.
PRIVATEER Pri`va*teer" n. Etym: [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.
PRIVATEER Pri`va*teer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Privateered; p. pr. & vb. n. Privateering.]
Defn: To cruise in a privateer.
PRIVATEERING Pri`va*teer"ing, n.
Defn: Cruising in a privateer.
PRIVATEERSMAN Pri`va*teers"man, n.; pl. Privateersmen (.
Defn: An officer or seaman of a privateer.
PRIVATELY Pri"vate*ly, 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.
PRIVATENESS Pri"vate*ness, n.
1. Seclusion from company or society; retirement; privacy; secrecy. Bacon.
2. The state of one not invested with public office.
PRIVATION Pri*va"tion n. Etym: [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.
PRIVATIVE Priv"a*tive a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PRIVATIVE 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)
Defn: A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; -- called also privative term.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.
PRIVATIVELY Priv"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a privative manner; by the absence of something; negatively. [R.] Hammond.
PRIVATIVENESS Priv"a*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being privative.
PRIVET Priv"et, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PRIVILEGE Priv"i*lege, n. Etym: [F. privilège, 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)
Defn: 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.
PRIVILEGE Priv"i*lege, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Privileged; p. pr. & vb. n. Privileging.] Etym: [Cf. F. privilégier.]
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.
PRIVILEGED Priv"i*leged, a.
Defn: 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.
PRIVILY Priv"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a privy manner; privately; secretly. Chaucer. 2 Pet. ii. 1.
PRIVITY Priv"i*ty, n.; pl. Privities (-tîz). Etym: [From Privy, a.: cf. F. privauté 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.
Defn: The genitals; the privates.
5. (Law)
Defn: A connection, or bond of union, between parties, as to some particular transaction; mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property.
PRIVY Priv"y, a. Etym: [F. privé, 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 signed, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which the 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.
PRIVY Priv"y, n.; pl. Privies (.
1. (Law)
Defn: 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.
PRIZABLE Priz"a*ble, a.
Defn: Valuable. H. Taylor.
PRIZE Prize, n. Etym: [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 may 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 Prize, v. t.
Defn: To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written also prise.]
PRIZE Prize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prized; p. pr. & vb. n. Prizing.] Etym: [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 Prize, n. Etym: [F. prix price. See 3d Prize. ]
Defn: Estimation; valuation. [Obs.] Shak.
PRIZEMAN Prize"man, n.; pl. Prizemen (.
Defn: The winner of a prize.
PRIZER Priz"er, n. Etym: [See 3d Prize.]
Defn: One who estimates or sets the value of a thing; an appraiser. Shak.
PRIZER Priz"er, n. Etym: [See 1st Prize.]
Defn: One who contends for a prize; a prize fighter; a challenger. [Obs.] Shak. Appeareth no man yet to answer the prizer. B. Jonson.
PRIZING Priz"ing, n. Etym: [See 2d Prize.]
Defn: The application of a lever to move any weighty body, as a cask, anchor, cannon, car, etc. See Prize, n., 5.
PRO- Pro-. Etym: [L. pro, or Gr. Pro.]
Defn: 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 Pro, prep. Etym: [L.; akin to prae before, Gr. for. See For, prep., and cf. Prior, a.]
Defn: A Latin preposition signifying for, before, forth. Pro confesso Etym: [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. Etym: [L. See Prorate.] In proportion; proportion. -- Pro re nata Etym: [L.] (Law), for the existing occasion; as matters are.
PRO Pro, adv.
Defn: For, on, or in behalf of, the affirmative side; -- in contrast with Ant: 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.
PROA Pro"a, n. Etym: [Malay praah.] (Naut.)
Defn: 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 Proach, v. i.
Defn: See Approach. [Obs.]
PROATLAS Pro*at"las, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + atlas.] (Anat.)
Defn: A vertebral rudiment in front of the atlas in some reptiles.
PROBABILIORISM Prob`a*bil"i*o*rism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of the probabiliorists.
PROBABILIORIST Prob`a*bil"i*o*rist, n. Etym: [From L. probabilior, compar. of probabilis probable.] (Casuistry)
Defn: One who holds, in opposition to the probabilists, that a man is bound to do that which is most probably right.
PROBABILISM Prob"a*bil*ism n. Etym: [Cf. F. probabilisme.]
Defn: The doctrine of the probabilists.
PROBABILIST Prob"a*bil*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. probabilists.]
1. One who maintains that certainty is impossible, and that probability alone is to govern our faith and actions.
2. (Casuistry)
Defn: 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.
PROBABILITY Prob`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Probabilities. Etym: [L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilité.]
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.)
Defn: 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.
PROBABLE Prob"a*ble, a. Etym: [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.
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" is the probable error in a given case, the chances that the real error is greater than 3" 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.
PROBABLY Prob"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a probable manner; in likelihood. Distinguish between what may possibly and what will probably be done. L'Estrange.
PROBACY Pro"ba*cy, n. Etym: [See Probate.]
Defn: Proof; trial. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PROBAL Pro"bal, a.
Defn: Approved; probable. [Obs.] Shak.
PROBALITY Pro*bal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Probability. [Obs.] "With as great probality." Holland.
PROBANG Pro"bang, n. Etym: [See Probe.]
Defn: A slender elastic rod, as of whalebone, with a sponge on the end, for removing obstructions from the esophagus, etc.
PROBATE Pro"bate, n. Etym: [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.
PROBATE Pro"bate, a.
Defn: 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.]
PROBATE Pro"bate v. t.
Defn: 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.
PROBATION Pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [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.
PROBATIONAL Pro*ba"tion*al, a.
Defn: Probationary.
PROBATIONARY Pro*ba"tion*a*ry a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to probation; serving for trial. To consider this life . . . as a probationary state. Paley.
PROBATIONER 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.]
PROBATIONERSHIP Pro*ba"tion*er*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a probationer; novitiate. Locke.
PROBATIONSHIP Pro*ba"tion*ship, n.
Defn: A state of probation.
PROBATIVE Pro"ba*tive, a. Etym: [L. probativus: cf. F.probatif.]
Defn: Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence. South.
PROBATOR Pro*ba"tor n. Etym: [L.]
1. An examiner; an approver. Maydman.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: One who, when indicted for crime, confessed it, and accused others, his accomplices, in order to obtain pardon; a state's evidence.
PROBATORY Pro"ba*to*ry, a. Etym: [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 Probe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Probed; p. pr. & vb. n. Probing.] Etym: [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 Probe, n. (Surg.)
Defn: 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.
PROBEAGLE Pro"bea`gle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Porbeagle.
PROBE-POINTED Probe"-point`ed, a. (Surg.)
Defn: Having a blunt or button-shaped extremity; -- said of cutting instruments.
PROBITY Prob"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. probité, fr. L. probitas, fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove.]
Defn: 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.
PROBLEM Prob"lem, n. Etym: [F. problème, L. problema, fr. Gr. 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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
PROBLEMATIC; PROBLEMATICAL Prob`lem*at"ic, Prob`lem*at"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. problematicus, Gr. problématique.]
Defn: 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.
PROBLEMATIST Prob"lem*a*tist n.
Defn: One who proposes problems. [R.] Evelyn.
PROBLEMATIZE Prob"lem*a*tize v. t.
Defn: To propose problems. [R.] "Hear him problematize." B. Jonson.
PROBOSCIDATE Pro*bos"ci*date, a. Etym: [See Proboscis.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a proboscis; proboscidial.
PROBOSCIDEA Pro`bos*cid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Proboscis.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of large mammal
PROBOSCIDEAN Pro`bos*cid"e*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Proboscidian.
PROBOSCIDIAL Pro`bos*cid"i*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Proboscidate.
PROBOSCIDIAN Pro`bos*cid"i*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Proboscidea. -- n.
Defn: One of the Proboscidea.
PROBOSCIDIFERA Pro*bos`ci*dif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Proboscis, and -ferous.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subdivision of the tænioglossate gastropods, including the fig-shells (Pyrula), the helmet shells (Cassis), the tritons, and allied genera.
PROBOSCIDIFORM Pro`bos*cid"i*form a.
Defn: Having the form or uses of a proboscis; as, a proboscidiform mouth.
PROBOSCIS Pro*bos"cis, n.; pl. Proboscides. Etym: [L. fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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 maxillæ, or by the labium. See Illusts. of Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded.
Note: 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. (Zoöl.) See Kahau.
PROCACIOUS Pro*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. procax, -acis, fr. procare to ask, demand.]
Defn: Pert; petulant; forward; saucy. [R.] Barrow.
PROCACITY Pro*cac"i*ty n. Etym: [L. procacitas.]
Defn: Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [R.] Burton.
PROCAMBIUM Pro*cam"bi*um n. Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Cambium.] (Bot.)
Defn: The young tissue of a fibrovascular bundle before its component cells have begun to be differentiated. Sachs.
PROCATARCTIC Pro`cat*arc"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. procatarctique. ] (Med.)
Defn: Beginning; predisposing; exciting; initial. [Obs.]
Note: 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.
PROCATARXIS Pro`cat*arx"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The kindling of a disease into action; also, the procatarctic cause. Quincy.
PROCEDENDO Pro`ce*den"do, n. Etym: [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.
PROCEDURE Pro*ce"dure, n. Etym: [F. procédure. 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.
PROCEED Pro*ceed" v. i. [imp. & p. p. Proceeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Proceeding.] Etym: [F. procéder. 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)
Defn: To begin and carry on a legal process.
Syn. -- To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise; emanate.
PROCEED Pro"ceed n.
Defn: See Proceeds. [Obs.] Howell.
PROCEEDER Pro*ceed"er, n.
Defn: One who proceeds.
PROCEEDING 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)
Defn: 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.
PROCEEDS Pro"ceeds, n. pl.
Defn: That which comes forth or results; effect; yield; issue; product; sum accruing from a sale, etc.
PROCELEUSMATIC Proc`e*leus*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. proceleusmaticus, Gr. procéleusmatique.]
1. Inciting; animating; encouraging. [R.] Johnson.
2. (Pros.)
Defn: Consisting of four short syllables; composed of feet of four short syllables each.
PROCELEUSMATIC Proc`e*leus*mat"ic, n. (Pros.)
Defn: A foot consisting of four short syllables.
PROCELLARIAN Pro`cel*la"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. procella a storm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family of oceanic birds (Procellaridæ) including the petrels, fulmars, and shearwaters. They are often seen in great abundance in stormy weather.
PROCELLOUS Pro*cel"lous, a. Etym: [L. procellosus, fr. procella a storm.]
Defn: Stormy. [Obs.] Bailey.
PROCEPHALIC Pro`ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. pro- + cephalic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or forming, the front of the head. Procephalic lobe (Zoöl.), that part of the head of an invertebrate animal which is in front of the mouth.
PROCEPTION Pro*cep"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + L. capere to take.]
Defn: Preoccupation. [Obs.] Eikon Basilik
PROCERE Pro*cere", a. Etym: [L. procerus tall.]
Defn: Of high stature; tall. [Obs.] Evelyn.
PROCEREBRUM Pro*cer"e*brum n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + cerebrum.] (Anat.)
Defn: The prosencephalon.
PROCERES Proc"e*res n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. procer (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of large birds; the Ratitæ; -- called also Proceri.
PROCERITE Proc"er*ite, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The segment next to the flagellum of the antennæ of Crustacea.
PROCERITY Pro*cer"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. proceritas.]
Defn: Height of stature; tallness. [R.] Johnson.
PROCESS Proc"ess, n. Etym: [F. procès, 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. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Any marked prominence or projecting part, especially of a bone; anapophysis.
5. (Law)
Defn: 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 Etym: [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.
PROCESSION Pro*ces"sion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PROCESSION Pro*ces"sion, v. t. (Law)
Defn: 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.
PROCESSION Pro*ces"sion, v. i.
Defn: To march in procession. [R.]
PROCESSION Pro*ces"sion, v. i.
Defn: To honor with a procession. [R.]
PROCESSIONAL Pro*ces"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a procession; consisting in a procession. The processional services became more frequent. Milman.
PROCESSIONAL Pro*ces"sion*al, n. Etym: [F. processionnal, LL. processionale.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: 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.
PROCESSIONALIST Pro*ces"sion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who goes or marches in a procession. [R.]
PROCESSIONARY Pro*ces"sion*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. processionarius, F. processionnaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to a procession; consisting in processions; as, processionary service. Processionary moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus Cnethocampa, especially C. processionea of Europe, whose larvæ make large webs on oak trees, and go out to feed in regular order. They are covered with stinging hairs.
PROCESSIONER 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.
PROCESSIONING Pro*ces"sion*ing, n.
Defn: A proceeding prescribed by statute for ascertaining and fixing the boundaries of land. See 2d Procession. [ Local, U. S.] Bouvier.
PROCESSIVE Pro*ces"sive, a.
Defn: Proceeding; advancing. Because it is language, -- ergo, processive. Coleridge.
PROCESS PLATE Proc"ess plate. (a) A plate prepared by a mechanical process, esp. a photomechanical process. (b) A very slow photographic plate, giving good contrasts between high lights and shadows, used esp. for making lantern slides.
PROCES VERBAL Pro`cès" ver`bal". Etym: [ F.] (French Law)
Defn: An authentic minute of an official act, or statement of facts.
PROCHEIN Pro"chein, a. Etym: [F. prochain, fr. L. (assumed) proximanus, fr. proximus.]
Defn: Next; nearest. Prochein ami or amy ( (Law), the next friend. See under Next.
PROCHORDAL Pro*chor"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. pro + chordal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated in front of the notochord; -- applied especially to parts of the cartilaginous rudiments in the base of the skull.
PROCHRONISM Pro"chro*nism n. Etym: [Gr. prochronisme.]
Defn: The dating of an event before the time it happened; an antedating; -- opposed to Ant: metachronism.
PROCHRONIZE Pro"chro*nize, v. t.
Defn: To antedate. Fitzed. Hall.
PROCIDENCE; PROCIDENTIA Proc"i*dence, Proc*i*den"ti*a, n. Etym: [L. procidentia, fr. procidens, p. pr. of procidere to fall down forward.] (Med.)
Defn: A falling down; a prolapsus. [R.] Parr.
PROCIDUOUS Pro*cid"u*ous (, a. Etym: [ L. prociduus.]
Defn: Falling from its proper place.
PROCINCT Pro*cinct" n. Etym: [L. procinctus, fr. procingere, procinctum, to gird up.]
Defn: A state of complete readiness for action. [Obs.] "War in procinct." Milton.
PROCLAIM Pro*claim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proclaimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Proclaiming.] Etym: [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.
PROCLAIMER Pro*claim"er, n.
Defn: One who proclaims.
PROCLAMATION Proc`la*ma"tion n. Etym: [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.
PROCLITIC Pro*clit"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Enclitic.] (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: Leaning forward; -- said of certain monosyllabic words which are so closely attached to the following word as not to have a separate accent.
PROCLIVE Pro*clive" a. Etym: [L. proclivis sloping, inclined; pro forward + clivus hill: cf. F. proclive. See Declivity, and cf. Proclivous.]
Defn: Having a tendency by nature; prone; proclivous. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
PROCLIVITY Pro*cliv"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. proclivitas: cf. F. proclivité.]
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.
PROCLIVOUS Pro*cli"vous, a. Etym: [L. proclivus. See Proclive.]
1. Inclined; tending by nature. [R.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the incisor teeth directed forward.
PROCOELE Pro*coele", n. Etym: [Pref. pro + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A lateral cavity of the prosencephalon; a lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.
PROCOELIA Pro*coe"li*a n.; pl. Procoeliæ (. Etym: [ NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Procoele.
PROCOELIA Pro*coe"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Crocodilia, including the true crocodiles and alligators, in which the dorsal vertebræ are concave in front.
PROCOELIAN Pro*coe"li*an a. Etym: [See Procoele.] (Anat & Zoöl.)
Defn: Concave in front; as, procoelian vertebræ, which have the anterior end of the centra concave and the posterior convex.
PROCOELIAN Pro*coe"li*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A reptile having procoelian vertebræ; one of the Procoelia.
PROCOELOUS Pro*coe"lous, a.
Defn: Same as Procoelian.
PROCONSUL Pro*con"sul, n. Etym: [L., fr. pro for + consul consul.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PROCONSULAR; PROCONSULARY Pro*con"su*lar, Pro*con"su*la*ry, a. Etym: [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.
PROCONSULATE Pro*con"su*late, n. Etym: [L. proconsulatus: cf. F. proconsulat.]
Defn: The office jurisdiction of a proconsul, or the term of his office.
PROCONSULSHIP Pro*con"sul*ship n.
Defn: Proconsulate.
PROCRASTINATE Pro*cras"ti*nate v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procrastinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Procrastinating.] Etym: [L. procrastinatus, p. p. of procrastinare to procrastinate; pro forward + crastinus of to-morrow, fr. cras to- morrow.]
Defn: 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 Ægeon wend, But to procrastinate his lifeless end. Shak.
Syn. -- To postpone; adjourn; defer; delay; retard; protract; prolong.
PROCRASTINATE Pro*cras"ti*nate, v. i.
Defn: To delay; to be dilatory. I procrastinate more than I did twenty years ago. Swift.
PROCRASTINATION Pro*cras`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. procrastinatio: cf. F. procrastination.]
Defn: The act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off to a future time; delay; dilatoriness. Procrastination is the thief of time. Young.
PROCRASTINATOR Pro*cras"ti*na`tor n.
Defn: One who procrastinates, or defers the performance of anything.
PROCRASTINATORY Pro*cras"ti*na*to*ry a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to procrastination; dilatory.
PROCRASTINE Pro*cras"tine v. t.
Defn: To procrastinate. [Obs.]
PROCREANT Pro"cre*ant, a. Etym: [L. procreans, p. pr. of procreare. See Procreate.]
Defn: Generating; producing; productive; fruitful; assisting in procreation. [R.] "His pendent bed and procreant cradle." Shak.
PROCREANT Pro"cre*ant, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, procreates.
PROCREATE Pro"cre*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procreated; p. pr. & vb. n. Procreating.] Etym: [L. procreatus, p. p. of procreare; pro forward, forth + create to create.]
Defn: To generate and produce; to beget; to engender.
PROCREATION Pro`cre*a"tion n. Etym: [F. procréation, L, procreatio.]
Defn: The act of begetting; generation and production of young. South.
PROCREATIVE Pro"cre*a`tive, a.
Defn: Having the power to beget; generative. Sir M. Hale.
PROCREATIVENESS Pro"cre*a`tive*ness, n.
Defn: The power of generating.
PROCREATOR Pro"cre*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who begets; a father or sire; a generator.
PROCRIS Pro"cris n. Etym: [L., the wife of Cephalus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of small moths of the genus Procris. The larvæ of some species injure the grapevine by feeding in groups upon the leaves.
PROCRUSTEAN Pro*crus"te*an, a.
Defn: 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.
PROCRUSTEANIZE Pro*crus"te*an*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procrusteanized; p. pr. & vb. n. Procrusteanizing.]
Defn: To stretch or contract according to some rule or standard.
PROCRUSTES Pro*crus"tes n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PROCRUSTESIAN Pro`crus*te"si*an, a.
Defn: See Procrustean.
PROCTITIS Proc*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the rectum.
PROCTOCELE Proc"to*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Inversion and prolapse of the mucous coat of the rectum, from relaxation of the sphincter, with more or less swelling; prolapsus ani. Dunglison.
PROCTODAEUM Proc`to*dæ"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Mesenteron.
PROCTOR Proc"tor, n. Etym: [OE. proketour, contr. fr. procurator. See Procurator.]
Defn: 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.
PROCTOR Proc"tor, v. t.
Defn: To act as a proctor toward; to manage as an attorney or agent. Bp. Warburton.
PROCTORAGE Proc"tor*age n.
Defn: Management by a proctor, or as by a proctor; hence, control; superintendence; -- in contempt. "The fogging proctorage of money." Milton.
PROCTORIAL Proc*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a proctor, esp. an academic proctor; magisterial.
PROCTORICAL Proc*tor"ic*al, a.
Defn: Proctorial. [R.]
PROCTORSHIP Proc"tor*ship n.
Defn: The office or dignity of a proctor; also, the term of his office. Clarendon.
PROCTOTOMY Proc*tot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An incision into the rectum, as for the division of a stricture.
PROCTUCHA Proc"tu*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) A division of Turbellaria including those that have an intestine terminating posteriorly. (b) The Nemertina.
PROCUMBENT Pro*cum"bent, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: Lying on the ground, but without putting forth roots; trailing; prostrate; as, a procumbent stem.
PROCURABLE Pro*cur"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being procured; obtainable. Boyle.
PROCURACY Proc"u*ra*cy, n.; pl. Procuracies. Etym: [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.]
PROCURATION Proc`u*ra"tion n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PROCURATOR Proc"u*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. procurateur. See Procure, and cf. Proctor. ]
1. (Law)
Defn: One who manages another's affairs, either generally or in a special matter; an agent; a proctor. Chaucer. Shak.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PROCURATORIAL Proc`u*ra*to"ri*al (, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a procurator, or proctor; made by a proctor. Ayliffe.
PROCURATORSHIP Proc"u*ra`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or term of a procurator. Bp. Pearson.
PROCURATORY Pro*cu"ra*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. procuratorius.]
Defn: Tending to, or authorizing, procuration.
PROCURE Pro*cure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Procured; p. pr. & vb. n. Procuring.] Etym: [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.
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.
PROCURE Pro*cure", v. i.
1. To pimp. Shak.
2. To manage business for another in court. [Scot.]
PROCUREMENT 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.
PROCURER Pro*cur"er, n. Etym: [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.
PROCURESS Pro*cur"ess, n.
Defn: A female procurer, or pander.
PROCYON Pro"cy*on, n. Etym: [L., a constellation which rises before the Dog Star, Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mammals including the raccoon.
PROD Prod, n. Etym: [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 Prod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prodded; p. pr. & vb. n. Prodding.]
Defn: 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 Prodd, n.
Defn: A crossbow. See Prod, 3.
PRODIGAL Prod"i*gal, a. Etym: [L. prodigus, from prodigere to drive forth, to squander away; pro forward, forth + agere to drive; cf. F. prodigue. See Agent. ]
Defn: 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.
PRODIGAL Prod"i*gal, n.
Defn: 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.
PRODIGALITY Prod`i*gal"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. prodigalité, L. prodigalitas. See Prodigal.]
Defn: Extravagance in expenditure, particularly of money; excessive liberality; profusion; waste; -- opposed to frugality, economy, and parsimony."The prodigality of his wit." Dryden.
PRODIGALIZE Prod"i*gal*ize, v. i.
Defn: To act as a prodigal; to spend liberally. Sherwood.
PRODIGALIZE Prod"i*gal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To expend lavishly. Ld. Lytton.
PRODIGALLY Prod"i*gal*ly, adv.
Defn: 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.
PRODIGATE Prod"i*gate, v. t.
Defn: To squander. Thackeray.
PRODIGENCE Prod"i*gence, n. Etym: [L. prodigentia, fr. prodigens, p. pr. of prodigere. See Prodigal. ]
Defn: Waste; profusion; prodigality. [R.] Bp. Hall.
PRODIGIOUS Pro*di"gious, a. Etym: [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.
PRODIGIOUSLY Pro*di"gious*ly, adv.
1. Enormously; wonderfully; astonishingly; as, prodigiously great.
2. Very much; extremely; as, he was prodigiously pleased. [Colloq.] Pope.
PRODIGIOUSNESS Pro*di"gious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being prodigious; the state of having qualities that excite wonder or astonishment; enormousness; vastness.
PRODIGY Prod"i*gy, n.; pl. Prodigies. Etym: [ 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.
PRODITION Pro*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. proditio, from prodere to give forth, betray: cf. OF. prodition.]
Defn: Disclosure; treachery; treason. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
PRODITOR Prod"i*tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A traitor. [Obs.]
PRODITORIOUS Prod`i*to"ri*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. proditoire.]
1. Treacherous; perfidious; traitorous. [Obs.] Daniel.
2. Apt to make unexpected revelations. [Obs.] "Nature is proditorious." Sir H. Wotton.
PRODITORY Prod"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Treacherous. [Obs.]
PRODROMAL Prod"ro*mal, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to prodromes; as, the prodromal stage of a disease.
PRODROME Pro"drome, n. Etym: [Gr. prodrome.]
Defn: A forerunner; a precursor.
PRODROMOUS Prod"ro*mous, a.
Defn: Precursory. [R.]
PRODROMUS Prod"ro*mus, n. Etym: [NL.]
1. A prodrome.
2. A preliminary course or publication; -- used esp. in the titles of elementary works.
PRODUCE Pro*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Produced; p. pr. & vb. n. Producing.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: To extend; -- applied to a line, surface, or solid; as, to produce a side of a triangle.
PRODUCE Pro*duce", v. i.
Defn: To yield or furnish appropriate offspring, crops, effects, consequences, or results.
PRODUCE Prod"uce, n.
Defn: That which is produced, brought forth, or yielded; product; yield; proceeds; result of labor, especially of agricultural labors; hence, specifically, agricultural products.
PRODUCEMENT Pro*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Production. [Obs.]
PRODUCENT Pro*du"cent, n. Etym: [L. producens, p. pr.]
Defn: One who produces, or offers to notice. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
PRODUCER 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.)
Defn: A furnace for producing combustible gas which is used for fuel.
PRODUCE RACE Prod"uce race. (Horse Racing)
Defn: A race to be run by the produce of horses named or described at the time of entry.
PRODUCER'S GOODS Pro*duc"er's goods. (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: Goods that satisfy wants only indirectly as factors in the production of other goods, such as tools and raw material; -- called also instrumental goods, auxiliary goods, intermediate goods, or goods of the second and higher orders, and disting. from consumers' goods.
PRODUCER'S SURPLUS; PRODUCER'S RENT Producer's surplus. (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: Any profit above the normal rate of interest and wages accruing to a producer on account of some monopoly (temporary or permanent) of the means or materials of production; -- called also Producer's rent.
PRODUCIBILITY Pro*du`ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being producible. Barrow.
PRODUCIBLE Pro*du"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being produced, brought forward, brought forth, generated, made, or extended. -- Pro*du"ci*ble*ness, n.
PRODUCT Prod"uct, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PRODUCT 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.
PRODUCTIBILITY Pro*duct`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being productible; producibility. Ruskin.
PRODUCTIBLE Pro*duct"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. productible.]
Defn: Capable of being produced; producible.
PRODUCTILE Pro*duc"tile, a. Etym: [L. productilis, fr. producere to stretch out.]
Defn: Capable of being extended or prolonged; extensible; ductile.
PRODUCTION Pro*duc"tion, n. Etym: [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.
PRODUCTIVE Pro*duc"tive, a. Etym: [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.
PRODUCTIVITY Pro`duc*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being productive; productiveness. Emerson. Not indeed as the product, but as the producing power, the productivity. Coleridge.
PRODUCTRESS Pro*duc"tress, n.
Defn: A female producer.
PRODUCTUS Pro*duc"tus, n. Etym: [NL. See Product.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of brachiopods, very characteristic of the Carboniferous rocks.
PROEGUMINAL Pro`e*gu"mi*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. proégumène.] (Med.)
Defn: Serving to predispose; predisposing; as, a proeguminal cause of disease.
PROEM Pro"em, n. Etym: [L. prooemium, Gr. proème.]
Defn: Preface; introduction; preliminary observations; prelude. Thus much may serve by way of proem. Swift.
PROEM Pro"em, v. t.
Defn: To preface. [Obs.] South.
PROEMBRYO Pro*em"bry*o, n. Etym: [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.
PROEMIAL Pro*e"mi*al, a.
Defn: Introductory; prefatory; preliminary. [R.] Hammond.
PROEMPTOSIS Pro`emp*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Chron.)
Defn: The addition of a day to the lunar calendar. [R.] See Metemptosis.
PROFACE Pro"face, interj. Etym: [OF. prou face, prou fasse; prou profit + faire to make, do.]
Defn: Much good may it do you! -- a familiar salutation or welcome. [Obs.] Master page, good master page, sit. Proface! Shak.
PROFANATE Prof"a*nate, v. t.
Defn: To profane. [Obs.]
PROFANATION Prof`a*na"tion, n. Etym: [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.
PROFANE Pro*fane", a. Etym: [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.
PROFANE Pro*fane", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Profaning.] Etym: [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.
PROFANELY Pro*fane"ly, adv.
Defn: In a profane manner. The character of God profanely impeached. Dr. T. Dwight.
PROFANENESS Pro*fane"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being profane; especially, the use of profane language.
PROFANER Pro*fan"er, n.
Defn: One who treats sacred things with irreverence, or defiles what is holy; one who uses profane language. Hooker.
PROFANITY Pro*fan"i*ty, n. Etym: [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.
PROFECTION Pro*fec"tion, n. Etym: [See Proficient.]
Defn: A setting out; a going forward; advance; progression. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PROFECTITIOUS Pro`fec*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. profectitius, fr. proficisci to set out, proceed.]
Defn: Proceeding from, as from a parent; derived, as from an ancestor. [R.] The threefold distinction of profectitious, adventitious, and professional was ascertained. Gibbon.
PROFERT Pro"fert, n. Etym: [L., he brings forward, 3d pers. pr. of proferre. See Proffer. ] (Law)
Defn: The exhibition or production of a record or paper in open court, or an allegation that it is in court.
PROFESS Pro*fess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Professed; p. pr. & vb. n. Professing.] Etym: [F. profès, 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.
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.
PROFESS 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.
PROFESSED Pro*fessed", a.
Defn: 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.
PROFESSEDLY Pro*fess"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By profession.
PROFESSION Pro*fes"sion, n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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.)
Defn: The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.
PROFESSIONAL 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.
PROFESSIONAL Pro*fes"sion*al, n.
Defn: A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.
PROFESSIONALISM Pro*fes"sion*al*ism, n.
Defn: The following of a profession, sport, etc., as an occupation; - - opposed to Ant: amateurism.
PROFESSIONALIST Pro*fes"sion*al*ist, n.
Defn: professional person. [R.]
PROFESSIONALLY Pro*fes"sion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a professional manner or capacity; by profession or calling; in the exercise of one's profession; one employed professionally.
PROFESSOR Pro*fess"or, n. Etym: [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.
PROFESSORIAL Pro`fes*so"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. professorius: cf. F. professorial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a professor; as, the professional chair; professional interest.
PROFESSORIALISM Pro`fes*so"ri*al*ism, n.
Defn: The character, manners, or habits of a professor. [R.]
PROFESSORIAT Pro`fes*so"ri*at, n.
Defn: See Professoriate.
PROFESSORIATE Pro`fes*so"ri*ate, n.
1. The body of professors, or the professorial staff, in a university or college.
2. A professorship.
PROFESSORSHIP Pro*fess"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office or position of a professor, or public teacher. Walton.
PROFESSORY Pro*fes"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. professorius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a professor; professorial. [R.] Bacon.
PROFFER Prof"fer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Proffering.] Etym: [OE. profren, proferen, F. proférer, 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.
PROFFER 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.
PROFFERER Prof"fer*er, n.
Defn: One who proffers something.
PROFICIENCE; PROFICIENCY Pro*fi"cience, Pro*fi"cien*cy, n.
Defn: 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.
PROFICIENT Pro*fi"cient, n. Etym: [L. proficiens, -entis, p. pr. of proficere to go forward, make progress; pro forward + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Profit, (
Defn: 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.
PROFICIENT Pro*fi"cient, a.
Defn: Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed; adept,
PROFICIENTLY Pro*fi"cient*ly, adv.
Defn: In a proficient manner.
PROFICUOUS Pro*fic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. proficuus.]
Defn: Profitable; advantageous; useful. [Obs.] Harvey.
PROFILE Pro"file, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PROFILE Pro"file, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Profiling] Etym: [Cf. F. profiler, It. profilare. See Profile, n.]
1. to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it. Profiling machine, a jigging machine.
PROFILING Pro"fil*ing, n. (Fort.)
Defn: 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.
PROFILIST Pro"fil*ist, n.
Defn: One who takes profiles.
PROFIT Pro"fit, n. Etym: [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.
PROFIT Prof"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profited; p. pr. & vb. n. Profiting.] Etym: [F. profiter. See Profit, n.]
Defn: 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.
PROFIT 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.
PROFITABLE Prof"it*a*ble, a. Etym: [F. profitable.]
Defn: 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.
PROFITING Prof"it*ing, n.
Defn: Gain; advantage; profit. That thy profiting may appear to all. 1 Tim. iv. 15.
PROFITLESS Prof"it*less, a.
Defn: Without profit; unprofitable. Shak.
PROFLIGACY Prof"li*ga*cy, n. Etym: [See Profligate, a.]
Defn: 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.
PROFLIGATE Prof"li*gate, a. Etym: [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.
PROFLIGATE Prof"li*gate, n.
Defn: An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person. "Such a profligate as Antony." Swift.
PROFLIGATE Prof"li*gate, v. t.
Defn: To drive away; to overcome.
Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] Harvey.
PROFLIGATELY Prof"li*gate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a profligate manner.
PROFLIGATENESS Prof"li*gate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being profligate; an abandoned course of life; profligacy.
PROFLIGATION Prof`li*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. profligatio.]
Defn: Defeat; rout; overthrow. [Obs.] Bacon.
PROFLUENCE Prof"lu*ence, n. Etym: [L. profluentia.]
Defn: Quality of being profluent; course. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
PROFLUENT Prof"lu*ent, a. Etym: [L. profluens, p. pr. of profluere; pro forward + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing forward, [R.] "In the profluent stream." Milton.
PROFOUND Pro*found", a. Etym: [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! Dupp
PROFOUND 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.
PROFOUND Pro*found", v. t.
Defn: To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
PROFOUND Pro*found", v. i.
Defn: To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]
PROFOUNDLY Pro*found"ly, adv.
Defn: In a profound manner. Why sigh you so profoundly Shak.
PROFOUNDNESS Pro*found"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being profound; profundity; depth. Hooker.
PROFULGENT Pro*ful"gent, a. Etym: [Pref. pro- + L. fulgere to shine.]
Defn: Shining forth; brilliant; effulgent. [Obs.] "Profulgent in preciousness." Chaucer.
PROFUNDITY Pro*fun"di*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [L. profunditas: cf. F. profondite. See Profound.]
Defn: The quality or state of being profound; depth of place, knowledge, feeling, etc. "The vast profundity obscure." Milton.
PROFUSE Pro*fuse", a. Etym: [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.
PROFUSE Pro*fuse", v. t.
Defn: To pour out; to give or spend liberally; to lavish; to squander. [Obs.] Chapman.
PROFUSELY Pro*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a profuse manner.
PROFUSENESS Pro*fuse"ness, n.
Defn: Extravagance; profusion. Hospitality sometimes degenerates into profuseness. Atterbury.
PROFUSION Pro*fu"sion, n. Etym: [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.
PROFUSIVE Pro*fu"sive, a.
Defn: Profuse; lavish; prodigal.[Obs.]
PROG Prog, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Progged (. p. pr. & vb. n. Progging.] Etym: [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 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.]
PROGENERATE Pro*gen"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. progeneratus, p. p. of progenerare to beget; pro forth, forward + generare to generate.]
Defn: To beget; to generate; to produce; to procreate; as, to progenerate a race. [R.] Landor.
PROGENERATION Pro*gen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. progeneratio.]
Defn: The act of begetting; propagation. [R.]
PROGENITOR Pro*gen"i*tor, n. Etym: [OF. progeniteur, L. progenitor, fr. progignere, progenitum, to bring forth, to beget; pro forth + gignere to beget. See Gender kind.]
Defn: An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather. And reverence thee their great progenitor. Milton.
PROGENITORSHIP Pro*gen"i*tor*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a progenitor.
PROGENITRESS Pro*gen"i*tress, n.
Defn: A female progenitor.
PROGENITURE Pro*gen"i*ture, n. Etym: [F. progéniture.]
Defn: A begetting, or birth. [R.]
PROGENY Prog"e*ny, n. Etym: [OE. progenie, F. progénie, fr. L. progenies, fr. progignere. See Progenitor.]
Defn: Descendants of the human kind, or offspring of other animals; children; offspring; race, lineage. " Issued from the progeny of kings." Shak.
PROGLOTTID Pro*glot"tid, n. (Zoöl)
Defn: Proglottis.
PROGLOTTIS Pro*glot"tis, n.; pl. Proglottides. Etym: [NL. fr. Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: 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.
PROGNATHI Prog"na*thi, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Prognathous.] (Zoöl)
Defn: A comprehensive group of mankind, including those that have prognathous jaws.
PROGNATHIC Prog*nath"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Prognathous.
PROGNATHISM Prog"na*thism, n. (Anat.)
Defn: Projection of the jaws. -- Prog"na*thy, n.
PROGNATHOUS Prog"na*thous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.
PROGNE Prog"ne, n. Etym: [L., a swallow, traditionally said to be fr. Progne (The sister of Philomela), who was changed into a swallow, Gr. (Zoöl.) (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.
PROGNOSIS Prog*no"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Know.] (Med.)
Defn: 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.
PROGNOSTIC Prog*nos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Prognosis.]
Defn: Indicating something future by signs or symptoms; foreshowing; aiding in prognosis; as, the prognostic symptoms of a disease; prognostic signs.
PROGNOSTIC Prog*nos"tic, n. Etym: [L. prognosticum, Gr. 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.)
Defn: A sign or symptom indicating the course and termination of a disease. Parr.
Syn. -- Sign; omen; presage; token; indication.
PROGNOSTIC Prog*nos"tic, v. t.
Defn: To prognosticate. [Obs.]
PROGNOSTICABLE Prog*nos"tic*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being prognosticated or foretold. Sir T. Browne.
PROGNOSTICATE Prog*nos"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prognosticated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prognosticating.] Etym: [See Prognostic.]
Defn: 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.
PROGNOSTICATION Prog*nos`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prognostication.]
1. The act of foreshowing or foretelling something future by present signs; prediction.
2. That which foreshows; a foretoken. Shak.
PROGNOSTICATOR Prog*nos"ti*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who prognosticates; a foreknower or foreteller of a future course or event by present signs. Isa. xlvii. 13.
PROGRAM Pro"gram, n.
Defn: Same as Programme.
PROGRAMMA Pro*gram"ma, n.; pl. Programmata. Etym: [ L. See Programme.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
PROGRAMME Pro"gramme, n. Etym: [L. programma a public proclamation, manifesto, Gr. programme. See Graphic.]
Defn: 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.
PROGRESS Prog"ress, n. Etym: [L. progressus, from progredi, p. p. progressus, to go forth or forward; pro forward + gradi to step, go: cf. F. progrès. 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.
PROGRESS 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.
PROGRESS Prog"ress (; see Progress, v. i.), v. t.
Defn: To make progress in; to pass through. [Obs.] Milton.
PROGRESSION Pro*gres"sion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: Regular or proportional advance in increase or decrease of numbers; continued proportion, arithmetical, geometrical, or harmonic.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: 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 -- 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 -- Harmonic progression, a progression in which the terms are the reciprocals of quantities in arithmetical progression, as
PROGRESSIONAL Pro*gres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to progression; tending to, or capable of, progress.
PROGRESSIONIST 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.
PROGRESSIST Prog"ress*ist, n.
Defn: One who makes, or holds to, progress; a progressionist.
PROGRESSIVE Pro*gress"ive, a. Etym: [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.
PROGRESSIVE PARTY Progressive party. (U. S. Politics)
Defn: The political party formed, chiefly out of the Republican party, by the adherents of Theodore Roosevelt in the presidential campaign of 1912. The name Progressive party was chosen at the meeting held on Aug. 7, 1912, when the candidates were nominated and the platform adopted. Among the chief articles in the platform are those demanding direct primaries, preferential primaries for presidential nominations, direct election of United States senators, women's suffrage, and recall of judicial decisions in certain cases.
PROGUE Progue, v. i.
Defn: To prog. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.
PROGUE Progue, n.
Defn: A sharp point; a goad. [ Scot. & Local, U. S.] -- v. t.
Defn: To prick; to goad. [ Scot. & Local, U. S.].
PROHEME Pro"heme, n.
Defn: Proem. [Obs.] Chaucer.
PROHIBIT Pro*hib"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prohibited; p. pr. & vb. n. Prohibiting.] Etym: [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.
Note: 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.
PROHIBITER Pro*hib"it*er, n.
Defn: One who prohibits or forbids; a forbidder; an interdicter.
PROHIBITION Pro`hi*bi"tion, n. Etym: [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.
Note: By ellipsis, prohibition is used for the writ itself.
PROHIBITIONIST 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.
PROHIBITIVE Pro*hib"it*ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prohibitif.]
Defn: That prohibits; prohibitory; as, a tax whose effect is prohibitive.
PROHIBITORY Pro*hib"it*o*ry, a. Etym: [L. prohibitorius.]
Defn: 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 (proin), v. t. Etym: [See Prune to trim.]
Defn: 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 Proin, v. i.
Defn: To employed in pruning. [Obs.]
PROJECT Proj"ect, n. Etym: [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.
PROJECT Pro*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Projected; p. pr. & vb. n. Projecting.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PROJECT 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.
PROJECTILE Pro*ject"ile, a. Etym: [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.
PROJECTILE Pro*ject"ile, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
PROJECTION Pro*jec"tion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PROJECTMENT Pro*ject"ment, n.
Defn: Design; contrivance; projection. [Obs.] Clarendon.
PROJECTOR Pro*ject"or, n. Etym: [Cf. F. projeteur.]
Defn: One who projects a scheme or design; hence, one who forms fanciful or chimerical schemes. L'Estrange.
PROJECTURE Pro*jec"ture, n. Etym: [L. projectura: cf. F. projecture.]
Defn: A jutting out beyond a surface.
PROJET Pro`jet", n. Etym: [F. See Project, n.]
Defn: A plan proposed; a draft of a proposed measure; a project.
PROKE Proke, v. i.
Defn: To poke; to thrust. [Obs.] Holland.
PROLAPSE Pro*lapse", n. Etym: [L. prolapsus, fr. prolapsus, p. p. of prolabi to fall forward; pro forward + labi to glide, fall.] (Med.)
Defn: The falling down of a part through the orifice with which it is naturally connected, especially of the uterus or the rectum. Dunglison.
PROLAPSE Pro*lapse", v. i.
Defn: To fall down or out; to protrude.
PROLAPSION Pro*lap"sion, n. Etym: [L. prolapsio.] (Med.)
Defn: Prolapse. [ Written also prolaption.] [Obs.]
PROLAPSUS Pro*lap"sus, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: Prolapse.
PROLATE Pro"late, a. Etym: [L. prolatus, used as p. p. of proferre to bring forth, to extend; pro + latus, p. p. See Pro-, and Tolerate. ]
Defn: 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.
PROLATE Pro*late", v. t.
Defn: To utter; to pronounce. [Obs.] "Foun-der-ed; prolate it right." B. Jonson.
PROLATION Pro*la"tion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A mediæval method of determining of the proportionate duration of semibreves and minims. Busby.
PROLATUM Pro*la"tum, n.; pl. Prolata. Etym: [ NL. See Prolate.] (Geom.)
Defn: A prolate spheroid. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.
PROLEG Pro"leg, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- for, in place of + leg.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the fleshy legs found on the abdominal segments of the larvæ of Lepidoptera, sawflies, and some other insects. Those of Lepidoptera have a circle of hooks. Called also proped, propleg, and falseleg.
PROLEGATE Pro"leg`ate (; 48), n. Etym: [L. prolegatus; pro for + legatus legate.] (Rom. Hist.)
Defn: The deputy or substitute for a legate.
PROLEGOMENARY Prol`e*gom"e*na*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a prolegomenon; preliminary; introductory; prefatory.
PROLEGOMENON Prol`e*gom"e*non, n.; pl. Prolegomena. Etym: [ NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A preliminary remark or observation; an introductory discourse prefixed to a book or treatise. D. Stokes (1659). Sir W. Scott.
PROLEPSIS Pro*lep"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
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.)
Defn: An error in chronology, consisting in an event being dated before the actual time.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
PROLEPTIC; PROLEPTICAL Pro*lep"tic, Pro*lep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. proleptique.]
1. Of or pertaining to prolepsis; anticipative. "A far-seeing or proleptic wisdom." De Quincey.
2. Previous; antecedent. Glanvill.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Anticipating the usual time; -- applied to a periodical disease whose paroxysms return at an earlier hour at every repetition.
PROLEPTICALLY Pro*lep"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a proleptical manner.
PROLEPTICS Pro*lep"tics, n. (Med.)
Defn: The art and science of predicting in medicine. Laycock.
PROLETAIRE Pro`lé`taire", n. Etym: [F. See Proletary.]
Defn: One of the common people; a low person; also, the common people as a class or estate in a country.
PROLETANEOUS Prol`e*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. proletaneus.]
Defn: Having a numerous offspring. [R.]
PROLETARIAN Prol`e*ta"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. proletarius. See Proletary.]
Defn: 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.
Defn: A proletary.
PROLETARIAT Prol`e*ta"ri*at, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The indigent class in the State; the body of proletarians.
PROLETARIATE Prol`e*ta"ri*ate, n.
Defn: The lower classes; beggars. "The Italian proletariate." J. A. Symonds.
PROLETARY Prol"e*ta*ry, n.; pl. Proletaries. Etym: [ L. proletarius, fr. proles offspring. Cf. Prolétaire.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A citizen of the lowest class, who served the state, not with property, but only by having children; hence, a common person.
PROLICIDE Prol"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. proles offspring + caedere to kill.]
Defn: The crime of destroying one's offspring, either in the womb or after birth. Bouvier.
PROLIFERATE Pro*lif"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. proles offspring + ferre to bear.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: To produce or form cells; especially, to produce cells rapidly.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: To produce zooids by budding.
PROLIFERATION Pro*lif`er*a"tion, n.
1. (Biol.)
Defn: The continuous development of cells in tissue formation; cell formation. Virchow.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The production of numerous zooids by budding, especially when buds arise from other buds in succession.
PROLIFEROUS Pro*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. proles offspring + -ferous.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: 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 gemmæ.
2. (Zoöl.) (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.
PROLIFIC Pro*lif"ic, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: Proliferous.
PROLIFICACY Pro*lif"ic*a*cy, n.
Defn: Prolificness. [R.]
PROLIFICAL Pro*lif"ic*al, a.
Defn: Producing young or fruit abundantly; fruitful; prolific. -- Pro*lif"ic*al*ly, adv.
PROLIFICATE Pro*lif"ic*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Prolific.]
Defn: To make prolific; to fertilize; to impregnate. Sir T. Browne.
PROLIFICATION Pro*lif`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prolification, LL. prolificatio.]
1. The generation of young.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Reproduction by the growth of a plant, or part of a plant, directly from an older one, or by gemmæ.
PROLIFICNESS Pro*lif"ic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being prolific; fruitfulness; prolificacy.
PROLIX Pro*lix", a. Etym: [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.
PROLIXIOUS Pro*lix"ious, a.
Defn: Dilatory; tedious; superfluous. [Obs.] "Lay by all nicety, and prolixious blushes." Shak.
PROLIXITY Pro*lix"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. prolixitas: cf. F. prolixité.]
Defn: 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.
PROLIXLY Pro*lix"ly, adv.
Defn: In a prolix manner. Dryden.
PROLIXNESS Pro*lix"ness, n.
Defn: Prolixity. Adam Smith.
PROLL Proll, v. t. Etym: [See Prowl.] [imp. & p. p. Prolled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Prolling.]
Defn: To search or prowl after; to rob; to plunder. [Obs.] Barrow.
PROLL Proll, v. i.
Defn: To prowl about; to rob. [Obs.] South. Though ye prolle aye, ye shall it never find. Chaucer.
PROLLER Proll"er, n.
Defn: Prowler; thief. [Obs.] Chapman.
PROLOCUTOR Prol`o*cu"tor, n. Etym: [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.
PROLOCUTORSHIP Pro`lo*cu"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a prolocutor.
PROLOG Pro"log, n. & v.
Defn: Prologue.
PROLOGIZE Pro"lo*gize, v. i. Etym: [Gr. Prologue.]
Defn: To deliver a Prologue. [R.] Whewell.
PROLOGIZER Pro"lo*gi`zer, n.
Defn: One who prologizes. [R.]
PROLOGUE Pro"logue, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. prologus, fr. Gr. 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.
PROLOGUE Pro"logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prologued; p. pr. & vb. n. Prologuing.]
Defn: To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue. [R.] Shak.
PROLONG Pro*long", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prolonged; p. pr. & vb. n. Prolonging.] Etym: [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.
PROLONGABLE Pro*long"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being prolonged; as, life is prolongable by care. Each syllable being a prolongable quantity. Rush.
PROLONGATE Pro*lon"gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prolongated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prolongating.] Etym: [L. prolongatus, p. p. of prolongare. See Prolong.]
Defn: To prolong; to extend in space or in time. [R.]
PROLONGATION Pro`lon*ga"tion, n. Etym: [F. prolongation.]
1. The act of lengthening in space or in time; extension; protraction. Bacon.
2. That which forms an additional length.
PROLONGE Pro*longe", n. Etym: [F. See Prolong.] (Field Artillery)
Defn: 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.
PROLONGER Pro*long"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, causes an extension in time or space.
PROLONGMENT Pro*long"ment, n.
Defn: Prolongation.
PROLUSION Pro*lu"sion, n. Etym: [L. prolusio, fr. proludere to prelude; pro before + ludere to play: cf. F. prolusion, It. prolusione.]
Defn: 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.
PROMANATION Prom`a*na"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + L. manatio a flowing, fr. manare to flow.]
Defn: The act of flowing forth; emanation; efflux. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
PROMENADE Prom`e*nade", n. Etym: [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.
PROMENADE Prom`e*nade", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Promenaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Promenading.]
Defn: To walk for pleasure, display, or exercise.
PROMENADER Prom`e*nad"er, n.
Defn: One who promenades.
PROMERIT Pro*mer"it, v. t. Etym: [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.
PROMEROPS Prom"e*rops, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
PROMETHEA Pro*me"the*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Prometheus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
PROMETHEAN Pro*me"the*an, a. Etym: [L. Promethus: cf. F. prométhéen.]
1. Of or pertaining to Prometheus. See Prometheus. "Promethean fire." Shak.
2. Having a life-giving quality; inspiring.
PROMETHEAN Pro*me"the*an, n. (Old Chem.) (a) An apparatus for automatic ignition. (b) A kind of lucifer match.
PROMETHEUS Pro*me"the*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: 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.
PROMINENCE; PROMINENCY Prom"i*nence, Prom"i*nen*cy, n. Etym: [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.
PROMINENT Prom"i*nent, a. Etym: [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 (Zoöl.), any moth of the family Notodontidæ; a notodontian; -- so called because the larva has a hump or prominence on its back. Several of the species are injurious to fruit trees.
PROMINENTLY Prom"i*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a prominent manner.
PROMISCUITY Pro`mis*cu"i*ty, n.
Defn: Promiscuousness; confusion. H. Spencer.
PROMISCUOUS Pro*mis"cu*ous, a. Etym: [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.
PROMISCUOUSLY Pro*mis"cu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a promiscuous manner.
PROMISCUOUSNESS Pro*mis"cu*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being promiscuous.
PROMISE Prom"ise, a. Etym: [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)
Defn: 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.
PROMISE 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.
PROMISE 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.
PROMISEE Prom`is*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: The person to whom a promise is made.
PROMISER Prom"is*er, n.
Defn: One who promises.
PROMISING Prom"is*ing, a.
Defn: Making a promise or promises; affording hope or assurance; as, promising person; a promising day. -- Prom"is*ing*ly, adv.
PROMISOR Prom"is*or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who engages or undertakes; a promiser. Burrill.
PROMISSIVE Pro*mis"sive, a.
Defn: Making a promise; implying a promise; promising. [R.]
PROMISSORILY Prom"is*so*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a promissory manner. Sir T. Browne.
PROMISSORY Prom"is*so*ry, a.
Defn: 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.
PROMONT Prom"ont, n.
Defn: Promontory. [R.] Drayton.
PROMONTORY Prom"on*to*ry, n.; pl. Promontories. Etym: [ L. promonturium, promunturium; pro before + mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. promontoire. See Mount, n.]
1. (Phys. Geog.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
PROMORPHOLOGICAL Pro*mor`pho*log"ic*al, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to promorphology; as, a promorphological conception.
PROMORPHOLOGIST Pro`mor*phol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One versed in the science of promorphology.
PROMORPHOLOGY Pro`mor*phol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + morphology.] (Biol.)
Defn: 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.
PROMOTE Pro*mote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Promoting.] Etym: [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.
PROMOTE Pro*mote", v. i.
Defn: To urge on or incite another, as to strife; also, to inform against a person. [Obs.]
PROMOTER 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.
PROMOTION Pro*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. promotio: cf. F. promotion.]
Defn: 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.
PROMOTIVE Pro*mo"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to advance, promote, or encourage. Hume.
PROMOVE Pro*move", v. t. Etym: [See Promote.]
Defn: To move forward; to advance; to promote. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
PROMOVER Pro*mov"er, n.
Defn: A promoter. [Obs.]
PROMPT Prompt, a. [Compar. Prompter; superl. Promptest.] Etym: [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. Any 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 Prompt, n. (Com.)
Defn: 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 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 Prompt"-book` (, n.
Defn: The book used by a prompter of a theater.
PROMPTER 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.
PROMPTITUDE Prompt"i*tude, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. promptitudo. See Prompt, a.]
Defn: 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.
PROMPTLY Prompt"ly, adv.
Defn: In a prompt manner.
PROMPTNESS Prompt"ness, n.
1. Promptitude; readiness; quickness of decision or action.
2. Cheerful willingness; alacrity.
PROMPT-NOTE Prompt"-note`, n. (Com.)
Defn: A memorandum of a sale, and time when payment is due, given to the purchaser at a sale of goods.
PROMPTUARY Promp"tu*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to preparation. [R.] Bacon.
PROMPTUARY Promp"tu*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. promptuarium, fr. promptuarius belonging to distribution, distributing: cf, F. promptuaire. See Prompt, a.]
Defn: That from which supplies are drawn; a storehouse; a magazine; a repository. Woodward.
PROMPTURE Promp"ture, n. Etym: [See Prompt, a.]
Defn: Suggestion; incitement; prompting. [R.] Shak. Coleridge.
PROMULGATE Pro*mul"gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promulgated; p. pr. & vb. n. Promulgating.] Etym: [L. promulgatus, p. p. of promulgare to promulgate; of unknown origin. Cf. Promulge.]
Defn: 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.
PROMULGATION Pro`mul*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. promulgatio: cf. F. promulgation.]
Defn: The act of promulgating; publication; open declaration; as, the promulgation of the gospel. South.
PROMULGATOR Pro"mul*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who promulgates or publishes. Dr. H. More.
PROMULGE Pro*mulge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Promulged; p. pr. & vb. n. Promulging.] Etym: [Cf. F. promulguer. See Promulgate.]
Defn: To promulgate; to publish or teach. Blackstone. Extraordinary doctrines these for the age in which they were promulged. Prescott.
PROMULGER Pro*mul"ger, n.
Defn: One who promulges or publishes what was before unknown. Atterbury.
PROMUSCIS Pro*mus"cis, n. Etym: [L., corruption of proboscis.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The proboscis of hemipterous insects. See Illust. under Hemiptera.
PRONAOS Pro*na"os, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: The porch or vestibule of a temple.
PRONATE Pro"nate, a. Etym: [L. pronatus, p. p. of pronare to bend forward. See Prone.]
Defn: Somewhat prone; inclined; as, pronate trees. Kane.
PRONATION Pro*na"tion, n. Etym: [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.
PRONATOR Pro*na"tor, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which produces pronation.
PRONE Prone, a. Etym: [L. pronus, akin to Gr. 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.
PRONELY Prone"ly, adv.
Defn: In a prone manner or position.
PRONENESS 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.
PRONEPHRIC Pro*neph"ric, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pronephros.
PRONEPHROS; PRONEPHRON Pro*neph"ros, Pro*neph"ron (, n. Etym: [ NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The head kidney. See under Head.
PRONG Prong, n. Etym: [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. (Zoöl.) (a) A sharp projection, as of an antler. (b) The fang of a tooth.
PRONGBUCK Prong"buck`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The springbuck. (b) The pronghorn.
PRONGED Pronged, a.
Defn: Having prongs or projections like the tines of a fork; as, a three-pronged fork.
PRONG-HOE Prong"-hoe`, n.
Defn: A hoe with prongs to break the earth.
PRONGHORN Prong"horn`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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 cabrée, cabut, prongbuck, and pronghorned antelope.
PRONITY Pro"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. pronitas.]
Defn: Proneness; propensity. [R.] Dr. H. More.
PRONOMINAL Pro*nom"i*nal, a. Etym: [L. pronominalis: cf. F. pronominal. See Pronoun.]
Defn: Belonging to, or partaking of the nature of, a pronoun.
PRONOMINALIZE Pro*nom"i*nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To give the effect of a pronoun to; as, to pronominalize the substantives person, people, etc. Early.
PRONOMINALLY Pro*nom"i*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a pronominal manner
PRONONCE Pro`non`cé", a. Etym: [F. See Pronounce.]
Defn: Strongly marked; decided, as in manners, etc.
PRONOTARY Pro*no"ta*ry, n.
Defn: See Prothonotary.
PRONOTUM Pro*no"tum, n.; pl. Pronota. Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Notum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dorsal plate of the prothorax in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.
PRONOUN Pro"noun, n. Etym: [Pref. pro- + noun: cf. F. pronom, L. pronomen. See Noun.] (Gram.)
Defn: 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.
PRONOUNCE Pro*nounce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pronounced; p. pr. & vb. n. Pronounging.] Etym: [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.
PRONOUNCE 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.
PRONOUNCE Pro*nounce", n.
Defn: Pronouncement; declaration; pronunciation. [Obs.] Milton.
PRONOUNCEABLE Pro*nounce"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. L. pronunciabilis declarative.]
Defn: Capable of being pronounced.
PRONOUNCED Pro*nounced", a. Etym: [F. prononcé.]
Defn: Strongly marked; unequivocal; decided.
Note: [A Gallicism] [His] views became every day more pronounced. Thackeray.
PRONOUNCEMENT Pro*nounce"ment, n.
Defn: The act of pronouncing; a declaration; a formal announcement.
PRONOUNCER Pro*noun"cer, n.
Defn: One who pronounces, utters, or declares; also, a pronouncing book.
PRONOUNCING Pro*noun"cing, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or indicating, pronunciation; as, a pronouncing dictionary.
PRONUBIAL Pro*nu"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. pronuba bridesmaid; pro before + nubere to marry.]
Defn: Presiding over marriage. [R.]
PRONUCLEUS Pro*nu"cle*us, n.; pl. Pronuclei (-i). Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Nucleus.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the two bodies or nuclei (called male and female pronuclei) which unite to form the first segmentation nucleus of an impregnated ovum.
Note: 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 spermatozoön 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.
PRONUNCIAL Pro*nun"cial, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pronunciation; pronunciative.
PRONUNCIAMENTO Pro*nun`ci*a*men"to, n.
Defn: A proclamation or manifesto; a formal announcement or declaration.
PRONUNCIAMIENTO Pro*nun`ci*a`mi"en"to, n. Etym: [Sp. See Pronounce.]
Defn: See Pronunciamento.
PRONUNCIATION Pro*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: The art of manner of uttering a discourse publicly with propriety and gracefulness; -- now called delivery. J. Q. Adams.
PRONUNCIATIVE Pro*nun"ci*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. pronunciativus.]
1. Of or pertaining to pronunciation.
2. Uttering confidently; dogmatical. [Obs.] Bacon.
PRONUNCIATOR Pro*nun"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L., a reciter.]
Defn: One who pronounces; a pronouncer.
PRONUNCIATORY Pro*nun"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to pronunciation; that pronounces.
PROOF Proof, n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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.)
Defn: A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; -- called also proof sheet.
6. (Math.)
Defn: 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 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 60º Fahrenheit being of specific gravity 0.7939 referred to water at its maximum density as unity. Proof spirit has at 60º 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 51º Fahrenheit weigh exactly the 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 coin or proof, a coin which has been specially struck, to produce the finest specimen of its type.