Praam, n. [D. praam; cf. G. prahm, F. prame; all of Slavonic origin, from a word akin to E. fare. See Fare.] (Naut.) A flat- bottomed boat or lighter, — used in Holland and the Baltic, and sometimes armed in case of war. [Written also pram, and prame.]
Practic
Prac´tic, a. [See Practical.]
1. Practical.
2. Artful; deceitful; skillful. [Obs.] "Cunning sleights and practick knavery." Spenser.
Practicable
Prac´ti•ca•ble, a. [LL. practicare to act, transact, fr. L. practicus active, Gr. : cf. F. practicable, pratiquer to practice. See Practical.]
1. That may be practiced or performed; capable of being done or accomplished with available means or resources; feasible; as a practicable method; a practicable aim; a practicable good.
2. Capable of being used; passable; as a practicable weapon; a practicable road. Practicable breach (Mil.), a breach which admits of approach and entrance by an assailing party.
Syn. — Possible; feasible. — Practicable, Possible. A thing may be possible, i. e., not forbidden by any law of nature, and yet may not now be practicable for want of the means requisite to its performance. — Prac´ti•ca•ble•ness, n. — Prac´ti•ca•bly, adv.
Practical
Prac´ti•cal, a. [L. practicus active, Gr. fit for doing or performing, practical, active, fr. to do, work, effect: cf. F. pratique, formerly also practique. Cf. Pragmatic, Practice.]
1. Of or pertaining to practice or action.
2. Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from ideal or theoretical; as practical chemistry. "Man’s practical understanding." South. "For all practical purposes." Macaulay.
3. Evincing practice or skill; capable of applying knowledge to some useful end; as a practical man; a practical mind.
4. Derived from practice; as practical skill. Practical joke, a joke put in practice; a joke the fun of which consists in something done, in distinction from something said; esp., a trick played upon a person.
Practicality
Prac•ti•cal´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being practical; practicalness.
Practice
Prac´tice, n. [OE. praktike, practique, F. pratique, formerly also practique, LL. practica, fr. Gr., fr. practical. See Practical, and cf. Pratique, Pretty.]
1. Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.
"A heart … exercised with covetous practices." 2 Pet. ii. 14.
2. Customary or constant use; state of being used.
"Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in practice." Dryden.
3. Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak.
4. Actual performance; application of knowledge; — opposed to theory.
"There are two functions of the soul, — contemplation and practice." South.
"There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory." Sir W. Hamilton.
5. Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.
6. Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice.
"Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art." Sir W. Hamilton.
7. Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; — usually in a bad sense. [Obs.] Bacon.
"He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer." Sir P. Sidney.
8. (Math.) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
9. (Law) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. Bouvier.
Syn. — Custom; usage; habit; manner.
Practice
Prac´tice, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Practiced p. pr. & vb. n. Practicing ] [Often written practise, practised, practising.]
1. To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as to practice gaming. "Incline not my heart … practice wicked works." Ps. cxli. 4.
2. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as to practice law or medicine.
2. To exercise one’s self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as to practice gunnery; to practice music.
4. To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do. "Aught but Talbot’s shadow whereon to practice your severity." Shak.
"As this advice ye practice or neglect." Pope.
5. To make use of; to employ. [Obs.]
"In malice to this good knight’s wife, I practiced Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her." Massinger.
6. To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
"In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practiced to love their neighbor." Landor.
Practico
Prac´ti•co, n. ; pl. Practicos (#). [Sp., lit., experienced, skilled. Cf. Practical.] A guide. [Cuba & Phil. Islands] D. C. Worcester.
Practisant
Prac´ti•sant, n. An agent or confederate in treachery. [Obs.] Shak.
Practise
Prac´tise, v. t. & i. See Practice. The analogy of the English language requires that the noun and verb which are pronounced alike should agree in spelling. Thus we have notice (n. & v.), noticed, noticing, noticer; poultice (n. & v.); apprentice (n. & v.); office (n. & v.), officer (n.); lattice (n.), latticed (a.); benefice (n.), beneficed (a.), etc. Cf. sacrifice (; n. & v.), surmise (; n. & v.), promise (; n. & v.); compromise (; n. & v.), etc. Contrast advice (; n.), and advise ; device, and devise, etc.
Practitioner
Prac•ti´tion•er, n. [From Practician.]
1. One who is engaged in the actual use or exercise of any art or profession, particularly that of law or medicine. Crabbe.
2. One who does anything customarily or habitually.
3. A sly or artful person. Whitgift. General practitioner. See under General, 2.
Praecava
Prae´ca•va, n. [NL. See Pre-, and 1st Cave.] (Anat.) The superior vena cava. — Prae´ca•val (#), a. B. G. Wilder.
Praecipe
Praec´i•pe, n. [L., imperative of praecipere to give rules or precepts. See Precept.] (Law) (a) A writ commanding something to be done, or requiring a reason for neglecting it. (b) A paper containing the particulars of a writ, lodged in the office out of which the writ is to be issued. Wharton.
Praecoces
Prae´co•ces, n. pl. [NL. See Precocious.] (Zoöl.) A division of birds including those whose young are able to run about when first hatched.
Praecocial
Prae•co´cial, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Praecoces.
Praecognita
Prae•cog´ni•ta, n. pl. [L. praecognitus, p. p. of praecognoscere to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.] This previously known, or which should be known in order to understand something else.
Praecornu
Prae•cor´nu, n. ; pl. Praecornua (#). [NL. See Pre-, and Cornu.] (Anat.) The anterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.
Praefloration
Prae•flo•ra´tion, n. Same as Prefloration. Gray.
Praefoliation
Prae•fo•li•a´tion, n. Same as Prefoliation. Gray.
Praemunire
Praem•u•ni´re, n. [Corrupted from L. praemonere to forewarn, cite. See Admonish.] (Eng. Law) (a) The offense of introducing foreign authority into England, the penalties for which were originally intended to depress the civil power of the pope in the kingdom. (b) The writ grounded on that offense. Wharton. (c) The penalty ascribed for the offense of praemunire.
"Wolsey incurred a praemunire, and forfeited his honor, estate, and life." South. The penalties of praemunire were subsequently applied to many other offenses; but prosecutions upon a praemunire are at this day unheard of in the English courts. Blackstone.
Praemunire
Praem•u•ni´re, v. t.
1. To subject to the penalties of praemunire. [Obs.] T. Ward.
Praenares
Prae•na´res, n. pl. [NL. See Pre-, Nares.] (Anat.) The anterior nares. See Nares. B. G. Wilder.
Praenominical
Prae•no•min´ic•al, a. Of or pertaining to a praenomen. [Obs.] M. A. Lower.
Praeoperculum
Prae•o•per´cu•lum, n. [NL.] (Anat.) Same as Preoperculum. — Prae•o•per´cu•lar, a.
Praeoral
Prae•o´ral, n. , Prae•pu´bis, n. , Prae•scap´u•la, n. , Prae•scu´tum, n. , Prae•ster´num, n. Same as Preoral, Prepubis, Prescapula, etc.
Praetores
Prae•to´res, n. pl. [NL. See Pretor.] (Zoöl.) A division of butterflies including the satyrs.
Praezygapophysis
Prae•zyg•a•poph´y•sis, n. (Anat.) Same as Prezygapophysis. { Prag•mat´ic, Prag•mat´ic•al } a. [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr., fr. a thing done, business, fr. to do: cf. F. pragmatique. See Practical.]
1. Of or pertaining to business or to affairs; of the nature of business; practical; material; businesslike in habit or manner.
"The next day … I began to be very pragmatical." Evelyn.
"We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical, abroad; but have need of some delightful intermissions." Milton.
"Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel." Hare.
2. Busy; specifically, busy in an objectionable way; officious; fussy and positive; meddlesome. "Pragmatical officers of justice." Sir W. Scott.
"The fellow grew so pragmatical that he took upon him the government of my whole family." Arbuthnot.
3. Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; — said of literature. "Pragmatic history." Sir W. Hamilton. "Pragmatic poetry." M. Arnold.Pragmatic sanction, a solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head or legislature of a state upon weighty matters; — a term derived from the Byzantine empire. In European history, two decrees under this name are particularly celebrated. One of these, issued by Charles VII. of France, A. D. 1438, was the foundation of the liberties of the Gallican church; the other, issued by Charles VI. of Germany, A. D. 1724, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the Archduchess Maria Theresa.
Pragmatically
Prag•mat´ic•al•ly, adv. In a pragmatical manner.
Pragmaticalness
Prag•mat´ic•al•ness, n. The quality or state of being pragmatical.
Prairial
Prai•ri•al´, n. [F., fr. prairie meadow.] The ninth month of the French Republican calendar, which dated from September 22, 1792. It began May, 20, and ended June 18. See Vendemiaire.
Prairie
Prai´rie, n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie, LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.]
1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains.
"From the forests and the prairies,
From the great lakes of the northland." Longfellow.
2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow. Prairie chicken (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.
Praise, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Praised p. pr. & vb. n. Praising.] [OE. preisen, OF. preisier, prisier, F. priser, L. pretiare to prize, fr. pretium price. See Price, n. , and cf. Appreciate, Praise, n. , Prize, v. ]
1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to laud; — applied to a person or his acts. "I praise well thy wit." Chaucer.
"Let her own works praise her in the gates." Prov. xxxi. 31.
"We praise not Hector, though his name, we know,
Is great in arms; ’t is hard to praise a foe." Dryden.
2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the excellence of; — applied especially to the Divine Being.
"Praise ye him, all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts!" Ps. cxlviii. 2.
3. To value; to appraise. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Syn. — To commend; laud; eulogize; celebrate; glorify; magnify. — To Praise, Applaud, Extol. To praise is to set at high price; to applaud is to greet with clapping; to extol is to bear aloft, to exalt. We may praise in the exercise of calm judgment; we usually applaud from impulse, and on account of some specific act; we extol under the influence of high admiration, and usually in strong, if not extravagant, language.
Praise, n. [OE. preis, OF. preis price, worth, value, estimation. See Praise, v. , Price.]
1. Commendation for worth; approval expressed; honor rendered because of excellence or worth; laudation; approbation.
"There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice." Rambler. Praise may be expressed by an individual, and thus differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are always the expression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation.
2. Especially, the joyful tribute of gratitude or homage rendered to the Divine Being; the act of glorifying or extolling the Creator; worship, particularly worship by song, distinction from prayer and other acts of worship; as a service of praise.
3. The object, ground, or reason of praise.
"He is thy praise, and he is thy God." Deut. x..
Syn. — Encomium; honor; eulogy; panegyric; plaudit; applause; acclaim; eclat; commendation; laudation.
Praise-meeting
Praise´-meet••ing, n. A religious service mainly in song. [Local, U. S.]
Praiseworthily
Praise´wor•thi•ly, adv. In a praiseworthy manner. Spenser.
Praiseworthiness
Praise´wor•thi•ness, n. The quality or state of being praiseworthy.
Prakritic
Pra•krit´ic, a. Pertaining to Prakrit. { Pram, Prame }, n. (Naut.) See Praam.
Prance, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Pranced p. pr. & vb. n. Prancing ] [OE. prauncen; probably akin to prank, v. t. See Prank.]
1. To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle.
"Now rule thy prancing steed." Gay.
2. To ride on a prancing horse; to ride in an ostentatious manner.
"The insulting tyrant prancing o’er the field." Addison.
3. To walk or strut about in a pompous, showy manner, or with warlike parade. Swift.
Prancer
Pran´cer, n. A horse which prances.
"Then came the captain … upon a brave prancer." Evelyn.
Prandial
Pran´di•al, a. [L. prandium a repast.] Of or pertaining to a repast, especially to dinner.
Prank, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pranked p. pr. & vb. n. Pranking.] [Cf. E. prink, also G. prangen, prunken, to shine, to make a show, Dan. prange, prunke, Sw. prunka, D. pronken.] To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously; — often followed by up; as to prank up the body. See Prink.
"In sumptuous tire she joyed herself to prank." Spenser.
Prank, v. i. To make ostentatious show.
"White houses prank where once were huts." M. Arnold.
Pranker
Prank´er, n. One who dresses showily; a prinker. "A pranker or a dancer." Burton.
Prasoid
Pra´soid, a. [Gr. leek + - oid.] (Min.) Resembling prase.
Prate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating.] [Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel. prata.] To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble.
"To prate and talk for life and honor." Shak.
"And make a fool presume to prate of love." Dryden.
Pratique
Prat´ique, n. [F.; cf. It. pratica, Sp. practica. See Practice.]
1. (Com.) Primarily, liberty of converse; intercourse; hence, a certificate, given after compliance with quarantine regulations, permitting a ship to land passengers and crew; — a term used particularly in the south of Europe.
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 ] [Freq. of prate.] 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. To utter as prattle; to babble; as to prattle treason. Addison.
Praxis
Prax´is, n. [NL., fr. Gr., fr. to do. See Practice.]
1. Use; practice; especially, exercise or discipline for a specific purpose or object. "The praxis and theory of music." Wood.
2. An example or form of exercise, or a collection of such examples, for practice.
Pray, n. & v. See Pry. [Obs.] Spenser.
Pray, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prayed p. pr. & vb. n. Praying.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frinan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraíhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.] To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.
" And to his goddess pitously he preyde." Chaucer.
"When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matt. vi. 6.I pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; — used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as Pray, allow me to go.
"I pray, sir. why am I beaten?" Shak.
Syn. — To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.
Pray, v. t.
1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.
"And as this earl was preyed, so did he." Chaucer.
"We pray you … by ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. v. 20.
2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
"I know not how to pray your patience." Shak.
3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as to pray a soul out of purgatory. Milman. To pray in aid. (Law) (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause. Bacon. (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid. Mozley & W.
Prayer
Pray´er, n. One who prays; a supplicant.
Prayer (; 277), n. [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.
Praying
Pray´ing, 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.
Pre- [L. prae, adv. & prep., before, akin to pro, and to E. for, prep.: cf. F. pre-. See Pro-, and cf. Prior.] A prefix denoting priority (of time, place, or rank); as precede, to go before; precursor, a forerunner; prefix, to fix or place before; preëminent eminent before or above others. Pre- is sometimes used intensively, as in prepotent, very potent. [Written also prae-.]
Preach, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Preached p. pr. & vb. n. Preaching.] [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, n. [Cf. F. prêche, fr. prêcher. See Preach, v. ] A religious discourse. [Obs.] Hooker.
Preachership
Preach´er•ship, n. The office of a preacher. "The preachership of the Rolls." Macaulay.
Preaching
Preach´ing, n. The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of sermonizing; also a sermon; a public religious discourse; serious, earnest advice. Milner. Preaching cross, a cross, sometimes surmounting a pulpit, erected out of doors to designate a preaching place. — Preaching friars. See Dominican.
Preachman
Preach´man, n. ; pl. Preachmen . A preacher; — so called in contempt. [Obs.] Howell.
Preachment
Preach´ment, n. A religious harangue; a sermon; — used derogatively. Shak.
Preacquaint
Pre•ac•quaint´, v. t. To acquaint previously or beforehand. Fielding.
Preacquaintance
Pre•ac•quaint´ance, n. Previous acquaintance or knowledge. Harris.
Preact
Pre•act´, v. t. To act beforehand; to perform previously.
Preadamitic
Pre•ad•am•it´ic, a. Existing or occurring before Adam; preadamic; as preadamitic periods.
Preadministration
Pre•ad•min•is•tra´tion, n. Previous administration. Bp. Pearson.
Preadmonition
Pre•ad•mo•ni´tion, n. Previous warning or admonition; forewarning.
Preadvertise
Pre•ad•ver•tise´, v. t. To advertise beforehand; to preannounce publicly.
Preamble
Pre´am•ble, n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. preambule. See Amble.] A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.
Preambulate
Pre•am´bu•late, v. i. [L. praeambulare. See Preamble.] To walk before. [R.] Jordan.
Preambulous
Pre•am´bu•lous, a. [See Preamble, n. ] See Perambulatory. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Preannounce
Pre•an•nounce´, v. t. To announce beforehand. Coleridge.
Preaortic
Pre•a•or´tic, a. (Anat.) In front, or on the ventral side, of the aorta.
Preappoint
Pre•ap•point´, v. t. To appoint previously, or beforehand. Carlyle.
Prease, v. t. & i. To press; to crowd. [Obs.] — n. A press; a crowd. [Obs.] Spenser.
Preassurance
Pre•as•sur´ance, n. Previous assurance. Coleridge.
Preaudience
Pre•au´di•ence, n. (Eng. Law) Precedence of rank at the bar among lawyers. Blackstone.
Prebend
Preb´end (preb"end), n. [F. prebende (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.
Prebendary
Preb´en•da•ry (preb"en•da•ry), n. [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prebendaire. 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. The office of a prebendary.
Precalculate
Pre•cal´cu•late, v. t. To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.
Precant
Pre´cant, n. [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.] One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.
Precarious
Pre•ca´ri•ous, a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.]
1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as precarious privileges. Addison.
2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. "Intervals of partial and precarious liberty." Macaulay.
Syn. — Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. — Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties. — Pre•ca´ri•ous•ly, adv. — Pre•ca´ri•ous•ness, n.
Precation
Pre•ca´tion, n. [L. precatio.] The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton. { Prec´a•tive, Prec´a•to•ry } a. [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.] Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins.Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; — in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.
Precaution
Pre•cau´tion, n. [F. precation, 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.
Precedaneous
Pre•ce•da´ne•ous, a. Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.] Hammond.
Precede
Pre•cede´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding.] [L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. preceder. See Pre-, and Cede.]
1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin." Milton.
2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.
3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; — used with by or with before the instrumental object. [R.]
"It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration." Kent. { Pre•ced´ence, Pre•ced´en•cy } n. [Cf. F. precedence. 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. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. precedent. See Precede.] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon. Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.
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) 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.
Preceding
Pre•ced´ing, a.
1. Going before; — opposed to following.
2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.
Precel
Pre•cel´, v. t. & i. [See Precellence.] To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.] Howell. { Pre•cel´lence, Pre•cel´len•cy } n. [L. praecellentia, from praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence.] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.
Precellent
Pre•cel´lent, a. [L. praecellens, p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.
Precentor
Pre•cen´tor, n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; — called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b) The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.
Precentorship
Pre•cen´tor•ship, n. The office of a precentor.
Precept
Pre´cept, n. [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. precepte. See Pre-, and Capacious.]
1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.
"For precept must be upon precept." Isa. xxviii. 10.
"No arts are without their precepts." Dryden.
2. (Law) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.
Syn. — Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine.
Preception
Pre•cep´tion, n. [L. praeceptio.] A precept. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Preceptor
Pre•cep´tor, n. [L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. precepteur. 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. Of or pertaining to a preceptor.
Preceptory
Pre•cep´to•ry ( 277), a. Preceptive. "A law preceptory." Anderson (1573).
Preceptory
Pre•cep´to•ry, n. ; pl. Preceptories (#). [LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor.] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n. , 2.
Preceptress
Pre•cep´tress, n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.
Precession
Pre•ces´sion, n. [L. praecedere, praecessum, to go before: cf. F. precession. See Precede.] The act of going before, or forward. Lunisolar precession. (Astron.) See under Lunisolar. — Planetary precession, that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. — Precession of the equinoxes (Astron.), the slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2″ 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.
Precessor
Pre•ces´sor, n. [L. praecessor.] A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.
Precinct
Pre´cinct ( 277), n. [LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture.]
1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; — often in the plural; as the precincts of a state. "The precincts of light." Milton.
2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as an election precinct; a school precinct.
3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]
"The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice." Laws of Massachusetts.
Preciosity
Pre•ci•os´i•ty, n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Precious
Pre´cious, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. precieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.]
1. Of great price; costly; as a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.
2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as precious recollections.
"She is more precious than rules." Prov. iii. 15.
"Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid." Hooker. Also used ironically; as a precious rascal.
3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]
"Lest that precious folk be with me wroth." Chaucer. Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. — Precious stones, gems; jewels.
Precious
Pre´cious, a. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Precieuse, Preciosity.
"Lest that precious folk be with me wroth." Chaucer.
"Elaborate embroidery of precious language." Saintsbury.
Preciousness
Pre´cious•ness, n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.
Precipice
Prec´i•pice, n. [F. precipice, 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. [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.] Commanding; directing.
Precipitability
Pre•cip•i•ta•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being precipitable.
Precipitable
Pre•cip´i•ta•ble, a. Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate, n. (Chem.) { Pre•cip´i•tance, Pre•cip´i•tan•cy } n. [From Precipitant.] The quality or state of being precipitant, or precipitate; headlong hurry; excessive or rash haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or executing a purpose; precipitation; as the precipitancy of youth. "Precipitance of judgment." I. Watts.
Precipitant
Pre•cip´i•tant, a. [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of praecipitare: cf. F. precipitant. 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.
Precipitantly
Pre•cip´i•tant•ly, adv. With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner. Milton.
Precipitantness
Pre•cip´i•tant•ness, n. The quality or state of being precipitant; precipitation.
Precipitate
Pre•cip´i•tate, a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.]
1. Overhasty; rash; as the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.
2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as a precipitate measure. "The rapidity of our too precipitate course." Landor.
3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong.
"Precipitate the furious torrent flows." Prior.
4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as a precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
Precipitate
Pre•cip´i•tate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Precipitated p. pr. & vb. n. Precipitating.]
1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height.
"She and her horse had been precipitated to the pebbled region of the river." W. Irving.
2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as precipitate a journey, or a conflict.
"Back to his sight precipitates her steps." Glover.
"If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous." Bacon.
3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in the form of a precipitate; as water precipitates camphor when in solution with alcohol.
"The light vapor of the preceding evening had been precipitated by the cold." W. Irving.
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.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.
Precipitately
Pre•cip´i•tate•ly, adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift.
Precipitious
Prec•i•pi´tious, a. Precipitous. [Obs.] — Prec•i•pi´tious•ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Precipitous
Pre•cip´i•tous, a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.]
1. Steep, like a precipice; as a precipitous cliff or mountain.
2. Headlong; as precipitous fall.
3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. "Marian’s low, precipitous •Hush!’" Mrs. Browning. — Pre•cip´i•tous•ly, adv. — Pre•cip´i•tous•ness, n.
Precis
Pre•cis´ (pra•se"), n. [F. See Precise.] A concise or abridged statement or view; an abstract; a summary.
Precise
Pre•cise´, a. [L. praecisus cut off, brief, concise, p. p. of praecidere to cut off in front, to cut off; prae before + caedere to cut: cf. F. precis. 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.
Precision
Pre•ci´sion, n. [Cf. F. precision, L. praecisio a cutting off. See Precise.] The quality or state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness.
"I have left out the utmost precisions of fractions." Locke.
Syn. — Preciseness; exactness; accuracy; nicety. — Precision, Preciseness. Precision is always used in a good sense; as precision of thought or language; precision in military evolutions. Preciseness is sometimes applied to persons or their conduct in a disparaging sense, and precise is often used in the same way.
Preclude
Pre•clude´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Precluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Precluding.] [L. praecludere, praeclusum; prae before + claudere to shut. See Close, v. ]
1. To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede.
"The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins." E. Darwin.
2. To shut out by anticipative action; to prevent or hinder by necessary consequence or implication; to deter action of, access to, employment of, etc.; to render ineffectual; to obviate by anticipation.
"This much will obviate and preclude the objections." Bentley.
Preclusion
Pre•clu´sion, n. [L. praeclusio. See Preclude.] The act of precluding, or the state of being precluded; a shutting out.
Precocious
Pre•co´cious, a. [L. praecox, -ocis, and praecoquus, fr. praecoquere to cook or ripen beforehand; prae before + coquere to cook. See 3d Cook, and cf. Apricot.]
1. Ripe or mature before the proper or natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed; as precocious trees. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding what is to be expected of one’s years; too forward; — used especially of mental forwardness; as a precocious child; precocious talents.
Precoetanean
Pre•co•e•ta´ne•an, n. One contemporary with, but older than, another. [Obs.] Fuller.
Precogitate
Pre•cog´i•tate, v. t. [L. praecogitatus, p. p. of praecogitare. See Pre-, and Cogitate.] To cogitate beforehand. [R.] Sherwood.
Precogitation
Pre•cog•i•ta´tion, n. [L. praecogitatio.] Previous cogitation. [R.] Bailey.
Precognition
Pre•cog•ni´tion, n. [L. praecognitio, fr. praecognoscere to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.]
1. Previous cognition. Fotherby.
2. (Scots Law) A preliminary examination of a criminal case with reference to a prosecution. Erskine.
Precollection
Pre•col•lec´tion, n. A collection previously made. [R.]
Precompose
Pre•com•pose´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Precomposed p. pr. & vb. n. Precomposing.] To compose beforehand. Johnson.
Preconceit
Pre•con•ceit´, n. An opinion or notion formed beforehand; a preconception. Hooker.
Preconceive
Pre•con•ceive´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preconceived p. pr. & vb. n. Preconceiving.] To conceive, or form an opinion of, beforehand; to form a previous notion or idea of.
"In a dead plain the way seemeth the longer, because the eye hath preconceived it shorter than the truth." Bacon.
Preconception
Pre•con•cep´tion, n. The act of preconceiving; conception or opinion previously formed.
Preconcert
Pre•con•cert´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preconcerting.] To concert or arrange beforehand; to settle by previous agreement.
Preconcert
Pre•con´cert, n. Something concerted or arranged beforehand; a previous agreement.
Preconcertion
Pre•con•cer´tion, n. The act of preconcerting; preconcert. Dr. T. Dwight.
Precondemn
Pre•con•demn, v. t. To condemn beforehand. — Pre•con•dem•na´tion (#), n.
Precondition
Pre•con•di´tion, n. A previous or antecedent condition; a preliminary condition.
Preconform
Pre•con•form´, v. t. & i. To conform by way anticipation. De Quincey.
Preconformity
Pre•con•form´i•ty, n. Anticipative or antecedent conformity. Coleridge.
Preconize
Pre´con•ize, v. t. (Eccl.) To approve by preconization.
Preconquer
Pre•con´quer, v. t. To conquer in anticipation. [R.] Fuller.
Preconscious
Pre•con´´scious, a. Of or pertaining to a state before consciousness.
Preconsign
Pre•con•sign´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preconsigned p. pr. & vb. n. Preconsigning.] To consign beforehand; to make a previous consignment of.
Preconsolidated
Pre•con•sol´i•da•ted, a. Consolidated beforehand.
Preconstitute
Pre•con´sti•tute, v. t. To constitute or establish beforehand.
Precontract
Pre•con•tract´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Precontracted; p. pr. & vb. n. Precontracting.] To contract, engage, or stipulate previously.
Precontract
Pre•con•tract´, v. i. To make a previous contract or agreement. Ayliffe.
Precontrive
Pre•con•trive´, v. t. & i. To contrive or plan beforehand.
Precurse
Pre•curse´, n. [L. praecursus.] A forerunning. [Obs.] Shak.
Precursor
Pre•cur´sor, n. [L. praecursor, fr. praecurrere to run before; prae before + currere to run. See Course.] One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger.
"Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul." Buckminster.
Syn. — Predecessor; forerunner; harbinger; messenger; omen; sign.
Precursorship
Pre•cur´sor•ship, n. The position or condition of a precursor. Ruskin.
Predacean
Pre•da´cean, n. [L. praeda prey.] (Zoöl.) A carnivorous animal. Kirby.
Predaceous
Pre•da´ceous, a. [L. praeda prey. See Prey.] Living by prey; predatory. Derham.
Predal
Pre´dal, a. [L. praeda prey.] Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] Boyse.
Predation
Pre•da´tion, n. [L. praedatio, fr. praedari to plunder.] The act of pillaging. E. Hall.
Predatory
Pred´a•to•ry, a. [L. praedatorius, fr. praedari to plunder, fr. praeda prey. See Prey.]
1. Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." Macaulay.
2. Hungry; ravenous; as predatory spirits. [Obs.]
"Exercise … maketh the spirits more hot and predatory." Bacon.
3. (Zoöl.) Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.
Prede, v. i. [L. praedari. See Prey.] To prey; to plunder. [Obs.] Holinshed.
Predecease
Pre•de•cease, v. t. To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." Shak.
Predecease
Pre´de•cease, n. The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] Brougham.
Predecessive
Pred•e•ces´sive, a. Going before; preceding. "Our predecessive students." Massinger.
Predecessor
Pred•e•ces´sor ( 277), n. [L. praedecessor; prae before + decessor one who withdraws from the province he has governed, a retiring officer (with reference to his successor), a predecessor, fr. decedere: cf. F. predecesseur. See Decease.] One who precedes; one who has preceded another in any state, position, office, etc.; one whom another follows or comes after, in any office or position.
"A prince who was as watchful as his predecessor had been over the interests of the state." Prescott.
Predeclare
Pre•de•clare´, v. t. To declare or announce beforehand; to preannounce. Milman.
Prededication
Pre•ded•i•ca´tion, n. A dedication made previously or beforehand.
Predeliberation
Pre•de•lib•er•a´tion, n. Previous deliberation.
Predesign
Pre•de•sign´, v. t. To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine. Mitford.
Predestinarianism
Pre•des•ti•na´ri•an•ism, n. The system or doctrine of the predestinarians.
Predestinary
Pre•des´ti•na•ry, a. Predestinarian. [Obs.] Heylin.
Predestinate
Pre•des´ti•nate, a. [L. praedestinatus, p. p. of praedestinare to predestine; prae before + destinare to determine. See Destine.] Predestinated; foreordained; fated. "A predestinate scratched face." Shak.
Predestinate
Pre•des´ti•nate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predestinated p. pr. & vb. n. Predestinating.] [Cf. Predestine.] To predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose or decree; to 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. [L. praedestinatio: cf. F. predestination.]
1. The act of predestinating.
"Predestination had overruled their will." Milton.
2. (Theol.) The purpose of Good from eternity respecting all events; especially, the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery. See Calvinism.
Predestinative
Pre•des´ti•na•tive, a. Determining beforehand; predestinating. [R.] Coleridge.
Predestine
Pre•des´tine, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predestined p. pr. & vb. n. Predestining.] [Cf. F. predestiner. See Predestinate.] To decree beforehand; to foreordain; to predestinate. Young.
Predeterminable
Pre•de•ter´mi•na•ble, a. Capable of being determined beforehand. Coleridge.
Predeterminate
Pre•de•ter´mi•nate, a. Determined beforehand; as the predeterminate counsel of God.
Predetermine
Pre•de•ter´mine, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predetermined p. pr. & vb. n. Predermining.] [Pref. pre- + determine: cf. F. predeterminer.]
1. To determine (something) beforehand. Sir M. Hale.
2. To doom by previous decree; to foredoom.
Predicable
Pred´i•ca•ble, a. [Cf. F. predicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See Predicate.] Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable.
Predicament
Pre•dic´a•ment, n. [Cf. F. predicament, L. praedicamentum. See Predicate.]
1. A class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, an unfortunate or trying position or condition. "O woeful sympathy; piteous predicament!" Shak.
2. (Logic) See Category.
Syn. — Category; condition; state; plight.
Predicamental
Pre•dic•a•men´tal, a. Of or pertaining to a predicament. John Hall (1646).
Predicant
Pred´i•cant, a. [L. praedicans, -antis, p. pr. of praedicare. See Predicate.] Predicating; affirming; declaring; proclaiming; hence; preaching. "The Roman predicant orders." N. Brit. Rev.
Predicate
Pred´i•cate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predicated p. pr. & vb. n. Predicating.] [L. praedicatus, p. p. of praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim. See Preach.]
1. To assert to belong to something; to affirm (one thing of another); as to predicate whiteness of snow.
2. To found; to base. [U.S.] Predicate is sometimes used in the United States for found or base; as to predicate an argument on certain principles; to predicate a statement on information received. Predicate is a term in logic, and used only in a single case, namely, when we affirm one thing of another. "Similitude is not predicated of essences or substances, but of figures and qualities only." Cudworth.
Predicate
Pred´i•cate, n. [L. praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p. praedicare: cf. F. predicat. See Predicate, v. t.]
1. (Logic) That which is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, "Paper is white," "Ink is not white," whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink.
2. (Gram.) The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.
Syn. — Affirmation; declaration.
Predicate
Pred´i•cate, a. [L. praedicatus, p. p.] Predicated.
Predicatory
Pred´i•ca•to•ry, a. [Cf. L. praedicatorius praising.] Affirmative; positive. Bp. Hall.
Predict
Pre•dict´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Predicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Predicting.] [L. praedictus, p. p. of praedicere to predict; prae before + dicere to say, tell. See Diction, and cf. Preach.] To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.
Syn. — To foretell; prophesy; prognosticate; presage; forebode; foreshow; bode.
Predigest
Pre•di•gest´, v. t. (Med.) To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.
Predilect
Pre•di•lect´, v. t. To elect or choose beforehand. [R.] Walter Harte.
Predilection
Pre•di•lec´tion, n. [Pref. pre- + L. dilectus, p. p. diligere to prefer: cf. F. predilection. See Diligent.] A previous liking; a prepossession of mind in favor of something; predisposition to choose or like; partiality. Burke.
Predisponency
Pre•dis•po´nen•cy, n. The state of being predisposed; predisposition. [R.]
Predisponent
Pre•dis•po´nent, a. Disposing beforehand; predisposing. — n. 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.] [Pref. pre- + dispose: cf. F. predisposer.]
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.
Predominant
Pre•dom´i•nant, a. [Cf. F. predominant. See Predominante.] Having the ascendency over others; superior in strength, influence, or authority; prevailing; as a predominant color; predominant excellence.
"Those help … were predominant in the king’s mind." Bacon.
"Foul subordination is predominant." Shak.
Syn. — Prevalent; superior; prevailing; ascendant; ruling; reigning; controlling; overruling.
Predominantly
Pre•dom´i•nant•ly, adv. In a predominant manner.
Predominate
Pre•dom´i•nate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Predominated p. pr. & vb. n. Predominating.] [Pref. pre- + dominate: cf. F. predominer.] 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. To rule over; to overpower. [R.]
Predy
Pre´dy, a. [Cf. F. prêt ready.] Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. Smart.
Preëminence
Pre•ëm"i•nence, n. [F. preeminence, L. praeeminentia. See Preëminent.] 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.
Preëminent
Pre•ëm"i•nent, a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr. praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F. preeminent. See Pre-, and Eminent.] Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as preëminent in guilt.
"In goodness and in power preëminent." Milton.
Preëmploy
Pre•ëm•ploy, v. t. To employ beforehand. "Preëmployed by him." Shak.
Preëmpt
Pre•ëmpt" ( 215), v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Preëmpted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëmpting.] [See Preëmption.] To settle upon (public land) with a right of preemption, as under the laws of the United States; to take by preëmption.
Preëmption
Pre•ëmp"tion ( 215), n. [Pref. pre- + emption: cf. F. preemption. See Redeem.] The act or right of purchasing before others. Specifically: (a) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others. [Eng.] (b) The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed price in preference to all other applicants. Abbott.
Preëmptioner
Pre•ëmp"tion•er, n. One who holds a prior right to purchase certain public land. Abbott.
Preëmptive
Pre•ëmp"tive, a. Of or pertaining to preëmption; having power to preëmpt; preëmpting.
Preen, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preened p. pr. & vb. n. Preening.] [See Preen, n. ; or cf. Prune.]
1. To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; — said of birds. Derham.
2. To trim up, as trees. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Preëngage
Pre•ën•gage", v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preëngaged p. pr. & vb. n. Preëngaging ] To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.
"But he was preëngaged by former ties." Dryden.
Preëstablishment
Pre•ës•tab"lish•ment, n. Settlement beforehand.
Preëternity
Pre•ë•ter"ni•ty, n. Infinite previous duration. [R.] "The world’s preëternity." Cudworth.
Preëxamine
Pre•ëx•am"ine, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preëxamined p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxamining.] To examine beforehand.
Preëxist
Pre•ëx•ist", v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Preëxisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Preëxisting.] To exist previously; to exist before something else.
Preëxistimation
Pre•ëx•is•ti•ma"tion, n. Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Preface
Pref´ace ( 48), n. [F. preface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate.]
1. Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
"This superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise." Shak.
"Heaven’s high behest no preface needs." Milton.
2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold.Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.
Syn. — Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.
Preface
Pref´ace, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prefaced p. pr. & vb. n. Prefacing.] To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as to preface a book discourse.
Prefatorily
Pref´a•to•ri•ly, adv. In a prefatory manner; by way of preface.
Prefectorial
Pre•fec•to´ri•al, a. Of or pertaining to a prefect.
Prefectship
Pre´fect•ship, n. The office or jurisdiction of a prefect.
Prefecundatory
Pre•fe•cun´da•to•ry, a. Of or pertaining to prefecundation.
Prefer
Pre•fer´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preferred p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring.] [F. preferer, 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 Caesar." 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.
Preferableness
Pref´er•a•ble•ness, n. The quality or state of being preferable.
Prefidence
Pref´i•dence, n. The quality or state of being prefident. [Obs.] Baxter.
Prefident
Pref´i•dent, a. [Cf. L. praefidens overconfident. See Pre-, and Confident.] Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident. [Obs.] Baxter.
Prefigurate
Pre•fig´u•rate, v. t. [L. praefiguratus, p. p. See Prefigure.] To prefigure. [R.] Grafton.
Prefigure
Pre•fig´ure ( 135), v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prefigured p. pr. & vb. n. Prefiguring.] [F. prefigurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See Figure, and cf. Prefigurate.] To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow. "Whom all the various types prefigured." South.
Prefinition
Pref•i•ni´tion, n. [L. praefinitio.] Previous limitation. [Obs.] Fotherby.
Prefix
Pre•fix´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prefixed p. pr. & vb. n. Prefixing.] [L. praefixus, p. p. of praefigere to fix or fasten before; prae before + figere to fix: cf. F. pre fix fixed beforehand, determined, pre fixer 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.
Prefixion
Pre•fix´ion, n. [Cf. OF. prefixion.] The act of prefixing. [R.] Bailey.
Prefloration
Pre•flo•ra´tion, n. [Pref. pre- + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.) AEstivation.
Prefoliation
Pre•fo•li•a´tion, n. [Pref. pre- + L. folium leaf.] (Bot.) Vernation.
Preform
Pre•form´, v. t. [L. praeformare. See Pre-, and Form.] To form beforehand, or for special ends. "Their natures and preformed faculties. " Shak.
Preformation
Pre•for•ma´tion, n. (Biol.) An old theory of the preëxistence of germs. Cf. Emboîtement.
Preformative
Pre•form´a•tive, n. A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.
Prefulgency
Pre•ful´gen•cy, n. [L. praefulgens, p. pr. of praefulgere to shine forth. See Pre-, and Fulgent.] Superior brightness or effulgency. [R.] Barrow.
Preglacial
Pre•gla´cial, a. (Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period.
Pregnable
Preg´na•ble, a. , [F. prenable. See Impregnable.] Capable of being entered, taken, or captured; expugnable; as a pregnable fort. [R.] Cotgrave.
Pregnant
Preg´nant, a. [L. praegnans, -antis; prae before + genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. pregnant. 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. A pregnant woman. [R.] Dunglison.
Pregnant
Preg´nant, a. [F. prenant taking. Cf. Pregnable.] Affording entrance; receptive; yielding; willing; open; prompt. [Obs.] " Pregnant to good pity." Shak.
Pregnantly
Preg´nant•ly, adv. In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.
Pregnantly
Preg´nant•ly, adv. Unresistingly; openly; hence, clearly; evidently. [Obs.] Shak.
Pregravitate
Pre•grav´i•tate, v. i. To descend by gravity; to sink. [R.] Boyle.
Pregustation
Pre•gus•ta´tion, n. The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste. [R.] Dr. Walker (1678).
Prehallux
Pre•hal´lux, n. [NL. See Pre-, and Hallux.] (Anat.) An extra first toe, or rudiment of a toe, on the preaxial side of the hallux.
Prehend
Pre•hend´, v. t. [L. prehendere. See Prehensile.] To lay hold of; to seize. [Obs.] Middleton.
Prehensi-ble
Pre•hen´si-ble, a. [Cf. F. prehensible.] Capable of being seized.
Prehensile
Pre•hen´sile, a. [L. prehensus, p. p. of prehendere to lay hold of, seize; pre- (equiv. to prae before) + hendere (in comp.), akin to E. get: cf. F. prehensile. See Get, and cf. Prison, Prize, n. ] Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as the prehensile tail of a monkey.
Prehension
Pre•hen´sion, n. [L. prehensio; cf. F. prehension. See Prehensile.] The act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, as with the hand or other member.
Prehensory
Pre•hen´so•ry, a. Adapted to seize or grasp; prehensile.
Preindesignate
Pre•in•des´ig•nate, a. (Logic.) Having no sign expressive of quantity; indefinite. See Predesignate.
Preindispose
Pre•in•dis•pose´, v. t. To render indisposed beforehand. Milman.
Preinstruct
Pre•in•struct´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preinstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preinstructing.] To instruct previously or beforehand. Dr. H. More.
Preintimation
Pre•in•ti•ma´tion, n. Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.
Prejudge
Pre•judge´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prejudged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudging.] [Pref. pre + judge: cf. F. prejuger. Cf. Prejudicate, Prejudice.] To judge before hearing, or before full and sufficient examination; to decide or sentence by anticipation; to condemn beforehand.
"The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case, by calling the united sense of both houses of Parliament" a universal clamor."" Swift.
Prejudgment
Pre•judg´ment, n. The act of prejudging; decision before sufficient examination.
Prejudicacy
Pre•ju´di•ca•cy, n. Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Sir. H. Blount.
Prejudicate
Pre•ju´di•cate, a. [L. praejudicatus, p. p. of praejudicare to prejudge; prae before + judicare to judge. See Judge.]
1. Formed before due examination. "Ignorance and prejudicate opinions." Jer. Taylor.
2. Biased by opinions formed prematurely; prejudiced. "Prejudicate readers." Sir T. Browne.
Prejudicate
Pre•ju´di•cate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prejudicated p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicating.] [Cf. Prejudge.] To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge.
"Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business." Shak.
Prejudicate
Pre•ju´di•cate, v. i. To prejudge. Sir P. Sidney.
Prejudice
Prej´u•dice, n. [F. prejudice, L. praejudicium; prae before + judicium judgment. See Prejudicate, Judicial.]
1. Foresight. [Obs.]
"Naught might hinder his quick prejudize." Spenser.
2. An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge.
"Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man." Macaulay.
3. (Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.
4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. Locke.
"England and France might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice." Shak.
Syn. — Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.
Prejudice
Prej´u•dice, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prejudiced p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicing ] [Cf. F. prejudicier. 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
Prelacy
Prel´a•cy, n. ; pl. Prelacies (#). [LL. praelatia. See Prelate; cf. Prelaty.]
1. The office or dignity of a prelate; church government by prelates.
"Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices." Ayliffe.
2. The order of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. "Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men." Hooker.
Prelal
Pre´lal, a. [L. prelum a press.] Of or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs.] Fuller.
Prelate
Prel´ate ( 48), n. [F. prelat, LL. praelatus, fr. L. praelatus, used as p. p. of praeferre to prefer, but from a different root. See Elate.] A clergyman of a superior order, as an archbishop or a bishop, having authority over the lower clergy; a dignitary of the church. This word and the words derived from it are often used invidiously, in English ecclesiastical history, by dissenters, respecting the Established Church system.
"Hear him but reason in divinity, …
You would desire the king were made a prelate." Shak.
Prelateship
Prel´ate•ship, n. The office of a prelate. Harmar.
Prelatess
Prel´a•tess, n. A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate. Milton.
Prelation
Pre•la´tion, n. [L. praelatio: cf. F. prelation. See Prelate, and cf. Prefer.] The setting of one above another; preference. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
Prelatize
Prel´a•tize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prelatized p. pr. & vb. n. Prelatizing ] To bring under the influence of prelacy. Palfrey.
Prelect
Pre•lect´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prelected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prelecting.] [L. praelectus, p. p. of praelegere to read before. See Pre-, and Lection.] To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.
Prelector
Pre•lec´tor, n. [L. praelector.] A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.
Preliminarily
Pre•lim´i•na•ri•ly, adv. In a preliminary manner.
Preliminary
Pre•lim´i•na•ry, a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. preliminaire. Cf. Limit.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.
Syn. — Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent.
Prelude
Pre´lude, n. [F. prelude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.] An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; — with recent composers often synonymous with overture.
"The last Georgic was a good prelude to the AEnis" 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.] [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. preluder. See Ludicrous.] To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.
"The musicians preluded on their instruments." Sir. W. Scott.
"We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point." Jeffrey.
Preluder
Pre•lud´er, n. One who, or that which, preludes; one who plays a prelude. Mason.
Prelusive
Pre•lu´sive, a. [See Prelude.] Of the nature of a prelude; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow. "Prelusive drops." Thomson. —Pre•lu´sive•ly, adv.
Premature
Pre•ma•ture´, a. [L. praematurus; prae before + maturus ripe. See Mature.]
1. Mature or ripe before the proper time; as the premature fruits of a hotbed.
2. Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay.
3. Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as a premature report. — Pre•ma•ture´ly, adv. — Pre•ma•ture´ness, n.
Premaxilla
Pre´max•il´la, n. ; pl. Premaxillae (#). [NL. See Pre-, and Maxilla.] (Anat.) A bone on either side of the middle line between the nose and mouth, forming the anterior part of each half of the upper jawbone; the intermaxilla. In man the premaxillae become united and form the incisor part of the maxillary bone.
Premeditate
Pre•med´i•tate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Premeditated (-ta•t?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Premeditating.] [L. praemeditatus, p. p. of praemeditari; prae before + meditari to meditate. See Meditate.] To think on, and revolve in the mind, beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as to premeditate robbery.
"With words premeditated thus he said." Dryden.
Premeditate
Pre•med´i•tate, v. i. To think, consider, deliberate, or revolve in the mind, beforehand.
Premeditately
Pre•med´i•tate•ly, adv. With premeditation. Burke.
Premerit
Pre•mer´it, v. t. To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basike. { Pre´mi•al, Pre´mi•ant } a. [L. praemialis. See Premium.] Serving to reward; rewarding. [R.] Baxter.
Premices
Prem´i•ces, n. pl. [F. premices, L. primitiae. See Primitia.] First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.
Premier
Pre´mi•er, a. [F. premier, fr. L. primarius of the first rank, principal, fr. primus the first. See Primary, Prime, a. ]
1. First; chief; principal; as the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift.
2. Most ancient; — said of the peer bearing the oldest title of his degree.
Premier
Pre´mi•er, n. The first minister of state; the prime minister.
Première
Pre•mière", a. fem. [F., prop. fem. of premier first. See Premier, a. ] First; chief; as a première danseuse. — n. fem.; pl. - mières ( F. pr e•myâr"). (a) The leading woman of a group, esp. in a theatrical cast. (b) A first performance, as of a play; a first night.
Premillennial
Pre•mil•len´ni•al, a. Previous to the millennium.
Premious
Pre´mi•ous, a. [L. praemiosus, fr. praemium a premium.] Rich in gifts. [R.] Clarke.
Premise
Prem´ise, n. ; pl. Premises . [Written also less properly, premiss.] [F. premisse, fr. L. praemissus, p. p. of praemittere to send before; prae before + mittere to send. See Mission.]
1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition.
"The premises observed,
Thy will by my performance shall be served." Shak.
2. (Logic) Either of the first two propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn. "All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner." These propositions, which are the premises, being true or admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves punishment.
"While the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shake the conclusion." Dr. H. More.
3. pl. (Law) Matters previously stated or set forth; esp., that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum; the thing demised or granted.
4. pl. A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts; as to lease premises; to trespass on another’s premises.
Premise
Pre•mise´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Premised p. pr. & vb. n. Premising.] [From L. praemissus, p. p., or E. premise, n. See Premise, n. ]
1. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously. [Obs.]
"The premised flames of the last day." Shak.
"If venesection and a cathartic be premised." E. Darwin.
2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down premises or first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings.
"I premise these particulars that the reader may know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task." Addison.
Premise
Pre•mise´, v. i. To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise. Swift.
Premium
Pre´mi•um, n. ; pl. Premiums (#). [L. praemium, originally, what one has got before or better than others; prae before + emere to take, buy. See Redeem.]
1. A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by being before another, or others, in a competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, etc.
" To think it not the necessity, but the premium and privilege of life, to eat and sleep without any regard to glory." Burke.
"The law that obliges parishes to support the poor offers a premium for the encouragement of idleness." Franklin.
2. Something offered or given for the loan of money; bonus; — sometimes synonymous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital.
"People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest." Swift.
3. A sum of money paid to underwriters for insurance, or for undertaking to indemnify for losses of any kind.
4. A sum in advance of, or in addition to, the nominal or par value of anything; as gold was at a premium; he sold his stock at a premium.
Premolar
Pre•mo´lar, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the molar teeth. — n. An anterior molar tooth which has replaced a deciduous molar. See Tooth.
Premonish
Pre•mon´ish, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Premonished p. pr. & vb. n. Premonishing.] [Pref. pre- + monish: cf. L. praemonere.] To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. [R.] Herrick.
"To teach, and to premonish." Bk. of Com. Prayer.
Premonishment
Pre•mon´ish•ment, n. Previous warning or admonition; forewarning. Sir H. Wotton.
Premonition
Pre•mo•ni´tion, n. [L. praemonitio. See Premonish.] Previous warning, notice, or information; forewarning; as a premonition of danger.
Premonitor
Pre•mon´i•tor, n. [L. praemonitor.] One who, or that which, gives premonition.
Premonstration
Pre•mon•stra´tion, n. [L. praemonstratio.] A showing beforehand; foreshowing.
Premonstrator
Pre•mon´stra•tor, n. [L. praemonstrator.] One who, or that which, premonstrates. [R.]
Premosaic
Pre•mo•sa´ic, a. Relating to the time before Moses; as premosaic history.
Premotion
Pre•mo´tion, n. [Pref. pre- + motion.] Previous motion or excitement to action.
Premunitory
Pre•mu´ni•to•ry, a. Of or pertaining to a premunire; as a premunitory process.
Prenasal
Pre•na´sal, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the nose, or in front of the nasal chambers.
Prenominal
Pre•nom´i•nal, a. Serving as a prefix in a compound name. Sir T. Browne.
Prenominate
Pre•nom´i•nate, v. t. To forename; to name beforehand; to tell by name beforehand. Shak.
Prenotion
Pre•no´tion, n. [L. praenotio: cf. F. prenotion. See Prenostic.] A notice or notion which precedes something else in time; previous notion or thought; foreknowledge. Bacon.
Prenunciation
Pre•nun•ci•a´tion, n. [L. praenunciatio, fr. praenunciare to announce beforehand. See Pre-, and Announce.] The act of announcing or proclaiming beforehand. [Obs.]
Prenuncious
Pre•nun´cious, a. [L. praenuncius.] Announcing beforehand; presaging. [Obs.] Blount.
Preoblongata
Pre•ob•lon•ga´ta, n. [NL. See Pre-, and Oblongata.] (Anat.) The anterior part of the medulla oblongata. B. G. Wilder.
Preoccupancy
Pre•oc´cu•pan•cy, n. [See Preoccupate.] The act or right of taking possession before another; as the preoccupancy of wild land.
Preoccupate
Pre•oc´cu•pate, v. t. [L. praeoccupatus, p. p. of praeoccupare to preoccupy. See Preoccupy.]
1. To anticipate; to take before. [Obs.] "Fear preoccupateth it [death]." Bacon.
2. To prepossess; to prejudice. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
Preoccupy
Pre•oc´cu•py, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (-pid); p. pr. & vb. n. Preoccupying ] [Cf. F. preoccuper. 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.
Preominate
Pre•om´i•nate, v. t. To ominate beforehand; to portend. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Preoperculum
Pre•o•per´cu•lum, n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior opercular bone in fishes.
Preopinion
Pre•o•pin´ion, n. Opinion previously formed; prepossession; prejudice. Sir T. Browne.
Preoral
Pre•o´ral, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the mouth; as preoral bands.
Preorbital
Pre•or´bit•al, a. (Anat.) Situated in front or the orbit.
Preorder
Pre•or´der, v. t. To order to arrange beforehand; to foreordain. Sir W. Hamilton.
Preordinance
Pre•or´di•nance, n. Antecedent decree or determination. Shak.
Preordinate
Pre•or´di•nate, a. [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.] Preordained. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
Preparable
Pre•par´a•ble, a. Capable of being prepared. "Medicine preparable by art." Boyle.
Preparation
Prep•a•ra´tion, n. [F. preparation, L. praeparatio. See Prepare.]
1. The act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign.
2. The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as a nation in good preparation for war.
3. That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure.
"I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution." T. Burnet.
4. That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular purpose; a combination. Specifically: (a) Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b) Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c) Something prepared for use in cookery.
"I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their preparations." Sir T. Browne.
"In the preparations of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed." Arbuthnot.
5. An army or fleet. [Obs.] Shak.
6. (Mus.) The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.
7. Accomplishment; qualification. [Obs.] Shak.
Prepare
Pre•pare´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prepare p. pr. & vb. n. Preparing.] [F. preparer, 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.
Preparer
Pre•par´er, n. 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.] To pay in advance, or beforehand; as to prepay postage.
Prepenial
Pre•pe´ni•al, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis.
Prepense
Pre•pense´, v. t. [Pref. pre + F. penser to think. See Pansy.] To weigh or consider beforehand; to premeditate. [Obs.] Spenser. Sir T. Elyot.
Prepense
Pre•pense´, v. i. To deliberate beforehand. [Obs.]
Prepense
Pre•pense´, a. [See Pansy, and cf. Prepense, v. t.] Devised, contrived, or planned beforehand; preconceived; premeditated; aforethought; — usually placed after the word it qualifies; as malice prepense.
"This has not arisen from any misrepresentation or error prepense." Southey.
Prepollent
Pre•pol´lent, n. ; pl. Prepollices (#). [NL. See Pre-, Pollex.] (Anat.) An extra first digit, or rudiment of a digit, on the preaxial side of the pollex.
Preponderant
Pre•pon´der•ant, a. [L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. preponderant. See Preponderate.] 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.] [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.
Preponderatingly
Pre•pon´der•a•ting•ly, adv. In a preponderating manner; preponderantly.
Prepose
Pre•pose´, v. t. [F. preposer; pref. pre- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose.] To place or set before; to prefix. [Obs.] Fuller.
Preposition
Prep•o•si´tion, n. [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. preposition. See Position, and cf. Provost.]
1. (Gram.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; — so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running.
2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [Obs.]
"He made a long preposition and oration." Fabyan.
Prepositor
Pre•pos´i•tor, n. [NL.] A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd.
Prepositure
Pre•pos´i•ture, n. [L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost.] 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.
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. One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady.
Preposterous
Pre•pos´ter•ous, a. [L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior.]
1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [Obs.]
"The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature." Woodward.
2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. "Most preposterous conclusions." Shak.
"Preposterous ass, that never read so far!" Shak.
Syn. — Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. See Absurd. — Pre•pos´ter•ous•ly, adv. - Pre•pos´ter•ous•ness, n.
Prepotent
Pre•po´tent, a. [L. praepotens. See Pre-, and Potent.]
1. Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant. Plaifere.
2. (Biol.) Characterized by prepotency. Darwin.
Preprovide
Pre•pro•vide´, v. t. To provide beforehand. "The materials preprovided." Fuller.
Prepubis
Pre•pu´bis, n. [NL. See Pre-, and Pubis.] (Anat.)A bone or cartilage, of some animals, situated in the middle line in front of the pubic bones.
Prepuce
Pre´puce, n. [F. prepuce, L. praeputium.] (Anat.) The foreskin.
Preregnant
Pre•reg´nant, n. One who reigns before another; a sovereign predecessor. [R.] Warner.
Prerequire
Pre•re•quire´, v. t. To require beforehand.
"Some things are prerequired of us." Bp. Hall.
Preresolve
Pre•re•solve´, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Preresolved p. pr. & vb. n. Preresolving.] To resolve beforehand; to predetermine. Sir E. Dering.
Prerogative
Pre•rog´a•tive, n. [F. prerogative, 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. 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. Endowed with a prerogative, or exclusive privilege. [R.] Shak.
Presage
Pre´sage, n. [F. presage, 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. ] [F. presager, 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. To form or utter a prediction; — sometimes used with of. Dryden.
Presager
Pre•sa´ger, n. One who, or that which, presages; a foreteller; a foreboder. Shak.
Presbyope
Pres´by•ope, n. (Med.) One who has presbyopia; a farsighted person.
Presbyopic
Pres•by•op´ic, a. Affected by presbyopia; also remedying presbyopia; farsighted.
Presbyopy
Pres´by•o•py, n. [Cf. F. presbyopie.] See Presbyopia.
Presbyter
Pres´by•ter, n. [L. an elder, fr. Gr. . See Priest.]
1. An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n. , 1.
2. (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) One ordained to the second order in the ministry; — called also priest.
"I rather term the one sort presbyter than priest." Hooker.
"New presbyter is but old priest writ large." Milton.
3. (Presbyterian Ch.) A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical.
4. A Presbyterian. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Presbyteral
Pres•byt´er•al, a. Of or pertaining to a presbyter or presbytery; presbyterial.
Presbyterian
Pres•by•te´ri•an, n. [Cf. F. presbyterien.] One who maintains the validity of ordination and government by presbyters; a member of the Presbyterian church. Reformed Presbyterians. See Cameronian.
Presbyterium
Pres•by•te´ri•um, n. [L.] (Arch.) Same as Presbytery, 4.
Presbytership
Pres´by•ter•ship, n. The office or station of a presbyter; presbyterate.
Presbytery
Pres´by•ter•y, n. ; pl. Presbyteries (#). [L. presbyterium, Gr. . See Presbyter, and cf. Presbyterium.]
1. A body of elders in the early Christian church.
2. (Presbyterian Ch.) A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district, and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned to represent the church in conjunction with the pastor. This body has a general jurisdiction over the churches under its care, and next below the provincial synod in authority.
3. The Presbyterian religion of polity. [R.] Tatler.
4. (a) (Arch.) That part of the church reserved for the officiating priest. (b) The residence of a priest or clergyman. Gwilt.
Presbytia
Pres•byt´i•a, n. [NL. See Presbyte.] (Med.) Presbyopia.
Prescapular
Pre•scap´u•lar, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prescapula; supraspinous.
Prescience
Pre´sci•ence (pre"shi• ens or - sh ens; 277), n. [F. prescience, L. praescientia. See Prescient.] Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight.
"God’s certain prescience of the volitions of moral agents." J. Edwards.
Prescient
Pre´sci•ent (pre"shi• ent or - sh ent), a. [L. praesciens, - entis, p. pr. of praescire to foreknow; prae before + scire to know: cf. F. prescient. See Science.] Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; conscious beforehand. Pope.
"Henry … had shown himself sensible, and almost prescient, of this event." Bacon.
Presciently
Pre´sci•ent•ly, adv. With prescience or foresight.
Prescribe
Pre•scribe´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prescribed p. pr & vb. n. Prescribing.] [L. praescribere, praescriptum; prae before + scriebe to write. See Scribe.]
1. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct.
"Prescribe not us our duties." Shak.
"Let streams prescribe their fountains where to run." Dryden.
2. (Med.) To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as the doctor prescribed quinine.
Syn. — To appoint; order; command; dictate; ordain; institute; establish.
Prescript
Pre´script, a. [L. praescriptus, p. p. of praescribere: cf. F. prescrit. See Prescribe.] Directed; prescribed. " A prescript from of words." Jer. Taylor.
Prescriptibility
Pre•scrip•ti•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being prescriptible. Story.
Prescription
Pre•scrip´tion (-shun), n. [F. prescription, L. praescriptio, an inscription, preface, precept, demurrer, prescription (in sense 3), fr. praescribere. See Prescribe.]
1. The act of prescribing, directing, or dictating; direction; precept; also that which is prescribed.
2. (Med.) A direction of a remedy or of remedies for a disease, and the manner of using them; a medical recipe; also a prescribed remedy.
3. (Law) A prescribing for title; the claim of title to a thing by virtue of immemorial use and enjoyment; the right or title acquired by possession had during the time and in the manner fixed by law. Bacon.
"That profound reverence for law and prescription which has long been characteristic of Englishmen." Macaulay. Prescription differs from custom, which is a local usage, while prescription is personal, annexed to the person only. Prescription only extends to incorporeal rights, such as aright of way, or of common. What the law gives of common rights is not the subject of prescription. Blackstone. Cruise. Kent. In Scotch law, prescription is employed in the sense in which limitation is used in England and America, namely, to express that operation of the lapse of time by which obligations are extinguished or title protected. Sir T. Craig. Erskine.
Prescutum
Pre•scu´tum, n. ; pl. Prescuta . [NL. See Prae-, and Scutum.] (Zoöl.) 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. [F. preseance. See Preside.] Priority of place in sitting.[Obs.] Carew.
Presence
Pres´ence, n. [F. presence, 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. Previous sensation, notion, or idea. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Presension
Pre•sen´sion, n. [L. praesensio, fr. praesentire to perceive beforehand. See Presentient.] Previous perception. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Present
Pres´ent, a. [F. present, 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. [Cf. F. present. See Present, a. ]
1. Present time; the time being; time in progress now, or at the moment contemplated; as at this present.
"Past and present, wound in one." Tennyson.
2. pl. (Law) Present letters or instrument, as a deed of conveyance, a lease, letter of attorney, or other writing; as in the phrase, " Know all men by these presents," that is, by the writing itself, " per has literas praesentes; " — in this sense, rarely used in the singular.
3. (Gram.) A present tense, or the form of the verb denoting the present tense. At present, at the present time; now. — For the present, for the tine being; temporarily. — In present, at once, without delay. [Obs.] "With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death." Milton.
Present
Pre•sent´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Presented; p. pr. & vb. n. Presenting.] [F. presenter, 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
Pres´ent, n. [F. present .] Anything presented or given; a gift; a donative; as a Christmas present.
Syn. — Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See Gift.
Present
Pre•sent´, n. (Mil.) The position of a soldier in presenting arms; as to stand at present.
Presentaneous
Pres•en•ta´ne•ous, a. [L. praesentaneus. See Present, a. ] Ready; quick; immediate in effect; as presentaneous poison. [Obs.] Harvey.
Presentee
Pres•en•tee´, n. [F. presente, p. p. See Present, v. t. ] One to whom something is presented; also one who is presented; specifically (Eccl.), one presented to benefice. Ayliffe.
Presentiality
Pre•sen•ti•al´i•ty, n. State of being actually present. [Obs.] South.
Presentiment
Pre•sen´ti•ment, n. [Pref. pre- + sentiment: cf. F. pressentiment. See Presentient.] Previous sentiment, conception, or opinion; previous apprehension; especially, an antecedent impression or conviction of something unpleasant, distressing, or calamitous, about to happen; anticipation of evil; foreboding.
Presentimental
Pre•sen•ti•men´tal, a. Of nature of a presentiment; foreboding. [R.] Coleridge.
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.
Preservable
Pre•serv´a•ble, a. Capable of being preserved; admitting of preservation.
Preserve
Pre•serve´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preserved p. pr. & vb. n. Preserving.] [F. preserver, 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.
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.
Preside
Pre•side´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Presided; p. pr. & vb. n. Presiding.] [L. praesidere; prae before + sedere to sit: cf. F. presider. 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.
President
Pres´i•dent, n. Precedent. [Obs.] Bacon.
President
Pres´i•dent, n. [F. president, 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.
Presidentship
Pres´i•dent•ship, n. The office and dignity of president; presidency. Hooker.
Presider
Pre•sid´er, n. One who presides. { Pre•sid´i•al, Pre•sid´i•a•ry } a. [L. praesidialis and praesidiarius, fr. praesidium a presiding over, defense, guard. See Preside.] Of or pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison.
"There are three presidial castles in this city." Howell.
Presidiary
Pre•sid´i•a•ry, n. [L. praesidiarium.] A guard. [Obs.] "Heavenly presidiaries." Bp. Hall.
Presiding
Pre•sid´ing, a. & n. from Preside. Presiding elder. See under 2d Elder.
Presignification
Pre•sig•ni•fi•ca´tion, n. [. praesignificatio. See Presignify.] The act of signifying or showing beforehand.
Presignify
Pre•sig´ni•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Presignified imp. & p. p. Presignifying.] [L. praesignificare; prae before + significare to signify.] To intimate or signify beforehand; to presage.
Presphenoidal
Pre•sphe•noid´al, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the presphenoid bone; presphenoid.
Press, v. t. [Corrupt. fr. prest ready money advanced, a loan; hence, earnest money given soldiers on entering service. See Prest, n. ] To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress.
"To peaceful peasant to the wars is pressed." Dryden.
Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy.
"I have misused the king’s press." Shak. Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. — Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.
Press, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pressed p. pr. & vb. n. Pressing.] [F. presser, fr. L. pressare to press, fr. premere, pressum, to press. Cf. Print, v. ]
1. To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd.
"Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together." Luke vi. 38.
2. To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something.
"From sweet kernels pressed,
She tempers dulcet creams." Milton.
"And I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand." Gen. xl. 11.
3. To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as to press clothes.
4. To embrace closely; to hug.
"Leucothoe shook at these alarms,
And pressed Palemon closer in her arms." Pope.
5. To oppress; to bear hard upon.
"Press not a falling man too far." Shak.
6. To straiten; to distress; as to be pressed with want or hunger.
7. To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel.
"Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." Acts xviii. 5.
8. To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as to press divine truth on an audience.
"He pressed a letter upon me within this hour." Dryden.
"Be sure to press upon him every motive." Addison.
9. To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as to press a horse in a race.
"The posts … went cut, being hastened and pressed on, by the king’s commandment." Esther viii. 14. Press differs from drive and strike in usually denoting a slow or continued application of force; whereas drive and strike denote a sudden impulse of force. Pressed brick. See under Brick.
Press, n. [F. presse. See 4th Press.]
1. An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses. Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the arts, their specific uses being commonly designated; as a cotton press, a wine press, a cider press, a copying press, etc. See Drill press.
2. Specifically, a printing press.
3. The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse.
4. An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as a clothes press. Shak.
5. The act of pressing or thronging forward.
"In their throng and press to that last hold." Shak.
6. Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as a press of engagements.
7. A multitude of individuals crowded together; crowd of single things; a throng.
"They could not come nigh unto him for the press." Mark ii. 4.Cylinder press, a printing press in which the impression is produced by a revolving cylinder under which the form passes; also one in which the form of type or plates is curved around a cylinder, instead of resting on a flat bed. — Hydrostatic press. See under Hydrostatic. — Liberty of the press, the free right of publishing books, pamphlets, or papers, without previous restraint or censorship, subject only to punishment for libelous, seditious, or morally pernicious matters. — Press bed, a bed that may be folded, and inclosed, in a press or closet. Boswell. — Press of sail, (Naut.), as much sail as the state of the wind will permit.
Pressing
Press´ing, a. Urgent; exacting; importunate; as a pressing necessity. — Press´ing•ly, adv.
Pression
Pres´sion, n. [L. pressio: cf. F. pression. See 4th Press.]
1. The act of pressing; pressure. Sir I. Newton.
2. (Cartesian Philos.) An endeavor to move.
Pressiroster
Pres•si•ros´ter, n. [L. presssus pressed (p. p. of premere) + rostrum beak: cf. F. pressirostre. See 4th Press.] (Zoöl.) 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.) Of or pertaining to the pressirosters.
Pressitant
Pres´si•tant, a. [See 4th Press.] Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Pressive
Pres´sive, a. Pressing; urgent; also oppressive; as pressive taxation. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Pressman
Press´man, n. [See 2d Press.] One of a press gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service; also one forced into the service.
Presspack
Press´pack, v. t. To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.
Pressure
Pres´sure ( 138), n. [OF., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th Press.]
1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as a pressure of the hand.
2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.
"Where the pressure of danger was not felt." Macaulay.
3. Affliction; distress; grievance.
"My people’s pressures are grievous." Eikon Basilike.
"In the midst of his great troubles and pressures." Atterbury.
4. Urgency; as the pressure of business.
5. Impression; stamp; character impressed.
"All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past." Shak.
6. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit’s area. Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See under Atmospheric, Center, etc. — Back pressure (Steam engine), pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. — Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. Rankine. — Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer.
Prest (prest), imp. & p. p. of Press.
Prest, a. [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, n. [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) A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands. Cowell.
Prest, v. t. To give as a loan; to lend. [Obs.]
"Sums of money … prested out in loan." E. Hall.
Prester
Pres´ter, n. [OF. prestre. See Priest.] A priest or presbyter; as Prester John. [Obs.]
Prestidigitation
Pres•ti•dig•i•ta´tion, n. Legerdemain; sleight of hand; juggling.
Prestige
Pres´tige ( 277), n. [F., fr. L. praestigum delusion, illusion, praestigae deceptions, jugglers’ tricks, prob. fr. prae before + the root of stinguere to extinguish, originally, to prick. See Stick, v. ]
1. Delusion; illusion; trick. [Obs.]
"The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture." Bp. Warburton.
2. Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation. "The prestige of his name must go for something." Sir G. C. Lewis.
Prestigiation
Pres•tig•i•a´tion, n. [L. praestigiare to deceive by juggling tricks, fr. praestigae. See Prestige.] Legerdemain; prestidigitation. [Obs.]
Prestigiator
Pres•tig´i•a•tor, n. [L. praestigiator.] A juggler; prestidigitator. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Prestigiatory
Pres•tig´i•a•to•ry, a. Consisting of impostures; juggling. [Obs.] Barrow.
Prestigious
Pres•tig´i•ous, a. [L. praestigiosus.] Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.] Cotton Mather.
Prestimony
Pres´ti•mo•ny, n. [LL. praestimonium, fr. L. praestare to furnish, supply: cf. F. prestimonie. See Prest, n. ] (Canon Law) A fund for the support of a priest, without the title of a benefice. The patron in the collator.
Prestissimo
Pres•tis´si•mo, adv. [It., superl. of presto.] (Mus.) Very quickly; with great rapidity.
Presto
Pres´to, adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a. ]
1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.
"Presto! begone! ’tis here again." Swift.
2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; — a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo.
Prestriction
Pre•stric´tion, n. [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.] Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.
Presultor
Pre•sul´tor, n. [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.] A leader in the dance. [R.]
Presumably
Pre•sum´a•bly, adv. In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.
Presume
Pre•sume´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Presumed p. pr. & vb. n. Presuming.] [F. presumer, 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.
Presumer
Pre•sum´er, n. One who presumes; also an arrogant person. Sir H. Wotton.
Presumption
Pre•sump´tion ( 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. presomption, 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. [Cf. F. presomptif.]
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.
Presumptuous
Pre•sump´tu•ous ( 135), a. [L. praesumptuosus: cf. F. presomptueux, 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. In a presumptuous manner; arrogantly.
Presumptuousness
Pre•sump´tu•ous•ness, n. The quality or state of being presumptuous.
Presupposal
Pre•sup•pos´al, n. Presupposition. [R.] "Presupposal of knowledge." Hooker.
Presuppose
Pre•sup•pose´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Presupposed p. pr. & vb. n. Presupposing.] [Pref. pre- + suppose: cf. F. presupposer.] 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.
Presurmise
Pre•sur•mise´, n. A surmise previously formed. Shak.
Pretemporal
Pre•tem´po•ral, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the temporal bone.
Pretence
Pre•tence´, n. , Pre•tence´ful, a. , Pre•tence´•less, a. See Pretense, Pretenseful, Pretenseless.
Pretend
Pre•tend´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pretended; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretending.] [OE. pretenden to lay claim to, F. pretendre, 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.
Pretendence
Pre•tend´ence, n. The act of pretending; pretense. [Obs.] Daniel.
Pretendership
Pre•tend´er•ship, n. The character, right, or claim of a pretender. Swift.
Pretendingly
Pre•tend´ing•ly, adv. As by right or title; arrogantly; presumptuously. Collier. { Pre•tense´, Pre•tence }, n. [LL. praetensus, for L. praetentus, p. p. of praetendere. See Pretend, and cf. Tension.]
1. The act of laying claim; the claim laid; assumption; pretension. Spenser.
"Primogeniture can not have any pretense to a right of solely inheriting property or power." Locke.
"I went to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown’s pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford." Evelyn.
2. The act of holding out, or offering, to others something false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or hypocritical; deception by showing what is unreal and concealing what is real; false show; simulation; as pretense of illness; under pretense of patriotism; on pretense of revenging Caesar’s death.
3. That which is pretended; false, deceptive, or hypocritical show, argument, or reason; pretext; feint.
"Let not the Trojans, with a feigned pretense
Of proffered peace, delude the Latian prince." Dryden.
4. Intention; design. [Obs.]
"A very pretense and purpose of unkindness." Shak. See the Note under Offense.
Syn. — Mask; appearance; color; show; pretext; excuse. — Pretense, Pretext. A pretense is something held out as real when it is not so, thus falsifying the truth. A pretext is something woven up in order to cover or conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or reasons. Pretext is often, but not always, used in a bad sense.
Pretensed
Pre•tensed´, a. Pretended; feigned. [Obs.] — Pre•tens´ed•ly (#), adv. [Obs.]
Pretenseless
Pre•tense´less, a. Not having or making pretenses.
Pretension
Pre•ten´sion, n. [Cf. F. pretention. 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.
Pretentious
Pre•ten´tious, a. [Cf. F. pretentieux. See Pretend.] Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one’s; presuming; assuming. — Pre•ten´tious•ly, adv. - - Pre•ten´tious•ness, n.
Preter-
Pre´ter- [L. praeter past, beyond, originally a compar. of prae before. See For, prep.] A prefix signifying past, by, beyond, more than; as preter- mission, a permitting to go by; preternatural, beyond or more than is natural. [Written also praeter.]
Preterhuman
Pre•ter•hu´man, a. [Pref. preter- + human.] More than human.
Preterient
Pre•te´ri•ent, a. [L. praeteriens, p. pr. See Preterit.] Passed through; antecedent; previous; as preterient states. [R.]
Preterit
Pret´er•it ( 277), a. [L. praeteritus, p. p. of praeterire to go or pass by; praeter beyond, by + ire to go: cf. F. preterit. See Issue.] [Written also preterite and praeterite.]
1. (Gram.) Past; — applied to a tense which expresses an action or state as past.
2. Belonging wholly to the past; passed by. [R.]
"Things and persons as thoroughly preterite as Romulus or Numa." Lowell.
Preterit
Pret´er•it, n. (Gram.) The preterit; also a word in the preterit tense.
Preteritness
Pret´er•it•ness, n. The quality or state of being past. Bentley. Lowell.
Preterlapsed
Pre•ter•lapsed´, a. [L. praeterlapsus, p. p. of praeterlabi to glide by. See Preter-, Lapse.] Past; as preterlapsed ages. [R.] Glanvill.
Preterlegal
Pre•ter•le´gal, a. [Pref. preter- + legal.] Exceeding the limits of law. [R.]
Pretermission
Pre•ter•mis´sion, n. [L. praetermissio. See Pretermit.]
1. The act of passing by or omitting; omission. Milton.
2. (Rhet.) See Preterition.
Pretermit
Pre•ter•mit´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pretermitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Pretermitting.] [L. praetermittere, praetermissum; praeter beyond + mittere to send. See Mission.] To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.
Preternatural
Pre•ter•nat´u•ral ( 135), a. [Pref. preter + natural.] Beyond of different from what is natural, or according to the regular course of things, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous; strange; inexplicable; extraordinary; uncommon; irregular; abnormal; as a preternatural appearance; a preternatural stillness; a preternatural presentation (in childbirth) or labor.
"This vile and preternatural temper of mind." South.
Syn. — See Supernatural.
Preternaturality
Pre•ter•nat•u•ral´i•ty, n. Preternaturalness. [R.] Dr. John Smith.
Preternaturally
Pre•ter•nat´u•ral•ly ( 135), adv. In a preternatural manner or degree. Bacon.
Preternaturalness
Pre•ter•nat´u•ral•ness, n. The quality or state of being preternatural.
Pretertiary
Pre•ter´ti•a•ry, a. (Geol.) Earlier than Tertiary.
Pretervection
Pre•ter•vec´tion, n. [L. praetervectio, fr. praetervehere to carry beyond. See Invection.] The act of carrying past or beyond. [R.] Abp. Potter.
Pretex
Pre•tex´, v. t. [L. praetexere. See Pretext.] To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs.]
Pretext
Pre´text ( 277), n. [F. pretexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.] Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.
"They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness." L’Estrange.
"With how much or how little pretext of reason." Dr. H. More.
Syn. — Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.
Pretibial
Pre•tib´i•al, a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the tibia.
Pretor
Pre´tor, n. [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans. Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom ( praetor urbanus) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other ( praetor peregrinus) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased.
2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [R.] Dryden.
Pretorship
Pre´tor•ship, n. The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton
Pretorture
Pre•tor´ture ( 135), v. t. To torture beforehand. Fuller.
Pretty
Pret´ty, a. [ Compar. Prettier superl. Prettiest.] [OE. prati, AS. praettig, praetig, crafty, sly, akin to praet, praett, 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.
Prettyism
Pret´ty•ism, n. Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc. [R.] Ed. Rev.
Pretty-spoken
Pret´ty-spo•ken, a. Spoken or speaking prettily. [Colloq.]
Pretypify
Pre•typ´i•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pretypified p. pr. & vb. n. Pretypifying.] To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Bp. Pearson.
Pretzel
Pret´zel, n. [G. pretzel, bretzel. Cf. Bretzel.] A kind of German biscuit or cake in the form of a twisted ring, salted on the outside.
Prevail
Pre•vail´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prevailed p. pr. & vb. n. Prevailing.] [F. prevaloir, 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.
Prevailment
Pre•vail´ment, n. Prevalence; superior influence; efficacy. [Obs.] Shak.
Prevalence
Prev´a•lence, n. [L. praevalentia: cf. F. prevalence. See Prevail.] The quality or condition of being prevalent; superior strength, force, or influence; general existence, reception, or practice; wide extension; as the prevalence of virtue, of a fashion, or of a disease; the prevalence of a rumor.
"The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him." Clarendon.
Prevalent
Prev´a•lent, a. [L. praevalens, -entis, p. pr. of praevalere. See Prevail.]
1. Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious.
"Brennus told the Roman embassadors, that prevalent arms were as good as any title." Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.
"This was the most received and prevalent opinion." Woodward.
Syn. — Prevailing; predominant; successful; efficacious; powerful. — Prevalent, Prevailing. What customarily prevails is prevalent; as a prevalent fashion. What actually prevails is prevailing; as the prevailing winds are west. Hence, prevailing is the livelier and more pointed word, since it represents a thing in action. It is sometimes the stronger word, since a thing may prevail sufficiently to be called prevalent, and yet require greater strength to make it actually prevailing.
Prevalently
Prev´a•lent´ly, adv. In a prevalent manner. Prior.
Prevaricate
Pre•var´i•cate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prevaricated p. pr. & vb. n. Prevaricating.] [L. praevaricatus, p. p. of praevaricari to walk crookedly, to collude; prae before + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, varus bent. See Varicose.]
1. To shift or turn from one side to the other, from the direct course, or from truth; to speak with equivocation; to shuffle; to quibble; as he prevaricates in his statement.
"He prevaricates with his own understanding." South.
2. (Civil Law) To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.
3. (Eng. Law) To undertake a thing falsely and deceitfully, with the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Syn. — To evade; equivocate; quibble; shuffle. — Prevaricate, Evade, Equivocate. One who evades a question ostensibly answers it, but really turns aside to some other point. He who equivocate uses words which have a double meaning, so that in one sense he can claim to have said the truth, though he does in fact deceive, and intends to do it. He who prevaricates talks all round the question, hoping to "dodge" it, and disclose nothing.
Prevene
Pre•vene´, v. t. & i. [F. prevenir, L. praevenire. See Prevent.] To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder; to prevent. [Obs.] Philips.
Prevenience
Pre•ven´i•ence ( 106), n. The act of going before; anticipation. [R.]
Prevent
Pre•vent´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prevented; p. pr. & vb. n. Preventing.] [L. praevenire, praeventum; prae before + venire to come. See Come.]
1. To go before; to precede; hence, to go before as a guide; to direct. [Obs.]
"We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." 1 Thess. iv. 15.
"We pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us." Bk. of Common Prayer.
"Then had I come, preventing Sheba’s queen." Prior.
2. To be beforehand with; to anticipate. [Obs.]
"Their ready guilt preventing thy commands." Pope.
3. To intercept; to hinder; to frustrate; to stop; to thwart. "This vile purpose to prevent." Shak.
"Perhaps forestalling night prevented them." Milton.
Preventability
Pre•vent•a•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being preventable.
Preventable
Pre•vent´a•ble, a. Capable of being prevented or hindered; as preventable diseases.
Preventative
Pre•vent´a•tive, n. 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.) 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. So as to prevent or hinder.
Previous
Pre´vi•ous, a. [L. praevius going before, leading the way; prae before + via the way. See Voyage.] Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as previous arrangements; a previous illness.
"The dull sound … previous to the storm,
Rolls o’er the muttering earth." Thomson. Previous question. (Parliamentary Practice) See under Question, and compare Closure. — Previous to, before; — often used adverbially for previously. "Previous to publication." M. Arnold. "A policy … his friends had advised previous to 1710." J. H. Newman.
Syn. — Antecedent; preceding; anterior; prior; foregoing; former.
Previously
Pre´vi•ous•ly, adv. Beforehand; antecedently; as a plan previously formed.
Previse
Pre•vise´, v. t. [L. praevisus, p. p. of praevidere to foresee; prae before + videre to see. See Vision.]
1. To foresee. [R.]
2. To inform beforehand; to warn. Ld. Lytton.
Prevision
Pre•vi´sion, n. [Cf. F. prevision.] Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience. H. Spencer.
Prevoyant
Pre•voy´ant, a. [F. prevoyant.] Foreseeing; prescient. [R.] Mrs. Oliphant.
Prewarn
Pre•warn´, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Prewarned p. pr. & vb. n. Prewarning.] To warn beforehand; to forewarn. [R.]
Prey, n. [OF. preie, F. proie, L. praeda, probably for praeheda. See Prehensile, and cf. Depredate, Predatory.] Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder.
"And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest." Num. xxxi. 12.
2. That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim.
"The old lion perisheth for lack of prey." Job iv. ii.
"Already sees herself the monster’s prey." Dryden.
3. The act of devouring other creatures; ravage.
"Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, … lion in prey." Shak. Beast of prey, a carnivorous animal; one that feeds on the flesh of other animals.
Prey, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Preyed p. pr. & vb. n. Preying.] [OF. preier, preer, L. praedari, fr. praeda. See Prey, n. ] To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence.
"More pity that the eagle should be mewed,
While kites and buzzards prey at liberty." Shak. To prey on or upon. (a) To take prey from; to despoil; to pillage; to rob. Shak. (b) To seize as prey; to take for food by violence; to seize and devour. Shak. (c) To wear away gradually; to cause to waste or pine away; as the trouble preyed upon his mind. Addison.
Preyer
Prey´er, n. One who, or that which, preys; a plunderer; a waster; a devourer. Hooker.
Prezygapophysis
Pre•zyg•a•poph´y•sis, n. ; pl. Prezygapophyses (#). [NL. See Pre-, and Zygapophysis.] (Anat.) An anterior zygapophysis.
Prial
Pri´al, n. A corruption of pair royal. See under Pair, n.
Priapulacea
Pri•ap•u•la´ce•a, n. pl. [NL. See Priapism.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of Gephyraea, having a cylindrical body with a terminal anal opening, and usually with one or two caudal gills.
Price, n. [OE. pris, OF. pris, F. prix, L. pretium; cf. Gr. I sell to buy, Skr. pa to buy, OI. renim I sell. Cf. Appreciate, Depreciate, Interpret, Praise, n. & v., Precious, Prize.]
1. The sum or amount of money at which a thing is valued, or the value which a seller sets on his goods in market; that for which something is bought or sold, or offered for sale; equivalent in money or other means of exchange; current value or rate paid or demanded in market or in barter; cost. "Buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isa. lv. 1.
"We can afford no more at such a price." Shak.
2. Value; estimation; excellence; worth.
"Her price is far above rubies." Prov. xxxi. 10.
"New treasures still, of countless price." Keble.
3. Reward; recompense; as the price of industry.
"’T is the price of toil,
The knave deserves it when he tills the soil." Pope. Price current, or Price list, a statement or list of the prevailing prices of merchandise, stocks, specie, bills of exchange, etc., published statedly or occasionally.
Price, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Priced p. pr. & vb. n. Pricing.]
1. To pay the price of. [Obs.]
"With thine own blood to price his blood." Spenser.
2. To set a price on; to value. See Prize.
3. To ask the price of; as to price eggs. [Colloq.]
Priced, a. Rated in price; valued; as high- priced goods; low- priced labor.
Prick, n. [AS. prica, pricca, pricu; akin to LG. prick, pricke, D. prik, Dan. prik, prikke, Sw. prick. Cf. Prick, v. ]
1. That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing; a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer.
"Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary." Shak.
"It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts ix. 5.
2. The act of pricking, or the sensation of being pricked; a sharp, stinging pain; figuratively, remorse. "The pricks of conscience." A. Tucker.
3. A mark made by a pointed instrument; a puncture; a point. Hence: (a) A point or mark on the dial, noting the hour. [Obs.] "The prick of noon." Shak. (b) The point on a target at which an archer aims; the mark; the pin. "They that shooten nearest the prick." Spenser. (c) A mark denoting degree; degree; pitch. [Obs.] "To prick of highest praise forth to advance." Spenser. (d) A mathematical point; — regularly used in old English translations of Euclid. (e) The footprint of a hare. [Obs.]
4. (Naut.) A small roll; as a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco.
Prick, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pricked p. pr. & vb. n. Pricking.] [AS. prician; akin to LG. pricken, D. prikken, Dan. prikke, Sw. pricka. See Prick, n. , and cf. Prink, Prig.]
1. To pierce slightly with a sharp- pointed instrument or substance; to make a puncture in, or to make by puncturing; to drive a fine point into; as to prick one with a pin, needle, etc.; to prick a card; to prick holes in paper.
2. To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing; as to prick a knife into a board. Sir I. Newton.
"The cooks prick it [a slice] on a prong of iron." Sandys.
3. To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark; — sometimes with off.
"Some who are pricked for sheriffs." Bacon.
"Let the soldiers for duty be carefully pricked off." Sir W. Scott.
"Those many, then, shall die: their names are pricked." Shak.
4. To mark the outline of by puncturing; to trace or form by pricking; to mark by punctured dots; as to prick a pattern for embroidery; to prick the notes of a musical composition. Cowper.
5. To ride or guide with spurs; to spur; to goad; to incite; to urge on; — sometimes with on, or off.
"Who pricketh his blind horse over the fallows." Chaucer.
"The season pricketh every gentle heart." Chaucer.
"My duty pricks me on to utter that." Shak.
6. To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse. "I was pricked with some reproof." Tennyson.
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart." Acts ii. 37.
7. To make sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; — said especially of the ears of an animal, as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up; — hence, to prick up the ears, to listen sharply; to have the attention and interest strongly engaged. "The courser … pricks up his ears." Dryden.
8. To render acid or pungent. [Obs.] Hudibras.
9. To dress; to prink; — usually with up. [Obs.]
10. (Naut) (a) To run a middle seam through, as the cloth of a sail. (b) To trace on a chart, as a ship’s course.
11. (Far.) (a) To drive a nail into (a horse’s foot), so as to cause lameness. (b) To nick.
Pricket
Prick´et, n. [Perhaps so called from the state of his horns. See Prick, and cf. Brocket.] (Zoöl.) 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.]
Prickle
Pric´kle, n. [AS. pricele, pricle; akin to LG. prickel, D. prikkel. See Prick, n. ]
1. A little prick; a small, sharp point; a fine, sharp process or projection, as from the skin of an animal, the bark of a plant, etc.; a spine. Bacon.
2. A kind of willow basket; — a term still used in some branches of trade. B. Jonson.
3. A sieve of filberts, — about fifty pounds. [Eng.]
Prickliness
Prick´li•ness, n. [From Prickly.] The quality of being prickly, or of having many prickles.
Pricklouse
Prick´louse, n. A tailor; — so called in contempt. [Old slang] L’Estrange.
Prickmadam
Prick´mad•am, n. [F. trique- madame. Cf. Tripmadam.] (Bot.) A name given to several species of stonecrop, used as ingredients of vermifuge medicines. See Stonecrop.
Prickpunch
Prick´punch, n. A pointed steel punch, to prick a mark on metal.
Pricksong
Prick´song ( 115), n. [See Prick, v. t., 4.] Music written, or noted, with dots or points; — so called from the points or dots with which it is noted down. [Obs.]
"He fights as you sing pricksong." Shak.
Pride, n. [AS. pryte; akin to Icel. pryði honor, ornament, pra 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, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prided; p. pr. & vb. n. Priding.] To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; — used reflexively. Bp. Hall.
"Pluming and priding himself in all his services." South.
Prideful
Pride´ful, a. Full of pride; haughty. Tennyson. — Pride´ful•ly, adv. — Pride"ful- ness, n.
Priedieu
Prie•dieu´, n. [F., literally, pray God.] A kneeling desk for prayers.
Prier
Pri´er, n. [From Pry.] One who pries; one who inquires narrowly and searches, or is inquisitive.
"So pragmatical a prier he is into divine secrets." Fuller.
Priest, n. [OE. prest, preost, AS. preóst, fr. L. presbyter, Gr. elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of an old man, the first syllable of which is probably akin to L. pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.]
1. (Christian Church) A presbyter elder; a minister; specifically: (a) (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) One who is authorized to consecrate the host and to say Mass; but especially, one of the lowest order possessing this power. Murdock. (b) (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.) A presbyter; one who belongs to the intermediate order between bishop and deacon. He is authorized to perform all ministerial services except those of ordination and confirmation.
2. One who officiates at the altar, or performs the rites of sacrifice; one who acts as a mediator between men and the divinity or the gods in any form of religion; as Buddhist priests. "The priests of Dagon." 1 Sam. v. 5.
"Then the priest of Jupiter … brought oxen and garlands … and would have done sacrifice with the people." Acts xiv. 13.
"Every priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins." Heb. v. 1. In the New Testament presbyters are not called priests; but Christ is designated as a priest, and as a high priest, and all Christians are designated priests.
Priestcap
Priest´cap, n. (Fort.) A form of redan, so named from its shape; — called also swallowtail.
Priestess
Priest´ess, n. A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans. Abp. Potter.
Priesting
Priest´ing, n. The office of a priest. [Obs.] Milton.
Priestliness
Priest´li•ness, n. The quality or state of being priestly. R. Browning.
Prig, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prigged p. pr. & vb. n. Prigging ] [A modification of prick.] To haggle about the price of a commodity; to bargain hard. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Prig, v. t.
1. To cheapen. [Scot.]
2. [Perhaps orig., to ride off with. See Prick, v. t.] To filch or steal; as to prig a handkerchief. [Cant]
Priggish
Prig´gish, a. Like a prig; conceited; pragmatical. — Prig´gish•ly, adv. — Prig´gish-ness, n.
Prighte
Prigh´te, obs. imp. of Prick. Chaucer.
Prill, n. [Cf. Brill.] (Zoöl.) The brill.
Prill, v. i. To flow. [Obs.] Stow.
Prim, n. [See Privet.] (Bot) The privet.
Prim, a. [OF. prim, prin, prime, first, principal. sharp, thin, piercing, fr. L. primus first. See Prime, a. ] Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as prim regularity; a prim person. Swift.
Prim, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Primmed p. pr. & vb. n. Primming.] To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink.
Prima donna
Pri"ma don"na pl. E. Prima donnas (#), It. Prime (#) Donne (#). [It., fr. primo, prima, the first + donna lady, mistress. See Prime, a. , and Donna.] The first or chief female singer in an opera.
Primacy
Pri´ma•cy, n. [LL. primatia, fr. L. primas, -atis, one of the first or principal, chief, fr. primus first: cf. F. primatie. See Prime, a. ]
1. The state or condition of being prime or first, as in time, place, rank, etc., hence, excellency; supremacy. [R.] De Quincey.
2. The office, rank, or character of a primate; the chief ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church; the office or dignity of an archbishop; as the primacy of England.
Primal
Pri´mal, a. [LL. primalis, fr. L. primus the first. See Prime, a. ] First; primary; original; chief.
"It hath the primal eldest curse upon it." Shak.
"The primal duties shine aloft like stars." Wordsworth.
Primality
Pri•mal´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being primal. [Obs.]
Primary
Pri´ma•ry, a. [L. primarius, fr. primus first: cf. F. primaire. See Prime, a. , and cf. Premier, Primero.]
1. First in order of time or development or in intention; primitive; fundamental; original.
"The church of Christ, in its primary institution." Bp. Pearson.
"These I call original, or primary, qualities of body." Locke.
2. First in order, as being preparatory to something higher; as primary assemblies; primary schools.
3. First in dignity or importance; chief; principal; as primary planets; a matter of primary importance.
4. (Geol.) Earliest formed; fundamental.
5. (Chem.) Illustrating, possessing, or characterized by, some quality or property in the first degree; having undergone the first stage of substitution or replacement. Primary alcohol (Organic Chem.), any alcohol which possess the group CH2.OH, and can be oxidized so as to form a corresponding aldehyde and acid having the same number of carbon atoms; — distinguished from secondary ∧ 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 ∧ 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.) One of the large feathers on the distal joint of a bird’s wing. See Plumage, and Illust. of Bird.
4. (Astron.) A primary planet; the brighter component of a double star. See under Planet.
Primate
Pri´mate, n. [OE. primat, F. primat, L. primas, -atis one of the first, chief, fr. primus the first. See Prime, a. ]
1. The chief ecclesiastic in a national church; one who presides over other bishops in a province; an archbishop.
2. (Zoöl.) One of the Primates.
Primates
Pri•ma´tes, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) The highest order of mammals. It includes man, together with the apes and monkeys. Cf. Pitheci.
Primateship
Pri´mate•ship, n. The office, dignity, or position of a primate; primacy.
Primatial
Pri•ma´tial, a. [Cf. F. primatial.] Primatical. [R.] D’Anville (Trans. ).
Primatical
Pri•mat´ic•al, a. Of or pertaining to a primate. Barrow.
Prime, a. [F., fr. L. primus first, a superl. corresponding to the compar. prior former. See Prior, a. , Foremost, Former, and cf. Prim, a. , Primary, Prince.]
1. First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary. "Prime forests." Tennyson.
"She was not the prime cause, but I myself." Milton. In this sense the word is nearly superseded by primitive, except in the phrase prime cost.
2. First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as prime minister. "Prime virtues." Dryden.
3. First in excellence; of highest quality; as prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth.
4. Early; blooming; being in the first stage. [Poetic]
"His starry helm, unbuckled, showed him prime
In manhood where youth ended." Milton.
5. Lecherous; lustful; lewd. [Obs.] Shak.
6. Marked or distinguished by a mark (′) called a prime mark. Prime and ultimate ratio. (Math.). See Ultimate. — Prime conductor. (Elec.) See under Conductor. — Prime factor (Arith.), a factor which is a prime number. — Prime figure (Geom.), a figure which can not be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc. — Prime meridian (Astron.), the meridian from which longitude is reckoned, as the meridian of Greenwich or Washington. — Prime minister, the responsible head of a ministry or executive government; applied particularly to that of England. — Prime mover. (Mech.) (a) A natural agency applied by man to the production of power. Especially: Muscular force; the weight and motion of fluids, as water and air; heat obtained by chemical combination, and applied to produce changes in the volume and pressure of steam, air, or other fluids; and electricity, obtained by chemical action, and applied to produce alternation of magnetic force. (b) An engine, or machine, the object of which is to receive and modify force and motion as supplied by some natural source, and apply them to drive other machines; as a water wheel, a water-pressure engine, a steam engine, a hot-air engine, etc. (c) Fig.: The original or the most effective force in any undertaking or work; as Clarkson was the prime mover in English antislavery agitation. — Prime number (Arith.), a number which is exactly divisible by no number except itself or unity, as 5, 7, 11. — Prime vertical (Astron.), the vertical circle which passes through the east and west points of the horizon. — Prime-vertical dial, a dial in which the shadow is projected on the plane of the prime vertical. — Prime-vertical transit instrument, a transit instrument the telescope of which revolves in the plane of the prime vertical, — used for observing the transit of stars over this circle.
Prime, n.
1. The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring. Chaucer.
"In the very prime of the world." Hooker.
"Hope waits upon the flowery prime." Waller.
2. The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection. "Cut off in their prime." Eustace. "The prime of youth." Dryden.
3. That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part.
"Give him always of the prime." Swift.
4. [F. prime, LL. prima (sc. hora). See Prime, a. ] The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.
"Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime." Spenser. Originally, prime denoted the first quarter of the artificial day, reckoned from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. Afterwards, it denoted the end of the first quarter, that is, 9 a. m. Specifically, it denoted the first canonical hour, as now. Chaucer uses it in all these senses, and also in the sense of def. 1, above.
"They sleep till that it was pryme large." Chaucer.
5. (Fencing) The first of the chief guards.
6. (Chem.) Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; — so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1. [Obs. or Archaic]
7. (Arith.) A prime number. See under Prime, a.
8. An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; — denoted by [′]. See 2d Inch, n. , 1. Prime of the moon, the new moon at its first appearance.
Prime, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Primed p. pr. & vb. n. Priming.] [From Prime, a. ]
1. To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge.
2. To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as to prime a canvas a wall.
3. To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
4. To trim or prune, as trees. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
5. (Math.) To mark with a prime mark. To prime a pump, to charge a pump with water, in order to put it in working condition.
Primely
Prime´ly, adv.
1. At first; primarily. [Obs.] South.
2. In a prime manner; excellently.
Primer
Prim´er, a. [OF. primer, primier, premier, F. premier. See Premier.] First; original; primary. [Obs.] "The primer English kings." Drayton. Primer fine (O. Eng. Law), a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine. Blackstone. — Primer seizin (Feudal Law), the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight’s fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year’s profits of the land if in possession, and half a year’s profits if the land was in reversion expectant on an estate for life; — now abolished. Blackstone.
Primer
Prim´er, n. [Originally, the book read at prime, the first canonical hour. LL. primae liber. See Prime, n. , 4.]
1. Originally, a small prayer book for church service, containing the little office of the Virgin Mary; also a work of elementary religious instruction.
"The primer, or office of the Blessed Virgin." Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. A small elementary book for teaching children to read; a reading or spelling book for a beginner.
"As he sat in the school at his prymer." Chaucer.
3. (Print.) A kind of type, of which there are two species; one, called long primer, intermediate in size between bourgeois and small pica [see Long primer]; the other, called great primer, larger than pica. Great primer type.
Primero
Pri•me´ro, n. [Sp. primera, fr. primero first, from L. primarius. See Premier.] A game at cards, now unknown. Shak.
Primerole
Prim´er•ole, n. (Bot.) See Primrose. [Obs.] "She was a primerole." Chaucer.
Primeval
Pri•me´val, a. [L. primaevus; primus first + aevum age. See Prime, a. , and Age.] Belonging to the first ages; pristine; original; primitive; primary; as the primeval innocence of man. "This is the forest primeval." Longfellow.
"From chaos, and primeval darkness, came Light." Keats.
Primigenial
Pri•mi•ge´ni•al, a. First born, or first of all; original; primary. See Primogenial. { Pri•mi•ge´ni•ous, Pri•mig´e•nous } a. [L. primigenus, primigenius. See Primogeniture.] First formed or generated; original; primigenial. Bp. Hall.
Primine
Pri´mine, n. [L. primus first: cf. F. primine.] (Bot.) The outermost of the two integuments of an ovule. This word has been used by some writers to denote the inner integument, which is formed earlier than the outer. Cf. Secundine.
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.) The first coating of color, size, or the like, laid on canvas or on a building, or other surface.
3. (Steam Eng.) The carrying over of water, with the steam, from the boiler, as into the cylinder. Priming of the tide. See Lag of the tide, under 2d Lag. — Priming tube, a small pipe, filled with a combustible composition for firing cannon. — Priming valve (Steam Eng.), a spring safety valve applied to the cylinder of a steam engine for discharging water carried into the cylinder by priming. — Priming wire, a pointed wire used to penetrate the vent of a piece, for piercing the cartridge before priming.
Primiparous
Pri•mip´a•rous, a. [See Primipara.] Belonging to a first birth; bearing young for the first time.
Primitia
Pri•mi´ti•a, n. ; pl. Primitiae (#) (Primitias (#), obs.). [L. primitiae, pl., fr. primus first. Cf. Premices.] (Eng. Law) The first fruit; the first year’s whole profit of an ecclesiastical preferment.
"The primitias of your parsonage." Spenser.
Primitial
Pri•mi´tial, a. Being of the first production; primitive; original. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
Primitive
Prim´i•tive, a. [L. primitivus, fr. primus the first: cf. F. primitif. See Prime, a. ]
1. Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first; as primitive innocence; the primitive church. "Our primitive great sire." Milton.
2. Of or pertaining to a former time; old- fashioned; characterized by simplicity; as a primitive style of dress.
3. Original; primary; radical; not derived; as primitive verb in grammar. Primitive axes of 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.
Primity
Prim´i•ty, n. Quality of being first; primitiveness. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
Primogenial
Pri•mo•ge´ni•al, a. [See Primigenial.] First born, made, or generated; original; primary; elemental; as primogenial light. Glanvill.
Primogenitive
Pri•mo•gen´i•tive, a. [See Primogeniture.] Of or pertaining to primogeniture. [R.]
Primogenitive
Pri•mo•gen´i•tive, n. Primogeniture. [Obs.]
"The primogenitive and due of birth." Shak.
Primogeniture
Pri•mo•gen´i•ture ( 135), n. [LL., fr. L. primus first + genitura a begetting, birth, generation, fr. genere, gignere, to beget: cf. F. primogeniture, L. primogenitus firstborn. See Prime, a. , and Genus, Kin.]
1. The state of being the firstborn of the same parents; seniority by birth among children of the same family.
2. (Eng. Law) The exclusive right of inheritance which belongs to the eldest son. Thus in England the right of inheriting the estate of the father belongs to the eldest son, and in the royal family the eldest son of the sovereign is entitled to the throne by primogeniture. In exceptional cases, among the female children, the crown descends by right of primogeniture to the eldest daughter only and her issue. Blackstone.
Primogenitureship
Pri•mo•gen´i•ture•ship, n. The state or privileges of the firstborn. Burke.
Primordially
Pri•mor´di•al•ly, adv. At the beginning; under the first order of things; originally.
Primp, v. i. & t. [Cf. Prim, a. ] To be formal or affected in dress or manners; — often with up. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.
Primrose
Prim´rose, n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See Prime, a. ] (Bot.) (a) An early flowering plant of the genus Primula ( P. vulgaris) closely allied to the cowslip. There are several varieties, as the white-, the red-, the yellow-flowered, etc. Formerly called also primerole, primerolles. (b) Any plant of the genus Primula. Evening primrose, an erect biennial herb ( Enothera biennis), with yellow vespertine flowers, common in the United States. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus. — Primrose peerless, the two-flowered Narcissus ( N. biflorus). [Obs.]
Primula
Prim´u•la, n. [LL. See Primrose.] (Bot.) The genus of plants including the primrose ( Primula vera).
Primum mobile
Pri"mum mob"i•le [L., first cause of motion.] (Astron.) In the Ptolemaic system, the outermost of the revolving concentric spheres constituting the universe, the motion of which was supposed to carry with it all the inclosed spheres with their planets in a daily revolution from east to west. See Crystalline heavens, under Crystalline.
"The motions of the greatest persons in a government ought to be, as the motions of the planets, under primum mobile." Bacon.
Primy
Prim´y, a. [From Prime, a. ] Being in its prime. [Obs.] "The youth of primy nature." Shak.
Prince, n. [F., from L. princeps, -cipis, the first, chief; primus first + capere to take. See Prime, a. , and Capacious.]
1. The one of highest rank; one holding the highest place and authority; a sovereign; a monarch; - - originally applied to either sex, but now rarely applied to a female. Wyclif (Rev. i. 5).
"Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince." Milton.
"Queen Elizabeth, a prince admirable above her sex." Camden.
2. The son of a king or emperor, or the issue of a royal family; as princes of the blood. Shak.
3. A title belonging to persons of high rank, differing in different countries. In England it belongs to dukes, marquises, and earls, but is given to members of the royal family only. In Italy a prince is inferior to a duke as a member of a particular order of nobility; in Spain he is always one of the royal family.
4. The chief of any body of men; one at the head of a class or profession; one who is 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.
Princekin
Prince´kin, n. A petty prince; a princeling.
"The princekins of private life." Thackeray.
Princely
Prince´ly, adv. In a princely manner.
"My appetite was not princely got." Shak.
Princess
Prin´cess, n. [F. princesse. See Prince, and cf. Princesse.]
1. A female prince; a woman having sovereign power, or the rank of a prince. Dryden.
"So excellent a princess as the present queen." Swift.
2. The daughter of a sovereign; a female member of a royal family. Shak.
3. The consort of a prince; as the princess of Wales. Princess royal, the eldest daughter of a sovereign.
Principal
Prin´ci•pal, a. [F., from L. principalis. See Prince.]
1. Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case.
"Wisdom is the principal thing." Prov. iv. 7.
2. Of or pertaining to a prince; princely. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Spenser. Principal axis. See Axis of a curve, under Axis. — Principal axes of a quadric (Geom.), three lines in which the principal planes of the solid intersect two and two, as in an ellipsoid. — Principal challenge. (Law) See under Challenge. — Principal plane. See Plane of projection (a), under Plane. — Principal of a quadric (Geom.), three planes each of which is at right angles to the other two, and bisects all chords of the quadric perpendicular to the plane, as in an ellipsoid. — Principal point (Persp.), the projection of the point of sight upon the plane of projection. — Principal ray (Persp.), the line drawn through the point of sight perpendicular to the perspective plane. — Principal section (Crystallog.), a plane passing through the optical axis of a crystal.
Principality
Prin•ci•pal´i•ty, n. ; pl. Principalities (#). [L. principalitas preëminence, excellence: cf. F. principalite, principaute. 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. In a principal manner; primarily; above all; chiefly; mainly.
Principalness
Prin´ci•pal•ness, n. The quality of being principal.
Principia
Prin•cip´i•a, n. pl. [L. principium. See Principle.] First principles; fundamental beginnings; elements; as. Newton’s Principia.
Principiant
Prin•cip´i•ant, a. [L. principians, p. pr. of principiare to begin, fr. principium. See Principle.] Relating to principles or beginnings. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
Principiate
Prin•cip´i•ate, v. t. [See Principiant.] To begin; to initiate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Principiation
Prin•cip•i•a´tion, n. Analysis into primary or elemental parts. [Archaic] Bacon.
Principle
Prin´ci•ple, n. [F. principe, L. principium beginning, foundation, fr. princeps, - cipis. See Prince.]
1. Beginning; commencement. [Obs.]
"Doubting sad end of principle unsound." Spenser.
2. A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause.
"The soul of man is an active principle." Tillotson.
3. An original faculty or endowment.
"Nature in your principles hath set [benignity]." Chaucer.
"Those active principles whose direct and ultimate object is the communication either of enjoyment or suffering." Stewart.
4. A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.
"Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." Heb. vi. 1.
"A good principle, not rightly understood, may prove as hurtful as a bad." Milton.
5. A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one’s actions; as a person of no principle.
"All kinds of dishonesty destroy our pretenses to an honest principle of mind." Law.
6. (Chem.) Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; — applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.
"Cathartine is the bitter, purgative principle of senna." Gregory. Bitter principle, Principle of contradiction, etc. See under Bitter, Contradiction, etc.
Principle
Prin´ci•ple, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Principled p. pr. & vb. n. Principling ] To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.
"Governors should be well principled." L’Estrange.
"Let an enthusiast be principled that he or his teacher is inspired." Locke. { Prin´cock, Prin´cox } n. [ Prim + cock.] A coxcomb; a pert boy. [Obs.]
Prink, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prinked p. pr. & vb. n. Prinking.] [Probably a nasalized form of prick. See Prick, v. t., and cf. Prig, Prank.] To dress or adjust one’s self for show; to prank.
Prinpriddle
Prin´prid•dle, n. (Zoöl.) The long-tailed titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
Print, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Printed; p. pr. & vb. n. Printing.] [Abbrev. fr. imprint. See Imprint, and Press to squeeze.]
1. To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something.
"A look will print a thought that never may remove." Surrey.
"Upon his breastplate he beholds a dint,
Which in that field young Edward’s sword did print." Sir John Beaumont.
"Perhaps some footsteps printed in the clay." Roscommon.
2. To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.
"Forth on his fiery steed betimes he rode,
That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod." Dryden.
3. Specifically: To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book.
4. To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as to print calico.
5. (Photog.) To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface. Printed goods, textile fabrics printed in patterns, especially cotton cloths, or calicoes.
Print, n. [See Print, v. , Imprint, n. ]
1. A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow.
"Where print of human feet was never seen." Dryden.
2. A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as a butter print.
3. That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as a print of butter.
4. Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as small print; large print; this line is in print.
5. That which is produced by printing. Specifically: (a) An impression taken from anything, as from an engraved plate. "The prints which we see of antiquities." Dryden. (b) A printed publication, more especially a newspaper or other periodical. Addison. (c) A printed cloth; a fabric figured by stamping, especially calico or cotton cloth. (d) A photographic copy, or positive picture, on prepared paper, as from a negative, or from a drawing on transparent paper.
6. (Founding) A core print. See under Core. Blue print, a copy in white lines on a blue ground, of a drawing, plan, tracing, etc., or a positive picture in blue and white, from a negative, produced by photographic printing on peculiarly prepared paper. — In print. (a) In a printed form; issued from the press; published. Shak. (b) To the letter; with accurateness. "All this I speak in print." Shak. — Out of print. See under Out. — Print works, a factory where cloth, as calico, is printed.
Printer
Print´er, n. One who prints; especially, one who prints books, newspapers, engravings, etc., a compositor; a typesetter; a pressman. Printer’s devil, Printer’s gauge. See under Devil, and Gauge. — Printer’s ink. See Printing ink, below.
Printery
Print´er•y, n. A place where cloth is printed; print works; also a printing office. [R.]
Printing
Print´ing, n. The act, art, or practice of impressing letters, characters, or figures on paper, cloth, or other material; the business of a printer, including typesetting and presswork, with their adjuncts; typography; also the act of producing photographic prints. Block printing. See under Block. — Printing frame (Photog.), a shallow box, usually having a glass front, in which prints are made by exposure to light. — Printing house, a printing office. — Printing ink, ink used in printing books, newspapers, etc. It is composed of lampblack or ivory black mingled with linseed or nut oil, made thick by boiling and burning. Other ingredients are employed for the finer qualities. Ure. — Printing office, a place where books, pamphlets, or newspapers, etc., are printed. — Printing paper, paper used in the printing of books, pamphlets, newspapers, and the like, as distinguished from writing paper, wrapping paper, etc. — Printing press, a press for printing, books, newspaper, handbills, etc. — Printing wheel, a wheel with letters or figures on its periphery, used in machines for paging or numbering, or in ticket-printing machines, typewriters, etc.; a type wheel.
Prior
Pri´or, a. [L. prior former, previous, better, superior; compar. corresponding to primus first, and pro for. See Former, and cf. Prime, a. , and Pre-, Pro-.] Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as a prior discovery; prior obligation; — used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.
Prior
Pri´or, n. [OE. priour, OF. priour, prior, priur, F. prieur, from L. prior former, superior. See Prior, a. ] (Eccl.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity. Conventical, or Conventual, prior, a prior who is at the head of his own house. See the Note under Priory. — Claustral prior, an official next in rank to the abbot in a monastery; prior of the cloisters.
Priority
Pri•or´i•ty, n. [Cf. F. priorite. 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.
Priorship
Pri´or•ship, n. The state or office of prior; priorate.
Priory
Pri´o•ry, n. ; pl. Priories (#). [Cf. LL. prioria. See Prior, n. ] A religious house presided over by a prior or prioress; — sometimes an offshoot of, an subordinate to, an abbey, and called also cell, and obedience. See Cell, 2. Of such houses there were two sorts: one where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and governed as independently as an abbot in an abbey; the other where the priory was subordinate to an abbey, and the prior was placed or displaced at the will of the abbot. Alien priory, a small religious house dependent on a large monastery in some other country.
Syn. — See Cloister.
Pris, n. See Price, and 1st Prize. [Obs.]
Prisage
Pris´age ( 48), n. [OF. prisage a praising, valuing, taxing; cf. LL. prisagium prisage; or from F. prise a taking, capture, prize. See Prize.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more, — one before and one behind the mast. By charter of Edward I. butlerage was substituted for this. Blackstone. (b) The share of merchandise taken as lawful prize at sea which belongs to the king or admiral.
Prise, n. An enterprise. [Obs.] Spenser.
Prise, n. & v. See Prize, n. , 5. Also Prize, v. t.
Priser
Pris´er, n. See 1st Prizer. [Obs.]
Prism (priz’m), n. [L. prisma, Gr. pri•sma, fr. pri•zein, pri•ein, to saw: cf. F. prisme.]
1. (Geom.) A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms. Prisms of different forms are often named from the figure of their bases; as a triangular prism, a quadrangular prism, a rhombic prism, etc.
2. (Opt.) A transparent body, with usually three rectangular plane faces or sides, and two equal and parallel triangular ends or bases; — used in experiments on refraction, dispersion, etc.
3. (Crystallog.) A form the planes of which are parallel to the vertical axis. See Form, n. , 13. Achromatic prism (Opt.), a prism composed usually of two prisms of different transparent substances which have unequal dispersive powers, as two different kinds of glass, especially flint glass and crown glass, the difference of dispersive power being compensated by giving them different refracting angles, so that, when placed together so as to have opposite relative positions, a ray of light passed through them is refracted or bent into a new position, but is free from color. — Nicol’s prism, Nicol prism. [So called from Wm. Nicol, of Edinburgh, who first proposed it.] (Opt.) An instrument for experiments in polarization, consisting of a rhomb of Iceland spar, which has been bisected obliquely at a certain angle, and the two parts again joined with transparent cement, so that the ordinary image produced by double refraction is thrown out of the field by total reflection from the internal cemented surface, and the extraordinary, or polarized, image alone is transmitted. { Pris•mat´ic, Pris•mat´ic•al } a. [Cf. F. prismatique.]
1. Resembling, or pertaining to, a prism; as a prismatic form or cleavage.
2. Separated or distributed by a prism; formed by a prism; as prismatic colors.
3. (Crystallog.) Same as Orthorhombic. Prismatic borax (Chem.), borax crystallized in the form of oblique prisms, with ten molecules of water; — distinguished from octahedral borax. — Prismatic colors (Opt.), the seven colors into which light is resolved when passed through a prism; primary colors. See Primary colors, under Color. — Prismatic compass (Surv.), a compass having a prism for viewing a distant object and the compass card at the same time. — Prismatic spectrum (Opt.), the spectrum produced by the passage of light through a prism.
Prismatically
Pris•mat´ic•al•ly, adv. In the form or manner of a prism; by means of a prism.
Prismatoidal
Pris•ma•toid´al, a. [Gr.,, prism + -oid: F. prismatoïde.] Having a prismlike form. Ure.
Prismoidal
Pris•moid´al, a. Having the form of a prismoid; as prismoidal solids.
Prison
Pris´on ( 277), n. [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of, to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n. , Misprision.]
1. A place where persons are confined, or restrained of personal liberty; hence, a place or state o confinement, restraint, or safe custody.
"Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name." Ps. cxlii. 7.
"The tyrant AEolus, …
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. [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.
Pristinate
Pris´tin•ate, a. Pristine; primitive. [Obs.] "Pristinate idolatry." Holinshed.
Pristine
Pris´tine, a. [L. pristinus, akin to prior: cf. F. pristin. See Prior, a. ] Belonging to the earliest period or state; original; primitive; primeval; as the pristine state of innocence; the pristine manners of a people; pristine vigor.
Pritch, n. [See Prick.]
1. A sharp-pointed instrument; also an eelspear. [Prov. Eng.]
2. Pique; offense. [Obs.] D. Rogers.
Prittle-prattle
Prit´tle-prat•tle, n. [See Prattle.] Empty talk; trifling loquacity; prattle; — used in contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.] Abp. Bramhall.
Privacy
Pri´va•cy, n. ; pl. Privacies (#). [See Private.]
1. The state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; seclusion.
2. A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement.
"Her sacred privacies all open lie." Rowe.
3. Concealment of what is said or done. Shak.
4. A private matter; a secret. Fuller.
5. See Privity, 2. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
Privado
Pri•va´do, n. [Sp., fr. L. privatus. See Private.] 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.] 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. [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.
Privateer
Pri•va•teer´ (pri•va•ter"), n. [From Private.]
1. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque.
2. The commander of a privateer.
"Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate." Macaulay.
Privateer
Pri•va•teer´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Privateered p. pr. & vb. n. Privateering.] To cruise in a privateer.
Privateersman
Pri•va•teers´man, n. ; pl. Privateersmen . An officer or seaman of a privateer.
Privation
Pri•va´tion (pri•va"shun), n. [L. privatio: cf. F. privation. See Private.]
1. The act of depriving, or taking away; hence, the depriving of rank or office; degradation in rank; deprivation. Bacon.
2. The state of being deprived or destitute of something, especially of something required or desired; destitution; need; as to undergo severe privations.
3. The condition of being absent; absence; negation.
"Evil will be known by consequence, as being only a privation, or absence, of good." South.
"Privation mere of light and absent day." Milton.
Privative
Priv´a•tive, a. [L. privativus: cf. F. privatif. See Private.]
1. Causing privation; depriving.
2. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative.
"Privative blessings, blessings of immunity, safeguard, liberty, and integrity." Jer. Taylor.
3. (Gram.) Implying privation or negation; giving a negative force to a word; as alpha privative; privative particles; — applied to such prefixes and suffixes as a. (Gr. ), un-, non-, -less.
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) A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; — called also privative term.
3. (Gram.) A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a. , 3.
Privativeness
Priv´a•tive•ness, n. The state of being privative.
Privet
Priv´et, n. [Cf. Scot. privie, Prov. E. prim-print, primwort. Prob. for primet, and perh. named from being cut and trimmed. See, Prim, a. , and cf. Prime to prune, Prim, n., Prie, n. ] (Bot.) An ornamental European shrub ( Ligustrum vulgare), much used in hedges; — called also prim. Egyptian privet. See Lawsonia. — Evergreen privet, a plant of the genus Rhamnus. See Alatern. — Mock privet, any one of several evergreen shrubs of the genus Phillyrea. They are from the Mediterranean region, and have been much cultivated for hedges and for fancifully clipped shrubberies.
Privilege
Priv´i•lege, n. [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) 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.] [Cf. F. privilegier.]
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.
Privily
Priv´i•ly, adv. In a privy manner; privately; secretly. Chaucer. 2 Pet. ii. 1.
Privity
Priv´i•ty, n. ; pl. Privities (-tiz). [From Privy, a. : cf. F. privaute extreme familiarity.]
1. Privacy; secrecy; confidence. Chaucer.
"I will unto you, in privity, discover … my purpose." Spenser.
2. Private knowledge; joint knowledge with another of a private concern; cognizance implying consent or concurrence.
"All the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the Prince of Orange." Swift.
3. A private matter or business; a secret. Chaucer.
4. pl. The genitals; the privates.
5. (Law) A connection, or bond of union, between parties, as to some particular transaction; mutual or successive relationship to the same rights of property.
Privy
Priv´y, a. [F. prive, fr. L. privatus. See Private.]
1. Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as the privy purse. " Privee knights and squires." Chaucer.
2. Secret; clandestine. " A privee thief." Chaucer.
3. Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public. " Privy chambers." Ezek. xxi. 14.
4. Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing.
"His wife also being privy to it." Acts v. 2.
"Myself am one made privy to the plot." Shak. Privy chamber, a private apartment in a royal residence. [Eng.] — Privy council (Eng. Law), the principal council of the sovereign, composed of the cabinet ministers and other persons chosen by the king or queen. Burrill. — Privy councilor, a member of the privy council. — Privy purse, moneys set apart for the personal use of the monarch; also the title of the person having charge of these moneys. [Eng.] Macaulay. — Privy seal or signet, the seal which the king uses in grants, etc., which are to pass the great seal, or which he uses in matters of subordinate consequence which do not require the great seal; also elliptically, the principal secretary of state, or person intrusted with the privy seal. [Eng.] — Privy verdict, a verdict given privily to the judge out of court; — now disused. Burrill.
Prize (priz), n. [F. prise a seizing, hold, grasp, fr. pris, p. p. of prendre to take, L. prendere, prehendere; in some senses, as 2 (b), either from, or influenced by, F. prix price. See Prison, Prehensile, and cf. Pry, and also Price.]
1. That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
"I will depart my pris, or my prey, by deliberation." Chaucer.
"His own prize,
Whom formerly he had in battle won." Spenser.
2. Hence, specifically; (a) (Law) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; esp., property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel. Kent. Brande & C. (b) An honor or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
"I’ll never wrestle for prize more." Shak.
"I fought and conquered, yet have lost the prize." Dryden. (c) That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
3. Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. iii. 14.
4. A contest for a reward; competition. [Obs.] Shak.
5. A lever; a pry; also the hold of a lever. [Written also prise.] Prize court, a court having jurisdiction of all captures made in war on the high seas. Bouvier. — Prize fight, an exhibition contest, esp. one of pugilists, for a stake or wager. — Prize fighter, one who fights publicly for a reward; — applied esp. to a professional boxer or pugilist. Pope. — Prize fighting, fighting, especially boxing, in public for a reward or wager. — Prize master, an officer put in charge or command of a captured vessel. — Prize medal, a medal given as a prize. — Prize money, a dividend from the proceeds of a captured vessel, etc., paid to the captors. — Prize ring, the ring or inclosure for a prize fight; the system and practice of prize fighting. — To make prize of, to capture. Hawthorne.
Prize, v. t. To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry. [Written also prise.]
Prize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prized p. pr. & vb. n. Prizing.] [F. priser, OF. prisier, preisier, fr. L. pretiare, fr. pretium worth, value, price. See Price, and cf. Praise.] [Formerly written also prise. ]
1. To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate.
"A goodly price that I was prized at." Zech. xi. 13.
"I prize it [life] not a straw, but for mine honor." Shak.
2. To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem. "[I] do love, prize, honor you. " Shak.
"I prized your person, but your crown disdain." Dryden.
Prize, n. [F. prix price. See 3d Prize. ] Estimation; valuation. [Obs.] Shak.
Prizeman
Prize´man, n. ; pl. Prizemen . The winner of a prize.
Prizer
Priz´er, n. [See 3d Prize.] One who estimates or sets the value of a thing; an appraiser. Shak.
Prizer
Priz´er, n. [See 1st Prize.] One who contends for a prize; a prize fighter; a challenger. [Obs.] Shak.
"Appeareth no man yet to answer the prizer." B. Jonson.
Prizing
Priz´ing, n. [See 2d Prize.] The application of a lever to move any weighty body, as a cask, anchor, cannon, car, etc. See Prize, n. , 5.
Pro, prep. [L.; akin to prae before, Gr., and E. for. See For, prep., and cf. Prior, a. ] A Latin preposition signifying for, before, forth. Pro confesso [L.] (Law), taken as confessed. The action of a court of equity on that portion of the pleading in a particular case which the pleading on the other side does not deny. — Pro rata. [L. See Prorate.] In proportion; proportion. — Pro re nata [L.] (Law), for the existing occasion; as matters are.
Pro- [L. pro, or Gr. . See Pro.] A prefix signifying before, in front, forth, for, in behalf of, in place of, according to; as propose, to place before; proceed, to go before or forward; project, to throw forward; prologue, part spoken before (the main piece); propel, prognathous; provide, to look out for; pronoun, a word instead of a noun; proconsul, a person acting in place of a consul; proportion, arrangement according to parts.
Proach, v. i. See Approach. [Obs.]
Probabiliorism
Prob•a•bil´i•o•rism, n. The doctrine of the probabiliorists.
Probabilism
Prob´a•bil•ism, n. [Cf. F. probabilisme.] The doctrine of the probabilists.
Probability
Prob•a•bil´i•ty, n. ; pl. Probabilities (#). [L. probabilitas: cf. F. probabilite.]
1. The quality or state of being probable; appearance of reality or truth; reasonable ground of presumption; likelihood.
"Probability is the appearance of the agreement or disagreement of two ideas by the intervention of proofs whose connection is not constant, but appears for the most part to be so." Locke.
2. That which is or appears probable; anything that has the appearance of reality or truth.
"The whole life of man is a perpetual comparison of evidence and balancing of probabilities." Buckminster.
"We do not call for evidence till antecedent probabilities fail." J. H. Newman.
3. (Math.) Likelihood of the occurrence of any event in the doctrine of chances, or the ratio of the number of favorable chances to the whole number of chances, favorable and unfavorable. See 1st Chance, n. , 5.
Syn. — Likeliness; credibleness; likelihood; chance.
Probable
Prob´a•ble, a. [L. probabilis, fr. probare to try, approve, prove: cf. F. probable. See Prove, and cf. Provable.]
1. Capable of being proved. [Obs.]
2. Having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt; likely.
"That is accounted probable which has better arguments producible for it than can be brought against it." South.
"I do not say that the principles of religion are merely probable; I have before asserted them to be morally certain." Bp. Wilkins.
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.
Probacy
Pro´ba•cy, n. [See Probate.] Proof; trial. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Probality
Pro•bal´i•ty, n. Probability. [Obs.] "With as great probality." Holland.
Probang
Pro´bang, n. [See Probe.] A slender elastic rod, as of whalebone, with a sponge on the end, for removing obstructions from the esophagus, etc.
Probate
Pro´bate, n. [From L. probatus, p. p. of probare to prove. See Prove.]
1. Proof. [Obs.] Skelton.
2. (Law) (a) Official proof; especially, the proof before a competent officer or tribunal that an instrument offered, purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act; the copy of a will proved, under the seal of the Court of Probate, delivered to the executors with a certificate of its having been proved. Bouvier. Burrill. (b) The right or jurisdiction of proving wills.
Probation
Pro•ba´tion, n. [L. probatio, fr. probare to try, examine, prove: cf. F. probation. See Prove.]
1. The act of proving; also that which proves anything; proof. [Obs.]
"When by miracle God dispensed great gifts to the laity, … he gave probation that he intended that all should prophesy and preach." Jer. Taylor.
2. Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as to engage a person on probation. Hence, specifically: (a) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule. (b) The trial of a ministerial candidate’s qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor. (c) Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state.
"No [view of human life] seems so reasonable as that which regards it as a state of probation." Paley.
Probationership
Pro•ba´tion•er•ship, n. The state of being a probationer; novitiate. Locke.
Probe, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Probed p. pr. & vb. n. Probing.] [L. probare to try, examine. See Prove.]
1. To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe.
2. Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly. Dryden.
"The growing disposition to probe the legality of all acts, of the crown." Hallam.
Probity
Prob´i•ty, n. [F. probite, fr. L. probitas, fr. probus good, proper, honest. Cf. Prove.] Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness. "Probity of mind." Pope.
Syn. — Probity, Integrity. Probity denotes unimpeachable honesty and virtue, shown especially by the performance of those obligations, called imperfect, which the laws of the state do not reach, and can not enforce. Integrity denotes a whole-hearted honesty, and especially that which excludes all injustice that might favor one’s self. It has a peculiar reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfer of property, and the execution of trusts for others.
Problem
Prob´lem, n. [F. problème, L. problema, fr. Gr. anything thrown forward, a question proposed for solution, fr. to throw or lay before; before, forward + to throw. Cf. Parable. ]
1. A question proposed for solution; a matter stated for examination or proof; hence, a matter difficult of solution or settlement; a doubtful case; a question involving doubt. Bacon.
2. (Math.) Anything which is required to be done; as in geometry, to bisect a line, to draw a perpendicular; or, in algebra, to find an unknown quantity. Problem differs from theorem in this, that a problem is something to be done, as to bisect a triangle, to describe a circle, etc.; a theorem is something to be proved, as that all the angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles. Plane problem (Geom.), a problem that can be solved by the use of the rule and compass. — Solid problem (Geom.), a problem requiring in its geometric solution the use of a conic section or higher curve. { Prob•lem•at´ic, Prob•lem•at´ic•al } a. [L. problematicus, Gr. : cf. F. problematique.] 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. One who proposes problems. [R.] Evelyn.
Problematize
Prob´lem•a•tize, v. t. To propose problems. [R.] "Hear him problematize." B. Jonson.
Proboscidate
Pro•bos´ci•date, a. [See Proboscis.] (Zoöl.) Having a proboscis; proboscidial.
Proboscidea
Pro•bos•cid´e•a, n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis.] (Zoöl.) An order of large mammals including the elephants and mastodons.
Proboscidian
Pro•bos•cid´i•an, a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the Proboscidea. — n. One of the Proboscidea.
Proboscidifera
Pro•bos•ci•dif´e•ra, n. pl. [NL. See Proboscis, and -ferous.]
1. (Zoöl.) 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.) A subdivision of the taenioglossate gastropods, including the fig-shells ( Pyrula), the helmet shells ( Cassis), the tritons, and allied genera.
Proboscis
Pro•bos´cis, n. ; pl. Proboscides (#). [L. fr. Gr. ; before + to feed, graze.]
1. (Zoöl.) A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk. The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube formed by the modified maxillae, or by the labium. See Illust. . of Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.
2. (Zoöl.) By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded. The proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in the head. See Illust. in Appendix.
3. The nose. [Jocose] Proboscis monkey. (Zoöl.) See Kahau.
Procacity
Pro•cac´i•ty, n. [L. procacitas.] Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [R.] Burton.
Procambium
Pro•cam´bi•um, n. [NL. See Pro-, and Cambium.] (Bot.) The young tissue of a fibrovascular bundle before its component cells have begun to be differentiated. Sachs.
Procedendo
Pro•ce•den´do, n. [Abl. of the gerundive of L. procedere. see Proceed.] (Law) (a) A writ by which a cause which has been removed on insufficient grounds from an inferior to a superior court by certiorari, or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be proceeded in there. (b) In English practice, a writ issuing out of chancery in cases where the judges of subordinate courts delay giving judgment, commanding them to proceed to judgment. (c) A writ by which the commission of the justice of the peace is revived, after having been suspended. Tomlins. Burrill.
Procedure
Pro•ce´dure, n. [F. procedure. 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.] [F. proceder. fr. L. procedere, processum, to go before, to proceed; pro forward + cedere to move. See Cede.]
1. To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to advance; to continue or renew motion begun; as to proceed on a journey.
"If thou proceed in this thy insolence." Shak.
2. To pass from one point, topic, or stage, to another; as to proceed with a story or argument.
3. To issue or come forth as from a source or origin; to come from; as light proceeds from the sun.
"I proceeded forth and came from God." John viii. 42.
"It proceeds from policy, not love." Shak.
4. To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design.
"He that proceeds upon other principles in his inquiry." Locke.
5. To be transacted; to take place; to occur. [Obs.]
"He will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day." Shak.
6. To have application or effect; to operate.
"This rule only proceeds and takes place when a person can not of common law condemn another by his sentence." Ayliffe.
7. (Law) To begin and carry on a legal process.
Syn. — To advance; go on; continue; progress; issue; arise; emanate.
Proceed
Pro´ceed, n. See Proceeds. [Obs.] Howell.
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) 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.
Proceleusmatic
Proc•e•leus•mat´ic, n. (Pros.) A foot consisting of four short syllables.
Procellous
Pro•cel´lous, a. [L. procellosus, fr. procella a storm.] Stormy. [Obs.] Bailey.
Proception
Pro•cep´tion, n. [Pref. pro- + L. capere to take.] Preoccupation. [Obs.] Eikon Basilik.
Procere
Pro•cere´, a. [L. procerus tall.] Of high stature; tall. [Obs.] Evelyn.
Procerebrum
Pro•cer´e•brum, n. [Pref. pro- + cerebrum.] (Anat.) The prosencephalon.
Procerity
Pro•cer´i•ty, n. [L. proceritas.] Height of stature; tallness. [R.] Johnson.
Process
Proc´ess, n. [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.) Any marked prominence or projecting part, especially of a bone; anapophysis.
5. (Law) The whole course of proceedings in a cause real or personal, civil or criminal, from the beginning to the end of the suit; strictly, the means used for bringing the defendant into court to answer to the action; — a generic term for writs of the class called judicial. Deacon’s process [from H. Deacon, who introduced it] (Chem.), a method of obtaining chlorine gas by passing hydrochloric acid gas over heated slag which has been previously saturated with a solution of some metallic salt, as sulphate of copper. — Final process (Practice), a writ of execution in an action at law. Burrill. — In process, in the condition of advance, accomplishment, transaction, or the like; begun, and not completed. — Jury process (Law), the process by which a jury is summoned in a cause, and by which their attendance is enforced. Burrill. — Leblanc’s process (Chem.), the process of manufacturing soda by treating salt with sulphuric acid, reducing the sodium sulphate so formed to sodium sulphide by roasting with charcoal, and converting the sodium sulphide to sodium carbonate by roasting with lime. — Mesne process. See under Mesne. — Process milling, the process of high milling for grinding flour. See under Milling. — Reversible process (Thermodynamics), any process consisting of a cycle of operations such that the different operations of the cycle can be performed in reverse order with a reversal of their effects.
Procession
Pro•ces´sion, n. [F., fr. L. processio. See Proceed.]
1. The act of proceeding, moving on, advancing, or issuing; regular, orderly, or ceremonious progress; continuous course. Bp. Pearson.
"That the procession of their life might be"
"More equable, majestic, pure, and free." Trench.
2. That which is moving onward in an orderly, stately, or solemn manner; a train of persons advancing in order; a ceremonious train; a retinue; as a procession of mourners; the Lord Mayor’s procession.
"Here comes the townsmen on procession." Shak.
3. (Eccl.) An orderly and ceremonial progress of persons, either from the sacristy to the choir, or from the choir around the church, within or without. Shipley.
4. pl. (Eccl.) An old term for litanies which were said in procession and not kneeling. Shipley. Procession of the Holy Ghost, a theological term applied to the relation of the Holy Spirit to the Father and the Son, the Eastern Church affirming that the Spirit proceeds from the Father only, and the Western Church that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Shipley. — Procession week, a name for Rogation week, when processions were made; Cross-week. Shipley.
Procession
Pro•ces´sion, v. i. To march in procession. [R.]
Procession
Pro•ces´sion, v. i. To honor with a procession. [R.]
Processionalist
Pro•ces´sion•al•ist, n. One who goes or marches in a procession. [R.]
Processioning
Pro•ces´sion•ing, n. A proceeding prescribed by statute for ascertaining and fixing the boundaries of land. See 2d Procession. [ Local, U. S.] Bouvier.
Prochein
Pro´chein, a. [F. prochain, fr. L. (assumed) proximanus, fr. proximus.] Next; nearest. Prochein ami or amy (Law), the next friend. See under Next.
Prociduous
Pro•cid´u•ous, a. [ L. prociduus.] Falling from its proper place.
Proclaim
Pro•claim´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proclaimed p. pr. & vb. n. Proclaiming.] [OE. proclamen, L. proclamare; pro before, forward + clamare to call or cry out: cf. F. proclamer. See Claim.]
1. To make known by public announcement; to give wide publicity to; to publish abroad; to promulgate; to declare; as to proclaim war or peace.
"To proclaim liberty to the captives." Isa. lxi. 1.
"For the apparel oft proclaims the man." Shak.
"Throughout the host proclaim
A solemn council forthwith to be held." Milton.
2. To outlaw by public proclamation.
"I heard myself proclaimed." Shak.
Syn. — To publish; promulgate; declare; announce. See Announce.
Proclamation
Proc•la•ma´tion, n. [F. proclamation, L. proclamatio. See Proclaim.]
1. The act of proclaiming; official or general notice; publication.
"King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted." 1 Kings xv. 22.
2. That which is proclaimed, publicly announced, or officially declared; a published ordinance; as the proclamation of a king; a Thanksgiving proclamation.
Proclitic
Pro•clit´ic, a. [Gr. to lean forward; forward + to lean or incline. Cf. Enclitic.] (Gr. Gram.) Leaning forward; — said of certain monosyllabic words which are so closely attached to the following word as not to have a separate accent.
Proclive
Pro•clive´, a. [L. proclivis sloping, inclined; pro forward + clivus hill: cf. F. proclive. See Declivity, and cf. Proclivous.] Having a tendency by nature; prone; proclivous. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
Proclivous
Pro•cli´vous, a. [L. proclivus. See Proclive.]
1. Inclined; tending by nature. [R.]
2. (Zoöl.) Having the incisor teeth directed forward.
Procœlia
Pro•cœ"li•a, n. ; pl. Procœliae . [ NL.] (Anat.) Same as Procœle.
Procœlian
Pro•cœ"li•an, a. [See Procœle.] (Anat & Zoöl.) Concave in front; as procœlian vertebrae, which have the anterior end of the centra concave and the posterior convex.
Procœlian
Pro•cœ"li•an, n. (Zoöl.) A reptile having procœlian vertebrae; one of the Procœlia.
Procrastinate
Pro•cras´ti•nate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Procrastinated p. pr. & vb. n. Procrastinating.] [L. procrastinatus, p. p. of procrastinare to procrastinate; pro forward + crastinus of to-morrow, fr. cras to-morrow.] To put off till to-morrow, or from day to day; to defer; to postpone; to delay; as to procrastinate repentance. Dr. H. More.
"Hopeless and helpless AEgeon wend,
But to procrastinate his lifeless end." Shak.
Syn. — To postpone; adjourn; defer; delay; retard; protract; prolong.
Procrastinator
Pro•cras´ti•na•tor, n. One who procrastinates, or defers the performance of anything.
Procrastinatory
Pro•cras´ti•na•to•ry, a. Of or pertaining to procrastination; dilatory.
Procreant
Pro´cre•ant, a. [L. procreans, p. pr. of procreare. See Procreate.] Generating; producing; productive; fruitful; assisting in procreation. [R.] "His pendent bed and procreant cradle." Shak.
Procreant
Pro´cre•ant, n. One who, or that which, procreates.
Procreate
Pro´cre•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Procreated p. pr. & vb. n. Procreating.] [L. procreatus, p. p. of procreare; pro forward, forth + create to create.] To generate and produce; to beget; to engender.
Procreative
Pro´cre•a•tive, a. Having the power to beget; generative. Sir M. Hale.
Procreativeness
Pro´cre•a•tive•ness, n. The power of generating.
Procreator
Pro´cre•a•tor, n. [L.] One who begets; a father or sire; a generator.
Procrustean
Pro•crus´te•an, a. Of or pertaining to Procrustes, or the mode of torture practiced by him; producing conformity by violent means; as the Procrustean treatment; a Procrustean limit. See Procrustes.
Procrusteanize
Pro•crus´te•an•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Procrusteanized p. pr. & vb. n. Procrusteanizing ] To stretch or contract according to some rule or standard.
Proctitis
Proc•ti´tis, n. [NL., from Gr. anus + -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the rectum.
Proctodaeum
Proc•to•dae´um, n. [NL., fr. Gr. the anus + to divide.] (Anat.) See Mesenteron.
Proctor
Proc´tor, n. [OE. proketour, contr. fr. procurator. See Procurator.] One who is employed to manage to affairs of another. Specifically: (a) A person appointed to collect alms for those who could not go out to beg for themselves, as lepers, the bedridden, etc.; hence a beggar. [Obs.] Nares. (b) (Eng. Law) An officer employed in admiralty and ecclesiastical causes. He answers to an attorney at common law, or to a solicitor in equity. Wharton. (c) (Ch. of Eng.) A representative of the clergy in convocation. (d) An officer in a university or college whose duty it is to enforce obedience to the laws of the institution.
Proctor
Proc´tor, v. t. To act as a proctor toward; to manage as an attorney or agent. Bp. Warburton.
Proctorial
Proc•to´ri•al, a. Of or pertaining to a proctor, esp. an academic proctor; magisterial.
Procumbent
Pro•cum´bent, a. [L. procumbens, -entis, p. pr. of procumbere to fall, bend, or lean forward; pro forward + cumbere (in comp.), akin to cubare to lie down: cf. F. procombant. Cf. Incumbent.]
1. Lying down, or on the face; prone. " Procumbent each obeyed." Cowper.
2. (Bot.) Lying on the ground, but without putting forth roots; trailing; prostrate; as a procumbent stem.
Procurable
Pro•cur´a•ble, a. Capable of being procured; obtainable. Boyle.
Procuracy
Proc´u•ra•cy, n. ; pl. Procuracies (#). [LL. procuratia: cf. F. procuratie. See Procuration, and cf,. Proxy.]
1. The office or act of a proctor or procurator; management for another.
2. Authority to act for another; a proxy. [Obs.]
Procuration
Proc•u•ra´tion, n. [L. procuratio: cf. F. procuration. See Procure.]
1. The act of procuring; procurement.
2. The management of another’s affairs.
3. The instrument by which a person is empowered to transact the affairs of another; a proxy.
4. (Ch. of Eng.) A sum of money paid formerly to the bishop or archdeacon, now to the ecclesiastical commissioners, by an incumbent, as a commutation for entertainment at the time of visitation; — called also prox. . Procuration money (Law), money paid for procuring a loan. Blackstone.
Procurator
Proc´u•ra•tor, n. [L.: cf. F. procurateur. See Procure, and cf. Proctor. ]
1. (Law) One who manages another’s affairs, either generally or in a special matter; an agent; a proctor. Chaucer. Shak.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) A governor of a province under the emperors; also one who had charge of the imperial revenues in a province; as the procurator of Judea. Procurator fiscal (Scots Law), public prosecutor, or district attorney.
Procuratorship
Proc´u•ra•tor•ship, n. The office or term of a procurator. Bp. Pearson.
Procuratory
Pro•cu´ra•to•ry, a. [L. procuratorius.] Tending to, or authorizing, procuration.
Procure
Pro•cure´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Procured p. pr. & vb. n. Procuring.] [F. procurer, L. procurare, procuratum, to take care of; pro for + curare to take care, fr. cura care. See Cure, and cf. Proctor, Proxy.]
1. To bring into possession; to cause to accrue to, or to come into possession of; to acquire or provide for one’s self or for another; to gain; to get; to obtain by any means, as by purchase or loan.
"If we procure not to ourselves more woe." Milton.
2. To contrive; to bring about; to effect; to cause.
"By all means possible they procure to have gold and silver among them in reproach." Robynson (More’s Utopia) .
"Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall." Shak.
3. To solicit; to entreat. [Obs.]
"The famous Briton prince and faery knight, …
Of the fair Alma greatly were procured
To make there longer sojourn and abode." Spenser.
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.]
Prod, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prodded p. pr. & vb. n. Prodding.] To thrust some pointed instrument into; to prick with something sharp; as to prod a soldier with a bayonet; to prod oxen; hence, to goad, to incite, to worry; as to prod a student. H. Taylor.
Prodigal
Prod´i•gal, a. [L. prodigus, from prodigere to drive forth, to squander away; pro forward, forth + agere to drive; cf. F. prodigue. See Agent. ] Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as a prodigal man; the prodigal son; prodigal giving; prodigal expenses.
"In fighting fields [patriots] were prodigal of blood." Dryden.
Syn. — Profuse; lavish; extravagant; squandering; wasteful. See Profuse.
Prodigality
Prod•i•gal´i•ty, n. [F. prodigalite, L. prodigalitas. See Prodigal.] Extravagance in expenditure, particularly of money; excessive liberality; profusion; waste; — opposed to frugality, economy, and parsimony."The prodigality of his wit." Dryden.
Prodigalize
Prod´i•gal•ize, v. i. To act as a prodigal; to spend liberally. Sherwood.
Prodigalize
Prod´i•gal•ize, v. t. To expend lavishly. Ld. Lytton.
Prodigence
Prod´i•gence, n. [L. prodigentia, fr. prodigens, p. pr. of prodigere. See Prodigal. ] Waste; profusion; prodigality. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Prodigious
Pro•di´gious, a. [L. prodigiosus, fr. prodigium a prodigy; cf. F. prodigieux. See Prodigy.]
1. Of the nature of a prodigy; marvelous; wonderful; portentous. [Obs. or R.] Spenser.
"It is prodigious to have thunder in a clear sky." Sir T. Browne.
2. Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great; vast; huge; immense; as a prodigious mountain; a prodigious creature; a prodigious blunder. "Prodigious might." Milton.
Syn. — Huge; enormous; monstrous; portentous; marvelous; amazing; astonishing; extraordinary.
Prodigy
Prod´i•gy, n. ; pl. Prodigies (#). [ L. prodigium; pro before + (perh.) a word appearing in adagium adage: cf. F. prodige. Cf. Adage. ]
1. Something extraordinary, or out of the usual course of nature, from which omens are drawn; a portent; as eclipses and meteors were anciently deemed prodigies.
"So many terrors, voices, prodigies,
May warn thee, as a sure foregoing sign." Milton.
2. Anything so extraordinary as to excite wonder or astonishment; a marvel; as a prodigy of learning.
3. A production out of ordinary course of nature; an abnormal development; a monster. B. Jonson.
Syn. — Wonder; miracle; portent; marvel; monster.
Prodromal
Prod´ro•mal, a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to prodromes; as the prodromal stage of a disease.
Produce
Pro•duce´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Produced p. pr. & vb. n. Producing ] [L. producere, productum, to bring forward, beget, produce; pro forward, forth + ducere to lead. See Duke.]
1. To bring forward; to lead forth; to offer to view or notice; to exhibit; to show; as to produce a witness or evidence in court.
"Produce your cause, saith the Lord." Isa. xli. 21.
"Your parents did not produce you much into the world." Swift.
2. To bring forth, as young, or as a natural product or growth; to give birth to; to bear; to generate; to propagate; to yield; to furnish; as the earth produces grass; trees produce fruit; the clouds produce rain.
"This soil produces all sorts of palm trees." Sandys.
"[They] produce prodigious births of body or mind." Milton.
"The greatest jurist his country had produced." Macaulay.
3. To cause to be or to happen; to originate, as an effect or result; to bring about; as disease produces pain; vice produces misery.
4. To give being or form to; to manufacture; to make; as a manufacturer produces excellent wares.
5. To yield or furnish; to gain; as money at interest produces an income; capital produces profit.
6. To draw out; to extend; to lengthen; to prolong; as to produce a man’s life to threescore. Sir T. Browne.
7. (Geom.) To extend; — applied to a line, surface, or solid; as to produce a side of a triangle.
Producibility
Pro•du•ci•bil´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being producible. Barrow.
Product
Prod´uct, n. [L. productus, p. pr. of producere. See Produce.]
1. Anything that is produced, whether as the result of generation, growth, labor, or thought, or by the operation of involuntary causes; as the products of the season, or of the farm; the products of manufactures; the products of the brain.
"There are the product
Of those ill-mated marriages." Milton.
"These institutions are the products of enthusiasm." Burke.
2. (Math.) The number or sum obtained by adding one number or quantity to itself as many times as there are units in another number; the number resulting from the multiplication of two or more numbers; as the product of the multiplication of 7 by 5 is 35. In general, the result of any kind of multiplication. See the Note under Multiplication.
Syn. — Produce; production; fruit; result; effect; consequence; outcome; work; performance.
Productibility
Pro•duct•i•bil´i•ty, n. The state of being productible; producibility. Ruskin.
Productible
Pro•duct´i•ble, a. [Cf. F. productible.] Capable of being produced; producible.
Production
Pro•duc´tion, n. [L. productio a lengthening, prolonging: cf. F. production. See Produce. ]
1. The act or process or producing, bringing forth, or exhibiting to view; as the production of commodities, of a witness.
2. That which is produced, yielded, or made, whether naturally, or by the application of intelligence and labor; as the productions of the earth; the productions of handicraft; the productions of intellect or genius.
3. The act of lengthening out or prolonging.
Syn. — Product; produce; fruit; work; performance; composition.
Productus
Pro•duc´tus, n. [NL. See Product.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of brachiopods, very characteristic of the Carboniferous rocks.
Proemial
Pro•e´mi•al, a. Introductory; prefatory; preliminary. [R.] Hammond.
Proemptosis
Pro•emp•to´sis, n. [NL., from Gr. to fall in before; before + in + to fall.] (Chron.) The addition of a day to the lunar calendar. [R.] See Metemptosis.
Profanation
Prof•a•na´tion, n. [L. profanatio: cf. F. profanation. See Profane, v. t.]
1. The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred; desecration; as the profanation of the Sabbath; the profanation of a sanctuary; the profanation of the name of God.
2. The act of treating with abuse or disrespect, or with undue publicity, or lack of delicacy.
"’T were profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love." Donne.
Profane
Pro•fane´, a. [F., fr. L. profanus, properly, before the temple, i. e., without the temple, unholy; pro before + fanum temple. See 1st Fane.]
1. Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; — opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as a profane place. "Profane authors." I. Disraeli.
"The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine." Gibbon.
2. Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy.
"Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things." Sir W. Raleigh.
3. Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i. 9.
Syn. — Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious. See Impious.
Profane
Pro•fane´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Profaned p. pr. & vb. n. Profaning.] [L. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See Profane, a. ]
1. To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.
"The priests in the temple profane the sabbath." Matt. xii. 5.
2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
"So idly to profane the precious time." Shak.
Profection
Pro•fec´tion, n. [See Proficient.] A setting out; a going forward; advance; progression. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Profert
Pro´fert, n. [L., he brings forward, 3d pers. pr. of proferre. See Proffer. ] (Law) The exhibition or production of a record or paper in open court, or an allegation that it is in court.
Profess
Pro•fess´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Professed p. pr. & vb. n. Professing.] [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.
Professed
Pro•fessed´, a. Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian. The professed (R. C. Ch.), a certain class among the Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under Jesuit.
Profession
Pro•fes´sion, n. [F., fr. L. professio. See Profess, v. ]
1. The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as professions of friendship; a profession of faith.
"A solemn vow, promise, and profession." Bk. of Com. Prayer.
2. That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as his professions are insincere.
"The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct." J. Morse.
3. That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one’s self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry.
"Hi tried five or six professions in turn." Macaulay. The three professions, or learned professions, are, especially, theology, law, and medicine.
4. The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as the profession distrust him.
5. (Eccl. Law.) The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order.
Professionalist
Pro•fes´sion•al•ist, n. professional person. [R.]
Professor
Pro•fess´or, n. [L., a teacher, a public teacher: cf. F. professeur. See Profess.]
1. One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church. "Professors of religion." Bacon.
2. One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.
Professorialism
Pro•fes•so´ri•al•ism, n. The character, manners, or habits of a professor. [R.]
Professorship
Pro•fess´or•ship, n. The office or position of a professor, or public teacher. Walton.
Proffer
Prof´fer, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proffered p. pr. & vb. n. Proffering.] [OE. profren, proferen, F. proferer, 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.
Proficient
Pro•fi´cient, n. [L. proficiens, -entis, p. pr. of proficere to go forward, make progress; pro forward + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Profit, ] One who has made considerable advances in any business, art, science, or branch of learning; an expert; an adept; as proficient in a trade; a proficient in mathematics, music, etc.
Proficuous
Pro•fic´u•ous, a. [L. proficuus.] Profitable; advantageous; useful. [Obs.] Harvey.
Profile
Pro´file, n. [It. profilo, fr. L. pro before + filum a thread, an outline, shape: cf. F. profil. See File arow, and cf. Purfle, Purl, a fringe.]
1. An outline, or contour; as the profile of an apple.
2. (Paint & Sculp.) A human head represented sidewise, or in a side view; the side face or half face.
3. (a) (Arch.) A section of any member, made at right angles with its main lines, showing the exact shape of moldings and the like. (b) (Civil Engin.) A drawing exhibiting a vertical section of the ground along a surveyed line, or graded work, as of a railway, showing elevations, depressions, grades, etc. Profile paper (Civil Engin.), paper ruled with vertical and horizontal lines forming small oblong rectangles, adapted for drawing profiles.
Profile
Pro´file, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Profiled p. pr. & vb. n. Profiling] [Cf. F. profiler, It. profilare. See Profile, n. ]
1. to draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as an architectural member.
2. (Mech.) To shape the outline of an object by passing a cutter around it. Profiling machine, a jigging machine.
Profit
Pro´fit, n. [F., fr. L. profectus advance, progress, profit, fr. profectum. See Proficient.]
1. Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for producing, keeping, or selling, over cost; hence, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument; as a profit on the sale of goods.
"Let no man anticipate uncertain profits." Rambler.
2. Accession of good; valuable results; useful consequences; benefit; avail; gain; as an office of profit,
"This I speak for your own profit." 1 Cor. vii. 35.
"If you dare do yourself a profit and a right." Shak.
Syn. — Benefit; avail; service; improvement; advancement; gain; emolument.
Profit
Prof´it, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Profited; p. pr. & vb. n. Profiting.] [F. profiter. See Profit, n. ] To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage; to avail; to aid; as truth profits all men.
"The word preached did not profit them." Heb. iv. 2.
"It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs." Dryden.
Profitless
Prof´it•less, a. Without profit; unprofitable. Shak.
Profligacy
Prof´li•ga•cy, n. [See Profligate, a. ] The quality of state of being profligate; a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice; dissoluteness.
Profligate
Prof´li•gate, a. [L. profligatus, p. p. of profligare to strike or dash to the ground, to destroy; pro before + a word akin to fligere to strike. See Afflict.]
1. Overthrown; beaten; conquered. [Obs.]
"The foe is profligate, and run." Hudibras.
2. Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute; as profligate man or wretch.
"A race more profligate than we." Roscommon.
"Made prostitute and profligate muse." Dryden.
Syn. — Abandoned; corrupt; dissolute; vitiated; depraved; vicious; wicked. See Abandoned.
Profligate
Prof´li•gate, v. t. To drive away; to overcome. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Harvey.
Profligation
Prof•li•ga´tion, n. [L. profligatio.] Defeat; rout; overthrow. [Obs.] Bacon.
Profluence
Prof´lu•ence, n. [L. profluentia.] Quality of being profluent; course. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
Profound
Pro•found´, a. [F. profond, L. profundus; pro before, forward + fundus the bottom. See Found to establish, Bottom lowest part.]
1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.
2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as a profound sleep. "Profound sciatica." Shak.
"Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt." Milman.
4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as a profound bow.
"What humble gestures! What profound reverence!" Duppa.
Profound
Pro•found´, v. i. To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.]
Profoundly
Pro•found´ly, adv. In a profound manner.
"Why sigh you so profoundly?" Shak.
Profoundness
Pro•found´ness, n. The quality or state of being profound; profundity; depth. Hooker.
Profundity
Pro•fun´di•ty, n. ; pl. -ties (#). [L. profunditas: cf. F. profondite. See Profound.] The quality or state of being profound; depth of place, knowledge, feeling, etc. "The vast profundity obscure." Milton.
Profuse
Pro•fuse´, a. [L. profusus, p. p. of profundere to pour forth or out; pro forward, forth + fundere to pour: cf. F. profus. See Fuse to melt.]
1. Pouring forth with fullness or exuberance; bountiful; exceedingly liberal; giving without stint; as a profuse government; profuse hospitality.
"A green, shady bank, profuse of flowers." Milton.
2. Superabundant; excessive; prodigal; lavish; as profuse expenditure. "Profuse ornament." Kames.
Syn. — Lavish; exuberant; bountiful; prodigal; extravagant. — Profuse, Lavish, Prodigal. Profuse denotes pouring out (as money, etc.) with great fullness or freeness; as profuse in his expenditures, thanks, promises, etc. Lavish is stronger, implying unnecessary or wasteful excess; as lavish of his bounties, favors, praises, etc. Prodigal is stronger still, denoting unmeasured or reckless profusion; as prodigal of one’s strength, life, or blood, to secure some object. Dryden.
Prog, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Progged . p. pr. & vb. n. Progging.] [Cf. D. prachen, G. prachern, Dan. prakke, Sw. pracka, to beg, L. procare, procari, to ask, demand, and E. prowl.]
1. To wander about and beg; to seek food or other supplies by low arts; to seek for advantage by mean shift or tricks. [Low]
"A perfect artist in progging for money." Fuller.
"I have been endeavoring to prog for you." Burke.
2. To steal; to rob; to filch. [Low] Johnson.
3. To prick; to goad; to progue. [Scot.]
Progeneration
Pro•gen•er•a´tion, n. [L. progeneratio.] The act of begetting; propagation. [R.]
Progenitor
Pro•gen´i•tor, n. [OF. progeniteur, L. progenitor, fr. progignere, progenitum, to bring forth, to beget; pro forth + gignere to beget. See Gender kind.] An ancestor in the direct line; a forefather.
"And reverence thee their great progenitor." Milton.
Progenitorship
Pro•gen´i•tor•ship, n. The state of being a progenitor.
Progeniture
Pro•gen´i•ture, n. [F. progeniture.] A begetting, or birth. [R.]
Progeny
Prog´e•ny, n. [OE. progenie, F. progenie, fr. L. progenies, fr. progignere. See Progenitor.] Descendants of the human kind, or offspring of other animals; children; offspring; race, lineage. " Issued from the progeny of kings." Shak.
Prognathi
Prog´na•thi, n. pl. [NL. See Prognathous.] (Zoöl) A comprehensive group of mankind, including those that have prognathous jaws.
Prognathism
Prog´na•thism, n. (Anat.) Projection of the jaws. — Prog´na•thy (#), n.
Prognathous
Prog´na•thous, a. [Gr. before + the jaw] (Anat.) Having the jaws projecting beyond the upper part of the face; — opposed to orthognathous. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.
"Their countenances had the true prognathous character." Kane.
Progne
Prog´ne, n. [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. [L., fr. Gr., fr. to know beforehand; before + to know. See Know.] (Med.) The act or art of foretelling the course and termination of a disease; also the outlook afforded by this act of judgment; as the prognosis of hydrophobia is bad.
Prognostic
Prog•nos´tic, a. [Gr. . See Prognosis.] Indicating something future by signs or symptoms; foreshowing; aiding in prognosis; as the prognostic symptoms of a disease; prognostic signs.
Prognostic
Prog•nos´tic, n. [L. prognosticum, Gr. : cf. F. pronostic, prognostic. See Prognostic, a. ]
1. That which prognosticates; a sign by which a future event may be known or foretold; an indication; a sign or omen; hence, a foretelling; a prediction.
"That choice would inevitably be considered by the country
as a prognostic of the highest import." Macaulay.
2. (Med.) A sign or symptom indicating the course and termination of a disease. Parr.
Syn. — Sign; omen; presage; token; indication.
Prognosticable
Prog•nos´tic•a•ble, a. 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.] [See Prognostic.] To indicate as future; to foretell from signs or symptoms; to prophesy; to foreshow; to predict; as to prognosticate evil. Burke.
"I neither will nor can prognosticate
To the young gaping heir his father’s fate." Dryden.
Syn. — To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; presage; predict; prophesy.
Programma
Pro•gram´ma, n. ; pl. Programmata (#). [ L. See Programme.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.) Any law, which, after it had passed the Athenian senate, was fixed on a tablet for public inspection previously to its being proposed to the general assembly of the people.
2. An edict published for public information; an official bulletin; a public proclamation.
3. See Programme.
4. A preface. [Obs.] T. Warton.
Programme
Pro´gramme, n. [L. programma a public proclamation, manifesto, Gr., fr. to write before or in public; before, forth + to write; cf. F. programme. See Graphic.] That which is written or printed as a public notice or advertisement; a scheme; a prospectus; especially, a brief outline or explanation of the order to be pursued, or the subjects embraced, in any public exercise, performance, or entertainment; a preliminary sketch. Programme music (Mus.), descriptive instrumental music which requires an argument or programme to explain the meaning of its several movements.
Progress
Prog´ress ( 277), n. [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. To make progress in; to pass through. [Obs.] Milton.
Progressist
Prog´ress•ist, n. One who makes, or holds to, progress; a progressionist.
Progressive
Pro•gress´ive, a. (U. S. Politics) Of or pertaining to the Progressive party.
Prohibit
Pro•hib´it, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prohibited; p. pr. & vb. n. Prohibiting.] [L. prohibitus, p. p. of prohibere to prohibit; pro before, forth + habere to have, hold. See Habit.]
1. To forbid by authority; to interdict; as God prohibited Adam from eating of the fruit of a certain tree; we prohibit a person from doing a thing, and also the doing of the thing; as the law prohibits men from stealing, or it prohibits stealing. Prohibit was formerly followed by to with the infinitive, but is now commonly followed by from with the verbal noun in -ing.
2. To hinder; to debar; to prevent; to preclude.
"Gates of burning adamant,
Barred over us, prohibit all egress." Milton.
Syn. — To forbid; interdict; debar; prevent; hinder. — Prohibit, Forbid. To forbid is Anglo-Saxon, and is more familiar; to prohibit is Latin, and is more formal or official. A parent forbids his child to be out late at night; he prohibits his intercourse with the profane and vicious.
Prohibiter
Pro•hib´it•er, n. One who prohibits or forbids; a forbidder; an interdicter.
Prohibitory
Pro•hib´it•o•ry, a. [L. prohibitorius.] Tending to prohibit, forbid, or exclude; implying prohibition; forbidding; as a prohibitory law; a prohibitory price. Prohibitory index. (R. C. Ch.) See under Index.
Proin (proin), v. t. [See Prune to trim.] To lop; to trim; to prune; to adorn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
"The sprigs that did about it grow
He proined from the leafy arms." Chapman.
Project
Proj´ect ( 277), n. [OF. project, F. projet, fr. L. projectus, p. p. of projicere to project; pro forward + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth, and cf. Projet.]
1. The place from which a thing projects, or starts forth. [Obs.] Holland.
2. That which is projected or designed; something intended or devised; a scheme; a design; a plan.
"Vented much policy, and projects deep." Milton.
"Projects of happiness devised by human reason." Rogers.
"He entered into the project with his customary ardor." Prescott.
3. An idle scheme; an impracticable design; as a man given to projects.
Syn. — Design; scheme; plan; purpose. — Project, Design. A project is something of a practical nature thrown out for consideration as to its being done. A design is a project when matured and settled, as a thing to be accomplished. An ingenious man has many projects, but, if governed by sound sense, will be slow in forming them into designs. See also Scheme.
Project
Pro•ject´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Projected; p. pr. & vb. n. Projecting.] [Cf. OF. projecter, F. projeter.]
1. To throw or cast forward; to shoot forth.
"Before his feet herself she did project." Spenser.
"Behold! th’ ascending villas on my side Project long shadows o’er the crystal tide." Pope.
2. To cast forward or revolve in the mind; to contrive; to devise; to scheme; as to project a plan.
"What sit then projecting peace and war?" Milton.
3. (Persp.) To draw or exhibit, as the form of anything; to delineate; as to project a sphere, a map, an ellipse, and the like; — sometimes with on, upon, into, etc.; as to project a line or point upon a plane. See Projection, 4.
Projection
Pro•jec´tion, n. [L. projectio: cf. F. projection.]
1. The act of throwing or shooting forward.
2. A jutting out; also a part jutting out, as of a building; an extension beyond something else.
3. The act of scheming or planning; also that which is planned; contrivance; design; plan. Davenant.
4. (Persp.) The representation of something; delineation; plan; especially, the representation of any object on a perspective plane, or such a delineation as would result were the chief points of the object thrown forward upon the plane, each in the direction of a line drawn through it from a given point of sight, or central point; as the projection of a sphere. The several kinds of projection differ according to the assumed point of sight and plane of projection in each.
5. (Geog.) Any method of representing the surface of the earth upon a plane. Conical projection, a mode of representing the sphere, the spherical surface being projected upon the surface of a cone tangent to the sphere, the point of sight being at the center of the sphere. — Cylindric projection, a mode of representing the sphere, the spherical surface being projected upon the surface of a cylinder touching the sphere, the point of sight being at the center of the sphere. — Globular, Gnomonic, Orthographic, projection,etc. See under Globular, Gnomonic, etc. — Mercator’s projection, a mode of representing the sphere in which the meridians are drawn parallel to each other, and the parallels of latitude are straight lines whose distance from each other increases with their distance from the equator, so that at all places the degrees of latitude and longitude have to each other the same ratio as on the sphere itself. — Oblique projection, a projection made by parallel lines drawn from every point of a figure and meeting the plane of projection obliquely. — Polar projection, a projection of the sphere in which the point of sight is at the center, and the plane of projection passes through one of the polar circles. — Powder of projection (Alchemy.), a certain powder cast into a crucible or other vessel containing prepared metal or other matter which is to be thereby transmuted into gold. — Projection of a point on a plane (Descriptive Geom.), the foot of a perpendicular to the plane drawn through the point. — Projection of a straight line of a plane, the straight line of the plane connecting the feet of the perpendiculars let fall from the extremities of the given line.
Syn. — See Protuberance.
Projectment
Pro•ject´ment, n. Design; contrivance; projection. [Obs.] Clarendon.
Projecture
Pro•jec´ture, n. [L. projectura: cf. F. projecture.] A jutting out beyond a surface.
Projet
Pro•jet´, n. [F. See Project, n. ] A plan proposed; a draft of a proposed measure; a project.
Prolapsion
Pro•lap´sion, n. [L. prolapsio.] (Med.) Prolapse. [ Written also prolaption.] [Obs.]
Prolate
Pro´late, a. [L. prolatus, used as p. p. of proferre to bring forth, to extend; pro + latus, p. p. See Pro-, and Tolerate. ] Stretched out; extended; especially, elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles; as a prolate spheroid; — opposed to oblate. Prolate cycloid. See the Note under Cycloid. — Prolate ellipsoid or spheroid (Geom.), a figure generated by the revolution of an ellipse about its major axis. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.
Prolate
Pro•late´, v. t. To utter; to pronounce. [Obs.] "Foun-der-ed; prolate it right." B. Jonson.
Prolatum
Pro•la´tum, n. ; pl. Prolata (#). [ NL. See Prolate.] (Geom.) A prolate spheroid. See Ellipsoid of revolution, under Ellipsoid.
Proleptically
Pro•lep´tic•al•ly, adv. In a proleptical manner.
Proleptics
Pro•lep´tics, n. (Med.) The art and science of predicting in medicine. Laycock.
Proletaire
Pro•le•taire´, n. [F. See Proletary.] One of the common people; a low person; also the common people as a class or estate in a country.
Proletaneous
Prol•e•ta´ne•ous, a. [L. proletaneus.] Having a numerous offspring. [R.]
Proletariat
Prol•e•ta´ri•at, n. [F.] The indigent class in the State; the body of proletarians.
Proletary
Prol´e•ta•ry, n. ; pl. Proletaries (#). [ L. proletarius, fr. proles offspring. Cf. Proletaire.] (Rom. Antiq.) A citizen of the lowest class, who served the state, not with property, but only by having children; hence, a common person.
Prolific
Pro•lif´ic, a. [F. prolifique, fr. L. proles offspring (from pro for, forward + the root of alere to nourish) + facere to make. See Adult, Old, and Fact.]
1. Having the quality of generating; producing young or fruit; generative; fruitful; productive; — applied to plants producing fruit, animals producing young, etc.; — usually with the implied idea of frequent or numerous production; as a prolific tree, female, and the like.
2. Serving to produce; fruitful of results; active; as a prolific brain; a controversy prolific of evil.
3. (Bot.) Proliferous.
Prolificate
Pro•lif´ic•ate, v. t. [See Prolific.] To make prolific; to fertilize; to impregnate. Sir T. Browne.
Prolificness
Pro•lif´ic•ness, n. The quality or state of being prolific; fruitfulness; prolificacy.
Prolix
Pro•lix´ ( 277), a. [L. prolixus extended, long, prolix, probably fr. pro before, forward + liqui to flow, akin to liquidus liquid; cf. OL. lixa water: cf. F. prolixe. See Liquid.]
1. Extending to a great length; unnecessarily long; minute in narration or argument; excessively particular in detail; — rarely used except with reference to discourse written or spoken; as a prolix oration; a prolix poem; a prolix sermon.
"With wig prolix, down flowing to his waist." Cowper.
2. Indulging in protracted discourse; tedious; wearisome; — applied to a speaker or writer.
Syn. — Long; diffuse; prolonged; protracted; tedious; tiresome; wearisome. — Prolix, Diffuse. A prolix writer delights in circumlocution, extended detail, and trifling particulars. A diffuse writer is fond of amplifying, and abounds in epithets, figures, and illustrations. Diffuseness often arises from an exuberance of imagination; prolixity is generally connected with a want of it.
Proll, v. t. [See Prowl.] [ imp. & p. p. Prolled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Prolling.] To search or prowl after; to rob; to plunder. [Obs.] Barrow.
Prolocutorship
Prol•o•cu´tor•ship, n. The office of a prolocutor.
Prologize
Pro´lo•gize, v. i. [Gr. . See Prologue.] To deliver a Prologue. [R.] Whewell.
Prologue
Pro´logue, n. [F., fr. L. prologus, fr. Gr., fr. to say beforehand; before + to say. See Logic.]
1. The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; as the prologue of Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales;" esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance
2. One who delivers a prologue. [R.] Shak.
Prologue
Pro´logue, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prologued p. pr. & vb. n. Prologuing.] To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue. [R.] Shak.
Prolong
Pro•long´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prolonged p. pr. & vb. n. Prolonging.] [F. prolonger, L. prolongare; pro before, forth + longus long. See Long, a. , and cf. Prolongate, Purloin. ]
1. To extend in space or length; as to prolong a line.
2. To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of; to draw out; to continue; as to prolong one’s days.
"Prolong awhile the traitor’s life." Shak.
"The unhappy queen with talk prolonged the night." Dryden.
3. To put off to a distant time; to postpone. Shak.
Prolongate
Pro•lon´gate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prolongated p. pr. & vb. n. Prolongating.] [L. prolongatus, p. p. of prolongare. See Prolong.] To prolong; to extend in space or in time. [R.]
Prolonge
Pro•longe´, n. [F. See Prolong.] (Field Artillery) A rope with a hook and a toggle, sometimes used to drag a gun carriage or to lash it to the limber, and for various other purposes.
Prolonger
Pro•long´er, n. One who, or that which, causes an extension in time or space.
Promenade
Prom•e•nade´, n. [F. (with a foreign suffix), from promener to lead, take for a walk, se promener to walk, from L. prominare to drive forward or along; pro forward + minare to drive animals. See Amenable, Menace.]
1. A walk for pleasure, display, or exercise. Burke.
2. A place for walking; a public walk. Bp. Montagu.
Promenade
Prom•e•nade´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Promenaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Promenading.] To walk for pleasure, display, or exercise.
Promethea
Pro•me´the•a, n. [NL. See Prometheus.] (Zoöl.) 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. [L. Prometh us: cf. F. prometheen.]
1. Of or pertaining to Prometheus. See Prometheus. "Promethean fire." Shak.
2. Having a life-giving quality; inspiring.
Prometheus
Pro•me´the•us, n. [L., fr. Gr., from to have forethought for.] (Class. Myth.) The son of Iapetus (one of the Titans) and Clymene, fabled by the poets to have surpassed all mankind in knowledge, and to have formed men of clay to whom he gave life by means of fire stolen from heaven. Jupiter, being angry at this, sent Mercury to bind Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, where a vulture preyed upon his liver. { Prom´i•nence, Prom´i•nen•cy } n. [L. prominentia: cf. F. prominence. See Prominent. ]
1. The quality or state of being prominent; a standing out from something; conspicuousness.
2. That which is prominent; a protuberance. Solar prominences. (Astron.) See Solar Protuberances, under Protuberance.
Prominent
Prom´i•nent, a. [L. prominens, -entis, p. pr. of prominere to jut out, to project; pro before, forward + minere (in comp.) to jut, project: cf. F. prominent. See Imminent, Eminent.]
1. Standing out, or projecting, beyond the line surface of something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as a prominent figure on a vase.
2. Hence; Distinctly manifest; likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous; as a prominent feature of the face; a prominent building.
3. Eminent; distinguished above others; as a prominent character. Prominent’ moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the family Notodontidae; a notodontian; — so called because the larva has a hump or prominence on its back. Several of the species are injurious to fruit trees.
Promiscuity
Pro•mis•cu´i•ty, n. Promiscuousness; confusion. H. Spencer.
Promiscuous
Pro•mis´cu•ous, a. [L. promiscuus; pro before, in place of, for + miscere to mix. See Mix. ]
1. Consisting of individuals united in a body or mass without order; mingled; confused; undistinguished; as a promiscuous crowd or mass.
"A wild, where weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot." Pope.
2. Distributed or applied without order or discrimination; not restricted to an individual; common; indiscriminate; as promiscuous love or intercourse.
Promiscuously
Pro•mis´cu•ous•ly, adv. In a promiscuous manner.
Promiscuousness
Pro•mis´cu•ous•ness, n. The quality or state of being promiscuous.
Promise
Prom´ise, a. [F. promesse, L. promissum, fr. promittere, promissum, to put forth, foretell, promise; pro forward, for + mittere to send. See Mission. ]
1. In general, a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.
"For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise." Gal. iii. 18.
2. (Law) An engagement by one person to another, either in words or in writing, but properly not under seal, for the performance or nonperformance of some particular thing. The word promise is used to denote the mere engagement of a person, without regard to the consideration for it, or the corresponding duty of the party to whom it is made. Chitty. Parsons. Burrill.
3. That which causes hope, expectation, or assurance; especially, that which affords expectation of future distinction; as a youth of great promise. Shak.
"My native country was full of youthful promise." W. Irving.
4. Bestowal, fulfillment, or grant of what is promised.
"He … commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father." Acts i. 4.
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.
Promisee
Prom•is•ee´, n. (Law) The person to whom a promise is made.
Promisor
Prom´is•or, n. (Law) One who engages or undertakes; a promiser. Burrill.
Promissive
Pro•mis´sive, a. Making a promise; implying a promise; promising. [R.]
Promissorily
Prom´is•so•ri•ly, adv. In a promissory manner. Sir T. Browne.
Promontory
Prom´on•to•ry, n. ; pl. Promontories (#). [ L. promonturium, promunturium; pro before + mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. promontoire. See Mount, n. ]
1. (Phys. Geog.) A high point of land or rock projecting into the sea beyond the line of coast; a headland; a high cape.
"Like one that stands upon a promontory." Shak.
2. (Anat.) A projecting part. Especially: (a) The projecting angle of the ventral side of the sacrum where it joins the last lumbar vertebra. (b) A prominence on the inner wall of the tympanum of the ear.
Promorphologist
Pro•mor•phol´o•gist, n. (Biol.) One versed in the science of promorphology.
Promorphology
Pro•mor•phol´o•gy, n. [Pref. pro- + morphology.] (Biol.) Crystallography of organic forms; — a division of morphology created by Haeckel. It is essentially stereometric, and relates to a mathematical conception of organic forms. See Tectology.
Promote
Pro•mote´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Promoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Promoting.] [L. promotus, p. p. of promovere to move forward, to promote; pro forward + movere to move. See Move.]
1. To contribute to the growth, enlargement, or prosperity of (any process or thing that is in course); to forward; to further; to encourage; to advance; to excite; as to promote learning; to promote disorder; to promote a business venture. "Born to promote all truth." Milton.
2. To exalt in station, rank, or honor; to elevate; to raise; to prefer; to advance; as to promote an officer.
"I will promote thee unto very great honor." Num. xxii. 17.
"Exalt her, and she shall promote thee." Prov. iv. 18.
Syn. — To forward; advance; further; patronize; help; exalt; prefer; elevate; dignify.
Promotive
Pro•mo´tive, a. Tending to advance, promote, or encourage. Hume.
Promove
Pro•move´, v. t. [See Promote.] To move forward; to advance; to promote. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
Prompt (promt; 215), a. [ Compar. Prompter superl. Promptest.] [F. prompt, L. promptus, properly, brought forth (to light or view), hence, visible, evident, at hand, ready, quick, — p. p. of promere to take or bring forth; pro forth + emere to take. See Redeem. ]
1. Ready and quick to act as occasion demands; meeting requirements readily; not slow, dilatory, or hesitating in decision or action; responding on the instant; immediate; as prompt in obedience or compliance; — said of persons.
"Very discerning and prompt in giving orders." Clarendon.
"Tell him I am prompt
To lay my crown at’s feet." Shak.
"And you, perhaps, too prompt in your replies." Dryden.
2. Done or rendered quickly, readily, or immediately; given without delay or hesitation; — said of conduct; as prompt assistance.
"When Washington heard the voice of his country in distress,
his obedience was prompt." Ames.
3. Easy; unobstructed. [Obs.]
"The reception of the light into the body of the building was very prompt." Sir H. Wotton.
Syn. — Ready; expeditious; quick; agile; alert; brisk; nimble. — Prompt, Ready, Expeditious. One who is ready is prepared to act at the moment. One who is prompt acts at the moment. One who is expeditious carries through an undertaking with constant promptness.
Prompt, n. (Com.) A limit of time given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods. See Prompt-note.
"To cover any probable difference of price which might arise before the expiration of the prompt, which for this article [tea] is three months." J. S. Mill.
Prompt, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prompted; p. pr. & vb. n. Prompting.]
1. To assist or induce the action of; to move to action; to instigate; to incite.
"God first … prompted on the infirmities of the infant world by temporal prosperity." Jer. Taylor.
2. To suggest; to dictate.
"And whispering angles prompt her golden dreams." Pope.
3. To remind, as an actor or an orator, of words or topics forgotten.
Prompt-book
Prompt´-book, n. The book used by a prompter of a theater.
Promptitude
Prompt´i•tude, n. [F., fr. L. promptitudo. See Prompt, a. ] The quality of being prompt; quickness of decision and action when occasion demands; alacrity; as promptitude in obedience.
"Men of action, of promptitude, and of courage." I. Taylor.
Promptuary
Promp´tu•a•ry, a. Of or pertaining to preparation. [R.] Bacon.
Promptuary
Promp´tu•a•ry, n. [L. promptuarium, fr. promptuarius belonging to distribution, distributing: cf, F. promptuaire. See Prompt, a. ] That from which supplies are drawn; a storehouse; a magazine; a repository. Woodward.
Prompture
Promp´ture ( 135), n. [See Prompt, a. ] Suggestion; incitement; prompting. [R.] Shak. Coleridge.
Promulgate
Pro•mul´gate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Promulgated p. pr. & vb. n. Promulgating.] [L. promulgatus, p. p. of promulgare to promulgate; of unknown origin. Cf. Promulge.] To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; to publish; as to promulgate the secrets of a council.
Syn. — To publish; declare; proclaim. See Announce.
Promulgator
Pro´mul•ga•tor, n. [L.] One who promulgates or publishes. Dr. H. More.
Promulge
Pro•mulge´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Promulged p. pr. & vb. n. Promulging ] [Cf. F. promulguer. See Promulgate.] To promulgate; to publish or teach. Blackstone.
"Extraordinary doctrines these for the age in which they were promulged." Prescott.
Promulger
Pro•mul´ger, n. One who promulges or publishes what was before unknown. Atterbury.
Promuscis
Pro•mus´cis, n. [L., corruption of proboscis.] (Zoöl.) The proboscis of hemipterous insects. See Illust. under Hemiptera.
Pronaos
Pro•na´os, n. [L., fr. Gr. ; before + temple.] (Arch.) The porch or vestibule of a temple.
Pronator
Pro•na´tor, n. [NL.] (Anat.) A muscle which produces pronation.
Prone, a. [L. pronus, akin to Gr.,, Skr. pravana sloping, inclined, and also to L. pro forward, for. See Pro-.]
1. Bending forward; inclined; not erect.
"Towards him they bend
With awful reverence prone." Milton.
2. Prostrate; flat; esp., lying with the face down; — opposed to supine.
"Which, as the wind,
Blew where it listed, laying all things prone." Byron.
3. Headlong; running downward or headlong. "Down thither prone in flight." Milton.
4. Sloping, with reference to a line or surface; declivous; inclined; not level.
"Since the floods demand,
For their descent, a prone and sinking land." Blackmore.
5. Inclined; propense; disposed; — applied to the mind or affections, usually in an ill sense. Followed by to. "Prone to mischief." Shak.
"Poets are nearly all prone to melancholy." Landor.
Pronephric
Pro•neph´ric, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pronephros.
Pronephros
Pro•neph´ros, Pro•neph´ron, n. [ NL., fr. Gr. before + a kidney.] (Anat.) The head kidney. See under Head.
Prongbuck
Prong´buck, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The springbuck. (b) The pronghorn.
Pronged, a. Having prongs or projections like the tines of a fork; as a three- pronged fork.
Prong-hoe
Prong´-hoe, n. A hoe with prongs to break the earth.
Pronity
Pro´ni•ty, n. [L. pronitas.] Proneness; propensity. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Pronominal
Pro•nom´i•nal, a. [L. pronominalis: cf. F. pronominal. See Pronoun.] Belonging to, or partaking of the nature of, a pronoun.
Prononce
Pro•non•ce´, a. [F. See Pronounce.] Strongly marked; decided, as in manners, etc.
Pronotum
Pro•no´tum, n. ; pl. Pronota (#). [NL. See Pro-, and Notum.] (Zoöl.) The dorsal plate of the prothorax in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.
Pronoun
Pro´noun, n. [Pref. pro- + noun: cf. F. pronom, L. pronomen. See Noun.] (Gram.) A word used instead of a noun or name, to avoid the repetition of it. The personal pronouns in English are I, thou or you, he, she, it, we, ye, and they.
Pronounce
Pro•nounce´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pronounced p. pr. & vb. n. Pronounging ] [F. prononcer, L. pronunciare; pro before, forth + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce. See Announce.]
1. To utter articulately; to speak out or distinctly; to utter, as words or syllables; to speak with the proper sound and accent as adults rarely learn to pronounce a foreign language correctly.
2. To utter officially or solemnly; to deliver, as a decree or sentence; as to pronounce sentence of death.
"Sternly he pronounced
The rigid interdiction." Milton.
3. To speak or utter rhetorically; to deliver; to recite; as to pronounce an oration.
"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you." Shak.
4. To declare or affirm; as he pronounced the book to be a libel; he pronounced the act to be a fraud.
"The God who hallowed thee and blessed, Pronouncing thee all good." Keble.
Syn. — To deliver; utter; speak. See Deliver.
Pronounce
Pro•nounce´, n. Pronouncement; declaration; pronunciation. [Obs.] Milton.
Pronounceable
Pro•nounce´a•ble, a. [Cf. L. pronunciabilis declarative.] Capable of being pronounced.
Pronouncement
Pro•nounce´ment, n. The act of pronouncing; a declaration; a formal announcement.
Pronouncer
Pro•noun´cer, n. One who pronounces, utters, or declares; also a pronouncing book.
Pronucleus
Pro•nu´cle•us, n. ; pl. Pronuclei (-i). [NL. See Pro-, and Nucleus.] (Biol.) One of the two bodies or nuclei (called male and female pronuclei) which unite to form the first segmentation nucleus of an impregnated ovum. In the maturing of the ovum preparatory to impregnation, a part of the germinal vesicle (see Polar body, under Polar) becomes converted into a number of small vesicles, which aggregate themselves into a single clear nucleus. which travels towards the center of the egg and is called the female pronucleus. In impregnation, the 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. Of or pertaining to pronunciation; pronunciative.
Pronunciamiento
Pro•nun•ci•a•mi´en´to, n. [Sp. See Pronounce.] See Pronunciamento.
Pronunciation
Pro•nun•ci•a´tion ( 277), n. [F. pronunciation, L. pronunciatio. See Pronounce.]
1. The act of uttering with articulation; the act of giving the proper sound and accent; utterance; as the pronunciation of syllables of words; distinct or indistinct pronunciation.
2. The mode of uttering words or sentences.
3. (Rhet.) The art of manner of uttering a discourse publicly with propriety and gracefulness; — now called delivery. J. Q. Adams.
Pronunciator
Pro•nun´ci•a•tor, n. [L., a reciter.] One who pronounces; a pronouncer.
Pronunciatory
Pro•nun´ci•a•to•ry, a. Of or pertaining to pronunciation; that pronounces.
Proof, n. [OF. prove, proeve, F. preuve, fr. L. proba, fr. probare to prove. See Prove.]
1. Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
"For whatsoever mother wit or art
Could work, he put in proof." Spenser.
"You shall have many proofs to show your skill." Ford.
"Formerly, a very rude mode of ascertaining the strength of spirits was practiced, called the proof." Ure.
2. That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
"I’ll have some proof." Shak.
"It is no proof of a man’s understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pleases." Emerson. Properly speaking, proof is the effect or result of evidence, evidence is the medium of proof. Cf. Demonstration, 1.
3. The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
4. Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.
5. (Print.) A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; — called also proof sheet.
6. (Math.) A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5.
7. Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof. [Obs.] Shak. Artist’s proof, a very early proof impression of an engraving, or the like; — often distinguished by the artist’s signature. — Proof reader, one who reads, and marks correction in, proofs. See def. 5, above.
Syn. — Testimony; evidence; reason; argument; trial; demonstration. See Testimony.
Proof, a.
1. Used in proving or testing; as a proof load, or proof charge.
2. Firm or successful in resisting; as proof against harm; water proof; bomb proof.
"I … have found thee Proof against all temptation." Milton.
"This was a good, stout proof article of faith." Burke.
3. Being of a certain standard as to strength; — said of alcoholic liquors. Proof charge (Firearms), a charge of powder and ball, greater than the service charge, fired in an arm, as a gun or cannon, to test its strength. — Proof impression. See under Impression. — Proof load (Engin.), the greatest load than can be applied to a piece, as a beam, column, etc., without straining the piece beyond the elastic limit. — Proof sheet. See Proof, n. , 5. - - Proof spirit (Chem.), a strong distilled liquor, or mixture of alcohol and water, containing not less than a standard amount of alcohol. In the United States "proof spirit is defined by law to be that mixture of alcohol and water which contains one half of its volume of alcohol, the alcohol when at a temperature of 60° Fahrenheit being of specific gravity 0.7939 referred to water at its maximum density as unity. Proof spirit has at 60° Fahrenheit a specific gravity of 0.93353, 100 parts by volume of the same consisting of 50 parts of absolute alcohol and 53.71 parts of water," the apparent excess of water being due to contraction of the liquids on mixture. In England proof spirit is defined by Act 58, George III., to be such as shall at a temperature of 51° Fahrenheit weigh exactly the ½x13; part of an equal measure of distilled water. This contains 49.3 per cent by weight, or 57.09 by volume, of alcohol. Stronger spirits, as those of about 60, 70, and 80 per cent of alcohol, are sometimes called second, third, and fourth proof spirits respectively. — Proof staff, a straight-edge used by millers to test the flatness of a stone. — Proof stick (Sugar Manuf.), a rod in the side of a vacuum pan, for testing the consistency of the sirup. — Proof text, a passage of Scripture used to prove a doctrine.
Proöstracum
Pro•ös"tra•cum, n. ; pl. Proöstraca (#). [NL., fr. Gr. before + shell of a testacean.] (Zoöl.) The anterior prolongation of the guard of the phragmocone of belemnites and allied fossil cephalopods, whether horny or calcareous. See Illust. of Phragmocone.
Prop, n. A shell, used as a die. See Props.
Prop, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propped p. pr. & vb. n. Propping.] [Akin to LG. & D. proppen to cram, stuff, thrust into, stop, G. pfropfen, Dan. proppe, Sw. proppa; of uncertain origin, cf. G. pfropfen to graft, fr. L. propago set, layer of a plant, slip, shoot. Cf. 3d. Prop, Propagate.] To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something under or against; as to prop up a fence or an old building; (Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as to prop a declining state. Shak.
"Till the bright mountains prop the incumbent sky." Pope.
"For being not propp’d by ancestry." Shak.
"I prop myself upon those few supports that are left me." Pope.
Prop, n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. prop stopple, stopper, cork, Sw. propp, G. pfropf. See Prop, v. ] That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which anything rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as a prop for a building. "Two props of virtue." Shak. { Pro•pae•deu´tic, Pro•pae•deu´tic•al }, a. [Gr. to teach beforehand; before + to bring up a child, to educate, teach, fr.,, a child.] Of, pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction; introductory to any art or science; instructing beforehand.
Propagable
Prop´a•ga•ble, a. [See Propagate.]
1. Capable of being propagated, or of being continued or multiplied by natural generation or production.
2. Capable of being spread or extended by any means; — said of tenets, doctrines, or principles.
Propaganda
Prop•a•gan´da, n. [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions. (b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world.
2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.
Propagate
Prop´a•gate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propagated p. pr. & vb. n. Propagating.] [L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t.]
1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; — applied to animals and plants; as to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.
2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as to propagate sound or light.
3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.
"The infection was propagated insensibly." De Foe.
4. To multiply; to increase. [Obs.]
"Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate." Shak.
5. To generate; to produce.
"Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life." De Quincey.
Syn. — To multiply; continue; increase; spread; diffuse; disseminate; promote.
Propagative
Prop´a•ga•tive, a. Producing by propagation, or by a process of growth.
Propagulum
Pro•pag´u•lum, n. ; pl. Propagula (#). [NL. See Propagate.] (Bot.) A runner terminated by a germinating bud.
Propargyl
Pro•par´gyl, n. [ Propinyl + Gr. silver + -yl. So called because one hydrogen atom may be replaced by silver.] (Chem.) Same as Propinyl.
Proparoxytone
Pro•par•ox´y•tone, n. [Gr. . See Pro-, and Paroxytone.] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the acute accent on the antepenult.
Proped
Pro´ped, n. [Pref. pro- + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.) Same as Proleg.
Propel
Pro•pel´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propelled p. pr. & vb. n. Propelling.] [L. propellere, propulsum; pro forward + pellere to drive. See Pulse a beating.] To drive forward; to urge or press onward by force; to move, or cause to move; as the wind or steam propels ships; balls are propelled by gunpowder.
Propend
Pro•pend´, v. i. [L. propendere, propensum; pro forward, forth + pendere to hang. See Pendent.] To lean toward a thing; to be favorably inclined or disposed; to incline; to tend. [R.] Shak.
"We shall propend to it, as a stone falleth down." Barrow.
Propendency
Pro•pend´en•cy, n.
1. Propensity. [R.]
2. Attentive deliberation. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
Propendent
Pro•pend´ent, a. [L. propendens, p. pr.] Inclining forward or toward. South.
Propene
Pro´pene, n. [ Propyl + ethyl ene.] (Chem.) Same as Propylene.
Propense
Pro•pense´, a. [L. propensus, p. p. See Propend.] Leaning toward, in a moral sense; inclined; disposed; prone; as women propense to holiness. Hooker. — Pro•pense´ly, adv. — Pro•pense´ness, n.
Propension
Pro•pen´sion, n. [L. propensio: cf. F. propension. See Propend, Propense.] The quality or state of being propense; propensity. M. Arnold.
"Your full consent
Gave wings to my propension." Shak.
Propenyl
Pro´pe•nyl, n. [ Propene + -yl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical hydrocarbon radical, C3H5, isomeric with allyl and glyceryl, and regarded as the essential residue of glycerin. Cf. Allyl, and Glyceryl.
Propepsin
Pro•pep´sin, n. [Pref. pro- + pepsin.] (Physiol. Chem.) See Persinogen.
Proper
Prop´er, a. [OE. propre, F. propre, fr. L. proprius. Cf. Appropriate.]
1. Belonging to one; one’s own; individual. "His proper good" [ i. e., his own possessions]. Chaucer. "My proper son." Shak.
"Now learn the difference, at your proper cost,
Betwixt true valor and an empty boast." Dryden.
2. Belonging to the natural or essential constitution; peculiar; not common; particular; as every animal has his proper instincts and appetites.
"Those high and peculiar attributes … which constitute our proper humanity." Coleridge.
3. Befitting one’s nature, qualities, etc.; suitable in all respect; appropriate; right; fit; decent; as water is the proper element for fish; a proper dress.
"The proper study of mankind is man." Pope.
"In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play,
All proper to the spring, and sprightly May." Dryden.
4. Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome. [Archaic] "Thou art a proper man." Chaucer.
"Moses … was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child." Heb. xi. 23.
5. Pertaining to one of a species, but not common to the whole; not appellative; — opposed to common; as a proper name; Dublin is the proper name of a city.
6. Rightly so called; strictly considered; as Greece proper; the garden proper.
7. (Her.) Represented in its natural color; — said of any object used as a charge. In proper, individually; privately. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor. — Proper flower or corolla (Bot.), one of the single florets, or corollets, in an aggregate or compound flower. — Proper fraction (Arith.) a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator. — Proper nectary (Bot.), a nectary separate from the petals and other parts of the flower. — Proper noun (Gram.), a name belonging to an individual, by which it is distinguished from others of the same class; — opposed to common noun; as John, Boston, America. — Proper perianth or involucre (Bot.), that which incloses only a single flower. — Proper receptacle (Bot.), a receptacle which supports only a single flower or fructification.
Proper
Prop´er, adv. Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as proper good. [Colloq & Vulgar]
Properation
Prop•er•a´tion, n. [L. properatio.] The act of hastening; haste. [Obs.] T. Adams.
Properispome
Pro•per´i•spome, n. (Gr. Gram.) Properispomenon.
Properispomenon
Pro•per•i•spom´e•non, n. ; pl. Properispomena (#). [NL., fr. Gr., fr. to circumflex on the penult; before + to circumflex. See Perispomenon.] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the circumflex accent on the penult.
Properness
Prop´er•ness, n.
1. The quality of being proper.
2. Tallness; comeliness. [Obs.] Udall.
Property
Prop´er•ty, n. ; pl. Properties (#). [OE. proprete, OF. proprete property, F. proprete neatness, cleanliness, propriete property, fr. L. proprietas. See Proper, a. , and cf. Propriety.]
1. That which is proper to anything; a peculiar quality of a thing; that which is inherent in a subject, or naturally essential to it; an attribute; as sweetness is a property of sugar.
"Property is correctly a synonym for peculiar quality; but it is frequently used as coextensive with quality in general." Sir W. Hamilton. In physical science, the properties of matter are distinguished to the three following classes: 1. Physical properties, or those which result from the relations of bodies to the physical agents, light, heat, electricity, gravitation, cohesion, adhesion, etc., and which are exhibited without a change in the composition or kind of matter acted on. They are color, luster, opacity, transparency, hardness, sonorousness, density, crystalline form, solubility, capability of osmotic diffusion, vaporization, boiling, fusion, etc. 2. Chemical properties, or those which are conditioned by affinity and composition; thus, combustion, explosion, and certain solutions are reactions occasioned by chemical properties. Chemical properties are identical when there is identity of composition and structure, and change according as the composition changes. 3. Organoleptic properties, or those forming a class which can not be included in either of the other two divisions. They manifest themselves in the contact of substances with the organs of taste, touch, and smell, or otherwise affect the living organism, as in the manner of medicines and poisons.
2. An acquired or artificial quality; that which is given by art, or bestowed by man; as the poem has the properties which constitute excellence.
3. The exclusive right of possessing, enjoying, and disposing of a thing; ownership; title.
"Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood." Shak.
"Shall man assume a property in man?" Wordsworth.
4. That to which a person has a legal title, whether in his possession or not; thing owned; an estate, whether in lands, goods, or money; as a man of large property, or small property.
5. pl. All the adjuncts of a play except the scenery and the dresses of the actors; stage requisites.
"I will draw a bill of properties." Shak.
6. Propriety; correctness. [Obs.] Camden. Literary property. (Law) See under Literary. — Property man, one who has charge of the "properties" of a theater.
Prophasis
Proph´a•sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. to show beforehand. See Pro-, and Phasis.] (Med.) Foreknowledge of a disease; prognosis.
Prophecy
Proph´e•cy, n. ; pl. Prophecies (#), [OE. prophecie, OF. profecie, F. prophetie, L. prophetia, fr. Gr., fr. to be an interpreter of the gods, to prophesy, fr. prophet. See Prophet.]
1. A declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; esp., an inspired foretelling.
"He hearkens after prophecies and dreams." Shak.
"Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man." 2. Pet. i. 21.
2. (Script.) A book of prophecies; a history; as the prophecy of Ahijah. 2 Chron. ix. 29.
3. Public interpretation of Scripture; preaching; exhortation or instruction.
Prophesy
Proph´e•sy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prophesied p. pr. & vb. n. Prophesying ] [See Prophecy.]
1. To foretell; to predict; to prognosticate.
"He doth not prophesy good concerning me." 1 Kings xxii. 8.
"Then I perceive that will be verified
Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy." Shak.
2. To foreshow; to herald; to prefigure.
"Methought thy very gait did prophesy
A royal nobleness; I must embrace thee." Shak.
Prophet
Proph´et, n. [F. prophète, L. propheta, fr. Gr., literally, one who speaks for another, especially, one who speaks for a god an interprets his will to man, fr. to say beforehand; for, before + to say or speak. See Fame. ]
1. One who prophesies, or foretells events; a predicter; a foreteller.
2. One inspired or instructed by God to speak in his name, or announce future events, as Moses, Elijah, etc.
3. An interpreter; a spokesman. [R.] Ex. vii. 1.
4. (Zoöl.) A mantis. School of the prophets (Anc. Jewish Hist.), a school or college in which young men were educated and trained for public teachers or members of the prophetic order. These students were called sons of the prophets.
Prophetically
Pro•phet´ic•al•ly, adv. In a prophetical manner; by way of prediction.
Prophetize
Proph´et•ize, v. i. [L. prophetizare, Gr. : cf. F. prophetiser. Cf. Prophesy.] To give predictions; to foreshow events; to prophesy. [R.] "Prophetizing dreams." Daniel.
Prophoric
Pro•phor´ic, a. [Gr., fr. utterance.] Enunciative. [R.]
Prophylaxis
Proph•y•lax´is, n. [NL. See Prophylactic.] (Med.) The art of preserving from, or of preventing, disease; the observance of the rules necessary for the preservation of health; preservative or preventive treatment.
Propice
Pro•pice´, a. [OE., fr. F. propice, See Propitious.] Fit; propitious. [Obs.] E. Hall.
Propination
Prop•i•na´tion, n. [L. propinatio. See Propine.] The act of pledging, or drinking first, and then offering the cup to another. [Obs.] Abp. Potter.
Propine
Pro•pine´, n.
1. A pledge. [Obs. or Scot.]
2. A gift; esp., drink money. [Obs or Scot.]
Propine
Pro´pine, n. [ Propyl + eth ine.] (Chem.) Same as Allylene.
Propionate
Pro´pi•o•nate, n. (Chem.) A salt of propionic acid.
Propithecus
Prop•i•the´cus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. before, for + ape.] (Zoöl.) A genus including the long-tailed, or diadem, indris. See Indris.
Propitiable
Pro•pi´ti•a•ble, a. [L. propitiabilis.] Capable of being propitiated.
Propitiate
Pro•pi´ti•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propitiated p. pr. & vb. n. Propitiating.] [L. propitiatus, p. p. of propitiare to propitiate, fr. propitius favorable. See Propitious.] To appease to render favorable; to make propitious; to conciliate.
"Let fierce Achilles, dreadful in his rage,
The god propitiate, and the pest assuage." Pope.
Propitiate
Pro•pi´ti•ate, v. i. To make propitiation; to atone.
Propitiator
Pro•pi´ti•a•tor, n. [L.] One who propitiates or appeases.
Propitiatorily
Pro•pi´ti•a•to•ri•ly, adv. By way of propitiation.
Propitious
Pro•pi´tious, a. [L. propitius, perhaps originally a term of augury meaning, flying forward ( pro) or well; cf. Skr. pat to fly, E. petition, feather.]
1. Convenient; auspicious; favorable; kind; as a propitious season; a propitious breeze.
2. Hence, kind; gracious; merciful; helpful; - - said of a person or a divinity. Milton.
"And now t’ assuage the force of this new flame,
And make thee [Love] more propitious in my need." Spenser.
Syn. — Auspicious; favorable; kind. — Propitious, Auspicious. Auspicious (from the ancient idea of auspices, or omens) denotes "indicative of success," or "favored by incidental occurrences;" as an auspicious opening; an auspicious event. Propitious denotes that which efficaciously protect us in some undertaking, speeds our exertions, and decides our success; as propitious gales; propitious influences. — Pro•pi´tious•ly, adv. — Pro•pi´tious•ness, n.
Proplastics
Pro•plas´tics, n. The art of making molds for castings. [R.]
Propleg
Prop´leg, n. [So called because it props up or supports the body.] (Zoöl.) Same as Proleg.
Propodium
Pro•po´di•um, n. ; pl. Propodia (#). [NL. See Propodiale.] (Zoöl.) (a) The anterior portion of the foot of a mollusk. (b) The segment which forms the posterior part of the thorax of a hymenopterous insect. [Written also propodeum.]
Propolis
Pro´po•lis, n. [L., fr. Gr. ; before + city.] Same as Bee glue, under Bee.
Propone
Pro•pone´, v. t. [L. proponere to propose. See Propound.] To propose; to bring forward.
Proponent
Pro•po´nent, a. [L. proponens, p. pr.] Making proposals; proposing.
Proportion
Pro•por´tion, n. [F., fr. L. proportio; pro before + portio part or share. See Portion.]
1. The relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, as respect magnitude, quantity, or degree; comparative relation; ratio; as the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.
"The image of Christ, made after his own proportion." Ridley.
"Formed in the best proportions of her sex." Sir W. Scott.
"Documents are authentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory." Macaulay.
2. Harmonic relation between parts, or between different things of the same kind; symmetrical arrangement or adjustment; symmetry; as to be out of proportion. "Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith." Rom. xii. 6.
3. The portion one receives when a whole is distributed by a rule or principle; equal or proper share; lot.
"Let the women … do the same things in their proportions and capacities." Jer. Taylor.
4. A part considered comparatively; a share.
5. (Math.) (a) The equality or similarity of ratios, especially of geometrical ratios; or a relation among quantities such that the quotient of the first divided by the second is equal to that of the third divided by the fourth; — called also geometrical proportion, in distinction from arithmetical proportion, or that in which the difference of the first and second is equal to the difference of the third and fourth. Proportion in the mathematical sense differs from ratio. Ratio is the relation of two quantities of the same kind, as the ratio of 5 to 10, or the ratio of 8 to 16. Proportion is the sameness or likeness of two such relations. Thus, 5 to 10 as 8 to 16; that is, 5 bears the same relation to 10 as 8 does to 16. Hence, such numbers are said to be in proportion. Proportion is expressed by symbols thus: a:b::c:d, or a:b = c:d, or a/b = c/d. (b) The rule of three, in arithmetic, in which the three given terms, together with the one sought, are proportional. Continued proportion, Inverse proportion, etc. See under Continued, Inverse, etc. — Harmonical, or Musical, proportion, a relation of three or four quantities, such that the first is to the last as the difference between the first two is to the difference between the last two; thus, 2, 3, 6, are in harmonical proportion; for 2 is to 6 as 1 to 3. Thus, 24, 16, 12, 9, are harmonical, for 24:9::8:3. — In proportion, according as; to the degree that. "In proportion as they are metaphysically true, they are morally and politically false." Burke.
Proportion
Pro•por´tion, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proportioned p. pr. & vb. n. Proportioning.] [Cf. F. proportionner. Cf. Proportionate, v. ]
1. To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing or one part to another; as to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income.
"In the loss of an object we do not proportion our grief to the real value … but to the value our fancies set upon it." Addison.
2. To form with symmetry or suitableness, as the parts of the body.
"Nature had proportioned her without any fault." Sir P. Sidney.
3. To divide into equal or just shares; to apportion.
Proportionably
Pro•por´tion•a•bly, adv. Proportionally. Locke.
Proportional
Pro•por´tion•al, a. [L. proportionalis: cf. F. proportionnel.]
1. Having a due proportion, or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as the parts of an edifice are proportional. Milton.
2. Relating to, or securing, proportion. Hutton.
3. (Math.) Constituting a proportion; having the same, or a constant, ratio; as proportional quantities; momentum is proportional to quantity of matter. Proportional logarithms, logistic logarithms. See under Logistic. — Proportional scale, a scale on which are marked parts proportional to the logarithms of the natural numbers; a logarithmic scale. — Proportionalscales, compasses, dividers, etc. (Draughting), instruments used in making copies of drawings, or drawings of objects, on an enlarged or reduced scale.
Proportionate
Pro•por´tion•ate, a. [L. proportionatus. See Proportion.] Adjusted to something else according to a proportion; proportional. Longfellow.
"What is proportionate to his transgression." Locke.
Proportionate
Pro•por´tion•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proportionated p. pr. & vb. n. Proportionating.] [Cf. Proportion, v. ] To make proportional; to adjust according to a settled rate, or to due comparative relation; to proportion; as to proportionate punishment to crimes.
Proportionateness
Pro•por´tion•ate•ness, n. The quality or state of being proportionate. Sir M. Hale.
Proportionless
Pro•por´tion•less, a. Without proportion; unsymmetrical.
Proportionment
Pro•por´tion•ment, n. The act or process of dividing out proportionally.
Proposal
Pro•pos´al, n. [From Propose.]
1. That which is proposed, or propounded for consideration or acceptance; a scheme or design; terms or conditions proposed; offer; as to make proposals for a treaty of peace; to offer proposals for erecting a building; to make proposals of marriage. "To put forth proposals for a book." Macaulay.
2. (Law) The offer by a party of what he has in view as to an intended business transaction, which, with acceptance, constitutes a contract.
Syn. — Proffer; tender; overture. See Proposition.
Propose
Pro•pose´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proposed p. pr. & vb. n. Proposing.] [F. proposer; pref. pro- (L. pro for, forward) + poser to place. See Pose, v. ]
1. To set forth. [Obs.]
"That being proposed brimfull of wine, one scarce could lift it up." Chapman.
2. To offer for consideration, discussion, acceptance, or adoption; as to propose terms of peace; to propose a question for discussion; to propose an alliance; to propose a person for office.
3. To set before one’s self or others as a purpose formed; hence, to purpose; to intend.
"I propose to relate, in several volumes, the history of the people of New England." Palfrey. To propose to one’s self, to intend; to design.
Propose
Pro•pose´, n. [F. propos, L. propositum. See Propound, Purpose, n. ] Talk; discourse. [Obs.] Shak.
Proposition
Prop•o•si´tion, n. [L. propositio: cf. F. proposition. See Propound.]
1. The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering. "Oblations for the altar of proposition." Jer. Taylor.
2. That which is proposed; that which is offered, as for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; a proposal; as the enemy made propositions of peace; his proposition was not accepted.
3. A statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; creed; as the propositions of Wyclif and Huss.
"Some persons … change their propositions according as their temporal necessities or advantages do turn." Jer. Taylor.
4. (Gram. & Logic) A complete sentence, or part of a sentence consisting of a subject and predicate united by a copula; a thought expressed or propounded in language; a from of speech in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject; as snow is white.
5. (Math.) A statement in terms of a truth to be demonstrated, or of an operation to be performed. It is called a theorem when it is something to be proved, and a problem when it is something to be done.
6. (Rhet.) That which is offered or affirmed as the subject of the discourse; anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.
7. (Poetry) The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it. Leaves of proposition (Jewish Antiq.), the showbread. Wyclif (Luke vi. 4).
Syn. — Proposal; offer; statement; declaration. — Proposition, Proposal. These words are both from the Latin verb proponere, to set forth, and as here compared they mark different forms or stages of a negotiation. A proposition is something presented for discussion or consideration; as propositions of peace. A proposal is some definite thing offered by one party to be accepted or rejected by the other. If the proposition is favorably received, it is usually followed by proposals which complete the arrangement.
Propound
Pro•pound´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Propounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Propounding.] [From earlier propone, L. proponere, propositum, to set forth, propose, propound; pro for, before + ponere to put. See Position, and cf. Provost.]
1. To offer for consideration; to exhibit; to propose; as to propound a question; to propound an argument. Shak.
"And darest thou to the Son of God propound
To worship thee, accursed?" Milton.
"It is strange folly to set ourselves no mark, to propound no end, in the hearing of the gospel." Coleridge.
2. (Eccl.) To propose or name as a candidate for admission to communion with a church.
Propounder
Pro•pound´er, n. One who propounds, proposes, or offers for consideration. Chillingworth.
Proprietary
Pro•pri´e•ta•ry, n. ; pl. Proprietaries (#). [L. proprietarius: cf. F. proprietaire. See Propriety, and cf. Proprietor.]
1. A proprietor or owner; one who has exclusive title to a thing; one who possesses, or holds the title to, a thing in his own right. Fuller.
2. A body proprietors, taken collectively.
3. (Eccl.) A monk who had reserved goods and effects to himself, notwithstanding his renunciation of all at the time of profession.
Proprietorship
Pro•pri´e•tor•ship, n. The state of being proprietor; ownership.
Propriety
Pro•pri´e•ty, n. ; pl. Proprieties (#). [F. propriete, L. proprietas, fr. proprius one’s own, proper. See Property, Proper.]
1. Individual right to hold property; ownership by personal title; property. [Obs.] "Onles this propriety be exiled." Robynson (More’s Utopia).
"So are the proprieties of a wife to be disposed of by her lord, and yet all are for her provisions, it being a part of his need to refresh and supply hers." Jer. Taylor.
2. That which is proper or peculiar; an inherent property or quality; peculiarity. [Obs.] Bacon.
"We find no mention hereof in ancient zoögraphers, … who seldom forget proprieties of such a nature." Sir T. Browne.
3. The quality or state of being proper; suitableness to an acknowledged or correct standard or rule; consonance with established principles, rules, or customs; fitness; appropriateness; as propriety of behavior, language, manners, etc. "The rule of propriety," Locke.
Proproctor
Pro•proc´tor, n. [Pref. pro- + proctor.] [Eng. Univ.] A assistant proctor. Hook.
Propugnacle
Pro•pug´na•cle, n. [L. propugnaculum.] A fortress. [Obs.] Howell.
Propugnation
Pro•pug•na´tion, n. [L. propugnatio.] Means of defense; defense. [Obs.] Shak.
Propugner
Pro•pugn´er, n. A defender; a vindicator. "Zealous propugners." Gov. of Tongue.
Propulsation
Pro•pul•sa´tion, n. [L. propulsatio. See Propulse.] The act of driving away or repelling; a keeping at a distance. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Propulse
Pro•pulse´, v. t. [L. propulsare, v. intens. from propellere to propel. See Propel.] To repel; to drive off or away. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
Propulsion
Pro•pul´sion, n. [Cf. F. propulsion. See Propel.]
1. The act driving forward or away; the act or process of propelling; as steam propulsion.
2. An impelling act or movement.
"God works in all things; all obey
His first propulsion." Whittier.
Proratable
Pro•rat´a•ble, a. Capable of being prorated, or divided proportionately. [U.S.]
Prorate
Pro•rate´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prorating.] [From L. pro rata (sc. parte) according to a certain part, in proportion.] To divide or distribute proportionally; to assess pro rata. [U.S.]
Prore, n. [L. prora, Gr. : cf. It. & Sp. prora. See Prow, n. ] The prow or fore part of a ship. [Poetic] "Galleys with vermilion prores." Pope.
Prorector
Pro•rec´tor, n. [NL. See Pro-, and Rector.] An officer who presides over the academic senate of a German university. Heyse.
Prorenal
Pro•re´nal, a. [Pref. pro- + renal.] (Anat.) Pronephric.
Proreption
Pro•rep´tion, n. [L. prorepere, proreptum, to creep forth; pro + repere.] A creeping on.
Prorhinal
Pro•rhi´nal, a. [Pref. pro- + rhinal.] (Anat.) Situated in front of the nasal chambers.
Prorogue
Pro•rogue´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prorogued p. pr. & vb. n. Proroguing ] [F. proroger, L. prorogare, prorogatum; pro forward + rogare to ask, to ask one for his opinion or vote, or about a law. See Rogation.]
1. To protract; to prolong; to extend. [Obs.]
"He prorogued his government." Dryden.
2. To defer; to delay; to postpone; as to proroguedeath; to prorogue a marriage. Shak.
3. To end the session of a parliament by an order of the sovereign, thus deferring its business.
"Parliament was prorogued to [meet at] Westminster." Bp. Hall.
"The Parliament was again prorogued to a distant day." Macaulay.
Syn. — To adjourn; postpone; defer. See Adjourn.
Proruption
Pro•rup´tion, n. [L. proruptio, fr. prorumpere, proruptum, to break forth; pro forth + rumpere to break.] The act or state of bursting forth; a bursting out. [R.] Sir T. Browne. { Pro•sa´ic, Pro•sa´ic•al } a. [L. prosaius, from prosa prose: cf. F,. prosaïque. See Prose.]
1. Of or pertaining to prose; resembling prose; in the form of prose; unpoetical; writing or using prose; as a prosaic composition. Cudworth.
2. Dull; uninteresting; commonplace; unimaginative; prosy; as a prosaic person. Ed. Rev. — Pro•sa´ic•al•ly, adv. — Pro•sa´ic•al•ness, n.
Prosaism
Pro´sa•ism, n. That which is in the form of prose writing; a prosaic manner. Coleridge.
Prosal
Pro´sal, a. Of or pertaining to prose; prosaic. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Proscenium
Pro•sce´ni•um, n. ; pl. Proscenia (#). [L., fr. Gr. ; before + a tent, a wooden stage, the stage. See Scene.]
1. (Anc. Theater) The part where the actors performed; the stage.
2. (Modern Theater) The part of the stage in front of the curtain; sometimes, the curtain and its framework.
Proscolex
Pro•sco´lex, n. ; pl. Proscolices (#). [NL., fr. Gr. before +,, a worm.] (Zoöl.) An early larval form of a trematode worm; a redia. See Redia.
Proscribe
Pro•scribe´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proscribed p. pr. & vb. n. Proscribing.] [L. proscribere, proscriptum, to write before, to publish, proscribe; pro before + scribere to write. See Scribe. The sense of this word originated in the Roman practice of writing the names of persons doomed to death, and posting the list in public.]
1. To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; to outlaw; to exile; as Sylla and Marius proscribed each other’s adherents.
"Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, … was banished the realm, and proscribed." Spenser.
2. To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit; as the Puritans proscribed theaters.
"The Arian doctrines were proscribed and anathematized in the famous Council of Nice." Waterland.
Proscriber
Pro•scrib´er, n. One who, or that which, proscribes, denounces, or prohibits.
Proscript
Pro´script, n. [See Proscribe.]
1. A proscription; a prohibition; an interdict. [R.]
2. One who is proscribed. [R.]
Prose, n. [F. prose, L. prosa, fr. prorsus, prosus, straight forward, straight on, for proversus; pro forward + versus, p. p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.]
1. The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; — contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition.
"I speak in prose, and let him rymes make." Chaucer.
"Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme." Milton.
"I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry, that is; prose — words in their best order; poetry — the best order." Coleridge.
2. Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.
3. (R. C. Ch.) A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence.
Prose, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prosed p. pr. & vb. n. Prosing.]
1. To write in prose.
2. To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way.
Prose, v. i.
1. To write prose.
"Prosing or versing, but chiefly this latter." Milton.
Prosecutable
Pros´e•cu•ta•ble, a. Capable of being prosecuted; liable to prosecution.
Prosecute
Pros´e•cute, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prosecuted p. pr. & vb. n. Prosecuting.] [L. prosecutus, p. p. of prosequi to follow, pursue. See Pursue.]
1. To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to carry on; to continue; as to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim.
"I am beloved Hermia;
Why should not I, then, prosecute my right ?" Shak.
2. To seek to obtain by legal process; as to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law.
3. (Law) To pursue with the intention of punishing; to accuse of some crime or breach of law, or to pursue for redress or punishment, before a legal tribunal; to proceed against judicially; as to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot.
"To acquit themselves and prosecute their foes." Milton.
Proselyte
Pros´e•lyte, n. [OE. proselite, OF. proselite, F. proselytus, Gr., adj., that has come, n., a new comer, especially, one who has come over from heathenism to the Jewish religion; toward, to + (prob.) the root of to come.] A new convert especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party; thus, a Gentile converted to Judaism, or a pagan converted to Christianity, is a proselyte.
"Ye [Scribes and Pharisees] compass sea and land to make one proselyte." Matt. xxiii. 15.
"Fresh confidence the speculatist takes
From every harebrained proselyte he makes." Cowper.
Syn. — See Convert.
Proselyte
Pros´e•lyte, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proselyted p. pr. & vb. n. Proselyting.] To convert to some religion, opinion, or system; to bring over. Dr. H. More.
Proselytize
Pros´e•ly•tize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. proselytized p. pr. & vb. n. Proselytizing ] To convert to some religion, system, opinion, or the like; to bring, or cause to come, over; to proselyte.
"One of those whom they endeavor to proselytize." Burke.
Proselytize
Pros´e•ly•tize, v. i. To make converts or proselytes.
Proseminary
Pro•sem´i•na•ry, n. A seminary which prepares pupils for a higher institution. T. Warton.
Prosencephalic
Pros•en•ce•phal´ic, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prosencephalon.
Proser
Pros´er, n.
1. A writer of prose. [Obs.]
2. One who talks or writes tediously. Sir W. Scott.
Prosimetrical
Pros•i•met´ric•al, a. [ Prose + metrical.] Consisting both of prose and verse. Clarke.
Prosimiae
Pro•sim´i•ae, n. pl. [NL. See Pro-. and Simia.] (Zoöl.) Same as Lemuroidea.
Prosiness
Pros´i•ness, n. The quality or state of being prosy; tediousness; tiresomeness.
Prosing
Pros´ing, n. Writing prose; speaking or writing in a tedious or prosy manner. Sir W. Scott.
Proslavery
Pro•slav´er•y, a. [Pref. pro- + slavery.] Favoring slavery. — n. Advocacy of slavery.
Prosobranch
Pros´o•branch, n. (Zoöl.) One of the Prosobranchiata.
Prosocœlia
Pros•o•cœ"li•a, n. ; pl. Prosocœlle (#), [NL.] (Anat.) Same as Prosocœle.
Prosody
Pros´o•dy, n. [L. prosodia the tone or accent of a syllable, Gr. a song sung to, or with, an accompanying song, the accent accompanying the pronunciation; to + song, ode: cf. F. prosodie. See Ode.] That part of grammar which treats of the quantity of syllables, of accent, and of the laws of versification or metrical composition.
Prosopalgia
Pros•o•pal´gi•a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. face + pain.] (Med.) Facial neuralgia.
Prosopocephala
Pros•o•po•ceph•a•la, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. pro•swpon face, appearance + head.] (Zoöl.) Same as Scaphopoda.
Prospect
Pros´pect, n. [L. prospectus, fr. prospicere, prospectum, to look forward; pro before, forward + specere, spicere, look, to see: cf. OF. prospect. See Spy, v. , and cf. Prospectus.]
1. That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.
"His eye discovers unaware
The goodly prospect of some foreign land." Milton.
2. Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.
"I went to Putney … to take prospects in crayon." Evelyn.
3. A position affording a fine view; a lookout. [R.]
"Him God beholding from his prospect high." Milton.
4. Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.
"And their prospect was toward the south." Ezek. xl. 44.
5. The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as a prospect of the future state. Locke.
"Is he a prudent man as to his temporal estate, that lays designs only for a day, without any prospect to, or provision for, the remaining part of life ?" Tillotson.
6. That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as the prospect of success. "To brighter prospects born." Cowper.
"These swell their prospectsd exalt their pride,
When offers are disdain’d, and love deny’d." Pope.
Prospect
Pros´pect, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prospected; p. pr. & vb. n. Prospecting.] To look over; to explore or examine for something; as to prospect a district for gold.
Prospective
Pro•spec´tive, a. [L. prospectivus: cf. F. prospectif. See Prospect, n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to a prospect; furnishing a prospect; perspective. [Obs.]
"Time’s long and dark prospective glass." Milton.
2. Looking forward in time; acting with foresight; — opposed to retrospective.
"The French king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair." Sir J. Child.
3. Being within view or consideration, as a future event or contingency; relating to the future: expected; as a prospective benefit.
"Points on which the promises, at the time of ordination, had no prospective bearing." W. Jay.
Prospectively
Pro•spec´tive•ly, adv. In a prospective manner.
Prospectiveness
Pro•spec´tive•ness, n. Quality of being prospective.
Prospectus
Pro•spec´tus, n. [L., a prospect, sight, view: cf. F. prospectus. See Prospect.] A summary, plan, or scheme of something proposed, affording a prospect of its nature; especially, an exposition of the scheme of an unpublished literary work.
Prosper
Pros´per, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prospered p. pr. & vb. n. Prospering.] [F. prosperer v. i., or L. prosperare, v. i., or L. prosperare, v. t., fr. prosper or prosperus. See Prosperous.] To favor; to render successful. "Prosper thou our handiwork." Bk. of Common Prayer.
"All things concur to prosper our design." Dryden.
Prosperity
Pros•per´i•ty, n. [F. prosperite, L. prosperitas. See Prosperous.] The state of being prosperous; advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune; success; as commercial prosperity; national prosperity.
"Now prosperity begins to mellow." Shak.
"Prosperities can only be enjoyed by them who fear not at all to lose them." Jer. Taylor.
Syn. — Prosperousness; thrift; weal; welfare; well being; happiness.
Prosperous
Pros´per•ous, a. [L. prosperus or prosper, originally, answering to hope; pro according to + the root of sperare to hope. See Despair.]
1. Tending to prosperity; favoring; favorable; helpful.
"A happy passage and a prosperous wind." Denham.
2. Being prospered; advancing in the pursuit of anything desirable; making gain, or increase; thriving; successful; as a prosperous voyage; a prosperous undertaking; a prosperous man or nation.
"By moderation either state to bear Prosperous or adverse." Milton.
Syn. — Fortunate; successful; flourishing; thriving; favorable; auspicious; lucky. See Fortunate. — Pros´per•ous•ly, adv. — Pros´per•ous•ness, n.
Prospicience
Pro•spi´cience, n. [L. prospicientia, fr. prospiciens, p. pr. of prospicere. See Prospect.] The act of looking forward.
Prostatic
Pro•stat´ic, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the prostate gland. Prostatic catheter. (Med.) See under Catheter.
Prostatitis
Pros•ta•ti´tis, n. [NL. See Prostate, and -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the prostate.
Prosternation
Pros•ter•na´tion, n. [F. See Prostration.] Dejection; depression. [Obs.] Wiseman.
Prosternum
Pro•ster´num, n. [NL. See Pro- and Sternum.] (Zoöl.) The ventral plate of the prothorax of an insect.
Prostitute
Pros´ti•tute, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prostituted p. pr. & vb. n. Prostituting.] [L. prostitutus, p. p. of prostituere to prostitute; pro before, forth + statuere to put, place. See Statute.]
1. To offer, as a woman, to a lewd use; to give up to lewdness for hire. "Do not prostitute thy daughter." Lev. xix. 29.
2. To devote to base or unworthy purposes; to give up to low or indiscriminate use; as to prostitute talents; to prostitute official powers. Milton.
Prostrate
Pros´trate, a. [L. prostratus, p. p. of prosternere to prostrate; pro before, forward + sternere to spread out, throw down. See Stratum.]
1. Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface; stretched out; as to sleep prostrate. Elyot.
"Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire." Milton.
2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant. Dryden.
3. Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant posture.
"Prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults." Milton.
4. (Bot.) Trailing on the ground; procumbent.
Prostrate
Pros´trate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prostrated p. pr. & vb. n. Prostrating.]
1. To lay fiat; to throw down; to level; to fell; as to prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants. Evelyn.
2. to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to deprive of efficiency; to ruin; as to prostrate a village; to prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice.
3. To throw down, or cause to fall in humility or adoration; to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively; as he prostrated himself. Milman.
4. To cause to sink totally; to deprive of strength; to reduce; as a person prostrated by fever.
Prosy
Pros´y, a. [ Compar. Prosier superl. Prosiest.]
1. Of or pertaining to prose; like prose.
2. Dull and tedious in discourse or writing; prosaic.
Protagon
Pro´ta•gon, n. [ Proto- + Gr. a contest. See. Protagonist. So called because it was the first definitely ascertained principle of the brain.] (Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous phosphorized principle found in brain tissue. By decomposition it yields neurine, fatty acids, and other bodies.
Protasis
Prot´a•sis, n. [L., fr. Gr., fr. to stretch before, forward; before + to stretch.]
1. A proposition; a maxim. Johnson.
2. (Gram.) The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; — opposed to apodosis. See Apodosis.
3. The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the introduction; opposed to epitasis. B. Jonson.
Proteaceous
Pro•te•a´ceous, a. [From Proteus.] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the Proteaceae, an order of apetalous evergreen shrubs, mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope or of Australia.
Protect
Pro•tect´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protected; p. pr. & vb. n. Protecting.] [L. protectus, p. p. of protegere, literally, to cover in front; pro before + tegere to cover. See Tegument.] To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard; to preserve in safety; as a father protects his children.
"The gods of Greece protect you!" Shak.
Syn. — To guard; shield; preserve. See Defend.
Protectingly
Pro•tect´ing•ly, adv. By way of protection; in a protective manner.
Protectionism
Pro•tec´tion•ism, n. (Polit. Econ.) The doctrine or policy of protectionists. See Protection, 4.
Protectionist
Pro•tec´tion•ist, n. (Polit. Econ.) One who favors protection. See Protection, 4.
Protective
Pro•tect´ive, a. [Cf. F. protectif.] Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. " The favor of a protective Providence." Feltham. Protective coloring (Zoöl.), coloring which serves for the concealment and preservation of a living organism. Cf. Mimicry. Wallace. — Protective tariff (Polit. Econ.), a tariff designed to secure protection (see Protection, 4.), as distinguished from a tariff designed to raise revenue. See Tariff, and Protection, 4.
Protectiveness
Pro•tect´ive•ness, n. The quality or state of being protective. W. Pater.
Protectoral
Pro•tect´or•al, a. Of or pertaining to a protector; protectorial; as protectoral power.
Protectorial
Pro•tec•to´ri•al, a. [Cf. L. protectorius.] Same as Protectoral.
Protectorless
Pro•tect´or•less, a. Having no protector; unprotected.
Protectorship
Pro•tect´or•ship, n. The office of a protector or regent; protectorate. { Pro•tect´ress, Pro•tect´rix } n. [NL. protectrix.] A woman who protects. { Pro•te•ge´, n. m.Pro•te•gee´, n. f.} [F., p. p. of proteger. See Protect.] One under the care and protection of another.
Proteid
Pro´te•id, n. [Gr. prw^tos first.] (Physiol. Chem.) One of a class of amorphous nitrogenous principles, containing, as a rule, a small amount of sulphur; an albuminoid, as blood fibrin, casein of milk, etc. Proteids are present in nearly all animal fluids and make up the greater part of animal tissues and organs. They are also important constituents of vegetable tissues. See 2d Note under Food. — Pro´te•id, a.
Proteidea
Pro•te•id´e•a, n. pl. [NL. See Proteus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.) An order of aquatic amphibians having prominent external gills and four legs. It includes Proteus and Menobranchus ( Necturus). Called also Proteoidea, and Proteida.
Proteiform
Pro•te´i•form, a. (Zoöl.) Changeable in form; resembling a Proteus, or an amœba.
Protein
Pro´te•in, n. [Gr. prw^tos first: cf. prwtei^on the first place.] (Physiol. Chem.) A body now known as alkali albumin, but originally considered to be the basis of all albuminous substances, whence its name. Protein crystal. (Bot.) See Crystalloid, n. , 2.
Proteinaceous
Pro•te•i•na´•ceous, a. (Physiol. Chem.) Of or related to protein; albuminous; proteid.
Protend
Pro•tend´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protended; p. pr. & vb. n. Protending.] [L. protendere, protensum; pro before, forth + tendere to stretch.] To hold out; to stretch forth. [Obs.]
"With his protended lance he makes defence." Dryden.
Protense
Pro•tense´, n. [See Protend.] Extension.[Obs.] " By due degrees and long protense." Spenser.
Protension
Pro•ten´sion, n. [L. protensio.] A drawing out; extension. [R.] Sir W. Hamilton.
Proteolysis
Pro•te•ol´y•sis, n. [NL. See Proteolytic.] (Physiol. Chem.) The digestion or dissolving of proteid matter by proteolytic ferments.
Proterandry
Pro•ter•an´dry, n. (Bot.) The condition of being proterandrous.
Protest
Pro•test´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting.] [F. protester, L. protestari, pro before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See Testify.]
1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.
"He protest that his measures are pacific." Landor.
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Shak.
2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; — with against; as he protest against your votes. Denham.
"The conscience has power … to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions." Shak.
Syn. — To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm.
Protest
Pro´test, n. [Cf. F. protêt, It. protesto. See Protest, v. ]
1. A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as the protest of lords in Parliament.
2. (Law) (a) A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill, or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be. (b) A declaration made by the master of a vessel before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer, upon his arrival in port after a disaster, stating the particulars of it, and showing that any damage or loss sustained was not owing to the fault of the vessel, her officers or crew, but to the perils of the sea, etc., ads the case may be, and protesting against them. (c) A declaration made by a party, before or while paying a tax, duty, or the like, demanded of him, which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his rights and claims, in order to show that the payment was not voluntary. Story. Kent.
Protestant
Prot´es•tant, n. [F. protestant, fr. L. protestans, -antis, p. pr. of protestare. See Protest, v. ] One who protests; — originally applied to those who adhered to Luther, and protested against, or made a solemn declaration of dissent from, a decree of the Emperor Charles V. and the Diet of Spires, in 1529, against the Reformers, and appealed to a general council; — now used in a popular sense to designate any Christian who does not belong to the Roman Catholic or the Greek Church.
Protestantly
Prot´es•tant•ly, adv. Like a Protestant; in conformity with Protestantism. [R.] Milton.
Protestation
Prot•es•ta´tion, n. [L. protestatio: cf. F. protestation. See Protest.]
1. The act of making a protest; a public avowal; a solemn declaration, especially of dissent. " The protestation of our faith." Latimer.
2. (Law) Formerly, a declaration in common-law pleading, by which the party interposes an oblique allegation or denial of some fact, protesting that it does or does not exist, and at the same time avoiding a direct affirmation or denial.
Protestator
Prot´es•ta•tor, n. [Cf. F. protestateur.] One who makes protestation; a protester.
Prothallium
Pro•thal´li•um, n. ; pl. Prothallia (#). [NL.] (Bot.) Same as Prothallus.
Prothesis
Proth´e•sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. a placing in public, fr. to set before; before + to set, put.]
1. (Eccl.) A credence table; — so called by the Eastern or Greek Church.
2. (Med.) See Prosthesis. Dunglison.
Prothonotaryship
Pro•thon´o•ta•ry•ship, n. Office of a prothonotary.
Prothoracic
Pro•tho•rac´ic, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the prothorax.
Prothorax
Pro•tho´rax, n. [Pref. pro- + thorax.] (Zoöl.) The first or anterior segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust. . of Butterfly and Coleoptera.
Prothyalosome
Pro•thy´a•lo•some, n. (Biol.) Same as Prothyalosoma.
Protiston
Pro•tis´ton, n. ; pl. Protista (#). [NL.] (Zoöl.) One of the Protista.
Proto-
Pro´to- [Gr. prw^tos first, a superl. fr. pro• before. See Pro-.]
1. A combining form prefix signifying first, primary, primordial; as protomartyr, the first martyr; protomorphic, primitive in form; protoplast, a primordial organism; prototype, protozoan.
2. (Chem.) (a) Denoting the first or lowest of a series, or the one having the smallest amount of the element to the name of which it is prefixed; as protoxide, protochloride, etc. (b) Sometimes used as equivalent to mono-, as indicating that the compound has but one atom of the element to the name of which it is prefixed. Also used adjectively.
Protococcus
Pro•to•coc´cus, n. [NL. See Proto-, and Coccus.] (Bot.) A genus of minute unicellular algae including the red snow plant ( Protococcus nivalis).
Protocol
Pro´to•col, n. [F. protocole, LL. protocollum, fr. Gr. the first leaf glued to the rolls of papyrus and the notarial documents, on which the date was written; prw^tos the first (see Proto-) + glue.]
1. The original copy of any writing, as of a deed, treaty, dispatch, or other instrument. Burrill.
2. The minutes, or rough draught, of an instrument or transaction.
3. (Diplomacy) (a) A preliminary document upon the basis of which negotiations are carried on. (b) A convention not formally ratified. (c) An agreement of diplomatists indicating the results reached by them at a particular stage of a negotiation.
Protogynous
Pro•tog´y•nous, a. [ Proto + Gr. gynh• a woman.] (Bot.) Same as Proterogynous.
Protomartyr
Pro´to•mar•tyr, n. [LL., fr. Gr. ; first + martyr: cf. F. protomartyr. See Proto-, and Martyr.] The first martyr; the first who suffers, or is sacrificed, in any cause; — applied esp. to Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
Protopapas
Pro•to•pap´as, n. [NL., from Gr. a chief priest.] (Gr. Ch.) A protopope.
Protophyte
Pro´to•phyte, n. [ Proto- + Gr. a plant.] (Bot.) Any unicellular plant, or plant forming only a plasmodium, having reproduction only by fission, gemmation, or cell division. The protophytes ( Protophyta) are by some botanists considered an independent branch or class of the vegetable kingdom, and made to include the lowest forms of both fungi and algae, as slime molds, Bacteria, the nostocs, etc. Cf. Carpophyte, and Oöphyte.
Protophytology
Pro•to•phy•tol´o•gy, n. [ Proto- + phytology.] Paleobotany.
Protopterus
Pro•top´te•rus, n. [NL., from Gr. first + a feather (taken to mean, fin).] (Zoöl.) See Komtok.
Protosalt
Pro´to•salt, n. [ Proto- + salt.] (Chem.) A salt derived from a protoxide base. [Obs.]
Protosulphuret
Pro•to•sul´phu•ret, n. [ Proto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.) A protosulphide. [Obs.]
Prototheria
Pro•to•the´ri•a, n. pl. [NL., from Gr. prw^tos first + qhri•on, dim. of qh•r beast.] (Zoöl.) Same as Monotremata.
Prototracheata
Pro•to•tra•che•a´ta, n. pl. [NL. See Proto-, and Trachea.] (Zoöl.) Same as Malacopoda.
Prototype
Pro´to•type, n. [F., from L. prototypus original, primitive, Gr., ; first + type, model. See Proto-, and Type] An original or model after which anything is copied; the pattern of anything to be engraved, or otherwise copied, cast, or the like; a primary form; exemplar; archetype.
"They will turn their backs on it, like their great precursor and prototype." Burke.
Protovertebra
Pro•to•ver´te•bra, n. ; pl. Protovertebrae . [ Proto- + vertebra.] (Anat.) One of the primitive masses, or segments, into which the mesoblast of the vertebrate embryo breaks up on either side of the anterior part of the notochord; a mesoblastic, or protovertebral, somite. See Illust. of Ectoderm. The protovertebrae were long regarded as rudiments of the permanent vertebrae, but they are now known to give rise to the dorsal muscles and other structures as well as the vertebral column. See Myotome.
Protovertebral
Pro•to•ver´te•bral, a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the protovertebrae.
Protoxide
Pro•tox´ide, n. [ Proto- + oxide: cf. F. protoxide.] (Chem.) That one of a series of oxides having the lowest proportion of oxygen. See Proto-, 2 (b). protoxide of nitrogen, laughing gas now called hyponitrous oxide. See under Laughing.
Protozoa
Pro•to•zo´a, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. first + an animal.] (Zoöl.) The lowest of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom. The entire animal consists of a single cell which is variously modified; but in many species a number of these simple zooids are united together so as to form a compound body or organism, as in the Foraminifera and Vorticellae. The reproduction takes place by fission, or by the breaking up of the contents of the body after encystment, each portion becoming a distinct animal, or in other ways, but never by true eggs. The principal divisions are Rhizopoda, Gregarinae, and Infusoria. See also Foraminifera, Heliozoa, Protoplasta, Radiolaria, Flagellata, Ciliata.
Protozoan
Pro•to•zo´an, a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa. — n. One of the Protozoa.
Protracheata
Pro•tra•che•a´ta, n. pl. [NL. See Pro-, and Trachea.] (Zoöl.) Same as Malacopoda.
Protract
Pro•tract´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr. vb. n. Protracting.] [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray.]
1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as to protract an argument; to protract a war.
2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as to protract a decision or duty. Shak.
3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.
4. (Zoöl.) To extend; to protrude; as the cat can protract its claws; — opposed to retract.
Protract
Pro•tract´, n. [L. protractus.] Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] Spenser.
Protractile
Pro•tract´ile, a. Capable of being protracted, or protruded; protrusile.
Protrudable
Pro•trud´a•ble, a. That may be protruded; protrusile. Darwin.
Protrude
Pro•trude´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Protruding.] [L. protrudere, protrusum; pro forward + trudere to thrust. See Threat.]
1. To thrust forward; to drive or force along. Locke.
2. To thrust out, as through a narrow orifice or from confinement; to cause to come forth.
"When … Spring protrudes the bursting gems." Thomson.
Protrusile
Pro•tru´sile, a. Capable of being protruded or thrust out; protractile; protrusive.
Protuberance
Pro•tu´ber•ance, n. [Cf. F. protuberance. See Protuberant.] That which is protuberant swelled or pushed beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; a swelling or tumor on the body; a prominence; a bunch or knob; an elevation. Solar protuberances (Astron.), certain rose-colored masses on the limb of the sun which are seen to extend beyond the edge of the moon at the time of a solar eclipse. They may be discovered with the spectroscope on any clear day. Called also solar prominences. See Illust. in Append.
Syn. — Projection, Protuberance. protuberance differs from projection, being applied to parts that rise from the surface with a gradual ascent or small angle; whereas a projection may be at a right angle with the surface.
Protuberant
Pro•tu´ber•ant, a. [L. protuberans, -antis, p. pr. of protuberare. See Protuberate.] Prominent, or excessively prominent; bulging beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; swelling; as a protuberant joint; a protuberant eye. — Pro•tu´ber•ant•ly, adv.
Protuberate
Pro•tu´ber•ate, v. i. [L. protuberare; pro forward + tuber a hump, protuberance. See Tuber.] To swell, or be prominent, beyond the adjacent surface; to bulge out. S. Sharp.
Protuberation
Pro•tu•ber•a´tion, n. The act of swelling beyond the surrounding surface. Cooke (1615).
Protureter
Pro•tu•re´ter, n. [NL. See Proto-, Ureter.] (Anat.) The duct of a pronephros. Haeckel.
Proud, a. [ Compar. Prouder superl. Proudest.] [OE. proud, prout, prud, prut, AS. prut; akin to Icel. pruðr stately, handsome, Dan. prud handsome. Cf. Pride.]
1. Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense; as: (a) Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one’s excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous.
"Nor much expect
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek." Milton.
"O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty !" Shak.
"And shades impervious to the proud world’s glare." Keble. (b) Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; — often with of; as proud of one’s country. "Proud to be checked and soothed." Keble.
"Are we proud men proud of being proud ?" Thackeray.
2. Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious. "Of shadow proud." Chapman. "Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple’s height." Dryden.
"Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud
Are mantled with a golden cloud." Keble.
3. Excited by sexual desire; — applied particularly to the females of some animals. Sir T. Browne. Proud is often used with participles in the formation of compounds which, for the most part, are self-explaining; as proud-crested, proud-minded, proud-swelling. Proud flesh (Med.), a fungous growth or excrescence of granulations resembling flesh, in a wound or ulcer.
Proudling
Proud´ling, n. A proud or haughty person. Sylvester.
Provable
Prov´a•ble, a. [See Prove, and cf. Probable.] Capable of being proved; demonstrable. — Prov´a•ble•ness, n. — Prov´a•bly, adv. { Prov´and, Pro´ant } n. [See Provender.] Provender or food. [Obs.]
"One pease was a soldier’s provant a whole day." Beau. & Fl.
Provant
Pro•vant´, v. t. To supply with provender or provisions; to provide for. [Obs.] Nash.
Prove, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Proved p. pr. & vb. n. Proving.] [OE. prover, F. prouver, fr. L. probare to try, approve, prove, fr. probus good, proper. Cf. Probable, Proof, Probe.]
1. To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure.
"Thou hast proved mine heart." Ps. xvii. 3.
2. To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence.
"They have inferred much from slender premises, and conjectured when they could not prove." J. H. Newman.
3. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as to prove a will.
4. To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer.
"Where she, captived long, great woes did prove." Spenser.
5. (Arith.) To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved.
6. (Printing) To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as to prove a page.
Syn. — To try; verify; justify; confirm; establish; evince; manifest; show; demonstrate.
Proveditor
Pro•ved´i•tor, n. [It. proveditore, provveditore, fr. provedere, L. providere. See Provide, and cf. Purveyor, Provedore.] One employed to procure supplies, as for an army, a steamer, etc.; a purveyor; one who provides for another. Jer. Taylor.
Provedore
Prov´e•dore, n. [Cf. Sp. proveedor. See Proveditor.] A proveditor; a purveyor.
"Busied with the duties of a provedore." W. Irving.
Provenance
Prov´e•nance, n. [F., fr. provenir to originate, to come forth, L. provenire. Cf. Provenience.] Origin; source; provenience.
"Their age attested by their provenance and associations." A. H. Keane.
Provençal
Pro•ven•çal", a. [F., fr. Provence, fr. L. provincia province. See Provincial.] Of or pertaining to Provence or its inhabitants.
Provençal
Pro•ven•çal", n. [F.]
1. A native or inhabitant of Provence in France.
2. The Provencal language. See Langue d’oc.
Provencial
Pro•ven´cial, a. [See Provençal.] Of or pertaining to Provence in France.
Provend
Prov´end, n. See Provand. [Obs.]
Provender
Prov´en•der, n. [OE. provende, F. provende, provisions, provender, fr. LL. praebenda ( prae and pro being confused), a daily allowance of provisions, a prebend. See Prebend.]
1. Dry food for domestic animals, as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed. "Hay or other provender." Mortimer.
"Good provender laboring horses would have." Tusser.
2. Food or provisions. [R or Obs.]
Provenient
Pro•ve´ni•ent, a. [L. proveniens, p.pr.] Forthcoming; issuing. [Rare]
Provent
Prov´ent, n. See Provand. [Obs.]
Proventriulus
Pro•ven•tri´u•lus, n. [NL. See Pro-, and Ventricle.] (Anat.) The glandular stomach of birds, situated just above the crop.
Proverb
Prov´erb, n. [OE. proverbe, F. proverbe, from L. proverbium; pro before, for + verbum a word. See Verb.]
1. An old and common saying; a phrase which is often repeated; especially, a sentence which briefly and forcibly expresses some practical truth, or the result of experience and observation; a maxim; a saw; an adage. Chaucer. Bacon.
2. A striking or paradoxical assertion; an obscure saying; an enigma; a parable.
"His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb." John xvi. 29.
3. A familiar illustration; a subject of contemptuous reference.
"Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by word, among all nations." Deut. xxviii. 37.
4. A drama exemplifying a proverb. Book of Proverbs, a canonical book of the Old Testament, containing a great variety of wise maxims.
Syn. — Maxim; aphorism; apothegm; adage; saw.
Provexity
Pro•vex´i•ty, n. [L. provehere to advance. Cf. Provect.] Great advance in age. [Obs.]
Provide
Pro•vide´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Provided; p. pr. & vb. n. Providing.] [L. providere, provisum; pro before + videre to see. See Vision, and cf. Prudent, Purvey.]
1. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare. "Provide us all things necessary." Shak.
2. To supply; to afford; to contribute.
"Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit
As the kind, hospitable woods provide." Milton.
3. To furnish; to supply; — formerly followed by of, now by with. "And yet provided him of but one." Jer. Taylor. "Rome … was well provided with corn." Arbuthnot.
4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as the contract provides that the work be well done.
5. To foresee. [A Latinism] [Obs.] B. Jonson.
6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor. Prescott.
Providence
Prov´i•dence, n. [L. providentia: cf. F. providence. See Provident, and cf. Prudence.]
1. The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation.
"Providence for war is the best prevention of it." Bacon.
2. Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience.
"The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide." Milton.
3. (Theol.) A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction.
"He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God." Jer. Taylor.
4. Prudence in the management of one’s concerns; economy; frugality.
"It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons." Quarles.
Provident
Prov´i•dent, a. [L. providens, -entis, p. pr. of providere: cf. F. provident. See Provide, and cf. Prudent.] Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; — sometimes followed by of; as a provident man; an animal provident of the future.
"And of our good and of our dignity,
How provident he is." Milton.
Syn. — Forecasting; cautious; careful; prudent; frugal; economical.
Provider
Pro•vid´er, n. One who provides, furnishes, or supplies; one who procures what is wanted.
Providore
Prov´i•dore, n. [See Provedore.] One who makes provision; a purveyor. [R.] De Foe.
Province
Prov´ince, n. [F., fr. L. provincia; prob. fr. pro before, for + the root of vincere to conquer. See Victor.]
1. (Roman Hist.) A country or region, more or less remote from the city of Rome, brought under the Roman government; a conquered country beyond the limits of Italy. Wyclif (Acts xiii. 34). Milton.
2. A country or region dependent on a distant authority; a portion of an empire or state, esp. one remote from the capital. "Kingdoms and provinces." Shak.
3. A region of country; a tract; a district.
"Over many a tract
of heaven they marched, and many a province wide." Milton.
"Other provinces of the intellectual world." I. Watts.
4. A region under the supervision or direction of any special person; the district or division of a country, especially an ecclesiastical division, over which one has jurisdiction; as the province of Canterbury, or that in which the archbishop of Canterbury exercises ecclesiastical authority.
5. The proper or appropriate business or duty of a person or body; office; charge; jurisdiction; sphere.
"The woman’s province is to be careful in her economy, and chaste in her affection." Tattler.
6. Specif.: Any political division of the Dominion of Canada, having a governor, a local legislature, and representation in the Dominion parliament. Hence, colloquially, The Provinces, the Dominion of Canada.
Provincial
Pro•vin´cial, a. [L. provincialis: cf. F. provincial. See Province, and cf. Provencal.]
1. Of or pertaining to province; constituting a province; as a provincial government; a provincial dialect.
2. Exhibiting the ways or manners of a province; characteristic of the inhabitants of a province; not cosmopolitan; countrified; not polished; rude; hence, narrow; illiberal. "Provincial airs and graces." Macaulay.
3. Of or pertaining to an ecclesiastical province, or to the jurisdiction of an archbishop; not ecumenical; as a provincial synod. Ayliffe.
4. Of or pertaining to Provence; Provencal. [Obs.]
"With two Provincial roses on my razed shoes." Shak.
Provincialist
Pro•vin´cial•ist, n. One who lives in a province; a provincial.
Provincialize
Pro•vin´cial•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Provincialized p. pr. & vb. n. Provincializing ] To render provincial. M. Arnold.
Provinciate
Pro•vin´ci•ate, v. t. To convert into a province or provinces. [Obs.] Howell.
Provine
Pro•vine´, v. i. [F. provingner, fr. provin a set, layer of a plant, OF. provain, from L. propago, -aginis, akin to propagare to propagate. See Propagate, Prune, v. t.] To lay a stock or branch of a vine in the ground for propagation. [Obs.] Johnson.
Provision
Pro•vi´sion, n. [L. provisio: cf. F. provision. See Provide.]
1. The act of providing, or making previous preparation. Shak.
2. That which is provided or prepared; that which is brought together or arranged in advance; measures taken beforehand; preparation.
"Making provision for the relief of strangers." Bacon.
3. Especially, a stock of food; any kind of eatables collected or stored; — often in the plural.
"And of provisions laid in large,
For man and beast." Milton.
4. That which is stipulated in advance; a condition; a previous agreement; a proviso; as the provisions of a contract; the statute has many provisions.
5. (R. C. Ch.) A canonical term for regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.
6. (Eng. Hist.) A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation. Blackstone.
Provision
Pro•vi´sion, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Provisioned p. pr. & vb. n. Provisioning.] To supply with food; to victual; as to provision a garrison.
"They were provisioned for a journey." Palfrey.
Provisionally
Pro•vi´sion•al•ly, adv. By way of provision for the time being; temporarily. Locke.
Proviso
Pro•vi´so, n. ; pl. Provisos (#). [L., (it) being provided, abl. of provisus, p. p. of providere. See Provide, and cf. Purview.] An article or clause in any statute, agreement, contract, grant, or other writing, by which a condition is introduced, usually beginning with the word provided; a conditional stipulation that affects an agreement, contract, law, grant, or the like; as the contract was impaired by its proviso.
"He doth deny his prisoners,
But with proviso and exception." Shak.
Provisor
Pro•vi´sor, n. [L., fr. providere: cf. F. proviseur. See Provide.]
1. One who provides; a purveyor. [Obs.] "The chief provisor of our horse." Ford.
2. (R. C. Ch.) (a) The purveyor, steward, or treasurer of a religious house. Cowell. (b) One who is regularly inducted into a benefice. See Provision, 5. P. Plowman.
3. (Eng. Hist.) One who procures or receives a papal provision. See Provision, 6.
Provisorship
Pro•vi´sor•ship, n. The office or position of a provisor. [R.] J. Webster.
Provocation
Prov•o•ca´tion, n. [F. provocation, L. provocatio. See Provoke.]
1. The act of provoking, or causing vexation or, anger. Fabyan.
2. That which provokes, or excites anger; the cause of resentment; as to give provocation. Paley.
3. Incitement; stimulus; as provocation to mirth.
4. (Law) Such prior insult or injury as may be supposed, under the circumstances, to create hot blood, and to excuse an assault made in retort or redress.
5. An appeal to a court. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Ayliffe.
Provocativeness
Pro•vo´ca•tive•ness, n. Quality of being provocative.
Provoke
Pro•voke´, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Provoked p. pr. & vb. n. Provoking.] [F. provoquer, L. provocare to call forth; pro forth + vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice, cry, call. See Voice.] To call forth; to call into being or action; esp., to incense to action, a faculty or passion, as love, hate, or ambition; hence, commonly, to incite, as a person, to action by a challenge, by taunts, or by defiance; to exasperate; to irritate; to offend intolerably; to cause to retaliate.
"Obey his voice, provoke him not." Ex. xxiii. 21.
"Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath." Eph. vi. 4.
"Such acts
Of contumacy will provoke the Highest
To make death in us live." Milton.
"Can honor’s voice provoke the silent dust?" Gray.
"To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul." J. Burroughs.
Syn. — To irritate; arouse; stir up; awake; excite; incite; anger. See Irritate.
Provoke
Pro•voke´, v. i.
1. To cause provocation or anger.
2. To appeal. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Dryden.
Provost
Prov´ost, n. [OF. provost (L. prae and pro being confused), F. prevôt, fr. L. praepositus placed before, a chief, fr. praeponere to place before: cf. AS. prafost, profast. See Preposition, and cf. Propound.]
1. A person who is appointed to superintend, or preside over, something; the chief magistrate in some cities and towns; as the provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, answering to the mayor of other cities; the provost of a college, answering to president; the provost or head of certain collegiate churches.
2. The keeper of a prison. [Obs.] Shak. In France, formerly, a provost was an inferior judge who had cognizance of civil causes. The grand provost of France, or of the household, had jurisdiction in the king’s house, and over its officers. Provost marshal (often pronounced ). (a) (Mil.) An officer appointed in every army, in the field, to secure the prisoners confined on charges of a general nature. He also performs such other duties pertaining to police and discipline as the regulations of the service or the commander’s orders impose upon him. (b) (Nav.) An officer who has charge of prisoners on trial by court-martial, serves notices to witnesses, etc.
Prow, n. [F. proue (cf. Sp. & Pg. proa, It. prua), L. prora, Gr., akin to before. See Pro-, and cf. Prore.] The fore part of a vessel; the bow; the stem; hence, the vessel itself. Wordsworth.
"The floating vessel swum
Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow
rode tilting o’er the waves." Milton.
Prow, a. [ Compar. Prower superl. Prowest.] [OF. prou, preu, F. preux, fr. L. pro, prod, in prodesse to be useful. See Pro-, and cf. Prude.] Valiant; brave; gallant; courageous. [Archaic] Tennyson.
"The prowest knight that ever field did fight." Spenser.
Prow, n. [OE. & OF. prou. See Prow, a. ] Benefit; profit; good; advantage. [Obs.]
"That shall be for your hele and for your prow." Chaucer.
Prowess
Prow´ess, n. [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a. ] Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney.
"He by his prowess conquered all France." Shak.
Prowl, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prowled p. pr. & vb. n. Prowling.] [OE. prollen to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for proglen, a dim. of prog to beg, or proke to poke. Cf. Proke.]
1. To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty.
"He prowls each place, still in new colors decked." Sir P. Sidney.
2. To collect by plunder; as to prowl money. [Obs.]
Prox, n. [Cf. Proxy.] "The ticket or list of candidates at elections, presented to the people for their votes." [Rhode Island] Bartlett.
Proxenet
Prox´e•net, n. [L. proxeneta, Gr. .] A negotiator; a factor. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Proximally
Prox´i•mal•ly, adv. (Anat.) On or toward a proximal part; proximad.
Proximately
Prox´i•mate•ly, adv. In a proximate manner, position, or degree; immediately.
Proxime
Prox´ime, a. [L. proximus. See Proximate.] Next; immediately preceding or following. [Obs.]
Proximity
Prox•im´i•ty, n. [L. proximitas: cf. F. proximite See Proximate, and cf. Propinquity, Approach.] The quality or state of being next in time, place, causation, influence, etc.; immediate nearness, either in place, blood, or alliance.
"If he plead proximity of blood
That empty title is with ease withstood." Dryden.
Proxy
Prox´y, n. ; pl. Proxies (#). [Contr. from procuracy. Cf. Proctor.]
1. The agency for another who acts through the agent; authority to act for another, esp. to vote in a legislative or corporate capacity.
"I have no man’s prox. : I speak only for myself." Burke.
2. The person who is substituted or deputed to act or vote for another.
"Every peer … may make another lord of parliament his prox. , to vote for him in his absence." Blackstone.
3. A writing by which one person authorizes another to vote in his stead, as in a corporation meeting.
4. (Eng. Law) The written appointment of a proctor in suits in the ecclesiastical courts. Burrill.
5. (Eccl.) See Procuration. [Obs.]
Proxy
Prox´y, v. i. To act or vote by proxy; to do anything by the agency of another. [R.]
Pruce, n. [OE. for Prussia: cf. F. Prusse.] Prussian leather. [Obs.] Dryden.
Prude, n. [F., prudish, originally, discreet, modest; shortened from OF. prudefeme, preudefeme, a discreet or excellent woman; OF. preu, prou, excellent, brave + de of + fete woman. See Prow, a. , Prowess.] A woman of affected modesty, reserve, or coyness; one who is overscrupulous or sensitive; one who affects extraordinary prudence in conduct and speech.
"Less modest than the speech of prudes." Swift.
Prudence
Pru´dence, n. [F., fr. L. prudentia, contr. from providentia. See Prudent, and cf. Providence.] The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also economy; frugality.
"Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing." Sir M. Hale.
"Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends." Whewell.
Syn. — Wisdom; forecast; providence; considerateness; judiciousness; discretion; caution; circumspection; judgment. See Wisdom.
Prudent
Pru´dent, a. [L. prudens, -entis, contr. from providens: cf. F. prudent. See Provident.]
1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; practically wise; judicious; careful; discreet; sensible; — opposed to rash; as a prudent man; dictated or directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence; as prudent behavior.
"Moses established a grave and prudent law." Milton.
2. Frugal; economical; not extravagant; as a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money.
Syn. — Cautious; wary; circumspect; considerate; discreet; judicious; provident; economical; frugal.
Prudentiality
Pru•den•ti•al´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being prudential. Sir T. Browne.
Prudentially
Pru•den´tial•ly, adv. In a prudential manner; prudently. South.
Prudery
Prud´er•y, n. ; pl. Pruderies (#). [F. pruderie. See Prude.] The quality or state of being prudish; excessive or affected scrupulousness in speech or conduct; stiffness; coyness. Cowper.
Prudhomme
Prud•homme´, n. [F. prud’homme. cf. Prude.] A trustworthy citizen; a skilled workman. See Citation under 3d Commune, 1.
Prune, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pruned p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.]
1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as to prune trees; to prune an essay. Thackeray.
"Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed." Bacon.
"Our delightful task
To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers." Milton.
2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.
"Horace will our superfluous branches prune." Waller.
3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. Spenser.
"His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak." Shak.
Prune, v. i. To dress; to prink; - used humorously or in contempt. Dryden.
Prune, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.] A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. — Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus ( P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. — South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree ( Pappea Capensis).
Prunella
Pru•nel´la, n. [NL., perhaps from G. braeune quinsy, croup.] (Med.) (a) Angina, or angina pectoris. (b) Thrush. Prunella salt (Old Chem.), niter fused and cast into little balls. { Pru•nel´la, Pru•nel´lo } n. [F. prunelle, probably so called from its color resembling that of prunes. See Prune, n. ] A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes; a kind of lasting; — formerly used also for clergymen’s gowns.
Prunelle
Pru•nelle´, n. [F., dim. of prune. See Prune, n. ] A kind of small and very acid French plum; — applied especially to the stoned and dried fruit.
Prunello
Pru•nel´lo, n. [F. prunelle, dim. of prune. See Prune a plum.] A species of dried plum; prunelle.
Pruniferous
Pru•nif´er•ous, a. [L. prunum a plum + -ferous.] Bearing plums.
Prurient
Pru´ri•ent, a. [L. pruries, - entis, p. pr. of prurire to itch. Cf. Freeze.] Uneasy with desire; itching; especially, having a lascivious curiosity or propensity; lustful. — Pru´ri•ent•ly, adv.
"The eye of the vain and prurient is darting from object to object of illicit attraction." I. Taylor.
Prussian
Prus´sian, a. [From Prussia, the country: cf. F. prussien.] Of or pertaining to Prussia. — n. A native or inhabitant of Prussia. Prussian blue (Chem.), any one of several complex double cyanides of ferrous and ferric iron; specifically, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery luster, obtained by adding a solution of potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of potash) to a ferric salt. It is used in dyeing, in ink, etc. Called also Williamson’s blue, insoluble Prussian blue, Berlin blue, etc. — Prussian carp (Zoöl.) See Gibel. — Prussian green. (Chem.) Same as Berlin green, under Berlin.
Prussiate
Prus´si•ate, n. [Cf. F. prussiate.] (Chem.) A salt of prussic acid; a cyanide. Red prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferricyanide, under Ferricyanide. — Yellow prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferrocyanide, under Ferrocyanide.
Prussic
Prus´sic, a. [Cf. F. prussique.] (Old Chem.) designating the acid now called hydrocyanic acid, but formerly called prussic acid, because Prussian blue is derived from it or its compounds. See Hydrocyanic.
Pry, n. [Corrupted fr. prize a lever. See Prize, n. ] A lever; also leverage. [Local, U. S. & Eng.] Pry pole, the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass.
Pry, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pried p. pr. & vb. n. Prying.] To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize. [Local, U. S. & Eng.]
Pry, v. i. [OE. prien. Cf. Peer to peep.] To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; — often implying reproach. " To pry upon the stars." Chaucer.
"Watch thou and wake when others be asleep,
To pry into the secrets of the state." Shak.
Prying
Pry´ing, a. Inspecting closely or impertinently.
Syn. — Inquisitive; curious. See Inquisitive.