Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pēat'-bŏg, n. p. 960A bog containing peat; also, peat as it occurs in such places; peat-moss.Pēat'-mōss, n. p. 960The vegetables which, when decomposed, become peat. 2. A fen producing peat.Peat'-reek, n. p. 960The reek or smoke of peat; hence, also, the peculiar flavor given to whisky by being distilled with peat as fuel. [Scot.]Pēat'y, a. p. 960Composed of peat; resembling peat.Pēa'-wee'vil, n. p. 960See PEA-BUG.Pē'bā, n. p. 960(Zoöl.) A kind of armadillo found in variousPĕb'ble, n. p. 961A small, roundish stone; a stone worn and rounded by the action of water; a small bowlder. “The murmuring surge that on the unnumbered pebbles chafe.” Shak. “As children gathering pebbles on the…Pĕb'ble-cry̆s'tal, n. p. 961A crystal in the form of a pebble; a pellucid pebble derived from the rounding of quartz crystal. Woodward.Pĕb'bled, a. p. 961Abounding with pebbles. Thomson.Pĕb'ble-stōne, n. p. 961A pebble.Pĕb'bly, a. p. 961Full of pebbles; abounding with small, roundish stones.Pe-can′ or Pe-cā'nā, n. p. 961(Bot.) A species of hickory (Carya oliviformis), and its fruit, growing in North America. The nuts are oblong, very smooth, an inch or an inch and a half long, with thin shells.Pēc'a-ry, n. p. 961See PECCARY.Pēc'ea-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 961The state or quality of being peccable; liability to sin; capacity of sinning. Decay of Piety.Pĕc'ca-ble, a. p. 961Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law. “A frail and peccable mortal.” W. Scott.Pĕc'ea-dil'lo, n. p. 961A slight trespass or offense; a petty crime or fault. Her crime was what in Cupid’s court would have been called a peccadillo. W. Scott. 2. A sort of stiff ruff.Pĕc'can-cy, n. p. 961The quality of being peccant or sinful; bad quality. Wiseman. 2. Offense. Mountagu.Pē c'eant, a. p. 961Sinning; guilty of sin or transgression; criminal; as, peccant angels. “The truth that nature itself is a peccant state.” Coleridge. 2. Morbid; corrupt; not healthy; as, peccant humors. Arbuthnot. 3.…Pēc'eant, n. p. 961An offender. [Obs.] Whitlock.Pĕc'cant-ly, adv. p. 961Sinfully; transgressingly.Pĕc'ca-ry, n. p. 961A pachyderm of the genus Dicotyles (D. torquatus), about the size and shape of a small hog, but having a white ring around the neck; the tajacu. They are found from Arkansas to Brazil. A larger…Pec-cā'vī p. 961I have sinned; — a colloquial word used to express confession or acknowledgment of an offense. Aubrey.Pē'cō, n. p. 961See PEKOE.Pĕch'blĕnde, n. p. 961(Min.) Pitchblende. See PITCHBLENDE.Pĕck, n. p. 961The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat or oats. 2. Hence, a great deal; as, to be in a peck of troubles. [Colloq.] “Contented to remain in such a peck of…Pĕck, v. t. p. 961To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird that pecks a hole in a tree. 'Tis but the tender fierceness of the dove, Pecking the hand that hovers o'er her mate. Byron. 2. To strike…Pĕck, v. i. p. 961To make strokes with the beak, or something like a beak. To peck at, to belabor with petty and repeated blows; to attack with petty and repeated criticism.Pĕck'er, n. p. 961One who or that which pecks; a bird that pecks holes in trees; a woodpecker.Pĕck'led, a. p. 961Speckled. [Obs.] Walton.Pĕc'tate, n. p. 961(Chem.) A compound of pectic acid with a base.Pĕc'ten, n. p. 961(Ornith.) A vascular membrane on the eyes of birds. 2. (Zoöl.) A genus of bivalves; the scallop. Eng. Cyc.Pĕc'tic, a. p. 961(Chem.) Having a tendency to coagulate, or form a jelly; — said of a certain acid.Pĕc'ti-nal, a. p. 961Pertaining to a comb; resembling a comb.Pē'cti-nal, n. p. 961(Ichth.) A fish whose bones resemble the teeth of a comb. Browne.Pĕc'ti-nate or Pĕc'ti-nā'ted, a. p. 961(Nat. Hist.) Having resemblance to the teeth of a comb; with very narrow, close divisions, in arrangement and regularity resembling the teeth of a comb; as, a pectinate leaf; pectinated muscles. 2.…Pĕc'ti-nate-ly, adv. p. 961In a pectinate manner.Pĕc'ti-nā'tion, n. p. 961The state of being pectinated. 2. A combing; the combing of the head.Pĕc'tine, n. p. 961(Chem.) The gelatinizing principle of various vegetable juices, as of apples; vegetable jelly.Pĕc'ti-ni-brăn'chi-ate, a. p. 961(Malacology.) Having pectinated gills.Pēc'to-līte, n. p. 961(Min.) A grayish or whitish mineral, occurring in aggregated crystals of a silky luster, and arranged in stellar or radiated forms, or in fibrous masses. It consists of the hydrous silicate of…Pĕc'to-ral, a. p. 961Pertaining to the breast; as, the pectoral muscles. 2. Relating to the chest, or to the diseases of the chest. Pectoral fins, or pectorals, of a fish, fins situated on the sides, behind the gills.Pĕc'to-ral, n. p. 961A breastplate; especially, a sacerdotal habit or vestment worn by the Jewish high priest. 2. (Ichth.) A pectoral fin. 3. A medicine adapted to cure or relieve complaints of the breast and lungs.Pĕc'tō-ral-ly, adv. p. 961As connected with the breast.Pĕc'tō-rĭ-lō'qui-al, a. p. 961Pertaining to, or of the nature of, pectoriloquy.Pĕc'to-rīl'o-quaïsm, n. p. 961Pectoriloquy.Pĕc'tō-rĭl'o-qui-ous, a. p. 961Pectoriloquial.Pĕc'to-rĭl'o-quy, n. p. 961(Med.) The distinct articulation of the sounds of a patient's voice, heard on applying the ear to the chest in auscultation. It usually indicates the existence of a cavity in the lung, near the wall…Pēe'ul, n. p. 961See PICUL.Pē'cū-lāte, v. i. p. 961To appropriate to one's own use the property of the public; to steal public moneys committed to one's care; to embezzle; to steal.Pĕc'/ū-lā'/tion, n. p. 961The act or practice of peculating, or of defrauding the public by appropriating to one's own use the money or goods intrusted to one's care for management or disbursement; embezzlement of public…Pĕc'ū-lā'tor, n. p. 961One who peculates, or defrauds the public by appropriating to his own use money intrusted to his care.Pe-cūl'iar, a. p. 961Belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not general; appropriate. My fate is Juno's most peculiar care.…Pe-cūl'iar, n. p. 961Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others. “Revenge is so much the prerogative of the Almighty, so absolutely the peculiar of Heaven.” South. “As if those gifts had…Pe-cŭl-iār'i-ty, n. p. 961The quality of being peculiar; appropriateness; specialty; individuality. 2. That which is peculiar; special and distinctive characteristic; individuality; particularity. The smallest peculiarity of…Pe-cūl'iar-ize, v. t. p. 961To appropriate; to make peculiar.Pe-cūl'iar-ly, adv. p. 961In a peculiar manner; particularly; singly; in a rare and striking degree; unusually; especially.Pe-cūl'iar-ness, n. p. 961The state of being peculiar; peculiarity. [Rare.] Mede.Pe-cū'li-ŭm, n. p. 961(Rom. Law.) The savings of a son or slave with the father's or master's consent; a little property of stock of one's own; exclusive, private, or separate property. Burrill. Bouvier. 2. Hence, a…Pe-cū'ni-al, a. p. 961Pecuniary. [Obs.] Chaucer.Pe-cūn'ia-ri-ly, adv. p. 961In a pecuniary manner.