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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pe-dēs'tri-an-ism, n. p. 962The act or practice of a pedestrian; walking; going on foot; journeying or racing on foot.Pe-dēs'tri-an-īze, v. i. p. 962To practice walking.Pe-dēs'tri-ōŭs, a. p. 962Going on foot; not winged. [Obs.] Browne.Pĕd'e-tĕn'-toŭs, a. p. 962Proceeding step by step; of cautious and measured advance. [Rare.] Never done with that pedetentous pace and pedetentous mind in which it behoves the wise and virtuous improver to walk. Sydney Smith.Pē'di-al, a. p. 962Pertaining to the feet, or any organ called a foot. Dana.Pĕd'i-cel, n. p. 962(Bot.) The ultimate division of a common peduncle; the stalk that supports one flower only, when there are several on a peduncle. Any short and small footstalk, although it does not stand upon…Pĕd'i-çel-late, a. p. 962Having a pedicel, or supported by a pedicel.Pĕd'i-çel-late, n. p. 962One of an order of echinoderms.Pĕd'i-çeled, a. p. 962The same as PEDICELLATE.Pĕd'i-cle, n. p. 962The same as PEDICEL.Pe-dĭc'ū-lar, a. p. 962Having the lousy distemper; lousy.Pe-dĭc'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 962(Med.) A disease in which the body becomes covered with lice; phthiriasis.Pe-dĭc'ū-lōus, a. p. 962The same as PEDICULAR.Pe-dīg'er-oŭs, a. p. 962Having feet.Pēd'i-gree, n. p. 962Line of ancestors; descent; lineage; genealogy; strain; an account or register of a line of ancestors. Alterations of surnames . . . have obscured the truth of our pedigrees. Camden. His vanity…Pĕd'/i-lū/vy, n. p. 962The bathing of the feet; a bath for the feet. [Obs.]Pe-dim'a-noüs, a. p. 962Having the feet in the shape of hands, as the monkeys. Dana.Pĕd'i-ment, n. p. 962(Arch.) The triangular ornamental facing of a portico, or a similar decoration over doors, windows, gates, &c. The name is also applied to arched and circular ornaments of a like kind. Pediment. a…Pĕd'i-pălp, n. p. 962(Zool.) One of an order of arachnidans or spiders, whose feelers are extended before the head, armed with a forceps.Pĕd'i-pălp'ous, a. p. 962Pertaining to, or resembling, the pedipalps.Pĕd'i-rēme, n. p. 962A crustaceous animal, whose feet serve the purpose of oars.Pēd'lar or Pēd'ler, n. p. 962See PEDDLER.Pē'do-bāp'tism, n. p. 962The baptism of infants or of children.Pē'do-băp'tist, n. p. 962One who holds to infant baptism; one who practices the baptism of children.Pe-dŏm'e-ter, n. p. 962(Mech.) An instrument for indicating the number of steps taken in walking, and so ascertaining the distance passed over. It is usually in the form of a watch, and, when carried in the pocket, its…Pĕd'o-mĕt'ric or Pĕd'o-mĕt'ric-al, a. p. 962Pertaining to, or measured by, a pedometer.Pe-dŏt'ro-phy, n. p. 962The doctrine of the nourishment of children. [Written also pædotrophy.]Pe-dŭn'cle, n. p. 962(Bot.) The stem or stalk that supports the flower and fruit of a plant. 2. (Conch.) A sort of stem by which certain shells are attached to wood or other objects. 3. (Anat.) One of certain nervous…Pe-dŭn'cu-lar, a. p. 962Pertaining to a peduncle; growing from a peduncle; as, a peduncular tendril.Pe-dŭn'cu-late or Pe-dŭn'cu-lā'ted, a. p. 962Having a peduncle; growing on a peduncle; as, a pedunculate flower.Pee, v. i. p. 962To look with one eye. [Obs.] Ray.Peed, a. p. 962Blind of one eye. [Obs.] Ray.Peek, v. i. p. 962To peep; to look slyly, or through a crevice, or with the eyes half closed. [Colloq.]Peek'y, a. p. 962Having small, decayed spots; affected with incipient decay; —said of timber when signs of decay first appear. [U. S.] Bartlett.Peel, v. t. p. 962To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin; to bark; to flay; to decorticate; as, to peel a tree; to peel an orange. When the knife only is employed, the…Peel, v. i. p. 962To lose the skin, bark, or rind; to come off, as the skin, bark, or rind;—often used with an adverb, as readily, easily, &c.; as, it peels easily.Peel, n. p. 962The skin or rind of any thing; as, the peel of an orange.Peel, n. p. 962A kind of wooden shovel, used by bakers, with a broad palm and long handle; hence, any large fire-shovel.Peel, n. p. 962A small tower or fort. W. Scott.Peel'er, n. p. 962One who, or that which, peels, strips, or flays; a plunderer; a pillager. 2. A policeman; — so called from Sir R. Peel, who reformed the police-laws. [Eng.] Mayhew.Peel'-house, n. p. 962A small fortified place. W. Scott.Peep, v. i. p. 962To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to utter a faint, shrill sound; to chirp. 2. To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to look slyly through a crevice, or with the eyes half…Peep, n. p. 962The cry of a young chicken; chirp. 2. First outlook or appearance; a sly look; a look through a crevice, from a place of concealment, or the like. Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn. Gray.Peep'er, n. p. 963A chicken just breaking the shell; a young bird. 2. One who peeps or looks out slyly; a prying person; a spy. Who's there? peepers, intelligencers, eavesdroppers? J. Webster. 3. The eye. [Cant.]Peep'-hole or Peep'ing-hole, n. p. 963A hole, or crevice, through which one may peep or look without being discovered.Peep'-shōw, n. p. 963A small show or object to be exhibited, viewed through a small orifice or a glass.Pee'pul-tree, n. p. 963(Bot.) See Pippul-tree.Peer, n. p. 963One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, or the like; an equal; a match; a mate. In song he never had his peer. Dryden. Shall they consort only with their peers? I. Taylor. 2. A…Peer, v. i. p. 963To come just in sight; to appear. [Poet.] “Like a proud river peering o’er its bounds.” Shak. So honor peereth in the meanest habit. Shak. See how his gorget peers above his gown! B. Jonson. 2. To…Peer'age, n. p. 963The rank or dignity of a peer. Blackstone. 2. The body of peers. “When Charlemain with all his peerage fell.” Milton.Peer'dom, n. p. 963Peerage. [Obs.]Peer'ess, n. p. 963The consort of a peer; a noble lady.Peer'less, a. p. 963Having no peer or equal; unequaled; matchless; superlative; as, peerless beauty or majesty. Unvailed her peerless light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. Milton.Peer'less-ly, adv. p. 963In a peerless manner; matchlessly; superlatively.Peer'less-ness, n. p. 963The state of being peerless.Peert, a. p. 963See PEART.Peer'y, a. p. 963Looking sharply; inquisitive. “Two peery gray eyes.” W. Scott.Pee'vish, a. p. 963Habitually fretful; easily vexed or fretted; hard to please; apt to mutter and complain; querulous; petulant. She is peevish, sullen, froward. Shak. 2. Expressing discontent and fretfulness. I will…Pee'vish-ly, adv. p. 963In a peevish manner: fretfully; petulantly; with discontent and murmuring.Pee'vish-ness, n. p. 963The quality of being peevish; disposition to murmur; sourness of temper; fretfulness; petulance; as, childish peevishness. “When peevishness and spleen succeed.” Swift. Syn.- See PETULANCE.