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.
Pel-lĭc'ū-lar, a. p. 963Pertaining to a pellicle. Henslow.Pĕl'li-to-ry, n. p. 963(Bot.) A plant of several genera, sometimes used in medicine. The pellitory of the wall, or common pellitory, is of the genus Parietaria; the bastard pellitory, of the genus Achillea; and the…Pēlī-mēlī', n. p. 963See PALL-MALL.Pĕll-mĕll', adv. p. 963In utter confusion; with disorderly mixture; with confused violence. The battle was a confused heap, the ground unequal, men, horses, chariots crowded pell-mell. Milton.Pel·lū'cid, a. p. 964Admitting the passage of light; translucent; not opaque; clear. A pellucid is distinguished from a transparent body in not giving distinct vision of illuminated objects seen through it. But in our…Pĕl/lu-cĭd/i-ty or Pel-lū'cid-ness, n. p. 964The quality of being pellucid; partial or imperfect transparency; as, the pellucidity of the air; the pellucidness of a gem. Locke.Pel-lū'cid-ly, adv. p. 964Transparently; clearly.Pĕl'o-pon-nē'sian, a. p. 964(Geog.) Pertaining to the Peloponnesus, or the southern peninsula of Greece.Pĕl'o-pon-nē'sian, n. p. 964(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of the Peloponnesus.Pĕl'o-tāge, n. p. 964Packs or bales of Spanish wool. Simmonds.Pĕlt, n. p. 964The skin of a beast with the hair on; an undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. 2. The quarry of a hawk all torn. Ainsworth. Pelt-rot, a disease which affects the…Pēlt, v. t. p. 964To strike with something thrown; to belabor with pellets or missiles; as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail. The chiding billows seem to pelt the clouds. Shak. 2. To use as a missile. My Phillis…Pēlt, n. p. 964A blow or stroke from something thrown.Pĕl'ta, n. p. 964(Antiq.) A small shield of wicker or wood, covered with leather, and usually of an elliptic form, or crescent-shaped. Fairholt. 2. (Bot.) A flat apothecium having no rim. Henslow.Pĕl'tate or Pĕl'tā-ted, a. p. 964(Bot.) Having the stem or support attached near the center below, or at a distance from, the margin; shield-like;—said of a leaf or other organ.Pĕl'tate-ly, adv. p. 964In a peltate manner.Pĕlt'er, n. p. 964One who pelts. 2. A pinchpenny; a mean, sordid person. [Obs.]Pĕl'ti-fōrm, a. p. 964Shield-like, with the outline nearly circular. Henslow.Pēlt'ing, a. p. 964Mean; paltry. [Obs. and rare.] Shak.Pĕlt'-mŏn'ger, n. p. 964A dealer in pelts or raw hides.Pĕlt'ry, n. p. 964The skins of animals producing fur; skins with the fur on them; furs. 2. A worthless or refuse object.Pĕlt'ry-wāre, n. p. 964Peltry. [Obs.]Pēlt'-wōōl, n. p. 964Wool plucked from the pelts or skins of sheep after they are dead.Pĕl'vic, a. p. 964Pertaining to the pelvis.Pel-vīm'e-ter, n. p. 964An instrument to measure the dimensions of the female pelvis. Coxe.Pĕl'vis, n. p. 964(Anat.) (a.) The open, bony structure at the lower extremity of the body, usually inclosing the internal urinary and genital organs, and always connecting the posterior members with the spine. It is…Pĕm'mi-ean, n. p. 964Among the North American Indians, meat cut in thin slices, divested of fat, and dried in the sun. 2. Meat cut in thin slices, dried in the sun, pounded, then mixed with melted fat and sometimes dried…Pĕn, n. p. 964A feather; a wing. [Obs.] Spenser. Milton. 2. An instrument used for writing, formerly made of the quill of a goose or other bird, but now also of other materials, as of steel, gold, &c.;—often used…Pĕn, v. t. p. 964To write; to compose and commit to paper. I believe that God is no more moved with a prayer elaborately penned, than men truly charitable are moved with the penned speech of a beggar. Milton.Pēn, n. p. 964A small inclosure for beasts, as for cows or sheep. 2. A dwelling house with its out buildings within an inclosure. “The admiral’s pen.” Maryatt.Pĕn, v. t. p. 964To shut in a pen; to confine in a small inclosure or narrow place; to coop. “Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve.” Milton. Away with her, and pen her up. Shak.Pē'nal, a. p. 964Pertaining to punishment; as, (a.) Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal law or statute; the penal code. “A clause which made it penal to enter a meeting-house for the purpose of molesting…Pe-năl'i-ty, n. p. 964The quality of being penal; liability to punishment. [Obs.] Browne.Pē'nal-ly, adv. p. 964In a penal manner.Pēn'al-ty, n. p. 964Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass. Obedience to…Pēn'a-lū'liā, n. p. 964(Zoöl.) One of the family of polyps which do not adhere to the earth, but are simply sunk in the sand by one of the extremities of the body. Edwards.Pĕn'ance, n. p. 964Repentance. [Obs.] Wycliffe. 2. The suffering, labor, or pain, which is self-inflicted or imposed by ecclesiastical authority as a punishment for faults, or as an expression of penitence, such as…Pēn'anced, a. p. 964Having done or suffered penance.Pēn'an'ce-less, a. p. 964Not subjected to penance; free from penance.Pen-ăn'nu-lar, a. p. 964Nearly annular; having nearly the form of a ring.Pe-nā'tēs, n. pl. p. 964(Rom. Antiq.) The household gods of the ancient Italians.Pēn'ē'case, n. p. 964A case or holder for a pen.Pēnce, n. pl. p. 964of penny. See PENNY.Pēn'cel, n. p. 964A small flag or streamer borne at the top of a lance; — called also pennoncel. [Obs.]Penchant, n. p. 964Inclination; decided taste.Pĕn'cil, n. p. 964A small brush, made of fine hair or bristles, used by painters for laying on colors. 2. An instrument formed of black lead, colored chalk, or the like, and pointed at the end, or inclosed in a case…Pĕn'çil, v. t. p. 964To paint or draw; to write or mark with a pencil.Pĕn'ciled, a. p. 964Painted, drawn, or marked with a pencil. 2. Radiated; having pencils of rays. 3. (Bot.) Marked with fine, distinct lines, as if with a pencil.Pĕn'craft, n. p. 964Penmanship; chirography. Bruce. 2. The art of composing or writing; authorship. I would not give a groat for that person's knowledge in pencraft who does not understand this. Sterne.Pĕn'-cŭt/ter, n. p. 964One whose occupation is to make pens.Pĕnd, n. p. 964Oil-cake; penock; — so called in the East. Simmonds.Pĕnd, v. i. p. 964To hang; to depend. [Rare.] “Pending upon certain powerful motions that are common to human nature.” I. Taylor. 2. To be undecided; to be in process of adjustment.Pénd'ant, n. p. 964Something which hangs or depends; a hanging appendage, especially of an ornamental character; — also, an appendix or addition. Many . . . distinguished persons . . . have been pleased with this work…Pĕnd'ençe, n. p. 964Slope; inclination. [Obs.] Wotton.Pĕnd'en-cy, n. p. 964The state of being undecided; suspense; as, to wait during the pendency of a suit or petition.Pĕnd'ent, a. p. 964Supported from above; suspended; depending; pendulous; hanging. “With ribbons pendent, flaring about her head.” Shak. From the arched roof, Pendent by subtle magic, many a row Of starry lamps.…Pen-dēn’te Lī’te p. 964(Law.) Pending the suit or action; during the actual progress of a suit.Pen-dĕn'tive, n. p. 964(Arch.) The portion of a vault between the arches under a dome.Pénd'ent-ly, adv. p. 964In a pendent or projecting manner.Pĕn'dĭçe, n. p. 964A sloping roof; a pentice. 2. A pent-house.