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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Pĕl'tate-ly, adv.p. 964In a peltate manner.
  4. Pĕlt'er, n.p. 964One who pelts. 2. A pinchpenny; a mean, sordid person. [Obs.]
  5. Pĕl'ti-fōrm, a.p. 964Shield-like, with the outline nearly circular. Henslow.
  6. Pēlt'ing, a.p. 964Mean; paltry. [Obs. and rare.] Shak.
  7. Pĕlt'-mŏn'ger, n.p. 964A dealer in pelts or raw hides.
  8. Pĕlt'ry, n.p. 964The skins of animals producing fur; skins with the fur on them; furs. 2. A worthless or refuse object.
  9. Pĕlt'ry-wāre, n.p. 964Peltry. [Obs.]
  10. Pēlt'-wōōl, n.p. 964Wool plucked from the pelts or skins of sheep after they are dead.
  11. Pĕl'vic, a.p. 964Pertaining to the pelvis.
  12. Pel-vīm'e-ter, n.p. 964An instrument to measure the dimensions of the female pelvis. Coxe.
  13. 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…
  14. 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…
  15. 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…
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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…
  20. Pe-năl'i-ty, n.p. 964The quality of being penal; liability to punishment. [Obs.] Browne.
  21. Pē'nal-ly, adv.p. 964In a penal manner.
  22. 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…
  23. 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.
  24. 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…
  25. Pēn'anced, a.p. 964Having done or suffered penance.
  26. Pēn'an'ce-less, a.p. 964Not subjected to penance; free from penance.
  27. Pen-ăn'nu-lar, a.p. 964Nearly annular; having nearly the form of a ring.
  28. Pe-nā'tēs, n. pl.p. 964(Rom. Antiq.) The household gods of the ancient Italians.
  29. Pēn'ē'case, n.p. 964A case or holder for a pen.
  30. Pēnce, n. pl.p. 964of penny. See PENNY.
  31. Pēn'cel, n.p. 964A small flag or streamer borne at the top of a lance; — called also pennoncel. [Obs.]
  32. Penchant, n.p. 964Inclination; decided taste.
  33. 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…
  34. Pĕn'çil, v. t.p. 964To paint or draw; to write or mark with a pencil.
  35. 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.
  36. 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.
  37. Pĕn'-cŭt/ter, n.p. 964One whose occupation is to make pens.
  38. Pĕnd, n.p. 964Oil-cake; penock; — so called in the East. Simmonds.
  39. 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.
  40. 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…
  41. Pĕnd'ençe, n.p. 964Slope; inclination. [Obs.] Wotton.
  42. Pĕnd'en-cy, n.p. 964The state of being undecided; suspense; as, to wait during the pendency of a suit or petition.
  43. 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.…
  44. Pen-dēn’te Lī’tep. 964(Law.) Pending the suit or action; during the actual progress of a suit.
  45. Pen-dĕn'tive, n.p. 964(Arch.) The portion of a vault between the arches under a dome.
  46. Pénd'ent-ly, adv.p. 964In a pendent or projecting manner.
  47. Pĕn'dĭçe, n.p. 964A sloping roof; a pentice. 2. A pent-house.
  48. Pĕn'di-cle, n.p. 964An appendage; an appurtenance; a pendant. “Parts, pendicles, and pertinents whatsoever.” W. Scott.
  49. Pĕn'di-cler, n.p. 964An inferior tenant. [Scot.]
  50. Pĕnd'ing, p. a.p. 964Remaining undecided; in suspense; as, a pending suit.
  51. Pĕnd'ing, prep.p. 965During the pendency or continuance of; during; as, pending the negotiation.
  52. Pĕnd'ule, n.p. 965A pendulum. [Obs.] Evelyn.‌
  53. Pĕn'dū-lŏs'ĭ-ty, n.p. 965The state or quality of being pendulous; suspension. Browne.
  54. Pĕnd'ū-lŏŭs, a.p. 965Supported from above; depending; pendent loosely; hanging; swinging. The pendulous round earth with balanced air In counterpoise. Milton.
  55. Pĕnd'ū-lōŭs-ly, adv.p. 965In a swinging manner.
  56. Pĕnd'ŭ-lŏŭs-ness, n.p. 965The state or quality of being pendulous; pendulosity.
  57. Pĕnd'ŭ-lŭm, n.p. 965A body so suspended from a fixed point as to swing freely to and fro by the alternate action of gravity and momentum; as, the pendulum of a clock. Ballistic pendulum. See BALLISTIC.—Compensation…
  58. Pe-nĕl'o-pe, n.p. 965(Ornith.) A genus of gallinaceous birds.
  59. Pĕn'e-tra-bĭl'i-ty, n.p. 965The quality of being penetrable; susceptibility of being entered or passed through by another body. “There being no mean between penetrability and impenetrability.” Cheyne.
  60. Pén'e-tra-ble, a.p. 965Capable of being penetrated, entered, or pierced by another body. Let him try thy dart. And pierce his only penetrable part. Dryden. 2. Susceptible of moral or intellectual impression. I am not made…