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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. Pĕn'-fōld, n.p. 965A fold or inclosure of hurdles, &c., for cattle. Simmonds.
  2. Pēn'guin, n.p. 965(Ornith.) A web-footed marine bird, covered with close-set, short feathers, having short legs set far back, and wings destitute of quills. It is unable to fly, but swims and dives well, in which…
  3. Pĕn'-hōld'er, n.p. 965A handle or case for a pen.
  4. Pĕn'-house, n.p. 965An out-building; a shed. [Obs.]
  5. Pĕn'-i-cĭl, n.p. 965(Med.) A tent or pledget for wounds or ulcers. 2. A species of shell.
  6. Pĕn'/i-cil'late, a.p. 965(Nat. Hist.) Having the form of a pencil; tipped or furnished with a pencil of fine hairs, as the stigmas of some grasses.
  7. Pĕn'i-cĭl'lus, n.p. 965Same as PENICIL. See PENICIL.
  8. Pen-in'su-lā, n.p. 965A portion of land nearly surrounded by water, and connected with the larger body of land by a narrow neck or isthmus.
  9. Pen-in’su-lar, a.p. 965In the form or state of a peninsula; pertaining to a peninsula; inhabiting a peninsula.
  10. Pen-in'su-lāte, v. t.p. 965To encompass almost with water; to form a peninsula of. South River peninsulates Castle Hill farm, and at high tides surrounds it. Bentley.
  11. Pē'nis, n.p. 965The male organ of generation.
  12. Pĕn'i-tençe, n.p. 965The condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; repentance; pain; contrition. Syn.—Repentance; contrition; compunction; remorse.
  13. Pĕn'i-tĕn'cy, n.p. 965Penitence. [Obs.]
  14. Pĕn'i-tĕn'ser, n.p. 965One who hears the confessions of penitents; a penitentiary. [Obs.]
  15. Pĕn'i-tent, a.p. 965Suffering pain or sorrow of heart on account of sins, crimes, or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolving on amendment of life. Be penitent, and for thy…
  16. Pĕn'i-tent, n.p. 965One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions. 2. One under church censure, but admitted to penance. Stillingfleet. 3. One under the direction of a confessor. ☞ Penitents is…
  17. Pĕn'/i-tĕn'/tial, a.p. 965Pertaining to, proceeding from, or expressing penitence or contrition of heart. “Guilt that all the penitential fires of hereafter can not cleanse.” W. Scott.
  18. Pēn'i-tēn'tial, n.p. 965(Rom. Cath. Church.) A book containing the rules which relate to penance and the reconciliation of penitents.
  19. Pēn'i-tēn'tial-ly, adv.p. 965In a penitential or contrite manner.
  20. Pēn'i-tēn'tia-ry, a.p. 965Relating to penance, or to the rules and measures of penance.
  21. Pēn'i-tēn'tia-ry, n.p. 965One who prescribes the rules and measures of penance. Bacon. Ayliffe. 2. A penitent; one who does penance. Hammond. 3. (Court of Rome.) An office in which are examined and delivered out the secret…
  22. Pĕn'i-tĕn'tia-ry-ship, n.p. 965The office or condition of a penitentiary.
  23. Pēn'i-tent-ly, adv.p. 965In a penitent manner; with penitence; with repentance, sorrow, or contrition for sin.
  24. Pēnk, n.p. 965A minnow. Walton.
  25. Pēn'knīfe, n.p. 965A small knife used for making and mending pens.
  26. Pĕn'man, n.p. 965One who uses the pen; a writer; as, (a.) One skilled in the use of the pen; a calligrapher. (b.) An author; a composer. “The penmen of them, not prophets, but evangelists.” South.
  27. Pēn'man-shĭp, n.p. 965The use of the pen in writing; the art of writing. 2. Manner of writing; chirography; as, good or bad penmanship.
  28. Pēn'nach, n.p. 965A bunch of feathers; a plume. [Obs.] Holland.
  29. Pēn'naçhed, a.p. 965Diversified with natural stripes of various colors, as a flower; radiated. [Obs.] Evelyn.
  30. Pēn'nage, n.p. 965Feathery covering; plumage. [Obs.] Holland.
  31. Pēn'-nāme, n.p. 965A fictitious name assumed by an author who desires to conceal his real name; a nom de plume. [R.] Bp. Taylor.
  32. Pĕn'nant, n.p. 965(Naut.) (a.) A small flag; a banner; a long, narrow piece of bunting, worn at the mast-heads of vessels of war. Totten. (b.) A rope or strap to which a purchase is hooked. Dana. Broad pennant, a…
  33. Pĕn'nāte or Pĕn'nā-ted, a.p. 965Winged; plume-shaped. 2. (Bot.) The same as PINNATE. See PINNATE.
  34. Pēnned, a.p. 965Winged; having plumes.
  35. Pĕn'ner, n.p. 965A writer. “The penners of which seem to have imagined, that the books of themselves were evidence at common law.” Blackstone. 2. A pen-case. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
  36. Pēn'ni-fōrm, a.p. 965Having the form of a feather or plume.
  37. Pen-nĭg'er-ōus, a.p. 965Bearing feathers or quills.
  38. Pēn'ni-less, a.p. 965Moneyless; destitute of money; poor.
  39. Pēn'ni-less-ness, n.p. 965The state of being penniless or without money; impecuniosity.
  40. Pĕn'ni-nĕrved, a.p. 965(Bot.) Having parallel veins or nerves diverging laterally from the midrib like the parts of a feather; pinnately veined or nerved.
  41. Pen-nĭp'o-tent, a.p. 965Strong of wing. [Poet.]
  42. Pĕn'non, n.p. 965A wing; pinion. “Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb down he drops.” Milton. 2. A pennant; a flag or streamer.
  43. Pĕn'non-cĕl' or Pĕn'non-cĕlle, n.p. 965See PENCEL.
  44. Pēn'ny, n.p. 965Pennies denotes the number of coins; pence the amount of pennies in value. [A-S. penig, peneg, pening, pending, D. & Sw. penning, O. Sax. penninc, O. H. Ger. pending, pendig, phending, phenning…
  45. Pēn'ny-a-līn'er, n.p. 966One who furnishes matter to a public journal at so much a line; a venal or interested contributor; a writer for pay.
  46. Pĕn'ny-fā'ther, n.p. 966A parsimonious or penurious person; a niggard. [Obs.] More.
  47. Pĕn'ny-grāss, n.p. 966Penny-royal. [Rare.]
  48. Pēn'ny-pōst, n.p. 966A post that carries letters from the post-office, and delivers them to the proper persons for a penny, or other small compensation.
  49. Pēn'ny-roy'al, n.p. 966(Bot.) An aromatic herb growing in Europe, the Mentha pulegium; also, a North American plant resembling it, the Hedeoma pulegioides.
  50. Pēn'ny-wed'ding, n.p. 966A wedding where the guests contribute to the household outfit.
  51. Pēn'ny-weight, n.p. 966A troy weight containing twenty-four grains, or the twentieth part of an ounce. It was anciently the weight of a silver penny, whence the name.
  52. Pĕn'ny-wīse', a.p. 966Saving small sums at the hazard of larger; niggardly on important occasions;—used chiefly in the phrase penny wise and pound foolish.
  53. Pēn'ny-worth, n.p. 966As much as is bought for a penny. “It being a dear pennyworth.” Evelyn. 2. Hence, familiarly, the full value of one's penny expended; due return for money laid out; good or advantageous bargain…
  54. Pēn'oek, n.p. 966Oil-cake; — so called in the East.
  55. Pēn/o-lŏg'ic-al, a.p. 966Pertaining to public punishment.
  56. Pe-nŏl'o-gy, n.p. 966The science which treats of public punishments, as they respect the public and the sufferer.
  57. Pĕn'-răck, n.p. 966A contrivance for supporting pens when not in use.
  58. Pēn’sile, a.p. 966Hanging; suspended; pendent; pendulous. “The long, pensile branches of the birches.” Howitt.
  59. Pēn'sile-ness, n.p. 966The state of being pensile; pendulousness.
  60. Pēn'sion, n.p. 966A payment made; rent; interest paid. 2. Specifically, a stated allowance to a person in consideration of past services; payment made to one retired from service, for age, disability, or other cause…