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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’te-cŏn’ter, n.p. 966(Gr. Antiq.) A Grecian vessel of fifty oars, smaller than a trireme. ☞ “The Greek η being represented in Latin by a, Mitford spells this word pentacont er, and other similar compounds…
  2. Pĕn’te-cōst, n.p. 966A solemn festival of the Jews, so called because celebrated on the fiftieth day after the feast of the passover. It was instituted in commemoration of the gift of the law on the fiftieth day after…
  3. Pĕn’te-cōst’al, a.p. 966Pertaining to Pentecost, or to Whitsuntide.
  4. Pēnʹte-cōstʹals, n. pl.p. 966Oblations formerly made to the parish priest at Whitsuntide, and sometimes to the Romish see. Cowell.
  5. Pĕn'/te-cŏs'ter, n.p. 966(Gr. Antiq.) A military officer commanding fifty men. Milford.
  6. Pĕn’te-cŏs’tys, n.p. 967A body of fifty soldiers. Milford.
  7. Pen-tĕl'i-can, a.p. 967Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Mount Pentelicus, near Athens, famous for its fine marble quarries.
  8. Pĕnt'house, n.p. 967A shed standing aslope from the main wall or building; a lean-to. Had there not lurked under the penthouse of his eye that sly epicurean twinkle. W. Scott.
  9. Pĕn′tiçe, n.p. 967A sloping roof. [Rare.] Wotton.
  10. Pĕn′tīle, n.p. 967See PANTILE.
  11. Pĕn’tre-mīte, n.p. 967(Paleon.) A fossil crinoid of a group occurring in the upper Devonian and the Carboniferous formation. Dana.
  12. Pĕnt'ro͞of, n.p. 967A roof with a slope on one side only.
  13. Pĕn'-trough, n.p. 967A pen-stock.
  14. Pĕ'nult or Pe-nŭlt', n.p. 967(Gram. & Pros.) The last syllable but one of a word; the syllable preceding the final one.
  15. Pe-nŭlt'i-mȧ, n.p. 967The same as PENULT.
  16. Pe-nŭlt'i-mate, a.p. 967Last but one; next before the last;—said especially of the last syllable but one of a word.
  17. Pe-nŭlt'i-mate, n.p. 967The last syllable but one of a word; penult.
  18. Pe-nŭm’brȧ, n.p. 967An incomplete or partial shadow. 2. (Astron.) The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the space of partial illumination between the…
  19. Pe-nŭm'bral, a.p. 967Pertaining to, or resembling, a penumbra; partially illuminated.
  20. Pe-nū'ri-oŭs, a.p. 967Showing penury or scarcity; scanty; not bountiful or liberal; as, a penurious spring. 2. Especially, excessively saving or sparing in the use of money; parsimonious to a fault; sordid. “A penurious…
  21. Pe-nū'ri-oŭs-ly, adv.p. 967In a penurious or parsimonious manner; with scanty supply.
  22. Pe-nū'ri-oŭs-ness, n.p. 967The quality or state of being parsimonious; scantiness; parsimony; a sordid disposition to save money.
  23. Pĕn'ū-ry, n.p. 967Absence of means or resources; want; privation; indigence; poverty. All innocent, they were exposed to hardship and penury. Sprat. It arises in neither from penury of thought. Landor.
  24. Pĕn’wom-an, n.p. 967A female writer; an authoress. Hard work is not fit for a penwoman. Johnson.
  25. Pē'on, n.p. 967A footman; a person of low rank; as, specifically, (a.) One traveling on foot; a pedestrian. (b.) A foot-soldier; hence, in India, a native constable. (c.) A day-laborer; a servant; especially, in…
  26. Pē'on-aġe, n.p. 967The state or condition of a peon.
  27. Pē'on-ied, a.p. 967Furnished or covered with peonies.
  28. Pē'on-ĭsm, n.p. 967The state or condition of a peon; peonage. D. Webster.
  29. Pē'o-ny, n.p. 967(Bot.) A plant of the genus Pæonia, having beautiful, showy flowers. [Written also pæony and piony.]
  30. Pēo'ple, n.p. 967The body of persons who compose a community, tribe, nation, or race; an aggregate of individuals forming together a whole. To him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen. xlix. 10. The ants are a…
  31. Pēo'ple, v. t.p. 967To stock with inhabitants; to furnish with population; to populate. “As the gay motes that people the sunbeams.” Milton. “And peoples them with spirits of glorious aspect.” Jeffrey.
  32. Pēo'plish, a.p. 967Vulgar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  33. Pe-păs'tic, n.p. 967(Med.) A medicine used to promote proper suppuration and granulation in wounds not healed by the first intention, and in ulcers.
  34. Pĕp'e-rīne or Pĕp'e-rï'no, n.p. 967(Geol.) A volcanic rock, formed by the cementing together of sand, cinders, and the like.
  35. Pēp'lis, n.p. 967(Bot.) A genus of plants including the water purslain.
  36. Pē'po, n.p. 967(Bot.) An indehiscent fruit, externally firm and internally pulpy, as that of the cucumber, melon, squash, and the like. Gray.
  37. Pēp'per, n.p. 967(Bot.) A climbing plant and its fruit, of the genus Piper, of which there are very numerous species. The leaves are oval, and the flowers white. Pepper has a strong, aromatic smell, and a hot…
  38. Pĕp’per, v. t.p. 967To sprinkle with pepper. 2. To pelt with shot; to cover with wounds as thick as the particles of pepper sprinkled on a dish; to mangle with blows. “I am peppered, I warrant.” Shak.
  39. Pĕp'per-bŏx, n.p. 967A small box, with a perforated lid, used for sprinkling pulverized pepper on food.
  40. Pĕp'per-brănd, n.p. 967A kind of mildew which affects grain; Uredo caries.
  41. Pēp'per-eāke, n.p. 967A kind of spiced cake or gingerbread.
  42. Pĕp'per-cōrn, n.p. 967The berry or fruit of the pepper-plant. 2. Hence, something of insignificant value; as, lands held at the rent of a pepper-corn.
  43. Pĕp'per-grăss, n.p. 967(Bot.) (a.) A trailing plant of the genus Pilularia. (b.) A plant of the genus Lepidium, a kind of cress, sometimes cultivated for the table; —called also pepper-wort.
  44. Pēp'per-idge, n.p. 967(Bot.) The tupelo, or black gum, a tree with very tough wood, belonging to the genus Nyssa.
  45. Pepperidge-bushp. 967the barberry; a shrub. See BARBERRY.
  46. Pĕp'per-ing, a.p. 967Hot; pungent; angry. Swift.
  47. Pēp'per-mint, n.p. 967(Bot.) An aromatic and pungent plant of the genus Mentha (M. piperita); also, a liquor distilled from the plant.
  48. Pĕp'per-mint-tree, n.p. 967(Bot.) The Eucalyptus piperita, a tree found in New South Wales.
  49. Pĕp'per-mŏth, n.p. 967(Entom.) A moth of the genus Biston, having small spots on its wings resembling grains of pepper, whence the name.
  50. Pĕp'per-pŏt, n.p. 967A mucilaginous soup or stew of vegetables and cassareep, much esteemed in the West Indies. Simmonds. 2. A table-box or pot with perforations, for holding and discharging ground pepper.
  51. Pēp'per-sauce, n.p. 967A condiment for the table made by steeping small red peppers in vinegar.
  52. Pēp'per-wort, n.p. 967A plant of the genus Lepidium; pepper-grass. See PEPPER-GRASS.
  53. Pĕp'per-y, a.p. 967Relating or pertaining to, or having the qualities of, pepper; hot; pungent. 2. Easily made angry; irritable.
  54. Pĕp'sin, n.p. 967A substance secreted by the stomach of animals, and present in the gastric juice. It is prepared artificially from rennet. Graham.
  55. Pĕp'tic, a.p. 967Relating to or promoting digestion; capable of being easily digested. Kitchener.
  56. Pēp'tic, n.p. 967(Med.) An agent that promotes digestion. Dunglison.
  57. Pēp'tics, n. sing.p. 967The doctrine of digestion. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]
  58. Pēr, prep.p. 967Through; by means of; through the agency of; by; for; as, send the money per bearer; his wages were two dollars per day; they received so much per man; — often used in composition as a prefix…
  59. Per-ăct', v. t.p. 967To perform; to practice. [Obs.]
  60. Pĕr'/ā-cūte', a.p. 967Very sharp; very violent; as, a peracute fever. [Rare.] Harvey.