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.
Per-cū'tient, n. p. 968That which strikes, or has power to strike. Bacon.Pêr'di-foil, n. p. 968A plant that annually loses or drops its leaves; a deciduous plant; —opposed to evergreen. The passion-flower of America, and the jasmine of Malabar, which are evergreens in their native climates…Per-dĭ'tion, n. p. 968Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin. “The perdition of the Turkish fleet.” Shak. 2. The utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. If we reject…Per-dĭ'tion-a-ble, a. p. 968Capable of being ruined; worthy of perdition. [Rare.] Pollok.Per-dū' or Pĕr'du, n. p. 968One who is placed on the watch or in ambush. Shak.Per-dū' or Pĕr'du or Per-dūe' or Pĕr'due, a. p. 968Lost to view; in concealment; close. Object not that it is unfitting he should lie perdue who is to walk the round. Fuller. The moderator, out of view, Beneath the desk had lain perdue. Trumbull. 2.…Per-dū'el-ism or Per-dū'el-lion, n. p. 968Treason.Pĕr'du-lōus, a. p. 968Lost; thrown away. [Obs.] Bramhall.Per-dūr'a-ble, a. p. 968Very durable; lasting; continuing long. [Obs.] Shak.Per-dūr'a-bly, adv. p. 968Very durably. [Obs.] Shak.Per-dūr'ançe, n. p. 968Long continuance. [Obs.]Pĕr'du-rā'tion, n. p. 968Long continuance; [Obs.] Ainsworth.Pêr'dy, adv. p. 968Pêr'die or Pār'die p. 968Certainly; verily; in truth; truly. [Obs.] Spenser.Pĕr'e-gal, a. p. 968Fully equal. [Obs.] Spenser.Pĕr'e-gri-nāte, v. i. p. 968To travel from place to place, or from one country to another; to live in a foreign country.Pĕr'e-gri-nate, a. p. 968Having traveled; foreign. [Obs.]Pĕr'e-gri-nā'tion, n. p. 968A traveling from one country to another; a wandering; abode in foreign countries. It should not be strange to us if in this our peregrination we do meet with rough passages. Burton.Pĕr'e-gri-nā'tor, n. p. 969A traveler into foreign countries.Pĕr'e-grīne, a. p. 969Foreign; not native. [Obs.] Bacon.Peregrine falcon p. 969a species of hawk, or falcon; Falco peregrinus. See FALCON.Pĕr'e-grīne, n. p. 969A peregrine falcon. See FALCON.Pĕr'e-grin'i-ty, n. p. 969Strangeness. [Obs.] Cook.Per-ēmpt', v. t. p. 969(Law.) To kill; to crush or destroy. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Per-ēm'ption, n. p. 969A killing; a quashing; nonsuit. [Obs.] Ayliffe.Pĕr'emp-to-ri-ly, adv. p. 969In a peremptory manner; absolutely; positively. Never judge peremptorily on first appearances. S. Richardson.Pĕr′emp-to-ri-ness, n. p. 969The quality of being peremptory; positiveness; absolute decision; dogmatism. Peremptoriness is of two sorts: one, a magisterialness in matters of opinion; the other, a positiveness in matters of…Pĕr'emp-to-ry, a. p. 969Precluding debate or expostulation; express; positive; absolute; decisive; authoritative. “Briefly, then, for we are peremptory.” Shak. Think of heaven with hearty purposes and peremptory designs to…Peremptory challenge p. 969Peremptory challenge (Law), a challenge, or right of challenging jurors, without showing cause. Syn.—Decisive; express; absolute; authoritative; arbitrary; dogmatical.Per-ēn'ni-al, a. p. 969Lasting or continuing without cessation through the year. 2. Hence, continuing without stop or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing. The perennial existence of bodies corporate, and…Per-ēn'ni-al, n. p. 969(Bot.) A plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves or not.Per-ên'ni-al-ly, adv. p. 969Continually; without ceasing.Per-ěn'ni-brăn'chi-ate, a. p. 969(Physiol.) Having branchiæ or gills through life, as certain inferior amphibians, like the Proteus. Carpenter.Per-ēn'ni-ty, n. p. 969The quality of being perennial; lasting continuance.Pĕr'er-rā'tion, n. p. 969A wandering or rambling through various places. Howell.Pĕr'fect, a. p. 969Brought to consummation or completeness; carried through; completed; filled up; full. Whence even now the tumult of loud mirth Was rife, and perfect in my listening ear. Milton. My strength is made…Pĕr'fect or Per-fĕct', v. t. p. 969To finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to any thing all that is requisite to its nature and kind; to make consummate. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love…Pĕr'fect-er or Per-fĕct'er, n. p. 969One who makes perfect. Broome.Per-fĕct/i-bĭl'i-an, n. p. 969One who holds to perfectibility. Ed. Rev.Per-fĕct/i-bĭl/i-ty, n. p. 969The quality of being perfectible.Per-féct'i-ble, a. p. 969Capable of becoming or being made perfect, or of arriving at the utmost perfection of the species.Per-fĕc'tion, n. p. 969The state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; completed culture, skill, or moral excellence; full possession of any thing desirable; perfectness; as, perfection in an…Per-fĕc'tion, v. t. p. 969To complete; to make perfect. [Obs.]Per-fĕc'tion-al, a. p. 969Pertaining to perfection. 2. Made complete; perfected. [Obs.] Pearson.Per-fĕc'tion-āte, v. t. p. 969To make perfect; to perfect. [Rare.] Dryden.Per-fĕc'tion-ā'tion, n. p. 969The act of perfecting or making perfect.Per-fĕc'tion-ism, n. p. 969The doctrine of the Perfectionists.Per-fé’tion-ist, n. p. 969One pretending to have attained to moral perfection; one who believes that some persons actually attain to moral perfection in the present life.Per-féction-ment, n. p. 969The act of perfecting or making perfect, or the state of being perfect. I. Taylor.Per-fĕct'ive, a. p. 969Calculated or tending to perfect; conducing to make perfect or bring to perfection; — usually followed by of. “If England, in our memory, hath been sensible of a perfective alteration in her…Per-fĕct'ive-ly, adv. p. 969In a perfective manner.Pĕr'fect-ly, adv. p. 969In a perfect manner or degree; to perfection; completely; totally; exactly; accurately. “How perfectly I love her.” Shak. “Sincerely good and perfectly divine.” Milton.Pĕr'fect-ness, n. p. 969The state or quality of being perfect; perfection; completeness; consummate excellence; fullness; completion. And, above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Col. iii.…Per-fĭ'çient, a. p. 969Efficient; effectual. [Rare.]Per-fĭ'çient, n. p. 969One who performs a work; especially, one who endows a charity.Per-fĭd'i-oŭs, a. p. 969Guilty of, or involving, perfidy; violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence reposed; treacherous; faithless; false; dishonest; as, a perfidious agent; a perfidious friend. “A most…Per-fīd'i-oüs-ly, adv. p. 969In a perfidious manner; treacherously; by breach of faith or allegiance.Per-fĭd'i-ōŭs-ness, n. p. 969The quality of being perfidious; treachery; traitorousness; breach of faith, vows, or allegiance.Pĕr'fi-dy, n. p. 969The act of violating faith, a promise, vow, or allegiance; faithlessness; treachery; the violation of a trust reposed. “Such was his perfidy to this sacred engagement.” De Quincey.Per-fix', v. t. p. 969To fix; to settle; to agree upon. [Obs. and rare.] Take heed, as you are gentlemen, this quarrel Sleep till the hour perfixed. Beau. & Fl.