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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. Pĕr'ō-ne, n.p. 972(Anat.) The small bone of the leg; the fibula.
  2. Pēr'o-nē'al, a.p. 972Pertaining to the fibula, or small bone of the leg.
  3. Pĕr/o-rā'tion, n.p. 972(Rhet.) The concluding part of an oration; a final summing up, review, and re-urging of the principal topics of a discourse. His enthusiasm kindles as he advances; and, when he arrives at his…
  4. Per-ŏx'ide, n.p. 972(Chem.) That oxide of a given base which contains the greatest quantity of oxygen.
  5. Per-ŏx'id-īze, v. t.p. 972To oxidize to the utmost degree. Cutbush.
  6. Per-pĕnd', v. t.p. 972To weigh in the mind; to consider attentively. [Rare.] “Perpend my words.” Shak.
  7. Per-pend'er, n.p. 972A large stone reaching through a wall so as to appear on both sides of it, and therefore having the ends smooth;—called also perbend, per-pend-stone, and perpent-stone.
  8. Per-pĕn'di-cle, n.p. 972Something hanging down in a direct line; a plumb line. [Obs.]
  9. Pēr'pen-dī'e'ū-lar, a.p. 972Exactly upright; pointing to the zenith; at right angles to the plane of the horizon; extending in a right line from any point toward the center of the earth. 2. (Geom.) At right angles to a given…
  10. Pēr'pen-dĭc'ū-lar, n.p. 972A line at right angles to the plane of the horizon; a vertical line or direction. 2. (Geom.) A line or plane falling at right angles on another line or surface, or making equal angles with it on each…
  11. Pēr'pen-dī'e'ū-lār'i-ty, n.p. 972The state of being perpendicular.
  12. Pēr'pen-dī'e'ū-lar-ly, adv.p. 972In a perpendicular manner or relation; so as to be perpendicular.
  13. Pēr'pend-stōne, n.p. 972See PERPENDER.
  14. Per-pēn'sion, n.p. 972Consideration; a pondering. [Obs.] Browne.
  15. Per-pĕn'si-ty, n.p. 972Perpension. [Obs.]
  16. Pēr'pent-stōne, n.p. 972See PERPENDER.
  17. Per-pĕs'sion, n.p. 972Suffering; endurance. [Obs.] Pearson.
  18. Pēr'pe-trāte, v. t.p. 972To do or perform, as a base or hurtful act; to execute, in a bad sense; to commit; to be guilty of. Can we conceive a disregard in heaven What the worst perpetrable, or best endure? Young.
  19. Pĕr'pe-trā'tion, n.p. 973The act of perpetrating, or of committing, a crime. Wotton. 2. The thing perpetrated; an evil action.
  20. Pēr'pe-trā'tor, n.p. 973One who perpetrates.
  21. Per-pĕt'ū-a-ble, a.p. 973Capable of being perpetuated or continued. Varieties are perpetuable, like species. A. Gray.
  22. Per-pĕt'ū-al, a.p. 973Never ceasing; continuing indefinitely or infinitely; unending; not subject to, or suffering, cessation or interruption; everlasting; enduring; incessant. “The kingdom of perpetual night.” Shak.…
  23. Per-pĕt'ū-al-ly, adv.p. 973In a perpetual manner; constantly; continually. The Bible and Common Prayer Book, in the vulgar tongue, being perpetually read in churches, have proved a kind of standard for language. Swift.
  24. Per-pĕt'ū-al-ty, n.p. 973The state or condition of being perpetual. [Obs.]
  25. Per-pĕt'ū-āte, v. t.p. 973To make perpetual; to cause to endure, or to be continued, indefinitely; to preserve from extinction or oblivion; to eternize.
  26. Per-pĕt′ū-ate, a.p. 973Made perpetual; perpetuated. The trees and flowers remain, By Nature’s care perpetuate and self-sown. Southey.
  27. Per-pĕt'ū-ā'ted, p. a.p. 973Made perpetual; continued through eternity, or for an indefinite time.
  28. Per-pĕt'ū-ā'tion, n.p. 973The act of making perpetual, or of preserving from extinction through an endless existence, or for an indefinite period of time.
  29. Pĕr'pe-tū'i-ty, n.p. 973The state or quality of being perpetual; endless duration; continued, uninterrupted existence, or duration for an indefinite period of time; as, the perpetuity of laws and institutions; the…
  30. Per-plĕx’, v. t.p. 973To make intricate; to involve; to entangle; to make complicated and difficult to be understood or unraveled. What was thought obscure, perplexed, and too hard for our weak parts, will lie open to the…
  31. Per-pléx’, a.p. 973Intricate; difficult. [Obs.] Glanville.
  32. Per-pléx'ed-ly, adv.p. 973In a perplexed manner; intricately; with involution.
  33. Per-plēx'ed-ness, n.p. 973The state of being perplexed; perplexity; embarrassment.
  34. Per-plex'i-ty, n.p. 973The state of being perplexed; intricacy; entanglement; embarrassment; doubt. “Into perplexity and new amaze.” Milton. Perplexity not suffering them to be idle, they think and do, as it were, in a…
  35. Per-plĕx'ive-ness, n.p. 973The quality of being perplexing; tendency to perplex or embarrass. [Obs.]
  36. Per-plēx'ly, adv.p. 973In a perplexed manner; perplexedly. [Obs.] Milton.
  37. Per-plēx'tly, adv.p. 973Perplexedly. [Obs.]
  38. Pĕr'po-tā'tion, n.p. 973The act of drinking largely. [Obs.]
  39. Pēr'qui-site, n.p. 973An allowance paid in money or things, beyond the ordinary salary or fixed wages for services rendered; especially, a fee allowed by law to an officer for a specific service. “The pillage of a place…
  40. Pēr'qui-sit-ed, a.p. 973Supplied with perquisites. [Obs.] Scroope.
  41. Pēr'qui-si'tion, n.p. 973An accurate inquiry or search. [Rare.] Our hero, who had attended Evan Dhu during his perquisitions, was much struck with the ingenuity which he displayed in collecting information. W. Scott.
  42. Pēr'ri-er, n.p. 973A kind of short mortar much used for stone-shot. [Obs.] Halliwell.
  43. Pēr'rie, n.p. 973A precious stone; a jewel. [Obs.]
  44. Pĕr'ron, n.p. 973(Arch.) A staircase outside of a building, or a flight of steps leading into the first story. Gwilt.
  45. Pĕr'ro-quĕt', n.p. 973See PARO-QUET. Perroquet auk (Ornith.), a bird of the genus Alca (A. psittacula) of Linnæus, or of the genus Phaleris (P. psittacula) of Temminck; a species of auk. Eng. Cyc.
  46. Perruquier, n.p. 973One who makes perukes or wigs.
  47. Pĕr'ry, n.p. 973The fermented juice of pears; a liquor prepared from pears in the same manner as cider from apples.
  48. Pēr'sant, a.p. 973Piercing. [Obs.] Spenser.
  49. Pěr'scru-tā'tion, n.p. 973A searching thoroughly; minute search or inquiry.
  50. Pēr'se-cot, n.p. 973A kind of cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, and the like, with refined spirit; persicot.
  51. Pēr'se-cūte, v. t.p. 973To pursue in a manner to injure, vex, or afflict; to cause to suffer pain from hatred or malignity; to harass; to beset in an annoying way. 2. Especially, to afflict, harass, or punish, for adherence…
  52. Pĕr'se-cū'tion, n.p. 973The act or practice of persecuting, or the state of being persecuted. “Whence heavy persecution shall arise?” Milton.
  53. Per-sēe'ū-tive, a.p. 973Following; persecuting.
  54. Pēr'se-eū'tor, n.p. 973One who persecutes. “Persecutor I am sure thou art.” Shak. Henry rejected the pope’s supremacy, but retained every corruption beside, and became a cruel persecutor. Swift.
  55. Pēr'se-eū'trix, n.p. 973A female who persecutes.
  56. Pēr'se-pōl'i-tan, a.p. 973(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Persepolis in Persia.
  57. Pēr'se-pōl'i-tan, n.p. 973An inhabitant of Persepolis.
  58. Pĕr'se-ūs, n.p. 973(Myth.) A Grecian legendary hero, son of Jupiter and Danaë, who slew Medusa. 2. (Astron.) A constellation of the northern hemisphere, near Taurus and Cassiopeia.
  59. Per-sĕv'er, v. i.p. 973To persevere. [Obs.] Be lusty, free, persever in thy service, And all is well.
  60. Pēr'se-vēr'ance, n.p. 973The act of persevering or persisting in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun. “The king, becoming graces, perseverance, mercy, holiness.” Shak.…