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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Per-sist'ence or Per-sist'en-cy, n. p. 974The state of being persistent; steady pursuit of what is undertaken; perseverance in a good or evil course, more generally in that which is evil and injurious to others, or unadvisable; obstinacy…Per-sĭst'ent, a. p. 974Inclined to persist or hold firm; tenacious; fixed; immovable; persistive. “Persistent as they have been.” I. Taylor. Modred’s narrow, foxy face. Heart-hiding smile, and gray, persistent eye.…Per-sist'ent-ly, adv. p. 974In a persistent manner.Per-sĭst’ing, p. a. p. 974Inclined to persist; persistent.Per-sist'ing-ly, adv. p. 974In a persisting manner; perseveringly; steadily.Per-sist'ive, a. p. 974The same as PERSISTENT. Shak.Per-sôlve', v. t. p. 974To pay the whole of; to pay completely. [Obs.]Pêr'son, n. p. 974The exhibition or representation of a character in dialogue, fiction, or on the stage. These tables, Cicero pronounced under the person of Crassus, were of more use and authority than all the books…Pêr'son, v. t. p. 974To represent as a person; to make to resemble; to image. [Obs.] Milton.Pêr'son-a-ble, a. p. 974Having a well-formed body or person; graceful; of good appearance; as, a personable man or woman. “Wise, war-like, personable, kind.” Spenser. 2. (Law.) Enabled to maintain pleas in court. Cowell. 3.…Pêr'son-age, n. p. 974Character assumed or represented. The Venetians, naturally grave, love to give in to the follies of such seasons, when disguised in a false personage. Addison. 2. An individual distinguished by rank…Pêr'son-al, a. p. 974Belonging or pertaining to a person; as, (a.) Belonging to men or women, or to persons and not to things. “Every man so termed by way of personal difference only.” Hooker. (b.) Relating to an…Pêr'son-al, n. p. 974A movable. [Obs.]Pĕr'son-al-īsm, n. p. 974The quality of being personal.Pĕr'son-ăl'i-ty, n. p. 974That which constitutes, or pertains to, a person. Personality is individuality existing in itself, but with a nature as a ground. Coleridge. But personality, as we can conceive it, is essentially a…Pêr'son-al-īze, v. t. p. 974To make personal.Pĕr'son-al-ly, adv. p. 974In a personal or direct manner; by bodily presence; not by representative or substitute; as, to be personally present; to deliver a letter personally; they personally declared their assent to the…Pêr'son-al-ty, n. p. 974The state of being a person; personality. [Rare.] 2. (Law.) Personal estate.Pêr'son-āte, v. t. p. 974To assume the character of; to represent by a fictitious appearance; to represent by a fictitious or assumed character; to counterfeit; to feign; as, a personated devotion. Hammond. 2. To set forth…Pĕr'son-ate, a. p. 974(Bot.) Having a projection in the throat nearly closing the orifice; — said of a bilabiate corolla, as the snapdragon.Pêr'son-ā'tion, n. p. 974The act of personating, or of counterfeiting the person of another. Bacon.Pĕr'son-ā'tor, n. p. 974One who personates. B. Jonson.Pêr'son-ē'i-ty, n. p. 974Personality. [Rare.] I can not meditate too often or too devotionally on the personality of God. Coleridge.Per-sŏn'i-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 974The act of personifying. 2. (Rhet.) A figure, in which an inanimate being is represented as animated, or endowed with personality; prosopopœia; as, “Confusion heard his voice.” Milton.Per-sŏn'i-fy, v. t. p. 974To regard or treat as a person; to represent as a rational being.Pêr'son-ize, v. t. p. 974To personify. [Rare.] Richardson.Personnel, n. p. 974The body of persons employed in some public service, as the army or navy, &c., as distinguished from the matériel.Per-spēc'tive, a. p. 974Pertaining to the science of optics, or vision; optical. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of perspective. Perspective plane, the plane on which the…Per-spêc'tive, n. p. 974A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] “The word ἐσόπτρον, in the original of that passage, is not a perspective, but a mirror, or looking-glass.” Browne. 2. That which is seen through an…Per-spêc'-tive-ly, adv. p. 974Optically; through a glass. [Rare.] Shak. 2. According to the rules of perspective.Per-spĕc'to-graph, n. p. 974An instrument for obtaining, or transferring to a picture, the points and outlines of original objects.Pêr/spee-tŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 974The science or art of delineating objects according to the laws of perspective; the theory of perspective.Pêr'spi-ca-ble, a. p. 974Discernible. [Obs.] Herbert.Pêr'spi-câ'ciôus, a. p. 974Quick-sighted; sharp of sight. 2. Of acute discernment; keen.Pēr'/spi-cā'/ciōus-ly, adv. p. 974In a perspicacious manner; discerningly.Pēr'spi-cā'ciōŭs-ness, n. p. 974Acuteness of sight; perspicacity.Pêr'spi-câ'çi-ty, n. p. 974The state of being perspicacious; acuteness of sight or discernment. We should attribute to him determinate perspicacity. I. Taylor.Pêr'spi-ca-cy, n. p. 974Same as PERSPICACITY. [Obs.]Per-spî'cience, n. p. 974The act of looking with sharpness. [Obs.]Pĕr'spi-çil, n. p. 974An optic glass; a telescope. [Obs.] Crashaw.Pēr'spi-cū'i-ty, n. p. 974The state of being perspicuous, or clear: transparency; clearness, especially of statement; easiness to be understood; freedom from obscurity or ambiguity. Syn.—Clearness; perspiciousness; plainness…Per-spĭc'ū-ōŭs, a. p. 975Capable of being seen through; transparent; translucent. [Rare.] Peacham. 2. Clear to the understanding; capable of being clearly understood; not obscure or ambiguous;—applied both to language and…Per-spĭc'ū-ōus-ly, adv. p. 975In a perspicuous manner; clearly; plainly.Per-spĭc'ū-oŭs-ness, n. p. 975The state of being perspicuous; plainness; freedom from obscurity.Per-spīr'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 975The quality of being perspirable.Per-spīr'a-ble, a. p. 975Capable of being perspired, or evacuated through the pores of the skin. 2. Emitting perspiration. [Rare.] Bacon.Pĕr/spi-rā'tion, n. p. 975The act of perspiring. 2. That which is perspired; sweat.Per-spīr'a-tive, a. p. 975Performing the act of perspiration; perspiring.Per-spīr'a-to-ry, a. p. 975Pertaining to perspiration; causing perspiration.Per-spīre', v. i. p. 975To evacuate the fluids of the body through the pores of the skin; to sweat; as, a person perspires freely. 2. To be evacuated or excreted insensibly through the excretories of the skin; as, a fluid…Per-spīre', v. t. p. 975To emit or evacuate insensibly through the excretories of the skin; to sweat.Per-strēp'er-oŭs, a. p. 975Noisy; violent; sharp-tongued; obstreperous. [Obs.] You are too perstreperous, saucebox. Ford.Per-strĭn'ge', v. t. p. 975To graze; to glance on. [Obs.] 2. To criticise severely. [Rare.] The Dean of Peterborough preached on the feast of Pentecost, perstringing those of Geneva for their irreverence of the Blessed Virgin.…Per-suād′a-ble, a. p. 975Capable of being persuaded.Per-suād'a-bly, adv. p. 975In a persuadable manner; so as to be persuaded.Per-suāde', v. t. p. 975To influence by argument, advice, entreaty, or expostulation; to draw or incline to a determination by presenting sufficient motives. We will persuade him, be it possible. Shak. I should be glad if I…Per-suāde’, n. p. 975Persuasion. [Obs. and rare.] The king’s entreats, persuades of friends, Nor aught that can be named, Can move him. Beau. & Fl.Per-suād'ed-ly, adv. p. 975In a persuaded manner; assuredly. He's our own, Surely, nay, most persuadedly. Ford.Per-suād'ed-ness, n. p. 975The state of being persuaded or convinced; persuasion. [Rare.]Per-suād’er, n. p. 975One who, or that which, persuades or influences another; that which incites Hunger and thirst at once, Powerful persuaders. Milton.