Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pĭ'tă, n. p. 991A fiber obtained from the Agave Americana, which makes strong and white cordage, and is also used in Mexico in the manufacture of paper. Simmonds.Pit'a-hā'yă, n. p. 991(Bot.) A shrub of tropical America, which yields a delicious fruit, the Cactus pitajaya of Jacquin, or Cereus Pitajaya of De Candolle.Pit'a-păt', adv. p. 991In a flutter; with palpitation or quick succession of beats; as, his heart went pit-a-pat.Pit'a-păt', n. p. 991A light, quick, often repeated sound, as of a footstep, the rain, and the like. Now I hear the pitapat of a pretty foot through the dark alley. Dryden.Pitch, n. p. 991A thick, black, sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar, used in calking ships, &c. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak. 2. Turpentine. [Improper.] 3. (Min.) An igneous rock of…Pitch, v. t. p. 991To cover over or smear with pitch. Rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. Gen. vi. 14. 2. To darken as if by smearing with pitch; to blacken; to obscure.Pitch, n. p. 991A point or peak; hence, any point or degree of elevation or depression; as, a high pitch; lowest pitch. “The lowest pitch of abject fortune.” Milton. How high a pitch his resolution soars! Shak.…Pitch, v. t. p. 992To throw, generally with a definite aim or purpose; to hurl; to toss. 2. To fix firmly; to plant; to set in array; as, to pitch a tent; to pitch a camp. 3. (Mus.) To fix or set the tone of; as, to…Pitch, v. i. p. 992To light; to settle; to come to rest from flight. Take a branch of the tree on which the bees pitch and wipe the hive. Mortimer. 2. To fall headlong; as, to pitch from a precipice; to pitch on the…Pitch'-black, a. p. 992Black as pitch.Pitch'blĕnde, n. p. 992(Min.) An ore of uranium, of a black or brownish color, and semi-metallic luster. It affords an orange color in painting. Dana.Pitch'-cōal, n. p. 992Bituminous coal.Pitch'-dark, a. p. 992Dark as pitch or tar; very dark.Pitch'er, n. p. 992A vessel, usually open, with a spout for pouring out liquors; a water-pot, jug, or jar; a ewer. 2. An instrument resembling a crowbar, for piercing the ground. Mortimer. 3. One who pitches any thing…Pitch'er-plant, n. p. 992See MONKEY-CUP and Illust. of Nepenthes.Pitch'-fär'thing, n. p. 992A play in which copper coin is pitched into a hole; — called also chuck-farthing.Pitch'-field, n. p. 992A pitched battle. Beau. & Fl.Pitch′fork, n. p. 992A fork or farming utensil used in throwing hay or sheaves of grain, in loading or unloading carts and wagons.Pitch'i-ness, n. p. 992Blackness, as of pitch; darkness. [Rare.]Pitch'ing, a. p. 992Declivous; descending; sloping, as a hill.Pitch'-ōre, n. p. 992(Min.) Pitchblende, an ore of uranium.Pitch'-pine, n. p. 992(Bot.) One of several species of pine, abounding in resinous matter and yielding pitch, especially the Pinus picea of Linnæus.Pĭtch'-pīpe, n. p. 992(Mus.) A wind instrument formerly used by choristers in regulating the pitch or elevation of the key or leading tone of a tune.Pitch'-wheels, n. pl. p. 992Toothed wheels, which work together. Simmonds.Pitch'-work, n. p. 992Work done in a coal-mine by those working on tribute. Simmonds.Pitch'y, a. p. 992Partaking of the qualities of pitch; like pitch. 2. Smeared with pitch. 3. Black, like pitch; dark; dismal; as, the pitchy mantle of night. “The pitchy night.” Shak.Pit'-coal, n. p. 992Mineral coal; coal dug from the earth.Pĭt'e-oŭs, a. p. 992Fitted to excite pity; wretched; miserable; sorrowful; mournful. “That piteous strained voice.” Spenser. 2. Evincing pity; compassionate; tender. “Piteous of his case.” Pope. 3. Paltry; mean; poor…Pĭt'e-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 992In a piteous manner.Pĭt'e-oŭs-ness, n. p. 992The state of being piteous.Pĭt'fall, n. p. 992A pit slightly covered for concealment, and intended to catch wild beasts or men.Pĭt'fall, v. t. p. 992To lead into a pitfall. [Obs.] Milton.Pĭt'fĭsh, n. p. 992(Ichth.) A small fish, found in the Indian seas, which has the power of protruding or retracting its eyes. Craig.Pĭt'frāme, n. p. 992The frame-work of a coal-pit.Pĭth, n. p. 992The soft, spongy substance in the center of many plants and trees. It consists of cellular tissue. 2. (Anat.) The spinal cord; the marrow. Ray. 3. Hence, that which contains the strength or life; the…Pĭth, v. t. p. 992To sever the spinal cord or marrow of, as by thrusting in a knife;—a mode of putting animals to death.Pĭth'e-coid, a. p. 992(Zoöl.) Pertaining to, resembling, or including, apes of the highest division, as the orang-outang, gibbon, gorilla, and chimpanzee, or the species of the genera Simia or Pithecus, Hylobates, and…Pĭth'i-ly, adv. p. 992In a pithy manner; with strength, energy, or vigor.Pĭth'i-ness, n. p. 992The state of being pithy.Pĭth'less, a. p. 992Destitute of pith; wanting strength. 2. Wanting cogency or concentrated force.Pĭt'-hōle, n. p. 992A mark made by disease. [Obs.]Pĭth'y, a. p. 992Consisting of pith; containing pith; abounding with pith: as, a pithy substance; a pithy stem. 2. Embodying or expressing compressed force; forcible; energetic; as, a pithy word or expression. This…Pĭt'i-a-ble, a. p. 992Deserving pity; worthy of compassion; miserable; as, pitiable persons; a pitiable condition. Syn.—Sorrowful; affecting; lamentable; mournful; doleful; woful; rueful; wretched; miserable.Pĭt'i-a-ble-ness, n. p. 992The state of being pitiable.Pĭt'i-a-bly, adv. p. 992In a pitiable manner.Pĭt'ied-ly, adv. p. 992In a situation to be pitied.Pĭt'i-ful, a. p. 992Full of pity; tender; compassionate; having a heart to feel sorrow and sympathy for the distressed. The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. 2. Miserable; moving compassion; as, a…Pĭt'i-ful-ly, adv. p. 992In a pitiful manner. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts. Com. Prayer. They would sigh and groan as pitifully as other men. Tillotson.Pĭt'i-ful-ness, n. p. 992The state of being pitiful.Pĭt'i-less, a. p. 992Destitute of pity; hard-hearted;—said of persons; as, a pitiless master. 2. Exciting no pity; as, a pitiless state. Syn.—Hard-hearted; cruel; merciless; unmerciful; compassionless; unsympathizing.Pĭt'i-less-ly, adv. p. 992In a pitiless manner.Pĭt'i-less-ness, n. p. 992The state of being pitiless.Pĭt'man, n. p. 992One who works in a pit, as in sawing timber, in coal-mining, &c. 2. Hence, the connecting rod in a saw-mill; also, sometimes, the connecting rod of a steam-engine.Pĭ-tōt's' Tūbe p. 992A bent tube used to determine the velocity of running water by placing the curved end under water, and observing the height to which the fluid rises on a graduated scale.Pĭt'-păn, n. p. 992A long, flat-bottomed canoe, used for the navigation of rivers and lagoons in Central America. Squier.Pĭt'păt, n. & adv. p. 992The same as PITA-PAT.Pĭt'saw, n. p. 992A large saw for timber, worked vertically by two men, one of whom stands in a pit below. Moxon.Pĭt'ta-cal, n. p. 992(Chem.) A dark-blue, solid substance, somewhat like indigo, obtained from wood tar. [Written also pittacall.]Pit'tance, n. p. 992An allowance of food, bestowed in charity; hence, a charity gift. One half of this pittance was even given him in money. Macmillan. 2. Any small allowance; a trifle; hence, a small quantity or…Pit'ter, v. i. p. 992To make a pattering sound; to murmur; to squeak. [Obs.] Herrick.