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.
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.Pit'ter-ing, n. p. 992The noise or cry of the grasshopper. [Obs.] Herrick.Pit'ti-zite, n. p. 992(Min.) Pitchy iron ore.Pit'tle-pât'tle, v. i. p. 992To use current expressions flippantly and unmeaningly. [Obs.] Latimer.Pitts'burg, Cam. p. 992A valve gear or cut-off produced by certain varieties of cams. [U.S.]Pī-tū'i-ta-ry, a. p. 992(Anat.) Secreting phlegm or mucus; as, the pituitary membrane. Pituitary body or gland, a small oval body on the lower side of the brain, erroneously supposed by the ancients to secrete the mucus of…Pit′ū-ite, n. p. 992Mucus; phlegm.Pi-tū'i-toūs, a. p. 992Consisting of, or resembling, pituite or mucus; exhibiting the effects of pituite.Pit'y, n. p. 992The feeling or suffering of one person, excited by the distresses of another; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion or fellow-suffering. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to…Pit'y, v. t. p. 992To feel pain or grief for; to have sympathy for; to compassionate; to have tender feelings toward, awakened by a knowledge of suffering. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth…Pit'y, v. i. p. 992To be compassionate; to exercise pity. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. Jer. xiii. 4.Pit'y-ing-ly, adv. p. 992In a pitying manner; sympathizingly; compassionately.Pit'y-ri'a-sis, n. p. 992(Med.) A very superficial affection of the skin, characterized by irregular patches of thin scales. Dunglison.Pit'y-roid, a. p. 992Having the form of, or resembling, bran. Smart.Pìù, adv. p. 993(Mus.) A little more; as, più allegro, a little more briskly.Piv'ot, n. p. 993A pin or short axis fixed only at one end, and on which a wheel or other body turns; the end of a shaft or arbor which rests and turns in a support; as, the pivot of a transit instrument; the pivot…Pĭv'ot, v. t. p. 993To place on a pivot. Clarke.Pĭv'ot-al, a. p. 993Belonging to, or turning on, a pivot; pertaining to, or constituting, that upon which any thing hinges or turns.