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.
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.Pĭv'ot-gŭn, n. p. 993A cannon which turns on a pivot in any direction. Simmonds.Pĭv'ot-măn, n. p. 993The officer or soldier at the flank on which a company wheels. Campbell.Pĭx, n. p. 993The same as PYX, q. v.Pĭx, v. t. p. 993See PYX.Pĭx'y, n. p. 993A fairy. [Prov. Eng.] Holloway.Pĭx'y-lĭēd, a. p. 993Led by pixies or fairies; bewildered.Pĭx'y-rĭng, n. p. 993A fairy ring. Halliwell.Pĭx'y-stōōl, n. p. 993A toadstool or mushroom.Piz'zle, n. p. 993The part, in certain male quadrupeds, which is official to generation and the discharge of urine. Browne.Pla'ca-bĭl'ĭ-tȳ, n. p. 993The quality of being placable, or appeasable.Plā'ca-ble, a. p. 993Capable of being appeased or pacified; appeasable; willing to forgive. Methought I saw him placable and mild. Milton.Plā'ca-ble-ness, n. p. 993The quality of being placable; placability.Pla-cārd', n. p. 993A written or printed paper posted in a public place. ☞ It seems to have been formerly the name of an edict, proclamation, or manifesto, issued by authority. It is now an advertisement, or a libel, or…Pla-cārd’, v. t. p. 993To post, as a writing or libel, in a public place; — sometimes used in a good sense. 2. To notify publicly.Pla'cāte, v. t. p. 993To appease or pacify; to conciliate.