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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. 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…
  2. 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.
  3. 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…
  4. Pĭth'i-ly, adv.p. 992In a pithy manner; with strength, energy, or vigor.
  5. Pĭth'i-ness, n.p. 992The state of being pithy.
  6. Pĭth'less, a.p. 992Destitute of pith; wanting strength. 2. Wanting cogency or concentrated force.
  7. Pĭt'-hōle, n.p. 992A mark made by disease. [Obs.]
  8. 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…
  9. 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.
  10. Pĭt'i-a-ble-ness, n.p. 992The state of being pitiable.
  11. Pĭt'i-a-bly, adv.p. 992In a pitiable manner.
  12. Pĭt'ied-ly, adv.p. 992In a situation to be pitied.
  13. 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…
  14. 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.
  15. Pĭt'i-ful-ness, n.p. 992The state of being pitiful.
  16. 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.
  17. Pĭt'i-less-ly, adv.p. 992In a pitiless manner.
  18. Pĭt'i-less-ness, n.p. 992The state of being pitiless.
  19. 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.
  20. Pĭ-tōt's' Tūbep. 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.
  21. Pĭt'-păn, n.p. 992A long, flat-bottomed canoe, used for the navigation of rivers and lagoons in Central America. Squier.
  22. Pĭt'păt, n. & adv.p. 992The same as PITA-PAT.
  23. Pĭt'saw, n.p. 992A large saw for timber, worked vertically by two men, one of whom stands in a pit below. Moxon.
  24. Pĭt'ta-cal, n.p. 992(Chem.) A dark-blue, solid substance, somewhat like indigo, obtained from wood tar. [Written also pittacall.]
  25. 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…
  26. Pit'ter, v. i.p. 992To make a pattering sound; to murmur; to squeak. [Obs.] Herrick.
  27. Pit'ter-ing, n.p. 992The noise or cry of the grasshopper. [Obs.] Herrick.
  28. Pit'ti-zite, n.p. 992(Min.) Pitchy iron ore.
  29. Pit'tle-pât'tle, v. i.p. 992To use current expressions flippantly and unmeaningly. [Obs.] Latimer.
  30. Pitts'burg, Cam.p. 992A valve gear or cut-off produced by certain varieties of cams. [U.S.]
  31. 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…
  32. Pit′ū-ite, n.p. 992Mucus; phlegm.
  33. Pi-tū'i-toūs, a.p. 992Consisting of, or resembling, pituite or mucus; exhibiting the effects of pituite.
  34. 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…
  35. 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…
  36. Pit'y, v. i.p. 992To be compassionate; to exercise pity. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. Jer. xiii. 4.
  37. Pit'y-ing-ly, adv.p. 992In a pitying manner; sympathizingly; compassionately.
  38. Pit'y-ri'a-sis, n.p. 992(Med.) A very superficial affection of the skin, characterized by irregular patches of thin scales. Dunglison.
  39. Pit'y-roid, a.p. 992Having the form of, or resembling, bran. Smart.
  40. Pìù, adv.p. 993(Mus.) A little more; as, più allegro, a little more briskly.
  41. 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…
  42. Pĭv'ot, v. t.p. 993To place on a pivot. Clarke.
  43. Pĭv'ot-al, a.p. 993Belonging to, or turning on, a pivot; pertaining to, or constituting, that upon which any thing hinges or turns.
  44. Pĭv'ot-gŭn, n.p. 993A cannon which turns on a pivot in any direction. Simmonds.
  45. Pĭv'ot-măn, n.p. 993The officer or soldier at the flank on which a company wheels. Campbell.
  46. Pĭx, n.p. 993The same as PYX, q. v.
  47. Pĭx, v. t.p. 993See PYX.
  48. Pĭx'y, n.p. 993A fairy. [Prov. Eng.] Holloway.
  49. Pĭx'y-lĭēd, a.p. 993Led by pixies or fairies; bewildered.
  50. Pĭx'y-rĭng, n.p. 993A fairy ring. Halliwell.
  51. Pĭx'y-stōōl, n.p. 993A toadstool or mushroom.
  52. Piz'zle, n.p. 993The part, in certain male quadrupeds, which is official to generation and the discharge of urine. Browne.
  53. Pla'ca-bĭl'ĭ-tȳ, n.p. 993The quality of being placable, or appeasable.
  54. Plā'ca-ble, a.p. 993Capable of being appeased or pacified; appeasable; willing to forgive. Methought I saw him placable and mild. Milton.
  55. Plā'ca-ble-ness, n.p. 993The quality of being placable; placability.
  56. 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…
  57. 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.
  58. Pla'cāte, v. t.p. 993To appease or pacify; to conciliate.
  59. Plāçe, n.p. 993A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court-yard. “Hangman’s boys in the market-place.” Shak. At Eltham Place I told your majesty. Shak. 2. Hence, any portion of space regarded as measured…
  60. Plāce, v. t.p. 993To assign a place to; to put in a particular part of space, or in a given or assumed relative position; to fix; to settle. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown. Shak. 2. To put in a particular…