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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.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…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…Pla·cē'bō, n. p. 993(Rom. Cath. Church.) The vesper hymn for the dead, beginning “Placebo Domino.” 2. (Med.) A prescription intended rather to please or satisfy, than to benefit the patient. Forsyth.Plāçe'-brick, n. p. 993An inferior kind of brick, which, from being on the outside of a kiln, is not perfectly burned;—so called by builders. Simmonds.Plāce'ful, a. p. 993In the appointed place. [Obs.]Plāce'less, a. p. 993Having no place.Plāce'man, n. p. 993One who holds or occupies a place; one who has an office under a government. His dislike to the whig and the placeman continued to maintain the coldness between them. W. Scott.Pla-cĕn'tă, n. p. 993(Anat.) The soft, spongy disk which connects the mother with the fetus in the womb. It is composed mainly of vascular tufts on the blood-vessels of the umbilical cord, which are surrounded by the…Pla-cen'tal, n. p. 993(Zoöl.) A mammal having a placenta, as all mammals except the marsupials and monotremes. R. Owen.Pla-cĕn′tal, a. p. 993Pertaining to the placenta; having a placenta; as, a placental mammal. Carpenter.Pla-cĕn′ta-ry, a. p. 993Having reference to the placenta; as, the placentary system of classification. Dana.Plā'ce'n-tā'tion, n. p. 993(Bot.) The disposition of seeds in the ovary or germen.Plăç'en-tīf'er-oŭs, a. p. 993(Bot.) Bearing or producing a placenta.Pla-cĕn'ti-fōrm, a. p. 993(Bot.) Having the shape of a placenta or circular thickened disk, depressed on both sides about the middle. Henslow.Plāce'-proud, a. p. 993Proud of rank or position. Beau. & Fl.Pla'cer, n. p. 993One who places or sets. Spenser.Pla·cêr', n. p. 993A gravelly place where gold is found, especially by the side of a river, or in the bed of a mountain torrent.Plăcĭd, a. p. 993Pleased; contented; unruffled; serene; tranquil; quiet. “That placid aspect and meek regard.” Milton.Pla·cid'i-oŭs, a. p. 993Placid. [Obs.]Pla-cid'i-ty, n. p. 993The quality of being placid; placidness.Plăc'id-ly, adv. p. 993In a placid manner; calmly; quietly.