Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Plāt'ing, n. p. 997The art or operation of covering any thing with plate or with a metal, particularly of overlaying a baser metal with a thin plate of silver or other metal. 2. A thin coating of metal laid upon…Pla-tĭn'ic, a. p. 997(Chem.) Of, or pertaining to, platinum.Plăt'i-nĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 997Yielding platinum; as, platiniferous sand.Plăt'i-nīze, v. t. p. 997To cover or combine with platinum. Gregory.Plāt'i-nōde, n. p. 997Same as CATHODE. See CATHODE.Plăt'i-noid, a. p. 997Resembling platinum.Plăt'i-noŭs, a. p. 997Containing, or consisting of, platinum.Plăt'ĭ-nūm or Pla-tī'num, n. p. 997(Chem.) A metal of the color of silver, but less bright. Its specific gravity is 20, and may be increased by heat and pressure to 21.5. It is harder than iron, undergoes no alteration in air, resists…Plăt'-i-tūde, n. p. 997Flatness; dullness; insipidity. “To hammer one golden grain of wit into a sheet of infinite platitude.” Motley. 2. That which exhibits flatness or dullness; a weak or empty remark.Pla-tŏm'e-ter, n. p. 997The same as PLANIMETER, q. v.Pla-tŏn'ic, n. p. 997One who adopts the views of Plato.Pla-tŏn'ic or Pla-tŏn'ic-al, a. p. 997Pertaining to Plato the philosopher, or to his philosophy, his school, or his opinions. Platonic bodies, the five regular geometrical solids; namely, the tetrahedron, hexahedron or cube, octahedron…Pla-tŏn'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 997After the manner of Plato, or of the Platonists.Plā'to-nĭsm, n. p. 997The doctrines of Plato and his followers. ☞ Plato believed God to be an infinitely wise, just, and powerful Spirit; and that he formed the visible universe out of pre-existent amorphous matter…Plā'to-nīst, n. p. 997One who professes to be a follower of Plato, and to philosophize as he did. Hammond.Plā'to-nīze, v. i. p. 997To adopt the opinions of the Platonic school. Milner.Plā'to-nīze, v. t. p. 997To explain on the principles of the Platonic school, or to accommodate to those principles. Enfield.Plā'to-nīz'er, n. p. 997One who Platonizes; a Platonist.Pla-tōōn', n. p. 997(Mil.) (a.) A small body of soldiers or musketeers, drawn out of a battalion of foot, when they form a hollow square, to strengthen the angles. [Obs.] (b.) In present usage, half of a company.Plăt'ter, n. p. 997A large, shallow dish, for holding the provisions of a table. 2. [See PLAT.] One who plats or forms by weaving.Plăt'ter-fāced, a. p. 997Having a broad face.Plāt'ting, n. p. 997Slips of bast, cane, straw, and the like, woven or plaited for making into hats, &c.Pla-tū'rus, n. p. 997(Zoöl.) A genus of marine serpents having a flattened tail. Baird.Plāt'y, a. p. 997Like plates; consisting of plates.Plāt'y-cēph'a-loŭs, a. p. 997Broad-headed.Plăt'y-cœ'li-an, a. p. 997Flat at the front end and concave at the hinder, as the vertebræ of the extinct cetiosaurs. Dana.Plāt'y-erī'nīte, a. p. 997(Palæon.) A kind of encrinite, the body of which is stout, and made up of a few large plates. It is confined mostly to the sub-carboniferous limestone in geology. Dana.Plăt'y-pŏd, n. p. 997(Zoöl.) An animal having broad feet.Plăt'y-pūs, n. p. 997(Zool.) The same as ORNITHORHYNCHUS. See ORNITHORHYNCHUS.Plăt'y-rhīne, n. p. 997(Zoöl.) One of a group of monkeys, characterized by having a round head and wide nostrils. See MONKEY.Plaud'it, n. p. 997A mark or expression of applause; praise bestowed. The plaudits on which it lives are as welcome when shouted by the most ignoble as when uttered by the wise. J. Taylor. Syn.—Acclamation; shouting…Plaud'it-o-ry, a. p. 997Applauding; commending.Plau'si-bil'i-ty, n. p. 997The state of being plausible; pretext; speciousness. Swift. To give any plausibility to a scheme of perpetual peace, war must have already become rare. De Quincey.Plau'si-ble, a. p. 997Capable of being applauded; fitted to gain favor or approbation; hence, superficially pleasing; apparently right; specious; popular; as, a plausible argument; a plausible pretext; a plausible…Plau'si-ble-īze, v. t. p. 997To render plausible. [Obs. and rare.] Fuller.Plau'si-ble-ness, n. p. 997The state of being plausible.Plau'si-bly, adv. p. 997In a plausible manner. They could talk plausibly about what they did not understand. Collier.Plau'sive, a. p. 997Applauding; manifesting praise. 2. Plausible. [Obs.] It must be a very plausive invention. Shak.Plāy, v. i. p. 997To engage in sport or lively recreation; to frolic; to engage in some exercise for the sake of amusement. The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day, Had he thy reason, would he skip and play? Pope. 2.…Plāy, v. t. p. 997To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon or a fire-engine. First Peace and Silence all disputes control, Then Order plays the soul. Herbert. 2. To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or…Plāy, n. p. 997Any exercise or series of actions intended for pleasure, amusement, or diversion, as at cricket or quoit, or at blind-man’s-buff; a game. “John naturally loved rough play.” Arbuthnot. 2. Amusement…Plāy'-ăct/or, n. p. 997One who acts, or performs a part in a drama; a player; an actor.Plāy'-bill, n. p. 997A printed advertisement of a play, with the parts assigned to the actors.Plāy'-book, n. p. 997A book of dramatic compositions.Plāy'-dāy, n. p. 997A day given to play or diversion; a day exempt from work. Swift.Play'-dĕbt, n. p. 998A debt contracted by gaming. Arbuthnot.Plāy'er, n. p. 998One who plays; as, (a.) An actor of dramatic scenes; one whose occupation is to imitate characters on the stage. All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Shak. (b.) A mimic.…Plāy'fĕl-lōw, n. p. 998A companion in amusements or sports; a playmate.Plāy'fēre, n. p. 998A playfellow. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.Plāy'ful, a. p. 998Sportive; given to levity; as, a playful child. Spectator. 2. Indulging a sportive fancy; as, a playful genius.Plāy'ful-ly, adv. p. 998In a playful manner.Plāy'ful-ness, n. p. 998The state of being playful.Plāy'-gāme, n. p. 998Play of children. Locke.Plāy'-gō'er, n. p. 998One who frequents plays.Plāy'-gō'ing, a. p. 998Frequenting the exhibitions of the stage.Plāy'-house, n. p. 998A house appropriated to the exhibition of dramatic compositions; a theater.Plāy'ing-cārd, n. p. 998One of a set of fifty two cards, made in four suits of thirteen each, bearing painted figures and devices, and used in playing games.Plāy'less, a. p. 998Without play; not playing. Coleridge.Plāy'māte, n. p. 998A playfellow; a companion in diversions.Plāy'-plēas'ure, n. p. 998Idle amusement. [Obs.] Bacon.