Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Plāy'sōme, a. p. 998Playful; wanton. [Rare.]Plā'yṡōme-ness, n. p. 998Playfulness; wantonness. [Rare.]Plāy'thing, n. p. 998Any thing that serves to amuse; a child's toy. A child knows his nurse, and by degrees the playthings of a little more advanced age. Locke.Plāy'wright, n. p. 998A maker of plays. “The coarse caricatures of modern playwrights.” Jeffreys.Plēa, n. p. 998(Law.) That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern…Plēach, v. t. p. 998To unite by interweaving, as branches of trees; to plash. Round thee blow, self-pleached deep, Bramble roses, faint and pale. Tennyson.Plēad, v. i. p. 998To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against a thing; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life…Plēad, v. t. p. 998To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vindication; to offer in excuse; as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors. I will neither plead my age nor sickness in…Plead'a-ble, a. p. 998Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law. Dryden.Plead'er, n. p. 998One who pleads; especially, a lawyer who makes a plea in a court of justice. So fair a pleader any cause may gain. Dryden.Plead'ing-ly, adv. p. 998In a pleading manner; by supplication.Plead'ings, n. pl. p. 998(Law.) The mutual altercations between the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is…Pleas'ance, n. p. 998The state of being pleasant; that which gives pleasure; pleasantry; gayety; merriment. “To whom he might disclose his witless pleasance.” Spenser. “To take of pleasance each his secret share.” Byron.…Plĕas'ant, a. p. 998Fitted to please; grateful to the mind or to the senses; agreeable. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps. cxxxiii. 1. 2. Cheerful; enlivening; as, pleasant…Pleas'ant, n. p. 998One who utters pleasantries; a buffoon. [Obs.]Pleas'ant-ly, adv. p. 998In a pleasant manner.Pleas'ant-ness, n. p. 998The state or quality of being pleasant.Pleas'ant-ry, n. p. 998Any thing which promotes pleasure or good humor; gayety; merriment. The harshness of reasoning is not a little softened and smoothed by the infusions of mirth and pleasantry. Addison. 2. That which…Pleas'ant-tŏngued, a. p. 998Having pleasing speech.Please, v. t. p. 998To excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to gratify; to make glad; as, to please the taste; to please the mind. 2. To satisfy; to content. What next I bring shall please Thy wish exactly to thy…Please, v. i. p. 998To be pleased; to like; to choose; to prefer; to comply;—in entreaty or courtesy, please, and please you. Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Assume what sexes and what shapes they please.…Pleas'ed-ly, adv. p. 998In a pleased manner. Feltham.Pleas'ed-ness, n. p. 998The state of being pleased.Plēase'man, n. p. 998An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank. [Obs.] Shak.Plēas'er, n. p. 998One who pleases or gratifies.Plēas'ing, a. p. 998Giving pleasure or satisfaction; agreeable to the senses or to the mind; gratifying; agreeable; delightful; as, a pleasing prospect; a pleasing reflection; pleasing manners. Syn.—Nice; agreeable…Plēas'ing-ly, adv. p. 998In a pleasing manner. Dryden.Plēas'ing-ness, n. p. 998The quality of giving pleasure.Pleas'ur-a-ble, a. p. 998Pleasing; giving pleasure; affording gratification. Planting of orchards is very profitable, as well as pleasurable. Bacon. 2. Sportive; jocose; full of pleasantry. [Obs.] O, sir, you are very…Plēas'ur-a-ble-ness, n. p. 998The quality of being pleasurable. Feltham.Plēas'ure, n. p. 998The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good;—opposed to pain. “Lovers of…Plēas'ure, v. t. p. 998To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify. [R.] Shak.Pleas'ure, v. i. p. 998To take pleasure; to seek or pursue pleasure; to go out for pleasure; as, to go pleasuring. [Rare.]Pleas'ure-bōat, n. p. 998A boat appropriated to sailing for amusement.Plēas'ure-ful, a. p. 998Pleasant; agreeable. [Rare.] Abbot.Plēas'ure-ground, n. p. 998Ground laid out in an ornamental manner, and appropriated to pleasure or amusement. Groves.Plēas'ur-ist, n. p. 998A person devoted to worldly pleasure. [Rare.] Browne.Plēat, v. t. p. 998To plait or double in narrow folds. See PLAIT.Ple-bē'ian, a. p. 998Pertaining to, or consisting of, the common people; vulgar; as, plebeian minds; plebeian sports; a plebeian throng.Ple-bē'ian, n. p. 998One of the common people or lower ranks of men;—usually applied to the common people of ancient Rome. Swift.Ple-bē'iançe, n. p. 998The common people. [Obs.]Plē-bē'ian-ism, n. p. 998The conduct of plebeians.Ple-bē'ian-ize, v. t. p. 998To make common or vulgar.Plē-biĕ'o-lĭst, n. p. 998One who flatters the common people. [Rare.]Plēb'i-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 998The act of rendering common; deterioration by vulgarity. [Rare.] You begin with the attempt to popularize learning and philosophy; but you will end in the plebification of knowledge. Coleridge.Ple-bīs'cit, n. p. 998A plebiscitum. See PLEBISCITUM.Plē' bis-cī'tum, n. p. 998(Rom. Antiq.) A law enacted by the common people, under the superintendence of the tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, without the intervention of the senate. Brande.Plēe'tog-nāthes or Plee-tōg'na-thī, n. pl. p. 998(Ichth.) An order of fishes having the maxillary bones stiffly adhering to the sides of the intermaxillaries, which alone form the jaws, as the file-fish. [Written also plectognaths.]Plēe'tog-nāth'ic or Plee-tōg'na-thōus, a. p. 998(Ichth.) Of, or pertaining to, the plectognathi.Plēc'trum, n. p. 999A small instrument, commonly of ivory, used by the ancients in playing upon the lyre. 2. (Anat.) (a.) The styloid process of the temporal bone. (b.) The uvula. (c.) The tongue.Plēd, imp. & p. p. p. 999of plead;— sometimes erroneously used instead of pleaded. See PLEAD.Plĕdge, n. p. 999Something put in pawn; personal property delivered to, or deposited with, another as a security for a debt or engagement; the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so…Plĕdge, v. t. p. 999To deposit in pawn; to deposit or leave as security; to give as a warrant. 2. To secure by a pledge. [Obs.] I accept her, And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand. Shak. 3. To engage for by promise…Pledg-ee', n. p. 999The person to whom any thing is pledged.