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.
Plōd'ding-ly, adv. p. 1000In a plodding manner.Plōnge, n. p. 1000(Mil.) The superior slope of a parapet. Campbell.Plongée, n. p. 1000The same as PLONGE, q. v.Plōt, n. p. 1000A small extent of ground; as, a garden plot. It was a chosen plot of fertile land. Spencer. When we mean to build, We first survey the plot. Shak. 2. A plantation laid out. [Obs.] Sidney. 3. (Surv.)…Plōt, n. p. 1000Any scheme, stratagem, or plan of a complicated nature, or consisting of many parts, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a mischievous one. I have overheard a plot of death. Shak.…Plŏt, v. i. p. 1000To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government. The wicked plotteth against the just. Ps. xxxvii. 12. 2. To contrive a plan; to scheme. The prince did plot to be…Plŏt, v. t. p. 1000To plan; to devise; to contrive; as, to plot an unprofitable crime. “Plotting now the fall of others.” Milton. 2. To make a plan of; to delineate. To plot forth, to draw away by a plot. [Obs.] The…Plōt'fyl, a. p. 1000Abounding with plots.Plo-t'nist, n. p. 1000(Eccl. Hist.) A disciple of Plotinus, a celebrated Platonic philosopher, who, in the early ages of Christianity, taught that the human soul emanates from the divine Being, to whom it is reunited at…Plōt'ter, n. p. 1000One who plots or contrives; a contriver; a conspirator.Plōt'ting-seāle, n. p. 1000(Surv.) An instrument consisting of two ivory scales, one of which is at right angles to, and sliding upon, the other;—used in plotting, especially in plotting offsets from main lines.Plough, n. p. 1000See PLOW.Plôv'er, n. p. 1000(Ornith.) A bird of several species frequenting the banks of rivers and the sea-shore, and belonging to the genus Charadrius of Linnæus. Their flesh is excellent food. Partington.Plow or Plough, n. p. 1000(Agr.) A well-known implement for turning up the soil, drawn by animal or other power. “Where fern succeeds ungrateful to the plow.” Dryden. 2. Hence, culture of the earth; agriculture; tillage. 3. A…Plow or Plough, v. t. p. 1000To trench and turn up with a plow; as, to plow the ground for wheat; to plow it into ridges. 2. To furrow; to divide; to run through in sailing. With speed we plow the watery wave. Pope. 3. To turn…Plow or Plough, v. i. p. 1000To labor with a plow. He that ploweth should plow in hope. 1 Cor. ix. 10. 2. To advance by plowing, or in spite of obstacles. Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious…Plow'a-ble or Plough'a-ble, a. p. 1000Capable of being plowed; arable.Plow'-älms or Plough'-älms, n. p. 1000A penny formerly paid by every plow-land to the church. [Obs.] Cowell.Plow'-bōte or Plough'-bōte, n. p. 1000(Eng. Law.) Wood or timber allowed to a tenant for the repair of instruments of husbandry.Plow'boy or Plough'boy, n. p. 1000A boy that drives or guides a team in plowing; a rustic boy.Plow'er or Plough'er, n. p. 1000One who plows land; a cultivator.Plow'-fōot or Plough'-fōot, n. p. 1000The lower or bottom part of a plow.Plow'-gāng or Plough'-gāng, n. p. 1000The same as PLOW-GATE.Plow'-gāte or Plough'-gāte, n. p. 1000A certain quantity of land, being about thirty acres. [Eng.] “Not having one plow-gate of land.” W. Scott.Plow'-hĕad or Plough'-hĕad, n. p. 1000The draught-iron at the end of the beam of a plow.Plow'-lānd or Plough'-lānd, n. p. 1000Land that is plowed, or suitable for tillage. 2. (O. Eng. Law.) A quantity of land allotted for the work of one plow; as much as one team can plow in a year.Plow'-man or Plough'-man, n. p. 1000One who plows or holds a plow; a cultivator of grain; a husbandman. At last, the robber binds the plowman, and carries him off with the oxen. Spelman. 2. A rustic; a countryman; a hardy laborer.Plow'-Mōn'day or Plough'-Mōn'day, n. p. 1000The Monday after Twelfth-day, formerly fixed upon by English farmers as the period for commencing the labors of the plow. Tusser.Plow'-pĕn'ny or Plough'-pĕn'ny, n. p. 1000A special tax on each plow. [Denmark.] Sinding.Plow'shāre or Plough'shāre, n. p. 1001The part of a plow which cuts the ground at the bottom of the furrow, and raises the slice of earth or sod to the mold-board, which turns it over.Plow'-shoe or Plough'-shoe, n. p. 1001A piece of wood somewhat resembling a shoe, which is placed under a plow so that it may be drawn over the soil without penetrating.Plow'-sŏck or Plough'-sŏck, n. p. 1001Plowshare. [Scot.] W. Scott.Plow'-stȧff or Plough'-stȧff, n. p. 1001An instrument like a paddle for cleaning a plow, or for clearing it when it becomes choked with stalks, weeds, or the like.Plow'-tāil or Plough'-tāil, n. p. 1001The hind part or handle of a plow.Plow'-wrīght or Plough'-wrīght, n. p. 1001One who works upon, makes, or repairs plows.Ploy, v. i. p. 1001(Mil.) To form a column from a line of battle on some designated subdivision.Plŭck, v. t. p. 1001To pull; to draw. Its own nature did the mischief, and plucks on its own dissolution. Bp. Taylor. 2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off, out, or from, with a twitch; to…Plück, n. p. 1001The heart, liver, and lights of an animal. 2. Spirit; perseverance under opposition or discouragement; indomitableness; courage. “Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck.” Thackeray.Plück'er, n. p. 1001One who plucks. Mortimer.Plück'i-ly, adv. p. 1001In a bold, resolute manner.Plück'-i-ness, n. p. 1001The quality of pluck. Thackeray.Plück'less, a. p. 1001Without pluck.Plück'y, a. p. 1001Having resolute and enduring courage; spirited. Thackeray.Plüff, n. p. 1001A puff; an escape of smoke; an explosion of gunpowder. [Scot.]Plüg, n. p. 1001Any piece of wood or other substance used to stop a hole; a stopple. 2. The foil or other matter used by a dentist to fill the cavity in a tooth. [U. S.] 3. A flat, oblong cake of pressed tobacco…Plŭg, v. t. p. 1001To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole.Plŭg'ging, n. p. 1001The act of stopping with a plug; the material of which a plug or stopple is made.Plŭg'-rŏd, n. p. 1001(Steam-eng.) A rod attached to the beam for working the valves, as in the Cornish engine.Plūm, n. p. 1001The fruit of a tree belonging to the genus Prunus; also, the tree itself, usually called plum-tree. ☞ The fruit is a drupe, containing a nut or stone with prominent sutures, and inclosing a kernel.…Plŭm, a. p. 1001Plump; round; full. [Obs.]Plŭm'ăge, n. p. 1001The collection of plumes or feathers which cover a bird. Say, will the falcon stooping from above, Smit with her varying plumage, spare the dove? Pope.Plu-māś'sa-ry, n. p. 1001A plume or collection of ornamental feathers.Pīu-mā'sĭ-er, n. p. 1001One who prepares and deals in plumes or feathers for ornament.Plūmb, n. p. 1001A mass or weight of lead or other material attached to a line, and used to indicate a vertical direction, as in erecting buildings, &c.; a plummet; — rarely used except in composition. See PLUMB-LINE.Plŭmb, a. p. 1001Perpendicular, that is, standing according to a plumb-line; as, the post of the house or the wall is plumb.Plŭmb, adv. p. 1001In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. The eagle, of all birds, would be the first to flutter and sink plumb down if the atmosphere should make no resistance to his wings. De Quincey.Plūmb, v. t. p. 1001To adjust by a plumb-line; to set in a perpendicular direction; as, to plumb a building or a wall. 2. [W. plwmiaw.] To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water. [Rare.] Swift. 3. To…Plum-bāʹgine, n. p. 1001(Chem.) A crystallizable substance extracted from the root of a certain plant, the Plumbago Europæa.Plum-bāg′i-nous, a. p. 1001Resembling plumbago; consisting of, or containing, plumbago; as, a plumbaginous slate.Plum-bā’go, n. p. 1001(Min.) A mineral consisting of carbon, with usually, but not necessarily, a little iron. It is used for pencils, &c., and is popularly called black-lead.