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.
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.Plūm'be-an or Plūm'be-ous, a. p. 1001Consisting of or resembling lead; lead-colored. 2. Dull; heavy; stupid. J. P. Smith.Plŭmb'er, n. p. 1001One who works in lead; especially, one who adjusts lead pipes and other apparatus for the conveyance of water.Plŭmber-blŏck, n. p. 1001A metal box or case containing the pillows on which the journals of shafts revolve;—the same as PILLOW-BLOCK. See PILLOW-BLOCK.Plŭmb'er-y, n. p. 1001The business of a plumber. 2. The place where plumbing is carried on.Plŭm'bĭc, a. p. 1001Pertaining to, or obtained from, lead; as, plumbic acid.Plum-bĭf'er-ōūs, a. p. 1001Producing or containing lead. Kirwan.Plŭmb'ing, n. p. 1001The art of casting and working in lead, and using it in building. Gwilt. 2. Especially, the business of arranging pipes for conducting water. 3. The lead pipes and other apparatus employed in…Plŭmb'-line, n. p. 1001A line having a weight attached to its end, used to determine a perpendicular; a plummet. 2. A line perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; a line directed to the center of gravity in the earth.Plŭmb'-rūle, n. p. 1001A narrow board having a plumb-line suspended from its top, used by builders to determine a perpendicular.Plŭm'-cāke, n. p. 1001Cake containing raisins, currants, or other fruit.Plūme, n. p. 1001The feather of a bird; especially, the finer or heavier part of a feather. 2. A large or handsome feather worn as an ornament on a helmet, on a military hat, on a lady’s bonnet, and the like. “His…Plūme, v. t. p. 1001To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of. “Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers.” Irving. Swans must be kept in some inclosed pond, where they may have room to come on shore and plume…Plūme'-āl'um, n. p. 1001Feathery or fibrous alum.Plūme'less, a. p. 1001Without plumes. Eusden.Plūme'let, n. p. 1001A small plume. “When rosy plumets tuft the larch.” Tennyson. 2. (Bot.) A plumule.Plūm'er-y, n. p. 1001A collection of plumes; plumes in general. [Rare.] Southey.Plu-mig'er-oüs, a. p. 1001Feathered; having feathers. Bailey.Plu-mil'i-fōrm, a. p. 1001Having the shape of a plume or feather.Plū'mi-pĕd, a. p. 1001(Ornith.) Having feet covered with feathers.Plā'mi-pĕd, n. p. 1001(Ornith.) A bird that has feathers on its feet.Plŭm'met, n. p. 1001A long piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water. I'll sink him deeper than e'er plummet sounded. Shak. The lazy leaden-stepping hours, Whose speed is but the heavy…Plum'met-line p. 1001a line with a plummet attached; a sounding-line.Plūm'ming, n. p. 1001(Min.) The operation of finding, by means of a mine dial, the place where to sink an air-shaft, or to bring an adit to the work, or to find which way the lode inclines.Plu-mōse' or Plū'mōus, a. p. 1001Having feathers or plumes; resembling a plume or plumes. 2. (Bot.) Having hairs, or any parts or appendages arranged along an axis; plume-like.Plū'mo-site, n. p. 1001(Min.) A sulphuret of antimony and lead crystallizing in capillary forms. Dana.Plu-mōs'i-ty, n. p. 1001The state of being plumose.Plŭmp, a. p. 1001Swelled with fat or flesh to the full size; full; fat; having a full skin; round; as, a plump boy; a plump habit of body. The famished crow grows plump and round. Swift. 2. Complete; unreserved…Plūmp, n. p. 1001A number of things closely united or standing together; a knot; a cluster; a collection; a clump; as, a plump of trees; a plump of fowls; a plump of horsemen. [Obs.] “To visit islands and the plumps…Plŭmp, v. t. p. 1001To extend to fullness; to swell; to dilate; to fatten. “To plump up the hollowness of their history with improbable miracles.” Fuller. The particles of air, expanding themselves, plump out the sides…Plŭmp, v. i. p. 1001To grow large to fullness; to be swelled. 2. To plunge or fall like a heavy mass or lump of dead matter; to fall suddenly or at once.Plāmp, adv. p. 1001At once, or with a sudden, heavy fall; suddenly; heavily. B. Jonson.Plŭmp'er, n. p. 1001Something carried in the mouth to dilate the cheeks; a thing intended to swell out something else. Swift. 2. (English Elections.) A vote given to one candidate only, when two or more are to be…Plūm'-pie, n. p. 1002A pie containing plums.Plŭmp'ly, adv. p. 1002In a plump manner; fully; roundly; without reserve; as, to assert a thing plumply. [Colloq.]Plāmp'ness, n. p. 1002The state of being plump. Newton.Plūm'-pŏr'ridge, n. p. 1002Porridge with plums in it.Plūm'-pŭd'ding, n. p. 1002Pudding containing raisins or currants.Plŭmp'y, a. p. 1002Somewhat plump; fat; jolly. Shak.Plŭm'-tree, n. p. 1002A tree that produces plums.Plā'mu-lā, n. p. 1002(Bot.) A plumule.Plū'mūle, n. p. 1002(Bot.) The first bud, or gemule, of a young plant; the bud, or growing point, of the embryo, above the cotyledons. Gray.Plū'mu-lōse', a. p. 1002Having hairsPlūm'y, a. p. 1002Covered or adorned with plumes. Milton.Plān'der, v. t. p. 1002To take the goods of by force; to take from by robbery; to pillage; to spoil; to strip; to rob; as, to plunder a place. 2. To take by pillage or open force; as, the enemy plundered all the goods they…Plūn'der, n. p. 1002That which is taken from an enemy; pillage; prey; spoil. 2. Personal property and effects; baggage or luggage. [Southern and Western U. S.] These bring seventeen bales of furniture, and other rich…Plŭn'der-age, n. p. 1002(Mar. Law.) Embezzling goods on shipboard. Wharton.Plăn'der-er, n. p. 1002One who plunders.Plŭnge, v. t. p. 1002To thrust into water or other fluid substance, or into any substance that is penetrable; to immerse in a fluid; to drive into flesh, mire, earth, or the like; as, to plunge the body in water. 2.…Plŭnge, v. i. p. 1002To thrust or drive one's self into water, or a fluid; to dive, or to rush in; to pitch; as, he plunged into the river. His courser plunged, And threw him off; the waves whelmed over him. Dryden. 2.…Plŭnge, n. p. 1002The act of thrusting into water or any penetrable substance. 2. A state of being surrounded or overwhelmed with difficulties; difficulty; strait; distress. [Rare.] And wilt thou not reach out a…Plān'geon, n. p. 1002(Ornith.) A sea-fowl; the diver. Ainsworth.Plŭn'ger, n. p. 1002One who plunges; a diver. 2. A long, solid cylinder, used as a forcer in pumps. Plunger-pole, the pump-rod of a pumping engine.Plŭn’ging, p. a. p. 1002Rushing down headlong; pitching downward. Plunging-bath, or plunge-bath, a bath in which a person can dive and swim. Simmonds.—Plunging fire (Mil.), a fire poured down upon an enemy from some…