Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pōd'g'y, a. p. 1003Fat and short; pudgy; as, a podgy hand. Dickens.Pō'di-ŭm, n. p. 1003(Arch.) (a.) The part in an amphitheater projecting over the arena. (b.) A balcony or open gallery. Elmes.Pŏd'o-gyn'i-ŭm, n. p. 1003The same as BASI-GYNIUM, q. v.Po-dŏl'o-gy, n. p. 1003(Med.) A description of, or treatise upon, the foot. Dunglison.Pŏd'oph-thăl'mie, a. p. 1003(Zool.) (a.) Having the eyes on movable footstalks or pedicels. (b.) Of the order Podophthalmia, in crustaceans, which includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimps, the eyes of which are on movable…Pŏd'o-scāph, n. p. 1003A kind of sabot, like a small boat, for the feet, to be used in moving upon the water.Pŏd'o-scāph'er, n. p. 1003One who uses podoscaphe. Standing erect in these [podoscaphs], the podoscapher—provided with a pole, flattened at the end, for paddling, and twelve feet long—can advance, turn, or recede with great…Pŏd'o-spĕrm, n. p. 1003(Bot.) The umbilical cord of an ovule; a little thread connecting an ovule with its placenta. Lindley.Po-drī'dä, n. p. 1003A miscellaneous dish of meats; olla-podrida. See OLLA-PODRIDA.Pō'e, n. p. 1003An article of food in Hawaii and other islands of the Pacific Ocean, made from the pounded baked roots of the taro plant. Thurston.Pō'e-bird, n. p. 1003(Ornith.) A bird of New Zealand, greatly valued for its glossy plumage, which is used in making feather mantles for the chiefs.Pœc'i-lit'ic, a. p. 1003(Geol.) Pertaining to, or characterizing, sandstones of red and other colors, now referred to the Triassic and Permian formations. [Often written poikīlitic.] Dana.Pœ-cĭl'o-pōd, n. p. 1003(Zoöl.) A crustaceous animal having various kinds of feet; namely, prehensory, ambulatory, branchial, and natatory. Kirby.Pō'em, n. p. 1003A metrical composition; a composition in which the verses consist of certain measures, whether in blank verse or in rhyme; as, the poems of Homer or of Milton;—opposed to prose. 2. Hence, rarely, a…Pō'em-āt'ic, a. p. 1003Pertaining to a poem; of the nature of a poem. Coleridge.Po-ē'na-mu, n. p. 1004(Min.) A variety of jade or nephrite, used in New Zealand for the manufacture of axes and weapons. Brandé.Pæ-nŏl'o-gy, n. p. 1004See PENOLOGY.Pō'e-sy, n. p. 1004The art or skill of composing poems; as, the heavenly gift of poesy. Dryden. 2. Poetry; metrical composition. Music and poesy used to quicken you. Shak. 3. A short conceit engraved on a ring or other…Pō'et, n. p. 1004The author of a poem; the inventor or maker of a metrical composition. A poet is a maker, as the word signifies; and he who can not make, that is, invent, hath his name for nothing. Dryden. 2. One…Pō'et-ăs'ter, n. p. 1004A petty poet; a pitiful rhymer or writer of verses. “The talk of forgotten poetasters.” Macaulay.Pō'et-ăs/try, n. p. 1004Poetry composed by a poetaster; mean poetry. [Rare.]Pō'et-ess, n. p. 1004A female poet.Po-ēt'ic or Po-ēt'ic-al, a. p. 1004Pertaining to poetry; suitable to poetry; as, a poetical genius; poetic turn or talent; poetic license. 2. Expressed in poetry or measure; as, a poetical composition. 3. Possessing the peculiar…Po-ēt'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1004In a poetic manner.Po-ēt'ics, n. p. 1004The doctrine of poetry. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.] Warton.Pŏ'et-īze, v. i. p. 1004To write as a poet; to compose verse. Donne.Pō'et-mu-sī'cian, n. p. 1004The bard and lyrist of former ages;—so called as uniting the professions of poetry and music. Bushy.Pō'et-ress, n. p. 1004A female poet; a poetess. [Obs.]Pō'et-ry, n. p. 1004Modes of expressing thought and feeling which are suitable to the imagination when excited or elevated, and characterized usually by a measured form of one sort or another. For poetry is the blossom…Pō'et-ship, n. p. 1004The state of a poet; a poet.Pō'et-sŭck'er, n. p. 1004A suckling poet; a young or immature poet;—so called in contempt. [Rare and ludicrous.] B. Jonson.Pōg'gȳ, n. p. 1004A kind of fish;—same as PORGEE, q. v.Pōh, interj. p. 1004Pish! pshaw!—an exclamation expressing contempt or disgust.Po-hā’gen, n. p. 1004See PAUHAUGEN.Poign'an-cy, n. p. 1004The state of being poignant; as, the poignancy of wit or satire.Poign'ant, a. p. 1004Stimulating to the organs of taste; stinging; sharp; pungent; pricking;—said of that which is tasted. “No poignant sauce she knew.” Dryden. 2. Acutely painful; piercing; irritating; severe; bitter.…Poign'ant-ly, adv. p. 1004In a poignant manner.Poi'ki-lĭt'ic, a. p. 1004See PŒCILITIC.Poinc'tant, a. p. 1004The same as POIGNANT. [Rare.]Poind, v. t. p. 1004To inclose or confine in a pen or pound; to pound. Stray cattle are to be pinned and poinded. Flavel.Poind'er, n. p. 1004One who seizes or distrains cattle for rent. [Scot.] W. Scott.Point, n. p. 1004That which pricks or pierces; especially, the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as of a needle, a pin, a thorn, an awl, a sword, and the like. 2. Hence, sometimes, an instrument which pricks or…Point, v. t. p. 1004To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart or a pin. 2. To direct toward an object; to aim; as, to point a musket at a wolf; to point a cannon…Point, v. i. p. 1004To direct the finger for designating an object, and exciting attention to it;—with at. Now must the world point at poor Catharine. Shak. Point at the tattered coat and ragged shoe. Dryden. 2. To…Point'al, n. p. 1004(Bot.) The pistil of a plant.Point-blānk', n. p. 1004The white spot on a target, at which an arrow, or other missile, is aimed. [Obs.] Johnson. 2. (Mil.) The point at which the line of sight intersects the trajectory of a projectile. Natural…Point-blānk', a. p. 1004Directed in a line toward the object aimed at; aimed directly toward the mark. 2. Hence, direct; plain; express; as, a point-blank assertion. Point-blank range, the extent of the apparent right line…Point-blānk', adv. p. 1004In a point-blank manner; directly. Satan daily solicits me to sin, point-blank against God's word. Fuller.Point-d’appui, n. p. 1004Point of support; basis; a fixed point at which troops form, and on which operations rest.Point-de-vîçe or Point-de-vise', a. p. 1004Uncommonly nice and exact; precise; particular. [Obs.] You are rather point-devise in your accouterments. Shak. “It is difficult to ascertain the origin of this phrase. It appears like French; but I…Point'ed, p. a. p. 1005Sharp; having a sharp point; as, a pointed rock. 2. Characterized by distinctness of meaning and pithiness of expression; as, a pointed rebuke. His moral pleases, not his pointed wit. Pope.Point'ed-ly, adv. p. 1005In a pointed manner; with lively turns of thought or expression. He often wrote too pointedly for his subject. Dryden. 2. With direct assertion; with direct reference to a subject; with explicitness…Point'ed-ness, n. p. 1005The state of being pointed; sharpness; keenness. In this you excel Horace—that you add pointedness of thought. Dryden.Point'el, n. p. 1005Something set on a point. These poises, or pointels, are, for the most part, little balls set at the top of a slender stalk, which they can move every way at pleasure. Derham. 2. A kind of pencil or…Point’er, n. p. 1005Any thing that points; as, (a.) The hand of a time-piece. (b.) A variety of dog, trained to stop, and, with his nose, point out the game to sportsmen. Pointer Dog. (c.) (Astron.) One of the two stars…Point'ing, n. p. 1005The art of making the divisions of a writing; punctuation; interpunctuation. 2. The state of being pointed with marks or points. 3. The act of filling the crevices of a wall with mortar, &c.; or the…Point'ing-stŏck, n. p. 1005An object of ridicule or scorn. Shak.Point'-lāçe, n. p. 1005A kind of fine lace wrought with the needle. Simmonds.Point'less, a. p. 1005Having no point; wanting keenness or smartness; blunt; obtuse; as, a pointless sword or remark. Syn. — Blunt; obtuse; dull; stupid.Point'let-ed, a. p. 1005(Bot.) Having a small, distinct point; apiculate. Henslow.