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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Points’man, n. p. 1005The man who has charge of rail-way switches. [Eng.] Simmonds.Poise, n. p. 1005Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend or tend to the center. “Weights of an extraordinary poise.” Evelyn. 2. The weight or mass of metal used in weighing with steelyards, to balance…Poise, v. t. p. 1005To balance in weight; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance. 2. To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance. Our nation, with united interest blest, Not now content to…Poĭ'son, n. p. 1005Any substance which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it. 2. Any thing infectious or malignant; as, the poison of…Poi'son, v. t. p. 1005To infect with poison; as, to poison an arrow. If you poison us, do we not die? Shak. 2. To attack, injure, or kill, by poison. He was so discouraged that he poisoned himself, and died. 2 Mac. xiii.…Poī'son-a-ble, a. p. 1005Capable of being poisoned.Poi'son-āsh, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A tree of the genus Amyris (A. toxifera) found in the Carolinas, from the trunk of which a black liquor distils, supposed to have poisonous qualities. Baird.Poi'son-būlb, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A bulbous plant of the genus Brunsvigia (B. toxicaria), possessing poisonous properties.Poī'son-er, n. p. 1005One who poisons or corrupts; that which corrupts.Poi'son-făng, n. p. 1005One of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides the cavity for the pulp, is apparently perforated by a longitudinal canal, which receives at its bottom end the…Poī'son-glānd, n. p. 1005A gland which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, which, in animals and plants, is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound. Craig.Poi'son-ful, a. p. 1005Poisonous. [Obs.]Poi'son-hēm'lock, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous herbaceous plant of the genus Conium (C. maculatum).Poi'son-ī'vy, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A poisonous trailing plant of the genus Rhus (R. toxicodendron);—called also poison-oak. Gray.Poi'son-nūt, n. p. 1005(Bot.) A tree found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, the seeds of which contain a deadly poison; Strychnos nux-vomica.Poi'son-ōak, n. p. 1005(Bot.) See POISON-IVY.Poi'son-ous, a. p. 1005Having the qualities of poison; corrupting; impairing soundness or purity. “The poisonous damp of night.” Shak.