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.
Pōp'er-y, n. p. 1012The religion of the Roman Catholic church, comprehending doctrines and practices. ☞ The appellation is considered offensive by Roman Catholics.Pōpe's'-ēye, n. p. 1012The gland surrounded with fat in the middle of the thigh.Pōpe's'-hĕad, n. p. 1012A large, round brush, with a long handle, for dusting ceilings. Halliwell.Pŏp’gŭn, n. p. 1012A child's gun, or tube and rammer, for shooting pellets, and making a noise by the expansion of compressed air.Pŏp'in-jāy, n. p. 1012A parrot. If a popinjay speak, she doth it by imitation of man's voice. Puttenham. 2. A mark in the form of a parrot, put on a pole to be shot at. Strutt. W. Scott. 3. A gay, trifling young man; a…Pŏp'ish, a. p. 1012Relating to the pope; taught by the pope; pertaining to the pope or the Roman Catholic church; as, popish tenets or ceremonies.Pōp'ish-ly, adv. p. 1012In a popish manner; with a tendency to popery; as, to be popishly affected or inclined.Pōp'lar, n. p. 1012(Bot.) A tree of the genus Populus, of several species, as the black poplar, the aspen-tree, &c. The species are all of rapid growth, with soft wood. The white poplar abele is P. alba, introduced…Pōp'lin, n. p. 1012A textile fabric made of silk and worsted, of many varieties, as watered, figured, brocaded, &c.Pop-lit'e-al or Pop-lit'ic, a. p. 1012Pertaining to the ham, or posterior part of the knee-joint. Brande.Pŏp'pet, n. p. 1012See PUP-PET. 2. (Naut.) One of certain upright timbers on the bilge-ways, used to support a vessel while being launched. Totten.Pŏp'ple, v. i. p. 1012To move quickly up and down, as a cork dropped on water. 2. To bubble up. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Pōp'ple, n. p. 1012The poplar. [Prov. Eng., and local U. S.]Pŏp'py, n. p. 1012(Bot.) A plant of the genus Papaver, of several species, from one of which (P. somniferum, or white poppy) opium is collected.Pŏp'py or Pŏp'py-hĕad, n. p. 1012(Arch.) An elevated ornament often used on the summit of bench-ends, desks, and other clerical wood-work, in the middle ages. It was sometimes a simple fleur-de-lis, sometimes a group of foliage, and…Pŏp'ū-lāce, n. p. 1012The common people; the vulgar; the multitude, comprehending all persons not distinguished by rank, education, office, or profession. Pope. Syn. — Mob; people; commonalty. See Mob.Pŏp'ŭ-la-cy, n. p. 1013The populace, or common people; the rabble. “His contempt of mobs and the populacy.” Coleridge.Pŏp'ŭ-lar, a. p. 1013Pertaining to the common people; as, the popular voice; popular elections. “So the popular vote inclines.” Milton. 2. Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not critical or abstruse…Pŏp'ŭ-lār'i-ty, n. p. 1013The quality or state of being popular; especially, (a.) The state of being suitable to, or beloved by, the people. “A popularity which has lasted down to our time.” Macaulay. (b.) The state of being…Pŏp'ŭ-lār'i-zā'tion, n. p. 1013The act of making popular, or of introducing among a people.Pŏp'ū-lar-īze, v. t. p. 1013To make common, or suitable, to the mind; to spread among the people; as, to popularize philosophy or physics. “The popularizing of religious teaching.” Milman.Pŏp'ū-lar-īz'er, n. p. 1013One who popularizes.Pŏp'ū-lar-ly, adv. p. 1013In a popular manner; so as to please the populace. The victor knight, Bareheaded, popularly low had bowed. Dryden. 2. According to the conceptions of the common people. Browne.Pŏp'ū-lar-ness, n. p. 1013The state of being popular, or adapted to the fancy of the common people. “Meretricious popularness in literature.” Coleridge.Pŏp’ū-lāte, v. t. p. 1013To furnish with inhabitants, either by natural increase, or by immigration or colonization; to people.Pŏp’ū-lāte, v. i. p. 1013To breed people; to propagate. When there be great shoals of people which go on to populate. Bacon.Pŏp'ū-late, a. p. 1013The same as POPULOUS. [Obs.]Pŏp'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 1013The act or operation of peopling, or furnishing with inhabitants; multiplication of inhabitants. 2. The whole number of people, or inhabitants, in a country, or portion of a country. A country may…Pŏp'ū-li-çīde', n. p. 1013Slaughter of the people. [Rare.]Pŏp'ŭ-līne, n. p. 1013(Chem.) A crystallizable substance separated from the bark of the Populus tremula, of a sweetish acrid taste. Gregory.Pŏp'ŭ-lōs'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1013Populousness. [Obs.] Browne.Pŏp'ŭ-lous, a. p. 1013Full of inhabitants; containing many inhabitants in proportion to the extent of the country. Heaven, yet populous, retains Numbers sufficient to possess her realms. Milton. 2. Pleasing to people…Pōp'ū-lous-ly, adv. p. 1013With many inhabitants in proportion to the extent of country.Pŏp'ū-lōŭs-ness, n. p. 1013The state of having many inhabitants in proportion to the extent of country. By populousness, in contradistinction to “population,” is understood the proportion the number bears to the surface of the…Pōr'bēa-gle, n. p. 1013(Ichth.) A species of shark; the Lamna cornubica. [Written also probeagle.] Yarrell.Pōr'eate or Pōr'ē-a-ted, a. p. 1013Formed in parallel ridges; ridged. Asiat. Res.Pôr'çe-lain, n. p. 1013A fine, translucent kind of earthen ware, made first in China and Japan, but now in Europe and America; — called also China, or China ware. Porcelain, by being pure, is apt to break. Dryden. 2.…Porcelain-clay p. 1013a clay composed of alumina and silica, used in making porcelain.—Porcelain-jasper. See Porcelanite.Pōr'çe-lā'ne-ous, a. p. 1013Pertaining to, or resembling, porcelain; as, porcelaneous shells. Hatchett.Pōr'çe-la-nite, n. p. 1013(Min.) A semi-vitrified clay or shale, somewhat resembling jasper; — called also porcelain-jasper. Dana.Pōr'çe-lā'nōus, a. p. 1013Pertaining to, or like, porcelain; porcelaneous.Pōrch, n. p. 1013(Arch.) A kind of vestibule at the entrance, of temples, halls, churches, or other buildings; hence, a stately or ornamental entrance way. The graceless Helen in the porch I spied Of Vesta’s temple.…Pōr'cine, a. p. 1013Pertaining to swine; as, the porcine species of animals.Pōr'cu-pīne, n. p. 1013(Zool.) A rodent quadruped of the genus Hystrix of Linnæus, furnished with spines or quills upon the body, covered with sharp prickles, some of which are twelve inches long, and capable of being…Pôr'eu-pine-fish, n. p. 1013(Ichth.) A fish of the tropical seas, which is covered with spines or prickles capable of being erected by its inflating the body. It is the Diodon hystrix of Bloch. Jardine.Pōr'eu-pine-wood, n. p. 1013The wood of a species of palm; — so called because, when cut horizontally, the markings of the wood resemble the quills of a porcupine. Simmonds.Pōre, n. p. 1013(Anat.) A minute orifice in an animal membrane. 2. A minute opening or passage-way; an interstice between the constituent particles or molecules of a body; as, the pores of plants or of stones.Pōre, v. i. p. 1013To look with steady, continued attention or application on or over; to study with an abstracted gaze;—often with on or over. “Painfully to pore upon a book.” Shak. The eye grows weary with poring…Pōre'blind, a. p. 1013Near-sighted; short-sighted; purblind. [Obs.] Bacon.Pōr'er, n. p. 1013One who pores or studies diligently.Pōr'gee or Pōr'gy, n. p. 1013(Ichth.) A salt-water fish of the gilt-head kind, much esteemed for food. The common species in North America is the Pagrus argyrops. The Sand-porgee is the Sargus arenosus.Po-rif'e-ran, n. p. 1013(Zoöl.) An animal of the group comprising the sponges. Carpenter.Pō'ri·fōrm, a. p. 1013Resembling a pore, or small puncture.Pō'rime, n. p. 1013(Math.) A theorem or proposition so easy of demonstration as to be almost self-evident. Crabb.Pōr'i-ness, n. p. 1013The state of being pory, or having numerous pores. [Rare.] Wiseman.Pō'rism, n. p. 1013(Geom.) A proposition having for its object to find the condition that will render certain problems indeterminate or capable of innumerable solutions. Math. Dict. 2. (Gr. Geom.) A corollary. Brande.Pō'ris·măt'ic or Pō'ris·măt'ic-al or Po-ris'tic or Po-ris'tic-al, a. p. 1013Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a porism.Pō'rite, n. p. 1013(Zoöl.) A coral of certain species, having the surface covered with very shallow or superficial cells, which are quite small and every where contiguous. They grow often to a very large size, and are…Pōrk, n. p. 1013The flesh of swine, fresh or salted, used for food.Pōrk'er, n. p. 1013A hog. W. Scott.