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.
Pōr'phy-ry, n. p. 1013(Min.) A rock consisting of a compact base, usually feldspathic, through which crystals of feldspar are disseminated. The crystals are of a lighter tint than the base, and often white. There are red…Pôr'poise, n. p. 1014(Ichth.) A cetaceous mammal of the genus Delphinus of Linnæus, but of the genus Phocæna of more recent naturalists (P. communis). It is about six feet in length, of a bluish-black color on the back…Pōr'po-rī'no, n. p. 1014A composition of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, forming a yellow powder, sometimes used by medieval artists, for the sake of economy, instead of gold. Fairholt.Pōr'pus, n. p. 1014A porpoise. [Obs. or vulgar.]Por-rā'ceoŭs, a. p. 1014Resembling the leek in color; greenish. Wiseman.Por-rēct’,, a. p. 1014(Zoöl.) Extended horizontally; stretched out.Por-rēc'tion, n. p. 1014The act of stretching forth. [Obs.]Pōr'ret, n. p. 1014A scallion; a leek or small onion. [Rare.] Browne.Pōr'ridge, n. p. 1014A kind of food made by boiling vegetables in water, with or without meat; — often made, in America, by boiling meal, flour, or other farinaceous substances in water, or in milk and water, to the…Pōr'ridge-pōt, n. p. 1014A pot in which porridge is boiled.Pŏr'rin-ger, n. p. 1014A porridge-dish; especially, a small metallic vessel in which porridge or other liquids are warmed for children, or from which children are fed. 2. A head-dress in the shape of a porringer;—so called…Pōrt, n. p. 1014[Fr. & Pr. port, It. & Pg. porto, Sp. puerto, Lat. portus, A.-S. port.] A place where ships may ride secure from storms; an inlet, recess, or cove of water where vessels may float in safety; a…Pōrt, v. t. p. 1014To carry; to bear; to transport. [Obs.] I am glad That any thing could port her hence. B. Jonson. 2. (Mil.) To hold, as a musket, in a slanting direction upward across the body, so that its breech is…Pōrt'a-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1014The state of being portable; fitness to be carried.Pōrt'a-ble, a. p. 1014Capable of being borne or carried; not bulky or heavy; easily transported; conveyed without difficulty; as, a portable bed, desk, &c. The pleasure of the religious man is an easy and portable…Pōrt'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1014The quality of being portable.Pōrt'age, n. p. 1014The act of carrying. 2. The price of carriage. Fell. 3. (Naut.) (a.) A port-hole. [Obs.] Shak. (b.) A narrow tract of land over which merchandise, &c., is carried between two bodies of navigable…Pör'ta-güe, n. p. 1014A Portuguese gold coin worth about 3½ pounds sterling, or about 16 dollars. [Obs.] “Ten thousand portuguees, besides great pearls.” Marlow.Pōrt'al, n. p. 1014A small door or gate; hence, sometimes, any passage-way. Thick with sparkling orient gems The portal shone. Milton. 2. (Arch.) (a.) The arch over a door or gate. (b.) The frame-work of the gate. (c.)…Pōrt'al, a. p. 1014(Anat.) Relating or belonging to the porta or gateway of the liver; as, the portal vein, which enters the liver between the portal eminences. ☞— The term has been applied to a similar circulation in…Pōrt'ance, n. p. 1014Air; mien; carriage; port; demeanor. [Obs.] “His portance terrible.” Spencer.Pōrt'ant, a. p. 1014(Her.) The same as PORTATE.Pōrt'ass, n. p. 1014A breviary; a prayer-book. [Obs.] Spencer. Camden.Pōrt'ate, a. p. 1014(Her.) Borne not erect, but athwart an escutcheon; as, a portate cross.Pŏrt'a-tĭve, a. p. 1014Portable. [Obs.] Chaucer.Pōrt'-bār, n. p. 1014(Naut.) (a.) A bar to secure the ports of a ship in a gale of wind. (b.) A boom made of strong timbers fastened together by chains. (c.) A bar at the mouth of or in a port or harbor.Pōrt'-că n'/non, n. p. 1014A kind of boot, or rather boot-top, covering the knees. [Obs.] Toone.Pōrt'clūse, n. p. 1014A portcullis. [Obs.] Johnson.Pört'-crāy'on, n. p. 1014A small metallic handle with a clasp for holding a crayon when used in drawing.Pōrt-cŭl'lis, n. p. 1014(Fort.) An assemblage of timbers joined to one another, and each pointed with iron, hung over the gateway of a fortified town, to be let down to prevent the entrance of an enemy. She the huge…Pōrt-cūl'lis, v. t. p. 1014To obstruct with, or as with, a portcullis; to shut; to bar. [Rare.] Within my mouth you have enjailed my tongue, Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips. Shak.Pōrt-cūl'lised, a. p. 1014Having a portcullis. Shenstone.Pōrte, n. p. 1014The government of the Turkish empire, officially called the Sublime Porte, from the gate (port) of the sultan’s palace, where justice was administered.Pōrt'ed, a. p. 1014Having gates. [Obs.] We took the sevenfold-ported Thebes. Chapman.Porte-feuille p. 1014A portfolio, or place for holding papers, drawings, and the like. 2. The office or functions of a minister of state.Porte-monnaie, n. p. 1014A small pocket-book or wallet for carrying money.Por-tend', v. t. p. 1014To stretch out before; to indicate as in the future; to foreshow; to foretoken. Many signs portended a dark and stormy day. Macaulay. Syn.—To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur; presage…Por-tĕn'sion, n. p. 1014The act of foreshowing. [Obs.] Browne.Por-tĕnt’, n. p. 1014That which portends or foretokens; especially, that which portends evil; an omen of ill; a sign of coming calamity. My loss by dire portents the god foretold. Dryden.Por-tĕnt'ive, a. p. 1014Showing beforehand; presaging.Por-tent'ous, a. p. 1014Serving to portend; containing portents; foreshadowing ill; ominous. Victories of strange and almost portentous splendor produced all the consequences of defeat. Macaulay. 2. Hence, monstrous…Por-tĕnt'oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1014Ominously.Pōr'ter, n. p. 1014A man that has the charge of a door or gate; a door-keeper; one who waits at the door to receive messages.Pōr'ter, n. p. 1014A carrier; a person who carries or conveys burdens for hire.Pōr'ter, n. p. 1014A malt liquor, of a dark brown color, and moderately bitter taste, and possessing tonic and intoxicating qualities. ☞ It is said to be so called as having been first used chiefly by the London…Pōr'ter-age, n. p. 1014Money charged or paid for the carriage of burdens by a porter. 2. The business of a porter, or door-keeper.Pōr'ter-ly, a. p. 1014In the manner of a porter; hence, coarse; vulgar. [Rare.] Bray.Pōr'ter-ess, n. p. 1014See PORTRESS.Pōr'tesse, n. p. 1014A breviary or portable book of prayers; a portass. [Obs.] Tyndale.Pōrt'-fire, n. p. 1014A composition of niter, sulphur, and mealed powder, driven into a case of strong paper, cloth, and the like, used to fire guns, &c.;—now chiefly superseded by the friction primer. Scott.Pōrt-fōl'io or Pōrt-fōl'i-o, n. p. 1014A portable case for keeping loose papers in. 2. Hence, a collection of prints, designs, and the like; as, to have a valuable portfolio. 3. Hence, also, the office and functions of a minister of state…Pōrt'glaive, n. p. 1014A sword-bearer. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Pōrt'grāve or Pōrt'grēeve, n. p. 1015The chief magistrate of a port or maritime town;—now called mayor or bailiff. [Obs.]Pōrt'-hōle, n. p. 1015The embrasure of a ship of war. See PORT.Pōrt'-hōok, n. p. 1015(Naut.) A hook driven through the side of a ship and clinched, for the purpose of hooking one of the hinges that are fastened to the port-lids. Craig.Pōr'ti·co, n. p. 1015(Arch.) Originally, a colonnade or covered ambulatory; in modern usage, a covered space, inclosed by columns at the entrance of a building.Pōr'ti-cōed, a. p. 1015Furnished with a portico.Pōr'ti-gūe, n. p. 1015The same as PORTAGUE. Beau. & Fl.Pōr'tin-gal, a. p. 1015(Geog.) Of or pertaining to Portugal or its inhabitants. [Obs.] “Written in the Portingal language.” Fanshaw.Pōr'tin-gal, n. p. 1015(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Portugal; a Portuguese. [Obs.] In fine, the ever-conquering Portingals Threw to the ground the adamantine walls. Fanshaw.