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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Pōrt'grāve or Pōrt'grēeve, n.p. 1015The chief magistrate of a port or maritime town;—now called mayor or bailiff. [Obs.]
  2. Pōrt'-hōle, n.p. 1015The embrasure of a ship of war. See PORT.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Pōr'ti-cōed, a.p. 1015Furnished with a portico.
  6. Pōr'ti-gūe, n.p. 1015The same as PORTAGUE. Beau. & Fl.
  7. Pōr'tin-gal, a.p. 1015(Geog.) Of or pertaining to Portugal or its inhabitants. [Obs.] “Written in the Portingal language.” Fanshaw.
  8. 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.
  9. Pōr'tion, n.p. 1015That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a part of any thing separated from it. 2. A part, though not actually divided, but considered by itself. These are parts of his ways…
  10. Pōr'tion, v. t.p. 1015To separate or divide into portions or shares; to divide; to parcel. “And portion to his tribes the wide domain.” Pope. 2. To furnish or supply with a portion; to endow. Him portioned maids…
  11. Pōr'tion-er, n.p. 1015One who divides or assigns in shares.
  12. Pōr'tion-ist, n.p. 1015One who has a certain academical allowance, or portion. See POSTMASTER, 3. 2. (Eccl.) The incumbent of a benefice which has more rectors or vicars than one.
  13. Pōr'tion-less, a.p. 1015Having no portion.
  14. Pōrt'land Stōnep. 1015A yellowish-white calcareous freestone from the Isle of Portland, in England, much used in building. P. Cyc. 2. A reddish-brown sandstone quarried at Portland, in Connecticut. [U. S.]
  15. Pōrt'land Vāsep. 1015A celebrated cinerary urn, or vase, found in the tomb of the Emperor Alexander Severus, now owned by the Duke of Portland.
  16. Pōrt'last, n.p. 1015(Naut.) The gunwale; the portoise. See PORTOISE.
  17. Pōrt'-līd, n.p. 1015(Naut.) A lid or hanging door for closing the ports of a vessel.
  18. Pōrt'li-ness, n.p. 1015Dignity of mien, or of personal appearance, depending upon, or arising from, size and symmetry of body, with dignified manners and demeanor; also, bulkiness; corpulence.
  19. Pōrt'ly, a.p. 1015Having a dignified port, or mien; of a noble appearance and carriage. 2. Hence, bulky; corpulent.
  20. Pōrt'man, n.p. 1015An inhabitant or burgess, as of one of the Cinque Ports.
  21. Pōrt-mănʹteau, n.p. 1015A bag, usually made of leather, for carrying apparel and other furniture on journeys.
  22. Pōrt-măn'tle, n.p. 1015A portmanteau. [Obs.
  23. Pōrt'mōte, n.p. 1015A court held in a port town. [Obs.] Blackstone.
  24. Pōr'toir, n.p. 1015One who, or that which, bears; hence, one who, or that which, produces. [Obs.] Branches... which were portoirs, and bare grapes the year before. Holland.
  25. Pōr’toise, n.p. 1015(Naut.) The gunwale of a ship. To lower the yards a portoise or a portlast (Naut.), to lower them to the gunwale.—To ride a portoise, to have the lower yards and top-masts struck or lowered down…
  26. Pōrt'-pāne, n.p. 1015A cloth for carrying bread in, so as not to touch it with the hands. [Obs.]
  27. Pōr'trait, n.p. 1015That which is portrayed; especially, the drawn or painted likeness of a face or person; a graphic delineation of an individual; hence, any exact likeness of a living being; as, the portrait of a…
  28. Pōr'trait, v. t.p. 1015To portray; to draw. [Obs.]
  29. Pōr'trait-pāint'er, n.p. 1015One whose occupation is to paint portraits.
  30. Pōr'trait-pāint'ing, n.p. 1015The painting of portraits.
  31. Pōr'trait-ūre, n.p. 1015A portrait; painted resemblance. “I see the portraiture,” Shak. 2. Hence, that which is copied from some example or model. Divinity maketh the love of ourselves the pattern, the love of our neighbor…
  32. Pōr'trait-ūre, v. t.p. 1015To represent by a portrait, or as by a portrait; to portray. [Obs.]
  33. Pōr-trāy', v. t.p. 1015To paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback; to portray a city or temple with a pencil or with chalk. 2. Hence, to describe in words; as, Homer portrays the character and…
  34. Pōr-trāy'al, n.p. 1015The act of portraying.
  35. Pōr-trāy'er, n.p. 1015One who paints, draws to the life, or describes.
  36. Pōrt'reeve, n.p. 1015The same as PORTGRAVE, q. v.
  37. Pōr'tress, n.p. 1015A female guardian of a gate; a female porter. Milton.
  38. Pōrt'-rōpe, n.p. 1015A rope to draw up a port-lid.
  39. Pōrt'sāle, n.p. 1015A public or open sale. [Obs.] The great quarrel between Cæpio and Drusus grew by occasion of a ring sold in port-sale. Holland.
  40. Pōrt'so-ken, a.p. 1015Having the circuit or liberties of the gate; that is, being within the city gates in point of privileges, though without it in point of fact. One ward in London has now this name.
  41. Pōrt'-tōll, n.p. 1015(Law.) A payment made for the privilege of bringing goods into port. Craig.
  42. Pōrt'-town, n.p. 1015A town having, or situated near, a port.
  43. Pōr'tu-guēse, n.p. 1015(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Portugal.
  44. Pōr'tu-guēse, a.p. 1015(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Portugal, or its inhabitants.
  45. Pōr'tu-lā'cā, n.p. 1015(Bot.) A genus of plants embracing the common purslain, and also species having beautiful flowers. Loudon.
  46. Pōrt'-ward'en, n.p. 1015The officer in charge of a port; a harbor-master. Simmonds.
  47. Pōr'wīg-le, n.p. 1015A tadpole; a young frog. [Obs.] See POLLIWIG.
  48. Pōrt'-wine, n.p. 1015See PORT.
  49. Pōr'y, a.p. 1015Full of pores or small interstices. [Rare.] Dryden.
  50. Pōse, n.p. 1015The attitude in which a person stands; especially, a position formally assumed for the sake of effect; as, the pose of an actor; the pose of a person whose likeness is taken; artificial position.
  51. Posé, a.p. 1015(Her.) Standing still, with all his feet on the ground;—said of the attitude of a lion, horse, or other beast.
  52. Pōse, n.p. 1015A stuffing of the head; catarrh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  53. Pōse, v. t.p. 1015To bring to a stand; to put a stop to; to puzzle. Learning was posed, philosophy was set. Herbert. 2. To question with a view to puzzling; to interrogate rigidly; to embarrass by questioning or…
  54. Pōs'er, n.p. 1015One who puzzles by asking difficult questions; a close examiner. 2. A question, statement, or the like, which puzzles or silences.
  55. Pŏs'ing-ly, adv.p. 1015In a manner to pose, or puzzle.
  56. Pŏs'it, v. t.p. 1015To place firmly or fixedly; to assume as real or conceded. J. Edwards.
  57. Po-sĭ'tion, n.p. 1015The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which any thing is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, inclined, or upright position. We have different prospects of the same thing…
  58. Po-sĭ'tion-al, a.p. 1015Respecting position. [Obs.] Browne.
  59. Pŏs'i-tive, a.p. 1015Having a real position, existence, or energy; real; actual; — opposed to negative. “Positive good.” Bacon. 2. Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations…
  60. Pŏs'i-tive, n.p. 1016That which is capable of being affirmed; reality. South. 2. That which settles by absolute or arbitrary appointment. Waterland. 3. (Gram.) A word that affirms or asserts existence. Harris. 4.…