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.
Pōs'te-ri-ōr'i-ty, n. p. 1017The state of being later or subsequent; as, posteriority of time or of an event; — opposed to priority. Hale.Pos-tē'ri-or-ly, adv. p. 1017Subsequently in time.Pos-tē'ri-ors, n. pl. p. 1017The hinder parts of an animal's body. Swift.Pos-tĕr′i-ty, n. p. 1017The race that proceeds from a progenitor; offspring to the furthest generation; the aggregate number of persons who are descended from an ancestor or a generation; — contrasted with ancestry. In me…Pōs'tern, n. p. 1017Originally, a back door or gate; a private entrance; hence, any small door or gate. He by a privy postern took his flight. Spenser. 2. (Fort.) A subterraneous passage between the parade and the main…Pōs'tern, a. p. 1017Back; being behind; private. Dryden.Pōst'-ex-ist', v. i. p. 1017To exist after; to live subsequently. [Obs. and rare.] Cudworth.Pōst'-ex-ist'ence, n. p. 1017Subsequent or future existence. Addison.Pōst'-ex-ist'ent, a. p. 1017Existing or living after. [Rare.] Cudworth.Pōst'-fāct, a. p. 1017Relating to a fact that occurs after another.Pōst'-fāet, n. p. 1017A fact that occurs after another. “Confirmed upon the post-fact.” Fuller.Pōst'-fine, n. p. 1017(Eng. Law.) A fine due to the king by prerogative, after a leave to agree given in a fine of lands and tenements; — called also the king's silver. Blackstone.Pōst'fix, n. p. 1017(Gram.) A letter, syllable, or word, added to the end of another word; a suffix. Parkhurst.Pōst-fīx′, v. t. p. 1017(Gram.) To add or annex, as a letter, syllable, or word, to the end of another or principal word. Parkhurst.Pōst'-gĕn'it-ūre, n. p. 1017The condition of a child born after another in the same family. [Rare.] Of high spirit and honor, naturally a king, though fatally prevented by the harmless chance of post-geniture. Browne.Pōst'-hăck'ney, n. p. 1017A hired post-horse. Wotton.Pōst-hāste', n. p. 1017Haste or speed in traveling, like that of a post or courier.Pōst-hāste', adv. p. 1017With speed or expedition; as, he traveled post-haste.Pos-thēt'o-mist, n. p. 1017(Med.) One who performs the operation of circumcision; a circumciser. Dunglison.Pos-thēt'o-my, n. p. 1017(Med.) Circumcision. Dunglison.Pōst'-hōrn, n. p. 1017A horn, or trumpet, carried and blown by a carrier of the public mail, or by a coachman.Pōst'-hōrse, n. p. 1017A horse stationed, or intended, for the post.Pōst'-hour, n. p. 1017Hour for posting letters. Dickens.Pōst'-house, n. p. 1017A house established for the convenience of the post, and where relays of horses can be obtained. 2. Hence, a house for receiving and distributing the mails; a post-office.Pōst'hūme or Pōst'hūmed, a. p. 1017Posthumous. [Obs.] Watts.Pōst'hu-mous, a. p. 1017Born after the death of the father, or taken from the dead body of the mother; as, a posthumous son or daughter. 2. Published after the death of the author; as, posthumous works. 3. Continuing after…Pōst'hu-mŏus-ly, adv. p. 1017After one's decease.Pŏs'tie, a. p. 1017Backward. [Obs.] Browne.Pŏs'til, n. p. 1017Originally, a note in the margin of the Bible, so called because written after the text; hence, a marginal note. 2. (Rom. Cath. & Lutheran Churches.) A homily to be read in public by clergymen who…Pŏs'til, v. i. p. 1017To write postils, or marginal notes; to comment; to postillate. [Obs.]Pŏs'til, v. t. p. 1017To write, as a marginal note; to gloss; to illustrate with marginal notes. [Rare.] Bacon.Pŏs'til-er, n. p. 1017One who writes marginal notes; one who illustrates the text of a book by notes in the margin.Pŏs'til-lāte, v. t. p. 1017To explain by marginal notes; to postil. “Tracts of the period which belonged to George III., and in a few instances are postillated by his own hand.” Knight.Pŏs'til-lāte, v. i. p. 1017To write postils or marginal notes. 2. Hence, to preach by expounding Scripture, verse by verse, in regular order.Pŏs'til-lā'tion, n. p. 1017The act of postillating.Pŏs'til-lā'tor, n. p. 1017One who postillates; one who expounds the Scriptures verse by verse. Henry.Pŏs-til'ion, n. p. 1017One who rides and guides the first pair of horses in a coach or post-chaise; also, one who rides one of the horses when one pair only is used.Pŏst'ing-house, n. p. 1017A post-house.Pŏs'tīque, n. p. 1017An ornament of sculpture superadded after the original design has been completed.Pŏs'tle, n. p. 1017An apostle. Halliwell. 2. A postil; a gloss. Wright.Pŏst/li-min'/i-ar or Pŏst/li-min'/i-ōs, a. p. 1017Contrived, done, or existing subsequently. “Postliminious after-applications of them to their purposes.” South.Pŏst'li-mīn'i-ŭm or Pōst-līm'i-ny, n. p. 1017(Rom. Antiq.) The return of a person to his own country who had gone to sojourn in a foreign country, or had been banished or taken by an enemy. Burrill. 2. (International Law.) The right, by virtue…Pōst’man, n. p. 1017A post or courier; a letter-carrier. Granger. 2. (Eng. Law.) One of the two most experienced barristers in the Court of Exchequer, who have precedence in motions; — so called from the place where he…Pŏst'märk, n. p. 1017The mark, or stamp, of a post-office on a letter.Pōst'märk, v. t. p. 1017To mark with a post-office stamp.Pŏst'mās-ter, n. p. 1017The master of a post; as, (a.) One who has charge of a station for the accommodation of travelers; one who supplies post-horses. (b.) One who has charge of a post-office, and the distribution and…Postmaster-general p. 1017the chief officer of the post-office department.Pŏst'me-rid'i-an, a. p. 1017Coming after the sun has passed the meridian; being or belonging to the afternoon; as, postmeridian sleep. Bacon. 2. Belonging to the after portion of life; late.Pŏst'-mill, n. p. 1017A form of wind-mill so constructed that the whole fabric rests on a vertical axis firmly fastened to the ground, and capable of being turned by a lever as the direction of the wind varies.Pŏst'-môr'tem p. 1017After death. Post-mortem examination of a body (Med.), an examination made after the death of the patient.Pōst'-nā'tal, a. p. 1017After birth; as, post-natal infanticide.Pŏst'nate, a. p. 1017Subsequent. [Obs. and rare.] Bp. Taylor.Pōst'-nōte, n. p. 1017(Com.) (a.) A note issued by a bank, payable at some future specified time, whence its name post-note. (b.) A bank-note, made payable to order, and intended to be transmitted to a distant place by…Pōst'-nŭp'tial, a. p. 1017Being or happening after marriage; as, a post-nuptial settlement on a wife. Kent.Pōst'-ō'bit, n. p. 1018(Law.) A bond, in which the obligor, in consideration of having received a certain sum of money, binds himself to pay a larger sum, on unusual interest, on the death of some specified individual from…Pōst'-ŏf/fice, n. p. 1018An office, under governmental superintendence, where letters are received and distributed; a place appointed for attending to all business connected with the mail. 2. The governmental system for…Pōst-ōrb'it-al, n. p. 1018(Anat.) A certain bone of the skull. See SKULL.Pōst'-pāid, a. p. 1018Having the postage paid, as a letter.Pōst-pōne', v. t. p. 1018To defer to a future or later time; to put off; to delay; as, to postpone the consideration of a bill or question to the afternoon, or to the following day. 2. To set below something else in value or…Pōst-pōne'ment, n. p. 1018The act of postponing or deferring to a future time; temporary delay of business.