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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.

  1. Po-tăs'să, n.p. 1018(Chem.) Pure potash, or protoxide of potassium.
  2. Po-tăs'si-ŭm, n.p. 1018(Chem.) A bluish-white, lustrous metal, having a strong affinity for oxygen, with which it forms potassa. It has an atomic weight of 39, and is lighter than water.
  3. Pŏ'tate, a.p. 1018Potable. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
  4. Po-tā'tion, n.p. 1018A drinking or drinking-bout. 2. A draught. 3. A species of drink.
  5. Po-tā′to, n.p. 1018(Bot.) A plant (Solanum tuberosum), and its esculent, farinaceous tuber, largely used for food, and in various farinaceous preparations. It is a native of South America. Sweet potato, a climbing…
  6. Potato-fly or Potato-rot or Potato-wormp. 1018a beetle of several species infesting the potato vine. The Cantharis vittata, which is of a yellowish-red above, barred with black, and the C. atrata, which is wholly black, are common species. They…
  7. Pŏ'ta-tō'ry, a.p. 1018Pertaining to drinking; as, potatory power.
  8. Pŏt'-bĕl'lied, a.p. 1018Having a prominent belly.
  9. Pŏt'-bĕl'ly, n.p. 1018A protuberant belly.
  10. Pŏt'-boy, n.p. 1018A boy who carries pots of ale; a menial in a public house.
  11. Pŏtch, v. i.p. 1018To thrust; to push. [Obs.] I'll potch at him some way. Shak.
  12. Pŏtch, v. t.p. 1018To poach; to boil slightly. [Obs.]
  13. Pŏt'-com-păn'ion, n.p. 1018An associate or companion in drinking; applied generally to hard drinkers.
  14. Pŏt'e-ca-ry, n.p. 1018The same as POTHECARY. [Obs.]
  15. Po-teen’, n.p. 1018Irish whisky. [Written also potteen.]
  16. Pŏ'te-lot, n.p. 1018(Chem.) The sulphuret of molybdenum. Fourcroy, Trans.
  17. Pŏ'tençe, n.p. 1018(Her.) A cross whose ends resemble the head of a crutch; — called also cross-potence. 2. The same as POTENCY. Sir W. Hamilton.
  18. Pŏ'ten-cy, n.p. 1018The state of being potent; power. Now arriving At place of potency and sway o' th' state. Shak.
  19. Pŏ'tent, a.p. 1018Physically strong; forcible; powerful; efficacious; as, a potent medicine. Moses once more his potent rod extends. Milton. 2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; as, a potent prince. Shak.…
  20. Pŏ'tent, n.p. 1018A prince; a potentate. Shak. 2. A walking-staff or crutch. Chaucer.
  21. Pŏ'tent-a-cy, n.p. 1018Sovereignty. [Obs.]
  22. Pō'tent-ate, n.p. 1019One who is potent; a person who possesses great power or sway; a prince; a sovereign; an emperor, king, or monarch. Exalting him not only above earthly princes and potentates, but above the highest…
  23. Po-tĕn’tial, a.p. 1019Being potent; having latent power; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious. [Obs.] A voice potential, As double as the duke’s. Shak. 2. Existing in possibility, not in act. This…
  24. Po-tĕn’tial, n.p. 1019Any thing that may be possible; a possibility. Bacon.
  25. Po-tĕn-tĭ-ăl'ĭ-ty, n.p. 1019The state of being potential; possibility; not actuality. Bentley.
  26. Po-tĕn′tial-ly, adv.p. 1019In a potential or possible manner; in possibility; not in act; not positively. This duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bradley.
  27. Po-tĕn’ti-āte, v. t.p. 1019To render active or potent. “Substantiated and successively potentiated by an especial divine grace.” Coleridge.
  28. Pō'tent-ly, adv.p. 1019With great force or energy; powerfully. You are potently opposed. Shak.
  29. Pō'tent-ness, n.p. 1019Powerfulness; strength; might.
  30. Pō'tent-ate, n.p. 1019A chief magistrate; a potentate. [Obs. and rare.] Wycliffe.
  31. Pō-tes'ta-tive, a.p. 1019Authoritative. [Obs. and rare.] Pearson.
  32. Pŏt'gŭn, n.p. 1019A popgun. [Obs.] Swift. 2. A short, wide cannon, formed like a pot. [Obs.] “ Twelve potguns of brass.” Hakluyt.
  33. Pŏt'-hāng'er, n.p. 1019A pot-hook.
  34. Pōth'e-ca-ry, n.p. 1019One who keeps a shop, especially a shop for the sale of drugs; an apothecary. [Obs.]
  35. Po-theen', n.p. 1019The same as POTEEN.
  36. Pŏth'er, n.p. 1019Bustle; confusion; tumult; flutter. The wind Coming on with a terrible pother. Wordsworth.
  37. Pŏth'er, v. i.p. 1019To make a blustering, ineffectual effort; to make a stir.
  38. Pŏth'er, v. t.p. 1019To harass and perplex; to puzzle. Locke.
  39. Pŏt'-hĕrb, n.p. 1019Any herb fitted for the table; an herb used in cooking for food.
  40. Pŏt'-hōle, n.p. 1019A circular hole formed in the rocky beds of rivers by the grinding action of stones whirled round by the water in what was at first a natural depression of the rock. Dana.
  41. Pŏt'-hŏŏk, n.p. 1019A hook on which pots and kettles are hung over the fire. 2. A letter or character like a pot-hook; a scrawled letter. I have often wished for some person as well skilled as you in these old pot-hooks…
  42. Pŏt'-house, n.p. 1019An ale-house. Warton.
  43. Pō'ti-cho-mā'nī-ā or Pō'ti-cho-mā'nī-ē, n.p. 1019The art or process of coating the inside of glass vessels with engravings or paintings, so as to give them the appearance of painted ware.
  44. Pō'tion, n.p. 1019A draught; usually, a liquid medicine; a dose. Drink off this potion. Shak.
  45. Pŏt'-lĭd, n.p. 1019The lid or cover of a pot. Derham. Pot-lid valve, a kind of bucket-valve, consisting of a circular plate with an eye in the center, through which the piston-rod passes freely.
  46. Pŏt'-lŭck, n.p. 1019What may chance to be provided for dinner.
  47. Pŏt'-man, n.p. 1019A pot-companion.
  48. Pŏt'-mĕt'al, n.p. 1019The metal from which iron pots are made, different from common pig iron. 2. An alloy of copper with lead used for making large vessels for various purposes in the arts. Ure.
  49. Pŏt'-pĭe, n.p. 1019A dish composed of dough and meat boiled together.
  50. Pŏt'-plānt, n.p. 1019(Bot.) A plant of the genus Lecythis; — so called from its large, woody fruit, which opens by a lid like that of a jar. Simmonds.
  51. Pŏt'-piēçe, n.p. 1019The same as POT-GUN.
  52. Pōt-pōur'ri, n.p. 1019A medley or mixture; as, (a.) A ragout composed of different sorts of meats, vegetables, &c., seasoned and cooked together. (b.) A vase or packet of odoriferous flower leaves, used to perfume a room.…
  53. Pŏt'shārd or Pŏt'shāre, n.p. 1019A potsherd. [Obs.]
  54. Pŏt'shārd, n.p. 1019A piece or fragment of a broken pot.
  55. Pŏt'-stōne, n.p. 1019(Min.) A variety of steatite, sometimes manufactured into culinary vessels.
  56. Pŏt'-sŭre, a.p. 1019Having drunk enough to make one sure of being right; confident. [Obs.]
  57. Pŏtt, n.p. 1019See POT, 4.
  58. Pŏt'tage, n.p. 1019A species of food made of meat boiled to softness in water, usually with some vegetables or sweet herbs; a thick soup. [Written also potage.]
  59. Pŏt'tain, n.p. 1019Old pot-metal. [Obs.] Holland.
  60. Pot-teen’, n.p. 1019The same as POTEEN.