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.
Præ-cōr'di-ā, n. pl. p. 1021(Anat.) (a.) The midrift, or diaphragm. (b.) The thoracic viscera and the epigastrium. Dunglison.Præ-cōr'di-al, a. p. 1021See PRECORDIAL.Præ'di-al, a. p. 1021See PREDIAL.Præ'flo-rā'tion, n. p. 1021See PREFLORATION.Præ'fo-li-ā'tion, n. p. 1021See PREFOLIATION.Præ'li-ōg'ra-phy, n. p. 1021See PRELIOGRAPHY.Præ-mō'lar, a. p. 1021See PREMOLAR.Præ-môrse', a. p. 1021See PREMORSE.Præmū'nī-re, n. p. 1021(Eng. Law.) (a.) The offense of introducing foreign authority into England, the penalties for which were originally intended to depress the civil power of the pope in the kingdom. (b.) The writ…Præ-mū'ni-to-ry, a. p. 1021See PREMUNITORY.Præ-nō'men, n. p. 1021(Rom. Antiq.) The first name of a person, by which individuals of the same family were distinguished, answering to our Christian name, as Caius, Lucius, Marcus, &c.Præt'er-ĭst, n. p. 1021(Theol.) One who holds that the whole or the greater part of the prophecies of the Apocalypse have been fulfilled.Præ-ter-mĭt', v. t. p. 1022See PRETERMIT. W. Scott.Præ-tĕx'tȧ, n. p. 1022(Rom. Antiq.) A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the toga virilis, or until about the completion of his fourteenth year. It was worn by girls until…Præ'tor, n. p. 1022See PRETOR.Præ-tō'ri-ŭm, n. p. 1022See PRETORIUM.Præ-văr'i-cā'tion, n. p. 1022See PREVARICATION.Prag-măt'ic or Prag-măt'ic-al, a. p. 1022Ready to act; acquainted with business; versed in affairs; skillful. [Obs.] 2. Active in performing work; diligent; busy. [Obs.] The next day I began to be very pragmatical. Evelyn. We can not always…Prag-măt'ic, n. p. 1022One who is active or skilled in business. He's my attorney and solicitor too; a fine pragmatic. B. Jon. 2. A solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head of a state. A royal pragmatic was passed…Prag-măt'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1022In a pragmatic manner; actively; zealously; officiously; impertinently. 2. In a manner that displays the connection and causes of occurrences.Prag-măt'ic-al-ness, n. p. 1022The quality of being pragmatic; activity; earnestness; meddlesomeness; impertinence.Prăg'ma-tĭsm, n. p. 1022The state of being pragmatic. 2. A mode of treating history in which the narration of events is accompanied by a view of the causes and results. The narration of this apparently trifling circumstance…Prăg'ma-tĭst, n. p. 1022One who is pragmatic. 2. One who uses pragmatism.Prairial, n. p. 1022The ninth month of the French republican calendar, which dated from September 22, 1792. It commenced May 20, and ended June 18. See VENDEMIAIRE.Prāi'rie, n. p. 1022An extensive tract of land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. Prairies are level or rolling. 2. A meadow or tract of grass land…Prāi'rie-dŏg, n. p. 1022(Zoöl.) A small rodent animal, the Cynomus (or Spermophilus) ludovicianus, allied to the marmot, and found on the prairies west of the Mississippi. These animals burrow in the ground, in large…Prāi'rie-hĕn, n. p. 1022(Ornith.) A species of grouse (Tetrao cupido), found in the Western States.Prāis'a-ble, a. p. 1022Suitable to be praised; praiseworthy; laudable; commendable. [Obs.] Wycliffe.Prāis'a-bly, adv. p. 1022In a praisable manner; so as to be worthy of praise.Prāise, n. p. 1022Commendation for worth; approval of merit; honor rendered because of excellence or worth; laudation; laud; approbation. There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice.…Prāise, v. t. p. 1022To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; — applied to a person or his acts. We praise not Hector, though his name, we know, Is great in arms; ’tis hard to praise a foe. Dryden. 2. To extol…Prāise, v. t. p. 1022To estimate the value of; to rate; to appraise. [Obs.] Chaucer.Prāise'ful, a. p. 1022Laudable; commendable. [Obs.]Prāise'less, a. p. 1022Without praise or commendation.Prāise'ment, n. p. 1022The act of appraising; appraisement. [Obs.] Fabyan.Prāis'er, n. p. 1022One who praises, commends, or extols; an applauder; a commender. Sidney.Prāise'wor-thi-ly, adv. p. 1022In a praiseworthy manner. Spencer.Prāise'wor-thi-ness, n. p. 1022The quality of being praiseworthy.Prāise'wor-thy, a. p. 1022Worthy of praise or applause; commendable; as, a praise-worthy action. Arbuthnot.Prām, n. p. 1022Prāme p. 1022(Naut.) A flat-bottomed boat or lighter; a praam. See PRAAM. 2. (Mil.) A kind of floating battery or flat-bottomed vessel, mounting several cannon; — used in covering the disembarkation of troops.…Prānçe, v. i. p. 1022To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle. Now rule thy prancing steed. Gay. 2. To ride with bounding movements; to ride ostentatiously. The insulting tyrant prancing o'er the field. Addison. 3.…Prân'çer, n. p. 1022A horse which prances. Then came the captain, or governor, of the Castle of St. Angelo upon a brave prancer. Evelyn.Prăn'di-al, a. p. 1022Relating to a repast.Prân'gos, n. p. 1022(Bot.) A genus of umbelliferous plants, of which one species (P. pabularia), found in Tartary, and having leaves about two feet in length, with a highly fragrant smell resembling that of new clover…Prānk, v. t. p. 1022To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or adjust to ostentation. See PRINK. In sumptuous tire she joyed herself to prank. Milton. Some prank up their bodies, and have their minds full of execrable…Prănk, n. p. 1022A gay or sportive action; a caprice; a ludicrous or merry trick; a playfully mischievous act. In came the harpies, and played their accustomed pranks. Raleigh.Prānk, a. p. 1022Full of gambols or tricks; frolicsome. [Obs.] Brewer.Prănk'er, n. p. 1022One who pranks or dresses in a showy manner; a prinker.Prănk'ish, a. p. 1022Full of pranks.Prā'se, n. p. 1022(Min.) A variety of quartz, of a leek-green color. Dunn.Prās'e-o-līte p. 1022A variety of altered iolite of a green color and greasy luster. Dana.Prāś'i-noûs, a. p. 1022Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture. Lindley.Pră-sī'tēs, n. p. 1022(Med.) Wine in which the leaves of hoar-hound have been infused. Dunglison.Prā′soid, a. p. 1022Resembling prase. Dana.Prā′son, n. p. 1022A leek; also, a sea-weed as green as a leek. Bailey.Prāte, v. i. p. 1022To talk much and without weight, or to little purpose; to be loquacious. To prate and talk for life and honor. Shak. And make a fool presume to prate of love. Dryden.Prāte, v. t. p. 1022To utter foolishly; to speak without meaning. What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate, When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate! Dryden.Prāte, n. p. 1022Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. “Sick of fops, and poetry, and prate.” Pope.Prāt'er, n. p. 1022One who prates; one who talks much to little purpose, or on trifling subjects.