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.
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.Prāt'le, n. p. 1022The same as PRATIQUE, q. v.Prā'tin-cōle, n. p. 1022(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Glareola, belonging to the family of the plovers, and found only in the old world. Eng. Cyc.Prāt'ing-ly, adv. p. 1022With idle talk; with loquacity.Prāt'ique, n. p. 1022(Com.) Primarily, liberty of converse; intercourse; the communication between a ship and the port at which she arrives; hence, a license or permission to hold intercourse and trade with the…Prăt'tle, v. i. p. 1022To talk much and idly; to be loquacious on trifling subjects; to prate; hence, to talk lightly and artlessly, like a child; to utter child's talk.Prăt'tle, n. p. 1022Trifling or childish tattle; loquacity on trivial subjects; prate. Mere prattle, without practice, Is all his soldiership. Shak.Prăt'tle-ment, n. p. 1022Prattle. Jeffrey.Prāt'tler, n. p. 1022An idle talker. Herbert.Prăv'i-ty, n. p. 1022Deterioration; degeneracy; corruption; depravity; especially, moral corruption; moral perversion; want of rectitude; as, the pravity of human nature. “The pravity of the will.” South.Prawn, n. p. 1022(Zool.) A small crustacean (Palæmon serratus of Europe, P. vulgaris of the United States), allied to the shrimp. It is highly prized for food.Prāx'is, n. p. 1022Use; practice; especially, exercise or discipline for a specific purpose or object. 2. An example or form to teach practice. Locke.Prāy, v. i. p. 1022To ask with earnestness or zeal, as for a favor, or for something desirable; to entreat; to supplicate. “A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness.” Shak. 2. Especially, to offer prayer to God…Prāy, v. t. p. 1022To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to urge. We pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. v. 20. 2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication…Prāy'er, n. p. 1023One who prays; a supplicant.Prāyer, n. p. 1023The act of praying or of asking a favor; earnest request; hence, an earnest memorial to a court or a legislative body. 2. Especially, the act of addressing supplication to God; the offering up to the…Prâyer'-bōōk, n. p. 1023A book containing prayers or the forms of devotion, public or private.Prāyer'ful, a. p. 1023Given to prayer; using much prayer; devotional; as, a prayerful frame of mind.Prāy'er'ful-ly, adv. p. 1023In a prayerful manner.Prāyer'ful-ness, n. p. 1023The quality of being prayerful.Prāyer'less, a. p. 1023Not using prayer; habitually neglecting the duty of prayer to God; as, a prayerless family, or man. “The next time you go prayerless to bed.” Baxter.Prāyer'less-ly, adv. p. 1023In a prayerless manner.Prâyer'less-ness, n. p. 1023Total or habitual neglect of prayer.Prāyer'-meet-ing, n. p. 1023A meeting or gathering for prayer.