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.
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.Prāy'ing, n. p. 1023Act of making a prayer; a prayer made. “Masses and prayings for the dead.” Bale.Prāy'ing-ly, adv. p. 1023With supplication to God.Pre. p. 1023An English form of the Lat. prefix præ, be-\nfore, originally dat. f., answering to pro, as dat. m.,\nof per, through. It expresses priority of time, place,\nor rank. It sometimes signifies beyond…Prē-ăc'cu-sā'tion, n. p. 1023Previous accusation.Prēach, v. i. p. 1023To pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon. From that time Jesus began to preach. Matt. iv. 17. 2. To give earnest advice on moral or…Prēach, v. t. p. 1023To proclaim or publish in religious discourses; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue. The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. Is. lxi. 1. 2. To inculcate in…Prēach, n. p. 1023A religious discourse. [Obs.] “To term religion, in that sort exercised, a mere preach.” Hooker.Preach'er, n. p. 1023One who preaches; one who discourses publicly on religious subjects. 2. One who inculcates any thing with earnestness. No preacher is listened to but Time. Swift.Prēach'er-ship, n. p. 1023The office of a preacher. [Rare.] “Turned out of the preachership of the Rolls.” Macaulay.Prēach'ing, n. p. 1023The act of one who preaches; a public religious discourse. Milner.Prēach'man, n. p. 1023A preacher;—so called in contempt. Howell.Préach'ment, n. p. 1023A discourse or sermon; a religious harangue;—used depreciatingly or in contempt. Shak.Pré'ac-quāint', v. t. p. 1023To acquaint previously or beforehand. Sheridan.Pré'ac-quäint'ance, n. p. 1023Previous acquaintance or knowledge. Harris.Pré-âct', v. t. p. 1023To act beforehand; to perform previously. “Those which, though acted after evening service, must needs be preacted by the fancy . . . all the day before.” Fuller.Pre-ăc'tion, n. p. 1023Previous action.Prē'-a-dăm'ic, a. p. 1023Prior to Adam. Bp. Taylor.Prē-ăd'ăm-īte, n. p. 1023An inhabitant of the earth before Adam.Prē-ăd'am-it'ic, a. p. 1023Existing or occurring before Adam; as, fictitious, pre-adamitic periods. Kirwan.Pré'ad-mĭn'is-trā'tion, n. p. 1023Previous administration.Prē'ăd-mŏn'ish, v. t. p. 1023To admonish previously.Pré-ăd/mo-nĭ'tion, n. p. 1023Previous warning or admonition.Pré-äd'ver-tîze', v. t. p. 1023To advertise or announce beforehand.Prē'ăm-ble, n. p. 1023An introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, and the like; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.Prē'ăm-ble, v. t. p. 1023To introduce with previous remarks; to preface.Prē'ăm-ble, v. i. p. 1023To precede any thing; to serve as a preface. We must be content to hear a preambling boast of your valor. Milton.Pre-ăm'bu-la-ry, a. p. 1023Of, or pertaining to, a preamble; introductory; contained or provided for in a preamble. “A preambulary tax.” Burke.Pre-ăm'bu-lāte, v. i. p. 1023To walk or go before. [Obs.] Jordan.Pré-ăm'bu-lā'tion, n. p. 1023A walking or going before. [Obs.] 2. A preamble. [Obs.] Chaucer.Pre-ăm'bu-la-to-ry, a. p. 1023Going before; preceding; leading the way; introductory. [Obs.] Simon Magus had preambulatory impieties. Bp. Taylor.Pre-ăm'bu-lous, a. p. 1023Same as PREAMBULATORY.Pré/an-nounce', v. t. p. 1023To announce beforehand.Prē-ăn/te-pe-nŭlt'i-mate, a. p. 1023Being or indicating the fourth syllable from the end of a word, or that preceding the antepenult.Pré'ap-point', v. t. p. 1023To appoint previously.Pré'ap-point'ment, n. p. 1023Previous appointment.Pré-äp/pre-hĕn'sion, n. p. 1023An opinion formed before examination. Browne.