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.
Pre-ēmpt'ion, n. p. 1026The act or right of purchasing before others; as, (a.) The privilege or prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his household in preference to others, abolished by statute…Pre-ēmpt'tive, a. p. 1026Having power, or tendency, to preëmpt; preëmpting.Pre-ēmpt'or, n. p. 1026One who preempts; especially, one who takes up land, with the privilege of pre-emption.Preen, n. p. 1026A forked instrument used by clothiers in dressing cloth.Preen, v. t. p. 1026To dress with, or as with, a preen; to keep in order, as the feathers; — said of birds. Derham. 2. To dress up, as trees; to prune. Halliwell.Pré'-en-gāge', v. t. p. 1026To engage by previous contract or influence; to bind, attach, attract, or occupy, previously. To Cipseus by his friends his suit he moved, But he was pre-engaged by former ties. Dryden.Prē'-en-gāge'ment, n. p. 1026Prior engagement; as by stipulation or promise; a previous attachment binding the will or affections. My pre-engagements to other themes were not unknown to those for whom I was to write. Boyle.Pré'-e-rĕct', v. t. p. 1026To erect or set up beforehand.Prē'-es-tāb'lish, v. t. p. 1026To establish or settle beforehand. Coventry.Pré-'es-tāb'lish-ment, n. p. 1026Settlement beforehand.Prē'-e-tĕr'ni-ty, n. p. 1026Time without end; infinite previous duration. [Obs.] He seemeth, with Ocellus, to maintain the world's pre-eternity. Cudworth.Pré-/ex-ăm/i-nā'tion, n. p. 1026Previous examination.Pré-ex-ăm'ine, v. t. p. 1026To examine beforehand.Prē'-ex-ist', v. i. p. 1026To exist beforehand, or before something else.Prē/-ex-ist'ence, n. p. 1026Existence previous to something else. Wisdom declares her antiquity and pre-existence to all the works of this earth. Burnet. 2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body, or before the…Pré'-ex-ist'en-cy, n. p. 1026The same as PRE-EXISTENCE, q. v. [Obs.]Pré-ex-ist'ent, a. p. 1026Existing beforehand; preceding in existence. What mortal knows his pre-existent state? Pope.Pré-/ex-is'ti-mā'tion, n. p. 1026Previous esteem or estimation. [Obs.] Browne.Prē-ēx-pĕc-tā'tion, n. p. 1026Previous expectation.Prĕf'ace, n. p. 1026Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks. This superficial tale is but a preface of…Prē'face, v. t. p. 1026To introduce by preliminary remarks; as, to preface a book or discourse. 2. To face; to cover; — used humorously. “Not prefacing old rags with plush.” Cleveland.Prĕf'ace, v. i. p. 1026To say something introductory; to make a preface.Prĕf'a-cer, n. p. 1026The writer of a preface. Dryden.Prēf'a-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1026Serving to introduce or preface; as, prefatorial remarks. Gilpin.Prĕf'a-to-ri-ly, adv. p. 1026By way of preface.Préf'a-to-ry, a. p. 1026Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse.Prē'fect, n. p. 1026A Roman officer who was over, or who superintended, a particular command, charge, department, and the like. Of this class there were several, as the prefect of the aqueducts, the prefect of a camp…Prē'fect-ship or Prē'fect-ūre, n. p. 1027The office of a chief magistrate, commander, or viceroy. 2. The jurisdiction of a prefect.Pre-fĕr', v. t. p. 1027To set forth; to offer; to present; to address; —said especially of a request, prayer, or the like; and sometimes followed by above, before, or to. Their tongues prefer strange orisons on high.…Préf'er-a-ble, a. p. 1027Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more eligible; more desirable.Pref'er-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1027The quality or state of being preferable. Mountague.Pref'er-a-bly, adv. p. 1027In preference; by choice or predilection. How comes he to choose Plautus preferably to Terence? Dennis.Préf'er-ence, n. p. 1027The act of preferring one thing before another; higher estimation; predilection; choice; — with to, above, before, or over, before the thing postponed. Leave the critics on either side to contend…Pref'er-en'tial, a. p. 1027Giving, indicating, or having a preference; as, preferential duties; preferential shares; a preferential shareholder.Pre-fêr'ment, n. p. 1027The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; or the state of being advanced; promotion; exaltation; ascending gradation of rank; superior place. Neither royal blandishments nor promises…Pre-fĕr'rer, n. p. 1027One who prefers.Pré'fi-dence, n. p. 1027A previous trusting. [Obs.] Baxter.Préfi'dent, a. p. 1027Trusting previously. [Obs.] Baxter.Pre-fig'ū-rāte, v. t. p. 1027To show by antecedent representation; to prefigure. [Obs.]Pre-fig'ū-rā'tion, n. p. 1027The act of prefiguring, or the state of being prefigured; antecedent representation by similitude. A variety of prophecies and prefigurations had their punctual accomplishment in the author of this…Pre-fig'ū-ra-tive, a. p. 1027Showing by previous figures, types, or similitudes, prefiguring.Pre-fig'ūre, v. t. p. 1027To announce or suggest by types and similitudes. “Whom all the various types prefigured.” South.Pre-fig'ūre-ment, n. p. 1027Act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.Pre-fine', v. t. p. 1027To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.Prē-fī'nite, a. p. 1027Pre-arranged; definite. [Obs.] “Set and prefinite time.” Holland.Prĕf'i-ni'tion, n. p. 1027Previous limitation. [Obs.]Pre'fix', v. t. p. 1027To put or fix before, or at the beginning of another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word; to prefix an advertisement to a book, or an epithet to a title. 2. To set or appoint beforehand; to…Prē/fix, n. p. 1027A letter, syllable, or word, set before a word, or combined or united with it at its beginning, to vary its signification; as pre in prefix, con in conjure, with in withstand.Pre-fix'ion, n. p. 1027The act of prefixing.Prē-flō-rā'tion, n. p. 1027(Bot.) The disposition of the parts in a flower-bud; æstivation.Prē'fo-li-ā'tion, n. p. 1027(Bot.) The arrangement of the parts in leaf-buds before expanding; vernation. Henslow.Prē-fōrm′, v. t. p. 1027To form beforehand. [Obs.] Shak.Pre-fŏrm'a-tive, n. p. 1027A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.Pre-fŭl'gen-cy, n. p. 1027Superior brightness or effulgency. [Rare.] Barrow.Pre-gā'ge, v. t. p. 1027To engage beforehand. [Obs.] “By oath pregaged to the pope.” Fuller.Prē-glā'cial, a. p. 1027(Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period. Dana.Prĕg'na-ble, a. p. 1027Capable of being taken or won by force; expugnable. [R.] Cotgrave.Prĕg'nance, n. p. 1027Pregnancy. [Obs.]Prĕg'nan-cy, n. p. 1027The condition of being pregnant; the state of being with young. 2. The quality of being heavy with important contents, significance, or the like; unusual consequence or capacity; fertility.…Prĕg'nant, a. p. 1027Being with young, as a female; great with child; breeding; teeming; gravid; preparing to bring forth. 2. Hence, heavy with important contents; full of consequence; of unusual significance. “Pregnant…