Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pre-răph'a-el-ĭte, a. p. 1030Pertaining to the style of art before the time of Raphael.Pre-răph’a-el-ite, n. p. 1030One who favors or practices art as it was before Raphael; one who favors or advocates preraphaelism.Pre-rēg'nant, n. p. 1030One who reigns previously; a sovereign predecessor.Prē're-mōte', a. p. 1030More remote in previous time or prior order. In some cases two more links of causation may be introduced; one of them may be termed the pre-remote cause, the other the post-remote effect. Darwin.Prē/re-quīre′, v. t. p. 1030To require previously.Pre-rĕq'ui-sĭte, a. p. 1030Previously required or necessary to any proposed effect or end; as, prerequisite conditions of success.Pre-rĕq'ui-sĭte, n. p. 1030Something that is previously required, or necessary to an end proposed.Prē're-sōlve', v. t. or i. p. 1030To resolve previously. Sir E. Dering.Pre-rŏg'a-tive, n. p. 1030An exclusive or peculiar privilege; prior and indefeasible right; fundamental and essential possession; — used generally of an official and hereditary right which may be asserted without question…Pre-rōg'a-tīved, a. p. 1030Having a prerogative or exclusive privilege. [Rare.] Shak.Pre-rŏg'a-tive-ly, adv. p. 1030By exclusive or peculiar privilege.Prē'sage or Prēs'age, n. p. 1030Something which foreshows a future event; a present fact indicating something to come; prognostic; omen; token. “Joy and shout—presage of victory.” Milton. 2. Power to look into the future, or the…Pre-sāge', v. t. p. 1030To have a presentiment of; to feel beforehand; to forebode. 2. To foretell; to predict; to prophesy; to foreshow; to indicate. If I may trust the flattering eye of Sleep, My dreams presage some…Pre-sāge', v. i. p. 1030To form or utter a prediction. [Rare.] Dryden.Pre-sāge'ful, a. p. 1030Full of presages; containing presages. Tennyson.Pre-sāge'ment, n. p. 1030The act of presaging; a foreboding; foretoken. 2. That which is presaged, anticipated, or foretold; prediction.Pre-sā'ger, n. p. 1030One who presages; a foreteller: a foreshower. Shak.Prēs'by-ōpe, n. p. 1030One who is long-sighted; one who is affected by presbyopia.Prĕs'by-ō'pi-ă, n. p. 1030(Med.) A defect of vision, as in old age, when near objects are seen indistinctly, but distant ones more plainly; — called also presbytia.Prĕs'by-ōp'ie, a. p. 1030Affected by presbyopia; long-sighted.Prĕs'by-ō'py, n. p. 1030The same as PRESBYOPIA.Prēs'by̆te, n. p. 1030One whose vision (like that of many old persons) is confused as to near objects, while those at a greater distance are clearly distinguished. Dunglison.Prĕs'/by-ter, n. p. 1030(Anc. Church.) An elder having authority to instruct and guide in the church. 2. (Church of Eng.) One ordained to the second order in the ministry; — called also priest. I rather term the one sort…Pres-by'ter-al, a. p. 1030Of, or pertaining to, a presbyter or presbytery; presbyterial.Prēs-byt'er-ate, n. p. 1030Presbytery; also, presbytership. Heber.Prĕs'by-ter-ess, n. p. 1030A female presbyter.Pres'by-tê'ri-al or Pres'by-tê'ri-an, a. p. 1030Pertaining to a presbyter, or to ecclesiastical government by presbyters. 2. Consisting of presbyters; as, the government of the church of Scotland is presbyterian.Prēs'by-tē'ri-an, n. p. 1030One who maintains the validity of ordination and government by presbyters. 2. One who belongs to a church governed by presbyters.Pres'by-tē'ri-an-ism, n. p. 1030That form of church government which invests presbyters with all spiritual power, and admits no prelates over them.Prĕs'by-tē'ri-an-ly, adv. p. 1030After the manner, or in accordance with the principles of, a presbyterian, or the presbyterians. [Rare.]Prēs'by-tē'ri-ūm, n. p. 1030(Arch.) That part of a church where divine service is performed; the presbytery. Crabb.Prĕs'by-ter-shĭp, n. p. 1030The office or station of a presbyter.Prĕs'by-ter-y, n. p. 1030A body of elders in the Christian church. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1 Tim. iv. 14. 2. (Presbyterian…Pres-byt'i-ā, n. p. 1030(Med.) The state of being long-sighted; presbyopy.Pres-byt'ic, a. p. 1030Affected by presbytia; presbyopic.Prē′ sci-ence, n. p. 1030Knowledge of events before they take place; foresight. Of things of the most accidental and mutable nature, God's prescience is certain. South.Prē'sci-ent, a. p. 1030Having knowledge of events before they take place; foreknowing. Who taught the nations of the field and wood, Prescient, the tides or tempests to withstand? Pope.Pre-scĭnd′, v. t. p. 1030To cut off; to abstract. [Obs.] Norris. 2. (Metaph.) To consider by a separate act of attention or analysis. We may, indeed, be said to prescind, but not to abstract. Thus, let A, B, C, be three…Pre-scind'ent, a. p. 1030Cutting off; abstracting. [Rare.] Cheyne.Prē'sciōus, a. p. 1030Foreknowing; having foreknowledge; as prescious of ills. Dryden.Pre-scribe', v. t. p. 1030[Lat. præscribere, from præ, before, and scribere, to write; It. prescrivere, Sp. prescribir, Pg. prescrever, Pr. prescrire, Fr. prescrire, O. Fr. prescriber. 1. To lay down authoritatively for…Pre-scribe′, v. i. p. 1030To give law; to exercise arbitrary influence; to dictate; to give directions. A forwardness to prescribe to the opinions of others. Locke. 2. (Med.) To write or give medical directions; to indicate…Pre-scrib'er, n. p. 1030One who prescribes.Prē'script, a. p. 1030Directed; prescribed. “A prescript form of words.” Bp. Taylor.Prē'script, n. p. 1030Direction; precept; model prescribed. “Divine prescript.” Milton. 2. A medical order for the use of medicines; a prescription.Pre-scrip'ti-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1030The quality of being prescriptible.Pre-scrip'ti-ble, a. p. 1030Depending or derived from prescription; proper to be prescribed.Pre-scrip'tion, n. p. 1031The act of prescribing or directing, or that which is prescribed; especially, the direction of remedies for a disease, and the manner of using them; a recipe. 2. (Law.) A prescribing for title; the…Pre-scrip'tive, a. p. 1031Consisting in, or acquired by, immemorial use and enjoyment; as, a prescriptive right or title; pleading the continuance and authority of custom. The right to be drowsy in protracted toil has become…Pré'se-ance, n. p. 1031Priority of place in sitting. [Obs.] Carew.Pré-se-lĕct’, v. t. p. 1031To select beforehand; as, stars preselected for simultaneous observation by different observers.Prĕs'ence, n. p. 1031The state or condition of being present; being or situation within sight or call, at hand, in the same apartment or division of space, or the like;—opposed to absence. 2. The region in which one is…Prĕs'ence-chām'ber or Prĕs'ence-rōom, n. p. 1031The room in which a great personage receives company. Addison.Pré-sen-sā'tion, n. p. 1031Previous sensation or feeling; antecedent notion or idea. More.Pre-sēn’sion, n. p. 1031Previous perception. [Obs.] Browne.Prĕ'sent, a. p. 1031Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits, or the like; not away; — opposed to absent. These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you. John xiv. 25. 2.…Prĕs'ent, n. p. 1031Present time; time in process now, or at the moment contemplated, as in the phrases, at this present, at that present. 2. (pl.) (Law.) Present letters or instrument; a deed of conveyance, a lease…Pre-sĕnt’, v. t. p. 1031To put or place in the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to give a formal introduction to; to set before; to make known; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the…Prĕs'ent, n. p. 1031That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative. His dog, to-morrow, by his master's commands, he must carry for a present to his lady. Shak. Syn. — Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See…Pre-sĕnt'a-ble, a. p. 1031Capable or admitting of being presented; suitable to be exhibited, represented, or offered; fit to be brought forward or set forth; properly prepared to be introduced to another, or to go into…