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.
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.Prēase, v. t. or i. p. 1023To press; to crowd; to urge. [Obs.] Spenser.Prēase, n. p. 1023Press; crowd. [Obs.] See PRESS.Prēas'ing, a. p. 1023Crowding. [Obs.] Spenser.Pré'as-súr'ançe, n. p. 1023Previous assurance. Coleridge.Pré-au'di-ence, n. p. 1023(Law.) Precedence or rank at the bar among lawyers; right of previous audience. Blackstone.Prēb'end, n. p. 1023The stipend or maintenance granted to a prebendary out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church with which he is connected. 2. A prebendary. [Obs.] Bacon. Dignitary prebend, one having…Pre-bĕnd'al, a. p. 1023Pertaining to a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield.Prēb'end-a-ry, n. p. 1023A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church, who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. Hook. ☞ A prebendary differs from a canon in this…Prĕb'end-a-ry-shĭp, n. p. 1023The office of a prebendary; a canonry. Wotton.Prĕb'end-āte, v. t. p. 1023To invest with the office of prebendary; to cause to become a prebendary. [Obs.]Prēb'end-ship, n. p. 1023A prebendaryship. [Obs.]Prē'cant, n. p. 1023One who prays. “Asserting the efficacy of prayer relatively to the pray-er or precant himself.” Coleridge.Pre-cā'ri-ous, a. p. 1023Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another. 2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown or unforeseen causes or…Pre-cā'ri-oûs-ly, adv. p. 1023At the will or pleasure of others; dependently; by an uncertain tenure; as, he subsists precariously.Pre-cā'ri-oŭs-ness, n. p. 1023The quality or state of being precarious; dependence on the will or pleasure of others, or on unknown events; uncertainty.Pre-cā'tion, n. p. 1023The act of entreating or praying; supplication; entreaty [Obs.] Cotton.Prēc'a-tive or Prēc'a-to-ry, a. p. 1023Suppliant; beseeching. Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; — in some cases creating a…Pre-cau'tion, n. p. 1023Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good in possession. 2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act.Pre-cau'tion, v. t. p. 1023To warn or advise beforehand for preventing mischief or securing good. Locke.Pre-cau'tion-al, a. p. 1023Preventive of mischief; precautionary. Mountagne.Pre-cau'tion-a-ry, a. p. 1023Proceeding from, or containing, previous caution; adapted to prevent mischief or secure good; as, precautionary advice or measures.Pre-cau'tious, a. p. 1023Taking precautions or preventive measures.Pre-cau'tious-ly, adv. p. 1023With precaution.Prē'çe-dā'ne-ous, a. p. 1023Preceding; antecedent; anterior. [Obs.] Hale.Pre-cē'de', v. t. p. 1023To go before in place or order of time; to occur first with relation to any thing. “Harm precedes not sin.” Milton. 2. To go before in rank or importance. 3. To preface; to introduce; — used with by…Pre-cēd'ence or Pre-cēd'en-cy, n. p. 1023The act or state of being precedent; a going before; priority in position, rank, or time; as, the precedence of one event to another. 2. The state of going or being before in rank or dignity or the…Pre-cēd'ent, a. p. 1023Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services; a precedent fault of the will. The world, or any part thereof, could not be precedent to the creation of man. Hale. Precedent…Prē'çe-dent, n. p. 1023Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the like kind; authoritative example. Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only. Hooker. 2. A preceding…Prĕc'e-dent-ed, a. p. 1024Having a precedent; authorized by an example of a like kind.Prē'ce-dēn'tial, a. p. 1024Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions. Wherefore all their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant posterity. Fuller.Præ-cēd'ent-ly, adv. p. 1024Beforehand; antecedently.Pre-cēl', v. t. p. 1024To surpass; to excel. [Obs.]Pre-cĕl'lençe or Pre-cĕl'len-cy, n. p. 1024Excellence. [Obs.] Sheldon.Pre-cĕn’tor, n. p. 1024A leader of music; a directing singer; as, (a.) The leader of the choir in a cathedral;—called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b.) The leader of the congregation in the psalmody of…Pre-cĕn’tor-ship, n. p. 1024The employment or office of a precentor.