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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

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.

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  1. Prē-ēx-pĕc-tā'tion, n.p. 1026Previous expectation.
  2. 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…
  3. 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.
  4. Prĕf'ace, v. i.p. 1026To say something introductory; to make a preface.
  5. Prĕf'a-cer, n.p. 1026The writer of a preface. Dryden.
  6. Prēf'a-tō'ri-al, a.p. 1026Serving to introduce or preface; as, prefatorial remarks. Gilpin.
  7. Prĕf'a-to-ri-ly, adv.p. 1026By way of preface.
  8. Préf'a-to-ry, a.p. 1026Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse.
  9. 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…
  10. Prē'fect-ship or Prē'fect-ūre, n.p. 1027The office of a chief magistrate, commander, or viceroy. 2. The jurisdiction of a prefect.
  11. 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.…
  12. Préf'er-a-ble, a.p. 1027Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more eligible; more desirable.
  13. Pref'er-a-ble-ness, n.p. 1027The quality or state of being preferable. Mountague.
  14. Pref'er-a-bly, adv.p. 1027In preference; by choice or predilection. How comes he to choose Plautus preferably to Terence? Dennis.
  15. 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…
  16. Pref'er-en'tial, a.p. 1027Giving, indicating, or having a preference; as, preferential duties; preferential shares; a preferential shareholder.
  17. 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…
  18. Pre-fĕr'rer, n.p. 1027One who prefers.
  19. Pré'fi-dence, n.p. 1027A previous trusting. [Obs.] Baxter.
  20. Préfi'dent, a.p. 1027Trusting previously. [Obs.] Baxter.
  21. Pre-fig'ū-rāte, v. t.p. 1027To show by antecedent representation; to prefigure. [Obs.]
  22. 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…
  23. Pre-fig'ū-ra-tive, a.p. 1027Showing by previous figures, types, or similitudes, prefiguring.
  24. Pre-fig'ūre, v. t.p. 1027To announce or suggest by types and similitudes. “Whom all the various types prefigured.” South.
  25. Pre-fig'ūre-ment, n.p. 1027Act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.
  26. Pre-fine', v. t.p. 1027To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.
  27. Prē-fī'nite, a.p. 1027Pre-arranged; definite. [Obs.] “Set and prefinite time.” Holland.
  28. Prĕf'i-ni'tion, n.p. 1027Previous limitation. [Obs.]
  29. 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…
  30. 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.
  31. Pre-fix'ion, n.p. 1027The act of prefixing.
  32. Prē-flō-rā'tion, n.p. 1027(Bot.) The disposition of the parts in a flower-bud; æstivation.
  33. Prē'fo-li-ā'tion, n.p. 1027(Bot.) The arrangement of the parts in leaf-buds before expanding; vernation. Henslow.
  34. Prē-fōrm′, v. t.p. 1027To form beforehand. [Obs.] Shak.
  35. Pre-fŏrm'a-tive, n.p. 1027A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.
  36. Pre-fŭl'gen-cy, n.p. 1027Superior brightness or effulgency. [Rare.] Barrow.
  37. Pre-gā'ge, v. t.p. 1027To engage beforehand. [Obs.] “By oath pregaged to the pope.” Fuller.
  38. Prē-glā'cial, a.p. 1027(Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period. Dana.
  39. Prĕg'na-ble, a.p. 1027Capable of being taken or won by force; expugnable. [R.] Cotgrave.
  40. Prĕg'nance, n.p. 1027Pregnancy. [Obs.]
  41. 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.…
  42. 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…
  43. Prĕg'nant, n.p. 1027One who is pregnant or with child. [Rare.] Dunglison.
  44. Prĕg'nant, a.p. 1027Taking; receiving, admitting; giving access. [Obs.] “Your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear.” Shak. “A most poor man . . . pregnant to good pity.” Shak.
  45. Prĕg'nant-ly, adv.p. 1027In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.
  46. Prĕ'gra-vāte, v. t.p. 1027To bear down, to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
  47. Pre-grāv'i-tāte, v. i.p. 1027To descend by gravity. [Obs.] Boyle.
  48. Pre-gŭs'tant, a.p. 1027Tasting beforehand. [Rare.] Ed. Rev.
  49. Prĕ/gus-tā'/tion, n.p. 1027The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste.
  50. Pre-hĕnd', v. t.p. 1027To lay hold of; to seize; to take. [Obs.]
  51. Pre-hĕn'si-ble, a.p. 1027Admitting of being seized.
  52. Pre-hĕn'sile, a.p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as the prehensile tail of a monkey.
  53. Pre-hĕn'sion, n.p. 1027A taking hold; a seizing, as with the hand or other member.
  54. Pre-hĕn'so-ry, a.p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; pre-hensile.
  55. Pré-his-tōr'ie, a.p. 1027Relating to a time before that described in written history; as, the prehistoric age.
  56. Prĕhn'ite, n.p. 1027(Min.) A pale-green mineral, of a vitreous luster, occurring in botryoidal and mammillary concretions, and in small prismatic crystals. It consists of silica, alumina, and lime, with some water. Dana.
  57. Pré'-in-dis-pōse', v. t.p. 1027To render indisposed beforehand.
  58. Pré/-in-strūct’, v. t.p. 1027To instruct previously. Sir T. More.
  59. Pré'-in-ti-mā'tion, n.p. 1027Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.
  60. Pre-jūd'ge', v. t.p. 1027To judge before hearing, or antecedently to full and sufficient examination; to decide or sentence by anticipation; to condemn beforehand. The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case by…