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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. 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.…
  2. Préf'er-a-ble, a.p. 1027Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more eligible; more desirable.
  3. Pref'er-a-ble-ness, n.p. 1027The quality or state of being preferable. Mountague.
  4. Pref'er-a-bly, adv.p. 1027In preference; by choice or predilection. How comes he to choose Plautus preferably to Terence? Dennis.
  5. 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…
  6. Pref'er-en'tial, a.p. 1027Giving, indicating, or having a preference; as, preferential duties; preferential shares; a preferential shareholder.
  7. 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…
  8. Pre-fĕr'rer, n.p. 1027One who prefers.
  9. Pré'fi-dence, n.p. 1027A previous trusting. [Obs.] Baxter.
  10. Préfi'dent, a.p. 1027Trusting previously. [Obs.] Baxter.
  11. Pre-fig'ū-rāte, v. t.p. 1027To show by antecedent representation; to prefigure. [Obs.]
  12. 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…
  13. Pre-fig'ū-ra-tive, a.p. 1027Showing by previous figures, types, or similitudes, prefiguring.
  14. Pre-fig'ūre, v. t.p. 1027To announce or suggest by types and similitudes. “Whom all the various types prefigured.” South.
  15. Pre-fig'ūre-ment, n.p. 1027Act of prefiguring; prefiguration; also, that which is prefigured. Carlyle.
  16. Pre-fine', v. t.p. 1027To limit beforehand. [Obs.] Knolles.
  17. Prē-fī'nite, a.p. 1027Pre-arranged; definite. [Obs.] “Set and prefinite time.” Holland.
  18. Prĕf'i-ni'tion, n.p. 1027Previous limitation. [Obs.]
  19. 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…
  20. 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.
  21. Pre-fix'ion, n.p. 1027The act of prefixing.
  22. Prē-flō-rā'tion, n.p. 1027(Bot.) The disposition of the parts in a flower-bud; æstivation.
  23. Prē'fo-li-ā'tion, n.p. 1027(Bot.) The arrangement of the parts in leaf-buds before expanding; vernation. Henslow.
  24. Prē-fōrm′, v. t.p. 1027To form beforehand. [Obs.] Shak.
  25. Pre-fŏrm'a-tive, n.p. 1027A formative letter at the beginning of a word. M. Stuart.
  26. Pre-fŭl'gen-cy, n.p. 1027Superior brightness or effulgency. [Rare.] Barrow.
  27. Pre-gā'ge, v. t.p. 1027To engage beforehand. [Obs.] “By oath pregaged to the pope.” Fuller.
  28. Prē-glā'cial, a.p. 1027(Geol.) Prior to the glacial or drift period. Dana.
  29. Prĕg'na-ble, a.p. 1027Capable of being taken or won by force; expugnable. [R.] Cotgrave.
  30. Prĕg'nance, n.p. 1027Pregnancy. [Obs.]
  31. 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.…
  32. 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…
  33. Prĕg'nant, n.p. 1027One who is pregnant or with child. [Rare.] Dunglison.
  34. 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.
  35. Prĕg'nant-ly, adv.p. 1027In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.
  36. Prĕ'gra-vāte, v. t.p. 1027To bear down, to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
  37. Pre-grāv'i-tāte, v. i.p. 1027To descend by gravity. [Obs.] Boyle.
  38. Pre-gŭs'tant, a.p. 1027Tasting beforehand. [Rare.] Ed. Rev.
  39. Prĕ/gus-tā'/tion, n.p. 1027The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste.
  40. Pre-hĕnd', v. t.p. 1027To lay hold of; to seize; to take. [Obs.]
  41. Pre-hĕn'si-ble, a.p. 1027Admitting of being seized.
  42. Pre-hĕn'sile, a.p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as the prehensile tail of a monkey.
  43. Pre-hĕn'sion, n.p. 1027A taking hold; a seizing, as with the hand or other member.
  44. Pre-hĕn'so-ry, a.p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; pre-hensile.
  45. Pré-his-tōr'ie, a.p. 1027Relating to a time before that described in written history; as, the prehistoric age.
  46. 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.
  47. Pré'-in-dis-pōse', v. t.p. 1027To render indisposed beforehand.
  48. Pré/-in-strūct’, v. t.p. 1027To instruct previously. Sir T. More.
  49. Pré'-in-ti-mā'tion, n.p. 1027Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.
  50. 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…
  51. Pre-jŭd'gment, n.p. 1027Act of prejudging; decision before suitable examination.
  52. Pre-jū'di-ca-cy, n.p. 1027Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Blount.
  53. Pre-jū'di-cal, a.p. 1027Pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudicial inquiry or action at law.
  54. Pre-jū'di-cāte, v. t.p. 1027To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge. Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business. Shak.
  55. Pre-jū'di-cāte, v. i.p. 1027To form a judgment beforehand or without due examination. Sidney.
  56. Pre-jū'di-cate, a.p. 1027Formed before due examination. “Ignorance and prejudicate opinions.” Bp. Taylor. 2. Biased by opinions formed prematurely; prejudiced. “Prejudicate readers.” Browne.
  57. Pre-jū'di-cate-ly, adv.p. 1027After a prejudiced manner.
  58. Pre-jū'di-cā'tion, n.p. 1027The act of prejudicating, or of judging without due examination of facts and evidence. 2. (Rom. Law.) (a.) A preliminary inquiry and determination about something which belongs to a matter in…
  59. Pre-jū'di-ca-tĭve, a.p. 1027Forming an opinion or judgment without examination; prejudging. Henry More.
  60. Prĕj'ū-dĭçe, n.p. 1027Anticipative judgment; foresight. [Obs. and rare.] Spenser. 2. An opinion or decision of mind formed without due examination; prejudgment; a bias or leaning toward one side or the other of a question…