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.
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…Prĕg'nant, n. p. 1027One who is pregnant or with child. [Rare.] Dunglison.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.Prĕg'nant-ly, adv. p. 1027In a pregnant manner; fruitfully; significantly.Prĕ'gra-vāte, v. t. p. 1027To bear down, to depress. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Pre-grāv'i-tāte, v. i. p. 1027To descend by gravity. [Obs.] Boyle.Pre-gŭs'tant, a. p. 1027Tasting beforehand. [Rare.] Ed. Rev.Prĕ/gus-tā'/tion, n. p. 1027The act of tasting beforehand; foretaste.Pre-hĕnd', v. t. p. 1027To lay hold of; to seize; to take. [Obs.]Pre-hĕn'si-ble, a. p. 1027Admitting of being seized.Pre-hĕn'sile, a. p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as the prehensile tail of a monkey.Pre-hĕn'sion, n. p. 1027A taking hold; a seizing, as with the hand or other member.Pre-hĕn'so-ry, a. p. 1027Adapted to seize or grasp; pre-hensile.Pré-his-tōr'ie, a. p. 1027Relating to a time before that described in written history; as, the prehistoric age.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.Pré'-in-dis-pōse', v. t. p. 1027To render indisposed beforehand.Pré/-in-strūct’, v. t. p. 1027To instruct previously. Sir T. More.Pré'-in-ti-mā'tion, n. p. 1027Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.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…Pre-jŭd'gment, n. p. 1027Act of prejudging; decision before suitable examination.Pre-jū'di-ca-cy, n. p. 1027Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Blount.Pre-jū'di-cal, a. p. 1027Pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudicial inquiry or action at law.Pre-jū'di-cāte, v. t. p. 1027To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge. Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business. Shak.Pre-jū'di-cāte, v. i. p. 1027To form a judgment beforehand or without due examination. Sidney.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.Pre-jū'di-cate-ly, adv. p. 1027After a prejudiced manner.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…Pre-jū'di-ca-tĭve, a. p. 1027Forming an opinion or judgment without examination; prejudging. Henry More.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…Prĕj'ū-dĭçe, v. t. p. 1027To prepossess with unexamined opinions, or opinions formed without due knowledge of the facts and circumstances attending the question; to bias the mind of by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an…Prēj'ū-dĭ'cial, a. p. 1027Biased or blinded by prejudices; as, a prejudicial eye. [Obs.] Hooker. 2. Tending to obstruct or impair; hurtful; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental. His going away the next morning, with all…Prĕj'ū-di'cial-ly, adv. p. 1028In a prejudicial manner; injuriously; disadvantageously.Prĕj'ū-dĭ'cial-ness, n. p. 1028The state of being prejudicial; injuriousness.Prē-knŏwl'edge, n. p. 1028Prior knowledge.