Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Prĕl'a-cy, n. p. 1028The office or dignity of a prelate; government by prelates; church administration by high functionaries. Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices. Ayliffe. How many are there that call…Prē'lal, a. p. 1028Of, or pertaining to printing; typographical. [Obs. and rare.] “Prēlal faults.” Fuller.Prēl'ate, n. p. 1028A clergyman of a superior order, having authority over the lower clergy, as an archbishop, bishop, &c.; a dignitary of the church;—often, with the words derived from it, used invidiously, in English…Prēl'āte, v. i. p. 1028To act as a prelate; to fill a high ecclesiastical office. [Obs.] Right prelating is busy laboring, and not lording. Latimer.Prēl'a-tē'i-ty, n. p. 1028The same as PRELACY. [Obs.]Prēl'ate-shĭp, n. p. 1028The office of a prelate. Harmar.Prĕl'a-tess, n. p. 1028A female prelate. Milton.Pre-lāt'ie or Pre-lāt'ie-al, a. p. 1028Pertaining to prelates or prelacy; as, prelatic authority.Pre-lăt′ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1028With reference to prelates.Pre-lā'tion, n. p. 1028The setting of one above another; preference. [Obs.] “A direct preference, or prelation; a preferring sin before grace.” Bp. Taylor.Prēl'a-tism, n. p. 1028Prelacy; episcopacy. [Obs.]Prēl'a-tist, n. p. 1028An advocate for prelacy, or the government of the church by bishops; a high churchman. I am an Episcopalian, but not a prelatist. T. Scott.Prēl'a-tīze, v. t. p. 1028To bring under the power or influence of prelacy. Land was busy with his more important plan of prelatizing the church of Scotland. Palfrey.Prēl'a-tīze, v. i. p. 1028To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions. He indeed [Cyprian] succeeded into an episcopacy that began then to prelatize. Milton.Prēl'a-try, n. p. 1028Prelaty; prelacy. [Obs.]Prēl'at-ūre or Prēl'at-ūre-ship, n. p. 1028The state or dignity of a prelate. Bailey.Prĕl'a-ty, n. p. 1028Prelacy;—usually in an invidious sense. Milton.Pre-lēct’, v. t. p. 1028To read publicly, as a lecture or public discourse. Horsley.Pre-lēct', v. i. p. 1028To discourse publicly; to lecture. Spitting was shown to be a very difficult act, and publicly prelected upon about the same time, in the same great capital. De Quincey.Pre-lĕc'tion, n. p. 1028A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. Hale.Pre-lēc'tor, n. p. 1028A reader of discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.Prē'/lī-bā'tion, n. p. 1028A tasting beforehand or by anticipation; foretaste; as, a prælibation of heavenly bliss. 2. An effusion previous to tasting.Pre-lim'i-na-ry, a. p. 1028Introductory; previous; proëmial; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures.…Pre-lim'i-na-ry, n. p. 1028That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something previous or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or treaty; the preliminaries to a combat…Pré-lim'it, v. t. p. 1028To limit previously.Pre-lōok', v. i. p. 1028To look forward; to direct the eye or the sight forward. [Obs.] Surrey.Prē'lūde or Prĕl'ūde, n. p. 1028An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary movement, play, strain, or the like; especially, a musical strain, introducing the theme or chief subject.…Pre-lūdé, v. t. p. 1028To introduce with a previous performance; to play before; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air. 2. To precede, as introductory; as, a lively air preludes the concert.Pre-lūde', v. i. p. 1028To serve as an introduction; to play an introduction; to give a prefatory or introductory performance. The musicians preluded on their instruments. W. Scott. We are preluding too largely, and must…Pre-lūd’er or Prē’lūd-er, n. p. 1028One who plays a prelude, or introduces by a previous irregular piece of music.Pre-lūd'i-al, a. p. 1028Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a prelude; introductory. [Rare.]Pre-lūd'i-oūs, a. p. 1028Previous; introductory. [Obs.]Prē-lūm′bar, a. p. 1028(Anat.) Situated before the loins. Dunglison.Pre-lū'sive, a. p. 1028Previous; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow. The clouds, Softly shaking on the dimpled pool Prelusive drops, let all their moisture flow. Thomson.Pre-lū’sive-ly or Pre-lū’so-ri-ly, adv. p. 1028Previously; introductorily.Pre-lū'so-ry, a. p. 1028Previous; introductory; prelusive. Bacon.Pré'ma-tūre', a. p. 1028Ripe before the natural or proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hot-bed. 2. Happening, arriving, performed, or adopted before the proper time; preceding the usual season; too early; as, a…