Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Pré'ma-tūre'ly, adv. p. 1028In a premature manner; too soon; too early; before the proper time; as, fruits prematurely ripened; opinions prematurely formed; measures prematurely taken. 2. Without due evidence or authentication…Prē'ma-tūre'ness or Prē'ma-tū'ri-ty, n. p. 1028The quality of being premature; ripeness before the natural time; maturity at an early period, or before the usual time; as, the prematurity of genius. Thackeray. 2. Too great haste; unseasonable…Pre-măx'il-la-ry, n. p. 1028(Anat.) A bone of the upper jaw, forming its margin, anterior to the true maxillary bone. R. Owen.Pre-mē'di-āte, v. t. p. 1028To advocate, as a cause. [Rare.]Pre-mĕd’î-tāte, v. t. p. 1028To think on and revolve in the mind beforehand; to contrive and design previously; as, to premeditate theft or robbery. With words premeditated thus he said. Dryden.Pre-mĕd'i-tāte, v. i. p. 1028To think, consider, or revolve in the mind beforehand; to deliberate; to exercise by previous thought or meditation.Pre-mĕd'i-tate, a. p. 1028Contrived by previous meditation; premeditated. [Obs.] Burnet.Pre-mĕd’i-tate-ly, adv. p. 1028With previous meditation. Feltham.Pre-mĕd/i-tā'tion, n. p. 1028The act of meditating beforehand; previous deliberation. Sudden thought ... must be higher than nature can raise without premeditation. Dryden. 2. Previous contrivance or design formed; as, the…Pre-mĕr'it, v. t. p. 1028To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] K. Charles.Prē'mi-al, a. p. 1028ServingPrē'mi-ant p. 1028to reward. [Rare.] Baxter.Prēm'i-ces, n. pl. p. 1028First fruits. [Obs.] Dryden.Prē'mi-er, a. p. 1028First; chief; principal; as, the premier place; premier minister. Camden. Swift. 2. (Her.) Most ancient; — said of any peer of any degree by creation. Crabb.Prē'mi-er or Prēm'ier, n. p. 1028The first minister of state; the prime minister.Prē'mi-er-ship or Prēm'ier-ship, n. p. 1028The office or dignity of the first minister of state.Prē'mi-lē'mi-al, a. p. 1028Previous to the millennium.Prē'mi-oŭs, a. p. 1028Rich in gifts. Clarke.Pre-mīse', v. t. p. 1028To send before the time. [Obs.] Shak. 2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows…Pre-mĭse', v. t. p. 1028To make or state antecedent propositions. Swift.Prĕm'ise, n. p. 1028A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as ground for further argument. While the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shape the conclusion. Decay of…Prĕm'iss, n. p. 1028See PREMISE. Whately. Watts.Pre-mĭt', v. t. p. 1028To premise. [Obs.]