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.
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.]Prē'mi-ŭm, n. p. 1028A reward or recompense; a prize to be won by competition; reward or prize to be adjudged; a bounty; as, a premium for good behavior or scholarship, for discoveries, and the like. “So as to think it…Prē-mō'lar, n. p. 1028(Odontology.) A tooth back of the canines, preceded by a deciduous or milk tooth, and commonly called a grinder.Pre-mōn’ish, v. t. p. 1028To forewarn; to admonish beforehand. Better it is, premonishèd, for to shun A sin, than fall to weeping when ’tis done. Herrick.Pre-mòn'ish-ment, n. p. 1028Previous warning or admonition; previous information.Prē'mo-nī'tion, n. p. 1028Previous warning, notice, or information; as, they had premonitions of their sufferings.Pre-mŏn'i-tor, n. p. 1028One who, or that which, gives warning beforehand. “Some such like premonitors, to awaken our security.” Bp. Hall.Pre-mŏn'i-to-ri-ly, adv. p. 1028By way of premonition.Pre-mŏn'i-to-ry, a. p. 1028Giving previous warning or notice.Pre-mŏn'strant, n. p. 1028(Rom. Cath. Church.) One of a religious order founded at Prémontre in France, in 1120, and introduced into the United States in 1846. The members of the order, who are called also White Canons, have…Pre-mōn'strāte, v. t. p. 1029To show beforehand; to foreshow. [Rare.] Herbert.Pre-mōn'stra-tēn'sian, n. p. 1029A Premonstrant. [Rare.]Prē'mon-strā'tion, n. p. 1029A showing beforehand. [Rare.] Shelford.Pre-mōn'stra-tor, n. p. 1029One who, or that which, premonstrates, or foreshows.Pre-môrse’, a. p. 1029Terminated abruptly, or as if bitten off. Premorse roots or leaves (Bot.), such as have an abrupt, ragged, and irregular termination, as if bitten off short. Lindley.Prē'-mo-sā'ic, a. p. 1029Relating to the time before that of Moses; as, pre-mosaic history.Pre-mō'tion, n. p. 1029Previous motion or excitement to action.Prēm'ū nī're, n. p. 1029See PRÆMUNIRE.Prēm'ū-nīte', v. t. p. 1029To guard against objection; to fortify. [Obs.]Prē'mu-nī'tion, n. p. 1029An anticipation of objections.Pre-mū'ni-to-ry, a. p. 1029Of, or belonging to, a premunire; as, a premunitory process.Prēn'der, n. p. 1029(Law.) The power or right of taking a thing before it is offered. Burrill.Pre-nō'men, n. p. 1029See PRÆNOMEN.Pre-nŏm’i-nāte, v. t. p. 1029To forename.Pre-nŏm'i-nate, a. p. 1029Forenamed. “Prenominate crimes.” Shak.Pre-nŏm/i-nā'tion, n. p. 1029The act of prenominating, or the state of being prenominated; the privilege of being named first. Browne.