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An American Dictionary of the English Language

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.

  1. Pré'se-ance, n.p. 1031Priority of place in sitting. [Obs.] Carew.
  2. Pré-se-lĕct’, v. t.p. 1031To select beforehand; as, stars preselected for simultaneous observation by different observers.
  3. Prĕs'ence, n.p. 1031The state or condition of being present; being or situation within sight or call, at hand, in the same apartment or division of space, or the like;—opposed to absence. 2. The region in which one is…
  4. Prĕs'ence-chām'ber or Prĕs'ence-rōom, n.p. 1031The room in which a great personage receives company. Addison.
  5. Pré-sen-sā'tion, n.p. 1031Previous sensation or feeling; antecedent notion or idea. More.
  6. Pre-sēn’sion, n.p. 1031Previous perception. [Obs.] Browne.
  7. Prĕ'sent, a.p. 1031Being at hand, within reach or call, within certain contemplated limits, or the like; not away; — opposed to absent. These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you. John xiv. 25. 2.…
  8. Prĕs'ent, n.p. 1031Present time; time in process now, or at the moment contemplated, as in the phrases, at this present, at that present. 2. (pl.) (Law.) Present letters or instrument; a deed of conveyance, a lease…
  9. Pre-sĕnt’, v. t.p. 1031To put or place in the presence of some one, especially of a superior; to give a formal introduction to; to set before; to make known; to offer for acquaintance; as, to present an envoy to the…
  10. Prĕs'ent, n.p. 1031That which is presented or given; a gift; a donative. His dog, to-morrow, by his master's commands, he must carry for a present to his lady. Shak. Syn. — Gift; donation; donative; benefaction. See…
  11. Pre-sĕnt'a-ble, a.p. 1031Capable or admitting of being presented; suitable to be exhibited, represented, or offered; fit to be brought forward or set forth; properly prepared to be introduced to another, or to go into…
  12. Prĕs'en-tā'ne-oŭs, a.p. 1031Ready; quick; immediate; as, presentaneous poison. [Obs.] Harvey.
  13. Prĕs/en-tā’tion, n.p. 1031The act of presenting, or the state of being presented; a setting forth; an offering; bestowal. Prayers are sometimes a presentation of mere desires. Hooker. 2. Hence, exhibition; representation…
  14. Presentation copyp. 1031a copy of a work presented to some one by the author, as a testimony of respect.
  15. Pre-sĕnt'a-tive, a.p. 1031(Eccl.) Having the right of presentation, or offering a clergyman to the bishop for institution; as, advowsons are presentative, collative, or donative. An advowson presentative is where the patron…
  16. Prĕs'ent-ee', n.p. 1031One presented to a benefice.
  17. Prē-sĕnt'er, n.p. 1031One who presents.
  18. Pre-sen'tial, a.p. 1031Implying actual presence; present; immediate. [Obs.] God's mercy is made presential to us. Bp. Taylor.
  19. Prĕs'en-tiăl'i-ty, n.p. 1031The state of being actually present. [Obs.] South.
  20. Prē-sĕn’tial-ly, adv.p. 1031In a way which supposes actual presence. [Obs.] Henry More.
  21. Pre-sĕn'ti-āte, v. t.p. 1031To make present. [Obs.] Grew.
  22. Pre-sĕn’tient, a.p. 1031Perceiving beforehand.
  23. Prĕs'en-tĭf'ie or Prĕs'en-tĭf'ie-al, a.p. 1031Making present. [Obs.]
  24. Prĕs/en-tif'ic-ly, adv.p. 1031In such a manner as to make present. [Obs.] Henry More.
  25. Pre-sĕnt'i-ment, n.p. 1031Previous conception, sentiment, or opinion; previous apprehension. Butler. 2. Especially, an antecedent impression or conviction of something about to happen, particularly of something unpleasant or…
  26. Pre-sĕnt'i-mĕnt'al, a.p. 1031Relating to, or in the nature of, a presentiment; foreboding. [R.] Coleridge.
  27. Pre-sĕn’tion, n.p. 1031The same as PRESENSION. [Obs.]
  28. Prĕs'ent-ly, adv.p. 1031At present; at this time; now. [Obs.] The towns and forts you presently have. Sidney. 2. At once; without delay; instantly; or, more often, soon; before long; after a little time; by and by. I will…
  29. Pre-sĕnt'ment, n.p. 1031The act of presenting, or the state of being presented; presentation. “The heels of my presentment.” Shak. 2. Setting forth to view; delineation; appearance; representation; exhibition. Power to…
  30. Prĕs'ent-ness, n.p. 1031The quality of being present; presence. “Presentness of mind in danger.” [Obs.] Clarendon.
  31. Presentoir, n.p. 1031An ornamental cup, very shallow, and having a tall, slender, enriched stem. Fairholt.
  32. Pre-sĕrv'a-ble, a.p. 1031Capable of being preserved; admitting of preservation.
  33. Prĕs'er-vā'tion, n.p. 1031The act of preserving or keeping safe; the state of being preserved or kept from injury, destruction, or decay; security; as, preservation of life or health; the preservation of buildings from fire…
  34. Pre-sẽrv'a-tive, a.p. 1031Having the power or quality of preserving or keeping safe from injury, destruction, or decay; tending to preserve.
  35. Pre-sẽrv'a-tive, n.p. 1031That which preserves, or has the power of preserving; that which tends to secure from injury, destruction, decay, or corruption; a preventive of injury or decay. It hath been anciently in use to wear…
  36. Pre-sẽrv'a-to-ry, a.p. 1031Having the power or a tendency to preserve; preservative.
  37. Pre-sẽrv'a-to-ry, n.p. 1031That which has the power of preserving; a preservative. Whitlock.
  38. Pre-sẽrve', v. t.p. 1031To keep or save from injury or destruction; to defend from evil, harm, danger, or the like; to keep; to guard. Now good angels preserve the king. Shak. 2. To save from decay by the use of some…
  39. Pre-sĕrve', n.p. 1032That which is preserved; fruit, or the like, seasoned and kept by suitable preparation. 2. A place for the shelter or preservation of animals designed for sport or food, as game, fish, or the like.
  40. Pre-sĕr'ver, n.p. 1032One who, or that which, preserves; one who saves or defends from destruction or evil. “Camillo, preserver of my father.” Shak. 2. One who makes preserves of fruits.
  41. Pré-shōw', v. t.p. 1032To show beforehand; to foreshow.
  42. Pre-side', v. i.p. 1032To be set for the exercise of authority; to occupy the place of ruler, moderator, principal director, or the like; to direct, control, and govern, as chief officer; as, to preside at a public…
  43. Prĕs'i-dençe, n.p. 1032The same as PRESIDENCY.
  44. Prĕs'i-den-cy, n.p. 1032The act or condition of one who presides; superintendence; inspection and care. Ray. 2. The office of president; as, Washington was elected to the presidency of the United States by a unanimous vote…
  45. Pres'i-dent, a.p. 1032Occupying the first rank or chief place; having authority; presiding. [Rare.] His angels president In every province. Milton.
  46. Prĕs'i-dent, n.p. 1032One who is elected or appointed to preside; a presiding officer; a chief authority; a superintendent; as, (a.) The chief officer of a corporation, company, ward, institution, society, and the like.…
  47. Pres'i-dén'tial, a.p. 1032Presiding. Glanville. 2. Pertaining or belonging to a president; as, the presidential chair. Walsh.
  48. Prĕs'i-dent-shĭp, n.p. 1032The office and place of president. Hooker. 2. The term for which a president holds his office.
  49. Pre-sīd’er, n.p. 1032One who presides.
  50. Pre-sĭd′i·al or Pre-sĭd′i-a-ry, a.p. 1032Pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison. [Rare.]
  51. Presidio, n.p. 1032A place of defense; a garrison or guard-house. Velasquez.
  52. Pre-sig'ni-fi-cā'tion, n.p. 1032The act of signifying or showing beforehand.
  53. Pre-sig'ni-fy, v. t.p. 1032To intimate or signify beforehand; to show previously.
  54. Pre-spi'nal, a.p. 1032(Anat.) Situated before or in the front of the spine.
  55. Prĕss, v. t.p. 1032To urge with force or weight; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to squeeze; to crush; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on…
  56. Press, v. i.p. 1032To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, bear down, crowd, or urge with steady force. 2. To move on with urging and crowding forward; to make one's way with violence or effort; to bear onward…
  57. Press, n.p. 1032An instrument or machine by which any thing is pressed or squeezed; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses. Presses are differently constructed for various purposes in the…
  58. Prĕss'-bĕd, n.p. 1032A bed that may be raised and inclosed in a press or closet.
  59. Prĕss'er, n.p. 1032One who presses.
  60. Prĕss'-găng, n.p. 1032A detachment of seamen under the command of an officer, empowered to impress men into the naval service. See IMPRESS-GANG.