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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pre-sīd’er, n. p. 1032One who presides.Pre-sĭd′i·al or Pre-sĭd′i-a-ry, a. p. 1032Pertaining to a garrison; having a garrison. [Rare.]Presidio, n. p. 1032A place of defense; a garrison or guard-house. Velasquez.Pre-sig'ni-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 1032The act of signifying or showing beforehand.Pre-sig'ni-fy, v. t. p. 1032To intimate or signify beforehand; to show previously.Pre-spi'nal, a. p. 1032(Anat.) Situated before or in the front of the spine.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…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…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…Prĕss'-bĕd, n. p. 1032A bed that may be raised and inclosed in a press or closet.Prĕss'er, n. p. 1032One who presses.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.Press'ing, p. a. p. 1032Urgent; distressing; importunate; crowding for attention or treatment.Press'ing-ly, adv. p. 1032In a pressing manner; with force or urgency; closely. Howell.Prĕs'sion, n. p. 1032The act of pressing; pressure. Newton. 2. (Cartesian Philos.) An endeavor to move.Prĕs'si-rōs'ter, n. p. 1032(Ornith.) One of a tribe of wading birds, including those which have a compressed or flattened beak. Brande.Prĕs'si-rŏs'tral, a. p. 1032(Ornith.) Of, or pertaining to, the pressirosters; having a compressed or flattened beak; — applied to certain birds, as the lapwing. Partington.Prĕs'si-tant, a. p. 1032Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] More.Prĕss'ly, adv. p. 1032Closely; with compression. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Press'man, n. p. 1032(Print.) One who manages, or attends to, the press. 2. One of a press-gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service. Chapman.Press'-mōn'ey, n. p. 1032Money paid to a man impressed into public service. See PREST-MONEY. Guy.Press'ness, n. p. 1032The state of being pressed; compression. [Obs.] Young.Press'-păck, v. t. p. 1032To pack, or compress, as for packing by means of a press.Press'ir-age, n. p. 1032The juice of the grape, extracted by the press. 2. A fee paid for the use of a wine-press.Press'ure, n. p. 1032The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; an urging with force; a squeezing or crushing. 2. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force. 3. A constraining…Prĕss'-work, n. p. 1032That part of printing which consists in impressing the sheets upon the type.Prĕst, imp. & p. p. p. 1032of press; — sometimes used instead of pressed. See PRESS.Prĕst, a. p. 1032Ready; prompt. Fairfax. 2. Neat; tight. Tusser.Prĕst, n. p. 1032A loan. Bacon. 2. (Law.) A duty in money, to be paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands. Covell.Prĕst’a-ble, a. p. 1032Payable. [Scot.]Pres·tā'tion or Prestation-money, n. p. 1032(O. Eng. Law.) A payment of money; a toll or duty; the rendering of a service. Burrill. Prestation-money, a sum of money paid yearly by archdeacons and other dignitaries to their bishop.Prēs'ter, n. p. 1032A meteor or exhalation formerly supposed to be thrown from the clouds with such violence that by collision it is set on fire. 2. (pl.) The veins of the neck when swollen with excitement.Pres'ter, n. p. 1032A priest. [Obs.]Pres·tēz'zō, n. p. 1032(Mus.) Quickness of movement or execution; rapidity.Pres’ti-dĭg’i-tā’tiōn, n. p. 1032Skill in legerdemain; prestigiation.Pres'ti-dig'i-tā'tor, n. p. 1032One skilled in legerdemain.Prēstige, n. p. 1032Illusion; fascination; charm; imposture. 2. Weight or influence coming from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force derived from prior character…Pres·tīg′i·ā′tion, n. p. 1032The playing of legerdemain tricks; a juggling; sleight of hand. [Obs.]Pres·tĭg·i·ā'tor, n. p. 1032A juggler; a conjurer. [Obs.] Henry More.Pres·tig'i·a-to-ry, a. p. 1032Consisting of, or effected by, impostures; juggling. [Obs.]Pres-tig'i-ous, a. p. 1032Practicing tricks; juggling. [Obs.]Prĕs'ti-mo-ny, n. p. 1032(Canon Law.) A fund for the support of a priest, appropriated by the founder, but not erected into any title of benefice, and not subject to the pope or the ordinary, but of which the patron is the…Pres-tis'si-mo, adv. p. 1033Very quickly; with the greatest rapidity.Prést'-môn'ey, n. p. 1033Money paid to men when they enlist into the British service, so called because they hold themselves prest, or ready to march at command. Todd.Près'to, adv. p. 1033Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly. Presto, begone, 'tis here again. Swift. 2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly:—a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance.Pre-stric'tion, n. p. 1033Dimness, as of sight. [Obs.] Milton.Prést'-sail, n. p. 1033(Naut.) The whole amount of sail that a vessel is capable of carrying.Pre-sŭl'tor, n. p. 1033One who goes before in dancing; a leader in the dance.Pre-süm'a-ble, a. p. 1033Such as may be presumed, or supposed to be true; entitled to belief without examination or direct evidence.Pre-sŭm'a-bly, adv. p. 1033In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.Pre-sūme′, v. t. p. 1033To assume or take beforehand; to obtain in advance of; to undertake. [Rare.] Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve. Milton. 2. To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without…Pre-sūme′, v. i. p. 1033To suppose or assume something to be, or to be true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting to proof; to believe by anticipation; to think; as, we may presume too far. 2. To venture beyond…Pre-süm'er, n. p. 1033One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Wotton.Pre-sŭm'ing-ly, adv. p. 1033Confidently; arrogantly.Pre-sümption, n. p. 1033The act of believing upon probable evidence, or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof; opinion. 2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not conclusive; strong probability; as, the…Pre-sŭmp'tive, a. p. 1033Taken by presumption or previous supposition; grounded on probable evidence. 2. Unreasonably confident; adventuring without reasonable ground to expect success; presumptuous; arrogant. [Rare.]…Pre-sŭmp'tive-ly, adv. p. 1033By presumption, or supposition grounded on probability. Burke.Pre-sŭmp'tŭ-ōŭs, a. p. 1033Full of presumption; presuming; over-confident or venturesome; going beyond bounds of due self-appreciation or modesty; audacious; taking liberties unduly; arrogant; as, a presumptuous commander.…Pre-sŭmp'tŭ-ōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1033In a presumptuous manner; with presumption; arrogantly; insolently. 2. In bold defiance of conscience, or violation of known duty; as, to sin presumptuously.Pre-sŭmp'tū-ous-ness, n. p. 1033The quality of being presumptuous, or rashly confident; irreverent boldness or forwardness; arrogance.