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.
Pre-sŭmp'tū-ous-ness, n. p. 1033The quality of being presumptuous, or rashly confident; irreverent boldness or forwardness; arrogance.Prē/sup-pōz'al, n. p. 1033Supposal previously formed; presupposition. Hooker.Prē'sup-pōze', v. t. p. 1033To suppose as previous; to imply as antecedent; to take for granted; to presume; to assume. Each kind of knowledge presupposes many necessary things learned in other sciences, and known beforehand.…Pre-sŭp'po-sĭ'tion, n. p. 1033The act of presupposing; supposition or antecedent implication; presumption. 2. That which is presupposed; previous supposition or surmise.Pré/sur-mīse', n. p. 1033A surmise previously formed. Shak.Pre-tĕnce', n. p. 1033See PRETENSE.Pre-tēnd', v. t. p. 1033To hold before one; to thrust forward; to extend. [Obs. and rare.] “His target always over her pretended.” Spencer. 2. Hence, to put forth; to practice; to plot; to intend. [Obs.] “I'll give her…Pre-tĕnd’, v. i. p. 1033To put in a claim, truly or falsely; to allege a title; to lay claim; to strive after something; — usually with to. “Countries that pretend to freedom.” Swift.Pre-tĕnd'ant, n. p. 1033A pretender; a claimant. Milman.Pre-tĕnd'ed-ly, adv. p. 1033By false appearance or representation.Pre-tēnd'ence, n. p. 1033The act of pretending; pretence. [Obs.] Daniel.Pre-tēnd'er, n. p. 1033One who pretends, simulates, or feigns; one who lays claim. 2. (Eng. Hist.) The heir of the royal family of Stuart, who laid claim to the crown of Great Britain, but was excluded by law. Burnet.Pre-tĕnd′er-shĭp, n. p. 1033The right or claim of the pretender. Swift.Pre-tĕnd'ing-ly, adv. p. 1033Arrogantly; presumptuously.Pre-tēnse' or Pre-tēnce', n. p. 1033The act of holding out or offering to others something false or feigned; presentation of what is deceptive or hypocritical; false show; simulation; — sometimes preceded by on; as, on pretense of…Pre-tĕnsed’, a. p. 1033Pretended; feigned; as, a pretensed right to land. [Obs.]Pre-tĕns'ed-ly, adv. p. 1033Pretendedly. [Obs.] Drant.Pre-tēnse'ful, a. p. 1033Abounding in pretenses.Pre-tĕn'sion, n. p. 1033The act of pretending or holding forth; or that which is pretended; pretext; fictitious show; deception; cheat. [Obs.] This was but an invention and pretension given out by the Spaniards. Bacon. 2.…Pre-tēnse'less, a. p. 1033Not having or making pretenses.Pre-tĕnt'a-tive, a. p. 1033Capable of being previously tried or attempted. [Rare.] Wotton.Pre-tĕn'tiōus, a. p. 1033Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's due; presuming; assuming. [Recent.]Pre-tĕn'tious-ly, adv. p. 1033In a pretentious manner.Pre-tĕn’tious-ness, n. p. 1033The quality of being pretentious.Prē'ter p. 1033A prefix, from the Lat. præter, used in the composition of some English words, and having the signification of past, beyond: hence, beside, more.Pré'ter-hū'man, a. p. 1033More than human; superhuman.Pre-tē'ri-ent, a. p. 1033Passed through; previous.Prē'ter-im-pēr'fect, a. p. 1033(Gram.) Not absolutely or distinctly past; an epithet designating the tense which expresses action or being not perfectly past, and which is more usually called the imperfect tense.Prĕt'er-ist, n. p. 1033One whose chief interest is in the past; one who regards the past with most pleasure or favor. 2. (Theol.) One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have been already fulfilled.Pré't'er-it or Pré'ter-it, a. p. 1033Past;—applied to the tense in grammar which expresses an action or being perfectly past or finished, often that which is just past or completed, but without a specification of time, and which is…Prĕt'er-it or Prē'ter-it, n. p. 1033(Gram.) The past or perfect tense.Pré'ter-īte, a. & n. p. 1033The same as PRETERIT.Prĕt'er-īte-ness or Prē'ter-īte-ness, n. p. 1033The same as PRETERITNESS.Pré'ter-i'tion, n. p. 1033The act of going past; the state of being past. 2. (Rhet.) A figure by which, in pretending to pass over any thing, a summary mention of it is made; as, “I will not say, he is valiant, he is learned…Pre-tĕr'i-tive, a. p. 1034(Gram.) Used only or chiefly in the preterit or past tenses;— said of certain verbs.Prĕt'er-it-ness or Prē'ter-it-ness, n. p. 1034The state of being past. [Obs.] Bentley.Prē'ter-lāp'sed', a. p. 1034Past; gone by; as, preterlapsed ages. Walker.Pré/ter-lē'gal, a. p. 1034Exceeding the limits of law; not legal. [Rare.] K. Charles.Prē/ter-mis’sion, n. p. 1034A passing by; omission. [Obs.] Milton. 2. (Rhet.) The same as PRETERITION.Prē'ter-mit', v. t. p. 1034To pass by; to omit; to disregard. Bacon.Prē/ter-nāt/ū-ral, a. p. 1034Beyond or different from what is natural; aside from nature; out of the regular or natural course of things; above or beyond the ordinary course of nature, but not clearly supernatural or miraculous…Preter-nāt'ū-rāl'i-ty, n. p. 1034Preternaturalness. [Rare.]Pre´/ter-nät´ū-ral-ly, adv. p. 1034In a preternatural manner, or to a preternatural degree, as deviating from the common order of nature. My eye was preternaturally keen for flaws of language. De Quincey.Prē/ter-nāt/ū-ral-ness, n. p. 1034A state or manner different from the common order of nature.Prē'ter-pĕr'fect, a. p. 1034(Gram.) Expressing action or being absolutely past; perfect.Prē'ter-plu'per-fect, a. p. 1034(Gram.) Expressing action or being past at or before another past event or time; pluperfect.Prē/ter-vĕc'tion, n. p. 1034The act of carrying past or beyond. “The prætervection of the body to some place.” Potter.Pre-tēx', v. t. p. 1034To cloak; to conceal. [Obs.] Edwards.Pre-tĕxt' or Prē'text, n. p. 1034Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; false appearance; pretense. They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service…Pre-tĭb'i-al, a. p. 1034(Anat.) Situated before or in the front of the tibia.Pre-tōn'ic, a. p. 1034Before a tone; as, a pretonic sound or note.Prē'tor, n. p. 1034(Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer among the ancient Romans. Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (præ'tor urba'nus) was a…Pre-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1034Pertaining to a pretor or judge; judicial. Burke.Pre-tō′ri-an, a. p. 1034Belonging to a pretor or judge; judicial; exercised by the pretor; as, pretorian power or authority. Pretorian bands or guards, or pretorians (Rom. Hist.), the emperor’s guards. Their number was…Pre-tō'ri-ŭm, n. p. 1034The general's tent in a camp; hence, also, the council of officers who attended the general and met in his tent. 2. The residence of a governor of a province; hence, any large house or palace.Prē'tor-ship, n. p. 1034The office of pretor. Warton.Pre-tōrt'üre, v. t. p. 1034To torture beforehand. “Pretorturing of many whom afterward they put to death.” Fuller.Pret'ti-ly, adv. p. 1034In a pretty manner; pleasingly; with neatness and taste; as, a woman prettily dressed; a parterre prettily ornamented with flowers. Children kept out of ill company take a pride to behave themselves…Pret'ti-ness, n. p. 1034The quality of being pretty; diminutive beauty; pleasantness without stateliness or dignity; as, the prettiness of the face; the prettiness of a bird or other small animal; the prettiness of dress.…Pret'ty, a. p. 1034Pleasing by delicacy or grace; attracting, but not striking or impressing; exciting pleasure and liking rather than admiration and awe; having slight or diminutive beauty; neat or elegant without…