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.
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…Pret'ty, adv. p. 1034In some degree; tolerably; moderately; quite; as, I am pretty sure of the fact; the wind is pretty fair. The writer pretty plainly professes himself a sincere Christian. Atterbury. ☞ In these and…Pret'ty-ĭsh, a. p. 1034Somewhat pretty. Walpole.Pret'ty-ĭsm, n. p. 1034Affectation of a pretty style, manner, or the like. Ed. Rev.Pret'ty-spōk'en, a. p. 1034Spoken or speaking prettily.Pre-ty'p'i-fy, v. t. p. 1034To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type. Pearson.Pre-vāil', v. i. p. 1034To overcome; to gain the victory or superiority; to gain the advantage; to succeed; — sometimes with over or against. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand…Pre-vāil'ing, p. a. p. 1034Predominant; having more influence; prevalent; superior in power; efficacious. Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers. Rowe. 2. Predominant; most general; as, the prevailing disease of a…Pre-vāil’ing-ly, adv. p. 1034So as to prevail, or have success.Pre-vāil'ment, n. p. 1034Prevalence. [Obs.] Shak.Prē'va-lençe, n. p. 1034The condition or quality of being prevalent; superior strength, influence, or efficacy; most efficacious force in producing an effect; success. The duke better knew what kind of arguments were [was]…Prē'va-len-cy, n. p. 1034The same as PREVALENCE.Prē'vā-lent, a. p. 1034Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force or efficacy; prevailing; efficacious. Brennus told the Roman embassadors that prevalent arms were as good as any title. Raleigh. 2. Most…Prēv'a-lent-ly, adv. p. 1034With predominance or superiority; powerfully. The evening star so falls into the main, To rise at morn more prevalently bright. Prior.Pre-vări-ēāte, v. i. p. 1034To shift or turn from one side to the other, from the direct course, or from truth; to play foully; to evade telling the truth; to shuffle; to quibble. 2. (Civil Law.) To collude, as where an…Pre-văr′i-ēāte, v. t. p. 1034To evade by a quibble; to pervert; to corrupt. [Obs.] When any of us hath prævaricated our part of the covenant, we must return. Bp. Taylor.Pre-vāri'-ēā'tion, n. p. 1034The act of shuffling or quibbling to evade the truth or the disclosure of truth; a deviation from the plain path of truth and fair dealing. 2. A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office or…Pre-vă'ri-ēā'tor, n. p. 1034One who prevaricates; a shuffler; a quibbler. 2. (Civil Law.) A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution. 3. One who abuses his trust.Prēve, v. t. p. 1034To prove. [Obs.] Experience so preveth it every day. Chaucer.Pre-vēne', v. t. p. 1034To come before; to anticipate; hence, to hinder. [Obs.] Philips.Pre-vēn'i-ence, n. p. 1034The act of anticipating, or going before; anticipation. [Rare.]Pre-vēn'i-ent, a. p. 1034Going before; preceding. “Prevenient grace descending.” Milton. 2. Hence, preventive.Pre-vĕnt', v. t. p. 1034To go before; to precede. [Obs.] No man, therefore, can prevent the Spirit, in doing good. Pymdale. 2. To be beforehand with; to get the start of; to anticipate; to forestall. [Obs.] “Their ready…Pre-vēnt', v. i. p. 1034To come before the usual time. [Obs.] Bacon.Pre-vĕnt'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 1035The quality of being preventable; capability of being prevented.