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.
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.Pre-vĕnt'a-ble, a. p. 1035Capable of being prevented or hindered. Reynolds.Pre-vĕnt'a-tive, n. p. 1035That which prevents;—incorrectly used instead of preventive, q. v.Pre-vĕnt’er, n. p. 1035One who goes before. [Obs.] 2. One who hinders; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease. 3. (Naut.) An additional rope or spar, used as a support. Dana.Preventer-bolts or Preventer-plates p. 1035bolts driven at the lower end of the preventer-plates, to assist the strain of the chain-bolts.—Preventer-plates, plates of iron below the links of the chains. Weale.Pre-vĕnt'ing-ly, adv. p. 1035In such a manner or way as to hinder.Pre-vĕnʹtion, n. p. 1035The act of going before. [Obs.] Bacon. 2. Pre-occupation; anticipation. [Obs.] Hammond. 3. The act of hindering; hinderance; obstruction of access or approach. Prevention of sin is one of the…Pre-vĕn’tion-al, a. p. 1035Tending to prevent. [Obs.]Pre-vēnt’ive, a. p. 1035Tending to prevent; hindering the access of; as, a medicine preventive of disease. Browne. Preventive service, the duty performed by the armed police in guarding the coast against smuggling. [Eng.]Pre-vĕnt'ive, n. p. 1035That which prevents; that which intercepts access or approach. 2. (Med.) An antidote previously taken to prevent an attack of disease.Pre-vĕn'tive-ly, adv. p. 1035By way of prevention; in a manner that tends to hinder.Prē'vi-oŭs, a. p. 1035Going before in time; being or happening before something else; antecedent; prior; as, a previous intimation of a design; a previous event. Sound from the mountain, previous to the storm, Rolls o'er…