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.
Prick'-sŏng, n. p. 1035Music written down;—sometimes more particularly, music in parts; so called from the points, or dots, with which it is noted down. When opposed to plain-song, it means counter-point. [Obs.] He fights…Prick'wôod, n. p. 1035(Bot.) A European shrub of the genus Euonymus, so named from the former use of the wood for skewers. London.Prick'y, a. p. 1035Stiff and sharp; prickly. Holland.Prīde, n. p. 1035The state or quality of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of…Prīde, v. t. p. 1036To indulge in pride; to gratify in self-esteem; to allow in vanity or boasting; — used reflexively. “A savage Indian priding himself in those trifles which our children have learned to contemn.” Bp.…Pride, n. p. 1036(Ichth.) An immature species of lamprey, of the genus Ammocœtus.Pride, v. i. p. 1036To be proud; to glory. [Obs.]Pride'ful, a. p. 1036Full of pride; scornful. Tennyson.Prīde'ful-ly, adv. p. 1036In a prideful manner; insolently; scornfully.Pride'ful-ness, n. p. 1036The quality of being prideful; insolence; scornfulness.Pride'less, a. p. 1036Without pride. [Obs.] Chaucer.Prīd'ing-ly, adv. p. 1036With pride; in pride of heart. [Obs.] Barrow.Prīe, n. p. 1036The plant privet. [Obs.] Tusser.Prīe, v. i. p. 1036To pry. [Obs.] Chaucer.Prie-dieu, n. p. 1036A kind of desk at which to kneel for prayer.Priēf, n. p. 1036Proof. [Obs.] Chaucer.Prī'er, n. p. 1036One who inquires narrowly; one who searches and scrutinizes. “So pragmatical a prier he is into divine secrets.” Fuller.Priest, n. p. 1036(Christian Church.) A presbyter or elder; a minister; as, (a.) (Lat. & Gr. Churches.) One who is authorized to consecrate the host and to say mass; but especially, one of the lowest order possessing…Priēst'-cāp, n. p. 1036(Fort.) A work so named from its points; — called also swallow-tail. See REDAN.Priest'craft, n. p. 1036The stratagems and frauds of priests; fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management of selfish and ambitious priests to gain wealth and power, or to impose on the credulity of others. It is…Priest'er-y, n. p. 1036Priests taken collectively; a body of priests; — so called in contempt. [Rare.] Milton.Priest'ess, n. p. 1036A female, among pagans, who officiated in sacred things.Priest'hōod, n. p. 1036The office or character of a priest. Whitgift. 2. Priests taken collectively; the order of men set apart for sacred offices; the order composed of priests. Dryden.Priest'ing, n. p. 1036The duty or office of a priest. [Obs. and rare.] Milton.Priest'ism, n. p. 1036The influence, doctrines, principles, or the like, of priests. [Rare.]Priest'less, a. p. 1036Without a priest. Pope.Priest'li-ness, n. p. 1036The appearance and manner of a priest.Priest'ly, a. p. 1036Pertaining to, or becoming, a priest or priests; sacerdotal; as, the priestly office; priestly sobriety and purity of life.Priĕst'-rīd'den, a. p. 1036Managed or governed by priests. Swift.Prīēve, v. t. p. 1036To prove. [Obs.] Spenser.Prig, n. p. 1036A pert, conceited, saucy, pragmatical fellow. “The queer prig of a doctor.” Macaulay. 2. A thief. [Cant.] All sorts of villains, knaves, prigs, &c., are essential parts of the equipage of life. De…Prĭg, v. i. p. 1036To haggle about the price of a commodity. [Prov. Eng.] Ramsay.Prĭg, v. t. p. 1036To haggle about; to cheapen; as, to prig a salmon. [Scot.] 2. To filch or steal. [Cant.]Prig'ger-y, n. p. 1036The manners of a prig; priggism.Prĭg'gish, a. p. 1036Affected; coxcomical; conceited.Prig'gish-ly, adv. p. 1036In a priggish manner.Prig'gish-ness, n. p. 1036The state of being priggish.Prig'gism, n. p. 1036The manners of a prig. Ed. Rev.Prill, n. p. 1036(Ichth.) A fish like, but inferior to, the turbot; the brill. 2. (Mining.) A solid piece of virgin metal in a mine. 3. The button of metal from an assay.Prill'ion, n. p. 1036Tin extracted from the slag. Simmonds.Prim, a. p. 1036Formal; precise; affectedly nice. Swift.Prĭm, v. t. p. 1036To deck with great nicety; to form with affected preciseness.Prim, n. p. 1036(Bot.). A plant; the privet. See PRIVET.Pri'ma-cy, n. p. 1036The condition or quality of being a primate; the chief ecclesiastical station or dignity in a national church; the office or dignity of an archbishop. 2. The state of being prime or first, as in…Prī'mā-dōn'nā, n. p. 1036The first female singer in an opera.Prī'mā-fā'ci-ē p. 1036At first view or appearance. Prima facie evidence of a fact (Law), that evidence which is sufficient to establish the fact, unless rebutted. Bouvier.Prī'mage, n. p. 1036(Com.) A charge in addition to the freight; originally, a gratuity to the captain for his particular care of the goods, sometimes called hot-money; but now belonging to the owners or freighters of…Prī'mal, a. p. 1036First. “The primal city of the land.” Byron. It hath the primal, eldest curse upon it, A brother's murder. Shak. The primal duties shine aloft like stars. Wordsworth.Prī-măl'i-ty, n. p. 1036The state of being primal. [Obs.]Prī′ma-ri-ly, adv. p. 1036In a primary manner; in the first place; originally; in the first intention.Prĭ'ma-ri-ness, n. p. 1036The state of being first in time, in act, or intention. Norris.Prī'ma-ry, a. p. 1036First in order of time or development; original. The church of Christ, in its primary institution, was made .... to spread and extend itself. Pearson. These I call original, or primary, qualities of…Prī'ma-ry, n. p. 1036That which stands highest in rank or importance; a chief matter or thing. 2. (Ornith.) One of the large feathers on the last joint of a bird’s wing; — used only in the plural.Prī'mate, n. p. 1036The chief ecclesiastic in a national church; an archbishop. 2. (Zoöl.) One of a group of mammals, in the Linnæan system, characterized by pectoral mammæ, or breasts, and by having four incisors. The…Prí'mate-ship, n. p. 1036The office or dignity of a primate; primary.Prī-mā'tial, a. p. 1036Pertaining to a primate. D'Anville, Trans.Pri-mā'tiĕ-al, a. p. 1036Pertaining to a primate. Barrow.Prime, a. p. 1036First in order of time; original; primitive; primary. “Better to clear prime forests.” Tennyson. She was not the prime cause, but I myself. Shak. ☞ In this sense, the word is nearly superseded by…Prime, n. p. 1036The first part; earliest stage; beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, &c.; hence, the dawn; the spring. “The sweet hour of prime.” Milton. “In the very prime of the world.” Hooker. Early and…Prime, v. t. p. 1036To charge with the powder, percussion cap, or other device for communicating fire to the charge, as a fire-arm. 2. To lay the first color in painting upon; as, to prime a wall.