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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Prim'ing-tūbe, n. p. 1037A tube used in priming artillery.Prĭm'ing-wīre, n. p. 1037A pointed wire, used to penetrate the vent of a piece, for examining the powder of the charge, or for piercing the cartridge.Prī-mĭp′ĭ-lar, a. p. 1037Pertaining to the captain of the vanguard of a Roman army. [Rare.]Prī-mĭ′sh′-ă, n. p. 1037(Law.) The first fruit; the first year’s whole profit of a spiritual preferment. Blount. “The primitias of your parsonage.” Spenser. 2. (pl.) (Med.) The waters discharged before the extrusion of the…Prĭ-mĭ′tial, a. p. 1037Being of the first production; primitive; original; first. [Obs.] Ainsworth.Prĭm'ĭ-tĭve, a. p. 1037Pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; first; as, the primitive state of Adam; primitive innocence; the primitive church. 2. Formal; affectedly solemn; imitating the…Prim'i-tive, n. p. 1037An original word; a word not derived from another.Prim'i-tive-ly, adv. p. 1037Originally; at first. 2. Primarily; not derivatively. 3. According to the original rule or ancient practice. South.Prim'i-tive-ness, n. p. 1037The state of being primitive or original; antiquity; conformity to antiquity.Prim'i-ty, n. p. 1037The state of being original; primitiveness. [Obs.] Pearson.Prim'ly, adv. p. 1037In a prim or precise manner; neatly; precisely.Prim'ness, n. p. 1037Affected formality or niceness; stiffness; preciseness.Prī'mo, n. p. 1037(Mus.) The first or leading part.Pri'mo-gē'ni-al, a. p. 1037First born, made, or generated; original; primary; constituent; elemental; as, primogenial light; primogenial bodies. Boyle.Prī'mo-gĕn'i-tive, n. p. 1037Primogeniture. [Obs.] Shak.Pri′mo-gē′ni-tive, a. p. 1037Of, or pertaining to, primogeniture. [Rare.]Pri'mo-gĕn'i-tor, n. p. 1037The first father or forefather. Gayton.Pri'mo-gēn'i-tūre, n. p. 1037The state of being born first of the same parents; seniority by birth among children. 2. (Eng. Law.) The exclusive right of inheritance which belongs to the eldest son or daughter. Thus, in England…Pri'mo-gĕn'i-tūre-ship, n. p. 1037The state or privileges of one who is the first born.Pri-môr′di-al, a. p. 1037First in order; original; existing from the beginning; of earliest origin. “The primordial facts of our intelligent nature.” Sir W. Hamilton. 2. (Geol.) Of, or pertaining to, the lowest beds of the…Pri-môr'di-al, n. p. 1037First principle or element; origin. Henry More.Prī-mōr'di-al-ly, adv. p. 1037At the beginning; under the first order of things.Pri-mōr'di-an, n. p. 1037A kind of plum.Pri-môr'di-nate, a. p. 1037Existing from the first; original. [Rare.] Boyle.Primp, v. i. p. 1037To be formal or affected. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Prim'rōse, n. p. 1037(Bot.) An early flowering plant of the genus Primula (P. vulgaris), closely allied to the cowslip, of several varieties, as the white, the red, the yellow-flowered, &c. Evening primrose (Bot.), an…Prim'rōse, a. p. 1037Of, or pertaining to, the primrose; hence, gay; flowery; spring-like. He was still among the primrose paths. Motley.Prī'mum Mōb'i-le p. 1037(Astron.) In the Ptolemaic system, the outermost of the revolving spheres of the universe, which was supposed to give motion to all the others.Prim’y, a. p. 1037Blooming. [Obs.] “In the youth of primy nature.” Shak.Prince, n. p. 1037The one of highest rank; a person possessing highest place and authority; a sovereign; a monarch; — sometimes, but rarely, applied to a female sovereign. Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince.…Prīnce, v. i. p. 1037To play the prince; to take state. [Rare.] Shak.Prínce'dom, n. p. 1037The jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate, of a prince. Under thee, as head supreme, Thrones, princedoms, powers, dominions, I reduce. Milton.Prīnce'li-ness, n. p. 1037The quality of being princely; the state, manner, or dignity of a prince.Prince'ling, n. p. 1037A little or inferior prince.Prince'ly, a. p. 1037Of, or relating to, a prince; regal; royal; of highest rank or authority; as, princely birth, character, fortune, and the like. 2. Resembling or becoming a prince; grand; august; munificent; of great…Prìnce'ly, adv. p. 1037In a prince-like manner. Johnson.Prin'çe's-fēath'er, n. p. 1037(Bot.) An annual plant of the genus Amaranthus. London.Prīn'ce's-mēt'al, n. p. 1037An alloy composed of seventy-five parts of copper and twenty-five of zinc, in imitation of gold;—called also Prince Rupert's metal. Ure.Prin'cess, n. p. 1037A female prince; a female having the rank of a prince. Dryden. 2. The daughter of a king. Shak. 3. The consort of a prince; as, the princess of Wales. ☞ By the English sometimes accented on the last…Prin'cess-ly, a. p. 1037Having the manner of a prince. [Rare.] Byron.Prin-cē'tas, n. p. 1037A worsted fabric, which is sometimes made with a cotton warp. Simmonds.Prin'çi-pal, a. p. 1037Highest in rank, authority, character, or importance; most considerable; chief; as, the principal officers of a government; the principal men of a city, town, or state; the principal arguments in a…Prin'çi-pal, n. p. 1037A chief or head; one who takes the lead; as, the principal of a faction, an insurrection, or mutiny; hence, specifically, (a.) One who possesses or exercises chief authority; as, the principal of a…Prin'çi-päl'i-ty, n. p. 1037Sovereignty; supreme power. Sidney. 2. A prince; one invested with sovereignty. Milton. 3. The territory of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as, the principality of Wales. 4.…Prin'çi-pal-ly, adv. p. 1037In a principal manner; above all; chiefly. They mistake the nature of criticism who think its business is principally to find fault. — Dryden. Syn.—Chiefly; mainly; essentially; especially…Prin'ci-pal-ness, n. p. 1038The state of being principal or chief.Prin'ci·pate, n. p. 1038Principality; supreme rule. [Obs.] Barrow.Prin·cip'i·a, n. pl. p. 1038First principles; fundamental beginnings; elements; as, Newton's Principia.Prin·cip'i·al, a. p. 1038Initial; elementary. [Obs.]Prin-cip'i-ant, a. p. 1038Relating to principles or beginnings. [Rare.]Prin·cip'i·ā'tion, n. p. 1038Analysis into constituent or elemental parts. [Rare.] In a system of writing by sound, there must be a very accurate appreciation of sound, and a faultless principiation of language. A. M. Bell.Prin'ci-ple, n. p. 1038Beginning; commencement. [Obs. and rare.] “Doubting sad end of principle unsound.” Spenser. 2. Hence, a source, or origin; that from which any thing proceeds; fundamental substance or energy…Prin'ci-ple, v. t. p. 1038To establish or fix in tenets; to impress with any tenet, good or ill; — chiefly used in the participle. With goodness principled not to reject The penitent. Milton. 2. To establish firmly in the…Prin'cŏck or Prin'cŏx, n. p. 1038A coxcomb; a conceited person; a pert young rogue; — used humorously or in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.Prĭn'i-ă, n. p. 1038(Ornith.) A genus of birds found in Java.Prink, v. i. p. 1038To dress for show; to spend much time in arranging the dress in a foppish or finical manner; to prank. 2. To put on stately airs; to strut.Prĭnk, v. t. p. 1038To dress or adjust to ostentation.Prĭnk'er, n. p. 1038One who prinks; one who dresses with much care.Print, v. t. p. 1038To press or impress; to imprint. “And print on thy soft cheek a parent’s kiss.” Byron. 2. To take an impression of; to copy or take off the impress of; to stamp. “Perhaps some footsteps printed in…Print, v. i. p. 1038To use or practice the art of typography, or of taking impressions of letters, figures, and the like. 2. To publish a book. From the moment he prints, he must expect to hear no more of truth. Pope.