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.
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.Print, n. p. 1038A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one body or thing on another; mark; sign imparted or communicated, as, the print of the tooth or of the…Print'er, n. p. 1038One who prints, impresses, or stamps; especially, one who prints books, newspapers, and the like.Print'er-y, n. p. 1038A place where cloth is printed; print-works; also, sometimes, a printing-office. [Rare.] Pilkin. Bartlett.Print'ing, n. p. 1038The act, art, or practice of impressing letters, characters, or figures on paper, cloth, or other material; the business of a printer; typography. Letter-press printing (Typog.), that kind of…Print'ing-house, n. p. 1038A printing-office.Print'ing-ink, n. p. 1038Ink used in printing books, newspapers, and the like. It is composed of lamp-black mingled with linseed or nut oil, made thick by boiling and burning, by black rosin, soap, &c., or with balsam of…Print'ing-ma-chine', n. p. 1038A printing-press in which the work is performed by machinery, and not directly by hand.Print'ing-öf'fiçe, n. p. 1038A place where books, pamphlets, and the like, are printed.Printing-pā'per, n. p. 1038Paper to be used in the printing of books, pamphlets, and the like, as distinguished from writing-paper, press-paper, wrapping-paper, &c.Print'ing-press, n. p. 1038A press for printing books, newspapers, handbills, and the like.Print'less, a. p. 1038Leaving no print or impression. “Thus I set my print-less feet.” Milton.Print'-shōp, n. p. 1038A shop where prints are kept for sale.Print'-works, n. p. 1038A place, or establishment, where cloth is printed.Prī-ōn'ō-dōn, n. p. 1038(Zoöl.) A genus of quadrupeds related to the weasels.Pri'or, a. p. 1038Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation. Syn. — Antecedent; precedent; pre-eminent.Prī'or, n. p. 1038(Eccl.) The superior of a priory; one next in dignity to an abbot. Claustral prior. See CLAUSTRAL. — Conventical prior. See CONVENTICAL.Pri'or-ate, n. p. 1038Government by a prior. Warton.