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'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.Pri'or-ess, n. p. 1038A female superior of a convent of nuns.Prī-ŏr'i-ty, n. p. 1038The state of being antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as, priority of birth. Priority of debts, a superior claim to payment, or to payment before others. Syn.—Antecedence…Prī'or-ly, adv. p. 1038Antecedently. [Rare.] Geddes.Prī'or-ship, n. p. 1038The state or office of prior.Prī'o-ry, n. p. 1038A religious house, the head of which was a prior or prioress, and which was in dignity below an abbey. ☞ Of such houses there were two sorts: one, where the prior was chosen by the inmates, and…Pri's'age, n. p. 1038(O. Eng. Law.) (a.) A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more; one before and one behind the mast. This, by charter of Edward…Pris-cĭl'li-an-ist, n. p. 1038(Eccl. Hist.) A follower of Priscillian, bishop of Avila, in Spain, in the fourth century, who embraced some of the errors of the Gnostics, and, though of unimpeachable morals and a very devout man…Prīse, n. p. 1038See PRIZE. Halliwell.