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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Prŏb'lem-a-tist, n.p. 1040One who proposes problems. [Obs.] Evelyn.
  2. Prŏb'lem-a-tize, v. t.p. 1040To propose problems. [Obs.]
  3. Pro-bŏs'çi-date, a.p. 1040Furnished with a proboscis.
  4. Prŏ'bos-çid'i-al, a.p. 1040Furnished with a proboscis.
  5. Prŏ′bos-cĭd′i-an, n.p. 1040A pachyderm having a proboscis, as the elephant or mastodon.
  6. Prō/bos-cĭd'ĭ-fōrm, a.p. 1040Having the form or uses of a proboscis; as, a proboscidiform mouth. Carpenter.
  7. Pro-bŏs'cis, n.p. 1040An extensible hollow tube situated about the head of various animals, and capable of absorbing fluids; a snout; a trunk. The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible, muscular elongation of the nose.…
  8. **Proboscis monkey**p. 1040a monkey (Nasalis larvatus) having a long nose. It is a native of Borneo. See KAHÁU.
  9. Pro-că'cioŭs, a.p. 1040Pert; petulant; saucy. [Obs.] Barrow.
  10. Pro-căc'i-ty, n.p. 1040Impudence; petulance. [Obs.] Burton.
  11. Prō'/ca-tā're/tic, a.p. 1040(Med.) Beginning; commencing;—applied to those causes which immediately kindle a disease into action when there exists a predisposition to it. “These words [procatarctic causes] have been used with…
  12. Prō'ca-tārx'is, n.p. 1040(Med.) The kindling of a disease into action by a procatarctic cause, when a predisposition exists; the procatarctic cause itself of a disease. Quincy.
  13. Prō'çe-dĕn'do, n.p. 1040(Law.) (a.) A writ by which a cause which has been removed from an inferior to a superior court by certiorari, or otherwise, is sent down again to the same court, to be proceeded in there, where it…
  14. Pro·cēd′ure, n.p. 1040The act or manner of proceeding or moving forward; progress; process; management; conduct. “The true procedure of conscience.” South. 2. A step taken; an act performed; a proceeding. “His gracious…
  15. Pro·ceed’,, v. i.p. 1041To move, pass, or go forward or onward; to go on; to come forth; to advance; to make progress; to continue or renew motion commenced; to go or come further. 2. To pass from a stated point or topic to…
  16. Pro·ceed', v. i.p. 1041To make progress with; to go on with. [Obs.]
  17. Prō'ceed, n.p. 1041That which comes forth or results; effect; product;— used almost solely in the plural, proceeds; yield; issue; product; sum afforded by a sale, and the like.
  18. Pro·ceed’er, n.p. 1041One who proceeds; one who goes forward or makes progress. Bacon.
  19. Pro·ceed’ing, n.p. 1041The act of one who proceeds, or who prosecutes a design or transaction; action contemplated as in process or with reference to its successive steps; progress or movement from one thing to another; a…
  20. Prŏ'ce-leŭs-măt'ic, a.p. 1041Inciting; animating; encouraging. 2. (Pros.) Consisting of four short syllables; composed of feet of four short syllables each.
  21. Prŏc'e-leis-māt'ic, n.p. 1041(Pros.) A foot consisting of four short syllables.
  22. Prō'cel-lā'rĭ-an, n.p. 1041(Ornith.) One of a family of oceanic birds, usually found far out at sea, and often seen in great abundance when the sea is agitated and the wind is high; the petrel.
  23. Pro·cĕl'lōus, a.p. 1041Stormy. [Obs.] Bailey.
  24. Pro-cĕp'tion, n.p. 1041Preoccupation. [Obs.] K. Charles.
  25. Pro-cēre', a.p. 1041Of high stature; tall. [Obs.] Evelyn.
  26. Pro-cĕr'i-ty, n.p. 1041Tallness; height of stature. [Obs.] “Procerity, to use Dr. Johnson’s stately word in speaking of the stately Prussian regiment.” De Quincey.
  27. Prŏc'ess, n.p. 1041The act of proceeding or moving forward; procedure; progress; advance; continued movement. “Long process of time.” Milton. Yet I doubt not, through the ages, one increasing purpose runs, And the…
  28. Pro·cĕs'sion, n.p. 1041The act of proceeding, moving on, advancing, or issuing; continuous course; regular, orderly, or ceremonious progress. Yet proof is here of men's unquenched desire That the procession of their life…
  29. Pro·cĕs’sion, v. t.p. 1041(Law.) To ascertain, mark, and establish the boundary lines of, as lands. “To procession the lands of such persons as desire it.” Burrill. [Local in North Carolina and Tennessee.]
  30. Pro·cēs'sion, v. i.p. 1041To go or march in procession. [Rare.]
  31. Pro·cēs'sion-al, a.p. 1041Pertaining to a procession; consisting in a procession. The processional services became more frequent, more imposing. Milman.
  32. Pro·cĕs'sion-al, n.p. 1041A book relating to processions of the Roman Catholic church. Gregory.
  33. Pro-cĕs'sion-al-ist, n.p. 1041One who goes or marches in a procession. [Rare.]
  34. Pro-çēs'sion-a-ry, a.p. 1041Consisting in procession; as, processionary service. Hooker.
  35. Pro-cĕs'sion-er, n.p. 1041A manual of processions; a processional. [Obs.] Fuller. 2. An officer appointed to procession lands. [Local in North Carolina and Tennessee.] Burrill.
  36. Pro-çĕs'sion-ing, n.p. 1041(U. S. Law.) The manner of ascertaining and fixing the boundaries of land, as prescribed by law. See PROCESSION, v. t. Bouvier.
  37. Pro·cĕs'sive, a.p. 1041Proceeding; advancing. “Because it is language, — ergo, processive.” Coleridge.
  38. Procès verbalp. 1041(Fr. Law.) An authentic minute of an official act, or statement of facts.
  39. Prō'chein, a.p. 1041Next; nearest. Prochein amy (Law), the next friend; any person by whom, or in whose name, an infant prosecutes a suit.
  40. Prō'chrō-nĭsm, n.p. 1041The dating of an event before the time it happened; an antedating. [Obs.]
  41. Prŏç'i-dençe or Prō'çi-dençe, n.p. 1041A falling down; a prolapsus. [Rare.] Parr.
  42. Pro·cid'ū·ous, a.p. 1041Falling from its proper place.
  43. Pro-cĭnct', n.p. 1041Complete preparation for action. [Obs.] War he perceived, war in procinct. Milton.
  44. Pro-claim′, v. t.p. 1041To make conspicuously known by public announcement; to give wide publicity to; to publish abroad; to promulgate. Throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held. Milton. 2. To…
  45. Pro-clāim'er, n.p. 1041One who proclaims or publishes; one who announces or makes known.
  46. Prō'cla-mā'tion, n.p. 1041The act of publishing abroad; conspicuous announcement; official or general notice; publication. King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah. 1 Kings xv. 22. 2. That which is put forth by way…
  47. Pro-clit'ic, n.p. 1041(Gr. Gram.) A word which, as it were, leans upon, or is so closely attached to, the following word as not to have a separate accent.
  48. Pro-clit'ic, a.p. 1041(Gr. Gram.) Leaning forward;—said of certain monosyllabic words which are so closely attached to the following word as not to have a separate accent.
  49. Pro-clive', a.p. 1041Having a tendency by nature; prone; proclivous. [Obs. or rare.] Browning. A woman is frail and proclive unto all evils. Latimer.
  50. Pro-cliv'i-ty, n.p. 1041Inclination; propensity; proneness; tendency. The sensitive appetite may engender a proclivity to steal, but not a necessity to steal. Bp. Hall. 2. Readiness; facility. He had such a dexterous…
  51. Pro-clī'vōŭs, a.p. 1041Inclined; tending by nature. [Obs.]
  52. Pro-cœ'li-an, a.p. 1041Having the anterior side concave, as the vertebræ of the crocodilians. Dana.
  53. Pro-cŏn'sul, n.p. 1041(Rom. Antiq.) A Roman officer who discharged the duties of a consul without being himself consul; a governor of a province, or a military commander under a governor. He was usually one who had…
  54. Pro-cōn'su-lar or Pro-cōn'su-la-ry, a.p. 1041Pertaining or belonging to a proconsul; as, proconsular powers. 2. Under the government of a proconsul; as, a proconsular province.
  55. Pro-cōn'sul-ate or Pro-cōn'sul-ship, n.p. 1041The office of a proconsul, or the term of his office.
  56. Pro-crās'ti-nāte, v. t.p. 1041To put off till to-morrow or from day to day; to delay; to defer to a future time; to postpone; as, to procrastinate repentance. Hopeless and helpless doth Ægeon wend, But to procrastinate his…
  57. Pro-crās'ti-nāte, v. i.p. 1041To delay; to be dilatory. I procrastinate more than I did twenty years ago. Swift.
  58. Pro-crās'ti-nā'tion, n.p. 1041A putting off to a future time; delay; dilatoriness. Procrastination is the thief of time. Young.
  59. Pro-crās'ti-nā'tor, n.p. 1041One who defers the performance of any thing to a future time.
  60. Pro-crăs'ti-na-to-ry, a.p. 1041Pertaining to procrastination; implying procrastination. J. Hall.