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.
Pro-fāne', a. p. 1043Not sacred or holy; unconsecrated; not possessing peculiar sanctity; hence, secular; relating to matters other than sacred; as, profane history; a profane place. After the whole procession had…Pro-fāne', v. t. p. 1043To violate, as any thing sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Sabbath; to profane the Scriptures or…Pro-fāne'ly, adv. p. 1043With irreverence to sacred things or names; with want of due respect. “The character of God profanely impeached.” Dwight. That proud scholar . . . speaks of Homer too profanely. Broome.Pro-fāne'ness, n. p. 1043The quality or character of being profane; scandalous irreverence; especially, the use of language which implies irreverence toward God; the taking of God's name in vain.Pro-fān'er, n. p. 1043One who treats sacred things with irreverence; one who uses profane language. 2. A polluter; a defiler; as, a profaner of the temple. Hooker.Prŏf'a-nism, n. p. 1043Profanity. [Obs.] Marston.Pro-făn'-i-ty, n. p. 1043The quality or character of being profane; profaneness; irreverence; especially, the use of profane language; blasphemy. 2. That which is profane; profane language. In a revel of debauchery, amid the…Pro-fĕc'tion, n. p. 1043A going forward; advance; progression. [Obs.] Browne.Prō-fee-tī'tious, a. p. 1043Proceeding from, as from a parent; derived, as from an ancestor. The threefold distinction of profectitious, adventitious, and professional was ascertained. Gibbon.Prō'fērt, n. p. 1043(Law.) The exhibition or production of a record or paper in open court.Pro-fĕss’, v. t. p. 1043To make open declaration of; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own freely. The best and wisest of them all professed To know this only, that he nothing knew. Milton. 2. To set up a…Pro-fĕss', v. i. p. 1043To take a profession upon one's self; to confess. Drayton. 2. To declare friendship. [Obs.] Shak.Pro-fĕssed', p. a. p. 1043Openly declared, avowed, or acknowledged; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian; a professed atheist.Pro-fĕss'ed ly, adv. p. 1043By profession; by open declaration or avowal. I could not grant too much to men . . . professedly my subjects. K. Charles. England I traveled over, professedly searching all places as I passed along.…Pro-fĕs'sion, n. p. 1043The act of professing; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship or sincerity; a profession of faith or religion. 2. That which one professes; a declaration; an…Pro-fĕs'sion-al, a. p. 1043Pertaining to a profession or to a calling; following a profession. His brain was almost turned by pride, not personal, but professional. Macaulay. 2. Professed; being by profession; avowed. Perfect…Pro-fĕs'sion-al-ist, n. p. 1043A professional person; one who practices in some profession. [Rare.]Pro-fĕs'sion-al-ly, adv. p. 1043In a professional manner or way; by profession or declaration; professedly; as, professionally a friend to religion. [Rare.] 2. By calling; as, one employed professionally.Pro-fess'or, n. p. 1043One who professes or makes open declaration of his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself…Prŏf'es-sō'ri-al, a. p. 1043Pertaining to a professor; as, the professorial chair.Prŏf'es-sō'ri-al-ism, n. p. 1043The character, manners, or habits of a professor. [Rare.]Prŏf'es-sō'ri-ate, n. p. 1043Professorship. [Rare.]Pro-fĕss'or-ship, n. p. 1043The office of a professor or public teacher. Walton.Pro-fes'so-ry, a. p. 1043Pertaining to a professor. [Obs.]Prŏf'fer, v. t. p. 1043To offer for acceptance; to propose to give; to make a tender of; as, to proffer a gift; to proffer services; to proffer friendship. 2. To essay or attempt of one's own accord; to undertake. [Rare.]…Prŏf'fer, n. p. 1043An offer made; something proposed for acceptance by another; as, proffers of peace or friendship. He made a proffer to lay down his commission of command in the army. Clarendon. 2. Essay; attempt.…Prŏf'fer-er, n. p. 1043One who offers any thing for acceptance.Pro-fi'cience or Pro-fi'cien-cy, n. p. 1043The state or quality of being proficient; advance in the acquisition of any art, science, or knowledge; improvement; progression in knowledge.Pro-fi'cient, a. p. 1043Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed.Pro-fĭ'cient, n. p. 1043One who has made considerable advances in any business, art, science, or branch of learning; an expert; an adept; as, a proficient in a trade or occupation; a proficient in mathematics, in anatomy…Pro-fi'cient-ly, adv. p. 1043In a proficient manner; with proficiency.Pro-fic'u-ous, a. p. 1043Profitable; advantageous; useful. [Obs.] Harvey.Prŏ'file, n. p. 1043An outline or contour. 2. (Paint. & Sculp.) A head or portrait represented sidewise or in a side view; the side face or half face; as, to draw or appear in profile; the profile of Pope or Addison. 3.…Prō'file, v. t. p. 1043To draw the outline of; to draw in profile, as a building.Prō'file, n. p. 1043(Fort.) The act or process of setting up wooden profiles to guide workmen in throwing up a parapet.Prŏ'fil-ist, n. p. 1043One who takes profiles.Prŏf'it, n. p. 1043Acquisition beyond expenditure; excess of value received for keeping or selling, over cost; hence, in commerce, pecuniary gain in any transaction or occupation; emolument. Let no man anticipate…Prŏf'it, v. t. p. 1043To be of service to; to be good to; to help on; to benefit; to advantage. It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs. Dryden.Prŏf'it, v. i. p. 1043To gain advantage; to make improvement; to improve; to gain; to advance. I profit not by thy talk. Shak. She has profited so well already by your counsel, that she can say her lesson. Dryden. 2. To…Prŏf'it-a-ble, a. p. 1044Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; useful; advantageous; as, a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession. What was so profitable to the empire…Prŏf'it-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1044The quality of being profitable; gainfulness; usefulness; advantageousness.Prŏf'it-a-bly, adv. p. 1044In a profitable manner; gainfully; usefully; advantageously; with improvement: as, to be profitably occupied in reading.Prŏf'it-ing, n. p. 1044Gain; advantage; profit. “That thy profiting may appear to all.” 1 Tim. iv. 15.Prŏf'it-less, a. p. 1044Void of profit, gain, or advantage. Shak.Prŏf'li-ga-cy, n. p. 1044The condition or quality of being profligate; a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice.Prŏf'li-gate, a. p. 1044Overthrown; beaten; conquered. [Obs.] The foe is profligate, and run. Hudibras. 2. Abandoned to vice; lost to principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; as, a…Prŏf'li-gate, n. p. 1044An abandoned man; a person openly and shamelessly vicious. How could such a profligate as Antony, or a boy of eighteen, like Octavius, ever dare to dream of giving law to such an empire? Swift.Prŏf'li-gāte, v. t. p. 1044To drive away; to overcome. [A Latinism.] [Obs.] Harvey.Prŏf'li-gate-ly, adv. p. 1044In a profligate manner; without principle or shame; in a course of extreme viciousness; as, to spend life profligately.Prŏf'li-gate-ness, n. p. 1044The quality of being profligate; the quality or state of being lost to virtue and decency. 2. An abandoned course of life; extreme viciousness; profligacy.Prŏf'li-gā'tion, n. p. 1044Defeat; rout. [Obs.] Bacon.Prŏf'lu-ence, n. p. 1044The quality or act of being profluent; forward flow; course. [Obs.] Walton.Prŏf'lu-ent, a. p. 1044Flowing forward. “In the profluent stream.” Milton.Pro-found', a. p. 1044Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. “A gulf profound.” Milton. 2. Low bending; very low; lowly; humble; as, a profound bow. 3. Characterized by intensity…Pro-found', n. p. 1044The deep; the abyss. “Through the blue profound.” Wordsworth. 2. Especially, the sea; the ocean. God in the fathomless profound Hath all his choice commanders drowned. Sandys.Pro-found', v. i. p. 1044To dive deeply; to penetrate. [Obs.] Glanville.Pro-found', v. t. p. 1044To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down. [Obs.] Browne.Pro-found'ly, adv. p. 1044In a profound manner; deeply. Why sigh you so profoundly? Shak. 2. With deep penetration, knowledge, or insight; as, profoundly wise; profoundly skilled in music or painting.Pro-found'ness, n. p. 1044The quality of being profound; profundity; depth.Pro-fŭl'gent, a. p. 1044Shining forth; blazing out; brilliant; effulgent. [Obs.] Chaucer.