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.
Pro-jēct'ment, n. p. 1045Design; contrivance. [Obs.]Pro-jĕct'or, n. p. 1045One who projects or forms a scheme or design. 2. Hence, one who forms wild or impracticable schemes.Pro-jĕct′ūre, n. p. 1045A jutting or standing out beyond the line or surface of something else.Projet, n. p. 1045A plan proposed; the draft of a proposed measure or arrangement, &c.; a project.Prōke, v. i. p. 1045To poke; to thrust. [Obs.] Holland.Pro-lāpse', v. i. p. 1045To fall down or out; to project too much.Pro-lāpse' or Pro-lāp'sion, n. p. 1045A falling down or falling out of some part of the body, as of the uterus or intestines; prolapsus. See PROLAPSUS.Pro-lāp'sus, n. p. 1045(Med.) The falling down of a part through the orifice with which it is naturally connected, especially of the uterus or rectum. Dunglison.Pro-lāp'tion, n. p. 1045Prolapsion; prolapsus.Pro-lāte', v. t. p. 1045To utter; to pronounce. [Obs.] Howell.Prō'lāte, a. p. 1045Stretched out; extended; especially, elongated in the direction of a line joining the poles; as, a prolate spheroid; — opposed to oblate. Prolate ellipsoid or spheroid (Geom.), a figure generated by…Pro-lā'tion, n. p. 1045The act of prolating or pronouncing; utterance; pronunciation. Ray. 2. Delay; act of deferring. Ainsworth. 3. (Mus.) A method of determining the power of semibreves and minims. Busby.Prō'leg, n. p. 1045(Entom.) The wart-like tubercle, or fleshy prominence, which represents a leg in the abdominal or hinder segments of caterpillars. Brande.Prōl'ĕ-gŏm'ĕ-nā-ry, a. p. 1045Containing previous explanations; preliminary; introductory.Prŏl'e-gōm'e-non, n. p. 1045A preliminary observation; an introductory remark or discourse prefixed to a book or treatise. Therefore have I chosen, in this prolegomenon, to unload my burden of thanks at thy feet. H. Scott.Pro-lēp'sis, n. p. 1045(Rhet.) A figure by which objections are anticipated or prevented. Bp. Burnall. 2. An error in chronology, when an event is dated before the actual time; a species of anachronism. Theobald. 3. A…Pro-lĕp'tic or Pro-lĕp'tic-al, a. p. 1045Pertaining to prolepsis, or anticipation. “A far-seeing or proleptic wisdom.” De Quincey. 2. Previous; antecedent. Glanville. 3. (Med.) Anticipating the usual time; — applied to a periodical disease…Pro-lēp'tie-al-ly, adv. p. 1045By way of anticipation.Pro-lēp'ties, n. sing. p. 1045The art and science of predicting in medicine. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.] Laycock.Prolétaire p. 1045Prolétaire (prō'lā-tār'), n. [Fr. See infra.] One of the common people; a low person; the commonality as an influence or estate in a country.Prŏl'e-tā'ne-ōus, a. p. 1045Having a numerous offspring. [Rare.]Prōl'e-tā'ri-an, a. p. 1045Of, or pertaining to, the proletaries; belonging to the commonality; hence, mean; vile; vulgar. [Rare.] “Every citizen, if he were not a proletarian animal kept at the public cost.” De Quincey.Prōl'e-tā'ri-at, n. p. 1045The class of common people; the lowest class; the commonality.Prōl'e-ta-ry, n. p. 1045(Rom. Antiq.) A citizen of the lowest class who served the state, not with his property, but with his children; hence, a common person. [Rare.]Prōl'i-cīde, n. p. 1045The crime of destroying one's offspring either in the womb or after birth. Bouvier.Pro-lif'er-ōŭs, a. p. 1045(Bot.) Bearing offspring;—applied to a flower from within which another is produced, or a branch from which another rises. Gray. Proliferous cyst (Path.), a cyst that produces highly-organized or…Pro-lĭf'ic, a. p. 1045Having the quality of generating; producing young or fruit; generative; fruitful; productive; — applied to plants producing fruit, animals producing young, &c.; — usually with the implied idea of…Pro-lif'ic-a-cy, n. p. 1046Great productiveness; fruitfulness. [Rare.]Pro-lif'ic-al, a. p. 1046Prolific.Pro-lif'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1046In a prolific manner; with great increase; fruitfully.Pro-lif'i-cā'tion, n. p. 1046The generation of young or of plants. 2. (Bot.) The production of a second flower from the substance of the first, either from the center of a simple flower, or from the side of an aggregate flower.Pro-lif'ic-ness, n. p. 1046The state of being prolific.Pro·lix′, a. p. 1046Extending to a great length; minute in narration or argument; long; — used only with reference to discourse written or spoken; as, a prolix oration; a prolix poem; a prolix sermon. 2. Indulging in…Pro-lĭx'ious, a. p. 1046Dilatory; tedious. [Obs.] Shak.Pro-lĭx'i-ty, n. p. 1046The state or quality of being prolix; great length; minute detail; — applied only to discourses and writings.Pro-lix'ly, adv. p. 1046In a prolix manner; at great length. Dryden.Pro-lix'ness, n. p. 1046The quality of being prolix; prolixity.Prōll, v. t. p. 1046To search or prowl after; to rob; to plunder. [Obs.] By how many tricks did he proll money from all parts of Christendom? Burrow.Prōll, v. i. p. 1046To prowl about; to rob. [Obs.] To what rational purpose should men proll and labor? South.Prōll'er, n. p. 1046A prowler; a thief. [Obs.] “Like prollers and impostors.” Chapman.Prōl'o-cū'tor or Pro-lŏc'ū-tor, n. p. 1046One who speaks for another. Jeffrey. 2. The speaker or chairman of a convocation. The Lower House of Convocation elected him prolocutor. Macaulay.Prŏl'o-cū'tor-shĭp or Pro-lōe'ū-tor-shĭp, n. p. 1046The office or station of a prolocutor.Prō'lo-gīze, v. i. p. 1046To deliver a prologue. [Obs.]Prō'lo-gĭz'er, n. p. 1046One who prologizes; one who delivers a prologue.Prō'lōgue, n. p. 1046The preface or introduction to a discourse or performance; especially, the discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance or play begins. 2. One who utters or delivers a prologue. [Obs. and…Prō'lōgue, v. t. p. 1046To introduce with a formal preface. [Obs.] Shak.Pro-lŏng', v. t. p. 1046To lengthen in time; to extend the duration of; to draw out in time by delay; to continue. Prolong in time the traitor's life. Shak. The unhappy queen with talk prolonged the night. Dryden. 2. To put…Pro-lŏng'a-ble, a. p. 1046Capable of being prolonged. “Each syllable is a prolongable quantity.” Rush.Pro-lŏn'gāte, v. t. p. 1046To extend or lengthen in space; as, to prolongate a line. 2. To extend in time.Prō'lon-gā'tion, n. p. 1046The act of lengthening in time or space; as, the prolongation of life. 2. Extension of time by delay or postponement; as, the prolongation of days for payment. Bacon.Pro-lŏng'er, n. p. 1046(Mil.) A stout hempen rope occasionally employed in the service of field artillery, to connect gun carriage and limber in a way not usual.Pro-lŏng'er, n. p. 1046One who, or that which, lengthens in time or space.Pro-lŏng'ment, n. p. 1046The act of prolonging or the state of being prolonged; prolongation.Pro-lū'sion, n. p. 1046A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, trial, essay. Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted. W. Scott.Prŏm'a-nā'tion, n. p. 1046The act of flowing forth; emanation; efflux. [Obs.]Prōm'e-nāde', n. p. 1046A walk for amusement or exercise. 2. A place for walking.Prōm'e-nāde', v. i. p. 1046To walk for amusement or exercise.Prōm'e-nā'der, n. p. 1046One who promenades.Pro-mēr'it, v. t. p. 1046To oblige; to confer a favor on. Bp. Hall. 2. To deserve; to procure by merit. “Not procured or promerited by any special good acts depending on the free will of men.” Davenant.Prōm'e-rŏps, n. p. 1046Ornith.] A genus of tenuirostral passerine birds, including the sun-bird, or honey-sucker.