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-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.Pro-mē'the-an, a. p. 1046Of, or pertaining to, Prometheus. 2. Having a life-giving quality; inspiring.Pro-mē'the-an, n. p. 1046A glass tube containing sulphuric acid, and surrounded by an inflammable mixture, which it ignites on being pressed, affording light. Brande. 2. A kind of lucifer match. Simmonds.Pro-mē'the-ūs or Pro-mē'theūs, n. p. 1046(Gr. Myth.) The son of Iapetus, one of the Titans, and Clymene, fabled by the poets to have surpassed all mankind in knowledge, and to have formed men of clay, to whom he gave life by means of fire…Prōm'i-nence or Prōm'i-nen-cy, n. p. 1046The state of standing out from the surface of something; the state of being conspicuous; conspicuousness; as, the prominence of a rock or cliff; the prominence of the nose. 2. That which stands out…Prōm'i-nent, a. p. 1046Standing out beyond the line or surface of something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as, a prominent figure on a vase. 2. Hence, distinctly manifest; conspicuous; likely to attract attention…Prōm'i-nent-ly, adv. p. 1046In a prominent manner; eminently; conspicuously.Prō′/mis-ēu′i-ty, n. p. 1046The state or quality of being promiscuous; promiscuousness.Pro-mīs'e-nō-ūs, a. p. 1046Consisting of individuals united in a body or mass without order; mingled; confused; undistinguished; as, a promiscuous crowd or mass. A wild where weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot. Pope. 2.…