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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.…Pro-mis'cu-ous-ly, adv. p. 1046In a promiscuous manner; without order; with confused mixture; indiscriminately. Like beasts and birds promiscuously they join. Pope.Pro-mis'cu-ons-ness, n. p. 1046A state of being promiscuous.Prŏm'ise, n. p. 1046A declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it to do or forbear a specified act; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a…Prŏm'ise, v. t. p. 1046To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making, or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit to a friend; to promise a cessation of hostilities; to promise…Prŏm'ise, v. t. p. 1046To give assurance by a promise or binding declaration; as, the man promises fairly. 2. To afford hopes or expectations; to give ground to expect good; rarely, to give reason to expect evil. Will not…Prōm'ise-brēach or Prōm'ise-break'er, n. p. 1046Violation of promise. Shak. Prōm'ise-break'er, n. A violator of promises.Prôm'is-ee', n. p. 1046The person to whom a promise is made.Prōm'is-er, n. p. 1046One who promises; one who engages, assures, stipulates, or covenants.Prōm'is-ing-ly, adv. p. 1046In a promising manner.Prōm'is-ôr, n. p. 1046(Law.) One who engages or undertakes; a promiser. Burrill.Pro-mis'sive, a. p. 1046Making a promise; implying a promise; promising. [Rare.]Prŏm'is-so-ri-ly, adv. p. 1046By way of promise.Prŏm'is-so-ry, a. p. 1046Containing a promise or binding declaration of something to be done or forborne. Promissory note (Law), a written promise to pay to some person named, and at a time specified therein, a certain sum…Prŏm'ont, n. p. 1046A promontory. [Obs.] Drayton.Prŏm'on-to-ry, n. p. 1046(Geog.) A high point of land or rock projecting into the sea beyond the line of coast; a headland. If you drink tea on a promontory that overhangs the sea, it is preferable to an assembly. Pope. ☞ It…Pro-mōte', v. t. p. 1046To contribute to the growth, enlargement, or excellence of, as any thing valuable; to contribute to the increase or power of, as any thing evil; to forward; to advance; as, to promote learning…Pro-mōte', v. i. p. 1047To incite or urge on another, as to strife; also, to act as informer; to inform against a person. [Obs.] Syn.—To forward; advance; further; patronize; help; exalt; prefer; elevate; dignify.Pro·mōt’er, n. p. 1047One who, or that which, forwards, advances, or promotes; an encourager; as, a promoter of charity: 2. One who excites; as, a promoter of sedition. 3. An informer; a make-bate. [Obs.]Pro-mō'tion, n. p. 1047The act of promoting, advancing, or encouraging; the act of exalting in rank or honor; as, the promotion of virtue or morals; the promotion of peace or of discord. 2. The condition of being advanced…Pro-mō'tive, a. p. 1047Tending to advance or promote; tending to encourage. Hume.Pro-mōve′, v. t. p. 1047To move forward; to advance. [Obs.] Fell.Pro·mōv'er, n. p. 1047One who promotes, or promotes; a promoter. [Obs.]Prōmpt, a. p. 1047Ready and quick to act as occasion demands; acting with cheerful alacrity; as, prompt in obedience or compliance; —said of persons. Very discerning and prompt in giving orders. Clarendon. Tell him…Prŏmpt, n. p. 1047(Com.) A limit of time given for payment of an account for produce purchased, this limit varying with different goods. Simmonds. Speculators . . . are required to pay £2 per chest, to cover any…Prōmpt, v. t. p. 1047To move or excite to action or exertion; to instigate; to incite. God first . . . prompted on the infirmities of the infant world by temporal prosperity. Bp. Taylor. 2. To suggest to the mind; to…Prŏmpt'-bŏŏk, n. p. 1047The book used by a prompter of a theater.Prōmpt'er, n. p. 1047One who prompts; one who admonishes or incites to action. 2. Especially, one who assists speakers, or actors in a play, when at a loss, by uttering the first words of a sentence, or words forgotten…Prōmpt'i-tūde, n. p. 1047Quality of being prompt; quickness of decision and action when occasion demands. “Men of action, of promptitude, and of courage.” I. Taylor. 2. Readiness of will; cheerful alacrity; as, promptitude…Prōmpt'ly, adv. p. 1047Readily; quickly; expeditiously; cheerfully.