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.
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.Prŏmpt'ness, n. p. 1047Promptitude; readiness; quickness of decision or action; as, the young man answered questions with great promptness. 2. Cheerful willingness; alacrity.Prŏmpt'-nōte, n. p. 1047(Com.) A note of reminder of the day of payment, sum due, &c., given to a purchaser at a sale of produce. Simmonds.Prŏmpt'ū-a-ry, a. p. 1047Pertaining to, or serving to make, preparation. [Rare.]Prŏmpt'ū-ā-ry, n. p. 1047That from which supplies are drawn; a store-house; a magazine; a repository. Woodward.Prŏmpt'ūre, n. p. 1047Suggestion; incitement; prompting. [Rare.] “Love's prompture deep.” Coleridge.Pro-mŭl'gāte, v. t. p. 1047To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; to publish; as, to promulgate the secrets of a council. Syn.—To announce; publish; declare; proclaim. See ANNOUNCE.Prō'mul-gā'tion, n. p. 1047The act of promulgating; publication; open declaration; as, the promulgation of the law or of the gospel.Prō'mul-gā'tor, n. p. 1047One who promulgates or publishes.Pro-mūlge', v. t. p. 1047To promulgate; to publish or teach. [Rare.] Extraordinary doctrines these for the age in which they were promulged. Prescott.Pro-mŭl'ger, n. p. 1047One who promulgates or publishes what was before unknown. Atterbury.Pro-nā'os, n. p. 1047(Arch.) The porch or vestibule of a temple.Prō'nāte, a. p. 1047Somewhat prone; inclined. “Where the tree-growths of more favored regions have become pronate and vine-like.” Kane.Pro-nā'tion, n. p. 1047That motion of the fore-arm whereby the palm of the hand is turned downward; — opposed to supination. 2. That position of the hand when the thumb is turned toward the body, and the palm downward. 3.…Pro·nā'tor, n. p. 1047(Anat.) A muscle which serves to turn the palm of the hand downward;— opposed to supinator.Prōne, a. p. 1047Bending forward; inclined; not erect. Toward him they bend With awful reverence prone. Milton. 2. Flat on the face; lying with the face downward; — opposed to supine. Which, as the wind, Blew where…Prōne'ly, adv. p. 1047In a prone manner or position; so as to bend downward.Prōne'ness, n. p. 1047The state of being prone, or of bending downward; as, the proneness of beasts that look downward, opposed to the erectness of man. 2. The state of lying with the face downward; — opposed to…Prōng, n. p. 1047A sharp-pointed instrument. Prick it on a prong of iron. Sandys. 2. The tine of a fork or of a similar instrument; as, a fork of two or three prongs. 3. A pointed projection. The prickly prong has…Prŏng'-bōne p. 1047Prŏng'-bŭck, n. p. 1047The same as SPRING-BOC.Prŏnged, a. p. 1047Having prongs or projections like the tines of a fork.Prŏng'-hōe, n. p. 1047A hoe with prongs to break the earth.Prŏng'-hŏrn, n. p. 1047(Zoöl.) A species of antelope (the Antilope Americana), found in the western parts of North America, having horns curvated at the end.Prō'ni-ty, n. p. 1047The same as PRONENESS. [Obs.] Sir T. More.Pro-nōm'i-nal, a. p. 1047Belonging to, or partaking of, the nature of a pronoun.Pro-nōm'i-nal-ly, adv. p. 1047In a pronominal manner; with the nature or office of a pronoun.Prononcé, a. p. 1047Strongly marked; decided, as in manners, &c.Prō'noun, n. p. 1047(Gram.) A word used instead of a noun or name, to prevent the repetition of it. The personal pronouns in English are I, thou or you, he, she, it, we, ye, and they. The last is used for the name of…Pro-nounce', v. t. p. 1047To utter articulately; to utter; to speak distinctly; as, adults rarely learn to pronounce a foreign language correctly. 2. To utter formally, officially, or solemnly; as, the court pronounced…Pro-nounce’, v. i. p. 1047To speak; to make declaration; to utter an opinion. [R.] “How confidently soever men pronounce of themselves.” Decay of Piety.Pro-nounce', n. p. 1047The act of pronouncing or declaring; declaration. [Obs.]Pro-nounce'a-ble, a. p. 1047Capable of being pronounced or uttered.Pro-nounced', a. p. 1047Strongly marked; decided. [A Gallicism.] “Our friend's views became every day more pronounced.” Thackeray.Pro-noun'cer, n. p. 1047One who utters or declares.Pro-noun'cing, p. a. p. 1047Teaching or indicating pronunciation; as, a pronouncing dictionary.Pro-nū'bi-al, a. p. 1047Presiding over marriage.Pro-nūn'cial, a. p. 1047Pertaining to pronunciation.Pro-nŭn'ci-a-mĕn’to, n. p. 1047A proclamation; a manifesto. See PRONUNCIAMIENTO.Pro-nun'ci-a-mi-ēn’to, n. p. 1047A proclamation or manifesto; a formal announcement or declaration.Pro-nūn'ci-ā'tion, n. p. 1047The act of uttering with articulation; utterance; as, the pronunciation of syllables or words; distinct or indistinct pronunciation. 2. The mode of uttering words or sentences. 3. (Rhet.) The act or…Pro-nŭn'ci-ā'tor, n. p. 1047One who pronounces; a pronouncer. [Rare.]Pro-nūn'ci-a-to-ry (-shī-), adv. p. 1047Pertaining to pronunciation.Pro-nŭn'ci-a-tive, a. p. 1047Of, or pertaining to, pronunciation. 2. Uttering confidently; dogmatical. [Obs.] Bacon.Pro͞of, n. p. 1047Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; test; trial. You shall have many proofs to show your skill. Ford. In aught that tries the heart, how few withstand…Pro͞of, a. p. 1048Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; water-proof; bomb-proof. I have found thee Proof against all temptation. Milton. This was a good, stout proof article of faith. Burke.Pro͞of-ärm′, v. t. p. 1048To arm with proof, or securely. A delicate, and knows it, And out of that proof-arms herself. Beau. & Fl.Pro͞of'less, a. p. 1048Wanting sufficient evidence to induce belief; not proved. Boyle.Pro͞of'less-ly, adv. p. 1048Without proof.Pro͞of'-sheet, n. p. 1048See PROOF, 6.Pro͞of'-spĭr'it, n. p. 1048A mixture of pure alcohol and water in the proportions by weight of 100 parts of alcohol to 103.09 of water, and by measure of 100 parts of alcohol to 81.82 of water. Ure.Pro͞of'-tĕxt, n. p. 1048A passage of Scripture relied upon for proving a doctrine.Prŏp, v. t. p. 1048To support or prevent from falling by placing something under or against; as, to prop a fence or an old building. “Till the bright mountains prop the incumbent sky.” Pope. 2. Hence, to sustain; to…Prŏp, n. p. 1048That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which any thing rests for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for vines; a prop for an old building.Prō'pæ-deū'tic or Prō'pæ-deū'tic-al, a. p. 1048Pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction; instructing beforehand.Prō'pæ-deū'tics, n. sing. p. 1048Preliminary learning connected with any art or science. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.] Brande.Prŏp'a-ga-ble, a. p. 1048Capable of being propagated, or of being continued or multiplied by natural generation or production. 2. Capable of being spread or extended by any means;—said of tenets, doctrines, or principles.Prŏp'a-găn'dȧ, n. p. 1048A society in Rome, popularly so called, charged with the management of the Roman Catholic missions, and styled Societas de Propaganda Fide. Murdock.Prŏp'a-găn'dĭsm, n. p. 1048The art or practice of propagating tenets or principles; zeal in propagating one's opinions.