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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Prôp'a-gâ'tive, a.p. 1048Producing by propagation, or by a process of growth.
  2. Prŏp'a-gā'tor, n.p. 1048One who propagates; one who continues or multiplies.
  3. Pro-pèl', v. t.p. 1048To drive forward; to urge or press onward by force; to move or cause to move; as, the wind or steam propels ships; balls are propelled by the force of gunpowder.
  4. Pro-pĕl'ler, n.p. 1048One who, or that which, propels. 2. A contrivance for propelling a steamboat, consisting of a screw placed in the stern and made to revolve by steam-power, or the like. 3. A steamboat thus propelled.
  5. Pro-pĕnd’, v. i.p. 1048To lean toward a thing; to incline, or be disposed in favor of, any thing. [Obs.] We shall propend to it, as a stone falleth down, or as a spark flieth upward. Barrow.
  6. Pro-pĕnd'en-cy, n.p. 1048A leaning toward; inclination; tendency of desire to any thing. 2. Attentive deliberation. [Rare.] Hale.
  7. Pro-pĕnd'ent, a.p. 1048Inclining forward or toward. [Rare.] South.
  8. Pro-pênse', a.p. 1048Leaning toward, in a moral sense; inclined; disposed either to good or evil; prone; as, women propense to holiness. Hooker.
  9. Pro-pênse'ly, adv.p. 1048In a propense manner.
  10. Pro-pênse'ness, n.p. 1048The quality of being propense; propensity; inclination. [Rare.] Donne.
  11. Pro-pĕn'sion or Pro-pĕn'si-ty, n.p. 1048The state of being propense or inclined; natural inclination; disposition to do good or evil; bent of mind; tendency. The most frightful of the forms which his disease took, was a propensity to utter…
  12. Prŏp'er, a.p. 1048Belonging to as one’s own; own. “Our proper son.” Shak. Now learn the difference, at your proper cost, Betwixt true valor and an empty boast. Dryden. 2. Belonging to the natural or essential…
  13. Prôp’er, adv.p. 1048Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good; proper sweet. [Colloq. and vulgar.]
  14. Prŏp'er-āte, v. t.p. 1048To hasten or urge forward. [Obs.]
  15. Prŏp'er-ā'tion, n.p. 1048The act of hastening or urging forward; haste. [Obs.]
  16. Pro-pĕr'-i-spōme, n.p. 1048(Gr. Gram.) A word which has the circumflex accent on the penult.
  17. Prŏp'er-ly, adv.p. 1048In a proper manner; suitably; fitly; as, a word properly applied; a dress properly adjusted. 2. In a strict sense; strictly. The miseries of life are not properly owing to the unequal distribution of…
  18. Prŏp'er-ness, n.p. 1048The quality of being proper. 2. Tallness. [Obs.] 3. Perfect form; handsomeness. [Obs.]
  19. Prŏp'er-ty, n.p. 1048That which is proper to any thing; a peculiar quality of any thing; that which is inherent in a subject, or naturally essential to it. Property is correctly a synonym for peculiar quality; but it is…
  20. Prŏp'er-ty, v. t.p. 1048To invest with properties or qualities. 2. To take as one's own; to appropriate. Shak.
  21. Prŏp'er-ty-mān, n.p. 1048One who has charge of the properties of a theater. Simmonds.
  22. Pro-phāne', v. t. & a.p. 1048Same as PROFANE. [Obs.]
  23. Prŏph'ă-sis, n.p. 1048(Med.) Foreknowledge of a disease; prognosis.
  24. Prŏph'e-cy, n.p. 1048A declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; especially, an inspired foretelling. Let my prophecy come home to you. Shak. 2. (Script.) A book of prophecies; a history; as, the…
  25. Prŏph'e-sī'er, n.p. 1048One who prophesies or predicts events.
  26. Prŏph'e-sy, v. t.p. 1048To foretell, as future; to predict. I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. 1 Kings xxii. 8. 2. To foreshow; to prefigure; to signify; to symbolize.
  27. Prophĕ-sy, v. i.p. 1049To utter predictions; to make declaration of events to come. 2. (Script.) To instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret; to explain Scripture or religious subjects; to preach; to expound. 1 Cor.…
  28. Prophet, n.p. 1049One who prophesies, or foretells events; a predictor; a foreteller. 2. (Script.) A person illuminated, inspired, or instructed by God to speak in his name, or announce future events, as Moses…
  29. School of the prophetsp. 1049a school or college in which young men were educated and qualified for public teachers. These students were called sons of the prophets.
  30. Prŏph'et-ess, n.p. 1049A female prophet; a woman who foretells events, as Miriam, Huldah, Anna, &c.
  31. Pro-phĕt'ic or Pro-phĕt'ic-al, a.p. 1049Containing, or pertaining to, prophecy; foretelling events; as, prophetic writings; prophetic dreams;—used with of before the thing foretold. And fears are oft prophetic of the event. Dryden.
  32. Pro-phĕt'ic-ăl'i-ty, n.p. 1049The quality of being prophetical; propheticalness. [Rare.]
  33. Prophetically, adv.p. 1049In a prophetical manner; by way of prediction; in the manner of prophecy.
  34. Prophet'ical-ness, n.p. 1049The quality of being prophetical; power or capacity to foretell.
  35. Prŏph'et-īze, v. i.p. 1049To give predictions. [Rare.] “Prophetizing dreams.” Daniel.
  36. Pro-phŏr'ic, a.p. 1049Enunciative. [Rare.]
  37. Prŏph'y-lăc'tic, n.p. 1049(Med.) A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive. Coxe.
  38. Proph-y-lac'tic or Proph-y-lac'tic-al, a.p. 1049(Med.) Defending from disease; preventive.
  39. Propinā'tion, n.p. 1049The act of pledging, or drinking first, and then offering the cup to another. [Ade.]
  40. Pro-pīne', v. t.p. 1049To pledge; to drink first, and then offer the cup to. The lovely sorceress mixed, and to the prince Health, peace, and joy propined. Smart. 2. To expose.
  41. Pro-pīne', n.p. 1049A pledge in drinking. [R.] W. Scott.
  42. Pro-pĭn'qui-ty, n.p. 1049Nearness in place; neighborhood; proximity. 2. Nearness in time. Browne. 3. Nearness of blood; kindred.
  43. Prŏp'i-thē'cus, n.p. 1049(Zoöl.) A genus of animals allied to the lemurs, found in Madagascar. Baird.
  44. Pro-pĭ'ti-a-ble, a.p. 1049Capable of being propitiated.
  45. Pro-pĭ'ti-āte, v. t.p. 1049To appease and render favorable; to make propitious; to conciliate. Let fierce Achilles, dreadful in his rage, The god propitiate, and the pest assuage. Pope.
  46. Pro-pĭ'ti-āte, v. i.p. 1049To make propitiation; to atone.
  47. Pro-pĭ'ti-ā'tion, n.p. 1049The act of appeasing wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious. 2. (Theol.) (a.) The influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine…
  48. Propitiator, n.p. 1049One who propitiates.
  49. Pro-pi-ti-a-to-ry, a.p. 1049Having the power to make propitiation; pertaining to, or employed in, propitiation; expiatory; as a propitiatory sacrifice.
  50. Pro-pi'ti-a-to-ry, a.p. 1049Having power to propitiate; tending to conciliate or appease. -- n. The mercy-seat; the lid or cover of the ark of the covenant; the symbol of the propitiated Jehovah.
  51. Pro-pi'tiousp. 1049Favorable; kind;—said of men. 2. Disposed to be gracious or merciful; ready to forgive sins and bestow blessings;—said of God. 3. Favorable; as, a propitious season. Syn.—Auspicious; favorable…
  52. Pro-pi'tious-ly, adv.p. 1049In a propitious manner; favorably; kindly.
  53. Pro-pi'ti-ous-ness, n.p. 1049Disposition to treat another kindly; disposition to forgive; kindness. 2. Favorableness; as, the propitiousness of the season or climate. Sir W. Temple.
  54. Pro'tyle, n.p. 1049A mold; a matter. [Rare.] Woodward.
  55. Pro-plas'tic, a.p. 1049Forming a mold or cast.
  56. Pro-pilav'ice, a.p. 1049The art of making molds for castings.
  57. Pro'pō-lis, n.p. 1049A resinous substance of a reddish color, gathered by bees from the buds of plants, and used by them to stop the holes and crevices in their hives to prevent the entrance of cold air, &c.
  58. Pro-pōne', v. t.p. 1049To propose. [Obs.]
  59. Pro-pō'nent, n.p. 1049One who makes a proposal, or lays down a proposition. Dryden.
  60. Pro-pō'nent, a.p. 1049Making proposals; proposing.