Dictionary
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.
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.Pro-pōne', v. t. p. 1049To propose. [Obs.]Pro-pō'nent, n. p. 1049One who makes a proposal, or lays down a proposition. Dryden.Pro-pō'nent, a. p. 1049Making proposals; proposing.Pro-pōr'tion, n. p. 1049The arrangement of parts; the relation or adaptation of one portion to another, or to the whole, with relation to magnitude or quantity; as, the proportion of the parts of a building, or of the body.…Pro-por'tion, v. t. p. 1049To adjust in a suitable proportion, as one thing, or one part to another; as, to proportion the size of a building to its height; to proportion our expenditures to our income. In the loss of an…Pro-por'tion-a-ble, a. p. 1049Capable of being proportioned, or made proportional;—very often used as equivalent to proportional. Such disproportions may exist without a proportionable degree of relation.Pro-por'tion-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1049The state of being proportionable.Pro-por'tion-a-bly, adv. p. 1049According to proportion or comparative relation; as, a large body, with limbs proportionably large.Pro-por'tion-al, a. p. 1049Having a due proportion or comparative relation; being in suitable proportion or degree; as, the parts of an edifice are proportional. 2. Being in proportion; having a proper relation. 3. Relating…Pro-por'tion-al, a. p. 1049(Math.) Any number or quantity in a proportion. 2. (Chem.) The same as Proportionals. See Proportionals. Continued proportionals, quantities the ratio of the first to the second of which, of the…Pro-por'tion-a-bil'i-ty, n. p. 1049The quality of being in proportion. If the latter be present, the proportionality, adhesion, and symmetry of the whole scheme are gone. Cavendish.Pro-por'tion-al-ly, adv. p. 1049In proportion; in due degree; with suitable comparative relation; as, all parts of the building are proportionally large.Proportionate, a. p. 1049Adjusted to something else according to a proportion; proportional.Pro-por'tion-ate, v. t. p. 1049To make proportional; to adjust according to a settled rate or to the due comparative relation; in proportion; as, to proportionate punishments to crimes.Pro-por'tion-a-bly, adv. p. 1049In a proportionate manner; with due proportion; according to a settled or suitable rate or degree.Pro-por'tion-ate-ness, n. p. 1049The state of being adjusted by due or settled proportion or comparative relation; suitableness of proportions.Pro-por'tion-less, a. p. 1049Without proportion; without symmetry of parts.Pro-por'tion-ment, n. p. 1049The process or act of dividing out proportionally.Pro-pōs'al, n. p. 1049That which is proposed, offered, or propounded for consideration or acceptance; a scheme or design; terms or conditions proposed; as, to make proposals for a treaty of peace; to make proposals for…Pro-pōse' (prō-pōz'), v. t. p. 1049To set before or forth. That being proposed brim full of wine, one scarce could lift it up. Chapman. 2. To offer for consideration, discussion, acceptance, or adoption; as, to propose a bill or…Pro-pōse', v. i. p. 1050To lay schemes; to intend. Run thee into the parlor; There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice, Proposing with the prince and Claudio. Shak. 2. To offer one's self in marriage.Pro-pōse', n. p. 1050Talk; discourse. [Obs.] Shak.Pro-pōs'er, n. p. 1050One who proposes or offers any thing for consideration or adoption.Prōp'o·sī'tion, n. p. 1050The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering. It also causes that nothing spring there but gums fit for incense and oblations for the altar of proposition. Sp. Taylor. 2. That which is…Prŏp'o-sĭ'tion-al, a. p. 1050Pertaining to, or in the nature of, a proposition; considered as a proposition; as, a propositional sense. Watts.Pro-pound', v. t. p. 1050To lay before; to offer for consideration; to exhibit; to propose; as, to propound a question. And darest thou to the Son of God propound To worship thee accursed? Milton. It is a strange folly to…Pro-pound'er, n. p. 1050One who proposes or offers for consideration.Pro·prē'tor, n. p. 1050(Rom. Antiq.) A magistrate who, having discharged the office of pretor at home, was appointed to the government of a province.Pro·prī'e-ta·ry, n. p. 1050A proprietor or owner; one who has the exclusive title to a thing; one who possesses or holds the title to a thing in his own right. Fuller. 2. A body of proprietors taken collectively. 3.…Pro-pri'e-ta-ry, a. p. 1050Belonging, or pertaining, to a proprietor.Pro-prī'e-tor, n. p. 1050One who has the legal right or exclusive title to any thing, whether in possession or not: an owner; as, the proprietor of a farm, or of a mill.Pro-pri'e-tō'ri-al, a. p. 1050Proprietary.Pro-pri'e-tor-ship, n. p. 1050The state of being proprietor.Pro-prí'e-tress, n. p. 1050A female proprietor.Pro-prí'e-ty, n. p. 1050Peculiar or exclusive right of possession; ownership; property. [Obs.] So are the proprieties of a wife to be disposed of by her lord, and yet all are for her provisions, it being a part of his need…Pro-prōc'tor, n. p. 1050(Eng. Universities.) An assistant proctor. Hook.Prōps, n. pl. p. 1050A certain game played with four shells;— much practiced by gamblers.Pro-pūgn', v. t. p. 1050To contend for; to defend; to vindicate. [Obs.] Hammond.Pro-pŭg'na-cle, n. p. 1050A fortress. [Obs.] Howell.Prō’pug-nā’tĭon, n. p. 1050Defense. [Obs.] Shak.Pro-pūgn'er, n. p. 1050A defender; a vindicator.Prō'pul-sā'tion, n. p. 1050The act of driving away or repelling; the keeping at a distance. [Obs.]Pro-pūlse', v. t. p. 1050To repel; to drive off. [Obs.] Cotgr.Pro-pŭl’sion, n. p. 1050The act of driving forward. God works in all things; all obey His first propulsion. Whittier.Pro-pŭl'sive, a. p. 1050Tending or having power to propel; driving on; urging. “The propulsive movement of the verse.” Coleridge.Prŏp'yl-læ'um, n. p. 1050(Anc. Arch.) Any court or vestibule before a building, or before its principal parts; especially, the entrance to such court or vestibule. Gwilt.Prŏp'ĭ-lōn, n. p. 1050(Anc. Arch.) The porch, vestibule, or entrance of an edifice; a propylæum.Pro-rāte', v. t. p. 1050To divide or distribute proportionally; to assess pro rata. [Corrupt. U. S.]Prōre, n. p. 1050The prow or fore part of a ship. [Poet. and rare.] Pope.Pro-rē'ctor, n. p. 1050An assistant of the rector in a high school; an officer who presides over the academic senate of a German university. Heyse.Pro-rē'tor-ate, n. p. 1050The office or station of pro-rector.Pro-rĕp'tion, n. p. 1050A creeping on.Prō'ro-gā'tion, n. p. 1050The act of proroguing or continuing in time or duration; a lengthening or prolongation of time; as, the prorogation of something already possessed. [Obs.] South. 2. The continuance of Parliament from…Pro-rō'gāte, v. t. p. 1050To prorogue.Pro-rōgue', v. t. p. 1050To protract; to prolong. He prorogued his government. Dryden. 2. To defer; to delay; to postpone; as, to prorogue death. Shak. 3. To continue from one session to another; to adjourn for an indefinite…Pro-rŭp'tion, n. p. 1050The act of bursting forth; a bursting out. Browne.Pro-sā'ic or Pro-sā'ic-al, a. p. 1050Pertaining to prose; resembling prose; not restricted by numbers;—said of writings; as, a prosaic composition. 2. Hence, dull; uninteresting; prosy. Ed. Rev.Pro-sā'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 1050In a dull or prosaic manner.Pro-sā'ic-al-ness, n. p. 1050The state or quality of being prosaic or dull.