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.
Prō'sa-ism, n. p. 1050That which is in the form of prose writing. Coleridge.Prō'sa-ist, n. p. 1050A writer of prose. Then comes Hannah More, an estimable prosaist. I. Taylor.Prō'sal, a. p. 1050Prosaic. [Obs.] Browne.Pro-sçē'ni-ŭm, n. p. 1050(Anc. Theater.) The part where the actors performed;—now called the stage. 2. (Modern Theater.) The front part of the stage, where the drop-scene separates the stage from the audience. Brande.Pro-scribe', v. t. p. 1050To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; as, Sylla and Marius proscribed each other's adherents. Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, was banished the realm, and proscribed. Spencer. 2.…Pro-scrīb'er, n. p. 1050One who, or that which, proscribes; one who denounces as dangerous, or as utterly unworthy of reception.Prō'script, n. p. 1050A prohibition; an interdict. 2. One who is proscribed.Pro-scrĭp'tion, n. p. 1050The act of proscribing or dooming to death, exile, or outlawry; among the ancient Romans, the public offer of a reward for the head of a political enemy; as, under the triumvirate, many of the best…Pro-scrĭp'tion-al, a. p. 1050Proscriptive.Pro-scrĭp'tion-ĭst, n. p. 1050One who proscribes.Pro-scrĭp'tĭve, a. p. 1050Pertaining to, or consisting in, proscription; proscribing.Prōse, n. p. 1050The common language of men; language not in verse, or unconfined to poetical measure, as opposed to verse or metrical composition. “Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.” Milton. I wish our…Prōse, v. t. p. 1050To write in prose. 2. To make a tedious relation of; to relate in a dull or prosy manner.Prōse, v. i. p. 1050To write prose. 2. To talk in a dull, prosy, tedious manner.Prōse, a. p. 1050Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; as, prose composition. 2. Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; unromantic; as, the prose duties of life. Thackeray.Pro-sĕc′tor, n. p. 1050A person who prepares the subjects for lectures on anatomy. Dunglison.Prŏs'e-cūt'a-ble, a. p. 1050Capable of being prosecuted; liable to prosecution.Prŏs'e-cūte, v. t. p. 1050To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme; to prosecute an undertaking. I am beloved of beauteous…Prŏs'e-cūte, v. i. p. 1051To carry on a legal prosecution; as, to prosecute for public offenses. Blackstone.Prŏs'e-cu'tion, n. p. 1051The act or process of prosecuting, or of endeavoring to gain or accomplish something; pursuit by efforts of body or mind; as, the prosecution of a scheme, plan, design, or undertaking; the…Prŏs'e-cū'tor, n. p. 1051One who prosecutes, or pursues or carries on any purpose, plan, or business. 2. (Law.) The person who institutes and carries on a criminal suit against another in the name of the government.…Prŏs'e-cū-trix, n. p. 1051A female prosecutor.Prŏs'e-lyte, n. p. 1051A new convert, especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party; thus, a Gentile converted to Judaism is a proselyte; a pagan converted to…Prŏs'e-lȳte, v. t. p. 1051To cause to become converted to some religion, opinion, or system; to bring over.Prŏs'e-ly-tĭsm, n. p. 1051The act of proselyting; the making of converts to a religion or religious sect, or to any opinion, system, or party. They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree. Burke.Prŏs'e-ly-tize, v. t. p. 1051To cause to become converted to some system, opinion, religion, or the like; to proselyte. [Rare.] “One of those whom they endeavor to proselytize.” Burke.Prŏs'e-ly-tize, v. i. p. 1051To make converts or proselytes.Prōse'man, n. p. 1051One who writes in prose. [Rare.]Pro·sèm′i·nā′tion, n. p. 1051Propagation by seed. [Obs.] Hale.Pros-ēn'ne-a-hē'dral, a. p. 1051(Min.) Having nine faces on two adjacent parts; — said of certain crystals. [Obs.]Prōs'er, n. p. 1051A writer of prose. 2. One who proses, or makes a tedious narration of uninteresting matters.Pro-sĭl’i-en-cy, n. p. 1051The act of leaping forth or forward; projection. “Such prosiliency of relief.” Coleridge.Prōs'i-ly, adv. p. 1051In a prosy manner; tediously.Prōs'i-mĕt'ri-cal, a. p. 1051Consisting both of prose and verse. Clarke.Prōs'i-ness, n. p. 1051The quality or state of being prosy.Prō-slāv'er-y, a. p. 1051In favor of slavery.Prŏs'o-dī'ac-al, a. p. 1051The same as PROSODICAL.Prŏs'o-dī'a-cal-ly, adv. p. 1051In a prosodical manner.Pro-sŏ'di-al or Pro-sŏ'di'c-al, a. p. 1051Pertaining to prosody, or the quantity and accents of syllables; according to the rules of prosody.Pro-sō′di-an, n. p. 1051One skilled in prosody, or in the rules of pronunciation and metrical composition; a prosodist. Rush.Prŏs'o-dist, n. p. 1051One who understands prosody; a prosodian. Walker.Prŏs'o-dy, n. p. 1051That part of grammar which treats of the quantity of syllables, of accent, and of the laws of versification.Prŏs'o-po-lēp'sy, n. p. 1051Respect of persons; especially, a premature opinion or prejudice against a person, formed by a view of his external appearance. Addison.Prō'sō-po-pē'ia, n. p. 1051(Rhet.) A figure by which things are represented as persons, or by which things inanimate are spoken of as animated beings, or by which an absent person is introduced as speaking, or a deceased…Prŏs'pect, n. p. 1051That which is embraced by the eye in vision; view; field or region which the eye overlooks at one time. His eye discovers, unaware, The goodly prospect of some foreign land. Milton. 2. Especially, a…Prŏs'pect, v. t. p. 1051To search or examine for; as, to prospect a district for gold or other metals. [U. S.]Prŏs'pect, v. i. p. 1051To make a search; to seek; as, to prospect for gold. [U. S.]Pro-spec'tion, n. p. 1051The act of looking forward, or of providing for future wants.Pro-spĕc'tive, a. p. 1051Pertaining to, or furnishing, a prospect. “Time’s long and dark prospective glass.” Milton. 2. Looking forward in time; acting with foresight;—opposed to retrospective. The French king and king of…Pro-spĕc'tive, n. p. 1051The scene before or around; view; prospect. [Obs.] Daniel. 2. A prospective glass. [Obs.] Benn. 9 Pl.Pro-spĕc'tive-ly, adv. p. 1051With reference to the future.Pro-spĕc'tĭve-ness, n. p. 1051State of being prospective.Pro-spĕc'tus, n. p. 1051The plan of a literary work, containing the general subject or design, with the manner and terms of publication, and sometimes a specimen of it; scheme; announcement.Prŏs'per, v. t. p. 1051To favor; to render successful. All things concur to prosper our design. Dryden.Prŏs'per, v. i. p. 1051To be successful; to succeed; to thrive; to make gain. They, in their earthly Canaan placed, Long time shall dwell and prosper. Milton. 2. To grow or increase; to thrive. [Obs. or rare.] Black…Pros-pér'i-ty, n. p. 1051Advance or gain in any thing good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; success; attainment of the object desired; as, the prosperity of arts; agricultural or commercial…Prŏs'per-oŭs, a. p. 1051Tending or permitted to prosper; succeeding in the pursuit of any thing desirable; making gain or increase; thriving; successful; as, a prosperous voyage; a prosperous undertaking; a prosperous man…Prŏs'per-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 1051In a prosperous manner; with gain or increase; successfully.Prŏs'per-ŏŭs-ness, n. p. 1051The state of being prosperous or successful; prosperity.Prŏs'phy-sĭs, n. p. 1051(Med.) A growing together of parts; in a more limited sense, morbid adhesion of the eyelids, either to each other or to the eyeball. Dunglison.