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.
Prō'tha-lā'mi-on, n. p. 1052An address in celebration of a marriage; an epithalamion. Drayton.Prŏth'e-sĭs, n. p. 1052(Eccl.) The place in a church on which the elements for the eucharist are put, previous to their being placed on the altar;—called also credence. 2. (Surg.) The process of adding to the human body…Pro-thōn'o-ta-ry, n. p. 1052A chief notary or clerk. “My private prothonotary.” Herrick. 2. Especially, one of the great officers of the church of Constantinople, ranking next to the patriarch. Hook. 3. A chief clerk in the…Pro-thŏn'o-ta-ry-ship, n. p. 1053The office of a prothonotary.Pro-thō'rax, n. p. 1053(Entom.) The first or anterior segment of the thorax in insects. Brande.Prō'to p. 1053A prefix from the Greek πρῶτος, first, used to express priority, as in protomartyr, prototype; used also, in chemical language, to denote that one equivalent of an element or substance unites with…Prō'to-cōl, n. p. 1053The original copy of any writing, as of a treaty, dispatch, or other instrument. Burrill. 2. The minutes or rough draught of an instrument or transaction.Prō'to-cōl, v. t. p. 1053To make a protocol of.Prō'to-cōl, v. i. p. 1053To make or write protocols, or first draughts.Prō'to-cōl'ist, n. p. 1053A register or clerk. [Russia.]Prō'to-gĭne, n. p. 1053(Min.) A kind of talcose granite. Dana.Prō'to-mār'tyr, n. p. 1053The first martyr;—a term applied to Stephen, the first Christian martyr. 2. The first who suffers, or is sacrificed, in any cause. “The protomartyr of our cause.” Tennyson.Prō'to-phŷte, n. p. 1053(Bot.) The lowest order of plants, either unicellular or without any essential mutual dependence between the cells, as the silicious infusoria, or diatoms, the desmidians, &c. Carpenter.Prō'to-phȳ-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 1053The science of protophytes: fossil botany.Prō'to-plāṣm, n. p. 1053(Physiol.) The viscid, nitrogenous material in vegetable cells, by which the process of nutrition, secretion, and growth, goes forward; the vital vegetable substance. See CELL. Mohl.Prō'to-plāṣ'mic, a. p. 1053Pertaining to the first formation of living bodies. 2. Pertaining to the material of formation of living bodies. 3. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to first growth or formation;—a term designating, loosely, any…Prō'to-plāst, n. p. 1053The thing first formed, as a copy to be imitated; that which is first modeled or formed; an original. Bryant. Harvey.Prō'to-plās'tic, a. p. 1053First formed. Howell.Prō'to-pōpe, n. p. 1053(Gr. Church.) One of the clergy of first rank in cathedrals and metropolitan churches; an arch-priest.Prō'to-sält, n. p. 1053(Chem.) A salt containing a metallic protoxide. Silliman.Prō'to-sŭl'phate, n. p. 1053(Chem.) A compound of sulphuric acid with a protoxide.Prō'to-tȳpe, n. p. 1053An original or model after which any thing is copied; the pattern of any thing to be engraved, or otherwise copied, cast, or the like; exemplar; archetype. Wotton. They will turn their backs on it…Pro-tŏx′ide, n. p. 1053(Chem.) A compound of one equivalent of oxygen with one equivalent of a base, and destitute of acid properties. Protoxide of nitrogen, laughing-gas. See LAUGHING-GAS.Pro-tŏx'i-dize, v. t. p. 1053To combine with oxygen, as any elementary substance, in the proportion of one equivalent of oxygen and one of the latter.Prō'to-zō'an, n. p. 1053(Zool.) An animal of the lowest of the five grand divisions, distinguished by its simplicity of structure, neither of the four systems of structure characterizing severally the other grand divisions…Prō-to-zō'ic, a. p. 1053(Zoöl.) Of, or pertaining to, the protozoa. 2. (Geol.) Containing remains of the earliest life of the globe, which included mollusks, radiates, and what are called protozoans. Dana.Pro-trāct', v. t. p. 1053To draw out or lengthen in time; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a discussion; to protract a war. 2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to…Protracted meeting p. 1053a religious meeting continued for many successive days. [U. S.]Pro-trāct', n. p. 1053Tedious continuance. [Obs.] Spencer.Pro-trāct'ed-ly, adv. p. 1053In a prolonged or protracted manner; tediously.Pro-trāct'er, n. p. 1053One who protracts or lengthens in time.Pro-trāct'ion, n. p. 1053The act of drawing out or continuing in time; the act of delaying the termination of a thing; as, the protraction of a debate. 2. (Surv.) The act of plotting or laying down on paper the dimensions of…Pro-trāct'ive, a. p. 1053Drawing out or lengthening in time; prolonging; continuing; delaying. He suffered their protractive arts. Dryden.Pro-trāct'or, n. p. 1053One who, or that which, protracts. 2. A mathematical instrument for laying down and measuring angles on paper, used in drawing or plotting. It is of various forms, semicircular, rectangular, or…Pro-trĕpʹ/ti·cal, a. p. 1053Intended or adapted to persuade; hortatory; suasory. [Obs.] Ward.Pro-trūde′, v. t. p. 1053To thrust forward; to drive or force along. [Rare.] Locke. 2. To thrust out, as through a narrow orifice or from confinement; to cause to come forth. “When . . . Spring protrudes the bursting gems.”…Pro-trūde', v. i. p. 1053To shoot forward; to be thrust forward. The parts protrude beyond the skin. Bacon.Pro·tru'sile, a. p. 1053Capable of being protruded and withdrawn. Gardner.Pro-tru′/sion, n. p. 1053The act of thrusting forward, or beyond the usual limit. 2. The state of being protruded.Pro·tru'sive, a. p. 1053Thrusting or impelling forward; as, protrusive motion. Darwin.Pro-tū'ber-ance, n. p. 1053That which is protuberant; a swelling or tumor on the body; a prominence; a bunch or knob; any thing swelled or pushed beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface. Syn.—PROJECTION, PROTUBERANCE.…Pro-tū'ber-an-cy, n. p. 1053The quality of being protuberant; protuberance.Pro-tū'ber-ant, a. p. 1053Prominent beyond the surrounding surface; swelling; as, a protuberant joint; a protuberant eye.Pro-tū'ber-ant-ly, adv. p. 1053In a protuberant manner; in the way of protuberance.Pro-tū'ber-āte, v. i. p. 1053To swell or be prominent beyond the adjacent surface; to bulge out. If the navel protuberates, make a small puncture with a lancet through the skin. Sharp.Pro-tū'ber-ā'tion, n. p. 1053The act of swelling beyond the surrounding surface. Cooke.Pro-tū’ber-ōus, a. p. 1053Protuberant. [Obs.]Proud, a. p. 1053Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense; as, (a.) Possessing or showing inordinate self esteem; overrating one's excellences; claiming excessive deference or consideration; hence…Proud'ish, a. p. 1053Somewhat proud. [Rare.] Ash.Proud'ly, adv. p. 1053With an inordinate self-esteem; in a proud manner; haughtily; ostentatiously; with lofty airs or mien. Proudly he marches on, and void of fear. Pope.Proud'ness, n. p. 1053The state or quality of being proud; pride. Latimer.Prŏv'a-ble, a. p. 1053Capable of being proved.Prŏv'a-ble-ness, n. p. 1053The capacity or state of being proved.Prŏv'a-bly, adv. p. 1053In a manner capable of proof.Prŏv'and or Prŏv'ant, n. p. 1053Provender or food. [Obs.] I tell thee, one peace was a soldier’s provant a whole day at the destruction of Jerusalem. Beau. & Fl.Pro-vānt’, v. t. p. 1053To supply with provision; to provide for. [Obs.] Nash.Prŏv'ant, a. p. 1053Provided for common or general use; hence, common in quality. “A poor provant rapier, no better.” B. Jonson. Provant sword, a plain sword, such as was provided for army use.Prōve, v. t. p. 1053To try or ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder by experiment; to prove the contents of a vessel by comparing it with a standard…Prōve, v. i. p. 1053To make trial; to essay. The sons prepare... To prove by arms whose fate it was to reign. Dryden. 2. To be found by experience or trial; as, a plant or medicine proves salutary. 3. To be ascertained…Pro-vēct', a. p. 1054Carried forward; advanced. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.