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.
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 Bacon.Pro·tru'sile, a. p. 1053Capable of being protruded and withdrawn.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.Pro-vĕd'i-tor, n. p. 1054One employed to procure supplies for an army; a purveyor; one who provides for another. Bp. Taylor.Prōv'e-dōre, n. p. 1054A purveyor; one who procures provisions. “An officer . . . engaged in treaties with Indians, and busied with the duties of a provedore.” W. Irving.Prov'en, p. p. p. 1054The same as PROVED, p. p. of prove. [A Scotticism.]Provençal, n. p. 1054(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Provence, in France. 2. The language of the inhabitants of Provence.Provençal, a. p. 1054(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Provence or its inhabitants.Prōv'ence Rōse p. 1054A species of rose much valued for its beauty and fragrance.Pro-vĕn'cial, a. p. 1054Pertaining to, or coming from, Provence, in France. “Two Provencial roses in my razed shoes.” Shak.Prōv'end, n. p. 1054The same as PROVAND.Prōv'en der, n. p. 1054Dry food for beasts, as corn, hay, and oats; also, a mixture of meal and cut straw or hay. Good provender laboring horses would have. Tusser. 2. Provisions, especially dry provisions; meat; food.…Prōv'ent, n. p. 1054Provisions; eatables. [Obs.]Prōv'er, n. p. 1054One who proves or tries; that which proves.Prŏv'erb, n. p. 1054An old and common saying; a phrase which is often repeated; especially, a sentence which briefly and forcibly expresses some practical truth, or the result of experience and observation; a maxim; a…Prŏv'erb, v. t. p. 1054To mention in a proverb. Am I not sung and proverbed for a fool? Milton. 2. To provide with a proverb. I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase. Shak.Prōv'erb, v. i. p. 1054To write or utter proverbs. [Rare.]Pro-vĕrb'i-al, a. p. 1054Mentioned or comprised in a proverb; hence, universally acknowledged or spoken of. In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst in the world.…Pro-vĕrb'i-al-īsm, n. p. 1054A proverbial phrase.Pro-vĕrb'i-al-ist, n. p. 1054One who speaks proverbs.Pro-vĕrb'i-al-ize, v. t. p. 1054To make a proverb; to turn into a proverb, or to use proverbially. [Obs.] Good.Pro-vĕrb'i-al-ly, adv. p. 1054In a proverb; hence, commonly; universally; as, it is proverbially said.Pro-vĕx'i-ty, n. p. 1054Great advance in age. [Obs.]Pro-vīde', v. t. p. 1054[Lat. providere, provisum, from pro, before, and videre, to see; It. provedére, proredere, Sp. proveer, Pg. prover, Pr. provezir, O. Fr. proceoir, porvoir, N. Fr. pourvoir. 1. To foresee. [A…Pro-vide', v. i. p. 1054To procure supplies or means of defense, or to take measures for counteracting or escaping an evil; — followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for…Pro-vid'ed, conj. p. 1054On condition: by stipulation; with the understanding; if;— followed by that; as, provided that nothing in this act shall prejudice the rights of any person whatever. ☞ This word is, strictly, a…Prŏv'i-dence, n. p. 1054The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; foresight; timely care; readiness to provide. Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon. 2. Especially, the foresight and…