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.
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…Prŏv'i-dent, a. p. 1054Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; forecasting; cautious; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; as, a provident man; a provident animal. The parsimonious emmet, provident Of…Prŏv'i-dĕn'tial, a. p. 1054Effected by the providence of God; referable to divine providence; proceeding from divine direction or superintendence; as, the providential contrivance of things; a providential escape from danger.Prŏv/i-dĕn'/tial-ly, adv. p. 1054In a providential manner; by providence. Every animal is providentially directed to the use of its proper weapons. Roy.Prŏv'i-dent-ly, adv. p. 1054In a provident manner; with prudent foresight; with wise precaution in preparing for the future. Agricola had this excellence in him, so providently to choose his places where to fortify, as not…Prŏv'i-dent-ness, n. p. 1054The quality or state of being provident; carefulness; prudence.Pro-vid'er, n. p. 1054One who provides, furnishes, or supplies; one who procures what is wanted.Prŏv'i-dōre, n. p. 1054One who makes provision; a provider; a purveyor. [Rare.] De Foe.Prŏv'ince, n. p. 1054(Anc. Rome.) A country or region more or less remote from the city, brought under the Roman government; a conquered country beyond the limits of Italy. Judea now, and all the Promised Land Reduced a…Pro-vin'cial, a. p. 1054Pertaining to a province, or relating to it; as, a provincial government; a provincial dialect. 2. Appendant to the principal kingdom or state; as, provincial dominion; provincial territory. 3.…Pro-vin'cial, n. p. 1054A person belonging to a province. 2. (Rom. Cath. Church.) A monastic superior, who, under the general of his order, has the direction of all the religious houses of the same fraternity in a given…Pro-vĭn'cial-ism, n. p. 1054A peculiar word or manner of speaking in a province or district of country remote from the principal country or from the metropolis.Pro-vin'cial-ist, n. p. 1054One who lives in a province.Pro'vin-ci-ál'i-ty, n. p. 1054Peculiarity of language in a province. Warton.Pro-vin'cial-ize, v. t. p. 1054To render provincial.Pro-vin'ci-āte, v. t. p. 1054To convert into a province. [Obs.] Howell.Pro-vīne', v. i. p. 1054To lay a stock or branch of a vine in the ground for propagation. Johnson.Pro-vī'sion, n. p. 1054The act of providing or making previous preparation. 2. That which is provided or prepared; that which is brought together or arranged in advance; measures taken beforehand; preparation. “Making…Pro-vĭ'sion, v. t. p. 1054To supply with victuals or food. With a little of this preparation carried in a bag at the girdle, and a similar frugal outfit of tobacco, they were provisioned for a journey. Palfrey.Pro-vĭs'ion-al, a. p. 1054Provided for present need or for the occasion; temporarily established; temporary; as, a provisional government or regulation; a provisional treaty.Pro-vī'sion-al-ly, adv. p. 1054By way of provision; temporarily; for the present exigency. Locke.Pro-vī'sion-a-ry, a. p. 1054Provisional.Pro-vīʹso, n. p. 1054An article or clause in any statute, agreement, contract, grant, or other writing, by which a condition is introduced; a conditional stipulation that affects an agreement, contract, law, grant, or…Pro-vī'sor, n. p. 1054One who provides. [Obs.] “The chief provisor of our horse.” Ford. 2. The purveyor, steward, or treasurer of a religious house. Cowell. 3. (Eccl.) A person appointed by the pope to a benefice before…Pro-vī′so-ri-ly, adv. p. 1054In a provisory manner. This doctrine . . . can only, therefore, be admitted provisorily. Sir W. Hamilton.Pro-vī'sor-ship, n. p. 1055The office or position of a provisor.Pro-vī'so-ry, a. p. 1055Containing a proviso or condition; conditional. 2. Making temporary provision; temporary.Prōv/o-cā'tion, n. p. 1055Act of provoking, or causing vexation or anger. 2. That which provokes, or excites anger; the cause of resentment. Here comes a tempest of provocation; I will shelter me here. Shak. 3. An appeal to a…Pro-vō'ca-tive, a. p. 1055Serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; exciting.Pro-vō'ca-tive, n. p. 1055Any thing that tends to provoke, excite, or stimulate; especially, a stimulant; as, a provocative of hunger or of lust.Pro-vō'ca-tive-ness, n. p. 1055The quality of being provocative or stimulating.Pro-vō'ca-to-ry, a. p. 1055Tending to provoke or excite; provocative.Pro-vōk'a-ble, a. p. 1055Capable of being provoked.Pro-vōke', v. t. p. 1055To call forth; to excite or stimulate to action; to arouse. Such acts Of contumacy will provoke the Highest To make death in us live. Milton. Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust? Gray. 2.…Pro-vōke', v. i. p. 1055To appeal. [A Latinism.] [Obs. and rare.] Dryden.Pro-vōke'ment, n. p. 1055That which provokes; provocation. [Obs.] Spenser.Pro-vōk'er, n. p. 1055One who provokes; one who excites anger or other passion; one who excites war or sedition. 2. That which excites, causes, or promotes.Pro-vōk'ing, p. a. p. 1055Having the power or quality of exciting resentment; tending to awaken passion; as, provoking words; provoking treatment.Pro-vōk'ing-ly, adv. p. 1055In such a manner as to excite anger.