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.
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.Prōv'ōst, n. p. 1055A person who is appointed to superintend or preside over something; the chief magistrate of a city or town; as, the provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, answering to the mayor of other cities; the…Provost-marshal p. 1055an officer appointed to arrest and secure deserters and other criminals, to hinder the soldiers from pillaging, to indict offenders, and see sentence passed on them and executed. He also performs…Prōv'ōst-shĭp, n. p. 1055The office of a provost.Prow, n. p. 1055The fore part of a ship. The floating vessel swam Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting on the waves. Milton. 2. A kind of vessel used in the East Indian seas; a proa. See PROA.Prow, a. p. 1055Valiant; brave; gallant; courageous. [Obs.] “The prowest knight that ever field did fight.” Spenser.Prow'ess, n. p. 1055Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery; gallantry; intrepidity in war; fearlessness of danger. “Men of such prowess as not to know fear in themselves.” Sidney. He by his prowess…Prowl, v. t. p. 1055To rove over, through, or about. He prowls each place, still in new colors decked. Sidney.Prowl, v. i. p. 1055To rove or wander, especially for prey, as a wild beast. As when a prowling wolf, Whom hunger drives to seek new prey, . . . Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. Milton. 2. Hence, to prey…Prowl, n. p. 1055A roving for prey. [Colloq.] Smart.Prowl'er, n. p. 1055One that prowls or roves about for prey. Thomson.Prŏx, n. p. 1055A list of candidates at an election, presented to the people for their votes. [Rhode Island.]Prŏx'ēne, n. p. 1055(Gr. Antiq.) An officer who had the charge of showing hospitality to those who came from a friendly city or state.Prŏx'e-nēt, n. p. 1055A mean dealer between party and party; a broker; a huckster. [Obs. and rare.] Sir T. More.Prŏx'i-mal, a. p. 1055Toward or nearest, as to a body or center of motion or dependence; proximate; as, the proximal end of a bone. 2. Pertaining to that which is proximal; as, proximal tuberosities of a bone. Dana.Prŏx'i-mate, a. p. 1055Nearest; next immediately preceding or following. “A grand council, consisting of all such citizens as could prove that their proximate ancestors had shared in the offices or honors of the state.” J.…Prŏx'i-mate-ly, adv. p. 1055In a proximate position or manner.Prŏx'ĭme, a. p. 1055Next; immediately preceding or following. [Obs.] Watts.Prox-im'i-oûs, a. p. 1055Proximate. [Obs.] Tucker.Prox-im'i-ty, n. p. 1055The state of being next in time, place, causation, or influence, &c.; immediate nearness either in place, blood, or alliance. If he plead proximity of blood, That empty title is with ease withstood.…Prŏx'i-mo, n. p. 1055A day of the next month; as, on the 3d proximo. See INSTANT, n.Prŏx'y, n. p. 1055The agency of one who acts as a substitute for another or his principal; authority to act for another, especially in a legislative capacity. I have no man's proxy; I speak only for myself. Burke. 2.…Prŏx'y, v. i. p. 1055To act by proxy; to do any thing by the agency of another. [Rare.]Prŏx'y-ship, n. p. 1055The office or agency of a proxy.Pruse, n. p. 1055Prussian leather. [Obs.] Dryden.Prude, n. p. 1055A woman of affected or over-sensitive modesty or reserve; one who is over-scrupulous or sensitive. “Less modest than the speech of prudes.” Swift.Pru'dence, n. p. 1055The state of being prudent: wisdom applied to practice; caution evinced in forethought. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season, and method of doing…Pru'den-cy, n. p. 1055Prudence. [Obs.]Pru'dent, a. p. 1055Sagacious in adapting means to ends; skillful in determining any line of conduct; practically wise; careful; discreet; as, a prudent man or action. 2. Dictated or directed by prudence or wise…Pru-dĕn’tial, a. p. 1055Proceeding from prudence; dictated or prescribed by prudence;—often by prudence as distinguished from higher motives or influences; as, prudential motives; prudential rules. “A prudential line of…Pru-dĕn’tial, n. p. 1055That which relates to, or demands the exercise of, discretion or prudence; — usually in the plural. Many stanzas, in poetic measures, contain rules relating to common prudentials as well as to…Pru-dĕn’tial-ist, n. p. 1055One who is governed by prudential considerations, or acts from prudential motives. [Rare.] Coleridge.Pru'den-ti-ăl'i-ty, n. p. 1055The quality of being prudential; eligibility on principles of prudence. [Obs.] Browne.Pru-dên'tial-ly, adv. p. 1055In conformity with prudence; prudently. South.Prū'dent-ly, adv. p. 1055In a prudent manner; with prudence; with due caution or circumspection; discreetly; wisely; frugally; as, domestic affairs prudently managed; laws prudently framed or executed.Pru'd'er-y, n. p. 1055The quality or state of being prudish; affected scrupulousness; excessive nicety in conduct; stiffness; coyness.Prŭd'ish, a. p. 1055Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners. “A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face.” Garrick.Prud'ish-ly, adv. p. 1055In a prudish manner.Pru-ī'na, n. p. 1055Hoar frost.Pru'i-nate, a. p. 1055The same as PRUINOUS.Prū'i-nōse/, a. p. 1055Covered with minute dust, appearing as if frosted; hoary. Humble.Prū'i-nous, a. p. 1055Frosty.Prūne, v. t. p. 1055To lop or cut off, as the superfluous branches of trees; to trim. Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend These flowers. Milton. 2. To clear from any thing superfluous; to dress…Prune, v. i. p. 1055To dress; to prink; — used humorously or in contempt. Dryden.Prune, n. p. 1055A dried plum; sometimes, also, a fresh plum. It appears from Maroceus Extaticus, 1595, and other works, that stewed prunes were commonly placed in the windows of houses of disreputable character.…Pru-nĕl'la, n. p. 1055(Med.) (a.) Inflammation of the upper portions of the alimentary canal and air-passages; sore throat. (b.) A disease of the lips, mouth, and intestinal canal, accompanied with small vesicles which…Pru-nĕl'la or Pru-nĕl'lo, n. p. 1055A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes or garments; a kind of lasting. Pope.Prū-nĕl'lo, n. p. 1056A species of dried plum. McCulloch.Prūn'er, n. p. 1056One who prunes, or removes what is superfluous.Prūne'-tree, n. p. 1056(Bot.) A tree of the genus Prunus (P. domestica), which produces prunes.