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.
Pŭnch, n. p. 1061A drink composed of water sweetened with sugar, with a mixture of lemon juice and spirit.Pŭnch, n. p. 1061The buffoon or harlequin of a puppet-show. 2. A well-set horse, with a short back, thin shoulders, broad neck, and well covered with flesh. 3. A short, fat fellow; any thing short and thick. I ...…Pŭnch, n. p. 1061A tool, usually of steel, variously shaped at one end for different uses, and either solid, for stamping, or for perforating holes in metallic plates and other substances, or hollow and sharp-edged…Pŭnch, v. t. p. 1061To perforate with an instrument; as, to punch a hole. 2. To thrust against; to poke; as, to punch one with the finger or elbow.Pŭnch'-bōwl, n. p. 1061A bowl in which punch is made, or from which it is drank.Pŭnch'eon, n. p. 1061A tool or instrument of steel with the end or face variously shaped or figured, for piercing, stamping, or the like, used by various artificers, as goldsmiths, cutlers, &c.; a punch. 2. (Carp.) A…Pŭnch'er, n. p. 1061One who punches. 2. A punch or perforating instrument.Pŭn’chin, n. p. 1061The same as PUNCHEON.Pŭn'chi-nĕl'lo, n. p. 1061A punch; a buffoon; originally, in a puppet-show, a character represented as fat, short, and humpbacked.Pŭnch'ing-ma-chīne', n. p. 1061A machine-tool for punching holes in metal or other material.Pŭnch'y, a. p. 1061Short and thick, or fat.Pŭnc'tate or Pŭnc'tä-ted, a. p. 1061Pointed; ending in a point or points. 2. (Bot.) Having dots scattered over the surface.Punc-tā'tor, n. p. 1061One who marks with points; — applied to the Masorites. Henderson.Punc-tĭc'ū-lar, a. p. 1061Comprised in a point; exact. [Obs. and rare.] A watchful eye may also discover the puncticular originals of periwinkles and gnats. Browne.Pŭnc'ti-fōrm, a. p. 1061Having the form of a point.Punc-tĭl'io, n. p. 1061A nice point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or proceeding; particularity or exactness in forms; as, the punctilios of a public ceremony. They will not part with the least punctilio in their…Punc-tïl'ious, a. p. 1061Attentive to punctilio; very nice or exact in the forms of behavior, ceremony, or mutual intercourse. “Punctilious in the simple and intelligible instances of common life.” J. Taylor. Some depend on…Punc-tĭl'ious-ly, adv. p. 1061In a punctilious manner; with exactness or great nicety.Punc-tĭl'ious-ness, n. p. 1061The quality of being punctilious; exactness in the observance of forms or rules; attention to nice points of behavior or ceremony.Pŭnc'tion, n. p. 1061(Surg.) A puncture.Pŭnct'ist, n. p. 1061The same as PUNCTATOR. Robinson.Pŭnc'to, n. p. 1061Nice point of form or ceremony. Bacon. 2. The point in fencing. Shak.Pŭnct'ū-al, a. p. 1061Consisting in a point. [Rare.] “This punctual spot.” Milton. 2. Observant of nice points; punctilious; exact. He keeps an exact journal of all that passes, and is punctual to tediousness in all he…Pŭnct'ū-al-ist, n. p. 1061One who is very exact in observing forms and ceremonies. Milton.Pŭnk'tū-āl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 1061The quality or state of being punctual; especially, adherence to the exact time of an appointment.Pŭnk'tū-al-ly, adv. p. 1061In a punctual manner; with scrupulous regard to time, appointments, promises, or rules; as, to attend a meeting punctually; to pay debts or rent punctually; to observe punctually one's engagements.Pŭnk'tū-al-ness, n. p. 1061Exactness; punctuality.Pŭnct'u-āte, v. t. p. 1061To mark with points; to separate into sentences, clauses, or other divisions, by points, which mark the proper pauses.Pŭnc-tu-ā'tion, n. p. 1061(Gram.) The act or art of punctuating or pointing a writing or discourse, or the act or art of marking with points the divisions of a discourse into sentences, and clauses or members of a sentence.…Pŭnct'ū-a-tive, a. p. 1061Of, or belonging to, punctuation. “The nature, or, if I may so call it, the punctuative intonation of feeble cadence.” Rush.Pānet'ū-ā'tor, n. p. 1061One who punctuates, as in writing.Pŭnct'ū-ĭst, n. p. 1061One who understands the art of punctuation.Pŭnct'ū-lāte, v. t. p. 1061To mark with small spots. [Obs.] The studs have their surface punctulated, as if set all over with other studs infinitely lesser. Woodward.Pŭn'c'tum, n. p. 1061A point. Punctum cæcum. [Lat., blind point.] (Med.) A small spot situated at the entrance of the optic nerve, and which, being insensible to the action of light, conveys no impression of vision to…Pŭnc'tū-rā'tion, n. p. 1061The act or process of puncturing. See ACUPUNCTURATION.Pŭnct'ure, n. p. 1061The act of perforating with a pointed instrument. 2. A small hole made by a point; a wound, bite, or sting; as, the puncture of a nail, needle, or pin. A lion may perish by the puncture of an asp.…Pŭnc'ture, v. t. p. 1061To pierce with a small, pointed instrument, or the like; to prick; as, to puncture the skin.Pān'dīt, n. p. 1061A learned Brahmin; one versed in the Sanskrit language, and in the science, laws, and religion of the Hindus. [India.]Pŭn'dle, n. p. 1061A short and fat woman; a squab. [Obs.]Pŭn'dum, n. p. 1061See PINEY-VARNISH.Pū'nēse, n. p. 1061The same as PUNICE.Pāng, n. p. 1061A kind of one-horse sleigh rudely made, often only a long box on runners. [U. S.]Pŭn'gar, n. p. 1061A certain kind of fish; a crab-fish.Pŭn'gence, n. p. 1061Pungency; sharpness; piquancy. [Rare.] Crabbe.Pŭn'gen-cy, n. p. 1061The state of being pungent or piercing; the power of pricking or piercing; acrimoniousness; keenness; as, the pungency of ammonia; the pungency of a sermon. “The pungency of menaces.” Hammond.Pŭn'gent, a. p. 1061Pricking; piercing; as, (a.) Acrid; biting;—said with reference to taste. “Pungent radish biting infant’s tongue.” Shenstone. (b.) Stimulating; pricking;—said with reference to the sense of smell.…Pŭn'gent-ly, adv. p. 1061In a pungent manner; sharply.Pŭn'gled, a. p. 1061Shriveled or shrunken; — said especially of grain which has lost its juices from the ravages of an insect of the genus Thrips (T. cerealium). Harris.Pŭng'y, n. p. 1062A small sloop or shallop, or large boat with sails, smaller than a sloop.Pū'nic, a. p. 1062Pertaining to the Carthaginians; like or appropriate to the Carthaginians; faithless; treacherous; deceitful; as, Punic faith. Yes, yes, his faith attesting nations own: 'Tis Punic all, and to a…Pā'nīce, n. p. 1062A bed-bug. [Obs.]Pu-ni'ceoŭs or Pu-ni'cial, a. p. 1062Of a bright red or purple color. [Obs.]Pā'nī-ness, n. p. 1062The condition of being puny; littleness; pettiness; smallness with feebleness.Pŭn'ish, v. t. p. 1062To afflict with pain, loss, or calamity for a crime or fault. A greater Power Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned. Milton. 2. To afflict with pain, &c., with a view to amendment; to…Pŭn'ish-a-ble, a. p. 1062Liable to punishment; capable of being punished by law or right; — said with reference to persons or offenses. That time was, when to be a Protestant, to be a Christian, was by law as punishable as…Pŭn'ish-a-ble-ness, n. p. 1062The quality of deserving, or being liable to, punishment.Pŭn'ish-er, n. p. 1062One who inflicts punishment.Pŭn'ish-ment, n. p. 1062The act of punishing. 2. Any pain or suffering inflicted on a person because of a crime or offense; especially, pain so inflicted in the enforcement or application of law. I never gave them condign…Pu-ni'tion, n. p. 1062Punishment. [Obs.]Pū'ni·tive, a. p. 1062Pertaining to, involving, awarding, or inflicting, punishment; as, punitive law or justice. If death be punitive, so, likewise, is the necessity imposed upon man of toiling for his subsistence. L.…