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.
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.…Pā'nī-to-ry, a. p. 1062Punishing, or tending to punishment. God often causes one provision to answer several purposes, and so may make moral evil, as well as natural, at the same time both prudential and punito'ry; but it…Pŭnk, n. p. 1062A species of fungus, or some decayed wood, used as tinder. Ash. 2. A prostitute; a strumpet. Shak.Pūnk'hā, n. p. 1062A machine for fanning a room, consisting of a movable frame covered with canvas, and suspended from the ceiling. It is kept in motion by pulling a cord. [Hindostan.] Malcom.Pŭnk'ling, n. p. 1062A punk; — so called in contempt. [Obs.]Pŭn'ner, n. p. 1062One who puns; a punster. Beau. & Fl.Pŭn'net, n. p. 1062A small, but broad, shallow basket, for displaying fruit or flowers. Smart.Pun-nŏl'o-ġy, n. p. 1062The art or practice of punning; paronomasia. [Rare.] Pope.Pŭn'ster, n. p. 1062One who puns, or is skilled in punning; a quibbler; a low wit.Pŭnt, v. i. p. 1062To play at basset, faro, or omber.Pŭnt, n. p. 1062(Naut.) A flat-bottomed boat, used in calking and repairing ships; also, used for fishingPānt, v. t. p. 1062To propel, as a boat, by pushing with a pole against the bottom of a river, &c.; to push with force. Livingstone.Pŭnt'er, n. p. 1062One who punts; specifically, (a.) One who plays at faro against the banker or dealer. Hoyle. (b.) One who propels a punt.Pŭn’to, n. p. 1062(Fencing.) A point or hit. Punto diritto, a direct stroke or hit. — Punto reverso, a back-handed stroke or hit. Halliwell. “Ah! the immortal passado, the punto reverso.” Shak.Pān'ty, n. p. 1062The same as PONTEE.Pū'ny, a. p. 1062Imperfectly developed in size or vigor; small and feeble; inferior; petty. “Such puny mortals as themselves.” South. “A puny subject Strikes at thy great glory.” Shak.Pū'ny, n. p. 1062A young, inexperienced person; a novice; an inferior. He had rather others should make a ladder of his dead corpse, to scale a city by it, than a bridge of him whilst alive, for his punies to give…Pŭp, v. i. p. 1062To bring forth whelps or young, as the female of the canine species.Pāp, n. p. 1062A puppy. 2. A young seal.Pŭ'pă, n. p. 1062(Entom.) One of the states in the complete metamorphosis of an insect. See INSECT.Pūpe, n. p. 1062The same as PUPA.Pu-pē'lo, n. p. 1062Cider-brandy. [U. S.] Bartlett.Pū'pil, n. p. 1062(Anat.) The apple of the eye; the small opening in the iris through which the rays of light pass to the retina. See IRIS. The minds of some of our statesmen, like the pupil of the human eye, contract…Pŭ'pil, n. p. 1062A youth or scholar of either sex under the care of an instructor or tutor. “Too far in years to be a pupil now.” Shak. Tutors should behave reverently before their pupils. L’Estrange. 2. A youth or…Pŭ'pil-age, n. p. 1062The state of being a pupil. As sons of kings, loving in pupilage, Have turned to tyrants when they came to power. Tennyson.Pū′pil-lār′i-ty, n. p. 1062(Scots Law.) The period of minority, from the birth to the age of fourteen in males, and twelve in females; pupilage.Pū'pil-la-ry, a. p. 1062Pertaining to a pupil or ward. Johnson. 2. (Anat.) Of, or pertaining to, the pupil of the eye.Pŭ-pĭp'a-rā, n. pl. p. 1062(Entom.) Animals whose eggs are hatched in the matrix of the mother, and not excluded till they become pupes.Pu-pip’a-roŭs, a. p. 1062(Entom.) Pertaining, or belonging to the Pupipara; passing to the pupa or perfect state.