Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Pâr'ple-woōd, n. p. 1064A kind of wood brought from Brazil, principally used for ramrods, and occasionally for buhl-work, marquetry, and turning. Simmonds.Pär'plish, a. p. 1064Somewhat purple. Boyle.Pûr'pôrt, n. p. 1064Design or tendency; meaning; import. “The whole scope and purport of that dialogue.” Norris. With a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes…Pär'pôrt, v. t. p. 1064To intend to show; to intend; to mean; to signify. They in most grave and solemn wise unfolded Matter, which little purported, but words Ranked in right learned phrase. Rowe.Pär'port-less, a. p. 1064Without purport; having no meaning or design. Southey.Pär'pōse, n. p. 1064That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; end, or, the view itself; design…Pŭr'pōse, v. t. p. 1064To set forth; to bring forward. [Obs.] 2. To determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve. “Did nothing purpose against the state.” Shak.Pär'pöse, v. t. p. 1064To design; to intend; to mean. I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time which is within the memory of men still living. Macaulay. 2. To…Pär'pösed-ly, adv. p. 1064According to purpose or design. “The Ilias, a poem composed purposedly of the Trojan war.” Holland.Pŭr'pōse-less, a. p. 1064Having no effect or purpose; aimless. Bp. Hall.Pär'pōse-ly, adv. p. 1064By purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination. In composing this discourse, I purposely declined all offensive and displeasing truths. Atterbury. So much they scorn the crowd, that if…Pär'pos-er, n. p. 1064One who brings forward any thing; a setter-forth. [Obs.] 2. One who purposes.Pûr'po-sîve, a. p. 1064Designed for an end. “Purposive modification of structure in a bone.” R. Owen.Pur-prĕst'ūre, n. p. 1064(Law.) Any encroachment upon, or inclosure of, that which should be common or public, as upon highways, rivers, harbors, forts, &c. [Written also pourpresture.] Eden. Daniell.Pûr'prîse, n. p. 1064A close or inclosure; also, the whole compass of a manor. Bacon.Pûr'pu-rê, n. p. 1064(Med.) A disease consisting in livid spots on the skin from extravasated blood, with loss of muscular strength, pain in the limbs, and mental dejection; the purples. Dunglison. 2. (Zoöl.) A genus of…Pûr'pu-rate, n. p. 1064(Chem.) A compound of purpuric acid and a salifiable base. Ure.Pûr'pu-rate, a. p. 1064Of, or pertaining to, purpura.Pûr'pûre, n. p. 1064(Her.) Purple, represented in engraving by diagonal lines from right to left of the escutcheon.Pur-pû're-al, a. p. 1064Of a purple color; purple.Pur-pû'rie, a. p. 1064Of, or pertaining to, purpura. Dunglison. 2. (Chem.) Having a purple color;—said of an acid whose salts have a purple color, produced by the action of nitric acid upon the lithic or uric acid.Pûr'pu-rîne, n. p. 1064(Chem.) A coloring principle found in madder. Ure.Pûrr, v. i. p. 1064To murmur as a cat. See PUR.Pûrr, n. p. 1064The murmuring sound made by a cat;Pûrre, n. p. 1064(Ornith.) A small bird (Tringa [or Variabilis] cinclus), allied to the snipe.Pâ're, n. p. 1064Ciderkin or perkin; the liquor made by steeping the gross matter of pressed apples.Pûr'ree, n. p. 1064A yellow pigment obtained from India, hence called Indian yellow, the origin of which is unknown, though regarded as of an animal nature. It consists principally of the magnesian salt of an acid to…Pŭr'rock, n. p. 1064See PUDDOCK.Pûrse, n. p. 1064A small bag, the opening of which is made to draw up closely: used to carry money in. Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands…Pûrse, v. t. p. 1064To put in a purse. I will go and purse the ducats straight. Shak. 2. To contract into folds or wrinkles, like the mouth of a purse. Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. Shak.Pûrse, v. i. p. 1064To take purses; to rob. [Obs. and rare.] I'll purse; if that raise me not, I'll bet at bowling-alleys. Beau. & Fl.Pûrse'-crâb, n. p. 1064(Zoöl.) A kind of crab, of the genus Birgus, which inhabits holes in the rocks and mountains, and sometimes ascends palm-trees and devours the fruit. It is found about the shores of the Indian Ocean.…Pûrse'ful, n. p. 1064All that is, or can be, contained in a purse; enough to fill a purse.Pûrse'-lōom, n. p. 1064A machine for weaving or netting purses. Simmonds.Pûrse'-nêt, n. p. 1064A net, the mouth of which may be closed or drawn together like a purse. Mortimer.Pûrse'-prîde, n. p. 1064Pride of money; insolence proceeding from the possession of wealth. Bp. Hall.Pârse'-proud, a. p. 1065Proud of wealth; puffed up with the possession of money or riches.Pûrs'er, n. p. 1065(Naut.) A commissioned officer who has charge of the provisions, clothing, &c., and of the public moneys on shipboard. Totten. 2. (Mining.) The cashier of the works. Simmonds.Pûrs'er-ship, n. p. 1065The office of purser. Totten.Pârs'et, n. p. 1065A purse or purse-net. B. Jonson.Pârs'i-ness, n. p. 1065A state of being pursy or bloated; inflation; hence, shortness of breath.Pârs'ive, a. p. 1065The same as PURSY. [Obs.] Holland.Pârs'ive-ness, n. p. 1065Pursiness. [Obs. and rare.]Pârs'lain, n. p. 1065The same as PURSLANE.Pûrs'lane, n. p. 1065(Bot.) An annual plant of the genus Portulaca, with fleshy, succulent leaves, often used as a pot-herb, and for salads, garnishing, and pickling.Pârs'iane-tree, n. p. 1065(Bot.) A fleshy shrub (Portulacaria afra) with many small, opposite, fleshy, rounded leaves. It is a native of Africa. London.Pur-sū'a-ble, a. p. 1065Capable of being, or fit to be, pursued, followed, or prosecuted. Sherwood.Pur-sū'al, n. p. 1065The act of pursuing; pursuit; pursuance. [Rare.]Pur-sū'ance, n. p. 1065The act of pursuing or prosecuting; a following out or after. Sermons are not like curious inquiries after new-nothings, but pursuances of old-truths. Bp. Taylor. 2. The state of being pursuant…Pur-sū'ant, a. p. 1065Done in consequence or prosecution of any thing; hence, agreeable; conformable; following; according; — with to. The conclusion which I draw from these premises, pursuant to the query laid down, is…Pur-sū'ant or Pur-sū'ant-ly, adv. p. 1065Agreeably; conformably.Pur-sūe', v. t. p. 1065To follow with a view to overtake; to follow with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare; to pursue an enemy. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain. Prior. 2. To seek; to use measures to obtain; as…Pur-sūe', v. i. p. 1065To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue. [A Gallicism.] I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider. Boyle. 2. (Law.) To follow a matter…Pur-sū'er, n. p. 1065One who follows; one who chases; one who follows in haste, with a view to overtake. 2. (Scots Law.) A plaintiff.Pur-sūit', n. p. 1065The act of following or going after; a following with haste, either for sport or in hostility; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an enemy. Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit. Shak. 2. A…Pâr’süi-vant, n. p. 1065A state messenger; an attendant on the heralds. One pursuivant who attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered. Macaulay. The herald Hope forerunning Fear, And Fear the pursuivant of Hope.…Pār'sui-vant, v. t. p. 1065To follow after; to pursue. [Obs. and rare.] Their navy was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest. Fuller.Pŭr'sy, a. p. 1065Inflated; swelled; hence, fat, short, and thick. Pursy and important he sat him down at the table. W. Scott. 2. Hence, short-breathed.Pâr'te-nance, n. p. 1065That which pertains or belongs to something else; especially, the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal. [Obs.] Roast it with fire, his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. Ex. xii. 9.Pū'ru-lence or Pū'ru-len-cy, n. p. 1065(Med.) The generation of pus or matter; pus. Arbuthnot.