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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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Pū'ru-lent, a. p. 1065(Med.) Consisting of pus or matter; partaking of the nature of pus.Pū'ru-lent-ly, adv. p. 1065In a purulent manner.Pur-vey', v. t. p. 1065To furnish or provide, as with a convenience, provisions, or the like. Give no odds to your foes, but do purvey Yourself of swords before that bloody day. Spencer. 2. To procure; to get. I mean to…Pur-vey', v. i. p. 1065To purchase provisions; to provide. Milton. 2. To pander; — with to. [Rare.] Their turpitude purveys to their malice. Burke.Pur-vey'ance, n. p. 1065The act or process of providing or procuring; procurement; management. “The ill purveyance of his page.” Spenser. 2. That which is provided; provisions; food. 3. (Eng. Law.) A providing necessaries…Pur-vey'or, n. p. 1065One who provides victuals, or whose business is to make provision for the table; a victualer; a caterer. 2. An officer who formerly provided or exacted provision for the king's household. [Eng.] 3.…Pur'view, n. p. 1065A condition or proviso. [Obs.] 2. (Law.) The body of a statute, or that part which begins with “Be it enacted,” as distinguished from the preamble. Cowell. 3. Hence, the limit or scope of a statute…Pūs, n. p. 1065(Med.) The yellowish-white, opaque, creamy liquid, of morbid origin, produced by the process of suppuration. It consists of innumerable nucleated cells floating in a clear liquid.Pŭ'sāne, n. p. 1065(Anc. Armor.) The gorget, or something used in its place. Fairholt.Pū'sey-ĭsm, n. p. 1065(Theol.) The principles of Dr. Pusey and others at Oxford, England, as exhibited in various publications, especially in a series called “The Tracts for the Times,” in which it was proposed to carry…Pū'sey-ĭst'ic, a. p. 1065Of, or pertaining to, Puseyism.Pū'sey-īte, n. p. 1065One who holds the principles of Puseyism.Push, v. t. p. 1065To press against with force; to drive or impel by pressure; or to endeavor to drive by steady pressure, without striking;—opposed to draw. “Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat.” Milton. 2.…Push, v. i. p. 1065To make a thrust; as, to push with the horns or with a sword. 2. To make an effort or an advance. At length, Both sides resolved to push, we tried our strength. Dryden. 3. To make an attack. At the…Push, n. p. 1065A thrust with a pointed instrument, or with the end of a thing. 2. Any pressure, impulse, or force applied; as, to give the ball the first push. 3. An assault or attack; a forcible onset; a vigorous…Push'er, n. p. 1065One who pushes.Push'ing, a. p. 1065Pressing forward in business; enterprising; driving; vigorous; also, forward; officious; intrusive.Push'ing-ly, adv. p. 1065In a pushing, driving manner.Pŭsh'pīn, n. p. 1065A child's play, in which pins are pushed alternately. L'Estrange.Pū'sil, a. p. 1065Very small; little; petty. [Obs.] Bacon.Pū'sil-la-nim'i-ty, n. p. 1065The quality of being pusillanimous; weakness of spirit; cowardliness. “The badge of pusillanimity and cowardice.” Shak. It is obvious to distinguish between an act of pusillanimity and an act of…Pū'sil-lān'i-mōus, a. p. 1065Destitute of a manly or courageous strength and firmness of mind; of weak spirit; mean-spirited; cowardly;—said of persons; as, a pusillanimous prince. 2. Evincing weakness of mind or want of…Pū'sil-lān'i-mōŭs-ly, adv. p. 1065In a pusillanimous manner.Pū'sil-lān'i-mōs-ness, n. p. 1065The quality of being pusillanimous; want of courage; pusillanimity.Puss, n. p. 1065A cat;—a fondling appellation. 2. A hare;—so called by sportsmen.Puss'y, n. p. 1065A puss;—a diminutive of puss, used as a fondling name for a cat.Pŭs'sy, a. p. 1065See PURSY.Pūst'ū-lar, a. p. 1065(Bot.) Covered with prominences resembling pustules; pustulous.