| Words |
Parts of Speech |
Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
| pacha |
|
The chief admiral of the Turkish fleet., See Pasha. |
| paage |
noun |
A toll for passage over another person’s grounds. |
| paard |
noun |
The zebra. |
| paced |
imp. & past participle |
of Pace, Having, or trained in, [such] a pace or gait; trained; — used in composition; as, slow-paced; a thorough-paced villain. |
| pacer |
noun |
One who, or that which, paces; especially, a horse that paces. |
| pacos |
noun |
Same as Alpaca., An earthy-looking ore, consisting of brown oxide of iron with minute particles of native silver. |
| padar |
noun |
Groats; coarse flour or meal. |
| paddy |
adjective |
Low; mean; boorish; vagabond., A jocose or contemptuous name for an Irishman., Unhusked rice; — commonly so called in the East Indies. |
| padge |
noun |
The barn owl; — called also pudge, and pudge owl. |
| padow |
noun |
A paddock, or toad. |
| paean |
noun |
An ancient Greek hymn in honor of Apollo as a healing deity, and, later, a song addressed to other deities., Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph., See Paeon. |
| paeon |
noun |
A foot of four syllables, one long and three short, admitting of four combinations, according to the place of the long syllable. |
| pagan |
noun |
One who worships false gods; an idolater; a heathen; one who is neither a Christian, a Mohammedan, nor a Jew., Of or pertaining to pagans; relating to the worship or the worshipers of false goods; heathen; idolatrous, as, pagan tribes or superstitions. |
| paged |
imp. & past participle |
of Page |
| pagod |
noun |
A pagoda. [R.] “Or some queer pagod.”, An idol. |
| paien |
noun & adjective |
Pagan. |
| pains |
noun |
Labor; toilsome effort; care or trouble taken; — plural in form, but used with a singular or plural verb, commonly the former. |
| paint |
verb t. |
To cover with coloring matter; to apply paint to; as, to paint a house, a signboard, etc., Fig.: To color, stain, or tinge; to adorn or beautify with colors; to diversify with colors., To form in colors a figure or likeness of on a flat surface, as upon canvas; to represent by means of colors or hues; to exhibit in a tinted image; to portray with paints; as, to paint a portrait or a landscape., Fig.: To represent or exhibit to the mind; to describe vividly; to delineate; to image; to depict., To practice the art of painting; as, the artist paints well., To color one’s face by way of beautifying it., A pigment or coloring substance., The same prepared with a vehicle, as oil, water with gum, or the like, for application to a surface., A cosmetic; rouge. |
| paise |
noun |
See Poise. |
| paled |
imp. & past participle |
of Pale, Striped., Inclosed with a paling. |
| palea |
noun |
The interior chaff or husk of grasses., One of the chaffy scales or bractlets growing on the receptacle of many compound flowers, as the Coreopsis, the sunflower, etc., A pendulous process of the skin on the throat of a bird, as in the turkey; a dewlap. |
| palet |
noun |
Same as Palea., A perpendicular band upon an escutcheon, one half the breadth of the pale. |
| palla |
noun |
An oblong rectangular piece of cloth, worn by Roman ladies, and fastened with brooches. |
| palmy |
adjective |
Bearing palms; abounding in palms; derived from palms; as, a palmy shore., Worthy of the palm; flourishing; prosperous. |
| palpi |
noun |
pl. of Palpus. (Zool.) See Palpus., of Palpus |
| palsy |
noun |
Paralysis, complete or partial. See Paralysis., To affect with palsy, or as with palsy; to deprive of action or energy; to paralyze. |
| palus |
noun |
One of several upright slender calcareous processes which surround the central part of the calicle of certain corals. |
| pance |
noun |
The pansy. |
| panch |
noun |
See Paunch. |
| pancy |
noun |
See Pansy. |
| panda |
noun |
A small Asiatic mammal (Ailurus fulgens) having fine soft fur. It is related to the bears, and inhabits the mountains of Northern India. |
| paned |
adjective |
Having panes; provided with panes; also, having openings; as, a paned window; paned window sash., Having flat sides or surfaces; as, a six/paned nut. |
| panel |
noun |
A sunken compartment with raised margins, molded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc., A piece of parchment or a schedule, containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff; hence, more generally, the whole jury., A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar of a criminal court., Formerly, a piece of cloth serving as a saddle; hence, a soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing., A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door., One of the faces of a hewn stone., A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of canvas, a picture is painted., A heap of dressed ore., One of the districts divided by pillars of extra size, into which a mine is laid off in one system of extracting coal., A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament., A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss., To form in or with panels; as, to panel a wainscot. |
| panic |
noun |
A plant of the genus Panicum; panic grass; also, the edible grain of some species of panic grass., Extreme or sudden and causeless; unreasonable; — said of fear or fright; as, panic fear, terror, alarm., A sudden, overpowering fright; esp., a sudden and groundless fright; terror inspired by a trifling cause or a misapprehension of danger; as, the troops were seized with a panic; they fled in a panic., By extension: A sudden widespread fright or apprehension concerning financial affairs. |
| panim |
noun |
See Painim. |
| pansy |
noun |
A plant of the genus Viola (V. tricolor) and its blossom, originally purple and yellow. Cultivated varieties have very large flowers of a great diversity of colors. Called also heart’s-ease, love-in-idleness, and many other quaint names. |
| panym |
noun & adjective |
See Panim. |
| paolo |
noun |
An old Italian silver coin, worth about ten cents. |
| papal |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the pope of Rome; proceeding from the pope; ordered or pronounced by the pope; as, papal jurisdiction; a papal edict; the papal benediction., Of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church. |
| papaw |
noun |
A tree (Carica Papaya) of tropical America, belonging to the order Passifloreae. It has a soft, spongy stem, eighteen or twenty feet high, crowned with a tuft of large, long-stalked, palmately lobed leaves. The milky juice of the plant is said to have the property of making meat tender. Also, its dull orange-colored, melon-shaped fruit, which is eaten both raw and cooked or pickled., A tree of the genus Asimina (A. triloba), growing in the western and southern parts of the United States, and producing a sweet edible fruit; also, the fruit itself. |
| paper |
noun |
A substance in the form of thin sheets or leaves intended to be written or printed on, or to be used in wrapping. It is made of rags, straw, bark, wood, or other fibrous material, which is first reduced to pulp, then molded, pressed, and dried., A sheet, leaf, or piece of such substance., A printed or written instrument; a document, essay, or the like; a writing; as, a paper read before a scientific society., A printed sheet appearing periodically; a newspaper; a journal; as, a daily paper., Negotiable evidences of indebtedness; notes; bills of exchange, and the like; as, the bank holds a large amount of his paper., Decorated hangings or coverings for walls, made of paper. See Paper hangings, below., A paper containing (usually) a definite quantity; as, a paper of pins, tacks, opium, etc., A medicinal preparation spread upon paper, intended for external application; as, cantharides paper., Of or pertaining to paper; made of paper; resembling paper; existing only on paper; unsubstantial; as, a paper box; a paper army., To cover with paper; to furnish with paper hangings; as, to paper a room or a house., To fold or inclose in paper., To put on paper; to make a memorandum of. |
| pappy |
adjective |
Like pap; soft; succulent; tender. |
| paque |
noun |
See Pasch and Easter. |
| para- |
|
A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism., A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively. |
| param |
noun |
A white crystalline nitrogenous substance (C2H4N4); — called also dicyandiamide. |
| parch |
verb t. |
To burn the surface of; to scorch; to roast over the fire, as dry grain; as, to parch the skin; to parch corn., To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth is parched from fever., To become scorched or superficially burnt; to be very dry. |
| parde |
adverb / interj. |
Alt. of Pardie |
| pardo |
noun |
A money of account in Goa, India, equivalent to about 2s. 6d. sterling. or 60 cts. |
| pared |
imp. & past participle |
of Pare |
| parer |
verb t. |
One who, or that which, pares; an instrument for paring. |
| pari- |
|
A combining form signifying equal; as, paridigitate, paripinnate. |
| paris |
noun |
A plant common in Europe (Paris quadrifolia); herb Paris; truelove. It has been used as a narcotic., The chief city of France. |
| parle |
verb i. |
To talk; to converse; to parley., Conversation; talk; parley. |
| parol |
noun |
A word; an oral utterance., Oral declaration; word of mouth; also, a writing not under seal., Given or done by word of mouth; oral; also, given by a writing not under seal; as, parol evidence. |
| parry |
verb t. |
To ward off; to stop, or to turn aside; as, to parry a thrust, a blow, or anything that means or threatens harm., To avoid; to shift or put off; to evade., To ward off, evade, or turn aside something, as a blow, argument, etc., A warding off of a thrust or blow, as in sword and bayonet exercises or in boxing; hence, figuratively, a defensive movement in debate or other intellectual encounter. |
| parse |
noun |
To resolve into its elements, as a sentence, pointing out the several parts of speech, and their relation to each other by government or agreement; to analyze and describe grammatically. |
| party |
verb |
A part or portion., A number of persons united in opinion or action, as distinguished from, or opposed to, the rest of a community or association; esp., one of the parts into which a people is divided on questions of public policy., A part of a larger body of company; a detachment; especially (Mil.), a small body of troops dispatched on special service., A number of persons invited to a social entertainment; a select company; as, a dinner party; also, the entertainment itself; as, to give a party., One concerned or interested in an affair; one who takes part with others; a participator; as, he was a party to the plot; a party to the contract., The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant., Hence, any certain person who is regarded as being opposed or antagonistic to another., Cause; side; interest., A person; as, he is a queer party., Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries; as, an escutcheon party per pale., Partial; favoring one party., Partly. |
| pasan |
noun |
The gemsbok. |
| pasch |
noun |
Alt. of Pascha |
| pasha |
noun |
An honorary title given to officers of high rank in Turkey, as to governers of provinces, military commanders, etc. The earlier form was bashaw. |
| paspy |
noun |
A kind of minuet, in triple time, of French origin, popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and for some time after; — called also passing measure, and passymeasure. |
| passe |
adjective |
Alt. of Passee |
| paste |
noun |
A soft composition, as of flour moistened with water or milk, or of earth moistened to the consistence of dough, as in making potter’s ware., Specifically, in cookery, a dough prepared for the crust of pies and the like; pastry dough., A kind of cement made of flour and water, starch and water, or the like, — used for uniting paper or other substances, as in bookbinding, etc., — also used in calico printing as a vehicle for mordant or color., A highly refractive vitreous composition, variously colored, used in making imitations of precious stones or gems. See Strass., A soft confection made of the inspissated juice of fruit, licorice, or the like, with sugar, etc., The mineral substance in which other minerals are imbedded., To unite with paste; to fasten or join by means of paste. |
| pasty |
adjective |
Like paste, as in color, softness, stickness., A pie consisting usually of meat wholly surrounded with a crust made of a sheet of paste, and often baked without a dish; a meat pie. |
| patas |
noun |
A West African long-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ruber); the red monkey. |
| patch |
noun |
A piece of cloth, or other suitable material, sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp. upon an old garment to cover a hole., A small piece of anything used to repair a breach; as, a patch on a kettle, a roof, etc., A small piece of black silk stuck on the face, or neck, to hide a defect, or to heighten beauty., A piece of greased cloth or leather used as wrapping for a rifle ball, to make it fit the bore., Fig.: Anything regarded as a patch; a small piece of ground; a tract; a plot; as, scattered patches of trees or growing corn., A block on the muzzle of a gun, to do away with the effect of dispart, in sighting., A paltry fellow; a rogue; a ninny; a fool., To mend by sewing on a piece or pieces of cloth, leather, or the like; as, to patch a coat., To mend with pieces; to repair with pieces festened on; to repair clumsily; as, to patch the roof of a house., To adorn, as the face, with a patch or patches., To make of pieces or patches; to repair as with patches; to arrange in a hasty or clumsy manner; — generally with up; as, to patch up a truce. |
| pated |
adjective |
Having a pate; — used only in composition; as, long-pated; shallow-pated. |
| patee |
noun |
See Pattee. |
| paten |
noun |
A plate., The place on which the consecrated bread is placed in the Eucharist, or on which the host is placed during the Mass. It is usually small, and formed as to fit the chalice, or cup, as a cover. |
| paths |
plural |
of Path |
| patin |
noun |
Alt. of Patine |
| patio |
noun |
A paved yard or floor where ores are cleaned and sorted, or where ore, salt, mercury, etc., are trampled by horses, to effect intermixture and amalgamation. |
| patly |
adverb |
Fitly; seasonably. |
| patte |
adjective |
Alt. of Pattee |
| patty |
noun |
A little pie. |
| paugy |
noun |
The scup. See Porgy, and Scup. |
| paune |
noun |
A kind of bread. See Pone. |
| pause |
noun |
A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation., Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt., In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts., In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses., A break or paragraph in writing., A hold. See 4th Hold, 7., To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest., To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses., To hesitate; to hold back; to delay., To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect., To cause to stop or rest; — used reflexively. |
| pauxi |
noun |
A curassow (Ourax pauxi), which, in South America, is often domesticated. |
| pavan |
noun |
A stately and formal Spanish dance for which full state costume is worn; — so called from the resemblance of its movements to those of the peacock. |
| paved |
imp. & past participle |
of Pave |
| paven |
noun |
See Pavan. |
| paver |
noun |
One who paves; one who lays a pavement. |
| pavid |
adjective |
Timid; fearful. |
| pavin |
noun |
See Pavan. |
| pavon |
noun |
A small triangular flag, esp. one attached to a knight’s lance; a pennon. |
| pawed |
imp. & past participle |
of Paw |
| pawky |
adjective |
Arch; cunning; sly. |
| payee |
noun |
The person to whom money is to be, or has been, paid; the person named in a bill or note, to whom, or to whose order, the amount is promised or directed to be paid. See Bill of exchange, under Bill. |
| payen |
noun & adjective |
Pagan. |
| payer |
noun |
One who pays; specifically, the person by whom a bill or note has been, or should be, paid. |
| payor |
noun |
See Payer. |
| payse |
verb t. |
To poise. |
| pease |
plural |
of Pea, A pea., A plural form of Pea. See the Note under Pea. |
| peace |
verb |
A state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose, Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies., Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law., Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquillity of mind or conscience., Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord., To make or become quiet; to be silent; to stop. |
| peach |
verb t. |
To accuse of crime; to inform against., To turn informer; to betray one’s accomplice., A well-known high-flavored juicy fruit, containing one or two seeds in a hard almond-like endocarp or stone; also, the tree which bears it (Prunus, / Amygdalus Persica). In the wild stock the fruit is hard and inedible. |
| peage |
noun |
See Paage. |
| peaky |
adjective |
Having a peak or peaks., Sickly; peaked. |
| pearl |
noun |
A fringe or border., To fringe; to border., A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones., Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious., Nacre, or mother-of-pearl., A fish allied to the turbot; the brill., A light-colored tern., One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer’s antler., A whitish speck or film on the eye., A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether., A size of type, between agate and diamond., Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl., To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively., To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley., To resemble pearl or pearls., To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling. |
| peart |
adjective |
Active; lively; brisk; smart; — often applied to convalescents; as, she is quite peart to-day. |
| peaty |
adjective |
Composed of peat; abounding in peat; resembling peat. |
| pecan |
noun |
A species of hickory (Carya olivaeformis), growing in North America, chiefly in the Mississippi valley and in Texas, where it is one of the largest of forest trees; also, its fruit, a smooth, oblong nut, an inch or an inch and a half long, with a thin shell and well-flavored meat. |
| pecco |
noun |
See Pekoe. |
| pecul |
noun |
See Picul. |
| pedal |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the foot, or to feet, literally or figuratively; specifically (Zool.), pertaining to the foot of a mollusk; as, the pedal ganglion., Of or pertaining to a pedal; having pedals., A lever or key acted on by the foot, as in the pianoforte to raise the dampers, or in the organ to open and close certain pipes; a treadle, as in a lathe or a bicycle., A pedal curve or surface. |
| pedi- |
|
Alt. of Pedo- |
| pedo- |
|
Combining forms from L. pes, pedis, foot, as pedipalp, pedireme, pedometer. |
| peece |
noun & verb |
See Piece. |
| peele |
noun |
A graceful and swift South African antelope (Pelea capreola). The hair is woolly, and ash-gray on the back and sides. The horns are black, long, slender, straight, nearly smooth, and very sharp. Called also rheeboc, and rehboc. |
| peery |
adjective |
Inquisitive; suspicious; sharp. |
| peert |
adjective |
Same as Peart. |
| peise |
noun |
A weight; a poise., To poise or weight. |
| pekan |
noun |
See Fisher, 2. |
| pekoe |
noun |
A kind of black tea. |
| pelma |
noun |
The under surface of the foot. |
| pelta |
noun |
A small shield, especially one of an approximately elliptic form, or crescent-shaped., A flat apothecium having no rim. |
| penal |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence, Enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue; the penal code., Incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penalact of offense., Inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment; as, a penal colony or settlement. |
| pence |
noun |
pl. of Penny. See Penny., of Penny |
| penis |
noun |
The male member, or organ of generation. |
| penna |
noun |
A perfect, or normal, feather. |
| penny |
adjective |
Denoting pound weight for one thousand; — used in combination, with respect to nails; as, tenpenny nails, nails of which one thousand weight ten pounds., An English coin, formerly of copper, now of bronze, the twelfth part of an English shilling in account value, and equal to four farthings, or about two cents; — usually indicated by the abbreviation d. (the initial of denarius)., Any small sum or coin; a groat; a stiver., Money, in general; as, to turn an honest penny., See Denarius., Worth or costing one penny. |
| peony |
noun |
A plant, and its flower, of the ranunculaceous genus Paeonia. Of the four or five species, one is a shrub; the rest are perennial herbs with showy flowers, often double in cultivation. |
| perca |
noun |
A genus of fishes, including the fresh-water perch. |
| perce |
verb t. |
To pierce. |
| perch |
noun |
Any fresh-water fish of the genus Perca and of several other allied genera of the family Percidae, as the common American or yellow perch (Perca flavescens, / Americana), and the European perch (P. fluviatilis)., Any one of numerous species of spiny-finned fishes belonging to the Percidae, Serranidae, and related families, and resembling, more or less, the true perches., A pole; a long staff; a rod; esp., a pole or other support for fowls to roost on or to rest on; a roost; figuratively, any elevated resting place or seat., A measure of length containing five and a half yards; a rod, or pole., In land or square measure: A square rod; the 160th part of an acre., In solid measure: A mass 16/ feet long, 1 foot in height, and 1/ feet in breadth, or 24/ cubic feet (in local use, from 22 to 25 cubic feet); — used in measuring stonework., A pole connecting the fore gear and hind gear of a spring carriage; a reach., To alight or settle, as a bird; to sit or roost., To place or to set on, or as on, a perch., To occupy as a perch. |
| perdu |
adjective |
One placed on watch, or in ambush., A soldier sent on a forlorn hope., Alt. of Perdue |
| perdy |
adverb |
Truly. See Parde. |
| perel |
noun |
Apparel. |
| peri- |
|
A prefix used to signify around, by, near, over, beyond, or to give an intensive sense; as, perimeter, the measure around; perigee, point near the earth; periergy, work beyond what is needed; perispherical, quite spherical. |
| peris |
plural |
of Peri |
| peril |
noun |
Danger; risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction., To expose to danger; to hazard; to risk; as, to peril one’s life., To be in danger. |
| perky |
adjective |
Perk; pert; jaunty; trim. |
| perry |
noun |
A fermented liquor made from pears; pear cider., A suddent squall. See Pirry. |
| pedes |
plural |
of Pes |
| pesky |
adjective |
Pestering; vexatious; troublesome. Used also as an intensive. |
| petal |
noun |
One of the leaves of the corolla, or the colored leaves of a flower. See Corolla, and Illust. of Flower., One of the expanded ambulacra which form a rosette on the black of certain Echini. |
| petar |
noun |
See Petard. |
| peter |
noun |
A common baptismal name for a man. The name of one of the apostles,, To become exhausted; to run out; to fail; — used generally with out; as, that mine has petered out. |
| petit |
adjective |
Small; little; insignificant; mean; — Same as Petty. |
| petre |
noun |
See Saltpeter. |
| petto |
noun |
The breast. |
| petty |
superl. |
Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince. |
| pewee |
noun |
A common American tyrant flycatcher (Sayornis phoebe, or S. fuscus). Called also pewit, and phoebe., The woodcock. |
| pewet |
noun |
Same as Pewit. |
| pewit |
noun |
The lapwing., The European black-headed, or laughing, gull (Xema ridibundus). See under Laughing., The pewee. |
| phane |
noun |
See Fane. |
| phare |
noun |
A beacon tower; a lighthouse., Hence, a harbor. |
| pharo |
noun |
A pharos; a lighthouse., See Faro. |
| phase |
noun |
That which is exhibited to the eye; the appearance which anything manifests, especially any one among different and varying appearances of the same object., Any appearance or aspect of an object of mental apprehension or view; as, the problem has many phases., A particular appearance or state in a regularly recurring cycle of changes with respect to quantity of illumination or form of enlightened disk; as, the phases of the moon or planets. See Illust. under Moon., Any one point or portion in a recurring series of changes, as in the changes of motion of one of the particles constituting a wave or vibration; one portion of a series of such changes, in distinction from a contrasted portion, as the portion on one side of a position of equilibrium, in contrast with that on the opposite side. |
| phasm |
noun |
Alt. of Phasma |
| phebe |
noun |
See Phoebe. |
| pheer |
noun |
See 1st Fere. |
| phene |
noun |
Benzene. |
| pheon |
noun |
A bearing representing the head of a dart or javelin, with long barbs which are engrailed on the inner edge. |
| phial |
noun |
A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small bottle for medicines; a vial., To put or keep in, or as in, a phial. |
| phlox |
noun |
A genus of American herbs, having showy red, white, or purple flowers. |
| phoca |
noun |
A genus of seals. It includes the common harbor seal and allied species. See Seal. |
| phono |
noun |
A South American butterfly (Ithonia phono) having nearly transparent wings. |
| photo |
noun |
A contraction of Photograph. |
| phyle |
noun |
A local division of the people in ancient Athens; a clan; a tribe. |
| phyla |
plural |
of Phylon, of Phylum |
| phyma |
noun |
A tubercle on any external part of the body. |
| physa |
noun |
A genus of fresh-water Pulmonifera, having reversed spiral shells. See Pond snail, under Pond. |
| piano |
adjective & adverb |
Soft; — a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.), Alt. of Pianoforte |
| picea |
noun |
A genus of coniferous trees of the northen hemisphere, including the Norway spruce and the American black and white spruces. These trees have pendent cones, which do not readily fall to pieces, in this and other respects differing from the firs. |
| picke |
noun |
A small piece of land inclosed with a hedge; a close. |
| picra |
noun |
The powder of aloes with canella, formerly officinal, employed as a cathartic. |
| picts |
noun pl. |
A race of people of uncertain origin, who inhabited Scotland in early times. |
| picul |
noun |
A commercial weight varying in different countries and for different commodities. In Borneo it is 135/ lbs.; in China and Sumatra, 133/ lbs.; in Japan, 133/ lbs.; but sometimes 130 lbs., etc. Called also, by the Chinese, tan. |
| picus |
noun |
A genus of woodpeckers, including some of the common American and European species. |
| piece |
noun |
A fragment or part of anything separated from the whole, in any manner, as by cutting, splitting, breaking, or tearing; a part; a portion; as, a piece of sugar; to break in pieces., A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper., Any one thing conceived of as apart from other things of the same kind; an individual article; a distinct single effort of a series; a definite performance, A literary or artistic composition; as, a piece of poetry, music, or statuary., A musket, gun, or cannon; as, a battery of six pieces; a following piece., A coin; as, a sixpenny piece; — formerly applied specifically to an English gold coin worth 22 shillings., A fact; an item; as, a piece of news; a piece of knowledge., An individual; — applied to a person as being of a certain nature or quality; often, but not always, used slightingly or in contempt., One of the superior men, distinguished from a pawn., A castle; a fortified building., To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; as, to piece a garment; — often with out., To unite; to join; to combine., To unite by a coalescence of parts; to fit together; to join. |
| piend |
noun |
See Peen. |
| pieno |
adjective |
Full; having all the instruments. |
| pieta |
noun |
A representation of the dead Christ, attended by the Virgin Mary or by holy women and angels. |
| piety |
noun |
Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his character; loving obedience to the will of God, and earnest devotion to his service., Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. |
| pight |
imp. & past participle |
Pitched; fixed; determined. |
| pigmy |
noun |
See Pygmy. |
| piked |
adjective |
Furnished with a pike; ending in a point; peaked; pointed. |
| pilau |
noun |
See Pillau. |
| pilch |
noun |
A gown or case of skin, or one trimmed or lined with fur. |
| piled |
imp. & past participle |
of Pile, Having a pile or point; pointed., Having a pile or nap., Formed from a pile or fagot; as, piled iron. |
| piler |
noun |
One who places things in a pile. |
| piles |
noun pl. |
The small, troublesome tumors or swellings about the anus and lower part of the rectum which are technically called hemorrhoids. See Hemorrhoids. [The singular pile is sometimes used.] |
| pilei |
plural |
of Pileus |
| pilot |
noun |
One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman., Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees., Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course., An instrument for detecting the compass error., The cowcatcher of a locomotive., To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous., Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties. |
| pilwe |
noun |
A pillow. |
| pinax |
noun |
A tablet; a register; hence, a list or scheme inscribed on a tablet. |
| pinch |
verb t. |
To press hard or squeeze between the ends of the fingers, between teeth or claws, or between the jaws of an instrument; to squeeze or compress, as between any two hard bodies., o seize; to grip; to bite; — said of animals., To plait., Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress; to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money., To move, as a railroad car, by prying the wheels with a pinch. See Pinch, n., 4., To act with pressing force; to compress; to squeeze; as, the shoe pinches., To take hold; to grip, as a dog does., To spare; to be niggardly; to be covetous., A close compression, as with the ends of the fingers, or with an instrument; a nip., As much as may be taken between the finger and thumb; any very small quantity; as, a pinch of snuff., Pian; pang., A lever having a projection at one end, acting as a fulcrum, — used chiefly to roll heavy wheels, etc. Called also pinch bar. |
| pined |
imp. & past participle |
of Pine |
| piney |
adjective |
See Piny., A term used in designating an East Indian tree (the Vateria Indica or piney tree, of the order Dipterocarpeae, which grows in Malabar, etc.) or its products. |
| pinic |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the pine; obtained from the pine; formerly, designating an acid which is the chief constituent of common resin, — now called abietic, or sylvic, acid. |
| pinky |
noun |
See 1st Pink. |
| pinna |
noun |
A leaflet of a pinnate leaf. See Illust. of Bipinnate leaf, under Bipinnate., One of the primary divisions of a decompound leaf., One of the divisions of a pinnate part or organ., Any species of Pinna, a genus of large bivalve mollusks found in all warm seas. The byssus consists of a large number of long, silky fibers, which have been used in manufacturing woven fabrics, as a curiosity., The auricle of the ear. See Ear. |
| pi–on |
noun |
The edible seed of several species of pine; also, the tree producing such seeds, as Pinus Pinea of Southern Europe, and P. Parryana, cembroides, edulis, and monophylla, the nut pines of Western North America., See Monkey’s puzzle. |
| pinus |
noun |
A large genus of evergreen coniferous trees, mostly found in the northern hemisphere. The genus formerly included the firs, spruces, larches, and hemlocks, but is now limited to those trees which have the primary leaves of the branchlets reduced to mere scales, and the secondary ones (pine needles) acicular, and usually in fascicles of two to seven. See Pine. |
| piony |
noun |
See Peony. |
| pious |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly., Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety; as, pious errors; pious frauds. |
| pipas |
plural |
of Pipa |
| piped |
imp. & past participle |
of Pipe, Formed with a pipe; having pipe or pipes; tubular. |
| piper |
noun |
See Pepper., One who plays on a pipe, or the like, esp. on a bagpipe., A common European gurnard (Trigla lyra), having a large head, with prominent nasal projection, and with large, sharp, opercular spines., A sea urchin (Goniocidaris hystrix) having very long spines, native of both the American and European coasts. |
| pipit |
noun |
Any one of numerous species of small singing birds belonging to Anthus and allied genera, of the family Motacillidae. They strongly resemble the true larks in habits, colors, and the great length of the hind claw. They are, therefore, often called titlarks, and pipit larks. |
| pipra |
noun |
Any one of numerous species of small clamatorial birds belonging to Pipra and allied genera, of the family Pipridae. The male is usually glossy black, varied with scarlet, yellow, or sky blue. They chiefly inhabit South America. |
| pique |
noun |
A cotton fabric, figured in the loom, — used as a dress goods for women and children, and for vestings, etc., The jigger. See Jigger., A feeling of hurt, vexation, or resentment, awakened by a social slight or injury; irritation of the feelings, as through wounded pride; stinging vexation., Keenly felt desire; a longing., In piquet, the right of the elder hand to count thirty in hand, or to play before the adversary counts one., To wound the pride of; to sting; to nettle; to irritate; to fret; to offend; to excite to anger., To excite to action by causing resentment or jealousy; to stimulate; to prick; as, to pique ambition, or curiosity., To pride or value; — used reflexively., To cause annoyance or irritation. |
| pirai |
noun |
Same as Piraya. |
| pirie |
noun |
See Pirry., A pear tree. |
| pirry |
noun |
Alt. of Pirrie |
| pisay |
noun |
See Pise. |
| pishu |
noun |
The Canada lynx. |
| piste |
noun |
The track or tread a horseman makes upon the ground he goes over. |
| pitch |
noun |
A thick, black, lustrous, and sticky substance obtained by boiling down tar. It is used in calking the seams of ships; also in coating rope, canvas, wood, ironwork, etc., to preserve them., See Pitchstone., To cover over or smear with pitch., Fig.: To darken; to blacken; to obscure., To throw, generally with a definite aim or purpose; to cast; to hurl; to toss; as, to pitch quoits; to pitch hay; to pitch a ball., To thrust or plant in the ground, as stakes or poles; hence, to fix firmly, as by means of poles; to establish; to arrange; as, to pitch a tent; to pitch a camp., To set, face, or pave with rubble or undressed stones, as an embankment or a roadway., To fix or set the tone of; as, to pitch a tune., To set or fix, as a price or value., To fix or place a tent or temporary habitation; to encamp., To light; to settle; to come to rest from flight., To fix one’s choise; — with on or upon., To plunge or fall; esp., to fall forward; to decline or slope; as, to pitch from a precipice; the vessel pitches in a heavy sea; the field pitches toward the east., A throw; a toss; a cast, as of something from the hand; as, a good pitch in quoits., That point of the ground on which the ball pitches or lights when bowled., A point or peak; the extreme point or degree of elevation or depression; hence, a limit or bound., Height; stature., A descent; a fall; a thrusting down., The point where a declivity begins; hence, the declivity itself; a descending slope; the degree or rate of descent or slope; slant; as, a steep pitch in the road; the pitch of a roof., The relative acuteness or gravity of a tone, determined by the number of vibrations which produce it; the place of any tone upon a scale of high and low., The limit of ground set to a miner who receives a share of the ore taken out., The distance from center to center of any two adjacent teeth of gearing, measured on the pitch line; — called also circular pitch., The length, measured along the axis, of a complete turn of the thread of a screw, or of the helical lines of the blades of a screw propeller., The distance between the centers of holes, as of rivet holes in boiler plates. |
| pithy |
superl. |
Consisting wholly, or in part, of pith; abounding in pith; as, a pithy stem; a pithy fruit., Having nervous energy; forceful; cogent. |
| pitta |
noun |
Any one of a large group of bright-colored clamatorial birds belonging to Pitta, and allied genera of the family Pittidae. Most of the species are varied with three or more colors, such as blue, green, crimson, yellow, purple, and black. They are called also ground thrushes, and Old World ant thrushes; but they are not related to the true thrushes. |
| pivot |
noun |
A fixed pin or short axis, on the end of which a wheel or other body turns., The end of a shaft or arbor which rests and turns in a support; as, the pivot of an arbor in a watch., Hence, figuratively: A turning point or condition; that on which important results depend; as, the pivot of an enterprise., The officer or soldier who simply turns in his place whike the company or line moves around him in wheeling; — called also pivot man., To place on a pivot. |
| pixie |
noun |
An old English name for a fairy; an elf., A low creeping evergreen plant (Pyxidanthera barbulata), with mosslike leaves and little white blossoms, found in New Jersey and southward, where it flowers in earliest spring. |
| place |
noun |
Any portion of space regarded as measured off or distinct from all other space, or appropriated to some definite object or use; position; ground; site; spot; rarely, unbounded space., A broad way in a city; an open space; an area; a court or short part of a street open only at one end., A position which is occupied and held; a dwelling; a mansion; a village, town, or city; a fortified town or post; a stronghold; a region or country., Rank; degree; grade; order of priority, advancement, dignity, or importance; especially, social rank or position; condition; also, official station; occupation; calling., Vacated or relinquished space; room; stead (the departure or removal of another being or thing being implied)., A definite position or passage of a document., Ordinal relation; position in the order of proceeding; as, he said in the first place., Reception; effect; — implying the making room for., Position in the heavens, as of a heavenly body; — usually defined by its right ascension and declination, or by its latitude and longitude., To assign a place to; to put in a particular spot or place, or in a certain relative position; to direct to a particular place; to fix; to settle; to locate; as, to place a book on a shelf; to place balls in tennis., To put or set in a particular rank, office, or position; to surround with particular circumstances or relations in life; to appoint to certain station or condition of life; as, in whatever sphere one is placed., To put out at interest; to invest; to loan; as, to place money in a bank., To set; to fix; to repose; as, to place confidence in a friend., To attribute; to ascribe; to set down. |
| plack |
noun |
A small copper coin formerly current in Scotland, worth less than a cent. |
| plaga |
noun |
A stripe of color. |
| plage |
noun |
A region; country. |
| plaid |
noun |
A rectangular garment or piece of cloth, usually made of the checkered material called tartan, but sometimes of plain gray, or gray with black stripes. It is worn by both sexes in Scotland., Goods of any quality or material of the pattern of a plaid or tartan; a checkered cloth or pattern., Having a pattern or colors which resemble a Scotch plaid; checkered or marked with bars or stripes at right angles to one another; as, plaid muslin. |
| plain |
verb i. |
To lament; to bewail; to complain., To lament; to mourn over; as, to plain a loss., Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth; even. See Plane., Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair., Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable., Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple., Not highly cultivated; unsophisticated; free from show or pretension; simple; natural; homely; common., Free from affectation or disguise; candid; sincere; artless; honest; frank., Not luxurious; not highly seasoned; simple; as, plain food., Without beauty; not handsome; homely; as, a plain woman., Not variegated, dyed, or figured; as, plain muslin., Not much varied by modulations; as, a plain tune., In a plain manner; plainly., Level land; usually, an open field or a broad stretch of land with an even surface, or a surface little varied by inequalities; as, the plain of Jordan; the American plains, or prairies., A field of battle., To plane or level; to make plain or even on the surface., To make plain or manifest; to explain. |
| plait |
noun |
A flat fold; a doubling, as of cloth; a pleat; as, a box plait., A braid, as of hair or straw; a plat., To fold; to double in narrow folds; to pleat; as, to plait a ruffle., To interweave the strands or locks of; to braid; to plat; as, to plait hair; to plait rope. |
| plane |
noun |
Any tree of the genus Platanus., Without elevations or depressions; even; level; flat; lying in, or constituting, a plane; as, a plane surface., A surface, real or imaginary, in which, if any two points are taken, the straight line which joins them lies wholly in that surface; or a surface, any section of which by a like surface is a straight line; a surface without curvature., An ideal surface, conceived as coinciding with, or containing, some designated astronomical line, circle, or other curve; as, the plane of an orbit; the plane of the ecliptic, or of the equator., A block or plate having a perfectly flat surface, used as a standard of flatness; a surface plate., A tool for smoothing boards or other surfaces of wood, for forming moldings, etc. It consists of a smooth-soled stock, usually of wood, from the under side or face of which projects slightly the steel cutting edge of a chisel, called the iron, which inclines backward, with an apperture in front for the escape of shavings; as, the jack plane; the smoothing plane; the molding plane, etc., To make smooth; to level; to pare off the inequalities of the surface of, as of a board or other piece of wood, by the use of a plane; as, to plane a plank., To efface or remove., Figuratively, to make plain or smooth. |
| plank |
noun |
A broad piece of sawed timber, differing from a board only in being thicker. See Board., Fig.: That which supports or upholds, as a board does a swimmer., One of the separate articles in a declaration of the principles of a party or cause; as, a plank in the national platform., To cover or lay with planks; as, to plank a floor or a ship., To lay down, as on a plank or table; to stake or pay cash; as, to plank money in a wager., To harden, as hat bodies, by felting., To splice together the ends of slivers of wool, for subsequent drawing. |
| plant |
noun |
A vegetable; an organized living being, generally without feeling and voluntary motion, and having, when complete, a root, stem, and leaves, though consisting sometimes only of a single leafy expansion, or a series of cellules, or even a single cellule., A bush, or young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff., The sole of the foot., The whole machinery and apparatus employed in carrying on a trade or mechanical business; also, sometimes including real estate, and whatever represents investment of capital in the means of carrying on a business, but not including material worked upon or finished products; as, the plant of a foundry, a mill, or a railroad., A plan; an artifice; a swindle; a trick., An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth., A young oyster suitable for transplanting., To put in the ground and cover, as seed for growth; as, to plant maize., To set in the ground for growth, as a young tree, or a vegetable with roots., To furnish, or fit out, with plants; as, to plant a garden, an orchard, or a forest., To engender; to generate; to set the germ of., To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish; as, to plant a colony., To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of; as, to plant Christianity among the heathen., To set firmly; to fix; to set and direct, or point; as, to plant cannon against a fort; to plant a standard in any place; to plant one’s feet on solid ground; to plant one’s fist in another’s face., To set up; to install; to instate., To perform the act of planting. |
| plash |
verb |
A small pool of standing water; a puddle., A dash of water; a splash., To dabble in water; to splash., To splash, as water., To splash or sprinkle with coloring matter; as, to plash a wall in imitation of granite., To cut partly, or to bend and intertwine the branches of; as, to plash a hedge., The branch of a tree partly cut or bent, and bound to, or intertwined with, other branches. |
| plasm |
noun |
A mold or matrix in which anything is cast or formed to a particular shape., Same as Plasma. |
| plate |
noun |
A flat, or nearly flat, piece of metal, the thickness of which is small in comparison with the other dimensions; a thick sheet of metal; as, a steel plate., Metallic armor composed of broad pieces., Domestic vessels and utensils, as flagons, dishes, cups, etc., wrought in gold or silver., Metallic ware which is plated, in distinction from that which is genuine silver or gold., A small, shallow, and usually circular, vessel of metal or wood, or of earth glazed and baked, from which food is eaten at table., A piece of money, usually silver money., A piece of metal on which anything is engraved for the purpose of being printed; hence, an impression from the engraved metal; as, a book illustrated with plates; a fashion plate., A page of stereotype, electrotype, or the like, for printing from; as, publisher’s plates., That part of an artificial set of teeth which fits to the mouth, and holds the teeth in place. It may be of gold, platinum, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc., A horizontal timber laid upon a wall, or upon corbels projecting from a wall, and supporting the ends of other timbers; also used specifically of the roof plate which supports the ends of the roof trusses or, in simple work, the feet of the rafters., A roundel of silver or tinctured argent., A sheet of glass, porcelain, metal, etc., with a coating that is sensitive to light., A prize giving to the winner in a contest., To cover or overlay with gold, silver, or other metals, either by a mechanical process, as hammering, or by a chemical process, as electrotyping., To cover or overlay with plates of metal; to arm with metal for defense., To adorn with plated metal; as, a plated harness., To beat into thin, flat pieces, or laminae., To calender; as, to plate paper. |
| platt |
noun |
See Lodge, n. |
| platy |
adjective |
Like a plate; consisting of plates. |
| plaud |
verb t. |
To applaud. |
| playa |
noun |
A beach; a strand; in the plains and deserts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, a broad, level spot, on which subsequently becomes dry by evaporation. |
| plaza |
noun |
A public square in a city or town. |
| plead |
|
of Plead, To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against a thing; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; to speak by way of persuasion; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead with a judge or with a father., To present an answer, by allegation of fact, to the declaration of a plaintiff; to deny the plaintiff’s declaration and demand, or to allege facts which show that ought not to recover in the suit; in a less strict sense, to make an allegation of fact in a cause; to carry on the allegations of the respective parties in a cause; to carry on a suit or plea., To contend; to struggle., To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury., To allege or cite in a legal plea or defense, or for repelling a demand in law; to answer to an indictment; as, to plead usury; to plead statute of limitations; to plead not guilty., To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vendication; to offer in excuse; as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors. |
| pleat |
noun & verb t. |
See Plait. |
| plebe |
noun |
The common people; the mob., A member of the lowest class in the military academy at West Point. |
| plein |
adjective |
Plan., To complain. See Plain., Full; complete. |
| plene |
ae. |
Full; complete; plenary. |
| plesh |
noun |
A pool; a plash. |
| plete |
verb t. & i. |
To plead. |
| pleyt |
noun |
An old term for a river boat. |
| plica |
verb |
A disease of the hair (Plica polonica), in which it becomes twisted and matted together. The disease is of Polish origin, and is hence called also Polish plait., A diseased state in plants in which there is an excessive development of small entangled twigs, instead of ordinary branches., The bend of the wing of a bird. |
| plied |
|
imp. & p. p. of Ply., of Ply |
| plitt |
noun |
An instrument of punishment or torture resembling the knout, used in Russia. |
| ploce |
noun |
A figure in which a word is separated or repeated by way of emphasis, so as not only to signify the individual thing denoted by it, but also its peculiar attribute or quality; as, “His wife’s a wife indeed.” |
| pluck |
verb t. |
To pull; to draw., Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off or out from something, with a twitch; to twitch; also, to gather, to pick; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes., To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl., To reject at an examination for degrees., To make a motion of pulling or twitching; — usually with at; as, to pluck at one’s gown., The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch., The heart, liver, and lights of an animal., Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude., The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck, v. t., 4., The lyrie. |
| pluff |
verb t. |
To throw out, as smoke, dust, etc., in puffs., A puff, as of smoke from a pipe, or of dust from a puffball; a slight explosion, as of a small quantity of gunpowder., A hairdresser’s powder puff; also, the act of using it. |
| pluma |
noun |
A feather. |
| plumb |
noun |
A little mass or weight of lead, or the like, attached to a line, and used by builders, etc., to indicate a vertical direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See Plumb line, below., Perpendicular; vertical; conforming the direction of a line attached to a plumb; as, the wall is plumb., In a plumb direction; perpendicularly., To adjust by a plumb line; to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall., To sound with a plumb or plummet, as the depth of water; hence, to examine by test; to ascertain the depth, quality, dimension, etc.; to sound; to fathom; to test., To seal with lead; as, to plumb a drainpipe., To supply, as a building, with a system of plumbing. |
| plume |
verb |
A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather., An ornamental tuft of feathers., A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling feathers., A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward., A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses., To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink., To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel., To adorn with feathers or plumes., To pride; to vaunt; to boast; — used reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill. |
| plump |
adverb |
Well rounded or filled out; full; fleshy; fat; as, a plump baby; plump cheeks., A knot; a cluster; a group; a crowd; a flock; as, a plump of trees, fowls, or spears., To grow plump; to swell out; as, her cheeks have plumped., To drop or fall suddenly or heavily, all at once., To give a plumper. See Plumper, 2., To make plump; to fill (out) or support; — often with up., To cast or let drop all at once, suddenly and heavily; as, to plump a stone into water., To give (a vote), as a plumper. See Plumper, 2., Directly; suddenly; perpendicularly. |
| plumy |
adjective |
Covered or adorned with plumes, or as with plumes; feathery. |
| plush |
noun |
A textile fabric with a nap or shag on one side, longer and softer than the nap of velvet. |
| pluto |
noun |
The son of Saturn and Rhea, brother of Jupiter and Neptune; the dark and gloomy god of the Lower World. |
| plyer |
noun |
One who, or that which, plies, A kind of balance used in raising and letting down a drawbridge. It consists of timbers joined in the form of a St. Andrew’s cross., See Pliers. |
| poach |
verb & noun |
To cook, as eggs, by breaking them into boiling water; also, to cook with butter after breaking in a vessel., To rob of game; to pocket and convey away by stealth, as game; hence, to plunder., To steal or pocket game, or to carry it away privately, as in a bag; to kill or destroy game contrary to law, especially by night; to hunt or fish unlawfully; as, to poach for rabbits or for salmon., To stab; to pierce; to spear, as fish., To force, drive, or plunge into anything., To make soft or muddy by trampling, To begin and not complete., To become soft or muddy. |
| poake |
noun |
Waste matter from the preparation of skins, consisting of hair, lime, oil, etc. |
| pocan |
noun |
The poke (Phytolacca decandra); — called also pocan bush. |
| pocky |
superl. |
Full of pocks; affected with smallpox or other eruptive disease. |
| podge |
noun |
A puddle; a plash., Porridge. |
| podgy |
adjective |
Fat and short; pudgy. |
| podia |
plural |
of Podium |
| podo- |
|
A combining form or prefix from Gr. poy`s, podo`s, foot; as, podocarp, podocephalous, podology. |
| poesy |
noun |
The art of composing poems; poetical skill or faculty; as, the heavenly gift of poesy., Poetry; metrical composition; poems., A short conceit or motto engraved on a ring or other thing; a posy. |
| poggy |
noun |
See Porgy., A small whale. |
| poind |
verb t. |
To impound, as cattle., To distrain. |
| point |
verb t. & i. |
To appoint., That which pricks or pierces; the sharp end of anything, esp. the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as a needle or a pin., An instrument which pricks or pierces, as a sort of needle used by engravers, etchers, lace workers, and others; also, a pointed cutting tool, as a stone cutter’s point; — called also pointer., Anything which tapers to a sharp, well-defined termination. Specifically: A small promontory or cape; a tract of land extending into the water beyond the common shore line., The mark made by the end of a sharp, piercing instrument, as a needle; a prick., An indefinitely small space; a mere spot indicated or supposed. Specifically: (Geom.) That which has neither parts nor magnitude; that which has position, but has neither length, breadth, nor thickness, — sometimes conceived of as the limit of a line; that by the motion of which a line is conceived to be produced., An indivisible portion of time; a moment; an instant; hence, the verge., A mark of punctuation; a character used to mark the divisions of a composition, or the pauses to be observed in reading, or to point off groups of figures, etc.; a stop, as a comma, a semicolon, and esp. a period; hence, figuratively, an end, or conclusion., Whatever serves to mark progress, rank, or relative position, or to indicate a transition from one state or position to another, degree; step; stage; hence, position or condition attained; as, a point of elevation, or of depression; the stock fell off five points; he won by tenpoints., That which arrests attention, or indicates qualities or character; a salient feature; a characteristic; a peculiarity; hence, a particular; an item; a detail; as, the good or bad points of a man, a horse, a book, a story, etc., Hence, the most prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.; the essential matter; esp., the proposition to be established; as, the point of an anecdote., A small matter; a trifle; a least consideration; a punctilio., A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time, A dot or mark distinguishing or characterizing certain tones or styles; as, points of perfection, of augmentation, etc.; hence, a note; a tune., A dot placed at the right hand of a note, to raise its value, or prolong its time, by one half, as to make a whole note equal to three half notes, a half note equal to three quarter notes., A fixed conventional place for reference, or zero of reckoning, in the heavens, usually the intersection of two or more great circles of the sphere, and named specifically in each case according to the position intended; as, the equinoctial points; the solstitial points; the nodal points; vertical points, etc. See Equinoctial Nodal., One of the several different parts of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon., One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also, the difference between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point., A short piece of cordage used in reefing sails. See Reef point, under Reef., A a string or lace used to tie together certain parts of the dress., Lace wrought the needle; as, point de Venise; Brussels point. See Point lace, below., A switch., An item of private information; a hint; a tip; a pointer., A fielder who is stationed on the off side, about twelve or fifteen yards from, and a little in advance of, the batsman., The attitude assumed by a pointer dog when he finds game; as, the dog came to a point. See Pointer., A standard unit of measure for the size of type bodies, being one twelfth of the thickness of pica type. See Point system of type, under Type., A tyne or snag of an antler., One of the spaces on a backgammon board., A movement executed with the saber or foil; as, tierce point., To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart, or a pencil. Used also figuratively; as, to point a moral., To direct toward an abject; to aim; as, to point a gun at a wolf, or a cannon at a fort., Hence, to direct the attention or notice of., To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate; as, to point a composition., To mark (as Hebrew) with vowel points., To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to indicate, as if by pointing; as, the error was pointed out., To indicate or discover by a fixed look, as game., To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface., To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool., To direct the point of something, as of a finger, for the purpose of designating an object, and attracting attention to it; — with at., To indicate the presence of game by fixed and steady look, as certain hunting dogs do., To approximate to the surface; to head; — said of an abscess. |
| poise |
verb |
Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness., The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed., The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest., That which causes a balance; a counterweight., To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance., To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance., To counterpoise; to counterbalance., To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh., To weigh (down); to oppress., To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt. |
| poize |
noun |
See Poise. |
| pokal |
noun |
A tall drinking cup. |
| poked |
imp. & past participle |
of Poke |
| poker |
noun |
One who pokes., That which pokes or is used in poking, especially a metal bar or rod used in stirring a fire of coals., A poking-stick., The poachard., A game at cards derived from brag, and first played about 1835 in the Southwestern United States., Any imagined frightful object, especially one supposed to haunt the darkness; a bugbear. |
| poket |
noun |
A pocket. |
| pokey |
adjective |
See Poky. |
| polar |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to one of the poles of the earth, or of a sphere; situated near, or proceeding from, one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds., Of or pertaining to the magnetic pole, or to the point to which the magnetic needle is directed., Pertaining to, reckoned from, or having a common radiating point; as, polar coordinates., The right line drawn through the two points of contact of the two tangents drawn from a given point to a given conic section. The given point is called the pole of the line. If the given point lies within the curve so that the two tangents become imaginary, there is still a real polar line which does not meet the curve, but which possesses other properties of the polar. Thus the focus and directrix are pole and polar. There are also poles and polar curves to curves of higher degree than the second, and poles and polar planes to surfaces of the second degree. |
| poled |
imp. & past participle |
of Pole |
| poler |
noun |
One who poles., An extortioner. See Poller. |
| poley |
noun |
See Poly., Without horns; polled. |
| polka |
noun |
A dance of Polish origin, but now common everywhere. It is performed by two persons in common time., A lively Bohemian or Polish dance tune in 2-4 measure, with the third quaver accented. |
| polly |
noun |
A woman’s name; also, a popular name for a parrot. |
| poly- |
adjective |
A combining form or prefix from Gr. poly`s, many; as, polygon, a figure of many angles; polyatomic, having many atoms; polychord, polyconic. |
| polyp |
noun |
One of the feeding or nutritive zooids of a hydroid or coral., One of the Anthozoa., Same as Anthozoa. See Anthozoa, Madreporaria, Hydroid. |
| pomel |
noun |
A pommel. |
| pomey |
noun |
A figure supposed to resemble an apple; a roundel, — always of a green color. |
| pomme |
adjective |
Having the ends terminating in rounded protuberances or single balls; — said of a cross. |
| pongo |
noun |
Any large ape; especially, the chimpanzee and the orang-outang. |
| ponty |
noun |
See Pontee. |
| popet |
noun |
A puppet. |
| poppy |
noun |
Any plant or species of the genus Papaver, herbs with showy polypetalous flowers and a milky juice. From one species (Papaver somniferum) opium is obtained, though all the species contain it to some extent; also, a flower of the plant. See Illust. of Capsule., Alt. of Poppyhead |
| porch |
noun |
A covered and inclosed entrance to a building, whether taken from the interior, and forming a sort of vestibule within the main wall, or projecting without and with a separate roof. Sometimes the porch is large enough to serve as a covered walk. See also Carriage porch, under Carriage, and Loggia., A portico; a covered walk. |
| pored |
imp. & past participle |
of Pore |
| porer |
noun |
One who pores. |
| porgy |
noun |
The scup., The sailor’s choice, or pinfish., The margate fish., The spadefish., Any one of several species of embiotocoids, or surf fishes, of the Pacific coast. The name is also given locally to several other fishes, as the bur fish. |
| porta |
noun |
The part of the liver or other organ where its vessels and nerves enter; the hilus., The foramen of Monro. |
| porte |
noun |
The Ottoman court; the government of the Turkish empire, officially called the Sublime Porte, from the gate (port) of the sultan’s palace at which justice was administered. |
| posed |
imp. & past participle |
of Pose, Firm; determined; fixed. |
| poser |
noun |
One who, or that which, puzzles; a difficult or inexplicable question or fact. |
| posit |
verb t. |
To dispose or set firmly or fixedly; to place or dispose in relation to other objects., To assume as real or conceded; as, to posit a principle. |
| posse |
noun |
See Posse comitatus. |
| post- |
|
A prefix signifying behind, back, after; as, postcommissure, postdot, postscript. |
| potch |
verb i. |
To thrust; to push., See Poach, to cook. |
| potoo |
noun |
A large South American goatsucker (Nyctibius grandis). |
| potto |
noun |
A nocturnal mammal (Perodictius potto) of the Lemur family, found in West Africa. It has rudimentary forefingers. Called also aposoro, and bush dog., The kinkajou. |
| pouch |
noun |
A small bag; usually, a leathern bag; as, a pouch for money; a shot pouch; a mail pouch, etc., That which is shaped like, or used as, a pouch, A protuberant belly; a paunch; — so called in ridicule., A sac or bag for carrying food or young; as, the cheek pouches of certain rodents, and the pouch of marsupials., A cyst or sac containing fluid., A silicle, or short pod, as of the shepherd’s purse., A bulkhead in the hold of a vessel, to prevent grain, etc., from shifting., To put or take into a pouch., To swallow; — said of fowls., To pout., To pocket; to put up with. |
| poulp |
noun |
Alt. of Poulpe |
| poult |
noun |
A young chicken, partridge, grouse, or the like. |
| pound |
verb t. |
To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat., To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt., To strike heavy blows; to beat., To make a jarring noise, as in running; as, the engine pounds., An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold., A level stretch in a canal between locks., A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward., To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound., of Pound, A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces., A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value. |
| powan |
noun |
Alt. of Powen |
| powen |
noun |
A small British lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeoides, or C. ferus); — called also gwyniad and lake herring. |
| power |
noun |
Same as Poor, the fish., Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power., Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm., Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; — called also passive power; as, great power of endurance., The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government., The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity., A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host., A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o/ good things., The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power., A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc., Applied force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end., A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power., The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number., Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc., The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface., An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment., Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power. |
| poxed |
imp. & past participle |
of Pox |
| poynd |
noun |
Alt. of Poynder |
| poyou |
noun |
A South American armadillo (Dasypus sexcinctus). Called also sixbanded armadillo. |
| praam |
noun |
A flat-bottomed boat or lighter, — used in Holland and the Baltic, and sometimes armed in case of war. |
| prae- |
|
A prefix. See Pre-. |
| prame |
noun |
See Praam. |
| prank |
verb t. |
To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously; — often followed by up; as, to prank up the body. See Prink., To make ostentatious show., A gay or sportive action; a ludicrous, merry, or mischievous trick; a caper; a frolic., Full of gambols or tricks. |
| prase |
noun |
A variety of cryptocrystalline of a leek-green color. |
| prate |
verb i. |
To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble., To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble., Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. |
| prawn |
noun |
Any one of numerous species of large shrimplike Crustacea having slender legs and long antennae. They mostly belong to the genera Pandalus, Palaemon, Palaemonetes, and Peneus, and are much used as food. The common English prawn is Palaemon serratus. |
| prede |
verb i. |
To prey; to plunder., Prey; plunder; booty. |
| predy |
adjective |
Cleared and ready for engagement, as a ship. |
| preef |
noun |
Proof. |
| preen |
noun |
A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth., To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; — said of birds., To trim up, as trees. |
| prees |
noun |
Press; throng. |
| press |
noun |
An East Indian insectivore (Tupaia ferruginea). It is arboreal in its habits, and has a bushy tail. The fur is soft, and varies from rusty red to maroon and to brownish black., To force into service, particularly into naval service; to impress., A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy., To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and continued exertion; to bear upon; to squeeze; to compress; as, we press the ground with the feet when we walk; we press the couch on which we repose; we press substances with the hands, fingers, or arms; we are pressed in a crowd., To squeeze, in order to extract the juice or contents of; to squeeze out, or express, from something., To squeeze in or with suitable instruments or apparatus, in order to compact, make dense, or smooth; as, to press cotton bales, paper, etc.; to smooth by ironing; as, to press clothes., To embrace closely; to hug., To oppress; to bear hard upon., To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger., To exercise very powerful or irresistible influence upon or over; to constrain; to force; to compel., To try to force (something upon some one); to urge or inculcate with earnestness or importunity; to enforce; as, to press divine truth on an audience., To drive with violence; to hurry; to urge on; to ply hard; as, to press a horse in a race., To exert pressure; to bear heavily; to push, crowd, or urge with steady force., To move on with urging and crowding; to make one’s way with violence or effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; to throng; to encroach., To urge with vehemence or importunity; to exert a strong or compelling influence; as, an argument presses upon the judgment., An apparatus or machine by which any substance or body is pressed, squeezed, stamped, or shaped, or by which an impression of a body is taken; sometimes, the place or building containing a press or presses., Specifically, a printing press., The art or business of printing and publishing; hence, printed publications, taken collectively, more especially newspapers or the persons employed in writing for them; as, a free press is a blessing, a licentious press is a curse., An upright case or closet for the safe keeping of articles; as, a clothes press., The act of pressing or thronging forward., Urgent demands of business or affairs; urgency; as, a press of engagements., A multitude of individuals crowded together; / crowd of single things; a throng. |
| prest |
|
imp. & p. p. of Press., Ready; prompt; prepared., Neat; tidy; proper., Ready money; a loan of money., A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands., To give as a loan; to lend. |
| preve |
verb i. & i. |
To prove., Proof. |
| prial |
noun |
A corruption of pair royal. See under Pair, n. |
| prian |
noun |
A fine, white, somewhat friable clay; also, the ore contained in a mixture of clay and pebbles. |
| price |
noun & verb |
The sum or amount of money at which a thing is valued, or the value which a seller sets on his goods in market; that for which something is bought or sold, or offered for sale; equivalent in money or other means of exchange; current value or rate paid or demanded in market or in barter; cost., Value; estimation; excellence; worth., Reward; recompense; as, the price of industry., To pay the price of., To set a price on; to value. See Prize., To ask the price of; as, to price eggs. |
| prick |
verb |
That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing; a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer., The act of pricking, or the sensation of being pricked; a sharp, stinging pain; figuratively, remorse., A mark made by a pointed instrument; a puncture; a point., A point or mark on the dial, noting the hour., The point on a target at which an archer aims; the mark; the pin., A mark denoting degree; degree; pitch., A mathematical point; — regularly used in old English translations of Euclid., The footprint of a hare., A small roll; as, a prick of spun yarn; a prick of tobacco., To pierce slightly with a sharp-pointed instrument or substance; to make a puncture in, or to make by puncturing; to drive a fine point into; as, to prick one with a pin, needle, etc.; to prick a card; to prick holes in paper., To fix by the point; to attach or hang by puncturing; as, to prick a knife into a board., To mark or denote by a puncture; to designate by pricking; to choose; to mark; — sometimes with off., To mark the outline of by puncturing; to trace or form by pricking; to mark by punctured dots; as, to prick a pattern for embroidery; to prick the notes of a musical composition., To ride or guide with spurs; to spur; to goad; to incite; to urge on; — sometimes with on, or off., To affect with sharp pain; to sting, as with remorse., To make sharp; to erect into a point; to raise, as something pointed; — said especially of the ears of an animal, as a horse or dog; and usually followed by up; — hence, to prick up the ears, to listen sharply; to have the attention and interest strongly engaged., To render acid or pungent., To dress; to prink; — usually with up., To run a middle seam through, as the cloth of a sail., To trace on a chart, as a ship’s course., To drive a nail into (a horse’s foot), so as to cause lameness., To nick., To be punctured; to suffer or feel a sharp pain, as by puncture; as, a sore finger pricks., To spur onward; to ride on horseback., To become sharp or acid; to turn sour, as wine., To aim at a point or mark. |
| pride |
noun |
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); — called also prid, and sandpiper., The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others., A sense of one’s own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; — in a good sense., Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain., That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc., Show; ostentation; glory., Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one’s life., Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness; hence, lust; sexual desire; esp., an excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast., To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; — used reflexively., To be proud; to glory. |
| pried |
|
imp. & p. p. of Pry., of Pry |
| prief |
noun |
Proof. |
| prier |
noun |
One who pries; one who inquires narrowly and searches, or is inquisitive. |
| prill |
noun |
The brill., To flow., A stream., A nugget of virgin metal., Ore selected for excellence., The button of metal from an assay. |
| prime |
adjective |
First in order of time; original; primeval; primitive; primary., First in rank, degree, dignity, authority, or importance; as, prime minister., First in excellence; of highest quality; as, prime wheat; a prime quality of cloth., Early; blooming; being in the first stage., Lecherous; lustful; lewd., Marked or distinguished by a mark (‘) called a prime mark., The first part; the earliest stage; the beginning or opening, as of the day, the year, etc.; hence, the dawn; the spring., The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength, or beauty; perfection., That which is first in quantity; the most excellent portion; the best part., The morning; specifically (R. C. Ch.), the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds., The first of the chief guards., Any number expressing the combining weight or equivalent of any particular element; — so called because these numbers were respectively reduced to their lowest relative terms on the fixed standard of hydrogen as 1., A prime number. See under Prime, a., An inch, as composed of twelve seconds in the duodecimal system; — denoted by [‘]. See 2d Inch, n., 1., To apply priming to, as a musket or a cannon; to apply a primer to, as a metallic cartridge., To lay the first color, coating, or preparation upon (a surface), as in painting; as, to prime a canvas, a wall., To prepare; to make ready; to instruct beforehand; to post; to coach; as, to prime a witness; the boys are primed for mischief., To trim or prune, as trees., To mark with a prime mark., To be renewed, or as at first., To serve as priming for the charge of a gun., To work so that foaming occurs from too violent ebullition, which causes water to become mixed with, and be carried along with, the steam that is formed; — said of a steam boiler. |
| primo |
adjective |
First; chief. |
| primp |
adjective |
To be formal or affected in dress or manners; — often with up. |
| primy |
adjective |
Being in its prime. |
| prink |
verb t. |
To dress or adjust one’s self for show; to prank., To prank or dress up; to deck fantastically. |
| print |
verb t. |
To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something., To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure., To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book., To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as, to print calico., To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface., To use or practice the art of typography; to take impressions of letters, figures, or electrotypes, engraved plates, or the like., To publish a book or an article., A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as, the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow., A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as, a butter print., That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as, a print of butter., Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as, small print; large print; this line is in print., That which is produced by printing., An impression taken from anything, as from an engraved plate., A printed publication, more especially a newspaper or other periodical., A printed cloth; a fabric figured by stamping, especially calico or cotton cloth., A photographic copy, or positive picture, on prepared paper, as from a negative, or from a drawing on transparent paper., A core print. See under Core. |
| prior |
adjective |
Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; — used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage., The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity. |
| prise |
noun |
An enterprise., See Prize, n., 5. Also Prize, v. t. |
| prism |
noun |
A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms., A transparent body, with usually three rectangular plane faces or sides, and two equal and parallel triangular ends or bases; — used in experiments on refraction, dispersion, etc., A form the planes of which are parallel to the vertical axis. See Form, n., 13. |
| privy |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; private; as, the privy purse., Secret; clandestine., Appropriated to retirement; private; not open to the public., Admitted to knowledge of a secret transaction; secretly cognizant; privately knowing., A partaker; a person having an interest in any action or thing; one who has an interest in an estate created by another; a person having an interest derived from a contract or conveyance to which he is not himself a party. The term, in its proper sense, is distinguished from party., A necessary house or place; a backhouse. |
| prize |
noun |
That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power., Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; esp., property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel., An honor or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort., That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery., Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect., A contest for a reward; competition., A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever., To move with a lever; to force up or open; to pry., To set or estimate the value of; to appraise; to price; to rate., To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem., Estimation; valuation. |
| probe |
verb t. |
To examine, as a wound, an ulcer, or some cavity of the body, with a probe., Fig.: to search to the bottom; to scrutinize or examine thoroughly., An instrument for examining the depth or other circumstances of a wound, ulcer, or cavity, or the direction of a sinus, of for exploring for bullets, for stones in the bladder, etc. |
| prodd |
noun |
A crossbow. See Prod, 3. |
| proem |
noun |
Preface; introduction; preliminary observations; prelude., To preface. |
| proin |
verb t. |
To lop; to trim; to prune; to adorn., To employed in pruning. |
| proke |
verb i. |
To poke; to thrust. |
| proll |
verb t. |
To search or prowl after; to rob; to plunder., To prowl about; to rob. |
| promt |
superl. |
Ready and quick to act as occasion demands; meeting requirements readily; not slow, dilatory, or hesitating in decision or action; responding on the instant; immediate; as, prompt in obedience or compliance; — said of persons., Done or rendered quickly, readily, or immediately; given without delay or hesitation; — said of conduct; as, prompt assistance., Easy; unobstructed. |
| prone |
adjective |
Bending forward; inclined; not erect., Prostrate; flat; esp., lying with the face down; — opposed to supine., Headlong; running downward or headlong., Sloping, with reference to a line or surface; declivous; inclined; not level., Inclined; propense; disposed; — applied to the mind or affections, usually in an ill sense. Followed by to. |
| prong |
noun |
A sharp-pointed instrument., The tine of a fork, or of a similar instrument; as, a fork of two or three prongs., A sharp projection, as of an antler., The fang of a tooth. |
| proof |
noun |
Any effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial., That degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments that induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration., The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness that resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies., Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken., A trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination; — called also proof sheet., A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Cf. Prove, v. t., 5., Armor of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armor of proof., Used in proving or testing; as, a proof load, or proof charge., Firm or successful in resisting; as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof., Being of a certain standard as to strength; — said of alcoholic liquors. |
| props |
noun pl. |
A game of chance, in which four sea shells, each called a prop, are used instead of dice. |
| prore |
noun |
The prow or fore part of a ship. |
| prose |
noun |
The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; — contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition., Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse., A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence., Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition., Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life., To write in prose., To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way., To write prose. |
| prosy |
superl. |
Of or pertaining to prose; like prose., Dull and tedious in discourse or writing; prosaic. |
| proud |
superl. |
Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense, Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one’s excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous., Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; — often with of; as, proud of one’s country., Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious., Excited by sexual desire; — applied particularly to the females of some animals. |
| prove |
verb t. |
To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure., To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence., To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will., To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer., To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved., To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page., To make trial; to essay., To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false., To succeed; to turn out as expected. |
| prowl |
verb t. |
To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty., To collect by plunder; as, to prowl money., To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild beast; hence, to prey; to plunder., The act of prowling. |
| proxy |
noun |
The agency for another who acts through the agent; authority to act for another, esp. to vote in a legislative or corporate capacity., The person who is substituted or deputed to act or vote for another., A writing by which one person authorizes another to vote in his stead, as in a corporation meeting., The written appointment of a proctor in suits in the ecclesiastical courts., See Procuration., To act or vote by proxy; to do anything by the agency of another. |
| pruce |
noun |
Prussian leather. |
| prude |
adjective |
A woman of affected modesty, reserve, or coyness; one who is overscrupulous or sensitive; one who affects extraordinary prudence in conduct and speech. |
| prune |
verb t. |
To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay., To cut off or cut out, as useless parts., To preen; to prepare; to dress., To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt., A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. |
| pryan |
noun |
See Prian. |
| psalm |
noun |
A sacred song; a poetical composition for use in the praise or worship of God., Especially, one of the hymns by David and others, collected into one book of the Old Testament, or a modern metrical version of such a hymn for public worship., To extol in psalms; to sing; as, psalming his praises. |
| pshaw |
interj. |
Pish! pooch! — an exclamation used as an expression of contempt, disdain, dislike, etc., To express disgust or contemptuous disapprobation, as by the exclamation ” Pshaw!” |
| psoas |
noun |
An internal muscle arising from the lumbar vertebrae and inserted into the femur. In man there are usually two on each side, and the larger one, or great psoas, forms a part of the iliopsoas. |
| psora |
noun |
A cutaneous disease; especially, the itch. |
| pubes |
noun |
The hair which appears upon the lower part of the hypogastric region at the age of puberty., Hence (as more commonly used), the lower part of the hypogastric region; the pubic region., The down of plants; a downy or villous substance which grows on plants; pubescence. |
| pubic |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the pubes; in the region of the pubes; as, the pubic bone; the pubic region, or the lower part of the hypogastric region. See Pubes., Of or pertaining to the pubis. |
| pubis |
noun |
The ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis; sharebone; pubic bone. |
| pucel |
noun |
See Pucelle. |
| pudgy |
adjective |
Short and fat or sturdy; dumpy; podgy; as, a short, pudgy little man; a pudgy little hand. |
| pudic |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the external organs of generation. |
| puing |
present participle & vb. noun |
of Pue |
| puffy |
adjective |
Swelled with air, or any soft matter; tumid with a soft substance; bloated; fleshy; as, a puffy tumor., Hence, inflated; bombastic; as, a puffy style. |
| pugil |
noun |
As much as is taken up between the thumb and two first fingers. |
| puked |
imp. & past participle |
of Puke |
| puker |
noun |
One who pukes, vomits., That which causes vomiting. |
| pulas |
noun |
The East Indian leguminous tree Butea frondosa. See Gum Butea, under Gum. |
| puled |
imp. & past participle |
of Pule |
| puler |
noun |
One who pules; one who whines or complains; a weak person. |
| pulex |
noun |
A genus of parasitic insects including the fleas. See Flea. |
| pulli |
plural |
of Pullus |
| pulpy |
noun |
Like pulp; consisting of pulp; soft; fleshy; succulent; as, the pulpy covering of a nut; the pulpy substance of a peach or a cherry. |
| pulse |
noun |
Leguminous plants, or their seeds, as beans, pease, etc., The beating or throbbing of the heart or blood vessels, especially of the arteries., Any measured or regular beat; any short, quick motion, regularly repeated, as of a medium in the transmission of light, sound, etc.; oscillation; vibration; pulsation; impulse; beat; movement., To beat, as the arteries; to move in pulses or beats; to pulsate; to throb., To drive by a pulsation; to cause to pulsate. |
| punch |
noun |
A beverage composed of wine or distilled liquor, water (or milk), sugar, and the juice of lemon, with spice or mint; — specifically named from the kind of spirit used; as rum punch, claret punch, champagne punch, etc., The buffoon or harlequin of a puppet show., A short, fat fellow; anything short and thick., One of a breed of large, heavy draught horses; as, the Suffolk punch., To thrust against; to poke; as, to punch one with the end of a stick or the elbow., A thrust or blow., A 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 sharpedged, for cutting out blanks, as for buttons, steel pens, jewelry, and the like; a die., An extension piece applied to the top of a pile; a dolly., A prop, as for the roof of a mine., To perforate or stamp with an instrument by pressure, or a blow; as, to punch a hole; to punch ticket. |
| pungy |
noun |
A small sloop or shallop, or a large boat with sails. |
| punic |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to the ancient Carthaginians., Characteristic of the ancient Carthaginians; faithless; treacherous; as, Punic faith. |
| punka |
noun |
A machine for fanning a room, usually a movable fanlike frame covered with canvas, and suspended from the ceiling. It is kept in motion by pulling a cord. |
| punto |
noun |
A point or hit. |
| punty |
noun |
See Pontee. |
| pupas |
plural |
of Pupa |
| pupal |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to a pupa, or the condition of a pupa. |
| pupil |
noun |
The aperture in the iris; the sight, apple, or black of the eye. See the Note under Eye, and Iris., A youth or scholar of either sex under the care of an instructor or tutor., A person under a guardian; a ward., A boy or a girl under the age of puberty, that is, under fourteen if a male, and under twelve if a female. |
| puppy |
noun |
The young of a canine animal, esp. of the common dog; a whelp., A name of contemptuous reproach for a conceited and impertinent person., To bring forth whelps; to pup. |
| pured |
adjective |
Purified; refined. |
| puree |
noun |
A dish made by boiling any article of food to a pulp and rubbing it through a sieve; as, a puree of fish, or of potatoes; especially, a soup the thickening of which is so treated. |
| purge |
verb t. |
To cleanse, clear, or purify by separating and carrying off whatever is impure, heterogeneous, foreign, or superfluous., To operate on as, or by means of, a cathartic medicine, or in a similar manner., To clarify; to defecate, as liquors., To clear of sediment, as a boiler, or of air, as a steam pipe, by driving off or permitting escape., To clear from guilt, or from moral or ceremonial defilement; as, to purge one of guilt or crime., To clear from accusation, or the charge of a crime or misdemeanor, as by oath or in ordeal., To remove in cleansing; to deterge; to wash away; — often followed by away., To become pure, as by clarification., To have or produce frequent evacuations from the intestines, as by means of a cathartic., The act of purging., That which purges; especially, a medicine that evacuates the intestines; a cathartic. |
| purim |
noun |
A Jewish festival, called also the Feast of Lots, instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the machinations of Haman. |
| purre |
noun |
The dunlin. |
| purse |
noun |
A small bag or pouch, the opening of which is made to draw together closely, used to carry money in; by extension, any receptacle for money carried on the person; a wallet; a pocketbook; a portemonnaie., Hence, a treasury; finances; as, the public purse., A sum of money offered as a prize, or collected as a present; as, to win the purse; to make up a purse., A specific sum of money, In Turkey, the sum of 500 piasters., In Persia, the sum of 50 tomans., To put into a purse., To draw up or contract into folds or wrinkles, like the mouth of a purse; to pucker; to knit., To steal purses; to rob. |
| pursy |
adjective |
Fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering; as, pursy insolence. |
| pusil |
adjective |
Very small; little; petty. |
| pussy |
noun |
A pet name for a cat; also, an endearing name for a girl., A catkin of the pussy willow., The game of tipcat; — also called pussy cat., See Pursy. |
| putid |
adjective |
Rotten; fetid; stinking; base; worthless. Jer. Taylor. |
| putry |
adjective |
Putrid., Putage. |
| putty |
noun |
A kind of thick paste or cement compounded of whiting, or soft carbonate of lime, and linseed oil, when applied beaten or kneaded to the consistence of dough, — used in fastening glass in sashes, stopping crevices, and for similar purposes., To cement, or stop, with putty. |
| pygal |
adjective |
Situated in the region of the rump, or posterior end of the backbone; — applied especially to the posterior median plates in the carapace of chelonians. |
| pygmy |
adjective |
Alt. of Pygmean, One of a fabulous race of dwarfs who waged war with the cranes, and were destroyed., Hence, a short, insignificant person; a dwarf. |
| pykar |
noun |
An ancient English fishing boat. |
| pylae |
plural |
of Pyla |
| pylas |
plural |
of Pyla |
| pylon |
noun |
A low tower, having a truncated pyramidal form, and flanking an ancient Egyptian gateway., An Egyptian gateway to a large building (with or without flanking towers). |
| pyoid |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to pus; of the nature of, or like, pus. |
| pyral |
adjective |
Of or pertaining to a pyre. |
| pyro- |
|
Alt. of Pyr- |
| pyrus |
noun |
A genus of rosaceous trees and shrubs having pomes for fruit. It includes the apple, crab apple, pear, chokeberry, sorb, and mountain ash. |
| pyxle |
noun |
Same as Pixy. |
| pyxis |
noun |
A box; a pyx., A pyxidium., The acetabulum. See Acetabulum, 2. |