9 letter word starting with p

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Words Parts of Speech Meaning/Definition/Similar Words
pigpecker noun The European garden warbler (Sylvia, / Currica, hortensis); — called also beccafico and greater pettychaps.
prigidity noun The condition or quality of being frigid; coldness; want of warmth., Want of ardor, animation, vivacity, etc.; coldness of affection or of manner; dullness; stiffness and formality; as, frigidity of a reception, of a bow, etc., Want of heat or vigor; as, the frigidity of old age.
pachyderm noun One of the Pachydermata.
pacifical adjective Of or pertaining to peace; pacific.
pacifying present participle & vb. noun of Pacify
packeting present participle & vb. noun of Packet
packhouse noun Warehouse for storing goods.
pactional adjective Of the nature of, or by means of, a paction.
pactolian adjective Pertaining to the Pactolus, a river in ancient Lydia famous for its golden sands.
pademelon noun See Wallaby.
padlocked imp. & past participle of Padlock
paganical adjective Of or pertaining to pagans or paganism; heathenish; paganish.
paganized imp. & past participle of Paganize
pageantry noun Scenic shows or spectacles, taken collectively; spectacular quality; splendor.
paillasse noun An under bed or mattress of straw.
painterly adjective Like a painter’s work.
paintless adjective Not capable of being painted or described.
palacious adjective Palatial.
palaestra noun See Palestra.
palampore noun See Palempore.
palanquin noun An inclosed carriage or litter, commonly about eight feet long, four feet wide, and four feet high, borne on the shoulders of men by means of two projecting poles, — used in India, China, etc., for the conveyance of a single person from place to place.
palatable adjective Agreeable to the palate or taste; savory; hence, acceptable; pleasing; as, palatable food; palatable advice.
palatably adverb In a palatable manner.
palavered imp. & past participle of Palaver
palaverer noun One who palavers; a flatterer.
palempore noun A superior kind of dimity made in India, — used for bed coverings.
paleolith noun A relic of the Paleolithic era.
paleology noun The study or knowledge of antiquities, esp. of prehistoric antiquities; a discourse or treatise on antiquities; archaeology .
paleotype noun See Palaeotype.
paleozoic adjective Of or pertaining to, or designating, the older division of geological time during which life is known to have existed, including the Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous ages, and also to the life or rocks of those ages. See Chart of Geology.
palestrae plural of Palestra
palestras plural of Palestra
palestric adjective Alt. of Palestrical
palfreyed adjective Mounted on a palfrey.
palinurus noun An instrument for obtaining directly, without calculation, the true bearing of the sun, and thence the variation of the compass
palisaded imp. & past participle of Palisade
palladian adjective Of, pertaining to, or designating, a variety of the revived classic style of architecture, founded on the works of Andrea Palladio, an Italian architect of the 16th century.
palladium noun Any statue of the goddess Pallas; esp., the famous statue on the preservation of which depended the safety of ancient Troy., Hence: That which affords effectual protection or security; a sateguard; as, the trial by jury is the palladium of our civil rights., A rare metallic element of the light platinum group, found native, and also alloyed with platinum and gold. It is a silver-white metal resembling platinum, and like it permanent and untarnished in the air, but is more easily fusible. It is unique in its power of occluding hydrogen, which it does to the extent of nearly a thousand volumes, forming the alloy Pd2H. It is used for graduated circles and verniers, for plating certain silver goods, and somewhat in dentistry. It was so named in 1804 by Wollaston from the asteroid Pallas, which was discovered in 1802. Symbol Pd. Atomic weight, 106.2.
palliasse noun See Paillasse.
palliated imp. & past participle of Palliate
pallidity noun Pallidness; paleness.
pall-mall noun A game formerly common in England, in which a wooden ball was driven with a mallet through an elevated hoop or ring of iron. The name was also given to the mallet used, to the place where the game was played, and to the street, in London, still called Pall Mall.
palmacite noun A fossil palm.
palmarium noun One of the bifurcations of the brachial plates of a crinoid.
palmately adverb In a palmate manner.
palmcrist noun The palma Christi. (Jonah iv. 6, margin, and Douay version, note.)
palmister noun One who practices palmistry
palmistry noun The art or practice of divining or telling fortunes, or of judging of character, by the lines and marks in the palm of the hand; chiromancy., A dexterous use or trick of the hand.
palmitate noun A salt of palmitic acid.
palmitone noun The ketone of palmitic acid.
pallometa noun A pompano.
palpation noun Act of touching or feeling., Examination of a patient by touch.
palpebrae plural of Palpebra
palpebral adjective Of or pertaining to the eyelids.
palpicorn noun One of a group of aquatic beetles (Palpicornia) having short club-shaped antennae, and long maxillary palpi.
palpiform adjective Having the form of a palpus.
palpitant adjective Palpitating; throbbing; trembling.
palpitate verb i. To beat rapidly and more strongly than usual; to throb; to bound with emotion or exertion; to pulsate violently; to flutter; — said specifically of the heart when its action is abnormal, as from excitement.
palsgrave noun A count or earl who presided in the domestic court, and had the superintendence, of a royal household in Germany.
palsywort noun The cowslip (Primula veris); — so called from its supposed remedial powers.
paltering present participle & vb. noun of Palter
paludinae plural of Paludina
paludinas plural of Paludina
paludinal adjective Inhabiting ponds or swamps.
palustral adjective Of or pertaining to a bog or marsh; boggy.
pampering present participle & vb. noun of Pamper
pamperize verb t. To pamper.
pancratic adjective Having all or many degrees of power; having a great range of power; — said of an eyepiece made adjustable so as to give a varying magnifying power., Alt. of Pancratical
pandarism noun Same as Panderism.
pandarize verb i. To pander.
pandarous adjective Panderous.
pandering present participle & vb. noun of Pander
panderage noun The act of pandering.
panderism noun The employment, arts, or practices of a pander.
panderous adjective Of or relating to a pander; characterizing a pander.
pandurate adjective Alt. of Panduriform
panegyric adjective An oration or eulogy in praise of some person or achievement; a formal or elaborate encomium; a laudatory discourse; laudation. See Synonym of Eulogy., Alt. of Panegyrical
panegyris noun A festival; a public assembly.
panelling of Panel
panelwork noun Wainscoting.
pangothic adjective Of, pertaining to, or including, all the Gothic races.
panniered adjective Bearing panniers.
panoistic adjective Producing ova only; — said of the ovaries of certain insects which do not produce vitelligenous cells.
panoplied adjective Dressed in panoply.
panoramic adjective Alt. of Panoramical
panorpian adjective Like, or pertaining to, the genus Panorpa., Same as Panorpid.
panslavic adjective Pertaining to all the Slavic races.
panspermy noun The doctrine of the widespread distribution of germs, from which under favorable circumstances bacteria, vibrios, etc., may develop., The doctrine that all organisms must come from living parents; biogenesis; — the opposite of spontaneous generation.
pantacosm noun See Cosmolabe.
pantaloon noun A ridiculous character, or an old dotard, in the Italian comedy; also, a buffoon in pantomimes., A bifurcated garment for a man, covering the body from the waist downwards, and consisting of breeches and stockings in one., In recent times, same as Trousers.
pantheism noun The doctrine that the universe, taken or conceived of as a whole, is God; the doctrine that there is no God but the combined force and laws which are manifested in the existing universe; cosmotheism.
pantheist noun One who holds to pantheism.
pantingly adverb With palpitation or rapid breathing.
pantology noun A systematic view of all branches of human knowledge; a work of universal information.
pantomime noun A universal mimic; an actor who assumes many parts; also, any actor., One who acts his part by gesticulation or dumb show only, without speaking; a pantomimist., A dramatic representation by actors who use only dumb show; hence, dumb show, generally., A dramatic and spectacular entertainment of which dumb acting as well as burlesque dialogue, music, and dancing by Clown, Harlequin, etc., are features., Representing only in mute actions; pantomimic; as, a pantomime dance.
pantopoda noun pl. Same as Pycnogonida.
papescent adjective Containing or producing pap; like pap.
papeterie noun A case or box containing paper and materials for writing.
papillary adjective Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a papilla or papillae; bearing, or covered with, papillae; papillose.
papillate verb t. & i. To cover with papillae; to take the form of a papilla, or of papillae., Same as Papillose.
papilloma noun A tumor formed by hypertrophy of the papillae of the skin or mucous membrane, as a corn or a wart.
papillose adjective Covered with, or bearing, papillae; resembling papillae; papillate; papillar; papillary.
papillote noun a small piece of paper on which women roll up their hair to make it curl; a curl paper.
papillous adjective Papillary; papillose.
pappiform adjective Resembling the pappus of composite plants.
parabanic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, a nitrogenous acid which is obtained by the oxidation of uric acid, as a white crystalline substance (C3N2H2O3); — also called oxalyl urea.
parablast noun A portion of the mesoblast (of peripheral origin) of the developing embryo, the cells of which are especially concerned in forming the first blood and blood vessels.
parabolas plural of Parabola
parabolic adjective Alt. of Parabolical
parachute noun A contrivance somewhat in the form of an umbrella, by means of which a descent may be made from a balloon, or any eminence., A web or fold of skin which extends between the legs of certain mammals, as the flying squirrels, colugo, and phalangister.
paraclete noun An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; — a term applied to the Holy Spirit.
paraclose noun See Parclose.
paraconic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid obtained as a deliquescent white crystalline substance, and isomeric with itaconic, citraconic, and mesaconic acids.
paradisal adjective Paradisiacal.
paradised adjective Placed in paradise; enjoying delights as of paradise.
paradisic adjective Paradisiacal.
paradoses plural of Parados
paradoxes plural of Paradox
paradoxal adjective Paradoxical.
paradoxer noun Alt. of Paradoxist
paraffine noun A white waxy substance, resembling spermaceti, tasteless and odorless, and obtained from coal tar, wood tar, petroleum, etc., by distillation. It is used as an illuminant and lubricant. It is very inert, not being acted upon by most of the strong chemical reagents. It was formerly regarded as a definite compound, but is now known to be a complex mixture of several higher hydrocarbons of the methane or marsh-gas series; hence, by extension, any substance, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, of the same chemical series; thus coal gas and kerosene consist largely of paraffins.
paragenic adjective Originating in the character of the germ, or at the first commencement of an individual; — said of peculiarities of structure, character, etc.
paragnath noun Same as Paragnathus.
paragogic adjective Alt. of Paragogical
paragraph noun Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character /, commonly used in the text as a reference mark to a footnote, or to indicate the place of a division into sections., A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark /, but usually, by beginning the first sentence of the paragraph on a new line and at more than the usual distance from the margin., A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph., To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character /., To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article., To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs
paragrele noun A lightning conductor erected, as in a vineyard, for drawing off the electricity in the atmosphere in order to prevent hailstorms.
paralysis noun Abolition of function, whether complete or partial; esp., the loss of the power of voluntary motion, with or without that of sensation, in any part of the body; palsy. See Hemiplegia, and Paraplegia. Also used figuratively.
paralytic adjective Of or pertaining to paralysis; resembling paralysis., Affected with paralysis, or palsy., Inclined or tending to paralysis., A person affected with paralysis.
paralyzed imp. & past participle of Paralyze
paramalic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid metameric with malic acid.
paramatta noun A light fabric of cotton and worsted, resembling bombazine or merino.
paramento noun Ornament; decoration.
parameter noun A term applied to some characteristic magnitude whose value, invariable as long as one and the same function, curve, surface, etc., is considered, serves to distinguish that function, curve, surface, etc., from others of the same kind or family., Specifically (Conic Sections), in the ellipse and hyperbola, a third proportional to any diameter and its conjugate, or in the parabola, to any abscissa and the corresponding ordinate., The ratio of the three crystallographic axes which determines the position of any plane; also, the fundamental axial ratio for a given species.
paramorph noun A kind of pseudomorph, in which there has been a change of physical characters without alteration of chemical composition, as the change of aragonite to calcite.
paramount adjective Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preeminent; as, a paramount duty., The highest or chief.
paramours adverb By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; — sometimes written as two words.
paramylum noun A substance resembling starch, found in the green frothy scum formed on the surface of stagnant water.
paranymph noun A friend of the bridegroom who went with him in his chariot to fetch home the bride., The bridesmaid who conducted the bride to the bridegroom., An ally; a supporter or abettor.
parapeted adjective Having a parapet.
paraphing present participle & vb. noun of Paraph
paraplegy noun Palsy of the lower half of the body on both sides, caused usually by disease of the spinal cord.
parapodia plural of Parapodium
paraptera plural of Parapterum
paraquito noun See Parrakeet.
parasceve noun Among the Jews, the evening before the Sabbath., A preparation.
parasital adjective Of or pertaining to parasites; parasitic.
parasitic adjective Alt. of Parasitical
parataxis noun The mere ranging of propositions one after another, without indicating their connection or interdependence; — opposed to syntax.
paraunter adverb Peradventure. See Paraventure.
parboiled imp. & past participle of Parboil
parbuckle noun A kind of purchase for hoisting or lowering a cylindrical burden, as a cask. The middle of a long rope is made fast aloft, and both parts are looped around the object, which rests in the loops, and rolls in them as the ends are hauled up or payed out., A double sling made of a single rope, for slinging a cask, gun, etc., To hoist or lower by means of a parbuckle.
parcelled of Parcel
parceling present participle & vb. noun of Parcel, The act of dividing and distributing in portions or parts., Long, narrow slips of canvas daubed with tar and wound about a rope like a bandage, before it is served; used, also, in mousing on the stayes, etc.
parcenary noun The holding or occupation of an inheritable estate which descends from the ancestor to two or more persons; coheirship.
parchment noun The skin of a lamb, sheep, goat, young calf, or other animal, prepared for writing on. See Vellum., The envelope of the coffee grains, inside the pulp.
pardoning present participle & vb. noun of Pardon, Relating to pardon; having or exercising the right to pardon; willing to pardon; merciful; as, the pardoning power; a pardoning God.
paregoric adjective Mitigating; assuaging or soothing pain; as, paregoric elixir., A medicine that mitigates pain; an anodyne; specifically, camphorated tincture of opium; — called also paregoric elexir.
parembole noun A kind of parenthesis.
parenesis noun Exhortation.
parenetic adjective Alt. of Parenetioal
parentage noun Descent from parents or ancestors; parents or ancestors considered with respect to their rank or character; extraction; birth; as, a man of noble parentage.
parentele noun Kinship; parentage.
pargasite noun A dark green aluminous variety of amphibole, or hornblende.
pargeting present participle & vb. noun of Parget, Plasterwork; esp.: (a) A kind of decorative plasterwork in raised ornamental figures, formerly used for the internal and external decoration of houses. (b) In modern architecture, the plastering of the inside of flues, intended to give a smooth surface and help the draught.
pargetory noun Something made of, or covered with, parget, or plaster.
parhelion noun A mock sun appearing in the form of a bright light, sometimes near the sun, and tinged with colors like the rainbow, and sometimes opposite to the sun. The latter is usually called an anthelion. Often several mock suns appear at the same time. Cf. Paraselene.
parhelium noun See Parhelion.
parietary adjective See Parietal, 2., Any one of several species of Parietaria. See 1st Pellitory.
parietine noun A piece of a fallen wall; a ruin.
parigenin noun A curdy white substance, obtained by the decomposition of parillin.
parkesine noun A compound, originally made from gun cotton and castor oil, but later from different materials, and used as a substitute for vulcanized India rubber and for ivory; — called also xylotile.
parleying present participle & vb. noun of Parley
parnassia noun A genus of herbs growing in wet places, and having white flowers; grass of Parnassus.
parnassus noun A mountain in Greece, sacred to Apollo and the Muses, and famous for a temple of Apollo and for the Castalian spring.
parochial adjective Of or pertaining to a parish; restricted to a parish; as, parochial duties.
parochian adjective Parochial., A parishioner.
parodical adjective Having the character of parody.
parodying present participle & vb. noun of Parody
parorchis noun The part of the epididymis; or the corresponding part of the excretory duct of the testicle, which is derived from the Wolffian body.
parosteal Of or pertaining to parostosis; as, parosteal ossification.
parotitis noun Inflammation of the parotid glands.
parqueted adjective Formed in parquetry; inlaid with wood in small and differently colored figures.
parquetry noun A species of joinery or cabinet-work consisting of an inlay of geometric or other patterns, generally of different colors, — used especially for floors.
parquette noun See Parquet.
parrakeet noun Alt. of Parakeet
parrhesia noun Boldness or freedom of speech.
parricide noun Properly, one who murders one’s own father; in a wider sense, one who murders one’s father or mother or any ancestor., The act or crime of murdering one’s own father or any ancestor.
parseeism noun The religion and customs of the Parsees.
parsimony noun Closeness or sparingness in the expenditure of money; — generally in a bad sense; excessive frugality; niggardliness.
parsonage noun A certain portion of lands, tithes, and offerings, for the maintenance of the parson of a parish., The glebe and house, or the house only, owned by a parish or ecclesiastical society, and appropriated to the maintenance or use of the incumbent or settled pastor., Money paid for the support of a parson.
parsonish adjective Appropriate to, or like, a parson; — used in disparagement.
partaking present participle & vb. noun of Partake
parthenic adjective Of or pertaining to the Spartan Partheniae, or sons of unmarried women.
parthenon noun A celebrated marble temple of Athene, on the Acropolis at Athens. It was of the pure Doric order, and has had an important influence on art.
partenope noun One of the Sirens, who threw herself into the sea, in despair at not being able to beguile Ulysses by her songs., One of the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, descovered by M. de Gasparis in 1850.
partially adverb In part; not totally; as, partially true; the sun partially eclipsed., In a partial manner; with undue bias of mind; with unjust favor or dislike; as, to judge partially.
partition verb The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; separation; division; distribution; as, the partition of a kingdom., That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; separating boundary; dividing line or space; specifically, an interior wall dividing one part or apartment of a house, an inclosure, or the like, from another; as, a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions., A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment., The servance of common or undivided interests, particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by compulsion of law., A score., To divide into parts or shares; to divide and distribute; as, to partition an estate among various heirs., To divide into distinct parts by lines, walls, etc.; as, to partition a house.
partitive adjective Denoting a part; as, a partitive genitive., A word expressing partition, or denoting a part.
partridge noun Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of the genus Perdix and several related genera of the family Perdicidae, of the Old World. The partridge is noted as a game bird., Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging to Colinus, and allied genera., The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).
parvitude noun Alt. of Parvity
parvoline noun A liquid base, C/H/N, of the pyridine group, found in coal tar; also, any one of the series of isometric substances of which it is the type.
pasquiler noun A lampooner.
passement noun Lace, gimp, braid etc., sewed on a garment.
passenger noun A passer or passer-by; a wayfarer., A traveler by some established conveyance, as a coach, steamboat, railroad train, etc.
passer-by noun One who goes by; a passer.
passerine adjective Of or pertaining to the Passeres., One of the Passeres.
passingly adverb Exceedingly.
passioned imp. & past participle of Passion
passional adjective Of or pertaining to passion or the passions; exciting, influenced by, or ministering to, the passions., A passionary.
passively adverb In a passive manner; inertly; unresistingly., As a passive verb; in the passive voice.
passivity noun Passiveness; — opposed to activity., The tendency of a body to remain in a given state, either of motion or rest, till disturbed by another body; inertia., The quality or condition of any substance which has no inclination to chemical activity; inactivity.
pasticcio noun A medley; an olio., A work of art imitating directly the work of another artist, or of more artists than one., A falsified work of art, as a vase or statue made up of parts of original works, with missing parts supplied.
pastorage noun The office, jurisdiction, or duty, of a pastor; pastorate.
pastorale noun A composition in a soft, rural style, generally in 6-8 or 12-8 time., A kind of dance; a kind of figure used in a dance.
pastorate noun The office, state, or jurisdiction of a pastor.
pasturage noun Grazing ground; grass land used for pasturing; pasture., Grass growing for feed; grazing., The business of feeding or grazing cattle.
pasturing present participle & vb. noun of Pasture
patchouli noun Alt. of Patchouly
patchouly noun A mintlike plant (Pogostemon Patchouli) of the East Indies, yielding an essential oil from which a highly valued perfume is made., The perfume made from this plant.
patchwork noun Work composed of pieces sewed together, esp. pieces of various colors and figures; hence, anything put together of incongruous or ill-adapted parts; something irregularly clumsily composed; a thing putched up.
patellula noun A cuplike sucker on the feet of certain insects.
patenting present participle & vb. noun of Patent
paternity noun The relation of a father to his child; fathership; fatherhood; family headship; as, the divine paternity., Derivation or descent from a father; male parentage; as, the paternity of a child., Origin; authorship.
pathetism noun See Mesmerism.
pathmaker noun One who, or that which, makes a way or path.
pathogene noun One of a class of virulent microorganisms or bacteria found in the tissues and fluids in infectious diseases, and supposed to be the cause of the disease; a pathogenic organism; a pathogenic bacterium; — opposed to zymogene.
pathogeny noun The generation, and method of development, of disease; as, the pathogeny of yellow fever is unsettled., That branch of pathology which treats of the generation and development of disease.
pathology noun The science which treats of diseases, their nature, causes, progress, symptoms, etc.
patiently adverb In a patient manner.
patriarch noun The father and ruler of a family; one who governs his family or descendants by paternal right; — usually applied to heads of families in ancient history, especially in Biblical and Jewish history to those who lived before the time of Moses., A dignitary superior to the order of archbishops; as, the patriarch of Constantinople, of Alexandria, or of Antioch., A venerable old man; an elder. Also used figuratively.
patrician adjective Of or pertaining to the Roman patres (fathers) or senators, or patricians., Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, a person of high birth; noble; not plebeian., Originally, a member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman citizens, before the development of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the nobility., A person of high birth; a nobleman., One familiar with the works of the Christian Fathers; one versed in patristic lore.
patricide noun The murderer of his father., The crime of one who murders his father. Same as Parricide.
patrimony noun A right or estate inherited from one’s father; or, in a larger sense, from any ancestor., Formerly, a church estate or endowment.
patriotic adjective Inspired by patriotism; actuated by love of one’s country; zealously and unselfishly devoted to the service of one’s country; as, a patriotic statesman, vigilance.
patristic adjective Alt. of Patristical
patrizate verb i. To imitate one’s father.
patrociny noun See Patrocination.
patrolled imp. & past participle of Patrol
patrolmen plural of Patrolman
patrolman noun One who patrols; a watchman; especially, a policeman who patrols a particular precinct of a town or city.
patronage noun Special countenance or support; favor, encouragement, or aid, afforded to a person or a work; as, the patronage of letters; patronage given to an author., Business custom., Guardianship, as of a saint; tutelary care., The right of nomination to political office; also, the offices, contracts, honors, etc., which a public officer may bestow by favor., The right of presentation to church or ecclesiastical benefice; advowson., To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend.
patronate noun The right or duty of a patron; patronage.
patroness noun A female patron or helper.
patronize verb t. To act as patron toward; to support; to countenance; to favor; to aid., To trade with customarily; to frequent as a customer., To assume the air of a patron, or of a superior and protector, toward; — used in an unfavorable sense; as, to patronize one’s equals.
pattering present participle & vb. noun of Patter
patterned imp. & past participle of Pattern
pauhaugen noun The menhaden; — called also poghaden.
paulician noun One of a sect of Christian dualists originating in Armenia in the seventh century. They rejected the Old Testament and the part of the New.
paulownia noun A genus of trees of the order Scrophulariaceae, consisting of one species, Paulownia imperialis.
paunching present participle & vb. noun of Paunch
pauperism noun The state of being a pauper; the state of indigent persons requiring support from the community.
pauperize verb t. To reduce to pauperism; as, to pauperize the peasantry.
pauropoda noun pl. An order of small myriapods having only nine pairs of legs and destitute of tracheae.
pausingly adverb With pauses; haltingly.
paxillose adjective Resembling a little stake.
paymaster noun One who pays; one who compensates, rewards, or requites; specifically, an officer or agent of a government, a corporation, or an employer, whose duty it is to pay salaries, wages, etc., and keep account of the same.
peaceable adjective Begin in or at peace; tranquil; quiet; free from, or not disposed to, war, disorder, or excitement; not quarrelsome.
peaceless adjective Without peace; disturbed.
pearlfish noun Any fish whose scales yield a pearl-like pigment used in manufacturing artificial pearls, as the bleak, and whitebait.
pearlings noun pl. A kind of lace of silk or thread.
pearlwort noun A name given to several species of Sagina, low and inconspicuous herbs of the Chickweed family.
peasantly adjective Peasantlike.
peasantry noun Peasants, collectively; the body of rustics., Rusticity; coarseness.
peccantly adverb In a peccant manner.
peccaries plural of Peccary
pectinate adjective Alt. of Pectinated
pectineal adjective Of or pertaining to the pecten., Relating to, or connected with, the pubic bone.
pectolite noun A whitish mineral occurring in radiated or fibrous crystalline masses. It is a hydrous silicate of lime and soda.
peculated imp. & past participle of Peculate
peculator noun One who peculates.
pecuniary adjective Relating to money; monetary; as, a pecuniary penalty; a pecuniary reward.
pecunious adjective Abounding in money; wealthy; rich.
pedagogic adjective See Pedagogics., Alt. of Pedagogical
pedagogue noun A slave who led his master’s children to school, and had the charge of them generally., A teacher of children; one whose occupation is to teach the young; a schoolmaster., One who by teaching has become formal, positive, or pedantic in his ways; one who has the manner of a schoolmaster; a pedant., To play the pedagogue toward.
pedaneous adjective Going on foot; pedestrian.
pedantism noun The office, disposition, or act of a pedant; pedantry.
pedantize verb i. To play the pedant; to use pedantic expressions.
pedatifid adjective Cleft in a pedate manner, but having the lobes distinctly connected at the base; — said of a leaf.
pederasty noun The crime against nature; sodomy.
pediceled adjective Pedicellate.
pedicular adjective Of or pertaining to lice; having the lousy distemper (phthiriasis); lousy.
pediculus noun A genus of wingless parasitic Hemiptera, including the common lice of man. See Louse.
pedipalpi n pl. A division of Arachnida, including the whip scorpions (Thelyphonus) and allied forms. Sometimes used in a wider sense to include also the true scorpions., of Pedipalpus
pedomancy noun Divination by examining the soles of the feet.
pedometer noun An instrument for including the number of steps in walking, and so ascertaining the distance passed over. It is usually in the form of a watch; an oscillating weight by the motion of the body causes the index to advance a certain distance at each step.
peduncled adjective Having a peduncle; supported on a peduncle; pedunculate.
peelhouse noun See 1st Peel.
peevishly adverb In a peevish manner.
pegmatite noun Graphic granite. See under Granite., More generally, a coarse granite occurring as vein material in other rocks.
pegtatoid adjective Resembling pegmatite; pegmatic.
pegomancy noun Divination by fountains.
peirastic adjective Fitted for trail or test; experimental; tentative; treating of attempts.
pelasgian adjective Alt. of Pelasgic
pelegrine adjective See Peregrine.
pellagrin noun One who is afficted with pellagra.
pellitory noun The common name of the several species of the genus Parietaria, low, harmless weeds of the Nettle family; — also called wall pellitory, and lichwort., A composite plant (Anacyclus Pyrethrum) of the Mediterranean region, having finely divided leaves and whitish flowers. The root is the officinal pellitory, and is used as an irritant and sialogogue. Called also bertram, and pellitory of Spain., The feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium); — so called because it resembles the above.
pell-mell noun See Pall-mall.
peltiform adjective Shieldlike, with the outline nearly circular; peltate.
pemphigus noun A somewhat rare skin disease, characterized by the development of blebs upon different part of the body.
penalties plural of Penalty
pencilled of Pencil
penciling present participle & vb. noun of Pencil, The work of the pencil or bruch; as, delicate penciling in a picture., Lines of white or black paint drawn along a mortar joint in a brick wall.
pendently adverb In a pendent manner.
pendicler noun An inferior tenant; one who rents a pendicle or croft.
pendragon noun A chief leader or a king; a head; a dictator; — a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs.
pendulate verb i. To swing as a pendulum.
penduline noun A European titmouse (Parus, / Aegithalus, pendulinus). It is noted for its elegant pendulous purselike nest, made of the down of willow trees and lined with feathers.
pendulous adjective Depending; pendent loosely; hanging; swinging., Wavering; unstable; doubtful., Inclined or hanging downwards, as a flower on a recurved stalk, or an ovule which hangs from the upper part of the ovary.
pendulums plural of Pendulum
penetrail noun Penetralia.
penetrant adjective Having power to enter or pierce; penetrating; sharp; subtile; as, penetrant cold.
penetrate verb t. To enter into; to make way into the interior of; to effect an entrance into; to pierce; as, light penetrates darkness., To affect profoundly through the senses or feelings; to touch with feeling; to make sensible; to move deeply; as, to penetrate one’s heart with pity., To pierce into by the mind; to arrive at the inner contents or meaning of, as of a mysterious or difficult subject; to comprehend; to understand., To pass; to make way; to pierce. Also used figuratively.
penholder noun A handle for a pen.
peninsula noun A portion of land nearly surrounded by water, and connected with a larger body by a neck, or isthmus.
penitence noun The quality or condition of being penitent; the disposition of a penitent; sorrow for sins or faults; repentance; contrition.
penitency noun Penitence.
penknives plural of Penknife
pennached adjective Variegated; striped.
pennatula noun Any one of numerous species of Pennatula, Pteroides, and allied genera of Alcyonaria, having a featherlike form; a sea-pen. The zooids are situated along one edge of the side branches.
penniform adjective Having the form of a feather or plume.
penniless adjective Destitute of money; impecunious; poor.
pennoncel noun Alt. of Pennoncelle
pennywort noun A European trailing herb (Linaria Cymbalaria) with roundish, reniform leaves. It is often cultivated in hanging baskets.
pensative adjective Pensive.
pensioned imp. & past participle of Pension
pensioner noun One in receipt of a pension; hence, figuratively, a dependent., One of an honorable band of gentlemen who attend the sovereign of England on state occasions, and receive an annual pension, or allowance, of £150 and two horses., In the university of Cambridge, England, one who pays for his living in commons; — corresponding to commoner at Oxford.
pensively adverb In a pensive manner.
pentacron noun A solid having five summits or angular points.
pentaglot noun A work in five different tongues.
pentagram noun A pentacle or a pentalpha.
pentalpha noun A five-pointed star, resembling five alphas joined at their bases; — used as a symbol.
pentamera noun pl. An extensive division of Coleoptera, including those that normally have five-jointed tarsi. It embraces about half of all the known species of the Coleoptera.
pentangle noun A pentagon.
pentapody noun A measure or series consisting of five feet.
pentarchy noun A government in the hands of five persons; five joint rulers.
pentecost noun A solemn festival of the Jews; — so called because celebrated on the fiftieth day (seven weeks) after the second day of the Passover (which fell on the sixteenth of the Jewish month Nisan); — hence called, also, the Feast of Weeks. At this festival an offering of the first fruits of the harvest was made. By the Jews it was generally regarded as commemorative of the gift of the law on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt., A festival of the Roman Catholic and other churches in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; which occurred on the day of Pentecost; — called also Whitsunday.
penthouse noun A shed or roof sloping from the main wall or building, as over a door or window; a lean-to. Also figuratively., Leaning; overhanging.
pentoxide noun An oxide containing five atoms of oxygen in each molecule; as, phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5.
pentrough noun A penstock.
penultima noun Same as Penult.
penurious adjective Excessively sparing in the use of money; sordid; stingy; miserly., Not bountiful or liberal; scanty., Destitute of money; suffering extreme want.
peppering present participle & vb. noun of Pepper, Hot; pungent; peppery.
peptonize verb t. To convert into peptone; to digest or dissolve by means of a proteolytic ferment; as, peptonized food.
peptonoid noun A substance related to peptone.
peraeopod noun One of the thoracic legs of a crustacean. See Illust. of Crustacea.
peragrate verb t. To travel over or through.
perameles noun Any marsupial of the genus Perameles, which includes numerous species found in Australia. They somewhat resemble rabbits in size and form. See Illust. under Bandicoot.
perbromic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, the highest oxygen acid, HBrO4, of bromine.
percaline noun A fine kind of French cotton goods, usually of one color.
perceived imp. & past participle of Perceive
perceiver noun One who perceives (in any of the senses of the verb).
perchance adverb By chance; perhaps; peradventure.
percheron noun One of a breed of draught horses originating in Perche, an old district of France; — called also Percheron-Norman.
perciform adjective Pertaining to the Perciformes.
percoidea noun pl. Same as Perciformes.
percolate verb t. To cause to pass through fine interstices, as a liquor; to filter; to strain., To pass through fine interstices; to filter; as, water percolates through porous stone.
percussed imp. & past participle of Percuss
perdicine adjective Of or pertaining to the family Perdicidae, or partridges.
perdifoil noun A deciduous plant; — opposed to evergreen.
perdition noun Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin; esp., the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death., Loss of diminution.
perdulous adjective Lost; thrown away.
peregrine adjective Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic., The peregrine falcon.
perennial adjective ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains., Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing., Continuing more than two years; as, a perennial steam, or root, or plant., A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.
perennity noun The quality of being perennial.
perfected imp. & past participle of Perfect
perfecter noun One who, or that which, makes perfect.
perfectly adverb In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; throughly; faultlessly.
perfervid adjective Very fervid; too fervid; glowing; ardent.
perfidies plural of Perfidy
perflable adjective Capable of being blown through.
perforata noun pl. A division of corals including those that have a porous texture, as Porites and Madrepora; — opposed to Aporosa., A division of Foraminifera, including those having perforated shells.
perforate verb To bore through; to pierce through with a pointed instrument; to make a hole or holes through by boring or piercing; to pierce or penetrate the surface of., Alt. of Perforated
performed imp. & past participle of Perform
performer noun One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.
perfuming present participle & vb. noun of Perfume
perfumery noun Perfumes, in general., The art of preparing perfumes.
perfusing present participle & vb. noun of Perfuse
perfusion noun The act of perfusing.
perfusive adjective Of a nature to flow over, or to spread through.
periauger noun See Pirogue.
periblast adjective The protoplasmic matter which surrounds the entoblast, or cell nucleus, and undergoes segmentation.
peribolos noun In ancient architecture, an inclosed court, esp., one surrounding a temple.
perichete noun Same as Perichaeth.
periclase noun Alt. of Periclasite
periculum noun Danger; risk., In a narrower, judicial sense: Accident or casus, as distinguished from dolus and culpa, and hence relieving one from the duty of performing an obligation.
peridrome noun The space between the columns and the wall of the cella, in a Greek or a Roman temple.
perigonia plural of Perigonium
perigraph noun A careless or inaccurate delineation of anything.
perigynia plural of Perigynium
perihelia plural of Perihelium
perilling of Peril
perilymph noun The fluid which surrounds the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear, and separates it from the walls of the chambers in which the labyrinth lies.
perimeter noun The outer boundary of a body or figure, or the sum of all the sides., An instrument for determining the extent and shape of the field of vision.
perimetry noun The art of using the perimeter; measurement of the field of vision.
perimorph noun A crystal of one species inclosing one of another species. See Endomorph.
perinaeum noun See Perineum.
periodate noun A salt of periodic acid.
periodide noun An iodide containing a higher proportion of iodine than any other iodide of the same substance or series.
perioplic adjective Of or pertaining to the periople; connected with the periople.
peripatus noun A genus of lowly organized arthropods, found in South Africa, Australia, and tropical America. It constitutes the order Malacopoda.
periphery noun The outside or superficial portions of a body; the surface., The circumference of a circle, ellipse, or other figure.
periplast noun Same as Periblast.
periproct noun The region surrounding the anus, particularly of echinoderms.
periscian adjective Having the shadow moving all around.
periscope noun A general or comprehensive view., an optical instrument of tubular shape containing an arrangement of lenses and mirrors (or prisms), allowing a person to observe a field of view otherwise obstructed, as beyond an obstructing object or (as in submarines) above the surface of the water.
perishing present participle & vb. noun of Perish
perisperm noun The albumen of a seed, especially that portion which is formed outside of the embryo sac.
perispore noun The outer covering of a spore.
peristole noun Peristaltic action, especially of the intestines.
peristoma noun Same as Peristome.
peristome noun The fringe of teeth around the orifice of the capsule of mosses. It consists of 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64 teeth, and may be either single or double., The lip, or edge of the aperture, of a spiral shell., The membrane surrounding the mouth of an invertebrate animal.
peristyle noun A range of columns with their entablature, etc.; specifically, a complete system of columns, whether on all sides of a court, or surrounding a building, such as the cella of a temple. Used in the former sense, it gives name to the larger and inner court of a Roman dwelling, the peristyle. See Colonnade.
peritreme noun That part of the integument of an insect which surrounds the spiracles., The edge of the aperture of a univalve shell.
perwigged imp. & past participle of Periwig
perjuring present participle & vb. noun of Perjure
perjurous adjective Guilty of perjury; containing perjury.
perjuries plural of Perjury
perkinism noun A remedial treatment, by drawing the pointed extremities of two rods, each of a different metal, over the affected part; tractoration, — first employed by Dr. Elisha Perkins of Norwich, Conn. See Metallotherapy.
permanent adjective Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting; as, a permanent impression.
permeable adjective Capable of being permeated, or passed through; yielding passage; passable; penetrable; — used especially of substances which allow the passage of fluids; as, wood is permeable to oil; glass is permeable to light.
permeably adverb In a permeable manner.
permeated imp. & past participle of Permeate
permitted imp. & past participle of Permit
permittee noun One to whom a permission or permit is given.
permitter noun One who permits.
pernicion noun Destruction; perdition.
pernicity noun Swiftness; celerity.
perpender noun A large stone reaching through a wall so as to appear on both sides of it, and acting as a binder; — called also perbend, perpend stone, and perpent stone.
perpetual adjective Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous.
perplexed imp. & past participle of Perplex, Entangled, involved, or confused; hence, embarrassd; puzzled; doubtful; anxious.
perplexly adverb Perplexedly.
perradial adjective Situated around the radii, or radial tubes, of a radiate.
perroquet noun See Paroquet, Parakeet.
persecute verb t. To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death, for adherence to a particular religious creed or mode of worship., To harass with importunity; to pursue with persistent solicitations; to annoy.
persevere verb i. To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken.
persimmon noun An American tree (Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes palatable and nutritious.
persisted imp. & past participle of Persist
personage noun Form, appearance, or belongings of a person; the external appearance, stature, figure, air, and the like, of a person., Character assumed or represented., A notable or distinguished person; a conspicious or peculiar character; as, an illustrious personage; a comely personage of stature tall.
personate verb t. To celebrate loudly; to extol; to praise., To assume the character of; to represent by a fictitious appearance; to act the part of; hence, to counterfeit; to feign; as, he tried to personate his brother; a personated devotion., To set forth in an unreal character; to disguise; to mask., To personify; to typify; to describe., To play or assume a character., Having the throat of a bilabiate corolla nearly closed by a projection of the base of the lower lip; masked, as in the flower of the snapdragon.
personify verb t. To regard, treat, or represent as a person; to represent as a rational being., To be the embodiment or personification of; to impersonate; as, he personifies the law.
personize verb t. To personify.
personnel noun The body of persons employed in some public service, as the army, navy, etc.; — distinguished from materiel.
perspicil noun An optical glass; a telescope.
perspired imp. & past participle of Perspire
persuaded imp. & past participle of Persuade, Prevailed upon; influenced by argument or entreaty; convinced.
persuader noun One who, or that which, persuades or influences.
pertained imp. & past participle of Pertain
pertinacy noun The quality or state of being pertinent; pertinence., Pertinacity.
pertinate adjective Pertinacious.
pertinent adjective Belonging or related to the subject or matter in hand; fit or appropriate in any way; adapted to the end proposed; apposite; material; relevant; as, pertinent illustrations or arguments; pertinent evidence., Regarding; concerning; belonging; pertaining.
perturbed adjective Agitated; disturbed; troubled.
perturber noun One who, or that which, perturbs, or cause perturbation.
pertusate adjective Pierced at the apex.
pertusion noun The act of punching or piercing with a pointed instrument; as, pertusion of a vein., A punched hole; a perforation.
pertussis noun The whooping cough.
pervading present participle & vb. noun of Pervade
pervasion noun The act of pervading, passing, or spreading through the whole extent of a thing.
pervasive adjective Tending to pervade, or having power to spread throughout; of a pervading quality.
perversed adjective Turned aside.
perverted imp. & past participle of Pervert
perverter noun One who perverts (a person or thing).
pervicacy noun Pervicacity.
pessaries plural of Pessary
pessimism noun The opinion or doctrine that everything in nature is ordered for or tends to the worst, or that the world is wholly evil; — opposed to optimism., A disposition to take the least hopeful view of things.
pessimist noun One who advocates the doctrine of pessimism; — opposed to optimist., One who looks on the dark side of things., Alt. of Pessimistic
pessimize verb i. To hold or advocate the doctrine of pessimism.
pestering present participle & vb. noun of Pester
pesterous adjective Inclined to pester. Also, vexatious; encumbering; burdensome.
pesthouse noun A house or hospital for persons who are infected with any pestilential disease.
pestiduct noun That which conveys contagion or infection.
pestilent adjective Pestilential; noxious; pernicious; mischievous.
petardeer noun Alt. of Petardier
petardier noun One who managed a petard.
petaurist noun Any flying marsupial of the genera Petaurus, Phalangista, Acrobata, and allied genera. See Flying mouse, under Flying, and Phalangister.
petechiae noun pl. Small crimson, purple, or livid spots, like flea-bites, due to extravasation of blood, which appear on the skin in malignant fevers, etc.
petechial adjective Characterized by, or pertaining to, petechiae; spotted.
petersham noun A rough, knotted woolen cloth, used chiefly for men’s overcoats; also, a coat of that material.
peterwort noun See Saint Peter’s-wort, under Saint.
petiolary adjective Of or pertaining to petiole, or proceeding from it; as, a petiolar tendril; growing or supported upon a petiole; as, a petiolar gland; a petiolar bud.
petiolate adjective Alt. of Petiolated
petiolule noun A small petiole, or the petiole of a leaflet.
petralogy noun See Petrology.
petrified imp. & past participle of Petrify
petrogale noun Any Australian kangaroo of the genus Petrogale, as the rock wallaby (P. penicillata).
petroleum noun Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc.
petroleur noun f. Alt. of Petroleuse
petroline noun A paraffin obtained from petroleum from Rangoon in India, and practically identical with ordinary paraffin.
petrology noun The department of science which is concerned with the mineralogical and chemical composition of rocks, and with their classification: lithology., A treatise on petrology.
petticoat noun A loose under-garment worn by women, and covering the body below the waist.
pettiness noun The quality or state of being petty or paltry; littleness; meanness.
pettitoes noun pl. The toes or feet of a pig, — often used as food; sometimes, in contempt, the human feet.
pettywhin noun The needle furze. See under Needle.
petulance noun Alt. of Petulancy
petulancy noun The quality or state of being petulant; temporary peevishness; pettishness; capricious ill humor.
petulcity noun Wantonness; friskiness.
petulcous adjective Wanton; frisky; lustful.
pewfellow noun One who occupies the same pew with another., An intimate associate; a companion.
phacellus noun One of the filaments on the inner surface of the gastric cavity of certain jellyfishes.
phacolite noun A colorless variety of chabazite; the original was from Leipa, in Bohemia.
phaeacian adjective Of or pertaining to the Phaeacians, a fabulous seafaring people fond of the feast, the lyre, and the dance, mentioned by Homer.
phaenogam noun Any plant of the class Phaenogamia.
phagedena noun A canine appetite; bulimia., Spreading, obstinate ulceration.
phagocyte noun A leucocyte which plays a part in retrogressive processes by taking up (eating), in the form of fine granules, the parts to be removed.
phalaenid noun Any moth of the family Phalaenidae, of which the cankerworms are examples; a geometrid.
phalangal adjective Of or pertaining to the phalanges. See Phalanx, 2.
phalanger noun Any marsupial belonging to Phalangista, Cuscus, Petaurus, and other genera of the family Phalangistidae. They are arboreal, and the species of Petaurus are furnished with lateral parachutes. See Flying phalanger, under Flying.
phalanges noun pl. of Phalanx., of Phalanx
phalangid noun One of the Phalangoidea.
phalanxes plural of Phalanx
phalarope noun Any species of Phalaropus and allied genera of small wading birds (Grallae), having lobate toes. They are often seen far from land, swimming in large flocks. Called also sea goose.
phanerite adjective Evident; visible.
phantasma noun A phantasm.
pharaonic adjective Of or pertaining to the Pharaohs, or kings of ancient Egypt.
pharisaic adjective Alt. of Pharisaical
pharisean adjective Following the practice of Pharisees; Pharisaic.
pharmacon noun A medicine or drug; also, a poison.
pharology noun The art or science which treats of lighthouses and signal lights.
pharyngal adjective Pharyngeal.
pharynges plural of Pharynx
phaseless adjective Without a phase, or visible form.
phaseolus noun A genus of leguminous plants, including the Lima bean, the kidney bean, the scarlet runner, etc. See Bean.
phellogen noun The tissue of young cells which produces cork cells.
phenacite noun A glassy colorless mineral occurring in rhombohedral crystals, sometimes used as a gem. It is a silicate of glucina, and receives its name from its deceptive similarity to quartz.
phenician adjective & noun See Phoenician.
phenicine noun A purple powder precipitated when a sulphuric solution of indigo is diluted with water., A coloring matter produced by the action of a mixture of strong nitric and sulphuric acids on phenylic alcohol.
phenolate noun A compound of phenol analogous to a salt.
phenomena plural of Phenomenon
phenylene noun A hypothetic radical (C6H4) occurring in certain derivatives of benzene; as, phenylene diamine.
philander verb i. To make love to women; to play the male flirt., A lover., A South American opossum (Didelphys philander)., An Australian bandicoot (Perameles lagotis).
philately noun The collection of postage stamps of various issues.
philatory noun A kind of transparent reliquary with an ornamental top.
philippic noun Any one of the series of famous orations of Demosthenes, the Grecian orator, denouncing Philip, king of Macedon., Hence: Any discourse or declamation abounding in acrimonious invective.
philister noun A Philistine; — a cant name given to townsmen by students in German universities.
phillyrea noun A genus of evergreen plants growing along the shores of the Mediterranean, and breading a fruit resembling that of the olive.
phillyrin noun A glucoside extracted from Phillyrea as a bitter white crystalline substance. It is sometimes used as a febrifuge.
philogyny noun Fondness for women; uxoriousness; — opposed to misogyny.
philology noun Criticism; grammatical learning., The study of language, especially in a philosophical manner and as a science; the investigation of the laws of human speech, the relation of different tongues to one another, and historical development of languages; linguistic science., A treatise on the science of language.
philomath noun A lover of learning; a scholar.
philomela noun The nightingale; philomel., A genus of birds including the nightingales.
philomene noun The nightingale.
philopena noun A present or gift which is made as a forfeit in a social game that is played in various ways; also, the game itself.
philtered imp. & past participle of Philter
phitoness noun Pythoness; witch.
phlebitis noun Inflammation of a vein.
phlogosis noun Inflammation of external parts of the body; erysipelatous inflammation.
phlogotic noun Of or pertaining to phlogisis.
phloretic adjective Pertaining to, or derived from, or designating, an organic acid obtained by the decomposition of phloretin.
phloretin noun A bitter white crystalline substance obtained by the decomposition of phlorizin, and formerly used to some extent as a substitute for quinine.
phlorizin noun A bitter white crystalline glucoside extracted from the root bark of the apple, pear, cherry, plum, etc.
phocacean noun Any species of Phoca; a seal.
phocodont noun One of the Phocodontia.
pholadean noun Pholad.
phonation noun The act or process by which articulate sounds are uttered; the utterance of articulate sounds; articulate speech.
phonetics noun The doctrine or science of sounds; especially those of the human voice; phonology., The art of representing vocal sounds by signs and written characters.
phonetism noun The science which treats of vocal sounds.
phonetist noun One versed in phonetics; a phonologist., One who advocates a phonetic spelling.
phonetize verb t. To represent by phonetic signs.
phonogram noun A letter, character, or mark used to represent a particular sound., A record of sounds made by a phonograph.
phonolite noun A compact, feldspathic, igneous rock containing nephelite, hauynite, etc. Thin slabs give a ringing sound when struck; — called also clinkstone.
phonology noun The science or doctrine of the elementary sounds uttered by the human voice in speech, including the various distinctions, modifications, and combinations of tones; phonetics. Also, a treatise on sounds.
phonotypr noun A type or character used in phonotypy.
phonotypy noun A method of phonetic printing of the English language, as devised by Mr. Pitman, in which nearly all the ordinary letters and many new forms are employed in order to indicate each elementary sound by a separate character.
phosphate noun A salt of phosphoric acid.
phosphene noun A luminous impression produced through excitation of the retina by some cause other than the impingement upon it of rays of light, as by pressure upon the eyeball when the lids are closed. Cf. After-image.
phosphide noun A binary compound of phosphorus.
phosphine noun A colorless gas, PH3, analogous to ammonia, and having a disagreeable odor resembling that of garlic. Called also hydrogen phosphide, and formerly, phosphureted hydrogen.
phosphite noun A salt of phosphorous acid.
phosphori plural of Phosphorus
photogene noun A photograph., A more or less continued impression or image on the retina.
photogeny noun See Photography.
photogram noun A photograph.
photology noun The doctrine or science of light, explaining its nature and phenomena; optics.
photopsia noun An affection of the eye, in which the patient perceives luminous rays, flashes, coruscations, etc. See phosphene.
phototype noun A plate or block with a printing surface (usually in relief) obtained from a photograph; also, any one of the many methods of processes by which such a printing surface is obtained.
phototypy noun The art or process of producing phototypes.
phratries plural of Phratry
phrenetic adjective Alt. of Phrenetical, One who is phrenetic.
phrenitis noun Inflammation of the brain, or of the meninges of the brain, attended with acute fever and delirium; — called also cephalitis., See Frenzy.
phrenosin noun A nitrogenous body, related to cerebrin, supposed to exist in the brain.
phrensied past participle & adjective See Frenzied.
phthalate noun A salt of phthalic acid.
phthalein noun One of a series of artificial organic dyes made as condensation products of the phenols with phthalic acid, and well represented by phenol phthalein. Their alkaline solutions are fluorescent.
phthalide noun A lactone obtained by reduction of phthalyl chloride, as a white crystalline substance; hence, by extension, any one of the series of which phthalide proper is the type.
phthongal adjective Formed into, or characterized by, voice; vocalized; — said of all the vowels and the semivowels, also of the vocal or sonant consonants g, d, b, l, r, v, z, etc., A vocalized element or letter.
phycology noun The science of algae, or seaweeds; algology.
phylacter noun A phylactery.
phylarchy noun The office of a phylarch; government of a class or tribe.
phyllodia plural of Phyllodium
phyllopod noun One of the Phyllopoda. [Also used adjectively.]
phylogeny noun The history of genealogical development; the race history of an animal or vegetable type; the historic exolution of the phylon or tribe, in distinction from ontogeny, or the development of the individual organism, and from biogenesis, or life development generally.
physaliae noun pl. An order of Siphonophora which includes Physalia.
physician noun A person skilled in physic, or the art of healing; one duty authorized to prescribe remedies for, and treat, diseases; a doctor of medicine., Hence, figuratively, one who ministers to moral diseases; as, a physician of the soul.
physicism noun The tendency of the mind toward, or its preoccupation with, physical phenomena; materialism in philosophy and religion.
physicist noun One versed in physics., A believer in the theory that the fundamental phenomena of life are to be explained upon purely chemical and physical principles; — opposed to vitalist.
physopoda noun pl. Same as Thysanoptera.
phytogeny noun The doctrine of the generation of plants.
phytolite noun An old name for a fossil plant.
phytology noun The science of plants; a description of the kinds and properties of plants; botany.
phytonomy noun The science of the origin and growth of plants.
phytotomy noun The dissection of plants; vegetable anatomy.
phytozoon noun A plantlike animal. The term is sometimes applied to zoophytes.
piaculous adjective Same as Piacular.
pia mater The delicate and highly vascular membrane immediately investing the brain and spinal cord.
pickaback adverb On the back or shoulders; as, to ride pickback.
pickapack adverb Pickaback.
pickeered imp. & past participle of Pickeer
pickeerer noun One who pickeers.
pickering noun The sauger of the St.Lawrence River.
picketing present participle & vb. noun of Picket
pickpenny noun A miser; also, a sharper.
pickpurse noun One who steals purses, or money from purses.
pickthank noun One who strives to put another under obligation; an officious person; hence, a flatterer. Used also adjectively.
picktooth noun A toothpick.
picnicked imp. & past participle of Picnic
picnicker noun One who takes part in a picnic.
picrolite noun A fibrous variety of serpentine.
pictorial adjective Of or pertaining to pictures; illustrated by pictures; forming pictures; representing with the clearness of a picture; as, a pictorial dictionary; a pictorial imagination.
picturing present participle & vb. noun of Picture
picturize verb t. To picture., To adorn with pictures.
pieceless adjective Not made of pieces; whole; entire.
piecemeal adverb In pieces; in parts or fragments., Piece by piece; by little and little in succession., Made up of parts or pieces; single; separate., A fragment; a scrap.
piecework noun Work done by the piece or job; work paid for at a rate based on the amount of work done, rather than on the time employed.
piedouche noun A pedestal of small size, used to support small objects, as busts, vases, and the like.
piedstall noun See Pedestal.
piepoudre noun Alt. of Piepowder
piepowder noun An ancient court of record in England, formerly incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owned or had the toll was the judge.
pietistic adjective Alt. of Pietistical
piggeries plural of Piggery
pig-jawed adjective Having the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower, with the upper incisors in advance of the lower; — said of dogs.
pigmental adjective Alt. of Pigmentary
pigmented adjective Colored; specifically (Biol.), filled or imbued with pigment; as, pigmented epithelial cells; pigmented granules.
pignerate verb t. To pledge or pawn., to receive in pawn, as a pawnbroker does.
pigtailed adjective Having a tail like a pig’s; as, the pigtailed baboon.
pikestaff noun The staff, or shaft, of a pike., A staff with a spike in the lower end, to guard against slipping.
pikrolite noun See Picrolite.
pileiform adjective Having the form of a pileus or cap; pileate.
pile-worn adjective Having the pile worn off; threadbare.
pilfering present participle & vb. noun of Pilfer, Thieving in a small way., Petty theft.
pilgarlic noun One who has lost his hair by disease; a sneaking fellow, or one who is hardly used.
pillaging present participle & vb. noun of Pillage
pillarist noun See Stylite.
pilleries plural of Pillery
pillorize verb t. To set in, or punish with, the pillory; to pillory.
pillories plural of Pillory
pilloried imp. & past participle of Pillory
pillowing present participle & vb. noun of Pillow
pimpernel noun A plant of the genus Anagallis, of which one species (A. arvensis) has small flowers, usually scarlet, but sometimes purple, blue, or white, which speedily close at the approach of bad weather.
pinacolin noun A colorless oily liquid related to the ketones, and obtained by the decomposition of pinacone; hence, by extension, any one of the series of which pinacolin proper is the type.
pince-nez noun Eyeglasses kept on the nose by a spring.
pinchbeck noun An alloy of copper and zinc, resembling gold; a yellow metal, composed of about three ounces of zinc to a pound of copper. It is much used as an imitation of gold in the manufacture of cheap jewelry., Made of pinchbeck; sham; cheap; spurious; unreal.
pinchcock noun A clamp on a flexible pipe to regulate the flow of a fluid through the pipe.
pinchfist noun A closefisted person; a miser.
pincoffin noun A commercial preparation of garancin, yielding fine violet tints.
pindarism noun Imitation of Pindar.
pindarist noun One who imitates Pindar.
pineapple noun A tropical plant (Ananassa sativa); also, its fruit; — so called from the resemblance of the latter, in shape and external appearance, to the cone of the pine tree. Its origin is unknown, though conjectured to be American.
pineaster noun See Pinaster.
pine-clad adjective Alt. of Pine-crowned
pinedrops noun A reddish herb (Pterospora andromedea) of the United States, found parasitic on the roots of pine trees.
pinefinch noun A small American bird (Spinus, / Chrysomitris, spinus); — called also pine siskin, and American siskin., The pine grosbeak.
pinioning present participle & vb. noun of Pinion
pinionist noun Any winged creature.
pink-eyed adjective Having small eyes.
pinnacled imp. & past participle of Pinnacle
pinnately adverb In a pinnate manner.
pinniform adjective Shaped like a fin or feather.
pinnulate adjective Having each pinna subdivided; — said of a leaf, or of its pinnae.
pioneered imp. & past participle of Pioneer
pipe clay A plastic, unctuous clay of a grayish white color, — used in making tobacco pipes and various kinds of earthenware, in scouring cloth, and in cleansing soldiers’ equipments.
pipelayer Alt. of Pipe layer
pipemouth noun Any fish of the genus Fistularia; — called also tobacco pipefish. See Fistularia.
piperidge noun Same as Pepperidge.
piperonal noun A white crystalline substance obtained by oxidation of piperic acid, and regarded as a complex aldehyde.
pipestone noun A kind of clay slate, carved by the Indians into tobacco pipes. Cf. Catlinite.
pipistrel noun Alt. of Pipistrelle
piquantly adverb In a piquant manner.
piqueerer noun See Pickeerer.
pirameter noun A dynamometer for ascertaining the power required to draw carriages over roads.
piratical adjective Of or pertaining to a pirate; acquired by, or practicing, piracy; as, a piratical undertaking.
piririgua noun A South American bird (Guira guira) allied to the cuckoos.
pirouette noun A whirling or turning on the toes in dancing., The whirling about of a horse., To perform a pirouette; to whirl, like a dancer.
piscation noun Fishing; fishery.
piscatory adjective Of or pertaining to fishes or fishing.
pisciform adjective Having the form of a fish; resembling a fish.
pisolitic adjective Composed of, containing, or resembling, pisolite.
pisophalt noun Pissasphalt.
pistachio noun The nut of the Pistacia vera, a tree of the order Anacardiaceae, containing a kernel of a pale greenish color, which has a pleasant taste, resembling that of the almond, and yields an oil of agreeable taste and odor; — called also pistachio nut. It is wholesome and nutritive. The tree grows in Arabia, Persia, Syria, and Sicily.
pistacite noun Epidote.
pistareen noun An old Spanish silver coin of the value of about twenty cents.
pistazite noun Same as Pistacite.
pistoling present participle & vb. noun of Pistol
pistolade noun A pistol shot.
pistoleer noun One who uses a pistol.
pitchfork noun A fork, or farming utensil, used in pitching hay, sheaves of grain, or the like., To pitch or throw with, or as with, a pitchfork.
pitch-ore noun Pitchblende.
pitchwork noun The work of a coal miner who is paid by a share of his product.
pithecoid adjective Of or pertaining to the genus Pithecia, or subfamily Pithecinae, which includes the saki, ouakari, and other allied South American monkeys., Of or pertaining to the anthropoid apes in particular, or to the higher apes of the Old World, collectively.
pithiness noun The quality or state of being pithy.
pituitary adjective Secreting mucus or phlegm; as, the pituitary membrane, or the mucous membrane which lines the nasal cavities., Of or pertaining to the pituitary body; as, the pituitary fossa.
pituitous adjective Consisting of, or resembling, pituite or mucus; full of mucus; discharging mucus.
pizzicato A direction to violinists to pluck the string with the finger, instead of using the bow. (Abrev. pizz.)
placarded imp. & past participle of Placard
placating present participle & vb. noun of Placate
placation noun The act of placating.
placeless adjective Having no place or office.
placement noun The act of placing, or the state of being placed., Position; place.
placentae plural of Placenta
placentas plural of Placenta
placental adjective Of or pertaining to the placenta; having, or characterized by having, a placenta; as, a placental mammal., Of or pertaining to the Placentalia., One of the Placentalia.
placidity noun The quality or state of being placid; calmness; serenity.
placitory adjective Of or pertaining to pleas or pleading, in courts of law.
placoderm noun One of the Placodermi.
placoides noun pl. A group of fishes including the sharks and rays; the Elasmobranchii; — called also Placoidei.
plagueful adjective Abounding, or infecting, with plagues; pestilential; as, plagueful exhalations.
plainness noun The quality or state of being plain.
plainsman noun One who lives in the plains.
plaintful adjective Containing a plaint; complaining; expressing sorrow with an audible voice.
plaintiff noun One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; — opposed to defendant., See Plaintive.
plaintive noun Repining; complaining; lamenting., Expressive of sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad.
plaisance noun See Pleasance.
planariae plural of Planaria
planarian noun One of the Planarida, or Dendrocoela; any turbellarian worm.
planarida noun pl. A division of Turbellaria; the Dendrocoela.
planching present participle & vb. noun of Planch, The laying of floors in a building; also, a floor of boards or planks.
planetary adjective Of or pertaining to the planets; as, planetary inhabitants; planetary motions; planetary year., Consisting of planets; as, a planetary system., Under the dominion or influence of a planet., Caused by planets., Having the nature of a planet; erratic; revolving; wandering.
planetoid noun A body resembling a planet; an asteroid.
planetule noun A little planet.
plangency noun The quality or state of being plangent; a beating sound.
planiform adjective Having a plane surface; as, a planiform, gliding, or arthrodial articulation.
planished imp. & past participle of Planish
planisher noun One who, or that which, planishes.
planorbis noun Any fresh-water air-breathing mollusk belonging to Planorbis and other allied genera, having shells of a discoidal form.
plantable adjective Capable of being planted; fit to be planted.
planticle noun A young plant, or plant in embryo.
plantless adjective Without plants; barren of vegetation.
plasmatic adjective Alt. of Plasmatical
plasmator noun A former; a fashioner.
plasmodia plural of Plasmodium
plasmogen noun The important living portion of protoplasm, considered a chemical substance of the highest elaboration. Germ plasm and idioplasm are forms of plasmogen.
plastered imp. & past participle of Plaster
plasterer noun One who applies plaster or mortar., One who makes plaster casts.
plasterly adjective Resembling plaster of Paris.
plastical adjective See Plastic.
platanist noun The soosoo.
platefuls plural of Plateful
platinize verb t. To cover or combine with platinum.
platinode noun A cathode.
platinoid adjective Resembling platinum., An alloy of German silver containing tungsten; — used for forming electrical resistance coils and standards.
platinous adjective Of, pertaining to, or containing, platinum; — used specifically to designate those compounds in which the element has a lower valence, as contrasted with the platinic compounds; as, platinous chloride (PtCl2).
platitude noun The quality or state of being flat, thin, or insipid; flat commonness; triteness; staleness of ideas of language., A thought or remark which is flat, dull, trite, or weak; a truism; a commonplace.
platonism noun The doctrines or philosophy by Plato or of his followers., An elevated rational and ethical conception of the laws and forces of the universe; sometimes, imaginative or fantastic philosophical notions.
platonist noun One who adheres to the philosophy of Plato; a follower of Plato.
platonize verb i. To adopt the opinion of Plato or his followers., To explain by, or accomodate to, the Platonic philosophy.
platypoda noun pl. Same as Prosobranchiata.
plausible adjective Worthy of being applauded; praiseworthy; commendable; ready., Obtaining approbation; specifically pleasing; apparently right; specious; as, a plausible pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion., Using specious arguments or discourse; as, a plausible speaker.
plausibly adverb In a plausible manner., Contentedly, readily.
playgoing adjective Frequenting playhouses; as, the playgoing public., The practice of going to plays.
playhouse noun A building used for dramatic exhibitions; a theater., A house for children to play in; a toyhouse.
playmaker noun A playwright.
plaything noun A thing to play with; a toy; anything that serves to amuse.
pleaching present participle & vb. noun of Pleach
pleadable adjective Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law.
pleadings noun pl. The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point.
pleasance noun Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness., A secluded part of a garden.
pleaseman noun An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank.
pleasured imp. & past participle of Pleasure
pleasurer noun A pleasure seeker.
plegepoda noun pl. Same as Infusoria.
pleiocene adjective See Pliocene.
plenarily adverb In a plenary manner.
plenicorn noun A ruminant having solid horns or antlers, as the deer.
plenilune noun The full moon.
plenitude noun The quality or state of being full or complete; fullness; completeness; abundance; as, the plenitude of space or power., Animal fullness; repletion; plethora.
plenteous adjective Containing plenty; abundant; copious; plentiful; sufficient for every purpose; as, a plenteous supply., Yielding abundance; productive; fruitful., Having plenty; abounding; rich.
plentiful adjective Containing plenty; copious; abundant; ample; as, a plentiful harvest; a plentiful supply of water., Yielding abundance; prolific; fruitful., Lavish; profuse; prodigal.
pleonaste noun A black variety of spinel.
plethoric adjective Haeving a full habit of body; characterized by plethora or excess of blood; as, a plethoric constitution; — used also metaphorically.
pleuritic adjective Alt. of Pleuritical
pleuritis noun Pleurisy.
plexiform adjective Like network; complicated.
plication noun A folding or fold; a plait.
plicature noun A fold; a doubling; a plication.
plighting present participle & vb. noun of Plight
pletinian adjective Of pertaining to the Plotinists or their doctrines.
plotinist noun A disciple of Plotinus, a celebrated Platonic philosopher of the third century, who taught that the human soul emanates from the divine Being, to whom it reunited at death.
ploughing of Plough
ploughboy noun A boy that drives or guides a team in plowing; a young rustic.
plougland noun Land that is plowed, or suitable for tillage., the quantity of land allotted for the work of one plow; a hide.
ploughman noun One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman., A rustic; a countryman; a field laborer.
plowpoint noun Alt. of Ploughpoint
plowshare noun Alt. of Ploughshare
pluckless adjective Without pluck; timid; faint-hearted.
plumbagin noun A crystalline substance said to be found in the root of a certain plant of the Leadwort (Plumbago) family.
plumbeous adjective Consisting of, or resembling, lead., Dull; heavy; stupid.
plumeless adjective Without plumes.
plumicorn noun An ear tuft of feathers, as in the horned owls.
plumosite noun Same as Jamesonite.
plumosity noun The quality or state of being plumose.
plumpness noun The quality or state of being plump.
plumulose adjective Having hairs branching out laterally, like the parts of a feather.
plundered imp. & past participle of Plunder
plunderer noun One who plunders or pillages.
pluralism noun The quality or state of being plural, or in the plural number., The state of a pluralist; the holding of more than one ecclesiastical living at a time.
pluralist noun A clerk or clergyman who holds more than one ecclesiastical benefice.
plurality noun The state of being plural, or consisting of more than one; a number consisting of two or more of the same kind; as, a plurality of worlds; the plurality of a verb., The greater number; a majority; also, the greatest of several numbers; in elections, the excess of the votes given for one candidate over those given for another, or for any other, candidate. When there are more than two candidates, the one who receives the plurality of votes may have less than a majority. See Majority., See Plurality of benefices, below.
pluralize verb t. To make plural by using the plural termination; to attribute plurality to; to express in the plural form., To multiply; to make manifold., To take a plural; to assume a plural form; as, a noun pluralizes., To hold more than one benefice at the same time.
plutarchy noun Plutocracy; the rule of wealth.
pluteuses plural of Pluteus
plutocrat noun One whose wealth gives him power or influence; one of the plutocracy.
plutology noun The science which treats of wealth.
plutonian adjective Plutonic., A Plutonist.
plutonism noun The theory, early advanced in geology, that the successive rocks of the earth’s crust were formed by igneous fusion; — opposed to the Neptunian theory.
plutonist noun One who adopts the geological theory of igneous fusion; a Plutonian. See Plutonism.
pneometer noun A spirometer.
pneumatic adjective Alt. of Pneumatical
pneumato- A combining form from Gr. pney^ma, pney`matos, wind, air, breath, respiration; as, pneumatograph, pneumatology.
pneumonia noun Inflammation of the lungs.
pneumonic adjective Of or pertaining to the lungs; pulmonic., Of or pertaining to pneumonia; as, pneumonic symptoms., A medicine for affections of the lungs.
pnigalion noun Nightmare.
pockarred adjective See Pockmarked.
pocketing present participle & vb. noun of Pocket
pocketful noun As much as a pocket will hold; enough to fill a pocket; as, pocketfuls of chestnuts.
pockiness noun The state of being pocky.
podagrous adjective Gouty; podagric.
podarthra plural of Podarthrum
podetiums plural of Podetium
podoscaph noun A canoe-shaped float attached to the foot, for walking on water.
podosperm noun The stalk of a seed or ovule.
podotheca noun The scaly covering of the foot of a bird or reptile.
poenology noun See Penology.
poetaster noun An inferior rhymer, or writer of verses; a dabbler in poetic art.
poetastry noun The works of a poetaster.
poeticule noun A poetaster.
poetizing present participle & vb. noun of Poetize
poignancy noun The quality or state of being poignant; as, the poignancy of satire; the poignancy of grief.
poinciana noun A prickly tropical shrub (Caesalpinia, formerly Poinciana, pulcherrima), with bipinnate leaves, and racemes of showy orange-red flowers with long crimson filaments.
pointless adjective Having no point; blunt; wanting keenness; obtuse; as, a pointless sword; a pointless remark.
pointsman noun A man who has charge of railroad points or switches.
poisoning present participle & vb. noun of Poison
poisonous adjective Having the qualities or effects of poison; venomous; baneful; corrupting; noxious.
polarized imp. & past participle of Polarize
polarizer noun That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, or a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly refracting crystal.
polemarch noun In Athens, originally, the military commanderin-chief; but, afterward, a civil magistrate who had jurisdiction in respect of strangers and sojourners. In other Grecian cities, a high military and civil officer.
polemical adjective Polemic; controversial; disputatious.
polewards adverb Toward a pole of the earth.
polianite noun Manganese dioxide, occurring in tetragonal crystals nearly as hard as quartz.
policemen plural of Policeman
policeman noun A member of a body of police; a constable.
policying present participle & vb. noun of Policy
polishing present participle & vb. noun of Polish, a. & n. from Polish.
politesse noun Politeness.
political adjective Having, or conforming to, a settled system of administration., Of or pertaining to public policy, or to politics; relating to affairs of state or administration; as, a political writer., Of or pertaining to a party, or to parties, in the state; as, his political relations were with the Whigs., Politic; wise; also, artful.
politicly adverb In a politic manner; sagaciously; shrewdly; artfully.
pollarded imp. & past participle of Pollard
pollenize verb t. To supply with pollen; to impregnate with pollen.
pollicate adjective Having a curved projection or spine on the inner side of a leg joint; — said of insects.
pollinate adjective Pollinose., To apply pollen to (a stigma).
pollinium noun A coherent mass of pollen, as in the milkweed and most orchids.
pollinose adjective Having the surface covered with a fine yellow dust, like pollen.
pollucite noun A colorless transparent mineral, resembling quartz, occurring with castor or castorite on the island of Elba. It is a silicate of alumina and caesia. Called also pollux.
polluting present participle & vb. noun of Pollute, Adapted or tending to pollute; causing defilement or pollution.
pollution noun The act of polluting, or the state of being polluted (in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity., The emission of semen, or sperm, at other times than in sexual intercourse.
polonaise adjective Of or pertaining to the Poles, or to Poland., The Polish language., An article of dress for women, consisting of a body and an outer skirt in one piece., A stately Polish dance tune, in 3-4 measure, beginning always on the beat with a quaver followed by a crotchet, and closing on the beat after a strong accent on the second beat; also, a dance adapted to such music; a polacca.
polt-foot adjective Alt. of Polt-footed
polverine noun Glassmaker’s ashes; a kind of potash or pearlash, brought from the Levant and Syria, — used in the manufacture of fine glass.
polyacron noun A solid having many summits or angular points; a polyhedron.
polyandry noun The possession by a woman of more than one husband at the same time; — contrasted with monandry.
polyarchy noun A government by many persons, of whatever order or class.
polybasic adjective Capable of neutralizing, or of combining with, several molecules of a monacid base; having several hydrogen atoms capable of being replaced by basic radicals; — said of certain acids; as, sulphuric acid is polybasic.
polychord adjective Having many strings., A musical instrument of ten strings., An apparatus for coupling two octave notes, capable of being attached to a keyed instrument.
polyconic adjective Pertaining to, or based upon, many cones.
polycracy noun Government by many rulers; polyarchy.
polyedron noun See Polyhedron.
polyeidic adjective Passing through several distinct larval forms; — having several distinct kinds of young.
polygalic adjective Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, Polygala; specifically, designating an acrid glucoside (called polygalic acid, senegin, etc.), resembling, or possibly identical with, saponin.
polygamia noun pl. A Linnaean class of plants, characterized by having both hermaphrodite and unisexual flowers on the same plant., A name given by Linnaeus to file orders of plants having syngenesious flowers.
polygenic adjective Of or relating to polygeny; polygenetic.
polygonal adjective Having many angles.
polygonum noun A genus of plants embracing a large number of species, including bistort, knotweed, smartweed, etc.
polygraph noun An instrument for multiplying copies of a writing; a manifold writer; a copying machine., In bibliography, a collection of different works, either by one or several authors., An instrument for detecting deceptive statements by a subject, by measuring several physiological states of the subject, such as pulse, heartbeat, and sweating. The instrument records these parameters on a strip of paper while the subject is asked questions designed to elicit emotional responses when the subject tries to deceive the interrogator. Also called lie detector
polygynia noun pl. A Linnaean order of plants having many styles.
polyhedra plural of Polyhedron
polymathy noun The knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning.
polymeric adjective Having the same percentage composition (that is, having the same elements united in the same proportion by weight), but different molecular weights; — often used with with; thus, cyanic acid (CNOH), fulminic acid (C2N2O2H2), and cyanuric acid (C3N3O3H3), are polymeric with each other.
polymnite noun A stone marked with dendrites and black lines, and so disposed as to represent rivers, marshes, etc.
polymorph noun A substance capable of crystallizing in several distinct forms; also, any one of these forms. Cf. Allomorph.
polymyoid adjective Having numerous vocal muscles; of or pertaining to the Polymyodae.
polyonomy noun The use of a variety of names for the same object.
polyorama noun A view of many objects; also, a sort of panorama with dissolving views.
polyphagy noun The practice or faculty of subsisting on many kinds of food.
polyphone noun A character or vocal sign representing more than one sound, as read, which is pronounced red.
polyphony noun Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo., Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign., Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; — opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint.
polyphore noun A receptacle which bears many ovaries.
polypidom noun A coral, or corallum; also, one of the coral-like structure made by bryozoans and hydroids.
polyporus noun A genus of fungi having the under surface full of minute pores; also, any fungus of this genus.
polypuses plural of Polypus
polyscope noun A glass which makes a single object appear as many; a multiplying glass., An apparatus for affording a view of the different cavities of the body.
polyspast noun A machine consisting of many pulleys; specifically, an apparatus formerly used for reducing luxations.
polystome adjective Having many mouths., An animal having many mouths; — applied to Protozoa.
polystyle adjective Having many columns; — said of a building, especially of an interior part or court; as, a polystyle hall., A polystyle hall or edifice.
polytyped imp. & past participle of Polytype
polyzoary noun The compound organism of a polyzoan.
polyzonal adjective Consisting of many zones or rings.
pomaceous adjective Like an apple or pear; producing pomes., Of or pertaining to a suborder (Pomeae) of rosaceous plants, which includes the true thorn trees, the quinces, service berries, medlars, and loquats, as well as the apples, pears, crabs, etc., Like pomace.
pomewater noun A kind of sweet, juicy apple.
pommelled of Pommel
pommeling present participle & vb. noun of Pommel
pommelion noun The cascabel, or hindmost knob, of a cannon.
pompadour noun A crimson or pink color; also, a style of dress cut low and square in the neck; also, a mode of dressing the hair by drawing it straight back from the forehead over a roll; — so called after the Marchioness de Pompadour of France. Also much used adjectively.
pompholyx noun Impure zinc oxide., A skin disease in which there is an eruption of bullae, without inflammation or fever.
pompoleon noun See Pompelmous.
pomposity noun The quality or state of being pompous; pompousness.
pondering present participle & vb. noun of Ponder, Deliberating.
ponderary adjective Of or pertaining to weight; as, a ponderary system.
ponderate verb t. To consider; to ponder., To have weight or influence.
ponderous adjective Very heavy; weighty; as, a ponderous shield; a ponderous load; the ponderous elephant., Important; momentous; forcible., Heavy; dull; wanting; lightless or spirit; as, a ponderous style; a ponderous joke.
poniarded imp. & past participle of Poniard
pontifice noun Bridgework; structure or edifice of a bridge.
pontlevis noun The action of a horse in rearing repeatedly and dangerously.
ponvolant noun A kind of light bridge, used in sieges, for surprising a post or outwork which has but a narrow moat; a flying bridge.
pooh-pooh verb t. To make light of; to treat with derision or contempt, as if by saying pooh! pooh!
poorhouse noun A dwelling for a number of paupers maintained at public expense; an almshouse; a workhouse.
poor-john noun A small European fish, similar to the cod, but of inferior quality.
poor-will noun A bird of the Western United States (Phalaenoptilus Nutalli) allied to the whip-poor-will.
popliteal adjective Of or pertaining to the ham; in the region of the ham, or behind the knee joint; as, the popliteal space.
poppyhead noun A raised ornament frequently having the form of a final. It is generally used on the tops of the upright ends or elbows which terminate seats, etc., in Gothic churches.
populares noun pl. The people or the people’s party, in ancient Rome, as opposed to the optimates.
popularly adverb In a popular manner; so as to be generally favored or accepted by the people; commonly; currently; as, the story was popularity reported.
populated imp. & past participle of Populate
populator noun One who populates.
porbeagle noun A species of shark (Lamna cornubica), about eight feet long, having a pointed nose and a crescent-shaped tail; — called also mackerel shark.
porcelain noun Purslain., A fine translucent or semitransculent kind of earthenware, made first in China and Japan, but now also in Europe and America; — called also China, or China ware.
porcupine noun Any Old Word rodent of the genus Hystrix, having the back covered with long, sharp, erectile spines or quills, sometimes a foot long. The common species of Europe and Asia (Hystrix cristata) is the best known., Any species of Erethizon and related genera, native of America. They are related to the true porcupines, but have shorter spines, and are arboreal in their habits. The Canada porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus) is a well known species.
poreblind adjective Nearsighted; shortsighted; purblind.
poriferan noun One of the Polifera.
porporino noun A composition of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, forming a yellow powder, sometimes used by mediaeval artists, for the sake of economy, instead of gold.
porringer noun A porridge dish; esp., a bowl or cup from which children eat or are fed; as, a silver porringer.
portative adjective Portable., Capable of holding up or carrying; as, the portative force of a magnet, of atmospheric pressure, or of capillarity.
portcluse noun A portcullis.
portended imp. & past participle of Portend
porterage noun The work of a porter; the occupation of a carrier or of a doorkeeper., Money charged or paid for the carriage of burdens or parcels by a porter.
porteress noun See Portress.
portfolio noun A portable case for holding loose papers, prints, drawings, etc., Hence: The office and functions of a minister of state or member of the cabinet; as, to receive the portfolio of war; to resign the portfolio.
portglave noun A sword bearer.
portgreve Alt. of Portgrave
portgrave In old English law, the chief magistrate of a port or maritime town.; a portreeve.
porticoes plural of Portico
porticoed adjective Furnished with a portico.
portingal adjective Of or pertaining to Portugal; Portuguese., A Portuguese.
portioned imp. & past participle of Portion
portioner noun One who portions., See Portionist, 2.
portrayed imp. & past participle of Portray
portrayal noun The act or process of portraying; description; delineation.
portrayer noun One who portrays.
portreeve noun A port warden.
portulaca noun A genus of polypetalous plants; also, any plant of the genus.
posologic adjective Alt. of Posological
pospolite noun A kind of militia in Poland, consisting of the gentry, which, in case of invasion, was summoned to the defense of the country.
possessed imp. & past participle of Possess
possessor noun One who possesses; one who occupies, holds, owns, or controls; one who has actual participation or enjoyment, generally of that which is desirable; a proprietor.
posseting present participle & vb. noun of Posset
postaxial adjective Situated behind any transverse axis in the body of an animal; caudal; posterior; especially, behind, or on the caudal or posterior (that is, ulnar or fibular) side of, the axis of a vertebrate limb.
postcavae plural of Postcava
postcornu noun The posterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain.
postdated imp. & past participle of Postdate
postentry noun A second or subsequent, at the customhouse, of goods which had been omitted by mistake., An additional or subsequent entry.
posterior adjective Later in time; hence, later in the order of proceeding or moving; coming after; — opposed to prior., Situated behind; hinder; — opposed to anterior., At or toward the caudal extremity; caudal; — in human anatomy often used for dorsal., On the side next the axis of inflorescence; — said of an axillary flower.
posterity noun The race that proceeds from a progenitor; offspring to the furthest generation; the aggregate number of persons who are descended from an ancestor of a generation; descendants; — contrasted with ancestry; as, the posterity of Abraham., Succeeding generations; future times.
postexist verb i. To exist after; to live subsequently.
post-fine noun A duty paid to the king by the cognizee in a fine of lands, when the same was fully passed; — called also the king’s silver.
postfixes plural of Postfix
postfurca noun One of the internal thoracic processes of the sternum of an insect.
posthaste noun Haste or speed in traveling, like that of a post or courier., With speed or expedition; as, he traveled posthaste; to send posthaste.
posthouse noun A house established for the convenience of the post, where relays of horses can be obtained., A house for distributing the malls; a post office.
posthumed adjective Posthumous.
postilled of Postil
postiling present participle & vb. noun of Postil
postilion noun One who rides and guides the first pair of horses of a coach or post chaise; also, one who rides one of the horses when one pair only is used.
postnares noun pl. The posterior nares. See Nares.
postnatal adjective After birth; subsequent to birth; as, postnatal infanticide; postnatal diseases.
post note A note issued by a bank, payable at some future specified time, as distinguished from a note payable on demand.
post-obit Alt. of Post-obit bond
postponed imp. & past participle of Postpone
postponer noun One who postpones.
postposed imp. & past participle of Postpose
postposit verb t. To postpone.
postrider noun One who rides over a post road to carry the mails.
postulant noun One who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate.
postulate noun Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence., The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem., Postulated., To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions., To take without express consent; to assume., To invite earnestly; to solicit.
postulata plural of Postulatum
postumous adjective See Posthumous.
posturing present participle & vb. noun of Posture
pottassic adjective Pertaining to, or containing, potassium.
potassium noun An Alkali element, occurring abundantly but always combined, as in the chloride, sulphate, carbonate, or silicate, in the minerals sylvite, kainite, orthoclase, muscovite, etc. Atomic weight 39.0. Symbol K (Kalium).
pot-belly noun A protuberant belly.
potboiler noun A term applied derisively to any literary or artistic work, and esp. a painting, done simply for money and the means of living.
potentacy noun Sovereignty.
potentate adjective One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch.
potential adjective Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential., Existing in possibility, not in actuality., Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially., In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coordinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; — also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center., The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.
potentize verb t. To render the latent power of (anything) available.
potestate noun A chief ruler; a potentate. [Obs.] Wyclif.
pothecary noun An apothecary.
pothering present participle & vb. noun of Pother
potpourri noun A medley or mixture., A ragout composed of different sorts of meats, vegetables, etc., cooked together., A jar or packet of flower leaves, perfumes, and spices, used to scent a room., A piece of music made up of different airs strung together; a medley., A literary production composed of parts brought together without order or bond of connection.
pottering present participle & vb. noun of Potter
potteries plural of Pottery
poudrette noun A manure made from night soil, dried and mixed with charcoal, gypsum, etc.
pouldavis noun Same as Poledavy.
poulterer noun One who deals in poultry.
poulticed imp. & past participle of Poultice
poundcake noun A kind of rich, sweet cake; — so called from the ingredients being used by pounds, or in equal quantities.
poundrate noun A rate or proportion estimated at a certain amount for each pound; poundage.
pourparty noun A division; a divided share.
pourpoint noun A quilted military doublet or gambeson worn in the 14th and 15th centuries; also, a name for the doublet of the 16th and 17th centuries worn by civilians.
poussette noun A movement, or part of a figure, in the contradance., To perform a certain movement in a dance.
poutingly adverb In a pouting, or a sullen, manner.
powdering present participle & vb. noun of Powder, a. & n. from Powder, v. t.
powerable adjective Capable of being effected or accomplished by the application of power; possible., Capable of exerting power; powerful.
powerless adjective Destitute of power, force, or energy; weak; impotent; not able to produce any effect.
poy nette noun A bodkin.
pozzolana noun Volcanic ashes from Pozzuoli, in Italy, used in the manufacture of a kind of mortar which hardens under water.
practical adjective Of or pertaining to practice or action., Capable of being turned to use or account; useful, in distinction from ideal or theoretical; as, practical chemistry., Evincing practice or skill; capable of applying knowledge to some useful end; as, a practical man; a practical mind., Derived from practice; as, practical skill.
practiced imp. & past participle of Practice, Experienced; expert; skilled; as, a practiced marksman., Used habitually; learned by practice.
practicer noun One who practices, or puts in practice; one who customarily performs certain acts., One who exercises a profession; a practitioner., One who uses art or stratagem.
praecoces noun pl. A division of birds including those whose young are able to run about when first hatched.
praecornu noun The anterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain.
praemolar adjective See Premolar.
praemorse adjective Same as Premorse.
praemnire verb t. The subject to the penalties of praemunire.
praenares noun pl. The anterior nares. See Nares.
praenasal adjective Same as Prenasal.
praenomen noun The first name of a person, by which individuals of the same family were distinguished, answering to our Christian name, as Caius, Lucius, Marcus, etc.
praetexta noun A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the toga virilis, or until about the completion of his fourteenth year, and by girls until their marriage. It was also worn by magistrates and priests.
praetores noun pl. A division of butterflies including the satyrs.
pragmatic adjective Alt. of Pragmatical, One skilled in affairs., A solemn public ordinance or decree.
praisable adjective Fit to be praised; praise-worthy; laudable; commendable.
praisably adverb In a praisable manner.
praiseful adjective Praiseworthy., Praiseworthy.
prakritic adjective Pertaining to Prakrit.
prasinous adjective Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture.
pratingly adverb With idle talk; with loquacity.
prattling present participle & vb. noun of Prattle
prayerful adjective Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional.
prayingly adverb With supplication to God.
preaching present participle & vb. noun of Preach, The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of sermonizing; also, a sermon; a public religious discourse; serious, earnest advice.
preachify verb i. To discourse in the manner of a preacher.
preachmen plural of Preachman
preachman noun A preacher; — so called in contempt.
preaction noun Previous action.
preadamic adjective Prior to Adam.
preaortic adjective In front, or on the ventral side, of the aorta.
preataxic adjective Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; — applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia.
prebendal adjective Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall.
precation noun The act of praying; supplication; entreaty.
preceding present participle & vb. noun of Precede, Going before; — opposed to following., In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.
precedent adjective Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services., Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example., A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign., A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy., A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases.
precentor noun A leader of a choir; a directing singer., The leader of the choir in a cathedral; — called also the chanter or master of the choir., The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.
preceptor noun One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor., The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars.
precessor noun A predecessor.
precipice noun A sudden or headlong fall., A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; an abrupt declivity; a cliff.
precisian noun One who limits, or restrains., An overprecise person; one rigidly or ceremoniously exact in the observance of rules; a formalist; — formerly applied to the English Puritans.
precision noun The quality or state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness.
precisive adjective Cutting off; (Logic) exactly limiting by cutting off all that is not absolutely relative to the purpose; as, precisive censure; precisive abstraction.
precluded imp. & past participle of Preclude
precocity noun The quality or state of being precocious; untimely ripeness; premature development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness.
preconize verb t. To approve by preconization.
precrural adjective Situated in front of the leg or thigh; as, the precrural glands of the horse.
precurrer noun A precursor.
precursor noun One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger.
predacean noun A carnivorous animal.
predation noun The act of pillaging.
predatory adjective Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party., Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits., Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.
predefine verb t. To define beforehand.
predesign verb t. To design or purpose beforehand; to predetermine.
predicant adjective Predicating; affirming; declaring; proclaiming; hence; preaching., One who predicates, affirms, or proclaims; specifically, a preaching friar; a Dominican.
predicate verb t. To assert to belong to something; to affirm (one thing of another); as, to predicate whiteness of snow., To found; to base., To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation., That which is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, “Paper is white,” “Ink is not white,” whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink., The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject., Predicated.
predicted imp. & past participle of Predict
predictor noun One who predicts; a foreteller.
predigest verb t. To subject (food) to predigestion or artificial digestion.
predilect verb t. To elect or choose beforehand.
predorsal adjective Situated in front of the back; immediately in front, or on the ventral side the dorsal part of the vertebral column.
preemploy verb t. To employ beforehand.
preempted imp. & past participle of Preempt
preengage verb t. To engage by previous contract; to bind or attach previously; to preoccupy.
prefacing present participle & vb. noun of Preface
prefatory adjective Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse; as, prefatory remarks.
preferred imp. & past participle of Prefer
preferrer noun One who prefers.
prefident adjective Trusting beforehand; hence, overconfident.
prefigure verb t. To show, suggest, or announce, by antecedent types and similitudes; to foreshadow.
prefinite adjective Prearranged.
prefixing present participle & vb. noun of Prefix
prefixion noun The act of prefixing.
pregnable adjective Capable of being entered, taken, or captured; expugnable; as, a pregnable fort.
pregnance noun Pregnancy.
pregnancy noun The condition of being pregnant; the state of being with young., Figuratively: The quality of being heavy with important contents, issue, significance, etc.; unusual consequence or capacity; fertility.
prehallux noun An extra first toe, or rudiment of a toe, on the preaxial side of the hallux.
prehnitic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, a tetrabasic acid of benzene obtained as a white crystalline substance; — probably so called from the resemblance of the wartlike crystals to the mammillae on the surface of prehnite.
prejudged imp. & past participle of Prejudge
prejudice noun Foresight., An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge., A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment., Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment., To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman., To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause.
prelacies plural of Prelacy
prelatess noun A woman who is a prelate; the wife of a prelate.
prelatial adjective Prelatical.
prelation noun The setting of one above another; preference.
prelatism noun Prelacy; episcopacy.
prelatist noun One who supports of advocates prelacy, or the government of the church by prelates; hence, a high-churchman.
prelatize verb t. To bring under the influence of prelacy., To uphold or encourage prelacy; to exercise prelatical functions.
prelature noun Alt. of Prelatureship
prelected imp. & past participle of Prelect
prelector noun A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer.
preluding present participle & vb. noun of Prelude
preludial adjective Of or pertaining to a prelude; of the nature of a prelude; introductory.
prelumbar adjective Situated immediately in front of the loins; — applied to the dorsal part of the abdomen.
prelusive adjective Of the nature of a prelude; introductory; indicating that something of a like kind is to follow.
prelusory adjective Introductory; prelusive.
premature adjective Mature or ripe before the proper time; as, the premature fruits of a hotbed., Happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper or usual time; adopted too soon; too early; untimely; as, a premature fall of snow; a premature birth; a premature opinion; premature decay., Arriving or received without due authentication or evidence; as, a premature report.
premising present participle & vb. noun of Premise
premonish verb t. To forewarn; to admonish beforehand.
premosaic adjective Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history.
premotion noun Previous motion or excitement to action.
premunire noun See Praemunire.
premunite verb t. To fortify beforehand; to guard against objection.
prenostic noun A prognostic; an omen.
prenotion noun A notice or notion which precedes something else in time; previous notion or thought; foreknowledge.
preobtain verb t. To obtain beforehand.
preoccupy verb t. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held., To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.
preocular adjective Placed just in front of the eyes, as the antennae of certain insects., One of the scales just in front of the eye of a reptile or fish.
preoption noun Right of first choice.
preordain verb t. To ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain.
preparing present participle & vb. noun of Prepare
prepaying present participle & vb. noun of Prepay
prepenial adjective Situated in front of, or anterior to, the penis.
preponder verb t. To preponderate.
prepostor noun See Prepositor.
prepotent adjective Very powerful; superior in force, influence, or authority; predominant., Characterized by prepotency.
preputial adjective Of or pertaining to the prepuce.
preremote adjective More remote in previous time or prior order.
presaging present participle & vb. noun of Presage
presbyope noun One who has presbyopia; a farsighted person.
presbyopy noun See Presbyopia.
presbyter noun An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1., One ordained to the second order in the ministry; — called also priest., A member of a presbytery whether lay or clerical., A Presbyterian.
presbytia noun Presbyopia.
presbytic adjective Same as Presbyopic.
prescient adjective Having knowledge of coming events; foreseeing; conscious beforehand.
prescribe verb t. To lay down authoritatively as a guide, direction, or rule of action; to impose as a peremptory order; to dictate; to appoint; to direct., To direct, as a remedy to be used by a patient; as, the doctor prescribed quinine., To give directions; to dictate., To influence by long use, To write or to give medical directions; to indicate remedies; as, to prescribe for a patient in a fever., To claim by prescription; to claim a title to a thing on the ground of immemorial use and enjoyment, that is, by a custom having the force of law.
prescript adjective Directed; prescribed., Direction; precept; model prescribed., A medical prescription.
prescutum noun The first of the four pieces composing the dorsal part, or tergum, of a thoracic segment of an insect. It is usually small and inconspicuous.
preseance noun Priority of place in sitting.
preselect verb t. To select beforehand.
presented imp. & past participle of Present
presentee verb t. One to whom something is presented; also, one who is presented; specifically (Eccl.), one presented to benefice.
presenter noun One who presents.
presently adverb At present; at this time; now., At once; without delay; forthwith; also, less definitely, soon; shortly; before long; after a little while; by and by., With actual presence; actually .
preserved imp. & past participle of Preserve
preserver noun One who, or that which, preserves, saves, or defends, from destruction, injury, or decay; esp., one who saves the life or character of another., One who makes preserves of fruit.
presiding present participle & vb. noun of Preside, a. & n. from Preside.
president noun Precedent., Occupying the first rank or chief place; having the highest authority; presiding., One who is elected or appointed to preside; a presiding officer, as of a legislative body., The chief officer of a corporation, company, institution, society, or the like., The chief executive officer of the government in certain republics; as, the president of the United States., A protector; a guardian; a presiding genius.
presidial adjective Alt. of Presidiary
presidary noun A guard.
prespinal adjective Prevertebral.
pressgang noun See Press gang, under Press.
presspack verb t. To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.
presswork noun The art of printing from the surface of type, plates, or engravings in relief, by means of a press; the work so done.
prestable adjective Payable.
presultor noun A leader in the dance.
presuming present participle & vb. noun of Presume
pretended imp. & past participle of Pretend, Making a false appearance; unreal; false; as, pretended friend.
pretender noun One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant., The pretender (Eng. Hist.), the son or the grandson of James II., the heir of the royal family of Stuart, who laid claim to the throne of Great Britain, from which the house was excluded by law., One who pretends, simulates, or feigns.
pretensed adjective Pretended; feigned.
preterist noun One whose chief interest is in the past; one who regards the past with most pleasure or favor., One who believes the prophecies of the Apocalypse to have been already fulfilled.
preterite adjective & noun Same as Preterit.
pretermit verb t. To pass by; to omit; to disregard.
pretibial adjective Situated in front of the tibia.
pretorial adjective Pretorian.
pretorian adjective Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority., A soldier of the pretorian guard.
pretorium noun The general’s tent in a Roman camp; hence, a council of war, because held in the general’s tent., The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat.
prettyish adjective Somewhat pretty.
prettyism noun Affectation of a pretty style, manner, etc.
pretypify verb t. To prefigure; to exhibit previously in a type.
prevailed imp. & past participle of Prevail
prevalent adjective Gaining advantage or superiority; having superior force, influence, or efficacy; prevailing; predominant; successful; victorious., Most generally received or current; most widely adopted or practiced; also, generally or extensively existing; widespread; prevailing; as, a prevalent observance; prevalent disease.
prevented imp. & past participle of Prevent
preventer noun One who goes before; one who forestalls or anticipates another., One who prevents or obstructs; a hinderer; that which hinders; as, a preventer of evils or of disease., An auxiliary rope to strengthen a mast.
prevision noun Foresight; foreknowledge; prescience.
prevoyant adjective Foreseeing; prescient.
prewarned imp. & past participle of Prewarn
pricasour noun A hard rider.
priceless adjective Too valuable to admit of being appraised; of inestimable worth; invaluable., Of no value; worthless.
prickling adjective Prickly.
pricksong verb t. Music written, or noted, with dots or points; — so called from the points or dots with which it is noted down.
prickwood noun A shrub (Euonymus Europaeus); — so named from the use of its wood for goads, skewers, and shoe pegs. Called also spindle tree.
prideless adjective Without pride.
pridingly adverb Proudly.
priestcap noun A form of redan, so named from its shape; — called also swallowtail.
priestery noun Priests, collectively; the priesthood; — so called in contempt.
priestess noun A woman who officiated in sacred rites among pagans.
priesting noun The office of a priest.
priestism noun The influence, doctrines, principles, etc., of priests or the priesthood.
primality noun The quality or state of being primal.
primarily adverb In a primary manner; in the first place; in the first place; in the first intention; originally.
primaries plural of Primary
primatial adjective Primatical.
primeness noun The quality or state of being first., The quality or state of being prime, or excellent.
primerole noun See Primrose.
primevous adjective Primeval.
primipara noun A woman who bears a child for the first time.
primitiae plural of Primitia
primitias plural of Primitia
primitial adjective Being of the first production; primitive; original.
primitive adjective Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first; as, primitive innocence; the primitive church., Of or pertaining to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity; as, a primitive style of dress., Original; primary; radical; not derived; as, primitive verb in grammar., An original or primary word; a word not derived from another; — opposed to derivative.
princedom noun The jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank, or estate of a prince.
princekin noun A petty prince; a princeling.
princelet noun A petty prince.
princesse adjective A term applied to a lady’s long, close-fitting dress made with waist and skirt in one.
principal adjective Highest in rank, authority, character, importance, or degree; most considerable or important; chief; main; as, the principal officers of a Government; the principal men of a state; the principal productions of a country; the principal arguments in a case., Of or pertaining to a prince; princely., A leader, chief, or head; one who takes the lead; one who acts independently, or who has controlling authority or influence; as, the principal of a faction, a school, a firm, etc.; — distinguished from a subordinate, abettor, auxiliary, or assistant., The chief actor in a crime, or an abettor who is present at it, — as distinguished from an accessory., A chief obligor, promisor, or debtor, — as distinguished from a surety., One who employs another to act for him, — as distinguished from an agent., A thing of chief or prime importance; something fundamental or especially conspicuous., A capital sum of money, placed out at interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; — so called in distinction from interest or profit., The construction which gives shape and strength to a roof, — generally a truss of timber or iron, but there are roofs with stone principals. Also, loosely, the most important member of a piece of framing., In English organs the chief open metallic stop, an octave above the open diapason. On the manual it is four feet long, on the pedal eight feet. In Germany this term corresponds to the English open diapason., A heirloom; a mortuary., The first two long feathers of a hawk’s wing., One of turrets or pinnacles of waxwork and tapers with which the posts and center of a funeral hearse were formerly crowned., A principal or essential point or rule; a principle.
principia noun pl. First principles; fundamental beginnings; elements; as. Newton’s Principia.
principle noun Beginning; commencement., A source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate element, or cause., An original faculty or endowment., A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate., A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one’s actions; as, a person of no principle., Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; — applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc., To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.
printless adjective Making no imprint., Making no imprint.
printshop noun A shop where prints are sold.
priorship noun The state or office of prior; priorate.
prismatic adjective Alt. of Prismatical
prisoning present participle & vb. noun of Prison
privacies plural of Privacy
privateer noun An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque., The commander of a privateer., To cruise in a privateer.
privately adverb In a private manner; not openly; without the presence of others., In a manner affecting an individual; personally not officially; as, he is not privately benefited.
privation noun The act of depriving, or taking away; hence, the depriving of rank or office; degradation in rank; deprivation., The state of being deprived or destitute of something, especially of something required or desired; destitution; need; as, to undergo severe privations., The condition of being absent; absence; negation.
privative adjective Causing privation; depriving., Consisting in the absence of something; not positive; negative., Implying privation or negation; giving a negative force to a word; as, alpha privative; privative particles; — applied to such prefixes and suffixes as a- (Gr. /), un-, non-, -less., That of which the essence is the absence of something., A term indicating the absence of any quality which might be naturally or rationally expected; — called also privative term., A privative prefix or suffix. See Privative, a., 3.
privilege noun A peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity not enjoyed by others or by all; special enjoyment of a good, or exemption from an evil or burden; a prerogative; advantage; franchise., See Call, Put, Spread, etc., To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; to authorize; as, to privilege representatives from arrest., To bring or put into a condition of privilege or exemption from evil or danger; to exempt; to deliver.
privities plural of Privity
probality noun Probability.
probation noun The act of proving; also, that which proves anything; proof., Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation., The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule., The trial of a ministerial candidate’s qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor., Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state.
probative adjective Serving for trial or proof; probationary; as, probative judgments; probative evidence.
probatory adjective Serving for trial; probationary., Pertaining to, or serving for, proof.
probeagle noun See Porbeagle.
proboscis noun A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk., By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded., The nose.
procacity noun Forwardness; pertness; petulance.
procedure noun The act or manner of proceeding or moving forward; progress; process; operation; conduct., A step taken; an act performed; a proceeding; the steps taken in an action or other legal proceeding., That which results; issue; product.
proceeded imp. & past participle of Proceed
proceeder noun One who proceeds.
procerite noun The segment next to the flagellum of the antennae of Crustacea.
procerity noun Height of stature; tallness.
proclitic adjective Leaning forward; — said of certain monosyllabic words which are so closely attached to the following word as not to have a separate accent.
procoelia noun Same as Procoele., A division of Crocodilia, including the true crocodiles and alligators, in which the dorsal vertebrae are concave in front.
proconsul noun An officer who discharged the duties of a consul without being himself consul; a governor of, or a military commander in, a province. He was usually one who had previously been consul.
procreant adjective Generating; producing; productive; fruitful; assisting in procreation., One who, or that which, procreates.
procreate verb t. To generate and produce; to beget; to engender.
proctitis noun Inflammation of the rectum.
proctucha noun pl. A division of Turbellaria including those that have an intestine terminating posteriorly., The Nemertina.
procuracy noun The office or act of a proctor or procurator; management for another., Authority to act for another; a proxy.
procuring present participle & vb. noun of Procure
procuress noun A female procurer, or pander.
prodigate verb t. To squander.
prodigies plural of Prodigy
prodition noun Disclosure; treachery; treason.
proditory adjective Treacherous.
prodromal adjective Of or pertaining to prodromes; as, the prodromal stage of a disease.
prodromus noun A prodrome., A preliminary course or publication; — used esp. in the titles of elementary works.
producing present participle & vb. noun of Produce
producent noun One who produces, or offers to notice.
productus noun An extinct genus of brachiopods, very characteristic of the Carboniferous rocks.
proembryo noun The series of cells formed in the ovule of a flowering plant after fertilization, but before the formation of the embryo., The primary growth from the spore in certain cryptogamous plants; as, the proembryo, or protonema, of mosses.
profanate verb t. To profane.
profaning present participle & vb. noun of Profane
profanely adverb In a profane manner.
profanity noun The quality or state of being profane; profaneness; irreverence; esp., the use of profane language; blasphemy., That which is profane; profane language or acts.
professed imp. & past participle of Profess
provessel adjective Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian.
professor noun One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church., One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.
proffered imp. & past participle of Proffer
profferer noun One who proffers something.
profiling present participle & vb. noun of Profile, In the construction of fieldworks, the erection at proper intervals of wooden profiles, to show to the workmen the sectional form of the parapets at those points.
profilist noun One who takes profiles.
profiting present participle & vb. noun of Profit, Gain; advantage; profit.
profluent adjective Flowing forward,
profusely adverb In a profuse manner.
profusion noun The act of one who is profuse; a lavishing or pouring out without sting., Abundance; exuberant plenty; lavish supply; as, a profusion of commodities.
profusive adjective Profuse; lavish; prodigal.
prognathi noun pl. A comprehensive group of mankind, including those that have prognathous jaws.
prognosis noun The act or art of foretelling the course and termination of a disease; also, the outlook afforded by this act of judgment; as, the prognosis of hydrophobia is bad.
programma noun Any law, which, after it had passed the Athenian senate, was fixed on a tablet for public inspection previously to its being proposed to the general assembly of the people., An edict published for public information; an official bulletin; a public proclamation., See Programme., A preface.
programme noun That which is written or printed as a public notice or advertisement; a scheme; a prospectus; especially, a brief outline or explanation of the order to be pursued, or the subjects embraced, in any public exercise, performance, or entertainment; a preliminary sketch.
projected imp. & past participle of Project
projector noun One who projects a scheme or design; hence, one who forms fanciful or chimerical schemes.
prolapsus noun Prolapse.
prolation noun The act of prolating or pronouncing; utterance; pronunciation., The act of deferring; delay., A mediaeval method of determining of the proportionate duration of semibreves and minims.
prolegate noun The deputy or substitute for a legate.
prolepsis noun A figure by which objections are anticipated or prevented., A necessary truth or assumption; a first or assumed principle., An error in chronology, consisting in an event being dated before the actual time., The application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb; as, to strike one dumb.
proleptic adjective Alt. of Proleptical
proletary noun A citizen of the lowest class, who served the state, not with property, but only by having children; hence, a common person.
prolicide noun The crime of destroying one’s offspring, either in the womb or after birth.
prolixity noun The quality or state of being prolix; great length; minute detail; as, prolixity in discourses and writings.
prologize verb i. To deliver a Prologue.
prologued imp. & past participle of Prologue
prolonged imp. & past participle of Prolong
prolonger noun One who, or that which, causes an extension in time or space.
prolusion noun A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, an introductory essay or exercise.
promenade noun A walk for pleasure, display, or exercise., A place for walking; a public walk., To walk for pleasure, display, or exercise.
promerops noun Any one of several species of very brilliant birds belonging to Promerops, Epimarchus, and allied genera, closely related to the paradise birds, and mostly native of New Guinea. They have a long curved beak and a long graduated tail.
promethea noun A large American bombycid moth (Callosamia promethea). Its larva feeds on the sassafras, wild cherry, and other trees, and suspends its cocoon from a branch by a silken band.
prominent adjective Standing out, or projecting, beyond the line surface of something; jutting; protuberant; in high relief; as, a prominent figure on a vase., Hence; Distinctly manifest; likely to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous; as, a prominent feature of the face; a prominent building., Eminent; distinguished above others; as, a prominent character.
promising present participle & vb. noun of Promise, Making a promise or promises; affording hope or assurance; as, promising person; a promising day.
promoting present participle & vb. noun of Promote
promotive adjective Tending to advance, promote, or encourage.
prompting present participle & vb. noun of Prompt
prompture adjective Suggestion; incitement; prompting.
promulged imp. & past participle of Promulge
promulger noun One who promulges or publishes what was before unknown.
promuscis noun The proboscis of hemipterous insects. See Illust. under Hemiptera.
pronation noun The act of turning the palm or palmar surface of the forefoot downward., That motion of the forearm whereby the palm or palmar, surface is turned downward., The position of the limb resulting from the act of pronation. Opposed to supination.
proneness noun The quality or state of being prone, or of bending downward; as, the proneness of beasts is opposed to the erectness of man., The state of lying with the face down; — opposed to supineness., Descent; declivity; as, the proneness of a hill., Inclination of mind, heart, or temper; propension; disposition; as, proneness to self-gratification.
prongbuck noun The springbuck., The pronghorn.
prong-hoe noun A hoe with prongs to break the earth.
pronghorn noun An American antelope (Antilocapra Americana), native of the plain near the Rocky Mountains. The upper parts are mostly yellowish brown; the under parts, the sides of the head and throat, and the buttocks, are white. The horny sheath of the horns is shed annually. Called also cabree, cabut, prongbuck, and pronghorned antelope.
pronotary noun See Prothonotary.
pronounce verb t. To utter articulately; to speak out or distinctly; to utter, as words or syllables; to speak with the proper sound and accent as, adults rarely learn to pronounce a foreign language correctly., To utter officially or solemnly; to deliver, as a decree or sentence; as, to pronounce sentence of death., To speak or utter rhetorically; to deliver; to recite; as, to pronounce an oration., To declare or affirm; as, he pronounced the book to be a libel; he pronounced the act to be a fraud., To give a pronunciation; to articulate; as, to pronounce faultlessly., To make declaration; to utter on opinion; to speak with confidence., Pronouncement; declaration; pronunciation.
pronubial adjective Presiding over marriage.
pronuclei plural of Pronucleus
proof-arm verb t. To arm with proof armor; to arm securely; as, to proof-arm herself.
proofless adjective Wanting sufficient evidence to induce belief; not proved.
propagate verb t. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; — applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree., To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light., To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion., To multiply; to increase., To generate; to produce., To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly.
propagula plural of Propagulum
propargyl noun Same as Propinyl.
propelled imp. & past participle of Propel
propeller noun One who, or that which, propels., A contrivance for propelling a steam vessel, usually consisting of a screw placed in the stern under water, and made to revolve by an engine; a propeller wheel., A steamboat thus propelled; a screw steamer.
propepsin noun See Persinogen.
properate verb t. & i. To hasten, or press forward.
prophasis noun Foreknowledge of a disease; prognosis.
prophetic adjective Alt. of Prophetical
prophoric adjective Enunciative.
propidene noun The unsymmetrical hypothetical hydrocarbon radical, CH3.CH2.CH, analogous to ethylidene, and regarded as the type of certain derivatives of propane; — called also propylidene.
propiolic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid (called also propargylic acid) of the acetylene or tetrolic series, analogous to propionic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance.
propionic adjective Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an organic acid which is produced in the distillation of wood, in the fermentation of various organic substances, as glycerin, calcium lactate, etc., and is obtained as a colorless liquid having a sharp, pungent odor. Propionic acid is so called because it is the first or lowest member of the fatty acid series whose salts have a fatty feel.
propionyl noun The hypothetical radical C3H5O, regarded as the essential residue of propionic acid and certain related compounds.
propodial adjective Of or pertaining to the propodialia, or the parts of the limbs to which they belong.
propodite noun The sixth joint of a typical leg of a crustacean; usually, the penultimate joint.
propodium noun The anterior portion of the foot of a mollusk., The segment which forms the posterior part of the thorax of a hymenopterous insect.
proponent adjective Making proposals; proposing., One who makes a proposal, or lays down a proposition., The propounder of a thing.
proposing present participle & vb. noun of Propose
propretor noun A magistrate who, having been pretor at home, was appointed to the government of a province.
propriety noun Individual right to hold property; ownership by personal title; property., That which is proper or peculiar; an inherent property or quality; peculiarity., The quality or state of being proper; suitableness to an acknowledged or correct standard or rule; consonance with established principles, rules, or customs; fitness; appropriateness; as, propriety of behavior, language, manners, etc.
propugner noun A defender; a vindicator.
propylaea plural of Propylaeum
propylene noun A colorless gaseous hydrocarbon (C3H6) of the ethylene series, having a garlic odor. It occurs in coal gas, and is produced artificially in various ways. Called also propene.
prorating present participle & vb. noun of Prorate
prorector noun An officer who presides over the academic senate of a German university.
prorhinal adjective Situated in front of the nasal chambers.
prorogate verb t. To prorogue.
prorogued imp. & past participle of Prorogue
prosaical adjective Of or pertaining to prose; resembling prose; in the form of prose; unpoetical; writing or using prose; as, a prosaic composition., Dull; uninteresting; commonplace; unimaginative; prosy; as, a prosaic person.
proscenia plural of Proscenium
proscolex noun An early larval form of a trematode worm; a redia. See Redia.
proscribe verb t. To doom to destruction; to put out of the protection of law; to outlaw; to exile; as, Sylla and Marius proscribed each other’s adherents., To denounce and condemn; to interdict; to prohibit; as, the Puritans proscribed theaters.
proscript noun A proscription; a prohibition; an interdict., One who is proscribed.
prosector noun One who makes dissections for anatomical illustration; usually, the assistant of a professional anatomist.
prosecute verb t. To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to obtain or complete; to carry on; to continue; as, to prosecute a scheme, hope, or claim., To seek to obtain by legal process; as, to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law., To pursue with the intention of punishing; to accuse of some crime or breach of law, or to pursue for redress or punishment, before a legal tribunal; to proceed against judicially; as, to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot., To follow after., To institute and carry on a legal prosecution; as, to prosecute for public offenses.
proselyte noun A new convert especially a convert to some religion or religious sect, or to some particular opinion, system, or party; thus, a Gentile converted to Judaism, or a pagan converted to Christianity, is a proselyte., To convert to some religion, opinion, or system; to bring over.
prosimiae noun pl. Same as Lemuroidea.
prosiness noun The quality or state of being prosy; tediousness; tiresomeness.
prosingly adverb Prosily.
prosiphon noun A minute tube found in the protoconch of ammonites, and not connected with the true siphon.
prosodial adjective Prosodical.
prosodian noun A prosodist.
prosomata plural of Prosoma
prospered imp. & past participle of Prosper
prostatic adjective Of or pertaining to the prostate gland.
prostomia plural of Prostomium
prostrate adjective Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface; stretched out; as, to sleep prostrate., Lying at mercy, as a supplicant., Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant posture., Trailing on the ground; procumbent., To lay fiat; to throw down; to level; to fell; as, to prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants., to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to deprive of efficiency; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice., To throw down, or cause to fall in humility or adoration; to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively; as, he prostrated himself., To cause to sink totally; to deprive of strength; to reduce; as, a person prostrated by fever.
protactic adjective Giving a previous narrative or explanation, as of the plot or personages of a play; introductory.
proteanly adverb In a protean manner.
protected imp. & past participle of Protect
protector noun One who, or that which, defends or shields from injury, evil, oppression, etc.; a defender; a guardian; a patron., One having the care of the kingdom during the king’s minority; a regent., A cardinal, from one of the more considerable Roman Catholic nations, who looks after the interests of his people at Rome; also, a cardinal who has the same relation to a college, religious order, etc.
proteidea noun pl. An order of aquatic amphibians having prominent external gills and four legs. It includes Proteus and Menobranchus (Necturus). Called also Proteoidea, and Proteida.
protended imp. & past participle of Protend
protested imp. & past participle of Protest
protester noun One who protests; one who utters a solemn declaration., One who protests a bill of exchange, or note.
prothalli plural of Prothallus
prothesis noun A credence table; — so called by the Eastern or Greek Church., See Prosthesis.
prothetic adjective Of or pertaining to prothesis; as, a prothetic apparatus.
prothorax noun The first or anterior segment of the thorax in insects. See Illusts. of Butterfly and Coleoptera.
protiston noun One of the Protista.
protogine noun A kind of granite or gneiss containing a silvery talcose mineral.
protonema noun The primary growth from the spore of a moss, usually consisting of branching confervoid filaments, on any part of which stem and leaf buds may be developed.
protopine noun An alkaloid found in opium in small quantities, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.
protopope noun One of the clergy of first rank in the lower order of secular clergy; an archpriest; — called also protopapas.
protosalt noun A salt derived from a protoxide base.
prototype noun An original or model after which anything is copied; the pattern of anything to be engraved, or otherwise copied, cast, or the like; a primary form; exemplar; archetype.
protoxide noun That one of a series of oxides having the lowest proportion of oxygen. See Proto-, 2 (b).
protozoan adjective Of or pertaining to the Protozoa., One of the Protozoa.
protozoic adjective Of or pertaining to the Protozoa., Containing remains of the earliest discovered life of the globe, which included mollusks, radiates and protozoans.
protozoon noun One of the Protozoa., A single zooid of a compound protozoan.
protruded imp. & past participle of Protrude
proudling noun A proud or haughty person.
proudness noun The quality of being proud; pride.
proustite noun A sulphide of arsenic and silver of a beautiful cochineal-red color, occurring in rhombohedral crystals, and also massive; ruby silver.
provedore noun A proveditor; a purveyor.
proven/al adjective Of or pertaining to Provence or its inhabitants., A native or inhabitant of Provence in France., The Provencal language. See Langue d’oc.
provender noun Dry food for domestic animals, as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed., Food or provisions.
provexity noun Great advance in age.
providing present participle & vb. noun of Provide
provident adjective Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; — sometimes followed by of; as, aprovident man; an animal provident of the future.
providore noun One who makes provision; a purveyor.
provision noun The act of providing, or making previous preparation., That which is provided or prepared; that which is brought together or arranged in advance; measures taken beforehand; preparation., Especially, a stock of food; any kind of eatables collected or stored; — often in the plural., That which is stipulated in advance; a condition; a previous agreement; a proviso; as, the provisions of a contract; the statute has many provisions., A canonical term for regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation., A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation., To supply with food; to victual; as, to provision a garrison.
provisory adjective Of the nature of a proviso; containing a proviso or condition; conditional; as, a provisory clause., Making temporary provision; provisional.
provoking present participle & vb. noun of Provoke, Having the power or quality of exciting resentment; tending to awaken passion or vexation; as, provoking words or treatment.
proximate adjective Nearest; next immediately preceding or following.
proximity noun The quality or state of being next in time, place, causation, influence, etc.; immediate nearness, either in place, blood, or alliance.
proxyship noun The office or agency of a proxy.
prudently adverb In a prudent manner.
pruderies plural of Prudery
prudhomme noun A trustworthy citizen; a skilled workman. See Citation under 3d Commune, 1.
prudishly adverb In a prudish manner.
prurience noun Alt. of Pruriency
pruriency noun The quality or state of being prurient.
prussiate noun A salt of prussic acid; a cyanide.
prytaneum noun A public building in certain Greek cities; especially, a public hall in Athens regarded as the home of the community, in which official hospitality was extended to distinguished citizens and strangers.
psalmodic adjective Alt. of Psalmodical
psalteria plural of Psalterium
psarolite noun A silicified stem of tree fern, found in abundance in the Triassic sandstone.
pseudodox adjective Not true in opinion or doctrine; false., A false opinion or doctrine.
pseudonym noun A fictitious name assumed for the time, as by an author; a pen name.
pseudopod noun Any protoplasmic filament or irregular process projecting from any unicellular organism, or from any animal or plant call., A rhizopod.
pseudovum noun An egglike germ produced by the agamic females of some insects and other animals, and by the larvae of certain insects. It is capable of development without fertilization. See Illust. of Paedogenesis.
psilology noun Love of empty of empty talk or noise.
psittacid adjective Of or pertaining to the parrots, or the Psittaci., One of the Psittaci.
psoriasis noun The state of being affected with psora., A cutaneous disease, characterized by imbricated silvery scales, affecting only the superficial layers of the skin.
psychical adjective Of or pertaining to the human soul, or to the living principle in man., Of or pertaining to the mind, or its functions and diseases; mental; — contrasted with physical.
psychosis noun Any vital action or activity., A disease of the mind; especially, a functional mental disorder, that is, one unattended with evident organic changes.
ptarmigan noun Any grouse of the genus Lagopus, of which numerous species are known. The feet are completely feathered. Most of the species are brown in summer, but turn white, or nearly white, in winter.
pteropoda noun pl. A class of Mollusca in which the anterior lobes of the foot are developed in the form of broad, thin, winglike organs, with which they swim at near the surface of the sea.
pterosaur noun A pterodactyl.
pterygium noun A superficial growth of vascular tissue radiating in a fanlike manner from the cornea over the surface of the eye.
pterygoid adjective Like a bird’s wing in form; as, a pterygoid bone., Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the pterygoid bones, pterygoid processes, or the whole sphenoid bone., A pterygoid bone.
ptolemaic adjective Of or pertaining to Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer.
pubescent adjective Arrived at puberty., Covered with pubescence, or fine short hairs, as certain insects, and the leaves of some plants.
publicist noun A writer on the laws of nature and nations; one who is versed in the science of public right, the principles of government, etc.
publicity noun The quality or state of being public, or open to the knowledge of a community; notoriety; publicness.
published imp. & past participle of Publish
publisher noun One who publishes; as, a publisher of a book or magazine.
pucherite noun Vanadate of bismuth, occurring in minute reddish brown crystals.
puckering present participle & vb. noun of Pucker
puddening noun A quantity of rope-yarn, or the like, placed, as a fender, on the bow of a boat., A bunch of soft material to prevent chafing between spars, or the like.
puddering present participle & vb. noun of Pudder
puefellow noun A pewfellow.
puerilely adverb In a puerile manner; childishly.
puerility noun The quality of being puerile; childishness; puerileness., That which is puerile or childish; especially, an expression which is flat, insipid, or silly.
puerperal adjective Of or pertaining to childbirth; as, a puerperal fever.
puffiness noun The quality or state of being puffy.
puffingly adverb In a puffing manner; with vehement breathing or shortness of breath; with exaggerated praise.
pug-faced adjective Having a face like a monkey or a pug; monkey-faced.
pugnacity noun Inclination or readiness to fight; quarrelsomeness.
puissance noun Power; strength; might; force; potency.
pullicate noun A kind of checked cotton or silk handkerchief.
pullulate verb i. To germinate; to bud; to multiply abundantly.
pulmonary adjective Of or pertaining to the lungs; affecting the lungs; pulmonic., Lungwort.
pulmonata noun pl. An extensive division, or sub-class, of hermaphrodite gastropods, in which the mantle cavity is modified into an air-breathing organ, as in Helix, or land snails, Limax, or garden slugs, and many pond snails, as Limnaea and Planorbis.
pulmonate adjective Having breathing organs that act as lungs., Pertaining to the Pulmonata., One of the Pulmonata.
pulpatoon noun A kind of delicate confectionery or cake, perhaps made from the pulp of fruit.
pulpiness noun the quality or state of being pulpy.
pulpiteer noun One who speaks in a pulpit; a preacher; — so called in contempt.
pulpitish adjective Of or pertaining to the pulpit; like preaching.
pulsating present participle & vb. noun of Pulsate
pulsatile adjective Capable of being struck or beaten; played by beating or by percussion; as, a tambourine is a pulsatile musical instrument., Pulsating; throbbing, as a tumor.
pulsation noun A beating or throbbing, especially of the heart or of an artery, or in an inflamed part; a beat of the pulse., A single beat or throb of a series., A stroke or impulse by which some medium is affected, as in the propagation of sounds., Any touching of another’s body willfully or in anger. This constitutes battery.
pulsative adjective Beating; throbbing.
pulsatory adjective Capable of pulsating; throbbing.
pulseless adjective Having no pulsation; lifeless.
pulverate verb t. To beat or reduce to powder or dust; to pulverize.
pulverine noun Ashes of barilla.
pulverize verb t. To reduce of fine powder or dust, as by beating, grinding, or the like; as, friable substances may be pulverized by grinding or beating, but to pulverize malleable bodies other methods must be pursued., To become reduced to powder; to fall to dust; as, the stone pulverizes easily.
pulverous adjective Consisting of dust or powder; like powder.
pulvillio noun Alt. of Pulvillo
pulvillus noun One of the minute cushions on the feet of certain insects.
pulvinate adjective Alt. of Pulvinated
pulvinuli plural of Pulvinulus
pumicated imp. & past participle of Pumicate
pumiceous adjective Of or pertaining to pumice; resembling pumice.
punctated adjective Alt. of Punctated, Pointed; ending in a point or points., Dotted with small spots of color, or with minute depressions or pits.
punctator noun One who marks with points. specifically, one who writes Hebrew with points; — applied to a Masorite.
punctilio noun A nice point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or proceeding; particularity or exactness in forms; as, the punctilios of a public ceremony.
punctuate verb t. To mark with points; to separate into sentences, clauses, etc., by points or stops which mark the proper pauses in expressing the meaning.
punctuist noun A punctator.
punctured imp. & past participle of Puncture, Having the surface covered with minute indentations or dots., Produced by puncture; having the characteristics of a puncture; as, a punctured wound.
pungently adverb In a pungent manner; sharply.
puniceous adjective Alt. of Punicial
punishing present participle & vb. noun of Punish
punnology noun The art or practice of punning; paronomasia.
pupillary adjective Of or pertaining to a pupil or ward., Of or pertaining to the pupil of the eye.
puppetish adjective Resembling a puppet in appearance or action; of the nature of a puppet.
puppetman noun A master of a puppet show.
puppyhood noun The time or state of being a puppy; the time of being young and undisciplined.
purcelane noun Purslane.
purchased imp. & past participle of Purchase
purchaser noun One who purchases; one who acquires property for a consideration, generally of money; a buyer; a vendee., One who acquires an estate in lands by his own act or agreement, or who takes or obtains an estate by any means other than by descent or inheritance.
purgament noun That which is excreted; excretion., A cathartic; a purgative.
purgation noun The act of purging; the act of clearing, cleansing, or putifying, by separating and carrying off impurities, or whatever is superfluous; the evacuation of the bowels., The clearing of one’s self from a crime of which one was publicly suspected and accused. It was either canonical, which was prescribed by the canon law, the form whereof used in the spiritual court was, that the person suspected take his oath that he was clear of the matter objected against him, and bring his honest neighbors with him to make oath that they believes he swore truly; or vulgar, which was by fire or water ordeal, or by combat. See Ordeal.
purgative adjective Having the power or quality of purging; cathartic., A purging medicine; a cathartic.
purgatory adjective Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory., A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.
purifying present participle & vb. noun of Purify
puritanic adjective Alt. of Puritanical
purloined imp. & past participle of Purloin
purloiner noun One who purloins.
purported imp. & past participle of Purport
purposing present participle & vb. noun of Purpose
purposely adverb With purpose or design; intentionally; with predetermination; designedly.
purposive adjective Having or indicating purpose or design.
purpurate adjective Of or pertaining to purpura., A salt of purpuric acid.
purpureal adjective Of a purple color; purple.
purpureo- A combining form signifying of a purple or purple-red color. Specif. (Chem.), used in designating certain brilliant purple-red compounds of cobaltic chloride and ammonia, similar to the roseocobaltic compounds. See Cobaltic.
pursefuls plural of Purseful
pursiness noun State of being pursy.
pursuable adjective Capable of being, or fit to be, pursued, followed, or prosecuted.
pursuance noun The act of pursuing or prosecuting; a following out or after., The state of being pursuant; consequence.
purulency noun The quality or state of being purulent; the generation of pus; also, the pus itself.
purveance noun Alt. of Purveiaunce
purveying present participle & vb. noun of Purvey
pustulant verb t. Producing pustules., A medicine that produces pustules, as croton oil.
pustulate verb t. To form into pustules, or blisters., Alt. of Pustulated
pustulous adjective Resembling, or covered with, pustules; pustulate; pustular.
putidness noun The quality or state of being putrid.
putrefied imp. & past participle of Putrefy
putrescin noun A nontoxic diamine, C4H12N2, formed in the putrefaction of the flesh of mammals and some other animals.
putridity noun The quality of being putrid; putrefaction; rottenness.
putrilage noun That which is undergoing putrefaction; the products of putrefaction.
puttering present participle & vb. noun of Putter
putter-on noun An instigator.
puttyroot noun An American orchidaceous plant (Aplectrum hyemale) which flowers in early summer. Its slender naked rootstock produces each year a solid corm, filled with exceedingly glutinous matter, which sends up later a single large oval evergreen plaited leaf. Called also Adam-and-Eve.
puzzledom noun The domain of puzzles; puzzles, collectively.
puzzolana noun See Pozzuolana.
pycnidium noun In certain fungi, a flask-shaped cavity from the surface of the inner walls of which spores are produced.
pycnodont noun Any fossil fish belonging to the Pycnodontini. They have numerous round, flat teeth, adapted for crushing.
pygostyle noun The plate of bone which forms the posterior end of the vertebral column in most birds; the plowshare bone; the vomer. It is formed by the union of a number of the last caudal vertebrae, and supports the uropigium.
pylangium noun The first and undivided part of the aortic trunk in the amphibian heart.
pyocyanin noun A blue coloring matter found in the pus from old sores, supposed to be formed through the agency of a species of bacterium (Bacillus pyocyaneus).
pyracanth noun The evergreen thorn (Crataegus Pyracantha), a shrub native of Europe.
pyramidal adjective Of or pertaining to a pyramid; in the form of a a pyramid; pyramidical; as, pyramidal cleavage., Same as Tetragonal., One of the carpal bones. See Cuneiform, n., 2 (b).
pyramidic adjective Alt. of Pyramidical
pyramidia plural of Pyramidion
pyramides plural of Pyramis
pyrethrin noun A substance resembling, and isomeric with, ordinary camphor, and extracted from the essential oil of feverfew; — called also Pyrethrum camphor.
pyrexical adjective Of or pertaining to fever; feverish.
pyritical adjective Of or pertaining to pyrites; consisting of, or resembling, pyrites.
pyroboric adjective Pertaining to derived from, or designating, an acid, H2B4O7 (called also tetraboric acid), which is the acid ingredient of ordinary borax, and is obtained by heating boric acid.
pyrogenic adjective Producing heat; — said of substances, as septic poisons, which elevate the temperature of the body and cause fever.
pyrolator noun A fire worshiper.
pyrolatry noun The worship of fire.
pyromalic adjective Pertaining to, or designating, an acid now called maleic acid.
pyromancy noun Divination by means of fire.
pyromania noun An insane disposition to incendiarism.
pyrometer noun An instrument used for measuring the expansion of solid bodies by heat., An instrument for measuring degrees of heat above those indicated by the mercurial thermometer.
pyrometry noun The art of measuring degrees of heat, or the expansion of bodies by heat.
pyromucic adjective Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an acid obtained as a white crystalline substance by the distillation of mucic acid, or by the oxidation of furfurol.
pyrophane noun A mineral which is opaque in its natural state, but is said to change its color and become transparent by heat.
pyrophone noun A musical instrument in which the tones are produced by flames of hydrogen, or illuminating gas, burning in tubes of different sizes and lengths.
pyroscope noun An instrument for measuring the intensity of heat radiating from a fire, or the cooling influence of bodies. It is a differential thermometer, having one bulb coated with gold or silver leaf.
pyroxenic adjective Containing pyroxene; composed chiefly of pyroxene.
pyroxylic adjective Derived from wood by distillation; — formerly used in designating crude wood spirit.
pyroxylin noun A substance resembling gun cotton in composition and properties, but distinct in that it is more highly nitrified and is soluble in alcohol, ether, etc.; — called also pyroxyle.
pyrrhonic adjective Of or pertaining to pyrrhonism.
pyrroline noun A nitrogenous base, C4H7N, obtained as a colorless liquid by the reduction of pyrrol.
pythoness noun The priestess who gave oracular answers at Delphi in Greece., Any woman supposed to have a spirit of divination; a sort of witch.
pythonism noun The art of predicting events after the manner of the priestess of Apollo at Delphi; equivocal prophesying.
pythonist noun A conjurer; a diviner.