| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| paas | noun | Pace, The Easter festival. |
| paca | noun | A small South American rodent (Coelogenys paca), having blackish brown fur, with four parallel rows of white spots along its sides; the spotted cavy. It is nearly allied to the agouti and the Guinea pig. |
| pace | noun | A single movement from one foot to the other in walking; a step., The length of a step in walking or marching, reckoned from the heel of one foot to the heel of the other; — used as a unit in measuring distances; as, he advanced fifty paces., Manner of stepping or moving; gait; walk; as, the walk, trot, canter, gallop, and amble are paces of the horse; a swaggering pace; a quick pace., A slow gait; a footpace., Specifically, a kind of fast amble; a rack., Any single movement, step, or procedure., A broad step or platform; any part of a floor slightly raised above the rest, as around an altar, or at the upper end of a hall., A device in a loom, to maintain tension on the warp in pacing the web., To go; to walk; specifically, to move with regular or measured steps., To proceed; to pass on., To move quickly by lifting the legs on the same side together, as a horse; to amble with rapidity; to rack., To pass away; to die., To walk over with measured tread; to move slowly over or upon; as, the guard paces his round., To measure by steps or paces; as, to pace a piece of ground., To develop, guide, or control the pace or paces of; to teach the pace; to break in. |
| pack | noun | A pact., A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back; a load for an animal; a bale, as of goods., A number or quantity equal to the contents of a pack; hence, a multitude; a burden., A number or quantity of connected or similar things, A full set of playing cards; also, the assortment used in a particular game; as, a euchre pack., A number of hounds or dogs, hunting or kept together., A number of persons associated or leagued in a bad design or practice; a gang; as, a pack of thieves or knaves., A shook of cask staves., A bundle of sheet-iron plates for rolling simultaneously., A large area of floating pieces of ice driven together more or less closely., An envelope, or wrapping, of sheets used in hydropathic practice, called dry pack, wet pack, cold pack, etc., according to the method of treatment., A loose, lewd, or worthless person. See Baggage., To make a pack of; to arrange closely and securely in a pack; hence, to place and arrange compactly as in a pack; to press into close order or narrow compass; as to pack goods in a box; to pack fish., To fill in the manner of a pack, that is, compactly and securely, as for transportation; hence, to fill closely or to repletion; to stow away within; to cause to be full; to crowd into; as, to pack a trunk; the play, or the audience, packs the theater., To sort and arrange (the cards) in a pack so as to secure the game unfairly., Hence: To bring together or make up unfairly and fraudulently, in order to secure a certain result; as, to pack a jury or a causes., To contrive unfairly or fraudulently; to plot., To load with a pack; hence, to load; to encumber; as, to pack a horse., To cause to go; to send away with baggage or belongings; esp., to send away peremptorily or suddenly; — sometimes with off; as, to pack a boy off to school., To transport in a pack, or in the manner of a pack (i. e., on the backs of men or beasts)., To envelop in a wet or dry sheet, within numerous coverings. See Pack, n., 5., To render impervious, as by filling or surrounding with suitable material, or to fit or adjust so as to move without giving passage to air, water, or steam; as, to pack a joint; to pack the piston of a steam engine., To make up packs, bales, or bundles; to stow articles securely for transportation., To admit of stowage, or of making up for transportation or storage; to become compressed or to settle together, so as to form a compact mass; as, the goods pack conveniently; wet snow packs well., To gather in flocks or schools; as, the grouse or the perch begin to pack., To depart in haste; — generally with off or away., To unite in bad measures; to confederate for ill purposes; to join in collusion. |
| paco | noun | Alt. of Pacos |
| pact | verb | An agreement; a league; a compact; a covenant. |
| pacu | noun | A South American freah-water fish (Myleies pacu), of the family Characinidae. It is highly esteemed as food. |
| page | noun | A serving boy; formerly, a youth attending a person of high degree, especially at courts, as a position of honor and education; now commonly, in England, a youth employed for doing errands, waiting on the door, and similar service in households; in the United States, a boy employed to wait upon the members of a legislative body., A boy child., A contrivance, as a band, pin, snap, or the like, to hold the skirt of a woman’s dress from the ground., A track along which pallets carrying newly molded bricks are conveyed to the hack., Any one of several species of beautiful South American moths of the genus Urania., To attend (one) as a page., One side of a leaf of a book or manuscript., Fig.: A record; a writing; as, the page of history., The type set up for printing a page., To mark or number the pages of, as a book or manuscript; to furnish with folios. |
| pahi | noun | A large war canoe of the Society Islands. |
| paid | imp., past participle, & adjective | Receiving pay; compensated; hired; as, a paid attorney., Satisfied; contented., of Pay |
| pail | noun | A vessel of wood or tin, etc., usually cylindrical and having a bail, — used esp. for carrying liquids, as water or milk, etc.; a bucket. It may, or may not, have a cover. |
| pain | noun | Punishment suffered or denounced; suffering or evil inflicted as a punishment for crime, or connected with the commission of a crime; penalty., Any uneasy sensation in animal bodies, from slight uneasiness to extreme distress or torture, proceeding from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; bodily distress; bodily suffering; an ache; a smart., Specifically, the throes or travail of childbirth., Uneasiness of mind; mental distress; disquietude; anxiety; grief; solicitude; anguish., See Pains, labor, effort., To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish., To put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture; as, his dinner or his wound pained him; his stomach pained him., To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve; as a child’s faults pain his parents. |
| pair | noun | A number of things resembling one another, or belonging together; a set; as, a pair or flight of stairs. “A pair of beads.” Chaucer. Beau. & Fl. “Four pair of stairs.” Macaulay. [Now mostly or quite disused, except as to stairs.], Two things of a kind, similar in form, suited to each other, and intended to be used together; as, a pair of gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes., Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen., A married couple; a man and wife., A single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows., Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question, or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the final vote., In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion., To be joined in paris; to couple; to mate, as for breeding., To suit; to fit, as a counterpart., Same as To pair off. See phrase below., To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together, as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to one another., To engage (one’s self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions., To impair. |
| pais | noun | The country; the people of the neighborhood. |
| pale | verb i. | Wanting in color; not ruddy; dusky white; pallid; wan; as, a pale face; a pale red; a pale blue., Not bright or brilliant; of a faint luster or hue; dim; as, the pale light of the moon., Paleness; pallor., To turn pale; to lose color or luster., To make pale; to diminish the brightness of., A pointed stake or slat, either driven into the ground, or fastened to a rail at the top and bottom, for fencing or inclosing; a picket., That which incloses or fences in; a boundary; a limit; a fence; a palisade., A space or field having bounds or limits; a limited region or place; an inclosure; — often used figuratively., A stripe or band, as on a garment., One of the greater ordinaries, being a broad perpendicular stripe in an escutcheon, equally distant from the two edges, and occupying one third of it., A cheese scoop., A shore for bracing a timber before it is fastened., To inclose with pales, or as with pales; to encircle; to encompass; to fence off. |
| pali | noun | pl. of Palus., A dialect descended from Sanskrit, and like that, a dead language, except when used as the sacred language of the Buddhist religion in Farther India, etc., of Palus |
| pall | noun | Same as Pawl., An outer garment; a cloak mantle., A kind of rich stuff used for garments in the Middle Ages., Same as Pallium., A figure resembling the Roman Catholic pallium, or pall, and having the form of the letter Y., A large cloth, esp., a heavy black cloth, thrown over a coffin at a funeral; sometimes, also, over a tomb., A piece of cardboard, covered with linen and embroidered on one side; — used to put over the chalice., To cloak., To become vapid, tasteless, dull, or insipid; to lose strength, life, spirit, or taste; as, the liquor palls., To make vapid or insipid; to make lifeless or spiritless; to dull; to weaken., To satiate; to cloy; as, to pall the appetite., Nausea. |
| palm | noun | The inner and somewhat concave part of the hand between the bases of the fingers and the wrist., A lineal measure equal either to the breadth of the hand or to its length from the wrist to the ends of the fingers; a hand; — used in measuring a horse’s height., A metallic disk, attached to a strap, and worn the palm of the hand, — used to push the needle through the canvas, in sewing sails, etc., The broad flattened part of an antler, as of a full-grown fallow deer; — so called as resembling the palm of the hand with its protruding fingers., The flat inner face of an anchor fluke., Any endogenous tree of the order Palmae or Palmaceae; a palm tree., A branch or leaf of the palm, anciently borne or worn as a symbol of victory or rejoicing., Any symbol or token of superiority, success, or triumph; also, victory; triumph; supremacy., To handle., To manipulate with, or conceal in, the palm of the hand; to juggle., To impose by fraud, as by sleight of hand; to put by unfair means; — usually with off. |
| palp | noun | Same as Palpus., To have a distinct touch or feeling of; to feel. |
| paly | adjective | Pale; wanting color; dim., Divided into four or more equal parts by perpendicular lines, and of two different tinctures disposed alternately. |
| pan- | Alt. of Panto- | |
| pane | noun | The narrow edge of a hammer head. See Peen., A division; a distinct piece, limited part, or compartment of any surface; a patch; hence, a square of a checkered or plaided pattern., One of the openings in a slashed garment, showing the bright colored silk, or the like, within; hence, the piece of colored or other stuff so shown., A compartment of a surface, or a flat space; hence, one side or face of a building; as, an octagonal tower is said to have eight panes., Especially, in modern use, the glass in one compartment of a window sash., In irrigating, a subdivision of an irrigated surface between a feeder and an outlet drain., One of the flat surfaces, or facets, of any object having several sides., One of the eight facets surrounding the table of a brilliant cut diamond. |
| pang | noun | A paroxysm of extreme pain or anguish; a sudden and transitory agony; a throe; as, the pangs of death., To torture; to cause to have great pain or suffering; to torment. |
| pant | verb i. | To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion or from eagerness or excitement; to respire with heaving of the breast; to gasp., Hence: To long eagerly; to desire earnestly., To beat with unnatural violence or rapidity; to palpitate, or throb; — said of the heart., To sigh; to flutter; to languish., To breathe forth quickly or in a labored manner; to gasp out., To long for; to be eager after., A quick breathing; a catching of the breath; a gasp., A violent palpitation of the heart. |
| papa | noun | A child’s word for father., A parish priest in the Greek Church. |
| pape | noun | A spiritual father; specifically, the pope. |
| para | noun | A piece of Turkish money, usually copper, the fortieth part of a piaster, or about one ninth of a cent. |
| pard | noun | A leopard; a panther. |
| pare | verb t. | To cut off, or shave off, the superficial substance or extremities of; as, to pare an apple; to pare a horse’s hoof., To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin, ring, or outside part, from anything; — followed by off or away; as; to pare off the ring of fruit; to pare away redundancies., Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen. |
| park | noun | A piece of ground inclosed, and stored with beasts of the chase, which a man may have by prescription, or the king’s grant., A tract of ground kept in its natural state, about or adjacent to a residence, as for the preservation of game, for walking, riding, or the like., A piece of ground, in or near a city or town, inclosed and kept for ornament and recreation; as, Hyde Park in London; Central Park in New York., A space occupied by the animals, wagons, pontoons, and materials of all kinds, as ammunition, ordnance stores, hospital stores, provisions, etc., when brought together; also, the objects themselves; as, a park of wagons; a park of artillery., A partially inclosed basin in which oysters are grown., To inclose in a park, or as in a park., To bring together in a park, or compact body; as, to park the artillery, the wagons, etc. |
| parr | noun | A young salmon in the stage when it has dark transverse bands; — called also samlet, skegger, and fingerling., A young leveret. |
| part | noun | One of the portions, equal or unequal, into which anything is divided, or regarded as divided; something less than a whole; a number, quantity, mass, or the like, regarded as going to make up, with others, a larger number, quantity, mass, etc., whether actually separate or not; a piece; a fragment; a fraction; a division; a member; a constituent., An equal constituent portion; one of several or many like quantities, numbers, etc., into which anything is divided, or of which it is composed; proportional division or ingredient., A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element., A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; — usually in the plural with a collective sense., Quarter; region; district; — usually in the plural., Such portion of any quantity, as when taken a certain number of times, will exactly make that quantity; as, 3 is a part of 12; — the opposite of multiple. Also, a line or other element of a geometrical figure., That which belongs to one, or which is assumed by one, or which falls to one, in a division or apportionment; share; portion; lot; interest; concern; duty; office., One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction., A particular character in a drama or a play; an assumed personification; also, the language, actions, and influence of a character or an actor in a play; or, figuratively, in real life. See To act a part, under Act., One of the different melodies of a concerted composition, which heard in union compose its harmony; also, the music for each voice or instrument; as, the treble, tenor, or bass part; the violin part, etc., To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into two or more parts or pieces; to sever., To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot; to apportion; to share., To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove from contact or contiguity; to sunder., Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene betwixt, as combatants., To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion; as, to part gold from silver., To leave; to quit., To be broken or divided into parts or pieces; to break; to become separated; to go asunder; as, rope parts; his hair parts in the middle., To go away; to depart; to take leave; to quit each other; hence, to die; — often with from., To perform an act of parting; to relinquish a connection of any kind; — followed by with or from., To have a part or share; to partake., Partly; in a measure. |
| pash | verb t. | To strike; to crush; to smash; to dash in pieces., The head; the poll., A crushing blow., A heavy fall of rain or snow. |
| pask | noun | See Pasch. |
| pass | verb i. | To go; to move; to proceed; to be moved or transferred from one point to another; to make a transit; — usually with a following adverb or adverbal phrase defining the kind or manner of motion; as, to pass on, by, out, in, etc.; to pass swiftly, directly, smoothly, etc.; to pass to the rear, under the yoke, over the bridge, across the field, beyond the border, etc., To move or be transferred from one state or condition to another; to change possession, condition, or circumstances; to undergo transition; as, the business has passed into other hands., To move beyond the range of the senses or of knowledge; to pass away; hence, to disappear; to vanish; to depart; specifically, to depart from life; to die., To move or to come into being or under notice; to come and go in consciousness; hence, to take place; to occur; to happen; to come; to occur progressively or in succession; to be present transitorily., To go by or glide by, as time; to elapse; to be spent; as, their vacation passed pleasantly., To go from one person to another; hence, to be given and taken freely; as, clipped coin will not pass; to obtain general acceptance; to be held or regarded; to circulate; to be current; — followed by for before a word denoting value or estimation., To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to validity or effectiveness; to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject; to receive legislative sanction; to be enacted; as, the resolution passed; the bill passed both houses of Congress., To go through any inspection or test successfully; to be approved or accepted; as, he attempted the examination, but did not expect to pass., To be suffered to go on; to be tolerated; hence, to continue; to live along., To go unheeded or neglected; to proceed without hindrance or opposition; as, we let this act pass., To go beyond bounds; to surpass; to be in excess., To take heed; to care., To go through the intestines., To be conveyed or transferred by will, deed, or other instrument of conveyance; as, an estate passes by a certain clause in a deed., To make a lunge or pass; to thrust., To decline to take an optional action when it is one’s turn, as to decline to bid, or to bet, or to play a card; in euchre, to decline to make the trump., In football, hockey, etc., to make a pass; to transfer the ball, etc., to another player of one’s own side., To go by, beyond, over, through, or the like; to proceed from one side to the other of; as, to pass a house, a stream, a boundary, etc., To go from one limit to the other of; to spend; to live through; to have experience of; to undergo; to suffer., To go by without noticing; to omit attention to; to take no note of; to disregard., To transcend; to surpass; to excel; to exceed., To go successfully through, as an examination, trail, test, etc.; to obtain the formal sanction of, as a legislative body; as, he passed his examination; the bill passed the senate., To cause to move or go; to send; to transfer from one person, place, or condition to another; to transmit; to deliver; to hand; to make over; as, the waiter passed bisquit and cheese; the torch was passed from hand to hand., To cause to pass the lips; to utter; to pronounce; hence, to promise; to pledge; as, to pass sentence., To cause to advance by stages of progress; to carry on with success through an ordeal, examination, or action; specifically, to give legal or official sanction to; to ratify; to enact; to approve as valid and just; as, he passed the bill through the committee; the senate passed the law., To put in circulation; to give currency to; as, to pass counterfeit money., To cause to obtain entrance, admission, or conveyance; as, to pass a person into a theater, or over a railroad., To emit from the bowels; to evacuate., To take a turn with (a line, gasket, etc.), as around a sail in furling, and make secure., To make, as a thrust, punto, etc., An opening, road, or track, available for passing; especially, one through or over some dangerous or otherwise impracticable barrier; a passageway; a defile; a ford; as, a mountain pass., A thrust or push; an attempt to stab or strike an adversary., A movement of the hand over or along anything; the manipulation of a mesmerist., A single passage of a bar, rail, sheet, etc., between the rolls., State of things; condition; predicament., Permission or license to pass, or to go and come; a psssport; a ticket permitting free transit or admission; as, a railroad or theater pass; a military pass., Fig.: a thrust; a sally of wit., Estimation; character., A part; a division. |
| past | verb | Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences., A former time or state; a state of things gone by., Beyond, in position, or degree; further than; beyond the reach or influence of., Beyond, in time; after; as, past the hour., Above; exceeding; more than., By; beyond; as, he ran past. |
| pate | adjective | See Patte., A pie. See Patty., A kind of platform with a parapet, usually of an oval form, and generally erected in marshy grounds to cover a gate of a fortified place., The head of a person; the top, or crown, of the head., The skin of a calf’s head. |
| path | noun | A trodden way; a footway., A way, course, or track, in which anything moves or has moved; route; passage; an established way; as, the path of a meteor, of a caravan, of a storm, of a pestilence. Also used figuratively, of a course of life or action., To make a path in, or on (something), or for (some one)., To walk or go. |
| paul | noun | See Pawl., An Italian silver coin. See Paolo. |
| paum | verb t. & i. | To palm off by fraud; to cheat at cards. |
| pave | noun | The pavement., To lay or cover with stone, brick, or other material, so as to make a firm, level, or convenient surface for horses, carriages, or persons on foot, to travel on; to floor with brick, stone, or other solid material; as, to pave a street; to pave a court., Fig.: To make smooth, easy, and safe; to prepare, as a path or way; as, to pave the way to promotion; to pave the way for an enterprise. |
| pavo | noun | A genus of birds, including the peacocks., The Peacock, a constellation of the southern hemisphere. |
| pawk | noun | A small lobster. |
| pawl | noun | A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of Ratchet Wheel., To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off. |
| pawn | noun | See Pan, the masticatory., A man or piece of the lowest rank., Anything delivered or deposited as security, as for the payment of money borrowed, or of a debt; a pledge. See Pledge, n., 1., State of being pledged; a pledge for the fulfillment of a promise., A stake hazarded in a wager., To give or deposit in pledge, or as security for the payment of money borrowed; to put in pawn; to pledge; as, to pawn one’s watch., To pledge for the fulfillment of a promise; to stake; to risk; to wager; to hazard. |
| payn | noun | Bread. Having |
| peas | plural | of Pea |
| peak | noun | A point; the sharp end or top of anything that terminates in a point; as, the peak, or front, of a cap., The top, or one of the tops, of a hill, mountain, or range, ending in a point; often, the whole hill or mountain, esp. when isolated; as, the Peak of Teneriffe., The upper aftermost corner of a fore-and-aft sail; — used in many combinations; as, peak-halyards, peak-brails, etc., The narrow part of a vessel’s bow, or the hold within it., The extremity of an anchor fluke; the bill., To rise or extend into a peak or point; to form, or appear as, a peak., To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look thin or sicky., To pry; to peep slyly., To raise to a position perpendicular, or more nearly so; as, to peak oars, to hold them upright; to peak a gaff or yard, to set it nearer the perpendicular. |
| peal | noun | A small salmon; a grilse; a sewin., To appeal., A loud sound, or a succession of loud sounds, as of bells, thunder, cannon, shouts, of a multitude, etc., A set of bells tuned to each other according to the diatonic scale; also, the changes rung on a set of bells., To utter or give out loud sounds., To resound; to echo., To utter or give forth loudly; to cause to give out loud sounds; to noise abroad., To assail with noise or loud sounds., To pour out. |
| pean | noun | One of the furs, the ground being sable, and the spots or tufts or., A song of praise and triumph. See Paean. |
| pear | noun | The fleshy pome, or fruit, of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus communis), cultivated in many varieties in temperate climates; also, the tree which bears this fruit. See Pear family, below. |
| peat | noun | A small person; a pet; — sometimes used contemptuously., A substance of vegetable origin, consisting of roots and fibers, moss, etc., in various stages of decomposition, and found, as a kind of turf or bog, usually in low situations, where it is always more or less saturated with water. It is often dried and used for fuel. |
| peba | noun | An armadillo (Tatusia novemcincta) which is found from Texas to Paraguay; — called also tatouhou. |
| peck | noun | The fourth part of a bushel; a dry measure of eight quarts; as, a peck of wheat., A great deal; a large or excessive quantity., To strike with the beak; to thrust the beak into; as, a bird pecks a tree., Hence: To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument; especially, to strike, pick, etc., with repeated quick movements., To seize and pick up with the beak, or as with the beak; to bite; to eat; — often with up., To make, by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument; as, to peck a hole in a tree., To make strokes with the beak, or with a pointed instrument., To pick up food with the beak; hence, to eat., A quick, sharp stroke, as with the beak of a bird or a pointed instrument. |
| peek | verb i. | To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or through a crevice; to peep. |
| peel | noun | A small tower, fort, or castle; a keep., A spadelike implement, variously used, as for removing loaves of bread from a baker’s oven; also, a T-shaped implement used by printers and bookbinders for hanging wet sheets of paper on lines or poles to dry. Also, the blade of an oar., To plunder; to pillage; to rob., To strip off the skin, bark, or rind of; to strip by drawing or tearing off the skin, bark, husks, etc.; to flay; to decorticate; as, to peel an orange., To strip or tear off; to remove by stripping, as the skin of an animal, the bark of a tree, etc., To lose the skin, bark, or rind; to come off, as the skin, bark, or rind does; — often used with an adverb; as, the bark peels easily or readily., The skin or rind; as, the peel of an orange. |
| peen | noun | A round-edged, or hemispherical, end to the head of a hammer or sledge, used to stretch or bend metal by indentation., The sharp-edged end of the head of a mason’s hammer., To draw, bend, or straighten, as metal, by blows with the peen of a hammer or sledge. |
| peep | verb i. | To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep., To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance., To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry., The cry of a young chicken; a chirp., First outlook or appearance., A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment., Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla)., The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). |
| peer | verb i. | To come in sight; to appear., To look narrowly or curiously or intently; to peep; as, the peering day., One of the same rank, quality, endowments, character, etc.; an equal; a match; a mate., A comrade; a companion; a fellow; an associate., A nobleman; a member of one of the five degrees of the British nobility, namely, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron; as, a peer of the realm., To make equal in rank., To be, or to assume to be, equal. |
| pegm | noun | A sort of moving machine employed in the old pageants. |
| pein | noun | See Peen. |
| pela | noun | See Wax insect, under Wax. |
| pelf | noun | Money; riches; lucre; gain; — generally conveying the idea of something ill-gotten or worthless. It has no plural. |
| pell | verb t. | To pelt; to knock about., A skin or hide; a pelt., A roll of parchment; a parchment record. |
| pelt | noun | The skin of a beast with the hair on; a raw or undressed hide; a skin preserved with the hairy or woolly covering on it. See 4th Fell., The human skin., The body of any quarry killed by the hawk., To strike with something thrown or driven; to assail with pellets or missiles, as, to pelt with stones; pelted with hail., To throw; to use as a missile., To throw missiles., To throw out words., A blow or stroke from something thrown. |
| pent | of Pen, Penned or shut up; confined; — often with up. | |
| pend | noun | Oil cake; penock., To hang; to depend., To be undecided, or in process of adjustment., To pen; to confine. |
| penk | noun | A minnow. See Pink, n., 4. |
| pens | noun | pl. of Penny. |
| peon | noun | See Poon., A foot soldier; a policeman; also, an office attendant; a messenger., A day laborer; a servant; especially, in some of the Spanish American countries, debtor held by his creditor in a form of qualified servitude, to work out a debt., See 2d Pawn. |
| pepo | noun | Any fleshy fruit with a firm rind, as a pumpkin, melon, or gourd. See Gourd. |
| per- | A prefix used to signify through, throughout, by, for, or as an intensive as perhaps, by hap or chance; perennial, that lasts throughout the year; perforce, through or by force; perfoliate, perforate; perspicuous, evident throughout or very evident; perplex, literally, to entangle very much., Originally, denoting that the element to the name of which it is prefixed in the respective compounds exercised its highest valence; now, only that the element has a higher valence than in other similar compounds; thus, barium peroxide is the highest oxide of barium; while nitrogen and manganese peroxides, so-called, are not the highest oxides of those elements. | |
| pere | noun | A peer. |
| peri | noun | An imaginary being, male or female, like an elf or fairy, represented as a descendant of fallen angels, excluded from paradise till penance is accomplished. |
| perk | verb t. | To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of; as, to perk the ears; to perk up one’s head., To exalt one’s self; to bear one’s self loftily., Smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain., To peer; to look inquisitively. |
| pern | verb t. | To take profit of; to make profitable., The honey buzzard. |
| pers | adjective | Light blue; grayish blue; — a term applied to different shades at different periods., A cloth of sky-blue color. |
| pert | adjective | Open; evident; apert., Lively; brisk; sprightly; smart., Indecorously free, or presuming; saucy; bold; impertinent., To behave with pertness. |
| pery | noun | A pear tree. See Pirie. |
| pese | noun | A pea. |
| peso | noun | A Spanish dollar; also, an Argentine, Chilian, Colombian, etc., coin, equal to from 75 cents to a dollar; also, a pound weight. |
| pest | noun | A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague., Anything which resembles a pest; one who, or that which, is troublesome, noxious, mischievous, or destructive; a nuisance. |
| phiz | noun | The face or visage. |
| phyz | noun | See Phiz. |
| pied | imp. & past participle | of Pi, imp. & p. p. of Pi, or Pie, v., Variegated with spots of different colors; party-colored; spotted; piebald. |
| pial | adjective | Pertaining to the pia mater. |
| pian | noun | The yaws. See Yaws. |
| pica | noun | The genus that includes the magpies., A vitiated appetite that craves what is unfit for food, as chalk, ashes, coal, etc.; chthonophagia., A service-book. See Pie., A size of type next larger than small pica, and smaller than English. |
| pice | noun | A small copper coin of the East Indies, worth less than a cent. |
| pici | noun pl. | A division of birds including the woodpeckers and wrynecks., of Picus |
| pick | verb | To throw; to pitch., To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin., To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points; as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc., To open (a lock) as by a wire., To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc., To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket., To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one’s company; to pick one’s way; — often with out., To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; — often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information., To trim., To eat slowly, sparingly, or by morsels; to nibble., To do anything nicely or carefully, or by attending to small things; to select something with care., To steal; to pilfer., A sharp-pointed tool for picking; — often used in composition; as, a toothpick; a picklock., A heavy iron tool, curved and sometimes pointed at both ends, wielded by means of a wooden handle inserted in the middle, — used by quarrymen, roadmakers, etc.; also, a pointed hammer used for dressing millstones., A pike or spike; the sharp point fixed in the center of a buckler., Choice; right of selection; as, to have one’s pick., That which would be picked or chosen first; the best; as, the pick of the flock., A particle of ink or paper imbedded in the hollow of a letter, filling up its face, and occasioning a spot on a printed sheet., That which is picked in, as with a pointed pencil, to correct an unevenness in a picture., The blow which drives the shuttle, — the rate of speed of a loom being reckoned as so many picks per minute; hence, in describing the fineness of a fabric, a weft thread; as, so many picks to an inch. |
| pier | noun | Any detached mass of masonry, whether insulated or supporting one side of an arch or lintel, as of a bridge; the piece of wall between two openings., Any additional or auxiliary mass of masonry used to stiffen a wall. See Buttress., A projecting wharf or landing place. |
| piet | noun | The dipper, or water ouzel., The magpie. |
| pigg | noun | A piggin. See 1st Pig. |
| pika | noun | Any one of several species of rodents of the genus Lagomys, resembling small tailless rabbits. They inhabit the high mountains of Asia and America. Called also calling hare, and crying hare. See Chief hare. |
| pike | noun & verb | A foot soldier’s weapon, consisting of a long wooden shaft or staff, with a pointed steel head. It is now superseded by the bayonet., A pointed head or spike; esp., one in the center of a shield or target., A hayfork., A pick., A pointed or peaked hill., A large haycock., A turnpike; a toll bar., A large fresh-water fish (Esox lucius), found in Europe and America, highly valued as a food fish; — called also pickerel, gedd, luce, and jack. |
| pile | noun | A hair; hence, the fiber of wool, cotton, and the like; also, the nap when thick or heavy, as of carpeting and velvet., A covering of hair or fur., The head of an arrow or spear., A large stake, or piece of timber, pointed and driven into the earth, as at the bottom of a river, or in a harbor where the ground is soft, for the support of a building, a pier, or other superstructure, or to form a cofferdam, etc., One of the ordinaries or subordinaries having the form of a wedge, usually placed palewise, with the broadest end uppermost., To drive piles into; to fill with piles; to strengthen with piles., A mass of things heaped together; a heap; as, a pile of stones; a pile of wood., A mass formed in layers; as, a pile of shot., A funeral pile; a pyre., A large building, or mass of buildings., Same as Fagot, n., 2., A vertical series of alternate disks of two dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, laid up with disks of cloth or paper moistened with acid water between them, for producing a current of electricity; — commonly called Volta’s pile, voltaic pile, or galvanic pile., The reverse of a coin. See Reverse., To lay or throw into a pile or heap; to heap up; to collect into a mass; to accumulate; to amass; — often with up; as, to pile up wood., To cover with heaps; or in great abundance; to fill or overfill; to load. |
| pill | noun | The peel or skin., To be peeled; to peel off in flakes., To deprive of hair; to make bald., To peel; to make by removing the skin., To rob; to plunder; to pillage; to peel. See Peel, to plunder., A medicine in the form of a little ball, or small round mass, to be swallowed whole., Figuratively, something offensive or nauseous which must be accepted or endured. |
| pily | adjective | Like pile or wool. |
| pimp | noun | One who provides gratification for the lust of others; a procurer; a pander., To procure women for the gratification of others’ lusts; to pander. |
| pine | noun | Woe; torment; pain., To inflict pain upon; to torment; to torture; to afflict., To grieve or mourn for., To suffer; to be afflicted., To languish; to lose flesh or wear away, under any distress or anexiety of mind; to droop; — often used with away., To languish with desire; to waste away with longing for something; — usually followed by for., Any tree of the coniferous genus Pinus. See Pinus., The wood of the pine tree., A pineapple. |
| ping | noun | The sound made by a bullet in striking a solid object or in passing through the air., To make the sound called ping. |
| pink | noun | A vessel with a very narrow stern; — called also pinky., To wink; to blink., Half-shut; winking., To pierce with small holes; to cut the edge of, as cloth or paper, in small scallops or angles., To stab; to pierce as with a sword., To choose; to cull; to pick out., A stab., A name given to several plants of the caryophyllaceous genus Dianthus, and to their flowers, which are sometimes very fragrant and often double in cultivated varieties. The species are mostly perennial herbs, with opposite linear leaves, and handsome five-petaled flowers with a tubular calyx., A color resulting from the combination of a pure vivid red with more or less white; — so called from the common color of the flower., Anything supremely excellent; the embodiment or perfection of something., The European minnow; — so called from the color of its abdomen in summer., Resembling the garden pink in color; of the color called pink (see 6th Pink, 2); as, a pink dress; pink ribbons. |
| pint | noun | A measure of capacity, equal to half a quart, or four gills, — used in liquid and dry measures. See Quart., The laughing gull. |
| piny | adjective | Abounding with pines. |
| piot | noun | The magpie. |
| pipa | noun | The Surinam toad (Pipa Americana), noted for its peculiar breeding habits. |
| pipe | noun | A wind instrument of music, consisting of a tube or tubes of straw, reed, wood, or metal; any tube which produces musical sounds; as, a shepherd’s pipe; the pipe of an organ., Any long tube or hollow body of wood, metal, earthenware, or the like: especially, one used as a conductor of water, steam, gas, etc., A small bowl with a hollow steam, — used in smoking tobacco, and, sometimes, other substances., A passageway for the air in speaking and breathing; the windpipe, or one of its divisions., The key or sound of the voice., The peeping whistle, call, or note of a bird., The bagpipe; as, the pipes of Lucknow., An elongated body or vein of ore., A roll formerly used in the English exchequer, otherwise called the Great Roll, on which were taken down the accounts of debts to the king; — so called because put together like a pipe., A boatswain’s whistle, used to call the crew to their duties; also, the sound of it., A cask usually containing two hogsheads, or 126 wine gallons; also, the quantity which it contains., To play on a pipe, fife, flute, or other tubular wind instrument of music., To call, convey orders, etc., by means of signals on a pipe or whistle carried by a boatswain., To emit or have a shrill sound like that of a pipe; to whistle., To become hollow in the process of solodifying; — said of an ingot, as of steel., To perform, as a tune, by playing on a pipe, flute, fife, etc.; to utter in the shrill tone of a pipe., To call or direct, as a crew, by the boatswain’s whistle., To furnish or equip with pipes; as, to pipe an engine, or a building. |
| pipy | adjective | Like a pipe; hollow-stemmed. |
| pirl | verb t. | To spin, as a top., To twist or twine, as hair in making fishing lines. |
| pirn | noun | A quill or reed on which thread or yarn is wound; a bobbin; also, the wound yarn on a weaver’s shuttle; also, the reel of a fishing rod. |
| pise | noun | A species of wall made of stiff earth or clay rammed in between molds which are carried up as the wall rises; — called also pise work. |
| pish | interj. | An exclamation of contempt., To express contempt. |
| piss | verb t. & i. | To discharge urine, to urinate., Urine. |
| pist | noun | See Piste. |
| pita | noun | A fiber obtained from the Agave Americana and other related species, — used for making cordage and paper. Called also pita fiber, and pita thread., The plant which yields the fiber. |
| pith | noun | The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees, especially those of the dicotyledonous or exogenous classes. It consists of cellular tissue., The spongy interior substance of a feather., The spinal cord; the marrow., Hence: The which contains the strength of life; the vital or essential part; concentrated force; vigor; strength; importance; as, the speech lacked pith., To destroy the central nervous system of (an animal, as a frog), as by passing a stout wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal. |
| pity | noun | Piety., A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration., A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted., To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering., To move to pity; — used impersonally., To be compassionate; to show pity. |
| pixy | noun | Alt. of Pixie |
| plan | adjective | A draught or form; properly, a representation drawn on a plane, as a map or a chart; especially, a top view, as of a machine, or the representation or delineation of a horizontal section of anything, as of a building; a graphic representation; a diagram., A scheme devised; a method of action or procedure expressed or described in language; a project; as, the plan of a constitution; the plan of an expedition., A method; a way of procedure; a custom., To form a delineation of; to draught; to represent, as by a diagram., To scheme; to devise; to contrive; to form in design; as, to plan the conquest of a country. |
| plat | verb t. | To form by interlaying interweaving; to braid; to plait., Work done by platting or braiding; a plait., A small piece or plot of ground laid out with some design, or for a special use; usually, a portion of flat, even ground., To lay out in plats or plots, as ground., Plain; flat; level., Plainly; flatly; downright., Flatly; smoothly; evenly., The flat or broad side of a sword., A plot; a plan; a design; a diagram; a map; a chart. |
| play | noun | To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot., To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless., To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes., To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute., To act; to behave; to practice deception., To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays., To move gayly; to wanton; to disport., To act on the stage; to personate a character., To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump., To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ., To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin., To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks., To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman., To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball., To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it., Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols., Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game., The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play., Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit., A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action., The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play., Performance on an instrument of music., Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action., Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth. |
| plea | noun | That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant’s plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant’s formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him., A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common., That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology., An urgent prayer or entreaty. |
| pled | of Plead, imp. & p. p. of Plead | |
| pley | verb & noun | See Play., Full See Plein. |
| plim | verb i. | To swell, as grain or wood with water. |
| ploc | noun | A mixture of hair and tar for covering the bottom of a ship. |
| plod | verb i. | To travel slowly but steadily; to trudge., To toil; to drudge; especially, to study laboriously and patiently., To walk on slowly or heavily. |
| plot | noun | A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot., A plantation laid out., A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale., To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate., Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot., A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy., Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue., A plan; a purpose., In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means., To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire., To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme., To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly. |
| plow | noun | Alt. of Plough, Alt. of Plough, Alt. of Plough |
| ploy | noun | Sport; frolic., To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision; — the opposite of deploy. |
| plug | noun | Any piece of wood, metal, or other substance used to stop or fill a hole; a stopple., A flat oblong cake of pressed tobacco., A high, tapering silk hat., A worthless horse., A block of wood let into a wall, to afford a hold for nails., To stop with a plug; to make tight by stopping a hole. |
| plum | noun | The edible drupaceous fruit of the Prunus domestica, and of several other species of Prunus; also, the tree itself, usually called plum tree., A grape dried in the sun; a raisin., A handsome fortune or property; formerly, in cant language, the sum of £100,000 sterling; also, the person possessing it. |
| plus | adjective | More, required to be added; positive, as distinguished from negative; — opposed to minus., Hence, in a literary sense, additional; real; actual. |
| pnyx | noun | The place at Athens where the meetings of the people were held for making decrees, etc. |
| poak | noun | Alt. of Poake |
| pock | noun | A pustule raised on the surface of the body in variolous and vaccine diseases. |
| poco | adverb | A little; — used chiefly in phrases indicating the time or movement; as, poco piu allegro, a little faster; poco largo, rather slow. |
| poem | noun | A metrical composition; a composition in verse written in certain measures, whether in blank verse or in rhyme, and characterized by imagination and poetic diction; — contradistinguished from prose; as, the poems of Homer or of Milton., A composition, not in verse, of which the language is highly imaginative or impassioned; as, a prose poem; the poems of Ossian. |
| poet | noun | One skilled in making poetry; one who has a particular genius for metrical composition; the author of a poem; an imaginative thinker or writer. |
| pogy | noun | The menhaden. |
| poke | noun | A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca (P. decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; — called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine., A bag; a sack; a pocket., A long, wide sleeve; — called also poke sleeve., To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire., To thrust with the horns; to gore., To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox., To search; to feel one’s way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to poke about., The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs., A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person., A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward. |
| poky | adjective | Confined; cramped., Dull; tedious; uninteresting. |
| pole | noun | A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Polander., A long, slender piece of wood; a tall, slender piece of timber; the stem of a small tree whose branches have been removed; as, specifically: (a) A carriage pole, a wooden bar extending from the front axle of a carriage between the wheel horses, by which the carriage is guided and held back. (b) A flag pole, a pole on which a flag is supported. (c) A Maypole. See Maypole. (d) A barber’s pole, a pole painted in stripes, used as a sign by barbers and hairdressers. (e) A pole on which climbing beans, hops, or other vines, are trained., A measuring stick; also, a measure of length equal to 5/ yards, or a square measure equal to 30/ square yards; a rod; a perch., To furnish with poles for support; as, to pole beans or hops., To convey on poles; as, to pole hay into a barn., To impel by a pole or poles, as a boat., To stir, as molten glass, with a pole., Either extremity of an axis of a sphere; especially, one of the extremities of the earth’s axis; as, the north pole., A point upon the surface of a sphere equally distant from every part of the circumference of a great circle; or the point in which a diameter of the sphere perpendicular to the plane of such circle meets the surface. Such a point is called the pole of that circle; as, the pole of the horizon; the pole of the ecliptic; the pole of a given meridian., One of the opposite or contrasted parts or directions in which a polar force is manifested; a point of maximum intensity of a force which has two such points, or which has polarity; as, the poles of a magnet; the north pole of a needle., The firmament; the sky., See Polarity, and Polar, n. |
| poll | noun | A parrot; — familiarly so called., One who does not try for honors, but is content to take a degree merely; a passman., The head; the back part of the head., A number or aggregate of heads; a list or register of heads or individuals., Specifically, the register of the names of electors who may vote in an election., The casting or recording of the votes of registered electors; as, the close of the poll., The place where the votes are cast or recorded; as, to go to the polls., The broad end of a hammer; the but of an ax., The European chub. See Pollard, 3 (a)., To remove the poll or head of; hence, to remove the top or end of; to clip; to lop; to shear; as, to poll the head; to poll a tree., To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow or crop; — sometimes with off; as, to poll the hair; to poll wool; to poll grass., To extort from; to plunder; to strip., To impose a tax upon., To pay as one’s personal tax., To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to enroll, esp. for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by one., To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call forth, as votes or voters; as, he polled a hundred votes more than his opponent., To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight line without indentation; as, a polled deed. See Dee/ poll., To vote at an election. |
| polo | noun | A game of ball of Eastern origin, resembling hockey, with the players on horseback., A similar game played on the ice, or on a prepared floor, by players wearing skates. |
| polt | noun | A blow or thump., Distorted. |
| poly | noun | A whitish woolly plant (Teucrium Polium) of the order Labiatae, found throughout the Mediterranean region. The name, with sundry prefixes, is sometimes given to other related species of the same genus. |
| pome | noun | A fruit composed of several cartilaginous or bony carpels inclosed in an adherent fleshy mass, which is partly receptacle and partly calyx, as an apple, quince, or pear., A ball of silver or other metal, which is filled with hot water, and used by the priest in cold weather to warm his hands during the service., To grow to a head, or form a head in growing. |
| pomp | noun | A procession distinguished by ostentation and splendor; a pageant., Show of magnificence; parade; display; power., To make a pompons display; to conduct. |
| pond | noun | A body of water, naturally or artificially confined, and usually of less extent than a lake., To make into a pond; to collect, as water, in a pond by damming., To ponder. |
| pone | noun | A kind of johnnycake. |
| pons | noun | A bridge; — applied to several parts which connect others, but especially to the pons Varolii, a prominent band of nervous tissue situated on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata and connected at each side with the hemispheres of the cerebellum; the mesocephalon. See Brain. |
| pony | noun | A small horse., Twenty-five pounds sterling., A translation or a key used to avoid study in getting lessons; a crib., A small glass of beer. |
| pood | noun | A Russian weight, equal to forty Russian pounds or about thirty-six English pounds avoirdupois. |
| pooh | interj. | Pshaw! pish! nonsense! — an expression of scorn, dislike, or contempt. |
| pool | noun | A small and rather deep collection of (usually) fresh water, as one supplied by a spring, or occurring in the course of a stream; a reservoir for water; as, the pools of Solomon., A small body of standing or stagnant water; a puddle., The stake played for in certain games of cards, billiards, etc.; an aggregated stake to which each player has contributed a snare; also, the receptacle for the stakes., A game at billiards, in which each of the players stakes a certain sum, the winner taking the whole; also, in public billiard rooms, a game in which the loser pays the entrance fee for all who engage in the game; a game of skill in pocketing the balls on a pool table., In rifle shooting, a contest in which each competitor pays a certain sum for every shot he makes, the net proceeds being divided among the winners., Any gambling or commercial venture in which several persons join., A combination of persons contributing money to be used for the purpose of increasing or depressing the market price of stocks, grain, or other commodities; also, the aggregate of the sums so contributed; as, the pool took all the wheat offered below the limit; he put $10,000 into the pool., A mutual arrangement between competing lines, by which the receipts of all are aggregated, and then distributed pro rata according to agreement., An aggregation of properties or rights, belonging to different people in a community, in a common fund, to be charged with common liabilities., To put together; to contribute to a common fund, on the basis of a mutual division of profits or losses; to make a common interest of; as, the companies pooled their traffic., To combine or contribute with others, as for a commercial, speculative, or gambling transaction. |
| poon | noun | A name for several East Indian, or their wood, used for the masts and spars of vessels, as Calophyllum angustifolium, C. inophullum, and Sterculia foetida; — called also peon. |
| poop | noun | See 2d Poppy., To make a noise; to pop; also, to break wind., A deck raised above the after part of a vessel; the hindmost or after part of a vessel’s hull; also, a cabin covered by such a deck. See Poop deck, under Deck. See also Roundhouse., To break over the poop or stern, as a wave., To strike in the stern, as by collision. |
| poor | superl. | Destitute of property; wanting in material riches or goods; needy; indigent., So completely destitute of property as to be entitled to maintenance from the public., Destitute of such qualities as are desirable, or might naturally be expected, Wanting in fat, plumpness, or fleshiness; lean; emaciated; meager; as, a poor horse, ox, dog, etc., Wanting in strength or vigor; feeble; dejected; as, poor health; poor spirits., Of little value or worth; not good; inferior; shabby; mean; as, poor clothes; poor lodgings., Destitute of fertility; exhausted; barren; sterile; — said of land; as, poor soil., Destitute of beauty, fitness, or merit; as, a poor discourse; a poor picture., Without prosperous conditions or good results; unfavorable; unfortunate; unconformable; as, a poor business; the sick man had a poor night., Inadequate; insufficient; insignificant; as, a poor excuse., Worthy of pity or sympathy; — used also sometimes as a term of endearment, or as an expression of modesty, and sometimes as a word of contempt., Free from self-assertion; not proud or arrogant; meek., A small European codfish (Gadus minutus); — called also power cod. |
| pope | noun | Any ecclesiastic, esp. a bishop., The bishop of Rome, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. See Note under Cardinal., A parish priest, or a chaplain, of the Greek Church., A fish; the ruff. |
| pore | verb | One of the minute orifices in an animal or vegetable membrane, for transpiration, absorption, etc., A minute opening or passageway; an interstice between the constituent particles or molecules of a body; as, the pores of stones., To look or gaze steadily in reading or studying; to fix the attention; to be absorbed; — often with on or upon, and now usually with over. |
| pork | noun | The flesh of swine, fresh or salted, used for food. |
| port | noun | A dark red or purple astringent wine made in Portugal. It contains a large percentage of alcohol., A place where ships may ride secure from storms; a sheltered inlet, bay, or cove; a harbor; a haven. Used also figuratively., In law and commercial usage, a harbor where vessels are admitted to discharge and receive cargoes, from whence they depart and where they finish their voyages., A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place; a gate; a door; a portal., An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also, the shutters which close such an opening., A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid, as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in a valve seat, or valve face., To carry; to bear; to transport., To throw, as a musket, diagonally across the body, with the lock in front, the right hand grasping the small of the stock, and the barrel sloping upward and crossing the point of the left shoulder; as, to port arms., The manner in which a person bears himself; deportment; carriage; bearing; demeanor; hence, manner or style of living; as, a proud port., The larboard or left side of a ship (looking from the stern toward the bow); as, a vessel heels to port. See Note under Larboard. Also used adjectively., To turn or put to the left or larboard side of a ship; — said of the helm, and used chiefly in the imperative, as a command; as, port your helm. |
| pory | adjective | Porous; as, pory stone. [R.] Dryden. |
| pose | adjective | Standing still, with all the feet on the ground; — said of the attitude of a lion, horse, or other beast., A cold in the head; catarrh., The attitude or position of a person; the position of the body or of any member of the body; especially, a position formally assumed for the sake of effect; an artificial position; as, the pose of an actor; the pose of an artist’s model or of a statue., To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect; to arrange the posture and drapery of (a person) in a studied manner; as, to pose a model for a picture; to pose a sitter for a portrait., To assume and maintain a studied attitude, with studied arrangement of drapery; to strike an attitude; to attitudinize; figuratively, to assume or affect a certain character; as, she poses as a prude., To interrogate; to question., To question with a view to puzzling; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand. |
| poss | verb t. | To push; to dash; to throw. |
| post | adjective | Hired to do what is wrong; suborned., A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a hitching post; a fence post; the posts of a house., The doorpost of a victualer’s shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt., The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station., A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a stage or railway post., A military station; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station., The piece of ground to which a sentinel’s walk is limited., A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman., An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported., Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier., One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station., A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger., A size of printing and writing paper. See the Table under Paper., To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills., To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice., To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, or the like., To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel., To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger., To place in the care of the post; to mail; as, to post a letter., To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; — often with up., To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste., To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting., With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post. |
| posy | noun | A brief poetical sentiment; hence, any brief sentiment, motto, or legend; especially, one inscribed on a ring., A flower; a bouquet; a nosegay. |
| pott | noun | A size of paper. See under Paper. |
| poup | verb i. | See Powp. |
| pour | adjective | Poor., To pore., To cause to flow in a stream, as a liquid or anything flowing like a liquid, either out of a vessel or into it; as, to pour water from a pail; to pour wine into a decanter; to pour oil upon the waters; to pour out sand or dust., To send forth as in a stream or a flood; to emit; to let escape freely or wholly., To send forth from, as in a stream; to discharge uninterruptedly., To flow, pass, or issue in a stream, or as a stream; to fall continuously and abundantly; as, the rain pours; the people poured out of the theater., A stream, or something like a stream; a flood. |
| pout | noun | The young of some birds, as grouse; a young fowl., To shoot pouts., To thrust out the lips, as in sullenness or displeasure; hence, to look sullen., To protrude., A sullen protrusion of the lips; a fit of sullenness., The European whiting pout or bib. |
| powp | verb i. | See Poop, v. i. |
| poze | verb t. | See 5th Pose. |
| prad | noun | A horse. |
| pram | noun | Alt. of Prame |
| pray | noun & verb | See Pry., To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving., To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech., To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for., To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. |
| pre- | A prefix denoting priority (of time, place, or rank); as, precede, to go before; precursor, a forerunner; prefix, to fix or place before; preeminent eminent before or above others. Pre- is sometimes used intensively, as in prepotent, very potent. | |
| prey | noun | Anything, as goods, etc., taken or got by violence; anything taken by force from an enemy in war; spoil; booty; plunder., That which is or may be seized by animals or birds to be devoured; hence, a person given up as a victim., The act of devouring other creatures; ravage., To take booty; to gather spoil; to ravage; to take food by violence. |
| prie | noun | The plant privet., To pry. |
| prig | verb i. | To haggle about the price of a commodity; to bargain hard., To cheapen., To filch or steal; as, to prig a handkerchief., A pert, conceited, pragmatical fellow., A thief; a filcher. |
| prim | noun | The privet., Formal; precise; affectedly neat or nice; as, prim regularity; a prim person., To deck with great nicety; to arrange with affected preciseness; to prink., To dress or act smartly. |
| pris | noun | See Price, and 1st Prize. |
| pro- | A prefix signifying before, in front, forth, for, in behalf of, in place of, according to; as, propose, to place before; proceed, to go before or forward; project, to throw forward; prologue, part spoken before (the main piece); propel, prognathous; provide, to look out for; pronoun, a word instead of a noun; proconsul, a person acting in place of a consul; proportion, arrangement according to parts. | |
| proa | noun | A sailing canoe of the Ladrone Islands and Malay Archipelago, having its lee side flat and its weather side like that of an ordinary boat. The ends are alike. The canoe is long and narrow, and is kept from overturning by a cigar-shaped log attached to a frame extending several feet to windward. It has been called the flying proa, and is the swiftest sailing craft known. |
| prod | noun | A pointed instrument for pricking or puncturing, as a goad, an awl, a skewer, etc., A prick or stab which a pointed instrument., A light kind of crossbow; — in the sense, often spelled prodd., To thrust some pointed instrument into; to prick with something sharp; as, to prod a soldier with a bayonet; to prod oxen; hence, to goad, to incite, to worry; as, to prod a student. |
| prog | verb i. | To wander about and beg; to seek food or other supplies by low arts; to seek for advantage by mean shift or tricks., To steal; to rob; to filch., To prick; to goad; to progue., Victuals got by begging, or vagrancy; victuals of any kind; food; supplies., A vagrant beggar; a tramp., A goal; progue. |
| prop | noun | A shell, used as a die. See Props., To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something under or against; as, to prop up a fence or an old building; (Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as, to prop a declining state., That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which anything rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for a building. |
| prow | noun | The fore part of a vessel; the bow; the stem; hence, the vessel itself., See Proa., Valiant; brave; gallant; courageous., Benefit; profit; good; advantage. |
| prox | noun | “The ticket or list of candidates at elections, presented to the people for their votes.” |
| puce | adjective | Of a dark brown or brownish purple color. |
| puck | noun | A celebrated fairy, “the merry wanderer of the night;” — called also Robin Goodfellow, Friar Rush, Pug, etc., The goatsucker. |
| pudu | noun | A very small deer (Pudua humilis), native of the Chilian Andes. It has simple spikelike antlers, only two or three inches long. |
| pued | imp. & past participle | of Pue |
| puer | noun | The dung of dogs, used as an alkaline steep in tanning. |
| puet | noun | The pewit. |
| puff | noun | A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff., Anything light and filled with air., A puffball., a kind of light pastry., A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder., An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal., To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs., To blow, as an expression of scorn; — with at., To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion., To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated., To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance., To drive with a puff, or with puffs., To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously., To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; — often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air., To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; — often with up., To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly., Puffed up; vain. |
| pugh | interj. | Pshaw! pish! — a word used in contempt or disdain. |
| puit | noun | A well; a small stream; a fountain; a spring. |
| puke | verb i. | To eject the contests of the stomach; to vomit; to spew., To eject from the stomach; to vomit up., A medicine that causes vomiting; an emetic; a vomit., Of a color supposed to be between black and russet. |
| pule | verb i. | To cry like a chicken., To whimper; to whine, as a complaining child. |
| pull | verb t. | To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly., To draw apart; to tear; to rend., To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch., To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar., To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled., To take or make, as a proof or impression; — hand presses being worked by pulling a lever., To strike the ball in a particular manner. See Pull, n., 8., To exert one’s self in an act or motion of drawing or hauling; to tug; as, to pull at a rope., The act of pulling or drawing with force; an effort to move something by drawing toward one., A contest; a struggle; as, a wrestling pull., A pluck; loss or violence suffered., A knob, handle, or lever, etc., by which anything is pulled; as, a drawer pull; a bell pull., The act of rowing; as, a pull on the river., The act of drinking; as, to take a pull at the beer, or the mug., Something in one’s favor in a comparison or a contest; an advantage; means of influencing; as, in weights the favorite had the pull., A kind of stroke by which a leg ball is sent to the off side, or an off ball to the side. |
| pulp | noun | A moist, slightly cohering mass, consisting of soft, undissolved animal or vegetable matter., A tissue or part resembling pulp; especially, the soft, highly vascular and sensitive tissue which fills the central cavity, called the pulp cavity, of teeth., The soft, succulent part of fruit; as, the pulp of a grape., The exterior part of a coffee berry., The material of which paper is made when ground up and suspended in water., To reduce to pulp., To deprive of the pulp, or integument. |
| pult | verb t. | To put. |
| pulu | noun | A vegetable substance consisting of soft, elastic, yellowish brown chaff, gathered in the Hawaiian Islands from the young fronds of free ferns of the genus Cibotium, chiefly C. Menziesii; — used for stuffing mattresses, cushions, etc., and as an absorbent. |
| puma | noun | A large American carnivore (Felis concolor), found from Canada to Patagonia, especially among the mountains. Its color is tawny, or brownish yellow, without spots or stripes. Called also catamount, cougar, American lion, mountain lion, and panther or painter. |
| pume | noun | A stint. |
| pump | noun | A low shoe with a thin sole., An hydraulic machine, variously constructed, for raising or transferring fluids, consisting essentially of a moving piece or piston working in a hollow cylinder or other cavity, with valves properly placed for admitting or retaining the fluid as it is drawn or driven through them by the action of the piston., To raise with a pump, as water or other liquid., To draw water, or the like, from; to from water by means of a pump; as, they pumped the well dry; to pump a ship., Figuratively, to draw out or obtain, as secrets or money, by persistent questioning or plying; to question or ply persistently in order to elicit something, as information, money, etc., To work, or raise water, a pump. |
| pumy | adjective | Large and rounded. |
| pung | noun | A kind of plain sleigh drawn by one horse; originally, a rude oblong box on runners. |
| punk | noun | Wood so decayed as to be dry, crumbly, and useful for tinder; touchwood., A fungus (Polyporus fomentarius, etc.) sometimes dried for tinder; agaric., An artificial tinder. See Amadou, and Spunk., A prostitute; a strumpet. |
| punt | verb i. | To play at basset, baccara, faro. or omber; to gamble., Act of playing at basset, baccara, faro, etc., A flat-bottomed boat with square ends. It is adapted for use in shallow waters., To propel, as a boat in shallow water, by pushing with a pole against the bottom; to push or propel (anything) with exertion., To kick (the ball) before it touches the ground, when let fall from the hands., The act of punting the ball. |
| puny | superl. | Imperfectly developed in size or vigor; small and feeble; inferior; petty., A youth; a novice. |
| puoy | noun | Same as Poy, n., 3. |
| pup/ | plural | of Pupa |
| pupa | noun | Any insect in that stage of its metamorphosis which usually immediately precedes the adult, or imago, stage., A genus of air-breathing land snails having an elongated spiral shell. |
| pupe | noun | A pupa. |
| pure | superl. | Separate from all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; free from mixture or combination; clean; mere; simple; unmixed; as, pure water; pure clay; pure air; pure compassion., Free from moral defilement or quilt; hence, innocent; guileless; chaste; — applied to persons., Free from that which harms, vitiates, weakens, or pollutes; genuine; real; perfect; — applied to things and actions., Ritually clean; fitted for holy services., Of a single, simple sound or tone; — said of some vowels and the unaspirated consonants. |
| puri | noun | See Euxanthin. |
| purl | verb t. | To decorate with fringe or embroidery., An embroidered and puckered border; a hem or fringe, often of gold or silver twist; also, a pleat or fold, as of a band., An inversion of stitches in knitting, which gives to the work a ribbed or waved appearance., To run swiftly round, as a small stream flowing among stones or other obstructions; to eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound, as water does in running over or through obstructions., To rise in circles, ripples, or undulations; to curl; to mantle., A circle made by the notion of a fluid; an eddy; a ripple., A gentle murmur, as that produced by the running of a liquid among obstructions; as, the purl of a brook., Malt liquor, medicated or spiced; formerly, ale or beer in which wormwood or other bitter herbs had been infused, and which was regarded as tonic; at present, hot beer mixed with gin, sugar, and spices., A tern. |
| purr | verb i. & t. | To murmur as a cat. See Pur., The low murmuring sound made by a cat; pur. See Pur. |
| push | noun | A pustule; a pimple., To press against with force; to drive or impel by pressure; to endeavor to drive by steady pressure, without striking; — opposed to draw., To thrust the points of the horns against; to gore., To press or urge forward; to drive; to push an objection too far., To bear hard upon; to perplex; to embarrass., To importune; to press with solicitation; to tease., To make a thrust; to shove; as, to push with the horns or with a sword., To make an advance, attack, or effort; to be energetic; as, a man must push in order to succeed., To burst pot, as a bud or shoot., A thrust with a pointed instrument, or with the end of a thing., Any thrust. pressure, impulse, or force, or force applied; a shove; as, to give the ball the first push., An assault or attack; an effort; an attempt; hence, the time or occasion for action., The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push, or he has no push. |
| puss | noun | A cat; — a fondling appellation., A hare; — so called by sportsmen. |
| pyet | noun | A magpie; a piet. |
| pyin | noun | An albuminoid constituent of pus, related to mucin, possibly a mixture of substances rather than a single body. |
| pyla | noun | The passage between the iter and optocoele in the brain. |
| pyne | noun & verb | See Pine. |
| pyot | noun | The magpie. See Piet. |
| pyre | noun | A funeral pile; a combustible heap on which the dead are burned; hence, any pile to be burnt. |
| pyr- | Combining forms designating fire or heat; specifically (Chem.), used to imply an actual or theoretical derivative by the action of heat; as in pyrophosphoric, pyrosulphuric, pyrotartaric, pyrotungstic, etc. | |
| pyro | noun | Abbreviation of pyrogallic acid. |