Porch.
Porch, pōrch,n.a building forming an enclosure or protection for a doorway: a portico at the entrance of churches and other buildings: the public porch on the agora of Athens where Zeno the Stoic taught: (fig.) the Stoic philosophy. [O. Fr.porche(It.portico)—L.porticus—porta, a gate.]
Porcine, por′sīn,adj.pertaining to or resembling swine: swinish. [L.porcinus—porcus, a swine.]
Porcupine, por′kū-pīn,n.one of the largest of rodent quadrupeds, covered with spines or quills. [O. Fr.porc espin—L.porcus, a pig,spina, a spine.]
Pore, pōr,n.a minute passage in the skin for the perspiration: an opening between the molecules of a body.—adjs.Pō′ral, of or pertaining to pores;Pō′riform, in the form of a pore.—ns.Pō′riness,Poros′ity,Pō′rousness, quality of being porous—opp. toDensity.—adjs.Pō′rose, containing pores;Pō′rous,Pō′ry, having pores: that can be penetrated by fluid.—adv.Pō′rously. [Fr.,—L.porus—Gr.poros, a passage.]
Pore, pōr,v.i.to look with steady attention on: to study closely.—n.Pō′rer. [Peer, to peep.]
Porgy,Porgie, por′ji,n.a fish of the genusPagrus.
Porifera, pō-rif′e-ra,n.pl.sponges:—sing.Por′ifer.—adjs.Porif′eral,Porif′erous. [L.porus, a pore,ferre, to bear.]
Porism, por′ism,n.a proposition affirming the possibility of finding such conditions as will render a certain problem capable of innumerable solutions.—adjs.Porismat′ic,-al;Poris′tic,-al, reducing a determinate problem to an indeterminate. [Gr.porizein, to procure—poros, a way.]
Pork, pōrk,n.the flesh of swine: (Milt.) a stupid fellow.—ns.Pork′-butch′er, one who kills pigs;Pork′-chop, a slice from a pig's rib;Pork′er, a young hog: a pig fed for pork;Pork′ling, a young pig;Pork′-pie, a pie made of pastry and minced pork.—adj.Pork′y, fat.—Pork-pie hat, a hat somewhat like a pie in shape worn by men and women about the middle of the 19th century. [Fr.porc—L.porcus, a hog.]
Pornocracy, pōr-nok′rā-si,n.the influence of courtezans—applied esp. to the dominant influence of certain profligate women over the Papal court in the earlier half of the 10th century.—ns.Por′nograph, an obscene picture or writing;Pornog′rapher, a writer of such.—adj.Pornograph′ic.—n.Pornog′raphy, the discussion of prostitution: obscene writing. [Gr.pornē, a whore,kratein, to rule.]
Porosis, pō-rō′sis,n.formation of callus, the knitting together of broken bones.
Porotype, pō′rō-tīp,n.a copy of an engraved print made by placing it on chemically prepared paper and subjecting to the action of a gas. [Gr.poros, a pore,typos, an impression.]
Porpentine, por′pen-tīn,n.(Shak.) a porcupine.
Porpess,Porpesse, por′pes,n.Same asPorpoise.
Porphyrio, por-fir′i-ō,n.a genus ofRallidæ, the hyacinthine gallinules.
Porphyrogenitus, por-fir-ō-jen′i-tus,n.a title given to the Byzantine emperor, Constantine VII. (912-959), meaning 'born in the purple.'—n.Porphyrogen′itism, the Byzantine principle of the first son born after his father's accession succeeding to the throne. [Gr.porphyra, purple,gennain, to beget.]
Porphyry, por′fir-i,n.a very hard, variegated rock, of a purple and white colour, used in sculpture (porfido rosso antico): an igneous rock having a ground-mass enclosing crystals of feldspar or quartz.—v.t.Por′phyrise, to cause to resemble porphyry: to make of a spotted appearance.—n.Por′phyrite, one of the crystalline igneous rocks, which consists principally of plagioclase.—adjs.Porphyrit′ic,Porphyrā′ceous, resembling or consisting of porphyry.—n.Por′phyroid, a crystalline and schistose rock containing porphyritic crystals of feldspar. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr.porphyrites—porphyra, purple.]
Porpoise, por′pus,n.a genus of Cetecea in the familyDelphinidæ, 4 to 8 feet long, gregarious, affording oil and leather—ancientlyPor′pess. [O. Fr.porpeis—L.porcus, a hog,piscis, a fish.]
Porporino, por-pō-rē′nō,n.an old alloy of quicksilver, tin, and sulphur, used in place of gold. [It.]
Porraceous, po-rā′shus,adj.greenish like the leek. [L.porrum, a leek.]
Porrection, po-rek′shun,n.the action of delivering as by outstretched hands.—adj.Porrect′, extended forward. [L.,porrigĕre, to stretch out.]
Porridge, por′ij,n.a kind of pudding usually made by slowly stirring oatmeal amongst boiling water: a kind of broth, made by boiling vegetables in water. [Through O. Fr., from Low L.porrata—L.porrum, a leek. The affix-idge(=-age) arose through confusion withpottage.]
Porrigo, po-rī′gō,n.a general name for various skin diseases.—adj.Porrig′inous. [L.]
Porringer, por′in-jėr,n.a small dish for porridge: (Shak.) a head-dress shaped like such a dish.—AlsoPorr′enger. [Fromporrige=porridge, with insertednas inpassenger.]
Port, pōrt,n.the larboard or left side of a ship.—v.t.to turn to the left, as the helm.—v.i.to turn to larboard or left. [Ety. dub.]
Port, pōrt,n.martial music on the bagpipes. [Gael.]
Port, pōrt,n.bearing: demeanour: carriage of the body.—v.t.to hold, as a musket, in a slanting direction upward across the body.—ns.Portabil′ity,Port′ableness, the state of being portable.—adj.Port′able, that may be carried: not bulky or heavy.—ns.Port′age, act of carrying: carriage: price of carriage: a space between two rivers, canals, &c., over which goods and boats have to be carried;Port′ance(Spens.), carriage, bearing.—adjs.Por′tāte(her.), in a position as if being carried;Por′tatile, portable;Por′tative, easily carried.—ns.Port′-cray′on, a metallic handle for holding a crayon;Porte′-bonheur′, a charm carried for luck;Porte′-cochère, a carriage entrance leading from the street into a building;Porte′-mon′naie, a small clasped pocket-book for holding money;Port′-fire, a slow-match or match-cord. [Fr.,—L.portāre, to carry.]
Port, pōrt,n.a harbour: a haven or safe station for vessels: a place from which vessels start, and at which they finish their voyages.—n.Port′-ad′miral, the admiral commanding at a naval port.—n.pl.Port′-charg′es, payments which a ship has to pay while in harbour.—n.Port′-ward′en, the officer in charge of a port: a harbour-master.—Port of call, a port where vessels can call for stores or repairs;Port of entry, a port where merchandise is allowed by law to enter.—Free port, a port where no duty has to be paid on landing goods. [A.S.port—L.portus; akin to L.porta, a gate.]
Port, pōrt,n.a gate or entrance, esp. of a walled town: an opening in the side of a ship for light or air: an opening through which guns can be fired: the lid of a porthole: a passage in a machine for oil, steam, &c.—n.Port′age(Shak.), an opening. [Fr.porte—L.porta, gate.]
Port, pōrt,n.a dark-red wine fromOporto, Portugal.
Porta, pōr′ta,n.the part of an organ where its vessels and ducts enter, esp. the transverse fissure of the liver: the foramen of Monro.
Portal, pōrt′al,n.a small gate: any entrance: (archit.) the arch over a gate: the lesser of two gates.—Portal circulation, the capillary transmission of venous blood from one organ to another in its passage to the heart;Portal system, the portal vein with its tributaries, &c.;Portal vein, the vein which conveys to the liver the venous blood from intestines, spleen, and stomach. [O. Fr. (Fr.portail)—Low L.portale—L.porta, a gate.]
Portcullis, pōrt-kul′is,n.a sliding door of cross timbers pointed with iron, hung over a gateway, so as to be let down in a moment to keep out an enemy: (her.) a lattice: one of the pursuivants of the English College of Heralds: an Elizabethan coin bearing a portcullis on the reverse.—v.t.to obstruct, as with a portcullis. [O. Fr.portecoulisse—porte, a gate,coulisse, a groove—L.colāre, to strain.]
Porte, pōrt,n.the Turkish government, so called from the 'High Gate,' or 'Sublime Porte,' the chief office of the Ottoman government.
Portend, por-tend′,v.t.to indicate the future by signs: to betoken: presage.—n.Por′tent, that which portends or foreshows: an evil omen.—adj.Portent′ous, serving to portend: foreshadowing ill: wonderful, dreadful, prodigious.—adv.Portent′ously. [L.portendĕre,portentum—pro, forth,tendĕre, to stretch.]
Porter, pōrt′ėr,n.a door-keeper or gate-keeper: one who waits at the door to receive messages:—fem.Port′eress,Port′ress.—n.Port′erage, the office or duty of a porter.—Porter's lodge, a house or an apartment near a gate for the use of the porter. [O. Fr.portier—Low L.portarius—L.porta, a gate.]
Porter, pōrt′ėr,n.one who carries burdens for hire: a dark-brown malt liquor, prob. because a favourite drink with London porters.—ns.Port′erage, carriage: charge made by a porter for carrying goods;Port′er-house, a restaurant;Port′erhouse-steak(U.S.), a choice cut of beef-steak next to the sirloin.—adv.Port′erly, like a porter: coarse. [O. Fr.porteur—L.portāre, to carry.]
Portfolio, pōrt-fō′li-ō,n.a portable case for loose papers, drawings, &c.: a collection of such papers: the office of a minister of state. [Sp.portafolio—L.portāre, to carry,folium, a leaf.]
Porthole, pōrt′hōl,n.a hole or opening in a ship's side for light and air, or for pointing a gun through. [Port, a gate, andhole.]
Portico, pōr′ti-kō,n.(archit.) a range of columns in the front of a building: a colonnade: a porch before the entrance to a building: the Stoic philosophy:—pl.Por′ticoes,Por′ticos.—adj.Por′ticoed, furnished with a portico. [It.,—L.porticus, a porch.]
Portière, por-tyār′,n.a curtain hung over the door or doorway of a room. [Fr.]
Portiforium, pōr-ti-fō′ri-um,n.a breviary:—pl.Portifō′ria.—AlsoPort′fory,Port′ous,Port′uary.
Portify, pōr′ti-fī,v.t.(hum.) to give one's self undue importance. [Port, the wine of that name,-fy, from L.facĕre, to make, from the saying, 'Claret would be port if it could.']
Portion, pōr′shun,n.a part: an allotment: fate: destiny: dividend: the part of an estate descending to an heir: a wife's fortune.—v.t.to divide into portions: to allot a share: to furnish with a portion.—adj.Por′tioned, having a portion or endowment.—ns.Por′tioner, one who portions or assigns shares: (Scots law) the occupier of a small feu or portion of land: one of two or more incumbents on a benefice at one time;Por′tionist, one who has an academical allowance: the incumbent of a benefice which has more than one rector or vicar.—adj.Por′tionless, having no portion, dowry, or property.—Marriage portion, a gift given by a parent or guardian to a bride on her marriage. [O. Fr.,—L.portio,portionis, akin topars, a part.]
Portland vase. SeeVase.
Portly, pōrt′li,adj.having a dignified port or mien: corpulent: (Shak.) swelling.—n.Port′liness, state of being portly. [Port, bearing.]
Portman, pōrt′man,n.an inhabitant of a port-town, or one of the Cinque Ports.—n.Port′-mote, a mote composed of such citizens.
Portmanteau, port-man′tō,n.a bag for carrying apparel, &c., on journeys: a hook on which to hang clothing.—AlsoPortman′tua(obs.). [Fr.,—porter, to carry,manteau, a cloak.]
Portoise, pōr′tiz,n.the gunwale of a boat.—AlsoPort′last.
Portrait, pōr′trāt,n.the likeness of a person, esp. of his face: a vivid description in words.—v.t.(obs.) to portray.—ns.Por′traitist, a portrait-painter;Por′traiture, a likeness: the drawing of portraits, or describing in words: a collection of pictures.—v.t.Portray(pōr-trā′),to paint or draw the likeness of: to describe in words: (obs.) to adorn.—ns.Portray′al, the act of portraying;Portray′er.—Composite portraits, a method of indicating the facial characteristics of a family or group of persons, while at the same time suppressing the peculiarities of individual members. [O. Fr.portrait,portraire—L.pro, forth,trahĕre, to draw.]
Portreeve, pōrt′rēv,n.once the name of the principal magistrate in a port-town, esp. in London. [A.S.portgeréfa—port, a port,geréfa, a reeve.]
Portuguese, pōr′tū-gēz,adj.of or pertaining toPortugalor to its inhabitants.—n.the people, a single inhabitant, or the language of Portugal.—Portuguese man-of-war, a species ofPhysalia.
Portulaceæ, pōr-tū-lā′sē-ē,n.pl.a natural order of exogenous plants, shrubby or herbaceous, generally succulent, mostly growing in dry places. [L.portulaca, purslane.]
Porzana, pōr-zā′na,n.an old name of the small European water-rail or crake.
Pos, poz,adj.(slang) an abbreviation ofpositive.
Posada, pō-sä′dä,n.an inn. [Sp.,—posar, to lodge.]
Posaune, pō-zow′ne,n.the trombone. [Ger.]
Pose, pōz,n.a position: an attitude, either natural or assumed.—v.i.to assume an attitude.—v.t.to put in a suitable attitude: to posit. [Fr.,—poser, to place—Low L.pausare, to cease—L.pausa, pause—Gr.pausis. Between Fr.poserand L.ponĕre,positum, there has been confusion, which has influenced the derivatives of both words.]
Pose, pōz,v.t.to puzzle: to perplex by questions: to bring to a stand.—ns.Pō′ser, one who, or that which, poses: a difficult question;Pō′sing.—adv.Pō′singly. [M. E.apposen, a corr. ofoppose, which in the schools meant to 'argue against.']
Posé, po-zā′,adj.(her.) standing still.
Position, po-zish′un,n.place, situation: attitude: a place taken or to be taken by troops: state of affairs: the ground taken in argument or in a dispute: principle laid down: place in society: method of finding the value of an unknown quantity by assuming one or more values (single, when one is assumed;double, when two).—v.t.Posit(poz′it),to place in right position or relation: to lay down as something true or granted.—adj.Posi′tional.—Strategic position, a position taken up by troops to check the movements of an enemy. [Fr.,—L.—ponĕre,positum, to place.]
Positive, poz′i-tiv,adj.definitely placed or laid down: clearly expressed: really existing: actual: not admitting of any doubt or qualification: decisive: settled by distinct appointment: arbitrarily prescribed, laid down—opp. toNatural: too confident in opinion: fully assured: certain: (gram.) noting the simple form of an adjective—asPositive degreeof comparison: (math.) greater than zero, to be added, asPositive quantity: (phot.) having the lights and shades in the picture the same as in the original, instead of being reversed: (electr.) having a relatively high potential—opp. toNegative(q.v.).—n.that which is placed or laid down: that which may be affirmed: reality: a positive picture—opp. toNegative.—adv.Pos′itively.—ns.Pos′itiveness, state or quality of being positive: certainty: confidence;Pos′itivism, actual or absolute knowledge;Pos′itivist, a believer in positivism.—Pos′itivism,Positive philosophy, the philosophical system originated by Comte (1798-1857)—its foundation the doctrine that man can have no knowledge of anything but phenomena, and that the knowledge of phenomena is relative, not absolute. [Fr.,—L.positivus, fixed by agreement—ponĕre, to place.]
Posnet, pos′net,n.a small basin. [O. Fr.pocenet.]
Posology, pō-sol′ō-ji,n.the science of quantity.—adjs.Posolog′ic,-al. [Gr.posos, how much,logia, discourse.]
Posse, pos′ē,n.power: possibility.—Posse comitatus, the power of the county: the body of men entitled to be called out by the sheriff to aid in enforcing the law. [L.posse, to be able.]
Possess, poz-zes′,v.t.to have or hold as an owner: to have the control of: to inform: to seize: to enter into and influence: to put (one's self) in possession (of): (Spens.) to achieve: (Shak.) put in possession of information, convince.—adj.Possessed′, influenced by some evil spirit, demented.—n.Posses′sion, act of possessing: the thing possessed: a country taken by conquest: property: state of being possessed, as by an evil spirit: madness.—adjs.Posses′sionary,Posses′sive, pertaining to or denoting possession.—n.Posses′sive(gram.), a pronoun denoting possession: the possessive case.—adv.Posses′sively.—n.Posses′sor, one who possesses: owner: proprietor: occupant.—adj.Posses′sory, relating to a possessor or possession: having possession.—Give possession, to put in another's power or occupancy;Take possession, to assume ownership;Writ of possession, a process directing a sheriff to put a person in possession of property recovered in ejectment. [Fr.,—L.possidēre,possessum.]
Posset, pos′et,n.a dietetic preparation, made by curdling milk with some acidulous liquor, such as wine, ale, or vinegar.—v.t.(Shak.) to curdle.—Posset cup, a large cup or covered bowl for posset. [Prob. Ir.pusoid, a posset; cf. W.posel.]
Possible, pos′i-bl,adj.that may be or happen: that may be done: not contrary to the nature of things.—n.Possibil′ity, state of being possible: that which is possible: a contingency.—adv.Poss′ibly. [Fr.,—L.possibilis—posse, to be able.]
Possum, pos′um,n.Same asOpossum.
Post, pōst,n.a piece of timber fixed in the ground, generally as a support to something else: a pillar.—v.t.to fix on or to a post, or to any conspicuous position, in a public place: to expose to public reproach, to placard as having failed in an examination, &c.—n.Post′er, one who posts bills: a large printed bill or placard for posting.—From pillar to post(seePillar). [A.S.post—L.postis, a doorpost—ponĕre, to place.]
Post, pōst,n.a fixed place, as a military station: a fixed place or stage on a road: an office: one who travels by stages, esp. carrying letters, &c.: a public letter-carrier: an established system of conveying letters: (Shak.) a post-horse: (Shak.) haste: a size of writing-paper, double that of common note-paper (so called from the water-mark, a postman's horn).—v.t.to set or station: to put in the post-office: (book-k.) to transfer from the journal to the ledger: to supply with necessary information, as topost up(cf.Well posted up).—v.i to travel with post-horses, or with speed.—adv.with posthorses: with speed.—ns.Post′age, the act of going by post: journey: money paid for conveyance of letters, &c., by post or mail;Post′age-stamp, an adhesive stamp for affixing to letters to show that the postal charge has been paid.—adj.Post′al, of or pertaining to the mail-service.—ns.Post′-bag, a mail-bag;Post′-bill, a way-bill of the letters sent from a post-office;Post′boy, a boy that rides posthorses, or who carries letters;Post′-card, a stamped card on which a message may be sent by post;Post′-chaise,Post′-char′iot, a chaise or carriage with four wheels let for hire for the conveyance of those who travel with posthorses.—v.i.Post′-chaise, to travel by post-chaise.—ns.Post′-day, the day on which the post or mail arrives or departs;Post′er, one who travels by post: (Shak.) a courier: one who travels expeditiously: a posthorse.—adj.Post′-free, delivered by the post without payment.—n.Posthaste′, haste in travelling like that of a post.—adj.speedy: immediate.—adv.with haste or speed.—ns.Post′-horn, a postman's horn: a horn blown by the driver of a mail-coach;Post′horse, a horse kept for posting;Post′house, a house where horses are kept for the use of parties posting: a post-office;Post′man, a post or courier: a letter-carrier;Post′mark, the mark or stamp put upon a letter at a post-office showing the time and place of reception and delivery;Post′master, the manager or superintendent of a post-office: one who supplies posthorses: at Merton College, Oxford, a scholar who is supported on the foundation;Post′master-Gen′eral, the minister who is the chief officer of the post-office department;Post′-off′ice, an office for receiving and transmitting letters by post: a department of the government which has charge of the reception and conveyance of letters.—adj.Post′-paid, having the postage paid, as a letter.—ns.Post′-time, the time for the despatch or for the delivery of letters;Post′-town, a town with a post-office.—Postal note, a note for a fixed designated sum issued by a postmaster, payable at any office;Postal order, an order issued by the postmaster authorising the holder to receive at some particular post-office payment of the sum marked on it. [Fr.poste—L.ponĕre,positum, to place.]
Post, pōst,adv.andprep.after, behind—in compounds asPost-abdominal,Post-anal,Post-axial,Post-brachial,Post-canonical,Post-clavicle,Post-embryonic, &c.—adj.Post′-class′ical, after those Greek and Latin writers styled classical, but before the medieval.—n.Post′-commun′ion, the part of the eucharistic office after the act of communion.—adj.succeeding communion.—v.t.Postdate′, to date after the real time.—n.a date on a letter later than the real date on which it was written.—adjs.Post′-dilū′vial,Post′-dilū′vian, being or happening after the deluge.—ns.Post′-dilū′vian, one who has lived since the deluge;Post′-en′try, an additional entry of merchandise at a custom-house.—adjs.Post′-exil′ic,Post′-exil′ian, after the time of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.—ns.Post′-exist′ence, future existence;Post′fix, a letter, syllable, or word fixed to or put after another word, an affix.—v.t.Postfix′, to add to the end of another word.—adjs.Post′-glā′cial, after the glacial epoch;Post′-grad′uate, belonging to study pursued after graduation;Post′-merid′ian, coming after the sun has crossed the meridian: in the afternoon (writtenP.M.).—n.Post′-millenā′rian, one who believes in post-millennialism.—adj.Post′-millenn′ial.—n.Post′-millenn′ialism, the doctrine that the second coming of Christ will follow the millennium.—adj.Post′-mor′tem, after death.—n.a post-mortem examination.—adjs.Post′-nā′tal, after birth;Post′-nī′cene, after the first general council atNicæain 325A.D.—n.Post′-note, a note issued by a bank, payable at some future time.—adj.Post′-nup′tial, being or happening after marriage.—ns.Post′-ō′bit, a bond or security given by heirs and others entitled to reversionary interests, whereby in consideration of a sum of money presently advanced, the debtor binds himself to pay a much larger sum after the death of some person, or of himself;Post′-posi′tion, the state of being put back or out of the regular place: (gram.) a word or particle placed after a word—opp. to a preposition, which isplaced before.—adjs.Post′-pos′itive;Post′-remote′, more remote in subsequent time or order;Post′-ter′tiary, more recent than the Tertiary.—n.the most recent geological division. [L.]
Post-captain, pōst′-kap′tān,n.a captain in the British navy, so called in contradistinction to a commander because his name was 'posted' in the seniority list.
Poste restante, pōst res-tant′,n.a place in a post-office where letters are kept till called for. [Fr.poste, post-office, and pr.p. ofrester, to remain.]
Posterior, pos-tē′ri-or,adj.coming after: later in time or in position: situated behind: hinder.—n.Posterior′ity, state of being posterior—opp. toPriority.—adv.Postē′riorly.—n.pl.Postē′riors, short for posterior parts: (hum.) the latter part, buttock.—n.Poster′ity, those coming after: succeeding generations: descendants: a race. [L., comp. ofposterus, coming after—post, after.]
Postern, pōst′ėrn,n.a back door or gate: a small private door: (fort.) a covered passage between the main ditch and the outworks of a fort, usually closed by a gate.—adj.back: private. [O. Fr.posterne,posterle—L.posterula, a dim. fromposterus.]
Posthumous, post′ū-mus,adj.born after the father's death: published after the death of the author.—adv.Post′humously. [L.posthumus, postumus, superl. ofposterus, coming after—post, after.]
Postiche, pos-tēsh′,adj.added after the work is finished. [Fr.]
Postil, pos′til,n.a note in the margin of the Bible, so called because written after the text or other words: a marginal note: (R.C.) a homily read after the gospel.—v.t.andv.i.to make such notes.—n.Postil′la, a sermon or homily explanatory of the gospel in the mass: any sermon.—v.t.andv.i.Pos′tillate, to write or deliver a postil.—ns.Postillā′tion;Pos′tiller, one who comments: a preacher. [O. Fr.postille(It.postilla)—Low L.postilla—L.post illa(verba), after those (words).]
Postillion, pōs-til′yun,n.a postboy: one who guides posthorses, or horses in any carriage, riding on one of them. [Fr.postillon.]
Postliminy, post-lim′i-ni,n.the right by which persons or things taken in war by the enemy are restored to their former status upon their coming again under the power of the nation to which they belonged: the return of a prisoner, exile, &c. to his former status.—adjs.Postlim′inary,Postlimin′iary. [L.postliminium.]
Postpone, pōst-pōn′,v.t.to put off to a future time: to defer: to delay: to subordinate.—n.Postpone′ment, act of putting off to an after-time: temporary delay—alsoPostpō′nence(obs.). [L.postponĕre,-positum—post, after,ponĕre, to put.]
Post-prandial, pōst-pran′di-al,adj.after dinner. [L.post, after,prandium, a repast.]
Postscript, pōst′skript,n.a part added to a letter after the signature: an addition to a book after it is finished.—adj.Post′scriptal. [L., frompost, after,scriptum, written, pa.p. ofscribĕre, to write.]
Postulate, pos′tū-lāt,v.t.to assume without proof: to take for granted or without positive consent: (eccles.) to ask legitimate authority to admit a nominee by dispensation, when a canonical impediment is supposed to exist.—v.i.to make demands.—n.a position assumed as self-evident: (geom.) a self-evident problem: a petition: a condition for the accomplishment of anything.—ns.Pos′tulant, a candidate;Postulā′tion, the act of postulating: solicitation.—adjs.Pos′tulātory, supplicatory: assuming or assumed without proof as a postulate;Pos′tural. [L.postulāre,-ātum, to demand—poscĕre, to ask urgently.]
Posture, pos′tūr,n.the placing or position of the body, esp. of the parts of it with reference to each other: attitude: state or condition: disposition of mind.—v.t.to place in a particular manner.—v.i.to assume an affected manner.—ns.Pos′ture-mā′ker,Pos′ture-mas′ter, one who teaches or practises artificial postures of the body: an acrobat;Pos′turer,Pos′turist, an acrobat. [Fr.,—L.positura—ponĕre,positum, to place.]
Posy, pō′zi,n.a verse of poetry, esp. a motto or an inscription on a ring: a motto sent with a bouquet: a bouquet. [Poesy.]
Pot, pot,n.a metallic vessel for various purposes, esp. for cooking: a drinking vessel: an earthen vessel for plants: the quantity in a pot: (slang) a large sum of money, a prize.—v.t.to preserve in pots: to put in pots: to cook in a pot: to plant in a pot: to drain, as sugar, in a perforated cask: to shoot an enemy.—v.i.(Shak.) to tipple:—pr.p.pot′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.pot′ted.—n.Pot′-ale, refuse from a grain distillery.—adj.Pot′-bell′ied, having a prominent belly.—ns.Pot′-bell′y, a protuberant belly;Pot′-boil′er, a work in art or literature produced merely to secure the necessaries of life;Pot′-boy, a boy in a public-house who carries pots of ale to customers;Pot′-compan′ion, a comrade in drinking;Pot′-hang′er, a hook on which to hang a pot;Pot′-hat, a high-crowned felt hat, worn by men;Pot′-head, a stupid person;Pot′herb, any vegetable which is boiled and used as food.—n.pl.Pot′-holes, holes in the beds of rapid streams, made by an eddying current of water, which gives the stones a gyratory motion.—ns.Pot′-hook, a hook hung in a chimney for supporting a pot: a letter shaped like a pot-hook;Pot′-house, an ale-house;Pot′-hunt′er, one who hunts or fishes for profit;Pot′-lid, the cover of a pot;Pot′-liq′uor, a thin broth in which meat has been boiled;Pot′-luck, what may happen to be in the pot for a meal without special preparation;Pot′-man, a pot-companion: a pot-boy;Pot′-met′al, an alloy of copper and lead;Pot′-shop, a small public-house;Pot′-stick, a stick for stirring what is being cooked in a pot;Pot′stone, a massive variety of talc-schist, composed of a finely felted aggregate of talc, mica, and chlorite.—adj.Pot′-val′iant, brave owing to drink.—Potted meats, meats cooked, seasoned, and hermetically sealed in tins or jars.—Go to pot, to go to ruin, originally said of old metal, to go into the melting-pot;Keep the pot boiling, to procure the necessaries of life;Take pot-luck, to accept an invitation to a meal where no preparation for guests has been made. [M. E.pot, from the Celt., as Ir.pota, Gael.poit, W.pot.]
Potable, pō′ta-bl,adj.that may be drunk: liquid.—n.something drinkable.—n.Pō′tableness. [Fr.,—L.potabilis—pōtāre, to drink.]
Potamology, pot-a-mol′ō-ji,n.the scientific study of rivers.—n.Potamog′raphy.—adj.Potamolog′ical.
Potash, pot′ash,n.a powerful alkali, obtained from the ashes of plants—alsoPotass′.—n.Pot′ash-wa′ter, a kind of aerated water, which, when of full medicinal strength, contains fifteen grains of the bicarbonate of potash in each bottle—usually much less is put in. [Pot ashes.]
Potassa, pō-tas′a,n.[Latinised form ofpotash.]
Potassium, pō-tas′i-um,n.the metallic base of the alkali potash—it is of a bluish colour, and presents a strong metallic lustre. [Potassa.]
Potation, pō-tā′shun,n.act of drinking: a draught: the liquor drunk.—n.Potā′tor, a drinker.—adj.Pō′tātory. [L.potatio—pōtāre,-ātum, to drink.]
Potato, pō-tā′tō,n.one of the tubers of a plant almost universally cultivated for food in the temperate parts of the globe: the plant itself:—pl.Potā′toes.—ns.Potā′to-bee′tle, a North American beetle which commits fearful ravages among potatoes;Potā′to-bing(Scot.), a heap of potatoes to be preserved;Potā′to-bō′gle(Scot.), a scarecrow;Potā′to-disease′,-rot, a destructive disease of the potato caused by a parasitic fungus;Potā′to-fing′er(Shak.), a fat finger, used in contempt;Potā′to-fly, a dipterous insect of the same genus as the radish-fly, whose maggots are often abundant in bad potatoes in autumn.—Small potatoes(U.S.), anything petty or contemptible. [Sp.patata,batata, orig. Haytian.]
Potch, poch,v.i.(Shak.) to thrust, to push. [Fr.pocher; from root ofpoke.]
Potching-engine, poch′ing-en′jin,n.in paper-making, a machine in which washed rags are bleached.
Poteen,Potheen, po-tēn′,n.Irish whisky, esp. that illicitly distilled. [Ir.poitim, I drink.]
Potent, pō′tent,adj.strong: powerful in a physical or a moral sense: having great authority or influence.—n.a prince, potentate.—ns.Pō′tence, power: (her.) a marking of the shape ofT shape: in horology, the stud or counterbridge forming a step for the lower pivot of a verge (alsoPō′tance);Pō′tency, power: authority: influence;Pō′tentate, one who possesses power: a prince.—adj.Pōten′tial, powerful, efficacious: existing in possibility, not in reality: (gram.) expressing power, possibility, liberty, or obligation.—n.anything that may be possible: a possibility: the name for a function in the mathematical theory of attractions: the power of a charge or current of electricity to do work.—n.Pōtential′ity.—adv.Pōten′tially.—n.Pōten′tiary, a person invested with power or influence.—v.t.Pōten′tiate, to give power to.—n.Pō′tentite, a blasting substance.—adv.Pō′tently.—n.Pō′tentness.—Potential energy, the power of doing work possessed by a body in virtue of the stresses which result from its position relatively to other bodies. [L.potens—potis, able,esse, to be.]
Potentilla, pō-ten-til′ä,n.a genus of plants of the natural orderRosaceæ, differing fromFragaria(strawberry) in the fruit having a dry instead of a succulent receptacle—well-known varieties aresilver-weedandwild strawberry.
Pother, poth′ėr,n.bustle: confusion.—v.t.to puzzle: to perplex: to tease.—v.i.to make a pother. [Potter.]
Potiche, pō-tēsh′,n.a vase or jar of rounded form and short neck.—n.Potichomā′nia, the process of coating glass vessels on the inside with paper or linen decorations. [Fr.]
Potin, pō-tang′,n.an old compound of copper, zinc, lead, and tin. [Fr.]
Potion, pō′shun,n.a draught: a liquid medicine: a dose. [Fr.,—L.potio—pōtāre, to drink.]
Pot-pourri, pō-pōō-rē′,n.a ragout of meats, vegetables, &c.: a mixture of sweet-scented materials, chiefly dried flowers: medley of musical airs: a literary production composed of unconnected parts. [Fr.pot, pot,pourrir, to rot—L.putrēre, to putrefy.]
Potsherd, pot′shėrd,n.a piece of a broken pot—(obs.)Pot′-shard,Pot′-share. [Potand A.S.sceard, a shred—sceran, to divide.]
Pottage, pot′āj,n.anything cooked in a pot: a thick soup of meat and vegetables: oatmeal porridge.—n.Pot′tinger, a pottage-maker. [Fr.potage—pot.]
Potter, pot′ėr,n.one who makes earthenware.—n.Pott′ery, earthenware vessels: a place where earthenware is manufactured: the business of a potter.—Potter's clay, clay used in the making of earthenware;Potter's field, a burial-place for strangers (Matt. xxvii. 7);Potter's wheel, a horizontal wheel on which clay vessels are shaped.
Potter, pot′ėr,v.i.to be fussily engaged about trifles: to loiter.—n.Pott′erer. [Prov.pote, to push.]
Potting, pot′ing,n.placing in a pot, as plants: preserving in a pot, as meats.
Pottle, pot′l,n.a little pot: a measure of four pints: a small basket for fruit.—adjs.Pott′le-bod′ied, having a body shaped like a pottle;Pott′le-deep, to the bottom of the tankard.—n.Pott′le-pot(Shak.), a drinking-vessel holding two quarts. [Pot.]
Pot-waller, pot′-wol′ėr,Pot-walloper,pot-wol′op-ėr,n.a pot-boiler: a voter in certain English boroughs where, before the Reform Bill of 1832, every one who boiled a pot—i.e. every male householder or lodger, was entitled to vote—alsoPot′-wall′oner.—adj.Pot′-wall′oping. [Lit., 'pot-boiler,' the latter part of the word being from an Old Low Ger.wallen, to boil.]
Pouch, powch,n.a poke, pocket, or bag: the bag or sac of an animal.—v.t.to put into a pouch: to pocket, submit to.—adj.Pouched, having a pouch.—Pouched mouse, a genus of small, lean, long-tailed, agile rodents, with cheek-pouches;Pouched rat, a genus of plump, short-tailed rodents, with cheek-pouches which open externally. [O. Fr.poche; cf.Poke, a bag.]
Pouchong, pōō-shong′,n.a superior black tea.
Poudrette, pōō-dret′,n.manure of dried night-soil, charcoal, &c. [Fr.]
Pouffe, pōōf,n.in dressmaking, material gathered up into a kind of knot: a cushion stuffed so as to be very soft.—n.Pouf, plaited gauze attached to a head-dress, as in 18th century. [Fr.]
Poulaine, pōō-lān′,n.a long, pointed shoe. [O. Fr.]
Pouldred, powl′drd,adj.(Spens.) powdered.
Poulp,Poulpe, pōōlp,n.the octopus. [Fr.—L.polypus.]
Poult, pōlt,n.a little hen or fowl: a chicken.—ns.Poult′er(Shak.),Poult′erer, one who deals in fowls;Poult′-foot, a club-foot.—adj.Poult′-foot′ed(arch.), club-footed.—ns.Poult′ry, domestic fowls;Poult′ry-yard, a yard where poultry are confined and bred. [Fr.poulet, dim. ofpoule, fowl—L.pullus, the young of any animal.]
Poultice, pōl′tis,n.a soft composition of meal, bran, &c. applied to sores.—v.t.to put a poultice upon. [L.pultes, pl. ofpuls,pultis(Gr.poltos), porridge.]
Pounce, powns,v.i.to fall (upon) and seize with the claws: to dart suddenly (upon).—v.t.to ornament with small holes: to strike with the claws.—n.a hawk's claw: the paw of a lion or other animal.—adj.Pounced, furnished with talons. [Orig. topierce, to stamp holes in for ornament; through Romance forms, from L.pungĕre,punctum.]
Pounce, powns,n.a fine powder for preparing a surface for writing on: coloured powder sprinkled over holes pricked in paper to form a pattern on paper underneath.—v.t.to sprinkle with pounce, as paper or a pattern.—ns.Pounce′-box,Poun′cet-box, a box with a perforated lid for sprinkling pounce. [Fr.ponce, pumice—L.pumex,pumicis, pumice-stone.]
Pound, pownd,n.long the unit of weight in the western and central states of Europe, differing, however, in value in all of them—a weight of 16 oz. avoirdupois for general goods, the troy-pound of 12 oz. being for bullion (the troy lb. is defined as 5760 grains, of which the lb. avoirdupois contains 7000): the pound sterling, a money of account: a sovereign or 20s., also represented in Scotland by a note (thePound Scotsis1⁄12th of the pound sterling, or 1s. 8d.—of its twenty shillings each is worth an English penny): (Spens.) a balance.—v.t.(slang) to wager a pound on.—ns.Pound′age, a charge or tax made on each pound;Pound′al, a name sometimes used for the absolute foot pound second unit of force, which will produce in one pound a velocity of one foot per second, after acting for one second;Pound′-cake, a sweet cake whose ingredients are measured by weight;Pound′er, he who has, or that which weighs, many pounds—used only after a number, as a 12-pounder.—adj.Pound′-fool′ish, neglecting the care of large sums in attending to little ones. [A.S.pund—L.pondo, by weight,pondus, a weight—pendĕre, to weigh.]
Pound, pownd,v.t.to shut up or confine, as strayed animals.—n.an enclosure in which strayed animals are confined: a level part of a canal between two locks: a pound-net.—ns.Pound′age, a charge made for pounding stray cattle;Pound′-keep′er;Pound′-net, a kind of weir in fishing, forming a trap by an arrangement of nets (thewings,leader, andpocket,bowl, orpound). [A.S.pund, enclosure.]
Pound, pownd,v.t.to beat into fine pieces: to bruise: to bray with a pestle.—v.i.to walk with heavy steps.—n.Pound′er. [M. E.pounen—A.S.punian, to beat;-dexcrescent.]
Pour, pōr,v.t.to cause to flow or fall in streams or drops: to throw with force: to send forth in great quantity: to give vent to: to utter.—v.i.to flow: to issue forth: to rush.—n.Pour′er. [Celt., as W.bwrw, to throw, Gael.purr, to push.]
Pourboire, pōōr-bwor′,n.drink-money: a bribe. [Fr.pour, for,boire, to drink.]
Pourparler, pōōr-pär′lā,n.a conference to arrange for some important transaction, as the formation of a treaty. [Fr.pour=L.pro, before,parler, to speak.]
Pourpoint, pōōr′point,n.a close-fitting men's quilted garment worn in the 14th century.
Pourtrahed, pōōr-trād′,adj.(Spens.) portrayed or drawn.
Pourtray. Same asPortray.
Pousse, pows,n.(Spens.) pulse, pease. [Pulseorpease.]
Pousse-café, pōōs′-ka-fā′,n.a cordial served after coffee.
Poussette, pōōs-set′,v.t.(Tenn.) to waltz round each other, as two couples in a contra-dance. [Fr.poussette,pouser, to push.]
Pout, powt,v.i.to push out the lips, in contempt or displeasure: to look sulky: to push out or be prominent.—n.a fit of sulkiness or ill-humour.—ns.Pout′er, one who pouts: a variety of pigeon, having its breast inflated;Pout′ing, childish sullenness.—adv.Pout′ingly, in a pouting or sullen manner. [Ety. dub.; cf. prov. Fr.pot,pout, lip, Fr.bouder, to pout; W.pwdu, pout.]
Poverty, pov′ėr-ti,n.the state of being poor: necessity: want: meanness: defect.—adjs.Pov′erty-strick′en,Pov′erty-struck, reduced to a state of poverty: in great suffering from poverty. [O. Fr.poverte(Fr.pauvreté)—L.paupertas,-tatis—pauper, poor.]
Powan, pow′an,n.(Scot.) the pollan, vendace, or Coregonus.
Powder, pow′dėr,n.dust: any substance in fine particles: gunpowder, a mixture of charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre: hair-powder.—v.t.to reduce to powder: to sprinkle with powder: to salt by sprinkling.—v.i.to crumble into powder: to use powder for the hair.—n.Pow′der-box, a box for toilet-powder, &c.—adj.Pow′dered, reduced to powder: sprinkled with powder: salted.—ns.Pow′der-flask,Pow′der-horn, a flask or horn for carrying powder, fitted with a means of measuring the amount of each charge;Pow′dering-gown, a loose dressing-gown worn while the hair was being powdered;Pow′dering-tub, a vessel in which meat is salted: a vessel in which venereal disease is treated by sweating;Pow′der-mag′azine, a strongly built place where powder is stored;Pow′der-mill, a mill in which gunpowder is made;Pow′der-mine, an excavation filled with gunpowder for blasting rocks, &c.;Pow′der-monk′ey, a boy formerly employed to carry powder to the gunners on board a ship-of-war;Pow′der-room, the room in a ship where powder is kept.—adj.Pow′dery, resembling or sprinkled with powder: dusty: friable. [O. Fr.poudre—L.pulvis,pulveris, dust.]
Power, pow′ėr,n.that in a person or a thing which enables them to act on other persons or things: strength: energy: faculty of the mind: any agency: moving force of anything: right to command: rule: authority: influence: ability: capacity of suffering: a ruler: a divinity: the result of the continued multiplication of a quantity by itself any given number of times: (optics) magnifying strength: (obs.) a great many.—adjs.Pow′ered, having power;Pow′erful, having great power: mighty: intense: forcible: efficacious.—adv.Pow′erfully.—ns.Pow′erfulness;Pow′er-house, a house where mechanical power (esp. electric) is generated.—adj.Pow′erless, without power: weak: impotent.—adv.Pow′erlessly.—ns.Pow′erlessness;Pow′er-loom, a loom worked by some mechanical power, as water, steam, &c.—Power of attorney(seeAttorney);Power of sale, a clause in securities and wills empowering property referred to to be sold on certain conditions;Powers, orGreat Powers(seeGreat).—Absolute power, power subject to no control by law;Civil power, power of governing a state;Mechanical powers(seeMechanical). [O. Fr.poer(Fr.pouvoir)—Low L.pot-ĕre, to be able.]
Powsowdy, pow-sow′di,n.(Scot.) any mixture of heterogeneous kinds of food.—AlsoPowsow′die.
Powter, pow′tėr,n.a pigeon, the pouter.
Powwow, pow′wow,n.a Red Indian conjurer: a dance, feast, &c. before an expedition: any rowdy meeting.—v.i.to hold such a meeting: to deliberate: to perform conjurations.—AlsoPaw′waw.
Pox, poks,n.pustules: an eruptive disease. [Written forpocks, pl. ofpock.]
Poynant, poin′ant,adj.(Spens.). Same asPoignant.
Pozzuolana. SeePuzzolana.
Practice, prak′tis,n.the habit of doing anything: frequent use: state of being used: regular exercise for instruction: performance: method: medical treatment: exercise of any profession: a rule or method in arithmetic.—ns.Practicabil′ity,Prac′ticableness, quality of being practicable.—adj.Prac′ticable, that may be practised, used, or followed: passable, as a road.—adv.Prac′ticably.—adj.Prac′tical, that can be put in practice: useful: applying knowledge to some useful end: derived from practice.—ns.Practical′ity;Prac′tical-joke, a trick of an annoying kind played on any one;Prac′tical-knowl′edge, knowledge which results in action.—adv.Prac′tically, in a practical way: actually: by actual trial.—n.Prac′ticalness. [M. E.praktike—O. Fr.practique—Gr.praktikos, fit for doing—prassein, to do.]
Practick,Practic, prak′tik,adj.(Spens.,Shak.) skilful, hence treacherous, deceitful.
Practise, prak′tis,v.t.to put into practice or to do habitually: to perform: to exercise, as a profession: to use or exercise: to teach by practice: to commit.—v.i.to have or to form a habit: to exercise any employment or profession: to try artifices.—n.Prac′tisant(Shak.), an agent.—adj.Prac′tised, skilled through practice.—n.Prac′tiser.—adj.Prac′tising, actively engaged in professional employment. [Frompractice.]
Practitioner, prak-tish′un-ėr,n.one who practises or is engaged in the exercise of any profession, esp. medicine or law.—General practitioner, one who practises in all the branches of medicine and surgery. [Older formpractician—O. Fr.practicien.]
Practive, prak′tiv,adj.directly tending towards action.
Prad, prad,n.a horse in thieves' cant.
Præ-. SeePre-.
Præmunire,Premunire, prē-mū-nī′re,n.the offence of disregard or contempt of the king and his government, especially the offence of introducing papal or other foreign authority into England: the writ founded on such an offence: the penalty incurred by the offence. [A corr. of L.præmonēre, to cite.]
Prænomen, prē-nō′men,n.the name prefixed to the family name in ancient Rome, asCaiusin Caius Julius Cæsar: the generic name in zoology put before the specific name.
Prætexta, prē-teks′ta,n.the outer garment, bordered with purple, worn at Rome by the higher magistrates and by free-born children till they assumed thetoga virilis. [L.,prætexĕre, to fringe.]
Prætor,Pretor, prē′tor,n.a magistrate of ancient Rome, next in rank to the consuls.—adjs.Prætō′rial,Pretō′rial,Prætō′rian,Pretō′rian, pertaining to a prætor or magistrate: authorised or exercised by the prætor: judicial.—ns.Prætō′rium,Pretō′rium, the official residence of the Roman prætor, proconsul, or governor in a province: the general's tent in a camp: the council of officers who attended the general and met in his tent;Præ′torship.—Prætorian band of guard, the bodyguard of the Roman Emperor;Prætorian gate, the gate of a Roman camp directly in front of the general's tent, and nearest to the enemy. [L.prætor, forpræitor—præ, before,īre,itum, to go.]
Pragmatic,-al, prag-mat′ik, -al,adj.of or pertaining to public business: skilled in affairs: active: practical: interfering with the affairs of others: officious: meddlesome: self-important.—n.Pragmat′ic, a man of business, a busybody: a public decree.—adv.Pragmat′ically.—ns.Pragmat′icalness,Prag′matism, activity: earnestness: meddlesomeness;Prag′matist.—Pragmatic method, a method of treating events with reference to their causes, conditions, and results—also calledPrag′matism;Pragmatic sanction, a special decree issued by a sovereign, such as that passed by the Emperor Charles VI. of Germany, securing the crown to Maria Theresa, and which led to the war so called in 1741. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr.pragmatikos—pragma—pragmatos, deed—prassein, to do.]
Prairie, prā′ri,n.an extensive meadow or tract of land, level or rolling, without trees, and covered with tall coarse grass.—adj.Prai′ried.—ns.Prai′rie-dog, a small gregarious North American marmot;Prai′rie-hawk, the American sparrow-hawk;Prai′rie-hen, a gallinaceous North American bird: the sharp-tailed grouse;Prai′rie-war′bler, an American warbler, yellow with black spots;Prai′rie-wolf, the coyote. [Fr.,—Low L.prataria, meadow-land—L.pratum, a meadow.]
Praise, prāz,n.the expression of the honour or value in which any person or thing is held: commendation on account of excellence or beauty: tribute of gratitude: a glorifying, as of God in worship: reason or ground of praise.—v.t.to express estimation of: to commend: to honour: to glorify, as in worship.—n.Prais′er, one who praises.—adv.Praise′worthily.—n.Praise′worthiness.—adj.Praise′worthy, worthy of praise: commendable. [O. Fr.preis(Fr.prix)—L.pretium, price.]
Prâkrit, prä′krit,n.the collective name of those languages or dialects which are immediately derived from, or stand in an immediate relation to, Sanskrit.—adj.Prâkrit′ic. [Sans.prākrita, the natural—prakriti, nature.]
Pram, präm,n.a flat-bottomed Dutch lighter: a barge fitted as a floating battery. [Dut.praam.]
Pram, pram,n.a vulgar abbrev. ofperambulator.
Prance, prans,v.i.to strut about in a showy or warlike manner: to ride showily: to bound gaily, as a horse.—adj.Pranc′ing, riding showily: springing or bounding gaily.—n.the action of a horse in rearing, bounding, &c.—adv.Pranc′ingly. [Prank.]
Prandial, pran′di-al,adj.relating to dinner. [L.prandium, breakfast.]
Prank, prangk,v.t.to display or adorn showily: to put in right order.—v.i.to make great show.—n.a sportive action: a mischievous trick.—n.Prank′er.—adv.Prank′ingly.—adjs.Prank′ish,Prank′some. [Closely akin toprink, a form ofprick.]
Prase, prāz,n.a leek-green quartz.—adjs.Pras′ine,Pras′inous, lightish-green.
Prate, prāt,v.i.to talk idly: to tattle: to be loquacious.—v.t.to speak without meaning or purpose: to let out, as a secret.—n.trifling talk.—n.Prā′ter, one who prates or talks idly.—adj.Prā′ting, talking idly or unmeaningly.—n.idle talk.—adv.Prā′tingly. [Low Ger.prāten, Dan.prate, Dut.praaten.]
Pratique, prat′ēk,n.converse, intercourse: a license or permission to hold intercourse, or to trade after quarantine. [Fr.]
Prattle, prat′l,v.i.to talk much and idly: to utter child's talk.—v.t.to talk about in a prattling way.—n.empty talk.—ns.Pratt′lebox, a prattler;Pratt′lement, prattle;Pratt′ler, one who prattles: a child. [Freq. ofprate.]
Pravity, prav′i-ti,n.wickedness.
Prawn, prawn,n.a small edible crustacean like the shrimp. [L.perna, a mussel.]
Praxis, praks′is,n.practice: an example or a collection of examples for exercise: a specimen.—n.Prax′inoscope, an optical instrument showing a body as if in motion, by means of successive pictures and an arrangement of mirrors in a horizontally rotating box. [Gr.praxein, to do.]
Pray, prā,v.i.to ask earnestly: to entreat: to speak and make known one's desires to God.—v.t.to ask earnestly and reverently, as in worship: to supplicate: to get by praying:—pr.p.prāy′ing;pa.t.andpa.p.prāyed.—ns.Pray′er, the act of praying: entreaty: the words used: solemn giving of thanks and praise to God, and a making known of our requests to Him: a form of prayer used in worship: a petition to a public body;Pray′er-book, a book containing prayers or forms of devotion.—adj.Pray′erful, full of, or given to, prayer: praying much or often: devotional.—adv.Pray′erfully.—n.Pray′erfulness.—adj.Pray′erless, without or not using prayer.—adv.Pray′erlessly.—ns.Pray′erlessness;Pray′er-meet′ing, a shorter and simpler form of public religious service, in which laymen often take part;Pray′er-mong′er, one who prays mechanically;Pray′er-rug, a small carpet on which a Moslem kneels at prayer;Pray′ing, the act of making a prayer: a prayer made.—adj.given to prayer.—ns.Pray′ing-machine′,-mill,-wheel, a revolving apparatus used for prayer in Tibet and elsewhere. [O. Fr.preier(Fr.prier)—L.precāri—prex,precis, a prayer.]
Pre-, prē, before, in compound words likepreanal,preauditory,preaxial,prebasal,prebrachial,precardiac,precentral,precerebral,precloacal,precordial,precoracoid,predentate,pre-esophageal, &c.
Preace, prēs,n.(Spens.). Same asPrease.
Preach, prēch,v.i.to pronounce a public discourse on sacred subjects: to discourse earnestly: to give advice in an offensive or obtrusive manner.—v.t.to publish in religious discourses: to deliver, as a sermon: to teach publicly.—n.(coll.) a sermon.—ns.Preach′er, one who discourses publicly on religious matter: a minister or clergyman;Preach′ership.—v.i.Preach′ify, to preach tediously: to weary with lengthy advice.—ns.Preach′ing, the act of preaching: a public religious discourse: a sermon;Preach′ing-cross, a cross in an open place at which monks, &c., preached.—n.pl.Preach′ing-frī′ars, the Dominicans.—n.Preach′ment, a sermon, in contempt: a discourse affectedly solemn.—adj.Preach′y, given to tedious moralising.—Preach down, andup, to decry, or the opposite. [Fr.prêcher(It.predicare)—L.prædicāre,-ātum, to proclaim.]