Province, prov′ins,n.a portion of an empire or a state marked off for purposes of government: a part of a country as distinguished from the capital: the district over which a governor or an archbishop has jurisdiction: a region: a business or duty: a person's business or calling: a department of knowledge.—adj.Provin′cial, relating to a province: belonging to a division of a country: local: showing the habits and manners of a province: unpolished: narrow.—n.an inhabitant of a province or country district: (R.C.) the superintendent of the heads of the religious houses in a province.—v.t.Provin′cialise, to render provincial:—pr.p.provin′cialīsing;pa.p.provin′cialīsed.—ns.Provin′cialism, a manner, a mode of speech, or a turn of thought peculiar to a province or a country district: a local expression: narrowness;Provincial′ity.—adv.Provin′cially.—Provincial letters, a series of letters written (1656-57) by Pascal against the doctrines and policy of the Jesuits. [Fr.,—L.provincia, a province; perh.pro, for,vincĕre, to conquer.]
Provincial, prō-vin′shal,adj.pertaining toProvenceorProvençal.—Provincial rose, the cabbage-rose—fromProvins-rose, Provins in Seine-et-Marne, being famous for its roses: (Shak.) a rosette formerly worn on the shoe.
Provine, prō-vīn′,v.i.to propagate a vine by layering, to form a plant for the next season at a distance from the original plant.
Provision, prō-vizh′un,n.act of providing: that which is provided or prepared: measures taken beforehand: a clause in a law or a deed: a rule for guidance: an appointment by the pope to a benefice not yet vacant: preparation: previous agreement: a store of food: provender.—v.t.to supply with provisions or food.—adjs.Provi′sional,Provi′sionary, provided for the occasion: temporary: containing a provision.—n.Provi′sional-judg′ment, a judgment given as far as the available evidence admits, but subject to correction under more light.—adv.Provi′sionally.—ns.Provi′sional-or′der, an order to do something granted by a secretary of state, which, when confirmed by the legislature, has the force of an act of parliament;Provi′sional-rem′edy, a means of detaining in safety a person or property until a decision upon some point in which they are concerned be come to;Provi′sion-mer′chant, a general dealer in articles of food. [Fr.,—L.,—provisus, pa.p. ofprovidēre.]
Proviso, prō-vī′zō,n.a provision or condition in a deed or other writing: the clause containing it: any condition:—pl.Provisos(prō-vī′zōz).—adv.Provī′sorily.—adj.Provī′sory, containing a proviso or condition: conditional: making provision for the time: temporary. [From the L. law phraseproviso quod, it being provided that.]
Provisor, prō-vī′zor,n.one who provides: a purveyor: a person to whom the pope has granted the right to the next vacancy in a benefice.—Statute of Provisors, an act of the English parliament passed in 1351 to prevent the pope from exercising the power of creating provisors.
Provoke, prō-vōk′,v.t.to call forth: to summon: to excite or call into action: to excite with anger: to offend: (B.) to challenge.—n.Provocā′tion, act of provoking: that which provokes: any cause of danger.—adjs.Provoc′ative,Provoc′atory, tending to provoke or excite.—n.anything that stirs up or provokes.—n.Provoc′ativeness, the quality of being provocative.—adj.Provō′kable.—ns.Provōke′ment(Spens.), provocation;Provō′ker, one who, or that which, provokes, causes, or promotes.—adj.Provō′king, irritating.—adv.Provō′kingly.—The provocation, the sojourn of the Jews in the wilderness, when they provoked God. [Fr.provoquer—L.provocāre,pro, forth,vocāre, to call.]
Provost, prov′ost,n.the dignitary set over a cathedral or collegiate church: the head of a college: (Scotland) the chief magistrate of certain classes of burghs, answering to mayor in England: (Shak.) the keeper of a prison.—ns.Prov′ost-mar′shal(army), an officer with special powers for enforcing discipline and securing prisoners till brought to trial: (navy) an officer having charge of prisoners;Prov′ostry, a district under a provost;Prov′ostship, the office of a provost.—Lord Provost, the style of the chief magistrates of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Dundee. [O. Fr.provost(Fr.prévôt), L.præpositus, pa.p. ofpræponĕre—præ, over,ponĕre, to place.]
Prow, prow,n.the forepart of a ship: the bow or beak. [Fr.proue(It.prua)—L.prora—Gr.prōra, a prow—pro, before.]
Prowess, prow′es,n.bravery, esp. in war: valour: daring.—adj.Prow(arch.), brave, valiant:—superl.Prow′est. [O. Fr.prou(Fr.preux), perh. fromprodinprodesse, to do good.]
Prowl, prowl,v.i.to keep poking about: to rove about in search of prey or plunder.—n.(coll.) the act of prowling: a roving for prey.—n.Prowl′er.—adj.Prowl′ing.—adv.Prowl′ingly. [Prob. forprogle=prokle, a freq. form ofproke, to thrust; cf.Prog.]
Proximate, proks′i-māt,adj.nearest or next: without any one between, as a cause and its effect: having the most intimate connection: near and immediate.—adj.Prox′imal.—advs.Prox′imally;Prox′imately.—n.Proxim′ity, immediate nearness in time, place, relationship, &c.—adj.Prox′imo, (in) the next (month)—often writtenprox.—Proximate cause, a cause which immediately precedes the effect;Proximate object, immediate object. [L.proximus, next, superl. fromprope, near.]
Proxy, prok′si,n.the agency of one who acts for another: one who acts or votes for another, or the writing by which he is authorised to do so: a substitute.—v.i.to vote or act by proxy.—n.Prox′yship.—adj.Prox′y-wed′ded(Tenn.), wedded by proxy. [Obs.procuracy. Cf.Procurator.]
Prozymite, proz′i-mīt,n.one who uses leavened bread in the eucharist—opp. toAzymite.
Prude, prōōd,n.a woman of affected modesty: one who pretends extreme propriety.—n.Pru′dery, manners of a prude: pretended or overdone strictness of manner or behaviour.—adj.Pru′dish, like a prude: affectedly modest or reserved: stiff: severe.—adv.Pru′dishly.—n.Pru′dishness. [O. Fr.prode, fem. ofprou,prod, excellent.]
Prudent, prōō′dent,adj.cautious and wise in conduct: careful: discreet: dictated by forethought: frugal.—n.Pru′dence, quality of being prudent: wisdom applied to practice: attention to self-interest: caution.—adj.Pruden′tial, using or practising prudence.—n.a matter for prudence (generallypl.).—n.Prudential′ity.—advs.Pruden′tially;Pru′dently. [Fr.,—L.prūdens,prūdentis, contr. ofprovidens, pr.p. ofprovidēre, to foresee.]
Prud′-homme, prōō-dom′,n.a prudent man: a skilled workman: in France, one of a board of arbitrators formed from masters and workmen. [Fr.prudorprod, good,homme, a man.]
Pruinose, prōō′i-nōs,adj.powdery, mealy.—AlsoPru′inous. [L.pruina, hoar-frost.]
Prune, prōōn,v.t.to trim by lopping off superfluous parts: to divest of anything superfluous: to arrange or dress feathers, as birds do.—ns.Pru′ner;Pru′ning, the act of pruning or trimming;Pru′ning-hook, a hooked bill for pruning with;Pru′ning-knife, a large knife with a slightly hooked point for pruning.—n.pl.Pru′ning-shears, shears for pruning shrubs, &c. [Older formproin, prob. from Fr.provigner,provin, a shoot—L.propago,-inis.]
Prune, prōōn,n.a plum, esp. a dried plum.—adj.Prunif′erous, bearing plums. [Fr.,—L.prunum—Gr.prounon.]
Prunella, prōō-nel′a,n.sore throat: angina pectoris. [Low L., from Teut.; Ger.bräune, quinsy.]
Prunella, prōō-nel′a,n.a genus of plants, the best known of which isSelf-heal, formerly used as a medicine. [Perh. fromprunella, above.]
Prunella, prōō-nel′a,n.a strong woollen stuff, generally black—alsoPrunell′o.—n.Prunell′o, a little prune: a kind of dried plum. [Prob. Latinised form of Fr.prunelle, a sloe, dim. of Fr.prune, a plum.]
Prurience, prōō′ri-ens,n.state of being prurient: eager desire—alsoPru′riency.—adj.Pru′rient, itching or uneasy with desire: given to unclean thoughts.—adv.Pru′riently. [L.pruriens, pr.p. ofprurīre, to itch.]
Prurigo, prōō-rī′gō,n.an eruption on the skin, causing great itching.—adj.Prurig′inous.—n.Prurī′tus. [L.prurio, an itching.]
Prussian, prush′an,adj.of or pertaining toPrussia.—n.an inhabitant of Prussia.—v.t.Pruss′ianise.—n.Pruss′iate, a salt of prussic acid: a cyanide.—adj.Pruss′ic, pertaining to Prussian blue.—Prussian blue, cyanide of potassium and iron;Prussic acid, a deadly poison, an acid first obtained from Prussian blue—alsoHydrocyanic acid.
Pry, prī,v.i.to peer or peep into that which is closed: to inspect closely: to try to discover with curiosity:—pa.t.andpa.p.pried.—n.(rare) a peeping glance: one who pries—cf.Paul Pry, in John Poole's (1792-1879) comedy so called, first produced in 1825.—ns.Prī′er,Pry′er.—p.adj.Pry′ing, looking closely into: inquisitive: curious.—adv.Pry′ingly. [M. E.prien=piren, to peer; cf.Peer.]
Prys, prīs,n.(Spens.). Same asPrice.
Pryse, prīs,v.t.(Spens.). Same asPrize.
Prytaneum, prit-an-ē′um,n.the town-hall of an ancient Greek city where ambassadors were received, and citizens who had deserved well of the state were sometimes allowed to dine at the public expense. [Gr.,—prytanis, a presiding magistrate.]
Prythee, prith′ē (Shak.). Same asPrithee.
Psalm, säm,n.a sacred song.—ns.Psalm′-book, a book containing psalms for purposes of worship;Psalmist(säm′ist,orsal′mist),a composer of psalms, applied to David and to the writers of the Scriptural psalms.—adjs.Psalmod′ic,-al, pertaining to psalmody.—v.i.Psal′modise, to practise psalmody.—ns.Psal′modist, a singer of psalms;Psalmody(sal′mo-di,orsäm′o-di),the singing of psalms, esp. in public worship: psalms collectively.—v.t.to celebrate in psalms.—ns.Psalmog′rapher,Psalmog′raphist, a writer of psalms;Psalmog′raphy, the act or practice of writing psalms;Psalm′-tune, a tune to which a psalm is usually sung.—The Psalms, one of the books of the Old Testament. [A.S.sealm—Low L.psalmus—Gr.psalmos—psallein, to play on a stringed instrument.]
Psalter, sawl′tėr,n.the book of Psalms, esp. when separately printed: (R.C.) a series of 150 devout sentences: a rosary of 150 beads, according to the number of the psalms.—adj.Psaltē′rian, pertaining to a psalter: musical.—ns.Psal′tery, a stringed instrument used by the Jews: psalter;Psal′tress, a woman who plays upon the psaltery. [O. Fr.psaltier—L.psalterium, a song sung to the psaltery.]
Psalterium, sawl-tē′ri-um,n.the third division of a ruminant's stomach, the omasum or manyplies.
Psammitic, sa-mit′ik,adj.in geology, applied to derivative rocks composed of rounded grains, as ordinary sandstone. [Gr.psammos, sand.]
Pschent, pshent,n.the sovereign crown of ancient Egypt, a combination of the white mitre of southern Egypt, with the red crown, square in front and pointed behind, of northern Egypt. [Egyptian.]
Psellism, sel′izm,n.a defect in articulation—alsoPsellis′mus. [Gr.psellismos—psellos, stammering.]
Pseudo-, sū′dō, a prefix signifying false or spurious, as inns.Pseudæsthē′sia, imaginary feeling, as in an amputated limb;Pseudepig′rapha(pl.), spurious writings, especially those writings claiming to be Biblical, but not judged genuine or canonical by the consent of scholars.—adjs.Pseudepigraph′ic,-al.—n.Pseudepig′raphy, the ascription to books of false names of authors.—n.Pseu′do-apos′tle, a pretended apostle.—adj.Pseu′do-archā′ic, archaistic.—ns.Pseudoblep′sis, visual illusion;Pseu′do-Christian′ity, counterfeit Christianity;Pseudochrō′mia, false perception of colour;Pseu′do-clas′sicism, false or affected classicism.—adjs.Pseu′dodont, having false teeth, as a monotreme;Pseu′dodox, false.—n.a common fallacy.—ns.Pseudogeu′sia, false taste-perception;Pseu′dograph, a false writing.—v.i.Pseudog′raphise, to write incorrectly.—ns.Pseudog′raphy, bad spelling;Pseudol′ogy, the science of lying;Pseu′do-mar′tyr, a false martyr;Pseudomem′brane, a false membrane, or lining, as in some diseases of the throat.—adj.Pseudomem′branous.—n.Pseu′domorph.—adj.Pseudomor′phous, deceptive in form: (min.) noting crystals which have a form of crystallisation foreign to the species to which they belong.—ns.Pseu′donym, a fictitious name assumed, as by an author;Pseudonym′ity, state of being pseudonymous.—adj.Pseudon′ymous, bearing a fictitious name.—adv.Pseudon′ymously.—n.pl.Pseudopō′dia, the processes alternately thrust forth and drawn back by amœboid cells:—sing.Pseudopō′dium,Pseu′dopod.—n.Pseu′doscope, a species of stereoscope which causes the parts of bodies in relief to appear hollow, andvice versâ.—adj.Pseudoscop′ic.—n.Pseu′doscopy. [Gr.pseudēs, false.]
Pshaw, shaw,interj.expressing contempt.—v.i.to express contempt, as with this word. [Imit.]
Pshaw, shaw,n.an upright cylindrical hat once worn by women in Spain.
Psilanthropism, sī-lan′thrō-pizm,n.the doctrine or belief of the mere human existence of Christ.—adj.Psilanthrop′ic.—ns.Psilan′thropist, one who thinks Christ a mere man;Psilan′thropy. [Gr.psilos, bare,anthrōpos, man.]
Psittaci, sit′a-sī,n.pl.the parrot tribe.—adjs.Psit′tacine,Psittā′ceous. [Gr.psittakos.]
Psoas, sō′as,n.a muscle of the loins and pelvis: the tenderloin.—adj.Psoat′ic. [Gr.psoa,psua, generally in pl.psoai,psuai.]
Psoriasis, sō-rī′a-sis,n.a disease characterised by slight elevations of the surface of the skin covered with whitish scales.—n.Psō′ra.—adj.Psō′ric. [Gr.psōriān, to have the itch,psān, to rub.]
Psychic,-al, sī′kik, -al,adj.pertaining to the soul, or living principle in man: spiritual: pertaining to the mind, or to its faculties and functions.—ns.Psy′che, the personified soul or spirit: the human soul or spirit or mind: a genus of bombycid moths: a cheval-glass;Psychī′ater,Psychī′atrist, one who treats diseases of the mind, an alienist;Psychī′atry, the treatment of mental diseases;Psy′chic, a spiritualistic medium;Psy′chics, the science of psychology;Psy′chism, the doctrine that there is a universal soul animating all living beings;Psy′chist;Psychogen′esis,Psychog′eny, the origination and development of the soul;Psychog′ony, the doctrine of the development of mind;Psy′chograph, an instrument used for so-called spirit-writing.—adj.Psychograph′ic.—n.Psychog′raphy, the natural history of mind: supposed spirit-writing by the hand of a medium.—adjs.Psycholog′ic,-al, pertaining to psychology: pertaining to the mind.—adv.Psycholog′ically.—v.i.Psychol′ogise.—ns.Psychol′ogist, one who studies psychology;Psychol′ogy, the science which classifies and analyses the phenomena or varying states of the human mind;Psychom′achy, a conflict of soul with body;Psy′chomancy, necromancy;Psychom′etry, the science of the measurement of the duration, &c., of mental processes: an occult power claimed by some charlatans of divining the secret properties of things by mere contact.—adj.Psy′chomōtor, pertaining to such mental action as induces muscular contraction.—ns.Psychoneurol′ogy, that part of neurology which deals with mental action;Psychoneurō′sis, mental disease without apparent anatomical lesion;Psychon′omy, the science of the laws of mental action;Psychonosol′ogy, the branch of medical science that treats of mental diseases;Psychopan′nychism, the theory that at death the soul falls asleep till the resurrection;Psychopan′nychist;Psychopar′esis, mental weakness;Psy′chopath, a morally irresponsible person;Psychop′athist, an alienist;Psychop′athy, derangement of mental functions.—adj.Psy′cho-phys′ical.—ns.Psy′cho-phys′icist;Psy′cho-physiol′ogy,Psy′cho-phys′ics, the knowledge of the manifold correspondences of the most intimate and exact kind that exist between states and changes of consciousness on the one hand, and states and changes of brain on the other—the concomitance being apparently complete as respects complexity, intensity, and time-order;Psy′choplasm, the physical basis of consciousness;Psy′chopomp, Hermes, the guide of spirits to the other world;Psychō′sis, mental condition: a change in the field of consciousness: any mental disorder;Psychostā′sia, the weighing of souls;Psy′cho-stat′ics, the theory of the conditions of the phenomena of mind;Psychothē′ism, the doctrine that God is pure spirit;Psychotherapeu′tics,Psychother′apy, the art of curing mental disease.—Psychical research, inquiring into alleged phenomena, apparently implying a connection with another world;Psychic force, a power not physical or mechanical, supposed to cause certain so-called spiritualistic phenomena. [L.psychicus—Gr.psychikos—psychē, the soul—psychēin, to breathe.]
Psychrometer, sī-krom′e-tėr,n.an instrument for measuring the tension of aqueous vapour in the atmosphere: a wet and dry bulb hygrometer.—adjs.Psychromet′ric,-al.—ns.Psychrom′etry;Psychrophō′bia, morbid impressibility to cold;Psy′chrophore, a refrigerating instrument like a catheter for cooling the urethra. [Gr.psychros, cold,psychein, to blow,metron, a measure.]
Ptarmic, tar′mik,n.a medicine which causes sneezing.
Ptarmigan, tär′mi-gan,n.a species of grouse with feathered toes inhabiting the tops of mountains. [Gael.tarmachan.]
Ptere, tēr,n.(zool.) an alate organ.—ns.Pterid′ium,Pterō′dium, a key-fruit or samara.
Pterichthys, ter-ik′this,n.a genus of fossil ganoid fishes in the Old Red Sandstone strata, with wing-like pectoral fins. [Gr.pteron, wing,ichthys, fish.]
Pterion, tē′ri-on,n.in craniometry, the region where the frontal, squamosal, parietal, and sphenoid bones meet:—pl.Ptē′ria.
Pteris, tē′ris,n.a genus of ferns which includes the brakes.—ns.Pteridol′ogist, one versed in the study of ferns;Pteridol′ogy, the science of ferns;Pteridomā′nia, a passion for ferns;Pterig′raphy, a description of ferns. [Gr.pteris—pteron, a feather.]
Pterna, ter′na,n.the heel-pad in birds:—pl.Pter′næ.
Pterodactyl, ter-ō-dak′til,n.an extinct flying reptile with large and bird-like skull, long jaws, and a flying-membrane like that of a bat. [Gr.pteron, wing,daktylos, finger.]
Pterography, ter-og′ra-fi,n.the description of feathers.—n.Pterog′rapher.—adjs.Pterograph′ic,-al;Pterolog′ical.—n.Pterol′ogy, the science of insects' wings.
Pteromys, ter′ō-mis,n.a genus ofSciuridæ, the flying-squirrels.
Pteron, tē′ron,n.a range of columns, portico.—n.Pterō′ma, a peridrome: a side-wall. [Gr.]
Pterope, ter′ōp,n.a fruit-bat or flying-fox.
Pteropod, ter′ō-pod,n.one of a class of molluscs which move about by means of wing-like appendages attached to the sides of the head, which are not, however, homologous to the foot of other molluscs:—pl.Pterop′oda. [Gr.pteron, wing,pous,podos, foot.]
Pterosauria, ter-ō-saw′ri-a,n.pl.a group of extinct flying reptiles. [Gr.pteron, wing,sauros, lizard.]
Pterygoid, ter′i-goid,n.one of a pair of bones in the facial apparatus of some vertebrata behind the palatines, known in human anatomy as the pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone.—adj.aliform or alate.—adj.Pteryg′ian.—n.Pteryg′ium, a generalised limb of a vertebrate.
Pterylæ, ter′i-lē,n.pl.the bands of contour feathers in birds.—adjs.Pterylograph′ic,-al.—adv.Pterylograph′ically.—n.Pterylog′raphy.
Ptilosis, tī-lō′sis,n.plumage or mode of feathering of a bird.—AlsoPterylō′sis. [Gr.ptilon, a feather.]
Ptisan, tiz′an,n.a medicinal drink made from barley with other ingredients. [Gr.ptisanē, peeled barley, barley-water—ptissein, to peel.]
Ptochocracy, tō-kok′ra-si,n.the rule of paupers.—n.Ptochog′ony, the production of beggars—wholesale pauperisation. [Gr.ptōchos, a beggar.]
Ptolemaic, tol-e-mā′ik,adj.pertaining to the race of Egyptian kings called thePtolemies: pertaining toPtolemythe astronomer (of the 2d century)—alsoPtolemæ′an.—n.Ptolemā′ist, one who believes in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy.—Ptolemaic system, the method by which Ptolemy, the astronomer, explained the structure of the heavens and the motions of the heavenly bodies (139A.D.).
Ptomaïne, tō′ma-in,n.a somewhat loosely used generic name for those bodies, usually poisonous, formed from animal tissues during putrefaction—putrescine,cadaverine,creatinin,neurin,choline,muscarine, &c.—AlsoPtō′maïn. [Gr.ptōma, a corpse—piptein, to fall.]
Ptosis, tō′sis,n.inability to raise the upper eyelid. [Gr.,—piptein, to fall.]
Ptyalin,-e, tī′a-lin,n.the nitrogenous essential principle of saliva.—v.i.Pty′alise, to salivate.—n.Pty′alism, salivation.—adj.Ptyalogog′ic.—ns.Ptyal′ogogue,Ptys′magogue, a medicine which causes salivation. [Gr.,—ptuein, to spit.]
Pub, pub,n.(slang) a public-house, tavern.
Puberty, pū′bėr-ti,n.the age of full development: early manhood or womanhood: the period when a plant begins to flower.—adjs.Pū′beral;Pūber′ulent, covered with very fine downy hairs.—ns.Pū′bes, the pubic region, the hair growing thereon at puberty;Pūbes′cence, state of one arrived at puberty: (bot.) the soft, short hair on plants.—adj.Pūbes′cent, arriving at puberty: (bot.,zool.) covered with soft, short hair;Pubig′erous, pubescent. [Fr.puberté—L.pubertas,-tatis—pubes,puber, grown up.]
Pubis, pū′bis,n.a bone of the pelvis which in man forms the anterior portion of theos innominatum.—adjs.Pū′bic;Pubofem′oral;Pū′bo-il′iac;Pū′bo-is′chiac;Puboprostat′ic;Pū′bo-urē′thral;Puboves′ical. [Foros pubis, gen. ofpubes, grown up.]
Public, pub′lik,adj.of or belonging to the people: pertaining to a community or a nation: general: common to or shared in by all: generally known.—n.the people: the general body of mankind: the people, indefinitely: a public-house, tavern.—ns.Pub′lican, the keeper of an inn or public-house: (orig.) a farmer-general of the Roman taxes: a tax-collector;Publicā′tion, the act of publishing or making public: a proclamation: the act of printing and sending out for sale, as a book: that which is published as a book, &c.—ns.pl.Pub′lic-bills,-laws, &c., bills, laws, &c. which concern the interests of the whole people;Pub′lic-funds, money lent to government for which interest is paid of a stated amount at a stated time.—ns.Pub′lic-house, a house open to the public: one chiefly used for selling beer and other liquors: an inn or tavern;Pub′lic-institū′tion, an institution kept up by public funds for the public use, as an educational or charitable foundation;Pub′licist, one who writes on or is skilled in public law, or on current political topics;Public′ity, the state of being public or open to the knowledge of all: notoriety;Pub′lic-law(seeInternational).—adv.Pub′licly.—adjs.Pub′lic-mind′ed,-spir′ited, having a spirit actuated by regard to the public interest: with a regard to the public interest.—ns.Pub′licness;Pub′lic-opin′ion, the view which the people of a district or county take of any question of public interest;Pub′lic-pol′icy, the main principles or spirit upon which the law of a country is constructed;Pub′lic-spir′it, a strong desire and effort to work on behalf of the public interest.—adv.Pub′lic-spir′itedly.—n.Pub′lic-spir′itedness.—n.pl.Pub′lic-works, permanent works or improvements made for public use or benefit.—Public health, the department in any government, municipality, &c. which superintends sanitation;Public holiday, a general holiday ordained by parliament;Public lands, lands belonging to government, esp. such as are open to sale, grant, &c.;Public orator, an officer of English universities who is the voice of the Senate upon all public occasions;Public school(seeSchool).—In public, in open view. [Fr.,—L.publicus—populus, the people.]
Publish, pub′lish,v.t.to make public: to divulge: to announce: to proclaim: to send forth to the public: to print and offer for sale: to put into circulation.—adj.Pub′lishable.—ns.Pub′lisher, one who makes public: one who publishes books;Pub′lishment, publication, esp. of banns.
Puce, pūs,adj.brownish-purple. [Fr.puce—L.pulex,pulĭcis, a flea.]
Pucelle, pū-sel′,n.a maid, virgin, esp. the Maid of Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc (1412-31): a wanton girl.—n.Pū′celage, virginity. [O. Fr. through Low L.,—L.pullus, a young animal.]
Puck, puk,n.a goblin or mischievous sprite: a merry fairy inMidsummer Night's Dream.—adj.Puck′ish. [M. E.pouke—Celt., as Ir.puca, W.pwca,bwg; conn. with Ice.púki. Cf.Pug,Bug.]
Pucka, puk′a,adj.durable, substantial—opp. toCutcha. [Anglo-Ind.]
Puck-ball. Same asPuff-ball.
Pucker, puk′ėr,v.t.to gather into folds: to wrinkle.—n.a fold or wrinkle: a number of folds or wrinkles, esp. irregular ones: (coll.) agitation, confusion.—adj.Puck′ery, astringent: tending to wrinkle. [Cf.Poke, a bag, andPock.]
Pud, pud,n.(coll.) a paw, fist, hand. [Perh. Dut.poot, paw.]
Puddening, pud′ning,n.a thick pad of rope, &c., used as a fender on the bow of a boat.
Pudder, pud′ėr,n.a pother, a bustle, a tumult.—v.i.to make a tumult or bustle.—v.t.to disturb: to perplex or confound. [Pother.]
Pudding, pōōd′ing,n.a skin or gut filled with seasoned minced meat, &c., a sausage: a soft kind of food made of flour, milk, eggs, &c.: a piece of good fortune.—adjs.Pudd′ing-faced, having a fat, round, smooth face;Pudd′ing-head′ed(coll.), stupid.—ns.Pudd′ing-pie, a pudding with meat baked in it;Pudd′ing-sleeve, a large loose sleeve;Pudd′ing-stone, a conglomerate rock made up of rounded pebbles;Pudd′ing-time, dinner-time: (obs.) critical time. [Prob. Celt., as W.poten, Ir.putog—put, a bag. The Low Ger.pudding, Fr.boudin, L.botulus, are prob. all related words.]
Puddle, pud′l,n.an ill-shaped, awkward person. [Cf. Low Ger.purrel, something short and thick.]
Puddle, pud′l,n.a small pool of muddy water: a mixture of clay and sand.—v.t.to make muddy: to stir up mud: to make water-tight by means of clay: to convert into bar or wrought iron.—v.i.to make a dirty stir.—ns.Pudd′ler, one who turns cast-iron into wrought-iron by puddling;Pudd′ling, the act of rendering impervious to water by means of clay: the process of converting cast into bar or wrought iron.—adj.Pudd′ly, dirty. [M. E.podel(prob. forplod-el)—Celt.; Ir.plodach,plod, a pool.]
Puddock, pud′ok,n.Same asPaddock.
Pudency, pū′dens-i,n.(Shak.) shamefacedness, modesty.—n.pl.Puden′da, the genitals.—adjs.Puden′dal,Puden′dous,Pū′dic,-al, pertaining to the pudenda.—n.Pudic′ity, modesty. [L., as ifpudentia—pudens, pr.p. ofpudēre, to be ashamed.]
Pudgy, puj′i,adj.fat and short: fleshy.—AlsoPodg′y.
Pueblo, pweb′lo,n.a town or settlement in Spanish America: one of the communal habitations of the New Mexico aborigines.—adj.Pueb′lan. [Sp., a town—L.populus, a people.]
Puerile, pū′ėr-īl,adj.pertaining to children: childish: trifling: silly.—adv.Pū′erilely.—ns.Pū′erileness,Pūeril′ity, quality of being puerile: that which is puerile: a childish expression. [Fr.puéril—L.puerilis—puer, a child.]
Puerperal, pū-ėr′pėr-al,adj.relating to childbirth—alsoPūer′perous.—adv.Pūer′perally.—Puerperal fever, fever occurring in connection with childbirth;Puerperal insanity, insanity occurring in connection with childbirth. [L.puerpera, a woman lately delivered—puer, a child,parĕre, to bear.]
Puff, puf,v.i.to blow in puffs or whiffs: to swell or fill with air: to breathe with vehemence: to blow at, in contempt: to bustle about.—v.t.to drive with a puff: to swell with a wind: to praise in exaggerated terms.—n.a sudden, forcible breath: a sudden blast of wind: a gust or whiff: a fungus ball containing dust: anything light and porous, or swollen and light: a kind of light pastry: a part of a fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle: a light ball or pad for dusting powder on the skin, &c.: an exaggerated expression of praise.—ns.Puff′-add′er, a large, venomous African serpent;Puff′-ball, a dried fungus, ball-shaped and full of dust;Puff′-bird, a South American bird resembling the kingfisher in form, but living on insects;Puff′-box, a box for holding powder for the toilet, and a puff for applying it.—adj.Puffed, gathered up into rounded ridges, as a sleeve.—ns.Puff′er, one who puffs: one who raises the prices at an auction in order to excite the eagerness of the bidders to the advantage of the seller;Puff′ery, puffing or extravagant praise.—adv.Puff′ily.—ns.Puff′iness, state of being puffy or turgid: intumescence;Puff′ing, the act of praising extravagantly.—adv.Puff′ingly.—n.Puff′-paste, a short flaky paste for pastry.—adj.Puff′y, puffed out with air or any soft matter: tumid: bombastic: coming in puffs.—Puff up(B.), to inflate. [Imit.; cf. Ger.puffen, &c.]
Puffin, puf′in,n.a water-fowl having a short, thick, projecting beak like that of a parrot: a puff-ball.
Pug, pug,n.a monkey: a fox: a small kind of dog: any small animal (in familiarity or contempt).—n.Pug′-dog, a small, short-haired dog with wrinkled face, upturned nose, and short tail.—adjs.Pug′-faced, monkey-faced;Pug′ging(Shak.), thieving—a misprint forprigging.—n.Pug′-nose(sometimes abbrev.pug), a short, thick nose with the tip turned up. [Puck.]
Pug, pug,n.clay ground and worked with water.—v.t.to grind with water and make plastic: to line spaces between floors with mortar, felt, or other deafening.—ns.Pug′ging, beating or punching, esp. the working of clay for making bricks, in a pug-mill: (archit.) clay, sawdust, plaster, &c. put between floors to deaden sound;Pug′-mill, a machine for mixing and tempering clay. [Prov. Eng.pug, to strike. Cf.Poke.]
Pugh, pōō,interj.of contempt or disdain. [Imit.]
Pugilism, pū′jil-izm,n.the art of boxing or fighting with the fists, esp. in the prize-ring.—ns.Pū′gil, a pinch;Pū′gilist, one who fights with his fists.—adj.Pūgilist′ic. [L.pugil, a boxer.]
Pugnacious, pug-nā′shus,adj.fond of fighting: combative: quarrelsome.—adv.Pugnā′ciously.—n.Pugnac′ity, readiness or inclination to fight: fondness for fighting: quarrelsomeness. [L.pugnax,pugnacis, fond of fighting—pugnāre, to fight.]
Pugree, pug′rē,n.a light scarf worn round the hat to keep off the sun.—AlsoPug′gree,Pug′gery,Pug′aree. [Hind.pagrī, a turban.]
Puisne, pū′ne,adj.(law) younger or inferior in rank, applied to certain judges in England. [O. Fr. (Fr.puiné), frompuis—L.post, after,né, pa.p. ofnaître—L.nasci,natus, to be born.]
Puissant, pū′is-ant,adj.potent or powerful: strong: forcible.—n.Pū′issance, power, strength, force.—adv.Pū′issantly.—n.Pū′issantness. [Fr., (It.possente)—L.potens, powerful, modified by the influence of L.posse, to be able.]
Puke, pūk,v.i.to spew, vomit: to sicken.—n.vomit: an emetic.—n.Pū′ker, one who vomits. [Perh. forspuke. Cf.Spew.]
Puke, pūk,adj.(Shak.) of a colour between black and russet: reddish-brown: puce.—n.Puke′-stock′ing(Shak.), a dark-coloured stocking.
Pulchritude, pul′kri-tūd,n.comeliness. [L.]
Pule, pūl,v.i.to pipe or chirp: to cry, whimper, or whine, like a child.—ns.Pū′ler;Pū′ling, the cry as of a chicken: a kind of whine.—adj.whimpering: whining.—adv.Pū′lingly. [From Fr.piauler; imit. like It.pigolare, L.pipilāreandpipāre, to pipe.]
Pulex, pū′leks,n.a genus of insects: the flea. [L.]
Pulkha, pul′kä,n.a Laplander's sledge, shaped like a boat.—AlsoPulk. [Lap.]
Pull, pōōl,v.t.to draw, or try to draw, with force: to draw or gather with the hand: to tear: to pluck: to extract: to move, propel by tugging, rowing, &c.: to transport by rowing: in horse-racing, to check a horse in order to prevent its winning: to produce on a printing-press worked by hand: to raid or seize.—v.i.to give a pull: to draw.—n.the act of pulling: a struggle or contest: exercise in rowing: (slang) influence, a favourable chance, advantage: (coll.) a drink, draught: (print.) a single impression of a hand-press.—ns.Pull′-back, a restraint: a device for making a woman's gown hang close and straight in front;Pull′er.—Pull a face, to draw the countenance into a particular expression: to grimace;Pull apart, to bring asunder by pulling;Pull down, to take down or apart: to demolish;Pull for, to row in the direction of;Pull off, to carry anything through successfully;Pull one's self together, to collect one's faculties;Pull out, to draw out, lengthen;Pull the long bow, to lie or boast beyond measure;Pull through, to get to the end of something difficult or dangerous with some success;Pull up, to tighten the reins: to take to task: to bring to a stop: to halt;Pull up stakes, to prepare to leave a place. [A.S.pullian; conn. with Low Ger.pulen, to pluck.]
Pullet, pōōl′et,n.a young hen.—n.Pull′et-sperm(Shak.), the treadle or chalaza of an egg. [Fr.poulette, dim. ofpoule, a hen—Low L.pulla, a hen, fem. of L.pullus, a young animal.]