Historical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
Coverage: the complete A–Z main-entry clusters and dictionary Addenda. Derivative words remain within their original entry clusters. Non-dictionary appendices and standalone illustrations are excluded.
United States Publisher marks these historical texts public domain in the USA. Transformed book text excludes Gutenberg branding; source attribution is a bibliographic acknowledgment. No non-US public-domain determination is made. Rights statement ↗
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. Pru
English · e-38699-4409Pruinose, prōō′i-nōs, adj. powdery, mealy.—Also Pru′inous. [L. pruina, hoar-frost.]
English · e-38699-4411 · brief source recordPrune, 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 bi
English · e-38699-4412Prune, prōōn, n. a plum, esp. a dried plum.—adj. Prunif′erous, bearing plums. [Fr.,—L. prunum—Gr. prounon.]
English · e-38699-4413 · brief source recordPrunella, prōō-nel′a, n. sore throat: angina pectoris. [Low L., from Teut.; Ger. bräune, quinsy.]
English · e-38699-4414 · brief source recordPrunella, prōō-nel′a, n. a genus of plants, the best known of which is Self-heal, formerly used as a medicine. [Perh. from prunella, above.]
English · e-38699-4415Prunella, prōō-nel′a, n. a strong woollen stuff, generally black—also Prunell′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.]
English · e-38699-4416Prurience, prōō′ri-ens, n. state of being prurient: eager desire—also Pru′riency.—adj. Pru′rient, itching or uneasy with desire: given to unclean thoughts.—adv. Pru′riently. [L. pruriens, pr.p. of prurīre, to itch.]
English · e-38699-4417Prurigo, prōō-rī′gō, n. an eruption on the skin, causing great itching.—adj. Prurig′inous.—n. Prurī′tus. [L. prurio, an itching.]
English · e-38699-4418Prussian, prush′an, adj. of or pertaining to Prussia.—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 o
English · e-38699-4419Pry, prī, v.i. to peer or peep into that which is closed: to inspect closely: to try to discover with curiosity:—pa.t. and pa.p. pried.—n. (rare) a peeping glance: one who pries—cf. Paul Pry, in John Poole's (1792-1879)
English · e-38699-4420Prys, prīs, n. (Spens.). Same as Price.
English · e-38699-4421 · brief source recordPryse, prīs, v.t. (Spens.). Same as Prize.
English · e-38699-4422 · brief source recordPrytaneum, 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
English · e-38699-4423Prythee, prith′ē (Shak.). Same as Prithee.
English · e-38699-4424 · brief source recordPsalm, säm, n. a sacred song.—ns. Psalm′-book, a book containing psalms for purposes of worship; Psalmist (säm′ist, or sal′mist), a composer of psalms, applied to David and to the writers of the Scriptural psalms.—adjs.
English · e-38699-4425Psalter, 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: mu
English · e-38699-4426Psalterium, sawl-tē′ri-um, n. the third division of a ruminant's stomach, the omasum or manyplies.
English · e-38699-4427 · brief source recordPsammitic, sa-mit′ik, adj. in geology, applied to derivative rocks composed of rounded grains, as ordinary sandstone. [Gr. psammos, sand.]
English · e-38699-4428Pschent, 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.]
English · e-38699-4429Psellism, sel′izm, n. a defect in articulation—also Psellis′mus. [Gr. psellismos—psellos, stammering.]
English · e-38699-4430 · brief source recordPseudo-, sū′dō, a prefix signifying false or spurious, as in ns. Pseudæsthē′sia, imaginary feeling, as in an amputated limb; Pseudepig′rapha (pl.), spurious writings, especially those writings claiming to be Biblical, bu
English · e-38699-4431Pshaw, shaw, interj. expressing contempt.—v.i. to express contempt, as with this word. [Imit.]
English · e-38699-4432 · brief source recordPshaw, shaw, n. an upright cylindrical hat once worn by women in Spain.
English · e-38699-4433 · brief source recordPsilanthropism, 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,
English · e-38699-4434Psittaci, sit′a-sī, n.pl. the parrot tribe.—adjs. Psit′tacine, Psittā′ceous. [Gr. psittakos.]
English · e-38699-4435 · brief source recordPsoas, sō′as, n. a muscle of the loins and pelvis: the tenderloin.—adj. Psoat′ic. [Gr. psoa, psua, generally in pl. psoai, psuai.]
English · e-38699-4436Psoriasis, 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.]
English · e-38699-4437Psychic, -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 spi
English · e-38699-4438Psychrometer, 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 impressibil
English · e-38699-4439Ptarmic, tar′mik, n. a medicine which causes sneezing.
English · e-38699-4440 · brief source recordPtarmigan, tär′mi-gan, n. a species of grouse with feathered toes inhabiting the tops of mountains. [Gael. tarmachan.]
English · e-38699-4441 · brief source recordPtere, tēr, n. (zool.) an alate organ.—ns. Pterid′ium, Pterō′dium, a key-fruit or samara.
English · e-38699-4442 · brief source recordPterichthys, 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.]
English · e-38699-4443Pterion, tē′ri-on, n. in craniometry, the region where the frontal, squamosal, parietal, and sphenoid bones meet:—pl. Ptē′ria.
English · e-38699-4444Pteris, 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
English · e-38699-4445Pterna, ter′na, n. the heel-pad in birds:—pl. Pter′næ.
English · e-38699-4446 · brief source recordPterodactyl, 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.]
English · e-38699-4447Pterography, 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.
English · e-38699-4448Pteromys, ter′ō-mis, n. a genus of Sciuridæ, the flying-squirrels.
English · e-38699-4449 · brief source recordPteron, tē′ron, n. a range of columns, portico.—n. Pterō′ma, a peridrome: a side-wall. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-4450 · brief source recordPterope, ter′ōp, n. a fruit-bat or flying-fox.
English · e-38699-4451 · brief source recordPteropod, 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. [G
English · e-38699-4452Pterosauria, ter-ō-saw′ri-a, n.pl. a group of extinct flying reptiles. [Gr. pteron, wing, sauros, lizard.]
English · e-38699-4453 · brief source recordPterygoid, 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′ia
English · e-38699-4454Pterylæ, ter′i-lē, n.pl. the bands of contour feathers in birds.—adjs. Pterylograph′ic, -al.—adv. Pterylograph′ically.—n. Pterylog′raphy.
English · e-38699-4455Ptilosis, tī-lō′sis, n. plumage or mode of feathering of a bird.—Also Pterylō′sis. [Gr. ptilon, a feather.]
English · e-38699-4456 · brief source recordPtisan, tiz′an, n. a medicinal drink made from barley with other ingredients. [Gr. ptisanē, peeled barley, barley-water—ptissein, to peel.]
English · e-38699-4457Ptochocracy, tō-kok′ra-si, n. the rule of paupers.—n. Ptochog′ony, the production of beggars—wholesale pauperisation. [Gr. ptōchos, a beggar.]
English · e-38699-4458Ptolemaic, tol-e-mā′ik, adj. pertaining to the race of Egyptian kings called the Ptolemies: pertaining to Ptolemy the astronomer (of the 2d century)—also Ptolemæ′an.—n. Ptolemā′ist, one who believes in the Ptolemaic syst
English · e-38699-4459Ptomaïne, 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.—Also Ptō′
English · e-38699-4460Ptosis, tō′sis, n. inability to raise the upper eyelid. [Gr.,—piptein, to fall.]
English · e-38699-4461 · brief source recordPtyalin, -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.,
English · e-38699-4462Pub, pub, n. (slang) a public-house, tavern.
English · e-38699-4463 · brief source recordPuberty, 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
English · e-38699-4464Pubis, pū′bis, n. a bone of the pelvis which in man forms the anterior portion of the os innominatum.—adjs. Pū′bic; Pubofem′oral; Pū′bo-il′iac; Pū′bo-is′chiac; Puboprostat′ic; Pū′bo-urē′thral; Puboves′ical. [For os pubis
English · e-38699-4465Public, 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
English · e-38699-4466Publish, 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: on
English · e-38699-4467Puce, pūs, adj. brownish-purple. [Fr. puce—L. pulex, pulĭcis, a flea.]
English · e-38699-4468 · brief source recordPucelle, 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.]
English · e-38699-4469Puck, puk, n. a goblin or mischievous sprite: a merry fairy in Midsummer Night's Dream.—adj. Puck′ish. [M. E. pouke—Celt., as Ir. puca, W. pwca, bwg; conn. with Ice. púki. Cf. Pug, Bug.]
English · e-38699-4470Puck-ball. Same as Puff-ball.
English · e-38699-4472 · brief source recordPucka, puk′a, adj. durable, substantial—opp. to Cutcha. [Anglo-Ind.]
English · e-38699-4471 · brief source recordPucker, 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 b
English · e-38699-4473Pud, pud, n. (coll.) a paw, fist, hand. [Perh. Dut. poot, paw.]
English · e-38699-4474 · brief source recordPuddening, pud′ning, n. a thick pad of rope, &c., used as a fender on the bow of a boat.
English · e-38699-4475 · brief source recordPudder, 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.]
English · e-38699-4476Pudding, 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; P
English · e-38699-4477Puddle, pud′l, n. an ill-shaped, awkward person. [Cf. Low Ger. purrel, something short and thick.]
English · e-38699-4478 · brief source recordPuddle, 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. Pud
English · e-38699-4479Puddock, pud′ok, n. Same as Paddock.
English · e-38699-4480 · brief source recordPudency, 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 if pudentia—pudens, pr.p. of pudēr
English · e-38699-4481Pudgy, puj′i, adj. fat and short: fleshy.—Also Podg′y.
English · e-38699-4482 · brief source recordPueblo, 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.]
English · e-38699-4483Puerile, 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—pu
English · e-38699-4484Puerperal, pū-ėr′pėr-al, adj. relating to childbirth—also Pūer′perous.—adv. Pūer′perally.—Puerperal fever, fever occurring in connection with childbirth; Puerperal insanity, insanity occurring in connection with childbir
English · e-38699-4485Puff, 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.
English · e-38699-4486Puffin, puf′in, n. a water-fowl having a short, thick, projecting beak like that of a parrot: a puff-ball.
English · e-38699-4487 · brief source recordPug, 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;
English · e-38699-4488Pug, 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
English · e-38699-4489Pugh, pōō, interj. of contempt or disdain. [Imit.]
English · e-38699-4490 · brief source recordPugilism, 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.]
English · e-38699-4491Pugnacious, 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
English · e-38699-4492Pugree, pug′rē, n. a light scarf worn round the hat to keep off the sun.—Also Pug′gree, Pug′gery, Pug′aree. [Hind. pagrī, a turban.]
English · e-38699-4493Puisne, pū′ne, adj. (law) younger or inferior in rank, applied to certain judges in England. [O. Fr. (Fr. puiné), from puis—L. post, after, né, pa.p. of naître—L. nasci, natus, to be born.]
English · e-38699-4494Puissant, 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,
English · e-38699-4495Puke, pūk, v.i. to spew, vomit: to sicken.—n. vomit: an emetic.—n. Pū′ker, one who vomits. [Perh. for spuke. Cf. Spew.]
English · e-38699-4496 · brief source recordPuke, pūk, adj. (Shak.) of a colour between black and russet: reddish-brown: puce.—n. Puke′-stock′ing (Shak.), a dark-coloured stocking.
English · e-38699-4497Pulchritude, pul′kri-tūd, n. comeliness. [L.]
English · e-38699-4498 · brief source recordPule, 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. pigola
English · e-38699-4499Pulex, pū′leks, n. a genus of insects: the flea. [L.]
English · e-38699-4500 · brief source recordPulkha, pul′kä, n. a Laplander's sledge, shaped like a boat.—Also Pulk. [Lap.]
English · e-38699-4501 · brief source recordPull, 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
English · e-38699-4502Pullet, pōōl′et, n. a young hen.—n. Pull′et-sperm (Shak.), the treadle or chalaza of an egg. [Fr. poulette, dim. of poule, a hen—Low L. pulla, a hen, fem. of L. pullus, a young animal.]
English · e-38699-4503Pulley, pōōl′i, n. a wheel turning about an axis, and having a groove on its rim in which a cord runs, used for raising weights:—pl. Pull′eys.—ns. Pull′ey-block, a shell containing one or more sheaves, the whole forming
English · e-38699-4504Pullman-car, pōōl′man-kär, n. a railway sleeping-car or palace-car, first made by George M. Pullman (b. 1831) in America.
English · e-38699-4505Pullulate, pul′ū-lāt, v.i. to germinate, bud.—n. Pullulā′tion. [L.,—pullulus, a young animal, sprout—pullus. Cf. Pullet.]
English · e-38699-4506Pulmonary, pul′mō-nā-ri, adj. pertaining to, or affecting, the lungs: done by the lungs: having lungs: pulmonic.—adj. Pulmobranch′iate, breathing by lung-sacs.—n. Pulmom′eter, an instrument for measuring the capacity of
English · e-38699-4507Pulp, pulp, n. the soft fleshy part of bodies, e.g. of teeth: marrow: the soft part of plants, esp. of fruits: any soft mass: the soft mass obtained from the breaking and grinding of rags, &c., before it is hardened into
English · e-38699-4508Pulpit, pōōl′pit, n. a platform for speaking from: an elevated or enclosed place in a church where the sermon is delivered: a desk.—adj. belonging to the pulpit.—ns. Pulpiteer′, Pul′piter, one who speaks from a pulpit: a
English · e-38699-4509Pulpous, pulp′us, adj. consisting of, or resembling, pulp: soft.—ns. Pulp′iness; Pulp′ousness.—adj. Pulp′y, like pulp: soft.
English · e-38699-4510Pulque, pōōl′kā, n. a fermented drink, made in Mexico. [Sp., from Mex.]
English · e-38699-4511 · brief source recordPulsate, pul′sāt, v.i. to beat, as the heart or as a vein: to throb.—adj. Pul′satile, that can pulsate, as a wound: that may be struck or beaten, as a drum: played by beating: acting by pulsation.—n. Pulsā′tion, a beatin
English · e-38699-4512Pulsatilla, pul-sa-til′a, n. the pasque-flower, Anemone pulsatilla.
English · e-38699-4513 · brief source recordPulse, puls, n. a beating or throbbing: a measured beat or throb: a vibration: the beating of the heart and the arteries: (fig.) feeling, sentiment.—v.i. to beat, as the heart: to throb.—adj. Pulse′less, having no pulsat
English · e-38699-4514Pulse, puls, n. grain or seed of beans, pease, &c.—adj. Pultā′ceous, macerated and softened. [L. puls, porridge (Gr. poltos). Cf. Poultice.]
English · e-38699-4515Pulu, pōō′lōō, n. a silky fibre obtained from the Hawaiian tree-ferns, used for stuffing mattresses.
English · e-38699-4516 · brief source recordPulverable, pul′vėr-a-bl, adj. that may be reduced to fine powder—also Pul′verīsable.—adj. Pulverā′ceous, having a powdery surface.—vs.t. Pul′verate, Pul′verise, to reduce to dust or fine powder.—vs.i. to fall down into
English · e-38699-4517Pulvil, pul′vil, n. a bag of perfumed powder.—Also Pulvil′io. [It. polviglio—L. pulvillus, a little cushion—pulvinus, a cushion.]
English · e-38699-4518Pulvillar, pul′vi-lär, adj. cushion or pad-like.—adj. Pulvil′liform, like a pulvillus.—n. Pulvil′lus, a foot-pad between the clavi of the terminal tarsal joint of an insect's leg—also Pulvin′ulus.—adj. Pulvī′nar, padded:
English · e-38699-4519Pulwar, pul′wär, n. a light keelless boat used on the Ganges.—Also Pal′war.
English · e-38699-4520 · brief source recordPulza-oil, pul′zä-oil, n. an oil obtained from the seeds of Fatropha Curcas, from the Cape Verd Islands.
English · e-38699-4521 · brief source recordPuma, pū′ma, n. a carnivorous animal, of the cat kind, of a reddish-brown colour without spots, called also the American lion. [Peruv. puma.]
English · e-38699-4522Pumice, pum′is, or pū′mis, n. a hard, light, spongy substance, formed of lava, from which gas or steam has escaped while hardening.—v.t. to polish or rub with pumice-stone—also Pū′micāte.—adjs. Pumi′ceous, Pum′iciform, o
English · e-38699-4523Pummel. Same as Pommel.
English · e-38699-4524 · brief source recordPump, pump, n. a machine for raising water and other fluids to a higher level: a machine for drawing out or forcing in air.—v.t. to raise with a pump: to draw out information by artful questions.—v.i. to work a pump: to
English · e-38699-4525Pump, pump, n. a thin-soled shoe used in dancing.—adj. Pumped, wearing pumps. [Prob. Fr. pompe, ornament, show, from Teut., cf. Ger. pumphosen, wide pantaloons.]
English · e-38699-4526Pumpernickel, pump′er-nik-el, n. a kind of coarse bread, made of unsifted rye, much used in Westphalia. [Ger., a heavy, stupid fellow, from pumper, a heavy fall, nickel=Nicholas.]
English · e-38699-4527Pumpkin, pump′kin, n. a plant of the gourd family and its fruit.—Also Pump′ion. [A corr. of O. Fr. pompon—L. pepō—Gr. pepōn, ripe.]
English · e-38699-4528Pumy. See Pumice.
English · e-38699-4529 · brief source recordPun, pun, v.t. (Shak.) to pound. [Cf. Pound.]
English · e-38699-4530 · brief source recordPun, pun, v.i. to play upon words similar in sound but different in meaning so as to produce a ludicrous idea:—pr.p. pun′ning; pa.t. and pa.p. punned.—n. a play upon words.—ns. Pun′nage, Pun′ning, the act or habit of pun
English · e-38699-4531Punch, punsh, n. contr. of Punchinello, a humpbacked, hook-nosed puppet with a squeaking voice, one of the two main actors in the street puppet-show 'Punch and Judy:' Punch, or the London Charivari, the chief illustrated
English · e-38699-4532Punch, punsh, adj. (prov.) short and fat.—n. a short and fat man: a short-legged, round-bodied horse.—adj. Punch′y. [Prob. a variant of bunch.]
English · e-38699-4533Punch, punsh, n. a drink of five ingredients—spirit, water, sugar, lemon-juice, and spice.—ns. Punch′-bowl, a large bowl for making punch in; Punch′-lād′le, a ladle for filling glasses from a punch-bowl. [Hind. panch, fi
English · e-38699-4534Punch, punsh, v.t. to prick or pierce with something sharp or blunt: to make a hole in with a steel tool.—n. a tool either blunt, or hollow and sharp-edged, for stamping or perforating: a kind of awl.—n. Punch′er. [A sho
English · e-38699-4535Punch, punsh, v.t. to strike or hit: to beat with the fist, as one's head.—n. a stroke or blow with the fist, elbow, &c. [Prob. a corr. of punish.]
English · e-38699-4536Puncheon, punsh′un, n. a steel tool with a die or a sharp point at one end for stamping or perforating metal plates: a short post or slab of wood with the face smoothed. [O. Fr. poinson—L. punctio, -onis—pungĕre, punctum
English · e-38699-4537Puncheon, punsh′un, n. a cask: a liquid measure of from 72 or 84 to 120 gallons. [O. Fr. poinson, a cask; perh. from the above.]
English · e-38699-4538Punchinello, punsh-i-nel′o, n. the short, hump-backed figure of a puppet-show: a buffoon, any grotesque personage. [It. pulcinello, dim. of pulcino, a chicken, child—L. pullus, a young animal.]
English · e-38699-4539Punctate, -d, pungk′tāt, -ed, adj. pointed: (bot.) punctured: full of small holes: pitted: dotted.—ns. Punctā′tion; Punctā′tor, one who marks with dots—esp. applied to the Massoretes who invented the Hebrew vowel-points.
English · e-38699-4540Punctilio, pungk-til′yo, n. a nice point in behaviour or ceremony: nicety in forms: exact observance of forms.—adj. Punctil′ious, attending to little points or matters: very nice or exact in behaviour or ceremony: exact
English · e-38699-4541Punctual, pungk′tū-al, adj. of or pertaining to a point: observant of nice points: punctilious: exact in keeping time and appointments: done at the exact time.—ns. Punc′tualist; Punctual′ity, quality or state of being pu
English · e-38699-4542Punctuate, pungk′tū-āt, v.t. to mark with points: to divide sentences by the usual points or marks: to emphasise.—adv. Punc′tuātim, point for point.—n. Punctuā′tion, the act or art of dividing sentences by points or mark
English · e-38699-4543Punctum, pungk′tum, n. (anat.) a point, dot.—adjs. Punc′tūlate, -d.—ns. Punctūlā′tion; Punc′tūle; Punc′tūlum.—Punctum cæcum, the point of the retina from which the optic nerve fibres radiate, so called because impervious
English · e-38699-4544Puncture, pungk′tūr, n. a pricking: a small hole made with a sharp point.—v.t. to prick: to pierce with a pointed instrument.—n. Puncturā′tion. [L. punctura—pungĕre, to prick.]
English · e-38699-4545Pundit, pun′dit, n. a person who is learned in the language, science, laws, and religion of India: any learned man. [Hind. pandit—Sans. pandita.]
English · e-38699-4546Pundonor, pun′do-nōr′, n. point of honour. [Sp., contr. of punto de honor, point of honour.]
English · e-38699-4547 · brief source recordPungent, pun′jent, adj. sharp: pricking or acrid to taste or smell: keenly touching the mind: painful: keen: sarcastic.—ns. Pun′gency, Pun′gence.—adv. Pun′gently. [L. pungens, -entis, pr.p. of pungĕre, to prick.]
English · e-38699-4548Punic, pū′nik, adj. pertaining to, or like, the ancient Carthaginians: faithless, treacherous, deceitful.—n. the language of ancient Carthage. [L. Punicus—Pœni, the Carthaginians.]
English · e-38699-4549Puniness, pū′ni-nes, n. the state or quality of being puny or feeble: smallness: pettiness. [Puny.]
English · e-38699-4550 · brief source recordPunish, pun′ish, v.t. to cause to pay a penalty: to cause loss or pain to a person for a fault or crime: (coll.) to handle or beat severely, maul: (coll.) to consume a large quantity of: to chasten.—ns. Punishabil′ity, P
English · e-38699-4551Punjabee, Punjabi, pun-jä′bē, n. a native or inhabitant of the Punjab in India.
English · e-38699-4552 · brief source recordPunk, pungk, n. rotten wood used as tinder: (Shak.) a strumpet. [Spunk.]
English · e-38699-4553 · brief source recordPunka, Punkah, pung′ka, n. a large fan for cooling the air of an Indian house, consisting of a light framework covered with cloth and suspended from the ceiling of a room, worked by pulling a cord or by machinery. [Hind.
English · e-38699-4554Punster, pun′stėr, n. one who makes puns.
English · e-38699-4555 · brief source recordPunt, punt, n. a flat-bottomed boat with square ends.—v.t. to propel, as a boat, by pushing with a pole against the bottom of a river: to kick the ball (in football) before it touches the ground, when let fall from the h
English · e-38699-4556Punt, punt, v.i. to play at basset or ombre.—n. Punt′er, one who marks the points in basset or ombre. [Fr., through Sp.—L. punctum, a point.]
English · e-38699-4557Puntilla, pun-til′a, n. lace-work. [Sp.]
English · e-38699-4558 · brief source recordPunto, pun′to, n. (Shak.) a point or hit: a pass or thrust made in fencing.—Punto dritto, a direct or straight hit; Punto riverso, a back-handed stroke. [Sp. and It. punto—L. punctum, a point.]
English · e-38699-4559Puny, pū′ni, adj. (comp. Pū′nier; superl. Pū′niest) small: feeble: petty. [Cf. Puisne.]
English · e-38699-4560 · brief source recordPup, pup, v.t. to bring forth puppies, as a bitch: to whelp:—pr.p. pup′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. pupped.—n. Pup.—Be in pup, to be pregnant, said of dogs. [Puppy.]
English · e-38699-4561Pupa, pū′pa, n. an insect enclosed in a case while passing from the caterpillar to the winged stage: a chrysalis—also Pūpe:—pl. Pupæ (pū′pē).—adjs. Pū′pal, Pūpā′rial.—n. Pūpā′rium, a pupa included within the last larval
English · e-38699-4562Pupil, pū′pil, n. a little boy or girl: one under the care of a tutor: a scholar: a ward: (law) one under the age of puberty—i.e. under fourteen years for males, and twelve for females.—adj. under age.—ns. Pupilabil′ity
English · e-38699-4563Pupil, pū′pil, n. the round opening in the middle of the eye through which the light passes: the apple of the eye, so called from the baby-like figures seen on it: (zool.) the central dark part of an ocellated spot.—adjs
English · e-38699-4564Puppet, pup′et, n. a small doll or image moved by wires in a show: a marionette: one who acts just as another tells him.—ns. Pupp′etry, finery, affectation: a puppet-show; Pupp′et-show, -play, a mock show or drama perfor
English · e-38699-4565Puppy, pup′i, n. a doll: a young dog: a whelp: a conceited young man.—adj. Pupp′y-head′ed (Shak.), stupid.—n. Pupp′yhood, the condition of being a puppy.—adj. Pupp′yish.—n. Pupp′yism, conceit in men. [Fr. poupée, a doll
English · e-38699-4566Pur. See Purr.
English · e-38699-4567 · brief source recordPurana, pōō-rä′na, n. one of a class of sacred poetical books in Sanscrit literature, forming with the Tantras the main foundation of the actual popular creed of the Brahmanical Hindus.—adj. Puran′ic. [Sans. purāna—purā,
English · e-38699-4568Purblind, pur′blīnd, adj. nearly blind, near-sighted: (orig.) wholly blind.—adv. Pur′blindly.—n. Pur′blindness. [For pure-blind—i.e. wholly blind; the meaning has been modified, prob. through some confusion with the verb
English · e-38699-4569Purchase, pur′chās, v.t. to acquire by seeking: to obtain by paying: to obtain by labour, danger, &c.: (law) to get in any way other than by inheritance: to raise or move by mechanical means: (Shak.) to expiate by a fine
English · e-38699-4570Purdah, pur′dä, n. a curtain screening a chamber of state or the women's apartments: the seclusion itself. [Hind. parda, a screen.]
English · e-38699-4571Pure, pūr, adj. (comp. Pur′er; superl. Pur′est) clean: unsoiled: unmixed: not adulterated: real: free from guilt or defilement: chaste: modest: mere: that and that only: complete: non-empirical, involving an exercise of
English · e-38699-4572Purée, pü-rā′, n. a soup, such as pea-soup, in which there are no pieces of solids. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4573 · brief source recordPurfle, pur′fl, v.t. to decorate with a wrought or flowered border: (archit.) to decorate with rich sculpture: (her.) to ornament with a border of ermines, furs, &c.—ns. Pur′fle, Pur′flew, a border of embroidery: (her.)
English · e-38699-4574Purge, purj, v.t. to make pure: to carry off whatever is impure or superfluous: to clear from guilt or from accusation: to evacuate, as the bowels: to trim, dress, prune: to clarify, as liquors.—v.i. to become pure by cl
English · e-38699-4575Purify, pū′ri-fī, v.t. to make pure: to cleanse from foreign or hurtful matter: to free from guilt or uncleanness: to free from improprieties or barbarisms, as language.—v.i. to become pure:—pa.t. and pa.p. pū′rifīed.—n.
English · e-38699-4576Purim, pū′rim, n. the feast of lots held about 1st of March, in which the Jews commemorated their deliverance from the plot of Haman, as related in Esther. [Heb., pl. of pur, lot.]
English · e-38699-4577Purism, pūr′izm, n. exclusion of mixture of any kind: pure or immaculate conduct or style: the doctrine of a purist: great nicety or care in the use of words.—n. Pūr′ist, one who is excessively pure or nice in the choice
English · e-38699-4578Puritan, pūr′i-tan, n. one aiming at greater strictness in religious life, esp. one of a religious and political party having such aims in the time of Elizabeth and the Stuarts.—adj. pertaining to the Puritans.—adjs. Pūr
English · e-38699-4579Purity, pūr′i-ti, n. condition of being pure: freedom from mixture of any kind: freedom from sin or defilement: chastity: sincerity: freedom from foreign or improper idioms or words.
English · e-38699-4580Purl, purl, v.i. to flow with a murmuring sound, as a stream over small stones: to ripple: to flow in eddies: to curl or swirl.—v.t. to whirl about: to unseat.—n. a soft murmuring sound, as of a stream among stones: an e
English · e-38699-4581Purl, purl, v.t. to fringe with a waved edging, as lace: to invert stitches.—n. an embroidered border: a hem or fringe of twisted gold or silver thread: a ribbed or wavy appearance caused by inverted stitches: a kind of
English · e-38699-4582Purl, purl, n. ale warmed and spiced.
English · e-38699-4583 · brief source recordPurlieu, pur′lū, n. the borders or environs of any place: (orig.) the grounds on the borders of a royal forest, illegally added to the forest, but afterwards restored to their rightful owners, and marked out by perambula
English · e-38699-4584Purlin, Purline, pur′lin, n. a piece of timber stretching horizontally across the rafters underneath to support them in the middle. [Perh. Fr. pour, for, or par, through, ligne, a line.]
English · e-38699-4585Purloin, pur-loin′, v.t. to carry off to a distance: to take for one's own use: to steal: to plagiarise.—v.i. to practise theft.—n. Purloin′er. [O. Fr. purloignier—L. prolongāre.]
English · e-38699-4586Purple, pur′pl, n. a very dark-red colour formed by the mixture of blue and red: a purple dress or robe, originally worn only by royalty: a robe of honour: the dignity of a king or emperor: a cardinalate, so called from
English · e-38699-4587Purport, pur′pōrt, n. design: meaning: signification.—v.t. (also Purport′) to give out as its meaning: to convey to the mind: to seem to mean—often with an infinitive clause as its object.—adj. Pur′portless. [O. Fr., fro
English · e-38699-4588Purpose, pur′pos, n. idea or aim kept before the mind as the end of effort: aim, intention: effect: (Spens.) conversation: (pl.) a sort of conversational game.—Of, or On, purpose, with design, intentionally; To the purpo
English · e-38699-4589Purpose, pur′pos, v.t. to intend (often followed by an infinitive or participial clause as its object).—v.i. to have an intention: (Spens.) to discourse.—adj. Pur′poseful, having an object: full of meaning.—adv. Pur′pose
English · e-38699-4590Purprise, pur-prīz′, n. an enclosure: the whole compass of a manor.—n. Purprest′ure, a private encroachment upon a public highway, &c. [O. Fr. pourpris—pour, for, prendre—L. prehendĕre, to take.]
English · e-38699-4591Purpura, pur′pū-ra, n. a genus of marine gasteropods: an eruption of small purple spots, caused by extravasation of blood in the skin—also called the Purples.—adj. Pur′purāte, of purple colour.—n. Pur′pure, purple.—adjs.
English · e-38699-4592Purr, Pur, pur, v.i. to utter a low, murmuring sound, as a cat when pleased: to signify by, or as by, purring.—ns. Purr; Purr′ing, the low, murmuring sound of a cat.—adv. Purr′ingly. [Imit.]
English · e-38699-4593Purse, purs, n. a small bag for money, orig. made of skin: a sum of money, esp. a sum given as a present or offered as a prize: a treasury: a person's finances.—v.t. to put into a purse: to contract as the mouth of a pur
English · e-38699-4594Purslane, Purslain, purs′lān, n. an annual plant, frequently used in salads. [O. Fr. porcelaine—L. porcilaca, portulaca.]
English · e-38699-4595Pursue, pur-sū′, v.t. to follow after in order to overtake: to follow with haste: to chase: to follow up: to be engaged in: to carry on: to seek to obtain: to seek to injure: to imitate: to continue.—v.i. to follow: to g
English · e-38699-4596Pursuit, pur-sūt′, n. the act of pursuing: endeavour to attain: occupation: employment.
English · e-38699-4597 · brief source recordPursuivant, pur′swi-vant, n. an attendant or follower: a state messenger: an attendant on the heralds: one of four inferior officers in the English College of Arms. [Fr., pr.p. of poursuivre, to pursue.]
English · e-38699-4598Pursy, purs′i, adj. puffy: fat and short: short-breathed.—n. Purs′iness. [O. Fr. pourcif (Fr. poussif), orig. poulsif, broken-winded—O. Fr. poulser (Fr. pousser), to push—L. pulsāre, to push.]
English · e-38699-4599Purtenance, pur′ten-ans, n. that which pertains or belongs to: (B.) the inwards or intestines of an animal. [Appurtenance.]
English · e-38699-4600Purulence, pū′rū-lens, n. the forming of pus or matter: pus—also Pū′rulency.—adj. Pū′rulent, consisting of, full of, or resembling pus or matter.—adv. Pū′rulently. [Pus.]
English · e-38699-4601Purvey, pur-vā′, v.t, to provide, esp. with conveniences: to procure.—v.i. to provide: to buy in provisions for several persons: (with to) to pander.—ns. Purvey′ance, the act of purveying: a procuring of victuals: that w
English · e-38699-4602Purview, pur′vū, n. a condition or disposition: the part of a statute beginning with 'Be it enacted:' scope: limits. [O. Fr. pourvieu—pourvoir, to provide.]
English · e-38699-4603Pus, pus, n. a thick yellowish fluid exuded from inflamed tissues: that which has become putrid. [L. pus, puris, matter; akin to Gr. pyon.]
English · e-38699-4604Puseyism, pū′zi-izm, n. a name given to the High Church and Catholic principles of Dr E. B. Pusey (1800-82), and other Oxford divines, as set forth in 'Tracts for the Times.'—adjs. Pūseyist′ic, -al.—n. Pū′seyite, one who
English · e-38699-4605Push, pōōsh, v.t. to thrust or press against: to drive by pressure: to press forward: to urge: to press hard: to thrust, as with a sword.—v.i. to make a thrust: to make an effort: to press against: to burst out.—n. a thr
English · e-38699-4606Pushtu, Pushtoo, push′tōō, n. the language of the Afghans proper.—Also Push′to. [Afghan.]
English · e-38699-4607 · brief source recordPusillanimous, pū-si-lan′i-mus, adj. wanting firmness of mind: of small courage: having a little mind: mean-spirited: cowardly.—adv. Pusillan′imously.—ns. Pusillan′imousness, Pusillanim′ity, state or quality of being wea
English · e-38699-4608Puss, pōōs, n. a familiar name for a cat: a hare, in sportsmen's language: a playful name for a child or a girl.—ns. Puss′-clov′er, the rabbit's foot or stone-clover; Puss′-gen′tleman, a dandy; Puss′-moth, a moth of the
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