Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Prose Purify

by Thomas Davidson

fāte, fär; mē, hėr; mīne; mōte; mūte; mōōn; then.

Prose, prōz, n. the direct, straightforward arrangement of words, free from poetical measures: ordinary spoken and written language: all writings not in verse.—adj. pertaining to prose: not poetical: plain: dull.—v.i. to write prose: to speak or write tediously.—v.t. to compose in prose.—ns. Prose′-man, Prō′ser, Prose′-writ′er, a writer of prose.—adv. Prō′sily, in a prosy manner: tediously.—ns. Prō′siness, the state or quality of being prosy; Prō′sing, speaking or writing in a dull or prosy way.—adj. Prō′sy, dull, tedious. [Fr.,—L. prosa—prorsus, straightforward—pro, forward, vertĕre, versum, to turn.]

Prosect, prō-sekt′, v.t. to dissect beforehand.—v.i. to perform the duties of a prosector, one who dissects a body for the illustration of anatomical lectures.—ns. Prosec′tion; Prosec′tor.—adj. Prosectō′rial.—n. Prosec′torship. [L. pro, before, secāre, to cut.]

Prosecute, pros′ē-kūt, v.t. to follow onwards or pursue, in order to reach or accomplish: to continue: to pursue by law: to bring before a court.—v.i. to carry on a legal prosecution.—ns. Prosecū′tion, the act of prosecuting or pursuing, esp. a civil or criminal suit: the party by which legal proceedings are instituted; Pros′ecūtor, one who prosecutes or pursues any plan or business: one who carries on a civil or criminal suit:—fem. Pros′ecūtrix.—Public prosecutor, a person whose duty it is to conduct prosecutions in the public interest. [L. prosequi—pro, onwards, sequi, secutus, to follow.]

Proselyte, pros′e-līt, n. one who has come over from one religion or opinion to another: a convert, esp. one who left the heathen and joined a Jewish community.—v.t. to convert.—v.t. Pros′elytīse, to make proselytes.—ns. Pros′elytīser, one who proselytises; Pros′elytism, the act of proselytising or of making converts: conversion.—Proselyte of the gate, a convert who was not compelled to submit to the regulations of the Mosaic law. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. prosēlytos—proserchomai, I come to—pros, to, erchomai, ēlthon, to come.]

Prosencephalon, pros-en-sef′a-lon, n. the fore-brain, comprising the cerebral hemispheres and olfactory processes.—adj. Prosencephal′ic. [Gr. pros, before, enkephalon, the brain—en, in, kephalē, the head.]

Prosenchyma, pros-eng′ki-ma, n. the fibro-vascular system or tissue of plants—opp. to Parenchyma, the soft tissues.—adj. Prosenchym′atous. [Gr. pros, to, enchyma, an infusion.]

Proseuche, (-a), pros-ū′kē, (-kä), n. a place of prayer: among the Jews one that was not a synagogue, or the temple, usually roofless:—pl. Proseu′chæ. [Gr. pros, towards, euchesthai, to pray.]

Prosiliency, prō-sil′i-en-si, n. a standing forward.

Prosit, prō′sit, interj. good luck to you, a salutation in drinking healths customary among German students. [3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of prodesse, to be of use—pro, for, esse, to be.]

Prosobranchiata, pros-ō-brangk-i-ā′ta, n.pl. an order or sub-class of gasteropods having the gills anterior to the heart.—adj. Prosobranch′iāte. [Gr. prosō, forward, branchia, gills.]

Prosody, pros′ō-di, n. that part of grammar which treats of quantity, accent, and the laws of verse or versification.—adjs. Prosō′dial, Prosod′ic, -al, pertaining to prosody: according to the rules of prosody.—ns. Prosō′dian, Pros′odist, one skilled in prosody.—adv. Prosod′ically. [Fr.,—L. prosōdia, Gr. prosōdia—pros, to, ōdē, a song.]

Prosopopeia, Prosopopœia, pros-ō-pō-pē′ya, n. a rhetorical figure by which inanimate objects are spoken of as persons: personification. [Gr. prosōpopoiia—prosōpon, a person, poiein, to make.]

Prosopulmonata, pros-ō-pul-mō-nā′ta, n.pl. a group of air-breathing gasteropods in which the pulmonary sac occupies a forward position.—adj. Prosopul′monāte. [Gr. prosō, forward, L. pulmo, a lung.]

Prospect, pros′pekt, n. a looking forward: that which the eye takes in at once: a view: object of view: a scene: expectation: a long, straight, wide street: outlook, exposure.—v.i. Prospect′, to make a search, esp. for chances of mining for precious metals.—ns. Prospec′ter, -or, one who explores for valuable minerals; Prospec′ting, searching a district for gold or silver mines with a view to further operations; Prospec′tion, the act of looking forward or of providing for future wants.—adj. Prospec′tive, looking forward: expected: acting with foresight: relating to the future: distant.—n. outlook: prospect.—adv. Prospec′tively.—ns. Prospec′tiveness; Prospec′tus, the outline of any plan submitted for public approval, particularly of a literary work or of a joint-stock concern. [L. prospectus—prospicĕre, prospectum—pro, forward, specĕre, to look.]

Prosper, pros′pėr, v.t. to make fortunate or happy: (B.) to make to prosper.—v.i. to be successful: to succeed: to turn out well.—n. Prosper′ity, the state of being prosperous: success: good fortune.—adj. Pros′perous, according to hope: in accordance with one's wishes: making good progress: favourable: successful.—adv. Pros′perously.—n. Pros′perousness. [L. prosper, prosperus—pro, in accordance with, spes, hope.]

Prosphysis, pros′-fi-sis, n. morbid adhesion of the eyelids to each other or to the eyeball. [Gr.]

Prostate, pros′tāt, adj. standing in front, applied to a gland in males at the neck of the bladder.—n. the gland at the neck of the bladder.—adj. Prostat′ic.—n. Prostatī′tis, inflammation of the prostate gland. [Gr. prostatēs—pro, before, sta, root of histēmi, I set up.]

Prosthenic, pros-then′ik, adj. strong in the fore-parts.

Prosthesis, pros′the-sis, n. addition, affixion, as of letters at the beginning of a word: the fitting of artificial parts to the body.—adj. Prosthet′ic. [Gr.]

Prostitute, pros′ti-tūt, v.t. to expose for sale for bad ends: to sell to lewdness: to devote to any improper purpose.—adj. openly devoted to lewdness: sold to wickedness.—n. a female who indulges in lewdness, esp. for hire, a whore: a base hireling.—ns. Prostitū′tion, the act or practice of prostituting: lewdness for hire: the being devoted to infamous purposes; Pros′titūtor, one who prostitutes either himself or another. [L. prostituĕre, -ūtum—pro, before, statuĕre, to place.]

Prostrate, pros′trāt, adj. thrown forwards on the ground: lying at length: lying at mercy: bent in adoration.—v.t. to throw forwards on the ground: to lay flat: to overthrow: to sink totally: to bow in humble reverence.—n. Prostrā′tion, act of throwing down or laying flat: act of falling down in adoration: dejection: complete loss of strength. [L. pro, forwards, sternĕre, stratum, to strew.]

Prostyle, prō′stīl, adj. (archit.) having a range of detached columns in front.

Prosy. See Prose.

Prosyllogism, prō-sil′ō-jizm, n. a syllogism of which the conclusion is the premise of another.

Protactic, prō-tak′tik, adj. placed at the beginning, introductory.

Protagonist, prō-tag′on-ist, n. a leading character, esp. in a play.—n. Prō′tagon, a nitrogenous substance obtained from the brain and other tissues. [Gr. prōtos, first, agōnistēs, a combatant.]

Protamœba, prō-ta-mē′ba, n. a low form of the Monera, which is constantly changing its form by sending out and withdrawing pseudopodia.

Pro tanto, prō tan′to, for so much: to a certain extent: to the extent mentioned.

Protasis, prot′a-sis, n. (rhet.) the first part of a conditional sentence—opp. to Apodosis: the first part of a dramatic composition.—adj. Protat′ic. [Gr.,—pro, before, tasis, a stretching, teinein, to stretch.]

Protean, prō′tē-an, adj. readily assuming different shapes, like Proteus, the sea-god, fabled to have the power of changing himself into an endless variety of forms: variable: inconstant.

Protect, prō-tekt′, v.t. to cover in front: to cover over: to shield from danger: to defend: to shelter.—adv. Protec′tingly.—ns. Protec′tion, act of protecting: state of being protected: preservation: defence: that which protects: guard: refuge: security: a writing guaranteeing against molestation or interference: passport: a fostering of home produce and manufactures by laying taxes on the importation of foreign goods; Protec′tionism, the doctrine of the protectionists; Protec′tionist, one who favours the protection of trade by law.—adj. favouring the economic doctrine of protection.—adj. Protec′tive, affording protection: defensive: sheltering.—n. that which protects.—adv. Protec′tively.—ns. Protec′tiveness; Protec′tor, one who protects from injury or oppression: a guardian: a regent:—fem. Protec′tress, Protec′trix.—adjs. Protec′toral, Protectō′rial, pertaining to a protector or a regent.—n. Protec′torāte, government by a protector: the authority assumed by a superior: relation assumed by a strong nation to a weak one, whereby the latter is protected from hostile or foreign interference.—adj. Protec′torless.—ns. Protec′torship; Protec′tory, an institution for destitute children. [L., pro, in front, tegĕre, tectum, to cover.]

Protégé, prō-tā-zhā′, n. one under the protection of another: a pupil: a ward:—fem. Protégée. [Fr., pa.p. of protéger, to protect—L. protegĕre.]

Protein, prō′tē-in, n. the first element in any compound: formerly the supposed common radical of the group of bodies which form the most essential articles of food, albumen, fibrine, &c.—n. Prō′tēid, a body containing protein: one of several bodies which go to make up the soft tissues of animals and vegetables. [Gr. prōtos, first, suffix -in.]

Pro tempore, prō tem′po-rē, for the time being: temporary—sometimes written pro tem.—adj. Protemporā′neous, temporary.

Protend, prō-tend′, v.t. to stretch or hold out.—ns. Protense′ (Spens.), extension; Proten′sion, duration; Proten′sity.—adj. Proten′sive. [L.,—pro, forth, tendĕre, tensum, to stretch.]

Proteolytic, prō-tē-ō-lit′ik, adj. converting food material into protein.—n. Proteol′ysis. [Proteid, Gr. lyein, to relax.]

Proterandry, prot-e-ran′dri, n. the maturity of the anthers of a perfect flower before its stigma is ready to receive the pollen.—adj. Proteran′drous.

Proteroglypha, prot-e-rog′li-fa, n.pl. a group of snakes having the anterior maxillary teeth grooved. [Gr. proteros, fore, glyphein, to carve.]

Proterogyny, prot-e-roj′i-ni, n. the maturity of the stigmas of a perfect flower before its anthers have matured their pollen.—adj. Proterog′ynous.

Protervity, prō-ter′vi-ti, n. peevishness, wantonness:—pl. Proter′vities. [O. Fr.,—L.,—protervus, wanton—pro, forth, terĕre, to bruise.]

Protest, prō-test′, v.i. to bear witness before others: to declare openly: to give a solemn declaration of opinion (against).—v.t. to make a solemn declaration of: to note, as a bill of exchange, on account of non-acceptance or non-payment: (rare) to call as a witness: (obs.) to publish, make known: (Shak.) to vow.—n. Prō′test, a solemn or formal declaration, esp. in writing, expressing dissent: the noting by a notary-public of an unpaid or unaccepted bill: a written declaration, usually by the master of a ship, stating the circumstances attending loss or injury of ship or cargo, &c.—adj. Prot′estant, protesting: pertaining to the faith of those who protest against the errors of the Church of Rome.—n. one of those who, in 1529, protested against an edict of Charles V. and the Diet of Spires denouncing the Reformation: a member of one of those churches founded by the Reformers: one who protests.—v.t. Prot′estantise.—ns. Prot′estantism, the Protestant religion: state of being a Protestant; Protestā′tion, an act of protesting: a solemn declaration: a declaration of dissent: a declaration in pleading; Prot′estātor; Protest′er.—adv. Protest′ingly. [Fr.,—L. protestāri, -ātus, to bear witness in public—pro, before, testāri—testis, a witness.]

Proteus. See Protean.

Protevangelium, prō-tē-van-jel′i-um, n. the earliest announcement of the gospel (Gen. iii. 15): an apocryphal gospel ascribed to James, Jesus' brother.

Prothalamium, prō-tha-lā′mi-um, n. a piece written to celebrate a marriage.—Also Prothalā′mion. [Gr. pro, before, thalamos, a bride-chamber.]

Prothallium, prō-thal′i-um, n. the green, leaf-like, cellular expansion which grows from the spore of a fern.—Also Prothall′us. [Gr. pro, before, thallus, a young shoot.]

Prothesis, proth′e-sis, n. in the Greek Church the preliminary oblation of the eucharistic elements before the liturgy: the table used. [Gr.,—pro, before, tithenai, to place.]

Prothonotary, prō-thon′ō-ta-ri, n. a chief notary or clerk: one of the chief secretaries of the chancery at Rome: a chief clerk or registrar of a court, in certain of the United States—also Proton′otary.—adj. Prothonotā′rial.—n. Prothonotā′riat, the college constituted by the twelve apostolical prothonotaries in Rome. [Late L.,—Gr. prōtos, first, L. notarius, a clerk.]

Prothorax, prō-thō′raks, n. the anterior segment of the thorax of insects.—adj. Prothorac′ic (-ras-).

Protista, prō-tis′ta, n.pl. a proposed term for a zoological kingdom including Protozoa and Protophyta. [Gr. prōtistos, superl. of prōtos, first.]

Protococcus, prō-tō-kok′us, n. a microscopic vegetable organism forming the green scum upon trees, tiles, &c. [Gr. prōtos, first, kokkos, a berry.]

Protocol, prō′tō-kol, n. the first copy of any document: the rough draft of an instrument or transaction: the original copy.—v.i. to issue, form protocols.—v.t. to make a protocol of—also Prō′tocolīse.—n. Prō′tocolist, a registrar or clerk. [Fr.,—Low L. protocollum—Late Gr. prōtokollon, the first leaf, containing the writer's name, date, &c.—Gr. prōtos, first, kolla, glue.]

Protogenal, prō-toj′e-nal, adj. primitive.—n. Protogen′esis, abiogenesis.—adjs. Protogenet′ic, Protogen′ic, noting crystalline or fire-formed rocks: noting intercellular spaces formed within undifferentiated plant tissues.—n. Prō′togine, a variety of granite in the Alps.

Protomartyr, prō′tō-mär-tėr, n. St Stephen, the first Christian martyr: the first who suffers in any cause.

Protophyte, prō′tō-fīt, n. the first or lowest order of plants.—n.pl. Protoph′yta.—adj. Protophyt′ic. [Gr. prōtos, first, phyton, a plant.]

Protoplasm, prō′tō-plazm, n. living matter: a homogeneous, structureless substance, forming the physical basis of life, endowed with contractility, with a chemical composition allied to that of albumen.—adj. Protoplasm′ic.—n. Prō′toplast, he who, or that which, was first formed: an original: the first parent.—adj. Protoplast′ic. [Gr. prōtos, first, plasma, form—plassein, to form.]

Prototheria, prō-tō-thē′ri-a, n.pl. the hypothetical primitive mammals, ancestors of the monotremes. [Gr. prōtos, first, thēr, wild beast.]

Prototype, prō′tō-tīp, n. the first or original type or model from which anything is copied: an exemplar: a pattern.—adjs. Prō′totypal, Prōtotyp′ical. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr., prōtos, first, typos, a type.]

Protovertebræ, prō-tō-ver′te-brē, n.pl. the rudimentary segments formed in the vertebrate embryo from the medullary plates, from which the bodies of the vertebræ, spinal nerve-roots, &c. are developed.—adjs. Protover′tebral, Protover′tebrate.

Protoxide, prō-tok′sīd, n. the first oxide—that is, an oxide containing one equivalent of oxygen combined with one equivalent of a base.

Protozoa, prō-tō-zō′ä, n.pl. the first or lowest class of animals:—sing. Protozō′on.—adjs. Protozō′an; Protozō′ic, pertaining to the protozoa: containing remains of the earliest life of the globe. [Gr. prōtos, first, zōon, an animal.]

Protract, prō-trakt′, v.t. to draw out or lengthen in time: to prolong: to put off in time: to draw to a scale.—p.adj. Protrac′ted, drawn out in time: tedious: prolonged: postponed.—adv. Protrac′tedly.—n. Protrac′ter.—adj. Protrac′tile, susceptible of being thrust out.—n. Protrac′tion, act of protracting or prolonging: the delaying of the termination of a thing: the plotting or laying down of the dimensions of anything on paper.—adj. Protrac′tive, drawing out in time: prolonging: delaying.—n. Protrac′tor, one who, or that which, protracts: a mathematical instrument for laying down angles on paper, used in surveying, &c. [L.,—pro, forth, trahĕre, to draw.]

Protrude, prō-trōōd′, v.t. to thrust or push forward: to drive along: to put out.—v.i. to be thrust forward or beyond the usual limit.—adjs. Protrud′able, Protru′sile, protractile; Protru′sible, able to be protruded.—n. Protru′sion, the act of thrusting forward or beyond the usual limit: the state of being protruded: that which protrudes.—adj. Protru′sive, thrusting or impelling forward: protruding.—adv. Protru′sively.—n. Protru′siveness. [L. protrudĕre—pro, forward, trudĕre, to thrust.]

Protuberance, prō-tūb′ėr-ans, n. a prominence: a tumour.—adj. Protū′berant, swelling: prominent.—adv. Protū′berantly.—v.i. Protū′berāte, to bulge out.—n. Protūberā′tion. [L. protuberāre, -ātum—pro, forward, tuber, a swelling.]

Proud, prowd (comp. Proud′er; superl. Proud′est), adj. having excessive self-esteem: arrogant: haughty: having a proper sense of what is becoming: daring: grand: ostentatious: giving reason for pride or boasting.—n. Proud′-flesh, a growth or excrescence of flesh in a wound.—adjs. Proud′-heart′ed (Shak.), having a proud spirit; Proud′ish, somewhat proud.—adv. Proud′ly.—adj. Proud′-mind′ed (Shak.), proud in mind.—n. Proud′ness, the state or quality of being proud: pride.—adjs. Proud′-pied (Shak.), gorgeously variegated; Proud′-stom′ached, of haughty spirit, arrogant. [A.S. prut, proud, prýte, pride.]

Provable, prōōv′a-bl, adj. that may be proved.—n. Prov′ableness.—adv. Prov′ably, in a manner capable of proof. [O. Fr. provable, prouvable—L. probabilis, probable.]

Provand, prov′and, n. (Shak.) provender: provision—also Prov′end.—adj. Prov′ant, belonging to a regular allowance: of common or inferior quality. [O. Fr.,—Low L. præbenda, a payment, pittance.]

Prove, prōōv, v.t. to try by experiment or by a test or standard: to make certain: to try by suffering: to establish or ascertain as truth by argument or other evidence: to demonstrate: to ascertain the genuineness of: to experience or suffer: (math.) to ascertain the correctness of any result.—v.i. to make trial: to turn out: to be shown afterwards.—n. Prov′er.—The exception proves the rule, the exception tests the rule, proving its general truth. [O. Fr. prover (Fr. prouver), which, like A.S. prófian and Ger. proben, is from L. probāre—probus, excellent.]

Provection, prō-vek′shun, n. the transfer of the final consonant from a word to the beginning of the next.—n. Prōvec′tor (math.), a contravariant operator formed by substituting signs of partial differentiation for the facients of a quantic. [L. provehĕre, provectum, to carry forward.]

Provedor, (-e), prov′edor, (-dōr), n. a purveyor. [Sp.]

Proven, prov′n, (Scots law) same as Proved, pa.p. of Prove.—Not proven, a verdict declaring that guilt has not been fully made out, but which leaves the accused still under serious suspicion.

Provenance, prov′e-nans, n. the source from which anything comes or is derived.—Also Provē′nience. [Fr.,—L. pro, forth, venīre, to come.]

Provençal, prō-vang-sal′, adj. of or pertaining to Provence, in France, or to its inhabitants—also Proven′cial.—n. a native, or the language of Provence, the langue d'oc (q.v.).

Provender, prov′en-dėr, n. dry food for beasts, as hay or corn: esp. a mixture of meal and cut straw or hay.—v.t. to feed. [O. Fr.,—L. præbenda, in Late L. a daily allowance of food.]

Proverb, prov′ėrb, n. a short familiar sentence expressing a well-known truth or moral lesson: a byword: (B.) a difficult saying that requires explanation: (pl.) a book of the Old Testament: a dramatic composition in which a proverb gives name and character to the plot.—v.t. to speak of proverbially: make a byword of: to provide with a proverb.—adj. Prover′bial, like or pertaining to proverbs: widely spoken of.—v.t. Prover′bialise, to turn into a proverb.—ns. Prover′bialism, a saying in the form of, or like, a proverb; Prover′bialist.—adv. Prover′bially. [Fr. proverbe—L. proverbium—pro, publicly, verbum, a word.]

Provide, prō-vīd′, v.t. to make ready beforehand: to prepare for future use: to supply: to appoint or give a right to a benefice before it is actually vacant.—v.i. to procure supplies or means of defence: to take measures: to arrange for as a necessary condition or arrangement.—adj. Provī′dable.—conj. Provī′ded, (often with that) on condition: upon these terms: with the understanding.—n. Provī′der. [L. providēre—pro, before, vidēre, to see.]

Providence, prov′i-dens, n. timely preparation: (theol.) the foresight and care of God over all His creatures: God, considered in this relation: something occurring in which God's care is clearly shown: prudence in managing one's affairs.—adjs. Prov′ident, seeing beforehand, and providing for the future: cautious: prudent: economical; Providen′tial, effected by, or proceeding from, divine providence.—advs. Providen′tially; Prov′idently.—n. Prov′identness. [L. provid-ens, -entis, pr.p. of providēre.]

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 to Provence or Provençal.—Provincial rose, the cabbage-rose—from Provins-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. of providēre.]

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 phrase proviso 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. of præponĕre—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. from prod in prodesse, 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. for progle=prokle, a freq. form of proke, 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 written prox.—Proximate cause, a cause which immediately precedes the effect; Proximate object, immediate object. [L. proximus, next, superl. from prope, 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. to Azymite.

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. of prou, 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 (generally pl.).—n. Prudential′ity.—advs. Pruden′tially; Pru′dently. [Fr.,—L. prūdens, prūdentis, contr. of providens, pr.p. of providēre, 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. prud or prod, good, homme, a man.]

Pruinose, prōō′i-nōs, adj. powdery, mealy.—Also Pru′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 form proin, 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 is Self-heal, formerly used as a medicine. [Perh. from prunella, above.]

Prunella, 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.]

Prurience, 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.]

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 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 of potassium and iron; Prussic acid, a deadly poison, an acid first obtained from Prussian blue—also Hydrocyanic 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. and pa.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 as Price.

Pryse, prīs, v.t. (Spens.). Same as Prize.

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 as Prithee.

Psalm, 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. Psalmod′ic, -al, pertaining to psalmody.—v.i. Psal′modise, to practise psalmody.—ns. Psal′modist, a singer of psalms; Psalmody (sal′mo-di, or säm′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—also Psellis′mus. [Gr. psellismos—psellos, stammering.]

Pseudo-, 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, 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, and vice 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 of Sciuridæ, 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.—Also Pterylō′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 the Ptolemies: pertaining to Ptolemy the astronomer (of the 2d century)—also Ptolemæ′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 (139 A.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.—Also Ptō′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 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, gen. of pubes, 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 (see International).—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 (see School).—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 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.]

Pucka, puk′a, adj. durable, substantial—opp. to Cutcha. [Anglo-Ind.]

Puck-ball. Same as Puff-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, and Pock.]

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. for plod-el)—Celt.; Ir. plodach, plod, a pool.]

Puddock, pud′ok, n. Same as Paddock.

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 if pudentia—pudens, pr.p. of pudēre, to be ashamed.]

Pudgy, puj′i, adj. fat and short: fleshy.—Also Podg′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—also Pūer′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 for prigging.—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.—Also Pug′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), from puis—L. post, after, né, pa.p. of naître—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. for spuke. 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. pipilāre and pipāre, 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.—Also Pulk. [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. of poule, a hen—Low L. pulla, a hen, fem. of L. pullus, a young animal.]

Pulley, 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 a pulley; Pull′ey-shell, the casing of a pulley-block. [M. E. poleyne—Fr. poulain—Low L. pullanus—pullus; acc. to Diez, from Fr. poulie, itself from Eng. pull.]

Pullman-car, pōōl′man-kär, n. a railway sleeping-car or palace-car, first made by George M. Pullman (b. 1831) in America.

Pullulate, pul′ū-lāt, v.i. to germinate, bud.—n. Pullulā′tion. [L.,—pullulus, a young animal, sprout—pullus. Cf. Pullet.]

Pulmonary, 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 the lungs.—adj. Pulmonā′rious, diseased in the lungs.—n.pl. Pulmonā′ta, an order or sub-class of Gasteropoda, air-breathing.—adjs. Pul′monāte, having lungs, lung-sacs, or lung-like organs; Pulmon′ic, pertaining to or affecting the lungs.—n. a medicine for disease of the lungs: one affected by disease of the lungs.—adj. Pulmonif′erous, provided with lungs.—Pulmonary artery, an artery which brings blood from the heart to the lungs; Pulmonary vein, a vein which brings blood from the lungs to the heart. [L. pulmonarius—pulmo, pulmonis, a lung—Gr. pleumōn, pneumōn, lung.]

Pulp, 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 paper.—v.t. to reduce to pulp: to deprive of pulp: to separate the pulp.—v.i. to become ripe or juicy, like the pulp of fruit.—ns. Pulp′-en′gine, a machine for converting rags, &c., into pulp; Pulp′ifier, an apparatus for reducing fresh meat to a jelly-like pulp, to aid digestion.—v.t. Pulp′ify, to make into pulp. [Fr. pulpe—L. pulpa, flesh without bones.]

Pulpit, 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 preacher.—adj. Pul′pitish.—The pulpit, preachers or preaching collectively. [Fr.,—L. pulpitum, a stage.]

Pulpous, pulp′us, adj. consisting of, or resembling, pulp: soft.—ns. Pulp′iness; Pulp′ousness.—adj. Pulp′y, like pulp: soft.

Pulque, pōōl′kā, n. a fermented drink, made in Mexico. [Sp., from Mex.]

Pulsate, 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 beating or throbbing: a motion of the heart or pulse: any measured beat: a vibration.—adj. Pul′sative.—n. Pulsā′tor, a pulsometer: a jigging-machine, used in South African diamond-digging.—adj. Pul′satory, beating or throbbing.—n. any musical instrument played by being beaten on. [L. pulsāre, -ātum, to beat, freq. of pellĕre, pulsum, to drive.]

Pulsatilla, pul-sa-til′a, n. the pasque-flower, Anemone pulsatilla.

Pulse, 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 pulsation: without life.—ns. Pulse′lessness; Pulse′-rate, the number of beats of a pulse per minute; Pulse′-wave, the expansion of the artery, moving from point to point, like a wave, as each beat of the heart sends the blood to the extremities.—adj. Pulsif′ic, exciting the pulse.—ns. Pulsim′eter, an instrument for measuring the strength or quickness of the pulse; Pulsom′eter, a pulsimeter: a kind of steam-condensing pump.—Feel one's pulse, to find out by the sense of touch the force of the blood in the arteries: to find out what one is thinking on some point; Public pulse, the movement of public opinion on any question; Quick pulse, a pulse in which the rise of tension is very rapid. [Fr. pouls—L. pulsus—pellĕre, pulsum.]

Pulse, puls, n. grain or seed of beans, pease, &c.—adj. Pultā′ceous, macerated and softened. [L. puls, porridge (Gr. poltos). Cf. Poultice.]

Pulu, pōō′lōō, n. a silky fibre obtained from the Hawaiian tree-ferns, used for stuffing mattresses.

Pulverable, 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 dust or powder: to roll or wallow in the dust.—ns. Pul′verine, ashes of barilla; Pulverisā′tion; Pul′verīser.—adj. Pul′verous, consisting of, or like, dust or powder.—n. Pulver′ūlence.—adj. Pulver′ūlent, consisting of fine powder: powdery: dusty. [L. pulvis, pulveris, powder.]

Pulvil, pul′vil, n. a bag of perfumed powder.—Also Pulvil′io. [It. polviglio—L. pulvillus, a little cushion—pulvinus, a cushion.]

Pulvillar, 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: formed like a cushion.—n. a pillow or cushion: a peculiar prominence on a part of the human brain.—adjs. Pul′vināte, -d, Pulvin′iform, cushion-shaped. [L. pulvillus, pulvinus, a cushion, pulvinar, a soft couch.]

Pulwar, pul′wär, n. a light keelless boat used on the Ganges.—Also Pal′war.

Pulza-oil, pul′zä-oil, n. an oil obtained from the seeds of Fatropha Curcas, from the Cape Verd Islands.

Puma, pū′ma, n. a carnivorous animal, of the cat kind, of a reddish-brown colour without spots, called also the American lion. [Peruv. puma.]

Pumice, 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, of or like pumice.—ns. Pum′ice-stone (same as Pumice); Pū′my (Spens.), a pebble, stone. [A.S. pumic-(-stán), pumice (-stone)—L. pumex, pumicis, for spumex—spuma, foam—spuĕre. Cf. Spume, and Pounce, a fine powder.]

Pummel. Same as Pommel.

Pump, 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 raise water by pumping.—ns. Pump′age, the amount pumped; Pump′-barr′el, the cylinder which forms the body of a pump.—pa.p. Pumped (coll.), out of breath, panting—sometimes with out.—ns. Pump′er; Pump′-gear, the various parts which make up a pump; Pump′-hand′le, the lever by means of which the pump is worked; Pump′-head, -hood, a frame covering the upper wheel of a chain-pump, serving to guide the water into the discharge-spout; Pump′ing-en′gine, any form of motor for operating a pump; Pump′-rod, the rod by which the handle is fixed to the bucket which moves up and down inside; Pump′-room, the apartment at a mineral spring in which the waters are drunk; Pump′-well, a well from which water is got by pumping.—Pump ship, to urinate. [O. Fr. pompe (cf. Ger. pumpe); perh. conn. with plump.]

Pump, 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.]

Pumpernickel, 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.]

Pumpkin, 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.]

Pumy. See Pumice.

Pun, pun, v.t. (Shak.) to pound. [Cf. Pound.]

Pun, 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 punning. [Ety. dub.; prob. to beat words=pound, to beat, from A.S. punian, to pound.]

Punch, 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 comic journal (begun 17th July 1841). [Through the influence of prov. Eng. punch, a variant of bunch, thick.]

Punch, 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.]

Punch, 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, five—Sans. pancha, five.]

Punch, 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 shortened form of puncheon, a tool.]

Punch, 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.]

Puncheon, 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, to prick.]

Puncheon, 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.]

Punchinello, 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.]

Punctate, -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.—adj. Punc′tiform, pointed. [L. punctum—pungĕre, punctum, to prick.]

Punctilio, 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 or punctual to excess.—adv. Punctil′iously.—ns. Punctil′iousness; Punc′to (Shak.), the point, or a blow with it in fencing: a nice point of ceremony. [Sp. puntillo, dim. of punto, point—L. punctum, a point.]

Punctual, 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 punctual: the keeping of the exact time of an appointment: exactness.—adv. Punc′tually.—n. Punc′tualness. [Fr. ponctuel—punctum, a point.]

Punctuate, 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 marks.—adj. Punc′tuātive.—n. Punc′tuātor.—Punctuation marks, the comma, semicolon, colon, period, &c.

Punctum, 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 to light.

Puncture, 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.]

Pundit, pun′dit, n. a person who is learned in the language, science, laws, and religion of India: any learned man. [Hind. pandit—Sans. pandita.]

Pundonor, pun′do-nōr′, n. point of honour. [Sp., contr. of punto de honor, point of honour.]

Pungent, 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.]

Punic, pū′nik, adj. pertaining to, or like, the ancient Carthaginians: faithless, treacherous, deceitful.—n. the language of ancient Carthage. [L. Punicus—Pœni, the Carthaginians.]

Puniness, pū′ni-nes, n. the state or quality of being puny or feeble: smallness: pettiness. [Puny.]

Punish, 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, Pun′ishableness.—adj. Pun′ishable, that may be punished—said both of persons and crimes.—ns. Pun′isher; Pun′ishment, act or process of punishing: loss or pain inflicted for a crime or fault: the consequences of a broken law.—adjs. Punitive (pū′ni-tiv), pertaining to punishment: inflicting punishment; Pū′nitory, punishing: tending to punishment. [Fr. punir, punis-sant—L. punīre, to punish—pœna, penalty.]

Punjabee, Punjabi, pun-jä′bē, n. a native or inhabitant of the Punjab in India.

Punk, pungk, n. rotten wood used as tinder: (Shak.) a strumpet. [Spunk.]

Punka, 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. pankha, a fan.]

Punster, pun′stėr, n. one who makes puns.

Punt, 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 hands: to knock.—v.i. to pursue water-fowl in a punt with a punt-gun.—ns. Punt′er; Punt′-fishing, angling from a punt in a pond, river, or lake; Punt′-gun, a heavy gun of large bore used for shooting water-fowl from a punt; Punts′man, a sportsman who uses a punt. [A.S.,—L. ponto, a punt—pons, pontis, a bridge.]

Punt, 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.]

Puntilla, pun-til′a, n. lace-work. [Sp.]

Punto, 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.]

Puny, pū′ni, adj. (comp. Pū′nier; superl. Pū′niest) small: feeble: petty. [Cf. Puisne.]

Pup, 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.]

Pupa, 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 skin.—v.i. Pūpāte′, to become a pupa.—n. Pūpā′tion.—adjs. Pū′piform; Pūpig′erous.—n. Pūpip′ara, a division of dipterous insects having pupæ developed within the body of the mother.—adjs. Pūpip′arous; Pūpiv′orous; Pū′poid. [L. pupa, a girl, a doll, fem. of pupus, a boy, a child; cf. puer, a boy.]

Pupil, 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 (rare), pupilary nature: confidential character; Pū′pilage, Pū′pillage, state of being a pupil: the time during which one is a pupil; Pupilar′ity, Pupillar′ity, the time between birth and puberty.—adjs. Pū′pilary, Pū′pillary, pertaining to a pupil or ward.—Pupil teacher, one who is both a pupil and a teacher. [Fr. pupille—L. pupillus, pupilla, dims. of pupus, boy, pupa, girl.]

Pupil, 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. Pū′pilary, Pū′pillary; Pū′pilate (zool.), having a central spot of another colour.—n. Pupillom′eter, an instrument for measuring the size of the pupil of an eye. [Same as above word.]

Puppet, 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 performed by puppets; Pupp′et-valve, a valve like a pot-lid attached to a rod, and used in steam-engines for covering an opening. [O. Fr. poupette, dim. from L. pupa.]

Puppy, 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 or puppet—L. pupa.]

Pur. See Purr.

Purana, 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, ancient.]

Purblind, 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 to pore.]

Purchase, 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 or forfeit.—n. act of purchasing: that which is purchased or got for a price: value, advantage, worth: any mechanical power or advantage in raising or moving bodies.—adj. Pur′chasable, that may be purchased: (hence of persons) venal, corrupt.—n. Pur′chaser.—Purchase money, the money paid, or to be paid, for anything; Purchase shears, a very strong kind of shears, with removable cutters, and a strong spring at the back; Purchase system, the method by which, before 1871, commissions in the British army could be bought.—(So many) years' purchase, a price paid for a house, an estate, &c. equal to the amount of the rent or income during the stated number of years. [O. Fr. porchacier (Fr. pourchasser), to seek eagerly, pursue—pur (L. pro), for, chasser, to chase.]

Purdah, pur′dä, n. a curtain screening a chamber of state or the women's apartments: the seclusion itself. [Hind. parda, a screen.]

Pure, 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 mind alone, without admixture of the results of experience.—n. purity.—adv. quite: (obs.) entirely.—v.t. to cleanse, refine.—adv. Pure′ly, without blemish: wholly, entirely: (dial.) wonderfully, very much.—n. Pure′ness.—Pure mathematics (see Mathematics); Pure reason, reason alone, without any mixture of sensibility; Pure science, the principles of any science considered in themselves and their relation to each other, and not in their application to the investigation of other branches of knowledge, as pure mathematics, pure logic, &c. [Fr. pur—L. purus, pure.]

Purée, pü-rā′, n. a soup, such as pea-soup, in which there are no pieces of solids. [Fr.]

Purfle, 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.) a bordure of ermines, furs, &c.; Pur′fling.—adj. Pur′fly (Carlyle), wrinkled. [O. Fr. pourfiler—L. pro, before, filum, a thread.]

Purge, 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 clarifying: to have frequent evacuations.—n. act of purging: a medicine that purges.—n. Purgā′tion, a purging: a clearing away of impurities: (law) the act of clearing from suspicion or imputation of guilt, a cleansing.—adj. Pur′gative, cleansing: having the power of evacuating the intestines.—n. a medicine that evacuates.—adv. Pur′gatively.—adjs. Purgatō′rial, Purgatō′rian, pertaining to purgatory; Pur′gatory, purging or cleansing: expiatory.—n. (R.C.) a place or state in which souls are after death purified from venial sins: any kind or state of suffering for a time.—ns. Pur′ger, a person or thing that purges; Pur′ging, act of cleansing or clearing. [Fr. purger—L. purgāre, -ātum—purus, pure, agĕre, to do.]

Purify, 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. Purificā′tion, act of purifying: (B.) the act of cleansing ceremonially by removing defilement: a cleansing of the soul from moral guilt or defilement: a crushing of desire after anything evil: the pouring of wine into the chalice to rinse it after communion, the wine being then drunk by the priest.—adj. Pū′rificātive.—n. Pū′rificātor.—adj. Pū′rificātory, tending to purify or cleanse.—n. Pū′rifier.—Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast observed in the R.C. Church on February 2d, in commemoration of the purification of the Virgin Mary, according to the Jewish ceremonial (Lev. xii. 2) forty days after the birth of Christ. [Fr. purifier—L. purificāre—purus, pure, facĕre, to make.]