Chapter XXVIII: Part 28

Practical joke, a joke put in practice; a joke the fun of which consists in something done, in distinction from something said; esp., a trick played upon a person.

Prac`ti*cal"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being practical; practicalness.

Prac"ti*cal*ly (?), adv. 1. In a practical way; not theoretically; really; as, to look at things practically; practically worthless.

2. By means of practice or use; by experience or experiment; as, practically wise or skillful; practically acquainted with a subject.

3. In practice or use; as, a medicine practically safe; theoretically wrong, but practically right.

Prac"ti*cal*ness, n. Same as Practicality.

Prac"ti*cal*ize (?), v. t. To render practical. [R.] "Practicalizing influences." J. S. Mill.

Prac"tice (?), n. [OE. praktike, practique, F. pratique, formerly also, practique, LL. practica, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; practical. See Practical, and cf. Pratique, Pretty.] 1. Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising early; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of daily exercise.

A heart . . . exercised with covetous practices.

2 Pet. ii. 14.

2. Customary or constant use; state of being used.

Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more
significant than those in practice.

Dryden.

3. Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak.

4. Actual performance; application of knowledge; -- opposed to theory.

There are two functions of the soul, -- contemplation and practice.

South.

There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and
practice; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is
dependent on practice; practice must have preceded theory.

Sir W. Hamilton.

5. Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline; as, the troops are called out for practice; she neglected practice in music.

6. Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business; as, the practice of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice.

Practice is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in
life, which application is itself an art.

Sir W. Hamilton.

7. Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; -- usually in a bad sense. [Obs.] Bacon.

He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.

Sir P. Sidney.

8. (Math.) A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.

9. (Law) The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts. Bouvier.

Syn. -- Custom; usage; habit; manner.

Prac"tice (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Practiced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Practicing (?).] [Often written practise, practised, practising.] 1. To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of; as, to practice gaming. "Incline not my heart . . . practice wicked works." Ps. cxli. 4.

2. To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc., as, to practice law or medicine.

2. To exercise one's self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity; as, to practice gunnery; to practice music.

4. To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do. "Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practice your severity." Shak.

As this advice ye practice or neglect.

Pope.

5. To make use of; to employ. [Obs.]

In malice to this good knight's wife, I practiced Ubaldo and
Ricardo to corrupt her.

Massinger.

6. To teach or accustom by practice; to train.

In church they are taught to love God; after church they are
practiced to love their neighbor.

Landor.

Prac"tice, v. i. [Often written practise.] 1. To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice on the piano.

2. To learn by practice; to form a habit.

They shall practice how to live secure.

Milton.

Practice first over yourself to reign.

Waller.

3. To try artifices or stratagems.

He will practice against thee by poison.

Shak.

4. To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law.

[I am] little inclined to practice on others, and as little that
others should practice on me.

Sir W. Temple.

Prac"ticed (?), a. [Often written practised.] 1. Experienced; expert; skilled; as, a practiced marksman. "A practiced picklock." Ld. Lytton.

2. Used habitually; learned by practice.

Prac"ti*cer (?), n. [Often written practiser.] 1. One who practices, or puts in practice; one who customarily performs certain acts. South.

2. One who exercises a profession; a practitioner.

3. One who uses art or stratagem. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Prac*ti"cian (?), n. [F. praticien, OF. also practicien.] One who is acquainted with, or skilled in, anything by practice; a practitioner.

Prac"tick (?), n. Practice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Prac"ti*sant (?), n. An agent or confederate in treachery. [Obs.] Shak.

Prac"tise (?), v. t. & i. See Practice.

The analogy of the English language requires that the noun and verb which are pronounced alike should agree in spelling. Thus we have notice (n. & v.), noticed, noticing, noticer; poultice (n. & v.); apprentice (n. & v.); office (n. & v.), officer (n.); lattice (n.), latticed (a.); benefice (n.), beneficed (a.), etc. Cf. sacrifice (&?;; n. & v.), surmise (&?;; n. & v.), promise (&?;; n. & v.); compromise (&?;; n. & v.), etc. Contrast advice (&?;; n.), and advise (&?;); device (&?;), and devise (&?;), etc.

Prac"ti*sour (?), n. A practitioner. [Obs.]

Prac*ti"tion*er (?), n. [From Practician.] 1. One who is engaged in the actual use or exercise of any art or profession, particularly that of law or medicine. Crabbe.

2. One who does anything customarily or habitually.

3. A sly or artful person. Whitgift.

General practitioner. See under General, 2.

Prac"tive (?), a. Doing; active. [Obs.] Sylvester. -- Prac"tive*ly, adv. [Obs.]

The preacher and the people both, Then practively did thrive.

Warner.

Prad (?), n. [Cf. D. paard.] A horse. [Colloq. Eng.]

PrÊ- (?). A prefix. See Pre-.

||PrÊ"ca`va (?), n. [NL. See Pre-, and 1st Cave.] (Anat.) The superior ||vena cava. -- PrÊ"ca`val (#), a. B. G. Wilder.

PrÊc"i*pe (?), n. [L., imperative of praecipere to give rules or precepts. See Precept.] (Law) (a) A writ commanding something to be done, or requiring a reason for neglecting it. (b) A paper containing the particulars of a writ, lodged in the office out of which the writ is to be issued. Wharton.

||PrÊ"co*ces (?), n. pl. [NL. See Precocious.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||birds including those whose young are able to run about when first ||hatched.

PrÊ*co"cial (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the PrÊcoces.

||PrÊ*cog"ni*ta (?), n. pl. [L. praecognitus, p. p. of praecognoscere ||to foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.] This previously known, or ||which should be known in order to understand something else.

PrÊ*com"mis*sure (?), n. [Pref. prÊ + commissure.] (Anat.) A transverse commissure in the anterior part of the third ventricle of the brain; the anterior cerebral commissure.

PrÊ*cor"a*coid (?), n. (Anat.) See Precoracoid.

||PrÊ*cor"di*a (?), n. [L., fr. prae before + cor, cordis, the heart.] ||(Anat.) The front part of the thoracic region; the epigastrium.

PrÊ*cor"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Same as Precordial.

||PrÊ*cor"nu (?), n.; pl. PrÊcornua (#). [NL. See Pre-, and Cornu.] ||(Anat.) The anterior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. ||G. Wilder.

PrÊ"di*al (?), a. See Predial.

PrÊ`flo*ra"tion (?), n. Same as Prefloration. Gray.

<! p. 1124 !>

PrÊ*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. Same as Prefoliation. Gray.

PrÊ`max*il"la (?), n. See Premaxilla.

PrÊ*mo"lar (?), a. See Premolar.

PrÊ*morse" (?), a. Same as Premorse.

||PrÊm`u*ni"re (?), n. [Corrupted from L. praemonere to forewarn, cite. ||See Admonish.] (Eng. Law) (a) The offense of introducing foreign ||authority into England, the penalties for which were originally ||intended to depress the civil power of the pope in the kingdom. (b) ||The writ grounded on that offense. Wharton. (c) The penalty ascribed ||for the offense of prÊmunire.

Wolsey incurred a prÊmunire, and forfeited his honor, estate, and
life.

South.

The penalties of prÊmunire were subsequently applied to many other offenses; but prosecutions upon a prÊmunire are at this day unheard of in the English courts. Blackstone.

PrÊm`u*ni"re, v. t. 1. To subject to the penalties of prÊmunire. [Obs.] T. Ward.

PrÊ*mu"ni*to*ry (?), a. See Premunitory.

||PrÊ*na"res (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pre-, Nares.] (Anat.) The anterior ||nares. See Nares. B. G. Wilder.

PrÊ*na"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Same as Prenasal.

PrÊ*no"men (?), n.; pl. PrÊnomina (#). [L., fr. prae before + nomen name.] (Rom. Antiq.) The first name of a person, by which individuals of the same family were distinguished, answering to our Christian name, as Caius, Lucius, Marcus, etc.

PrÊ`no*min"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a prÊnomen. [Obs.] M. A. Lower.

PrÊ`o*per"cu*lum, n. [NL.] (Anat.) Same as Preoperculum. -- PrÊ`o*per"cu*lar, a.

PrÊ*o"ral, n., PrÊ*pu"bis, n., PrÊ*scap"u*la, n., PrÊ*scu"tum, n., PrÊ*ster"num, n. Same as Preoral, Prepubis, Prescapula, etc.

PrÊ"ter- (?). A prefix. See Preter- .

PrÊt"er*ist (?), n. (Theol.) See Preterist.

PrÊ`ter*mit" (?), v. t. See Pretermit.

PrÊ*tex"ta (?), n.; pl. PrÊtextÊ (#), E. PrÊtextas (#). [L. (sc. toga), fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, to fringe, border; prae before + texere to weave.] (Rom. Antiq.) A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the toga virilis, or until about the completion of his fourteenth year, and by girls until their marriage. It was also worn by magistrates and priests.

PrÊ"tor (?), n. See Pretor.

||PrÊ*to"res (?), n. pl. [NL. See Pretor.] (Zoˆl.) A division of ||butterflies including the satyrs.

PrÊ*to"ri*an (?), a. See Pretorian.

PrÊ*to"ri*um (?), n. See Pretorium.

||PrÊ*zyg`a*poph"y*sis (?), n. (Anat.) Same as Prezygapophysis.

{ Prag*mat"ic (?), Prag*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [L. pragmaticus busy, active, skilled in business, especially in law and state affairs, systematic, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a thing done, business, fr. &?; to do: cf. F. pragmatique. See Practical.] 1. Of or pertaining to business or to affairs; of the nature of business; practical; material; businesslike in habit or manner.

The next day . . . I began to be very pragmatical.

Evelyn.

We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical,
abroad; but have need of some delightful intermissions.

Milton.

Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel.

Hare.

2. Busy; specifically, busy in an objectionable way; officious; fussy and positive; meddlesome. "Pragmatical officers of justice." Sir W. Scott.

The fellow grew so pragmatical that he took upon him the government
of my whole family.

Arbuthnot.

3. Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; -- said of literature. "Pragmatic history." Sir W. Hamilton. "Pragmatic poetry." M. Arnold.

Pragmatic sanction, a solemn ordinance or decree issued by the head or legislature of a state upon weighty matters; -- a term derived from the Byzantine empire. In European history, two decrees under this name are particularly celebrated. One of these, issued by Charles VII. of France, A. D. 1438, was the foundation of the liberties of the Gallican church; the other, issued by Charles VI. of Germany, A. D. 1724, settled his hereditary dominions on his eldest daughter, the Archduchess Maria Theresa.

Prag*mat"ic, n. 1. One skilled in affairs.

My attorney and solicitor too; a fine pragmatic.

B. Jonson.

2. A solemn public ordinance or decree.

A royal pragmatic was accordingly passed.

Prescott.

Prag*mat"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a pragmatical manner.

Prag*mat"ic*al*ness, n. The quality or state of being pragmatical.

Prag"ma*tism (?), n. The quality or state of being pragmatic; in literature, the pragmatic, or philosophical, method.

The narration of this apparently trifling circumstance belongs to
the pragmatism of the history.

A. Murphy.

Prag"ma*tist (?), n. One who is pragmatic.

Prag"ma*tize (?), v. t. To consider, represent, or embody (something unreal) as fact; to materialize. [R.] "A pragmatized metaphor." Tylor.

||Prai`ri`al" (?), n. [F., fr. prairie meadow.] The ninth month of the ||French Republican calendar, which dated from September 22, 1792. It ||began May, 20, and ended June 18. See Vendemiaire.

Prai"rie (?), n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie, LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.] 1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains.

From the forests and the prairies, From the great lakes of the
northland.

Longfellow.

2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called natural meadow.

Prairie chicken (Zoˆl.), any American grouse of the genus Tympanuchus, especially T. Americanus (formerly T. cupido), which inhabits the prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the sharp- tailed grouse. -- Prairie clover (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus Petalostemon, having small rosy or white flowers in dense terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in the prairies of the United States. -- Prairie dock (Bot.), a coarse composite plant (Silphium terebinthaceum) with large rough leaves and yellow flowers, found in the Western prairies. -- Prairie dog (Zoˆl.), a small American rodent (Cynomys Ludovicianus) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like that of a dog. Called also prairie marmot. -- Prairie grouse. Same as Prairie chicken, above. -- Prairie hare (Zoˆl.), a large long-eared Western hare (Lepus campestris). See Jack rabbit, under 2d Jack. -- Prairie hawk, Prairie falcon (Zoˆl.), a falcon of Western North America (Falco Mexicanus). The upper parts are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown. -- Prairie hen. (Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie chicken, above. -- Prairie itch (Med.), an affection of the skin attended with intense itching, which is observed in the Northern and Western United States; -- also called swamp itch, winter itch. -- Prairie marmot. (Zoˆl.) Same as Prairie dog, above. -- Prairie mole (Zoˆl.), a large American mole (Scalops argentatus), native of the Western prairies. -- Prairie pigeon, plover, or snipe (Zoˆl.), the upland plover. See Plover, n., 2. -- Prairie rattlesnake (Zoˆl.), the massasauga. -- Prairie snake (Zoˆl.), a large harmless American snake (Masticophis flavigularis). It is pale yellow, tinged with brown above. -- Prairie squirrel (Zoˆl.), any American ground squirrel of the genus Spermophilus, inhabiting prairies; -- called also gopher. -- Prairie turnip (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta) of the Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also pomme blanche, and pomme de prairie. -- Prairie warbler (Zoˆl.), a bright-colored American warbler (Dendroica discolor). The back is olive yellow, with a group of reddish spots in the middle; the under parts and the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the sides of the throat and spots along the sides, black; three outer tail feathers partly white. -- Prairie wolf. (Zoˆl.) See Coyote.

Prais"a*ble (?), a. Fit to be praised; praise-worthy; laudable; commendable. Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 15).

Prais"a*bly, adv. In a praisable manner.

Praise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Praised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Praising.] [OE. preisen, OF. preisier, prisier, F. priser, L. pretiare to prize, fr. pretium price. See Price, n., and cf. Appreciate, Praise, n., Prize, v.] 1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of; to laud; -- applied to a person or his acts. "I praise well thy wit." Chaucer.

Let her own works praise her in the gates.

Prov. xxxi. 31.

We praise not Hector, though his name, we know, Is great in arms;
't is hard to praise a foe.

Dryden.

2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works; to do honor to; to display the excellence of; -- applied especially to the Divine Being.

Praise ye him, all his angels; praise ye him, all his hosts!

Ps. cxlviii. 2.

3. To value; to appraise. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Syn. -- To commend; laud; eulogize; celebrate; glorify; magnify. -- To Praise, Applaud, Extol. To praise is to set at high price; to applaud is to greet with clapping; to extol is to bear aloft, to exalt. We may praise in the exercise of calm judgment; we usually applaud from impulse, and on account of some specific act; we extol under the influence of high admiration, and usually in strong, if not extravagant, language.

Praise, n. [OE. preis, OF. preis price, worth, value, estimation. See Praise, v., Price.] 1. Commendation for worth; approval expressed; honor rendered because of excellence or worth; laudation; approbation.

There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the
practice.

Rambler.

Praise may be expressed by an individual, and thus differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are always the expression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation.

2. Especially, the joyful tribute of gratitude or homage rendered to the Divine Being; the act of glorifying or extolling the Creator; worship, particularly worship by song, distinction from prayer and other acts of worship; as, a service of praise.

3. The object, ground, or reason of praise.

He is thy praise, and he is thy God.

Deut. x.&?;&?;.

Syn. -- Encomium; honor; eulogy; panegyric; plaudit; applause; acclaim; eclat; commendation; laudation.

Praise"ful (?), a. Praiseworthy. [Obs.]

Praise"ful (?), a. Praiseworthy. [Obs.]

Praise"less, a. Without praise or approbation.

Praise"-meet`*ing (?), n. A religious service mainly in song. [Local, U. S.]

Praise"ment (?), n. Appraisement. [Obs.]

Prais"er (?), n. 1. One who praises. "Praisers of men." Sir P. Sidney.

2. An appraiser; a valuator. [Obs.] Sir T. North.

Praise"wor`thi*ly (?), adv. In a praiseworthy manner. Spenser.

Praise"wor`thi*ness, n. The quality or state of being praiseworthy.

Praise"wor`thy (?), a. Worthy of praise or applause; commendable; as, praiseworthy action; he was praiseworthy. Arbuthnot.

Pra"krit (?), n. [Skr. prkta original, natural, usual, common, vulgar.] Any one of the popular dialects descended from, or akin to, Sanskrit; -- in distinction from the Sanskrit, which was used as a literary and learned language when no longer spoken by the people. Pali is one of the Prakrit dialects.

Pra*krit"ic (?), a. Pertaining to Prakrit.

{ Pram (?), Prame (?) }, n. (Naut.) See Praam.

Prance (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pranced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prancing (?).] [OE. prauncen; probably akin to prank, v. t. See Prank.] 1. To spring or bound, as a horse in high mettle.

Now rule thy prancing steed.

Gay.

2. To ride on a prancing horse; to ride in an ostentatious manner.

The insulting tyrant prancing o'er the field.

Addison.

3. To walk or strut about in a pompous, showy manner, or with warlike parade. Swift.

Pran"cer (?), n. A horse which prances.

Then came the captain . . . upon a brave prancer.

Evelyn.

Pran"di*al (?), a. [L. prandium a repast.] Of or pertaining to a repast, especially to dinner.

||Pran"gos (?), n. [From the native name in Afghanistan.] (Bot.) A ||genus of umbelliferous plants, one species of which (P. pabularia), ||found in Thibet, Cashmere, Afghanistan, etc., has been used as fodder ||for cattle. It has decompound leaves with very long narrow divisions, ||and a highly fragrant smell resembling that of new clover hay.

Prank (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pranked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pranking.] [Cf. E. prink, also G. prangen, prunken, to shine, to make a show, Dan. prange, prunke, Sw. prunka, D. pronken.] To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously; -- often followed by up; as, to prank up the body. See Prink.

In sumptuous tire she joyed herself to prank.

Spenser.

Prank, v. i. To make ostentatious show.

White houses prank where once were huts.

M. Arnold.

Prank, n. A gay or sportive action; a ludicrous, merry, or mischievous trick; a caper; a frolic. Spenser.

The harpies . . . played their accustomed pranks.

Sir W. Raleigh.

His pranks have been too broad to bear with.

Shak.

Prank, a. Full of gambols or tricks. [Obs.]

Prank"er (?), n. One who dresses showily; a prinker. "A pranker or a dancer." Burton.

Prank"ish, a. Full of pranks; frolicsome.

Prase (?), n. [L. prasius, fr. Gr. &?; of a leek-green, fr. Gr. &?; a leek: cf. F. prase.] (Min.) A variety of cryptocrystalline of a leek-green color.

Pra"se*o- (?). [Gr. &?; leek-green, green, fr. &?; a leek.] A combining form signifying green; as, praseocobalt, a green variety of cobalt.

Pra`se*o*dym"i*um (?), n. [Praseo- + didymium.] (Chem.) An elementary substance, one of the constituents of didymium; -- so called from the green color of its salts. Symbol Ps. Atomic weight 143.6.

Pra"se*o*lite (?), n. [Praseo- + -lite.] (Min.) A variety of altered iolite of a green color and greasy luster.

Pras"i*nous (?), a. [L. prasinus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a leek.] Grass-green; clear, lively green, without any mixture. Lindley.

Pra"soid (?), a. [Gr. &?; leek + - oid.] (Min.) Resembling prase.

Prate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating.] [Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel. prata.] To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble.

To prate and talk for life and honor.

Shak.

And make a fool presume to prate of love.

Dryden.

Prate, v. t. To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble.

What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate, When thou, his
knave, canst talk at such a rate !

Dryden.

Prate, n. [Akin to LG. & D. praat, Sw. prat.] Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity.

Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate.

Pope.

Prate"ful (?), a. Talkative. [R.] W. Taylor.

Prat"er (?), n. One who prates. Shak.

Prat"ic (?), n. See Pratique.

Pra"tin*cole (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any bird of the Old World genus Glareola, or family GlareolidÊ, allied to the plovers. They have long, pointed wings and a forked tail.

Prat"ing*ly (?), adv. With idle talk; with loquacity.

Prat"ique (?), n. [F.; cf. It. pratica, Sp. practica. See Practice.] 1. (Com.) Primarily, liberty of converse; intercourse; hence, a certificate, given after compliance with quarantine regulations, permitting a ship to land passengers and crew; -- a term used particularly in the south of Europe.

<! p. 1125 !>

2. Practice; habits. [Obs.] "One of English education and pratique." R. North.

Prat"tle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prattled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prattling (?).] [Freq. of prate.] To talk much and idly; to prate; hence, to talk lightly and artlessly, like a child; to utter child's talk.

Prat"tle, v. t. To utter as prattle; to babble; as, to prattle treason. Addison.

Prat"tle, n. Trifling or childish tattle; empty talk; loquacity on trivial subjects; prate; babble.

Mere prattle, without practice.

Shak.

Prat"tle*ment (?), n. Prattle. [R.] Jeffrey.

Prat"tler (?), n. One who prattles. Herbert.

Prav"i*ty (?), n. [L. pravitas, from pravus crooked, perverse.] Deterioration; degeneracy; corruption; especially, moral crookedness; moral perversion; perverseness; depravity; as, the pravity of human nature. "The pravity of the will." South.

Prawn (?), n. [OE. prane, of unknown origin; cf. L. perna a sea mussel.] (Zoˆl.) Any one of numerous species of large shrimplike Crustacea having slender legs and long antennÊ. They mostly belong to the genera Pandalus, PalÊmon, PalÊmonetes, and Peneus, and are much used as food. The common English prawn is PalÊmon serratus.

The name is often applied to any large shrimp.

Prax*in"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; action + -scope.] (Opt.) An instrument, similar to the phenakistoscope, for presenting to view, or projecting upon a screen, images the natural motions of real objects.

Prax"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to do. See Practice.] 1. Use; practice; especially, exercise or discipline for a specific purpose or object. "The praxis and theory of music." Wood.

2. An example or form of exercise, or a collection of such examples, for practice.

Pray (?), n. & v. See Pry. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pray (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Praying.] [OE. preien, OF. preier, F. prier, L. precari, fr. prex, precis, a prayer, a request; akin to Skr. prach to ask, AS. frignan, frnan, fricgan, G. fragen, Goth. fraÌhnan. Cf. Deprecate, Imprecate, Precarious.] To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.

And to his goddess pitously he preyde.

Chaucer.

When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut
thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matt. vi. 6.

I pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go.

I pray, sir. why am I beaten?

Shak.

Syn. -- To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition.

Pray, v. t. 1. To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.

And as this earl was preyed, so did he.

Chaucer.

We pray you . . . by ye reconciled to God.

2 Cor. v. 20.

2. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.

I know not how to pray your patience.

Shak.

3. To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory. Milman.

To pray in aid. (Law) (a) To call in as a helper one who has an interest in the cause. Bacon. (b) A phrase often used to signify claiming the benefit of an argument. See under Aid. Mozley & W.

Pray"er (?), n. One who prays; a supplicant.

Prayer (&?;; 277), n. [OE. preiere, OF. preiere, F. priËre, fr. L. precarius obtained by prayer, fr. precari to pray. See Pray, v. i.] 1. The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body. "Their meek preyere." Chaucer

2. The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer.

As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer.

Shak.

3. The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers.

He made those excellent prayers which were published immediately
after his death.

Bp. Fell.

Prayer book, a book containing devotional prayers. -- Prayer meeting, a meeting or gathering for prayer to God.

Syn. -- Petition; orison; supplication; entreaty; suit.

Prayer"ful (?), a. Given to prayer; praying much or often; devotional. "The prayerful man." J. S. Blackie. -- Prayer"ful*ly, adv. -- Prayer"ful*ness, n.

Prayer"less (?; 277), a. Not using prayer; habitually neglecting prayer to God; without prayer. "The next time you go prayerless to bed." Baxter.

-- Prayer"less*ly, adv. -- Prayer"less*ness, n.

Pray"ing (?), a. & n. from Pray, v.

Praying insect, locust, or mantis (Zoˆl.), a mantis, especially Mantis religiosa. See Mantis. -- Praying machine, or Praying wheel, a wheel on which prayers are pasted by Buddhist priests, who then put the wheel in rapid revolution. Each turn in supposed to have the efficacy of an oral repetition of all the prayers on the wheel. Sometimes it is moved by a stream.

Pray"ing*ly, adv. With supplication to God.

Pre- (?). [L. prae, adv. & prep., before, akin to pro, and to E. for, prep.: cf. F. prÈ-. See Pro-, and cf. Prior.] A prefix denoting priority (of time, place, or rank); as, precede, to go before; precursor, a forerunner; prefix, to fix or place before; preÎminent eminent before or above others. Pre- is sometimes used intensively, as in prepotent, very potent. [Written also prÊ-.]

Pre*ac`cu*sa"tion (?), n. Previous accusation.

Preace (?), v. & n. Press. [Obs.] Spenser.

Preach (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preached (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Preaching.] [OE. prechen, OF. preechier, F. prÍcher, fr. L. praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim; prae before + dicare to make known, dicere to say; or perhaps from (assumed) LL. praedictare. See Diction, and cf. Predicate, Predict.] 1. To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.

How shall they preach, except they be sent?

Rom. x. 15.

From that time Jesus began to preach.

Matt. iv. 17.

2. To give serious advice on morals or religion; to discourse in the manner of a preacher.

Preach, v. t. 1. To proclaim by public discourse; to utter in a sermon or a formal religious harangue.

That Cristes gospel truly wolde preche.

Chaucer.

The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek.

Isa. lxi. 1.

2. To inculcate in public discourse; to urge with earnestness by public teaching. "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation." Ps. xl. 9.

3. To deliver or pronounce; as, to preach a sermon.

4. To teach or instruct by preaching; to inform by preaching. [R.] "As ye are preached." Southey.

5. To advise or recommend earnestly.

My master preaches patience to him.

Shak.

To preach down, to oppress, or humiliate by preaching. Tennyson. -- To preach up, to exalt by preaching; to preach in support of; as, to preach up equality.

Preach, n. [Cf. F. prÍche, fr. prÍcher. See Preach, v.] A religious discourse. [Obs.] Hooker.

Preach"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. preeschierre, prescheur, F. prÍcheur, L. praedicator.] 1. One who preaches; one who discourses publicly on religious subjects.

How shall they hear without a preacher?

Rom. x. 14.

2. One who inculcates anything with earnestness.

No preacher is listened to but Time.

Swift.

Preacher bird (Zoˆl.), a toucan.

Preach"er*ship, n. The office of a preacher. "The preachership of the Rolls." Macaulay.

Preach"i*fy (?), v. i. [Preach + -fy.] To discourse in the manner of a preacher. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Preach"ing, n. The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of sermonizing; also, a sermon; a public religious discourse; serious, earnest advice. Milner.

Preaching cross, a cross, sometimes surmounting a pulpit, erected out of doors to designate a preaching place. -- Preaching friars. See Dominican.

Preach"man (?), n.; pl. Preachmen (&?;). A preacher; -- so called in contempt. [Obs.] Howell.

Preach"ment (?), n. A religious harangue; a sermon; -- used derogatively. Shak.

Pre`ac*quaint" (?), v. t. To acquaint previously or beforehand. Fielding.

Pre`ac*quaint"ance (?), n. Previous acquaintance or knowledge. Harris.

Pre*act" (?), v. t. To act beforehand; to perform previously.

Pre*ac"tion (?), n. Previous action.

Pre`a*dam"ic (?), a. Prior to Adam.

Pre*ad"am*ite (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈadamite.] 1. An inhabitant of the earth before Adam.

2. One who holds that men existed before Adam.

Pre*ad`am*it"ic (?), a. Existing or occurring before Adam; preadamic; as, preadamitic periods.

Pre`ad*just"ment (?), n. Previous adjustment.

Pre`ad*min`is*tra"tion (?), n. Previous administration. Bp. Pearson.

Pre`ad*mon"ish, v. t. To admonish previously.

Pre*ad`mo*ni"tion (?), n. Previous warning or admonition; forewarning.

Pre*ad`ver*tise" (?), v. t. To advertise beforehand; to preannounce publicly.

Pre"am`ble (?), n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. prÈambule. See Amble.] A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.

Pre"am`ble, v. t. & i. To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble. [R.] Feltham. Milton.

Pre*am"bu*la*ry (?), a. [Cf. OF. preambulaire.] Of or pertaining to a preamble; introductory; contained or provided for in a preamble. "A preambulary tax." [R.] Burke.

Pre*am"bu*late (?), v. i. [L. praeambulare. See Preamble.] To walk before. [R.] Jordan.

Pre*am`bu*la"tion (?), n. 1. A walking or going before; precedence. [R.]

2. A preamble. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pre*am"bu*la*to*ry (?), a. Preceding; going before; introductory. [R.]

Simon Magus had preambulatory impieties.

Jer. Taylor.

Pre*am"bu*lous (?), a. [See Preamble, n.] See Perambulatory. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre`an*nounce" (?), v. t. To announce beforehand. Coleridge.

Pre*an`te*nul"ti*mate (?), a. Being or indicating the fourth syllable from the end of a word, or that before the antepenult.

Pre`a*or"tic (?), a. (Anat.) In front, or on the ventral side, of the aorta.

Pre`ap*point" (?), v. t. To appoint previously, or beforehand. Carlyle.

Pre`ap*point"ment (?), n. Previous appointment.

Pre*ap`pre*hen"sion (?), n. An apprehension or opinion formed before examination or knowledge. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre*arm" (?), v. t. To forearm. [R.]

Pre`ar*range" (?), v. t. To arrange beforehand.

Prease (?), v. t. & i. To press; to crowd. [Obs.] -- n. A press; a crowd. [Obs.] Spenser.

Pre`as*sur"ance (?), n. Previous assurance. Coleridge.

Pre`a*tax"ic (?), a. (Med.) Occurring before the symptom ataxia has developed; -- applied to the early symptoms of locomotor ataxia.

Pre*au"di*ence (?), n. (Eng. Law) Precedence of rank at the bar among lawyers. Blackstone.

Pre*ax"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of any transverse axis in the body of an animal; anterior; cephalic; esp., in front, or on the anterior, or cephalic (that is, radial or tibial) side of the axis of a limb.

Preb"end (prb"nd), n. [F. prÈbende (cf. It. & Sp. prebenda), from L. praebenda, from L. praebere to hold forth, afford, contr. fr. praehibere; prae before + habere to have, hold. See Habit, and cf. Provender.] 1. A payment or stipend; esp., the stipend or maintenance granted to a prebendary out of the estate of a cathedral or collegiate church with which he is connected. See Note under Benefice.

2. A prebendary. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dignitary prebend, one having jurisdiction annexed to it. -- Simple prebend, one without jurisdiction.

Pre*ben"dal (pr*bn"dal), a. Of or pertaining to a prebend; holding a prebend; as, a prebendal priest or stall. Chesterfield.

Preb"en*da*ry (prb"n*d*r), n. [LL. praebendarius: cf. F. prÈbendaire. See Prebend.] 1. A clergyman attached to a collegiate or cathedral church who enjoys a prebend in consideration of his officiating at stated times in the church. See Note under Benefice, n., 3. Hook.

2. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Bailey.

Preb"en*da*ry*ship, n. The office of a prebendary.

Preb"en*date (?), v. t. [LL. praebendatus, p. p. of praebendari.] To invest with the office of prebendary; to present to a prebend. [Obs.] Grafton.

Preb"end*ship (?), n. A prebendaryship. [Obs.] Foxe.

Pre*bron"chi*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the bronchus; -- applied especially to an air sac on either side of the esophagus of birds.

Pre*cal"cu*late (?), v. t. To calculate or determine beforehand; to prearrange. Masson.

Pre"cant (?), n. [L. precans, -antis, p. pr. of precari to pray.] One who prays. [R.] Coleridge.

Pre*ca"ri*ous (?), a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray.] 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison.

2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. "Intervals of partial and precarious liberty." Macaulay.

Syn. -- Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. -- Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence, "wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties.

-- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n.

Pre*ca"tion (?), n. [L. precatio.] The act of praying; supplication; entreaty. Cotton.

{ Prec"a*tive (?), Prec"a*to*ry (?), } a. [L. precativus, precatorius, fr. precari to pray. See Precarious.] Suppliant; beseeching. Bp. Hopkins.

Precatory words (Law), words of recommendation, request, entreaty, wish, or expectation, employed in wills, as distinguished from express directions; -- in some cases creating a trust. Jarman.

Pre*cau"tion (?), n. [F. prÈcation, L. praecautio, fr. praecavere, praecautum, to guard against beforehand; prae before + cavere be on one's guard. See Pre-, and Caution.] 1. Previous caution or care; caution previously employed to prevent mischief or secure good; as, his life was saved by precaution.

They [ancient philosophers] treasured up their supposed discoveries
with miserable precaution.

J. H. Newman.

2. A measure taken beforehand to ward off evil or secure good or success; a precautionary act; as, to take precautions against accident.

Pre*cau"tion, v. t. [Cf. F. prÈcautionner.] 1. To warn or caution beforehand. Locke.

<! p. 1126 !>

2. To take precaution against. [R.] Dryden.

Pre*cau"tion*al (?), a. Precautionary.

Pre*cau"tion*a*ry (?), a. Of or pertaining to precaution, or precautions; as, precautionary signals.

Pre*cau"tious (?), a. Taking or using precaution; precautionary. -- Pre*cau"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*cau"*tious*ness, n.

Pre`ce*da"ne*ous (?), a. Preceding; antecedent; previous. [Obs.] Hammond.

Pre*cede" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preceding.] [L. praecedere, praecessum; prae before + cedere to go, to be in motion: cf. F. prÈceder. See Pre-, and Cede.] 1. To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything. "Harm precedes not sin." Milton.

2. To go before in place, rank, or importance.

3. To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; -- used with by or with before the instrumental object. [R.]

It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.

Kent.

{ Pre*ced"ence (?), Pre*ced"en*cy (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcÈdence. See Precede.] 1. The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority; as, one event has precedence of another.

2. The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank; as, barons have precedence of commoners.

Which of them [the different desires] has the precedency in
determining the will to the next action?

Locke.

Syn. -- Antecedence; priority; preÎminence; preference; superiority.

Pre*ced"ent (?), a. [L. praecedens, -entis, p. pr. of praecedere: cf. F. prÈcÈdent. See Precede.] Going before; anterior; preceding; antecedent; as, precedent services. Shak. "A precedent injury." Bacon.

Condition precedent (Law), a condition which precede the vesting of an estate, or the accruing of a right.

Prec"e*dent (?), n. 1. Something done or said that may serve as an example to authorize a subsequent act of the same kind; an authoritative example.

Examples for cases can but direct as precedents only.

Hooker.

2. A preceding circumstance or condition; an antecedent; hence, a prognostic; a token; a sign. [Obs.]

3. A rough draught of a writing which precedes a finished copy. [Obs.] Shak.

4. (Law) A judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases; an authority to be followed in courts of justice; forms of proceeding to be followed in similar cases. Wharton.

Syn. -- Example; antecedent. -- Precedent, Example. An example in a similar case which may serve as a rule or guide, but has no authority out of itself. A precedent is something which comes down to us from the past with the sanction of usage and of common consent. We quote examples in literature, and precedents in law.

Prec"e*dent*ed, a. Having a precedent; authorized or sanctioned by an example of a like kind. Walpole.

Prec`e*den"tial (?), a. Of the nature of a precedent; having force as an example for imitation; as, precedential transactions.

All their actions in that time are not precedential to warrant
posterity.

Fuller.

Pre*ced"ent*ly (?), adv. Beforehand; antecedently.

Pre*ced"ing, a. 1. Going before; -- opposed to following.

2. (Astron.) In the direction toward which stars appear to move. See Following, 2.

Pre*cel" (?), v. t. & i. [See Precellence.] To surpass; to excel; to exceed. [Obs.] Howell.

{ Pre*cel"lence (?), Pre*cel"len*cy (?), } n. [L. praecellentia, from praecellens, p. pr. of praecellere to excel, surpass: cf. OF. precellence.] Excellence; superiority. [Obs.] Sheldon.

Pre*cel"lent (?), a. [L. praecellens, p. pr.] Excellent; surpassing. [Obs.] Holland.

Pre*cen"tor (?), n. [L. praecentor, fr. praecinere to sing before; prae before + canere to sing. See Chant.] A leader of a choir; a directing singer. Specifically: (a) The leader of the choir in a cathedral; -- called also the chanter or master of the choir. Hook. (b) The leader of the congregational singing in Scottish and other churches.

Pre*cen"tor*ship, n. The office of a precentor.

Pre"cept (?), n. [L. praeceptum, from praecipere to take beforehand, to instruct, teach; prae before + capere to take: cf. F. prÈcepte. See Pre-, and Capacious.] 1. Any commandment, instruction, or order intended as an authoritative rule of action; esp., a command respecting moral conduct; an injunction; a rule.

For precept must be upon precept.

Isa. xxviii. 10.

No arts are without their precepts.

Dryden.

2. (Law) A command in writing; a species of writ or process. Burrill.

Syn. -- Commandment; injunction; mandate; law; rule; direction; principle; maxim. See Doctrine.

Pre"cept, v. t. To teach by precepts. [Obs.] Bacon.

Pre*cep"tial (?), a. Preceptive. [Obs.]

[Passion] would give preceptial medicine to rage.

Shak.

Pre*cep"tion (?), n. [L. praeceptio.] A precept. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Pre*cep"tive (?), a. [L. praeceptivus.] Containing or giving precepts; of the nature of precepts; didactic; as, the preceptive parts of the Scriptures.

The lesson given us here is preceptive to us.

L'Estrange.

Pre*cep"tor (?), n. [L. praeceptor, fr. praecipere to teach: cf. F. prÈcepteur. See Precept.] 1. One who gives commands, or makes rules; specifically, the master or principal of a school; a teacher; an instructor.

2. The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars. Sir W. Scott.

Pre`cep*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a preceptor.

Pre*cep"to*ry (?; 277), a. Preceptive. "A law preceptory." Anderson (1573).

Pre*cep"to*ry, n.; pl. Preceptories (#). [LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor.] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2.

Pre*cep"tress (?), n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.

Pre*ces"sion (?), n. [L. praecedere, praecessum, to go before: cf. F. prÈcession. See Precede.] The act of going before, or forward.

Lunisolar precession. (Astron.) See under Lunisolar. -- Planetary precession, that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. -- Precession of the equinoxes (Astron.), the slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2&Prime; annually, caused by the action of the sun, moon, and planets, upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator, in connection with its diurnal rotation; -- so called because either equinox, owing to its westerly motion, comes to the meridian sooner each day than the point it would have occupied without the motion of precession, and thus precedes that point continually with reference to the time of transit and motion.

Pre*ces"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes.

Pre*ces"sor (?), n. [L. praecessor.] A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre"cinct (?; 277), n. [LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture.] 1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state. "The precincts of light." Milton.

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct.

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]

The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice.

Laws of Massachusetts.

Pre`ci*os"i*ty (?), n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre"cious (?), a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. prÈcieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.

She is more precious than rules.

Prov. iii. 15.

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the
value of them lieth hid.

Hooker.

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.

Chaucer.

Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. -- Precious stones, gems; jewels.

Pre"cious*ly, adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.

Pre"cious*ness, n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.

Prec"i*pe (?), n. (Law) See PrÊcipe, and Precept.

Prec"i*pice (?), n. [F. prÈcipice, L. praecipitium, fr. praeceps, -cipitis, headlong; prae before + caput, capitis, the head. See Pre-, and Chief.] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. [Obs.] Fuller.

2. A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; an abrupt declivity; a cliff.

Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew.

Dryden.

Pre*cip"i*ent (?), a. [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.] Commanding; directing.

Pre*cip`i*ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being precipitable.

Pre*cip"i*ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate, n. (Chem.)

{ Pre*cip"i*tance (?), Pre*cip"i*tan*cy (?), } n. [From Precipitant.] The quality or state of being precipitant, or precipitate; headlong hurry; excessive or rash haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or executing a purpose; precipitation; as, the precipitancy of youth. "Precipitance of judgment." I. Watts.

Pre*cip"i*tant (?), a. [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of praecipitare: cf. F. prÈcipitant. See Precipitate.] 1. Falling or rushing headlong; rushing swiftly, violently, or recklessly; moving precipitately.

They leave their little lives Above the clouds, precipitant to
earth.

J. Philips.

Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold, Precipitant in
fear would wing their flight.

Pope.

2. Unexpectedly or foolishly brought on or hastened; rashly hurried; hasty; sudden; reckless. Jer. Taylor. "Precipitant rebellion." Eikon Basilike.

Pre*cip"i*tant, n. (Chem.) Any force or reagent which causes the formation of a precipitate.

Pre*cip"i*tant*ly, adv. With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner. Milton.

Pre*cip"i*tant*ness, n. The quality or state of being precipitant; precipitation.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.] 1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.

2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as, a precipitate measure. "The rapidity of our too precipitate course." Landor.

3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong.

Precipitate the furious torrent flows.

Prior.

4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), n. [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F. prÈcipitÈ.] 1. (Chem.) An insoluble substance separated from a solution in a concrete state by the action of some reagent added to the solution, or of some force, such as heat or cold. The precipitate may fall to the bottom (whence the name), may be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near the surface.

Red precipitate (Old. Chem), mercuric oxide (HgO) a heavy red crystalline powder obtained by heating mercuric nitrate, or by heating mercury in the air. Prepared in the latter manner, it was the precipitate per se of the alchemists. -- White precipitate (Old Chem.) (a) A heavy white amorphous powder (NH2.HgCl) obtained by adding ammonia to a solution of mercuric chloride or corrosive sublimate; -- formerly called also infusible white precipitate, and now amido-mercuric chloride. (b) A white crystalline substance obtained by adding a solution of corrosive sublimate to a solution of sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride); -- formerly called also fusible white precipitate.

Pre*cip"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precipitated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Precipitating.] 1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height.

She and her horse had been precipitated to the pebbled region of
the river.

W. Irving.

2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as, precipitate a journey, or a conflict.

Back to his sight precipitates her steps.

Glover.

If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove
dangerous.

Bacon.

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor when in solution with alcohol.

The light vapor of the preceding evening had been precipitated by
the cold.

W. Irving.

Pre*cip"i*tate, v. i. 1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]

So many fathom down precipitating.

Shak.

2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.

Pre*cip"i*tate*ly (?), adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift.

Pre*cip`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praecipitatio: cf. F. prÈcipitation.] 1. The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong.

In peril of precipitation From off rock Tarpeian.

Shak.

2. A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity.

The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, returning
. . . towards the sea.

Woodward.

3. Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity. "The precipitation of inexperience." Rambler.

4. (Chem.) The act or process of precipitating from a solution.

Pre*cip"i*ta`tor (?), n. [L. praecipitator an overthrower.] One who precipitates, or urges on with vehemence or rashness. Hammond.

Prec`i*pi"tious (?), a. Precipitous. [Obs.] -- Prec`i*pi"tious*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pre*cip"i*tous (?), a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.] 1. Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain.

2. Headlong; as, precipitous fall.

3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous ëHush!'" Mrs. Browning.

-- Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n.

||PrÈ`cis" (pr`s"), n. [F. See Precise.] A concise or abridged ||statement or view; an abstract; a summary.

Pre*cise" (?), a. [L. praecisus cut off, brief, concise, p. p. of praecidere to cut off in front, to cut off; prae before + caedere to cut: cf. F. prÈcis. Cf. Concise.] 1. Having determinate limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality.

The law in this point is not precise.

Bacon.

For the hour precise Exacts our parting hence.

Milton.

2. Strictly adhering or conforming to rule; very nice or exact; punctilious in conduct or ceremony; formal; ceremonious. Addison.

He was ever precise in promise- keeping.

Shak.

Syn. -- Accurate; exact; definite; correct; scrupulous; punctilious; particular; nice; formal. See Accurate.

-- Pre*cise"ly, adv. -- Pre*cise"ness, n.

Pre*ci"sian (?), n. 1. One who limits, or restrains. [Obs.]

2. An overprecise person; one rigidly or ceremoniously exact in the observance of rules; a formalist; -- formerly applied to the English Puritans.

The most dissolute cavaliers stood aghast at the dissoluteness of
the emancipated precisian.

Macaulay.

Pre*ci"sian*ism (?), n. The quality or state of being a precisian; the practice of a precisian. Milton.

Pre*ci"sian*ist, n. A precisian.

Pre*ci"sion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈcision, L. praecisio a cutting off. See Precise.] The quality or state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness.

I have left out the utmost precisions of fractions.

Locke.

Syn. -- Preciseness; exactness; accuracy; nicety. -- Precision, Preciseness. Precision is always used in a good sense; as, precision of thought or language; precision in military evolutions. Preciseness is sometimes applied to persons or their conduct in a disparaging sense, and precise is often used in the same way.

Pre*ci"sive (?), a. Cutting off; (Logic) exactly limiting by cutting off all that is not absolutely relative to the purpose; as, precisive censure; precisive abstraction. I. Watts.

<! p. 1127 !>

Pre*clude" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Precluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Precluding.] [L. praecludere, praeclusum; prae before + claudere to shut. See Close, v.] 1. To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede.

The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins.

E. Darwin.

2. To shut out by anticipative action; to prevent or hinder by necessary consequence or implication; to deter action of, access to, employment of, etc.; to render ineffectual; to obviate by anticipation.

This much will obviate and preclude the objections.

Bentley.

Pre*clu"sion (?), n. [L. praeclusio. See Preclude.] The act of precluding, or the state of being precluded; a shutting out.

Pre*clu"sive (?), a. Shutting out; precluding, or tending to preclude; hindering. -- Pre*clu"sive*ly, adv.

Pre*coce" (?), a. [F. prÈcoce.] Precocious. [Obs.]

||Pre"co*ces, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as PrÊcoces.

Pre*co"cious (?), a. [L. praecox, -ocis, and praecoquus, fr. praecoquere to cook or ripen beforehand; prae before + coquere to cook. See 3d Cook, and cf. Apricot.] 1. Ripe or mature before the proper or natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed; as, precocious trees. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding what is to be expected of one's years; too forward; -- used especially of mental forwardness; as, a precocious child; precocious talents.

Pre*co"cious*ly, adv. In a precocious manner.

{ Pre*co"cious*ness, Pre*coc"i*ty (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcocitÈ.] The quality or state of being precocious; untimely ripeness; premature development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness.

Saucy precociousness in learning.

Bp. Mannyngham.

That precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius.

Wirt.

Pre*co`e*ta"ne*an (?), n. One contemporary with, but older than, another. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre*cog"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. praecogitatus, p. p. of praecogitare. See Pre-, and Cogitate.] To cogitate beforehand. [R.] Sherwood.

Pre*cog`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praecogitatio.] Previous cogitation. [R.] Bailey.