Chapter CCCLII: Prologue (3)

1. The original copy of any writing, as of a deed, treaty, dispatch, or other instrument. Burrill.

2. The minutes, or rough draught, of an instrument or transaction.

3. (Diplomacy) (a) A preliminary document upon the basis of which negotiations are carried on. (b) A convention not formally ratified. (c) An agreement of diplomatists indicating the results reached by them at a particular stage of a negotiation.

PROTOCOL Pro"to*col, v. t.

Defn: To make a protocol of.

PROTOCOL Pro"to*col, v. i.

Defn: To make or write protocols, or first draughts; to issue protocols. Carlyle.

PROTOCOLIST Pro"to*col`ist, n.

Defn: One who draughts protocols.

PROTOCONCH Pro"to*conch, n. Etym: [Proto- + conch.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The embryonic shell, or first chamber, of ammonites and other cephalopods.

PROTO-DORIC Pro`to-Dor*ic, a. Etym: [Proto- + Doric.] (Arch.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, architecture, in which the beginnings of the Doric style are supposed to be found.

PROTOGINE Pro"to*gine, n. Etym: [Proto- + root of Gr. protogyne.] (Min.)

Defn: A kind of granite or gneiss containing a silvery talcose mineral.

PROTOGYNOUS Pro*tog"y*nous, a. Etym: [Proto + Gr. gynh` a woman.] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Proterogynous.

PROTOHIPPUS Pro`to*hip"pus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil horses from the Lower Pliocene. They had three toes on each foot, the lateral ones being small.

PROTOMARTYR Pro"to*mar`tyr, n. Etym: [LL., fr. Gr. protomartyr. See Proto-, and Martyr.]

Defn: The first martyr; the first who suffers, or is sacrificed, in any cause; -- applied esp. to Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

PROTOMERITE Pro`to*mer"ite, n. Etym: [Proto- + -mere + -ite.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The second segment of one of the Gregarinæ.

PROTOMETALS Pro`to*met"als, n. pl.

Defn: A finer form of metals, indicated by enhanced lines in their spark spectra (which are also observed in the spectra of some stars), obtained at the highest available laboratory temperatures (Lockyer); as protocalcium, protochromium, protocopper, protonickel, protosilicon, protostrontium, prototitanium, protovanadium. -- Pro`to*me*tal"ic (#), a.

PROTOMORPHIC Pro`to*mor"phic, a. Etym: [Proto- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Having the most primitive character; in the earliest form; as, a protomorphic layer of tissue. H. Spencer.

PROTONEMA Pro`to*ne"ma, n.; pl. Protonemata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The primary growth from the spore of a moss, usually consisting of branching confervoid filaments, on any part of which stem and leaf buds may be developed.

PROTONOTARY Pro*ton"o*ta*ry, n.

Defn: Same as Prothonotary.

PROTOORGANISM; PROTOOERGANISM Pro`to*ör"gan*ism, n. Etym: [Proto- + organism.] (Biol.)

Defn: An organism whose nature is so difficult to determine that it might be referred to either the animal or the vegetable kingdom.

PROTOPAPAS Pro`to*pap"as (, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Gr. Ch.)

Defn: A protopope.

PROTOPHYTE Pro"to*phyte, n. Etym: [Proto- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Any unicellular plant, or plant forming only a plasmodium, having reproduction only by fission, gemmation, or cell division.

Note: The protophytes (Protophyta) are by some botanists considered an independent branch or class of the vegetable kingdom, and made to include the lowest forms of both fungi and algæ, as slime molds, Bacteria, the nostocs, etc. Cf. Carpophyte, and Oöphyte.

PROTOPHYTOLOGY Pro`to*phy*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Proto- + phytology.]

Defn: Paleobotany.

PROTOPINE Pro"to*pine, n. Etym: [Proto- + opium.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in opium in small quantities, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.

PROTOPLASM Pro"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Proto- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The viscid and more or less granular material of vegetable and animal cells, possessed of vital properties by which the processes of nutrition, secretion, and growth go forward; the so-called " physical basis of life;" the original cell substance, cytoplasm, cytoblastema, bioplasm sarcode, etc.

Note: The lowest forms of animal and vegetable life (unicellular organisms) consist of simple or unaltered protoplasm; the tissues of the higher organisms, of differentiated protoplasm.

PROTOPLASMATIC Pro`to*plas*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Protoplasmic.

PROTOPLASMIC Pro`to*plas"mic, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the first formation of living bodies.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to protoplasm; consisting of, or resembling, protoplasm.

PROTOPLAST Pro"to*plast, n. Etym: [L. protoplastus the first man, Gr.

1. The thing first formed; that of which there are subsequent copies or reproductions; the original.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: A first-formed organized body; the first individual, or pair of individuals, of a species. A species is a class of individuals, each of which is hypothetically considered to be the descendant of the same protoplast, or of the same pair of protoplasts. Latham.

PROTOPLASTA Pro`to*plas"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of fresh-water rhizopods including those that have a soft body and delicate branched pseudopodia. The genus Gromia is one of the best-known.

PROTOPLASTIC Pro`to*plas"tic, a.

Defn: First-formed. Howell.

PROTOPODITE Pro*top"o*dite, n. Etym: [Proto- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The basal portion, or two proximal and more or less consolidated segments, of an appendage of a crustacean.

PROTOPOPE Pro"to*pope, n. Etym: [Proto- + pope: cf. F. protopope, Russ. protopop'.] (Gr. Ch.)

Defn: One of the clergy of first rank in the lower order of secular clergy; an archpriest; -- called also protopapas.

PROTOPTERUS Pro*top"te*rus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Komtok.

PROTOSALT Pro"to*salt, n. Etym: [Proto- + salt.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt derived from a protoxide base. [Obs.]

PROTOSILICATE Pro`to*sil"i*cate, n. Etym: [Proto- + silicate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A silicate formed with the lowest proportion of silicic acid, or having but one atom of silicon in the molecule.

PROTOSOMITE Pro`to*so"mite, n. Etym: [Proto- + somite.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the primitive segments, or metameres, of an animal.

PROTOSULPHIDE Pro`to*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Proto- + sulphide.] (Chem.)

Defn: That one of a series of sulphides of any element which has the lowest proportion of sulphur; a sulphide with but one atom of sulphur in the molecule.

PROTOSULPHURET Pro`to*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Proto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)

Defn: A protosulphide. [Obs.]

PROTOTHERIA Pro`to*the"ri*a n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Monotremata.

PROTOTRACHEATA Pro`to*tra`che*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Proto-, and Trachea.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Malacopoda.

PROTOTYPE Pro"to*type, n. Etym: [F., from L. prototypus original, primitive, Gr. Proto-, and Type]

Defn: An original or model after which anything is copied; the pattern of anything to be engraved, or otherwise copied, cast, or the like; a primary form; exemplar; archetype. They will turn their backs on it, like their great precursor and prototype. Burke.

PROTOVERTEBRA Pro`to*ver"te*bra, n.; pl. Protovertebræ . Etym: [Proto- + vertebra.] (Anat.)

Defn: One of the primitive masses, or segments, into which the mesoblast of the vertebrate embryo breaks up on either side of the anterior part of the notochord; a mesoblastic, or protovertebral, somite. See Illust. of Ectoderm.

Note: The protovertebræ were long regarded as rudiments of the permanent vertebræ, but they are now known to give rise to the dorsal muscles and other structures as well as the vertebral column. See Myotome.

PROTOVERTEBRAL Pro`to*ver"te*bral, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the protovertebræ.

PROTOXIDE Pro*tox"ide, n. Etym: [Proto- + oxide: cf. F. protoxide.] (Chem.)

Defn: That one of a series of oxides having the lowest proportion of oxygen. See Proto-, 2 (b). protoxide of nitrogen, laughing gas, now called hyponitrous oxideNO. See under Laughing.

PROTOXIDIZE Pro*tox"i*dize, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To combine with oxygen, as any elementary substance, in such proportion as to form a protoxide.

PROTOZOA Pro`to*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lowest of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom.

Note: The entire animal consists of a single cell which is variously modified; but in many species a number of these simple zooids are united together so as to form a compound body or organism, as in the Foraminifera and Vorticellæ. The reproduction takes place by fission, or by the breaking up of the contents of the body after encystment, each portion becoming a distinct animal, or in other ways, but never by true eggs. The principal divisions are Rhizopoda, Gregarinæ, and Infusoria. See also Foraminifera, Heliozoa, Protoplasta, Radiolaria, Flagellata, Ciliata.

PROTOZOAN Pro`to*zo"an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Protozoa. -- n.

Defn: One of the Protozoa.

PROTOZOIC Pro`to*zo"ic, a.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Protozoa.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Containing remains of the earliest discovered life of the globe, which included mollusks, radiates and protozoans.

PROTOZOON; PROTOZOOEN Pro`to*zo"ön (-ôn), n.; pl. Protozoa. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.) (a) One of the Protozoa. (b) A single zooid of a compound protozoan.

PROTOZOONITE; PROTOZOOENITE Pro`to*zo"ö*nite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the primary, or first-formed, segments of an embryonic arthropod.

PROTRACHEATA Pro*tra`che*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Trachea.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Malacopoda.

PROTRACT Pro*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protracted; p. pr. vb. n. Protracting.] Etym: [L. protractus, p. p. of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait, Portray.]

1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war.

2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. Shak.

3. (Surv.)

Defn: To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract.

PROTRACT Pro*tract", n. Etym: [L. protractus.]

Defn: Tedious continuance or delay. [Obs.] Spenser.

PROTRACTED Pro*tract`ed, a.

Defn: Prolonged; continued. Protracted meeting,a religious meeting continued for many successive days. [U. S.] -- Pro*tract"ed*ly, adv. -- Pro*tract"ed*ness, n.

PROTRACTER Pro*tract"er, n.

Defn: A protractor.

PROTRACTILE Pro*tract"ile, a.

Defn: Capable of being protracted, or protruded; protrusile.

PROTRACTION Pro*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. protractio.]

1. A drawing out, or continuing; the act of delaying the termination of a thing; prolongation; continuance; delay; as, the protraction of a debate. A protraction only of what is worst in life. Mallock.

2. (Surv.) (a) The act or process of making a plot on paper. (b) A plot on paper.

PROTRACTIVE Pro*tract"ive, a.

Defn: Drawing out or lengthening in time; prolonging; continuing; delaying. He suffered their protractive arts. Dryden.

PROTRACTOR Pro*tract"or, n.

1. One who, or that which, protracts, or causes protraction.

2. A mathematical instrument for laying down and measuring angles on paper, used in drawing or in plotting. It is of various forms, semicircular, rectangular, or circular.

3. (Surg.)

Defn: An instrument formerly used in extracting foreign or offensive matter from a wound.

4. (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which extends an organ or part; -- opposed to retractor.

5. An adjustable pattern used by tailors. Knight.

PROTREPTICAL Pro*trep"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Adapted to persuade; hortatory; persuasive. [Obs.] Bp. Ward.

PROTRUDABLE Pro*trud"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be protruded; protrusile. Darwin.

PROTRUDE Pro*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Protruding.] Etym: [L. protrudere, protrusum; pro forward + trudere to thrust. See Threat.]

1. To thrust forward; to drive or force along. Locke.

2. To thrust out, as through a narrow orifice or from confinement; to cause to come forth. When . . . Spring protrudes the bursting gems. Thomson.

PROTRUDE Pro*trude", v. i.

Defn: To shoot out or forth; to be thrust forward; to extend beyond a limit; to project. The parts protrude beyond the skin. Bacon.

PROTRUSILE Pro*tru"sile, a.

Defn: Capable of being protruded or thrust out; protractile; protrusive.

PROTRUSION Pro*tru"sion, n.

1. The act of protruding or thrusting forward, or beyond the usual limit.

2. The state of being protruded, or thrust forward.

PROTRUSIVE Pro*tru"sive, a.

1. Thrusting or impelling forward; as, protrusive motion. E. Darwin.

2. Capable of being protruded; protrusile.

PROTRUSIVELY Pro*tru"sive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a protrusive manner.

PROTUBERANCE Pro*tu"ber*ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. protubérance. See Protuberant.]

Defn: That which is protuberant swelled or pushed beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; a swelling or tumor on the body; a prominence; a bunch or knob; an elevation. Solar protuberances (Astron.), certain rose-colored masses on the limb of the sun which are seen to extend beyond the edge of the moon at the time of a solar eclipse. They may be discovered with the spectroscope on any clear day. Called also solar prominences. See Illust. in Append.

Syn. -- Projection, Protuberance. protuberance differs from projection, being applied to parts that rise from the surface with a gradual ascent or small angle; whereas a projection may be at a right angle with the surface.

PROTUBERANCY Pro*tu"ber*an*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being protuberant; protuberance; prominence.

PROTUBERANT Pro*tu"ber*ant, a. Etym: [L. protuberans, -antis, p. pr. of protuberare. See Protuberate.]

Defn: Prominent, or excessively prominent; bulging beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; swelling; as, a protuberant joint; a protuberant eye. -- Pro*tu"ber*ant*ly, adv.

PROTUBERATE Pro*tu"ber*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. protuberare; pro forward + tuber a hump, protuberance. See Tuber.]

Defn: To swell, or be prominent, beyond the adjacent surface; to bulge out. S. Sharp.

PROTUBERATION Pro*tu`ber*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of swelling beyond the surrounding surface. Cooke (1615).

PROTUBEROUS Pro*tu"ber*ous, a.

Defn: Protuberant. [R.]

PROTURETER Pro`tu*re"ter, n. Etym: [NL. See Proto-, Ureter.] (Anat.)

Defn: The duct of a pronephros. Haeckel.

PROTYLE Pro"tyle, n. Etym: [Proto- + Gr. (Chem. & Astron.)

Defn: The hypothetical homogeneous cosmic material of the original universe, supposed to have been differentiated into what are recognized as distinct chemical elements.

PROUD Proud, a. [Compar. Prouder; superl. Proudest.] Etym: [OE. proud, prout, prud, prut, AS. prut; akin to Icel. pruedhr stately, handsome, Dan. prud handsome. Cf. Pride.]

1. Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense; as: (a) Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one's excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous. Nor much expect A foe so proud will first the weaker seek. Milton. O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty ! Shak. And shades impervious to the proud world's glare. Keble.

(b) Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; -- often with of; as, proud of one's country. "Proud to be checked and soothed." Keble. Are we proud men proud of being proud Thackeray.

2. Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious. "Of shadow proud." Chapman. "Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple's height." Dryden. Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud Are mantled with a golden cloud. Keble.

3. Excited by sexual desire; -- applied particularly to the females of some animals. Sir T. Browne.

Note: Proud is often used with participles in the formation of compounds which, for the most part, are self-explaining; as, proud- crested, proud-minded, proud-swelling. Proud flesh (Med.), a fungous growth or excrescence of granulations resembling flesh, in a wound or ulcer.

PROUDISH Proud"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat proud. Ash.

PROUDLING Proud"ling, n.

Defn: A proud or haughty person. Sylvester.

PROUDLY Proud"ly, adv.

Defn: In a proud manner; with lofty airs or mien; haughtily; arrogantly; boastfully. Proudly he marches on, and void of fear. Addison.

PROUDNESS Proud"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being proud; pride. Set aside all arrogancy and proudness. Latimer.

PROUSTITE Proust"ite, n. Etym: [From the French chemist, J. L. Proust.] (Min.)

Defn: A sulphide of arsenic and silver of a beautiful cochineal-red color, occurring in rhombohedral crystals, and also massive; ruby silver.

PROVABLE Prov"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Prove, and cf. Probable.]

Defn: Capable of being proved; demonstrable. -- Prov"a*ble*ness, n. -- Prov"a*bly, adv.

PROVAND; PROANT Prov"and, Pro"ant, n. Etym: [See Provender.]

Defn: Provender or food. [Obs.] One pease was a soldier's provant a whole day. Beau. & Fl.

PROVANT Pro*vant", v. t.

Defn: To supply with provender or provisions; to provide for. [Obs.] Nash.

PROVANT Prov"ant, a.

Defn: Provided for common or general use, as in an army; hence, common in quality; inferior. "A poor provant rapier." B. Jonson.

PROVE Prove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Proved; p. pr. & vb. n. Proving.] Etym: [OE. prover, F. prouver, fr. L. probare to try, approve, prove, fr. probus good, proper. Cf. Probable, Proof, Probe.]

1. To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test; as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the contents of a vessel by a standard measure. Thou hast proved mine heart. Ps. xvii. 3.

2. To evince, establish, or ascertain, as truth, reality, or fact, by argument, testimony, or other evidence. They have inferred much from slender premises, and conjectured when they could not prove. J. H. Newman.

3. To ascertain or establish the genuineness or validity of; to verify; as, to prove a will.

4. To gain experience of the good or evil of; to know by trial; to experience; to suffer. Where she, captived long, great woes did prove. Spenser.

5. (Arith.)

Defn: To test, evince, ascertain, or verify, as the correctness of any operation or result; thus, in subtraction, if the difference between two numbers, added to the lesser number, makes a sum equal to the greater, the correctness of the subtraction is proved.

6. (Printing)

Defn: To take a trial impression of; to take a proof of; as, to prove a page.

Syn. -- To try; verify; justify; confirm; establish; evince; manifest; show; demonstrate.

PROVE Prove, v. i.

1. To make trial; to essay.

2. To be found by experience, trial, or result; to turn out to be; as, a medicine proves salutary; the report proves false. "The case proves mortal." Arbuthnot. So life a winter's morn may prove. Keble.

3. To succeed; to turn out as expected. [Obs.] "The experiment proved not." Bacon.

PROVECT Pro*vect", a. Etym: [L. provectus, p. p. of provehere to carry forward.]

Defn: Carried forward; advanced. [Obs.] "Provect in years." Sir T. Flyot.

PROVECTION Pro*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. provectio an advancement.] (Philol.)

Defn: A carrying forward, as of a final letter, to a following word; as, for example, a nickname for an ekename.

PROVEDITOR Pro*ved"i*tor, n. Etym: [It. proveditore, provveditore, fr. provedere, L. providere. See Provide, and cf. Purveyor, Provedore.]

Defn: One employed to procure supplies, as for an army, a steamer, etc.; a purveyor; one who provides for another. Jer. Taylor.

PROVEDORE Prov"e*dore, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. proveedor. See Proveditor.]

Defn: A proveditor; a purveyor. Busied with the duties of a provedore. W. Irving.

PROVEN Prov"en, p. p. or a.

Defn: Proved. "Accusations firmly proven in his mind." Thackeray. Of this which was the principal charge, and was generally believed to beproven, he was acquitted. Jowett (Thucyd. ). Not proven (Scots Law), a verdict of a jury that the guilt of the accused is not made out, though not disproved. Mozley & W.

PROVENANCE Prov"e*nance, n. [F., fr. provenir to originate, to come forth, L. provenire. Cf. Provenience.]

Defn: Origin; source; provenience.

Their age attested by their provenance and associations. A. H. Keane.

PROVENCAL Pro`ven`cal", a. Etym: [F., fr. Provence, fr. L. provincia province. See Provincial.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Provence or its inhabitants.

PROVENCAL Pro`ven`cal", n. Etym: [F.]

1. A native or inhabitant of Provence in France.

2. The Provencal language. See Langue d'oc.

PROVENCE ROSE Prov"ence rose`. Etym: [Provence the place + rose.] (a) The cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia). (b) A name of many kinds of roses which are hybrids of Rosa centifolia and R. Gallica.

PROVENCIAL Pro*ven"cial, a. Etym: [See Provençal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Provence in France.

PROVEND Prov"end, n.

Defn: See Provand. [Obs.]

PROVENDER Prov"en*der, n. Etym: [OE. provende, F. provende, provisions, provender, fr. LL. praebenda (prae and pro being confused), a daily allowance of provisions, a prebend. See Prebend.]

1. Dry food for domestic animals, as hay, straw, corn, oats, or a mixture of ground grain; feed. "Hay or other provender." Mortimer. Good provender laboring horses would have. Tusser.

2. Food or provisions. [R or Obs.]

PROVENIENCE Pro*ve"ni*ence, n. [L. proveniens, -entis, p.pr. of provenire to come forth; pro forth + venire to come.]

Defn: Origin; source; place where found or produced; provenance; -- used esp. in the fine arts and in archæology; as, the provenience of a patera.

PROVENIENT Pro*ve"ni*ent, a. [L. proveniens, p.pr.]

Defn: Forthcoming; issuing. [Rare]

PROVENT Prov"ent, n.

Defn: See Provand. [Obs.]

PROVENTRICLE Pro*ven"tri*cle, n. (Anat.)

Defn: Proventriculus.

PROVENTRIULUS Pro`ven*tri"u*lus, n. Etym: [NL. See Pro-, and Ventricle.] (Anat.)

Defn: The glandular stomach of birds, situated just above the crop.

PROVER Prov"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, proves.

PROVERB Prov"erb, n. Etym: [OE. proverbe, F. proverbe, from L. proverbium; pro before, for + verbum a word. See Verb.]

1. An old and common saying; a phrase which is often repeated; especially, a sentence which briefly and forcibly expresses some practical truth, or the result of experience and observation; a maxim; a saw; an adage. Chaucer. Bacon.

2. A striking or paradoxical assertion; an obscure saying; an enigma; a parable. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. John xvi. 29.

3. A familiar illustration; a subject of contemptuous reference. Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by word, among all nations. Deut. xxviii. 37.

4. A drama exemplifying a proverb. Book of Proverbs, a canonical book of the Old Testament, containing a great variety of wise maxims.

Syn. -- Maxim; aphorism; apothegm; adage; saw.

PROVERB Prov"erb, v. t.

1. To name in, or as, a proverb. [R.] Am I not sung and proverbed for a fool Milton.

2. To provide with a proverb. [R.] I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase. Shak.

PROVERB Prov"erb, v. i.

Defn: To write or utter proverbs. [R.]

PROVERBIAL Pro*ver"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. proverbialis: cf. F. proverbial.]

1. Mentioned or comprised in a proverb; used as a proverb; hence, commonly known; as, a proverbial expression; his meanness was proverbial. In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst. Sir W. Temple.

2. Of or pertaining to proverbs; resembling a proverb. "A proverbial obscurity." Sir T. Browne.

PROVERBIALISM Pro*ver"bi*al*ism, n.

Defn: A proverbial phrase.

PROVERBIALIST Pro*ver"bi*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who makes much use of proverbs in speech or writing; one who composes, collects, or studies proverbs.

PROVERBIALIZE Pro*ver"bi*al*ize, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. F. proverbialiser.]

Defn: To turn into a proverb; to speak in proverbs.

PROVERBIALLY Pro*ver"bi*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a proverbial manner; by way of proverb; hence, commonly; universally; as, it is proverbially said; the bee is proverbially busy.

PROVEXITY Pro*vex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. provehere to advance. Cf. Provect.]

Defn: Great advance in age. [Obs.]

PROVIDE Pro*vide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provided; p. pr. & vb. n. Providing.] Etym: [L. providere, provisum; pro before + videre to see. See Vision, and cf. Prudent, Purvey.]

1. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare. "Provide us all things necessary." Shak.

2. To supply; to afford; to contribute. Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit As the kind, hospitable woods provide. Milton.

3. To furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with. "And yet provided him of but one." Jer. Taylor. "Rome . . . was well provided with corn." Arbuthnot.

4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.

5. To foresee.

Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] B. Jonson.

6. To appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor. Prescott.

PROVIDE Pro*vide", v. i.

1. To procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; -- followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child. Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants. Burke.

2. To stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work.

PROVIDED Pro*vid"ed, conj.

Defn: On condition; by stipulation; with the understanding; if; -- usually followed by that; as, provided that nothing in this act shall prejudice the rights of any person whatever. Provided the deductions are logical, they seem almost indifferent to their truth. G. H. Lewes.

Note: This word is strictly a participle, and the word being is understood, the participle provided agreeing with the whole sentence absolute, and being equivalent to this condition being previously stipulated or established.

PROVIDENCE Prov"i*dence, n. Etym: [L. providentia: cf. F. providence. See Provident, and cf. Prudence.]

1. The act of providing or preparing for future use or application; a making ready; preparation. Providence for war is the best prevention of it. Bacon.

2. Foresight; care; especially, the foresight and care which God manifests for his creatures; hence, God himself, regarded as exercising a constant wise prescience. The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide. Milton.

3. (Theol.)

Defn: A manifestation of the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures; an event ordained by divine direction. He that hath a numerous family, and many to provide for, needs a greater providence of God. Jer. Taylor.

4. Prudence in the management of one's concerns; economy; frugality. It is a high point of providence in a prince to cast an eye rather upon actions than persons. Quarles.

PROVIDENT Prov"i*dent, a. Etym: [L. providens, -entis, p. pr. of providere: cf. F. provident. See Provide, and cf. Prudent.]

Defn: Foreseeing wants and making provision to supply them; prudent in preparing for future exigencies; cautious; economical; -- sometimes followed by of; as, aprovident man; an animal provident of the future. And of our good and of our dignity, How provident he is. Milton.

Syn. -- Forecasting; cautious; careful; prudent; frugal; economical.

PROVIDENTIAL Prov`i*den"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. providentiel.]

Defn: Effected by, or referable to, divine direction or superintendence; as, the providential contrivance of thing; a providential escape. -- Prov"i*den"tial*ly, adv.

PROVIDENTLY Prov"i*dent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a provident manner.

PROVIDENTNESS Prov"i*dent*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being provident; carefulness; prudence; economy.

PROVIDER Pro*vid"er, n.

Defn: One who provides, furnishes, or supplies; one who procures what is wanted.

PROVIDORE Prov"i*dore, n. Etym: [See Provedore.]

Defn: One who makes provision; a purveyor. [R.] De Foe.

PROVINCE Prov"ince, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. provincia; prob. fr. pro before, for + the root of vincere to conquer. See Victor.]

1. (Roman Hist.)

Defn: A country or region, more or less remote from the city of Rome, brought under the Roman government; a conquered country beyond the limits of Italy. Wyclif (Acts xiii. 34). Milton.

2. A country or region dependent on a distant authority; a portion of an empire or state, esp. one remote from the capital. "Kingdoms and provinces." Shak.

3. A region of country; a tract; a district. Over many a tract of heaven they marched, and many a province wide. Milton. Other provinces of the intellectual world. I. Watts.

4. A region under the supervision or direction of any special person; the district or division of a country, especially an ecclesiastical division, over which one has jurisdiction; as, the province of Canterbury, or that in which the archbishop of Canterbury exercises ecclesiastical authority.

5. The proper or appropriate business or duty of a person or body; office; charge; jurisdiction; sphere. The woman'sprovince is to be careful in her economy, and chaste in her affection. Tattler.

6. Specif.: Any political division of the Dominion of Canada, having a governor, a local legislature, and representation in the Dominion parliament. Hence, colloquially, The Provinces, the Dominion of Canada.

PROVINCIAL Pro*vin"cial, a. Etym: [L. provincialis: cf. F. provincial. See Province, and cf. Provencal.]

1. Of or pertaining to province; constituting a province; as, a provincial government; a provincial dialect.

2. Exhibiting the ways or manners of a province; characteristic of the inhabitants of a province; not cosmopolitan; countrified; not polished; rude; hence, narrow; illiberal. "Provincial airs and graces." Macaulay.

3. Of or pertaining to an ecclesiastical province, or to the jurisdiction of an archbishop; not ecumenical; as, a provincial synod. Ayliffe.

4. Of or pertaining to Provence; Provencal. [Obs.] With two Provincial roses on my razed shoes. Shak.

PROVINCIAL Pro*vin"cial, n.

1. A person belonging to a province; one who is provincial.

2. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A monastic superior, who, under the general of his order, has the direction of all the religious houses of the same fraternity in a given district, called a province of the order.

PROVINCIALISM Pro*vin"cial*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. provincialisme.]

Defn: A word, or a manner of speaking, peculiar to a province or a district remote from the mother country or from the metropolis; a provincial characteristic; hence, narrowness; illiberality. M. Arnold.

PROVINCIALIST Pro*vin"cial*ist, n.

Defn: One who lives in a province; a provincial.

PROVINCIALITY Pro*vin`ci*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being provincial; peculiarity of language characteristic of a province. T. Warton.

PROVINCIALIZE Pro*vin"cial*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provincialized; p. pr. & vb. n. Provincializing.]

Defn: To render provincial. M. Arnold.

PROVINCIALLY Pro*vin"cial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a provincial manner.

PROVINCIATE Pro*vin"ci*ate, v. t.

Defn: To convert into a province or provinces. [Obs.] Howell.

PROVINE Pro*vine", v. i. Etym: [F. provingner, fr. provin a set, layer of a plant, OF. provain, from L. propago, -aginis, akin to propagare to propagate. See Propagate, Prune, v. t.]

Defn: To lay a stock or branch of a vine in the ground for propagation. [Obs.] Johnson.

PROVISION Pro*vi"sion, n. Etym: [L. provisio: cf. F. provision. See Provide.]

1. The act of providing, or making previous preparation. Shak.

2. That which is provided or prepared; that which is brought together or arranged in advance; measures taken beforehand; preparation. Making provision for the relief of strangers. Bacon.

3. Especially, a stock of food; any kind of eatables collected or stored; -- often in the plural. And of provisions laid in large, For man and beast. Milton.

4. That which is stipulated in advance; a condition; a previous agreement; a proviso; as, the provisions of a contract; the statute has many provisions.

5. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A canonical term for regular induction into a benefice, comprehending nomination, collation, and installation.

6. (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: A nomination by the pope to a benefice before it became vacant, depriving the patron of his right of presentation. Blackstone.

PROVISION Pro*vi"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provisioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Provisioning.]

Defn: To supply with food; to victual; as, to provision a garrison. They were provisioned for a journey. Palfrey.

PROVISIONAL Pro*vi"sion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. provisionnel.]

Defn: Of the nature of a provision; serving as a provision for the time being; -- used of partial or temporary arrangements; as, a provisional government; a provisional treaty.

PROVISIONALLY Pro*vi"sion*al*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of provision for the time being; temporarily. Locke.

PROVISIONARY Pro*vi"sion*a*ry, a.

Defn: Provisional. Burke.

PROVISO Pro*vi"so, n.; pl. Provisos. Etym: [L., (it) being provided, abl. of provisus, p. p. of providere. See Provide, and cf. Purview.]

Defn: An article or clause in any statute, agreement, contract, grant, or other writing, by which a condition is introduced, usually beginning with the word provided; a conditional stipulation that affects an agreement, contract, law, grant, or the like; as, the contract was impaired by its proviso. He doth deny his prisoners, But with proviso and exception. Shak.

PROVISOR Pro*vi"sor, n. Etym: [L., fr. providere: cf. F. proviseur. See Provide.]

1. One who provides; a purveyor. [Obs.] "The chief provisor of our horse." Ford.

2. (R. C. Ch.) (a) The purveyor, steward, or treasurer of a religious house. Cowell. (b) One who is regularly inducted into a benefice. See Provision, 5. P. Plowman.

3. (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: One who procures or receives a papal provision. See Provision, 6.

PROVISORILY Pro*vi"so*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a provisory manner; conditionally; subject to a proviso; as, to admit a doctrine provisorily. Sir W. Hamilton.

PROVISORSHIP Pro*vi"sor*ship, n.

Defn: The office or position of a provisor. [R.] J. Webster.

PROVISORY Pro*vi"so*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. provisoire.]

1. Of the nature of a proviso; containing a proviso or condition; conditional; as, a provisory clause.

2. Making temporary provision; provisional.

PROVOCATION Prov`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. provocation, L. provocatio. See Provoke.]

1. The act of provoking, or causing vexation or, anger. Fabyan.

2. That which provokes, or excites anger; the cause of resentment; as, to give provocation. Paley.

3. Incitement; stimulus; as, provocation to mirth.

4. (Law)

Defn: Such prior insult or injury as may be supposed, under the circumstances, to create hot blood, and to excuse an assault made in retort or redress.

5. An appeal to a court.

Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] Ayliffe.

PROVOCATIVE Pro*vo"ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. provocativus: cf. OF. provocatif.]

Defn: Serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate; exciting.

PROVOCATIVE Pro*vo"ca*tive, n.

Defn: Anything that is provocative; a stimulant; as, a provocative of appetite.

PROVOCATIVENESS Pro*vo"ca*tive*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being provocative.

PROVOCATORY Pro*vo"ca*to*ry, a.

Defn: Provocative.

PROVOKABLE Pro*vok"a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be provoked.

PROVOKE Pro*voke", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provoked; p. pr. & vb. n. Provoking.] Etym: [F. provoquer, L. provocare to call forth; pro forth + vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice, cry, call. See Voice.]

Defn: To call forth; to call into being or action; esp., to incense to action, a faculty or passion, as love, hate, or ambition; hence, commonly, to incite, as a person, to action by a challenge, by taunts, or by defiance; to exasperate; to irritate; to offend intolerably; to cause to retaliate. Obey his voice, provoke him not. Ex. xxiii. 21. Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. Eph. vi. 4. Such acts Of contumacy will provoke the Highest To make death in us live. Milton. Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust Gray. To the poet the meaning is what he pleases to make it, what it provokes in his own soul. J. Burroughs.

Syn. -- To irritate; arouse; stir up; awake; excite; incite; anger. See Irritate.

PROVOKE Pro*voke", v. i.

1. To cause provocation or anger.

2. To appeal.

Note: [A Latinism] [Obs.] Dryden.

PROVOKEMENT Pro*voke"ment, n.

Defn: The act that which, provokes; one who excites anger or other passion, or incites to action; as, a provoker of sedition. Drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things. Shak.

PROVOKING Pro*vok"ing, a.

Defn: Having the power or quality of exciting resentment; tending to awaken passion or vexation; as, provoking words or treatment. -- Pro*vok"ing*ly, adv.

PROVOST Prov"ost, n. Etym: [OF. provost (L. prae and pro being confused), F. prevôt, fr. L. praepositus placed before, a chief, fr. praeponere to place before: cf. AS. prafost, profast. See Preposition, and cf. Propound.]

1. A person who is appointed to superintend, or preside over, something; the chief magistrate in some cities and towns; as, the provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, answering to the mayor of other cities; the provost of a college, answering to president; the provost or head of certain collegiate churches.

2. The keeper of a prison. [Obs.] Shak.

Note: In France, formerly, a provost was an inferior judge who had cognizance of civil causes. The grand provost of France, or of the household, had jurisdiction in the king's house, and over its officers. Provost marshal (often pronounced . (a) (Mil.) An officer appointed in every army, in the field, to secure the prisoners confined on charges of a general nature. He also performs such other duties pertaining to police and discipline as the regulations of the service or the commander's orders impose upon him. (b) (Nav.) An officer who has charge of prisoners on trial by court-martial, serves notices to witnesses, etc.

PROVOSTSHIP Prov"ost*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a provost.

PROW Prow, n. Etym: [F. proue (cf. Sp. & Pg. proa, It. prua), L. prora, Gr. Pro-, and cf. Prore.]

Defn: The fore part of a vessel; the bow; the stem; hence, the vessel itself. Wordsworth. The floating vessel swum Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow rode tilting o'er the waves. Milton.

PROW Prow, n.

Defn: See Proa.

PROW Prow, a. [Compar. Prower; superl. Prowest.] Etym: [OF.prou, preu, F. preux, fr. L. pro, prod, in prodesse to be useful. See Pro-, and cf. Prude.]

Defn: Valiant; brave; gallant; courageous. [Archaic] Tennyson. The prowest knight that ever field did fight. Spenser.

PROW Prow, n. Etym: [OE. & OF. prou. See Prow, a.]

Defn: Benefit; profit; good; advantage. [Obs.] That shall be for your hele and for your prow. Chaucer.

PROWESS Prow"ess, n. Etym: [OF. proece, proesce, F. prouesse. See Prow, a.]

Defn: Distinguished bravery; valor; especially, military bravery and skill; gallantry; intrepidity; fearlessness. Chaucer. Sir P. Sidney. He by his prowess conquered all France. Shak.

PROWL Prowl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prowled; p. pr. & vb. n. Prowling.] Etym: [OE. prollen to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for proglen, a dim. of prog to beg, or proke to poke. Cf. Proke.]

1. To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty. He prowls each place, still in new colors decked. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To collect by plunder; as, to prowl money. [Obs.]

PROWL Prowl, v. i.

Defn: To rove or wander stealthily, esp. for prey, as a wild beast; hence, to prey; to plunder.

PROWL Prowl, n.

Defn: The act of prowling. [Colloq.] Smart.

PROWLER Prowl"er, n.

Defn: One that prowls. Thomson.

PROWLING Prowl"ing, a.

Defn: Accustomed to prowl, or engaged in roving stealthily, as for prey. "A prowling wolf." Milton. -- Prowl"ing*ly, adv.

PROX Prox, n. Etym: [Cf. Proxy.]

Defn: "The ticket or list of candidates at elections, presented to the people for their votes." [Rhode Island] Bartlett.

PROXENE Prox"ene, n. Etym: [Cf. proxène.] (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: An officer who had the charge of showing hospitality to those who came from a friendly city or state.

PROXENET Prox"e*net, n. Etym: [L. proxeneta, Gr.

Defn: A negotiator; a factor. [R.] Dr. H. More.

PROXENETISM Prox`e*ne"tism, n. [Gr. agent + -ism; cf. F. proxénétisme.]

Defn: The action of a go-between or broker in negotiating immoral bargains between the sexes; procuring.

PROXIMAD Prox"i*mad, adv. Etym: [Proximal + L. ad to.] (Anat.)

Defn: Toward a proximal part; on the proximal side of; proximally.

PROXIMAL Prox"i*mal, a.

1. Toward or nearest, as to a body, or center of motion of dependence; proximate.

2. (Biol.) (a) Situated near the point of attachment or origin; as, the proximal part of a limb. (b) Of or pertaining to that which is proximal; as, the proximal bones of a limb. Opposed to distal.

PROXIMALLY Prox"i*mal*ly, adv. (Anat.)

Defn: On or toward a proximal part; proximad.

PROXIMATE Prox"i*mate, a. Etym: [L. proximatus, p. p. of proximare to come near, to approach, fr. proximus the nearest, nest, superl. of propior nearer, and prope, adv., near.]

Defn: Nearest; next immediately preceding or following. "Proximate ancestors." J. S. Harford. The proximate natural causes of it [the deluge]. T. Burnet. Proximate analysis (Chem.), an analysis which determines the proximate principles of any substance, as contrasted with an ultimate analysis. -- Proximate cause. (a) A cause which immediately precedes and produces the effect, as distinguished from the remote, mediate, or predisposing cause. I. Watts. (b) That which in ordinary natural sequence produces a specific result, no independent disturbing agencies intervening. -- Proximate principle (Physiol. Chem.), one of a class of bodies existing ready formed in animal and vegetable tissues, and separable by chemical analysis, as albumin, sugar, collagen, fat, etc.

Syn. -- Nearest; next; closest; immediate; direct.

PROXIMATELY Prox"i*mate*ly, adv.

Defn: In a proximate manner, position, or degree; immediately.

PROXIME Prox"ime, a. Etym: [L. proximus. See Proximate.]

Defn: Next; immediately preceding or following. [Obs.]

PROXIMIOUS Prox*im"i*ous, a.

Defn: Proximate. [Obs.]

PROXIMITY Prox*im"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. proximitas: cf. F. proximité See Proximate, and cf. Propinquity, Approach.]

Defn: The quality or state of being next in time, place, causation, influence, etc.; immediate nearness, either in place, blood, or alliance. If he plead proximity of blood That empty title is with ease withstood. Dryden.

PROXIMO Prox"i*mo. Etym: [L., on the next, abl. of proximus next.]

Defn: In the next month after the present; -- often contracted to prox.; as, on the 3d proximo.

PROXY Prox"y, n.; pl. Proxies. Etym: [Contr. from procuracy. Cf. Proctor.]

1. The agency for another who acts through the agent; authority to act for another, esp. to vote in a legislative or corporate capacity. I have no man's proxy: I speak only for myself. Burke.

2. The person who is substituted or deputed to act or vote for another. Every peer . . . may make another lord of parliament his proxy, to vote for him in his absence. Blackstone.

3. A writing by which one person authorizes another to vote in his stead, as in a corporation meeting.

4. (Eng. Law)

Defn: The written appointment of a proctor in suits in the ecclesiastical courts. Burrill.

5. (Eccl.)

Defn: See Procuration. [Obs.]

PROXY Prox"y, v. i.

Defn: To act or vote by proxy; to do anything by the agency of another. [R.]

PROXYSHIP Prox"y*ship, n.

Defn: The office or agency of a proxy.

PRUCE Pruce, n. Etym: [OE. for Prussia: cf. F. Prusse.]

Defn: Prussian leather. [Obs.] Dryden.

PRUDE Prude, n. Etym: [F., prudish, originally, discreet, modest; shortened from OF. prudefeme, preudefeme, a discreet or excellent woman; OF. preu, prou, excellent, brave + de of + fete woman. See Prow, a., Prowess.]

Defn: A woman of affected modesty, reserve, or coyness; one who is overscrupulous or sensitive; one who affects extraordinary prudence in conduct and speech. Less modest than the speech of prudes. Swift.

PRUDENCE Pru"dence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. prudentia, contr. from providentia. See Prudent, and cf. Providence.]

Defn: The quality or state of being prudent; wisdom in the way of caution and provision; discretion; carefulness; hence, also, economy; frugality. Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, seasons, and method of doing or not doing. Sir M. Hale. Prudence supposes the value of the end to be assumed, and refers only to the adaptation of the means. It is the relation of right means for given ends. Whewell.

Syn. -- Wisdom; forecast; providence; considerateness; judiciousness; discretion; caution; circumspection; judgment. See Wisdom.

PRUDENCY Pru"den*cy, n.

Defn: Prudence. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

PRUDENT Pru"dent, a. Etym: [L. prudens, -entis, contr. from providens: cf. F. prudent. See Provident.]

1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; practically wise; judicious; careful; discreet; sensible; -- opposed to rash; as, a prudent man; dictated or directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence; as, prudent behavior. Moses established a grave and prudent law. Milton.

2. Frugal; economical; not extravagant; as, a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money.

Syn. -- Cautious; wary; circumspect; considerate; discreet; judicious; provident; economical; frugal.

PRUDENTIAL Pru*den"tial, a.

1. Proceeding from, or dictated or characterized by, prudence; prudent; discreet; sometimes, selfish or pecuniary as distinguished from higher motives or influences; as, prudential motives. " A prudential line of conduct." Sir W. Scott.

2. Exercising prudence; discretionary; advisory; superintending or executive; as, a prudential committee.

PRUDENTIAL Pru*den"tial, n.

Defn: That which relates to or demands the exercise of, discretion or prudence; -- usually in the pl. Many stanzas, in poetic measures, contain rules relating to common prudentials as well as to religion. I. Watts.

PRUDENTIALIST Pru*den"tial*ist, n.

Defn: One who is governed by, or acts from, prudential motives. [R.] Coleridge.

PRUDENTIALITY Pru*den`ti*al"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being prudential. Sir T. Browne.

PRUDENTIALLY Pru*den"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a prudential manner; prudently. South.

PRUDENTLY Pru"dent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a prudent manner.

PRUDERY Prud"er*y, n.; pl. Pruderies. Etym: [F. pruderie. See Prude.]

Defn: The quality or state of being prudish; excessive or affected scrupulousness in speech or conduct; stiffness; coyness. Cowper.

PRUDHOMME Prud*homme", n. Etym: [F. prud'homme. cf. Prude.]

Defn: A trustworthy citizen; a skilled workman. See Citation under 3d Commune, 1.

PRUDISH Prud"ish, a.

Defn: Like a prude; very formal, precise, or reserved; affectedly severe in virtue; as, a prudish woman; prudish manners. A formal lecture, spoke with prudish face. Garrick.

PRUDISHLY Prud"ish*ly, adv.

Defn: In a prudish manner.

PRUINATE Pru"i*nate, a.

Defn: Same as Pruinose.

PRUINOSE Pru"i*nose`, a. Etym: [L. pruinosus, fr. pruina hoarfrost.]

Defn: Frosty; covered with fine scales, hairs, dust, bloom, or the like, so as to give the appearance of frost.

PRUINOUS Pru"i*nous, a.

Defn: Frosty; pruinose.

PRUNE Prune, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] Etym: [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.]

1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. Thackeray. Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed. Bacon. Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers. Milton.

2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts. Horace will our superfluous branches prune. Waller.

3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. Spenser. His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak. Shak.

PRUNE Prune, v. i.

Defn: To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. Dryden.

PRUNE Prune, n. Etym: [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.]

Defn: A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis. -- South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).

PRUNELLA Pru*nel"la, n. Etym: [NL., perhaps from G. bræune quinsy, croup.] (Med.) (a) Angina, or angina pectoris. (b) Thrush. Prunella salt (Old Chem.), niter fused and cast into little balls.

PRUNELLA; PRUNELLO Pru*nel"la, Pru*nel"lo, n. Etym: [F. prunelle, probably so called from its color resembling that of prunes. See Prune, n.]

Defn: A smooth woolen stuff, generally black, used for making shoes; a kind of lasting; -- formerly used also for clergymen's gowns.

PRUNELLE Pru*nelle", n. Etym: [F., dim. of prune. See Prune, n.]

Defn: A kind of small and very acid French plum; -- applied especially to the stoned and dried fruit.

PRUNELLO Pru*nel"lo, n. Etym: [F. prunelle, dim. of prune. See Prune a plum.]

Defn: A species of dried plum; prunelle.

PRUNER Prun"er, n.

1. One who prunes, or removes, what is superfluous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of beetles whose larvæ gnaw the branches of trees so as to cause them to fall, especially the American oak pruner (Asemum moestum), whose larva eats the pith of oak branches, and when mature gnaws a circular furrow on the inside nearly to the bark. When the branches fall each contains a pupa.

PRUNIFEROUS Pru*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. prunum a plum + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing plums.

PRUNING Prun"ing, n.

1. The act of trimming, or removing what is superfluous.

2. (Falconry)

Defn: That which is cast off by bird in pruning her feathers; leavings. Beau. & Fl. Pruning hook, or Pruning knife, cutting instrument used in pruning trees, etc. -- Pruning shears, shears for pruning trees, vines, etc.

PRUNUS Pru"nus, n. Etym: [L., a plum tree.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees with perigynous rosaceous flowers, and a single two-ovuled carpel which usually becomes a drupe in ripening.

Note: Originally, this genus was limited to the plums, then, by Linnæus, was made to include the cherries and the apricot. Later botanists separated these into several genera, as Prunus, Cerasus, and Armeniaca, but now, by Bentham and Hooker, the plums, cherries, cherry laurels, peach, almond, and nectarine are all placed in Prunus.

PRURIENCE; PRURIENCY Pru"ri*ence, Pru"ri*en*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being prurient. The pruriency of curious ears. Burke. There is a prurience in the speech of some. Cowper.

PRURIENT Pru"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. pruries, -entis, p. pr. of prurire to itch. Cf. Freeze.]

Defn: Uneasy with desire; itching; especially, having a lascivious curiosity or propensity; lustful. -- Pru"ri*ent*ly, adv. The eye of the vain and prurient is darting from object to object of illicit attraction. I. Taylor.

PRURIGINOUS Pru*rig"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. pruriginosus: cf. F. prurigineux.] (Med.)

Defn: Tending to, or caused by, prurigo; affected by, or of the nature of, prurigo.

PRURIGO Pru*ri"go, n. Etym: [L., an itching, the itch, fr. prurire to itch.] (Med.)

Defn: A papular disease of the skin, of which intense itching is the chief symptom, the eruption scarcely differing from the healthy cuticle in color.

PRURITUS Pru*ri"tus, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)

Defn: Itching.

PRUSSIAN Prus"sian, a. Etym: [From Prussia, the country: cf. F. prussien.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Prussia. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Prussia. Prussian blue (Chem.), any one of several complex double cyanides of ferrous and ferric iron; specifically, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery luster, obtained by adding a solution of potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate of potash) to a ferric salt. It is used in dyeing, in ink, etc. Called also Williamson's blue, insoluble Prussian blue, Berlin blue, etc. -- Prussian carp (Zoöl.) See Gibel. -- Prussian green. (Chem.) Same as Berlin green, under Berlin.

PRUSSIATE Prus"si*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. prussiate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of prussic acid; a cyanide. Red prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferricyanide, under Ferricyanide. Yellow prussiate of potash. See Potassium ferrocyanide, under Ferrocyanide.

PRUSSIC Prus"sic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. prussique.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: designating the acid now called hydrocyanic acid, but formerly called prussic acid, because Prussian blue is derived from it or its compounds. See Hydrocyanic.

PRUTENIC Pru*ten"ic, a. (Astron.)

Defn: Prussian; -- applied to certain astronomical tables published in the sixteenth century, founded on the principles of Copernicus, a Prussian.

PRY Pry, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. prize a lever. See Prize, n.]

Defn: A lever; also, leverage. [Local, U. S. & Eng.] Pry pole, the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass.

PRY Pry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pried; p. pr. & vb. n. Prying.]

Defn: To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize. [Local, U. S. & Eng.]

PRY Pry, v. i. Etym: [OE. prien. Cf. Peer to peep.]

Defn: To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; -- often implying reproach. " To pry upon the stars." Chaucer. Watch thou and wake when others be asleep, To pry into the secrets of the state. Shak.

PRY Pry, n.

Defn: Curious inspection; impertinent peeping.

PRYAN Pry"an, n. (Mining)

Defn: See Prian.

PRYING Pry"ing, a.

Defn: Inspecting closely or impertinently.

Syn. -- Inquisitive; curious. See Inquisitive.

PRYINGLY Pry"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a prying manner.

PRYTANEUM Pryt`a*ne"um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A public building in certain Greek cities; especially, a public hall in Athens regarded as the home of the community, in which official hospitality was extended to distinguished citizens and strangers.

PRYTANIS Pryt"a*nis, n.; pl. Prytanes. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: A member of one of the ten sections into which the Athenian senate of five hundred was divided, and to each of which belonged the presidency of the senate for about one tenth of the year.

PRYTANY Pryt"a*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: The period during which the presidency of the senate belonged to the prytanes of the section.

PRYTHEE Pryth"ee, interj.

Defn: See Prithee.

PSALM Psalm, n. Etym: [OE. psalm, salm, AS. sealm, L. psalmus, psalma, fr. Gr. psalme, salme, F. psaume.]

1. A sacred song; a poetical composition for use in the praise or worship of God. Humus devout and holy psalms Singing everlastingly. Milton.

2. Especially, one of the hymns by David and others, collected into one book of the Old Testament, or a modern metrical version of such a hymn for public worship.

PSALM Psalm, v. t.

Defn: To extol in psalms; to sing; as, psalming his praises. Sylvester.

PSALMIST Psalm"ist, n. Etym: [L. psalmista, Gr. psalmiste. See Psalm.]

1. A writer or composer of sacred songs; -- a title particularly applied to David and the other authors of the Scriptural psalms.

2. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A clerk, precentor, singer, or leader of music, in the church.

PSALMISTRY Psalm"ist*ry, n.

Defn: The use of psalms in devotion; psalmody.

PSALMODIC; PSALMODICAL Psal*mod"ic, Psal*mod"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. psalmodique.]

Defn: Relating to psalmody.

PSALMODIST Psal"mo*dist, n.

Defn: One who sings sacred songs; a psalmist.

PSALMODIZE Psal"mo*dize, v. i.

Defn: To practice psalmody. " The psalmodizing art." J. G. Cooper.

PSALMODY Psal"mo*dy, n. Etym: [Gr. psalmodie, LL. psalmodia. See Psalm, and Ode.]

Defn: The act, practice, or art of singing psalms or sacred songs; also, psalms collectively, or a collection of psalms.

PSALMOGRAPH Psal"mo*graph, n. Etym: [See Psalmographer.]

Defn: A writer of psalms; a psalmographer.

PSALMOGRAPHER; PSALMOGRAPHIST Psal*mog"ra*pher, Psal*mog"ra*phist, n. Etym: [L. psalmographus, Gr.

Defn: A writer of psalms, or sacred songs and hymns.

PSALMOGRAPHY Psal*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. psalmographie.]

Defn: The act or practice of writing psalms, or sacred songs.

PSALTER Psal"ter, n. Etym: [OE. psauter, sauter, OF. sautier, psaltier, F. psautier, from L. psalterium. See Psaltery.]

1. The Book of Psalms; -- often applied to a book containing the Psalms separately printed.

2. Specifically, the Book of Psalms as printed in the Book of Common Prayer; among the Roman Catholics, the part of the Breviary which contains the Psalms arranged for each day of the week.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A rosary, consisting of a hundred and fifty beads, corresponding to the number of the psalms.

PSALTERIAL Psal*te"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the psalterium.

PSALTERIUM Psal*te"ri*um, n.; pl. Psalteria. Etym: [L., a psaltery.] (Anat.) (a) The third stomach of ruminants. See Manyplies. (b) The lyra of the brain.

PSALTERY Psal"ter*y, n.; pl. Psalteries. Etym: [OE. sautrie, OF. psalterie, F. psaltérion, L. psalterium psaltery, psalter, from Gr. Psalm, Psalter.]