Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/Pricket Proscribe

by Thomas Davidson

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

Pricket, prik′et, n. (Shak.) a buck in his second year.

Pride, prīd, n. state or feeling of being proud: too great self-esteem: haughtiness: overbearing treatment of others: a proper sense of what is becoming to one's self: a feeling of pleasure on account of something worthily done: that of which men are proud: that which excites boasting: elevation, loftiness: beauty displayed, ornament, ostentation: high spirit, mettle: (Shak.) lust.—v.t. to have or take pride: to value, as one's self, &c.—adj. Pride′ful.—adv. Pride′fully.—n. Pride′fulness.—adj. Pride′less. [A.S. prýte—prút, proud.]

Pridian, prid′i-an, adj. pertaining to yesterday. [L. pridie—prius, before, dies, day.]

Prie-dieu, prē-diū′, n. a praying-desk. [Fr.]

Prief, prēf, n. (Spens.) proof, trial, experiment.

Prier, Pryer, prī′er, n. one who pries.

Priest, prēst, n. one who offers sacrifices or officiates in sacred offices: a minister above a deacon and below a bishop: a clergyman:—fem. Priest′ess.—ns. Priest′craft, priestly policy: the schemes of priests to gain wealth or power; Priest′hood, the office or character of a priest: the priestly order.—adjs. Priest′-like, Priest′ly, pertaining to or like a priest.—n. Priest′liness.—adj. Priest′-rid′den, controlled by priests.—High priest, a chief priest, esp. the chief ecclesiastical officer in the ancient Jewish church. [A.S. preóst (O. Fr. prestre, Fr. prêtre)—L. presbyter, an elder.]

Prieve, prēv, v.t. (Spens.) to prove.

Prig, prig, n. a pert fellow who gives himself airs of superior wisdom.—adj. Prig′gish, conceited and affected.—adv. Prig′gishly.—ns. Prig′gishness, Prig′gism. [From prick, to adorn.]

Prig, prig, n. a thief.—v.t. (slang) to filch.—v.i. (Scot.) to plead hard, haggle: to cheapen.—ns. Prig′ger; Prig′gery.—adj. Prig′gish.—n. Prig′gism. [Prob. the same as prick, to spur.]

Prill, pril, n. (prov.) a very rich piece of ore.

Prill, pril, v.i. (prov.) to grow sour: to become tipsy.

Prim, prim, adj. exact and precise in manner: affectedly nice.—v.t. to deck with great nicety: to form with affected preciseness:—pr.p. prim′ming; pa.t. and pa.p. primmed.—adv. Prim′ly.—n. Prim′ness. [O. Fr. prim, fem. prime—L. primus, prima, first.]

Primacy, prī′ma-si, n. state of being first in order of time, rank, &c.: the office or dignity of a primate or archbishop.

Prima-donna, prē′ma-don′a, n. the first or leading female singer in an opera. [It.,—L. prima domina.]

Prima facie, prī′ma fā′shi-ē, at first view or sight.—Prima facie case (law), a case established by sufficient evidence: a case consisting of evidence sufficient to go to a jury. [L. prima, abl. fem. of primus, first, facie, abl. of facies, a face.]

Primage, prīm′āj, n. an allowance to the captain of a vessel by the shipper or consignee of goods for care in lading the same (hat-money): amount or percentage of water carried from a boiler in priming. [Prime, first.]

Primary, prī′mar-i, adj. first: original: chief: primitive: elementary, preparatory.—n. that which is highest in rank or importance: a planet in relation to its satellite or satellites.—adv. Prī′marily.—ns. Prī′mariness, the state of being first in time, act, or intention; Prī′mary-ac′cent, the accent immediately after a bar in music.—ns.pl. Prī′mary-col′ours, the colours obtained by passing the sun's rays through a prism: the colours of the rainbow—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet; Prī′mary-plan′ets, planets revolving round the sun—not satellites; Prī′mary-quills, the largest feathers of a bird's wing; Prī′mary-rocks, the rocks which seem to have been first formed and contain no animal remains, as granites, &c.

Primate, prī′māt, n. the first or highest dignitary in a church: an archbishop.—n. Prī′māteship.—adj. Primā′tial.

Prime, prīm, adj. first in order of time, rank, or importance: chief: excellent: original: early: in early manhood: (Shak.) eager, bold: (math.) incapable of being separated into factors.—n. the beginning: the dawn: the spring: the best part: the height of perfection: full health and strength: a religious service during the first hour after sunrise: (fencing) the first guard against sword-thrusts, also the first and simplest thrust.—adj. Prī′mal, first: original: chief.—n. Primal′ity.—adv. Prime′ly.—ns. Prime′-min′ister, the chief minister of state; Prime′-mov′er, the force which puts a machine in motion: a steam-engine or a water-wheel; Prime′ness; Prime′-num′ber, a first number—i.e. one divisible only by itself or unity.—Prime cost (see Cost). [L. prīmus (for pro-i-mus).]

Prime, prīm, v.t. to put powder on the nipple of a firearm: to lay on the first coating of colour: to instruct or prepare beforehand.—v.i. to serve for the charge of a gun: in the steam-engine, to carry over hot water with the steam from the boiler into the cylinder.—ns. Prī′mer; Prī′ming; Prī′ming-pow′der, detonating powder: train of powder connecting a fuse with a charge. [Prime (adj.).]

Primer, prim′ėr, or prī′mer, n. a first book: a work of elementary religious instruction: a first reading-book: an elementary introduction to any subject: a kind of type of two species, long-primer (10 point) and great-primer (18 point). [Orig. a small prayer-book.]

Primero, pri-mā′rō, n. an old game at cards. [Sp.]

Primeval, prī-mē′val, adj. belonging to the first ages: original: primitive.—adv. Primē′vally. [L. primævus—primus, first, ævum, an age.]

Primigenial, prī-mi-jē′ni-al, adj. first-born or made: primary: constituent—also Primogē′nial.—adjs. Primig′enous, Primigē′nious, first formed; Primogen′ital (obs.), Primogen′itary, Primogen′itive, of or belonging to primogeniture.—ns. Primogen′itor, the first begetter or father: a forefather; Primogen′iture, state of being born first of the same parents: (law) the right of the eldest son to inherit his father's estates; Primogen′itureship. [Fr.,—L. primo-genitus, first-born—primus, first, gignĕre, genitum, to beget.]

Primitiæ, pri-mish′i-ē, n.pl. first-fruits offered to the gods—also Primi′tias (Spens.): the first year's revenue of a benefice. [L.,—primus, first.]

Primitive, prim′i-tiv, adj. belonging to the beginning, or to the first times: original: ancient: antiquated, old-fashioned: not derived: (biol.) rudimentary, primary or first of its kind: (geol.) of the earliest formation.—n. a primitive word, or one not derived from another: (math.) a form from which another is derived.—ns.pl. Prim′itive-col′ours, the colours from which all others are supposed to be derived—viz. red, yellow, and blue; Prim′itive-fa′thers, the Christian writers before the Council of Nice, 325 A.D.—adv. Prim′itively.—n.pl. Prim′itive-Meth′odists, a religious body founded in 1810, whose beliefs are the same as those of other Methodists, but whose working arrangements are nearly Presbyterian.—n. Prim′itiveness.—n.pl. Prim′itive-rocks (see Primary-rocks). [Fr.,—L. primitivus, an extension of primus.]

Primo, prē′mō, n. (mus.) the first or principal part.

Primordial, prī-mor′di-al, adj. first in order: original: existing from the beginning: (anat.) in a rudimentary state: (bot.) first formed, as leaves or fruit.—n. first principle or element.—ns. Primor′dialism; Primor′dium. [L. primus, first, ordo, order.]

Primp, primp, v.t. (Scot.) to dress in an affected manner.—v.i. to be affected. [Prink.]

Primrose, prim′rōz, n. an early spring flower common in woods and meadows: a plant of the genus Primula: (Spens.) the first or earliest flower, the first or choicest.—adj. resembling a primrose in colour: flowery, gay.—Primrose League, a political association for the spread of Conservative opinions—formed in 1883 in memory of Lord Beaconsfield, whose favourite flower is said to have been the primrose. [Fr. prime rose—as if L. prima rosa; really through O. Fr. primerole and Low L. dim. forms from L. primus.]

Primsie, prim′si, adj. (Scot.) prim, demure.

Primula, prim′ū-la, n. the genus of plants to which the primrose belongs. [L. primus, first.]

Primum mobile, prī′mum mob′i-lē, in the Ptolemaic system the outermost of the ten revolving spheres of the universe, supposed to carry the others with it: any great source of motion. [L.]

Primus, prī′mus, n. the bishop in the Scottish Episcopal Church who presides over the meetings of the other bishops, but without metropolitan authority.

Primy, prī′mi, adj. (Shak.) blooming.

Prince, prins, n. one of the highest rank: a sovereign: son of a king or emperor: a title of nobility, as in Germany: the chief of any body of men:—fem. Prin′cess.—v.i. to play the prince (usually with it).—ns. Prince′-bish′op, a bishop who was also the civil ruler or prince of his diocese; Prince′-Con′sort, the husband of a reigning queen; Prince′dom, the estate, jurisdiction, sovereignty, or rank of a prince; Prince′hood, rank or quality of a prince; Prince′-Impē′rial, the eldest son of an emperor; Prince′kin, Prince′let, Prince′ling, a little or inferior prince.—adj. Prince′-like, becoming a prince.—n. Prince′liness.—adj. Prince′ly, prince-like: becoming a prince: grand: august: regal.—adv. in a prince-like manner.—adv. Prin′cessly, like a princess.—n. Prin′cess-Roy′al, the eldest daughter of a sovereign.—adj. Prin′cified, ridiculously dignified.—n. Mer′chant-prince, a merchant who has gained great wealth.—Prince of darkness, Prince of this world, Satan; Prince of Peace, Christ: the Messiah; Prince of Wales, the eldest son of the British sovereign; Prince Rupert's drops (see Drop); Prince's feather, a tall showy annual with spikes of rose-coloured flowers; Prince's metal, a gold-like alloy of 70 parts of copper and 25 of zinc. [Fr.,—L. princeps—primus, first, capĕre, to take.]

Princeps, prin′seps, n. one who, or that which, is foremost, original, &c.: short for editio princeps, the first edition of a book. [L.]

Princesse, prin-ses′, adj. of a woman's garment, close-fitting, the skirt and waist in one, and undraped. [Fr.]

Principal, prin′si-pal, adj. taking the first place: highest in rank, character, or importance: chief.—n. a principal person or thing: a head, as of a school or college: one who takes a leading part: money on which interest is paid: (archit.) a main beam or timber: (law) the person who commits a crime, or one who aids and abets him in doing it: a person for whom another becomes surety, a person who, being sui juris, employs another to do an act which he is competent himself to do: (mus.) an organ-stop: (Shak.) the principal rafter.—n. Principal′ity, supreme power: the territory of a prince or the country which gives title to him: (B.) a prince: (obs.) a power: (pl.) an order of angels, the seventh in the hierarchy of Dionysius.—adv. Prin′cipally.—ns. Prin′cipalness, the state of being principal or chief; Prin′cipalship, position of a principal; Prin′cipate, primary: a principality, esp. the office of the ancient Roman emperors. [L. principalis.]

Principia, prin-sip′i-a, n.pl. first principles: elements, used often as the contracted title of the 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' of Newton.—adj. Princip′ial, elementary. [L., pl. of principium.]

Principle, prin′si-pl, n. a fundamental truth on which others are founded or from which they spring: a law or doctrine from which others are derived: an original faculty of the mind: a settled rule of action: (chem.) a constituent part: (obs.) a beginning.—v.t. to establish in principles: to impress with a doctrine.—adj. Prin′cipled, holding certain principles.—Principle of contradiction, the logical principle that a thing cannot both be and not be; Principle of excluded middle (logic), the principle that a thing must be either one thing or its contradictory; Principle of sufficient reason (see Reason).—First principle, a very general principle not deducible from others. [L. principium, beginning—princeps.]

Princock, prin′kok, n. (Shak.) a conceited fellow: a coxcomb.—Also Prin′cox.

Prink, pringk, v.t. to adorn ostentatiously.—n. Prink′er. [Weakened from prank.]

Print, print, v.t. to press or impress: to mark by pressure: to impress letters on paper, &c.: to publish: (phot.) to produce a positive picture from a negative.—v.i. to practise the art of printing: to publish a book.—n. a mark or character made by impression: the impression of types in general: a copy: a printed picture: an engraving: a newspaper: a printed cloth: calico stamped with figures: that which impresses its form on anything: a cut, in wood or metal: (archit.) a plaster-cast in low relief.—ns. Print′er, one who prints, esp. books, newspapers, &c.; Print′ing, act, art, or practice of printing; Print′ing-ink, ink used in printing; Print′ing-machine′, a printing-press worked by machinery; Print′ing-off′ice, an establishment where books, &c., are printed; Print′ing-pā′per, a paper suitable for printing purposes; Print′ing-press, a machine by which impressions are taken in ink upon paper from types.—adj. Print′less, receiving or leaving no impression.—ns. Print′-sell′er, one who sells prints or engravings; Print′-shop, a shop where prints are sold; Print′-works, an establishment where cloth is printed.—Printer's devil (see Devil); Printer's ink (same as Printing-ink); Printer's mark, an engraved device used by printers as a trade-mark.—In print, published in printed form: in stock, as opposed to books which cannot now be got—Out of print. [Shortened from O. Fr. empreindre, empreint—L. imprimĕre—in, into, premĕre, to press.]

Prior, prī′or, adj. former: previous: coming before in time.—n. the head of a priory: (in Italy) formerly a chief magistrate:—fem. Prī′oress.—ns. Prī′orāte, Prī′orship, the government or office of a prior: the time during which a prior is in office; Prior′ity, state of being prior or first in time, place, or rank: preference; Prī′ory, a convent of either sex, under a prior or prioress, and next in rank below an abbey. [L. prior, former, comp. from pro-, in front.]

Prisage, prī′zāj, n. formerly a right of the English kings to seize for crown purposes, esp. that of taking two tuns of wine from every ship importing twenty tuns or more. [O. Fr.,—prise, taking.]

Prise, prīz, n. (Spens.) an enterprise or adventure.

Priser, prīz′ėr, n. (Shak.). Same as Prizer.

Prism, prizm, n. (geom.) a solid whose ends are similar, equal, and parallel planes, and whose sides are parallelograms: (opt.) a solid glass, triangular-shaped body, used for resolving rays of light into their separate colours.—adjs. Prismat′ic, -al, resembling or pertaining to a prism: separated or formed by a prism.—adv. Prismat′ically.—ns. Pris′matoid, Pris′moid, a figure in the form of a prism.—adjs. Pris′matoidal, Pris′moidal; Pris′my, prismatic in colour. [L.,—Gr. prisma, -atos.]

Prison, priz′n, n. a building for the confinement of criminals, &c.: a jail: any place of confinement.—v.t. to shut in prison, restrain.—n.pl. Pris′on-bars, whatever confines or restrains.—ns. Pris′oner, one arrested or confined in prison: a captive; Pris′oner's-, Pris′on-base, a game among boys, in which those who are caught in a certain way are confined as prisoners—a corr. of prison-bars; Pris′on-fē′ver, typhus-fever; Pris′on-house, place of confinement; Pris′onment (Shak.), confinement in a prison—usually imprisonment; Pris′on-ship; Pris′on-van, a closed conveyance for carrying prisoners.—State prisoner, one confined for a political offence in a state prison. [Fr.,—L. prensio, -onis, for prehensio, a seizing—prehendĕre, -hensum, to seize.]

Pristine, pris′tin, adj. as at first: former: belonging to the earliest time: ancient. [O. Fr.,—L. pristinus; cf. priscus, antique, prior, former.]

Prithee, prith′ē, a corruption of I pray thee.

Prittle-prattle, prit′l-prat′l, n. empty talk.

Privacy, prī′va-si, or priv′-, n. state of being private or retired from company or observation: a place of seclusion: retreat: retirement: secrecy.

Privat docent, prē-vat′ dō-tsent′, n. a teacher in connection with a German university, without share in its government or endowment, only receiving fees. [Ger.,—L. privatus, private, docens, -entis, teaching, docēre, to teach.]

Private, prī′vāt, adj. apart from the state: not invested with public office: peculiar to one's self: belonging to an individual person or company: not public: retired from observation: secret: not publicly known: not holding a commission.—n. a common soldier: (Shak.) a person without public office, a secret message, privacy, retirement.—adv. Prī′vately.—n. Prī′vateness.—Private act, &c., an act, &c., which deals with the concerns of private persons—opp. to General act, &c.; Private judgment, the judgment of an individual, esp. on the meaning of a passage or doctrine of Scripture, as distinguished from the interpretation of the church; Private law, that part of law which deals with the rights and duties of persons quâ individuals; Private legislation, legislation affecting the interests of private persons; Private parts, the sexual organs; Private property, rights, the property, rights of individual persons, as distinguished from that which belongs to a public body and is devoted to public use; Private trust, a trust managed in the interest of private parties; Private wrong, an injury done to an individual in his private capacity.—In private, privately, in secret; The private (obs.), the private life of individuals. [L. privatus, pa.p. of privāre, to separate—privus, single.]

Privateer, prī-va-tēr′, n. an armed private vessel commissioned by a government to seize and plunder an enemy's ships: the commander of a privateer.—v.i. to cruise in a privateer: to fit out privateers.—ns. Privateer′ing; Privateer′sman.

Privation, prī-vā′shun, n. state of being deprived of something, esp. of what is necessary for comfort: destitution: (logic) absence of any quality: (obs.) degradation or suspension from an office.—adj. Priv′ative, causing privation: consisting in the absence of something.—n. that which is privative or depends on the absence of something else: (logic) a term denoting the absence of a quality: (gram.) a prefix denoting absence or negation.—adv. Priv′atively.—n. Priv′ativeness. [L.; cf. Private.]

Privet, priv′et, n. a half-evergreen European shrub used for hedges. [Perh. primet—prim.]

Privilege, priv′i-lej, n. an advantage to an individual: a right enjoyed only by a few: freedom from burdens borne by others: prerogative: a sacred and vital civil right: (Shak.) superiority.—v.t. to grant a privilege to: to exempt: to authorise, license.—adj. Priv′ileged.—Breach of privilege, any interference with or slight done to the rights or privileges of a legislative body; Question of privilege, any question arising out of the rights of an assembly or of its members; Writ of privilege, an order for the release of a person from custody. [Fr.,—L. privilegium—privus, single, lex, legis, a law.]

Privy, priv′i, adj. private: pertaining to one person: for private uses: secret: appropriated to retirement: admitted to the knowledge of something secret.—n. (law) a person having an interest in an action: a necessary house.—adv. Priv′ily, privately: secretly.—ns. Priv′ity, secrecy: something kept private: knowledge, shared with another, of something private or confidential: knowledge implying concurrence: relation between different interests, as, for example, in feudal tenure the interests of several persons in the same land, the mutual relationships of contractor and contractee, the relation caused by common knowledge in breaches of contract: (obs.) seclusion, intimacy; Priv′y-cham′ber, private apartment in a royal residence; Priv′y-coun′cil, the private council of a sovereign to advise in the administration of government; Priv′y-coun′cillor, a member of the privy-council; Priv′y-purse, the purse or money for the private or personal use of the sovereign; Priv′y-seal, -sig′net, the seal used by or for the king in subordinate matters, or those which are not to pass the great seal; Priv′y-ver′dict, a verdict given to a judge out of court.—Gentlemen ushers of the privy-chamber, four officials in the royal household who attend certain court ceremonies. [Fr. privé—L. privatus, private.]

Prize, Prise, prīz, v.t. to force open by means of a lever. [Fr.; cf. Prize, below.]

Prize, prīz, n. that which is taken or gained by competition: anything taken from an enemy in war: (hunting) the note of the trumpet blown at the capture of the game: a captured vessel: that which is won in a lottery: anything offered for competition: a gain: a reward: (Shak.) a competition.—adj. worthy of a prize: to which a prize is given.—adjs. Priz′able, -eable, valuable.—ns. Prize′-court, a court for judging regarding prizes made on the high seas; Prize′-fight, a combat in which those engaged fight for a prize or wager; Prize′-fight′er, a boxer who fights publicly for a prize; Prize′-fight′ing; Prize′-list, recorded of the winners in a competition; Prize′man; Prize′-mon′ey, share of the money or proceeds from any prizes taken from an enemy; Priz′er (Shak.), one who competes for a prize; Prize′-ring, a ring for prize-fighting: the practice itself. [Fr. prise—pris, taken, pa.p. prendre—L. prehendĕre, to seize.]

Prize, prīz, v.t. to set a price on: to value: to value highly.—n. valuation, estimate.—n. Priz′er (Shak.), an appraiser. [Fr. priser—O. Fr. pris, price (Fr. prix)—L. pretium, price.]

Pro, prō, Latin prep. meaning before, used in English in many phrases.—Pro and con, abbrev. of pro et contra, for and against.—v.i. to consider impartially.—n.pl. Pros and cons, arguments for and against an opinion.—Pro bono publico, for the public good.

Proa, prō′a, n. a small and swift Malay sailing-vessel, with both ends equally sharp. [Malay prau.]

Probable, prob′a-bl, adj. that can be proved: having more evidence for than against: giving ground for belief: likely: (Shak.) plausible.—n. probable opinion.—ns. Probabil′iorist; Prob′abilism (R.C. theol.), the doctrine in casuistry that of two probable opinions, both reasonable, one may follow his own inclination, as a doubtful law cannot impose a certain obligation—opp. to Probabil′iorism, according to which it is lawful to follow one's inclination only when there is a more probable opinion in its favour; Prob′abilist; Probabil′ity, quality of being probable: appearance of truth: that which is probable: chance or likelihood of something happening:—pl. Probabil′ities.—adv. Prob′ably.—adj. Prō′bal (Shak.), probable.—Probable cause, a reasonable ground that an accusation is true; Probable error, a quantity assumed as the value of an error, such that the chances of the real error being greater are equal to those of it being less than this quantity; Probable evidence, evidence not conclusive, but admitting of some degree of force. [Fr.,—L. probabilis—probāre, -ātum, to prove.]

Probang, prō′bang, n. an instrument for pushing obstructions down the œsophagus of a choking animal.

Probate, prō′bāt, n. the proof before a competent court that a written paper purporting to be the will of a person who has died is indeed his lawful act: the official copy of a will, with the certificate of its having been proved: the right or jurisdiction of proving wills.—adj. relating to the establishment of wills and testaments.—Probate court, a court created in 1858 to exercise jurisdiction in matters touching the succession to personal estate; Probate duty, a tax on property passing by will. [Cf. Probable.]

Probation, prō-bā′shun, n. act of proving: any proceeding to elicit truth, &c.: trial: time of trial: moral trial: noviciate.—adjs. Probā′tional, Probā′tionary, relating to probation or trial.—n. Probā′tioner, one who is on probation or trial: (Scot.) one licensed to preach, but not ordained to a pastorate.—adjs. Prō′bative, Prō′batory, serving for proof or trial: relating to proof.—n. Probā′tor, an examiner.—The doctrine of future probation, the doctrine that the gospel will be preached in another life to the unregenerate dead or to those who never heard it in life. [Fr.,—L.]

Probatum est, prō-bā′tum est, it has been proved. [L., 3d sing. perf. indic. pass. of probāre, to prove.]

Probe, prōb, n. a proof or trial: a long, thin instrument for examining a wound, &c.: that which tries or probes.—v.t. to examine with or as with a probe: to examine thoroughly.—n.pl. Probe′-sciss′ors, scissors used to open wounds, the blade having a button at the end. [L. probāre, to prove.]

Probity, prob′i-ti, n. uprightness: honesty: virtue that has been tested. [Fr.,—L. probitas, probus, good.]

Problem, prob′lem, n. a matter difficult of settlement or solution: (geom.) a proposition in which something is required to be done.—adjs. Problemat′ic, -al, of the nature of a problem: questionable: doubtful.—adv. Problemat′ically.—v.i. Prob′lematise. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. problēma—pro, before, ballein, to throw.]

Proboscis, prō-bos′is, n. the trunk of some animals, as the elephant, for conveying food to the mouth: anything like a trunk:—pl. Probos′cides.—adjs. Probos′cidāte; Proboscid′ean, having a proboscis.—n. a mammal of the Proboscidea.—n. Probos′cis-monk′ey, a monkey of Borneo, having a long mobile and retractile nose. [L.,—Gr. proboskis, a trunk—pro, in front, boskein, to feed.]

Procacity, prō-kas′i-ti, n. petulance.—adj. Procā′cious.

Procathedral, prō-ka-thē′dral, n. a church used temporarily as a cathedral.

Proceed, prō-sēd′, v.i. to go forward: to advance: to act according to a method: to go from point to point: to issue: to be produced: to prosecute: to take an academic degree: (Shak.) to be transacted, done.—ns. Procē′dure, the act of proceeding or moving forward: a step taken or an act performed: progress: process: conduct; Proceed′er, one who goes forward or makes progress; Proceed′ing, a going forward: progress: step: operation: transaction: (pl.) a record of the transactions of a society: (Shak.) advancement.—n.pl. Pro′ceeds, the money arising from anything: rent: produce.—Special proceeding, a judicial proceeding other than an action, as, for example, a writ of mandamus; Summary proceedings, certain statutory remedies taken without the formal bringing of an action by process and pleading. [Fr. procéder—L. procedĕre—pro, before, cedĕre, cessum, to go.]

Proceleusmatic, pros-e-lūs-mat′ik, adj. inciting, encouraging.—n. in ancient prosody, a foot consisting of four short syllables. [Gr.,—prokeleuein, to incite before—pro, before, keleuein, to order.]

Procellaria, pros-e-lā′ri-a, n. a Linnæan genus of petrels.

Procephalic, prō-se-fal′ik, or prō-sef′a-lik, adj. of or pertaining to the forepart of the head.—Procephalic lobes, two lobes in the embryo of the Podophthalmia which develop into the anterior parts of the head. [Gr. pro, before, kephalē, head.]

Procerebrum, prō-ser′ē-brum, n. the fore-brain, consisting of the cerebral hemispheres, corpora striata, and olfactory lobes.—adj. Procer′ebral. [L. pro, before, cerebrum, brain.]

Procerite, pros′e-rīt, n. the last segment of the antennæ in the Crustacea. [Gr. pro, before, keras, a horn.]

Procerity, prō-ser′i-ti, n. tallness, loftiness.—adj. Procē′rous, tall. [L.,—procērus, tall.]

Procès, prō-sā′, n. a law-suit: a trial.—Procès verbal, a written account of facts in connection with a trial or other proceeding. [Fr.]

Process, pros′es, or prō-, n. a gradual progress: manner of acting or happening: operation: the whole proceedings in an action or prosecution: series of measures: a projection on a bone or plant (also Proces′sus): the same as photo-process, the reproduction as a drawing, &c., by any mechanical (esp. photographic) process: (Shak.) a narrative, account.—v.t. to proceed against by legal process: to produce a reproduction of a drawing as above.—n. Proc′ess-serv′er (Shak.), a bailiff. [Fr. procès—L. processus.]

Procession, prō-sesh′un, n. the act of proceeding: a train of persons in a formal march.—adj. Proces′sional, pertaining to a procession: consisting in a procession.—n. a book of the processions of the Romish Church: a hymn sung during a procession, esp. of clergy in a church.—n. Proces′sionalist.—adj. Proces′sionary.—ns. Proces′sioner (U.S.), a county officer in Tennessee and North Carolina whose duty it is to survey lands; Proces′sioning (U.S.), periodical survey and inspection of boundaries.—Procession of the Holy Ghost (theol.), the emanation of the Holy Spirit from the Father (single procession), or from the Father and Son (double procession). [Fr.,—L.]

Prochein, prō′shen, adj. next, nearest.—Prochein ami, amy, next friend, one who undertakes to assist a minor in prosecuting his or her rights. [Fr.,—L. proximus, nearest.]

Prochronism, prō′kron-izm, n. a dating of an event before the right time: a making earlier than it really was—opp. to Parachronism. [Gr. pro, before, chronos, time.]

Procidence, pros′i-dens, n. a falling down, a prolapsus.—adjs. Proc′ident; Procid′uous, falling from its proper place.

Procinct, prō-singkt′, n. (Milt.) complete preparation. [L., pro, before, cingĕre, cinctum, to gird.]

Proclaim, prō-klām′, v.t. to cry aloud: to publish abroad: to announce officially.—ns. Proclaim′; Proclaim′ant; Proclaim′er; Proclamā′tion, the act of proclaiming: official notice given to the public.—Proclaimed district, a district in which some unusually strict law is brought into force by a form of proclamation. [Fr. proclamer—L. proclamāre—pro, out, clamāre, to cry.]

Proclitic, prō-klit′ik, adj. dependent in accent upon the following word.—n. a monosyllabic word which depends so much on the following word as to lose its accent. [Gr. pro, forward, klinein, lean.]

Proclivity, prō-kliv′i-ti, n. an inclining forward: tendency: inclination: aptitude.—adjs. Proclive′, inclining to a thing: having a natural tendency: prone; Proclī′vous, slanting forward and downward. [L. proclivitas—proclivus, having a slope forward—pro, forward, clivus, a slope.]

Procœlian, prō-sē′li-an, adj. hollowed or cupped in front.—Also Procœ′lous. [Gr. pro, before, koilos, hollow.]

Proconsul, prō-kon′sul, n. a Roman official having the authority of a consul without his office: the governor of a province.—adj. Procon′sular, pertaining to, or under the government of, a proconsul.—ns. Procon′sulate, Procon′sulship, the office, or term of office, of a proconsul.

Procrastinate, prō-kras′ti-nāt, v.t. to put off till some future time: to postpone.—v.i. to delay.—n. Procrastinā′tion, a putting off till a future time: dilatoriness.—adjs. Procras′tinātive, Procras′tinātory.—n. Procras′tinātor. [L.—pro, off, crastinus—cras, to-morrow.]

Procreate, prō′krē-āt, v.t. to bring into being: to generate: to propagate: to produce.—n. Prō′creant, one who, or that which, procreates or generates.—adj. procreating, connected with or related to reproduction.—n. Procreā′tion, the act of procreating: generation: production.—adj. Prō′creātive, having the power to procreate: generative: productive.—ns. Prō′creātiveness; Prō′creātor, one who procreates: a father. [L. procreāre, -ātum—pro, forth, creāre, to produce.]

Procrustean, prō-krus′tē-an, adj. violently making conformable to a standard—from Procrustes, a Greek robber, who stretched or cut a piece off the legs of his captives, so as to fit them to an iron bed.

Proctalgia, prok-tal′ji-a, n. pain of the anus or rectum.—n. Proctī′tis, inflammation thereof. [Gr. proktos, the anus, algos, pain.]

Proctor, prok′tor, n. a procurator or manager for another: an attorney in the spiritual courts: a representative of the clergy in Convocation: an official in the English universities who attends to the morals of the students and enforces university regulations.—ns. Proc′torage, Proc′torship.—adj. Proctō′rial, pertaining to a proctor: magisterial.—v.t. Proc′torise (slang), in the English universities, to summon before a proctor. [Procurator.]

Proctucha, prok-tū′ka, n.pl. a group of the Turbellaria in which the digestive canal is furnished with an anal aperture.—adj. Proctū′chous. [Gr. prōktos, the anus, echein, to have.]

Procumbent, prō-kum′bent, adj. leaning forward: lying down or on the face: (bot.) trailing: without putting out roots, as a stem. [L. pro, forward, cumbĕre, to lie down.]

Procure, prō-kūr′, v.t. to obtain for one's self or for another: to bring about: to attract: (Spens.) to urge earnestly.—v.i. to pander, pimp.—adj. Procur′able, that may be procured.—ns. Pro′curācy, office of a procurator; Procurā′tion, the act of managing another's affairs: the instrument giving power to do this: a sum paid by incumbents to the bishop or archdeacon on visitations; Proc′urātor, one who takes care of a thing for another: a lawyer: a financial agent in an imperial province under the Roman emperors; Proc′urator-fis′cal (see Fiscal).—adj. Procuratō′rial.—n. Proc′uratorship.—adj. Proc′urātory.—ns. Procure′ment, the act of procuring: a bringing about: management: agency; Procur′er, one who procures: a pander:—fem. Proc′uress. [Fr. procurer—L. procurāre, to manage—pro, for, curāre, -ātum, to care for.]

Procureur, prō-kü-rer′, n. a procurator.—Procureur général (French law), the public prosecutor-in-chief.

Procyonidæ, prō-si-on′i-dē, n.pl. an American family of plantigrade carnivorous mammals, including raccoons and coatis. [Gr. pro, before, kyōn, a dog.]

Prod, prod, n. a goad, awl: a prick or punch with a pointed instrument.—v.t. to prick. [Perh. brod.]

Prodigal, prod′i-gal, adj. spending without necessity: wasteful: lavish: profuse.—n. one who throws away without necessity: a waster: a spendthrift.—v.t. Prod′igalise, Prod′igāte, to spend lavishly, waste.—n. Prodigal′ity, state or quality of being prodigal: extravagance: profusion: great liberality.—adv. Prod′igally, wastefully. [Fr.,—L. prodigus—prodigĕre, to squander—pro, forth, agĕre, to drive.]

Prodigy, prod′i-ji, n. a portent: any person or thing that causes great wonder: a wonder: a monster.—adj. Prodig′ious, like a prodigy: astonishing: more than usually large in size or degree: monstrous.—adv. Prodig′iously.—n. Prodig′iousness. [Fr. prodige—L. prodigium, a prophetic sign—pro, before, dicĕre, to say.]

Proditor, prod′i-tor, n. a traitor. [L.,—prodĕre, -itum, to betray—pro, forth, dăre, to give.]

Prodromus, prod′rō-mus, n. a sign of approaching disease: a preliminary course or treatise:—pl. Prod′romi (-ī).—adj. Prodrom′ic. [Gr.]

Produce, prō-dūs′, v.t. to bring forward: to make longer: to bring forth: to bear: to exhibit: to yield: to bring about: to cause: (geom.) to extend.—v.i. to yield: to create value.—ns. Prod′uce, that which is produced: product: proceeds: crops: yield; Prod′uce-brok′er, a dealer in natural products, esp. foreign or colonial; Produc′er; Producibil′ity.—adj. Produc′ible, that may be produced: that may be generated or made: that may be exhibited.—n. Produc′ibleness.—adj. Produc′tile, capable of being drawn out in length. [L. producĕre, -ductum—pro, forward, ducĕre, to lead.]

Product, prod′ukt, n. that which grows or is produced: work: composition: effect: (arith.) the result of numbers multiplied together: (Milt.) offspring.—v.t. Product′ (rare), to produce.—ns. Productibil′ity, capability of being produced; Produc′tion, act of producing: that which is produced: fruit: product: (pol. econ.) creation of values: (zool.) extension, protrusion: (pl.) in Scots law, written documents produced in support of the action or defence.—adj. Produc′tive, having the power to produce: generative: fertile: efficient.—adv. Produc′tively.—ns. Produc′tiveness, Productiv′ity.

Proem, prō′em, n. an introduction: a prelude: a preface.—adj. Proē′mial. [Fr. proème—L. proœmium—Gr. prooimion—pro, before, oimos, a way.]

Proembryo, prō-em′bri-ō, n. a cellular structure produced from the spore of some plants, from which the embryo arises.

Proemptosis, prō-emp-tō′sis, n. the addition of a day to a calendar or cycle, to correct error. [Gr.]

Proface, prō′fas, interj. (Shak.) may it profit you!—a phrase of welcome. [O. Fr.,—prou, profit, face, fasse, 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of faire, to do.]

Profane, prō-fān′, adj. not sacred: common: secular: speaking or acting in contempt of sacred things: uninitiated: impious: impure.—v.t. to violate anything holy: to abuse anything sacred: to put to a wrong use: to pollute: to debase.—n. Profanā′tion, desecration: irreverence to what is holy: a treating of anything with disrespect.—adj. Profan′atory.—adv. Profane′ly.—ns. Profane′ness; Profān′er; Profan′ity, irreverence: that which is profane: profane language or conduct. [Fr.,—L. profanus—pro, before, fanum, a temple.]

Profectitious, prō-fek-tish′us, adj. derived from an ancestor or ancestors. [Low L.,—L. proficisci, profectus, to proceed.]

Profess, prō-fes′, v.t. to own freely: to make open declaration of: to declare in strong terms: to announce publicly one's skill in: to affirm one's belief in: (Spens.) to present the appearance of: (R.C.) to receive into a religious order by profession.—v.i. to enter publicly into a religious state: (Shak.) to pretend friendship.—adj. Professed′, openly declared: avowed: acknowledged.—adv. Profess′edly.—n. Profes′sion, the act of professing: open declaration: pretence: an employment not mechanical and requiring some degree of learning: calling or known employment: the collective body of persons engaged in any profession: entrance into a religious order.—adj. Profes′sional, pertaining to a profession: engaged in a profession: undertaken as a means of subsistence, as opposed to Amateur.—n. one who makes his living by an art, as opposed to an amateur who practises it merely for pastime.—n. Profes′sionalism.—adv. Profes′sionally.—ns. Profess′or, one who professes: one who openly declares belief in certain doctrines: one who publicly practises or teaches any branch of knowledge: a public and authorised teacher in a university:—fem. Profess′oress; Profess′orate, Professō′riāte, the office of a professor or public teacher: his period of office: body of professors.—adj. Professō′rial.—adv. Professō′rially.—n. Profess′orship. [Fr. profès, professed, said of a member of a religious order—L. professus, perf. p. of profitēri—pro, publicly, fatēri, to confess.]

Proffer, prof′ėr, v.t. to bring forward: to propose: to offer for acceptance.—n. an offer made: a proposal.—n. Proff′erer. [Fr. proférer—L. proferre—pro, forward, ferre, to bring.]

Proficience, prō-fish′ens, n. state of being proficient: improvement in anything: advancement—also Profi′ciency.—adj. Profi′cient, competent: well skilled: thoroughly qualified.—n. one who has made considerable advancement in anything: an adept: an expert.—adv. Profi′ciently. [L. proficiens, -entis, pr.p. of proficĕre, to make progress—pro, forward, facĕre, to make.]

Profile, prō′fīl, n. an outline: a head or portrait in a side-view: the side-face: the outline of any object without foreshortening: a vertical section of country to show the elevations and depressions.—v.t. to draw in profile: to make an outline of: (mech.) to give a definite form by chiselling, milling, &c.—ns. Prō′filist, one who takes or makes profiles; Profil′ograph, an instrument for automatically recording the profile of the ground it traverses. [It. profilo (Fr. profil)—L. pro, before, filum, a thread.]

Profit, prof′it, n. gain: the gain resulting from the employment of capital: the difference between the selling price and the first cost: advantage: addition to good or value: benefit: improvement.—v.t. to benefit or to be of advantage to: to improve.—v.i. to gain advantage: to receive profit: to improve: to be of advantage: to bring good.—adj. Prof′itable, yielding or bringing profit or gain: lucrative: productive: advantageous: beneficial.—n. Prof′itableness.—adv. Prof′itably.—ns. Prof′iter; Prof′iting, profit, gain, or advantage: (B.) progress or proficiency.—adj. Prof′itless, without profit, gain, or advantage.—adv. Prof′itlessly.—n. Prof′it-shar′ing, a voluntary agreement under which the employee receives a share, fixed beforehand, in the profits of a business.—Profit and loss, gain or loss arising from buying and selling, &c.—Net profits, clear gain after deduction of all outlay and expenses; Rate of profit, the amount of profit compared with the capital used in its production. [Fr.,—L. profectus, progress—proficĕre, profectum, to make progress.]

Profligate, prof′li-gāt, adj. abandoned to vice: without virtue or decency: dissolute: prodigal: (obs.) overthrown, defeated.—n. one leading a profligate life: one shamelessly vicious: an abandoned person.—ns. Prof′ligacy, Prof′ligateness, state or quality of being profligate: a vicious course of life.—adv. Prof′ligately. [L. profligatus, pa.p. of profligāre—pro, forward, fligĕre, to dash.]

Profluent, prof′lū-ent, adj. flowing forth.—n. Prof′luence. [L. pro, forth, fluere, to flow.]

Pro forma, prō for′ma, as a matter of form. [L. pro, for, forma, abl. of forma, form.]

Profound, prō-fownd′, adj. far below the surface: low: very deep: intense: abstruse: mysterious: occult: intellectually deep: penetrating deeply into knowledge.—n. the sea or ocean: an abyss, great depth.—adv. Profound′ly, deeply: with deep knowledge or insight: with deep concern.—ns. Profound′ness, Profund′ity, the state or quality of being profound: depth of place, of knowledge, &c.: that which is profound. [Fr. profond—L. profundus—pro, forward, fundus, bottom.]

Profunda, prō-fun′dä, n. a deep-seated artery, as of the arm, neck, or leg:—pl. Profun′dæ.

Profuse, prō-fūs′, adj. liberal to excess: lavish: extravagant.—adv. Profūse′ly.—ns. Profūse′ness, Profū′sion, state of being profuse: extravagance: prodigality. [L. profusus, pa.p. of profundĕre—pro, forth, fundĕre, to pour.]

Prog, prog, v.t. to thrust.—v.i. to go about, as if picking and plundering: to beg.—n. a pointed instrument: food got by begging. [Prob. related to W. procio, to stab.]

Progenerate, prō-jen′e-rāt, v.t. to beget.—n. Progen′itor, a forefather: an ancestor: a parent: the founder of a family:—fem. Progen′itress, Progen′itrix.—ns. Prōgen′iture, a begetting; Prog′eny, that which is brought forth: descendants: race: children. [Fr.,—L.,—pro, before, genitor, a parent, gignĕre, genitum, to beget.]

Proglottis, prō-glot′is, n. a term applied to the detached segments of the body in the Cestoidea:—pl. Proglott′idēs.—adj. Proglott′ic. [Gr.,—pro, before, glōssa, glōtta, tongue.]

Prognathous, prog′nā-thus, adj. having jaws projecting far forward—also Prognath′ic.—n. Prog′nathism. [Gr. pro, forward, gnathos, a jaw.]

Prognosis, prog-nō′sis, n. foreknowledge: (med.) the act or art of foretelling the course of a disease from the symptoms: the opinion thus formed.—n. Prognos′tic, a foreshowing: a foretelling: an indication: a presage.—adj. foreknowing: foreshowing: indicating what is to happen by signs or symptoms.—v.t. Prognos′ticāte, to foreshow: to foretell: to indicate as future by signs.—n. Prognosticā′tion, the act of prognosticating or foretelling something future by present signs: a foretoken or previous sign.—adj. Prognos′ticātive.—n. Prognos′ticātor, a predictor of future events, esp. a weather prophet. [Gr.,—pro, before, gignōskein, to know.]

Programme, Program, prō′gram, n. a public notice in writing: an outline of subjects and the order in which they are to be taken up at a meeting, exhibition, concert, &c.: a preliminary outline.—n. Prō′grammer, one who makes up a programme.—Programme music, music meant to give the hearers, by means of instruments, without words, the impressions of scenes and incidents. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. programma—pro, before, graphein, to write.]

Progress, prog′res, n. a going forward or onward: advance: improvement of any kind: proficiency: course: passage from place to place: procession: a journey of state: a circuit.—v.i. Prōgress′, to go forward: to make progress: to grow better: to proceed: to advance: to improve.—v.t. (Shak.) to move or push forward.—n. Prōgres′sion, motion onward: act or state of moving onward: progress: regular and gradual advance: increase or decrease of numbers or magnitudes according to a fixed law: (mus.) a regular succession of chords or the movements of the parts in harmony.—adj. Prōgres′sional.—ns. Prōgres′sionist, Prog′ressist, one who believes in the progress of society and its future perfection: one who believes in the development of animals and plants from one simple form.—adj. Prōgress′ive, progressing or moving forward: advancing gradually: improving.—n. one in favour of reform.—adv. Prōgress′ively.—n. Prōgress′iveness.—Arithmetical progression (see Arithmetic); Geometrical progression, a series of numbers or quantities in which each succeeding one is produced by multiplying or dividing the preceding one by a fixed number or quantity, as 1, 4, 16, 64, &c., or 18, 6, 2; Harmonic progression (see Harmonic); Musical progression, the regular succession of chords or the movement of the parts of a musical composition in harmony, where the key continues unchanged. [Fr.,—L. progressus—progredi, to go forward—pro, forward, gradi, to go.]

Progymnasium, prō-jim-nā′zi-um, n. in Germany, a classical school in which the higher classes are wanting: a school preparatory to a gymnasium.

Prohibit, prō-hib′it, v.t. to hinder: to check or repress: to prevent: to forbid: to interdict by authority.—ns. Prohib′iter; Prohibi′tion, the act of prohibiting, forbidding, or interdicting: an interdict: the forbidding by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks; Prohib′itionism; Prohibi′tionist, one who favours prohibitory duties in commerce: one who advocates the forbidding by law of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic drinks.—adj. Prohib′itive.—adv. Prohib′itively.—adj. Prohib′itory, that prohibits or forbids: forbidding.—Prohibited degrees (see Forbidden degrees, under Degree).—Writ of prohibition (law), a writ from a superior tribunal staying proceedings in a lower court: (Scots law) a clause in a deed of entail forbidding the heir to sell the estate, contract debt, &c. [L. prohibēre, prohibitum—pro, before, habēre, to have.]

Proin, proin, v.t. an obsolete form of prune.

Pro indiviso, prō in-di-vī′so, (law) applied to rights which two or more persons hold in common.

Project, prōj′ekt, n. a plan: a scheme: contrivance. [O. Fr. project (Fr. projet)—L. projectum—pro, before, jacĕre, to throw.]

Project, prō-jekt′, v.t. to throw out or forward: to cast forward in the mind: to contrive or devise: to exhibit (as in a mirror): to draw straight lines from a fixed point through every point of any body or figure, and let these fall upon a surface so as to form the points of a new figure: to exhibit in relief.—v.i. to shoot forward: to jut out: to be prominent.—adj. Projec′tile, projecting or throwing forward: impelling or impelled forward: that can be thrust forward.—n. a body projected by force, esp. through the air: a cannon or rifle ball.—adj. Projec′ting.—n. Projec′tion, the act of projecting: that which juts out: a plan or design: a delineation: a representation of any object on a plane, esp. (geom.) the earth's surface: (alch.) the act of throwing anything into a crucible, hence the act or result of transmutation of metals: the crisis of any process, esp. a culinary process.—adj. Projec′tive, produced by projection: (geom.) capable, as two plane figures, of being derived from one another by a number of projections and sections.—ns. Projectiv′ity; Project′ment (rare), design; Projec′tor, one who projects or forms schemes: a parabolic mirror: a camera for throwing an image on a screen; Projec′ture, a jutting out beyond the main line or surface.—Mercator's projection, a map of the world with meridian lines which are straight and parallel, and with parallels of latitude at distances from each other, increasing towards the poles, invented by the Flemish cosmographer, Mercator, in 1550.

Proker, prō′ker, n. (prov.) a poker.

Prolapse, prō-laps′, n. (med.) a falling down, or out, of some part of the body from the position which it usually occupies—also Prolap′sus.—v.i. to fall down: to protrude. [L. prolabi, prolapsus, to fall forward—pro, forward, labi, to fall.]

Prolate, prō′lāt, adj. extended lengthwise: having the diameter between the poles longer than at right angles to it, as a spheroid.—ns. Prolāte′ness, Prolā′tion, a bringing forth: pronunciation: delay: (mus.) a division. [L. prolatus, pa.p. of proferre, to bring forward—pro, forth, ferre, to bear.]

Proleg, prō′leg, n. one of the abdominal limbs of the larvæ of insects.

Prolegomena, prō-leg-om′en-a, n.pl. an introduction to a treatise:—sing. Prolegom′enon.—adjs. Prolegom′enary, Prolegom′enous, prefatory: prolix. [Gr.,—pro, before, legein, to say.]

Prolepsis, prō-lep′sis, n. (rhet.) a figure by which objections are anticipated and answered: the dating of an event before its proper time:—pl. Prolep′sēs.—adjs. Prolep′tic, -al.—adv. Prolep′tically. [Gr.,—pro, before, lambanein, to take.]

Proletarian, prō-le-tā′ri-an, adj. belonging to the poorest labouring class: having little or no property: plebeian: vulgar.—n. a member of the poorest class—also Proletaire′, Prō′letary.—adj. Proletā′neous, having numerous offspring.—ns. Proletā′rianism, the condition of the poorest classes; Proletā′riat, -e, the lowest class. [L. proletarius (in ancient Rome), a citizen of the sixth and lowest class, who served the state not with his property, but with his children—proles, offspring.]

Prolicide, prō′li-sīd, n. infanticide.

Proliferate, prō-lif′e-rāt, v.i. to grow by multiplication of elementary parts: (zool.) to reproduce by proliferation.—v.t. to bear by reproduction.—n. Proliferā′tion, the birth and growth of generative zoöids.—adjs. Prolif′erātive, Prolif′erous.—adv. Prolif′erously. [L. proles, progeny, ferre, to bear.]

Prolific, -al, prō-lif′ik, -al, adj. bringing forth offspring: producing young or fruit: productive: bringing about results: (bot.) applied to a flower from which another is produced.—ns. Prolif′icacy, Prolif′icness.—adv. Prolif′ically.—n. Prolificā′tion, the generation of young animals or plants: (bot.) development of a shoot from an organ normally ultimate. [Fr. prolifique—L. proles (for pro-oles), offspring, facĕre, to make.]

Prolix, prō′liks, adj. tedious: long and wordy: dwelling too long on particulars: (obs.) long.—adj. Prolix′ious (Shak.), dilatory, tedious.—ns. Prolix′ity, Prolix′ness.—adv. Prolix′ly. [Fr. prolixe—L. prolixus—pro, forward, liqui, to flow.]

Proll, prōl, v.i. (Spens.) to prowl, rob. [Prowl.]

Prolocutor, prō-lok′ū-tor, n. the chairman of a convocation, or meeting of clergy: (rare) a spokesman:—fem. Prōloc′utrix.—n. Prōloc′utorship. [L., pro, before, loqui, locutus, to speak.]

Prologue, prō′log, n. a preface: the introductory verses before a play: (Shak.) the speaker of a prologue.—v.t. to introduce with a prologue or preface.—v.i. Prō′logise, -uise, to deliver a prologue. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. prologos—pro, before, logos, speech.]

Prolong, prō-long′, v.t. to lengthen out: (Shak.) to put off to another time: to continue.—v.i. to lengthen out.—v.t. Prolong′āte, to lengthen.—ns. Prolongā′tion, act of prolonging in space or time: the additional length made by prolonging; Prolong′er. [Fr. prolonger—L. prolongāre—pro, forward, longus, long.]

Prolonge, prō-lonj′, n. a hemp rope consisting of three pieces joined by two open rings, and having a hook at one end and a toggle at the other. [Fr.]

Prolusion, prō-lū′zhun, n. a prelude, introduction: an essay preparatory to a more solid treatise. [L.,—pro, before, ludĕre, lusum, to play.]

Promachos, prom′a-kos, n. a deity who fights in front of, or champions, some person or state. [Gr.]

Promenade, prom-e-näd′, or -nād′, n. a walk for pleasure, show, or exercise: a place for walking.—v.i. to walk for amusement, show, or exercise.—n. Promenä′der.—Promenade concert, an entertainment in which the audience promenades or dances during the music. [Fr.,—from (se) promener, to walk—L. promināre, to drive forwards—pro, forward, mināre, to drive.]

Promethean, prō-mē′thē-an, adj. pertaining to Prometheus, who stole fire from heaven, for which Zeus chained him to a rock, to be tortured by a vulture.—n. a glass tube containing sulphuric acid and an inflammable mixture: a kind of lucifer-match.—n. Promē′theus, a large silk-spinning moth. [Gr., lit. 'forethinker;' or Sans. pramantha, a fire-stick.]

Prominent, prom′i-nent, adj. standing out beyond the line or surface of something: projecting: most easily seen: conspicuous: principal: eminent: distinguished.—ns. Prom′inence, Prom′inency, state or quality of being prominent: conspicuousness: distinction.—adv. Prom′inently. [Fr.,—L. prominēre, to jut forth—pro, forth, minēre, to jut.]

Promiscuous, prō-mis′kū-us, adj. mixed: confused: collected together without order: indiscriminate: not restricted to one individual: (prov.) casual, accidental.—n. Promiscū′ity, mixture without order or distinction: promiscuous sexual intercourse.—adv. Promis′cuously.—n. Promis′cuousness. [L. promiscuus—pro, inten., miscēre, to mix.]

Promise, prom′is, n. an engagement made by a person either verbally or in writing to do or keep from doing something: expectation or that which causes expectation: a ground for hope of future excellence: (rare) fulfilment of what is promised.—v.t. to make an engagement to do or not to do something: to afford reason to expect: to assure: to engage to bestow.—v.i. to assure one by a promise: to afford hopes or expectations: (rare) to stand sponsor.—ns. Prom′ise-breach (Shak.), violation of promise; Prom′ise-break′er (Shak.), a violator of promises.—adj. Prom′ise-crammed (Shak.), crammed or filled with promises.—ns. Promisēē′, the person to whom a promise is made; Prom′iser, Prom′isor.—adj. Prom′ising, affording ground for hope or expectation: likely to turn out well.—advs. Prom′isingly; Prom′issorily.—adj. Prom′issory, containing a promise of some engagement to be fulfilled.—n. Prom′issory-note, a note by one person promising to pay a sum of money to another, or to bearer, at a certain date, or at sight, or on demand.—Promised land, the land promised by God to Abraham and his seed: Canaan: heaven.—Be promised (rare), to have an engagement; Breach of promise (see Breach); Conditional promise, a promise of which the obligation depends on certain conditions—opp. to Absolute promise; Express promise, a promise expressed orally or in writing; The Promise, the assurance of God to Abraham that his descendants should become the chosen people. [Fr. promesse—L. promissa, promittĕre, to send forward—pro, forward, mittĕre, to send.]

Promontory, prom′on-tor-i, n. a headland or high cape jutting out into the sea: (anat.) a projection on the sacrum: a rounded elevation in the tympanum of the ear. [L. promontorium—pro, forward, mons, montis, a mountain.]

Promote, prō-mōt′, v.t. to move forward: to help on the growth or improvement of anything: to advance: to further: to encourage: to raise to a higher position: to elevate.—ns. Promō′ter; Promō′tion, the act of promoting: advancement in rank or in honour: encouragement: preferment.—adj. Promō′tive.—Be on one's promotion, to have right or hope of promotion: to be on good behaviour with a view to chances of promotion. [L. promotus, pa.p. of promovēre—pro, forward, movēre, to move.]

Prompt, promt, adj. prepared: ready and willing: acting with alacrity: cheerful: unhesitating: (obs.) inclined, disposed.—v.t. to incite: to move to action: to assist a speaker when at a loss for words: to suggest to the mind.—n. a limit of time given for payment for merchandise purchased, the limit being stated on the prompt-note, the note of reminder.—ns. Prompt′-book, a copy of a play arranged for the prompter's use; Prompt′er; Prompt′ing, the act of prompting or suggesting: that which is prompted or suggested; Prompt′itūde, promptness: readiness: willingness: quickness of decision and action.—adv. Prompt′ly.—ns. Prompt′ness; Prompt′ūary, a magazine, repository, a handbook; Prompt′ūre (Shak.), suggestion: instigation. [Fr.,—L. promptus—prōmĕre, to bring forward—pro, forth, emĕre, to bring.]

Promulgate, prō-mul′gāt, v.t. to publish: to proclaim: to make widely known—(arch.) Promulge′.—ns. Promulgā′tion, act of promulgating: publication: open declaration: (law) the first official publication of a new law; Prom′ulgātor. [L. promulgāre, -ātum.]

Promuscis, prō-mus′is, n. a proboscis, esp. of hemipters.—adj. Promus′cidāte, like or having a promuscis.

Pronaos, prō-nā′os, n. the open porch in front of a temple. [Gr., pro, before, naos, a temple.]

Pronation, prō-nā′shun, n. the act of turning the palm of the hand downwards—opp. to Supination.—v.t. Prō′nate, to turn the palm downwards effected by means of the pronator muscle.—n. Pronā′tor, a muscle of the forearm by which pronation is effected. [L. pronāre, -ātum, to lead forward—pronus.]

Prone, prōn, adj. with the face downward: bending forward: headlong: disposed: inclined or sloping.—adv. Prone′ly.—n. Prone′ness. [O. Fr.,—L. pronus; cog. with Gr. prēnēs, prone.]

Prong, prong, n. the spike of a fork or similar instrument: one of several points or projections, as on an antler.—v.t. to stab with a prong.—adj. Pronged, having prongs.—n. Prong′-hoe.—adj. Prong′-horn, having horns with a prong.—n. the prong-buck or cabrit, the American antelope. [Nasalised form of Prov. Eng. prog, to prick—W. procio; cf. Gael. brog, to goad, brog, an awl.]

Pronominal. See Pronoun.

Prononcé, prō-nong-sā′, adj. decided: self-asserting:—fem. Prononcée. [Fr.; cf. Pronounce.]

Pronotum, prō-nō′tum, n. the tergal portion of the prothorax in the Insecta:—pl. Pronō′ta.—adj. Pronō′tal. [Gr. pro, before, nōtos, back.]

Pronoun, prō′nown, n. a word used instead of a noun.—adj. Pronom′inal, belonging to, or of the nature of, a pronoun.—adv. Pronom′inally.

Pronounce, prō-nowns′, v.t. to make known by speaking: to utter with the proper sound and accent: to speak distinctly: to utter formally: to utter rhetorically: to declare.—v.i. to utter confidently: to utter words.—adjs. Pronounce′able, capable of being pronounced; Pronounced′, marked with emphasis: marked.—adv. Pronoun′cedly.—ns. Pronounce′ment, act of pronouncing: an announcement or proclamation; Pronoun′cer.—adjs. Pronoun′cing, Pronun′cial, giving or marking pronunciation.—n. Pronunciā′tion, act or mode of pronouncing: art of speaking distinctly and correctly: utterance. [Fr. prononcer—L. pronuntiāre—pro, forth, nunciāre, to announce—nuntius, a messenger.]

Pronunciamento, prō-nun-si-a-men′to, n. a manifesto: a formal proclamation. [Sp.]

Proœmium, prō-ē′mi-um, n. same as Proem—also Prœ′mion: (rhet.) exordium.—adj. Proœ′mise.

Proof, prōōf, n. that which proves or establishes the truth of anything: test: (obs.) experience: experiment: any process to discover or establish a truth: that which convinces: demonstration: evidence which convinces the mind: state of having been proved: (pl.) in equity practice, the instruments of evidence in their documentary form: (Scots law) the taking of evidence by a judge upon an issue framed in pleading: a test, hence 'Armour of proof,' armour proved to be trustworthy: (arith.) an operation checking the accuracy of a calculation: firmness of mind: a certain strength of alcoholic spirits: (print.) an impression taken for correction, also 'proof-sheet:' an early impression of an engraving—'proof before letter'=one taken before the title is engraved on the plate: (phot.) the first print from a negative.—adj. firm in resisting: noting alcoholic liquors having the specific gravity 0.920:—pl. Proofs.—ns. Proof′-arm′our, armour proved to be able to resist ordinary weapons; Proof′-charge, an extraordinary amount of powder and shot put into a gun to test its strength; Proof′-house, a house fitted up for proving the barrels of firearms; Proof′-leaf (same as Proof-sheet).—adj. Proof′less, wanting proof or evidence.—ns. Proof′-mark, a mark stamped on a gun to show that it has stood the test; Proof′-read′er, a person who reads printed proofs to discover and correct errors; Proof′-sheet, an impression taken on a slip of paper for correction before printing finally; Proof′-spir′it, a mixture containing fixed proportions of alcohol and water—nearly half its weight and fully half its volume of alcohol; Proof′-text, a passage of Scripture held to prove a certain doctrine.—Artist's proof, a first impression from an engraved plate or block; Burden of proof (see Burden); India proof (see Indian). [O. Fr. prove (Fr. preuve)—L. probāre, to prove.]

Proostracum, prō-os′tra-kum, n. the forward continuation of the guard or rostrum in the Belemnites. [Gr. pro, before, ostrakon, shell.]

Prootic, prō-ot′ik, n. a bone developed in some vertebrata in front of the ear—also adj. [Gr. pro, before, ous, ōtos, ear.]

Prop, prop, n. anything on which a weight rests for support: a support: a stay.—v.t. to keep from falling by means of something placed under or against: to support or to sustain in any way:—pr.p. prop′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. propped.—n. Prop′page. [Allied to Sw. propp, Ger. propf, a stopper; some connect also with Ger. pfropf, a graft—L. propago, a set, layer.]

Propædeutic, -al, prō-pē-dū′tik, -al, adj. pertaining to preliminary instruction.—n. Propædeū′tic, a preliminary branch of knowledge: (pl.) the introduction to an art or science. [Gr. pro, before, paideuein, to teach.]

Propagate, prop′a-gāt, v.t. to increase by generation or other natural process: to multiply plants by layers: to extend: to produce: to impel forward in space, as sound, light, energy, &c.: to spread from one to another: to promote: to extend the knowledge of: (obs.) to increase.—v.i. to be produced or multiplied: to have young.—adj. Prop′agable, that can be propagated or increased by generation or other natural process.—ns. Propagan′da, Prop′agand, a committee (congregatio de propaganda fide) at Rome charged with the management of the R.C. missions: any association for the spread of opinions and principles, esp. such as are opposed to the existing government; Propagand′ism, practice of propagating tenets or principles: zeal in spreading one's opinions: proselytism; Propagand′ist, one who devotes himself to propagandism; Propagā′tion, act of propagating: the spreading or extension of anything, as light, sound, energy, &c.: increase: enlargement.—adj. Prop′agātive.—ns. Prop′agātor; Propagatō′rium (biol.), the reproductive apparatus.—adj. Prop′agātory.—ns. Propā′go, a layer or branch laid down to root; Propag′ūlum, a runner or sucker ending in an expanded bud: a gemma or bud affecting asexual propagation in many algæ. [L. propāgāre, -ātum, conn. with pro-pāg-o, a layer.]

Propale, prō-pāl′, v.t. to disclose.

Propalinal, prō-pal′i-nal, adj. moving backward and forward, as the under jaw in mastication. [L. pro, forward, Gr. palin, backward.]

Proparoxytone, prō-par-ok′si-tōn, adj. having the acute accent on the antepenultimate or third last syllable.—n. a word having the acute accent on the antepenultimate.

Propel, prō-pel′, v.t. to drive forward: to urge onward by force:—pr.p. propel′ling; pa.t. and pa.p. propelled′.—n. Propel′lant, that which drives forward.—adj. Propel′lent.—ns. Propel′ler, one who, or that which, propels: any kind of mechanism for moving a ship through the water, by a paddle-wheel, oar, screw, &c.: a vessel thus propelled: a spinning-bait; Propel′ment, act of propelling: propelling mechanism. [L. pro, forward, pellĕre, to drive.]

Propend, prō-pend′, v.i. (Shak.) to lean toward: to be in favour of anything.—adj. Propend′ent. [L. propendēre—pro, forward, pendēre, pensum, to hang.]

Propense. prō-pens′, adj. leaning towards in a moral sense: inclined: disposed.—adv. Propense′ly.—ns. Propense′ness, Propens′ity, inclination of mind: tendency to good or evil: disposition; Propen′sion, tendency to move in a certain direction.—adj. Propen′sive. [L. propensus, hanging forward.]

Proper, prop′ėr, adj. one's own: fitted for a person's nature or qualities: peculiar: belonging to only one of a species (as a name): natural: suitable: correct: just: right: becoming: (B.) comely, pretty: in liturgics, used only on a particular day or festival.—n. something set apart for a special use.—adv. (coll.) very, exceedingly.—adv. Prop′erly, in a proper manner: (coll.) entirely, extremely.—n. Prop′erness.—Properly speaking, in the strict sense: speaking without qualification. [Fr. propre—L. proprius, one's own, akin to prope, near.]

Properispomenon, prō-per-i-spōm′e-non, n. a word with the circumflex accent on the penult. [Gr.,—pro, before, peri, round, spān, to draw.]

Property, prop′ėr-ti, n. that which is proper to any person or thing: a quality which is always present: any quality: that which is one's own: an estate: right of possessing, employing, &c.: ownership: (Shak.) individuality: (pl.) articles required by actors in a play.—v.t. (Shak.) to invest with certain properties: to make a tool of, appropriate.—adj. Prop′ertied, possessed of property or possessions.—ns. Prop′erty-man, -mas′ter, one who has charge of the stage properties in a theatre; Prop′erty-room, the room in which the stage properties of a theatre are kept; Prop′erty-tax, a tax paid by persons possessed of property, at the rate of so much per cent. on its value.—Movable or Personal property, property that may attend the person of the owner, movables; Private property, that which belongs to an individual for his personal disposition and use—opp. to Public property; Real property, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, real estate; Qualified property, the right a man has in reclaimed wild animals—also called Special property: such right as a bailee has in the chattel transferred to him by the bailment. [O. Fr. properte—a doublet of propriety.]

Prophasis, prof′a-sis, n. prognosis. [Gr.]

Prophecy, prof′e-si, n. a prediction: public interpretation of Scripture: instruction: (B.) a book of prophecies. [O. Fr. prophecie—L. prophetīa—Gr. prophēteia—prophētēs.]

Prophesy, prof′e-sī, v.t. to foretell: to predict.—v.i. (B.) to exhort: to expound religious subjects.—pa.t. and pa.p. proph′esīed.—ns. Proph′esīer; Proph′esying. [s has been arbitrarily substituted for c, to distinguish the verb from the noun.]

Prophet, prof′et, n. one who proclaims or interprets the will of God: one who announces things to come: one who predicts or foretells events: (B.) one inspired by God to warn and teach: (pl.) the writings of the prophets.—n.fem. Proph′etess.—ns. Proph′ethood, Proph′etship, quality, office of a prophet.—adjs. Prophet′ic, -al, pertaining to a prophet: containing prophecy: foreseeing or foretelling events.—adv. Prophet′ically.—n. Proph′etism.—Prophetic office, the office of a prophet.—Former prophets, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings; Latter prophets, the prophets properly so called; Major prophets, the prophets whose books come before that of Hosea; Minor prophets, the prophets from Hosea to Malachi; School of the prophets, a school among the ancient Jews for training young men as teachers of the people; The prophets, one of the three divisions into which the ancient Jews divided their Scriptures—consisting of the former and the latter prophets (see above). [Fr.,—L. prophēta—Gr. prophētēs—pro, before, in behalf of, phē-mi, phanai, to speak.]

Prophylactic, prof-i-lak′tik, adj. guarding against: defending from disease.—n. a medicine which wards off disease.—n. Prophylax′is. [Gr. pro, before, phylassein, to guard.]

Propine, prō-pīn′, v.t. to pledge in drinking: to present, guarantee.—n. (obs.) money given as drink-money, any pledge or gift: the power of giving.—n. Propinā′tion, act of drinking healths. [O. Fr.,—L.,—Gr. propinein, pro, before, pinein, to drink.]

Propinquity, prō-ping′kwi-ti, n. nearness in time, place, or blood: proximity: neighbourhood.—v.i. Propinq′uate, to approach. [L. propinquitas—propinquus, near—prope, near.]

Propitiate, prō-pish′i-āt, v.t. to make propitious: to render favourable.—v.i. to make propitiation: to atone.—adj. Propi′tiable, that maybe propitiated or rendered favourable.—ns. Propitiā′tion, act of propitiating: (theol.) that which propitiates: atonement: the death of Christ as a ground of the forgiveness of sin; Propi′tiātor.—adv. Propi′tiatorily.—adj. Propi′tiātory, having power to propitiate: expiatory.—n. the Jewish mercy-seat.—adj. Propi′tious, favourable: disposed to be gracious or merciful: ready to forgive.—adv. Propi′tiously.—n. Propi′tiousness. [L. propitiāre, -ātum, to make favourable—propitius, well disposed; orig. perh. an augur's term with reference to the flying of birds—pro, forward, petĕre, to seek, orig. fly; by others conn. with prope, near.]

Proplasm, prō′plazm, n. a mould, matrix.—adj. Proplas′tic, forming a mould.

Propodite, prop′ō-dīt, n. the sixth joint of the typical limb of a Crustacean.

Propodium, prō-pō′di-um, n. the anterior division of the foot in some Gasteropoda and Pteropoda. [Gr. pro, before, pous, podos, the foot.]

Propolis, prop′ō-lis, n. a red, resinous, odorous substance like wax collected by bees and used to stop crevices in the hive, strengthen cells, &c. [Gr.,—pro, before, polis, city.]

Proponent, prō-pō′nent, adj. proposing.—n. one who makes a proposal or proposition: (law) one who propounds a will for probate.

Proportion, prō-pōr′shun, n. the relation of one thing to another in regard to magnitude: fitness of parts to each other: symmetrical arrangement: (math.) the identity or equality of ratios: the 'rule of three,' in which three terms are given to find a fourth: equal or just share: (obs.) form, figure.—v.t. to adjust: to form symmetrically: to correspond to: to divide into proper shares.—adj. Propor′tionable, that may be proportioned: having a proper proportion.—n. Propor′tionableness.—adv. Propor′tionably.—adj. Propor′tional, having a due proportion: relating to proportion: (math.) having the same or a constant ratio.—n. (math.) a number or quantity in a proportion.—n. Proportional′ity.—adv. Propor′tionally.—adj. Propor′tionate, adjusted according to a proportion: proportional.—v.t. to make proportional: to adjust in proportion.—adv. Propor′tionately.—ns. Propor′tionateness, the quality of being adjusted according to settled rates or comparative relation; Propor′tioning, adjustment of proportions.—adj. Propor′tionless, without proportion or symmetry of parts.—Proportional representation, representation in a parliament, &c., according to the number of electors in an electoral district.—Compound proportion, a proportion between two quantities, each of which is the product of two or more, those of the first set being in their order proportional to those of the other; In proportion, in the degree or measure, according; Inverse, or Reciprocal, proportion, an equality of ratio between two quantities and the reciprocals of other two, as 6 : 3 = ½ : ¼. [L. proportio—pro, in comparison with, portio, portionis, part, share.]

Propose, prō-pōz′, v.t. to put forward or offer for consideration, &c.: to purpose or intend: (obs.) to place out, state, utter, discourse: (Shak.) to face, confront.—v.i. to form an intention or design: to offer, especially marriage: (Shak.) to converse—n. (obs.) talk, discourse.—n. Propō′sal, anything proposed: terms or conditions proposed.—n. Propō′ser. [Fr.,—pfx. pro-, poser, to place.]

Proposition, prop-ō-zish′un, n. a placing before: offer of terms: that which is proposed: the act of stating anything: that which is stated: (gram. and logic) a complete sentence, or one which affirms or denies something: (math.) a theorem or problem to be demonstrated or solved.—adj. Proposi′tional, pertaining to, or of the nature of, a proposition: considered as a proposition. [Fr.,—L. propositio.]

Propound, prō-pownd′, v.t. to offer for consideration: to exhibit.—n. Propound′er. [Orig. propone—L.,—pro, forth, ponĕre, to place.]

Proprætor, Propretor, prō-prē′tor, n. a magistrate of ancient Rome, who, after acting as prætor in Rome, was appointed to the government of a province.

Proprietor, prō-prī′e-tor, n. one who has anything as his property: an owner:—fem. Proprī′etress, Proprī′etrix.—adjs. Proprī′etary, Proprietō′rial, belonging to a proprietor.—n. Proprī′etary, a proprietor, owner: a body of proprietors: the rights of a proprietor.—n. Proprī′etorship, state or right of a proprietor: ownership.—Proprietary right, the right of a proprietor: the common-law right of a playwright to control production or representation of his drama so long as unpublished: the right when protected by copyright after publication.

Propriety, prō-prī′e-ti, n. a person's right of possession: state of being proper or right: agreement with established principles or customs: fitness: accuracy: property: (obs.) individuality.—The proprieties, conventional customs of society. [Fr.,—L. proprietas—proprius, one's own.]

Proprium, prō′pri-um, n. selfhood.

Proproctor, prō-prok′tor, n. a substitute or assistant proctor.

Propterygium, prō-tē-rij′i-um, n. the anterior basal cartilage of the fins in the Elasmobranchii:—pl. Proptery′gia.—adj. Proptery′gial. [L. pro, before, L.,—Gr. pterygion, a fin, pteron, a wing.]

Propugnation, prō-pug-nā′shun, n. (Shak.) defence. [L., pro, for, pugnāre, to fight.]

Propulsion, prō-pul′shun, n. act of propelling: a driving forward.—adjs. Propul′sive, Propul′sory, tending or having power to propel. [Low L. propulsio—L. propellĕre, propulsum, to push forward.]

Propylæum, prō-pi-lē′um, n. a gateway of architectural importance, leading into a temple, &c.:—pl. Propylæ′a.—n. Prō′pylon, a monumental gateway before the entrance of an ancient Egyptian temple, &c. [Gr. pro, before, pylē, a gate.]

Pro rata, prō rā′ta, according to one's share: in proportion.—v.t. Prorāte′, to assess pro rata.

Prore, prōr, n. Same as Prow.

Prorector, prō-rek′tor, n. a substitute or assistant rector.

Pro re nata, prō rē nā′ta, dealing with something that arises unexpectedly or out of due course, for special business. [L. pro, for, re, abl. of res, thing, nata, abl. fem. of natus, born.]

Prorogue, prō-rōg′, v.t. to bring the meetings of parliament to an end for a time: to put off from one session to another:—pr.p. prorōg′uing: pa.t. and pa.p. prorōgued′.—v.t. Prō′rogāte.—n. Prorogā′tion, act of proroguing: a lengthening out: a putting off to another time, esp. the bringing to an end of a session of parliament. [Fr.,—L. prorogāre, -ātum—pro, forward, rogāre, to ask.]

Prorsad, pror′sad, adv. (anat.) forward.—adj. Pror′sal, anterior.

Prosaic, -al, prō-zā′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to prose: like prose: commonplace in style, manner, or thought: dull.—adv. Prosā′ically.—ns. Prosā′icism, Prosā′icness, quality of being prosaic; Prō′saism, a prose idiom: a prosaic phrase; Prō′saist, a writer of prose: a commonplace person.

Proscenium, prō-sē′ni-um, n. the front part of the stage: the curtain and its framework. [L.,—Gr. proskēnion—pro, before, skēnē, the stage.]

Proscribe, prō-skrīb′, v.t. to publish the names of persons to be punished: to put beyond the protection of law: to banish: to prohibit: to denounce, as doctrine.—ns. Prōscrib′er; Prō′script; Proscrip′tion, the act of proscribing or dooming to death or outlawry: utter rejection.—adj. Prōscrip′tive, pertaining to, or consisting in, proscription.—adv. Prōscrip′tively. [L. proscribĕre—pro, before, publicly, scribĕre, scriptum, to write.]