P

pa, [Hum.] n. Short form of PAPA. (pa:).

'pabulum, n. Food, sp. for thought.
('pabjuləm).

pace, 1. n. (Distance covered by) step with
the foot; (sp. of horse) way of walking,
running; rate of moving, doing. Keep p.
with, keep up with. 2. v.i.&t. Go with
slow, regular steps; p. on, across; get
measured by pp.; go at p. for (runner
etc.) to keep up with. (peis).

'pachyderm, n. Thick-skinned, 4-footed
animal. ('pakidə:m).

'pacify, v.t. Make at peace, quiet, no
longer angry. pa'cific, a. Loving or helping
peace. 'pacifism, n. View that war
is wrong and unnecessary. ('pasifai).

pack, 1. n. Parcel made to be taken on
back of man or animal; group of
dogs, WOLVES etc. going about together;
mass, number, (of persons, things); complete
group of playing-cards; stretch of
sea full of broken ice. 2. v.t.&i. Put
into box, parcel etc.; put things into
(box etc.); get, become, crushed into
small space; put soft material etc.
round to keep from damage, etc. P. a
jury, committee etc., get number of persons
onto it who are on one's side; send
person packing, send him away quickly,
angrily. '-age, n. Parcel. '-et, n. Small
parcel; p.-boat. '-et-boat, n. Ship
transporting post. 'p.-horse, n. One for
taking packs. '-ing, n. Sp., material for
packing. (pak).

pact, n. An agreement. (pakt).

pad, 1. n. Cushion, soft material used to
keep thing in position, to keep from
damage, to make form different, etc.;
leg-cover for use in CRICKET etc.; soft
under-part of foot of certain animals;
number of leaves of paper fixed one on
top of another. 2. v.t. Put pp. on or in;
make (book etc.) longer with unnecessary
material. '-ding, n. Sp., material
for padding. (pad).

'paddle, 1. n. OAR-like instrument worked
by hand and not supported on side of
boat, for sending small boat through
water; blade of p.-wheel; act, stretch, of
paddling. 2. v.t.&i. Send (boat)
through water with p.; go walking in
water without shoes. 'p.-wheel, n.
Wheel with blades for driving boat
through water. ('padl).

'paddock, n. Small grass field. ('padək).

'padlock, v.t., n. (Make shut with) lock
which may be put onto ring or chain of
door etc. ('padlɔk).

'padre, n. Name given to man of religion
in army or sea force. ('pa:dri).

'paean, n. Song voicing pleasure at some
happy event. ('pi:ən).

'pagan, n., a. (One who is) not Christian,
Jewish, or Mohammedan. ('peigən).

page, 1. n. (One side of) a leaf of paper in
a book. 2. v.t. Put numbers on pp. of.
(peidʒ).

page, 1. n. Boy servant. 2. v.t. Send p.
through hotel etc. crying out name of
(person) to see if he is there.

'pageant, n. Acting by great number of
persons, freq. outside, of some event in
history etc., sp. in PROCESSION; any
public event full of colour giving effect
as of p. '-ry, n. Colour, effects, (as) of
pageant. ('padʒənt).

pa'goda, n. High, pointed building used
for purposes of religion in China, India,
Japan. (pə'goudə).

paid. See PAY.

pail, n. Bucket. (peil).

pain, 1. n. Feeling troubling, causing loss
of comfort to, body or mind. On p. of
death etc., with death etc. as punishment
if one does something; take pp., do
one's best, take trouble. 2. v.t. Give p.
to. '-ful, a. Sp., causing pain. '-staking,
a. Taking care, trouble. (pein).

paint, 1. n. Colouring-material mixed with
oil or liquid. 2. v.t.&i. Make picture of
with p.; make (picture) with p.; put p.
on; p. pictures. '-ing, n. Sp., painted
picture. (peint).

'painter, n. Cord by which boat may be
fixed to ship, landing-stage etc. ('peintə).

pair, 1. n. 2 things of the same sort used
together; 2 persons acting together,
married etc.; 2 animals of opposite sex;
thing having 2 like parts used together
(a p. of scissors etc.). 2. v.t.&i. Put
together as, be forming, a p. or pp. (peə).

pa'jamas, n. pl. PYJAMAS. (pə'dʒa:məz).

pal, [Com.] n. Friend. (pal).

'palace, n. House of ruler or BISHOP;
great, beautiful house. pa'latial (pə'leiʃəl),
a. Of, like, a palace. ('palis).

'paladin, n. [Hist.] Any of 12 special
KNIGHTS of Charlemagne; man noted for
kind acts, pleasing behaviour. ('palədin).

'palaeo-, Old, earliest. palae'ography,
n. Work of making out old writings.
records cut in stone etc. -'lithic, a. Of
time marked by use of earliest stone instruments.
-n'tology (paliɔn'tɔlədʒi), n.
Science of living forms no longer in
existence. -'zoic, a. Of the earliest
stage of earth's history or the first living
things. ('paliou-).

palan'quin, n. Covered bed used in E. for
transport. (palən'ki:n).

'palate, n. Roof of mouth; sense of taste.
Hard, soft, p., front, back, part of p.
'palatable, a. Pleasing to the taste
or mind. ('palit).

pa'laver, 1. n. Discussion among group;
unnecessary talk. 2. v.i. Be talking for
long time and with little purpose.
(pə'la:və).

pale, 1. a. (Sp. of face) having little
colour; (of colour) light, not bright. 2.
v.t.&i. Make, become, p. P. before,
sp., seem unimportant etc. in comparison
with. 'p.-face, n. Name said to have
been used by N. Am. Indians for white
person. (peil).

pale, n. Long, pointed bit of wood used for
garden etc. walls; limit, sp., of what is
respected by society (within, beyond, outside,
the p.). 'paling, n. Wall of pales.

'palette, n. Board on which painter of
pictures gets colours mixed. ('palit).

'palfrey, [Old] n. Quiet horse used for
going on horseback. ('pɔ:lfri).

'palimpsest, n. Skin etc. used for writing
on again after earlier writing has been
rubbed out. ('palimpsest).

pali'sade, 1. n. Wall of PALES for keeping
place safe from attack. 2. v.t. Put p.
round. (pali'seid).

pall, n. Cloth for covering chest in which
dead body is put. (pɔ:l).

pall, v.i. Become uninteresting by being
present, used, done, for long time.

pal'ladium, n. Thing, belief etc., on whose
safe-keeping something is said to be
dependent. (pə'leidiəm).

'pallet, 'palliasse, nn. Bed or bed-cushion
of dry grain-stems. ('palit, 'palias).

'palliate, v.t. Make (disease, trouble)
somewhat better; (of fact) make (crime,
error) less bad. 'palliative, n., a. (Thing)
palliating disease etc. ('palieit).

'pallid, a. With little colour, ill-looking.
'pallor, n. White, unhealthy colour of
skin. ('palid).

palm, 1. n. Inside part of hand between
arm and fingers. 2. v.t. Keep (card etc.)
out of view in hand. P. off something on,
get (person) to take thing of little value,
bad quality. '-ist, n. Palmistry expert.
'-istry, n. Art of reading person's future
from lines on palm. (pa:m).

palm, n. Sorts of tree common in warm
places,
gen. with
straight,
unbranched
stem
and mass
of wide
leaves
at top;
branch of
p. given as
reward for
doing well
in war,
competition
etc. P.
Sunday,
the Sunday
before
Easter
when
branches
of (tree
representative
of) p.
arc taken
to church. '-er, [Hist.] n. PILGRIM
coming back from Jerusalem with palm-branch.
-'etto (pal'metou), n. Sorts of
small palm. '-y, a. P. days, time of
doing very well.

'palpable, a. Which may be touched;
clear to the mind or senses. ('palpəbl).

'palpitate, v.i. (Of heart etc.) have very
quick rhythm; be shaking (with feeling).
palpi'tation, n. Sp., diseased palpitating
of heart. ('palpiteit).

'palsy, 1. n. PARALYSIS. 2. v.t. PARALYSE.
('pɔ:lzi).

'palter, v.i. Say first one thing
and then another, be unstraightforward (with);
HAGGLE. ('pɔ:ltə).

'paltry, a. Of no value, unimportant, to
be looked down on. ('pɔ:ltri).

'pampas, n. pl. Stretch of fiat country
without trees in S. America. 'p.-grass, n.
A tall feather-like grass. ('pampəs).

'pamper, v.t. Be over-kind to, make over-much
of. ('pampə).

'pamphlet, n. Thin, paper-covered book,
sp. on current political or other question.
pamphle'teer, n. Writer of political
pamphlets. ('pamflit).

pan, 1. n. Flat vessel for cooking or other
purposes. 2. v.t.&i. Only p. (earth) off,
out, get it washed off gold in miner's p.;
p. out well (badly), (of earth) give much
(little) gold; have good (bad) outcome.
'-cake, n. Thin flat cake cooked in fat
in a pan. (pan).

pan-, Of or for all ('-'African (a.)).

pana'cea, n. Something able to put
right all diseases, troubles etc. (panə'siə).

'pana'ma, n. (Hat of) white, readily
folded material made from leaves of S.
Am. tree. ('panə'ma:).

'pancreas, n. GLAND near stomach producing
liquid helping digestion. ('paŋkriəs).

'panda, n. BEAR-like Indian animal.
('pandə).

pande'monium, n. Condition completely
without order, great, uncontrolled noise.
(pandi'mouniəm).

'pander, 1. v.i. Be go-between for one with
sex interest in another; give help, outlet
(to another's bad qualities, desires). 2. n.
One who panders. ('pandə).

pane, n. Bit of
glass forming division of window. (pein).

pane'gyric, n. Talk, verse, voicing great
approval. (pani'dʒirik).

'panel, 1. n. Division of face of wall, door
etc., marked off from rest freq. by being at
different level; material, freq. of different
colour, sort, let in down dress; list of JURY;
list of medical men to whom workers
covered by Brit. Insurance Act may go
for attention when ill. 2. v.t. Put pp.
on, in. '-ling, n. Panels. ('panl).

pang, n. Sudden sharp pain; sudden
strong feeling of regret etc. (paŋ).

'panic, 1. n. Uncontrolled fear going from
person to person. 2. a. (Of fear) unreasoning.
('panik).

panjandrum, [Hum.] n. Name given to
one in high position. (pan'dʒandrəm).

'pannier, n. Basket, gen. one of 2, for
hanging at side of animal used for transport
or taking on person's back; top part
of skirt pushed out at sides and hanging
in folds. ('paniə).

'pannikin, n. Metal drinking-vessel.
('panikin).

'panoply, n. Complete metal war-dress.
('panəpli).

pan'optic, a. Giving a complete view by
picture etc. of a system. (pan'ɔptik).

pano'rama, n. Wide view; picture, view,
unrolled before eyes of onlooker; picture
painted on inside of turning CYLINDER.
(panə'ra:mə).

'pansy, n. Small garden plant with wide,
flat flowers. ('panzi).

pant, 1. v.i. Take quick short breaths;
have very strong desire (for, to). 2. n.
Quick short breath. (pant).

panta'lettes, [Hist.] n. pl. Girl's or woman's
long under-trousers. (pantə'lets).

panta'loon, n. Sort of CLOWN. -s, [Sp.
Am.] n. pl. Trousers. (pantə'lu:n).

pan'technicon, n. Great covered cart for
moving things from house.
(pan'teknikən).

'pantheism, n. Belief that GOD is in
everything. ('panθhizm).

'pantheon, n. [Gk., Rom.] Building where
respect is given to all the GODS; building
where stones etc. are put up in memory
of the great dead. ('panθiən).

'panther, n. Sorts of great cat-like animal,
sp. LEOPARD. ('panθə).

'pantile, n. Curved roof-brick. ('pantail).

'pantomime, n. Acting without words,
making signs; Christmas play for the
young, with music, dancing, humour.
('pantəmaim).

'pantry, n. Room in which food or silver,
linen, and other things for table are
kept. ('pantri).

pants, n. pl. Men's underclothing for
lower part of body and legs; [Sp. Am.]
trousers. (pants).

pap, n. Soft or liquid food for babies;
[Old] NIPPLE. (pap).

pa'pa, n. Father. (pə'pa:).

'papacy, n. Position of, time of being,
system of rule by, POPE. 'papal, a. Of
POPE or his position. 'papist, n. One in
R.-C. Church (used as sign of poor
opinion). ('peipəsi).

'pa(w)paw, n. (Great soft fruit of) tree of
warm countries. ('pɔ:pɔ:).

'paper, 1. n. Thin, flat material made by
rolling crushed wood, cloth etc., used for
writing and printing on, covering parcels,
etc.; newspaper; writing about some
special question, sp. designed for reading
to a group; printed questions on some
branch of learning as education test;
answers in writing to these; p. money;
DOCUMENT. On p., sp., in theory; person's
pp., sp., those giving details of who he
is or giving him authority. 2. v.t. Get p.
pasted on (sp. walls). 'p.-chase, n. Run
across country in which runners are guided
by small bits of paperdropped by person(s)
going before. 'p.-hanger, n. One whose
trade is papering walls. 'p.-knife, n. Knife
for cutting pages in books. 'p.-weight,
n. Weight to put on loose papers. ('peipə).

'papier-'mache, n. Paper in form of soft,
wet mass used for making boxes etc.
('papjei'maʃei).

pa'poose, n. N. Am. Indian word for
baby. (pə'pu:s).

pa'prika, n. Orange-red powder used to
give taste in cooking. (pə'pri:kə).

pa'pyrus, n. (Writing-material made in
early Egypt from stem of) water-plant;
a writing done on p. (pə'paiərəs).

par, n. Normal amount, degree, condition.
At p., (of SHARES etc.) at their marked
value; on a p. with, equal to. 'parity
('pariti), n. Being equal; being at par.
(pa:).

'parable, n. Story made up for purpose of
teaching, ALLEGORY. ('parəbl).

pa'rabola, n. Plane curve whose 2 arms get
farther from one
another. (pə'rabələ).

'parachute, n. Apparatus
opening in
air, used for jumping
or dropping
from airplane.
('parəʃu:t).

pa'rade, 1. v.t.&i.
Put on view, make
attempt to get
public attention
for; get (military
forces etc.) together
to be viewed by
one in authority;
go through streets
in military order.
2. n. A parading;
wide public walk in town. (pə'reid).

'paradigm, [Lang.] n. The different forms
of a v. etc. given as an example.
('parədaim).

'paradise, n. EDEN; place where the good
are said to go after death. ('parədais).

'paradox, n. Statement which says or
seems to say 2 opposite things or is
against common sense. ('parədɔks).

'paraffin, n. Wax-like substance got from.
wood, coal etc., used for making wax-lights
etc.; oil from wood, coal etc., used
sp. for lighting. ('parəfin).

'paragon, n. Very good person, thing, as
example of highest qualities. ('parəgən).

'paragraph, 1. n. (In writing or printed
material) division marked by starting
first word farther from edge of page than
in other lines. 2. v.t. Make division of
into pp. ('parəgra:f).

'parakeet, n. Sort of small long-tailed
PARROT. ('parəki:t).

'parallax, n. (Measure in degrees of)
seeming change in position of star etc.
caused by changing point of observation.
('parəlaks).

'parallel, 1. a. (Of lines etc) at the same
distance from one another at all points; (of
line) having this relation (to); like, in the
same relation as, another. 2. n. Line on
map marking degree of LATITUDE; person,
thing, p. in some way to another;
comparison making clear p. relation. 3. v.
t. Put forward something as a p. of; be p. to.
paral'lelogram, n. 4-sided plane form
whose opp. sides are parallel. ('parəlel).

pa'ralysis, n. Loss of feeling or power of
motion caused by damage to nerves.
'paralyse ('parəlaiz), v.t. Give p. to.
para'lytic, n., a. (One) having paralysis.
(pə'ralisis).

'paramount, a. Highest, chief.
('paramaunt).

'paramour, n. One having sex connection
with person married to another.
('parəmuə).

'parapet, n. Low wall at edge of roof, sides
of bridge, etc. ('parəpit).

parapher'nalia, n. pl. Different things
forming person's property or used for
some special work. (parəfə'neiliə).

'paraphrase, 1. v.t. Give sense of in
other words. 2. n. Words used in
paraphrasing. ('parəfreiz).

'parasite, n. Animal or plant living in or
on body of another and using it as food;
one kept by another and giving nothing
in exchange. para'sitic, a. ('parəsait).

para'sol, n. Umbrella for giving shade
from sun. (parə'sɔl).

'parboil, v.t. Get (meat etc.) half-cooked
by boiling. ('pa:bɔil).

'parcel, 1. n. Goods etc. done up for transport
etc., sp. in paper; a number together
of; bit of land. Part and p. of, a
necessary part of. 2. v.t. Only p. out,
make division, distribution, of. ('pa:sl).

parch, v.t. Make dry by heat; make in
need of drink. (pa:tʃ).

'parchment, n. Skin, sp. of sheep or
goats, as writing-material. ('pa:tʃmənt).

pard, [Old] n. LEOPARD. (pa:d).

'pardon, 1. v.t. FORGIVE. 2. n. A forgiving;
[Law] letting a person off punishment.
'-able, a. Which may readily be
pardoned, not serious. ('pa:dn).

pare, v.t. Get edge or outer part of (thing)
cut away; make less by degrees. (peə).

pare'goric, n. Liquid for medical purposes
made from OPIUM. (pare'gɔrik).

'parent, n. Father or mother; that producing,
responsible for existence of,
some other thing. '-age, n. Who one's
parents are, one's family line. pa'rental,
a. ('peərənt).

pa'renthesis (parentheses), n. Word(s)
put into statement as addition not forming
part of its structure, marked off
from it between pp. or other signs; the
signs ( ) (gen. pp.). paren'thetical, a. Put
in as a parenthesis. (pə'renθisis
(pə'renθishz)).

por 'excellence, [F.] In a higher degree than
all others. (pa:r 'ekselɔ:ns).

par'helion, n. Very bright place on sun's
HALO. (pa:'hi:ljən).

'pariah, n. One of lowest group in Indian
society; one looked on as outside
society. P. dog, yellow dog running free
in India. ('pariə).

'parish, n. COUNTY division with separate
church; division of country forming unit
under Eng. poor-law. par'ishioner, n.
One living in parish. ('pariʃ).

'parity. See PAR.

park, 1. n. Stretch of grass-land or woodland
round country house; stretch of
public grass-land (with trees, flowers) in
town; space lor waiting automobiles.
2. v.t. Put (automobile.) in p. (pa:k).

'parlance, n. Way of talking, words, common
among some group (sp. in common
p.). ('pa:ləns).

'parley, n., v.i. Meeting for discussion, sp.
between 2 sides, armies. ('pa:li).

'parliament, n. Law-making body in
Britain formed of HOUSE OF COMMONS
and HOUSE OF LORDS (P.); body like this
in other countries. pariiamen'tarian,
n. Expert in parliamentary discussion.
parlia'mentary, a. Of, in, effected by,
parliament; (of language) POLITE.
('pa:ləmənt).

'parlour, n. Room in house or hotel for seeing
friends in, etc. 'p.-maid, n. Woman
servant waiting at table. ('pa:lə).

'parlous, [Old, Hum.] a. Full of danger,
bad. ('pa:ləs).

pa'rochial, a. To do with a PARISH;
narrow in outlook. (pə'roukiəl).

'parody, n., v.t. Book etc. giving amusement
by copying another's way of
writing; feeble copy. ('parədi).

pa'role, n. Prisoner's undertaking not to
make attempt to get away. (pə'roul).

'paroquet, n. PARAKEET. ('parəket).

'paroxysm, n. Sudden violent attack, outburst,
of pain, feeling etc. ('parəksizm).

'parquet, n. Wood bricks placed in design
as floor. ('pa:kei).

'parricide, n. The putting to death of
one's father, near relation, or ruler; one
who does this. ('parisaid).

'parrot, 1. n. Sorts of birds with short,
hooked mouth-part, and freq. with
bright feathers, quick at learning to say
words; one copying what others say with
little knowledge of its sense. 2. v.t.&i.
Say words copying like a p. ('parət).

'parry, v.t., n. Keep off (blow) with motion
of arm, etc.; get out of answering (question)
by putting another, etc. ('pari).

parse, [Lang.] v.t. Give account of
form, relation to others, of (word);
make clear relation between different
parts of (statement). (pa:z).

'parsimony, n. Care in using money,
goods, without waste, sp. as bad quality.
parsi'monious (pa:si'mounjəs), a.
('pa:siməni).

'parsley, n. Plant whose leaves are used
for ornamenting or giving taste to food.
('pa:sli).

'parsnip, n. (Plant having) yellow root
cooked for food. ('pa:snip).

'parson, n. Protestant PRIEST, sp. one
having control of a church. '-age, n.
Parson's house. ('pa:sn).

part, 1. n. Some, but not all, of a thing or
things, division; any of a number of
equal pp.; what one does or is responsible
for in some work etc. with others;
what actor does, says, as person in play.
In p., in some degree; on the p. of, done
by, coming from; p. of speech, [Lang.]
any of the sorts of words, such as n., v.,
a.; person of pp., able person with good
powers of mind; take in good p., not be
made angry, troubled, by; take p. in (act
etc.), do with others, be helping in; take
the p. of, give support, approval, to (in
argument etc.); these (those) pp., this
(that) part of the country. 2. v.t.&i.
Make division in, undergo division;
make separate; go away (from, with), p.
from one another. P. one's hair, make
line of division through it with comb;
p. with, give up or away. 3. adv. In part.
'-ing, n. Sp., line of division in hair. P.
of the ways, point of branching in road
etc. '-ly, adv. In part. 'p.-song, n. Song
with different parts for 3 or more voices,
forming harmony. (pa:t).

par'take (partook, partaken), v.i. Take a
part (of); take part (in); take some (of
food, drink etc.); give suggestion (of
some quality). (pa:'teik).

par'terre, n. Level space with small flowerbeds;
space for onlookers on lowest floor
of theatre. (pa:'teə).

'partheno'genesis, [Sc.] n. Producing of
offspring without sex connection.
('pa:θənou'dʒenisis).

'Parthian 'shot, n. Something said as a
last blow, argument, at parting.
('pa:θjən 'ʃɔt).

'partial, a. Not complete, in part; wrongly
giving approval, support, to one side
more than another. P. to, having a taste
for. parti'ality, n. Being partial in feelings;
taste (for). ('pa:ʃl).

par'ticipate, v.i. Take part in common
act, feeling etc. participant, n.
(pa:'tisipeit).

'participle, [Lang.] n. An a. formed from a
v. but keeping v.'s relation to dependent
words. ('pa:tisipl).

'particle, n. Very small bit; [Lang.]
prep., conj., int., or addition to start or
end of word (un-, -ness etc.). ('pa:tikl).

'particoloured, a. Coloured differently in
different parts. ('pa:tikʌləd).

particular, 1. a. To do with one as
separate from others, special; giving
great care, attention, to detail, not
readily pleased. In p., specially. 2. n.
Detail, point. Pp., detailed account.
'-ize, v.t. Give particulars of. '-ly, adv.
Specially. (pə'tikjulə).

parti'san, n. Supporter of some cause,
person, group etc. (pa:ti'zan).

par'tition, 1. n. Division into parts;
structure separating 2 parts; one of
such parts. 2. v.t. Make division of.
(pa:'tiʃn).

'partner, 1. n. One taking part with
another or others in something, sp. one
of owners of business, one married to
another, one playing on same side with
one other. 2. v.t. Be a p. to. ('pa:tnə).

par'took. See PARTAKE.

'partridge, n. Sorts of field bird valued
for food. ('pa:tridʒ).

partu'rition, n. Giving birth. (pa:tju'riʃn).

'party, n. Body of persons united in support
of cause, opinion, sp. political;
group of persons journeying, working,
together; coming together of friends by
request, sp. in private house, for pleasure;
one or other of sides in law process
or of persons etc. undertaking agreement;
one taking part in or giving
approval (to an act); [Hum.] person. Be
p. to (act etc.), take part in, give approval
to, it; p. system, system of government
in which political party having
greatest number of representatives in
PARLIAMENT has control; p. wall, division
wall between 2 buildings etc.,
which is common property of the 2
owners. ('pa:ti).

'parvenu, [F.] n. Person of low birth who
has got into high position, made much
money. ('pa:vənju:).

'pasha, n. (In Turkey) man with high military
or government position. ('pa:ʃə).

pass, 1. v.t.&i. Go to and farther than,
go by; (make) go (down, over, through
etc.); give by handing; send out (sp.
water) from body as waste; be changed
(from one condition etc. to another);
come to an end, death (freq. p. away);
get or let through (test etc.); put
through, make, (a law etc.); become law.
by agreement of greater number; take
place, go on, (sp. between persons); get
through (time); be outside the range of.
P. a remark, make one; p. for, sp., be
taken to be; p. judgment on, give decision,
opinion, on; p. off, sp., (of condition
etc.) go away; take general attention
from thing which might be cause of
trouble; p. (person, thing) off as, get
him, it, taken for (something he, it,
is not); p. out, sp., become unconscious;
p. over, sp., give no attention to. 2. n.
Act of passing ball from one player to
another; motion of blow at something;
motion of hand over something etc., (as)
in CONJURING; marks needed for passing
test, sp. as lower than those needed for
HONOURS; free ticket, paper giving
authority, to go somewhere; serious, bad,
condition (freq. a sad, pretty, p.);
narrow way between, through, mountains.
'-able, a. (Of roads etc.) able to be
passed over; good enough but not very
good. 'p.-book, n. Person's bank-account
book. '-ing, a. Sp., short, quickly
over. 'p.-bey, n. Key opening a number
of different locks. '-word, n. COUNTERSIGN.
(pa:s).

'passage, n. Going past or through, moving;
change from one condition to
another; sea-journey from one place to
another; way through, sp., CORRIDOR;
making of a law; part of statement,
writing, about which opinion is given,
etc. Pp., sp., exchange of views, etc.
taking place between 2 persons; p. of, at,
arms, fight, argument. ('pasidʒ).

'passé, [F.] a. Past its, his, her (passée),
best; old, no longer current. ('pasei).

'passenger, n. Person making journey by
train, ship etc. ('pasindʒə).

'passion, n. Strong, sp. angry, feeling;
sex love; strong desire, love, (for). P.
play, one picturing P. of Christ; the P.,
Christ's pain and death. '-ate, a. Readily
moved by, marked by, passion. ('paʃn).

'passive, a. Acted on, not acting; not
putting up a fight; [Lang.] (of v. form)
used in talking from point of view of
person to whom act is done. ('pasiv).

'Passover, n. Day kept in memory of
time when GOD put Egyptians to death
but kept Jews safe. ('pa:souvə).

'passport, n. Government paper taken by
person journeying to other countries,
giving his name, nation, and other details.
('pa:spɔ:t).

past, 1. a. To do with, having taken place,
before the present, opp. future. P. master
at, one very expert at. 2. n. P. time,
events; one's p. existence. 3. prep.
After in time or place; by, farther than.
4. adv. By. (pa:st).

paste, 1. n. Uncooked meal mixed with
liquid, butter etc., for cakes etc.; sticky
substance made of meal and water; any
p.-like substance, sp., made from fish,
meat; material used for making DIAMOND-like
jewels. 2. v.t. Get fixed (down,
together, on etc.) with p. '-board, n.
Cardboard. (peist).

'pastel, n. (Picture done with) sort of
coloured chalk. P. shade, soft, light
shade of colour. ('pastel).

'pastern, n. Part of horse's foot between
hard part and FETLOCK. ('pastə:n).

'pasteurize, v.t. Get (milk etc.) free from
disease bodies by Pasteur's heating
process. ('pastəraiz).

pas'tiche, n. Music etc. formed of bits of
other works put together; writing etc.
copying a writer's special quality.
(pas'ti:ʃ).

pas'tille, n. Sweet or medical LOZENGE.
(pas'ti:l).

'pastime, n. Amusement, sport.
('pa:staim).

'pastor, n. PRIEST who is head of a church;
teacher, guide, in religion. '-al, 1. a. 2. n.
Letter from pastor to those in his church
or other PRIESTS. ('pa:stə).

pastoral, 1. a. To do with keepers of
sheep, country things. 2. n. P. verses,
writing; see PASTOR. ('pa:stərəl).

'pastry, n. FLOUR mixed with water,
butter etc., freq. covering meat or fruit,
cooked in oven. ('peistri).

'pasture, 1. n. Grass-land used for animals;
the grass on such land. 2. v.t.&i. Put
(animals) on p.; put animals on (land);
take grass for food. 'pasturage, n.
Pasture; pasturing. ('pa:stʃə).

'pasty, 1. a. Like paste; (of face) white,
unhealthy-looking. 2. ('pasti), n. Meat
cooked in paste. ('peisti).

pat, 1. v.t. Give soft blow to with open
hand or other flat thing. 2. n. Such
blow; small bit of butter etc. given form
by patting. (pat).

pat, adv., a. Readily, at the right minute.

patch, 1. n. Material stitched, pasted etc.,
over damaged place, hole; p.-like mark,
stretch; [Hist.] small bit of black silk etc.
put on face as ornament; bit of land, sp.
for gardening. Not a p. on, [Com.] far
from being as good as. 2. v.t. Put p(p).
on; put together quickly or bit by bit.
P. up, put right roughly, for short time.
'-work, n., a. Bits of cloth of different
colours and sizes stitched together. '-y, a.
Sp., made of different materials, like
patchwork; unequal in quality. (patʃ).

'patchouli, n. (Sweet-smelling liquid got
from) Indian plant. ('patʃu:li).

pate, [Hum.] n. Head. (peit).

'patent, 1. a. Open, clearly to be seen;
(of sort which might be) patented.
Letters p., open letter from government
giving person some right, sp. that of being
the only maker of, or trader in, some
new invention; p. leather, leather coated
with sort of paint to give it a polish. 2.
n. (Right given by) letters p.; invention
or process covered by p. 3. v.t. Get p. for
(invention etc.). paten'tee, n. One who
has patent for invention. ('peitənt).

'pater, [Hum.] n. Father. -familias
('peitəfə'miljas), [Hum.] n. Head of a
family. ('peitə).

pa'temal, a. Of, like, a father; (of property
etc.) having come to one through
one's father. '-ism, n. Government control
of details of existence for purpose
of increasing general well-being, but
making persons less free. pa'ternity, n.
Being a father; who one's father is;
family line through father. (pə'tə:nl).

'paier'noster, n. Christ's PRAYER starting
"Our Father," sp. in L. ('patə'nɔstə).

path, n. Footway, way through fields,
woods; line of motion of person, thing.
'-way, n. Path. (pa:θ).

pa'thetic, a. Poor, unhappy, making one
sad. 'pathos ('peiθɔs), n. Pathetic
quality. (pa'θetik).

pa'thology, n. Science of diseases.
(pə'θɔlədʒi).

'patience, n. (Power of) undergoing pain,
trouble etc. without protest, going on
waiting or working for something without
reward; form of card-play, gen. for
one. Out of p. with, no longer able to
put up with. 'patient, 1. a. Having
patience. 2. n. Person getting care from
medical man. ('peiʃəns).

'patina, n. Green rubstance seen on old
BRONZE; smooth polished look (as) on
old wood etc. ('patinə).

'patois, n. Form of a language talked in
some part of a country by persons
without education. ('patwa:).

'patriarch, n. Male head of family
or family group; BISHOP in certain
churches; greatly respected old man.
'-ate, n. Position of, division ruled by,
church patriarch. ('peitria:k).

pa'trician, n., a. Rom. NOBLEMAN; (person)
of high birth. (pə'triʃn).

'patricide, n. PARRICIDE. ('peitrisaid).

'patrimony, n. Property handed down
to one from one's father or family.
('patriməni).

'patriot, n. One loving, fighting for, his
country. patri'otic, a. '-ism, n. Being
a patriot. ('patriət).

pa'trol, 1. v.t.&i. Go round (town,
military place etc.) to see that all is
well. 2. n. Group patrolling. (pə'troul).

'patron, n. One supporting, helping, person,
cause, art etc.; person doing regular
business at certain store etc. '-age
('patrəmdʒ), n. Support of a patron;
right to give church or political positions;
patronizing airs. '-ize, ('patranaiz), v.t.
Be a patron to; put on air of being
much more important than (person one
is talking to, helping). ('peitran).

patro'nymic, n., a. (Name) formed from
name of father. (patrə'nimik).

'patten, n. Overshoe with wood base and
iron rings for foot. ('patn).

'patter, 1. v.t.&i. Say, be talking, very
quickly or smoothly. 2. n. Pattering;
[Com.] sort of ready talk common in
certain business etc. ('patə).

'patter, 1. n. Sound of quick, small blows;
sound of quick, small footsteps. 2. v.i.
Make a p.; go with a p.

'pattern, n. Very good example; thing
to be copied sp., form of dress etc. cut
out in paper, used in dress-making;
design, sort; bit of cloth etc. as example;
ornamenting design. ('patən).

'patty, n. Small PASTY or PIE. ('pati).

'paucity, n. Being small in number,
amount. ('pɔ:siti).

paunch, n. First stomach of cow etc.; fat
stomach. (pɔ:ntʃ).

'pauper, n. Very poor person, sp. one
helped by public money. ('pɔ:pa).

pause, v.i., n. (Come to) stop for a time in
middle of doing something; [Mus.] mark
(∩ or ∪) put over or under note or sign
for rest making dear that it is to be
made longer than normal. Give p. to,
make (person) p. for thought. (pɔ:z).

pave, v.t. Put pavement on. P. the way
for, make possible, make things smooth,
simple, for. '-ment, n. Flat stones,
bricks etc., covering street, floor; paved
footway at side of street. (peiv).

pa'vilion, n. Great TENT; ornamented
building for pleasure purposes, sp. for
use of persons watching or playing outdoor
sports. (pə'viljən).

paw, 1. n. Animal's foot with nails; [Hum.]
hand. 2. v.t. Give touch to with p.; (of
horse) be stamping (earth) withfoot. (pɔ:).

'pawky, [Scot.] a. Full of quiet, dry
humour. ('pɔ:ki).

pawl, n. Part keeping toothed wheel or rod
from slipping, moving in opp. direction.
(pɔ:l).

pawn, 1. n. Only in p., pawned. 2. v.t.
Get money by giving (jewels, clothing
etc.) as SECURITY. '-broker, n. One
who gives use of money at interest on
property pawned. '-shop, n. Pawnbroker's
place of business. (pɔ:n).

pawn, n. CHESSMAN of least value; person
used by another as instrument.

pay (paid), 1. v.t.&i. Give money etc. to,
as price for work, goods etc.; give as
price for something; give back amomt
of (debt); undergo punishment, pain, for
one's acts; give (attention etc.); (of business
etc.) give a profit. P. a call, visit,
make one; p. off, sp., p. (workmen)
fully and send them away; p. one's way,
make necessary payments without
getting into debt; p. out, sp., let (cord)
go out by degrees; get equal with
(person) for wrong done to one; p. the
penalty, undergo it. 2. n. Payment for,
sp. regular, work. In the p. of, working
for and paid by. paid, a. '-able, a.
Which has to be paid. '-master, n.
One responsible for paying men in
army, workmen. '-ment, n. Sp., amount
paid; reward. (pei (peid)).

pea, n. Plant with seeds in POD which are
used for food; a p. seed. '-nut, n. (Seed
of) plant forming nut-like seeds in the
earth. -se, [Old] n. pl. Peas. (pi:).

peace, n. Condition in which there is no
fighting, opp. war; agreement, harmony;
rest, quiet. Hold one's p., say nothing.
'-able, a. Desiring, having tendency to,
peace. '-maker, n. One causing peace
to be made. 'p.-offering, n. Thing offered
to put an end to bad feeling after argument
etc. (pi:s).

peach, n. (Tree having) stone-fruit with
soft skin coloured yellow and light red;
delicate light red; [Com.] beautiful, very
sweet, girl. (pi:tʃ).

peach, [Com.] v.i. (Sp. of schoolboys) make
statement against one who has taken
part in wrongdoing.

'peacock, n. Male
bird noted for
beautiful tail.
'pea'hen, n.
Female of peacock.
('pi:kɔk).

peak, n. Pointed
top, sp. of mountain;
pointed
front part of
man's hat without
BRIM; highest
point. (pi:k).

peaked, a. With thin, white face. (pi:kt).

peal, 1. n. Loud sound of bell(s), sp. with
changing notes; group of bells for playing
together; loud burst of thunder or
laughing. 2. v.t.&i. (Make) give out a
p. (pi:l).

pear, n. (Tree having) apple-like fruit round
at one end and pointed at the other. (peə).

pearl, 1. n. Bright, delicately coloured
mass formed in OYSTER, highly valued as
jewel; thing of great value. P. barley,
small round grains of BARLEY used in
cooking. (pə:l).

'peasant, n. Country person living, working,
on the land. '-ry, n. The peasants of
a country. ('pezənt).

peat, n. Plant material acted on by water
till it is a coal-like mass, used for
burning. (pi:t).

'pebble, n. Small stone made smooth and
round by water. ('pebl).

pe'can, n. Sort of smooth nut. (pi:'kan).

pecca'dillo, n. Wrongdoing, bad quality
in person, which is unimportant, not
serious. (pekə'dilou).

'peccary, n. Am. animal like pig; leather
made from p. skin. ('pekəri).

peck, 1. v.t.&i. Give blows to or at (thing),
take up bit of (food), with BEAK; make
(hole) by pecking; take (food) delicately,
in small bites; give quick kiss. 2. n.
Blow given by pecking. '-ish, [Hum.]
a. Ready for food. (pek).

peck, n. Unit of dry measure, 2 gallons.

'pectoral, a. Of, for, the chest. ('pektərəl).

'peculate, v.i.&t. EMBEZZLE. ('pekjuleit).

pe'culiar, a. Strange, surprising; special.
P. to, to do with, special to, certain
person(s), thing(s). peculi'arity, n.
(pi'kju:ljə).

pe'cuniary, a. Of money. (pi'kju:njən).

'pedagogue, n. School-teacher. 'pedagogy,
n. Science of teaching. ('pedəgɔg).

'pedal, 1. a. Of the foot or feet. 2. n. Part
of a machine or instrument pushed by
the feet. 2. v.i.&t. Put pp. in motion;
be working pp. of (BICYCLE). ('pedl).

'pedant, n. One over-valuing book-learning,
fixed rules. ('pedənt).

'peddle, v.t.&i. Do door-to-door trade in
(small goods). 'pedlar, n. One who
peddles. ('pedl).

'pedestal, n. Base of COLUMN; base for
supporting work of art etc. ('pedistl).

pe'destrian, 1. a. Going, done, on foot;
of walking; (of writing etc.) uninteresting.
2. n. Walker. (pi'destriən).

'pedigree, n. Family tree; long family
tree, good birth. P. animal, one whose
p. is recorded. ('pedigri:).

'pediment, n. 3-sided part of face of sp.
Gk. building, over door etc. ('pedimənt).

peek, v.i., n. (Take a) quick, secret look.
(pi:k).

peel, 1. v.t.&i. Take skin off (fruit etc.);
(of skin of body, tree etc.) come off in
bits 2. n. Skin, sp. thick, of fruit. (pi:l).

peep, 1. n. A look with half-shut eyes or
through narrow opening; quick, secret
look; first light of day. 2. v.i. Take a p.;
come into view by degrees or in part.
'p.-show, n. Pictures etc. seen through
glass in small opening. (pi:p).

peep, n., v.i. Cry of young bird.

peer, v.i. Take a look (at etc.) from short
distance, as if not seeing clearly; (of
sun etc.) PEEP. (piə).

peer, n. Person's equal in position or some
quality etc.; (in Brit. society) man with
any of certain high positions handed down
(duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron).
'-age, a. The peers; peer's position; book
listingpeers. '-ess, n. Sp., woman married
to a peer. '-less, a. Having no equal.

'peevish, a. Bad-humoured, not. readily
pleased. ('pi:viʃ).

peg, 1. n. Pin of wood, metal etc., for
joining parts of framework together,
hanging clothing on, stopping hole, etc.;
[Com.] drink of alcohol. Take person down
a p., [Com.] give him a less good opinion
of himself. 2. v.t.&i. Get fixed or
marked out with pp. P. away, [Hum.]
keep on working (at); p. out, [Hum.]
come to one's death. (peg).

'pejorative, n., a. (Word etc.) used as sign
of low opinion of, feeling against, something.
('pi:dʒərətiv).

'peki'n(g)ese, n. Small Chinese dog with
long soft hair. ('pi:ki'ni:z ('pi:kin'i:z)).

pelf, [Hum.] n. Money, things of value.
(pelf).

'pelican, n. Water-bird with bag-like part
under long BEAK. ('pelikən).

pe'lisse, n. Small girl's long, outdoor coat.
(pe'li:s).

'pellet, n. Small ball of bread, paper etc.;
PILL; small lead ball for gun. ('pelit).

'pell-'mell, adv. Quickly, in no sort of
order. ('pei'mel).

pei'lucid, a. Very clear, readily seen
through; very clear to mind. (pel'ju:sid).

pelt, n. Skin of animal having wool or hair,
before it is made into leather. (pelt).

pelt, v.t.&i. Make attack on with stones,
sticks etc.; (of rain etc.) come down hard.
(At) full p., at greatest possible rate.

'pelvis, n. Basin-like hollow formed by
base of backbone and bones where legs
are joined to body. ('pelvis).

'penamican, n. Am. Indian cake of dry,
crushed meat. ('pemikən).

pen, 1. n. Small shut-in place for animals.
2. v.t. Put into p.; put or keep in small
space (p. up, in). (pen).

pea, 1. n. Instrument for writing with ink.
2. v.t. Put in writing. '-holder, n. Part
of pen into which pen-point is fixed.
'-knife, n. Small pocket-knife. '-man-ship,
n. Art, way, of writing by hand.
'p.-name, n. Name used by writer in
place of his right one.

'penal, a. To do with, giving, given as,
punishment; (of act) for which punishment
may be given, sp. by law. P. servitude,
punishment by prison for not less
than 3 years. '-ize, v.t. Make (act) penal;
give penalty to (sp. player). 'penalty
('penlti), n. Punishment for wrong act,
not keeping agreement, etc.; thing which
one has to put up with as outcome of
one's acts, behaviour; loss of points etc.
undergone for some error by player or
by person in competition. ('pi:nl).

'penance, n. Punishment which one gives
to oneself for wrongdoing, sp. at PRIEST'S
direction (do p.). ('penans).

pence. See PENNY.

'penchant, [F.] a. Taste (for). ('pɔnʃɔŋ).

'pencil, 1. n. Writing-instrument of
GRAPHITE, chalk etc., covered by wood
or metal. 2. v.t. Get marked, put in
writing, with p. ('pensl).

'pendant, 'pendent, 1. (gen. -ant), n.
Hanging ornament on chain round neck,
etc.; thing balancing, going with,
another. 2. (gen. -ent), a. Hanging, overhanging;
waiting decision. ('pendənt).

'pending, 1. a. Waiting decision. 2. prep.
While waiting for (decision
etc.), for end of (discussion
etc.). ('pendiŋ).

'pendulous, a. Hanging loosely
and moving freely. 'pendulum,
n. Hanging body moving
freely from side to side, sp.
controlling motion of clock
etc. ('pendjuləs).

'penetrate, v.t.&i. Make a
way into or through; see
into, get clear about. 'penetrating,
a. Sp., (of mind)
seeing clearly into things;
(of voice) loud and clear. ('penitreit).

'penguin, n. Sea-bird living in very cold
places, with wings for swimming, not for
flight, and walking upright. ('peŋgwin).

pe'ninsula, n. Land stretching far out
into sea or almost circled by it. -r, a. Of,
like, a peninsula. (pi'ninsjulə).

'penitent, n., a. (One) feeling regret for
wrongdoing; one doing PENANCE.
peni'tential, a. Of penitence or PENANCE.
peni'tentiary, 1. n. Prison giving
training to overcome tendency to crime;
[Am.] prison. 2. a. Of PENANCE or penitentiary
training; [Am.] for which one
may be sent to prison. ('penitənt).

'pennant, 'pennon, nn. Long, narrow,
pointed flag. ('penənt, 'penən).

'penny (pence or pennies), n. Bit of
BRONZE (at one time copper) English
money, 1/12 shilling. '-weight, n. Measure.
of weight, 1/20 ounce TROY. '-worth, n.
As much as may be got for a penny.
('peni (pens)).

'pension, 1. n. Regular payment made to
person no longer working by government,
company etc., in view of work done
in past, etc. 2. v.t. Give p. to. '-er, n.
One getting a pension. ('penʃn).

'pensive, a. Deep in thought. ('pensiv).

pent, a. Shut in or up. (pent).

'penta-, 5. '-gon, n. Plane form with 5, sp.
equal, straight sides. '-gram, n. 5-pointed
star. pen'tameter, n. English verse-line
of 5 IAMBIC divisions. '-teuch ('pentətju:k),
n. First 5 books of BIBLE. ('pentə-).

'penthouse, n. Roof sloping out from side
of building, sp. as forming outhouse;
house on top of a building. ('penthaus).

pe'nultimate, n., a. (Letter etc. which is)
last but one. (pi'nʌltimit).

pe'numbra, n. Outer, lighter, part of shade
made by a body (see ECLIPSE). (pi'nʌmbrə).

'penury, n. Being very poor, in need.
pe'nurious (pi'nuəriəs). a. Sp., not
giving readily. ('penjuri).

'peon, n. Spanish Am. farm-worker, freq.
of Indian blood, who is not free. ('pi:ən).

'peony, n. (Garden plant with) great
round red or white flower. ('pi:əni).

'people, 1. n. pl. Persons; p. of a nation;
(not pl.) nation or RACE. One's p., sp.,
one's relations; the p., common p., the
masses. 2. v.t. Put p., animals, in; (of
p.) be living in (place). ('pi:pl).

pep, [Com.] n. Quality of being full of force,
quick and bright. (pep).

'pepper, 1. n. (Powder made from) small
berries of certain plants, used to give
burning taste to food; long red, yellow,
or green seed-vessel of certain plants,
used as food (sweet p.). 2. v.t. Put p. on or
in; send number of small stones etc. at
(p. with). 'p.-and-'salt, n. (Colour of)
cloth made of dark and light wool
mixed. '-corn, n. Dry pepper berry.
'-mint, n. (Plant producing) oil with
burning taste; p. sweet. '-y, a. Sp.,
quick to become angry. ('pepə).

'pepsin, n. Liquid produced in stomach.,
helping in process of digestion. ('pepsin).

per, prep. Through, by, by the help of;
for every. P. annum [L.], every year; a
pound etc. p. capita [L.], at the rate of
a pound etc. for a person; p. cent, in, on,
every 100. -'centage, n. Rate per, number
in every, 100. (pə:).

perad'venture, [Old] 1. adv. By chance.
2. n. Chance, doubt. (pərəd'ventʃə).

pe'rambulate, v.t. Go walking through,
about, (street, place). 'perambulator
('prambjuleitə), n. 4-wheeled cart for
pushing baby in. (pə'rambjuleit).

per'ceive, v.t. Be or become conscious of
with one of the senses or with the mind,
sp. see. per'ceptible, a. per'ception, n.
Sp., power of perceiving. per'ceptive,
a. Having (to do with) perception. per'cipient,
a. Perceiving. (pə'si:v).

perch, n. River-fish, used as food. (pə:tʃ).

perch, 1. n. (Rod for use as) bird's resting-place;
high, p.-like position; measure
of distance, 5 1/2 yards. 2. v.i.&t. Come
to rest (on), take position (on); put as
on a p.

per'chance, [Old] adv. By chance;
possibly. (pə'tʃa:ns).

'percolate, v.i.&t. (Of liquid etc.) get
slowly through (substance); make (liquid)
p. 'percolator, n. Coffee-making
apparatus. ('pə:kəleit).

percussion, n. The coming of one body
against another violently. Instrument of
p., instrument of music played by p.; p.
cap, small metal vessel with gunpowder
in it, made to go off by blow of hammer
etc. in gun. (pə:'kʌʃn).

per'dition, n. Unending punishment after
death; complete downfall. (pə:'diʃn).

peregri'nation, n. Joumey(ing) from
place to place. (perigri'neiʃn).

pe'remptory, a. (Of order etc.) not to be
questioned, given sharply, with decision.
(pə'remptəri).

pe'rennial, 1. a. Going on all through the
year; going on for long time, for ever;
(of plant) living for more than 2 years.
2. n. P. plant. (pə'renjəl).

'perfect, a. Complete, with everything
necessary; without error, completely
right or good. The p. (tense), [Lang.]
form of v. used when act or event is
viewed as complete in past. per'fect
(pə:'fekt), v.t. Make p. perfection, n.
Sp., being perfect; a perfect person,
thing; perfect quality. '-ly, adv. Sp.,
quite, completely. ('pə:fikt).

per'fervid, a. (Sp. of talk, writing) very
FERVID. (pə:'fə:vid).

'perfidy, n. Act, quality, of being false to
friends etc. per'fidious, a. ('pə:fidi).

'perforate, v.t.&i. Make hole(s) through,
sp., make line of holes in (paper) so that
part may be pulled off. ('pə:fəreit).

per'force, adv. Necessarily, because
forced to do so. (pə'fɔ:s).

per'form, v.t.&i. Give effect to (order,
undertaking etc.); do (work, operation);
be playing (music), acting (play); (of
trained animals) do stage tricks. '-ance,
n. Sp., a performing of a play. '-er, n.
Sp., actor etc. '-ing, a. (Of animals)
trained to do tricks. (pə'fɔ:m).

'perfume, n. (Liquid having) sweet smell.
per'fume, v.t. Give sweet smell to, put
p. on. per'fumer, n. Sp., maker of,
trader in, perfumes. ('pə:fju:m).

per'functory, a. Done, acting, without
interest or care. (pə'fʌŋktəri).

'pergola, n.
Covered place
or walk formed
by plants going
over framework.
('pə:gələ);

per'haps, adv.
Possibly, it may
be. (pə'haps
(praps)).

peri'helion, n.
That point in PLANET'S journey at which
it is nearest to sun. (peri'hi:ljən).

'peril, n. Great danger. ('peril).

pe'rimeter, n. (Measure of) outline
round body or form. (pə'rimitə).

'period, n. Stretch of time, sp. one for
which something goes on; stage in history
or person's existence; [Lang.] complete
statement, sp. of complex form;
FULL STOP. Pp., sp., high-sounding
language. peri'odic, a. Done, taking
place, after regular spaces of time.
peri'odical, 1. n. Paper coming out
every week, month etc. 2. a. Periodic.
('piəriəd).

peripa'tetic, a. Walking about from place
to place for one's business. (peripə'tetik).

pe'riphery, n. PERIMETER, sp. of circle.
(pə'rifəri).

pe'riphrasis, n. Roundabout way of
saying something. (pə'rifrəsis).

'periscope, n. Instrument with glasses so
placed as to give view from level higher
than viewer's eyes, used sp. in SUBMARINES.
('periskoup).

'perish, v.i. Come to destruction, death.
Perished with cold, feeling very cold.
'-able, a. Readily damaged, quickly
going bad. '-ables, n. pl. Perishable
goods. ('periʃ).

perito'nitis, n. Disease causing INFLAMMATION
of skin covering inside of ABDOMEN.
(peritə'naitis).

'periwig, n. PERUKE. ('periwig).

'periwinkle, n. Small SHELL-FISH used for
food. ('periwiŋkl).

'periwinkle, n. (Sorts of evergreen plant
with) light blue flower.

'perjure, v.t. Only p. oneself, consciously
make a false statement after taking
OATH. '-d, a. Having perjured oneself.
'perjury, n. Perjuring oneself. ('pə:dʒə).

perk, v.i.&t. Only p. up, put one's head up,
take an interest; put up (head, tail) as
sign of interest. '-y, a. Bright, putting
oneself forward, certain of oneself.
(pə:k).

'permanent, a. Going on for a long time,
for ever, unchanging. P. wave, waves put
in hair in way which keeps them in for
some months; p. way, bed of railway.
('pənnənənt).

'permeate, v.t.&i. Get all through, into
every part of. ('pə:mieit).

per'mit, v.t. Let be done, let (to do).
'permit, n. Authority in writing permitting
something to be done. per'missible,
a. Which is permitted. per'mission,
n. Sp., words etc. permitting,
per'missive, a. (pə'mit).

permu'tation, [Math.] n. Change in the
order of a group of units placed in line;
any of orders so produced. (pə:mju'teiʃn).

per'nicious, a. Damaging, bad.
(pə:'niʃəs).

per'nickety, [Com.] a. Desiring every unimportant
detail to be right, not readily
pleased. (pə'nikiti).

pero'ration, n. End part of public talk.
(perə'reiʃn).

pe'roxide, n. Chemical used for keeping
wounds clean and for making hair light.
(pə'rɔksaid).

perpen'dicular, n., a. (Line etc.) at right
angles to earth or base, upright, opp.
HORIZONTAL. (pə:pən'dikjulə).

'perpetrate, v.t. Do (crime etc.), make
(error). ('pə:pitreit).

per'petual, a. Going on for ever, a long
time; frequent; going on without a stop.
per'petuate, v.t. Keep from going out of
use or memory. perpe'tuity, n. Sp. in p.,
for ever. (pə'petjuəl).

per'plex, v.t. Make (person) troubled, in
doubt; make (question) more complex,
less clear. '-ity, n. (Thing causing)
doubt, perplexed condition. (pə'pleks).

'perquisite, n. Profit, thing regularly
given, looked on as one's right in addition
to regular payment. ('pə:kwizit).

'persecute, v.t. Be acting cruelly to
(person), sp. because of his beliefs; go on
troubling (with questions etc.).
('pə:sikju:t).

perse'vere, v.i. Keep on at, with, something.
(pə:si'viə).

'Persian, n., a. (Person, language) of
Persia (now Iran). ('pə:ʃən).

persi'flage, n. BANTER. (peəsi'fla:ʒ).

per'simmon, n. Soft yellow fruit of N.
America, China etc. (pə:'simən).

per'sist, v.i. Keep on without change;
make no change in opinion, way of
acting, sp. in face of protest. (pə'sist).

'person, n. Man, woman, boy, girl; living
body of p. (have on one's p., etc.); [Lang.]
any of 3 sorts of prons, etc. used for p.
talking (first p.), p. talked to (second
p.), p. talked of (third p.). Be present etc.
in p., be present oneself. '-able, a.
Good-looking. '-age, n. (Important)
person. '-al, a. To do with person as
different from a group, private; to do
with a person's qualities, looks, body;
done etc. by the person himself; [Lang.]
(of prons.) used of a person. -'ality, n.
Being a person; qualities of mind, feeling,
special to some one person. Pp., sp.,
observations of a personal sort about
person's looks etc. '-ally, adv. In person;
talking for oneself (p. I am pleased).
'-alty, [Law] n. Property other than
land. per'sonify, v.t. Be looking on
(thing, fiction), make picture of (quality),
as a person; be oneself an example of
(quality). -'nel, n. Body of persons working
in sp. public undertaking. ('pə:sn).

perspective, n., a. Art of picturing solid
things on flat plane so that the eye sees
the same relations of size, position etc., as
if viewing the things themselves from
some point; picture so made; seeming
relation of size, distance etc., between
things seen; relation in which different
parts of some question etc. are viewed
by the mind. (pə'spektiv).

perspi'cacious, a. Good at judging, wise.
(pə:spi'keiʃəs).

per'spicuous, a. In clear language;
readily taken in by mind. (pə'spikjuəs).

per'spire, v.i. Give off liquid through skin.
(pə'spaiə).

per'suade, v.t. Make (person) certain (of,
that); get (person to do) by talk, argument.
per'suasion (pə'sweiʒn), n. Sp., (persons
having) certain religion, belief. per'sua-tive,
a. Able to persuade. (pə'sweid).

pert, a. Forward, without respect, in talk,
behaviour. (pə:t).

per'tain, v.i. Only p. to, be a part of, the
property of; have to do with. (pə'tein).

perti'nacious, a. Not readily giving up,
fixed in purpose etc. perti'nacity, n.
(pə:ti'neiʃəs).

'pertinent, a. To the point; having
relation (to question etc.). ('pə:tinənt).

per'turb, v.t. Make troubled physically or
in mind. (pə'tə:b).

pe'ruke, [Hist.] n. Man's long-haired WIG.
(pə'ru:k).

pe'ruse, v.t. Go through (thing in writing),
be reading, sp. with care. (pə'ru:z).

per'vade, v.t. Go all through, into every
part of. (pə'veid).

per'verse, a. Going on with error, wrongdoing,
in the face of argument, reason;
wrong, against reason. (pə'və:s).

per'vert, v.t. Get turned to a wrong use;
get (person, mind) turned from right
opinion, behaviour. 'pervert, n. One
whose sex behaviour is perverted.
per'version, n. (pə'və:t).

pe'seta, n. Silver bit, unit, of Spanish
money. (pə'setə).

'pessimism, n. Opp. OPTIMISM.
('pesimizm).

pest, n. Person, animal, thing, causing
trouble, destruction; [Old] pestilence.
-'iferons, a. Causing damage, disease.
'-ilence, n. Any serious disease attacking
great number of persons. '-ilent, a.
Pestiferous; [Com.] troubling. (pest).

'pester, v.t. Be troubling with frequent
requests etc. ('pestə).

'pestle, n. Instrument for crushing substances
in MORTAR. ('pestl).

pet, 1. n. Animal trained and kept as a
friend; person specially loved, given
special attention. P. aversion, specially
hated thing. 2. v.t. Make much of, be
loving to. (pet).

pet, n. Bad humour about something not
very important. '-tish, a. (Said or done)
in a pet.

'petal, n. Any one division of COROLLA of
flower. ('petl).

pe'tard, [Hist.] n. Small apparatus used
for bursting hole in door etc. with
gunpowder. (pe'ta:d).

'peter, [Com.] v.i. Only p. out, come to an
end, go out of existence. ('pi:tə).

pe'tite, a. (Of woman) small, delicately
made. (pə'ti:t).

pe'tition, 1. n. Request to ruler etc., sp. one
signed by number of persons. 2. v.t.&i.
Make p. to (person for thing). (pi'tiʃn).

'petrel, n. Small black and white sea-bird
with long wings. ('petrəl).

'petrify, v.t.&i. Get, be, turned into
stone; take power of motion or thought
from, through fear, surprise etc.
petri'faction, n. Petrifying; condition
of being petrified. ('petrifai).

pe'troleum, n. Readily burning oil got
from the earth, used for lighting, heating,
power. 'petrol ('petrəl), n. Sort of
oil made from petroleum, used in
automobiles etc. to give driving-power.
(pi'trouliəm).

'petticoat, n. Woman's underskirt.
('petikout).

'pettifogging, a. Making trouble about
small, unimportant things, narrow in
outlook. ('petifɔgiŋ).

'petty, a. Unimportant, on a small scale;
narrow-minded, giving overmuch attention
to small things. P. cash, (in business)
money for or from small payments;
p. officer, man in one of lower positions
of authority in sea force, without COMMISSION
or WARRANT. ('peti).

'petulant, a. PEEVISH. ('petjulənt).

pe'tunia, n. Garden or potted plant with
white or blue-red flowers. (pi'tju:njə).

pew, n. Long church seat with back. (pju:).

'pe(e)wit, n. Sort of PLOVER named after
cry. ('pi:wit).

'pewter, n. Grey metal made from tin
mixed with lead; p. vessels etc. ('pju:tə).

'phaeton, n. Open 4-wheeied carriage for
2 horses. ('feitn).

'phagocyte, [Sc.] n. Sort of LEUCOCYTE of
special use in keeping off disease.
('fagəsait).

'phalanx, n. [Gk.] Body of military on
foot massed in solid order for fighting;
number of persons banded together for
common purpose. ('falaŋks).

'phantasm, n. PHANTOM. phantasma'goria
(fantazmə'gɔ:riə), n. Great number
of phantasms, strange, shade-like
things, seen one after another. 'phantasy,
n. FANTASY. ('fantazm).

'phantom, n. Shade of dead person; form
without substance, thing which only
seems to be present. ('fantəm).

'Pharaoh, n. Name given to rulers of early
Egypt. ('feərou).

'Pharisee, n. [Hist.] One of group of Jews
noted for keeping laws etc. in narrow
way; narrow-minded person placing
over-great value on forms. Phari'saical
(fari'seiikl), a. ('farisi:).

'pharmacy, n. The making and giving out
of medical substances; store trading in
these. pharma'ceutical (fa:mə'sju:tiki),
a. To do with, working at, pharmacy.
pharma'cology, n. Theory of
pharmacy. pharmaco'poeia (fa:məkə'pi:ə).
n. Book with list of medical substances
and directions for use; store of
medical substances. ('fa:məsi).

'pharynx, n. Hollow part at back of
mouth with openings into nose and
throat. pharyn'geal (farin'dʒi:əl), a.
('fariŋks).

phase, n. Stage of development; amount
of moon (new, full etc.) seen from earth
at any time. (feiz).

'pheasant, n. Long-tailed bird common in
Europe, valued for food. ('feznt).

phe'nomenon (phenomena), n. Thing
which is noted by the senses; strange,
uncommon event, thing, person. phe'nomenal,
a. Sp., very strange, surprising.
(fi'nɔminən).

'phial, n. Small bottle for medical substances,
etc. ('faiəl).

phi'lander, v.i. Make love for amusement,
not seriously. (fi'landə).

phi'lanthropy, n. Kind feeling for, doing
good to, other persons generally.
philan'thropic, a. Sp., given to philanthropy.
(fi'lanθrəpi).

phi'lately, n. The getting together of,
expert knowledge of, post-office stamps.
(fi'latəli).

'Philistine, n., a. (One) without knowledge
of learning, the arts, caring only for
material things (from name of group in
early Palestine). ('filistain).

phi'lology, n. Science of structure and
development of language. (fi'lɔlədʒi).

phi'losophy, n. Reasoning about the what,
how, and why of existence, or about the
relations between different branches of
knowledge; system of thought produced
by this; quiet, untroubled outlook even
in face of danger, unhappy events.
phi'losopher, n. One doing or teaching
philosophy; one who keeps an untroubled
mind. philo'sophical, a. phi'losophize,
v.i. Be talking like a philosopher; be working
out theory in philosophy. (fi'lɔsəfi).

'philtre, n. Drink said to have effect of
making drinker in love. ('filtə).

phlebitis, [Med.] n. INFLAMMATION of wall
of blood-vessel. ('flibaitis).

phlegm, n. Jelly-like substance produced
by skin in throat, nose etc. and sent
up by coughing; quality of being slow in
act. and feeling, not readily moved.
phleg'matic (fleg'matik), a. Having
this quality. (flem).

phlox, n. Sorts of garden plant with small
flat flowers massed together. (flɔks).

'phoebe, n. Small Am. bird. ('fi:bi).

'phoenix, n. [Fict.] Bird which, after living
hundreds of years, was burned by itself
on a fire and came out young again;
thing without an equal. ('fi:niks).

phone, v.t.&i., n. Short form of the
word TELEPHONE. (foun).

pho'netic, a. To do with the sounds of the
voice; (of languages) regularly using the
same letter for the same sound. -s,
n. Science of voice sounds; (n. pl.) system
of phonetic signs. (fə'netik).

'phonic, a. Of, by, sound. ('founik).

'phonograph, n. Instrument automatically
recording sounds and producing
them again. ('founəgra:f).

'phosgene, n. A poison gas. ('fɔzdʒi:n).

'phosphate, n. Any salt of PHOSPHORUS.
('fɔsfeit).

'phosphorus, n. Yellow, wax-like, chemically
simple substance, readily burning
and phosphorescing. phospho'resce
(fɔsfə'res), v.i. Give out feeble light without
beat or burning. ('fɔsfərəs).

'photo(graph), 1. n. Picture made by
chemical effect of light on thin plate of
glass, etc. coated with special substance;
picture printed from p. 2. v.t. Make a p.
of. photo'genic (foutou'dʒenik). a.
With face which makes a good photograph.
pho'tography (fə'tɔgrəfi), n. Art,
process, of photographing. photogra'vure
(foutəgrə'vjuə), n. Picture printed
from a metal plate made from plate of
photograph. ('foutou(gra:f)).

phrase, 1. n. Small group of words going
together, forming part of statement;
short, pointed way of phrasing thing;
[Mus.] short group of notes. 2. v.t. Put into
words (in certain way). phrase'ology
(freizi'ɔlədʒi), n. Wording. (freiz).

phre'nology, n. Judging of qualities of
brain from form of head. (fri'nɔlədʒi).

'physic, n. Medical art; medical substance.
'-al, a. To do with those things which
are looked on as outside the mind; to do
with the body. P. geography, that to do
with structure of the earth. phy'sician,
n. Medical expert, sp., one other than
SURGEON. '-ist ('fizisist), n. One working
at or expert in physics. -s, n. Science of
the properties of material things other
than those in the field of chemistry or
biology. ('fizik).

physi'ognomy, n. (Art of judging person's
qualities from) form of face.
(fizi'ɔnəmi).

physi'ology, n. Science of the normal
working of living bodies, sp. animals.
physio'logical, a. (fizi'ɔlədʒi).

phy'sique, n. Structure, degree of
development, of the body. (fi'zi:k).

'piano, [Mus.] n., adv. (Part to be played)
softly. pia'nissimo (pja'nisimou),
[Mus.] n., adv. (Part to be played) very
softly. ('pja:nou).

'piano, piano'forte, nn. Music instrument
in which
stretched
wires are
given blows by
hammers
worked from
KEYS. 'pianist,
n. Piano
player. pia'nola,
n. Piano
played by
machine and
feet. ('pjanou,
pjanou'fɔ:ti).

pi'azza, n. Public square or market-place,
sp. in It. town; (pi'azə) [Am.] VERANDAH.
(pi'adzə).

'pibroch, n. Form of music for bagpipes.
('pi:brɔk).

'picador, n. Man on horseback whose
business is to make BULL angry in sport
of BULL-fighting. ('pikadɔ:).

'piccaninny, n. Black baby. ('pikənini).

'piccolo, n. Small FLUTE. ('pikəlou).

pick, 1. n. Instrument with pointed iron
head at right angles to wood hand-part,
for getting hard earth, stones, broken;
small sharp-pointed instrument; selection.
The p. of, the best part of.
2. v.t.&i. Get (lock) open (as) with a
p.; be pulling at with fingers, nails; get all
meat off (bone); take (flower, fruit) off
plant; take (up, off, from); make selection
of, sp., with care. P. a quarrel, make
one on purpose; p. holes in, sp., be
pointing out what is wrong in; p. oneself
up, get up after a fall; p. one's teeth, get food
from them with tooth-p.; p. out, make
selection of; get marked out from others;
be playing (music) guided only by ear;
p. person's pocket, take something from
it secretly; p. up, sp., get knowledge of,
become expert at; get strong again after
being ill; p. up with, become a friend of.
'p.-a-back, adv. (Of way person etc. is
taken) on person's back. '-axe, n. Pick
for earth, stones etc. '-ings, n. pl. Small
bits which are over. 'p.-me-up, n.
Drink etc. giving one stronger, brighter
feeling. '-pocket, n. Person picking
pockets. (pik).

'picket, 1. n. Pointed stick pushed into
earth; [Mil.] small body of men sent out
on watch, acting as police, etc.; man or
body of men taking up position near
work-place to keep persons from working
at time of STRIKE. 2. v.t.&i. Put
wall of pp. round; get (horse etc.) fixed
to p.; get (men) placed as p.; keep watch
on (work-place etc.) with pp. ('pikit).

'pickle, 1. n. Salt, VINEGAR etc. used for
keeping meat etc. good; [Hum.] boy
or girl frequently getting into trouble.
Pp., roots, fruit etc. kept in p.; in a (sad,
pretty) p., [Hum.] in a bad, unhappy, or
dirty condition. 2. v.t. Put in p. ('pikl).

'picnic, 1. n. Meal taken for pleasure out
of doors. 2. v.i. Have p. ('piknik).

'picot, n. Edge on material formed of
thread twisted into points, made by
cutting through middle of HEMSTITCHING
done by machine. ('pi:kou).

pic'torial, a. To do with, by, having,
pictures. (pik'tɔ:riəl).

'picture, 1. n. Painting, outline etc. representative
of person, animal, thing; beautiful
person, thing, view; thing seen with
mind's eye; account causing mind-picture.
Be the p. of (some quality), seem
to have it in high degree; the pp., sp.,
motion pp. 2. v.t. Make, be, a p. of; give
a p. of in words; have a p. of in one's
mind. pictu'resque (piktʃə'resk). a.
Like, such as would make, a good
picture; (of language, behaviour) full of
colour. 'p.-palace, 'p.-theatre, nn.
Building where motion pictures are put
on view. ('piktʃə).

'pidgin, a. Only p. English, form of English
mixed with Chinese etc. used between
Chinese etc. and Europeans. ('pidʒin).

pie, n. Fruit or meat covered with paste
and cooked in oven. '-crust, n. Cooked
paste of pie. (pai).

'piebald, a. (Of horse etc.) having white
and black marks on it of no regular
form. ('paibɔ:ld).

piece, 1. n. Bit, part of something, amount
of a solid substance; unit in which thing
is made (p. of cloth etc.); play, picture, bit
of music or writing; bit of metal money
(sixpenny p., etc.); great gun; any of the
special bits of wood, bone, used in playing
CHESS, DRAUGHTS etc. Give person a
p. of one's mind, make clear one's poor
opinion of him, his behaviour. 2. v.t.
Put (parts, details) together. P. out,
make out by putting together parts of
(story, theory etc.). '-meal, a., adv.
(Done etc.) bit by bit, a part at a time.
'p.-work, n. Work for which payment is
made in relation to amount done.
(pi:s).

pied, a. Black and white or of mixed
colours. (paid).

pied à'terre, [F.] n. House, room etc. which
one keeps for use at times. (pieida:'teə).

pier, n. Structure going out into sea, for
walking on or as landing-stage; upright
support for arch of bridge; solid stone-work
between windows etc. 'p.-glass, n.
Long looking-glass. (piə).

pierce, v.t. Go through, into, (as) with
sharp instrument; make (hole) through
something. (piəs).

'pierrot, n. One of group giving music and
songs, gen. going from place to place and
dressed in loose white clothing with faces
painted white. pier'rette, n. Female
pierrot. ('piərou).

'piety, n. Quality of being PIOUS. ('paiəti).

'piffle, n. Foolish talk, writing. ('pifl).

pig, 1. n. Long-nosed animal kept for food;
[Hum.] one who is dirty, takes overmuch
food, or does some unkind act etc.; long
mass of iron etc. made by heating metal
till liquid and putting into forms. 2. v.i.
P. it, be living in dirty way. '-gery, n.
Place for pigs. p.-headed, a. OBSTINATE.
'-iron, n. Iron formed into pigs.
'-sticking, n. Going after woodland pigs
for sport. '-sty, n. Building for pigs.
'-tail, n. PLAIT of hair hanging from
back of head. (pig).

'pigeon, n. Sorts of bird used for food,
freq. trained for transporting letters.
Clay p., sort of roughly made plate used
as moving mark for firing at. 'p.-hole,
1. n. One of number of small divisions in
back part of DESK etc. 2. v.t. Put
(papers) in p. ('pidʒin).

'pigment, n. Colouring-material, sp., that
naturally present in skin, hair etc.
('pigmənt).

'pigmy, n. PYGMY. ('pigmi).

pike, [Hist.] n. SPEAR used by military
fighting on foot. '-staff, n. Rod of pike.
(paik).

pike, n. Great river-fish.

'pilchard, n. Small sea-fish. ('piltʃəd).

pile, n. Wood upright pushed into earth,
sp. under water, as base for building-structure.
'p.-driver, n. Machine for
driving in piles. (pail).

pile, 1. n. Mass of things put one on
another; great high building; [Com.]
great amount of money. 2. v.t. Put in a
p. (freq. p. up, on etc.).

pile, n. Thick, soft NAP on cloth, floor-cover
etc.

piles, n. pl. Disease marked by SWELLINGS
in part of body from which solid waste is
sent out. (pailz).

'pilfer, v.t.&i. STEAL (things of little
value). ('pilfə).

'pilgrim, n. One journeying to some place
as act of religion; [Let.] one journeying
about from place to place. '-age, n.
Pilgrim's journey. ('pilgrim).

pill, n. Small ball etc. of medical substance.
'p.-box, n. Sp., small CONCRETE military
building most of which is in the earth.
'pil(l)ule ('pilju:l), n. Small pill. (pit).

'pillage, n., v.t.&i. PLUNDER. ('pilidʒ).

'pillar, n. COLUMN; one giving great support
to organization etc. (p. of). 'p.-box,
n. Tall round box for posting letters in.
('pilə).

'pillion, n. [Hist.] Seat for woman at back
of man on horse; seat at back of driver
on MOTOR CYCLE. ('piljən).

'pillory, 1. n. [Hist.] Frame in which
wrongdoer was fixed in public place, with
head and hands through holes as punishment.
2. v.t. Put in p.; put errors, bad
qualities, of (person) on public view.
('piləri).

'pillow, 1. n. Cushion for head, sp. in bed.
2. v.t. Be acting as p. to; put (head on).
'p.-case, '-slip, nn. Cover of linen etc.
for bed pillow. ('pilou).

'pilot, 1. n. Man trained to take ships into or
out of harbour etc.; one working controls
of airplane or airship; guide. 2. v.t. Be acting
as p. to. 'p.-cloth, n. Thick dark blue
cloth used for overcoats. 'p.-officer, n.
Man having lowest position with
COMMISSION in Air Force. ('pailət).

pi'mento, n. (Tree of W. Indies having)
berry used to give taste in cooking;
red, yellow etc. PEPPER. (pi'mentou).

pimp, n. Man living on money made by
PROSTITUTE. (pimp).

'pimpernel, n. Field plant with small,
sp. bright red, flowers. ('pimpənel).

'pimple, n. Small hard place caused by
INFLAMMATION of skin. ('pimpl).

pin, 1. n. Thin, pointed bit of wire
with gen. round head, used for keeping bits
of cloth, papers etc. fixed together;
thin rod of wood or metal used for
joining purposes. Pp., [Hum.] legs;
pp. and needles, feeling as of sharp points
going through skin when blood comes
back to part of body. 2. v.t. Get fixed
(up, together, to etc.) (as) with p(p). P.
person down, make him give or keep his
word, or keep to point. 'p.-cushion, n.
Small cushion for keeping pins in. 'p.-money,
n. Money given to woman regularly
for dress etc. (pin).

'pinafore, n. Bit of clothing for putting
over front of sp. small girl's dress to
keep it clean. ('pinəfɔ:).

'pince-nez, n. Eye-glasses with spring
gripping nose. ('pansnei).

'pincers, n. pl. Scissors-like gripping
instrument; gripping parts of CRAB.
('pinsəz).

pinch, 1. v.t.&i. Get or have in tight
grip between finger and thumb or 2
other bodies which are being pushed
together; (of shoes etc.) give pain by
being over-tight; not give enough to for
needs; [Com.] take (another's property);
[Com.] (of police) make a prisoner of. 2.
n. Act or condition of, damage caused by,
pinching; amount which may be taken
up between finger and thumb. At a p.,
possibly, if there is no other way. (pintʃ).

'pinchbeck, 1. n. Copper mixed with
zinc; cheap jewels. 2. a. False, cheap-looking.
('pintʃbek).

pine, n. Sorts of evergreen tree with
needle-like leaves and CONES. 'p.-apple,
n. (S. Am. plant having) great, sweet
fruit like pine-CONE in form. (pain).

pine, v.i. Be wasting away through disease,
unhappy feelings; have deep
desire (for, to do something).

pi'neal 'gland, [Sc.] n. A GLAND in the
brain. (pai'niəl 'gland).

'ping-pong, n. Indoor sport in which
small ball is sent over net across middle
of table. ('piŋpɔŋ).

'pinion, 1. n. (Outer part of) bird's wing. 2.
v.t. Get p. of (wing, bird) cut off to take
away power of flight; get (arms) tightly
fixed. to sides; p. arms of. ('pinjən.).

'pinion, n. Small toothed wheel turning a
greater toothed wheel or rail.

pink, n., a. Garden plant with sweet-smelling
flowers; light red colour. In
the p., [Hum.] very well. (pink).

pink, v.t.&i. Put blade through (person);
make holes in (leather etc.) as ornament;
get edge of (cloth) cut to give toothed
effect; (of automobile engine) make
sound as of KNOCKING.

'pinnace, n. Warship's boat worked with
gen. 8 blades. ('pints).

'pinnacle, n. Pointed structure on top of
roof etc.; point of mountain; highest
point. ('pinəkl).

'pinnate, [Sc.] a. (Of leaf) formed of small
leaves on opp. sides of stem. ('pinit).

pint, n. Unit of measure for liquids etc.,
1/8 gallon. (paint).

pio'tteer, 1. n. Person helping in development
of new country, idea, invention
etc.; [Mil.] one of body of men going
before army to make a road for it, etc. 2.
v.i. Be acting as p. (paiə'niə).

'pious, a. With deep feelings of religion,
respect for GOD; [Old] with right respect
for father and mother, etc. ('paiəs).

pip, n. Small seed of fruit; heart etc. on
playing-card. (pip).

pip, n. Disease of birds. Have the p., [Hum.]
be feeling unhappy, bad-humoured.

pipe, 1. n. Hollow structure of metal or
other material through which liquids,
gases etc. may go; sorts of wind instrument
of music; (sound of) BOATSWAIN'S
whistle; piping voice; apparatus
for tobacco-smoking having cup-like
part for tobacco joined to p. which takes
smoke to mouth; wine-vessel taking
about 105 gallons. Pp., sp., bagpipes. 2.
v.t.&i. Put pp. in; put piping on; be
playing (music) on p.; give (sailors etc.)
sign to do something, by sounding p. or
whistle; say in piping voice. '-clay, n.
Powder for cleaning white leather.
'-r, a. Player on pipe, sp., bagpipes.
pi'pette (pi'pet), [Sc.] n. Thin glass pipe
used for taking small amounts of liquid
from one vessel to another. 'piping, 1. n.
System of pipes; cord-like ornament
edging clothing etc. 2. adv. Only p. hot,
having great heat. 3. a. Only p. voice,
high, thin one. (paip).

'pippin, n. Sorts of apple. ('pipin).

'piquant, a. Sharp and pleasing to the
taste; bright, interesting. ('pi:kənt).

pique, 1. v.t. Give wound to self-respect
of; make interested in learning more
about something. P. oneself on, be
pleased with oneself about. 2. n.
Wounded feelings, bad humour. (pi:k).

'pique, n. Stiff cotton material with cord-like
lines on it. ('pi:kei).

pi'quet, n. Sort of card-play for 2 players
with 32 cards. (pi'ket).

'pirate, 1. n. One attacking ships at sea to
take things of value; one who pirates
book(s). 2. v.t. Get (book etc.) out without
writer's authority. ('paiərit).

pirou'ette, v.i., n. (Make) dancer's quick
turn on point of toe. (piru'et).

pisca'torial, a. Of fishing. (piskə'tɔ:riəl).

pis'tachio, n. (Tree having) small nut with
green inside part. (pis'ta:ʃiou).

'pistil, n. Seed-producing part of flower.
('pistil).

'pistol, n. Small fire-arm used with one
hand. ('pistl).

'piston, n. Round plate etc. going tightly
into pipe of pump etc., and pushed up
and down on end of rod. ('pistən).

pit, 1. n. Deep hole in earth with sharply
sloping sides, sp., one made in mining;
small hole, mark, in skin caused by disease;
(persons in) seats in back part of
lowest floor of theatre. P. of the stomach,
hollow at front of body under RIBS.
2. v.t. Make pp. in; put (person, animal
etc. against another) in a fight. '-fall,
n. Pit, covered so that it is kept from
view, for getting animals; danger which
is not readily seen. (pit).

pit, [Am.] n. Fruit-stone.

pitch, 1. n. Dark sticky substance got from
TAR or TURPENTINE, used for covering
joins between boards in ships etc. P.
black, dark, completely dark, with no
light. 2. v.t. Give a coat of p. to. 'p.-blende
('pitʃblend), n. Pitch-like substance
from which RADIUM is got. (pitʃ).

pitch, 1. v.t.&i. Put up (TENT etc.);
[Mus.] give certain key to (voice,
music); give certain slope to (roof);
send through the air; (of ship) be moving
up and down from front to back.
Pitched battle, one for which the two
sides have got ready; p. forward, have
a fall forward; p. into, make violent
attack on; p. upon, make selection of by
chance. 2. n. Act, process, of pitching;
place where street-trader etc. has taken
up position; (in CRICKET) stretch of
field between WICKETS; degree (of
quality); amount of slope; [Mus.] how
high a note is. '-er, n. Sp., (in baseball)
player who sends ball to BATTER.
'-fork, 1. n. 2-pointed fork with long
hand-part for moving dry grass etc.
2. v.t. Get moved with p.

'pitcher, n. Vessel for liquids with hand-part
and lip. ('pitʃə).

pith, n. Sponge-like material inside stems
of some plants; most important,
necessary, part. '-y, a. Sp., short, keeping
to the point, full of force. (piθ).

'pittance, n. Very small income, payment
for work etc. ('pitəns).

pi'tuitary, [Sc.] a. Of or producing
PHLEGM (sp. the p. gland). (pi'tju:itri).

'pity, 1. n. Feeling of regret about pain,
trouble etc. of another; (fact etc. giving)
cause for regret. Have, take, p. on, be
kind to (one in trouble). 2. v.t. Have p. for.
'piteous ('pitiəs), a. Causing pity, such
as to be pitied. 'pitiable, a. (Sp. of something
looked down on) such as to be pitied.
'pitiful, a. Feeling pity; piteous, pitiable.
'pitiless, a. Feeling no pity. ('piti).

'pivot, 1. n. Pin round which wheel etc.
is turned; most important point in discussion
etc. 2. v.t.&i. Give p. to, get
joined by a p.; be turning (as) on a p.
'-al, a. Sp., most important. ('pivət).

'pixie, 'pixy, n. Sort of FAIRY. ('piksi).

'placard, 1. n. Bit of paper with advertisement
etc. on it for putting up in public
place. 2. v.t. Put pp. on (wall etc.); give
news of, advertisement to, by pp.
('plaka:d).

pla'cate, v.t. Take away angry feeling
of, make peace with. (pla'keit).

place, 1. n. Some part of space, sp. as
taken by something; space, seat, free for
person etc.; town, building, house etc.;
part of, point in, book etc.; position in
scale, order; (in competition) position
among those coming near enough to
the first to be recorded; position in
business etc. A person's p., what he has
a right, it is right for him, (to do); give p.
to, have one's p. taken by; in (out of) p.,
in (not in) its right p.; know one's p., be
acting with the respect right for person
in one's position; take p., (of event) be,
be effected. 2. v.t. Put in a p.; give a p.
to; get market for (goods etc.). (pleis).

'placid, a. Quiet, untroubled, not readily
moved to angry feeling, etc. ('plasid).

'placket, n. Opening at side of woman's
skirt. ('plakit).

'plagiarize, v.t.&i. Put forward
(thoughts, writings etc.) of another as if
produced by oneself. ('pleidʒiəraiz).

plague, 1. n. PESTILENCE, sp., BUBONIC p.;
anything causing trouble, sp., causing
wide destruction. 2. v.t. Give trouble to,
sp. with frequent questions etc. (pleig).

plaice, n. Flat sea-fish. (pleis).

plaid, 1. n. Long wool cloth, gen. with
TARTAN design, put on over clothing in
Scot. Highlands; cloth used for pp. 2. a.
TARTAN. (plad).

plain, 1. a. Clear to eye, ear, or mind; not
ornamented; (of persons) not beautiful;
common, simple; open, straightforward.
P. clothes, dress which is not a UNIFORM;
p. sailing, something which is simple,
straightforward, to do. 2. adv. Clearly.
'p.-song, n. Form of song-music in free
rhythm for group of voices together, sp.
used in church. p.-spoker, a. Open in
talk. (plein).

plain, n. Level stretch of country.

plaint, n. [Law] Statement before judge
of wrong done to one; [Let.] verses etc.
giving voice to regret, sad feeling. '-iff,
[Law] n. One taking cause
before judge. '-ive, a. Sad-sounding.
(pleint).

plait, 1. n. 3 or more threads,
bits of hair etc. twisted
under and over one another
in turn. 2. v.t. Make into p.
(plat).

plan, 1. n. Outline, map, designed
to give position and
size of parts of thing, sp.
building, in relation to one
another; (ordered statement of) design
for undertaking, future way of acting.
2. v.t.&i. Make p. of, for; make pp. (plan).

plan'chette, n. Small board with pencil,
used at SEANCES for getting answers in
writing from dead persons, etc. (pla:n'ʃet).

plane, n. Sort of tall, widely branching
tree with wide leaves. (plein).

plane, 1. n. Level side, face, of thing,
stretch of space, such that straight line
joining any points on it is touching it
at all points; level of development,
thought etc.; (supporting part forming
2 wings of) airplane; instrument with
blade for making wood smooth. 2. v.t.&i.
Make smooth with p.; VOLPLANE.
3. a. Completely level, forming a p.

'planet, n. Star moving round sun.
'-ary, a. Of planets. ('planit).

'plangent, a. (Of sound) sad, as of the
wind, moving. ('plandʒənt).

plank, 1. n. Thick board; point in programme
of political group. Walk the p.,
be made by PIRATES to go into sea on p.
put out over side of ship. 2. v.t. Put pp.
on. P. down, [Hum.] put down on table
etc. with force. (plaŋk).

plant, 1. n. Living structure which is not
an animal, freq. with leaves, getting its
food from air, water, earth; apparatus
used for any process in industry; [Com.]
trick to get the better of someone. 2.
v.t. Put (seed, plant etc.) in earth for
growth; get seeds etc. planted in (land);
get well fixed (in, on). -'ation, n. Sp.,
number of trees planted together; farm
producing cotton, tobacco, tea etc.
'-er, n. Sp., owner of plantation.
(pla:n.t).

'plantain, n. Common field plant whose
seed is used for bird-food. ('plantin).

'plantain, n. (Tree producing) fruit like
BANANA.

'plantigrade, n., a. (Animal) walking on
all the under part of the foot, not on
toes only. ('plantigreid).

plaque, n. Flat plate of metal etc., freq.
ornamented, on wall of building etc.
(pla:k).

'plaster, 1. n. Bit of linen etc. coated with
medical or sticky substance for putting
over wound or giving support; paste,
sp. of LIME, mixed with sand etc., used
for coating walls. P. of Paris, white
paste made from GYPSUM, becoming
hard when dry. 2. v.t. Put p. on; get
thickly covered (with oil, butter etc.).
'-er, n. Sp., workman plastering walls.
('pla:stə).

'plastic, 1. a. (To do with) giving form
to soft material such as wax; readily
worked into any form; readily changed.
2. n. P. material. -s, n. Science of plastic
materials. ('plastik).

plate, 1. n. Round flat vessel from which
food is taken at a meal; flat, thin bit of
metal, glass etc., sp., as used for taking
of camera-pictures; picture made by
printing from metal p.; p. of metal with
person's name etc., for putting on door
of house; table vessels, knives, forks etc.,
of gold, silver, or other metal. P. glass,
glass made in thick pp. for windows etc.
2. v.t. Get (ship etc.) covered with metal
pp.; get (metal) coated with gold, silver
etc. 'p.-layer, n. Workman putting down,
looking after, railway line. 'p.-powder,
n. Powder for cleaning silver. (pleit).

'plateau, n. Stretch of high, level land.
('platou).

'platform, n. Stage for persons talking,
playing music, etc., in public; footway
in station, at higher level than railway
line, used by persons getting into or out
of trains; programme put forward by
political group. ('platfɔ:m).

'platinum, n. White, readily worked metal
of great weight and value. ('platinəm).

'platitude, n. Statement of something
clear to all, freq. said before. plati'tudinous,
a. ('platitju:d).

pla'tonic, a. Of Plato or his theories. P.
love, love between man and woman without
desire for love-making. (plə'tɔnik).

pla'toon, [Mil.] n. Division of COMPANY.
(plə'tu:n).

'platter, n. [Old] Plate for food; [Am.]
fiat meat etc. DISH. ('platə).

'plaudit, n. Cry or other sign of approval.
('plɔ:dit).

'plausible, a. (Of argument etc.) seeming
at first view to be well-reasoned, right;
(of person) good at producing sp. false
reasons, arguments. ('plɔ:zibl).

play, 1. v.i.&t. Give oneself amusement by
running about, acting stories, etc. as boys
and girls do; take part in (sport, amusement
with cards etc.); give blow to
(ball), put down (card), etc., when playing;
p. against (person etc.) in sport; do
something playfully; take (a part) in
stage play; make music on (instrument);
(of light, water etc.) be moving with
dancing motion (on, over etc.); send
(ray of light, line of water etc., on, over
etc.); keep (fish) on loose line till safely
landed. P. at, sp., do in not very serious
way, as p.; p. a trick, practical joke,
(on), do a trick etc. (against); played out,
tired, of no more use; p. fair, p. the game,
keep the rules, be straightforward;
p. fast and loose (with), be acting not
responsibly, not seriously, (about); p.
into hands of a person, give him chance to
get the better of one; p. (up)on person's
fears etc., make use of them; p. up to,
give support, agreement, to, to get approval
of; p. with, sp., make cruel sport
of. 2. n. Playing other than on stage;
playing of cards etc. for money; (space,
chance, for) moving freely; a writing for
acting on stage. At p., playing, not
working; come into p., come into operation;
high p., card-play etc. for high
STAKES; in p., sp., playfully; p. on
words, use of word in more than one
sense at the same time, or of 2 words
sounding the same, for purpose of
humour etc. '-er, n. One playing sport,
playing music, or acting. '-fellow, n.
Boy, girl, having play with another.
'-ful, a. Ready for, full of, play; not
serious, acting or done in humour. 'p.-goer,
n. One going frequently to
theatre. '-house, n. Theatre. '-ing-card,
n. One used in card-play. '-mate,
n. Playfellow. '-thing, n. Something for
playing with. '-wright, n. Writer of plays. (plei).

plea, n. Reason given for doing something
wrong etc.; strong request for help etc.;
[Law] statement made by or for
DEFENDANT. (pli:).

plead, v.i.&t. Put forward or make a
PLEA; make statement for one or other
side before judge in law cause. (pli:d).

'pleasance, [Old] n. Pleasure-garden.
('plezəns).

'pleasant, a. Giving pleasure to mind, feelings,
or senses; good-humoured. '-y, n.
Something said in humour. ('pleznt).

please, v.t.&i. Be in harmony with desires,
tastes, of, seem good to, make
happy; make decision, have desire, to do
(take what you p., etc.); used as form in
making requests (p. give me ..., etc.).
If you p., please! (pli:z).

'pleasure, n. Feeling of being pleased, sp.,
the pleasing of the senses; thing causing
p.; desire (it is my p. etc.). At p., as or
whenever it is pleasing to one; do me the
p. of, give me
the p. of. 'pleasurable,
a.
Giving pleasure.
('pleʒə).

pleat, 1. n. Fold
made by folding
material first one
way and then
the other. 2. v.t. Make p. in. (pli:t).

ple'beian, n., a. (One who is) common, of
low birth. (pli'bi:ən).

'plebiscite, n. Decision of public question
by getting opinion of all persons of a
nation. ('plebisit).

pledge, 1. n. Thing given as SECURITY for
debt or undertaking; thing put in PAWN;
thing given as sign of approval, love, or
of something to come; word, undertaking,
given. Sign, take, the p., give undertaking
in writing not to take alcohol. 2.
v.t. Give as p.; give (one's word, undertaking);
say name of (person) when
drinking, with desire that he may be
well, happy. (pledʒ).

'plenary, a. (Of powers) complete, unlimited;
(of meeting) at which all representatives
are present. ('pli:nəri).

plenipotentiary, n., a. (Representative)
having full power of acting, making
decisions. (plenipə'tenʃəri).

'plenitude, n. Being full, complete;
PLENTY. ('plenitjuid).

'plenty, n. A great amount or number,
more than enough, (of). 'plentiful,
[Let.] 'plenteous, aa. Great in amount,
number. ('plenti).

'pleonasm, n. Use of more words than are
necessary to give the sense. ('pli:ənazm).

'plethora, n. Unnecessarily, unhealthily,
great amount; [Med.] condition in which
there is an over-great number of red
bodies present in blood. ('pleθərə).

'pleurisy, n. INFLAMMATION of skin covering
chest-wall and breathing-parts,
marked by pain in chest or side.
('pluərisi).

'pliable, 'pliant, aa. Readily bent,
twisted; open to suggestion, readily
guided. ('plaiəbl, 'plaiənt).

'pliers, n. pl. Gripping-instrument formed
of 2 parts joined together like scissors, for
twisting wire etc. ('plaiəz).

plight, v.t. Only p. oneself, one's troth,
give undertaking to be married to person;
p. one's word, give it. (plait).

plight, n. Condition, sp., one which is
unhappy, serious, full of danger.

plinth, n. Lower square part of base supporting
COLUMN; base of wall coming
out farther than the rest of it. (plinθ).

plod, v.i. Go on walking, working, slowly
but without stopping or giving up. (plɔd).

plot, 1. n. Small bit of land; outline of events
in story etc.; secret design. 2. v.t.&i.
Make secret design for (event), or (against,
to do); make a map, outline, of. (plɔt).

plough, 1. n. Apparatus for cutting
through and turning up earth; ploughed
land. 2. v.t. Get (field etc.) turned up
with p.; go through as with p.; get
marked as with p.; [Hum.] give decision
against (one taking test). '-boy, '-man,
nn. One guiding plough. '-share, n.
Blade of plough. (plau).

'plover, n. Sorts of long-legged, short-tailed
bird living near sea. ('plʌvə).

pluck, 1. v.t.&i. Take feathers off (bird),
get (flower etc.) broken off; give sharp
pull at; [Hum.] give decision against
(one taking test). P. up courage, overcome
one's fear. 2. n. Animal's heart,
LIVER, and LUNGS; quality of facing
danger well, not giving way to fear.
'-y, a. Having, marked by, quality of
pluck. (plʌk).

plug, 1. n. Something used for stopping up
hole; cake of tobacco; part fixed to end
of electric wire and making connection
with current when put into hole in wall etc.
2. v.t.&i. Get stopped up with p.; [Hum.]
be working hard (p. away at). (plʌg).

plum, n. (Tree having) soft, smooth-skinned
stone-fruit; CURRANT, RAISIN,
when put in cakes etc.; good, desired,
thing, as position with high payment.
(plʌm).

'plumage, n. The feathers of a bird.
('plu:midʒ).

plumb, 1. n. Bit of lead fixed on end of
cord ('p.-line) for testing if wall etc. is
straight, measuring how deep water is.
2. a. Upright, not sloping; level. Out of p.,
sloping. 3. adv. [Am. Hum.] completely,
quite. 4. v.t.&i. Get measure of with
p.; make straight, upright; get to the
root of (question etc.); do plumbing.
'-er ('plʌmə). n. Workman who puts in,
puts in working-order, pipes of a building.
'-ing, n. Work, trade, of a plumber;
the pipes of a building. '-less, a. So deep
that it may not be measured. (plʌm).

plum'bago, n. Black substance used in
pencils; blue-flowered plant.
(plʌm'beigou).

plume, 1. n. Feather; ornament of feathers
or horsehair for hat or hair. 2. v.t. Put a
p. on; (of bird) get (feathers) smooth, in
order. P. oneself on, give oneself credit
for. (plu:m).

'plummet, n. PLUMB (and line); weight
on fishing-line. ('plʌmit).

plump, 1. a. (Sp. of person, animal)
pleasingly fat, round. 2. v.t.&i. Make,
become, p. (plʌmp).

plump, 1. v.t.&i. Put, come, down suddenly.
P. for, have no doubt in giving
decision for, making selection of. 2. adv.
Suddenly; clearly, openly.

'plunder, 1. v.t.&i. Take goods by force,
violently, from (person, place), sp. in
war. 2. n. Plundering; goods taken by p.
('plʌndə).

plunge, 1. v.t.&i. Put or go suddenly,
with force, (into etc.); (of horse, ship)
make sudden violent move forward;
take great chance with one's money. 2.
n. Act of plunging. '-r, n. Sp., part of
pump etc. with plunging motion. (plʌndʒ).

'plu'perfect, [Lang.] 1. n. P. tense. 2. a.
Only p. tense, form of v. used as sign that
act or event was complete before some
time in past. ('plu:'pə:fikt).

'plural, n., a. [Lang.] (Form of word) used
in talking of more than one; more than
one in number. '-ism, n. The having of
2 or more positions, sp. in Church, at
the same time. plu'rality, n. Being
plural; great number; the greater number,
sp. of VOTES; pluralism. ('pluərəl).

plus, 1. prep. Having in addition, with the
addition of (for which [Math.] the sign
is " + "). 2. a. Only a plus quantity, one
greater than 0; p. fours, loose, wide
trousers ending in tight band under
knee and hanging over. 3. n. The sign
"+". (plʌs).

plush, n. Sort of silk or cotton cloth with
long, soft, brushed-up threads covering
face of it. (plʌʃ).

plu'tocracy, n. (Government by) plutocrats
as a group; nation ruled by a p.
'plutocrat, n. One having (power
through) much money. (plu:'tɔkrəsi).

ply, n. One LAYER of wood, cloth, one
thread in cord etc. 'p.-wood, n. Strong
board made by putting 2 or more thin
leaves of wood one on top of another
with GRAIN at right angles. (plai).

ply, v.t.&i. Be working with (instrument);
(of ship, carriage etc.) go regularly
back and forward (between, from, to
etc.). P. a trade, be working at; p. person
with, put number of (questions) to him,
keep offering him (food, drink etc.).

pnen'matic, a. Of, acting by, wind or air.
P. tyre, one with air inside it.
(nju:'matik).

pneu'monia, n. INFLAMMATION of sponge-like
breathing-parts in chest.
(nju:'mounjə).

poach, v.t. Get (egg) cooked by boiling it
without its hard outer cover. (poutʃ).

poach, v.t.&i. Take (birds, fish etc.) from
another's land without right; go (on
another's land) for this purpose.

pock, n. Small hollow in skin caused by
some diseases, sp. SMALLPOX. (pɔk).

'pocket, 1. n. Small bag in clothing for
money etc.; p.-like division in handbag
etc.; bag of BILLIARD table; hollow,
sp. one in earth full of metal etc. In
(out of) p., having made a profit (undergone
a loss); out-of-p. expenses, the payments
made by person to get, make, do,
something. 2. a. Of a size to, designed
to, go into a p. 3. v.t. Put in one's p.;
send (ball) into p.; take (money, profits
etc.), sp. without right; keep (feelings)
from being seen. 'p.-book, n. Small
note-book; small folder in which paper
money etc. is kept in pocket. 'p.-money,
n. Money for small needs,
pleasures etc., sp.
that given to boys
and girls. ('pɔkit).

pod, 1. n. Long seed-vessel
opening down
one side. 2. v.i.&t.
Be producing pp.;
take (PEAS etc.) out
of pp. (pɔd).

'podgy, a. Short and
fat. ('pɔdʒi).

'poem, n. Bit of writing in verse form, sp.
voicing deep feeling, great thoughts.
'poesy ('pouizi), [Old] n. Poetry. 'poet,
n. Writer of poems. 'poe'taster ('poui'tastə),
n. Writer of poor verses.
po'etic(al), a. Of poets or poetry;
having the quality of good poetry; in
verse form. po'etics, n. (Bool:, etc. on)
theory of poetry. 'poetry, n. Poetic art;
poems; (quality causing) poetic feeling.
('pouim).

'pogrom, n. Mass destruction of some
group of persons and their property.
('pɔgrəm).

'poignant, a. Sad, causing sharp pain,
deeply moving; sharp in taste or smell.
('pɔinjənt).

poin'settia, n. Plant with bright red
leaves round small flower. (pɔn'setjə).

point, 1. n. Sharp end as of pin; small
mark (as) made by pencil p. etc.
touching paper; place, position, in space
or time looked on as a p.; (mark of)
degree on scale; [Math.] that which has
position but no size; mark separating
units from 1/10ths in DECIMAL number;
pointed bit of land going out into
sea; pointed part on stem, skin etc.;
marked quality of something; detail,
unit, division, step, sp. of theory etc.;
chief idea, purpose, of thing said, done;
unit measuring how well player has done
in sport, etc. Pp., sp., pointed rails
which may be moved for changing
engine from one line to another; be on
the p. of, be going to do straight away;
carry one's p., get agreement for one's
purpose, design; make a p. of (something,
doing etc.), put forward as important, take
special care to (do); p. of view, position
from which thing, way in which question,
is looked at; pp. of the compass, 32
pp. of direction on circle of COMPASS; to
the p., having to do with a given question;
when it came to the p., when the
time came for acting, decision. 2. v.t.&i.
Give p. to; have p. turned (in certain
direction); get (finger, stick etc.) pointing
(up, down, to etc.), sp. to get attention for
something; (of dog) take up position with
body stiff and head pointing in direction
of bird etc.; put MORTAR in joins of (brickwork,
stonework). P. at, p. to; p. out,
get attention for (thing) (as) by pointing;
p. to, sp., be sign of. p.-blank, a., adv.
Pointing, fired etc., straight at; (of statement)
put strongly, with no room for
doubt. 'p.-duty, n. Work of policeman
placed at certain point for direction of
automobiles etc. '-ed, a. Sp., (of thing
said, behaviour) having clear purpose of
wounding, touching delicate question,
etc. '-er, n. Sp., hand of clock; rod for
pointing at blackboard etc.; sort of dog
trained for pointing. '-less, a. Sp., (of
story, act etc.) with little sense, purpose.
(pɔint).

poise, 1. v.t.&i. Keep, be balanced,
supported in some place, position, way;
be waiting unmoving in the air. 2. n.
Condition of balance; way head etc. is
poised; balance of mind, quiet behaviour
of one never at a loss. (pɔiz).

'poison, 1. n. Substance causing death or
damage when taken into living body;
ideas etc. causing damage. 2. v.t. Give
p. to, sp., causing death; put p. in, on;
have effect (as) of p. on. ('pɔizn).

poke, 1. v.t.&i. Give pushes to, get moved
(in, up, down etc.), with point of finger,
stick etc.; give pushes (at); make (hole in,
through) by poking; be pushing (finger,
head etc. into, through etc.). P. fun at,
make sport of; p. the fire, get coals
broken up, lifted, with poker. 2. n.
Push with finger etc.; wide edge of
woman's head-dress curving round and
shading face. P. bonnet, one with p. '-r,
n. Sp., metal rod for poking fire. (pouk).

poke, n. [Old] Bag. Pig in a p., something
which one gives money for before
seeing.

'poker, n. Form of Am. card-play for 2 or
more players; see POKE. ('poukə).

'poky, a. (Of room etc.) small, narrow.
('pouki).

pole, n. Point farthest N. or S. on earth;
point N. or S. in sky about which stars
seem to be turning; one or other of the 2
opposite points on MAGNET, where its
force is acting; one or other of 2 end-points
of electric CELL etc. Negative p.,
the one made of zinc in CELL etc.; p.
star, star near N. p. of sky, used as guide
by sailors; positive p., opp. negative p.
'polar, a. Of, near, N. or S. pole; having
polarity. P. bear, sort living near N.
pole. po'larity, n. The having of electric
poles; tendency of straight MAGNET to
be pointing N. and S.; the having of 2
equal and opposite tendencies, forces
etc. 'polarize, v.t. Give polarity to. (poul).

pole, n. Long thin rod of wood etc., sp. as
support for telegraph wires, flags etc.;
unit of measure of distance, 5 1/2 yards.

Pole, n. Person of Poland.

'pole-axe, 1. n. [Hist.] AXE for use in war;
AXE for putting animals to death. 2. v.t.
Put to death with p. ('poulaks).

'polecat, n. Small dark-brown animal
giving off bad smell. ('poulkat).

po'lexnic, a., n. (Of) argument, war of
words (freq. pp.). (pə'lemik).

po'lice, 1. n. Branch of government, force
of men, responsible for keeping public
order; (as pl.) policemen. 2. v.t. Keep
order in (place) with or as p. 'p.-court,
n. Lowest law COURT. '-man, n. Man in
police force. 'p.-station, n. Office of
branch of police force. (pə'li:s).

'policy, n. General line of acting, programme,
sp. of government; wise way of
acting. ('pɔlisi).

'policy, n. Statement in writing of insurance
agreement.

'polish, 1. v.t.&i. Make, become, smooth
and bright by rubbing; make smoother,
more delicate, in behaviour, tastes etc.
P. off work etc., get it done quickly. 2.
n. Effect (like that) got by polishing;
substance used for polishing. ('pɔliʃ).

'Polish, n., a. (Language) of Poland.
The P., P. persons. ('pouliʃ).

polite, a. Of polished behaviour, acting
with thought for others; of good education,
birth. (pə'lait).

'politic, a. (Of person) acting, judging,
wisely; (of act) wise, well-judged -s, n.
pl. Art, science, of government; political
questions, opinions. po'litical, a. To do
with government, public questions. P.
economy, see ECONOMY. poli'tician (pɔli'tijn),
n. One taking part in, interested
in, politics. 'polity, n. Form or process
of government; STATE. ('politik).

'polka, n. Sort of quick dance. ('polkə).

poll, 1. n. [Old, Hum.] Head; giving of
VOTES for selection of political representative;
polling-place; (addition of) number
of VOTES recorded. 2. v.t.&i. Get
top of (tree), horns of (animal), cut off;
give one's VOTE at p.; get (certain number
of votes). '-ard ('paləd), 1. v.t.
Get (tree) polled so that thick round
head of young branches is produced.
2. n. Pollarded tree. '-ing-booth, n.
Polling-place. 'p.-tax, n. Tax put on
every person equally. (poul).

'pollen, n. Powder produced by male part
of flower for making female part fertile.
'pollinate, v.t. Make fertile with pollen.
('pɔlin).

pol'lute, v.t. Make dirty, unclean.
(pə'lu:t).

'polo, n. Sport played on horseback with
sticks and ball. ('poulou).

pol'troon, [Let.] n. COWARD. (pɔl'tru:n).

'poly-, (Having) a number of. po'lygamy
(pə'ligəmi), n. System of being married
to more than one person at same time.
'-glot (-glɔt), 1. a. With a knowledge of,
in, a number of languages. 2. n. P. person
or book. '-gon (-gɔn), n. Plane form
having 5 or more straight sides. '-syllable,
n. Word of more than 2 SYLLABLES.
-'technic (-'teknik), n. School teaching
number of different trades, arts. '-theism,
n. Belief in more than one GOD. ('pɔli-).

'polyp, n. Sorts of water-animal of low
organization. ('polip).

po'made, n. Thick oil for hair. (pə'ma:d).

po'mander, [Hist.] n. Ball of sweet-smelling
substances taken about with
person in openwork metal cover etc., to
keep away disease. (pɔ'mandə).

'pomegranate, n. (Tree having) thick-skinned
fruit with soft, red inside full of
seeds, and acid taste. ('pɔmgranit).

'pommel, 1. n. Round head of hand-part
of SWORD; front point of SADDLE. 2. v.t.
PUMMEL. ('pʌml).

pomp, n. Use of colour, ornament, forms,
in public event etc. to give effect of
something important. '-ous, a. Self-important,
stiff. -'osity, n. (pɔmp).

pond, n. Small stretch of water, sp. made
as drinking-place for animals. (pɔnd).

'ponder, v.t.&i. Give much thought to;
be deep in thought. '-able, a. Having
enough weight to be measured; material.
'-ous, a. Not readily moving,
moved, because of its weight; (of talk etc.)
slow, uninteresting. ('pɔndə).

'poniard, n. DAGGER. ('pɔnjəd).

'pontiff, n. The POPE; [Old] BISHOP; chief
PRIEST. pon'tifical, a. pon'tificate, n.
Position of, time of being, a pontiff.
('pɔntif).

pon'toon, n. One of a line of flat boats or
hollow metal structures supporting
bridge on top of water; boat with flat
base; sort of card-play. (pɔn'tu:n).

'pony, n. Horse of small sort. ('pouni).

'poodle, n. Sorts of house-dog with long
thick hair, freq. cut very short on parts
of body, sp. in France. ('pu:dl).

pooh, int. Used as sign of poor opinion of
something. (pu:).

pool, n. Small stretch of water, sp. naturally
formed; deep, quiet stretch of river;
water in road, on floor etc. (pu:l).

pool, 1. n. (In card-play) STAKES of all
players put together; common store of
profits etc.; business ring; form of play
on BILLIARD-table. 2. v.t. Put (profits
etc.) into p.

poop, n. Back part of ship; high DECK
nearest p. (pu:p).

poor, a. Having little money, property;
small in amount, less than was hoped
for; of little value, low quality; (of
person) unhappy, such as to make one
sad. P. in, having little of. 'p.-box, n.
One, sp. in church, for money to be
given to poor persons. 'p.-house, n.
Workhouse. '-ly, 1. a. Ill. 2. adv. Badly.
'-ness, n. Being of poor quality. (puə).

pop, 1. n. Quick sharp sound (as) of cork
being pulled from bottle. 2. v.i.&t.
Make p.; [Com.] put (thing), come, go, (in,
out etc.), quickly, suddenly; [Hum.] put
in PAWN. P. off, [Hum.] come to death.
3. adv. With a p. 'p.-com, n. Sort of
MAIZE which when heated comes bursting
open. '-gun, n. Gun, used as plaything,
from which balls of paper etc. are
fired by force of air. (pɔp).

Pope, n. Head of R.-C. Church. 'popery
('poupəri), n. Beliefs, forms etc. of
R.-C. Church (word used by those against
church forms etc.). (poup).

'popinjay, n. Foolish FOP. ('pɔpindʒei).

'poplar, n. Sorts of
tall, straight tree.
('pɔplə).

'poplin, n. Cloth of
silk and wool with
cord-like lines.
('pɔplin).

poppy, n. Sorts of
plant with flowers
of different colours,
sp. red, from some
of which OPIUM is
made. ('pɔpi).

'populace, n. The
general public, the
masses. ('pɔpjulis).

'popular, a. Of, designed
for, in harmony with, tastes of
general public, the masses; having wide,
general, approval. At p. prices, at low
prices. popularity, n. Condition of
having general approval. '-ize, v.t. Make
popular; put in popular form. ('pɔpjulə).

'populate, v.t. PEOPLE. population, n.
(Number of) persons living in a place.
'populous, a. Thickly populated.
('pɔpjuleit).

'porcelain, n., a. (Vessels of) a delicate
CHINA coated with glass-like material
and letting light through. ('pɔ:slin).

porch, n. Roofed doorway. (pɔ:tʃ).

'porcine, a. Of, like, pigs. ('pɔ:sain).

'porcupine, n. Rat-like animal covered
with QUILLS. ('pɔ:kjupain).

pore, n. Small opening in skin, leaf etc.,
letting liquid through. 'porous, a.
Letting liquid through. (pɔ:).

pore, v.i. Only p. over, (up)on, have eyes,
mind, fixed on (book, question etc.).

pork, n. Pig's meat, sp. unsalted. '-er, n.
Young pig made fat for food. (pɔ:k).

por'nography, n. Dirty-minded writing(s)
etc. about sex. porno'graphic,
a. (Of picture, writing) dirty-minded.
(pɔ:'nɔgrəfi).

'porphyry, n. Sort of hard red stone with
CRYSTALS bedded in it. ('pɔ:fəri).

'porpoise, n. Sea MAMMAL about 5 feet
long, going about in groups. ('pɔ:pəs).

'porridge, n. Soft food made by boiling
OATMEAL or other meal in water or milk.
'porringer ('pɔrindʒə), n. Basin for
porridge. ('pɔridʒ).

port, n. (Town having) harbour. (pɔ:t).

port, n. Strong, sweet, red wine.

port, n. Left side of ship looking forward.

port, n. Opening in side of ship where
goods are put in etc. '-hole, n. Small
round window in ship's side.

'portable, a. Which may be taken about,
not fixed or of great weight. ('pɔ:təbl).

'portage, n. (Price of) transport of goods;
place where goods have to be transported
over land between 2 stretches of
water; such transport. ('pɔ:tidʒ).

'portal, [Let.] n. Doorway, sp. of great
building. ('pɔ:tl).

port'cullis, [Hist.] n. Framework of thick
iron rods going across one another,
which may be let down in doorway to
keep out attackers. (pɔ;t'kʌlis).

por'tend, v.t. Be a sign of (future event).
'portent ('pɔ:tent), n. Thing, sp. of
strange, uncommon sort, which portends
something. por'tentous, a. Sp., surprising,
uncommon, very great. (pɔ:'tend).

'porter, n. Doorkeeper; man taking boxes,
bags etc., to and from trains at station;
dark brown, bitter beer. ('pɔ:tə).

port'folio, n. Bag, folder, for keeping
loose papers in; position as head of some
branch of government. (pɔ:t'fouliou).

'portico, n. Roof supported by COLUMNS,
gen. as doorway of building. ('pɔ:tikou).

'portière, [F.] n. Curtain hanging over
door(way). ('pɔ:tieə).

'portion, 1. n. Part given in making distribution,
sp. property given to woman
when she gets married; certain amount,
some. (of). 2. v.t. Make division of into
pp. ('pɔ:ʃn).

'portly, a. (Of person) of great size, fat,
important-looking. ('pɔ:tli).

port'manteau, n. Leather bag for clothing
etc., opening in middle. P. word, one
made by putting together sense and (part
of) sound of 2 others. (pɔ:t'mantou).

'portrait, n. Painted etc. or camera picture
of person or animal; word-picture
of person or animal. por'tray (pɔ:'trei),
v.t. Make a picture of; give a picture of
in words. ('pɔ:trit).

Portu'guese, n., a. (Person(s), language) of
Portugal. (pɔ:tju'gi:z).

pose, 1. v.t.&i. Put forward (question
etc.) for decision; put (person to be
painted etc.) in desired position; take up
such position; be acting for effect, not
be natural; put oneself forward as. 2. n.
Position of body; unnatural behaviour,
airs, put on for effect. '-r, n. Sp., question
hard to give answer to. po'seur
(pou'zə:), [F.] n. Person who poses for
effect. (pouz).

po'sition, n. Way in which the body is
placed; place where anything is, sp. in
relation to other things; thing's right
place; place in society etc.; a person's
work, what he is, in a business etc.;
views, way of looking at question; condition
of things in relation to some
question. In a p. to, able to. (pə'ziʃn).

'positive, a. Certain, not open to doubt;
certain about something, sp., one's opinions;
clearly marked, present; (of suggestion
etc.) CONSTRUCTIVE; [Math.]
greater than 0; [Lang.] (of a.) in simple
form, not in form used for comparison;
[Sc.] (of electric force) of sort produced
by rubbing glass with silk, opp. sort
produced by rubbing RESIN; see POLE.
'positivism, n. System of thought
based only on facts open to observation.
('pɔzitiv).

'posse, n. Strong force of police, or other
persons having authority, going out to
take wrongdoer(s). ('pɔsi).

pos'sess, v.t. Be owner of; have (quality
etc.); (of idea, desire, bad power etc.)
have control of (person, mind). Be
possessed, sp., be off one's head; possessed
of, having; p. oneself of, get, become
owner of. '-ion, n. Sp., thing possessed
as property. In p. of, possessing; in the
p. of, possessed by. '-ive, a. Of possession;
with strong desire to get or keep
possessions; [Lang.] (of form) used as
sign of possession (Jane's, his etc.). The
p., the p. form. (pə'zes).

posset, n. Drink of warm milk with wine
etc. in it. ('pɔsit).

'possible, a. Which is not kept from taking
place by natural laws; which a person
has the power to do; which one is not
certain will not take place or is not true;
which will do for some purpose. possi'bility,
n. 'possibly, adv. In agreement
with what is possible; not certainly
so and not certainly not so. ('pɔsəbl).

post, 1. n. Wood or metal upright fixed in
earth etc., gen. as support for something.
2. v.t. Put (list, statement etc.) up on
view on board etc. '-er, n. Advertisement
for posting up. (poust).

post, 1. n. Public transport of letters,
parcels; (the letters etc. in) one distribution
or taking up of letters; p.-box or p.-office;
letters etc. coming to house at one
time. 2. v.t.&i. Put (letters etc.) in p.-box
etc., to be taken by p.; [Hist.] make
journey with p.-horses; make quick
journey; put (detail) in LEDGER etc., p.
details in (LEDGER). Keep person posted,
keep him in touch with the news. '-age,
n. Payment for transport of letter etc. '-al,
a. Of the post. P. order, sort of Post-Office
cheque for small amount. 'p.-boy, n. POSTILION.
'p.-box, n. Public box for posting
letters in. 'p.-card, n. Card taken by
post at lower rate than letter. 'p.-chaise
('poust'ʃeiz), [Hist.] n. Public carriage
making journey in stages, using post-horses.
p.-free, a. Without payment
for postage. p.-haste, adv. As quickly
as possible. 'p.-horse, [Hist.] n. One
of those kept at different points on
road for taking letters or persons from
stage to stage. '-man, n. Man who goes
round to get or take the post. '-mark,
n. Special mark stamped on letters at
post-office. '-master, '-mistress, nn.
Man, woman, at head of a post-office.
'p.-office, n. Government office responsible
for post; any building where postal
business is done.

post, 1. n. Place where military man is
placed on watch; trading-station; position
in a business etc. Last p., [Mil.]
notes sounded on BUGLE at end of day
or in respect for dead.

post-, After, later than. p.-date, v.t. Put
day later than day of writing on (letter
etc.). -'graduate, a. (Of learning) done
after taking of DEGREE. p.-'mortem
(-'mɔ:tm), n., a. (Cutting open of body
to see cause of disease etc.) after death.
p.-'natal, a. After birth. -'prandial
(-'prandjəl), a. (Of talk etc.) after a meal.
'-script, n. Addition at end of letter.

'poste-'restante, [F.] n. Part of post-office
to which letters may be sent to be kept
for persons till they come.
('poust'restɔnt).

pos'terior, 1. a. At the back; after in
time, order. 2. n. BUTTOCKS.
(pɔs'tiəriə).

pos'terity, n. Those coming after person
in family line; the persons living in
later, future, times. (pɔs'teriti).

'postern, [Old] n. Back or side way into
building. ('poustə:n).

'posthumous, a. Taking place after
death; given birth to after father's
death; first printed after writer's death.
('pɔstjuməs).

pos'til(l)ion, n. Man seated on one of 2 or
more horses pulling carriage and controlling
them. (pɔs'tiljən).

'post me'ridiem, [L.] Between 12 in the
day and 12 at night. ('poust mi'ridjəm).

post'pone, v.t. Put off till later.
(pous'poun).

'postulate, 1. v.t. Put forward, take, as
fact to be reasoned from. 2. ('postjulit),
n. Thing postulated. ('pɔstjuleit).

'posture, 1. n. Position of body. 2. v.i.
Get into pp. for effect, put on airs.
('pɔstʃə).

'posy, n. Cut flowers massed together.
('pouzi).

pot, 1. n. Round vessel of metal, EARTHENWARE
etc., used for cooking, keeping
things in, drinking from; [Com.] vessel
of silver etc. as reward in competition.
Go to p., [Hum.] get into very bad condition,
be of no more use; keep the p. boiling,
sp., make enough money for a living; p.
luck, whatever there may be ready for a
meal; pp. of money, [Com.] much money;
p. shot, firing of gun from short distance
at thing which is not moving. 2. v.t. Put
(meat etc.) in p. mixed with other substances,
for keeping; get (flowers) planted
in p.; [Com.] put to death by p. shot.
p.-belly, n. Round, fat stomach. 'p.-boiler,
n. Picture, book etc., done only
to get money. 'p.-boy, n. Servant at bar.
'p.-hole, n. [Sc.] Deep, round hole made
by water n stone; deep hole in road etc.
'p.-hock, n. Sp., curved line made in
learning writing. 'p.-house, n. Place for
beer-drinking. 'p.-hunter, n. One taking
part in competitions to get pots. '-sherd
('pɔtʃə:d), n. Bit of broken pottery.
'-ter, n. Maker of pottery. '-tery, n.
Potter's work; EARTHENWARE. (pɔt).

'potash, n. Substance with POTASSIUM in
it, got from powder formed by burning
wood etc., used in soap-making. ('pɔtaʃ).

po'tassium, n. Soft, bright, white metal.
(pə'tasiəm).

po'tation, n. Drinking, a drink. 'potable
('poutəbl), a. Which may be taken as
drink. (pou'teiʃn).

po'tato (potatoes), n. Plant having thick
parts on roots much used as food; one
such part. (pə'teitou(z)).

potent, a. Strong, having force, effect.
'-ate, n. Ruler. ('poutənt).

po'tential, a. Which may or might be,
but is not in fact, acting or in existence.
potenti'ality (pətenʃi'aliti), n. Sp.,
power, quality, which is potential, only
needing development. (pə'tenʃəl).

'pother, n. Trouble, noise. ('pɔðə).

'potion, n. Drink taken for medical purposes
or as poison. ('pouʃn).

'pot-'pourri, n. Flowers made dry and
mixed with other sweet-smelling things.
('pou'pu:ri).

'pottage, [Old] n. Thick soup. ('pɔtidʒ).

'potter, v.i. Be working not very seriously
(at something), go about etc. doing unimportant
little things. 'potty, [Com.]
a. Unimportant; off one's head. ('pɔtə).

pouch, 1. n. Small bag, pocket; p.-like
part in some animals such as KANGAROO;
loose fold of skin etc. 2. v.t.&i. Put
into p.; make, be, hanging like p. (pautʃ).

'poultice, 1. n. Soft mass of bread, meal
etc., heated and put on body to take
away pain etc. 2. v.t. Put p. on. ('poultis).

'poultry, n. Fowls and other farm birds.
'poulterer, n. Poultry trader. ('poultri).

pounce, v.i., n. Come suddenly down,
make sudden attack, (on). (pauns).

pound, v.t.&i. Get crushed to bits,
powder; give blow after blow etc. to
(freq. at, on). (paund).

pound, n. Shut-in space where animals
which have got away from their owners
are kept till someone comes for them.

pound, n. Unit of weight, 12 ounces
TROY, 16 ounces AVOIRDUPOIS; unit of
Eng. money, 20 shillings.

pour, v.i.&t. (Sp., of liquid) come, send,
down like a waterfall in unbroken current;
(of rain) come down hard. (pɔ:).

pout, v.t.&i., n. Be pushing out (lips), sp.
as sign of not being pleased. '-er, n. Sp.,
sort of PIGEON with power of blowing out
its neck at front (gen. p.-pigeon). (paut).

'poverty, n. Being poor. 'p.-stricken, a.
Being, looking, very poor. ('pɔvəti).

'powder, 1. n. Substance in very small
grains, sp., as used on skin or for medical
purposes; gunpowder. Baking p., substance
used in cooking for making cakes
etc. sponge-like. 2. v.t.&i. Make into p.;
put p. on; make use of face p. 'p.-flask,
n. Small vessel for gunpowder. 'p.-magazine,
n. Place for storing gunpowder.
'p.-puff, n. Bit of soft material
for putting powder on skin. ('paudə).

'power, n. Quality of being strong
enough, able, to do something, sp.,
physical force; work-force produced by
machines; p. as ruler, control, authority;
person etc. having weight, authority;
nation having weight internationally
(P.). Thenth p. of a number, [Math.] the
number got by the MULTIPLICATION of a
number by itself n-1 times. 'p.-house,
'p.-station, nn. Place for producing or
distribution of electric p. '-less, a. Sp.,
p. to, completely unable to. ('pauə).

'pow-wow, n. Meeting of N. Am. Indians,
for discussion; [Hum.] talk, discussion.
('pauwau).

'practice, n. Acting, as opp. theory; common,
normal, way of acting, doing something;
frequent doing of something for
purpose of becoming expert; (amount,
sort of) business done by a medical man
or law expert; way of working out question
in arithmetic which has to do with
amounts given in more than one sort of
unit (as in pounds, shillings, and
pennies). (Out of) in p., (no longer)
expert through p.; sharp p., not quite
straightforward acting, way of doing
business. 'practicable ('praktikəbl), a.
Possible, which may be done or used.
'practical, a. To do with, good at, of
use in, practice as opp. theory. 'practically,
adv. Sp., almost, in effect if not in
name. 'practise, v.t.&i. Do, make use
of (quality, way of doing, etc.), regularly;
(make) do again and again, to
become expert in; (of medical man, law
expert) do work as such. 'practised, a.
Having had much practice, expert. prac'titioner
(prak'tiʃnə), n. One practising
law, medical work, art etc. ('praktis).

prag'matic, a. PRACTICAL in outlook,
taking note of, judging value by, effects,
uses. 'pragmatism ('pragmstizm), n.
Sp., theory which gives an account of
values in relation only to effects, uses.
(prag'matik).

'prairie, n. Great stretch of grass-land
without trees in W. America. ('preəri).

praise, 1. n. Words of warm approval. 2.
v.t. Give voice to p. of. '-worthy, a.
Rightly to be praised. (preiz).

pram, n. Short form of the word
PERAMBULATOR. (pram).

prance, v.i., n. (Of horse) give jump going
up on back legs; be jumping or dancing
about with pleasure etc. (pra:ns).

prank, n. Act, trick, sp. giving trouble to
others, done for amusement. (praŋk).

prank, v.t. Get ornamented (with something)
(freq. p. out).

prate, v.i.&t. Be talking, say, foolishly,
over-much. (preit).

'prattle, 1. n. Simple, foolish, talk, as of
young boy or girl. 2. v.i.&t. Be talking
p.; say in prattling way. ('prati).

prawn, 1. n. Sea-animal like great
SHRIMP, used for food. 2. v.i. Go fishing
for pp. (prɔ:n).

pray, v.i.&t. Make request to GOD; make
strong request to (GOD, person); p. to
GOD or person (for, that, to); please (p.
go etc.). '-er (preə), n. Praying to
GOD; request to GOD; strong request.
(prei).

pre-, With vv., giving sense of "do before
the event," (-con'cert (v.t.), -determine,
-pay, p.-arrange); with aa. and nn., giving
sense of "before the time of" (p.-Chrisfian
(a.), p.-war). (pri:-).

preach, v.t.&i. Give (talk about religion)
in church; be talking as if preaching;
put forward (certain beliefs, behaviour
etc.) as right. (pri:tʃ).

pre'amble, n. Opening part of statement,
talk. (pri:'ambl).

pre'carious, a. Dependent on chance,
uncertain, unsafe. (pri'keəriəs).

pre'caution, n. Thing done before event
to keep off danger or make desired outcome
certain. (pri'kɔ:ʃn).

pre'cede, v.t.&i. Come or go before, in
place, order, or time. 'precedence
('presidəns), n. (Right to) earlier, more
respected, place. Take p. of, (have right
to) precede or get attention before.
'precedent ('presidənt), n. Earlier event,
decision, taken as example, rule, for
later ones. (pri'si:d).

'precept, n. Guiding rule for behaviour.
pre'ceptor, n. Teacher. ('pri:sept).

pre'cession, n. Only p. of the equinoxes,
change by which these take place earlier
every year. (pri:'seʃn).

'precinct, n. Land, space, inside walls
round church, school etc. Pp., the places
near. ('pri:siŋt).

'precious, 1. a. Of great value; dear,
highly valued; (of art, writing etc.) over-delicate,
forced, not natural. P. stone,
jewel; the p. metals, gold, silver, PLATINUM.
2. [Com.] adv. Very. ('preʃəs).

'precipice, n. Upright or sharply sloping
face of mountain etc. ('presipis).

pre'cipitate, 1. a. Violent, quick; (done,
acting) without waiting long enough,
without thought. 2. (pri'sipiteit), v.t.
Send (sp., oneself) falling violently
down; make go precipitately (against
army etc.); make come about more
quickly; [Sc.] get (solid substance in
liquid) separate from liquid, (of liquid)
put down (solid substance). P. oneself
(up)on, go running violently to (person
etc.). 3.n. Substance precipitated from
liquid. precipi'tation, n. Sp., being
precipitate. pre'cipitous, a. (Of slope)
very sharp. (pri'sipitit).

'précis, [F.] n. Outline of chief points in
book etc. ('preisi:).

pre'cise, a. Taking care not to make
errors, sp. in talk; clearly limited,
measured, fixed, worded without any
error. '-ly, adv. Sp., (in answer to
question etc.) that is so, as you say.
pre'cision (pri'siʒn), n. Sp., (of machine
etc.) working without error. (pri'sais).

pre'clude, v.t. Make not possible, of no
use; keep (from doing). (pri'klu:d).

pre'cocious, a. Coming to development
earlier than is normal; of a p. person.
pre'cocity (pri'kɔsiti), n. (pri'kouʃəs).

'precon'ceive, v.t. Get (an idea about
something) before experiencing it. 'precon'ception,
n. Sp., preconceived idea.
('pri:kən'si:v).

pre'cursor, n. Person, thing, coming
before as sign of another, making the
way ready. (pri'kə:sə).

'predatory, a. Given to taking the property
of others; (of animal) living on
others; of a p. person, animal.
('predətəri).

'prede'cease, v.t. Come to one's death
before (another). ('pri:di'si:s).

'predecessor, n. Person who had some
position etc. before (in relation to one
who has it at present). ('pri:disesə).

pre'destinate, pre'destine, vv.t. (Of GOD
etc.) get (person) marked out before the
time (for some punishment, reward, to
do etc.), get (event) fixed before it takes
place. predesti'nation, n. Sp., theory of
GOD'S p. of certain persons from the
start to a happy existence after death
and others to punishment. (pri'destineit,
pri'destin).

pre'dicament, n. Position which is full of
danger or hard to see a way out of.
(pri'dikəmənt).

'predicate, 1. v.t. Say that (quality, fact)
is the property, true, (of some person,
thing). 2. ('predikit), n. Quality etc. predicated;
[Lang.] part of statement saying
something about SUBJECT. pre'dicative,
a. Sp., [Lang.] forming (part of)
predicate. ('predikeit).

pre'dict, v.t.&i. Say that (something) will
take place in the future. (pri'dikt).

predi'lection, n. Taste (for).
(pri:di'lekʃn).

'predis'pose, v.t. Give a tendency (to, to
do) before the event. ('pri:dis'pouz).

pre'dominate, v.i. Have the chief power,
effect, be the greatest in amount. pre'dominant,
a. (pri'dɔmineit).

pro-'eminent, a. The best, most noted, of
all. (pri:'eminənt).

pre-'emption, n. (Right of) getting a
thing for payment before it is offered to
others. (prh'empʃn).

preen, v.t. (Of bird) put (its feathers) in
order (freq. p. itself). (prim).

'preface, 1. n. Observations about a book
printed at the front of it; opening part
of talk. 2. v.t. Be starting (talk etc.
with). 'prefatory, a. ('prefis).

'prefect, n. One in certain positions of
authority in early Rome; head of
government of a prefecture; schoolboy
made responsible for keeping order.
'-ure, n. Position or office of, time of
being, a prefect; any of the divisions of
France for government purposes.
('pri:fekt).

pre'fer, v.t. Give more approval to, be
more pleased by, be looking on as
better; give (person) higher position;
put forward (a request, protest). 'preferable
('prefrəbl), a. Rightly to be preferred.
'preferably, adv. As being preferable.
'preference, n. Sp., thing preferred;
right to have something, sp.
payment, before others; putting lower
tax than the general one on goods coming
from certain country. P. stock,
shares, those on which payment of
interest has to be made before it is made
on others. prefe'rential (prefə'renʃl), a.
Of, giving, preference (sp. of taxes).
'-ment, n. Giving or getting of higher
position, sp. in Church. (pri'fə:).

'prefix, n. Word, or part of word, joined
to front of another to make change in
sense; word used before person's name
(Mr., Dr., Mrs. etc.). pre'fix, v.t. Put on
(to) as p.; make addition of (note to book
etc.) as start. ('pri:fiks).

'pregnant, a. Having in body young in
process of development; (of words, acts)
full of ideas; (of step) important for
future. ('pregnənt).

pre'hensile, a. (Of tail, foot etc.) with
power of gripping. (pri'hensail).

'prehis'toric, a. Before the days of
recorded history. ('pri:his'tɔrik).

'prejudice, 1. n. Opinion not based on
reason, feeling for or against something.
To the p. of, with (possibly)
damaging effects to (person's interests
etc.); without p., form of words used
to make clear that present rights etc.
will not be changed by what is being
said, done. 2. v.t. Give p. to; do damage to
(interests etc.). preju'dicial, a. (Having
tendency to be) damaging. ('predʒudis).

'prelate, n. BISHOP, or other churchman
of equal or higher authority. ('prelət).

pre'liminary, 1. a. Taking place before
and making ready for something. 2. n.
P. step, act. (pri'liminəri).

'prelude, 1. n. Act, event, condition,
going before as step (to), starting-point
(of); [Mus.] first part of a work. 2. v.t.
Be a p. to ('prelju:d).

prema'ture, a. Done, taking place, before
the right or normal time. (premə'tjuə).

pre'meditate, v.t. Be designing (act)
before acting. (pri'mediteit).

'premier, 1. a. First in position, order,
chief. 2. n. Head of Government (as) in
Britain. ('premjə).

'première, [F.] n. First
night of play, first giving in public theatre of motion picture.
('premjeə).

'premise, n. Statement on which some
other statement, chain of reasoning, is
based (freq. premiss). Pp., Sp., [Law]
first part of agreement etc. giving purpose,
names of persons, etc.; any house
or building with its land. pre'mise
(pri'maiz), v.t. Make statement (that),
or of (fact), as p. ('premis).

'premium, n. Reward, sp. BONUS; regular
payment made for insurance; payment
given for training in trade, business;
amount taken as payment for changing
money. At a p., (of STOCKS etc.) at more
than normal value; put a p. on (act,
behaviour), make it to person's interest
to do. ('pri:miəm).

premo'nition, n. Feeling taken as sign
of coming event, sp. bad. (primə'niʃn).

'pre-'natal, a. Before birth. ('pri:'neitl).

pre'occupy, v.t. Take the attention of
(person, mind) so that it is not given to
other things. preoccu'pation, n. Sp.,
preoccupying idea etc. (pri'ɔkjupai).

'preor'dain, v.t. FOREORDAIN.
('pri:ɔ:'dein).

prep, n. Short word for school PREPARATION.
P. School, PREPARATORY School.
(prep).

pre'pare, v.t.&i. Make, get oneself,
ready, prepa'ration, n. Sp., specially
prepared food, medical substance etc.;
(time given to) learning, getting work
ready, for school. pre'paratory, a.
Sp., p. school, one for small boys or girls
who are going on to a higher one.
(pri'peə).

pre'ponderate, v.i. PREDOMINATE.
(pri'pɔndəreit).

prepo'sition, [Lang.] n. Word placed
before n. or pron. to make clear its
relation, sp. of direction, to another
word (in, to, at etc.). (prepə'ziʃn).

prepos'sess, v.t. Give (person) feeling
about at the start, at first view, sp., of
approval for. '-ing, a. With attraction,
pleasing at first view. '-ion, n.
Feeling, sp., of approval, about something.
(pri.'pə'zes).

pre'posterous, a. Completely against
sense or reason. (pri'pɔstərəs).

'pre'requisite, n., a. (Thing) needed as a
condition of some other thing.
('pri:'rekwizit).

pre'rogative, n. Special right(s), sp., of a
ruler. (pri'rɔgətiv).

'presage, 1. n. PRESENTIMENT; sign of
future event. 2. v.t. Be p. of. ('presidʒ).

Presby'terian, n., a. (Person) of the
branch of Christian Church controlled
by body of PRIESTS and ELDERS. 'presbyter,
n. ELDER of Presbyterian
Church. 'presbytery, n. Controlling
body of Presbyterian Church; E. part of
CHANCEL; (in Church of Rome) PRIEST's
house. (prezbi'tiəriən).

'prescient, a. Able to see into, having
knowledge of, the future. ('preʃiənt).

pres'cribe, v.t.&i. Make suggestions as
an authority for (way of acting); give
orders for use of (medical substance
etc. for disease, ill person). pres'cription,
n. Sp., medical substance prescribed;
statement in writing of this;
[Law] long, unbroken use as base of
right etc. pres'criptive, a. Giving
orders, directions; [Law] based on prescription.
(pris'kraib).

'present, 1. a. At the place in question,
here, there; now in existence, taking
place, acting, under discussion; [Lang.]
(of v. form) used in statements about
the p. time. 2. n. The p. time; [Lang.]
the p. TENSE. 'presence, n. Being present
in a place etc.; person's looks,
general air, sp. as causing respect. P. of
mind, (power of) acting quickly, with
sense, in sudden danger etc. p.-day, a.
Of the present time, current. '-ly, adv.
Almost straight away. ('preznt).

pre'sent, v.t. Put forward, put on view;
give; INTRODUCE (person). P. arms, put
guns forward in upright position as sign
of respect; p. person with, give him;
p. oneself, come before person, public.
'present ('preznt), n. Thing given. '-able,
a. Quite pleasing-looking, quite good.
presen'tation, n. Sp., thing (publicly)
presented. (pri'zent).

pre'sentiment, n. Feeling, not based on
knowledge, that something, sp. bad, is
about to take place. (pri'zentimənt).

pre'serve, 1. v.t. Keep from damage,
death, loss, going bad, etc.; take steps
to keep (land, animals) from being
POACHED. 2. n. Woodland etc. where
animals are kept from destruction; what
is looked on as person's special field,
interest; JAM. preser'vation, n. Sp.,
condition of thing, as well or badly preserved.
preservative, n., a. (Substance)
for preserving sp. food. (pri'zə:v).

pre'side, v.i. Have position of authority
(over, at meeting etc.). 'president
('prezidənt), n. One presiding, sp., head
of REPUBLIC. 'presidency, n. (pri'zaid).

press, 1. v.t.&i. Be pushing strongly
against; make flat by pressing with
weights, smoothing-iron etc.; get (liquid
out of, from, fruit etc.) by crushing; (of
army etc.) make strong attack on; (of
business etc.) be needing attention
straight away; make frequent requests
(to). P. for, keep making requests for;
p. on, sp., go quickly forward; make
frequent offers of (food, money etc.) to;
time presses, there is very little time. 2. n.
A pressing; great mass (of work, persons
etc.); machine for pressing; printing-machine
or works; cupboard for clothing
etc. P. cutting, account etc. cut from
newspaper; the p., newspapers generally.
'-ed, a. In trouble through need of
(time, money), kept working hard.
'-ing, a. Sp., important, serious, needing
attention straight away; (of request)
strongly, frequently, made. '-man, n.
Newspaper man. '-ure ('preʃə), n.
Pressing; weight, force, acting on something.
Put p. on person, do something for
purpose of forcing him to do; work at
high p., be working very hard. (pres).

press, v.t. Make (person) go into army or
become sailor by force; take for public
use. 'p.-gang, [Hist.] n. Body of men
pressing men into sea force.

presti'digitator, n. One expert at prestidigitation.
presti'digi'tation, n. Doing
tricks by quick use of hands.
(presti'didʒiteitə).

pres'tige, n. The power of person's,
nation's, good name, as causing respect.
(pres'ti:ʒ).

'presto, int. Used in doing tricks etc. at
point of sudden change. ('prestou).

pre'sume, v.t.&i. Take as true, be looking
on as a fact; be so forward in
behaviour as to do etc. P. upon, make
more use of (another's kind feeling etc.)
than one has a right to. pre'sumption
(pri'zʌmpʃn), n. Sp., thing presumed;
that which there is good reason to presume,
seems most probable; forward behaviour.
pre'sumptive, a. Which may
be presumed if nothing against it comes
to light. pre'sumptuous, a. Forward,
taking overmuch on oneself. (pri'zju:m).

presup'pose, v.t. Take as true before
having certain knowledge; be a sign of
the necessary existence of (some other
thing). presuppos'ition, n. Thing presupposed
as base for argument.
(pri:sə'pouz).

pre'tend, v.t.&i. Make oneself seem (to
be, do) falsely or in play; p. to have
(quality, condition); falsely say (that),
put oneself forward as having a right
(to). pre'tence, n. (Bit of) pretending,
pretension. '-er, n. Sp., one who pretends
to position. pre'tension, n. Act
of, reason for, pretending to something;
quality of being pretentious. pre'tentious,
a. Self-important, with unnecessarily
important air. (pri'tend).

'preterite, [Lang.] 1. n. P. tense. 2. a.
Only p. tense, simple past form of v.
('preterit).

preter'natural, a. Other than natural or
normal, uncommon. (pri:tə'natʃərəl).

'pretext, n. False reason given for act etc.
('prutekst).

'pretty, 1. a. (Of woman etc.) good-looking
in soft way, without strong lines;
pleasing to eye, ear, or mind. 2. [Com.]
adv. Quite, somewhat. ('priti).

pre'vail, v.i. Get control (over); overcome
in fighting (against); be prevalent. P.
upon, get (person) to do what is desired.
'prevalent ('prevələnt), a. Generally
seen, done, common. (pri'veil).

pre'varicate, v.i. Make false or not completely
true statement. (pri'varikeit).

pre'vent, v.t. Keep (thing) from taking
place, (person) from doing. (pri'vent).

'previous, 1. a. Coming before in time or
order; [Hum.] done, acting, before right
time. 2. adv. P. to, before. ('pri:viəs).

prey, 1. n. Animal put to death by
another for food. A p. to fear etc.,
greatly troubled by; bird, beast, of p., one
preying on others. 2. v.i. Only p. (up)on,
take as p.; be living on by taking property,
money, of; (of fear, disease etc.)
be troubling, attacking. (prei).

price, 1. n. Money or other thing which
has to be given, thing which has to be
undergone, in payment for something.
Set a p. on person's head, make an offer of
reward to anyone making him a prisoner
or putting him to death. 2. v.t. Say what
p. of (thing) is; get marked with p.;
put question as to p. of. '-less, a.
Of such value that it may not be
priced; [Hum.] causing great pleasure,
amusement. (prais).

prick, 1. v.t.&i. Make hole or mark in,
give pain to, with sharp point; make
(hole, mark) in this way; give, be feeling,
sharp pain. P. up its, one's, ears, (of animal)
make ears upright, (of person) give attention.
2. n. Mark, pain, act, of pricking.
'-le, 1. n. Sharp, pointed growth on
plant stem, animal's skin etc. 2. v.i. Give
or have pricking feeling. '-ly, a. Having
prickles; prickling. (prik).

pride, 1. n. Self-respect; over-high
opinion of oneself, one's position; feeling
of pleasure, approval, about something
one is responsible for, has a connection
with; thing, person, causing p. to one.
Take a p. in, p. oneself on. 2. v.t. Only p.
oneself on, have p., pleasure, about.
(praid).

'prie-dieu, [F.] n. Small book-table with
sloping top and support for knees, for
reading or saying PRAYERS at. ('pri:djə:).

priest, n. One trained in work of religion,
having right to do special acts of religion;
one who is between DEACON and
BISHOP, sp., in Church of Rome. '-craft,
n. Tricks used by priests to get greater
power, sp. politically. '-hood, n. Sp.,
priests as a group. (pri:st).

prig, n. Narrow-minded person over-pleased
with himself as better than
others. (prig).

prim, a. Stiff in behaviour, readily
shocked, narrow. (prim).

'primacy, n. Position of being the best;
see PRIMATE. ('praiməsi).

'prima 'donna, n. Woman taking chief
part in opera. ('pri:mə 'dɔnə).

'primal, a. PRIMEVAL; deep-rooted.
('praimi).

'primary, a. First in time, development,
or position, chief. P. colours, the 3
which, when mixed in different ways,
amounts, give all others. ('praiməri).

'primate, n. ARCHBISHOP; one of the
highest order of MAMMALS, covering men
and monkeys. 'primacy, n. Position of
Church primate; being PRIMARY.
('praimit).

prime, 1. a. Chief, most important; of
highest quality. P. minister, PREMIER;
p. number, one which no other complete
number but I will go into a certain number
of times with nothing over. 2. n. The
first or best stage of anything. 3. v.t.&i.
Get (gun of old sort) ready by putting
gunpowder in position; give (person)
necessary knowledge, facts, for answering
questions etc.; get (pump etc.)
working by putting liquid in; get
(wood) ready to be painted by coating
with oil etc. (praim).

'primer, n. Simple school-book, book
teaching first steps, giving simplest
facts, about something. ('praimə).

pri'meval, a. Of earliest stage of earth's
history, very old. (prai'mi:vl).

'primitive, a. Of an early, simple sort,
having undergone little development.
('primitiv).

primo'geniture, n. Being the oldest son;
system by which property, position, is
handed down to oldest son, or to oldest
son or daughter. (praimou'dʒenitʃə).

pri'mordial, a. Having existence at,
from, the start of everything.
(prai'mɔ:diəl).

'primrose, n. (Field-plant having) light
yellow, early spring flower. ('primrouz).

'primula, n. Sorts of flowering plant, of
which PRIMROSE is one. ('primjulə).

prince, n. Ruler; son of ruler, male of
ruler's family. prin'cess, n. Woman
married to prince; daughter of ruler,
female of ruler's family. princi'pality,
n. Rule by, country ruled by, a prince.
(prins).

'principal, 1. a. Chief, most important.
2. n. Head of certain organizations, sp.
schools, colleges; one for whom another
is acting as representative in business;
money on which interest is given. '-ly,
adv. Chiefly. ('prinsipl).

'principle, n. General law of science;
guiding rule, sp., in connection with
right behaviour; general idea, fact, on
which some system is based. On p.,
guided by a p. of right behaviour, not by
self-interest etc. '-d, a. High-p. etc.,
having high principles. ('prinsipl).

print, 1. v.t. Make mark(s) on, in, by
stamping or pushing against flat face of;
make (marks) on, sp., on paper by
stamping it with inked letters, pictures,
designs, cut out of metal, wood etc.;
make copies of (book, picture etc.) by
printing; make (camera-picture) on paper
from NEGATIVE. 2. n. Mark(s) made by
printing inked letters etc. on paper;
metal letters used in printing, any
special form of these; printed picture;
camera-picture; writing like p.; cotton
material with colours, designs, printed
on it. '-er, n. Sp., workman printing
books, papers etc.; owner of printing-business.
'-ing-press, n. Machine for
printing books, papers. (print).

'prior, n. Head of house of religion. '-y
('praiəri), n. House controlled by prior
or prioress. ('praiə).

'prior, 1. a. Earlier, coming before in
time, order. 2. adv. P. to, before.
pri'ority, n. Sp., right of coming first.

'prism, n. Solid form whose 2 ends are
equal straight-sided forms, and whose
sides are PARALLELOGRAMS; p. of glass
or other clear
substance
whose sides
are so cut
that rays of
light are
broken up by
them; bands of colour produced when
light is broken by p. pris'matic, a. Of
prism form; (of colour) bright and
ranging through all shades. ('prizm).

'prison, 1. n. Building where doers of
crimes, persons waiting to go before
judge etc., are locked up; place where
person, animal, is shut up, kept from
moving or acting freely. 2. v.t. IMPRISON.
'-er, n. Person in prison or coming before
judge to be judged for crime; person in
grip of, kept from going by, another, (as)
in war. Take, make, p., make a p., put
in prison. ('prizn).

'pristine, a. (As) of early times, undamaged,
unchanged, by later developments.
('pristain).

'prithee, [Old] int. Please. ('priði).

'private, 1. a. To do with, for the use of,
which is the property of, one person, not
persons generally, opp. public; secret,
not made public, away from public
view. P. person, one without public
position; p. school, one with p. owner.
2. n. Man in lowest sort of position in
army. In p., privately, opp. in public.
'privacy, n. priva'teer (praivə'tiə).
n. (Man controlling) private armed vessel
having right of attacking other ships in
time of war. ('praivit).

pri'vation, n. Being in need of comforts,
necessaries. (prai'veiʃn).

'privet, n. Small evergreen much used
for edging garden walks etc. ('privit).

'privilege, 1. n. Right (sp., not to have
punishment), profit, special to some
person, group, position. 2. v.t. Give p(p).
to, give special right (to do). ('privihdg).

'privy, 1. a. [Old] Secret, private. P.
Council, body of persons acting as committee
with Eng. King for certain
government business; p. purse, money
given from public store for ruler's
private use; p. to, [Old] having knowledge
of (sp. secret design). 2. [Old] n.
Place for sending out waste from body.
('privi).

prize, 1. n. Reward, sp. for competition;
thing desired, worked for; ship or property
taken in sea fight. 2. a. Which has
been given a p.; highly valued. 3. v.t. Be
valuing highly. '-fighter, n. One fighting
with gloves, hands, for money prize.
(praiz).

prize, prise, v.t. Get (box, cover etc.)
forced (open, off, up).

pro, n. Short form of PROFESSIONAL. (prou).

pro-, Supporting, siding with (p.-French).
Pros and cons, reasons for and against.

'probable, a. Which has more chance of
being true, taking place, than not, almost
certain. proba'bility, n. Sp.,
relation between chances that thing will
come about and chances that it will not.
In all p., very probably. ('prɔbəbl).

'probate, [Law] n. Decision by Government
office that WILL is in order in all
questions of form; copy of WILL with
statement that it is in order. ('proubeit).

pro'bation, n. Testing of person's behaviour,
qualities, before giving him
work, letting him into a society, etc.
On p., undergoing p.; p. system,
system by which young persons etc. who have
done crimes are let off punishment if
their later behaviour is good. '-er, n.
Person on probation, sp., doing hospital
work. (prou'beiʃn).

probe, 1. n. Thin rod of silver etc. used
by medical man for feeling wounds.
2. v.t. Be feeling with p.; be looking
into, make discovery of, (person's
purposes, feelings etc.). (proub).

'probity, n. Quality of being upright,
straightforward. ('proubiti).

'problem, n. Hard question needing
answer, decision. -'atic(al), aa. Sp.,
(of outcome etc.) uncertain ('prɔbləm).

pro'boscis, n. Long nose of ELEPHANT;
pipe-like mouth-part in insect; [Hum.]
person's long nose. (prə'bɔsis).

pro'ceed, v.i. Go on (to a place); go on
(with work, talk etc.); go on (to do); be
in process; go through certain procedure;
go forward with law process
(against); come (from some cause).
pro'cedure (prə'si:djuə), n. Order of,
forms (to be) gone through, in doing,
sp., political or law business etc. '-ing, n.
Act, bit of behaviour. Pp., sp., (record of)
business done at meeting of committee,
society etc.; law process. 'proceeds
('prousi:dz), n. pl. Profit from some
undertaking. (prə'si:d).

'process, 1. n. Operation, experience,
which goes on, number of acts, changes,
having a connection with one another;
operation, way of making, in industry;
taking of question before COURT for
decision by law; order for person to come
before judge; outgrowth from bone etc.
In p. of, (while) doing, undergoing, (some
operation); in p. of time, after some
time, as an effect of time going by. 2. v.t.
Put (goods) through some p. ('prouses).

pro'cession, n. Number, body, of persons
going through streets etc. in fixed order,
in connection with act of religion,
political event, etc. (prə'seʃn).

pro'claim, v.t. Make public (fact, news),
sp. by crier. procla'mation (prɔklə'meiʃn),
n. Sp., paper or form of words
proclaiming. (prə'kleim).

pro'clivity, n. Natural tendency.
(prə'kliviti).

pro'crastinate, v.i. Put off doing things.
(prou'krastineit).

'procreate, v.i. Have, give existence to,
offspring. ('proukrieit).

Pro'crustean, a. Making adjustment of
things, persons, to system etc. by
destruction of whatever is not in harmony
with it. (prou'krustiən).

'proctor, n. Person in university with
authority to keep order. King's P., law
authority with power of stopping
DIVORCE etc. by producing more facts.
('prɔktə).

pro'cure, v.t. Get, sp. with some trouble;
make come about. procu'ration (prɔkjuə'reiʃn),
n. Sp., (authority for) acting
for another. '-r, n. Sp., PIMP. (prə'kjuə).

prod, v.t.&i., n. (Give) push with finger
or other pointed thing (to), sp. to make
go on, more quickly; (make) prodding
motion(s) (at). (prod).

'prodigal, n., a. (One) wasting money,
powers etc. (freq. p. of). ('prɔdigl).

'prodigy, n. Uncommon, surprising, thing,
sp. one which seems outside natural laws;
person who is a surprising example of
some quality. pro'digious (prə'didʒəs),
a. Surprising, very great. ('prɔdidʒi).

pro'duce, v.t. Put forward, put on view,
put before public; give birth, growth, to,
be cause of, make; [Math.] make (line)
longer. 'produce ('prɔdju:s), n. (Amount
of) things produced, sp. from farmed land.
'-r, n. Sp., person producing goods for
market; person getting plays ready to be
given in theatre. 'product, n. Thing
produced by natural process or made
by man; number got by MULTIPLYING
numbers together. pro'duction, n.
Sp., work of art, stage play, etc. pro'ductive,
a. With tendency to produce,
fertile. (prə'dju:s).

pro'fane, 1. a. Not to do with religion; (of
forms etc.) HEATHEN; BLASPHEMOUS. 2.
v.t. Put (thing of religion etc.) to wrong,
bad, use, be acting without right respect
for. profa'nation (prɔfə'neiʃn), n.
pro'fanity, n. Sp., profane, shocking,
words, talk. (prə'fein).

pro'fess, v.t. Say that one has (belief,
feeling); have as one's trade, art. P.
to (be, do), say that one (is etc.). '-ediy,
adv. By one's account of oneself. '-ion,
n. Statement of one's belief, feelings etc.;
way of making a living, sp. in Church,
law, army etc., or as medical man or
teacher; the persons working at such a
p. '-ional, 1. a. Of, to do with, one's
work, profession; doing a thing for a
living, for payment. 2. n. P. person, sp.
player or teacher of some sport. '-or,
n. Sp., university teacher with high
position, gen. at head of some branch of
learning. (prə'fes).

'proffer, v.t., n. Make offer of. ('prɔfə).

pro'ficient, n., a. (One) expert, good (in,
at). (prə'fiʃnt).

'profile, n. Outline of face as seen from
side; outlined edge of thing. In p., (as)
seen from side. ('proufi:l).

profit, 1. n. Getting of good from something;
money made in business etc.
2. v.t.&i. Give p. to, be of use to;
get p., be helped, (by), get good (from).
'-able, a. Producing much profit.
profi'teer, 1. v.i. Make profit through
troubles, need, of others, sp. in time of
war. 2. n. One who profiteers. ('prɔfit).

'profligate, 1. a. Given to loose living; (of
using of money etc.) on unnecessarily
great scale, uncontrolled. 2. n. P.
person. ('prɔfligit).

pro'found, a. Deep; having, marked by,
great knowledge, thought; needing
thought to make its sense clear; (of
feeling etc.) strong. pro'fundity (prə'fʌnditi),
n. (prə'faund).

pro'fuse, a. (Over-)great in amount;
giving, producing, using, in (over-)great
amount (p. in, of). pro'ftision (prə'fju:ʒən),
n. Sp., great amount.
(prə'fju:s).

pro'genitor, n. Person, animal, in relation
to its offspring. 'progeny ('prɔdʒini),
n. Offspring. (prou'dʒenitə).

prog'nostic, a., n. (Acting as) sign that
something will probably take place.
'-ate, v.t. Be prognostic of; PREDICT.
prog'nosis (prɔg'nousis), n. Account of
probable development of a disease.
(prɔg'nɔstik).

'program(me), n. Statement, sp. in print
for distribution at theatre etc., of what
is designed to take place. ('prougram).

'progress, n. Forward motion; development;
process of getting better. pro'gress,
v.i. Undergo p. pro'gression,
n. Physical motion in forward direction;
[Math.] range of numbers every one of
which has same relation to the one
before it (see ARITHMETICAL and GEOMETRICAL
P.). pro'gressive, a. (Of motion)
forward; supporting or undergoing progress,
changes for the better; progressing
regularly and by degrees, not suddenly;
increasing. ('prougres).

pro'hibit, v.t. Say (thing) may not be
done, used; keep (person from doing).
prohi'bition (proui'biʃn), n. Sp., order
prohibiting something; law stopping
trade in alcohol. '-ive, a. Sp., (of price,
tax) high enough to keep persons from
getting, using, thing. (prə'hibit).

'project, n. (Design for) undertaking.
pro'ject (prə'dʒekt), v.t.&i. Make p. for,
have the idea of starting; send out into
space, sp., (light, shade) onto thing;
get outline, picture, of (thing) produced
on wall etc. by projecting light and
shade; make picture of (solid thing) as if
flat; PROTRUDE. pro'jectile, 1. n. Thing
sent, or for sending, through air with
force, sp. from gun. 2. a. Able to send,
or be sent, through air. pro'jection, n.
Sp., part projecting; map etc. made by
projecting. pro'jector, n. Sp., apparatus
for projecting picture by light-rays.
('prɔdʒekt).

prole'gomena, n. pl. Opening statements
or part of writing, talk. (proule'gɔminə).

prole'tariat(e), n. The masses, workers
doing physical work, getting little payment.
prole'tarian, n., a. (One) of the
proletariat. (proule'teəriət).

pro'lific, a. Producing great number,
amount, (of); p. of offspring. (prə'lifik).

'prolix, a. (Of story, talker) over-long,
roundabout, uninteresting. ('prouliks).

'prologue, n. Verses etc. given before or as
first part of play; first of a chain of
events. ('proulɔg).

pro'long, v.t. Make longer; make go on
for longer time. '-ed, a. Going on for
long time. (prə'1ɔŋ).

prome'nade, 1. n. (Place made, used, for)
walking, driving, up and down in public.
2. v.t.&i. Go up and down (street etc.);
take (person etc.) up and down, about,
to be seen. (prɔmə'na:d).

'prominent, a. (Of part) PROJECTING; in
position etc. to be readily seen; noted,
important. 'prominence, n. Sp., prominent
part. (prɔminənt).

pro'miscuous, a. Mixed without order,
unsorted; not making selection, taking
whatever comes. (prə'miskjuəs).

'promise, 1. n. Clear statement in which
one gives one's word to do or not do
something; what is so undertaken; sign
of future development, happy outcome.
2. v.t.&i. Make p. to (person to do etc.,
that); p. to give; give signs, hope, of the
coming of (something). P. well, p. good
outcome. 'promising, a. Giving cause
for hope, promising well. 'promissory,
a. Sp., p. note, one undertaking to make
payment. ('prɔmis).

'promontory, n. Headland. ('prɔməntəri).

pro'mote, v.t. Give higher position to, in
business etc.; be helping forward, or
starting, process, undertaking, condition.
'-r, n. Sp., one starting business
companies. (prə'mout).

prompt, a. Acting or done quickly,
readily. '-itude, n. Being p. (prɔmpt).

prompt, v.t. Be reason, purpose, causing
(act, feeling, person to do); give help to
(actor) by reading in a low voice words
he is about to say, to (talker) by making
suggestion of words, ideas. '-er, n. Sp.,
person prompting actors. '-ing, n. Sp.,
the working of a feeling etc. to make one
do something.

'promulgate, v.t. Make public (belief,
law etc.) as having authority, coming
into force. ('prɔməlgeit).

prone, a. Stretched out with face or front
down; having tendency (to). (proun).

prong, n. One point of fork or fork-like
structure. (prɔŋ).

'pronoun, n. Word used in place of a
n. pro'nominal (prə'nɔminl), a.
('prounaun).

pro'nounce, v.t.&i. Make statement of,
seriously, with the necessary forms; give
one's opinion, decision, (on, for, against
etc.); give it as one's opinion that
(person, thing) is; say, make sound of,
(word etc.). '-able, a. (Of sound) able
to be pronounced. '-d, a. Sp., strongly
marked, clear. '-ment, n. Statement of
opinion, decision. pronunci'ation (prənʌnsi'eiʃn),
n. Way of pronouncing
word(s). (prə'nauns).

proof, 1. n. Fact(s) or reasoning making
clear that thing is true; test; certain
degree of alcohol in SPIRIT fixed as
measure by law; first print of book,
picture etc., on which errors may be put
right. 2. a. Safe (against). 'p.-reader, n.
One reading proofs to put right errors.
(pru:f).

prop, 1. n. Thing used for supporting,
keeping upright; one greatly helping
person, cause etc. 2. v.t. Keep up with
or as p. (prop).

'propagate, v.t.&i. Make increase in
number of (plants, animals) by planting
etc.; make distribution of (idea, knowledge,
disease etc.) wider; (of plants,
animals) p. their sort by producing offspring.
propa'ganda (prɔpə'gandə). n.
Advertisement, steps taken, to propagate
ideas etc. propa'gandist, n. One
doing propaganda. ('prɔpəgeit).

pro'pel, v.t. Be driving, pushing, forward.
'-ler, Sp., turning rod with blades fixed
on it for propelling steamer or airplane.
(prə'pel).

pro'pensity, n. Natural taste, tendency
(to condition, to do, for). (prə'pensiti).

'proper, a. Right for, special to, some
person, use, condition; rightly so
named; in harmony with forms of
behaviour pleasing to society; [Com.]
great (a p. mess etc.). P. fraction, one less
than 1; p. name, noun, name used for
one special person, place etc. ('prɔpə).

'property, n. Thing of which a person is
owner; house with land; special quality,
behaviour, of something. Pp., sp.,
things used on stage in play. ('prɔpəti).

'prophecy, n. (Power of) prophesying;
statement prophesying. 'prophesy
('prɔfəsai), v.i.&t. Give teaching as a
prophet; say that (thing), say what,
will take place in the future. 'prophet,
n. Teacher of religion who gives his
teaching as coming straight from GOD;
teacher of new religion, theory etc.; one
who prophesies future events. ('prɔfəsi).

prophy'lactic, n., a. (Substance, process)
used to keep away disease. (prɔfi'laktik).

pro'pinquity, n. Being near; near family
relation between persons. (prə'piŋkwiti).

pro'pitiate, v.t. Make no longer angry;
get approval, support, of. pro'pitious,
a. Giving hope of good outcome, helping,
right for, purpose. (prə'piʃieit).

pro'portion, 1. n. Amount, part, of something
in relation to the complete thing;
relation of one thing to another in
amount, measure; (right) relation of size
between parts of a thing (freq. pp.);
[Math.] condition in which relation
between 2 numbers is equal to relation between
2 others. Pp., sp., size, measures,
of a thing. 2. v.t. Give right p(p).
to; make proportionate to. '-al, '-ate,
aa. In right or same proportion to.
(prə'pɔ:ʃn).

pro'pose, v.t.&i. Put forward as suggestion,
design, purpose; put forward
(person) for selection; make request (to
person) to get married to one. pro'posal,
n. Sp., suggestion, design, proposed;
request to get married to one.
propo'sition (prɔpə'ziʃn), n. Statement;
[Math.] statement of THEOREM,
question, with or without its answer
worked out; proposal for an agreement;
[Com.] business etc. undertaking.
(prə'pouz).

pro'pound, v.t. Put forward for attention,
discussion, decision. (prə'paund).

pro'prietor, n. Owner, sp. of house with
land or of hotel etc. pro'prietary, a.
Of a proprietor; having property; (of
goods) PATENTED. pro'prietory, a.
(With air) as of owner. (prə'praiətə).

pro'priety, n. Being PROPER. The pp.,
PROPER behaviour. (prə'praiiti).

pro'pulsion, n. PROPELLING. (prə'pʌlʃn).

pro'rogue, v.t.&i. Put an end to meetings
of (PARLIAMENT) for a time. (prə'roug).

pro'saic, a. Everyday, uninteresting.
(prou'zeiik).

pro'scenium, n. Part of theatre stage in
front of curtain. (prou'si:niəm).

pros'cribe, v.t. Publicly put (person)
outside help of the law; get strong force
of public opinion turned against (act,
person etc.). (prəs'kraib).

prose, n. Language, writing, not in verse
form. 'prosy, a. (Of talk, talker) uninteresting.
(prouz).

'prosecute, v.t.&i. Give effect to (design),
go on with (work, undertaking);
have law process against. prose'cution,
n. Sp., side prosecuting in law process.
'prosecutor, n. One prosecuting in law.
Public p., law authority prosecuting in
public interest. ('prɔsikju:t).

'proselyte, n. Person making change from
one religion etc. to another, sp. to
that of Jews. 'proselytize ('prɔsilitaiz),
v.i.&t. Be attempting to make proselytes;
make proselyte of. ('prɔsilait).

'prosody, n. Science of verse rhythm,
verse forms. ('prɔsədi).

'prospect, n. View before the eyes or
mind; chance of event taking place, probable
development, what is looked forward
to in the future. pros'pect, v.t.&i.
Go on journey of discovery in (place); be
looking (for sp., gold). pros'pective, a.
To do with future only; looked forward
to, which is some day to be. pros'pector,
n. Sp. one prospecting for gold. pros'pectus,
n. Printed statement sent out
giving details about school, business
company, etc. ('prɔspekt).

'prosper, v.i.&t. Get on well, make
money; (of Higher Being etc.) make p.
pros'perity, n. Condition of prospering.
'-ous, a. Prospering, well-off. ('prɔspə).

'prostitute, 1. n. Woman offering herself
to men for payment. 2. v.t. Make a p.
of; make wrong, low, use of. ('prɔstitju:t).

'prostrate, a. Stretched on the earth etc.,
sp., as sign of respect or because unable
to get up; very tired, overcome.
pros'trate, v.t. Get (oneself) p., sp. as
sign of respect; make p. ('prɔstreit).

pro'tagonist, n. Chief person in play or
story; one supporting, fighting for,
cause. (prou'tagənist).

pro'tean, a. Readily, frequently, changing.
(prou'ti:ən).

pro'tect, v.t. Keep safe from, against;
keep from danger, damage; keep
(trade) from competition by taxing
goods from other countries. '-ion, Sp.,
protecting care; system of protecting
trade. '-ionist, n. Supporter of trade
protection. '-or, n. Sp., thing designed
for protecting something. '-orate
(prə'tektərit), n. Relation of country to
a feebler one which it is protecting and
controlling; such protected country;
REGENCY, sp. that of Oliver Cromwell.
(prə'tekt).

'protege, n. Person looked after, taken an
interest in, by another. ('prouteʒei).

'protein, n. Sorts of substance forming
necessary part of all living things and an
important part of food of animals.
('prouti:in).

'pro 'tem(pore), [L.] For the present, the
time in question, only. ('prou 'tem(pəri)).

pro'test, v.t.&i. Say with force that
(thing) is so; make statement (against),
pointing out what is wrong, why one is
angry (about). 'protest ('proutest).
n. Statement protesting. Under p.,
making clear that one is acting against
one's desire, feeling of what is right.
protes'tation (prɔtes'teiʃn). n. Sp.,
statement protesting something, sp.
answering attack. (prə'test).

'Protestant, n., a. (One) of any branch of
Christian Church outside R.-C. and
Gk. Churches. ('prɔtistənt).

'protocol, n. First form, outline, of agreement
to be made between nations,
signed by those taking part. ('proutəkɔl).

'proton, n. Unit of POSITIVE electric force
forming part of ATOM. ('proutɔn).

'protoplasm, n. Clear, half-liquid substance
of which all living structures are
developments. ('proutəplazm).

'prototype, n. First thing, person, in
relation to copies, later examples,
developments. ('proutətaip).

proto'zoa, n. Very simple sort of animal
formed of one CELL. (proutə'zouə).

pro'tract, v.t. Make the time of longer;
make
(map of
land etc.)
to scale.
'-ed, a.
Very
long.
'-or, n.
Sp., instrument tor measuring angles.
(prə'trakt).

pro'trude, v.i.&t. Be, get, in position
coming out from thing, edge, the rest,
or through opening. (prə'tru:d).

pro'tuberant, a. Curving out, PROTRUDING.
pro'tuberance, n. Sp., protuberant
part. (prə'tju:bərənt).

proud, a. Having, marked by, PRIDE:
giving signs of being p., stiff, cold, in
behaviour; (of things) important-looking,
causing respect. P. flesh, FLESH
round wound which is getting better;
p. of, made p., pleased, by being the
owner of, having connection with.
(praud).

prove, v.t.&i. Give PROOF of; get
knowledge of by experience; put to the
test; [Law] make certain that (WILL) is
in order; be seen in the end to be. (pru:v).

'provenance, n. Place from which thing
comes. ('prɔvənəns).

'provender, n. Food for farm animals.
('prɔvəndə).

'proverb, n. Short pointed saying in
general use. pro'verbial, a. Sp., generally,
widely, talked of, noted. ('prɔvə:b).

pro'vide, v.i.&t. Make ready, take
necessary steps, (for event, future etc.,
against danger etc.); give (food etc.
needed); give what is necessary (for
person, sp. to keep him). P. (person)
with, give him. '-d, conj. On condition
that. 'providence ('prɔvidəns), n. Care
for future, care in using money etc.;
(help, care, of) GOD, power controlling
existence. 'provident, a. Having quality
of providence. provi'dential, a. Coming
at the right time, when badly needed, as
by GOD'S providence. pro'viding, conj.
Provided. pro'vision, 1. n. Sp., (amount
of) what is provided; statement in law
etc. providing for something. Pp., food;
make p. for, provide for. 2. v.t. Give
store of pp. to. provisional, a. For the
time only, able to be changed. (prə'vaid).

'province, n. [Hist.] Land outside Italy
ruled by Rom. authority; great division
of a country; part over which an
ARCHBISHOP has authority; branch of
learning, field of acting, range of authority.
The pp., all parts of a country outside
the chief town. pro'vincial
(prə'vinʃəl). 1. a. Sp., with narrow outlook
common in the provinces. 2. n. One
living in a province or the provinces.
('prɔvins).

pro'viso, n. Limiting condition (in agreement
etc.). (prə'vaizou).

pro'voke, v.t. Make angry; be driving
(person to angry feeling, to do, into doing);
be a cause of (discussion, comparison, interest
etc.). provo'cation (prɔvə'keiʃn),
n. Sp., under p., when made angry,
provoked. pro'vocative (prə'vɔkativ).
a. Such as to provoke angry feeling,
discussion, interest etc. (prə'vouk).

'provost, n. Head of certain colleges; head
of a town government in Scotland.
pro'vost'marshal (prə'vou'ina:ʃəl). n.
Head of military police. ('prɔvəst).

prow, n. Pointed front of ship. (prau).

'prowess, n. Quality of fighting well,
being without fear. ('prauis).

prowl, v.i. Go about secretly, quietly,
looking for chance of attacking. (praul).

prox'imity, n. Being near in space, time;
places which are near, round. 'proximate
('prɔksimit), a. Nearest before or
after. 'prox(imo), a. The. 1st etc. p.,
(used in business letters) of the month
after this. (prɔk'simiti).

'proxy, n. Person acting for another as
his representative; statement in writing
giving person authority to VOTE in place
of another; VOTE so given. ('prɔksi).

prude, n. Woman over-delicate in behaviour,
talk, readily shocked. (pru:d).

'prudent, a. Acting only after thought,
taking care for future, wise. ('pru:dnt).

prune, n. PLUM made dry. (pru:n).

prune, v.t. Take away dead or unnecessary
parts from (trees, plants).

'prurient, a. Given to, caused by, unclean
thoughts. ('pruəriənt).

'Prussian, n., a. (Person) of Prussia.
('prʌʃn).

'prussic, a. P. acid, a violent poison.
('prʌsik).

pry, v.i. Be looking into, taking an interest
in, another's things, business. (prai).

psalm, n. Song of religion, sp. one in
the Pp. The Pp., book of songs of religion
in BIBLE. '-ist, n. Writer of a
psalm. 'psalter ('sɔ:ltə), n. Copy, sp.
giving music, of the Psalms. (sa:m).

'pseudo-, False, not what it seems (p.-archaic,
p.-prophet). ('sju:dou-).

'pseudonym, n. False name used sp. by
writer. ('sju:dounim).

pshaw, int. Used as sign of opinion that
thing is foolish, untrue etc. (pʃɔ;).

'psychic(al), a. Of the mind or SOUL; to
do with what seems to be outside range
of physical law. psy'chiatry (sai'kaiətri).
n. Medical care of diseases of
mind. 'psycho-a'nalysis, n. Psychology
based on division of the mind into
conscious and unconscious; way of
learning about person's unconscious
mind to give help in troubles of mind.
psychological, a. Of the mind or
psychology. The p. moment, [Com.] the
right time to get desired effect.
psy'chology (sai'kɔlədʒi), n. Science,
theory, of the mind and its working.
psy'chosis (sai'kousis). n. Any condition
of mind which is diseased or not
normal, sp., for which there seems to
be no physical cause. ('saikik(l)).

'ptarmigan, n. Small bird whose
feathers are black
or grey in summer
and white in winter.
('ta:migən).

'ptero'dactyl, n.
Great winged
animal no longer
in existence.
('terou'daktil).

'ptomaine, n. Sorts
of poison produced
in food etc.
when going bad.
('toumein).

'puberty, n. Stage
at which person becomes physically able
to be a father or mother. ('pju:bəti).

'public, 1. a. Of, to do with, done for or
by, open to, the property of, persons
generally, the nation; open to, under,
p. observation. P. house, place trading
in strong drink to be taken in the
building; p. school, great school of
Eng. sort with system of PREFECTS and
gen. having learners sleeping in; school
for free education supported by p.
money; p. spirit, being ready to do
things in p. interest. 2. n. Persons,
society, generally (the p.) or some
special group of the p. In p., openly, so
that anyone may see etc. '-an, Keeper
of public house. 'publicist ('pʌblisist).
n. Writer on, expert in, international
law; writer on questions of public interest,
sp. for newspapers. pub'licity, n.
Being open to public observation;
advertisement. ('pʌblik).

publication, n. PUBLISHING; PUBLISHED
book, paper. (pʌbli'keiʃn).

'publish, v.t. Put (fact etc.) before the
public, make general knowledge; get
(book etc.) printed and put on market
for public. '-er, n. Sp., one whose trade
is publishing books. ('pʌbliʃ).

puce, a., n. Red-brown (colour). (pju:s).

puck, n. Flat rubber round used in place
of ball in ice HOCKEY. (pʌk).

'pucker, 1. v.t.&i. Make or get into small
folds. 2. n. Such fold. ('pʌkə).

'pudding, n. Sorts of cooked food, sp.
made of fruit, meat, with paste round, or
of different substances mixed together
in soft, sweet mass. ('pudiŋ).

puddle, 1. n. Small hollow full of dirty
water. 2. v.t. Put (liquid heated iron) in
motion as process in industry. ('pʌdl).

'pudgy, a. PODGY. ('pʌdsi).

'puerile, a. As of or for, acting like, a
very young person. ('pjuərail).

pu'erperal, a. Of, caused by, giving birth.
(pju'ə:pərəl).

puff, 1. n. (Sound of) short, quick blow of
breath or wind; steam, smoke etc., sent
out at one p.; ball of soft material used
in powdering skin; soft mass of material
forming ornament on dress etc.; bit of
puffed PASTRY with something inside;
account in newspaper etc. giving
approval, advertisement, to something.
2. v.i.&t. Give out p(p)., be breathing
quickly; send out (smoke etc.) in pp.;
make (seem) full of air, round, fat;
give advertisement to with p(p).
Puffed, sp., unable to get one's breath
after running etc.; puffed up, sp., having
a high opinion of oneself. 'p.-adder, n.
Snake puffing front of body when
danger is present. p.-p., n. Baby's word
for train. '-y, a. Sp., fat, round, as if
puffed up; readily becoming puffed by
running etc. (pʌf).

'puffin, n. N. Atlantic sea-bird. ('pʌfin).

pug, n. Sort of dog with turned-up nose.
(pʌg).

'pugilist, n. BOXER. ('pju:dʒilist).

pug'nacious, a. Given to fighting.
pug'nacity (pʌg'nasiti). n. (pʌg'neiʃəs).

'puissant, [Old] a. Strong, having great
power. ('pju:isnt).

puke, v.i.&t., n. VOMIT. (pju:k).

pule, v.i. (Of baby) be crying feebly
('pju:l).

pull, 1. v.t.&i. (Make attempt to) get
(thing) moved by use of force from side
in direction of which it is to be moved,
opp. PUSH; make (boat) go by using
OARS; get copy of, or (PROOF), printed.
P. about, sp., p. in different directions,
be rough with; p. a face, get face twisted
as sign of disgust etc.; p. a horse, (in
competition) p. its head to keep it from
getting first place; p. bell, give cord
etc. a p. to get bell sounded; p. down,
sp., get (building etc.) broken down;
make (person) feeble; p. one's weight,
do one's full part in work etc.; p.
oneself together, get oneself under control;
p. out (in), sp., (of train) be moving out
of (into) station; p. through, sp., get
(person), come, safely through disease,
trouble; p. up, sp., (make) come to
a stop (of horse, carriage etc.). 2. n.
Act of pulling; force so used; a drink
of something; printer's PROOF; power
to get special help, attention, through
having friend in authority etc. 'p.-over,
n. Wool clothing for top part of body
pulled on over head. (pul).

'pullet, n. Young fowl, sp. one starting
egg-producing. ('pulit).

'pulley, n. Wheel with hollow edge for
cord, fixed in structure of wood and
lifting weights by turning. ('puli).

'pulmonary, a. Of the LUNGS.
('pʌlmənəri).

pulp, 1. n. Soft, inside part of fruit; soft
mass of any substance, sp. cruslied wood
used in making paper. 2. v.t.&i. Make
into, become (like), p.; take out p. from.
(pʌlp).

'pulpit, n. High, walled structure in
church from which talk is given. ('pulpit).

pulse, 1. n. Regular expansion and narrowing
of blood-vessels when blood is
pumped through them by heart; any
point in body where this may be sensed
by touch; regular rhythm. 2. v.i. Pulsate.
pul'sate, v.i. Undergo regular expansion
and narrowing; be moved as by
pulse. (pʌls).

pulse, n. Seeds of plants such as BEANS,
PEAS, which may be used as food.

'pulverize, v.t.&i. Make into, become,
powder or dust. ('pʌlvəraiz).

'puma, n. Great, cat-like, Am. animal.
('pju:mə).

'pumice(-stone), n. Sponge-like lava of
little weight, used for polishing and cleaning. ('pʌmis(toun)).

'pummel, v.t. Give blow after blow to
with shut hand. ('pʌml).

pump, 1. n. Machine for forcing liquid,
air, gas, in or out of something. 2. v.i.&t.
Be working p.; get (liquid etc.) out, up,
get (vessel, ship) dry, get (TYRE etc.)
full of air, by use of p.; [Com.] get
knowledge out of by questioning.
'p.-room, n. Room at SPA for drinking
the water in. (pʌmp).

pump, n. Shoe of soft polished leather for
dancing etc.

'pumpkin, n. (Plant having) great round
yellow fruit with hard skin and great
number of seeds. ('pʌmpkin).

pun, v.i., n. (Make) use of 2 senses of word,
or of 2 words like one another in sound,
for purpose of humour. (pʌn).

punch, n. Drink of wine or other alcohol
mixed with water, sugar, fruit-skin etc.,
and gen. taken warm. (pʌntʃ).

punch, 1. v.t. Give blow to with shut hand;
make (hole) with p.; p. hole(s) in (leather,
metal etc.). 2. n. Blow with shut hand;
instrument for hammering or pushing
through things to make holes.

punc'tilio, n. Delicate point of form, taste
in behaviour; that which is simply a
form. punc'tilious, a. Giving great
attention to punctilios. (pʌŋk'tiliou).

'punctual, a. Not after right time, not
late; taking care to be p. ('pʌŋktjuəl).

'punctuate, v.t. Put signs for stops in
(writing, print); get (story etc.) broken
by frequent stops, acts. ('pʌŋktjueit).

'puncture, 1. n. (Making of) small hole.
2. v.t.&i. Make p. in; get p. ('pʌŋktʃə).

'pundit, n. Hindu of great learning;
[Hum.] authority on some question.
('pʌndit).

'pungent, a. (Of tastes, smells, things said
etc.) sharp, biting. ('pʌndʒənt).

'punish, v.t. Give pain, do something unpleasing,
to (wrongdoer); p. person
for (wrongdoing); [Com.] give hard
blows to in fight. '-ment, n. Sp., that
which is done to punish. 'punitive
('pju:nitiv). a. (Designed for) punishing.
('pʌniʃ).

punkah, n. Sort of FAN worked by cord.
('pʌŋkə).

'punnet, n. Small, roughly made basket of
thin wood for fruit. ('pʌnit).

punt, 1. n. Square-ended boat with flat
base, moved by pushing against riverbed
with long rod. 2. v.t.&i. Be moving
(boat) with such rod. (pʌnt).

punt, 1. v.t.&i. Give kick to (football)
on its way from hands to earth. 2. n.
Such kick.

punt, v.i. Put money on horse.

'puny, a. Feeble, under-sized. ('pju:ni).

pup, n. Short word for PUPPY. (pʌp).

'pupa (-e), [Sc.] n. CHRYSALIS. ('pju:pə).

'pupil, n. Learner, sp. in relation to his
teacher. '-(l)age ('pju:pilidʒ), n. Being
a pupil. ('pju:pl).

'pupil, n. Opening in middle of eye which,
by changing its size, lets through more
or less light.

'puppet, n. Form of person, animal, cut
in wood etc. and having parts moved by
wires; person completely controlled by
another. ('pʌpit).

'puppy, n. Young dog; foolish young man
over-pleased with himself. ('pʌpi).

'purblind, n. Not seeing well; slow-minded,
not seeing what is clear.
('pə:blaind).

'purchase, 1. v.t. Get for a price. 2. n.
Purchasing; thing purchased; grip,
LEVERAGE. 20 etc. years' p., price equal
to 20 etc. years' income from land etc.
('pə:tʃəs).

'purdah, n. Curtain keeping Indian
women of high position from view of
strange persons; system of using p.
('pə:da:).

pure, a. Unmixed with any other thing;
complete, nothing but; clean; clean in
thought, without wrong sex experience;
(of sound) clear, not rough. P. mathematics,
to do with theory only. '-ly, a.
Sp., only, completely. 'purist, n. One
giving great attention to right use of
words. (pjuə).

'purée, [F.] n. Soft food or thick soup made
by boiling meat, fruit, roots etc. and putting
through wire etc. network. ('pjuərei).

purge, 1. v.t. Make clean, make free, (of,
from, anything dirty, wrongdoing etc.);
get waste material from body by giving
medical substance to. 2. n. (Medical
substance used for) purging. pur'gation
(pə:'geiʃn), n. Purging. 'purgative, n.,
a. (Thing, sp. medical substance)
having purging effect. 'purgatory, n.
(In R.-C. religion) place where dead are
purged from wrongdoing; condition of
pain, trouble. (pə:dʒ).

'purist. See PURE.

'puritan, 1. n. [Hist.] One of group of Eng.
PROTESTANTS desiring simpler forms in
Church (P.); one with narrow views on
religion, behaviour, like a P. 2. a. Of the
Pp.; of a p. ('pjuəritn).

purl, v.i.&t., n. (Do) KNITTING in which
stitches are turned in opp. to normal
direction; (make) one such stitch. (pə:l).

purl, v.i. (Of river etc.) go with soft,
song-like sound.

'purlieus, n. pl. Outskirts. ('pə:lju:z).

pur'loin, v.t. Take, go off with, (property
of another). (pə:'lɔin).

'purple, a., n. Red and blue mixed. The
p., p. dress of EMPEROR, CARDINAL.
('pə:pl).

pur'port, v.t. Be designed to seem (to);
have as its p. 'purport, n. General
sense, purpose, point of statement,
event etc. (pə'pɔ:t).

'purpose, 1. n. What one has in one's mind
to do, reason for doing, design; what a
thing is designed to do; power of forming
and keeping to p(p). On p., by design,
not by chance; serve one's, the, p., be
all right for it; to little etc. p., with little
etc. effect; to the p., of use, to the point.
2. v.t. (Of person) have as p. '-ful, a.
Sp., having a conscious purpose; done
on purpose. '-ly, adv. On purpose.
'purposive, a. Having, done with, a
purpose. ('pə:pəs).

purr, n., v.i. Low sound made in throat
by cat as sign of pleasure. (pə:).

purse, n. Small bag for money; money
offered as reward in competition etc.
(pə:s).

purse, v.t.&i. Make (lips etc.) come
together in folds (freq. p. up); become
pursed.

'purser, n. Man keeping accounts, responsible
for stores, on ship. ('pə:sə).

pur'sue, v.t.&i. Go after with purpose of
overtaking to make a prisoner etc.;
make attempt at getting, have as purpose;
be working at; go on with.
pur'suance, n. Only (in) p. of, (in) the
effecting of design or order. pur'suant,
adv. Only p. to, in agreement with.
pur'suit (pə'sju:t), n. Pursuing; work
etc. to which one gives one's time. In p.
of, pursuing. (pə'sju:).

'pursy, a. Fat, readily getting out of
breath. ('pə:si).

'purulent, a. Of, having, giving out, PUS.
('pjuərulənt).

pur'vey, v.t.&i. Do trade in (food).
(pə'vei).

'purview, n. Range of eye or mind, range
of operation, field. ('pə:vju:).

pus, n. Thick yellow liquid formed in, sent
out from, poisoned wound or place where
there is INFLAMMATION. (pʌs).

push, 1. v.t.&i. (Make attempt to) get
(thing) moved by use of force against it,
opp. pull; get (through, forward etc.) by
pushing others out of the way; be forcing
(interests, goods etc.) on attention of
others; make use of quality of p.; be
driving (person) to do something.
Pushed for time etc., having very little;
p. off, get boat started by pushing
against land etc.; [Com.] go away; p. on,
go on; p. oneself, make others take note
of one. 2. n. Act of pushing; [Mil.] strong
attack; quality of putting oneself forward,
getting attention for oneself.
'-ful, '-ing, aa. Having a tendency to
push oneself. (puf).

pusil'lanimous, a. Full of fear, bad at
facing danger, etc. (pjusi'laniməs).

puss, n. Cat; HARE. '-y, n. Baby's word for
cat. '-y-willow, n. Small Am. WILLOW.
(pus).

'pustule, [Med.] n. PIMPLE. ('pʌstju:l).

put (put), v.t. Get (thing) placed (on, in
etc., here, there, or in certain position);
make to be (in some condition) (p. in a
panic); give (idea etc.) form in words,
say; send (weight) through the air in
competition. P. about, sp., give trouble
to; (of boat) get turned and go in opposite
direction; p. (design, idea etc.) across,
[Com.] get approval for it, get it taken
up; p. (person) against, give him feeling
against; p. an end, stop, to, make come to
an end; p. (horse) at, make him go up to
(wall etc.) for jump; p. away, sp., p. into
its right place, in drawer, cupboard etc;
make a store of for future use; p. back, sp.,
(of boat) go back to harbour etc.; make
development of slower; p. hands of (clock)
to earlier time; p. by, p. away for future;
p. down, sp., p. in writing; p. stop to by
force, authority; p. (person) down as,
take him to be; p. forth all one's strength
etc., make use of it; p. forward, sp., p.
(theory, argument etc.) before persons;
p. in, (of boat) go into harbour; p. in
(time), get through, give, it; p. in an
appearance, go to, be present at, meeting
etc.; p. (person) in mind of, give him the
idea, memory, of; p. it across (person),
[Com.] get the better of him by trick;
p. it on, sp., overdo signs of feeling; p.
off, sp., make time of (event, act) later;
p. (person) against; make (person) do
badly at (sport etc.); (of boat) go
(from); p. on, sp., get oneself clothed
in; give oneself (certain air, look);
BET (money) on; p. hands of (clock)
forward; p. out (of joint), sp., get
bone of out of place; make no longer
burning; give trouble to; make angry,
at a loss; (of boat) go out from land;
p. through, get (work, undertaking)
done, effected; make do (tricks etc.);
p. up, sp., p. (goods) in boxes etc.
for marketing; make (PRAYER, protest);
p. name of (person) forward for
selection, sp. by VOTE; let have bedroom,
food etc.; be p. up (at); p. up (one's
sword etc.), p. it down, away; p. up a
fight, argument, not give way without a
fight etc.; p. up for sale, auction, put
on market (by AUCTION); p.-up Job,
something done by design, trick, and
made to seem by chance; p. upon, make
more use of (person) than is right; p.
(person) up to, get his eyes open to; give
him idea of doing; p. up with, undergo
without protest; p. (person) wise, give
him facts, news, about something. (put).

put(t), 1. v.t.&i. (In GOLF) send (ball)
in direction of hole from point near it.
2. n. Blow given in putting. 'putting-green,
n. Smooth space round hole in
GOLF. (pʌt).

'putative, a. Looked on as, said to be.
('pju:tətiv).

'putrefy, v.i. Go bad. putrefaction, n.
pu'trescent, a. Going bad. 'putrid, a.
Having gone bad; bad-smelling; [Hum.]
very poor, disgusting, bad. ('pju:trifai).

'puttee, n. Long band of cloth twisted
round leg as cover. ('pʌti).

'putty, 1. n. Soft paste of white powder
mixed with oil, used for getting glass
fixed in windows etc. 2. v.t. Get fixed
with p., put p. in. ('pʌti).

'puzzle, 1. n. Question to which it is hard
to get an answer; plaything designed for
testing powers of mind or hand. 2. v.t.&i.
Put (person) at a loss, in doubt;
be working one's brain hard over, about,
to get worked out. P. out, get worked out
by hard thought. ('pʌzl).

'pygmy, n., a. Very small sort of person
of parts of Africa; very small person,
animal, plant. ('pigmi).

py'jamas, n. pl. Sleeping-dress of loose
coat and trousers. (pə'dʒa:məz).

'pylon, n. Tall upright structure, sp. as
support for electric wires. ('pailən).

pyor'rhoea, n. Disease of GUMS in which
teeth become loose. (paiə'riə).

'pyramid, n. Solid form with 3-sided or
square
base and
sloping
sides
meeting
at a
point;
stone
etc. p.
put up in early times in memory of dead,
sp. in Egypt; mass of things in p. form.
('pirəmid).

pyre, n. Great mass of wood etc. for burning
dead body on. (paiə).

py'rites, n. Substance formed of iron
chemically united with SULPHUR, gold
in colour. (pai'raiti:z).

pyro'technic, a. Of, like, fireworks. -s, n.
Art of making, using, fireworks; public
letting off of fireworks. (pairou'teknik).

'python, n. Great snake crushing animals
to death by twisting itself round them.
('paiθən).

pyx, n. Vessel in which bread used at
COMMUNION is kept. (piks).