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Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary - Contents
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    PRIME — PRIZE

    PRIME, a. [L. primus.]

    1. First in order of time; original; as prime fathers; prime creation.NWAD PRIME.2

    In this sense, the use of the word is nearly superseded by primitive, except in the phrase, prime cost.NWAD PRIME.3

    2. First in rank, degree or dignity; as prime minister.NWAD PRIME.4

    3. First in excellence; as prime wheat; cloth of a prime quality. Humility and resignation are prime virtues.NWAD PRIME.5

    4. Early; blooming.NWAD PRIME.6

    His starry helm unbuckl’d, showed him primeNWAD PRIME.7

    In manhood, where youth ended.NWAD PRIME.8

    5. First in value or importance.NWAD PRIME.9

    Prime number, in arithmetic, a number which is divisible only by unity, as 5, 7, 11.NWAD PRIME.10

    Prime figure, in geometry, a figure which cannot be divided into any other figure more simple than itself, as a triangle, a pyramid, etc.NWAD PRIME.11

    PRIME, n. The first opening of day; the dawn; the morning.

    Early and late it rung, at evening and at prime.NWAD PRIME.13

    The sweet hour of prime.NWAD PRIME.14

    1. The beginning; the early days.NWAD PRIME.15

    In the very prime of the world.NWAD PRIME.16

    2. The spring of the year.NWAD PRIME.17

    Hope waits upon the flower prime.NWAD PRIME.18

    3. The spring of life; youth; hence, full health, strength or beauty.NWAD PRIME.19

    That crop the golden prime of this sweet prince.NWAD PRIME.20

    The prime of youth.NWAD PRIME.21

    4. The best part.NWAD PRIME.22

    Give him always of the prime.NWAD PRIME.23

    5. The utmost perfection.NWAD PRIME.24

    The plants--would have been all in prime.NWAD PRIME.25

    6. In the Romish church, the first canonical hour, succeeding to lauds.NWAD PRIME.26

    7. In fencing, the first of the chief guards.NWAD PRIME.27

    8. In chimistry, primes are numbers employed, in conformity with the doctrine of definite proportions, to express the ratios in which bodies enter into combination. Primes duly arranged in a table, constitute a scale of chimical equivalents. They also express the ratios of the weights of atoms, according to the atomic theory.NWAD PRIME.28

    Prime of the moon, the new moon, when it first appears after the change.NWAD PRIME.29

    Prime vertical, the vertical circle which passes through the poles of the meridian, or the east and west points of the horizon. Dials projected on the plane of this circle, are called prime vertical or north and south dials.NWAD PRIME.30

    PRIME, v.t. To put powder in the pan of a musket or other fire-arm; or to lay a train of powder for communicating fire to a charge.

    1. To lay on the first color in painting.NWAD PRIME.32

    PRIME, v.i. To serve for the charge of a gun.

    PRIMED, pp. Having powder in the pan; having the first color in painting.

    PRIMELY, adv. At first; originally; primarily.

    1. Most excellently.NWAD PRIMELY.2

    PRIMENESS, n. The state of being first.

    1. Supreme excellence. [Little used in either sense.]NWAD PRIMENESS.2

    PRIMER, a. First; original. [Not in use.]

    PRIMER, n. A small prayer book for church service, or an office of the virgin Mary.

    1. A small elementary book for teaching children to read.NWAD PRIMER.3

    PRIMER-FINE, n. In England, a fine due to the king on the writ or commencement of a suit by fine.

    PRIMERO, n. A game at cards.

    PRIMER-SEIZIN, n. [prime and seizin.] In feudal law, the right of the king, when a tenant in capite died seized of a knight’s fee, to receive of the heir, if of full age, one year’s profits of the land if in possession, and half a year’s profits if the land was in reversions expectant on an estate for life; abolished by 12 Car. 2.

    PRIMEVAL, a. [L. primus, first, and oevum, age, primoevus.]

    Original; primitive; as the primeval innocence of man; primeval day.NWAD PRIMEVAL.2

    PRIMEVOUS, a. Primeval.

    PRIMIGENIAL, a. [L. primigenius; primus, first, and genus, kind, or gignor, to beget.] First born; original; primary.

    PRIMIGENOUS, a. [supra.] First formed or generated; original; as semi-primigenous strata.

    PRIMING, ppr. Putting powder in the pan of a fire-arm.

    1. Laying on the first color.NWAD PRIMING.2

    PRIMING, n. The powder in the pan of a gun, or laid along the channel of a cannon for conveying fire to the charge.

    1. Among painters, the first color laid on canvas or on a building, etc.NWAD PRIMING.4

    PRIMING-WIRE, n. A pointed wire, used to penetrate the vent of a piece, for examining the powder of the charge or for piercing the cartridge.

    PRIMIPILAR, a. [L. primipilus, the centurion of the first cohort of a Roman legion.] Pertaining to the captain of the vanguard.

    PRIMITIAL, a. Being of the first production.

    PRIMITIVE, a. [L. primitivus; from primus, first.]

    1. Pertaining to the beginning or origin; original; first; as the primitive state of Adam; primitive innocence; primitive ages; the primitive church; the primitive christian church or institutions; the primitive fathers.NWAD PRIMITIVE.2

    2. Formal; affectedly solemn; imitating the supposed gravity of old times.NWAD PRIMITIVE.3

    3. Original; primary; radical; not derived; as a primitive verb in grammar.NWAD PRIMITIVE.4

    Primitive rocks, in geology, rocks supposed to be first formed, being irregularly crystallized, and aggregated without a cement, and containing no organic remains; as granite, gneiss, etc.NWAD PRIMITIVE.5

    PRIMITIVE, n. An original word; a word not derived from another.

    PRIMITIVELY, adv. Originally; at first.

    1. Primarily; not derivatively.NWAD PRIMITIVELY.2

    2. According to the original rule or ancient practice.NWAD PRIMITIVELY.3

    PRIMITIVENESS, n. State of being original; antiquity; conformity to antiquity.

    PRIMITY, n. The state of being original. [Not used.]

    PRIMNESS, n. [from prim.] Affected formality or niceness; stiffness; preciseness.

    PRIMOGENIAL, a. [L. primigenius. See Primigenial.]

    First born, made or generated; original; primary; constituent; elemental; as primogenial light; primogenial bodies.NWAD PRIMOGENIAL.2

    PRIMOGENITOR, n. [L. primus, first, and genitor, father.]

    The first father or forefather.NWAD PRIMOGENITOR.2

    PRIMOGENITURE, n. [L. primus, first, and genitus, begotten.]

    1. The state of being born first of the same parents; seniority by birth among children.NWAD PRIMOGENITURE.2

    2. In law, the right which belongs to the eldest son or daughter. Thus in Great Britain, the right of inheriting the estate of the father belongs to the eldest son, and in the royal family, the eldest son of the king is entitled to the throne by primogeniture. Among the females, the crown descends by right of primogeniture to the eldest daughter only and her issue.NWAD PRIMOGENITURE.3

    Before the revolution, primogeniture, in some of the American colonies, entitled the eldest son to a double portion of his father’s estate, but this right has been abolished.NWAD PRIMOGENITURE.4

    PRIMOGENITURESHIP, n. The right of eldership.

    PRIMORDIAL, a. [L. primordialis, primordium; primus, first, and ordo, order.] First in order; original; existing from the beginning.

    PRIMORDIAL, n. Origin; first principle or element.

    PRIMORDIAN, n. A kind of plum.

    PRIMORDIATE, a. [See Primordial.] Original; existing from the first.

    PRIMP, v.i. To be formal or affected. [Not English, or local.]

    PRIMROSE, n. s as z. [L. primula veris; primus, first, and rose; literally, the first or an early rose in spring.]

    A plant of the genus Primula, of several varieties, as the white, the red, the yellow flowered, the cowslip, etc. Shakespeare uses the word for gay or flowery; as the primrose way.NWAD PRIMROSE.2

    PRIMY, a. Blooming. [Not used.]

    PRINCE, n. prins. [L. princeps.]

    1. In a general sense, a sovereign; the chief and independent ruler of a nation or state. Thus when we speak of the princes of Europe, we include emperors and kings. Hence, a chief in general; as a prince of the celestial host.NWAD PRINCE.2

    2. A sovereign in a certain territory; one who has the government of a particular state or territory, but holds of a superior to whom he owes certain services; as the princes of the German states.NWAD PRINCE.3

    3. The son of a king or emperor, or the issue of a royal family; as princes of the blood. In England, the eldest son of the king is created prince of Wales.NWAD PRINCE.4

    4. The chief of any body of men.NWAD PRINCE.5

    5. A chief or ruler of either sex. Queen Elizabeth is called by Camden prince, but this application is unusual and harsh.NWAD PRINCE.6

    Prince of the senate, in ancient Rome, was the person first called in the roll of senators. He was always of consular and censorian dignity.NWAD PRINCE.7

    In Scripture, this name prince is given to God, Daniel 8:25; to Christ, who is called the prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6, and the prince of life, Acts 3:15; to the chief of the priests, the prince of the sanctuary, Isaiah 43:28; to the Roman emperor, Daniel 9:26; to men of superior worth and excellence, Ecclesiastes 10:7; to nobles, counselors and officers of a kingdom, Isaiah 10:8; to the chief men of families or tribes, Numbers 17:2; to Satan, who is called the prince of this world, John 12:31, and prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:2.NWAD PRINCE.8

    PRINCE, v.i. To play the prince; to take state.

    PRINCEDOM, n. prins’dom. The jurisdiction, sovereignty, rank or estate of a prince.

    Under thee, as head supreme,NWAD PRINCEDOM.2

    Thrones, princedoms, powers, dominions, I reduce.NWAD PRINCEDOM.3

    PRINCELIKE, a. prins’like. Becoming a prince.

    PRINCELINESS, n. prins’liness. [from princely.]

    The state, manner or dignity of a prince.NWAD PRINCELINESS.2

    PRINCELY, a. prins’ly. Resembling a prince; having the appearance of one high born; stately; dignified; as a princely gentleman; a princely youth.

    1. Having the rank of princes; as a man of princely birth; a princely dame.NWAD PRINCELY.2

    2. Becoming a prince; royal; grand; august; as a princely gift; princely virtues.NWAD PRINCELY.3

    3. Very large; as a princely fortune.NWAD PRINCELY.4

    4. Magnificent; rich; as a princely entertainment.NWAD PRINCELY.5

    PRINCELY, adv. prins’ly. In a princelike manner.

    PRINCES’-FETHER, n. A plant of the genus Amaranthus.

    Prince’s metal, a mixture of copper and zink, in imitation of gold.NWAD PRINCES-FETHER.2

    PRINCESS, n. A female sovereign, as an empress or queen.

    1. A sovereign lady of rank next to that of a queen.NWAD PRINCESS.2

    2. The daughter of a king.NWAD PRINCESS.3

    3. The consort of a prince; as the princess of Wales.NWAD PRINCESS.4

    PRINCIPAL, a. [L. principalis, from princeps.]

    1. Chief; highest in rank, character or respectability; as the principal officers of a government; the principal men of a city, town, or state. Acts 25:23; 1 Chronicles 24:31.NWAD PRINCIPAL.2

    2. Chief; most important or considerable; as the principal topics of debate; the principal arguments in a case; the principal points of law; the principal beams of a building; the principal productions of a country.NWAD PRINCIPAL.3

    Wisdom is the principal thing. Proverbs 4:7.NWAD PRINCIPAL.4

    3. In law, a principal challenge, is where the cause assigned carries with it prima facie evidence of partiality, favor or malice.NWAD PRINCIPAL.5

    4. In music, fundamental.NWAD PRINCIPAL.6

    PRINCIPAL, n. A chief or head; one who takes the lead; as the principal of a faction, an insurrection or mutiny.

    1. The president, governor, or chief in authority. We apply the word to the chief instructor of an academy or seminary of learning.NWAD PRINCIPAL.8

    2. In law, the actor or absolute perpetrator of a crime, or an abettor. A principal in the first degree, is the absolute perpetrator of the crime; a principal in the second degree, is one who is present, aiding and abetting the fact to be done; distinguished from an accessory. In treason, all persons concerned are principals.NWAD PRINCIPAL.9

    3. In commerce, a capital sum lent on interest, due as a debt or used as a fund; so called in distinction from interest or profits.NWAD PRINCIPAL.10

    Taxes must be continued, because we have no other means for paying off the principal.NWAD PRINCIPAL.11

    4. One primarily engaged; a chief party; in distinction from an auxiliary.NWAD PRINCIPAL.12

    We were not principals, but auxiliaries in the war.NWAD PRINCIPAL.13

    PRINCIPALITY, n.

    1. Sovereignty; supreme power.NWAD PRINCIPALITY.2

    2. A prince; one invested with sovereignty. Titus 3:1.NWAD PRINCIPALITY.3

    3. The territory of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as the principality of Wales.NWAD PRINCIPALITY.4

    4. Superiority; predominance. [Little used.]NWAD PRINCIPALITY.5

    5. In Scripture, royal state or attire. Jeremiah 13:18.NWAD PRINCIPALITY.6

    PRINCIPALLY, adv. Chiefly; above all.

    They mistake the nature of criticism, who think its business is principally to find fault.NWAD PRINCIPALLY.2

    PRINCIPALNESS, n. The state of being principal or chief.

    PRINCIPATE, n. Principality; supreme rule.

    PRINCIPIA, n. plu. [L. principium.] First principles.

    PRINCIPIATION, n. [from L. principium.] Analysis into constituent or elemental parts. [Not used.]

    PRINCIPLE, n. [L. principium, beginning.]

    1. In a general sense, the cause, source or origin of any thing; that from which a thing proceeds; as the principle of motion; the principles of action.NWAD PRINCIPLE.2

    2. Element; constituent part; primordial substance.NWAD PRINCIPLE.3

    Modern philosophers suppose matter to be one simple principle, or solid extension diversified by its various shapes.NWAD PRINCIPLE.4

    3. Being that produces any thing; operative cause.NWAD PRINCIPLE.5

    The soul of man is an active principle.NWAD PRINCIPLE.6

    4. In science, a truth admitted either without proof, or considered as having been before proved. In the former sense, it is synonymous with axiom; in the latter, with the phrase, established principle.NWAD PRINCIPLE.7

    5. Ground; foundation; that which supports an assertion, an action, or a series of actions or of reasoning. On what principle can this be affirmed or denied? He justifies his proceedings on the principle of expedience or necessity. He reasons on sound principles.NWAD PRINCIPLE.8

    6. A general truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths; as the principles of morality, of law, of government, etc.NWAD PRINCIPLE.9

    7. Tenet; that which is believed, whether truth or not, but which serves as a rule of action or the basis of a system; as the principles of the Stoics, or of the Epicureans.NWAD PRINCIPLE.10

    8. A principle of human nature, is a law of action in human beings; a constitutional propensity common to the human species. Thus it is a principle of human nature to resent injuries and repel insults.NWAD PRINCIPLE.11

    PRINCIPLE, v.t. To establish or fix in tenets; to impress with any tenet, good or ill; chiefly used in the participle.

    Men have been principled with an opinion, that they must not consult reason in things of religion.NWAD PRINCIPLE.13

    1. To establish firmly in the mind.NWAD PRINCIPLE.14

    PRINCIPLED, pp. Established in opinion or in tenets; firmly fixed in the mind.

    PRINCOCK, PRINCOX, n. A coxcomb; a conceited person; a pert young rogue; a ludicrous word. [Little used.]

    PRINK, v.i.

    1. To prank; to dress for show.NWAD PRINK.2

    2. To strut; to put on stately airs.NWAD PRINK.3

    PRINT, v.t. [L. imprimo; in and premo, to press; promptus, pressed or pressing forward.]

    1. In general, to take or form letters, characters or figures on paper, cloth or other material by impression. Thus letters are taken on paper by impressing it on types blackened with ink. Figures are printed on cloth by means of blocks or a cylinder. The rolling press is employed to take prints on impressions from copper- plates. Thus we say, to print books, to print calico, to print tunes, music, likenesses, etc.NWAD PRINT.2

    2. To mark by pressing one thing on another.NWAD PRINT.3

    On his fiery steed betimes he rode,NWAD PRINT.4

    That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod.NWAD PRINT.5

    3. To impress any thing so as to leave its form.NWAD PRINT.6

    Perhaps some footsteps printed in the clay--NWAD PRINT.7

    4. To form by impression.NWAD PRINT.8

    Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh.NWAD PRINT.9

    PRINT, v.i. To use or practice the art of typography, or of taking impressions of letters, figures and the like.

    1. To publish a book. [Elliptical.]NWAD PRINT.11

    From the moment he prints, he must expect to hear no more of truth.NWAD PRINT.12

    PRINT, n. A mark made by impression; any line, character, figure or indentation of any form, made by the pressure of one body or thing on another; as the print of the tooth or of the nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow; the print of a wheel; the print of types on paper. Hence,

    1. The impression of types in general, as to form, size, etc.; as a small print; a large print; a fair print.NWAD PRINT.14

    2. That which impresses its form on any thing; as a butter print; a wooden print.NWAD PRINT.15

    3. The representation or figure of any thing made by impression; as the print of the face; the print of a temple; prints of antiquities.NWAD PRINT.16

    4. The state of being printed and published. Diffidence sometimes prevents a man from suffering his works to appear; in print.NWAD PRINT.17

    I love a ballad in print.NWAD PRINT.18

    5. A single sheet printed for sale; a newspaper.NWAD PRINT.19

    The prints, about three days after, were filled with the same terms.NWAD PRINT.20

    6. Formal method. [Not in use.]NWAD PRINT.21

    Out of print, a phrase which signifies that, of a printed and published work, there are no copies for sale, or none for sale by the publisher.NWAD PRINT.22

    PRINTED, pp. Impressed; indented.

    PRINTER, n. One that prints books, pamphlets or papers.

    1. One that stains or prints cloth with figures, as calico.NWAD PRINTER.2

    2. One that impresses letters or figures with copper-plates.NWAD PRINTER.3

    PRINTING, ppr. Impressing letters, characters or figures on any thing; making marks or indentations.

    PRINTING, n. The art or practice of impressing letters, characters or figures on paper, cloth or other material; the business of a printer; typography.

    PRINTING-INK, n. Ink used by printers of books.

    PRINTING-PAPER, n. Paper to be used in the printing of books, pamphlets, etc.; as distinguished from writing-paper, press-paper, wrapping-paper, etc.

    PRINTING-PRESS, n. A press for the printing of books, etc.

    PRINTLESS, a. That leaves no print or impression; as printless feet.

    PRIOR, a. [L. comp. Probably the first syllable is contracted from pris, prid, or some other word, for the Latin has prisce, pristinus.]

    Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; as a prior discovery; prior obligation. The discovery of the continent of American by Cabot was six or seven weeks prior to the discovery of it by Columbus. The discovery of the Labrador coast by Cabot was on the 11th of June, 1499; that of the continent by Columbus, was on the first of August of the same year.NWAD PRIOR.2

    PRIOR, n. [L. prior.]

    1. The superior of a convent of monks, or one next in dignity to an abbot. Priors are claustral or conventical. The conventical are the same as abbots. A claustral prior is one that governs the religious of an abbey or priory in commendam, having his jurisdiction wholly from the abbot.NWAD PRIOR.4

    2. In some churches, one who presides over others in the same churches.NWAD PRIOR.5

    PRIORATE, n. Government by a prior.

    PRIORESS, n. A female superior of a convent of nuns.

    PRIORITY, n. The state of being antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as priority of birth. The priority of Homer or Hesiod has been a subject of dispute.

    1. Precedence in place or rank.NWAD PRIORITY.2

    Priority of debts, is a superior claim to payment, or to payment before others.NWAD PRIORITY.3

    PRIORLY, adv. Antecedently. [A bad word and not used.]

    PRIORSHIP, n. The state or office of prior.

    PRIORY, n. A convent of which a prior is the superior; in dignity below an abbey.

    1. Priories are the churches given to priors in titulum, or by way of title.NWAD PRIORY.2

    PRISAGE, n. A right belonging to the crown of England, of taking two tons of wine from every ship importing twenty tons or more; one before and one behind the mast. This by charter of Edward I. was exchanged into a duty of two shillings for every tun imported by merchant strangers, and called butlerage, because paid to the king’s butler.

    PRISCILLIANIST, n. In church history, one of a sect so denominated from Priscillian, a Spaniard, bishop of Avila, who practiced magic, maintained the errors of the Manichees, and held it to be lawful to make false oaths in the support of one’s cause and interest.

    PRISM, n. [Low L. prisma; Gr. to cut with a saw, to press or strain.] A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

    A prism of glass is one bounded by two equal and parallel triangular ends and three plain and well polished sides which meet in three parallel lines, running from the three angles of one end to the three angles of the other end.NWAD PRISM.2

    PRISMATIC, PRISMATICAL, a. Resembling a prism; as a prismatic form.

    1. Separated or distributed by a prism; formed by a prism; as prismatic colors.NWAD PRISMATIC.2

    2. Pertaining to a prism.NWAD PRISMATIC.3

    PRISMATICALLY, adv. In the form or manner of a prism.

    PRISMATOIDAL, a. [L. prisma.] Having a prismatic form.

    PRISMOID, n. [L. prisma and Gr. form.]

    A body that approaches to the form of a prism.NWAD PRISMOID.2

    PRISMY, a. Pertaining to or like a prism.

    PRISON, n. priz’n. [L. prendo.]

    1. In a general sense, any place of confinement or involuntary restraint; but appropriately, a public building for the confinement or safe custody of debtors and criminals committed by process of law; a jail. Originally, a prison, as Lord Coke observes, was only a place of safe custody; but it is now employed as a place of punishment. We have state-prisons, for the confinement of criminals by way of punishment.NWAD PRISON.2

    2. Any place of confinement or restraint.NWAD PRISON.3

    The tyrant Aeolus,NWAD PRISON.4

    With power imperial curbs the struggling winds,NWAD PRISON.5

    And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds.NWAD PRISON.6

    3. In Scripture, a low, obscure, afflicted condition. Ecclesiastes 4:14.NWAD PRISON.7

    4. The cave where David was confined. Psalm 142:7.NWAD PRISON.8

    5. A state of spiritual bondage. Isaiah 42:7.NWAD PRISON.9

    PRISON, v.t. To shut up in a prison; to confine; to restrain from liberty.

    1. To confine in any manner.NWAD PRISON.11

    2. To captivate; to enchain.NWAD PRISON.12

    [This word is proper, but imprison is more commonly used.]NWAD PRISON.13

    PRISON-BASE, n. A kind of rural sports; commonly called prison-bars.

    PRISONED, pp. Imprisoned; confined; restrained.

    PRISONER, n. One who is confined in a prison by legal arrest or warrant.

    1. A person under arrest or in custody of the sheriff, whether in prison or not; as a prisoner at the bar of a court.NWAD PRISONER.2

    2. A captive; one taken by an enemy in war.NWAD PRISONER.3

    3. One whose liberty is restrained, as a bird in a cage.NWAD PRISONER.4

    PRISON-HOUSE, n. A house in which prisoners are confined; a jail. Judges 16:21.

    PRISONING, ppr. Confining; imprisoning.

    PRISONMENT, n. Confinement in a prison; imprisonment.

    [The latter is commonly used.]NWAD PRISONMENT.2

    PRISTINE, a. [L. pristinus. See Prior and Pro.] original; primitive; as the pristine state of innocence; the pristine manners of a people; the pristine constitution of things.

    PRITHEE, a corruption of pray thee, as I prithee; but it is generally used without the pronoun, prithee.

    PRIVACY, n. [form private.] A state of being in retirement from the company or observation of others; secrecy.

    1. A place of seclusion from company or observation; retreat; solitude; retirement.NWAD PRIVACY.2

    Her sacred privacies all open lie.NWAD PRIVACY.3

    2. Privity. [Not used.] [See Privity.]NWAD PRIVACY.4

    3. Taciturnity. [Not used.]NWAD PRIVACY.5

    4. Secrecy; concealment of what is said or done.NWAD PRIVACY.6

    PRIVADO, n. A secret friend. [Not used.]

    PRIVATE, a. [L. privatus, from privo, to bereave, properly to strip or separate; privus, singular, several, peculiar to one’s self, that is, separate; rapio, diripio, eripio; privo for perivo or berivo.]

    1. Properly, separate; unconnected with others; hence, peculiar to one’s self; belonging to or concerning an individual only; as a man’s private opinion, business or concerns; private property; the king’s private purse; a man’s private expenses. Charge the money to my private account in the company’s books.NWAD PRIVATE.2

    2. Peculiar to a number in a joint concern, to a company or body politic; as the private interest of a family, of a company or of a state; opposed to public, or to the general interest of nations.NWAD PRIVATE.3

    3. Sequestered from company or observation; secret; secluded; as a private cell; a private room or apartment; private prayer.NWAD PRIVATE.4

    4. Not publicly known; not open; as a private negotiation.NWAD PRIVATE.5

    5. Not invested with public office or employment; as a private man or citizen; private lift.NWAD PRIVATE.6

    A private person may arrest a felon.NWAD PRIVATE.7

    6. Individual; personal; in contradistinction from public or national; as private interest.NWAD PRIVATE.8

    Private way, in law, is a way or passage in which a man has an interest and right, though the ground may belong to another person. In common language, a private way may be a secret way, one not known or public.NWAD PRIVATE.9

    A private act or statute, is one which operates on an individual or company only; opposed to a general law, which operates on the whole community.NWAD PRIVATE.10

    A private nuance or wrong, is one which affects an individual.NWAD PRIVATE.11

    In private, secretly; not openly or publicly.NWAD PRIVATE.12

    PRIVATE, n. A secret message; particular business. [Unusual.]

    1. A common soldier.NWAD PRIVATE.14

    PRIVATEER, n. [from private.] A ship or vessel of war owned and equipped by a private man or by individuals, at their own expense, to seize or plunder the ships of an enemy in war. Such a ship must be licensed or commissioned by government, or it is a pirate.

    PRIVATEER, v.i. To cruise in a commissioned private ship against an enemy, for seizing their ships or annoying their commerce.

    PRIVATELY, adv. In a secret manner; not openly or publicly.

    1. In a manner affecting an individual or company. He is not privately benefited.NWAD PRIVATELY.2

    PRIVATENESS, n. Secrecy; privacy.

    1. Retirement; seclusion from company or society.NWAD PRIVATENESS.2

    2. The state of an individual in the rank of common citizens, or not invested with office.NWAD PRIVATENESS.3

    PRIVATION, n. [L. privatio, from privo. See Private.]

    1. The state of being deprived; particularly, deprivation or absence of what is necessary for comfort. He endures his privations with wonderful fortitude.NWAD PRIVATION.2

    2. The act of removing something possessed; the removal or destruction of any thing or quality. The garrison was compelled by privation to surrender.NWAD PRIVATION.3

    For what is this contagious sin of kindNWAD PRIVATION.4

    But a privation of that grace within?NWAD PRIVATION.5

    3. Absence, in general. Darkness is a privation of light.NWAD PRIVATION.6

    4. The act of the mind in separating a thing from something appendant.NWAD PRIVATION.7

    5. The act of degrading from rank or office.NWAD PRIVATION.8

    [But in this sense, deprivation is now used. See Deprivation.]NWAD PRIVATION.9

    PRIVATIVE, a. Causing privation.

    1. Consisting in the absence of something; not positive. Privative is in things, what negative is in propositions; as privative blessings, safeguard, liberty and integrity.NWAD PRIVATIVE.2

    PRIVATIVE, n. That of which the essence is the absence of something. Blackness and darkness are privatives.

    1. In grammar, a prefix to a word which changes its signification and gives it a contrary sense, as a, in Greek; unjust; un and in in English, as unwise, inhuman. The word may also be applied to suffixes, as less, in harmless.NWAD PRIVATIVE.4

    PRIVATIVELY, adv. By the absence of something.

    1. Negatively.NWAD PRIVATIVELY.2

    The duty of the new covenant is set down first privatively. [Unusual.]NWAD PRIVATIVELY.3

    PRIVATIVENESS, n. Notation of the absence of something.

    PRIVET, n. A plant of the genus Ligustrum. The evergreen privet is of the genus Rhamnus. Mock privet is of the genus Phillyrea.

    PRIVILEGE, n. [L. privilegium; privus, separate, private, and lex, law; originally a private law, some public act that regarded an individual.]

    1. A particular and peculiar benefit or advantage enjoyed by a person, company or society, beyond the common advantages of other citizens. A privilege may be a particular right granted by law or held by custom, or it may be an exemption from some burden to which others are subject. The nobles of Great Britain have the privilege of being triable by their peers only. Members of parliament and of our legislatures have the privilege of exemption from arrests in certain cases. The powers of a banking company are privileges granted by the legislature.NWAD PRIVILEGE.2

    He pleads the legal privilege of a Roman.NWAD PRIVILEGE.3

    The privilege of birthright was a double portion.NWAD PRIVILEGE.4

    2. Any peculiar benefit or advantage, right or immunity, not common to others of the human race. Thus we speak of national privileges, and civil and political privileges, which we enjoy above other nations. We have ecclesiastical and religious privileges secured to us by our constitutions of government. Personal privileges are attached to the person; as those of embassadors, peers, members of legislatures, etc. Real privileges are attached to place; as the privileges of the king’s palace in England.NWAD PRIVILEGE.5

    3. Advantage; favor; benefit.NWAD PRIVILEGE.6

    A nation despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral.NWAD PRIVILEGE.7

    Writ of privilege, is a writ to deliver a privileged person from custody when arrested in a civil suit.NWAD PRIVILEGE.8

    PRIVILEGE, v.t. To grant some particular right or exemption to; to invest with a peculiar right or immunity; as, to privilege representatives from arrest; to privilege the officers and students of a college from military duty.

    1. To exempt from ensure or danger.NWAD PRIVILEGE.10

    This place doth privilege me.NWAD PRIVILEGE.11

    PRIVILEGED, pp. Invested with a privilege; enjoying a peculiar right or immunity. The clergy in Great Britain were formerly a privileged body of men. No person is privileged from arrest for indictable crimes.

    PRIVILEGING, ppr. Investing with a peculiar right or immunity.

    PRIVILY, adv. [from privy.] Privately; secretly.

    --False teachers among you, who shall privily bring in damnable heresies. 2 Peter 2:1.NWAD PRIVILY.2

    PRIVITY, n. Privacy; secrecy; confidence.

    I will to you, in privity, discover the drift of my purpose. [Little used.]NWAD PRIVITY.2

    1. Private knowledge; joint knowledge with another of a private concern, which is often supposed to imply consent or concurrence.NWAD PRIVITY.3

    All the doors were laid open for his departure, not without the privity of the prince of Orange.NWAD PRIVITY.4

    But it is usual to say, “a thing is done with his privity and consent;” in which phrase, privity signifies merely private knowledge.NWAD PRIVITY.5

    2. Privities, in the plural, secret parts; the parts which modesty requires to be concealed.NWAD PRIVITY.6

    PRIVY, a. [L. privus. See Private.]

    1. Private; pertaining to some person exclusively; assigned to private uses; not public; as the privy purse; the privy confer of a king.NWAD PRIVY.2

    2. Secret; clandestine; not open or public; as a privy attempt to kill one.NWAD PRIVY.3

    3. Private; appropriated to retirement; not shown; not open for the admission of company; as a privy chamber. Ezekiel 21:14.NWAD PRIVY.4

    4. Privately knowing; admitted to the participation of knowledge with another of a secret transaction.NWAD PRIVY.5

    He would rather lose half of his kingdom than be privy to such a secret.NWAD PRIVY.6

    Myself am one made privy to the plot.NWAD PRIVY.7

    His wife also being privy to it. Acts 5:2.NWAD PRIVY.8

    5. Admitted to secrets of state. The privy council of a king consists of a number of distinguished persons selected by him to advice him in the administration of the government.NWAD PRIVY.9

    A privy verdict, is one given to the judge out of court, which is of no force unless afterward affirmed by a public verdict in court.NWAD PRIVY.10

    PRIVY, n. In law, a partaker; a person having an interest in any action or thing; as a privy in blood. Privies are of four kinds; privies in blood, as the heir to his father; privies in representation, as executors and administrators to the deceased; privies in estate, as he in reversion and he in remainder; donor and donee; lessor and lessee; privy in tenure, as the lord in escheat.

    1. A necessary house.NWAD PRIVY.12

    Privy chamber, in Great Britain, the private apartment in a royal residence or mansion. Gentlemen of the privy chamber are servants of the king who are to wait and attend on him and the queen at court, in their diversions, etc. They are forty eight in number, under the lord chamberlain.NWAD PRIVY.13

    PRIVY-COUNSELOR, n. A member of the privy council.

    Privy-counselors are made by the king’s nomination without patent or grant.NWAD PRIVY-COUNSELOR.2

    PRIVY-SEAL, PRIVY-SIGNET, n. In England, the seal which the king uses previously in grants, etc. which are to pass the great seal, or which he uses in matters of subordinate consequence, which do not require the great seal.

    1. Privy-seal, is used elliptically for the principal secretary of state, or person entrusted with the privy-seal.NWAD PRIVY-SEAL.2

    The king’s sign manual is the warrant to the privy-seal, who makes out a writ or warrant thereon to the chancery. The sign manual is the warrant to the privy-seal, and the privy-seal is the warrant to the great seal.NWAD PRIVY-SEAL.3

    PRIZE, n.

    1. That which is taken from an enemy in war; any species of goods or property seized by force as spoil or plunder; or that which is taken in combat, particularly a ship. A privateer takes an enemy’s ship as a prize. They make prize of all the property of the enemy.NWAD PRIZE.2

    2. That which is taken from another; that which is deemed a valuable acquisition.NWAD PRIZE.3

    Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes,NWAD PRIZE.4

    Soon to obtain and long possess the prize.NWAD PRIZE.5

    3. That which is obtained or offered as the reward of contest.NWAD PRIZE.6

    --I will never wrestle for prize.NWAD PRIZE.7

    I fought and conquer’d, yet have lost the prize.NWAD PRIZE.8

    4. The reward gained by any performance.NWAD PRIZE.9

    5. In colloquial language, any valuable thing gained.NWAD PRIZE.10

    6. The money drawn by a lottery ticket; opposed to blank.NWAD PRIZE.11

    PRIZE, v.t. [L. pretium.]

    1. To set or estimate the value of; to rate; as, to prize the goods specified in an invoice.NWAD PRIZE.13

    Life I prize not a straw.NWAD PRIZE.14

    2. To value highly; to estimate to be of great worth; to esteem.NWAD PRIZE.15

    I prize your person, but your crown disdain.NWAD PRIZE.16

    3. To raise with a lever. [See Pry.]NWAD PRIZE.17

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