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t or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken. Thrice happy, if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright. Milton.

ess; appositeness; relevancy; suitableness. The fitness and pertinency of the apostle's discourse. Bentley.

A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague. England's sufferings by that scourge, the pest. Cowper.

Hence: Any discourse or declamation abounding in acrimonious invective.

grayish white color, -- used in making tobacco pipes and various kinds of earthenware, in scouring cloth, and in cleansing soldiers' equipments.

Using specious arguments or discourse; as, a plausible speaker.

Hence, the most prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.; the essential matter; esp., the proposition to be established; as, the point of an anecdote. "Here lies the point." Shak. They will hardly prove his point. Arbuthnot.

ersy; maintaining, or involving, controversy; controversial; disputative; as, a polemic discourse or essay; polemic theology.

Destitute of beauty, fitness, or merit; as, a poor discourse; a poor picture.

To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon. How shall they preach, except they be sent Rom. x. 15. From that time Jesus began to preach. Matt. iv. 17.

One who preaches; one who discourses publicly on religious subjects. How shall they hear without a preacher Rom. x. 14.

To discourse in the manner of a preacher. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

The act of delivering a religious discourse; the art of sermonizing; also, a sermon; a public religious discourse; serious, earnest advice. Milner. Preaching cross, a cross, sometimes surmounting a pulpit, erected out of doors to designate a preaching place. -- Preaching friars. See Dominican.

Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks. This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak. Heaven's high behest no preface needs. Milton.

Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a preface; introductory to a book, essay, or discourse; as, prefatory remarks. That prefatory addition to the Creed. Dryden.

To read publicly, as a lecture or discourse.

A lecture or discourse read in public or to a select company. "The prelections of Faber." Sir M. Hale.

A reader of lectures or discourses; a lecturer. Sheldon.

Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures; preliminary examinations.

A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [Obs.] He made a long preposition and oration. Fabyan.