Search the Dictionary

tious; contagious; as, pestiferous bodies. "Poor, pestiferous creatures begging alms." Evelyn. "Unwholesome and pestiferous occupations." Burke.

To study, or make critical comments on, language. Evelyn.

One skilled in phytology; a writer on plants; a botanist. Evelyn.

The Canada lynx. [Written also peeshoo.]

e or determination; a dictum. [Obs.] "The placits and opinions of other philosophers." Evelyn.

To cut partly, or to bend and intertwine the branches of; as, to plash a hedge. Evelyn.

nd; a plowland. [Obs.] [Eng.] Johan, mine eldest son, shall have plowes five. Tale of Gamelyn.

; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness. "Weights of an extraordinary poise." Evelyn.

High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. [R.] Evelyn.

, or conforming to, a settled system of administration. [R.] "A political government." Evelyn.

To lop the tops of, as trees; to poll; as, to pollard willows. Evelyn.

A polynomial name or term.

l; businesslike in habit or manner. The next day . . . I began to be very pragmatical. Evelyn. We can not always be contemplative, diligent, or pragmatical, abroad; but have need of some delightful intermissions. Milton. Low, pragmatical, earthly views of the gospel. Hare.

A horse which prances. Then came the captain . . . upon a brave prancer. Evelyn.

Full of promise; abounding in ability, resources, etc.; as, a pregnant youth. [Obs.] Evelyn. Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. Shak. Pregnant construction (Rhet.), one in which more is implied than is said; as, the beasts trembled forth from their dens, that is, came forth trembling with fright.…

forehand, or at the outset. It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general. Evelyn.

t to Lambeth with Sir R. Brown's pretense to the wardenship of Merton College, Oxford. Evelyn.

ely large; considerable; as, he had saved a pretty fortune. "Wavering a pretty while." Evelyn.

One who proposes problems. [R.] Evelyn.

Of high stature; tall. [Obs.] Evelyn.