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aration of the principles upon which a person, a sect, or a party proposes to stand; a declared policy or system; as, the Saybrook platform; a political platform. "The platform of Geneva." Hooker.

ble pretext; plausible manners; a plausible delusion. "Plausible and popular arguments." Clarendon.

rth; not good; inferior; shabby; mean; as, poor clothes; poor lodgings. "A poor vessel." Clarendon.

Any bird of the Old World genus Glareola, or family Glareolidæ, allied to the plovers. They have long, pointed wings and a forked tail.

Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.

To tell or declare beforehand; to foretell; to prophesy; to presage; as, to predict misfortune; to predict the return of a comet.

Existence in a former state, or previous to something else. Wisdom declares her antiquity and preëxistence to all the works of this earth. T. Burnet.

ooker. His going away . . . was most prejudicial and most ruinous to the king's affairs. Clarendon. -- Prej`u*di"cial*ly, adv. -- Prej`u*di"cial*ness, n.

The quality or state of being present; presence. [Obs.] "Presentness of mind in danger." Clarendon.

To frame; to devise; to disguise or excuse; hence, to pretend; to declare falsely. [Obs.]

pon, or with; as, I prevailedon him to wait. He was prevailed with to restrain the Earl. Clarendon. Prevail upon some judicious friend to be your constant hearer, and allow him the utmost freedom. Swift.

ence of a rumor. The duke better knew what kind of argument were of prevalence with him. Clarendon.

y public announcement; to give wide publicity to; to publish abroad; to promulgate; to declare; as, to proclaim war or peace. To proclaim liberty to the captives. Isa. lxi. 1. For the apparel oft proclaims the man. Shak. Throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held. Milton.

That which is proclaimed, publicly announced, or officially declared; a published ordinance; as, the proclamation of a king; a Thanksgiving proclamation.

The office or dignity of a proctor; also, the term of his office. Clarendon.

make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician.

Openly declared, avowed, acknowledged, or claimed; as, a professed foe; a professed tyrant; a professed Christian. The professed (R. C. Ch.) , a certain class among the Jesuits bound by a special vow. See the note under Jesuit.

nder; as, proffers of peace or friendship. He made a proffer to lay down his commission. Clarendon.

Design; contrivance; projection. [Obs.] Clarendon.

bedience or compliance; -- said of persons. Very discerning and prompt in giving orders. Clarendon. Tell him I am prompt To lay my crown at's feet. Shak. Any you, perhaps, too prompt in your replies. Dryden.