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To make light of; to treat with derision or contempt, as if by saying pooh! pooh! [Colloq.] Thackeray.

es as a term of endearment, or as an expression of modesty, and sometimes as a word of contempt. And for mine own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. Shak. Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing. Prior.

and sculpture which lays stress upon volume as the important attribute of objects and attempts its expression by the use of geometrical figures or solids only; and futurism, a theory or practice which attempts to place the observer within the picture and to represent simultaneously a number of consecutive movements a…

A preacher; -- so called in contempt. [Obs.] Howell.

Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous `Hush!'" Mrs. Browning. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n.

ous with interest, but generally signifying a sum in addition to the capital. People were tempted to lend, by great premiums and large interest. Swift.

To intend; to design; to plot; to attempt. [Obs.] Such as shall pretend Malicious practices against his state. Shak.

Mean; despicable; contemptible; -- used ironically; as, a pretty trick; a pretty fellow.

A tailor; -- so called in contempt. [Old slang] L'Estrange.

lth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others. Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Dan. iv. 37. Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt. Franklin.

Priests, collectively; the priesthood; -- so called in contempt. [R.] Milton.

Empty talk; trifling loquacity; prattle; -- used in contempt or ridicule. [Colloq.] Abp. Bramhall.

Management by a proctor, or as by a proctor; hence, control; superintendence; -- in contempt. "The fogging proctorage of money." Milton.

The addition of a day to the lunar calendar. [R.] See Metemptosis.

The act of violating sacred things, or of treating them with contempt or irreverence; irreverent or too familiar treatment or use of what is sacred; desecration; as, the profanation of the Sabbath; the profanation of a sanctuary; the profanation of the name of God.

Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i. 9.

To essay or attempt of one's own accord; to undertake, or propose to undertake. [R.] Milton.

ecks. Shak. They progress in that style in proportion as their pieces are treated with contempt. Washington. The war had progressed for some time. Marshall.

as, proof against harm; waterproof; bombproof. I . . . have found thee Proof against all temptation. Milton. This was a good, stout proof article of faith. Burke.

e, or metrical composition. I speak in prose, and let him rymes make. Chaucer. Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. Milton. I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry, that is; prose -- words in their best order; poetry -- the best order. Coleridge.