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Any one of the popular dialects descended from, or akin to, Sanskrit; -- in distinction from the Sanskrit, which was used as a literary and learned language when no longer spoken by the people. Pali is one of the Prakrit dialects.

Pertaining to Prakrit.

The quality or state of being premature; early, or untimely, ripeness; as, the prematurity of genius.

To merit or deserve beforehand. [Obs.] Eikon Basi

Belonging wholly to the past; passed by. [R.] Things and persons as thoroughly preterite as Romulus or Numa. Lowell.

Same as Preterit.

Same as Preteritness.

The act of passing, or going past; the state of being past. Bp. Hall.

Used only or chiefly in the preterit or past tenses, as certain verbs.

The quality or state of being past. Bentley. Lowell.

ty or state of being prior or antecedent in time, or of preceding something else; as, priority of application.

A sharp-pointed instrument; also, an eelspear. [Prov. Eng.]

A tool employed by blacksmiths for punching or enlarging the nail holes in a horseshoe.

A corruption of pray thee; as, I prithee; generally used without I. Shak. What was that scream for, I prithee L'Estrange. Prithee, tell me, Dimple-chin. E. C. Stedman.

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

The segment next to the flagellum of the antennæ of Crustacea.

Height of stature; tallness. [R.] Johnson.

To deserve; to procure by merit. [Obs.] Davenant.

enterprise; attainment of the object desired; good fortune; success; as, commercial prosperity; national prosperity. Now prosperity begins to mellow. Shak. Prosperities can only be enjoyed by them who fear not at all to lose the Jer. Taylor.

The second segment of one of the Gregarinæ.